By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Chezka Centeno reclaimed her place atop the world billiards stage after defeating teammate and close friend Rubilen Amit, 4-1, 2-4, 4-2, 3-4, 4-2, in a thrilling final at the 2025 WPA Women’s 10-Ball World Championship on Sunday night, October 12, in Bali, Indonesia.
In a classic showdown between two of the Philippines’ finest cue artists, the 26-year-old Zamboanga native showcased her resilience and precision to recapture the prestigious title she first won in 2023.
Centeno’s victory made her only the second player in history to win two world 10-ball titles, while also denying Amit a record-setting third crown.
It was a sweet redemption for Centeno, who fell short of defending her title last year after bowing out in the semifinals.
Her road back to the top was anything but easy. Centeno opened her campaign with a victory over Canada’s Brittany Bryant, 4-1, 3-2, but suffered a setback against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chia Hua, 4-3, 2-4, 4-1, which sent her to the losers’ bracket.
Unfazed, Centeno regrouped and launched a dominant run, sweeping United States’ Savannah Easton, 4-0, 4-3; edging Taiwanese standout Wei Tzu-Chien, 4-0, 3-4, 4-3; and overpowering Vietnam’s Vang Bui Xuan, 4-0, 4-2, to secure a spot in the knockout stage.
From there, Centeno was unstoppable. She eliminated defending champion Kristina Tkach in the Last 16, 4-3, 2-4, 4-1, 4-1, then rallied past Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wan-Ling, 1-4, 3-4, 4-1, 4-0, 4-1, to book a semifinal clash with China’s Liu Shasha.
Against Shasha, the 2025 Chengdu World Games silver medalist held her nerve in a nail-biting duel, sweeping all three sets by the narrowest of margins, 4-3, 4-3, 4-3, to set up an all-Filipino final against Amit.
Centeno’s composure and fierce determination in the final proved decisive, as she reclaimed the title that once slipped from her grasp and solidified her legacy in the sport.
