By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Chezka Centeno came up short on her bid in the 2025 WPA Women’s 9-Ball World Championships after yielding in the quarterfinals in Jacksonville, United States on Saturday, Dec. 20 (Sunday, Dec. 21, Philippine time).
The two-time reigning world 10-ball champion could not sustain her hot start and fell to former world 9-ball junior champion Kristina Tkach, 4-0, 3-4, 3-4, 1-4.
A victory for the 26-year-old Zamboanga native could have set her up a semifinal meeting with Chinese Fu Xiaofang, who stunned Austrian veteran Jasmin Ouschan, 4-1, 4-2, 4-2.
“My fight for the World 9-Ball Championship title ends here — for now,” Centeno wrote in a social media post moments after her loss.
She added she gave it her best in the tournament, considering she only switched to a new playing cue just last month, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“Of course, I would have loved to advance to the semifinals, but that’s just pool. One moment you’re shooting great, and the next things can change,” Centeno said.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, and I know I need to dedicate more time to fully mastering my new cue,” she added.
Prior to her loss, Centeno toppled local bet Shanelle Loraine (4-2, 4-1) and China’s Han Yu (3-4, 4-3, 4-1), then lost to United Kingdom’s Kelly Fisher (1-4, 3-4) to be relegated in the loser’s qualification of the group stage.
She, however, bounced back with a 4-2, 3-4, 4-1 win over Chinese Taipei’s Shui Ching Chiang to advance to the knockout stage.
Centeno then edged Australia’s Hung Meng-Hsia, 4-1, 4-3, 1-4, 4-1, in the Last 16 before succumbing to Tkach.
Meanwhile, last year’s world 9-ball champion Rubilen Amit bowed in the Last 16 the other day to China’s Liu Shasha, 3-4, 2-4, 0-4.
