The Philippines’ billiard champion Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit made history by winning the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Women’s World 9-Ball Championship in New Zealand.
The 42-year-old pride of Cebu dominated and claimed the world title for the Philippines during the competition held on September 3 to 8, 2024 at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton.
In the finals, Amit shot her way to victory by defeating the former champion Chen Siming of China with a score of 3-1 (1-4, 4-2, 4-2, 4-3), and took home the USD 50,000 cash prize.
In an interview after winning the world title, Amit humbly admitted that she did not expect the outcome of the competition.
“She [Chen Siming] played really well, especially during the start and I was having a difficult time adjusting my stance, so I kind of started slow. So I was really hopeful that I could pick it up towards the second step,” the Filipino cue artist shared.
“And I’m just very fortunate that it happened the way that it did. I don’t want her to miss a ball, but she missed the 8 ball. I was really surprised because, with her caliber, it’s almost impossible that she would miss it. And I was like, ‘Maybe this is my chance,’” she went on.
“I really wanted to finish it ’cause I was so nervous if it would go another set. I don’t think I could last another set.”
The well-decorated Filipina billiard player proceeded to share her plans after the competition.
“From here, there’s a China Open in Shanghai, China, and then I go back home. I might go to Taiwan to maybe play a bit and train with them. And then after that, there’s another tournament in the province in the Philippines but that’s against men players. That’s for experience and to learn from them,” she said.
“And then in November, there’s Puerto Rico. That’s the World Championships. And I’m not sure if there’s a World Teams Championships. And then, December is Christmas,” Amit concluded.
In 2019, Amit claimed the Top 3 spot in the Women’s World Pool Rankings (WPA) after her Silver Medal-winning performance at the 2019 World 9-ball China Open.
In the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in the Philippines that same year, she teamed up with Chezka Centeno and won the gold in women’s 9-ball pool doubles.
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