Women's World 10-Ball under way

MANILA, Philippines - Rubilen Amit, who has gotten used to playing against the country’s top male players, yesterday said she’s all set and ready to defend her title in the 2010 Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship.

“I’m ready,” said the 28-year-old winner of last year’s event.

This year, she’s back to defend the crown in the weeklong event that begins today at the Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas. But it’s not going to be easy because of the presence of the world’s best.

Amit won last year’s crown at the expense of two-time champion Liu Shin-Min of Taipei, and rode the momentum of that victory to win the International Mixed Doubles Classic with Efren “Bata” Reyes.

Amit said her chance to play, train and compete with her male counterparts, including the best the country could offer, has helped her cope with the pressure of playing against the best women players.

And this coming week she will once again have the chance to shine.

After this tournament, the double-gold winner in the 2008 Southeast Asian Games in Laos will get ready for the 16th Asian Games scheduled Nov. 12-27 in Guangzhou, China.

The world No. 3 female player will face the challenge of 47 others vying in the $75,000 event.

Already in town for the event are world No. 1 Allison Fisher of England, Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, Ga Young Kim of Korea, former world No.1 Karen Corr of Ireland, reigning Amway World open ruler Yu Ram Cha of Korea, reigning China open winner Tsai Pei Chen of Taiwan and all-Japan champion Han Yu of China.

“It’s going to be a wide-open race for the title and I think everybody has a chance,” said Amit.

The event, which offers $20,000 (roughly P860,000 to the winner), will be aired live over the ABS-CBN and ESPN Star Sports.

“It will be the biggest sporting event for women in the Philippines in 2010,” said Cindy Lee, CEO of the organizing Dragon Promotions.

The event, sponsored by BCN Balls, Leqi Cloth, Crown Plaza Galleria Ortigas, Magic 89.9, The Philippine STAR, Nuvo City, Robinsons Galleria in cooperation with Puyat Sports and Star Billiards Center, is sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA).

In winning last year’s title, Amit joined the elite group of Filipino world champions that include Efren “Bata” Reyes, Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, Ronato “Volcano” Alcano, and Francisco “Django” Bustamante.

The qualifying round of this year’s event started last Oct. 23 at the Star Billiards in Manila.

Meanwhile, Warren Kiamco lost to Corey Deuel in a thrilling quarterfinal clash, 12-14 and bowed out in the US Open 9-ball Championship won by Darren Appleton in Virginia Saturday.

Appleton, who defeated two-time champion Mika Immonen, 11-9, for the hot seat, beat Deuel, 14-12, to complete a run of nine straight matches to capture the crown.