Amit moves to knockout stage

MANILA, Philippines - Rubilen Amit settled down after a tense opening day stint on the TV table as she trampled compatriot Anna Tulauan, 6-1, then blanked Abigail Anola, 6-0, to advance to the knockout phase of the 2010 Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship at the Nuvo City in Libis, Quezon City yesterday.

The 28-year-old Amit, who bounced back from an opening game setback to Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher with a sweep of her next nine games to rule the inaugural staging of this event last year at the Sky Dome of SM North in QC, overwhelmed Tulauan with superb shot making to fashion out the lopsided win.

“I was at the TV table when I played my first game and the pressure was really big so I struggled a lot and became a little bit nervous,” said Amit, referring to her opening day match with American Angel Paglia, whom she held off, 6-3.

“There was also pressure in my second game but I guess I managed to adjust well,” said Amit, who also topped the World Mixed Doubles Championship with Efren “Bata” Reyes and copped the 8-ball and 9-ball gold medals in last year’s SEA Games in Laos.

The third straight win assured Amit of a spot in the tournament proper of event, which features the world’s top lady cue masters.

Chinese Taipei’s Chen Tsai Pei, meanwhile, came away with 6-0 and 6-2 routs over Anola and Tulauan, respectively, while American Dara Aft also posted a pair of 6-1 victories over the Filipina tandem.

Paglia, meanwhile, wheeled back into contention as she downed Tulauan, 6-2.

The 22-year-old Tulauan took her fourth straight loss and bowed out of the tournament.

“I tried my best but that’s life,” said the comely Tulauan, who survived the tough qualifying stages to clinch a spot in the tournament proper.

Iris Ranola, a runner-up in the US 9-Ball Open in 2008, failed to advance to the next phase as she dropped a 4-6 decision to Spain’s Amalia Matas in a Group 5 match in the eight-division tournament offering a top purse of $20,000.

It was Ranola’s first setback after beating Canadian Veroniuque Menard, 6-0, and Chinese Wu Jing, 6-2, Monday.

Ranola tries again as she takes on Korean Yu Ram Cha and Japanese Miyuki Fuke.

Yu blasted Menard, 6-3, in her first and only game thus far while Fuke edged Matas, 6-5, after losing to Wu, 2-6, in the first round.

In Group 6 action, Chinese Li Jia overpowered Norway’s Ina Helvik, 6-1, to become the first player in the knockout stage.

Li smashed Ireland’s Karen Corr, one of the favorites here, 6-4, before thumping Fil-Am Shanelle Lorraine, 6-2.

Another Chinese, Han Yu, also advanced as she outplayed RP’s Mika Claveria, 6-2, for her third straight win in Group 4.

Han earlier won over July Kelly of the US, 6-1, and Keiko Yukawa of Japan, 6-4.

Korean Ga Young Kim, a former world champion, three-time US Open titlist and gold medalist of the of 2009 Hong Kong East Asian Games, downed American Julie Kelly, 6-4, and Italian Silva Gaudino, 6-2, to inch closer to the next round.

Gillian Go, a 12-year-old pool wonder who pulled off some big upsets last year, failed to flash her winning form and found herself on the brink of elimination with losses to Canada’s Britany Bryant, 2-6, and Joanne Aston, also of Canada, 3-6.