MANILA, Philippines — Rubilen Amit’s quest for a first world women’s 9-Ball title will have to wait a little longer.
Amit’s title search fell short once again, losing to Jasmine Ouschan of Austria then to Zhou Doudou of China to settle for fourth place in the 2019 Hainan Sanya Women’s World 9-Ball Championship in Sanya in Hainan Island, China yesterday.
Unbeaten entering the semifinals, the 38-year-old Amit hit the wall in the Last 4, absorbing a crushing 2-9 loss to Ouschan.
Then in the battle for third, Amit bowed to Zhou, 3-9.
Ouschan and Kelly Fischer of Great Britain, who trounced Zhou, 9-5, were battling for the title at press time.
It was a sorry ending to what had been a promising start for Amit, a two-time world 10-Ball champion who had hoped to win her very first world 9-Ball crown since coming one win close in 2008, winding up second to eventual titlist Pan Xiaoting of China.
But if there’s any consolation, Amit’s effort was the best among the Philippine entries as Chezka Centeno (round-of-32), Iris Ranola (round-of-64) and Floriza Andal (round-of-64) all crashed out earlier.
Amit came into the four-day tournament riding the crest of a two-gold, one-silver effort in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila.