Manila, Philippines- In a Europe versus Asia finale, Filipina Rubilen Amit took down Great Britain's Kelly Fisher in a world class battle of billiard heavyweights. The final four players of the World Championship represented China, Taiwan, England, and the Philippines. Amit was the lone soldier left for the Philippines after the round robin stage of the tournament.
Though China and Taiwan have been dominating forces in Asia pool, neither countrie has ever won the World 10-Ball, considered by some to be the hardest title to win. Pei Chen Tsai of Taiwan and Han Yu of China would both have their chances to make history if they could get past their respective opponents of Rubilen Amit and Kelly Fisher.
The first semi-finals would be a re-match of 2011 when Tsia defeated Amit in the quarter finals. This time Amit got her revenge in a back and forth match which Amit won 9-6.
The second semi was an exact re-match of the 2011 semi finals where Yu and Fisher faced off to earn a spot in the finals. Fisher won by a fair margin then, and a huge margin this time with a 9-2 win.
"I may have to give the edge to Kelly who has more experience winning on the international stage", commented Allison Fisher who did the commentary for the Championship match. Most of the experts would agree Kelly had the nod on experience. But Amit had different plans in front of her home crowd.
The finals was a classic blow by blow exchange between two heavyweights in pool. Fisher jumped to a 2-0 lead before Amit could blink. Eventually the lead was at 3-1 in Fisher's favor. Amit then mounted a comeback to take the lead at 4-3. A huge scratch by Amit in the side pocket on the 10-Ball turned the momentum again as Fisher re-took the lead and eventually went up to 6-4. The ever steady Amit re-grouped and steadily pocketed balls one by one and safety exchanged with Kelly in several games, and managed another streak of 5 games in a row to reach the hill at 9-6. Fisher stopped the bleeding and made it 9-7 after a great runout. In the next game, Fisher had a golden opportunity to get within 2 game of the World Title but unexpectedly missed an easy 8-Ball. Amit methodically made the final 3 balls for the win and was so overcome with emotion she actually leaped into the arms of her opponent! Fortunately for Amit, Kelly caught her.
"She played great and deserves the win", said Fisher on Amit's second World Championship win. Kelly had gone undefeated in nine matches in a row until her loss in the finals.
Amit had dropped two losses in the round robin stage but managed to make it through and then won five in a row for the title.
"I'm so happy right now. The fans who supported me the whole week were such a huge impact. They helped me win. I love them all! And I love Dragon Promotions for making this event" said Amit in her closing ceremony speech as she jumped and unexpectedly kissed Charlie Williams on the cheek. "This year the win is definitely bigger for me than my first World Championship win. Five years ago it was a new event, but now everyone knows how much this event means."
"You really can't find a better person in pool than Rubilen. She is not only a world champion professional, she is a world champion person", commented Charlie Williams, Executive Producer of the event from Dragon Promotions.
The Yalin World Championships was streamed on www.insidepool.tv and sponsored by www.JBET.com , Official Table YALIN www.Yalin.cn , Official Cue is OB Cues, Official Balls by Aramith, Official Cloth Championship, Official Chalk Master by Tweeten Fibre, Official Magazine Pool & Billiard Magazine, Star Paper Corporation, and www.BaseGameph.com.
The Women's World Championship is produced by Dragon Promotions and filmed by ABS-CBN Sports airing on BALLS, Studio 23, and a dozen other networks in countries worldwide. With massive media and global networks covering the Yalin Women's World 10-Ball Championship, it will continue as still the biggest and most watched women's billiard event in the world.
