Women’s World 10-Ball Day Four

Top local bet Rubilen Amit defeated Julie Kelly of Ireland, 8-4, to barge into the Last 16, even as Gillian Go's Cinderella run ended with a humbling loss to world no.5 Yu Ram Cha of Korea in the penultimate day of the 2009 JBETpoker.net Women's World 10-Ball Championship yesterday at the Sky Dome of SM North Edsa in Quezon City.

Amit, the 2007 Amway World 9-Ball Championship finalist, got off to a strong start and easily coasted to a victory at the start of the Knockout Stage of this prestigious event presented by JBETpoker.net, Dragon Promotions and Bugsy Promotions.

The victory, Amit's fourth straight in five outings, catapulted the three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist to a Last 16 encounter with unbeaten no.4 seed  Hsiang-Ling Tan of Chinese-Taipei.

Meanwhile, Go, the 11-year-old qualifier, seemed to be on her way to extended her amazing campaign as she got off to a good start, leading Cha, 3-2, before losing steam to end her memorable stint in this $75,000 event supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, ABS-CBN, SM Mall North Edsa, Magic 89.9, Predator Cues, Takini Billiard Cloth, Aramith, Puyat Sports, The Philippine Star, and Bugsy Promotions and recognized by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.

Overall, Go recorded three wins in six games in her first international foray.

The win moved Cha, an 18-year-old Korean sensation, into a Last 16 match against third seed Allison Fisher of England.

In other first round matches, Charlene Chai of Singapore stunned former world no.1 Ga Young Kim of Korea, 8-6, to earn the right to face no.7 Shin-Mei Liu of Chinese-Taipei in the next round, while World Games gold medalist Jasmin Ouschan of Austria blasted qualifier Angeline Ticoalu of Indonesia, 8-3, to likewise advance into the Last 16, where she will meet no.5 Miyuki Fuke of Japan.

Yun Mi Kim of Korea beat Akio Ohtani of Japan, 8-5, to secure a second round match against top seed Karen Corr of Ireland, while Taiwanese Chieh-Yu Chou subdued Aspra Punhoo of South Africa, 8-3, to face second seed and reigning world no.1 Kelly Fisher of England.

Tamara Rademakers of the Netherlands upended Veronika Hubrtova of Czech Republic, 8-5, to gain a Last 16 seat opposite no.6 Jeanette “the Black Widow” Lee, even as another Taiwanese in Yuan-chun Lin trounced Chichiro Kawahara of Japan, 8-4, to take a second round slot against no.8 seed Akimi Kajitani of Japan.

The day started with only half of the original 48-woman field in contention for the coveted crown and the $20,000 top purse.

The top finishers in each of the eight groups in the preliminary stage were rewarded with a first round bye, while the rest of the players were seeded based on their performances in the previous phase.

The Last 16 and the quarterfinals were slated to be played late yesterday with the semis and the finals scheduled today.

The runner-up will receive $9,000. The two losing semifinalist will take home $5,000 each, while those who will make it to the quarterfinals will be assured of a $3,000 payout. The ninth to 16th placers will receive $1,500, while the 17th to 24th placers will get $1,000.