Filipina cue artist Chezka Centeno bagged her first billiards’ world title by beating China’s Han Yu, 9-5, and topping the Predator WPA World 10-BALL Pool Women Championship 2023 on Monday in Klagenfurt, Austria.
The championship win had Centeno bagging the top purse of $50,000, by far, the biggest prize money in all of women’s professional pool tournaments.
The many-time Southeast Asian Games billiards gold medalist topped the 48-pool of the best pro women billiards players that included compatriot and former world champion, Rubilen Amit.
Amit, the 2009 and 2013 champion, failed to go past the semifinals and ended up in 5th to 8th place.
Centeno earned her way to the finals following a pair of giant-sized triumphs, including an easy 9-2 upset win over defending champion Chou Chie-Yu of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals.
She later defeated Allison Fisher of England in the semifinals to set up the championship showdown with Han in this $150,000 tournament, which is part of the prestigious Predator Pro Billiards Series.
Up by 8-5, Centeno took the edge in the battle for 4-ball safety as she pocketed the 4-ball into the corner pocket, en route to cleaning up the table and bagging her first 10-ball word title.
“I’m so happy to win this tournament because it’s been my dream to become the world champion. This is for my dad because this is his dream (for me), too,” said Centeno in dedicating the win to her father, Fausto.
“Thank you Dad for always supporting me,” she added.