Rubilen Amit won her first trophy in 2025 after beating Kristina Tkach of Russia in the Women’s Challenge of Champions on Saturday at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Amit, 43, defeated Tkach 6-3 in the 8-ball match that served as a tiebreaker in this tournament that pitted the women’s 9-ball and 10-ball champions.

The 2024 WPA Women's World 9-ball champion admitted she had to stay composed during the entire match.

“It’s unusual since I haven’t played 8-ball for 10 years competitively. I’ve been practicing but during the match, I was praying a lot,” Amit said.

Amit drew first blood in this championship after sweeping the 9-ball event, 2-0, before Tkach struck back with a sweep of her own, in the 10-ball event.

Even with her new trophy and the prize money of $15,000 (P869,100), Amit remains in the hunt for another payday and a trophy as she is vying in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Women’s Open.

Amit is competing against Euro Tour Italian Open champion Jasmin Ouschan at press time.

A win here would send her to the final against the winner between Han Yu of China and Chieh Yu Chou of Taiwan, whom Amit defeated in the 2024 WPA Women's World 9-ball Championship.