Amit overcomes nerves, hits pay dirt anew

Rubilen Amit won her second straight billiards title in two days but not after walking the tight rope opposite Chinese rival Han Yu, 3-1, on Sunday in the Las Vegas Women’s Open at the Rio Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The Filipino cue artist was on the verge of wrapping it all up when she went 2-0 but she wilted in the third owing to nerves.

Fresh from a title conquest in the Women’s Challenge of Champions last Saturday after beating Kristina Tkach of Russia, Amit had to make a trip to the bathroom in between matches to regain her composure.

“I was so nervous. In the third set, I was up 2-0, and then she crawled back in and won the third set,” Amit said after her triumph.

“And here we are, fourth set, 3-0 up, and then now 3-2. So I was nervous.”

“I was praying hard that I just wanted to be focused. I just want to be focused going into the fourth set.”

Amit’s road to the title was a hard-fought one that included a loss to a teammate.

The two-time 10-ball world champion started strong, sweeping past home bet Ada Lio, 4-2, 4-0, in the first round before taking down American Briana Laine, 4-2, 4-0, in the first round of the winner’s bracket.

In the winner’s qualification, Amit got swept, 4-3, 4-2, by Filipino teammate and defending Las Vegas Open champion Chezka Centeno.

Instead of feeling down, Amit bounced back and blanked Silviana Lu of Indonesia, 4-0, 4-1, in the loser’s qualification.

Amit then took down rival Kelly Fischer of England, 3-4, 4-2, 4-1, 4-2, in the Last 16 and pummeled Wang Wan Ling of Taiwan, 2-4, 4-3, 4-3, 4-2, in the quarterfinal.

The 2024 WPA Women’s World Nine-ball Championship titlist brought down Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, 1-4, 4-1, 4-0, 4-3, in the semifinal to face Yu for all the marbles.

More than winning a new trophy and pocketing the $22,500, (P1.3 million), Amit was relieved the match was over.

“I’m just happy it’s done now,” Amit said.