Amit stops Yukawa, gains quarterfinal

MANILA, Philippines - Former world champion Rubilen Amit and compatriot Iris Ranola -- the last two Filipinas standing - fell by the wayside, leaving two unlikely contenders for the crown in the 2011 Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship at the Robinson’s Galleria last night.

Tsai Pei Chen ended Amit’s bid for a second title with a gruelling 8-7 hill-hill victory to barge into the semis and complete a Philippine shutout as Iris Ranola, the other Phl bet, also absorbed a 4-8 beating at the hands of unlikely quarterfinalist Hui Shan Lai, whom she beat in the group matches.

“We gave it our best but sometimes things don’t go our way all the time, maybe I’ll try again next time,” said Amit.

The loss of Amit, who won the inaugural staging two years ago, and Austrian Jasmin Ouschan, last year’s winner, will this give this yearly event a new champion.

“I feel nervous and happy beating a champion like Amit,” said Chen through an interpreter.

The 30-year-old Amit, who is set to leave for Palembang, Indonesia on Tuesday to defend two crowns in the SEA Games, set up a quarters duel with Taipei’s Tsai Pei Chen, an 8-6 winner over China’s Dou Dou Zhou.

Amit, who topped Group One after emerging with the highest tiebreak in a three-way tie, enjoyed leads of 5-0, 6-1 and 7-2 before completing the win over Yukawa.

She had a chance to wrap things up on the 10th rack but bungled what looked like an elementary shot.

Yukawa, who eliminated Ouschan in an 8-7 squeaker in the round-of-32 earlier, took the 10th and 11th before eventually yielding the match.

“I got a little bit excited on that one,” said Amit on his rack 10 foul-up.

Also advancing were Taipei’s Shin Mei Liu, who edged Simning Chen, 8-6, and multi-titled Korean Ga Young Kim, who topped Norwegian Line Kjorsvik, 8-4.