RUBILEN Amit missed the chance of earning an opening-round bye in the Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championships when she lost in the group stages for the first time against Chan Ya-ting of Chinese Taipei, 4-6, on Wednesday at the Robinson’s Galleria in Quezon City.
Chan, who finished the group stage with a 4-1 record in Group Seven, built an early 2-0 lead to gain momentum with Amit committing several miscues all game long.
Amit failed to take the early lead in the first rack when she missed a 3-10 combination.
She tied the game at 2 but failed miserably to pull even again in the eighth rack. Aiming at the eight-ball at the side pocket from very close range, she failed to convert the ball by a hair allowing Chan to reach hill, 5-3.
The 30-year-old blamed her poor start for her first defeat in the group stage.
“May mga early errors ako kaya nag-build ‘yung lead niya,” she said.
Amit clinched a spot in the round-of-32 after defeating Keiko Yukawa last Tuesday for her third win. However, she would have secured the top spot and an automatic trip to the round-of-16 had the 2009 champion defeated Chan.
She cemented the second spot in Group Seven with an easy 6-1 win over Ine Helvic of Norway on Wednesday night.
“Sayang kanina kasi for top-seed na sana ‘yun at bye sa opening round. I was really vying for that,” said Amit.
Amit will join 13-year-old Chezka Centeno in the knockout round after Iris Ranola was eliminated from title contention.
Centeno was beaten by defending champion Kelly Fisher, 6-1, but has already clinched a seat into the next round with a 3-2 win-loss record.
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