Filipino teen Chezka Centeno rules 9-Ball tilt in Taipei

FILE – Chezka Centeno of the Philippines during the 28th SEA Games Women’s 9-Ball Pool held at the OCBC Arena Hall 4, Singapore Sports Hub.
INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

Filipino teen Chezka Centeno stunned decorated veteran Kelly Fisher of England, 11-8, to win the title in the Amway eSpring International 9-Ball Championship Sunday at Banqiao Gymnasium in Taipei.

Centeno, who turns 17 on June 30, showed great resolve and composure rarely seen at her age to capture her first world 9-ball crown in the senior’s level.

The Zamboanga native rallied from four sets down, 1-5, before racking up the last three sets of her match against the 37-year-old Fisher, a many-time world pool championship winner.

Before arranging a finals duel with Fisher, Centeno had to knock off another world 9-ball champion in Han Yu of China, 9-8, in the semifinals.

Centeno won the women’s 9-ball single gold medal in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.