Billiards
Amit defeats Ouschan in world 10-ball tilt
Luck smiled at Rubilen Amit as she took advantage of defending champion Jasmin Ouschan’s miscues to beat the Austrian, 6-2, ando barge into the knockout round of the 2011 Women’s World Championship on Friday at Robinsons Galleria.
Amit took control of the match after Ouschan scratched while shooting the last ball in the third rack. That mistake proved costly as Amit won all but one racks after that.
The 30-year-old Amit bounced back following a loss to Monica Webb of the United States last Thursday to finish the group stage with a 4-1 win-loss card.
“To be honest, I had a better start against Monica Webb than with Jasmin Ouschan,” said Amit. “I still have a lot of errors. Mukhang para sa akin talaga itong laro.”
“Sinong mag-aakala na mag-mimintis siya sa 10-ball? Kahit ipatira mo ng isang daang beses ‘yun sa kanya, hindi magmimintis ‘yun,” Amit added.
It was Ouschan’s first loss after four consecutive victories but will advance to the next stage despite the defeat.
Amit had two dry breaks after the third rack but Ouschan could not capitalize. Amit converted a long shot at the six-ball in the sixth frame after a safety by Ouschan left the ball open for the Filipina.
Amit, however, failed to finish the match in the seventh rack as she scratched the ball when she left too much English on the cue ball after she converted the six-ball.
But trying a safety shot, Ouschan left the two-ball open instead, paving the way for Amit to win the match.
Meanwhile, Iris Ranola’s hopes of gaining a spot in the knockout round ended when she lost to erstwhile winless Anastasia Necheava of Russia, 6-5.
Ranola trailed 0-3 but was able to come back to force hill-hill. With pressure sinking in on both players, it was Necheava, a world junior competitor, who showed nerves of steel making the final three balls after a series of miss shots to take the win.
