Emotional Chezka Centeno wins 8-ball world title for late mother: ‘Ma, I did it!’

SHOT. The Philippines' Chezka Centeno in action during the 2026 WPA Women's World Eight-Ball Championship. Women's Professional Billiard Association Facebook page Chezka Centeno finds a measure of comfort less than three months after the death of her mother by capturing her third world eight-ball title MANILA, Philippines – Chezka Centeno’s late mother must be smiling right now. Centeno found some semblance of comfort less than three months after the death of her mother Josephine by ruling the WPA Women’s World Eight-Ball Championship following a 9-6 win over British legend Kelly Fisher in the final in Green Bay, United States, on Sunday, July 26 (Monday, July 27, Manila time). The 27-year-old pride of Zamboanga City let her emotions out after sealing the tight victory, unable to hold back tears as she remembered her mother. “I dedicate this to my mom,” said a sobbing Centeno. As if guided by divine intervention, Centeno got a timely break in the 15th rack with only two balls standing in her way of the crown as the referee ruled a Filler safety shot as a foul, giving the Filipina the ball in hand. Centeno proceeded to pocket her last striped ball and coolly sank the eight ball, completing a superb run that saw her win her third world title after her world 10-ball triumphs in 2023 and 2025. “Ma, I did it! This is for you,” Centeno later wrote on Facebook as caption to a photo that showed her holding her newest precious hardware. Centeno’s win denied Fisher, 47, a breakthrough world eight-ball championship — the only missing prize in her collection that includes world titles in snooker, nine-ball, and 10-ball. But Fisher was gracious in defeat, hailing Centeno as a worthy champion. “I was going for this myself, of course, to complete the titles I’ve won. I’ve not won the eight-ball yet, so disappointed. Happy I got this far, but of course, wanted to win this title more than anything,” said Fisher. “I just do want to say for Chezka, she’s a fantastic player, first and foremost, and she deserves this. I know she’s done this with every ounce of her body for her mom and I understand what that feels like. I’m so happy for her to have done this for her mom and dad.” Centeno got the job done this time after settling for a runner-up finish in the 2025 edition, where she suffered a stinging 9-8 loss to Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan in the final. In a reversal of fortune, Centeno got back at Ouschan with a dominant 8-4 victory in their last 16 clash. Centeno then eliminated compatriot and close friend Rubilen Amit in the quarterfinals, 8-6, and overcame Chinese Taipei’s Wei Tzu-Chien in the semifinals, 8-5, to set up a title clash with Fisher. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading