MANILA, Philippines — Filipino pool star Chezka Centeno has denied allegations that she deliberately lost the WPA Women’s World 10-Ball Championship final after falling short of making history in Rome, Italy.
Centeno, 27, lost to Belarusian Margarita Fefilova, 4-1, 4-0, 1-4, 0-4, 4-0, in the championship match on Thursday, Aug. 6, ending her bid to become the first player—male or female—to win three World 10-Ball titles and claim the championship three consecutive times.
The defeat also prevented Centeno from adding another milestone to her already impressive career after winning the world 10-ball crown in Austria in 2023 and Indonesia in 2025.
Centeno fought back after falling two sets behind and forced a deciding fifth set, but her comeback attempt eventually faded in the final stretch.
The loss also triggered accusations on social media that Centeno had intentionally thrown the match.
The controversy intensified when Centeno trailed 0-3 in the fifth set and appeared to have an opportunity to mount another comeback after Fefilova committed a dry break.
However, Centeno missed a crucial shot on the five-ball, allowing Fefilova to take control. The Belarusian then cleared the remaining balls in a decisive runout to secure her first world title and the $55,000 top prize.
Centeno, who earned $33,000 as runner-up, dismissed the notion that the result was deliberately manipulated and maintained that Fefilova simply proved to be the better player in the final.
Despite the disappointing loss, Centeno’s run to the championship match remained significant, particularly because she had to battle through the losers’ bracket to reach the final.
The defeat also denied Centeno the chance to become a world champion in two pool disciplines in the same campaign. Just over a week earlier, she captured the world eight-ball title in the United States.
Centeno’s performance in Rome nevertheless added another major achievement to her growing international résumé, even as her historic bid for a third world 10-ball championship came to an end.
Meanwhile, Amit, the first female player to win two World 10-Ball titles following her victories in 2009 and 2013, was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Kawahara.
