Filipina cue artist Chezka Centeno is a world champion again.
Centeno, already among the most decorated pool players in the country, defeated England’s Kelly Fisher, 9-6, in the final on Sunday to clinch the 2026 Oneida WPA Women’s World 8-Ball Championship.
Fisher was the third world champion the 27-year-old cue artist had to beat en route to her third world title, following the WPA Women’s World 10-Ball Championships she won in 2023 and 2025.
Centeno Overcomes Former Tormentor, Beats Close Friend Right After
In the round of 16, the Filipina bet faced former tormentor Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, who denied the Filipina this very same world title last year via a thrilling 9-8 hill-hill win in the final of the WPA Women’s 8-Ball World Championship in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This time, however, it was Centeno’s turn as she overcame Ouschan, 8-4, to seal a seat in the quarterfinals of the Oneida Casino-backed meet.
The Zamboanga City native then beat compatriot, mentor, and close friend Rubilen Amit, 8-6, in the quarterfinals to arrange a meeting with Chinese Taipei’s Wei Tzu-Chien. Centeno booked a finals spot with an 8-5 victory over the Taiwanese bet.
An Emotional Championship Conquest
For the now three-time world champ, winning the 2026 Oneida WPA Women’s World 8-Ball Championship was more than just nailing a third world title and the $30,000 top prize. It was also a chance to honor her ever-supportive mother, who recently passed away.
The emotions unsurprisingly poured after Centeno’s title-clinching shot as tears noticeably filled the world champion’s eyes. As Centeno sealed the win, she was overcome fully with emotions and couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.
With the victory, Centeno proved once more—this time emphatically—that she is in that top level of Filipino cue artists and is on par with her close friend and mentor, Amit, who herself holds three world championships.
(Watch the championship match in full below.)
