Fefilova wins first Women's World 10-Ball title, denies Centeno historic three-peat in Rome

Rome, Italy – As the Belarusian flag was raised at the awards ceremony, Margarita Fefilova could no longer hold back tears. A 29-year-old player with no previous world title had just made history at the Women's World 10-Ball Championship. She defeated two-time champion Chezka Centeno in a dramatic five-set final. The venue in Rome, Italy witnessed a rare script: Centeno, the Filipino player who had won two straight titles, tried to become the first woman to claim three consecutive crowns in this event. But Fefilova did not allow that story. In the first two sets, she played like a machine, winning 4-0 and 4-1, or 8 of the opening 9 racks. This showed that her break shot, early scoring and active table control were working at a very high level. Still, limiting the match to those first two sets would be misleading. With a maximum of five sets, the format allowed a strong comeback. Centeno showed why she is a two-time champion. In the third and fourth sets, she calmly erased the deficit and forced a deciding set. Centeno displayed better safety play and knew how to capitalize on Fefilova's mistakes. The final set was tense. Fefilova no longer dominated with her break shot, but she stayed patient enough to wait for Centeno's errors. The win came more from unforced opponent mistakes than from flawless attacking play. That does not reduce the value of the title, but it shows the final was not one-sided. According to Absolute Pool's coverage, Fefilova's path was notable because she defeated three former champions during the event. Her technical game matched well against different styles, from aggressive opponents to experienced veterans. At 29, a player is usually entering the mature phase of a career, and this result confirms Fefilova is at her peak. Looking at the whole event, the presence of players from the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, the United States and Europe showed the global appeal of women's 10-ball. Centeno and Rubilen Amit anchored the Philippines' strength. Asian players such as Chou Chieh-Yu, Kim Ga-Young and Chihiro Kawahara added depth. A younger wave appeared through Savannah Easton and Sofia Mast, two teenagers who reached the round of 16. The final was not only about the two players on the table. A purse of $55,000, high for women's 10-ball, gives players like Fefilova the means to invest seriously in their careers. The mix of former champions and 9-ball specialists made the event unpredictable and valuable for the sport. The hidden issue behind this title is consistency. Fefilova has only her first major trophy. Her break shot is a great weapon, but once opponents adjust to her early pressure, she has not yet shown comparable defensive maturity. In the deciding set, Centeno actually created more chances but failed to convert them. Fefilova's new status must therefore be tested across more tournaments. Centeno should not be underestimated after this loss. She remains one of the best female players of her generation. Losing a title defense does not erase two previous championships; it actually proves she can fight back from a difficult position. If they meet again, Centeno will handle the early phase better, and Fefilova will need to prove that her 8-of-9 opening run was not a one-off burst. For women's billiards, this match matters beyond the trophy. The set format kept the drama alive until the very end. Fans saw not just beautiful shots but a mental battle between a rising contender and an experienced champion. Fefilova's emotion during the Belarusian anthem was one of those rare moments that show the psychological depth of the winner. In the long run, the mix of young talents and seasoned champions is putting real pressure on the top group. One title does not define a career. The real question is whether Fefilova can maintain this level in other tournaments, and how Centeno will respond after this shock. Women's 10-ball needs rivalries like this to grow, and the Rome final just introduced a new challenger to the old order.