Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit bowed out of contention after absorbing a 5-7 defeat to Chinese Xiao Fang in the Last 24 of the 2010 Amway WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Open late Saturday at the Core Pacific Living Mall Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan.

The reigning world 10-ball champion lost steam at the crucial stage of the match to finish with a 3-2 win-loss card in the single round eliminations in Group E stage match of the event which stakes $70,000 (roughly P3.3 million) to the champion.

The 28-year-old Amit, who was named co-Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association last week, actually had the chance to automatically clinch a Last 16 berth on Saturday had she won her fifth match against group topnotcher Karen Corr of Ireland.

With the loss, Amit failed to surpass her second runner-up finish in the tournament’s 2007 edition. - Francis Santiago