All that’s come before is irrelevant and everything now comes down to what unfolds on cup collection day as the prestigious Women’s World 9-Ball Championship concludes in Jacksonville, Florida.
Kristina Tkach and Seo Seoa would have been kept awake at night envisioning becoming the world 9-ball champion, and they will now be endeavouring to transform those dreams into reality in the sunshine state.
Four-time champion Allison Fisher and 2010 winner Fu Xiaofang have been there and achieved those aspirations, yet both continue to be somewhere near the peak of their powers and remain steady operators.
Whoever reigns supreme in Florida would almost certainly experience the greatest day of their career and pocket the lucrative $50,000 champion’s cheque.
Seo Seoa v Allison Fisher
Allison Fisher is inevitable. At 57 years of age, the greatest female player of all time is into her eleventh World 9-Ball Championship semi-final, three decades after her first, and now stands one victory away from an eighth final.
Fisher clinched all three sets 4-3 in an impressive quarter-final win over three-time world champion Liu Shasha. It was a gruelling match for her, yet one which provided further evidence that she still has what it takes to become a five-time champion of the world, 24 years after winning her fourth world title.
Nevertheless, Fisher has the stern task of derailing title favourite Seo Seoa on her collision course to winning a maiden world crown. The South Korean star has reached her second semi-final in three years with relative ease, remaining unbeaten and dropping only one set in the process.
Seoa has enjoyed the most successful year of her career, winning significant titles in both Indonesia and Spain, and she’s continued that form into this tournament. If she maintains the same standard, it would take something extraordinary to stop her in her tracks.
A runner-up in the 2024 Women’s World 10-Ball Championship, Seoa defeated Fisher in last February’s Women’s Showdown in Las Vegas, and it would be difficult to foresee a contrasting outcome this time around despite Fisher’s grittiness.
Prediction: 3-1 Seoa
Kristina Tkach v Fu Xiaofang
Kristina Tkach is into her third consecutive Women’s World 9-Ball Championship semi-final – that’s a staggering record for anyone. She will now want to kick on though and etch her name onto the most esteemed roll of honour in the women’s game.
Tkach produced a sensational performance from one set behind to beat Chezka Centeno 3-1 in the quarter-finals, showing tremendous courage and executing a potentially match-winning table-length kick shot on the five ball at a crucial juncture of the fourth set. That followed an impressive straight sets win over 2023 winner Chou Chieh-Yu.
China’s Fu Xiaofang, meanwhile, was crowned world champion 15 years ago and now competes in her sixth semi-final. She’s perhaps fortunate to do so, having survived an intense shootout against Yunmi Lim on the one-loss side.
Fu has needed to show considerable fortitude on her way to the final four, fending off a valiant comeback from China Open champion Chihiro Kawahara in the last 16 in a thrilling five-set battle, before beating Jasmin Ouschan in straight sets.
Having been denied in a deciding set in the semi-finals against eventual champion Rubilen Amit last year, Tkach will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky as she attempts to seal her spot in the biggest match on the women’s calendar for the first time.
Prediction: 3-0 Tkach
