First International World Championships

Paul Mifsud created two major upsets in the First International World Billiards Championships yesterday at the Jerma Palace Hotel after beating last year's runner-up Peter Gilchrist, of England, 4-2, and world no.7 Robby Foldvari, of Australia, 4-1.

Two-time world amateur billiards champion Mifsud, 57, has never abandoned his favourite game even though he was not practising regularly lately.

Yesterday, however, he showed he has lost none of his sparkle as consistent breaks, including a 103 and 97, saw him moving to the next round of a competition featuring the world's top eight professional players, besides four qualifiers and the three other local wild-card entries.

This afternoon Mifsud is favourite to beat qualifier Peter Sheehan. The Englishman yesterday lost both his matches to Gilchrist and Foldvari.

In the quarter-finals, Mifsud plays against either Devendra Joshi or Roxton Chapman.

Different fortunes

However, different fortunes awaited the other three Maltese players in the tournament.

Joe Grech, Frans Mintoff and Pullu Grech are all on the verge of elimination after losing their opening two matches in their respective groups.

Pullu Grech suffered two identical 4-0 defeats against England's Mike Russel and Geeth Sethi of India in Group A.

Mintoff, in Group B, managed to win only one frame after losing to Indians Ashtok Shandilya 4-1 and Nalin Patel 4-0.

Hamrun's Joe Grech lost his two Group C matches to Englishmen David Causier, 4-0, and Roxton Chapman 4-1.

The tournament continues today with the remaining qualifier from each group. The top two advance to the quarter-finals, scheduled for this evening.

Group A: M. Russel bt P. Grech 4-0; L. Lagan bt G. Sethi 4-1; M. Russel bt L. Lagan 4-0; G. Sethi bt P. Grech 4-0.

Group B: C. Shutt bt F. Mintoff 4-0; M. Patel bt A. Shandilya 4-2; C. Shutt bt A. Shandilya 4-1; M. Patel bt F. Mintoff 4-1.

Group C: D. Causier bt J. Grech 4-0; D. Joshi bt R. Chapman 4-0; D. Causier bt D. Joshi 4-1; R. Chapman bt J. Grech 4-1.

Group D: P. Mifsud bt P. Gilchrist 4-2; R. Foldvari bt P. Sheehan 4-1; P. Mifsud bt R. Foldvari 4-1; P. Gilchrist bt P. Sheehan 4-1.