National champion Borg secures second success

Malta snooker champion Alex Borg consolidated his position at the top of the rankings list after winning the fourth and final ranking tournament of the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association (MBSA) season, sponsored by Tivoli Confectionery.

In the final match, played last week at the St Joseph Band Club, Hamrun, Borg, of Melita Band Club, defeated Simon Zammit, of Jesmond SC, 5-3 for his second tournament victory this season. Joe Grech and Arthur Cachia were the winners of the other two MBSA ranking tournaments.

Borg made breaks of 73, 60 and 78 to establish a commanding 4-0 lead going into the mid-session interval.

On resumption, however, Zammit fought his way back into contention by taking the next three frames. A deciding match looked on the cards but Zammit missed a long pot on the brown giving Borg the opportunity to wrap up the frame and secure his victory.

Charles Camilleri was the referee of the final. At the end of the match, David Farrugia Sacco, the MBSA president, presented the prizes.

In the ranking list, Borg now has 4,650 points followed by Zammit on 3,450, Grech (3,300) and Cachia (2,900).

International tournaments

Meanwhile, the final matches from the second round of the Premier League were played earlier this week ahead of the three international tournaments organised by the MBSA and starting tomorrow at the Dolmen Hotel, Qawra.

The Mediterranean Snooker Cup will be played tomorrow and on Sunday and the European Team Snooker Championships are scheduled to take place between March 7 and 12. The IBSF World Billiards Championships get underway on March 13.

The public is invited to attend and give their support to the local players. Entrance will be free of charge.