Borg makes it six national titles

Alex Borg successfully defended his national title with a 7-2 victory over Simon Zammit in the final last Wednesday.

Borg's success, the sixth in his career, extended his reign as Malta champion for the fourth consecutive year.

Played in front of a sizeable audience at the Peace Band Club in Naxxar, the final was controlled by international referee Paul Galea.

Borg, who represents Melita Band Club (Msida), got off to a positive start, potting a 48 break to take the first frame. He quickly added the second, 91-19.

Zammit, of Jesmond Sports Club (Hamrun), looked well placed to pull a frame back as Borg needed a snooker on the brown to get back in contention. When Zammit failed to hit a seemingly straightforward snooker, Borg cleared the last four colours to win the frame 67-65 and extend his lead to 3-0. He also won the next three frames, helped by breaks of 48 and 69 (the highest of the match) to move six frames ahead in the best-of-13 final.

Although Zammit took the seventh and eight frames, Borg built a healthy lead in the ninth to win 78-1 and secure the title.

After the match, David Farrugia Sacco, president of the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association (MBSA) presented the championship cup to Borg.

The two finalists will represent Malta in the European Snooker Championships in Constanta, Romania where Borg will try to retain the title he won last year in Poland.