Double success for Borg Bonaci in Bologna
Maltese table football players enjoyed an extraordinary weekend in Italy as Joe Borg Bonaci won the Major of Bologna and Joseph Mifsud reached the semi-finals. Borg Bonaci also helped his Greek club, Falcons Athens, to victory in the team...
Maltese table football players enjoyed an extraordinary weekend in Italy as Joe Borg Bonaci won the Major of Bologna and Joseph Mifsud reached the semi-finals. Borg Bonaci also helped his Greek club, Falcons Athens, to victory in the team competition.
Six Maltese players took part in the Major of Bologna, namely Borg Bonaci, Hansel Mallia, Mifsud, Derek Conti, Charles Aquilina and Samuel Bartolo. A total of 174 players entered the individual event, which took place last Sunday.
The team competition, held on Saturday, saw five Maltese players turn out for their respective clubs. Conti and Bartolo played for CCT Roma, Mifsud for AS Palermo, Aquilina for Reggiana and Borg Bonaci for Greek outfit Falcons Athens who clinched the team title.
Despite turning in a good performance, Mallia and Aquilina lost their Last 64 matches. Conti booked his place in the quarter-finals with a victory over world champion Daniele Bertelli.
Bartolo was eliminated by Greek talent Richos 1-0 in the Last 16 while Mifsud moved past Italian veteran Lamberti 2-1. Borg Bonaci joined Mifsud and Conti in the quarter-finals after beating Spain's Martinez on penalty shots.
Mifsud's match with Mattiangeli ended in a draw but the Maltese made it through to the semis after winning a shoot-out.
Conti encountered three-times world champion Massimo Bolognino, losing after a penalty shoot-out.
In the semi-finals, Borg Bonaci beat Greek's Beis 2-1 and Mifsud went down 1-0 to Bolognino.
The final was a nailbiting affair but Borg Bonaci kept his cool to beat Bolognino 3-2 after extra-time.