Ranking event heralds start of new season

The Malta Billiards & Snooker Association (MBSA) season gets under way on Monday with the staging of the first ranking event. This will be the first from four snooker tournaments carrying points that the MBSA will be organising this season, along with the National Championships in both snooker and billiards.

As in previous years the tournament will be played in various clubs, all members of the association.

In all, 68 players have registered to play in this tournament.

Points will be awarded according to performance and stage reached and this will contribute to establish the top players in Malta.

At present, Malta champion Alex Borg is heading the provisional ranking list followed by Duncan Bezzina and Simon Zammit.

Matches will be played every evening starting from Monday with the final scheduled to take place on October 17 at the Jesmond Sports Club, Ħamrun, at 6 p.m.

Following this tournament, the MBSA will then participate in the IBSF World Snooker Championships due to be held in Wels, Austria, between October 26 and November 8.

Malta will be represented by Borg and Zammit in the men's event while Tony Mifsud will be playing in the Masters event.

Referee Emric Ellul will control some of the matches during the championships.

During the championships, Joe Caruana Curran, the newly-elected president of the Malta Billiards & Snooker Association, will be attending the IBSF annual general meeting which takes place on November 6.

The 2008/09 snooker season will then continue with the staging of the second ranking event which will be held between November 10 and 21.

The national snooker championships are scheduled to commence on November 24.