Drago regains place among world's elite

Tony Drago has reclaimed his place among the elite players in the WPSA Main Tour next season after winning a dramatic Inter-national Open final played on Wednesday night in Duffel, Belgium.

Drago faced Dutchman Roy Stolk in the 2009 European play-off as both players made their way to the final in convincing style after beating off the challenge of the other 94 players in the competition.

Drago has been dedicating most of his playing time to the nine-ball game lately but re-ignited his interest in snooker this year also thanks to the assistance of his old friend Jimmy White, the popular London professional with whom he practised in the build-up to the Open and the European Championship currently under way, also in Duffel.

Stolk had won the European play-off in 2006 but lost his place in the professional circuit after only one season.

He was aiming to regain his place in the WPSA list but in Drago found a stubborn opponent who got his own way in the end.

Stolk led 2-0 and 4-3 and Drago required a snooker in the eighth frame to save the match.

'The Tornado' duly got it and potted a break of 53 in the decider to wrap up the match and receive a standing ovation from those present including his fellow Malta team-mates and MBSA president Joe Caruana Curran.

"After 25 years as a professional, I can't tell you how much I missed it," Drago, who fired 11 half-century breaks over the two days, was quoted as saying.

"I couldn't have done any of this without Jimmy White. He gave me the keys to his club so I could go and practise... he reignited my love for the game. He was always my hero and I want to thank him publicly."

Malta champion Alex Borg reached the knockout stages of the Open but was eliminated in the last 16 by Norway's Kurt Maflin, holder of the tournament's highest break of 123.

Thurston Grixti, Duncan Pisani and Clayton Castaldi also took part.

Another berth in the Main Tour awaits the winner of the European Championship which comes to a close on June 13.

Drago, Borg and Castaldi are playing in the group stage.

Frame scores (Drago vs Stolk 5-4): 21-61, 1-85, 75-4, 80-1, 61-35, 4-84, 25-87, 70-66, 67-31.