20 players to take part in U-17 tournament

A record 20 players from 10 European countries will be taking part in the fourth Invitational European U-17 Snooker Open, to be held from January 3-10, 2010 at the Apple Snooker Club in Buġibba, and Jesmond Sporting Club in Ħamrun.

The participants hail from Austria (1), Belgium (2), England (4), France (1), Ireland (2), Israel (1), Malta (2), Northern Ireland (1), Scotland (2) and Sweden (4).

Some of Europe's leading U-17 players, the likes of Michael Leslie, of Scotland, English duo Oliver Brown and Sam Harvey and Northern Irishman Declan Brennan, have confirmed their participation in next month's tournament which is being organised by Pro Am Snooker.

Malta will be represented by Christopher Peplow and Wayne Pace in next month's U-17 Open. The players have been split into four groups of five each. The first two in each group will progress to the quarter-finals.

During the week of the Open, an U-17 friendly international between Malta and Sweden will be played at the Apple Snooker Club on January 7, starting at 6 p.m.

Peplow, Pace, John Farrugia and Ryan Pisani have earned a spot in Malta's line-up for the Sweden match, which is sanctioned by the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association (MBSA).

The team of referees for the tournament is made up of William Mifsud (head referee and assistant tournament director), Alfred Borg (venue officer), Emmanuel Fiott (venue manager) and Swede Jonas Larsson.

Bank of Valletta, the Malta Tourism Authority, San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Apple Snooker Club and Hansa Wines & Spirits are the main sponsors of the 2010 Invitational European U-17 Open.