Borg comeback earns him 10th national title

Alex Borg has been crowned Malta snooker champion for the 10th time. In the final, played earlier this month at the Count Roger Band Club, Rabat, he edged Simon Zammit 7-6.

In what turned out to be a repeat of the Masters final, played the week before, Zammit enjoyed the better start and took a 4-1 lead.

In those first five frames, Zammit was in excellent form and never gave Borg time to settle.

It was a different story after the break, however. Borg was more confident in his potting, reeling off three frames in a row.

Zammit regained the lead but Borg again levelled matters by winning the 10th frame.

Frame no.11 was won by Zammit, leaving him on the verge of the national title but Borg kept his composure. Relying on his ex-perience, he won the last two frames to dash Zammit’s hopes of a second career title in what was another memorable night for the Mellieħa-born cueist.

Frame scores: (Zammit first) 69-30, 70-0, 20-51, 58-53, 74-37, 41-62, 59-63, 11-69, 79-11, 29-73, 74-7, 36-79, 28-66.

This was Borg’s 18th appearance in the Maltese top-division final.

He has had a remarkable season as, in addition to his success in the national championship, the veteran also succeeded in clinching the Masters title at the first time of asking.

Borg also reached the final of the second ranking tournament and, throughout the season, only lost three games, two against Zammit and one to Duncan Bezzina, the outgoing champion.

Borg is currently in Sheffield, England, to participate in three tournaments organised by World Snooker, titled Q School.

A total of 124 players are taking part. The four semi-finalists in each of the three tournaments will book their place in the Main Tour next year.

Borg will play his first game tomorrow.

Maltese referee Ambrose Licari will officiate matches in the Q School events.

Licari was referee for the national championship final and also oversaw matches in the European Team Championships, held in Malta earlier this year.