The first from a series of six ranking tournaments, hosted by the Malta Eight Ball Federation (MEBF), was played recently.

The tournaments include a qualifier for the World Black Ball Championships which will be played in autumn in Perth, Scotland, between October 25 and November 1.

Play was held at the MEBF Arena and among the first finals contested on the evening was the one for Over 40s between Conrad Catania, of Downtown, and his former club team-mate Jesmond Schembri.

Catania was in great form to win the match 8-5.

Roberta Cutajar continued with her dominance in the women’s category by outclassing Lorna Micallef 6-1.

Cutajar won the opening frame but Micallef hit back to level at one-all.

After that, however, it was all Cutajar as she got her bearing back to win the next five frames and the title.

The U-18s medal match produced a surprise as Leon Azzo-pardi was beaten by Joseph Fiteni 8-7 in a very close contest.

This was Fiteni’s first ranking tournament title in his career.

Meanwhile, in the Under 23s category, Gary Carr picked up from where he had left off last season after beating Selmun’s Shawn Deguara 10-5.

The highlight of the evening at the Arena was the Open final between Clint Azzopardi and Maverick Zammit.

Both players looked in form but in the end it was Zammit who sealed the title 10-7 to bring the curtains down on a successful opening ranking event of the season.