Young prospect Brian Cini became the first Maltese player to win the European Under-17 Open when he beat England’s Nico Elton 5-1 in the final in front of a sizeable crowd at the Apple Club in Buġibba, on Sunday.

Cini opened well by winning the first frame 93-9 and then compiling a break of 57 to go 2-0 up.

Elton pulled one back in the third frame, 71-48, but Cini was in top form to claim the next three 78-60, 58-26 and 59-35.

Earlier in the day, Cini won his semi-final against Louis Heathcote (England) 4-3. Elton and Heathcote are two of the best talents in the game in their country and both played in PTC Ranking Tournaments, organised by the World Snooker Association.

John Hartley, chairman of the English Amateur Billiards and Snooker organisation, presented the trophy to Cini together with the winner’s prize-money of €400.

Other trophies and money prizes went to Elton and losing semi-finalists Heathcote and Owais Ali.

The highest break of the tournament – 88 – was compiled by Elton with Cini hitting an 85. There were several other 70-plus breaks in the competition during which the players resided at the San Antonio Hotel & Spa in Qawra.

Other main sponsors of the Under-17 Open were the Malta Tourism Authority and the Apple Club.

The tournament was organised by Pro-Am Snooker.