Brian Cini won his third game from as many matches in Group B to retain his unbeaten record and qualify for the quarter-finals of the U-17 Open which is being staged at the Apple Club in Buġibba.
Cini, yet to concede a single frame, beat England cueist Josh Baddeley 3-0 (60-19, 82-26 and 51-11) in his last match to qualify as Group B winner.
Malta’s other young hopeful in the tournament for junior players, Chris Peplow, lost his last match but still succeeded in reaching the knock-out stages despite having to settle for third place in Group A.
In his last group match, Peplow lost to England’s Peter Devlin 2-3 (80-25, 36-49, 62-17, 39-70 and 36-74).
The four players who topped their respective groups were Devlin, Cini, Nico Elton (England – Group C) and Louis Heathcote (England – Group D).
All four booked their place in the last eight while those who finished second and third in their respective groups are to figure in a pre-quarter-final play-off to stay in the tournament.