The Malta Eight Ball Federation has just finalised its list of players for the 2013 Nations Cup to be played at the Dolmen Resort Hotel between today and next Monday under the auspices of the European Blackball Association (EBA).

The local organisation was only established in 2012 but has made giant strides in its bid to promote the sport and attract more players to its fold.

On the domestic scene, the federation holds regular competitions for its members who now number over 400. There are 20 clubs affiliated.

Results have been encouraging, particularly of those players who represented the country at the annual European Champion-ships in Bridlington, UK.

The Maltese federation has now been entrusted with the organisation of this year’s Nations Cup with the participation of 500 competitors hailing from England, Northern Ireland, southern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Gibraltar, Libya and Malta.

The selection process was long and players had to go through a series of ranking tournaments, all played at the Vero Amore Juventus Supporters Club, Birkirkara.

The squads were only named when the ranking order was established.

The categories to be contested at the Dolmen will be Men’s A and B, Under 23 A and B, Under 18 A and B, women, Seniors A and B, Masters and Special Needs.

Training prior to the tournament was staged mostly at the Physical Rehabilitation Centre for People with Special Needs, Paola. This venue was made available to the eight-ball federation free of charge by the home’s administrators.