A good number of Maltese players took part in the FISTF International Open of Messina, recently.

For the majority of the Maltese players in Messina, the tournament served as a good preparation for their participation in the FISTF World Cup that will be held in France in September.

In the Open category, Hansel Mallia, Jean Tabone and Massimo Cremona all progressed from their respective groups.

Mallia made it to the quarter-finals but was beaten by Italian player La Torre 3-1.

Tabone and Cremona progressed to the semi-finals where they were paired against each other.

It was Cremona who reached the final following a 3-1 win.

In the final, Cremona faced Panebianco in a thrilling match that finished two-all after normal time. No goals were scored in extra-time so penalties were needed to decide a winner.

Here Panebianco prevailed 4-3 to win the Open title.

In the veterans category, Mario Camilleri and John Zammit both qualified from the group stage and faced each other in the quarter-finals.

Here, Camilleri edged through after winning the match by the odd goal in three.

In the semi-finals, Camilleri beat Bruno Goset, of Belgium, by a single goal to reach the final.

Camilleri was up against another Belgian player, Pascal Scheen, in a very balanced final.

It took a late goal to give Camilleri the veterans title.

Melvin Barun also shone in the U-19 category. He reached the final after ousting Italian Alessandro Natoli 5-4 after a penalty shoot-out.

Barun, however, just came up short in the final when he lost to Italy’s Manzella 3-2.