MBSA to host first ever world championship

The Malta Billiards and Snooker Federation will be hosting the first ever World Snooker Federation world championship at the Dolmen Hotel in Bugibba.

The event is to be sponsored by the Oracle Casino which is a subsidiary of the Dolmen Hotel.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, MBSA president Frans Bugeja said it was an honour for the Maltese association to be hosting this tournament which will not only hand out good prize money but also lands the winner and finalist for two years in the Main Tour.

Bugeja thanked the Parliamentary Secretariat for Sport, Sport Malta and the sponsors, who gave a big helping hand towards the staging of this event.

PS Dr Clifton Grima, responsible for Sports, said the government was committed to help associations such as the MBSA as such events help Malta’s sports tourism. He also revealed that in the near future, Malta will have its own Snooker Academy.

The event will start tomorrow and will come to an end with the presentation and closing ceremony on 24 March.

One hundred and eighty players hailing from 25 different countries, will be taking part in the various categories, that is, Women, Seniors and Mixed Gender. The event will be played over 14 tables.

Malta will be represented in the Seniors and Mixed event, as follows:

Seniors: Jason Peplow, Mario Brincat, Arthur Cachia, Ivan Attard, Frans Mintoff, Tony Mifsud, Frans Abdilla, Simon Zammit, Mark Saffrett and Emanuel Mallia.

Mixed event: Duncan Bezzina, Brian Cini, Aaron Busuttil, Jason Peplow, Mario Brincat, Clayton Castaldi, Chris Pelow, Matthew Calleja, Isaac Borg, Joseph Casha, Philip Ciantar and John Farrugia.

Seven Maltese referees will also be controlling matches in the three categories.

Also addressing the news conference were executive members of the WSF, Nigel Mawer, vice-president, and Maxim Cassis, secretary general.

Both said they were honoured to be in Malta for this great event which promises to bring change to the game of snooker in its efforts to get into the Olympic Movement by the year 2024.

Mr Cassis added that they were looking forward to a very successful inaugural world championship – one to be remembered.

Prize-money

Women and seniors: Winner €6,000 (grand total €17,000).

€10,000 (grand total €28,300). Winner