Ivan Balzan completed a hat trick of tournament wins at last Saturday’s Cynergi powered by Eurosport Open. Balzan was once again unstoppable and proved to be still flying high after the Malta team’s ESNST success in Cyprus.

Two ‘new’ players managed to mix things up for some of the more regular tournament players. Anthony Schembri and Nigel Dunkerley fought their way into the play-off finals. The final placings were: first, Ivan Balzan, second Anthony Schembri and third Nigel Dunkerley.

After the final, Balzan said: “the experience of playing abroad against strong opposition is the difference. If some of these players could play more often against overseas players it would certainly help improve their game, and make my life tougher”

Nicolas Lemaitre was the surprise winner of the ‘B’ event for less experienced tournament players. Sixteen players fought out a very interesting tournament. Lemaitre, visiting Malta from France, fought his way through to the final where he came up against George Goodall. In front of an interested crowd, Lemaitre and Goodal fought out a very close contest before Lemaitre’s fitness and consistency proved too much for Goodall.

Once again, five players that had never before played a squash tournament, took part showing the growing popularity of squash in Malta.

Mark Seychell, one of Malta’s leading juniors finished a well deserved fifth. In only his second senior tournament, Seychell played extremely well against older and stronger opponents. Seychell told Malta Squash secretary Liz Said that his aim was to eventually win a ‘B’ event and so play in the ‘A’ event against Malta’s leading players”

Both winners were presented with a free one month membership for Cynergi powered by Eurosport.

Malta Squash secretary Liz Said thanked everyone involved, especially Martin Azzopardi, for arranging the prizes and for holding another successful Malta Squash event.