Former snooker champion Guzi Grech has passed away, the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association said.

He was 66.

In a post on Facebook, the association said Grech won several honours including the Maltese National Snooker Champion six times, World Billiards Champion, European Mens Team Champion and European Over 40s Mens Team Champion.

The association expressed its sorrow to Grech's  family in these difficult times.

In 1987, Grech was runner-up in the World Amateur Snooker Championship.

Ten years later he was crowned world billiards champion when the tournament was held in Rabat. Grech won the European Team Billiards Championship in 2005.

Grech, who was born in Ħamrun, played against several top world players during his professional careers which started in 1989 and came to an end in 2000.