Billiards and Snooker will be the talk of the town again next month as the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association will be organising no fewer than six European or world tournaments at the Dolmen resort hotel in Bugibba.
The president of the MBSA, Dr David Farrugia Sacco, said yesterday the association has a long and impressive history with regard to the staging of international events in Malta. The six tournaments which the MBSA has undertaken to organise in March will surely rank as one of the most ambitious ever.”
These are the Cisk Lager Mediterranean Cup, Cisk Lager European Team Championships and the Cisk Lager World Billiards Championships.
“We are grateful to all our sponsors who are supporting us in these international tournaments, in particular Cisk Lager, as the title sponsors of these events, and the Malta Sports Council. Without their assistance the events would not have been possible.”
“The MBSA has an excellent and dynamic team running this season’s events. I am confident that our efforts will go a long way to confirming the popularity of our sport in Malta. We have ensured that as many local players as possible will have the opportunity of competing at international level, and also at the same time giving some of our younger players a unique opportunity to develop their talents and skills.”
Richard Balani, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Billiards & Snooker Association then went on to give more details on the events themselves. “The MBSA’s ambitious plans to stage not just one, but four international events will bring to Malta over 200 players, officials, delegates and supporters, and it will surely be a busy time for the hard working MBSA officials.”
Cisk Lager
Mediterranean Cup
The first tournament, the Cisk Lager Mediterranean Cup, will be a 64 player snooker event and will be played on 5 and 6 March. The players have drawn into 16 groups of four players each, and the round robin stage will determine the group winners who will then go on to the knockout stage, that is, the last 16, quarter finals, semi finals and final. There will be a prize fund of 2000 euros for this event, with 550 euros going to the winner.
Cisk Lager European Teams Championships (Men, Seniors and Ladies)
From 7 to 12 March, the Cisk Lager European Teams Championships will be staged.
Forty-four teams from Belgium, Cyprus, England, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Isle of Man, Israel, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland and Wales will compete in the three events comprising the European Teams Championships – Men, Ladies and Seniors.
The Men’s event, with a prize fund of 2500 euros, will be contested by 24 teams, and each team will consist of three players who will play two frames each against every member of the opposing team. There will be the first group stage where the teams have been drawn into six groups of four players. The winners and runners up of each group will go on to play for the top 12 positions in the tournament, while the third and fourth placed will compete for positions 13 to 24.
The second group stage will consist of four groups of three teams each, with the winners going on to the semi finals, and eventually the final. All teams will be playing to determine every single position, from 1 to 24.
The Ladies event, with a prize fund of 1,250 euros, will be contested by eight teams, and each team will consist of two players, who will play two frames against each member of the opposing team. There will be an initial group stage, where the teams will be divided into two groups of four players each, with the winners and runners up going on to the semi finals and eventually the final. The third and fourth placed of both groups will play for positions five to eight.
Similarly, the Seniors event, with a prize fund of 1,250 euros and open to players over 40, will be contested by 12 teams. As in the Ladies event, each team will consist of two players each, who will play two frames each against each member of the opposing team. The initial group stage will be contested by four groups of three players each, with the winners competing for positions one to four, the runners up competing for positions five to eight, and the third placed competing for positions nine to 12. The finals of all three events will be played on Sunday 12 March at 6pm.
The World Billiards
Championships
(150 Up and Time format)
The MBSA was also asked by the International Billiards & Snooker Federation to assist them by organising the World Billiards Championships.
In fact, two separate championships in two formats, 150 Up, and the traditional Time Format, are being staged.
Thirty-two players from Australia, Belgium, England, India, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Malta, Republic of Ireland and Singapore will compete in both formats.
The players have been divided into eight groups of four players each, with the winners and runners up of each group going through to the last 16, quarter finals, semi finals and the final.
The 150 Up format will be played between 13 and 16 March on a best of five game basis for the group stages, best of seven for the last 16 and quarter finals, best of nine for the semi finals, and best of 11 for the final.
The Time Format will be played between 17 and 20 March, and the group stages will be played over two x 1.5 hour sessions per match. The last 16, quarter finals and semi finals will be played over 2 x 2 hour sessions, while the final will be played over 3 x 2 hour sessions.
All the matches will be played on 12 brand new Wiraka tournament tables which the MBSA has made arrangements to bring over especially for these events, and there will be several hundred frames played from 9am to 11.30pm every day throughout the tournament.
Snooker National
Premier Division
Meanwhile, Ivan Filletti, of Farsons, announced that Cisk Lager is extending its sponsorship for the Snooker National Premier Division being held at social clubs and village bars throughout Malta.
The first two rounds of the Premier Division have already been completed. The matches will be resumed after international tournaments.
He said the company was pleased to be helping the MBSA and hoped to be baack next year as well.
The press conference was also addressed by Franco Azzopardi, Chairman of the Maltese Council for Sport who congratulated the MBSA on the active role they are taking in the ever-growing market of Sports Tourism.
‘The KMS is proud to be an active participant in supporting the MBSA and other Maltese sport associations in such endeavours. The KMS has compiled statistics which show that in 2004, 16,000 bed nights were utilised by persons who came to Malta specifically to attend or participate in sport events.
“Some come over to make use of our facilities in our inclement weather.
“In fact, at this very moment, the Marsa Sports Grounds, which fall under the KMS’s administration, are being used by foreign teams who have specifically come over to make use of the facilities available,” he said.
At the end, he wished good luck to the local participants.