Malta champion Alex Borg of Melita Band Club, Msida and runner-up Simon Zammit of Jesmond Sports Club, Hamrun, have reached their second consecutive national Premier League final. The competition is organised by the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association and is sponsored by Cisk Lager.

In the first semi-final played at Zejtun Band Club, Borg defeated David Cortis 6-2. This was Cortis’ first semi-final in the Premier League.

It was Cortis who won the first frame but Borg quickly equalised. Cortis once again took the lead by winning the third frame with a break of 45 but Borg’s 46 break in the fourth was enough to level the score once again. Cortis missed an easy red in the fifth when leading 35-2 and Borg cleared with a 72 to take the lead for the first time.

After the interval Borg won the three frames he needed to book his place in his sixth consecutive final and the 13th in his career. Referee Emric Ellul controlled the match.

Frame scores, Borg first: 24-61, 73-28, 28-79(45), 78(46)-13, 74(72)-35, 72(47)-14, 65-10, 60-48.

In the second semi-final played at St Catherine Band Club, Zurrieq, Zammit beat Joe Grech also 6-2. The first three frames went Zammit’s way but it could have easily been the other way round as two were decided on the black and the other on the pink ball.

However Grech won the next two before the interval for 3-2. After the interval Zammit won the next three frames for a 6-2 win and thus book his place in his second consecutive final against Borg and the fifth in his career.

The referee for this match was Frans Bugeja.

Frame scores, Zammit first: 51-49, 46-38, 61-60, 19-53, 21-55, 57-3, 59-5, 56-6.

In last year’s final, Borg defeated Zammit 7-4. Borg won the title five times including the last three years while Zammit will be looking for his second title after he won it in 2002.

The final will be played on 31 May at the Peace Band Club, Naxxar at 6.15pm and will be over a best of 13 frames.