The two Maltese players taking part in the 2006 European Snooker Championships currently being held in Constanta, Romania, both had a fine start in the opening matches of their respective groups.

Local and current European Champion Alex Borg began his defence of the title with a 4-0 win against Rhybrabin Alexander of Russia in Group A. He was in control of all the four frames compiling breaks of 62, 53 and 51.

Frame sores, Borg first: 93(51)-3, 90(53)-26, 93(62)-8 and 69-25.

Borg will be in action again today at 10am (local time) when he faces Janis Bindze of Latvia.

In Group E, the other Maltese player taking part in these championships, Simon Zammit, also had a positive start beating Shay Arama of Israel 4-0. Zammit needed two snookers on the green in the last frame but managed to win it on the black 56-50.

Frame scores, Zammit first: 61(47)-36, 65(50)-18, 54-20 and 56-50.

Zammit has an day off today: he will be in action again tomorrow.

Meanwhile in the Romanian Open held just before the European Championships, Roy Stolk of the Netherlands beat Douglas Hogan of Switzerland 4-2 in the final, thus earning a place on next season’s World Snooker Association Main Tour.

Simon Zammit, the only Maltese player taking part in the Open lost in the last 32 stage against Kevin Van Hove of Belgium 3-2 after leading 2-0.