The Malta Table Football Sports Association (MTFSA) will be hosting the World Masters tournament on Saturday. The tournament which is the fifth edition organised by the International body Federation of International Sports Table Football (FISTF), will be held at the Marsa Sports & Country Club.
This is a one-day event and will kick off at 10am with the semi-finals and final scheduled to be played at 3.45pm and 4.30pm respectively.
Prize money and trophies for the first four placed will be presented. Eurosport has confirmed that it will be one of the sponsors.
All Subbuteo fans and those who would like to enjoy the thrills of football played somewhat differently are invited to attend. Admission is free.
Only the first 12 ranked players in the world and substitutes thereof are eligible to take part in the tournament. The ranking placing has been based on the list issued by FISTF last September. The competition will be based on two groups from which the first two players will directly qualify for the semi-finals. This will lead to the final match from which only the best will reach the highest place on the podium.
The players taking part in this tournament include three Maltese players, Massimo Cremona, Joe Mifsud and Hansel Mallia. The rest hail from big countries in Table Football, namely Italy, Belgium and Spain.
The participants include the likes of Gil Delogne, twice World champion and winner of the First World Masters in 2000, Massimiliano Nastasi, world champion in 2003 and winner of the Third World Masters in the same year and Massimo Bolognino, world champion in 2005 and winner of last World Masters organised in 2004.
The other players are Saverio Bari, David Fraikin, Francesco Mattiangeli and Carlos Flores who all have a great repertoire after winning various international events worldwide. Top Maltese and international referees will be controlling all matches.
Besides this tournament which is organised every year, the FISTF allows each member country to organise up to eight tournaments each year. These consist of one Grand Prix, two International Opens, two Satellite, two Euro Challenges and one Future tournament which attracts mostly new players.