Maltese hero Tony Drago yesterday showed some of his ‘old’ form to beat Lee Spick 5-3 in the best of nine frames at the Hilton Portomaso on the opening day of the Snooker Malta Open.

This was some sort of revenge for the Maltese ‘Tornado’ after being eliminated by the same player in the China Open qualifiers a few days ago.

Drago showed some steady play, although at times he missed easy shots, to keep the huge crowd anxious till the very end.

Drago fought his way to draw level after losing the first two frames. He showed his best in the third frame, with a break of 91. Drago made it three frame wins in succession to lead 3-2 by the fifth, with another 47 break. Spick went on to win the sixth frame and draw level, only for Drago to win the seventh frame convincingly (83-13) and set the eighth and decisive frame.

Spick looked on his way to a good recovery with a 33 break but mised the brown and Drago capitalised to put it and the blue for an unassailable 59-34 lead, shouting with relief at the crowd.

Tony Drago will now play John Parrott today at 8pm.

But Drago is looking with some optimism when he commented after yesterday’s win. Despite victory, he still feels under some pressure but obviously more confident.

“I now feel more relaxed and ready for Parrott” said Tony.

He recalled the 7-6 defeat by Parrott some years ago when he was leading 6-1 in the final.

“Hopefully there will be tears of joy this time” he said.

Drago is confident that he will have a good run in this years Malta Open, the same as three years ago when he reached the semi-final in front of a “magnificient crowd”

Tony said that he started this season in 67th place in the world rankings but hopes that with agood run here in Malta and in the World Championships, he stands a good chance of making it with the top 64.

He intends to work hard in summer to prepare for next year.

Meanwhile the other two Maltese players were eliminated yesterday against superior opponents.

Wild card Simon Zammit gave a strong challenge to the more experienced Andrew Higginson despite being eliminated. After losing the first frame, Zammit went on to win the second and third frames only for Higginson to draw level at 2-2 after the fourth frame. Zammit also won the sixth frame to draw level at 3-3 but then Higginson showed his qualities in the last two frames winning them both 74-43 and 71-25. The scores were: (Higginson first) 61-38, 52-67, 19-48, 72-0, 72-42, 34-66, 74-43, 71-25.

Higginson now faces Steve Davis.

Derby's David Roe recovered from the loss of the first frame to beat the other wild card Maltese player Joe Grech 5-1 despite a top run of just 46. Roe however was never in danger, winning the successive five frames to register an emphatic win.

The scores were: (Roe first) 49-67, 83-25, 72-49, 65-19, 81-8, 58-14

Yesterday’s other results: G.Dott-S.Bingham 5-3.

Today’s Programme:

4pm: K. Doherty-N. Bond;S. Davies-A.Higginson; P.Ebdon-D.Roe

8pm: T. Drago-J.Parrott;

S.Maguire-D.Junhui;

M.Williams-F. O’Brian