Malta was yesterday leading qualifying Group D in the European Team Championships in Gent, Belgium.

The Malta team, composed of Simon Zammit, Duncan Bezzina and Clint Grima, registered two good 13-5 wins against Iceland and Finland and ended their day on four points. By yesterday evening, Belgium I and France could have joined or even overtaken the Maltese on top as they were due to play their next matches (second and third).

Simon Zammit was the protagonist as he won all the frames in yesterday’s two matches.

In the match against Iceland, Zammit beat Johanneson, Bragason and Jennson 2-0, Bezzina won one frame against Johanneson and Jennson and two against Bragason. Grima won one frame against Johanneson and two against Bragason.

In the match against Finland, Zammit won all frames against Salovaara, Ivonen and Vayrynen. Bezzina won two frames against Salovaarra and Vayrynen and one against Ivonen, while Grima won two frames only against Salovaara. So far, Zammit and Bezzina have been Malta’s best players. They won won 14 frames each in the three matches played, while Grima has won five.

It is to be noted that Grima is making his debut in these championships.

In the Masters event, Malta obtained its second successive win. The team, consisting of Frans Mintoff and Tony Mifsud, beat Iceland 7-1 after having beaten Ireland 5-3 on the opening day.

The Malta team is also leading its group in the standings.

Borg, Drago in action today

Malta’s two professionals, Alex Borg and Tony Drago will both be in action today as they play their second round world championship qualifying matches.

Borg will be meeting Rory Macleod after having eliminated Paul Wykes 10-3 on Sunday. Drago is to meet Liu Song, a 10-3 winner over Dene O’Kane on Sunday.