Malta’s two players at the IBSF European Championship in Ireland are still in contention for a place in the last 32 after they won crucial matches yesterday.

Alex Borg defeated I. Santos of Germany 4-2 while Simon Zammit beat Ian Bowie 4-3.

Sunday was a bad day for the two players as both lost their group match.

Defending European champion Alex Borg suffered his second defeat in Group A when he was beaten by home favourite Martin Mc Crudden of the Republic of Ireland 1-4. Borg won the first frame but lost the next three to go 3-1 down. He looked set to get to 2-3 as McCrudden needed a snooker on the yellow in the fifth frame but after Borg failed to hit a difficult snooker, McCrudden cleared the colours to win his fifth consecutive match and is now favourite to top the group.

Borg’s last match will be today at 11am against Gary Thomson of Scotland who is also in second place. Four players out of eight in the group will go through to the last 32 which will be played today at 5pm.

Meanwhile from Group H, Simon Zammit lost his third match from five when he lost to Davis Mills of Wales 1-4. Zammit lost the first two frames winning the third with an 86 break for 1-2. But the Welshman took the next two for his fifth win from as many matches.

Zammit remained in contention for a place in the last 32 after beating Ian Bowie of Scotland 4-3 yesterday afternoon. Zammit’s last match will be today at 10am against Joe Meara of Northern Ireland. Zammit will probably qualify if he manages to win today’s match which will not be easy.

Highest break of the championship is a 137 made by 16 year old Michael White of Wales who is the current Under 19 European champion.