Defending European Champion Alex Borg was yesterday eliminated from the European Championships being held in Carlow Ireland.

Alex Borg was surprisingly beaten by Welshman David Mills. Undoubtedly Alex Borg was not at his best during these championships, and yesterday he had to bow out of the competition.

On the other hand the other Maltese player Simon Zammit produced a stunning performance beating Yannick Poulain of France 5-2, to join the last 16 of the competition.

Today Simon Zammit will meet either Belgian Bjorn Hanevear or Bobby Cruckshanks of Scotland who had to meet later yesterday evening.

Borg had made sure of reaching the last 32 on Monday evening after beating Itaro Santos of Germany 4-2. That was Borg’s fourth win and more importantly secured a place amongst the top four in the group to qualify for the knock-out stages.

The German player won the opening frame but Borg levelled with a 47 break. Santos went in front again but again the Maltese champion levelled with a superb 102 break, his third century of the championships. Borg won a tense fifth frame on the black and cleared from yellow to pink in the sixth to win 4-2.

Yesterday morning, Borg beat Gary Thomson of Scotland 4-2 to register his fifth win from seven matches.

Zammit, meanwhile, clinched a crucial win yesterday morning as he beat Joe Meara of Northern Ireland 4-3. He needed a victory in his last qualifying match to advance into the last 32.

Monday’s 4-3 win over Ian Bowie of Scotland was nerve-wracking and it saw the Maltese player going 2-1 down and 48-0 in the next frame. But a splendid 63 break from Zammit levelled the score and he went 3-2 ahead before the Scottish player once again levelled the match at 3-3. But Zammit comfortably won the decider and the match 4-3.