In the opening game of the World Eight Ball Championships, being held in Blackpool England, Malta crushed world champions Ireland in an impressive 14-7 win.

Clint Azzopardi and Mario Vassallo registered three wins, Ivan Rizzo and Clayton Attard won two frames while Stephen Mangion, Kevin Mercieca, Iro Vella and Miguel Falzon gathered one frame each. Malta will be again in action this evening against Northern Ireland.

In the individual event, Malta’s players will be in action from tomorrow, when the preliminary qualifying rounds get under way.

Clint Azzopardi will first be in action at 10am when he meets Sean Hoey of Northern Ireland. At 11.30am, it will be the turn of Ivan Rizzo who will be clashing with Mark Rogers of Ireland and Miguel Falzon who will play against Christopher Wade of N. Ireland.

At 1pm, Kevin Schembri will play against James Ellis of Wales while Jesmond Schembri takes on another Welshman, Jason Smith.

At 3pm, Clayton Attard enters the scene in the qualifying round, facing the winner of match 7 of the previous round. At 4.30pm, it will be the turn of Antoine Cuschieri who will be facing the winner of the previous round’s match 26. And at 6pm, Iro Vella will meet the winner of match 39.

The qualifier round 2 matches will be played at 8pm and 9pm, to be followed by the draws for the qualifiers into the last 64 which are to be held at midnight.

Round 1 will be staged on Friday at 11pm where Michael Scerri (representing Australia), and Kevin Mercieca will be in action. At 1pm, it will be the turn of Mario Vassallo and Stephen Mangion.