The second Invitational European Under 17 Snooker Open will start this evening, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled at 9.30am followed by the first match at 10 am.
Ten players from six different countries are being split in two groups with the first two qualify to the semi-finals.
Among the favourites to win the tournament are Luca Brecel from Belgium, the present European Under 17 Snooker Open Champion who already managed the maximum break of 147 four times, Angelo Eyckmans also from Belgium, Ryan Clark (England) and Lior Pinhas (Israel). Eyckmans, Clark and Pinhas already managed some century breaks.
The two Maltese players taking part are Shaun Sultana from Gozo and Wayne Pace, the present Malta Under 15 Snooker champion and the runner-up respectively.
In the first tournament last year Thurston Grixti (Malta) managed to qualify to the semi-finals and finish a prestigious third place by beating Nicky Godeyne of Belgium 3-1 in the match for 3rd/4th place.
27 matches will be played during the four day tournament which is going to be held at Apple Snooker Club in Bugibba with the Final scheduled for Sunday at 6pm. The matches will be controlled by Raymond Debattista (Malta), Alfred Borg (Malta) and Phil Hartley (England).
A record number of 62 visitors are coming to Malta to watch the tournament compared to 25 last year. Most of them hail from Sweden. Players and officials are going to stay at San Antonio Hotel & Spa which, together with Apple Snooker Club, Malta Tourism Authority and the Bank of Valletta, are the main sponsors.
The day after the tournament, that is, on Monday 14 January at 4.30pm, Malta will be playing an international match against Sweden at Under 19 level.
The Maltese players chosen are Thurston Grixti, Duncan Pisani and Kevin Grech while Douglas Appleberg and Christopher Koba will form part of the Swedish team. Both Appleberg and Koba have done really well in the last World Under 21 Snooker championships. Both finished fifth in their respective groups, missing the final stages by just one placing.