Local champion Wayne Pace, right, together with Aaron Busuttil, Chris Peplow, Matthew Calleja and Brian Cini left Malta yesterday to represent Malta in the 2012 EBSA Under 21 European Snooker Championship which starts today in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

Seventy five players from 25 European countries will compete in the championship which will be played over 16 tables at the Dedeman Princess Sofia Hotel. The 75 players were divided into nine groups of six players and three groups of seven players each with the top four in each group qualifying into the last 48 knock-out stage.

The matches in the round robin group stages will be played over the best of five frames. Matches in the knock-out stages will be over the best of seven frames until the semi final which will be played over the best of nine frames. The final will be over the best of 11 frames.

The championship will start today with the final scheduled for Sunday 10 March.

Meanwhile Malta will be represented also in this championship by referees John Grech and Ambrose Licari. Besides the Under 21 championship, the two referees will officiate in the European Team Championships which will be played at the same venue between 9 and 17 March where Malta will take part in the Men’s and Masters’ categories.