Bugeja hits back from 2-0 down to win Malta Open final
Fine play in tournament for juniors
The Malta Open, organised by the Squash Rackets Association, was played last week at the Marsa Sports Club.
The Open final was contested by Bernard Bugeja and Steven Schranz, both silver medal winners at last year's Games of the Small States of Europe.
In a highly-contested match, Schranz took the early edge and won the opening two games, relying mostly on his precise drop shots and perfect lengths to outwit his rival.
Those present thought that the match would be over soon. Bugeja had other ideas though and the game took a different tack as he fought back to 2-2.
The 'decider' was the survival of the fittest. In the end, Bugeja won 9-6 to claim his second Malta Open title after the one of 1998.
Karl Grech Orr beat Ivan Balzan 3-0 in the play-off for third place.
The Over-40 competition final was between former national team player Balzan and Brian Taylorson, of England. The latter won the first game 9-3 but game two was tighter and lasted well over 20 minutes. Balzan held the upperhand and won 9-7.
The third game easily went to the Maltese player 9-0 but in the next game Taylorson took an early lead and looked heading to victory only for Balzan to hit back from 6-3 down to win the game and the match 3-1.
In the play-off for third place Stuart Marsh beat Peter Wirth 3-2.
The Junior Open final was won by J.J. Micallef. He beat Mark Seychell 3-0. It was very encouraging for the organisers to see 12 youngsters playing good level squash which augurs well for the future.
SRA president Mario Giacchino and secretary Liz Said presided the presentations ceremony.
They both thanked last year's Malta coach Paul Anthony Lake for helping in the organisation and running of all three tournaments.