For a good number of years now, local snooker and billiards enthusiasts have been enjoying high-level events including four world ranking tournaments.
Such opportunities were the result of an excellent working rapport established between Snooker Promotions (Malta) and the World Snooker Association.
In the past weeks, precisely between March 27 and April 3, the local game marked yet another milestone: the staging of the CB&SA Continental Team Cup and the CB&SA Ladies' Plate as well as the World Professional Billiards Championships.
The (Continental Billiards and Snooker Association) CB&SA entrusted the running of these prestigious three events to the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association and Snooker Promotions.
In this unique scenario, the two local organisations, though working together for the first time ever, put up a grand collaboration effort, which attained the respect and praise of all foreign delegates, players and officials in Malta for the nine-day event.
The Corinthia Jerma Palace Hotel was the venue and headquarters for these tournaments, which brought together players from 13 different countries.
In fact, the First International Continental Team Cup was played between the teams of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Switzerland and Malta.
Each team was made up of three players with Malta, as host country, having the special concession of fielding four teams.
The organisation in Malta of such international tournaments serves as a great incentive and opportunity not only to the players involved but also to local referees. In fact, 13 of the 22 officials involved were Maltese.
Continental Team Cup
The four Malta teams lined up as follows: Team 1 - Tony Drago, Simon Zammit, Duncan Bezzina. Team 2 - Alex Borg, Joe Grech, Arthur Cachia. Team 3 - Simon Camilleri, Mario Brincat, Tony Brincat. Team 4 - David Cortis, Philip Ciantar, Marlon Bugeja.
The 16 teams were divided in four groups of four teams with the winner and runner-up progressing to the quarter-finals. The others played on for a placing between the ninth and 16th position.
Quarter-finals: Belgium vs France 14-3; Holland vs Germany 10-2; Iceland vs Malta (2) 11-6; Finland vs Malta (1) 11-6.
Semi-finals: Belgium vs Iceland 12-4; Finland vs Holland 7-11.
Third/fourth place play-off: Iceland vs Finland 8-10.
Final: Belgium vs Holland 10-11.
The contest between Belgium and Holland stretched to the limit. It was no surprise that after the 18-frame series the score was tied at 9-9.
Finally, it had to be a three-match decider that saw the Dutch team, made up of Gerrit Bij De Leij, Roy Stolk and Mario Wehrmann, going on to clinch the trophy for a record fourth time with a 2-1 win.
With this victory, Holland became the most successful nation in the Continental Cup history ahead of Belgium and Malta who won it three times each.
Alex Borg gave a taste of success to the local colours when he produced the tournament's best break - a 141.
In all, 18 century breaks were recorded.
The final classification was: 1. Holland; 2. Belgium; 3. Finland; 4. Iceland; 5. Malta (2); 6. Malta (1); 7. Germany; 8. France; 9. Malta (3); 10. Cyprus; 11. Poland; 12. Malta (4); 13. Hungary; 14. Switzerland; 15. Austria; 16. Gibraltar.
Ladies' Plate
Twelve players, hailing from Belgium, Poland, France, Holland, Germany, Gibraltar, Latvia and Malta contested the CB&SA Ladies Plate.
They were divided into two groups of six players each, with the winner and runner-up of each group going to the semi-finals.
As in the men's event, those outside the top four played on to determine positions five to 11.
Malta's Karen Grech had no win to show in the group stages. Yet, she managed her only victory (3-2) against Poland's Malgorzata Klysz to qualify for a 9/10th play-off place. Grech lost to Stephanie Tulimero, of France, 3-0.
The ladies' champion was Belgium's Wendy Jans. In the final she beat outgoing champion Natascha Nierman, of Germany, 3-2.
In a play-off for third and fourth place the Dutch player Rosanna Lo-A-Tjong beat Cathy Dehaene, of Belgium, 3-0.
Billiards Championships
This year's First International World Professional Billiards Championships, which carried a prize fund of £23,400, was a most significant occasion for Malta.
The event not only attracted the participation of some of the world's top players but it was the first time ever that this prestigious tournament was held outside the UK or India.
Sixteen players, with the top eight on the world ranking list, four qualifiers and four local wild cards, contested the tournament. The Maltese players were Paul Mifsud, Joe Grech, Frans Mintoff and Pullu Grech.
The local crowds were given some thrilling moments when Paul Mifsud produced a clean sweep in his group qualifying matches.
These were three stunning victories over last year's runner-up Peter Gilchrist, of England (4-2), world no. 7 Robby Foldvari of Australia (4-1) and Englishman Peter Sheehan (4-3).
All three other local cueists bowed out without a win in their respective group matches.
Mifsud was very close to earning a place in the semi-finals only to be ousted 5-4 by talented Indian Devendra Joshi.
The competition was won by world champion Mike Russell, of England. He beat fellow English-man Peter Gilchrist 6-4 in the final. Russell had qualified for the final by beating Chris Shutt 5-1 in the semi-finals while Gilchrist, the world no. 2, had the better of Joshi 5-2.
This was Russell's seventh world championship and his second consecutive title won against Gilchrist. As winner of the tournament Russell received the sum of £7,000 while Gilchrist pocketed £4,000.
Three leading personalities who attended the tournaments at Marsascala and were also present for the presentation of prizes were Maxime Cassis, chairman of the Continental Billiards & Snooker Association, Franz Mezaros, Continental Billiards & Snooker Association secretary, and Alan Chamberlain, Tournament Director for the World Billiards Champion-ships.
The organisation of these tournaments augurs well for a brighter future of snooker and billiards in Malta.
"We are most thankful to the Continental Billiards & Snooker Association for entrusting us with such a significant opportunity," said Benny Pace, head of the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association (MBSA).
"A particular word of thanks also goes to the Sports Secretariat which has always supported the game and our organisations."
Richard Balani, director of Snooker Promotions, was also satisfied with the overall outcome
"Once again, thanks to the serious commitment of everyone concerned, Malta was a winner," he said.
"While we thank all players, referees, officials and the general public for the sportsmanship, efficiency and support, the various sponsors who backed this event certainly deserve our gratitude."