The Continental Cup came to a close yesterday evening with Holland clinching the honours in the tournament for teams at the Jerma Palace Hotel, Marsascala, after beating Belgium 11-10 in a tight finale.
The contest was extended to the very last frame as both sides kept within distance of each other throughout the final. It was no surprise that after the 18-frame series the score was tied at 9-9.
Here, a three-match decider was played with the Dutch team of Gerrit Bij De Leij, Roy Stolk and Mario Wehrmann going on to lift the trophy for a record fourth time after clinching the extra set 2-1.
The Dutch have now become the most successful team in the tournament ahead of the same Belgians and Malta who won the Continental Cup three times each.
The presentation ceremony, led by WSA referee Alan Chamberlain, was attended by a number of distinguished guests from sponsors First International, joint organisers Malta Billiards and Snooker Association and Snooker Promotions, and the Continental Billiards and Snooker Association.
Earlier in the day, Malta 2 recorded an unexpected 11-7 win over compatriots Malta 1 in the play-off for 5/6th place. Alex Borg, Joe Grech and Arthur Cachia surprised the outfit of Tony Drago, Duncan Bezzina and Simon Zammit to finish their campaign in style and fifth team in the overall rankings.
This play-off saw Malta's no.1 professional Drago suffering his first upset of the tournament after he lost his match with Grech 2-0. Grech also compiled the highest break of the 18-frame series yesterday - a 74.
Borg was awarded for his best break - a 141 in the group stages. In all, 18 century breaks were compiled during the four-day tournament.
Malta 3, of Mario Brincat, Tony Brincat and Simon Camilleri, placed ninth overall after they beat Cyprus 10-8.
David Cortis, Marlon Bugeja and Philip Ciantar, who played for Malta 4, had to settle for 12th place, however, after losing a close play-off with Poland 11-10. After 18 frames, this match was also tied at 9-9. The three-match decider went the Poles' way 2-1.
In the Ladies Plate, Malta's Karen Grech notched her only win of the tournament after she edged Malgorzata Klysz of Poland 3-2. She qualified for the play-off for 9/10th place which she lost to France's Stephanie Tulimero 3-0.
The women's competition was won by Belgium's Wendy Jans. In the final she beat outgoing champion Natascha Nierman, of Germany, 3-2. Rosanna Lo-A-Tjong was third. The Dutch player beat Cathy Dehaene, of Belgium, 3-0 in the play-off for third and fourth place.
Continental Cup standings: 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.
MBSA finals today
International competition takes a break today as the MBSA snooker national championship finals will be played in Marsascala.
In the Premier Division, Borg takes on Bezzina and in Division One Richard Lewis squares up to Clint Grima. Joe Camilleri plays against Patrick Portelli in Division Two and Clayton Attard meets Gaetano Galea in Division Three. The Boys final will be contested by Kevin Grech and Philip Coleiro.
All matches today start at 5 p.m.
Steve Mifsud pulls out
Maltese-Australian cueist Steve Mifsud was forced to withdraw from the World Billiards Championship which starts tomorrow at the Jerma Palace. He had to return home due to family reasons. His place in the draw was awarded to Frans Mintoff.
Mintoff will be joining Paul Mifsud, Joe Grech and Pullu Grech in the prestigious tournament which involves the world's top professional billiards players around.
The total prize money on offer is £23,400.