Cini is Champion Of Malta

Brian Cini defeated Aaron Busuttil in the final to win the 2018 Maltese National Snooker Championship last week. It is the second time that the 21-year-old has lifted this particular trophy.

The championship featured the nation’s top 20 players who were split into four groups of five. The top two from each then qualified for another groups phase, this time consisting of two groups of four. The top two from each of these then qualified for the semi-final knockouts.

Facing each player twice in the round robins, Cini didn’t drop a single frame in the opening phase and then only lost one match in his second group assignment.

In the last four he eliminated recently relegated but experienced professional Alex Borg 5-2 with breaks of 63 and 83. Busuttil saw off Frans Mintoff 5-1 in the other semi-final tie.

After four exciting hours of action at the Msida Band Club, Cini – who was aided by runs of 75 and 64 – ousted Busuttil 6-5 to reclaim the title he first won two years ago.

Written and published by Michael Day on the 30th April 2018.