Nine matches for Malta on opening day of European Snooker Championship

The second phase of the 2025 European Snooker Championship, organised by the European Billiards and Snooker Association, gets underway today in Golem, Albania. Following the men’s individual tournament held last March in Antalya, Turkey, the focus now shifts to the seniors’ individual and team competitions, alongside the men’s team category. Over the coming two weeks, additional formats including the Shoot Out, 6 Reds and Q Tour will also be contested, with the championship concluding on Sunday, 19 October, with the men’s team final.

Malta will be represented by a strong seniors’ contingent featuring Alex Borg, Arthur Cachia, Frans Mintoff, Philip Ciantar, Tony Mifsud and Ivan Attard, all of whom will see action on today’s opening day. The Maltese delegation is being led by Malta Billiards & Snooker Association president Ivan Brincat.

The seniors’ competition has attracted 80 players from 22 countries, divided into 20 groups of four. Each competitor plays three matches in the round-robin phase, with the Maltese players all scheduled to begin their campaigns today. Notably, Arthur Cachia, Ivan Attard and Tony Mifsud will each play twice on the first day.

The full programme

Four sessions are scheduled: 10:00, 13:30, 16:00 and 20:00, with nine Maltese fixtures on the programme:

• 10:00 Group E – Tony Mifsud vs Mark Walsh (Ireland).

• 10:00 Group F – Ivan Attard vs Tim Van Goubergen (Belgium).

• 13:30 Group J – Arthur Cachia vs Thomas Grendelmeier (Switzerland).

• 13:30 Group M – Philip Ciantar vs Peyman Chitsaz (Austria).

• 16:00 Group S – Frans Mintoff vs Myqerem Dervishaj (Albania).

• 16:00 Group T – Alex Borg vs Edlir Kurthysa (Albania).

• 20:00 Group E – Tony Mifsud vs Declan Lavery (Northern Ireland).

• 20:00 Group F – Ivan Attard vs Philip Williams (Wales).

• 20:00 Group J – Arthur Cachia vs Saulius Pajarskas (Lithuania).

This packed schedule sets the tone for what promises to be a challenging and exciting championship for Malta’s representatives as they look to advance from the group stages.

Gerald Fenech

Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist