The Blackball World Championship wrapped up yesterday in Malta, delivering an exciting finish with four Maltese teams reaching the finals and securing silver medals in their respective categories.
In a major highlight, Lydan Debono of Malta claimed the men’s individual world title, defeating England’s Dean Shields 10-5 in a decisive final to become world champion.
Malta’s men’s team also made a strong run, ultimately finishing in second place after a challenging 13-7 final loss to Scotland. Led by Clevion Micallef, the team had earlier showcased impressive form, overcoming Mauritius 17-8, Northern Ireland 13-9, and defeating England 13-10 in the semi-finals.
The Seniors’ team reached the final as well, edging past Catalonia 13-10 before falling just short in an emotional match against England, 13-12.
In the Under-23 category, Malta earned another silver, narrowly losing to Wales 13-10 in the final after a hard-fought 13-12 victory over England in the semifinals.
The Masters team added to the silver tally, reaching the final where they fell to England 13-6, having previously defeated Scotland 13-7 and Ireland 13-12 in earlier rounds.
The Under-18 team rounded off their campaign with a 13-11 win over Ireland and a close 13-9 defeat to England, while the Under-15 team claimed a victory over Australia 8-6 before bowing out to England 8-2.
The evening concluded with a celebratory award ceremony, where participants from various nations applauded the Maltese hosts for their exceptional organization and hospitality throughout the championship.
