Kenneth Arpa claimed victory at the Top 24 tournament, winning the opening event of the 2026 local bowling season.
The six game total pinfall competition marked the first tournament of the year to be held under a no urethane rule, reflecting similar regulations adopted at selected international bowling events. Arpa led the standings from the opening game and maintained control throughout the tournament.
He made a strong start with a score of 258 in the first game, establishing an early lead over Alan Ciantar, who remained his closest challenger during the initial stages. Despite a lower score of 149 in the fifth game, Arpa retained a comfortable advantage due to the demanding lane conditions, which limited high scoring opportunities across the field.
The contest for the remaining podium places remained close until the final frames. Alan Ciantar secured second place, finishing five pins ahead of Giancarlo Tolu. Matthew Magro followed closely in fourth position, ending the tournament just nine pins behind Tolu.
The Top 24 tournament provided an early benchmark for the 2026 bowling season and offered competitive preparation ahead of upcoming events. Attention now turns to the Malta Bowling Confederation qualifiers, which are scheduled to take place at the end of February.
