Maltese table football veteran Charles Aquilina, representing Bormla Subbuteo Club, delivered a stellar performance at the Paris Major Subbuteo Tournament, finishing as runner-up in the Veterans category. Competing against 62 top players, Aquilina reached the final but narrowly lost 0-1 to Italy’s Calonico, securing a well-earned silver medal in what is regarded as the Roland Garros of table football.
Aquilina’s Journey to the Final
Aquilina showed his class throughout the competition, starting strong in the group stage, where he topped Group 5 with two wins and a draw, accumulating seven points. His path to the final included:
- Last 16: Defeated French player Dubois (3-0)
- Quarter-finals: Overcame fellow Maltese player Mifsud (1-0)
- Semi-finals: Dominated Belgian Rochez (5-0)
Despite his impressive run, the final saw a tightly contested battle, where Calonico of Italy edged past him with a narrow victory.
Bormla Subbuteo Club Impresses in Team Event
On Sunday, Bormla Subbuteo Club also made a strong impact in the team event, reaching the quarter-finals out of 43 teams. The Maltese side won Group 1 with a perfect six points after defeating:
- Flanders (Belgium) – 3-0
- Issy les Moulineaux (France) – 3-0
In the knockout rounds, Bormla continued their solid run:
- Last 16: Defeated Atlas (Greece) – 2-0
- Quarter-finals: Lost to Caen (France) – 1-2
The Bormla Subbuteo Club team was composed of:
✅ Charles Aquilina
✅ Jason Pisani
✅ Jean Carl Tabone
✅ Bessim Golger
✅ Christian Haas
Acknowledgments
Bormla Subbuteo Club extended its gratitude to VisitMalta and SportMalta for their financial support, which made this international tournament participation possible. The club also thanked sponsors Mykonos by Yiamas, Fairbet, EJCS, Euroclub Hotel, and Cospicua Dynamos for their continued backing.
This tournament showcased the strength of Maltese subbuteo on the international stage, with both individual and team performances highlighting the nation’s growing reputation in the sport.
