The death has been announced of Frans Bugeja, who served for many years as President of the Malta Billiards & Snooker Association (MBSA). He passed away at the age of 88.
Bugeja was actively involved in local snooker for over 50 years, holding various positions within the sport. However, in 2020, due to health reasons, he decided not to seek re-election as President of the MBSA.
Throughout his career, he played a key role in the development of snooker refereeing in Malta, serving as an examiner for local referees. He also made history as the first Maltese official to be appointed as an international referee.
One of his greatest achievements as MBSA President was the realization of his long-held dream—the opening of the Snooker Academy in Ħamrun in December 2018. He was also instrumental in organizing several international snooker tournaments in Malta, including European and World Championships across different categories, such as Teams, Masters, and Juniors.
The last major international event he helped organize was in 2020, when Malta hosted the World Junior Open, organized by the World Snooker Federation. This tournament was won by China’s Yang Gao, who, just last week, defeated Maltese player Brian Cini in the final of the World Amateur Snooker Championship.
Although Bugeja had become less active in recent years, he remained closely connected to the local snooker scene. In March 2023, he was among the special guests of the MBSA at the Men’s European Championship Final, organized by the European Billiards & Snooker Association (EBSA) at a prominent hotel in Qawra.
His dedication and contributions to Maltese snooker will always be remembered. 🏆🎱
