The journey for Malta’s young snooker players at the European Junior Snooker Championship came to an end on Saturday in Antalya, Turkey. The tournament, organized by the European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA), saw six Maltese players, aged between 12 and 20, competing across different age categories.
On the final day of the competition, the Maltese contingent participated in six matches within the Under-21 category. However, only one victory was recorded, as the challenging level of competition made qualification to the next phase difficult.
Matthias Debono, the only Maltese player to secure a win on the day, delivered a dominant 3-0 victory against Jenson Schmid of Switzerland. The frame scores stood at 55-46, 66-19, and 57-11, showcasing Debono’s impressive performance. At 20 years old, this was Debono’s sole category in the competition due to age restrictions.
Despite the tough competition, all Maltese players registered at least one win during the group stage. Among them, Jake Castaldi, 15 years old, emerged as the standout performer, reaching the last 16 in both the Under-16 and Under-18 categories, a remarkable achievement for the young talent.
As the junior event concludes, attention now turns to the European Snooker Championship, where Malta’s senior players will compete. The seven-man contingent is set to arrive in Antalya on Sunday, with their commitments commencing on Monday.
The Maltese senior team includes Aaron Busuttil, Brian Cini, Chris Peplow, Alex Borg, Arthur Cachia, Philip Ciantar, and Joseph Casha. Expectations are high as these seasoned players aim to make a strong impact on the international stage.
