Grima, Mallia win MTA Bronze Cup

Young players Ruslana Grima and Nicolai Mallia won the 2020 edition of the MTBA Bronze Cup at the Eden Super Bowl

This year’s edition of the Bronze Cup saw 44 players taking part, and saw Grima, 15 years, and Mallia, 11, emerge as worthy winners and showcasing the continued emergence of youths in this sport locally.

In the ladies section, Grima, who recently joined Bonnici Group in the local Mapfre MSV Life Division 2 league,  took a strong lead after the qualifiers with a 174 average, ahead of Jessica Farrugia, Natasha Bianchi, Angele Azzopardi, Celianne Micallef and Rachel Chircop. 

Grima again improved on her personal best scratch, with an average of 177 over the five-game finals to win three of the five games played to finish ahead of Special Olympics player Azzopardi, who shot up to second place with four wins.

Twelve-year-old National Sport School student Celianne Micallef overcame the early jitters of the first game to also shoot her personal best over five games with a 148 average and win three games to move up to third place, just 13 pins behind Azzopardi.

The male section saw the 11-year-old left-handed Nicolai Mallia stamp his authority with a brilliant 186.75 scratch average in the qualifiers to lead Matthew Agius Inglott, Arthur Rizzo, Keith Farrugia George Chircop and Rene Bartolo.

Mallia, playing against adult players in the finals, sped off in the qualifiers to win the first three games, playing a remarkable 188 average.

Agius Inglott applied some pressure on him with two wins in the las two games, but the youngster held on to a well-deserved trophy.

Chircop, who only started playing earlier this year, finished third, only 1 pin behind Agius Inglott.

One special mention goes to Nicolai’s younger brother, Mikhail who took part in his first event as a seven-year old and played a 112 average.