It was a weekend to remember for Blackball player Johan Attard after he became the first Maltese cueist to win an IPA Tournament in England on Sunday.
Attard was one of two Maltese players who travelled to the UK to take part in the back-to-back IPA Tournaments in Coventry, with the other being Clint Grima.
On Saturday, Attard and Grima were in the draw for the IPA Tournament that brought together professional players against each other.
Attard started very strongly and won his first-round clash against Connor Davison 8-2. However, Grima failed to progress as he was beaten by English player Rob Wilson 8-5.
Attard reached the third round with a routine 8-3 win over Jason Hill but in the next round, the Cospicua player had to battle hard to overcome the challenge of another British player Gareth Hibbot 8-6.
In the quarter-finals, Attard was up against Welsh player Craig Marsh and secured a 9-5 win.
Attard was involved in a real battle in the semi-finals as he needed to show all his experience to overcome the challenge of England’s Lee Shepherd 9-8.
In the final, he was up against professional player Clint l’Anson and the Maltese player looked set for a famous win when he surged just one frame away from victory when leading 9-7.
But the English player showed all his class to win the final three frames and secure a thrilling 10-9 win.
This setback fuelled more determination in Attard to go one better in the IPA Open tournament that was held on Sunday that brought together both professional and amateur players.
Attard started in style as he beat Ryan England 6-1 and then he overcame English player Colin Finn 7-2.
He was joined in the third round by Clint Grima who notched a 7-1 win over Dion Owen, of Wales.
Attard reached the fourth round when he beat Evan Parry Williams 7-4 while Grima joined him with a
7-4 victory over Carl Clark.
Clint Grima was edged out by Dean Shiels 7-6 but Attard booked his place into the quarter-finals when he defeated Craig Marsh 7-5.
Attard was in top form in the quarter-finals when he cruised past Robert Stephen, of Scotland, 7-1.
The Maltese player looked determined and booked his place in the final with a 7-5 win over Greg Davis.
In the final, Attard was determined not to let his chance go away as he produced an impressive performance to see off David Addinal 7-2 to lift the trophy.
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