Four Maltese players reach KO stages at European Snooker Championship

Four Maltese players booked their place in the Knock Out stages at the European Snooker Championships that are currently being played in the Spanish city of Gandia.

Aaron Busuttil and Chris Peplow won their matches, obtaining top spot in their group thus avoiding the play-off round and securing a place directly with in the last 64. 

​Busuttil and Peplow both won their matches 3-1.

Busuttil had the better of Dutch player Sebastiaan Kan (68-35, 16-56, 90-27, 75-17) while Peplow had the better of Germany’s Fabian Haken, (67-42, 46-66, 74-14, 72(72)-45), compiling a run of 72 points

Meanwhile, Brian Cini and Joseph Casha lost their final matches, which means that on Wednesday, after the last 25 matches of the first phase have been played, they will get to know who their next opponent will be in the play-off round. ​These play-offs must be played on Wednesday, late in the afternoon.

Brian Cini, after an easy 3-0 win, (67-17, 66-7, 63-49), in the morning against Albania’s Diego Minxalli surprisingly, later, was defeated, 3-0, (35-69, 26-60, 43-65), by the 20-year-old Scotsman, Amaan Iqbal.

Joseph Casha lost by a narrow 3-2 margin, (30-65, 80-38, 63-37, 30-66, 58-69), to the best player in his group, Englishman Craig Steadman, whom until 2018 was still holding a professional status in this sport.

At a point during the match, when Casha was leading 2-1, with more caution he could have emerged victorious and finished first in his group.

Philip Ciantar was not in action on this third day of competition, but he still has every chance to qualify for the next round and finish second in his group. ​

He still needs to play against Miguel Ruivo from Portugal. Ciantar can afford to lose the match 3-2 and still qualifying for the play-offs prior the round of the last 64.