Philip Ciantar secured his place in the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association (MBSA) Masters Final following a gripping 4–3 victory over Emanuel Mallia on Wednesday evening.

The highly anticipated semi-final clash lived up to its billing, bringing together two of the most consistent and top-performing players from this season’s group stages.

A Clash of Group Giants

Both Ciantar and Mallia entered the knockout match in peak form, having dominated their respective groups throughout the Masters campaign. From the opening frame, the tactical battle was tightly contested, with neither player able to establish a dominant lead.

Mallia pushed his opponent to the absolute limit with a display of high-quality safety play and clinical scoring, forcing a deciding seventh frame. However, it was Ciantar who showed immense composure under pressure in the final frame, clearing the table to seal the narrow 4–3 victory.

Looking Ahead to the Final

While Emanuel Mallia’s impressive Masters run comes to an end, he exits the tournament having solidified his reputation as one of the elite competitors on the local circuit.

Philip Ciantar moves on to the grand final with significant momentum, positioned just one win away from claiming the prestigious MBSA Masters title.