Following a strong showing at the European Championship, the Malta Blackball Federation has now shifted its focus to its next major international commitment — the 2026 Nations Cup. As part of the preparation process, the federation is currently hosting its second qualification tournament, from which the players who will form the Malta national squad will be selected.

Men’s Category: Final Four Confirmed

The men’s competition has reached the semifinal stage, with Clayton Castaldi, Luke Said, Clint Azzopardi, and Wayne Pace progressing to the last four.

• Wayne Pace overcame Kevin Schembri 8–5
• Clint Azzopardi registered an identical 8–5 victory over Glenn Axiaq
• Clayton Castaldi edged past Clayton Attard in a tight 8–7 battle
• Luke Said sealed his place with an 8–3 win over Mevrick Zammit

Tomorrow’s semifinals will see Luke Said vs Wayne Pace, while Clayton Castaldi will face another stern test against Clint Azzopardi.

Seniors (Over 40) Category: Semifinals Set

In the seniors’ bracket, Joseph Tabone advanced to the semifinals after an 8–4 win over Darren Micallef, setting up a clash with Philip Farrugia, who defeated Stephen Falzon 8–6.

Meanwhile, Chris Tabone, who beat Sandro Bartolo 8–2, awaits the winner of the final quarterfinal between Johan Grixti and Mario Scicluna.

Under-23 Category: One Finalist Determined

In the U-23 category, Nick Muscat became the first player to book a place in the final after a narrow 8–7 victory over Steven Muscat. The remaining semifinal between Casdy Vella and Matthias Debono will be played tomorrow to determine his opponent.