Feature image: Billiard chalk — public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Malta Locked In — Busuttil Books Six Reds Final in Sofia
Sofia’s Princess Hotel just handed Malta another European finalist. On Sunday morning at the EBSA Six Reds Championship, Aaron Busuttil dismantled fellow islander Chris Peplow 4–1 in an all-Maltese semi-final, then waited to see who would share the table for the best-of-nine showpiece.
Germany’s Alexander Widau answered that question with a thrashing of his own — 4–0 over Wales’ Alfie Davies in the other semi. The final (Widau vs Busuttil, best of nine) was listed for 16:30 local on the EBSA bracket, so the chalk is still warm as we go to press.
How they got there matters. Busuttil’s Saturday run was ruthless: 4–0 Niel Vincent (FRA), 4–1 Halim Hussain (ENG), then 4–1 Simon Lichtenberg (GER) in the quarters. Peplow matched him stride for stride until the semi — 4–1 Christian Richter, 4–2 Steve Crowley, 4–1 Toni Savonen — before Busuttil slammed the door. Malta already banked a guaranteed Six Reds medal; the gold is still in play against Widau.
Where to watch
EBSA Sofia coverage and scoring via esnooker.pl / EBSA channels; Shoot Out also runs between the Six Reds semis and final on Sunday.
Monarch Steals Coventry — IPA Tour 4 Thriller
European blackball had its own Sunday hangover from a Saturday night classic. At the Hilton DoubleTree in Coventry, Anthony Monarch completed an undefeated IPA Tour 4 International Professional campaign by edging Gareth Hibbott 10–9 in the final (race to 10).
Monarch’s path was clinical — including a 9–5 semi over Jonathan Price — while Hibbott scraped through a 9–8 war with Geo Edgar before the decider went the distance. CueScore confirms Monarch 6–0 through the week on matches; Hibbott finishes runner-up after five wins from six.
Leicester Notes — Early Scottish Open Qual Scores
Without rehashing this morning’s “quals open” brief: a few first-session boards have numbers now at Mattioli Arena. Chatchapong Nasa beat Allan Taylor 4–1; Iulian Boiko raced clear of Mahmoud El Hareedy (3–0 on the early board). Afternoon sessions (13:00 / 16:00 BST) still loading — Emery/Hugill, Nayyar/Gong, Nuessle/Deng, Ursenbacher/Channoi among the next batch.
WST Play / HBO Max / Huya for the streams.
Also spinning
- Japan Open women’s 9-ball day one still grinding through Tokyo halls toward New Pia Hall’s last eight on Monday — no clean final-table story yet for a midday lead.
- WPA Men’s 10-Ball World Championship Day 2 continues double-elim at Phú Thọ Indoor Stadium, HCMC (CueScore / Pro Billiard Series).
- Poison Saigon Women’s Open (21–25 Sep) next on the Vietnam week slate.
More from Sofia once Widau and Busuttil finish chalking up.
