National Lottery plc and the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA) are pleased to announce that Johan Attard won the third IZIBET Elite Athlete Award for 2024, covering the months of May and June.

Blackball player Johan Attard became the first Maltese cueist to win an IPA Tournament on Sunday 19th May. Together with Clint Grima he was one of two Maltese players to take part in the back-to-back IPA Tournaments in Coventry, England. Attard reached the final for both tournaments.

Against professional player Clint l’Anson, 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.

Attard didn’t give up and reached the final in the second tournament. Attard produced an impressive performance with a 7-2 win over David Addinal to lift the trophy.

Franco de Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer of IZI Group commented on the extraordinary results obtained by Johan Attard. “We are happy to support the hard work that athletes such as Johan Attard put in to compete in such prestigious events. The results obtained by Johann evidence the commitment of such athletes to do well in their sport, especially when representing their country in international competitions. We wish Johan the very best for his future endeavours.”

Sandro Micallef, President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association said: “Absolutely, competing at an international level is a significant achievement, especially in the realm of professional sports. Johan Attard’s determination and success are indeed commendable and reflect not only his personal dedication but also the hard work and support provided by the Malta Blackball Federation. His achievements serve as an inspiration to other Maltese athletes and underscore the potential for continued success on the international stage. We look forward to seeing more cue sport athletes from Malta excel and achieve their best results abroad.”

The IZIBET Elite Athlete Award recognises exceptional performances by local athletes and is awarded every two months.

A selection board composed of sports journalists and sports observers is responsible for evaluating the athlete’s achievements during the designated review periods, ensuring a fair and thorough assessment process.

In the meantime, the official website of the Malta Sports Journalists Association https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/ provides the rules and regulations governing the award.

Photo caption: (From left) James Morgan, Brand Manager of IZI Group plc, Johan Attard and Stephen Azzopardi, Administrator of the Malta Sports Journalists Association.