National Lottery plc and the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA) are pleased to announce that Brian Cini won the first IZIBET Elite Athlete Award for 2025, covering the months of January and February.

Brian Cini, 28, is the runner-up of the World Snooker Federation (WSF) Championship after he was beaten by young Chinese player Yang Gao 5-3 in a highly balanced final.

Even though Gao won the opening frame, Cini kept his composure and turned the match in his favour after securing the second and third frame with runs of 67 and 78 respectively. Eventually Gao won the fourth frame, and they went for the interval at 2-2. Both players continued to show a high level of play, but 20-year-old Gao was firmly in control to seal the last two frames. With this victory Yang Gao will have the right to play as a professional player on the World Snooker Tour. On the other hand, Brian Cini, as a runner-up in this tournament held in Morocco, he had the opportunity to take part in the World Championship qualifiers held in Sheffield, England, earlier this month.

Franco de Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer at National Lottery plc, commented: “At National Lottery plc, we take great pride in supporting local athletes and recognizing their hard work and dedication. Brian Cini’s remarkable achievement at the IBSF World Snooker Championships is a testament to his talent and commitment. The IZIBET Elite Athlete Award was created to honour such outstanding performances, and Brian is a truly deserving recipient. We wish him the very best in his career.”

Clinton Buhagiar, Malta Sports Journalists Association’s President, said, “Brian is one of the best athletes we have at the moment. He exemplifies determination, professionalism, and perseverance. Reaching the finals in these championships highlights how seriously Brian takes his training. I have no doubt that we will continue to hear about him in the months and years to come.”

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)  Lorraine Cunningham (General Secretary of the Malta Sports Journalists Association), Brian Cini and Stephen Azzopardi (Administrator of the Malta Sports Journalists Association).