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 IBSF World Snooker Championships 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 Championships 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.

National Lottery plc u l-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports, bi pjaċir iħabbru li Brian Cini rebaħ l-ewwel unur tal-IZIBET Elite Athlete Award għal din is-sena li jkopri x-xhur ta’ Jannar u Frar.

Brian Cini li għandu 28 sena, ġie runner-up fl-IBSF World Snooker Championships li saru fil-Marokk, wara li fil-finali ġie megħlub miż-żagħżugħ Ċiniż Yang Gao 5-3.

Gao rebaħ l-ewwel frame, iżda Cini baqa’ ffukat u rebaħ iż-żewġ frames konsekuttivi b’total ta’ 67 u 78 punt rispettivament. Min-naħa tiegħu Gao rebaħ ir-raba’ frame u b’hekk marru għall-intervall f’parità ta’ 2-2. Iż-żewġ plejers baqgħu juru livell għoli ta’ logħob iżda Gao li għad għandu 20 sena rebaħ l-aħħar żewġ frames. B’din ir-rebħa Yang Gao se jkollu d-dritt li jilgħab bħala plejer professjonali fil-World Snooker Tour. Min-naħa l-oħra Brian Cini bħala runner-up seta’ jieħu sehem fil-Kwalifiki għall-Kampjonati Dinjija li saru f’Sheffield, l-Ingilterra, aktar kmieni dan ix-xahar.

Franco de Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer ta’ National Lottery plc, qal: "F’National Lottery plc, aħna kburin ħafna li nappoġġaw lill-atleti lokali u nirrikonoxxu x-xogħol iebes u d-dedikazzjoni tagħhom. Il-kisba notevoli ta’ Brian Cini fl-IBSF hija xhieda tat-talent u l-impenn tiegħu. Tassew li jixraqlu li jirċievi dan l-unur u nawgurawlu għall-aktar suċċess fil-karriera tiegħu.”

Min-naħa tiegħu l-President tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport Clinton Buhagiar qal, “Brian huwa wieħed mill-aqwa atleti li għandna fil-mument. Huwa eżempju ċar ta' determinazzjoni, professjonalità u perseveranza. Li wasal sal-finali f'dawn il-kampjonati huwa xhieda ta' kemm Brian jieħu bis-serjeta t-taħriġ tiegħu. M'għandix dubju li dwar Brian se nkomplu nisimgħu fix-xhur u s-snin li ġejjin.”

Il-għan tal-IZIBET Elite Athlete Award huwa li jirrikonoxxi s-suċċessi miksuba mill-atleti lokali kull xahrejn.

Il-bord tal-għażla huwa magħmul minn ġurnalisti u osservaturi sportivi li se jkunu qed jevalwaw bir-reqqa il-kisbiet tal-atleti matul ix-xhur u jassiguraw li jkun hemm il-korretezza matul il-proċess kollu tal-għażla.

Ir-regolamenti tal-IZIBET Elite Athlete Award jistgħu jinkisbu minn fuq il-website tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/

National Lottery plc is a fully owned subsidiary of IZI Group plc, the largest land-based gaming operator in Malta. National Lottery plc is the exclusive concessionaire of the National Lottery of Malta. IZI Group plc also operates the Dragonara Casino, Malta’s No 1 land-based casino established in 1964. IZI Group plc offers a full range of online casino and sports betting products via Dragonara.com and IZIBET.com and soon will offer lottery products online via lottery.mt. IZI Group plc is an equal opportunities company and one of the largest privately-owned groups providing full time employment to over 500 employees.