Steve Mifsud Lifts Q Tour Asia-Pacific Title in Albury
Steve Mifsud defeated Hassan Kerde 4-0 to win the third WPBSA Q Tour Asia-Pacific title of the season at the Commercial Club in Albury, Australia.
The Australian former professional became the third different winner of a Q Tour Asia-Pacific event during this campaign following earlier success for both Vinnie Calabrese, who lost to Mifsud in the semi-finals, and Cody Turner.
Known as the Fred Osbourne Snooker Classic, the tournament featured a strong field of 82 cueists from three nations competing in a straight knockout format.
Mifsud lost only two frames across his opening three matches as he reached the quarter-final stage with victories over Gary Nunn (3-1), Paul Thomerson (3-1) and Steve Hanna (3-0).
Fellow countryman Jayden Dinga gave Mifsud his toughest battle of the competition as he moved one frame away from victory in the best-of-five frame contest.
Mifsud, however, was able to hit back and force a decider where he then compiled a break of 71 to set up a semi-final meeting with event one winner Calabrese.
Calabrese had been in dominant form in the Q Tour Asia-Pacific series since its inception in 2023, finishing top of the ranking list in each of the last two campaigns, but he was unable to overcome Mifsud on this occasion as a top contribution of 96 helped the eventual champion a 3-1 victory.
Kerde, who competed at the iconic Crucible Theatre earlier this year as part of the World Seniors Snooker Championship, was the opponent in the title match after he whitewashed Paul Norris in the semi-finals.
It was to be Mifsud’s day though as he comfortably ran out a 4-0 victor to win the Fred Osbourne Snooker Classic for the third time in his career and secure his maiden Q Tour crown.
