quasi (Ke)WIN for Kevin

Kevin Pirotta is surprise runner-up in Il-Vitorja 1-Day Tournament

Kevin Pirotta (right) in action

A warm and sunny September day could not have started more brightly for seventh seed Kevin Pirotta as he beat second seed Moira Fenech in the first round of Il-Vitorja 1-Day Tournament. As the heat and daylight intensified over the University Residence in Lija, Kevin radiated more of his burgeoning brilliance as he also got the better of top seed and six-time National Champion, David Delicata, in the fifth of seven rounds. 

Pirotta's star looked like it might fade when in the penultimate round he faltered at the feet of fifth seed and one-time National Champion, Sammy Mangion. But the ultra-keen and upbeat wordsmith was not to be eclipsed as he won the last round to claim runner-up spot ahead of a resurgent Mangion and behind an ever strong Delicata. 

Thanks to his dazzling day's display, Pirotta's rating rises by 72 points to very near the middle of the National Player Ratings List.

Following in but not effaced by Kevin's long shadow was ninth seed Reno Zammit who by the end of the day had risen to sixth place and to twenty-second from twenty-sixth on the ratings table. Zammit was on fire also with the word JIHAD, which he played for 93 points to win the prize for the highest scoring non-bingo of the tournament.

(penned & published by Nicky Vella Laurenti, photo credit: John Chew)