Joe Grech (snooker player)

Joe Grech (Maltese: Ġużi Grech;[1] 9 July 1954[2] – 21 August 2021) was a Maltese snooker and billiards player.[3] A professional snooker player for various years from 1988 to 2000, he won the IBSF World Billiards Championship in 1997. First competing as an amateur in the 1979s, he competed in amateur and professional snooker and billiards championships in a career spanning nearly 40 years. He won the Maltese English Billiards Championship on 21 occasions including 13 successive titles from 2003 to 2015.[4][5]

Joe Grech
Born1954 or 1955
Ħamrun, Malta
Died (aged 66)
Sport country Malta
Professional1988–2000
Tournament wins
World Champion1997 (Amateur)

Grech was born in Ħamrun, Malta.[1] As an amateur, he also won the Maltese Snooker Championship six times and the men's EBSA European Team Championship twice. He represented the St. Joseph Band Club in local competitions.[6] The Maltese Olympic Committee inducted Grech in its Hall of Fame in 2017.

Career

Grech competed at the 1978 World Amateur Snooker Championship, which was his first ever appearance in an international snooker competition, subsequently losing to Cliff Wilson in the quarter-finals.[7] The event was played in Malta, the match being particularly notable for a large crowd of Maltese fans that were in attendance attempting to distract Wilson. Trailing 0–4, Wilson won four frames, but lost the deciding frame in a match that Wilson said he would "always remember".[8] Grech won his first Maltese English Billiards Championship in 1978 by defeating Paul Mifsud in the final by 2307 to 1856 points despite Mifsud having a healthy lead in the first session.[9]

He won his first Malta Snooker Championship in 1980 when he defeated Paul Mifsud in a tight match 7–6.[10] He defended his national title the following year, defeating Albert Mangion 7–1 in the final. However, he lost the next two Malta Snooker Championship finals in 1982 and 1983 to Paul Mifsud.[10] He reached the semi-finals at the World Amateur Snooker Championship in 1982 and 1985. A third national title was won at the 1987 Malta Snooker Championship by defeating Alex Borg in the final. It was also his first national title after a gap of six years.[10] At the World Amateur Snooker Championship in 1987, Grech reached his first final, losing to Darren Morgan.[11][12] Reaching the final of the World Amateur Championship in English Billiards in 1987, Grech lost to India's Geet Sethi.[13] Despite losing in the final, he managed to register 42 century breaks during the course of the tournament.[1][14][15]

His first professional tournament was the 1989 World Snooker Championship. He received generous support from the Zmerc Pub and English snooker player Carm Zerafa who financially assisted him to compete in professional tournaments.[1] Grech reached the round of 16 of the 1989 Dubai Classic but was defeated by Alex Higgins.[16] Grech was given a place at the Malta Grand Prix, where he lost to fellow countryman Tony Drago in the quarter-finals of the 1996 event.[17] With the World Snooker Tour allowing only the top 64 players to retain a spot on the professional tour for 1997,[18] Grech lost his place playing in the qualification events and UK Tour.[19]

At the 1997 IBSF World Billiards Championship, Grech reached the final. After defeating India's Ashok Shandilya by 2895 to 2836 points, Grech won the event, his only World Championship.[1] In the same year, he reached quarter-finals at the EBSA European Snooker Championship, losing 2-5 to Graham Horne.[20] At the 1997 Malta Grand Prix, he lost to Ken Doherty in the quarter-finals.[21] He teamed up with Alex Borg to win the 1997 European Continental Team Cup, Malta's first victory.[22]

Grech reached the semi-final of the amateur world snooker championships in 1998, losing 7-8 to Ryan Day.[23] He returned to the World Snooker Tour the same year. He lost to Stephen Hendry in the quarter-final of the 1998 Malta Grand Prix.[24] He again became national champion for two successive years in 1999 and 2000 at the Malta Snooker Championship.[10] He collaborated with Alex Borg again to win the EBSA European Team Championship in 1999 and 2000.[25] Alongside Alex Borg and Somin Zammitt, Grech won the EBSA European Team Championship for a third time in 2005.[26] He also reached quarter-finals at the 2005 World Billiards Championship after defeating his compatriot Paul Mifsud in last 16 round.[27] At the 2005 Malta Cup, he lost to Tom Ford in the wildcard round and was eliminated from the competition.[28][29][30][31] He lost to Mark Allen in the wildcard round at the 2006 Malta Cup.[32][33] He also emerged as the winner of the Snooker Open ranking tournament in 2006 organised by the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association.[34]

After leaving the professional Tour, Grech competed as a senior. He received a wild card entry to participate at the 2007 Malta Cup but was knocked out by David Roe of England.[35][36][37] He was a part of the team which won the EBSA European Team Championship seniors tournament in 2011.[38] Grech died on 21 August 2021, aged 66.[38]

Honours

Grech was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in 1997 after becoming the world champion.[39] He won the Maltese English Billiards Championship on 13 consecutive occasions from 2003 to 2015.[40][41][42]

In 2017, Grech was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Malta Olympic Committee, the second billiards player after Paul Mifsud.[14][43]

References
  1. "Guzi Grech – Billiards And snooker champion who also won a world title – The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  2. Hayton, Eric Norman (September 2004). Cuesport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record and History. Rose Villa Publications. p. 473. ISBN 9780954854904.
  3. "Malta in the limelight once again ... A satisfying outcome". The Times. Malta. 13 April 2003. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  4. "Maltese English Billiards Championship" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  5. "The Global Snooker Centre". 15 January 2007. Archived from the original on 15 January 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  6. "Billiards: Tenth Triumph for Guzi Grech – The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. "A night of reckoning". The Times. Malta. 16 January 2005. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  8. Everton, Clive (2011). Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards : the Inside Story of the Snooker World. London. ISBN 978-1-78057-399-1. OCLC 1004977797.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. "1978". Billiards Australia. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  10. "National Snooker Championship – Roll of Honour" (PDF). mbsa.org.mt. Malta Billiards & Snooker Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  11. "Past Champions". IBSF.info. Reims: International Billiards and Snooker Federation. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  12. "Borg, Grech in IBSF world championship". The Times. Malta. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  13. "MD's Blog – A Bright Future For Maltese Snooker". thecueview.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  14. "Maltese Olympic Committee announces finalists for the 16th MOC Sports Awards". MaltaToday.com.mt. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  15. Everton, Clive (September 1987). "World Billiard Championships". Snooker Scene.
  16. "1989 Dubai Classic Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  17. "Rothmans Malta Grand Prix 1996". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  18. "Snooker aims to close ranks". The Guardian. 12 April 1996. p. 21. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  19. Hayton, Eric Norman (September 2004). Cuesport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record and History. Rose Villa Publications. pp. 473–474. ISBN 9780954854904.
  20. "snooker.org: European Championships 1997". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  21. "Rothmans Grand Prix 1997". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  22. "Hoe is het toch met Rolf de Jong? Deel I | Snooker" (in Dutch). 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  23. Årdalen, Hermund. "Shender IBSF World Championship 1998". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  24. "Snooker: Decline, fall or hiccup?". The Independent. 17 April 1999. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  25. "Memorable moments MBSA" (PDF). mbsa.org.mt. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  26. "The Global Snooker Centre". 19 November 2005. Archived from the original on 19 November 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  27. "Billiards – World championship: Joe Grech in quarter-finals after beating Paul Mifsud – The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  28. "Ford books Drago clash after beating Grech 5–1". The Times. Malta. February 2005. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  29. "Malta Cup 2005". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  30. "2004-5 Malta Cup". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 17 February 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  31. "2005 Malta Cup results". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 12 February 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  32. "2006 Malta Cup". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 12 February 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  33. "2006 Malta Cup results". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 7 February 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  34. "Grech beats Zammit 5–1 in final". The Times. Malta. 3 February 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  35. "Malta Cup 2007". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  36. "2006-7 Malta Cup". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  37. "Malta Cup 2007 Results". BBC Sport. 27 January 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  38. "Former world amateur billiards champion Joe Grech dies aged 66". SportsDesk. 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  39. "Video: Death announced of Ġużi Grech who did Malta proud – TVM News". TVM English. 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  40. "Joe Grech makes it six in a row". The Times. Malta. 5 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  41. "Grech makes it 11". The Times. Malta. 24 May 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  42. "Grech champion". The Times. Malta. 27 June 2006. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  43. "Hall of Fame". Maltese Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
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