Aaron Busuttil has made history for Malta after winning his maiden Q Tour title in Sofia, Bulgaria, becoming the first Maltese player ever to lift a Q Tour trophy.

The 35-year-old produced an outstanding week of snooker, winning seven matches on his way to the title after previously never progressing beyond the last 16 stage of a Q Tour event.

The tournament featured 109 players representing 24 nations and was held alongside the 2026 European Billiards & Snooker Association (EBSA) European Championships in Bulgaria.

Busuttil’s Historic Run

Busuttil may not have arrived in Sofia among the pre-tournament favourites, but he quickly established himself as a serious contender.

The Maltese player began his run with victories over Bulgaria’s George Petrunko and France’s Niel Vincent before facing former Q Tour finalist Patrick Whelan in the last 32.

A top break of 95 helped Busuttil secure an impressive 4-1 victory over Whelan, matching his previous best performance on the Q Tour.

He then overcame Matvei Lagodzinschii, who had earlier produced the tournament’s highest break of 137, to book his place in the final day.

Busuttil’s momentum continued into the quarter-finals, where he defeated Riley Powell 4-1 before producing another dominant display against Sybren Sokolowski in the semi-finals.

A 4-0 victory meant Busuttil had dropped just one frame across his quarter-final and semi-final matches, setting up a place in his first ever Q Tour final.

Jones Enjoys Breakthrough Run

Waiting for him in the final was 17-year-old Englishman Edward Jones, who was also enjoying the best run of his Q Tour career.

Prior to the tournament, Jones had never progressed beyond the last 64, but he produced a series of impressive performances to reach his first Q Tour title match.

Among his victories were wins over former professionals Peter Devlin and Dean Young, highlighting the quality of the young Englishman’s run.

Despite Jones’ impressive tournament, it was Busuttil who held his nerve when it mattered most.

The Maltese player completed a 4-0 victory in the final to secure the title and create a landmark moment for Maltese snooker.

“I’m Over the Moon”

Following his historic victory, Busuttil admitted that he was still struggling to believe what he had achieved.

“I’m over the moon, I can’t believe it to be honest,” he said.

“I was just playing one frame at a time from the very beginning and this happened!”

Busuttil also revealed that his success earlier in the week had provided an additional confidence boost, having won the European Six-Reds Championship before going on to claim the Q Tour title.

“I wasn’t doing anything different specifically, I just kept going,” he added.

The new champion was also full of praise for his young final opponent, describing Jones as “unbelievable” and highlighting the big breaks he had produced throughout the tournament.

Eyes on the Top

Having already enjoyed an incredible week, Busuttil is now setting his sights even higher.

“I’m aiming for the number one spot now,” he said.

For Maltese snooker, the significance of Busuttil’s achievement is enormous. His historic Q Tour victory adds another chapter to the country’s growing presence on the international snooker scene.

For Jones, meanwhile, reaching his first Q Tour final at just 17 years old represents a hugely encouraging breakthrough and provides a platform to build on as his career develops.

Congratulations to Aaron Busuttil on a historic achievement, and to Edward Jones on an outstanding run to the final. 👏🏆

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