Philip Ciantar qualified for the semi-finals of the Over-40 category at the European Seniors Individual Snooker Championship after an impressive run through the knockout stages in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Ciantar was the only Maltese player remaining in contention at the end of Friday’s programme after winning three matches during a highly successful day.

He began with a 3-1 victory over Germany’s Miro Popovic in the last 32. After losing the opening frame 65-17, Ciantar recovered to win the next three 58-47, 74-40 and 70-48.

The Maltese player then produced a dominant performance against Belgium’s Peter Bullen in the last 16, winning 4-0 with frame scores of 69-16, 56-32, 80-7 and 70-41. Ciantar also compiled a break of 54 in the third frame.

Later in the evening, he secured his place in the last four by defeating Ireland’s Mark Walsh 4-1. Ciantar won the opening three frames 96-46, 90-52 and 55-37. Walsh pulled one back 61-51, but the Maltese player closed the match with a 72-46 victory in the fifth.

Ciantar will face England’s Wayne Brown in Saturday’s semi-final, scheduled to begin at noon Malta time.

All four Maltese players who had advanced from the group stage won their opening knockout matches on Friday.

Alex Borg defeated Welshman Darryl James 3-0 in the Over-40 last 32, winning the frames 51-41, 72-29 and 74-32. His campaign ended in the following round, however, when he lost 4-1 to another Welsh player, David Donovan.

In the Over-55 category, Emanuel Mallia comfortably defeated Hungary’s Peter Varga 3-0 in a preliminary match, with frame scores of 71-16, 71-11 and 67-63. He was subsequently eliminated by England’s Chris Cooke, who won their last-16 encounter 4-1.

France Mintoff reached the quarter-finals following a marathon victory over Wales’ John Breeze. The match lasted more than three hours and went to a deciding frame, with Mintoff eventually prevailing 4-3.

Mintoff was later eliminated by another Welsh opponent, David Hooper, who won their quarter-final 4-2.