Subbuteo: International Grand Prix Paris-Issy 2013

Most of the top players in all categories attended to this yearly event and last year the VSC won this Gran-Prix. This season the VSC is celebrating the 25th anniversary from the foundation of its club and this year the club had already won the Welsh International Grand Prix, held in Cardiff.

The Team event took place on Saturday were the Citizens compteted against 29 other teams from all over Europe. The players in the Team were Derek Conti, Mario Camilleri, Chris Thomas, Christian Short, Jason Pisani, Alfred Fenech, Stephen Rizzo and Matt Lampitt.

In the group stage VSC Team won the group by defeating Grosseto “B” of Italy 4-0 and Verviers of France 2-0. In the next round the VSC paired against Montivilliers of France whom they defeated 3-0 to make it to the quarter final against Royal 78 Kaisermuhlen of Austria who they defeated 2-0. In the semi final, they were unlucky when they paired against Pisa of Italy, were they drew 1-1 but the Italian side made it to the final due to a goal difference of 4-6.

On Sunday the VSC players took part in the individual competitions. The players that participated were Alfred Fenech, Mario Camilleri and Jason Pisani who took part in the Veteran category. Derek Conti, Stephen Rizzo, Matt Lampitt, Christian Short took part in the Open Category.

In the Veteran category Alfred Fenech did not qualify from the group. Mario Camilleri and Jason Pisani played against each other in the quarter finals.  Mario Camilleri defeated Jason Pisani on penalty shoot outs to progress to the semi-final. In the semi-final Mario Camilleri was defeated by Claudio Dogali.

In the Open category Stephen Rizzo did not manage to qualify from the group stages, Matt Lampitt prgressed into the last sixteen whereas Christian Short and Derek Conti were defeated in the quarter finals. Derek Conti was defeated by Chris Thomas who is also a VSC player. Chris Thomas won the tournament when he defeated the world No.1 ranked Saverio Bari in extra time.