The flagship Open division of the Messina grand Prix drew a bumper 40-player field split across ten round-robin groups.
World No. 15 Pascal Scheen (BEL/ ST Stembert) survived a tense semi-final shoot-out against Gerardo Patruno (ITA/ Bologna Tigers Subbuteo) 1-1 (2-1) , then took the title when Italian ace Ferdinando Gasparini (ITA/ASD SC Salernitana) was forced to forfeit the final.
Veterans
Experience told in the Veterans class. After navigating eight preliminary groups, favourite and No.6 Pasquale Torano (ITA/ Subbito Gol Ferrara) edged Malta’s Mario Camilleri (MLT/ TS Messina) 2-1 in a cagey final. Torano’s route included a semifinal win over Malta’s Jason Pisani, while Camilleri upset Belgian Daniel Scheen in the other semi to set up the cross-Mediterranean decider.
Under-20
With only two eligible entrants, the U20 crown was settled in a single showpiece. Maltese prodigy Robert Farrugia Randon (MLT/H’Attard SC) out-gunned Nicolò Colossi (ITA/ SC Bari) 5-3 in an attacking encounter.]
Under-16
The same Farrugia Randon completed a remarkable double in the U16 event. Topping his group, he dispatched Antonio Martinelli in the semis before overcoming another SC Bari player in Italy’s Daniele Salatino 3-1 in the final, finishing the youth programme unbeaten on the day.
Under-12
Rising Italian star Marco Averna from Subbuteo Club Reggio Calabria, the world number 2, prevailed in the ten-player U12 field. Averna edged Nicola Carnino (ITA/ Bulldogs Vicenza) 2-1 in a high-tempo final after both youngsters produced mature performances in their semifinal victories over Samuele Murabito (ITA/ ASD Siracusa Calcio Tavolo) and Tommaso Cuzzocrea (ITA/CT Paola) respectively.
Women
The Women’s title became a Scheen-Pibiri head-to-head. Belgium’s Mélina Scheen (BEL/ST Stembert) —daughter of the Open champion—beat local hope Giulia Pibiri (ITA/ SC Catania 1987) 3-1, securing a memorable family double for the Scheens.
Teams
Bormla SC of Malta maintained their impressive lead in the World Rankings with a 2-1 win over Italian club Barcellona Calcio Tavolo.
Key take-aways
The Scheens (Pascal and Mélina) swept both the Open and Women’s honours.
Maltese teenager Robert Farrugia Randon claimed the U20/U16 double.
Home-nation Italy still captured two golds through Pasquale Torano (Veterans) and Marco Averna (U12).
These results underscore Messina’s growing reputation as a proving ground for both seasoned champions and emerging talents across every age group.
| Category | Entrants / Groups | Knock-out bracket | Final | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 42 players · 10 groups | Last 16 → QF → SF → Final | Pascal Scheen 4–0 Ferdinando Gasparini (ff) | Pascal Scheen (BEL) |
| Veterans | 32 players · 8 groups | Last 16 → QF → SF → Final | Pasquale Torano 2–1 Mario Camilleri | Pasquale Torano (ITA) |
| Under-20 | 2 players · direct final | — | Robert Farrugia Randon 5–3 Nicolò Colossi | Robert Farrugia Randon (MLT) |
| Under-16 | 8 players · 2 groups | SF → Final | Robert Farrugia Randon 3–1 Daniele Salatino | Robert Farrugia Randon (MLT) |
| Under-12 | 10 players · 3 groups | SF → Final | Marco Averna 2–1 Nicola Carnino | Marco Averna (ITA) |
| Women | 2 players · direct final | — | Mélina Scheen 3–1 Giulia Pibiri | Mélina Scheen (BEL) |
| Teams | 15 teams – 4 groups | QF → SF → Final | Bormla SC 2-1 Barcellona Calcio Tavolo | Bormla SC |