The annual Malta IFR Champions Cup, co-sponsored by Betsoft, has raised a record €13,000 for local charities Puttinu Cares, an organisation that helps families cope with cancer and ALS Malta, a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) charity.

The second IFR tournament brought together teams from leading Malta-based and international companies within the iGaming, fintech and real estate industries to raise as much money as possible for good causes on the island.

IFR was set up by close friends Nikola Vasovic, Andrew Micallef Trigona, Nora Schembri and Yiannis Paraskevas, with the aim of organising a series of premium events from which the proceeds would be donated to nominated local charities.

This year the tournament selected The Puttinu Cares Cancer Support Group, a charity set up in 2002 that offers care for families with children suffering from cancer, and ALS Malta, an organisation that raises awareness and offers support to local ALS and MND sufferers.

Thirty-six teams entered the closely contested 2019 event including iGaming companies Mr Green and The Stars Group, however it was Stronghold Construction who emerged victorious in a hard fought 2-0 final against local business Gourmet Bar & Grill. Third place went to Mediterranean Insurance Brokers who triumphed over Levski Sofra in a play-off match.

The winning team won the prestigious IFR Champions Trophy as well as flights, accommodation and entry into next year’s Moscow Continental Football League, the world’s largest eight-a-side mini-football tournament.

Annamaria Anastasi, Marketing Director, Betsoft Gaming, said: “We’re thrilled to have played our part in supporting this fantastic local event and we hope it will now go from strength-to-strength and continue to raise valuable funds for the wonderful charities we have here in Malta.

Nikola Vasovic, co-founder of the IFR event, said: “It was a very entertaining weekend, with a great standard of football, and plenty of fun and entertainment in aid of Puttinu Cares and ALS Malta.

“We’ve raised a fantastic sum of money for both charities and I’d like to thank our sponsors including Betsoft who played an important role in contributing to this event that we hope to repeat year after year.”