The seventh season of the Malta ePremier League has concluded with Italian national Andrea ‘Montaxer’ Montanini, representing Żabbar St Patrick, crowned champion after a dramatic final day of competition.Competing in his debut season, Montanini showed strong mental resilience, progressing through the Losers’ Bracket to secure the title and earn qualification for both the eChampions League and the World Cup Play-ins.The competition began in late 2025 at PLAYCON, Malta’s largest games and esports expo. The early stages started at The Training Grounds, where more than 32 participants competed for their initial standing.This marked the beginning of a demanding qualification process involving over 100 competitors who advanced through multiple stages.From this pool, 12 players progressed to the Main Competition after successfully navigating the qualifiers. Each finalist represented a Malta Premier League club, bringing traditional football representation into the esports arena.The Group Stage began on 20th February, setting the stage for the final phase of the tournament. The final match day featured a final four lineup consisting of two international players and two leading Maltese competitors.Alongside Montanini were Manuel ‘Manarc80’ Arcuri (Hibernians FC), Cruz ‘Cruzify’ Tabone (Valletta FC), and Matthias ‘Tubbi’ Farrugia (Sliema Wanderers FC). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)The Grand Final was an all-Italian tactical contest between Montanini and Manarc80. Arcuri entered from the winners’ bracket with an advantage, but Montanini forced a bracket reset by winning the opening series.In the decisive final set of the 2025/26 season, Montanini maintained his form to complete the comeback and secure the title for Żabbar St Patrick.With this victory in the seventh edition of the league, Andrea ‘Montaxer’ Montanini has secured not only domestic success but also qualification to elite international EA FC competitions. His win guarantees participation in the upcoming eChampions League and the World Cup Play-ins.After the win, Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects Minister Silvio Schembri was interviewed about the event by none other than Max Vassallo. During the interview, Schembri expressed how “we need to continue building year after year, exactly how we’ve been doing. It is here to stay and we need to strengthen our investment in this sector.” He also congratulated both the finalists and all participants.The Malta ePremier League is an esports competition organised by GMR in collaboration with the Malta Football Association.It brings together Malta’s top EA FC players and international competitors to showcase their skills at the highest level. Across seven seasons, the league has provided a platform for emerging talent and contributed to the development of Malta’s esports ecosystem.Congratulations Andrea!•