We are pleased to announce the 2023 Battle of Malta Spring Edition schedule at our Casino Malta home from May 31 to June 5 !!!
We are pleased to announce the 2023 Battle of Malta Spring Edition schedule at our Casino Malta home from May 31 to June 5.
The highlight of the schedule is easily the €500,000 Battle of Malta €600 Main Event with dozens of side events and satellites to keep every player entertained each and every day. There is something for everyone with buy-ins ranging from just €70 all the way up to the €5,200 Mega Siege of Malta for those with deeper pockets. In addition, there are many different formats including for a €300 Mystery Bounty event featuring three opening flights, the much- anticipated €150 Ladies Event, a two-day €1,100 High Roller, and much more. “We are prepared for a huge turnout at the Spring Edition of the 2023 Battle of Malta with many local hotels sold out in the area,” said Casino Malta. “In addition to the €500,000 guaranteed Main Event, there will also be plenty of side events as well as round-the-clock cash games at Casino Malta. We are located in the heart of St Julian’s, which we believe is the perfect location for a poker festival with bars, cafes, restaurants, and beaches right on the doorstep to keep players entertained both on and away from the tables.
About the Main Event
The Battle of Malta Main Event has historically been one of Europe's highest-attended mid-major poker events and this year we expect no different. The Main Event is a well-structured affair and boasts five opening flights from June 1-4. The first three opening flights boast 40-minute blinds levels while the final two are turbo-charged affairs featuring faster 20-minute blind levels.
Players advancing from any of the opening flights will already be in the money before competing for three more days from June 4-6 until the latest Battle of Malta champion is crowned. The Battle of Malta has a long and storied tradition dating back more than a decade when Nicodemo Piccolo defeated a field of 349 entries to win the €35,000 top prize. The festival grew in huge numbers each year before taking a big leap in 2018 when Casino Malta became the new home of the Battle of Malta with Julien Stropoli navigating through a massive field of 3,816 entries to win the €168,500 top prize.
The festival was even larger the following year with 4,657 entries generating a record-breaking €2,258,645 prize pool. It was one of the most entertaining events in memory with the long heads-up battle between “The Viking” Steven van Zadelhoff and Serghei Lisii. Lisii was on the ropes down to just a handful of big blinds before storming back. The players agreed to a deal before Lisii entered his name into the Battle of Malta history books with an epic victory along with the €247,167 top prize.
The pandemic forced the Battle of Malta to the sidelines in 2020 and 2021. However, the festival continued in the virtual world with exciting events online at the GGPoker Networkbefore moving back to its home at Casino Malta in 2023. To catch up for the lost time, Casino Malta hosted for the first time a Spring Edition in addition to the usual event in the Autumn. Players responded with big numbers with Giuseppe Rosa defeating a large field of 2,592 entries to collect the €200,340 top prize. The prize pool reached €1,244,160 to smash the same €500,000 guarantee we slapped on this year’s Spring Edition. The Autumn event was even bigger with 4,329 entries creating a massive €2,084,160 to more than double the €1,000,000 guarantee. Dmitrios Anastaskis managed to win the record- breaking top prize of €285,970 after defeating Toivo Rimme in heads-up play.
Year Entries Prize Pool Winner Top Prize
2012 349 €169,265 Nicodemo Piccolo €35,000
2013 888 €430,680 Louis Cartarius €68,000
2014 1,447 €701,795 Antoan Katsarov €122,750
2015 1,804 €875,000 Nicolas Proust €110,000
2016 1,813 €879,305 Robert Berglund €160,000
2017 2,074 €1,005,890 Nadav Lipszyc €200,000
2018 3,816 €1,850,760 Julien Stropoli €168,500
2019 4,657 €2,258,645 Serghei Lisii €247,167
2022 2,592 €1,244,160 Giuseppe Rosa €200,340
2022 4,329 €2,084,160 Dimitrios Anastasakis €285,970