Day 1d

Level 16: 2,500/5,000 (5,000)
Entries: 179/1,216

Day 1d finished just before the end of Level 16 with no hand-for-hand play. The clock was stopped with just under 4 minutes to go in the level, and staff were waiting for the final hands to finish before going hand-for-hand when Giuseppe Scarfo busted on the bubble to the money and Day 2, meaning there was no need for any hand-for-hand action.

Stay tuned for final chip counts from the Day 1d qualifiers shortly, and there are still a few qualifiers left to get in from Day 1e and tomorrow’s Day 1f before Day 2 begins Sunday at 7 pm.

Level 16: 2,500/5,000 (5,000)
Entries: 183/1,216

Bjarne Schlueter raised early to 10k and Dimitrios Katsikas repopped the button to 30k. Schlueter shoved and Katsikas called off with more. It was a near classic race between ace-queen for Schlueter and jacks for Katsikas and the jacks held on a low board to give Katsikas more than 500k chips.

Katsikas isn’t the only big stack at the table either, as Fabian Egger has about 480k now with two players left until the end of the night.

Dimitrios Katsikas – 520,000
Bjarne Schlueter – 0

Dimitrios Katsikas

Level 16: 2,500/5,000 (5,000)
Entries: 191/1,216

All the action was done and dusted when I got to the board reading 2♥4♣6♠2♦5♣. Aladin Mrkaljevic was counting out a huge double for Nico Pohl when Pohl’s pocket deuces turned quads to crush the pocket queens for Mrkaljevic. It wasn’t quite death by quads as Mrkaljevic had a few chips back, but he may well be terminal now with less than 20 players to go until the end of the night.

Aladin Mrkaljevic – 7,500
Nico Pohl – 230,000

Nico Pohl

Level 15: 2,000/4,000 (4,000)
Entries: 210/1,216

Stewart Kirby made it 8,000 to go from the cutoff, and it folded around to big blind Angelo Morrone, who shoved a smaller stack. Kirby snapped it off and was way ahead with ace-king against nine-four of hearts. The board of T♠2♣Q♣8♠6♣ missed both players so the big slick held and Morrone hit the rail.

Stewart Kirby – 200,000
Angelo Morrone – 0

Stewart Kirby

Level 14: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Entries: 256/1,216

Sefano Casciello opened early to 6,000 and it folded around to Franca Luana Bonsignore on the cutoff. She asked for a count, then shoved a bigger stack. Casciello called quickly and it was a race between pocket nines for Bonsignore against A♣K♣ for Casciello. The board of 4♣2♦7♠T♥8♦ was clean for the nines and Casciello hit the rail.

Franca Luana Bonsignore – 165,000
Sefano Casciello – 0

Franca Luana Bonsignore

Level 14: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Entries: 272/1,216

The flop was already dealt showing 7♥6♠A♠ and Giuseppe Di Bella bet 10k after a couple of checks. Simone Salis called from the cutoff before Steve Conti shoved all in from the big blind. Everyone folded except for Salis, who called with a gutshot holding five-three. Conti’s hand was mucked too quickly to see, but he left the table angrily when Salis hit his gutshot on the river.

Steve Conti – 0
Simone Salis – 130,000

We just confirmed with the tournament director that blinds will roll back to start tomorrow’s Day 2 to 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 big blind ante. This is due to Day 1a ending on this blind level.

Blinds also increase to one hour in length to provide an even deeper structure the rest of the way.

Level 14: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Entries: 294/1,216

Players are on a 30-minute break instead of the usual 20-minute break. This is due to the fact that there are so many players and a chip race for the 100-denominated chips will take place during the break.

Blinds will increase to 1,500/3,000 with a 3,000 big blind ante when the action resumes.

Sunglasses, Chips, Hands

Level 13: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 324/1216

Luciano Chiavaro opened the betting to 4,000 from the hijack before Alessandro Spata shoved from the cutoff for 23,500. Francesco Bozza was in the small blind and asked for a count before flat-calling to leave about 10k behind. Chiavaro mucked his hand, and Spata looked good for the double with jacks against tens for Bozza. The ten hit the turn of the 2♦5♣2♠T♣A♠ board and Spata headed out of the room in disgust just as the table broke.

Level 13: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 335/1,216

A player opened and two players called including Eftychois Georgiou from the cutoff. Martin Kanaker three-bet jammed from the button for 25,600. Two players folded before Georgiou found a call.

Martin Kanaker: 5♦5♥
Eftychios Georgiou: Q♠7♠

Georgiou called for a jack to double pair the board after the J♥T♠T♦ flop. Not only did a jack not come but nothing else came the rest of the way to improve Georgiou and Kanaker doubled his stack after the blank 3♥ turn and 6♣ river completed the board.

Eftychois Georgiou – 140,000
Martin Kanaker – 65,000

Level 12: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 381/1,216

Martin Garcia opened from the middle to 3,200 and he was called by Marco Manca in the cutoff and Gianluca Fighera in the big biind. It checked to Garcia on the 9♠4♠J♥ flop and he bet 7,400. Manca shoved for 38,200 before Fighera got out of the way.

Garcia made the call after asking for a count, and he was ahead with ace-jack against jack-ten, but Manca was also drawing to spades. 8♠ on the turn sealed it for Manca and the J♥ river was inconsequential.

Gianluca Fighera – 45,000
Martin Garcia – 38,000
Marco Manca – 100,000

The numbers have been checked, double-checked, and triple-checked for the massive Day 1d field. A banner field of 1,216 entries came out in full force with just 179 of them scheduled to advance to tomorrow’s Day 2 already in the money.

This figure might turn out to be less as if multiple players hit the rail on the final hand of the day, they not only won’t advance to Day 2 but also will not be awarded a min-cash.

Best of luck to all of the Day 1d players in their quest to become the lastest hero at the Battle of Malta.

Level 11: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 432/1,216

Alessandro Cenciarini and Samantha Algeri were on the turn with the board reading 8♦7♣K♣Q♥ and Cenciarini bet 2,700 under the gun. Algeri snapped it off to see 5♦ on the river, and Cenciarini fired 12,000 into the middle. Algeri tanked for a few seconds before tossing in the call, in the direction of Cenciarini.

He rolled over 6♦4♣ for the rivered straight and Algeri initially went to muck her hand down, but then showed ace-seven.

Alessandro Cenciarini – 225,000
Samantha Algeri – 140,000

Alessandro Cenciarini

Level 11: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 454/1,216

There is a famous saying on the famous television show The Sopranos as follows: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

This saying also applies to poker sometimes as evidenced by Aleksandar Parcetic.

Raoul van Wersch jammed for more than the 18,200 Parcetic had in his stack with a bit more in the pot and the 4♦K♦9♦8♣9♣ on the board.

Parcetic went into the tank for about a minute before he called. Van Wersch turned over his failed bluff attempt with Q♥J♠. Parcetic turned over the best hand with K♠7♣ but inexplicably got up from his chair, grabbed his belongings, and began to walk away.

He was nearly in the hallway before he caught the dealer’s attention and slowly made his way back to the table.

Initially, it appeared the Parcetic still thought he lost the hand but maybe had some chips left to play with. Moments later, a player at the table pointed out he won the hand. He still wasn’t sure but then sat back down.

“I thought he had king-queen,” Parcetic said. “I am pretty tired. I didn’t know.”

The table reassured him that everything was cool. These types of situations happen to even the best of players, but at least it did provide some entertainment at the table. Best of luck to Parcetic in finding a bag during Day 1d and getting some rest for Day 2 and beyond.

Aleksandar Parcetic – 65,000
Raoul van Wersch – 20,000

Aleksandar Parcetic

Level 11: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 454/1,216

I picked up the action on the flop with the board reading 5♥8♥6♣ and three players checked to the J♦ turn. After a check from small blind Torben Krogh, Dzintars Lacis fired 3,500 from the big blind. Peter Brackley made it 10k to go, Krogh out while Lacis called. Both remaining players checked the 3♠ river, and Brackley showed down jack-ten for the turned pair and the win as Lacis mucked his hand.

Torben Krogh – 70,000
Peter Brackley – 68,000
Dzintars Lacis – 90,000

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 455/1,211

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 463/1,209

Level 10 has just finished and the players are off for their 75-minute dinner break now. Entries are still open through the break but once Level 11 starts Day 1d will be closed. There are still two more turbo flights for the Main Event with Day 1e Turbo running right now in Level 3, and Day 1f Turbo Sunday morning at 10 am.

With entries open through the break the final numbers for 1d aren’t set yet, but with the current numbers, it looks like 182 players will bag tonight, though that could well change a bit.

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 478/1,207

Younes Charrat opened to 2,500 early, and Simone Spina called from the cutoff. Charrat checked the T♠8♥8♦ then snap-called when Spina shoved 19,800.

Charrat had king-queen of diamonds for overs and some backdoors but Spina hit the ten with ten-jack and held for the double.

Younes Charrat – 60,000
Simone Spina – 45,000

Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 537/1,201

Roberto Cilia raised to 2,200 from the hijack and he got a couple of callers before big blind Nikolaos Michailidis made it 8,700 to go. Two players folded, but cutoff Andrea Melluzzo called, The flop came 5♥K♣9♣ and Michailidis continued his aggression with a bet of 11,300, enough to push Melluzzo off the hand.

Andrea Melluzzo – 34,000
Nikolaos Michailidis – 50,000

Nikolaos Michailidis

Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 588/1,198

I picked up the action on the turn with the board reading 4♠4♦A♦4♣ and Christian Christandl checked from the big blind. Nilson Pascoal put out a bet of 15,000 and got the call to 5♦ on the river. Both players checked and Pascoal mucked after Christandl showed ace-jack for the flopped pair.

Christian Christandl – 160,000
Nilson Pascoal – 40,000

Christian Christandl

Gary Tyler wins Malta52 for €5,000

A total of 52 players qualified via different paths via Redtooth Poker for the invite-only Malta52 event. The event awarded 10 places a total of €12,500. Gary Tyler was the hero of the day after inking the event for the €5,000 top prize. Check out some of the photos from what turned out to be one of the most vibrant events thus far at the 2023 Battle of Malta.

Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 624/1,187

Day 1d is on its third break of the day. The blinds will increase to 500/1,000 with a 1,000 big blind ante followed by 600/1,200 with a 1,200 big blind ante.

The 75-minute dinner break will take place before Groundhog’s Day occurs with a repeat of the 600/1,200 (1,200) blind level. However, late registration will close at the end of the dinner break but this doesn’t mean we won’t see more players enter the Main Event today as the turbo-charged Day 1e kicks off at 8 p.m.

Level 8: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 654/1,180

Alessandro Cenciarini opened from the hijack to 2,000 and Samantha Algeri called from the button as did big blind Tavio Sillaste. It checked to Algeri on the 4♦6♥8♦ flop and she fired 2,900. Only Sillaste called to the 6♦ turn.

Sillaste check-called for 5,200 on the turn and both players checked the 7♦ river. Sillaste showed pocket threes, but he mucked in disgust when Algeri showed A♣9♦ for the rivered flush.

Alessandro Cenciarini – 95,000
Samantha Algeri – 80,000
Tavio Sillaste – 32,000

Samantha Algeri

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 721/1,145

Kurt Kofler opened the betting from the hijack to 1,300 and was called by cutoff Salvatore Patti, button Mario Burriolo, and big blind Virgilio di Cicco. The flop came 4♦2♣4♥ and di Cicco checked and Kurt Kofler bet 1,800. All three players called to the 7♥ turn.

It checked to Burriolo on the turn and he fired 3,200. Patti folded but the other two players called to the 2♥ river. di Cicco shoved for 6,600 and the other players folded. He showed ace-four of hearts for the backdoor flush and the win.

Mario Burriolo – 18,000
Virgilio di Cicco – 28,000
Kurt Kofler – 19,000
Salvatore Patti – 35,000

Virgilio di Cicco

The 2023 Battle of Malta Autumn Edition featured not one but two different Sviten Special events. The one that just kicked off today boasts a €250 buy-in.

We have been to hundreds if not thousands of poker events over the years and this is the first time in at least our memory that a Sviten Special event boasts a guarantee. Thus far, with just 29 entries, there is some added value thanks to a €10,000 guarantee slapped on this event. Of course, we expect that to be shattered, but you never know.

We explained the rules of Sviten Special a bit the first time this was hosted at this festival but in case you weren’t paying attention we will run through them again. The pot-limit game combines both five-card draw and five-card Omaha in the same game.

It begins simply enough with each players dealt five cards starting from the small blind. The first round of betting takes place followed by a turn and another round of betting.

Hopefully, you aren’t lost so far as it gets slightly trickier from here on out. Players will have an opportunity to exchange cards. They can stand pat, draw five, or anything in between. The exchanged cards are all dealt face down into the player’s hand except when just drawing one card is drawn. When that is the case it is face up. The player can decide if they are happy with that card. If they are, it goes into their hand. If not, they can choose to exchange that card for a new one which will be dealt face down into their hand.

A turn is dealt after the exchanging of cards before the third round of betting takes place followed by the river when the final betting round occurs. The best five-card draw hand at the showdown wins half the pot while the best five-card Omaha hand wins the other half.

This is a fun game to play whether tournaments, cash, or home games, so its worth checking out even if not hopping into the action.

Sviten Special author Martin Smith, Simon Ruckert, Niklas Nyman, Kaidar Viikman Marko “Cinderella Story” Keskel (see Day 1c blog to hear more about his story), Matteo Crapanzano, and Eva Jiretom are among the players in action. Best of luck to the Sviten Special players in their hunt for the title.

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 742/1,128

Andrea Grandi opened the middle to 1,500 and big blind Lucio Bernardo called to the flop of 4♥9♥6♦. Bernardo checked to Grandi who fired 1,200 only to see Bernardo check-raise to 5,500. Grandi shoved for a bit more, and Bernardo called it off with the biggest stack..

Grandi was on pocket sevens, but Bernardo flopped his nine with ace-nine to take the lead. The T♥T♣ turn and river were bricks for Grandi and he hit the rail while Bernardo chipped up to close to 100k

Lucio Bernardo – 90,000
Andrea Grandi – 0

Lucio Bernardo

Day 1d has reached its second break. The blinds will increase to 300/600 with a 600 big blind ante when the action resumes.

Many players have stepped outside to enjoy a few moments of the beautiful Maltese weather this past week including today.

Level 6: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 743/1,094

Pavel Heger opened the action in a hand just before the break with a raise to 1,100. He was called in two spots to the flop of 7♦Q♦7♣ and all three players checked to the K♥ turn. Big blind Francesco Palermo led out on the turn for 2,500 and both Giovanni D’Alia and Heger called to the river 4♥ where it checked around again. Heger rolled over king-ten and took the pot when the other two players mucked.

The players are now on their second break of the day.

Giovanni D’Alia – 16,000
Pavel Heger – 37,000
Francesco Palermo – 27,000

Pavel Heger

Level 6: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 764/1,063

Gianluca Parisi opened to 1,000 and got called in two spots to see 2♦6♥Q♣. All three players checked around to the 9♠ turn. Martin Stoev checked the big blind before Parisi bet 2,500. Giuseppe Di Marco clicked it back to 5k from his left, forcing out both Stoev and Parisi.

Giuseppe Di Marco – 26,000
Gianluca Parisi – 17,000
Martin Stoev – 33,000

Giuseppe Di Marco

Level 6: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 762/1,038

The Day 1d field reached more than 1,000 entries on its own to bring the total Main Event field past 2,300 entries. The Day 1d field will continue to grow with more than four levels of late registration. In addition, there will be two turbo flights tonight and tomorrow morning before the final prize pool and Day 2 field are set.

The €250 Bounty kicked off a short while ago and already has more than 150 players. Due to the Main Event, capacity for this event is limited to 25 tables.

Two-time Ladies Only winner Emma Watson, Cory Desmond, 2019 BoM High Roller champion Chris Da Silva, Pavel Cerveny, Vadim Gercev, Kristian Holden, 2023 BoM Main Event runner-up Junyu Liu, and Roland Luik are among the early entries in the field.

Best of luck to all bounty players! We will share some photos of this event from our new photographer Igor Bezborodov within the hour.

Level 5: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 776/1,022

I arrived at the table with the action on the turn and the board reading 2♦A♠8♥9♠. Marcus Borg was all in from the button and Martinus Dogge called to put him at risk. Borg had ace-deuce for two pair, but Dogge had the good with pocket aces for a flopped set. The 3♣ river was inconsequential and Borg hit the rail while Dogge chipped up to about 55k.

Martinus Dogge – 55,000
Marcus Borg – 0

Martinus Dogge

Level 4: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 811/955

Marco Burriolo raised early to 1,200 and he was called by the next three seats to his left. The flop came Q♣7♦J♦ and he checked to Daniele Dessi who put in a bet of 1,800. Aliaksei Ivanou called from his left and Sandro Stapane tucked before Burriolo came over top to 6,000, forcing folds from the final two players in the hand.

Marco Burriolo – 30,000
Daniele Dessi – 45,000
Aliaksei Ivanou – 17,000
Sandro Stapane – 8,000

Marco Burriolo

Level 4: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 810/921

Luca Delfino opened from the middle to 800 and package winner Samantha Algeri called from the small blind. It checked through the flop of 4♦J♠8♦ but Algeri fired 1,000 on the 4♥ turn to take it down.

Samantha Algeri – 26,000
Luca Delfino – 16,000

Level 4: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 797/901

Players are on a 20-minute break. Blinds will increase to 100/300 with a 300 big blind ante when the action resumes.

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 743/832

Angelo Onorato limped early before Alessandro Cenciarini raised to 900 next to act. Both blinds called as did Onorato.

The flop was 7♣4♥K♦ and it checked to Cenciarini and he fired 900 again. The small blind got out of the way, but big blind Daniele Gugliotta called, as did Onorato. All three remaining players checked through the 2♦8♥ turn and river and pocket jacks for Cenciarini were good against jack-seven for Gugliotta and queen-seven for Onorato.

Alessandro Cenciarini – 29,000
Daniele Gugliotta – 27,000
Angelo Onorato – 25,000

Alessandro Cenciarini

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 736/788

Stian Espedal Kolsto raised to 500 early, then called when Vincenzo Germano made it 1,000 to go. Kolsto check-called for 1,200 on the 5♠2♣Q♥ flop but when the K♥ hit the turn, he check-raised from 1,300 to 5,100 to take it down.

Vincenzo Germano – 20,000
Stian Espedal Kolsto – 27,000

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 727/773

There was nearly 10,000 in the pot with the 9♣J♣T♣5♣3♥ on the board when Frank Cozzula checked. Francesco Montagno fired out for 3,200. Rosario Saddemi paused for a few moments before he got warned about flashing his cards to his neighbor. Soon after, his hand went into the muck.

Meanwhile, Cozzula opted to call only to get the bad news that Montagno held the nut-flush with A♣6♥. Cozzula opted to show that he had a flush as well, just not strong enough after tabling his 9♥8♣ before the next hand was dealt.

Rosario Saddemi – 35,000
Francesco Montagno – 30,000
Frank Cozzula – 19,000

Francesco Montagno

Level 2: 100/100 (100)
Entries: 706/746

Among the players in this huge Day 1d today is Canadian Kelly Gall. He’s played most of his poker in southern Alberta in Canada, but he recently picked up the biggest score of his life with an epic run in the WSOP Seniors’ bracelet event at the 2023 series. He made it all the way to heads-up play, ultimately having to settle for second place for $134,643. He also has nine career wins in various tournaments in Alberta and Las Vegas.

For the last few months, he’s been on the road doing a tour of European poker spots including the UK and now Malta. While his Day 1d today wasn’t successful, no doubt he’ll still be looking for another big score here this week.

Kelly Gall

Level 2: 100/100 (100)
Entries: 681/719

There was around 4,000 in the pot when Joan Carillo, Luca Lentini, and Fabio Aprile all checked the 7♥9♥8♣ flop before Carillo checked again on the 2♦ turn.

“Three,” Lentini stated as he tossed a blue 5,000-denominated chip and announced.

There was a small bit of confusion and Carillo, who already chipped up nicely, wanted to know if it was 300 or 3,000. Lentini insisted he meant 3,000.

The floor was called and took a look at the pot before determining the bet was indeed for 3,000. The table appeared comfortable with the ruling and both Aprile and Carillo folded.

“If it was 300, I am obviously calling,” Carillo shared with us.

Joan Carillo – 60,000
Luca Lentini – 30,000
Fabio Aprile – 30,000

Grassroots poker has arrived to Malta in a huge way with Redtooth Poker bringing tons of poker players from their community to compete in the Malta52 events at the 2023 Battle of Malta.

There are 52 players in the opening event, an appropriate number considering the Malta52 brand. This is not all, as all 52 players start off with 52,000 in chips with blinds increasing every 20 minutes.

Players qualified through various Redtooth poker paths and it is only open to qualifiers. Paul Baker, James Middleton, Spencer Owen, Andrei Popa, and Caroline Quinn are among the players in action in the opening Malta52 event.

There is a whopping €12,500 in the prize pool with today’s winner of the opening event going home with a tasty €5,000 top prize.

Best of luck to all of the Redtooth Poker players in their quest for Malta52 glory at the 2023 Battle of Malta Autumn Edition.

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 500/502

Day 1d is rocking the house with already more than 500 entries in the opening moments. Already, two players lost their stacks including Poland’s Arkadiusz Sieracki and Italy’s Prospero Trovato.

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 411/411

The opening ceremony has been concluded with a round of applause for all of the players. Cards are now in the air with more than 400 entries already in the field. Best of luck to all of the players.

Today is set to be a special day as not only do we expect the largest opening flight of the Main Event in Day 1d but also today will boast a turbo Day 1e this evening.

Day 1d kicks off at 1 p.m. will follow the same structure as the first three opening flights with players starting off with 25,000 in chips and blinds increasing every 40 minutes. Players can re-enter until their hearts are content until the start of Level 11 with the day ending when just 15% of the field remains.

Meanwhile, Day 1e begins at 8 p.m. and the only difference is that this is a turbo-charged affair with 20-minute blind levels. Our focus will be mostly on Day 1d today but we will provide some updates on Day 1e and the many side events for the day. Tomorrow morning’s final opening flight in Day 1f mirrors the structure of Day 1e.

So buckle up, and get ready for a beautiful day. Will someone pass the 900,000 in chips that Tayfun Rodoplu bagged on Day 1a or will he begin tomorrow’s Day 2 with a massive chip lead.

Battle of Malta Day 1c