Day 3

The Battle of Malta poker tournament has reached an exhilarating stage as Day 3 concluded, leaving only nine players vying for the coveted title. With an initial field of 1,992 entries, the competition has been fierce, with each participant displaying their skills and strategic prowess. As the final table looms, anticipation builds for a thrilling climax to this prestigious event. Let’s take a closer look at the key details and players who have made it to this stage.

All nine finalists in the Battle of Malta poker tournament have guaranteed themselves a generous payout of €14,480. However, their focus remains fixed on the ultimate prize, a staggering €156,500 reserved for the eventual champion.

As the final table approaches, three players stand out as the frontrunners, having amassed substantial chip stacks during the tournament. Dario Barone leads the pack with an impressive 9,300,000 chips, closely followed by Miguel Bolivar with 7,800,000 chips. Andrea Dominici, with 7,425,000 chips, completes the trio of formidable contenders. Their extensive chip counts suggest a formidable battle ahead, as they navigate the final stages of the tournament. The full chip counts and seat draw can be found below.

Chip Leader Dario Barone

Live Stream of the Final Table

Fans and enthusiasts eagerly await the resumption of play, scheduled for this Tuesday at 2 pm. With the final table set to take center stage, spectators will have the opportunity to witness the intense poker action via a live stream. However, to maintain fairness and preserve the integrity of the game, a 30-minute delay will be implemented, ensuring that no real-time information reaches the players during crucial hands.

The Battle of Malta poker tournament has been an arduous journey for all participants. Over the course of the event, players have faced numerous challenges and skilled opponents, testing their mettle and strategic acumen. Now, with the final table in sight, the remaining contenders have the chance to etch their names into poker history and claim the prestigious title of Battle of Malta champion. As the Battle of Malta poker tournament heads into its final stage, excitement and anticipation fill the air. With the final table featuring nine skilled players, all of whom have secured a substantial payout, the competition promises to be a fierce battle of wits and strategy. With the live stream capturing the action, fans and poker enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the drama unfold as the players vie for the top prize. The Battle of Malta has reached its climax, and soon a champion will emerge, leaving an indelible mark on the poker world.

We are excited about tomorrow’s final table!

Chipcounts Going Into the Final

Payouts and Results so far

Roberto Caprio

Level 31: 100,00/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 9/1,992

After more than an hour of little and slow action, the final table bubble has burst.

Roberto Caprio raised from UTG to 300k and it was folded to Miguel Bolivar who re-raised to 750k. Caprio want all-in without hesitation and Bolivar instantly called. Showdown:

Caprio: A♥K♣
Bolivar: K♦K♥

Board: Q♠9♥7♥5♦6♠

The dealer provided no help for Caprio and Bolivar had him barely covered. With that bust, the Final Nine for tomorrow are found.

We will be back with full counts and a short recap in a bit.

Miguel Bolivar – 7,800,000
Roberto Capro – 0

Level 31: 100,00/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 10/1,992

The first all-in in almost 50 minutes and we see a double up. Andrea Agnoletto, who was spending more time eying the other short stacks’ chips than playing cards was eventually all-in with 5-5 against Junyu Liu’s A-Q. The board brought no help to Liu and Agnoletta doubled up to 2m chips.

Junyu Liu – 4,600,000
Andrea Agnoletto – 2,000,000

After the break, the action is very slow. With Mikhael Busiashvili and Andrea Agnoletto there are two short(ish) stacks at the table and so far nobody is willing to commit many chips with the two of them still around during the final table bubble.

Dario Barone id the new Chip Leader

Below are the full counts after the last break of the day.

We have a new chip leader in Dario Barone, followed by Andrea Dominici and Junya Liu.

Players are on their final break of Day 3. Blinds will increase to 100,000/150,000 with a big blind ante of 150,000 when the action resumes.

Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 10/1,992

Andrea Agnoletto raised from UTG to 250k and in the big blind, Junyu Liu called.

Flop: J♣4♣3♣

Liu checked, Agnoletto bet 150k and Liu quickly called.

Turn: Q♥ check / check

River: K♥

Seemingly out of nowhere, Liu slid 700k in front of the betting line.

Andrea Agnoletto looked flabbergasted and could not make sense of this large bet.

After a few moments of thinking he eventually let go of his hand.

Junyu Liu – 7,000,000
Andrea Agnoletto – 2,800,000

Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 10/1,992

Andrea Dominici opened for 250,000 from the small blind. Mikhael Busiashvili three-bet to 725,000 and Dominici called. Dominici fired out a donk-bet of 275,000 on the 4♦K♠T♥ flop. Busiashvili raised to 600,000 and Dominici called.

Dominici checked the J♣ turn. Busiashvili bet 1,100,000. Dominici went into the tank before he shoved for 2,625,000. Busiashvili snap-called only to find out he was drawing dead.

Andrea Dominici: 4♣4♥
Mikhael Busiashvili: J♦7♦

No card in the deck could hurt Dominici and he just doubled for the second time this orbit against Busiashvili.

Andrea Dominici – 8.7 million
Mikhael Busiashvili – 3 million

Andrea Dominici

Andrea Dominici Before moving all-in

Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 10/1,992

During the past levels, it got a wee bit quiet around Andrea Dominici, who was briefly dominating his table. But over the last orbits his stack approached short stack territory once more.

In a rather big hand, he just now scooped a nice pot against Mikhael Busiashvili.

Busiashvili opened from UTG to 275k and Dominici called in the big blind.

Flop: 7♥6♣3♥

After a check, Busiashvili bet 375k and Dominici called.

Turn: 9♣

Again Dominici checked and now Busiashvili slid 600k over the line. Dominici thought for a while and then moved all-in for 1,645,000.

Mikhael Busiashvili took his time and eventually decided to retreat from the fight and folded his hand. The 1.9m pot went Dominici’s way.

Mikhael Busiashvili – 5,000,000
Andrea Dominici – 2,900,000

Junyu Liu

Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 10/1,992

In a massive double up Junyu Liu just won a 7m chip pot.

It started with Victor Fryda raising to 225,000 from early position.

Two positions behind him, seemingly out of nowhere, Liu jammed all-in for 3,450,000.

Fryda called almost instantly and there were 7m chips in the middle.

Showdown:

Fryda: A♦Q♦
Liu: 9♥9♠

Board: 2♠4♠8♣3♣K♦

Just like that, Liu doubled to slightly over 7m chips, while the former chip leader Fryda is down to roughly 3.5m chips.

Liu – 7,200,000
Fryda – 3,500,000

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 10/1,992

Egidijus Digrys opened the button for 200,000. Giulio Di Salvo three-bet jammed for more than the 15 big blinds or so Digrys had behind. Digrys called and the flip was on.

Egidijus Digrys: 9♣9♦
Giulio Di Salvo: K♥Q♠

Di Salvo improved to two pair on the Q♣J♥8♣5♠K♠ board to eliminate Digrys in 11th place. Day 3 will conclude after one more player hits the rail and then we will begin to prepare for tomorrow’s final table show.

Giulio Di Salvo – 4.8 million
Egidijus Digrys – 0

Egidijus Digrys

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 11/1,992

Fabian Rolli opened for 225,000 from the cutoff and was called by Victor Fryda. Miguel Bolivar three-bet jammed for 1,800,000. Rolli folded and Fryda called.

Miguel Bolivar: 4♠4♦
Victor Fryda: 8♣8♠

It was looking like showers for Bolivar. Instead, he improved to a boat on the 4♥K♦5♣A♣A♥ board to double his stack.

Victor Fryda – 6 million
Miguel Bolivar – 4 million

Miguel Bolivar

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 11/1,992

Andrea Dominici opened from the cut-off to 215k and in the small blind Andrius Janca made it 800k to go, leaving roughly 450k behind.

In the big blind Mikhael Busiashvili quickly raised to 1.5m and Adrea Dominici got out of the way.

Getting fantastic pot odds, Janca began tanking. He looked at his cards, at the tournament clock, and at the other table.

Eventually, the tournament director came over and told him, that he now has 30 seconds or his hand is dead. Then Janca quickly called.

Showdown:

Andrius Janca – A♠J♠
Mikhael Busiashvili – T♠T♦

Board: 7♥3♥3♣9♥2♣

With his unimproved ace-jack, Jancawas out in 12th place.

Mikhael Busiashvili – 10m
Andrius Janca – 0

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 12/1,992

Mikhael Busiashvili opened for 250,000 from the hijack. Massimo Centola three-bet jammed for slightly more than 1 million. Busiashvili didn’t ask for a count before he snap-called.

Massimo Centola: A♣5♣
Mikhael Busiashvili: A♦K♥

Both players nailed top pair on the A♥4♦2♣7♥9♦ runout. Centola had some kicker issues and hit the rail in 13th place while Busiashvili chipped up and is in clear third place behind Victor Fryda and Fabian Rolli.

Mikhael Busiashvili – 6.9 million
Massimo Centola – 0

Massimo Centola

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 13/1,992

Giorgio Bellanca opened for a min-raise from early position. Roberto Caprio called from the cutoff before Fabian Rolli jacked it up to 680,000 from the button. Bellanca four-bet jammed for a little more than 3 million. Caprio folded and Rolli called.

Giorgio Bellanca: A♦Q♥
Fabian Rolli: A♥A♣

Bellanca seemed disgusted and got up from the table to watch the 8♠5♣9♠5♠Q♠ run out on the board before heading to the cashier.

Fabian Rolli – 8 million
Giorgio Bellanca – 0

Giorgio Bellanca

The dinner break is over and we’re back with the last four levels of the evening. We will play either until the end of level 32 or until we’re down to the final table – whatever comes first.

Final Two Tables

Below are the accurate chip counts going into the dinner break:

With the end of level 28, we’re on a 75-minute dinner break.

We will provide chip counts in a few moments and go have a break ourselves then.

Cyril Vieira

Level 28: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 14/1,992

In one of the first hands after consolidating the tables into two, we lost Cyril Vieira.

Down to 6 big blinds, he shoved all-in with KXTX from middle position and in the blinds Victor Fryda called with 8X8X.

The board fell K♠6♦5♦7♥9♥, giving Fryda a straight and eliminating Vieira.

Meanwhile, Maksym Sheingart hit the rail just before to leave 14 players remaining.

Victor Fryda – 6,500,000
Cyril Vieira – 0
Maksym Sheingart – 0

Below are the counts of the final two tables (very roughly)

We will prove accurate counts during the break in a few minutes.

Level 28: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 16/1,992

From middle position Andrea Dominici raised to 165k and on the button Fabian Rolli called.

Flop: A♣J♥3♦

Dominici bet 120k after Rolli checked and the latter called.

Turn: 8♣

Now both players checked.

River: T♣

After another check, Dominici bet 525k – almost pot – and Rolli quickly called.

Dominici showed J♠T♥9♣.

While typing up this hand, we lost Edikas Jurgutis and are now down to the final two tables.

We will provide seat draw and counts in a wee bit.

Edikas Jurgutis – 0

Edikas Jurgutis – Out in Position 17

Antoine Talvard moments before the bust

Level 28: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 17/1,992

Andrea Dominico raised from early position and in the big blind Antoine Talvard called the raise.

Flop: A♥7♦5♠

After a check, Dominico bet 105k and Talvard called.

Turn: 7♣

Once more the action went check/call. This time Dominico bet 175k.

River: K♦

Talvard checked a third time and this time Dominico bet 950k, enough to put Talvard, who had 700k behind, all-in.

Talvard thought briefly and elected to call. Dominico tabled T♣7♠ and Talvard mucked his hand face-down before leaving the table.

Just like that, we’re down to 17 players and only one spot from the final two tables away.

Andrea Dominico – 2,700,00
Antoine Talvard – 0

Level 28: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 18/1,992

Over at Table 17, a rather big preflop all-in saw Giulio Di Salvo double to almost 4m chips against Edikas Jurgutis.

After Jurgutis raised, Di Salvo jammed with 3X3X and Jurgutis called with AXKX.

The board gave Di Salvo a set and he doubled up to roughly 3.7m chips while Jurgutis is down to slightly under 1m.

Giulio Di Salvo – 3,700,000
Edikas Jurgutis – 950,000

Giulio Di Salvo stacks his new chips

Below are the rough counts for the start of Level 28:

Victor Fryda

Andrea Dominici splits it with Fabian Rolli

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 18/1,992

In a medium-sized pot Andrea Dominico and the Swede Fabian Rolli collided at Table 16.

Dominico, who had been one of the most active players after doubling into a sizeable stack earlier, made it 135k from the button and Rolli defended his big blind.

Flop: A♥K♣9♦

Rolli checked and Dominico made it another 135k. Rolli called.

Turn: T♠

After another check, Dominico bet 375k, and once more Rolli called.

River: K♥

Now both players slowed down and checked. Showdown:

Andrea Dominico: T♥8♣
Fabian Rolli: Q♣T♦

Both players had the same two-pair hand and split the 1.3m pot right in the middle.

Fabian Rolli – 2,700,000
Andrea Dominico – 2,400,000

The poker action has been fantastic all week long. But for those looking to take a break, DomusBet has an old-school arcade machine with countless retro-games on it. Unlike most arcade machines, this one is free to play.

Players have been enjoying it all day today. But if you wait around, you can get your turn as well.

Arcade Action at the Battle of Malta

Candido Cappiello

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 18/1,992

In a classic race, Candido Cappiello lost all chips against Maksym Sheingart. The two were all-in in a 3.2m pot. All chips went into the middle before the pot.

Cappiello hat A♦K♦ and Maksym Sheingart Q♠Q♦.

The board fell 8♠7♣3♠9♥5♠ – no help for Cappiello and he was out in 19th place.

Maksym Sheingart – 4,800,000
Candido Cappiello – 0

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 19/1,992

David Lappin is one of the co-hosts and founders of The Chip Race podcast alongside Dara O’Kearney. If you haven’t checked it out, it is certainly worth a listen. Unfortunately, The Chip Race host won’t be at the final table, although it is possible he will join me in the comms booth tomorrow for the final table live stream.

Lappin opened for 400,000 with about 80,000 behind from under the gun. Georgio Bellanca called from the small blind and had his bet ready before the 2♥9♠7♥ flop to put Lappin in for the rest. That is exactly what happened and Lappin snap-called.

David Lappin: J♦9♦
Georgio Bellanca: 6♥6♠

Lappin was far ahead but Bellanca had his opponent drawing dead after nailing a set on the 6♦ turn. The A♥ river completed the board to end Lappin’s impressive run.

Georgio Bellanca – 3 million
David Lappin – 0

The Chip Race Co-Host David Lappin

Miguel Bolivar

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 20/1,992

After losing the last hand before the break, the bad run for Giorgio Bellanca continues. Now he lost a substantial pot to Miguel Bolivar.

The hand began with Bellanca raising to 120k from middle position. Bolivarreraised to 270k from the big blinds and Bellanca called.

Flop: T♣6♦5♥

Bolivarfired 225k and Bellanca called.

The Q♠ was checked by both and after the river fell 4♦, Bolivarfired another bullet – 450k.

Bellanca called and Bolivartabled A♣A♦. Bellanca mucked his hand and this 1.9m chip pot went Bolivar’s way.

Miguel Bolivar – 2,700,000
Giorgio Bellanca – 2,600,000

The first four levels of today are in the books. We’re down to 20 players and those are the full counts:

Players are on their second Day 3 break. Blinds will increase to 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 big blind ante before moving up again to 40,000/80,000 with a 80,000 big blind ante. A longer 75-minute dinner break will take place after these two blind levels.

We will update all of the chip counts during the break.

Level 26: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 20/1,992

Right before the break, Andrea Agnoletto managed to scoop a big pot against Giorgio Bellanca. The two big stacks are seated right next to each other at Table 18 with Agnoletto having position against Bellanca.

In a pot that only played out preflop, Agnoletto manages to win 16 big blinds without even needing to see a flop.

The hand started with Bellanca raising to 125k. Agnoletto made it 375k to go and Bellanca took some time and decided to raise to 800k. Agnoletto almost immediately went all-in and almost as instantly Bellanca threw his cards into the muck and left the table.

The two go into the break with almost even stacks.

Giorgio Bellanca – 3,800,000
Andrea Agnoletto – 3,800,000

Giorgio Bellanca and Andrea Agnoletto

Level 26: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 22/1,992

Massimo Centola open-jammed for 670,000 from the small blind. Edikas Jurgutis asked for a count before he called.

Massimo Centola: A♠7♠
Edikas Jurgutis: 4♠4♦

Centola got up from his seat as if ready to leave. He sat back down after his ace connected with the K♥A♦2♦T♥9♣ board to double his stack through Jurgutis.

Edikas Jurgutis – 2.7 million
Massimo Centola – 1.4 million

Massimo Centola

Level 26: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 22/1,992

Edikas Jurgutis min-raised the button. Andrius Janca three-bet shoved for nearly 3 million. Lahire Roch called off his stack of 1.3 million and Jurgutis called off his stack of 1.1 million for a three-way showdown and two players at risk.

Edikas Jurgutis: K♥K♠
Lahire Roch: A♥9♦
Andrius Janca: K♦J♦

Jurgutis tripled up on the 2♦8♠8♥8♣6♠ board. Although Roch did win the small side pot, he hit the rail shortly after to leave 22 players remaining.

Edikas Jurgutis – 3.4 millon
Andrius Janca – 1.6 million
Lahire Roch – 0

Edikas Jurgutis

Andrea Dominici thinking about his call on the river

Level 26: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 21/1,992

He was mainly confined to playing preflop poker due to his small stack in the past, but Andrea Dominica recently increased his stack enough to also play post-flop poker now.

And we just saw him pick up a courageous bluff against Roberto Caprio.

The hand began with Fabian Rolli raising to 100k under the gun. Dominica called in the small blind and Caprio called in the big blind as well.

Flop: J♣7♣3♦

It was checked to the preflop raiser who made it 135k to go. Both other players called.

Turn: 7♦ – all players checked.

River: 2♥ – After Dominica checked, Caprio bet 325k and Rolli promptly folded. Andrea Dominica did some thinking and eventually called with J♥9♥.

This was good enough as Caprio could only muster 5♣4♠ for a bluff.

Meanwhile, we lost Alexis Roch on another table in 23rd position.

Andrea Dominica – 1,700,000
Alexis Roch – 0

Level 26: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 23/1,992

Giulio Di Salvo jammed for about 10 big blinds from early position before Jon Persent called off his stack of a little less from one seat over.

Jon Persent: A♦8♥
Giulio Di Salvo: A♥Q♥

Persent wasn’t able to push ahead on the 5♦2♠T♥6♠7♣ board and exited the 2023 Battle of Malta Spring Edition Main Event in 24th place.

Jon Persent

With that, we’re down to three tables. Those are the approximate counts and (accurate) seats:

Current chip leader Giorgio Bellanca

Dario Minieri unlucky with his aces

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 24/1,992

They had been battling before and Sheingart had the better end. Now they went at it again and this time Maksym Sheingart eliminated Dario Minieri.

They were all-in on a flop that read J♣T♣6♥. Minieri was well ahead with his A♦A♣, but Sheingart had outs as he held Q♦9♥.

Turn and river fell K♥, 8♦, giving Sheingart a straight, sending Dario to the rails in 26th place.

Alongside Minieri, we also lost Tomasz Kokoska who busted in 25th place.

Maksym Sheingart – 3,500,000
Dario Minieri – 0
Tomasz Kokoska – 0

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 26/1,992

Rain Moelderkivi jammed from early position for about a dozen big blinds. This got through for a walk but then the next hand he jammed again, this time for 550,000 from under the gun. Victor Fryda called from one seat over and the rest of the table folded.

Rain Moelderkivi: K♦J♦
Victor Fryda: A♦A♥

Moelderkivi connected with his jack on the J♠5♣Q♦ rainbow flop but got no other love to get ahead of Fryda’s rockets on either the 8♣ turn or the 2♥ river to hit the rail in 27th place.

Victor Fryda – 4.5 million
Rain Moelderkivi – 0

Rain Moelderkivi

Alexis Roch after hitting a lucky flush

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 27/1,992

That was a slightly weird hand!

Over at Table 19, Andrea Agnoletto raised from middle position to 85k. It folded to Alexis Roch on the button, who made it 425k, leaving himself 100k chips.

Agnoletto instantly moved all-in, expecting a rapid call. But Alexis Roch took his time. He even took so much time, that the floor was called over and he was counted down 30 seconds.

Eventually, Roch called, only to see that his A♥J♣ was utterly dominated by Agnoletto’s A♠K♥.

But Roch scored a lucky double as the dealer fanned a board of K♣Q♣3♦7♣5♣, giving Roch a flush on the river.

Andrea Agnoletto – 2,000,000
Alexis Roch – 1,200,000

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 27/1,992

James Mercieca opened for 90,000 from middle position and was called by Jon Persent from the cutoff, Dario Minieri from the button, David Lappin from the small blind, and Junyu Liu from the big blind for five players to see the 6♣3♥7♠ flop.

The action was checked over to Merieca, who jammed the rest of his stack of 520,000. Persent, Minieri, and Lappin all folded before Liu snap-called.

James Merieca: K♥K♠
Junyu Lin: 7♥6♠

Merieca was behind Lin’s two pairs but there were tons of cards in the deck that could still help him survive and double his stack. Instead, he hit the showers after the 2♦ turn and Q♦ river completed the board.

Junyu Lin – 4.3 million
James Merieca – 0

James Merieca Hiding After Jamming His Stack

Fryda and Dominici

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 26/1,992

Andrea Dominici is digging the short stack game. At the start of the level, he was down to roughly 10 big blinds and was hovering at that level for a while now.

But right now he managed to double up against the table chip leader Victor Fryda.

It was folded to Fryda in the small blind and he moved all-in with KX5X. Dominici called with AX7X. The board brought a 7 and no help for Fryda and just like that, Andrea Dominici now has 20 big blinds to play with.

Meanwhile, we lost Edgaras Kausinis at another table (but we don’t know how that happened).

Victor Fryda – 4,000,000
Andrea Dominici – 900,000
Edgaras Kausinis – 0

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 29/1,992

Robert Shindler opened for a min-raise from the cutoff. Giorgio Bellanca three-bet to 280,000 from the big blind. Shindler four-bet jammed for nearly 800,000 and Bellanca snap-called.

Robert Shindler: A♠5♠
Giorgio Bellanca: A♣K♦

Shindler was behind but he moved slightly ahead after his five found a friend on the 8♣9♣5♣ flop. Bellanca still had tons of equity with and club completing a flush or any king improving him to a better pair. Shindler’s equity increased after the blank J♥ turn. However, the T♣ river completed Bellanca’s flush and Shindler hit the rail.

Meanwhile, Lahav Ferenbach also headed to the lockerroom after losing his stack to leave just 29 players remaining.

Junyu Liu

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 30/1,992

With roughly 600k in the middle already we arrived at Table 18 with the flop reading 7♠6♠3♦.

Two players were in the hand. We assume the preflop action went as follows: Jon Persent raised from middle position, Junyu Liu reraised from the small blind and Persent called.

On the flop Liu bet 155k and Persent raised to 360k, leaving only 700k behind.

Very quickly Liu moved all-in for 800k and almost as quickly Jon Persent threw his cards into the muck.

Junyu Liu – 1,800,000
Jon Persent – 700,000

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 31/1,992

There were between 400,000 and 500,000 in the pot when Lahire Roch check-called a bet of 180,000 by Andreas Agnoletto with the 7♣J♣4♥4♣ on the board after the turn.

Roch checked again after the 3♣ river completed the board. Agnoletto bet 280,000. Roch tanked for a couple of minutes before he raised to 630,000. Agnoletto called about 15 seconds later.

There was no showdown as Roch felt he was beat no matter what so he mucked his hand. Agnoletto found no reason to show his cards either as he collected a decent pot.

Andrea Agnoletto – 3,300,000
Lahire Roch – 700,000

Lahire Roch

Rain Moelderkivi

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 30/1,992

Over at Table 16 we just saw Rain Moelderkivi lose a significant portion of his stack.

With roughly 450k in the middle on the river, the board read Q♥8♥3♥7♠7♣ and Moelderkivi checked to his lone opponent, Roberto Caprio.

Caprio bet 250k and Moelderkivi reluctantly called.

The Italian turned over K♥7♥ for trips and a flush, more than enough to beat Moelderkivi’s hand, who mucked without showing.

Moelderkivi is now on life support, while Caprio continues his destruction of opponents at his table.

Roberto Caprio – 4,400,000
Rain Moelderkivi – 600,000

With the end of the break, we’re down to the final four tables. All players already have €3,090 secured with the next pay jump coming starting at place #27.

Those are the complete counts after the first break:

Sebastiano Caruso during happier times

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 31/1,992

Right before the break, we lost Sebastiano Caruso who busted in brutal fashion against Candido Cappielle.

Cappielle raised from the button and Caruso moved all-in from the blinds for roughly 420k chips.

Cappielle eventually called, showing K♠J♥. Caruso had this hand crushed with A♥A♣. But the dealer fanned J♠T♠7♣9♥K♥ – two pair for Cappielle, who took out his fellow countryman in 32nd place.

Candido Cappielle – 1,700,000
Sebastiano Caruso – 0

Day 3 is on its first break. The field has been trimmed down from 48 players to start the day to just 31 hopefuls. Daniel Ryder and Sebastiano Caruso won’t be among the players returning as they both hit the rail just before the break.

The big stacks will be updated during the break and blinds will increase to 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 big blind ante when the action resumes in 20 minutes.

Dario Minieri Relaxing After Day 2

Roberto Caprio after his destructive work

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 35/1,992

“You destroyed him”, a player over at Roberto Caprio’s table exclaimed.

The Italian just single-handedly took out the former chip leader Ameed Khalil.

In hand we didn’t witness, he took half of Khalil’s stack.

With roughly 1m chips left, Khalil raised with K♣T♣ from early position to 60k. On the button, Roberto Caprio called with K♠J♠.

The flop fell T♠5♥2♠ and Khalil bet out with his top pair. Caprio called with two overs and a flush draw.

The turn realized the draw: 7♠. Now Khalil checked, Caprio bet 300k and Khalil instantly went all-in. With a hand close to the nuts Caprio had an easy call and left Ameed Khalil drawing dead.

The river was an inconsequential 2♣ and just like that, we have lost Ameed Khalil.

During this hand, we also lost Ilyaev Raul in 37th place.

Roberto Caprio – 3,500,000
Ameed Khalil – 0
Ilyaev Raul – 0

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 33/1,992

The Chip Race podcast co-host David Lappin is one of the players the live reporting team is secretly rooting for. Well, I guess the secret is out of the bag but Lappin will need some hands or some luck soon as he is short on chips after the following hand.

Nicolaj D’Antoni opened for a min-raise from under the gun. Lappin defended his big blind for the two players to see the 6♣J♦7♦ flop. Lappin check-called a bet of 45,000 by D’Antoni before check-calling again for 90,000 on the A♦ turn. The Q♥ river completed the board and Lappin checked again. D’Antoni bet 180,000 and Lappin checked his cards one last time before he folded.

Meanwhile, Giuseppe Liotta hit the rail just after this hand to leave just 33 players remaining.

Nicolaj D’Antoni – 900,000
David Lappin – 400,000
Giuseppe Liotta – 0

David Lappin

Maksym Sheingart cannot be deterred by Dario Minieri

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 36/1,992

Maksym Sheingart opened from middle position to 60k and Dario Minieri reraised to 160k right behind him. It folded back to Sheingart who called.

Flop: 8♠7♦5♥ – Sheingart checked, Minieri bet 165k and now Sheingart raised to 335k Minieri called the check-raise.

Turn: Q♠ – Sheingart checked again and once more Minieri bet, this time 360k. Now Sheingart only called.

River: 2♦ – With over 1.7m chips in the middle both players checked.

Sheingart tabled 9X9X – a single pair. Minieri nodded in agreement and mucked his cards.

Maksym Sheingart – 3,200,000
Dario Minieri – 1,200,000

Level 24: 10,500/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 37/1,992

Dario Barone opened for 65,000 from the button and was called by Andrea Agnoletto from the small blind. Giorgio Bellanca, who had a big stack to start the hand despite starting the day with one of the shorter stacks, three-bet to 255,000.

Barone called and Angoletto folded before the 3♦T♣6♠ landed on the flop. Bellanca continued for 180,000. Barone called and both players checked on the 8♦ turn and again on the T♥ river.

Bellanca turned over the Q♥Q♣ and won the hand after Barone mucked his cards.

Meanwhile, Gytis Lazauninkas also recently hit the rail to leave just 37 players remaining.

Giorgio Bellanca

We’re entering the second hour of the day with the blinds going up to 15,000 / 30,000.

After this level players will go on a 20 minute break.

Right now Victor Fryda is still in the lead with more than 4m chips.

Andrea Dominici

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 38/1,992

Italian Andrea Dominici was working with a rather small stack for the last hour, but he just managed to score a double-up against Kausinis Edgaras.

Dominici was all-in with Nines against Dominici’s Ace-Jack and spiked a nine on the board to double up to 700k – still below average, but at least over 10 big blinds.

Edgaras Kausinis – 800,000
Andrea Dominici – 700,000

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 38/1,992

Roberto Caprio jammed with the 8♣3♥3♠6♣T♠ on the board. Dylan Cechowski went into the tank for a bit before the clock was called on him.

Cechowski announced a call as time was about to run out and likely wishes he folded. Caprio turned over the K♥K♦ for two pair with an overpair on the board.

“Nice hand,” Cechowski said to Caprio as he turned over the J♦8♠ for a lower two pair.

Meanwhile, Erez Hen hit the rail moments later to leave just 38 hopefuls battling for the prestigious title.

Roberto Caprio – 1.5 million
Dylan Cechowski – 0
Erez Hen – 0

Dylan Cechowski out in 40th Place

Dario Minieri after winning the all-in

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 40/1,992

Dumitru Sandu was down to a handful of big blinds and was all-in against Dario Minieri before the flop.

Dumitru Sandu showed A♦8♦ and Minieri had him crushed with Q♦Q♠.

The board didn’t help Sandu as it fell J♥T♥5♣9♦8♠, sending him packing.

Dario Minieri – 1,600,000
Dumitru Sandu – 0

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 41/1,992

Robert Shindler opened for 60,000 from the cutoff. Andrea Agnoletto called from the small blind before Daniel Gugliotta three-bet jammed for 225,000 from the big blind. Shindler came in over the top for a four-bet jam. Agnoletto asked Shindler about how much his stack was not wanting an official count. Shindler shared it was for about 1,100,000, which we can also confirm was about right.

Daniel Gugliotta: A♥9♥
Robert Shindler: A♠Q♦

Gugliotta was behind but pulled ahead on the 9♦J♥T♦ flop. His equity increased after the blank 5♠ turn. However, the 8♠ river completed a straight for Shindler and Gugliotta’s Main Event run was history.

Meanwhile, Algirdas Saveikis and Yamen Ghanen also recently ran out of chips to leave just 41 players remaining.

Robert Shindler – 1.5 million
Algirdas Saveikis – 0
Yamen Ghanen – 0
Daniel Gugliotta – 0

Daniele Gugliotta

Giulio Di Salvo and Alexis Roch

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 44/1,992

With the players getting closer to big payout jumps, the play has slowed down considerably. Maybe the players need a few more coffees, to get up to speed.

We just witnessed a hand that took more than ten minutes.

It began with Giulio Di Salvo raising from the button. Alexis Roch defended in the small blind and they saw a flop: Q♠7♦4♥.

Roch bet out 75k and Di Salvo called.

Turn: 4♣ – Now Roch checked and Di Salvo made it 150k. Roch took his time and eventually min-raised to 300k. Di Salvo called after some long deliberation.

River: 3♦ – Roch bet again, this time all his chips, roughly 500k. To this action, Di Salvo folded his hand almost instantly and left us wondering what he might have had.

Alexis Roch – 1,300,000
Giulio Di Salvo – 900,000

Right around the same time, Doron Peretz hit the rails – unfortunately, we didn’t catch his hand.

Returning Day 3 players have each locked up a €2,300 payout with much more to come as the action gets deeper and deeper today and tomorrow. Here is a look at all of the remaining payouts for the 2023 Battle of Malta Spring Edition €600 Main Event.

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 45/1,992

Antoine Talvard opened for 50,000 from under the gun before Modestas Kryzanauskas three-bet jammed for 510,000.  Maciej Plocki four-bet shoved for a little more from the hijack. Talvard snap-called and the cards were turned over.

Modestas Kryzanauskas: Q♥Q♦
Maciej Plocki: K♦K♥
Antoine Talvard: A♦A♥

The table was left speechless with aces, kings, and queens all tabled by the three players. It was quite the cooler for both Kryzanauskas and Plocki.

Talvard ousted both players after his rockets held on the J♦4♣2♦3♦2♠ runout. Meanwhile, Traian-Niko Germanariu hit the rail on another table around the same time to bring the field down to 45 players in the opening moments of Day 3.

Antoine Talvard – 2.3 million
Maciej Plocki – 0
Modestas Kryzanauskas – 0
Traian-Niko Germanariu – 0

Antoine Talvard

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 48/1,992

The final 48 players are ready for battle on the Day 3 of the Main Event. Cards are in the air and the plan is for the day to end when the final table of nine players is remaining.

Tuesday’s final table will be played out on a live stream and commentated by this author along with some guests.

Best of luck to the final 48 players in reaching today’s goal of the final table!

Gytis Lazauninkas

The seat draw for today is below

The Battle of Malta Poker Tournament enters its thrilling Day 3 as anticipation fills the air. At exactly 1 pm, 48 players will take their seats, determined to outwit, outplay, and outlast their opponents in this intense battle for poker supremacy.

These 48 players have risen above the rest, surviving the trials and tribulations of a field that began with a staggering 1992 entries. Leading the pack is the formidable Victor Fryda, armed with an impressive stack of 3,820,000 chips. But the competition is fierce, with Dario Barone and Andrea Agnoletto hot on Fryda’s heels, boasting stacks of 2,835,000 and 2,540,000 chips, respectively.

Adding to the excitement, the field includes the illustrious presence of Dario Minieri, a World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion whose prowess at the table is legendary. As the tournament progresses, spectators and participants alike will keenly observe Minieri’s strategic moves, eager to witness his trademark poker brilliance.

The Chip Race podcast co-host David Lappin is also still in contention with 1,150,000. Lappin planned to join us for the final table live-stream commentating tomorrow. However, we hope we get to commentate on his action at the final table instead.

The stakes are high, not just in terms of skill and prestige but also in cold, hard cash. The Battle of Malta Poker Tournament has amassed a total prize pool of €1,002,972, promising a life-changing payday for those who endure till the end.

As the day unfolds, the poker warriors brace themselves for a grueling battle. With 10 levels scheduled, each lasting an hour, the poker tables will witness intense battles of wits and nerve. The clock will tick well past midnight, pushing players to their limits as they strive for victory.

Stay tuned as the Battle of Malta Poker Tournament reaches a crescendo, showcasing the indomitable spirit of these players in their quest for poker glory.