It’s an educated guess, a big part of the global poker community would say that Malta is one of the most fitting places for a live poker adventure. The tropical paradise island has been the host of many prestigious live poker events for centuries, and there are multiple reasons why people keep coming back to Malta, competing for prestigious poker titles, big cash prizes, and eternal poker glory.

The Battle of Malta, at the luxurious Casino Malta and Intercontental Hotel Malta, has established itself as one of the highlights on the Maltese poker calendar. Time and time again, the event keeps raising the bar, and the recently concluded 2026 Battle of Malta (Summer Edition) was no exception. 

The tournament had eight starting-day flights; eight of them held the full €600 buy-in tournament, and 15% of the field made it through from these flights. The other four were turbo affairs were everything was halved; the buy-in was €300, and 7,5% of the entries would advance to Day 2. All in all, the tournament scored 2,667 entries, which translated to a massive €1,186,962 prize pool; the €700,000 guarantee was smashed, to say the least. A top prize of €176,070 was announced for the eventual winner, alongside the coveted trophy and eternal poker glory.

Florence Mazet

Overall, 358 players made it through to Day 2, all guaranteed a €1,000 min cash. The field on the second day included former Battle of Malta Main Event winners such as Adrian Ziemichod and Dario Barone, accompanied by many other skillful players, for example, 2026 WSOP Europe €5,300 Main Event final tableist Joona Nyholm. During the second day, the field was reduced from the aforementioned 358 down to 75. Those then locked horns in Day 3, which played down to 24 players. The players on the final three eight-handed tables returned on the penultimate day of the festival, Tuesday, June 2. Greece’s Stavros Passias was going into Day 4 as the chip leader, and he was fighting for a deep run together with competitors such as poker media icon Florence Mazet and skillful player Marko Cosic. Mazet eventually bid farewell in tenth place, which set the stage for the “unofficial” final table of nine players. When Arnaud Boudet was eliminated in ninth, play wrapped up, and the remaining eight contestants bagged their chips. They returned the next day, June 3, and resumed the fight at the tournament’s final stage.

Spain Takes the Cake

The final table kicked off at 14:00 at the center stage of the Intercontinental Hotel adjacent to Casino Malta. Players could follow the action through the Battle of Malta live blog (courtesy of Richard Hayes and Christoffer Karlén) and/or the livestream on Battle of Malta’s YouTube channel, which offered both English and Italian commentary.

The last hand of Day 4, Georgios Papakonstantinou secured the chip lead going into Day 5, as he was the one who knocked out Boudet. Up until that point, Passias had maintained his lead all through Day 4. While the two Greeks were topping the final table chip counts, Gianluca Donini, Danilo Scevola, and Fredrick Bratein were the three smaller stacks. Together with Angelo Censabella, Alejandro Asenjo, and prominent player Marko Cosic, they would all lock horns for the first-place finish.

Fredrick Bratein

Apart from Scevola doubling through Papakonstantinou, not much happened during the first two levels. When play resumed after the first break, though, the fireworks would kick off. Norwegian Bratein, who’d mostly been biding his time, found himself forced all in, seated in the Big Blind with 5♠2♣. Censabella made the call from the Small Blind with Q♦2♥, and Bratein’s tournament life came to an end. For his eighth-place finish, he was awarded €19,350.

Gianluca Donini

Shortly thereafter, Asenjo, Cosic, and Donini all clashed all-in pre-flop. Donini was at risk against both of his opponents with K♠T♦, while Cosic was looking good with K♥K♦. Asenjo’s A♣K♣ improved to a pair of aces on the flop, though. He won the big pot, while Donini bid farewell in seventh place for €27,050.

Danilo Scevola

The next one to go was Scevola, who was flipping pre-flop with 5♠5♥ against the A♠T♦ of Passias. Passias wasted little time before improving to a pair of aces on the flop, and Scevola wasn’t able to catch up. He earned €35,600 for finishing sixth; not too bad, considering he began the final day with 13 Big Blinds.

Angelo Censabella

The most active (and, arguably, most entertaining) player on the final table up to this point had been Censabella. He’d been pulling off some creative moves, displaying some old school poker. With five players left, he committed half of his stack to a four-bet with K♦J♣, but then decided to fold to a five-bet shove from Passias. Now being the shortstack, Censabella was soon all in with K♥J♣ against the 4♣4♠ of Cosic. Even though flopping trips, Censabella was eliminated in fifth place for €43,900 against Cosic’s turned full house.

Georgios Papakonstantinou

Straight after Censabella’s exit, the four remaining players agreed to a four-way ICM deal. This saw current chip leader Passias locking up the biggest slice of the cake €114,150). Considering the current Blinds and the fairly even stack distribution, all four contestants seemed pleased with the deal. After the four-way handshake, the action would ramp up, to put it mildly. Two hands later, all four players moved all in, which saw Papakonstantinou going out in fourth place for €100,800 (the previous hand, he had lost the bigger chunk of his stack to Asenjo).

Stavros Passias

The players kept pushing the chips in the middle, and some of the outcome was left to chance. A few flips later, Passias went out in third, and the stage was set for a heads-up showdown between Kosic and Asenjo. Assumingly, Passias didn’t feel too sad about the outcome; after all, he was the big winner thanks to the deal, at least in terms of cash in hand.

Marko Cosic

The trophy and the title were still in play, though. Kosic won the first flip against Asenjo and evened out the stacks. Asenjo was still a small chip leader, albeit by the smallest of margins. Then, Kosic moved all in with 7♠2♣ and was up against the A♦8♣ of Asenjo. Asenjo improved to a straight on the 9♥T♦T♠J♥Q♠ flop to seal the deal. That settled it; Kosic was declared the runner-up for €90,850, while the fireworks around the stage went off to salute Asenjo. He was awarded €94,520, the trophy, and the title. He is now a Battle of Malta champion, and he will forever be a part of poker history.

So: what now? Well, that’s an easy question to answer. During the 2026 Battle of Malta (Summer Edition), it was announced that the legendary event will expand outside the island. The 2026 Battle of Malta Slovakia Edition will be played September 7-14 at Card Casino, Bratislava. While the schedule has not yet been announced, it’s official information that the €400 Main Event will have a €400,000 overall guarantee. Make sure to stay tuned to all Battle of Malta channels in order not to miss out on any information regarding what’s going to be a superb live poker event.

Then, in October, it’s back to the paradise island. The 2026 Battle of Malta (Autumn Edition) will be played at Casino Malta and the Intercontinental Hotel Malta (of course) between October 24-November 4. Prepare yourself, as the nine-day festival is headlined by a €2,000,000 guarantee. Once again, new records will be set in St. Julians.

Thanks to everyone – staff, dealers, organizers, players – who’ve made the 2026 Battle of Malte (Summer Edition) to the legendary event that it has been. See you all in Bratislava!

Alejandro Asenjo, winner of the €600 Main Event during the 2026 Battle of Malta (Summer Edition)

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 1/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

With his elimination of Marko Cosic, Spain’s Alejandro Asenjo is now crowned the winner of the 2026 Battle of Malta (Summer Edition) €600 Main Event. For his astonishing feature, he takes home €94,520, the coveted trophy, and, most importantly, the prestigious title. He’s forever etched his name into eternal poker history, and his success on the paradise island will never be forgotten.

Asenjo started the day as fourth in the chip counts. The tournament throughout, he displayed great skills of both patience and aggression, which were two crucial moments on his way to the title. Sure, with four players left, the contestants may have diverted somewhat from the ABC’s, but nevertheless, Asenjo most certainly deserves the title and the trophy.

With that, fellow poker enthusiasts, the 2026 Battle of Malta live coverage comes to an end. I, Christoffer Karlén, would like to extend my gratitude to:

• The Battle of Malta organisation for once again having me. It’s an amazing event, and the hospitality is flawless.
• My dear colleagues, especially fellow live reporter Richard Hayes and photographer Igor Bezborodov, the two I’ve been working the closest two during the week.
• All the dealers and other staff; without your sublime work, the event would cease to exist.
• All the players, for letting their love of the game shine through during the entire eight days.

While the live coverage is officially done and dusted, stay tuned for a longer recap of today’s action. In the meantime, please enjoy the final table results below.

*Denotes a four-way deal.

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 1/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Alejandro Asenjo moved all in for 70,400,000 on the Button, and Marko Cosic made the call from the Big Blind, playing a 24,425,000 stack.

Alejandro Asenjo: A♣J♠
Marko Cosic: 9♣7♦

Cosic doubled up on the Q♦8♣7♠7♣5♦ flop. On the stream, the chip counts read that Cosic (49,450,000) now had more chips than Asenjo (25,975,000), but that was just a graphics error (which, to be fair, was to be expected considering the recent action with all the chips trading owners back-and-forth ever since there were four players left). In reality, Asenjo was still the chip leader, albeit with the smallest of margins.

The very next hand, everything went in the middle once more, this time with Cosic on the Button and Asenjo in the Big Blind.

Marko Kosic: 7♠2♣
Alejandro Asenjo: A♦8♣

The seven-deuce couldn’t beat Asenjo’s ace-high on the 9♥T♦T♠J♥Q♠. Asenjo hit a runner-runner straight for good measure. The dealer counted the chips to make sure. Then, the final verdict could be delivered. Kosic was in fact eliminated in second place for €90,850 (figure agreed to during the previously made four-way deal).

Alejandro Asenjo: 92,850,000
Marko Kosic: 0

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 2/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Marko Cosic open-shoved 49,925,000 on the Button. Stavros Passias (Small Blind, 20,000,000) and Alejandro Asenjo (Big Blind, 24,900,000) both made the call.

Marko Cosic: 8♥4♣
Stavros Passias: Q♦8♣
Alejandro Asenjo: 9♥3♦

The board spelled out 5♣3♣J♥6♦A♣. Once the dust had settled, it was determined that Passias was eliminated in third place, for which he received €114,500 – the biggest slice of the cake – thanks to the previously made four-way deal. The stage is now set for a heads-up showdown between Cosic and Asenjo.

Alejandro Asenjo: 70,400,000
Marko Cosic: 25,025,000

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 3/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The very next hand after the four-way all-in bonanza, Alejandro Asenjo open-shoved 8,300,000 UTG. Marko Cosic re-shoved 58,225,000 from the Small Blind, and, of course, Stavros Passias moved all in for 28,300,000 from the Big Blind.

Alejandro Asenjo: A♠K♣
Marko Cosic: 5♣3♣
Stavros Passias: 5♥4♥

The dealer revealed the 9♦6♣K♥J♥6♦ board. Cosic maintained the chip lead, while Asenjo and Passias now had equal stacks.

Marko Cosic: 49,925,000
Alejandro Asenjo: 25,500,000
Marko Cosic: 20,000,000

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 3/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Seated UTG, Stavros Passias open-shoved for 32,100,000. Alejandro Asenjo re-shoved for 5♣3♥ on the Button. Playing 4,675,000, Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call from the Small Blind for his tournament life. Of course, Marko Cosic made the call with his 17,650,000 stack from the Big Blind. The game is Texas No Limit Hold ‘Em.

Stavros Passias: 8♥4♣
Alejandro Asenjo: 5♣3♥
Georgios Papakonstantinou: Q♠3♣
Marko Cosic: 9♦7♣

Papakonstantinou must’ve been feeling comfortable with queen-high. The board spelled out 7♦K♦4♥K♥9♣ board saw Cosic winning the hand with two-pair, while Papakonstantinou was eliminated i fourth place. For this, he received €100,800, on account of the previously made deal. This live reporter has yet to run the hand through a solver.

Marko Cosic: 58,225,000
Stavros Passias: 28,900,000
Alejandro Asenjo: 8,300,000
Georgios Papakonstantinou: 0

Georgios Papakonstantinou

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 4/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Stavros Passias opened to 1,400,000 on the Button, and Alejandro Asenjo made the call from the Small Blind. Coming out of left field, Georgios Papakonstantinou then moved all in for 23,275,000 on the Big Blind. Passias mucked before Asenjo utilized his 18,900,000 stack to make the call for his tournament life.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: J♣5♣
Alejandro Asenjo: A♦T♠

It’s an educated guess that Papakonstantinou wouldn’t have three-bet shoved that particular hand if a deal wouldn’t have been made. The A♥8♠K♦9♣3♦ board benefited Asenjo, and Papakonstantinou was left with crumbs.

Alejandro Asenjo: 40,400,000
Georgios Papakonstantinou: 4,575,000

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 4/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Straight after Angelo Censabella’s farewell in fifth place, the remaining four players went to discuss a deal. Roughly 15 minutes later, they agreed to an ICM chop.

Stavros Passias has locked up €114,150.

Georgios Papakonstantinou has locked up €100,800.

Alejandro Asenjo has locked up €94,520.

Marko Cosic has locked up €90,850.

They will keep on playing for the prestigious trophy, the mighty title, and eternal poker glory. Below are the current chip counts.

€600 Main Event
Level 37: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 4/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Marko Cosic (Small Blind) open-shoved 10,375,000. Seated in the Big Blind, Angelo Censabella used his 6,675,000 stack to make the call for his tournament life.

Marko Cosic: 4♠4♣
Angelo Censabella: K♥J♣

It’s safe to say that Censabella benefited from the J♥7♥J♠ flop. He wouldn’t be in the lead for long, though; Cosic improved to a full house on the 4♦ turn, and the 6♠ river didn’t change anything. Censabella was therefore eliminated in fifth place for an impressive €43,900.

Marko Kosic: 18,250,000
Angelo Censabella: 0

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 5/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Angelo Censabella opened to 1,275,000 on the Cut-off and was faced with a 2,900,000 three-bet from Stavros Passias on the Button. Censabella then decided to four-bet to an impressive 6,200,000. Passias utilized a timebank-chip before five-bet shoving for 26,250,000, effectively putting Censabella at risk for 14,075,000. After some consideration, Censabella decided to fold, which saw Passias securing a solid chip lead against the field. The stream revealed the players’ holdings.

Stavros Passias: K♦J♣
Angelo Censabella: Q♠Q♥

Stavros Passias: 33,700,000
Angelo Censabella: 7,875,000

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 5/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Stavros Passias opened to 1,100,000 from the Hi-jack before Danilo Scevola moved all in for 3,95,000 on the Button. Once Georgios Papakonstantinou and Marko Cosic folded their Blinds, Passias made the call.

Danilo Scevola: 5♠5♥
Stavros Passias: A♠T♦

Scevola was flipping for his tournament life, and the J♥Q♥A♦ wasn’t the ideal start to his campaign. His impressive tournament run ultimately came to an end as the board completed with 8♣J♦, and he went to collect his €35,600 paycheck for finishint sixth.

Stavros Passias: 26,250,000
Danilo Scevola: 0

Georgios Papakonstantinou

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 6/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Stavros Passias opened to 1,100,000 from the Cut-off, and Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call from the Big Blind. The two Greeks were heads-up to the flop.

Papakonstantinou check-called a 650,000 bet from Passias on the 7♦5♥K♥ flop. Action repeated itself on the 3♥ river, the only difference being that the sizing from Passias now was 2,800,000. Action went check-check on the 5♠ river.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: T♥9♥
Stavros Passias: A♥2♦

While Papakonstantinou didn’t get any value on the river, he still took down the considerable pot.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: 24,425,000
Stavros Passias: 21,050,000

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 6/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Alejandro Asenjo in the Small Blind. He decided to force Danilo Scevola (Big Blind) all in for 1,850,000. Scevola utilized a 30-second timebank chip before making the call for his tournament life.

Alejandro Asenjo: Q♥3♣
Danilo Scevola: 5♦4♣

Asenjo maintained his queen-high lead on the A♦J♣7♠ flop. Nothing changed on the 7♣ turn, but the miraculously 5♥ river kept Scevola in the game.

Alejandro Asenjo: 19,300,000
Danilo Scevola: 4,200,000

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 6/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Georgios Papakonstantinou made it 1,075,000 to go from the Hi-jack. Seated in the Big Blind, Alejandro Asenjo was the sole caller.

Asenjo check-called 725,000 from Papakonstantinou on the 7♦T♣8♣ flop. Both players swiftly checked the T♥ turn, and on the A♣ river, Papakonstantinou snap-called a 1,200,000 bet from Asenjo

Alejandro Asenjo: A♠9♥
Georgios Papakonstantinou: A♥7♥

Papakonstantinou had been counterfeited on the river, and Asenjo claimed the decently-sized pot.

Alejandro Asenjo: 21,150,000
Georgios Papakonstantinou: 19,625,000

Georgios Papakonstantinou

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 6/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Angelo Censabella opened to 1,275,000 from the Hi-jack. Alejandro Asenjo made the call on the Button, and Georgios Papakonstantinou joined in on the fun from the Big Blind.

Papakonstantinou checked the 9♥6♦3♣ flop, and Censabella continued for 875,000. Asenjo made the call before Papakonstantinou completed a check-raise move to 2,550,000. Censabella and Asenjo both folded within seconds.

The stream revealed the player’s hole cards; it was rather interesting.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: A♣K♣
Angelo Censabella: A♦7♠
Alejandro Asenjo: A♥8♥

Georgios Papakonstantinou: 20,950,000
Angelo Censabella: 18,475,000
Alejandro Asenjo: 17,900,000

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 6/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The very next hand after doubling up, Gianluca Donini moved all in for 4,150,000 from UTG+1. One of the most experienced on the final table, Marko Cosic, made the call from the Hi-jack. The decision was soon on Alejandro Asenjo, who re-shoved for 7,450,000 from the Small Blind. Back to Cosic, who made the call without hesitation.

Gianluca Donini: K♠T♦
Alejandro Asenjo: A♣K♣
Marko Cosic: K♥K♦

The most dramatic hand of the final table at this point by far. Cosic was in a good spot, but the Q♦8♦A♥ flop saw Asenjo take a commanding lead. The 6♦ turn kept Cosic’s hope of a double elimination alive, but the T♣ river ultimately secured Asenjo the pot. While Asenjo made a decent dent in Cosic’s stack, Donini was eliminated in seventh place for €27,050.

Alejandro Asenjo: 20,050,000
Marko Cosic: 12,250,000
Gianluca Donini: 0

Gianluca Donini

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 7/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Gianluca Donini open-shoved for 1,700,000 from UTG+1. Action folded all the way to Aljenadro Asenjo, who made the call from the Big Blind.

Gianluca Donini: K♥7♦
Alejandro Asenjo: 2♥2♣

It was a classic coin flip situation. Donini took a solid lead on the 3♦9♥K♣ flop, and Asenjo wasn’t able to catch up on the 9♠3♠ runout. As such, short-stacked Donini received a full double-up.

Alejandro Asenjo: 7,450,000
Gianluca Donini: 4,150,000

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 7/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

One of the most active players of the final table thus far, Angelo Censabella, opened to 1,375,000 on the Button. Stavros Passias decided to make the call from the Big Blind.

Passias check-called a 650,000 continuation bet from Censabella on the Q♠3♥5♠ flop. Both players checked the A♦ turn, and Passias then took the aggressive lead with a 2,600,000 bet on the 3♣ river. Censabella called within seconds.

Stavros Passias: K♥4♦
Angelo Censabella: 6♦6♣

Censabella’s gut feeling was right, and he closed the gap to Passias’ stack.

Stavros Passias: 23,750,000
Angelo Censabella: 20,625,000

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 7/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Angelo Censabella in the Small Blind. Considering Fredrick Bratein was forced all in for 700,000 in the Big Blind (and Ante), Cencabella made the call in an attempt to eliminate the Norwegian.

Fredrick Bratein: 5♠2♣
Angelo Censabella: Q♦2♥

Bratein was dominated, and Censabella maintained his lead on the T♠J♠7♣ flop. Bratein picked up a flush draw on the 2♠ turn, but the Q♥ ultimately put an end to his tournament life. As such, Bratein became the first casualty of the final table, going out in eighth for €19,350.

Angelo Censabella: 15,500,000
Fredrick Bratein: 0

€600 Main Event
Level 36: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The players are currently on the first 15-minute break of the day. Below are the current chip counts.

Stavros Passias

€600 Main Event
Level 35: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Marko Cosic min-raised to 800,000 from the Hi-jack. Stavros Passias made the call from the Small Blind, and the two contestants were soon heads-up to the flop.

After an initial check from Passias, Cosic fired a 700,000 continuation bet on the T♦3♣6♦ flop. Passias then completed a check-raise move to 1,800,000, and Cosic swiftly mucked.

The stream revealed the players’ hole cards.

Stavros Passias: K♣J♣
Marko Cosic: Q♠J♦

Stavros Passias: 26,875,000
Marko Cosic: 18,700,000

Stavros Passias

€600 Main Event
Level 35: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Angelo Censabella opened to 875,000 on the Button. Stavros Passias made the call from the Big Blind.

Censabella continued for 675,000 on the 3♦A♦2♠ flop, and Passias made the call, and both players then checked the 3♣ turn. On the 7♣ river, Passias bet 1,000,000, and Censabella made the call.

riverStavros Passias: A♣T♣
Angelo Censabella: K♦J♣

King high was no good for Censabella, and Passias won what was a decently-sized pot up ’til this stage.

Stavros Passias: 24,575,000
Angelo Censabella: 14,550,000

Alejandro Asenjo

€600 Main Event
Level 35: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Alejandro Asenjo opened to 800,000 from UTG+2. Seated in the Big Blind, Angelo Censabella was the sole caller.

Censabella check-called a 650,000 bet from Asenjo on the 6♥Q♠7♦ flop, then check-folded to a 1,800,000 bet on the 2♥ turn.

Thanks to the live stream, we know what they players had.

Alejandro Asenjo: A♦Q♣
Angelo Censabella: 5♠3♦

Angelo Censabella: 15,500,000
Alejandro Asenjo: 11,450,000

€600 Main Event
Level 35: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Marko Cosic in the Small Blind, who limped the 400,000 Big Blind. Angelo Censabella wouldn’t allow it; he made it 1,100,000 from the Big Blind. Cosic made the call rather swiftly.

Cosic check-folded to a 600,000 bet from Censabella on the 2♣4♣A♠ flop. Thanks to the stream, we know the players’ holdings.

Angelo Censabella: 4♥2♦
Marko Cosic: Q♦J♣

Marko Cosic: 17,195,000
Angelo Censabella: 15,070,000

€600 Main Event
Level 32: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Georgios Papakonstantinou opened to 800,000 UTG. Action folded to Danilo Scevola, who moved all in for 2,200,000 on the Big Blind. Being priced in, Papakonstantinou made the call.

Danilo Scevola: A♦Q♥
Georgios Papakonstantinou: A♣3♣

The 7♥T♠J♦J♣Q♠ offered a smooth runout for Scevola, and he received a full double-up at the expense of Papakonstantinou.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: 20,395,000
Danilo Scevola: 5,800,000

Gianluca Donini

€600 Main Event
Level 32: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Gianluca Donini moved all in for 2,220,000 on the Button, and, just as earlier, no one called him.

Donini picked up some, for him, very crucial Blinds with A♦J♠.

Gianluca Donini: 3,220,000

Georgios Papakonstantinou

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Stavros Passias opened to 650,000 from UTG+2. Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call on the Button, and the remaining contestants got out of the way; for the second time in just a few minutes, the two Greek players (and the two biggest stacks) were heads-up to the flop.

Passias check-called 575,000 from Papakonstantinou on the 8♠Q♠T♥ flop. Both players checked the 4♠ turn, and Passias then check-folded to a 1,000,000 bet from Papakonstantinou on the 5♣ river.

Thanks to the TV-stream, we know the players’ holdings.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: A♠2♠
Stavros Passias: J♥7♥

Papakonstantinou reclaimed the chip lead, albeit by the smallest of margins.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: 22,995,000
Stavros Passias: 20,820,000

Stavros Passias

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Seated in the Cut-off, Stavros Passias opened to 650,000. Chip leader Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call from the Big Blind. In other words, the two biggest stacks were heads-up to the flop.

Papakonstantinou check-called a 425,000 bet from Passias on the T♥4♠2♦ flop. Both players checked the 4♣ turn. Papakonstantinou completed the check trifecta on the A♥ river, then swiftly called a 500,000 bet from Passias.

Stavros Passias: A♦T♠
Georgios Papakonstantinou: K♣T♣

With a superior two-pair, the pot belonged to Passias. By the smallest or margins, he became the new chip leader.

Stavros Passias: 21,295,000
Goergios Papakonstantinou: 21,170,000

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The short-stacked Gianluca Donini opened to 625,000 UTG, leaving himself with 1,395,000 behind. No one called him. Bad news for Donini, as he had A♥A♣.

Gianluca Donini: 2,970,000

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Marko Cosic opened to 600,000 on the Button. Norway’s Fredrick Bratein defended his Big Blind.

Action went check-check on the [5g]3♥8♥ flop, and the 5♠ turn. Bratein dipped his toes in the waters with a 500,000 bet on the 9♣ river, and Cosic made the call.

Fredrick Bratein: T♣7♣
Marko Cosic: A♦2♣

Ace high was good for Cosic, and he kicked off his final table campaign with a solid call.

Marko Cosic: 16,445,000
Fredrick Bratein: 2,840,000

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The Battle of Malta hosts have introduced the eight players, and the final table is now underway. The live blog will follow the 30-minute delay from the live stream; watch it with English of Italian commentary through the links below.

Click here for livestream with English commentary.

Click here for livestream with Italian commentary.

Welcome, fellow poker enthusiasts, to the live coverage from the final day of the 2026 Battle of Malta (Summer Edition).

This poker journalist woke up with goosebumps. What has been a marvelous eight-day poker festival is about to wrap up in stellar fashion, as only eight players remain in the ever-so prestigious €600 Main Event.

It hasn’t been an easy task for the remaining contestants to get here. In fact, they’ve all been fighting it out on the felted tables over the course of four days to get to this point. To have a seat at the final table is a remarkable performance in itself, considering the tournament overall scored a whopping 2,667 entries.

They’re not done yet, though. They’ll all return at 14:00 (i.e., in roughly two and a half hours) and pick up where they left off yesterday. The €176,070 first-place payout (the biggest slice of the €1,186,962 prize pool) is what they’re all chasing. That’s not all, though; the ultimate winner will also get his hands on the coveted trophy, and forever etch his name into eternal poker history.

While cards will be in the air by 14:00, the live coverage will kick off at 14:30. This is because the final table is being live-streamed on the Battle of Malta YouTube channel with a 30-minute delay.

The editorial office will attempt to have a small chat with each player prior to the final table, and upload some kind of a “Who’s who?”

The excitement is buzzing for the raffling conclusion of the €600 Battle of Malta Main Event. See you all in two hours when the live coverage kicks off. Below are the presumptions for the final table.

Georgios Papakonstantinou has secured the €600 Main Event chip lead going into Day 5.

The 2026 Battle of Malta Summer Edition is on its last stretch. What a week of poker this has been, and the penultimate day surely didn’t disappoint. Tuesday’s action was headlined by Day 4 of the prestigious €600 Main Event.

Twenty-four players returned to the tables at 16:00, ready to resume the fight for eternal glory and the €176,070 first-place payout. Leading the field was Greece’s Stavros Passias, who had the only eight-digit stack (10,760,000) as play resumed on Blinds 50,000/100,000. He would extend this lead after seeing off opponents such as Gareth Hamilton and Igor Pasierbek as the day progressed. At the second break (at which point nine players in total had been eliminated), he was still the chip leader. That being said, France’s Arnaud Boudet and Serbia’s Marko Cosic were close, as they had also surpassed 10,000,000 in chips.

It was then time for Level 33, featuring Blinds 100,000/250,000. Many players were short; they bid their time well, but one after one, they fell. Roughly half past nine, poker media icon Florence Mazet (last woman standing) bid farewell in tenth place for €12,340. As such, the final table of nine players was set. Well, let’s call it the “unofficial” final table, seeing as one more player would go out, before the final eight would bag their chips for tomorrow’s finale.

Nine-handed play lasted for roughly one hour before Boudet shoved his last 14 Big Blinds from the Lo-jack with A♦T♣. Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call from the Small Blind with A♠Q♥, and no ten or any other help were available for Boudet on the board. He went out in ninth place for €14,690, and the survivors bagged their chips.

The chip counts of the final eight players areas follows:-

Tomorrow’s eight-handed final table will kick off at 14:00, June 3. It will be live-streamed on the Battle of Malta YouTube channel; the live coverage on the blog will follow the 30-minute delay. Papakonstantinou will begin the final stage of the Main Event as the chip leader, but he’ll have his work cut out for him. Meanwhile, pressure’s on the shortest stack, Gianluca Donini, to come from behind if he wants to win the title.

Thanks to everyone who’s been following along with today’s coverage. See you all tomorrow at 14:30. Until then, enjoy the full results from today below.

€600 Main Event
Level 34: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 8/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Arnaud Boudet, who moved all in for 4,250,000 from the Lo-jack. Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call from the Small Blind, and after Gianluca Donini folded his Big Blind, the two contestants tabled their holdings.

Arnaud Boudet: A♦T♣
Georgios Papakonstantinou: A♠Q♥

Papakonstantinou had his opponent dominated, and Boudet didn’t improve on the 7♥K♣5♠5♦2♦ board. As such, Boudet was eliminated in ninth place for €14,690, and the remaining eight players are now bagging their chips. They will return tomorrow, June 3, at 14:00, and lock horns on the eight-handed final table. They all have their eyes on the prize: the prestigious title, the coveted trophy, and the €176,070 first-place payout.

That wraps up today’s live coverage. However, the editorial office will soon return with the current chip counts, as well as a smaller recap of today’s action. Stay tuned.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: 22,525,000
Arnaud Boudet: 0

Georgios Papakonstantinou

€600 Main Event
Level 34: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 9/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Alejandro Asenjo, who min-raised to 600,000 on the Button. Georgios Papakonstantinou defended his Big Blind.

Papakonstantinou check-called a 400,000 bet from Asenjo on the 7♥3♠A♣ flop. Then, Papakonstantinou led out for 625,000 on the T♠ turn. Asenjo made the call, and the dealer revealed the Q♥ on the river. Papakonstantinou bet 1,375,000, and Asenjo called rather swiftly.

Papakonstantinou immediately mucked his hand, and Asenjo raked in the pot.

Georgios Papakonstantinou:17,700,000
Alejandro Asenjo: 14,775,000

€600 Main Event
Level 34: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 9/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to the small-stacked Arnaud Boudet, who moved all in for 1,600,000. Without hesitation, Stavros Passias called him off from the Big Blind.

Arnaoud Boudet: A♥6♥
Stavros Passias: A♣K♠

The 5♣T♣6♣ brought some excitement. Boudet managed to avoid disaster on the 3♦2♥ runout, and his tournament life was extended.

Stavros Passias: 17,300,000
Arnaoud Boudet: 3,500,000

Angelo Censabella

€600 Main Event
Level 34: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 9/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Chip leader Stavros Passias opened to 500,000 UTG+1. Angelo Censabella (Small Blind) was the sole caller.

Censabella check-called a 400,000 continuation bet from Passias on the 3♦4♠9♥ flop. The action repeated itself on the 3♥ turn, the only difference being that the sizing from Passias now was 1,300,000. On the 2♣ river, it was Censabella who took the initiative with a 1,500,000 bet. Passias mucked, and Censabella won a significant pot.

Stavros Passias: 19,200,000
Angelo Censabella: 13,300,000

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 9/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The unofficial final table has now been reached, with the seating draw and counts as follows:-

€600 Main Event
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 9/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Florence Mazet open-shoved for 1,475,000 from the Hi-jack. Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call from the Cut-off; Arnaud Boudet contemplated a call from the Small Blind for some time, but eventually mucked. Gianluca Donini let go of his Big Blind; Mazet and Papakonstantinou tabled their holdings.

Florence Mazet: Q♦T♦
Georgios Papakonstantinou: A♥5♥

The J♦J♣A♦ brought some excitement; it would’ve been cool if Mazet survived with a royal flush. She didn’t improve on the 5♠Q♠, and the last woman standing in the field was eliminated in tenth place for €12,340.

As such, only nine players now remain in the €600 Main Event. Play will soon resume on the “unofficial” final table; when one more players goes out, the remaining eight will bag and tag.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: 8,350,000
Florence Mazet: 0

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 10/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Stavros Passias opened to 500,000 from the hijack, and snap-called a three-bet jam to 3,025,000 from Daniele Renzi on the button.

Daniele Renzi: Q♦Q♠
Stavros Passias: A♦A♥

It was brutal ladies versus rockets cooler, and there was no two-outer on the 8♠6♦4♥6♠2♥ runout.

Stavros Passias – 19,250,000
Daniele Renzi – 0

Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026

PLO 4 Card
Level 33: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 73/161
Prize Pool: €33,295

Late registration has just closed, with 161 entrants creating a €33,295 prize pool.

There are currently 73 players still seated, with payout information due to be confirmed shortly.

€600 Main Event
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 11/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Seated on the Button, Angelo Censabella open-shoved around 7,000,000, having both players in the Blinds covered. Sebastian Mortensen (Big Blind) utilized his 2,600,000 to make the call for his tournament life.

Angelo Censabella: A♠7♥
Sebastian Mortensen: K♣Q♣

Censabella covered his eyes with his hands; he did not want to see the runout. The tournament director announced the board, though; 2♦2♣4♦7♠4♥ was good news for Censabella, and Mortensen was eliminated in twelth place for €11,110.

Angelo Censabella: 9,900,000
Sebastian Mortensen: 0

Daniel Yerin

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 12/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Daniel Yerin opened to 500,000, and was faced with a three-bet to 1,650,000 from Alejandro Asenjo. Action folded back to Yerin, who four-bet jammed for 5,150,000, and looked dismayed when he received a snap-call.

Daniel Yerin: 7♥7♠
Alejandro Asenjo: Q♠Q♣

Yerin was crushed, and there were no surprises on the A♣9♦3♦3♣K♦ runout.

Alejandro Asenjo – 12,500,000
Daniel Yerin – 0

Mark Vella

€600 Main Event
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 13/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Davilo Scevola opened to 500,000 from the Hi-jack. Mark Vella moved all in for 1,750,000 from the Big Blind, and Scevola made the call.

Mark Vella: A♦K♥
Danilo Scevola: 8♠8♥

The snowmen of Scevola was still ahead on the 7♥J♥2♣ flop. Vella picked up a flush draw on the 5♥ turn, but the 5♦ river ultimately saw his tournament life come to an end. He received €9,910 for finishing in fourteenth place. “Let’s go!” Scevola roared as the dealer pushed the chips his way.

Danilo Scevola: 5,375,000
Mark Vella: 0

Georgios Papakonstantinou

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 14/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

On a flop of 9♠8♦4♦, there was 500,000 in front of Florence Mazet and Georgios Papakonstantinou, before Arnaud Boudet jammed, covering both players. Mazet folded, but the Greek made the call for his 6,700,000 total stack.

Georgios Papakonstantinou: A♦9♦
Arnaud Boudet: 9♥8♥

It was top two pair versus top top and a flush draw, and Papakonstantinou binked the Q♦ turn. He celebrated with a silent fist-pump, and did so again when he faded the full house on the 5♣ river.

Georgios Papakonstantinou – 15,500,000
Arnaud Boudet – 5,250,000
Florence Mazet – 2,675,000

Panteleimon Pontos

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 33: 100,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 15/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Panteleimon Pontos was all-in for 2,550,000 and at risk against Stavros Passias.

Panteleimon Pontos: A♥4♥
Stavros Passias: 7♠7♦

Pontos needed help, but a pair of fours was not enough on the Q♦4♠2♠6♠5♣ runout.

Stavros Passias – 20,700,000
Panteleimon Pontos – 0

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 15/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Please see below for the full counts at the second break in Day 4 of the Main Event:-

€450 Novibet Cuatro PKO
Level 14: 3,000/5,000/5,000
Entries: 9/216
Prize Pool: €38,016

The €450 Novibet Cuatro PKO is now at the final table, with the full results thus far as follows:-

Players at the final table include Marius Negrescu, Yarin Matan, Marjan Mitrovski and Mateo Ciglar.

Igor Pasierbek

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 15/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Igor Pasierbek jammed from the cutoff for 2,275,000, and was looked up by Stavros Passias in the big blind.

Igor Pasierbek: T♠T♦
Stavros Passias: A♥4♣

Pasierbek looked in great shape, and the J♠6♥5♥ flop was clear. However the A♥ hit on the turn, and there was no two-outer on the 4♦ river.

Stavros Passias – 15,950,000
Igor Pasierbek – 0

Danilo Scevola

€600 Main Event
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 16/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Danilo Scevola opened to 425,000 from UTG+1. Daniel Yerin then three-bet to 800,000 from the Hi-jack. When the action came back to Scevola, he moved all in for 2,100,000. Yerin snap-called, and the two players were shortly given the green light to table their holdings.

Danilo Scevola: K♠K♦
Daniel Yerin: Q♣Q♦

“Vamos!” Scevola let out a mighty roar, as the J♣J♥9♥A♣J♦ board saw him double up the last hand before the second 15-minute break of the day.

Daniel Yerin: 6,350,000
Danilo Scevola: 4,700,000

Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026

€400 Malta Championship 
Level 21: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 15/166
Prize Pool: €56,174

Only 15 players remain in the €400 Malta Championship, with the eliminations in the money as follows:-

The chip counts for the final table are as follows:-

Arnaud Boudet

€600 Main Event
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 16/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Fredrick Bratein opened to 400,000 from the Cut-off, and Arnaud Boudet defended his Big Blind.

Boudet check-called 300,000 from Bratein on the K♥2♥7♠ flop, and another 500,000 on the 4♦ turn. Action went check-check on the 9♣ river.

Boudet tabled A♣5♣, and Bratein mucked his hand. Boudet has a top-three stack.

Arnaud Boudet: 11,600,000
Fredrick Bratein: 2,700,000

Konstantinos Asgoudakis

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 16/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Konstantinos Asgoudakis was all-in for around 2,750,000 and at risk against Arnaud Boudet.

Konstantinos Asgoudakis: A♥Q♣
Arnaud Boudet: A♠K♥

Asgoudakis was crushed, and Boudet made trips across the K♦J♠6♠2♣K♣ runout.

Arnaud Boudet – 10,000,000
Konstantinos Asgoudakis – 0

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 17/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Alejandro Asenjo opened to 400,000 from the cutoff, and snap-called a three-bet jam of 2,500,000 from Robin Kruhai.

Robin Kruhai: T♦T♥
Alejandro Asenjo: J♣J♠

Kruhai was crushed, but he found a set on the T♣9♣2♥ flop.

The K♦ turn gave Asenjo outs to the straight, and the J♥ hit on the river in miracle fashion to give Asenjo a better set.

Tiberiu Florescu

€600 Main Event
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 18/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Stavros Passias opened to 400,000 UTG before Danilo Scevola moved all in for 1,250,000 from UTG+1. Action then folded to Tiberiu Florescu, who moved all in for 1,000,000 on the Big Blind. Passias made the call, and the three contestants tabled their holdings.

Danilo Scevola: 3♥3♣
Tiberiu Florescu: T♣T♦
Stavros Passias: A♦Q♦

Passias took a solid lead on the 5♠Q♠9♥ flop to take a firm grip. He improved to trips on the Q♥ turn, but it was Scevola who hit a full house on the 3♦ river. When the dust settled, it was confirmed that Florescu was out in nineteenth place for €7,530. Scevola nearly trippled up, and a small dent was made in Passias’ stack.

Stavros Passias: 12,125,000
Danilo Scevola: 3,700,000
Tiberiu Florescu: 0

Tomas Major

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 19/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Tomas Major moved all in for 2,200,000, and Florence Mazet followed suit for the exact same stack.

Tomas Major: Q♦Q♥
Florence Mazet: T♠T♥

It was a cooler, and Mazet looked crushed. However she found a set on the flop, and Major could not reverse the position, across the A♣T♦4♥9♦5♠ runout.

Florence Mazet – 4,900,000
Tomas Major – 0

Tomas Major

€600 Main Event
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 20/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Tomas Major, who moved all in for 1,000,000 on the dot from the Small Blind. The sole woman remaining in the field, Florence Mazet, peeked at her hole cards, then made the call from the Big Blind.

Tomas Major: 9♣8♦
Florence Mazet: A♦3♠

Mazet was a small favorite, but it was Major who benefited the most from the 8♥3♣2♦ flop. He improved to two-pair on the 9♠ turn; for good measure, he rivered a full house on 9♥, and doubled through Mazet.

Florence Mazet: 2,300,000
Tomas Major: 2,200,000

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 20/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Mark Vella jammed from under the gun for 1,625,000, and was looked up by Arnaud Boudet.

Mark Vella: A♣3♦
Arnaud Boudet: K♥Q♥

Vella was ahead, and he made trips across the J♠5♥4♦3♠[3sh] runout.

Mark Vella – 3,750,000
Arnaud Boudet – 5,000,000

Daniel Yerin

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 20/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Daniel Yerin opened to 400,000, and was faced with a three-bet jam to 4,425,000 from Tiberiu Florescu from the small blind. After a good spell in the tank, Yerin called off for his 4,075,000 total stack.

Daniel Yerin: T♥T♠
Tiberiu Florescu: A♥9♥

Yerin was in good shape versus a single overcard, and flopped a set, and rivered a full house, on the K♠T♦8♠5♠K♣ runout.

Daniel Yerin – 8,650,000
Tiberiu Florescu – 325,000

Stavros Passias

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 20/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The board read 9♠3♠T♣Q♥ with 1,100,000 in the middle. Chip leader Stavros Passias (Lo-jack) bet 475,000, and Daniele Renzi (Cut-off) made the call. Passias then fired 900,000 on the 2♠ river, and Renzi made the call.

Passias tabled A♥Q♦; Renzi couldn’t beat it, and the chip leader extended his lead even further.

Staros Passias: 12,500,000
Daniele Renzi: 4,500,000

Battle of Malta Summer Edition

€400 Malta Championship 
Level 18: 10,000/15,000 (15,000)
Entries: 34/166
Prize Pool: €56,174

A total of 166 entries created a €56,174 prize pool, with 23 places to be paid, and €13,050 to the winner.

There are currently 34 players still seated, with Vikram Digpal, Davide Iannaco and Markus Dahl among this in the mix.

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 20/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Tiberiu Florescu

Tiberiu Florescu opened to 350,000 from the Cut-off, and Daniele Renzi made the call from the Big Blind.

Renzi donk-bet 350,000 on the 7♠6♠T♣ flop, and Florescu made the call. Renzi sized up to 850,000 on the Q♦ turn, and Florescu moved all in for 2,325,000. This sent Renzi into the tank; he contemplated his decision for two, maybe three minutes, before eventually folding. Renzi revealed one of his cards, the Q♣, before stacking his chips.

Daniele Renzi: 6,300,000
Tiberiu Florescu: 5,100,000

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 21/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

With 1,700,000 in the middle on a board of A♥T♣8♣9♠, Gianluca Donini fired out a bet of 550,000, which failed to shake off Alejandro Asenjo.

The T♠ river was checked through, and Asenjo’s J♠J♦ was good versus Donini’s J♣9♥.

Alejandro Asenjo – 6,400,000
Gianluca Donini – 6,450,000

Fredrick Bratein

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 20/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Marko Cosic opened to 300,000 UTG. Fredrick Bratein moved all in for 2,125,000 from the Big Blind, and Cosic made the call.

Fredrick Bratein: A♥K♠
Marko Cosic: T♦T♣

Cosic’s pocket pair maintained its lead on the 3♦9♠J♣ flop, but Bratein overtook the driver’s seat on the K♦ turn. No improvement for Cosic on the 3♥ river, and Bratein secured a full double-up.

Marko Cosic: 9,700,000
Fredrick Bratein: 4,450,000

 Danilo Scevola

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 21/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Igor Pasierbek limped from the hijack, before Panteleimon Pontos raised to 500 from the cutoff. Danilo Scevola jammed from the big blind for 600,000, Pasierbek folded, and Pontos made up the difference.

Danilo Scevola: J♥6♥
Pantelemion Pontos: 7♣7♦

Scevola looked in trouble, but he paired the flop, and never looked back, across the Q♠J♦2♥9♣9♥ runout. Scevola celebrated another double with gusto.

Danilo Scevola – 1,775,000
Panteleimon Pontos – 4,900,000

Joao da Silva

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 20/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Marko Cosic, who min-raised to 300,000 on the Button. Seated in the Small Blind, João da Silva moved all in for 2,700,000. Cosic made the call.

João da Silva: 2♠2♣
Marko Cosic: 8♦8♣

The 7♠J♣A♦J♠4♥ board offered a smooth runout for the snowmen, and da Silva was eliminated in twenty-first place for €6,340.

Marko Cosic: 10,700,000
João da Silva: 0

Tomas Major

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 21/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Mark Vella in the Small Blind, who forced Tomas Major (Big Blind) all in for 925,000. Major spent some time in the tank (considering the payjump) before ultimately making the call.

Mark Vella: Q♠T♦
Tomas Major: A♦K♥

The Big Slick of Major got the job done on the 9♦4♥K♣Q♦A♣, securing him a full double-up.

Tomas Major: 2,000,000
Mark Vella: 1,825,000

Gareth Hamilton

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 21/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Chip Leader Stavros Passias opened to 325,000 from the Lo-jack. Gareth Hamilton contemplated his decision for a while before moving all in for roughly 2,000,000 from the Small Blind. Passias immediately flicked in a chip for the call.

Gareth Hamilton: K♠T♥
Stavros Passias: A♥J♥

Both players improved to a pair on the 5♦A♠K♦ flop, Passias still in the lead. No luck of the Irish on the 6♣7♦ runout, and Hamilton’s tournament life came to an end; for hiis twenty-second-place finish, Hamilton was awarded €6,340.

Stavor spassias: 12,000,000
Gareth Hamilton: 0

Sebastian Mortensen

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 22/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

In a blind on blind battle, Sebastian Mortensen was all-in for 1,550,000 and at risk against Arnaud Boudet.

Sebastian Mortensen: A♣3♥
Arnaud Boudet: A♦K♦

Mortensen was crushed, but he turned a straight on the 6♠5♥4♣2♦Q♣ runout.

Sebastian Mortensen – 3,550,000
Arnaud Boudet – 4,050,000

Daniel Yerin

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 22/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

With 900,000 in the middle on a flop of 9♠8♠3♥, Daniel Yerin checked from the big blind to Stavros Passias, who fired out a bet of 375,000.

Yerin check-raised to 1,100,000, and snap-called a jam from Passias for his total stack of 1,925,000.

Daniel Yerin: 9♣8♣
Stavros Passias: A♠9♥

It was a two pair versus top pair cooler, and although Passias picked up outs to the flush on the 7♠ turn, he bricked the 5♦ river.

Daniel Yerin – 5,200,000
Stavros Passias – 9,800,000

€600 Main Event
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 22/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Below are the full chip counts at the first 15-minute break of Day 4.

Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026

The €250 PLO 4 Card is about to get underway at 6 p.m., with ten players currently registered.

Players receive a 20,000 starting stack, with 20-minute levels in play. Late registration remains open until the start of Level 11.

Fredrick Bratein

€600 Main Event
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 22/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Norwegian Fredrick Bratein opened to 250,000 UTG. Seated in the Small Blind, Alejandro Asenjo was the sole caller.

Asenjo check-called a 200,000 continuation bet from Bratein on the A♥3♠J♣ flop. Action repeated itself on the T♦ turn, the only difference being that the sizing from Bratein now was 400,000. Asenjo checked for a third time on the Q♥ river, and Bratein moved in for roughly 1,000,000.

“Mama mia,” Asenjo sighed, leaning back in his chair. He didn’t take too long before folding, revealing his A♠J♠ holdings.

“The river saved me,” a happy Bratein said as he stacked his newly-won chips, before all players went on the first 15-minute break of the day.

Alejandro Asenjo: 3,225,000
Fredrick Bratein: 2,800,000

€600 Main Event
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 22/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The 22 players remaining in the Main Event have been sent on a 20-minute break.

Rami Amuri

€600 Main Event
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 22/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to short-stacked Rami Amuri, who opened to 360,000 on the Button, leaving himself with 580,000 behind. Georgios Papakonstantinou (Small Blind) and Konstantinos Asgoudakis (Big Blind) both made the call.

Action was checked to Amuri on the 7♦Q♠8♠ flop, and he moved all in for the aforementioned 580,000. Papakonstantinou made the call, before Asgoudakis immediately re-shoved for perhaps 3,300,000. Papakonstantinou folded 6♣6♥ face-up, and the two contestants tabled their holdings.

Rami Amuri: K♠K♣
Konstantinos Asgoudakis: Q♣8♣

Amuri was praying for a seven on the turn. The Poker Gods didn’t hear his prayers, but seeing as the turn was the 5♥, he received some additional outs. The T♣ river didn’t help him, though, and he became the second casualty of Day 4, busting out in twenty-third place for €6,340.

Konstantinos Asgoudakis: 6,300,000
Rami Amuri: 0

Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026

€450 Novibet Cuatro PKO
Level 14: 3,000/5,000/5,000
Entries: 28/216
Prize Pool: €38,016

The players are now in the money, with the first eliminations in the paid places being Seymour Savelloni (€165), Dimitrios Sarris (€165), Leif Kirk (€330) and Gabriel Rymar (€165).

Konstantinos Asgoudakis

€600 Main Event
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 23/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Rami Amuri opened to 240,000 UTG. Georgios Papakonstantinou made the call from UTG+1, and Konstantinos Asgoudakis then immediately moved all in for 1,795,000. Amuri then re-shoved for around 2,700,000; Papakonstantinou requested counts of both stacks, but ultimately mucked.

Konstantinos Asgoudakis: Q♦Q♣
Rami Amuri: J♣J♥

Asgoudakis was already way ahead, and he left Amuri drawing very slim on the Q♠7♦3♣ flop. The board completed with 3♦T♠, and Asgoudakis received a full double-up.

Konstantinos Asgoudakis: 3,750,000
Rami Amuri: 885,000

Alejandro Asenjo

€600 Main Event
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 23/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

With around 900,000 in the middle on a flop of Q♦9♥6♥ hit on the turn, and Censabella checked once more. Asenjo jammed for 1,135,000, and after a good two minutes in the tank, Censabella called.

Alejandro Asenjo: A♣Q♥
Angelo Censabella: J♠T♥

Asenjo was ahead with top pair versus Censabella’s second pair and draw, and the 2♥ river was a brick.

“Yes!” shouted Asenjo, as his dream of the Battle of Malta Main Event title stayed alive.

Alejandro Asenjo

€600 Main Event
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 23/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Gianluca Donini in the Small Blind. He forced Alejandro Asenjo (Big Blind) all in for 1,195,000. Asenjo peeked at his holdings, then made the call.

Ginaluca Donini: A♦J♦
Alejandro Asenjo: 3♠3♦

It was a classic coin flip confrontation, and the pocket pair of Asenjo stood the test of time as the board spelled out Q♦2♦2♠8♠6♠.

Gianluca Donini: 4,065,000
Alejandro Asenjo: 2,510,000

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 23/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Danilo Scevola was all-in for 530,000 and at risk against Daniel Yerin.

Danilo Scevola: K♠Q♦
Daniel Yerin: 7♥7♣

It was a fair fight, and Scevola looked to be heading for the exits after the 6♥6♥4♦ flop and 4♣ turn, but he binked the Q♥ river, letting out a whoop of delight and pumping his fists as it hit.

Danilo Scevola – 1,360,000
Daniel Yerin – 2,250,000

Luigi D’Alterio

€600 Main Event
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 23/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Germany’s Robin Kruhai opened to 260,000 from UTG+1. Lugi D’Alterio then three-bet to 760,000, leaving himself with 375,000 behind. Kruhai then forced his opponent all in, and D’Alterio made the call.

Robin Kruhai: Q♠J♠
Luigi D’Alterio: A♦Q♦

Things were looking good for D’Alterio to secure a full double-up. He maintained his lead on the 8♣T♥6♥ flop. The 2♠ turn didn’t change anything, but the 9♠ ultimately saw Kruhai improving to a straight. As such, D’Alterio became the first casualty of the day, earning €5,200 for his twenty-fourth-place finish.

Robin Kruhai: 7,700,000
Luigi D’Alterio: 0

Luigi D’Alterio

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 24/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Luigi D’Alterio was counting out a bill of 2,500,000 to Marko Cosic, after Cosic made the nut flush with A♦Q♦ on K♠6♦4♥2♦5♦. D’Alterio’s cards had already been swept away.

Marko Cosic – 8,500,000
Luigi D’Alterio – 1,100,000

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 30: 60,000/120,000 (120,000)
Entries: 24/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

On a board of 4♦3♣2♣ with 625,000 in the middle, Igor Pasierbek led out with a bet of 450,000, and was met with a raise to 1,100,000 from Tiberiu Florescu. After some thought, Pasierbek jammed for 3,200,000, and Florescu folded after a lengthy spell in the tank.

Igor Pasierbek – 5,225,000
Tiberiu Florescu – 2,675,000

Stavros Passias

€600 Main Event
Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 24/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

At Table 13, Gianluca Donini opened to 200,000 from the Hi-jack. Alejandro Asenjo made it 450,000 from the Cut-off, and Donini decided to make the call.

Donini check-called a 220,000 continuation bet from Asenjo on the T♠8♥5♦ flop. Action repeated itself on the 3♣ turn, the only difference being that the sizing from Asenjo now was 325,000. Both players then checked the 5♠ river. Donini tabled 9♣8♣ and was awarded the pot, seeing as Asenjo mucked his holdings.

Gianluca Donini: 5,475,000
Alejandro Asenjo: 1,265,000

Simotaneously at Table 14, Stavros Passias opened to 250,000 from the Cut-off, and called a 750,000 three-bet from Daniele Renzi (Small Blind).

Renzi bet 400,000 on the A♣4♥3♠ flop, and Passias made the call. Renzi fired again on the J♠ turn, and Passias wasn’t going anywhere just yet. Renzi slowed down and checked the T♠ river. Passias now pulled the trigger with a 1,275,000 bet. Renzi contemplated his decision long and well, before eventually mucking, showing the A♥.

“Show one,” table mate Gareth Hamilton urged Passias. Passias obliged, turning over the K♦. Passias, the Day 4 chip leader, added even more chips to his already impressive stack.

Stavros Passias: 1,265,000
Deniele Renzi: 6,060,000

Fredrik Bratein

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 24/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Angelo Censabella opened to 300,000 from early position, and called a three-bet jam to 900,000 from Fredrik Bratein in the big blind.

Fredrik Bratein: 5♥5♠
Angelo Censabella: J♣6♥

It was a flip, and Censabella bricked the K♦Q♣8♦A♣Q♦ runout, much to Bratein’s delight.

Fredrik Bratein – 2,050,000
Angelo Censabella – 5,875,000

€600 Main Event
Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 24/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

The only Irishman left in the field, Gareth Hamilton, opened to 200,000 from the Hi-jack. Tournament chip leader Stavros Passias made the call from the Big Blind.

Passias checked the K♣7♣A♦ flop, and Hamilton continued for 225,000. Passias then completed a check-raise move to 550,000; Hamilton spent some time in the tank before making the call. Both players swiftly checked the intriguing A♣ turn. On the 6♦ river, Passias swiftly folded to a 750,000 bet from Hamilton.

Stavros Passias: 9,960,000
Gareth Hamilton: 3,180,000

€600 Main Event
Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 24/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Action folded to Danilo Scevola, who opened to 200,000 from the Cut-off. Seated on the Button, Daniele Renzi was the sole caller.

Action went check-check on the 4♥5♠7♣ flop. Scevola bet 115,000 on the 2♣ turn, and Renzi made the call. After a check from Scevola on the 7♣ river, Renzi bet 250,000. Scevola spent a minute in the tank before letting his hand go.

Daniele Renzi: 7,660,000
Danilo Scevola: 850,000

Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026

€600 Main Event Day 4
Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 24/2,667
Prize Pool: €1,186,962

Play is underway in Day 4 of the Main Event, with 24 players left vying for the €176,070 first-place prize. Stay tuned for your coverage of all the action, of what is sure to be a day of poker thrills and spills.

Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026

€450 Novibet Cuatro PKO
Level 14: 3,000/5,000/5,000
Entries: 51/216
Prize Pool: €38,016

Day 2 of the Novibet Cuatro PKO is underway, with each player receiving a €800 bounty token, and Marius Negrescu of Romania leading the way from Andrei Piatruschanka and Mateo Ciglar.

31 places will be paid, with €6,730 reserved for the winner, and the full payouts are as follows:-

Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026

The first side-event of the day, the €400 NLH Malta Championship, kicks off at 2 p.m. Players will receive a 50,000 starting stack, with the clock set to 15-minute levels. Late registration remains open until the start of Level 11, and play will continue until a winner is crowned.

Stavros Passias

Another massive day of poker action went down at Casino Malta on June 1, as the Battle of Malta 2026 Summer Edition continued apace, with the Main Event field reduced to 24 players, four side-event trophies awarded, and the Novibet Cuatro PKO getting underway.

Stavros Passias of Greece (10,760,000) leads Italian duo Angelo Censabella (8,880,000) and Daniele Renzi (7,340,000) heading into the penultimate day of the Main Event, with the huge sum of €176,070 awaiting the champion.

In the side-events, Fabian Wolf of Germany banked the chunky first-place prize of €46,180 in the €1,100 Star Yes High Roller, Michal Krzyminski of Poland took the €300 Bounty Hunter trophy (€4,255) after a heads-up deal with Armins Daugis, while German Sascha Manns locked up the Beer Poker Tour event title (€6,920), and Yamen Ghamen of Israel won the €150 Hyper Turbo (€3,700), again after a heads-up deal. In the Novibet Cuatro PKO, Marius Negrescu of Romania leads 54 qualifiers for the final day, who will return at 3 p.m. on June 2.

Another sumptuous day of poker action awaits, as the €400 Malta Championship and €2,200 Super High Roller take prime position among the side-events offered today.

€600 Main Event Day 3 Recap

Only 75 players returned for the third day of combat, led by Ugnius Vestertas of Lithuania, and with all players having guaranteed a minimum €2,000 payday. The knockouts came thick and fast, with Roar Aspas and Matiss Celmins among those to exit quickly.

Vestertas would ultimately hit the rail in 26th, and by halfway through the day, Censabella had soared to the top of the standings, and was joined by Passias by the conclusion of the flight. Players such as Theodoros Ampelikiotis, Erland Kalstad and Marko Grujic fell towards the end of play.

Angelo Censabella

Florence Mazet (3,375,00) is the last woman standing, while Mark Vella (4,215,000) is the final home hope still in the mix, while there are three Greeks and five Italians represented in the penultimate day.

Florence Mazet

The full counts of the remaining 24 players are as follows:-

The players will return at 4 p.m. on June 2 for the penultimate day to blinds of 50,000/100,000 (100,000), with a €5,200 payday guaranteed, and play will continue on a 60-minute clock until the official final table of eight is reached.

The remaining payouts are as follows:-

The Day 4 seating draw is as follows:-

The full results thus far are as follows:-