Main Event Day 1a
Level 16: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Entries: 32/214
Prize Pool: €700,000 GTD

Hand-for-hand was just about to commence. However, there was still a hand in progress at Table 1.

The board read K♥T♦J♥2♥ with roughly 60,000 in the middle. Yevhen Zhdanov (Big Blind) checked to Sebastian Mortensen, who bet 45,000. After some consideration, Zhdanov moved all in for what looked to be just shy of 100,000. Mortensen made the call as fast as the speed of lightning.

Yevhen Zhdanov: K♣J♠
Sebastian Mortensen: 7♥5♥

Zhdanov didn’t improve to a full house on the 4♦ river, and that settled it. Zhdanov became the unfortunate bubble boy, while the remaining players could breathe a sigh of relief; they’re now the first bunch of people to qualify for Day 2.

Sebastian Mortensen: 310,000
Yevhen Zhdanov: 0

It’s also funny to mention that Philip Pearson was involved in another hand at the same time at a different table. Action folded to him, and he moved all in for 42,000 on the Button. Jacek Pustula made the call from the Big Blind.

Philip Pearson: J♦7♦
Jacek Pustula: K♦Q♦

In all the years he has attended the Battle of Malta, Pearson had never made Day 2 of the Main Event; this was his sixty-sixth bullet. It wasn’t looking good, and tings weren’t exactly looking better on the Q♠T♥8♣. Miracles do happen, though; the board completed with 7♠9♥, giving Pearson a straight. He managed to bag 110,000 for Day 2.

That wraps up Day 1a of the prestigious €600 Battle of Malta Main Event, as well as today’s live coverage. Day 1a attracted 214 entries, and 32 lucky contestants found a Day 2 bag. Day 1b should wrap up soon as well; the turbo flight scored 71 entries, and five lucky contestants will advance.

The editorial office will soon return with the Day 1a chip counts. The Day 1b chip counts will be uploaded tomorrow around noon. That is also the case for the chip counts from Day 1b of the €300 Mystery Bounty “Siege of Malta”.

Tomorrow’s live coverage will commence at 13:00, when Day 1c of the Main Event kicks off. See you all then.