888poker Ambassadors Sofia Lovgren and Ana Marquez are set to compete at this year’s Battle of Malta. The six-day festival is being held in a spacious new location at the InterContinental Arena Conference Centre from October 25-30 and a huge turnout is expected.
Lovgren, who was based in Malta for many years, already has one Malta cash to her name after a deep run in an EPT side event back in 2015. The 28-year-old Swede, who joined the 888poker team back in 2014, is mainly an online cash game player but has still managed to rack up more than $350k in live tournament winnings. Her biggest cash was for $75,109 in the WSOP Millionaire Maker event in 2016.
Lovgren started her online career when she was just 18, grinding long hours at low stakes to turn a $50 deposit into $60,000 and first became a sponsored pro in 2010. She said: “I’m really looking forward to Battle of Malta! It’s the best mid-stakes value tournament in Europe with a mixed field. Both pros and amateurs – who may well be playing their first ever live tournament via an 888 satellite – will be there. Malta is a really nice Island and you can have a wonderful vacation combined with a great poker experience. Hang out with friends, join cocktail parties, go out for delicious dinners, and take a trip to beautiful Valletta or the breathtaking Dingle Cliffs.”
Ana Marquez has yet to add a Malta flag to her score sheet but is looking forward to a successful run in the €1 million guaranteed Battle of Malta Main Event. The 31-year-old Spaniard said: “This is my first visit to Malta and, to be honest, I don’t really know how I have dodged it all these years. I have heard it is a beautiful place so it’s been on my poker bucket list for a long time. I’m so happy that 888 is giving me the opportunity to visit new places!”
Marquez, who became an 888poker Ambassador last July, has been playing poker since 2008. She originally started playing in the States but moved back to Europe after Black Friday. She first hit the poker headlines in 2011 when she was the last woman standing at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas, eventually finishing tenth for $155,000. She now has more than $1.2 million in live tournament winnings; her biggest cash came in 2013 when she won the Hollywood Poker Open for $320,189. In March this year, she won the 888poker Live Bucharest High Roller for €26,080.
More than 70 players have already won their way to the Battle of Malta on 888poker. Tonight’s $109 qualifier – with two $1,700 packages guaranteed – starts at 9.15pm CET.
This year’s Battle of Malta looks set to break all records with hundreds of online qualifiers – including dozens from 888poker – already assured of their seats. Last year Battle of Malta attracted a staggering 2,074 entries, making it the largest poker tournament ever held in Malta.
