A total of 333 players entered the Battle of Malta Main Event on Day 1a with just 50 making it through to Day 2.

The survivors are all in the money after just over 14 levels of play in the first of five starting flights.

Play got underway at 1 p.m. and it wasn't long until the big names joined the field, including last year's eighth-place finisher Mateusz Moolhuizen and his girlfriend Dehlia de Jong, along with Dara O'Kearney, Ian Simpson, Daragh Davey, Erwann Pecheux, Leo Worthington-Leese, and Ana Marquez.

Of these, just Moolhuizen (239,000) and Marquez (61,000) would advance from a Day 1a field.

"I'm having such a good time here in Malta," said Marquez who finished second in the Ladies Event and 23rd in the High Roller at the 2018 Battle of Malta. 

"I was here for last year's Battle of Malta, but this time I came earlier to visit a lot of places on the island. There are so many gems all over the country."

The field of 50 advancing to Day 2, which begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday 19th October, is topped by Irishman Shane Dempsey (490,000), Stefan Vernacki (426,000) and Vytenis Salickas (402,000) who are the only players over 400,000 in chips.

Boris Chertin (384,000), Jonathan Therme (352,000) and Ibrahim Caner Yurtsever (300,000) are the only players over the 300,000 chip mark, all of which will be well-placed ahead of Day 2.

The €5,000 Mega High Stack is still ongoing here at the Battle of Malta, with just 10 players remaining from a starting field of 20. We'll bring you news when a winner is crowned tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the €200 buy-in Kings of Tallinn has reached a final table from a field of 153 entrants. With 23 paid there is still a first prize of €5,850 up for grabs.

Finally just 60 remain in the €120 Survive Your Day and Battle event from a field of 120.

Tomorrow promises to be another exciting day's play here at 2019 Battle of Malta with 175 players including John Hesp, David Lappin, and Andy Hills all expected to join the field here at the luxurious Intercontinental Hotel, hosted by Casino Malta.

The flop fell , and four players checked. 

The hit on the turn, and Jonikas Vygerdas moved all in for 9,500. 

Vitenis Salickas called, another player folded, and Cristian-Mugurel Tamas also came along. 

Salickas moved all in on the river, and Tamas folded. 

Salickas revealed for a full house, and Vygerdas mucked . 

Vygerdas was eliminated in 51st place, and the remaining 50 are in the money spots. 

The play has now ended for the day, and a recap of the day's action along with the final end of day counts will be posted shortly.

Egon Holdhus moved almost all in and after Konstantin Zerdev re-raised, Holdhus called for his last 40,000 chips.

Egon Holdhus:
Konstantin Zerdev:

The board ran out with Zerdev rivering a flush to eliminate Holdhus.

The tournament is now down to 53 players with just 50 making it through to Day 2. The tournament is now hand-for-hand.

Priti Patel moved all in and Paolo Infantino called. 

Patel:

Infantino:

Board:

Patel was in a flip for her tournament life but couldn't connect with the board. 

Infantino picked up and the pot and Patel departed. 

Andrew Middleton and Sjors Harmens checked a flop and turn before the came on the river.

Middleton bet 10,000 and Harmens raised to 33,000. Middleton took his time to think before calling.

"Queen-high," said Harmens showing and Middleton won the pot with for pocket queens.

The flop was down and Eduard Tugov bet 6,000 from the button. 

Egon Holdhus was in the tank from the big blind and called after close to a minute's thought. 

Holdhus checked in the dark and Toguv checked behind on the turn before the fell on the river. 

The players checked to a showdown and Toguv saw his was no good against Holdhus' . 

The flop was down and Nico Florian Guimond check-called a 6,000 bet from Jonathan Therme. 

The hit on the turn and Guimond checked again from the big blind. 

Therme continued for 30,000 from the button and Guimond called. 

After both players checked to a showdown on the river Guimond revealed , but it wasn't enough to beat Therme's for two pair. 

Alan Linker opened to 9,500 and Paul Romain three-bet all in for his last 13 big blinds or 39,500. Linker called.

Alan Linker:
Paul Romain:

There was not much help for Romain on the flop and the runout sealed his elimination.

Not long after hitting a straight on the river to move up to 180,000, Mateusz Moolhuizen is now sitting with a 250,000 stack. 

Earlier this year, the Dutchman UCOP Passport Leaderboard and back in 2018 was claimed the Greatest Poker Player in the Universe during the UCOP promotion. 

With fewer than 80 players remaining, the tournament is going on another 20-minute break. 

A reminder that we will play down to 50 players before bagging up at the end of Day 1a.

Dara O'Kearney moved all in for 24,900 and David Hareuveni called. It folded to Sjors Harmen in the small blind who moved all in, with Hareuveni folding.

Dara O'Kearney:
Sjors Harmen:

O'Kearney had run into it and picked up a pair on the flop. The turn improved him to a flush draw and the river completed his flush and he tripled up.

On a board, Sirus Norozi checked and Gunnar Stangeby moved all in, betting 61,500 into a pot of around 50,000.

Opponent Sirus Norozi gave it a lot of thought before calling.

Sirus Norozi:
Gunnar Stangeby:

The river was the and Stangeby was eliminated.

"I said it's a hand I had to could not fold," said Norozi. "I was hoping ace-king."

Jacob Dideriksen-Neilsen raised to 5,000 from the cutoff and David Hareuveni called in the big blind. 

Both players checked after the flop fell and Dideriksen-Neilsen called a 6,000 bet from Hareuveni on the turn. 

"Careful" said Hareuveni after the appeared on the river. 

But Dideriksen-Neilsen had no fear and bet 11,000, which was enough to make Hareuveni fold. 

One player opened to 2,000 and got two calls before Felix Leipart three-bet all in for 26,000. Nikola Dzeletovic was in the next position and shoved for around 20,000. The three other players folded and the cards were turned over.

Nikola Dzeletovic:
Felix Leipart:

The board ran out with Leipart spiking an ace to send Dzeletovic to the rail.

Florin Guimond check-called 4,500 from the small blind from Evgenii Margolin on the flop.

The turnwas checked by both players bringing the on the river. Guimond bet 8,500 and Margolin thought before raising to 24,000.

Guimond tanked and eventually a player called the clock. The floor staff counted down and eventually his hand was timed out and it was sent into the muck.

The board was down and Mateusz Moolhuizen checked from the small blind. 

The player in the cutoff bet 16,000 into the 45,000 pot and Moolhuizen moved all in for close to 85,000. 

Moolhuizen's opponent snap-called and flipped over . 

Moolhuizen flipped over for the straight flush draw and when the appeared on the river, the Dutchman stole the pot and scored an elimination. 

The action folded around to Dara O'Kearney on the button, and he moved all in for 32,000. 

The Irishman, who had been up to 80,000 in the early levels, saw his opponents in the blinds fold, and he picked up the pot. 

Updated Chip Counts

Luca Moschitta raised to 3,200 from the hijack and Eduard Tugov moved all in for 15,000 from the cutoff. 

The action folded back to Moschitta and he called. 

Moschitta:

Tugov:

Board:

Tugov saw his aces improve to a full house and sealed the double up. 

Farro Francesco Saverio moved all in for 9,600 and Samuel Dray called in late position. Shane Dempsey then three-bet all in for around 50,000. Dray tank-folded and the cards were turned over.

Farro Francesco Saverio:
Shane Dempsey:

Dray fist-pumped in celebration of seemingly getting the call right as the board ran out and Francescosaverio tapped the table and was eliminated.

129 players have returned from dinner and have retaken their seats. There are forty minutes left for players to enter and re-enter the tournament before it closes for Day 1a.

Players are now going on a 75-minute dinner break with 133 of 335 players remaining. A reminder that today sees the tournament play down to 15% with the whole field in the money.

Later tonight sees the Battle of Malta's first €5,000 buy-in tournament with the start of the Mega High Stack.

Players will receive 30,000 starting chips and play ten levels on Day 1 with 15-minute breaks every three levels.

Simone Sedini was all in for 15,000 from middle position and Joel Holmberg called from the hijack. 

Tommy Elvestad moved all in for 36,000 from the big blind and Holmberg folded. 

Elvestad:

Sedini:

The cards fell and Sedini hit the rail. 

The board was down and the dealer was passing Ana Marquez in the big blind a pile of chips. 

Marquez's opponent Roberts Rumba held and was unfortunate to lose as Marquez held for a set. 

Marquez moved up to 90,000 and Rumba was left on 14,000.

Rares Bodea raised to1,700 and both Dara O'Kearney and Pierre Azzopardi called. 

O'Kearney bet 2,500 from middle position after the flop fell and Bodea called after Azzopardi folded. 

The hit on the turn and both players checked before the appeared on the river. 

Bodea bet 3,500 and O'Kearney raised to 9,000. Bodea thought for 30 seconds then folded, and O'Kearney kindly showed for a full house.

The Battle of Malta Mega High Stack gets underway at 9pm later tonight, with one player determined to take down the trophy.

"I'm mad keen to win a trophy here in Malta," said Van Zadelhoff. "I've lived here for ten years - I deserve a trophy! And I have a gut feeling it's going to be in Battle of Malta's first €5k tourney!"

Van Zadelhoff is currently ranked eighth in Netherlands all-time money list, with $2.2m in live earnings and at least $9m winnings online.

The Malta resident tells us his gym is just outside the Intercontinental and his flat is four minutes away. No doubt he'll be sneaking in a quick gym sesh before the cards get in the air.

A player was all in for 11,000 and Benyamin Glot called.

Glot:

Opponent:

Board:

Glot held to win the pot and scored the knockout.

Dimitrios Choulis was all in with for around starting stack and was in a good position against theof Guillaume Font.

The board was with Aces holding and Choulis doubling up.

Rimantas Boguzas bet 1,500 on a board and Jonas Norrstrom check-called.

Norrstrom then bet 1,500 on the turn and Boguzas called. Norrstrom bet 3,000 on theriver but after Boguzas moved all in, Norrstrom quickly folded.

Updated Chip Counts

Players are going on their second 20-minute break of the day with 207 of 328 players remaining.

When they return there will be three more levels before they have a 75-minute dinner break.

Ana Marquez is one of the latest players to jump into the Battle of Malta Main Event along with a whole host of well-known players.

Cristian-Mugurel Tamas raised to 600 from under the gun and Felix Leipart called from middle position. Alan Vinnicombe three-bet to 3,000. 

Agatino Napoli called from the small blind as did Marcus Larsson in the big blind. 

Tamas called before Leipart folded and the flop fell  

Vinnicombe moved all in for 15,000 after the action checked around and the Brit saw all his opponents fold. 

The board was down and Mario Lacitgnola bet 3,200 from middle position.

Mats Karlsson called from the small blind and the appeared on the river. 

Karlsson moved all in for 14,000 and Lacitgnola called. 

Karlsson held for top two pair and Lacitgnola mucked .

Battle of Malta is aiming to raise thousands of euros with a special charity raffle for Pink October Malta at this year’s festival. 

Some incredible prizes are up for grabs, including two BOM 2020 seats and packages for 888Live London, the MPN Poker Tour, the World Casino Championships, the V-Poker Challenge or Kings of Tallinn. Other prizes include dinner or a weekend break at the luxurious Intercontinental Hotel in St Julian’s, or £500 in travel money from MainEventTravel.com

Raffle tickets will be on sale throughout this year’s Battle of Malta. With such amazing prizes on offer, players are being encouraged to buy as many tickets as possible. Tickets cost €5 each, and there will be two prize draws: at 7 pm on Saturday, October 19 and 7 pm, Sunday, October 20 – both in the tournament area. 

Last year Battle of Malta’s charity tournament and raffle raised a total of €20,000 for Pink October Malta thanks to generous player donations, a ton of ticket sales, and a substantial contribution from Casino Malta.

Pink October Malta is a Marigold Foundation initiative that aims to spread awareness about breast cancer and encourage women to undergo regular check-ups. Battle of Malta would like to thank all its sponsors who have generously provided such wonderful prizes for the raffle.

Ant Gokcek opened to 1,500 from the button and Brendan Coone three-bet to 4,300 on the button.

Gokcek called and then bet 10,000 on the flop. Coone then raised all in for 13,500 and Gokcek shrugged before calling.

Brendan Coone:
Ant Gokcek:

The turn and changed nothing and Coone doubled to over starting stack.

Ian Simpson was all in for 11,500 from the small blind and Robert Jones is also all in for 26,000 from the cutoff. 

Maria Katsourides was the final player with a decision to make, but after some thought she folded. 

Simpson revealed but was behind against .

The board ran out and Simpson was eliminated. 

Jones moved up to 36,000 and Simpson confirmed he would try again in tomorrow's Day 1b. 

The start of level four has seen a new bunch of players take their seats at the feature table and one of them is the well-known name of Dara O'Kearney. 

The Poker Satellite Strategy author and award-winning podcast host has over $1.1m in live tournament cashes and will be looking to add to that amount here at Casino Malta over the next seven days. 

Player		Chips	Progress
Dara O'Kearney		23,300	1,700

Dana Perianu is a familiar face in the poker scene and known by many as one of the most experienced masseuses on the European circuit, having worked in the industry for 11 years. 

However, today sees her take up a different role at Battle of Malta as a player. 

Perianu, who has $23,593 in recorded live cashes, won her seat in last night's satellite, and has already been in the action today navigating her 25,000 starting stack up to 31,000. 

On a board Jacob Karlsen Klit bet 3,200 and Ioannis Ioannou called.

The river was theand Klit continued for 10,0000. Ioannou called but mucked when Klit showed for a flopped full house

Following the first break of the day, several players have more than doubled their starting stack of 25,000 including Konstantin Zerdev who is up to around 80,000 in chips.

Leo Worthington-Leese checked from the small blind after the flop fell and Mladen Kratovic bet 1,500 from the big blind. 

Worthington-Leese called and both players checked on the turn. 

Worthington-Leese bet 1,300 on the river, and Kratovic called. 

Worthington-Leese showed , but was behind to Kratovic's .

Player		Chips	Progress
Mladen Kratovic		32,000	0
Leo Worthington-Leese		30,000	0

The players are now on their first 20-minute break. 

Raffaele Cecere and Daniel Danklemann checked to Haim Fraid on a flop. Fraid bet 2,000 and Cecere check-raised all in for 2,800. Danklemann and Fraid called.

The remaining two players checked the runout and all three turned their cards over.

Danklemann held with Cecere holdingfor a missed flush draw. Fraid showed for two pair, eights and sevens and sent Cecere to the rail.

Raffale Cecere - Eliminated
Daniel Danklemann - 30,000
Haim Fraid - 40,000

The flop fell , and Evgenii Margolin bet 1,300 from the hijack. 

Kresten Hougaard called from the cutoff before the player in the big blind checked, and the peeled off on the turn. 

Hougaard called a 2,300 bet from Margolin, and they checked to showdown on the river. 

Margolin flipped over for trips, and Hougaard mucked. 

Player		Chips	Progress
Evgenii Margolin		35,000	0

Alan Linker was all in with and had Rudy Fonseca at risk for the Frenchman's last 11,500. However, Fonseca held and was in a good position for a double up.

The board cameand he doubled to just under starting stack.

The flop fell , and both Jean-Pierre Fonseca and Janek Hin checked. The hit on the turn and Hin check-called a 1,200 bet from Fonseca. 

They checked to a showdown on the river and  won the pot after he revealed . 

A player opened to 600 and Tom Deschuytter called on the button. Daniel Golder three-bet to 2,200 from the big blind. The initial raiser folded and Deschuytter called.

The flop came and Golder bet 2,200. Deschuytter called and the turn was the

Golder continued for 4,500 and Deschuytter called. The river was the and both players checked.

"Ace-high," said Golder.

"You have to show your hand," replied Deschuytter and he watched his opponent table

Deschuytter showedfor top pair and took down the pot.

Tom Deschuytter - 35,000
Daniel Golder - 18,500

Priti Patel bet 600 after the flop fell , and Samuel Dray called on the button. 

Erik Bengsten raised to 2,200 from the big blind, and Dray called after Patel folded. 

Bengsten checked on the flop and then called a 2,000 bet from Dray. 

The appeared on the river, and Bengsten again checked before Dray fired for 5,000. 

Bengsten contemplated his decision for 30 seconds but ultimately folded, and allowed Dray to pick up the pot. 

Player		Chips	Progress
Samuel Dray		29,000	0

Battle of Malta has created a new app – available for both iOS and Android. The app has a host of features including instant notifications, the latest BOM news, the BOM twitter feed, 2020 tournament schedule and the chance to win a seat for the 2020 edition of the event next year.

Players can download the app anytime by visiting bom.beezer.com.

Tobias Bernersjoe raised to 300 from middle position and Anders Schou three-bet to 1,200 from the cutoff. 

Bernersjoe made the call and checked on the flop. 

Schou continued for 1,400 and won the pot after Bernersjoe gave up. 

Player		Chips	Progress
Anders Schou		27,000	0

Tommy Elvestad, Philippus van Beek and Carlos Abinante all put chips in the pot on a  board and both Elvestad and Van Beek checked to Abinante on the turn.

Abinante bet 1,200 and Elvestad check-called out of the small blind. The river was the and both players checked. Elvestad showed for two pair and Abinante mucked.

Carlos Abinante - 23,000
Philippus van Beek - 24,000
Tommy Elvestad - 28,000

Among those in their seats from the off are David Lappin, Ian Simpson, Paul Romain, Thomas Lind, and Daragh Davey. 

Player		Chips	Progress
Mateusz Moolhuizen		25,000	0

Last year Mateusz Moolhuizen made it all the way to the final table of the largest Battle of Malta Main Event in history.

Moolhuizen eventually finished eighth for €30,000, and the Dutchman will be looking for another deep run this year having jumped into the Day 1a field.

He's currently sat directly to the right of his girlfriend Dehlia de Jong in a peculiar quirk of the seating draw here in Level 1.

The 2019 Battle of Malta Main Event is underway at Casino Malta! 

Late registration is open until the end of level 10. The play will finish when 15% of the field remains. 

Live reporting by Will Shillibier and Aaron McBride

The 2019 Battle of Malta gets underway today with the first of five starting flights, with this year's €555 buy-in Main Event expected to be the biggest in Battle of Malta history.

Last year a whopping 3,816 players smashed the €1m guarantee, and this year, thousands of players will be competing in Malta’s biggest poker tournament, including hundreds of qualifiers from MPNPT, 888poker and Italian site Vincitu.

*denotes deal

The award-winning Battle of Malta is being hosted by Casino Malta at the luxurious InterContinental Hotel in St Julian’s from October 15-22. The first tournament on the schedule was last night's €50 + €10 super satellite, which has already attracted 437 entries with 39 players winning seats into Day 1a of the Main Event.

Malta-based French player Julien Stropoli won last year's Main Event for €168,500, the best cash of his live poker career. The star-studded final table included previous MPN Poker Tour finalist Mantas Urbonas, two-time Unibet Open champion Mateusz Moolhuizen and Grosvenor Ambassador Andy Hills.

Main Event Structure

With unlimited re-entries until the end of level 10, there will be five start flights in total – with many flights expected to sell out. Players will kick off with a 25,000 starting stack and 40-minute blind levels. In the final Day 1e start flight, players will get a 10,000 starting stack and 10-minute levels. Each Day 1 will play down to 15% of the field – with all survivors making the money.

Welcome Drinks

Battle of Malta also has some fabulous events lined up for players at this year’s event. The Battle of Malta Aperol Spritz Welcome Drinks is at Casino Malta tonight (Wednesday, October 16) from 8 pm-11 pm. On Saturday (October 19), Battle of Malta is hosting a Bowling Competition at the Eden SuperBowl opposite the tournament venue. Four seats for Battle of Malta 2020 are up for grabs for each member of the four-person winning team . Teams of four should register in advance at the Eden Super Bowl, which is right across the road from the Intercontinental.

Players Party

The main Battle of Malta Players Party is taking place at exclusive Paranga Beach, the Intercontinental Hotel’s private beach club, from 8 pm on Sunday (October 20). Hit Maltese band Red Electrick is on the bill, ensuring this will be a night to remember for all Battle of Malta players.

New App

Battle of Malta has created a new app – available for both iOS and Android. The app has a host of features including instant notifications, the latest BOM news, the BOM twitter feed, 2020 tournament schedule, and the chance to win a seat for the 2020 edition of the event next year. Players can download the app anytime by visiting bom.beezer.com or using the QR code below.

Stay tuned to all the live updates throughout the Battle of Malta festival right here!