Boris Becker Witnesses Potentially Record-Breaking Field at MPNPT at the Battle of Malta
A gargantuan field of eager poker players descended on Malta’s Intercontinental Hotel hosted by Casino Malta for Day 1b of the MPN Poker Tour at the Battle of Malta Main Event.
A total of 1,404 entrants joined the field in Day 1b by the time late-registration closed at the end of Level 10. This combined with the 451 entrants that came out for Day 1a and with Days 1c and 1d still to go today, means that last year’s record field of 2,074 entrants and the €1 million guarantee are all but certain to be absolutely obliterated by this year’s field.
Of the 1,404 Day 1b entries, 211 players made it through to Day 2, led by Jalulins Nikolajs with 683,000 in chips. They will join the 68 Day 1a survivors for Day 2 on Sunday, along with Day 1c and Day 1d survivors.
The €550 Battle of Malta Main Event takes place over six days, October 25-30. There are four starting flights on Oct. 25-27, including the turbo-format Day 1d.
Unlimited re-entries are permitted up until the conclusion of Level 10 on each opening flight, and play ends on each start day when the field has been reduced by 85 percent. The remaining 15 percent of players from each opening flight pick up at least €500 and progress to Day 2.
A feature table is live-streamed throughout the festival, and the final table will be live-streamed on Tuesday, hole cards and all. The full tournament schedule can be found here.
Away from the Main Event, Paul Dux Holderness took down the charity sit-and-go tournament in aid of breast cancer awareness charity Pink October Malta. Tickets were sold at €10, and a draw took place to decide who would play against tennis legend Boris Becker and high-stakes crusher Patrik Antonius to win a seat to next year’s Battle of Malta Main Event.
Players raised €2,400 through ticket sales, which was bumped up to a hefty €20,000 by the organizers. The donation was presented to Malta’s First Lady acting on behalf of the charity in a ceremony that took place immediately after the event had ended.
Today sees a double Day 1 whammy with Day 1c kicking off at 1 p.m. CEST and the turbo-format Day 1d beginning at 9 p.m. CEST. There are a number of side events also on the schedule today including the €110 Ladies’ Event at 5 p.m. and the €165 PLO Double Chance event at 6 p.m.
Some heads may be pounding owing to last night’s well-attended MPNPT Welcome Drinks party, but there is enough going on in the schedule to lure even the most hearty of partiers away from their plush hotel beds.
All the action from Day 1c and Day 1d will be reported live on the MPNPT blog.
*Photos courtesy of the MPN Poker Tour.
