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Tereza Vernerova Makes History with Battle of Malta Main Event Victory
The €600 Main Event at the 2026 Battle of Malta Autumn Edition at Casino Malta attracted 5,368 entries, with €227,835 originally set aside for the winner. After more than 12 hours of final table action, Tereza Vernerova defeated Ofer Tadmor heads-up to become the first woman to win the Battle of Malta Main Event. The Czech player secured €162,635 and the coveted Knight Trophy after an ICM deal.
2026 Battle of Malta Autumn Edition Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tereza Vernerova | Czechia | € 162,635* |
| 2 | Ofer Tadmor | Israel | € 175,000* |
| 3 | James Malatynski | United Kingdom | € 125,000* |
| 4 | Lulei Hu | China | € 62,150 |
| 5 | Marios Kapiris | Greece | € 43,400 |
| 6 | Rosario Saddemi | Italy | € 32,000 |
| 7 | Ivane Khazaradze | Georgia | € 25,150 |
| 8 | Marco Lopez Coronado | Spain | € 21,150 |
*denotes three-way deal
“One of the Best Feelings in My Life”
Vernerova could hardly put her emotions into words after securing the historic victory. After more than 12 hours at the final table, she embraced her husband before celebrating with the Knight Trophy.
“I think it's one of the best feelings in my life. I can't even put it into words because I'm speechless. I'm very happy to be the first woman champion of the Battle of Malta,” she said after the win.
The Czech player admitted that she had been nervous going into the final table, despite starting the day as the chip leader. Having never played such a big final table before, she was unsure what to expect, but said her husband had helped her prepare.
“I was nervous, but excited. My husband prepared me well,” she explained.
Her husband remained by her side throughout the tournament, bringing her food and water and offering support during breaks. The trophy will now take a special place at their home, alongside the other trophies he has won.
When asked whether it would be the biggest trophy in their collection, Vernerova shyly confirmed that it would be.
The victory also earned her an invitation to join the Battle of Malta on its upcoming tour in 2027. The series announced plans to visit Barcelona, Bratislava, and Tallinn, as well as return to Malta for its summer edition.
Although she joked that she was not sure how many holidays she would get from work, Vernerova was already looking forward to some of the destinations. Coming from the Czech Republic, she was particularly interested in visiting Bratislava, which is close to home. She also recalled visiting Tallinn during the WSOP circuit and said she would be happy to return.
As the first woman to lift the Battle of Malta Main Event trophy, Vernerova will now have the chance to celebrate her historic achievement at several stops on the 2027 tour.
Hu Fights Back from the Short Stack
The final table began with Lulei Hu facing the biggest challenge. Starting as the shortest stack, he had little room to maneuver but refused to go quietly. He found an early double-up after turning a set against Malatynski and repeatedly found a way back into the action whenever he looked close to elimination.
Marco Lopez Coronado was the first to fall. He lost most of his stack in a clash with Marios Kapiris before being forced all-in for his remaining chips shortly afterward. Kapiris completed a flush to send him to the rail in eighth place.
Vernerova, meanwhile, struggled to find opportunities to extend her lead. Whenever she tried to make a move, she often faced resistance, but remained patient and held on to the chip lead through the first four hours of play.
Malatynski Takes Control
The balance of power shifted as James Malatynski began to take control. After finding another double-up, he won a major pot against Hu in a dramatic river confrontation. Malatynski extracted a big payoff and moved into the chip lead, leaving Hu in serious trouble.
Tadmor also made his presence felt, taking a substantial pot from Vernerova with a straight flush to take over the chip lead. Malatynski then finished what he had started, eliminating Hu in fourth place after the latter had battled through several difficult spots.
With three players remaining, Tadmor, Vernerova and Malatynski agreed to an ICM deal. All three secured substantial payouts, but the remaining €22,635 and the Knight Trophy ensured there was still plenty to play for.
Malatynski changed gears after the deal, shifting from passive to aggressive. However, the strategy cost him a significant portion of his stack, particularly when Vernerova made a hero call against his river shove. Left short, he was eliminated shortly afterward, setting up a heads-up contest between Tadmor and Vernerova.
Vernerova Takes the Lead Heads-Up
The final duel was far from one-sided. Vernerova took control of the heads-up battle after flopping trips against Tadmor's top two pair and winning a major pot to reclaim the chip lead.
Tadmor continued to fight back and found more double-ups, but Vernerova eventually closed out the match. In the final hand, Tadmor moved all-in on a paired flop, only for Vernerova to snap-call with trip tens. The turn and river brought no help for Tadmor, who finished as the runner-up, while Vernerova secured the title.
This concludes PokerNews' coverage of the 2026 Battle of Malta Autumn Edition. With the Battle of Malta heading to Barcelona for the first time in 2027, it remains to be seen whether Vernerova will join the tour to defend her title at the series' next stop.