Diamond Poker Series Makes Grand Return as PLO Grand Slam Heads to Malta
Since its inception in 2024, the PLO Grand Slam tournament series hosted by Diamond Poker Series has guaranteed high-stakes PLO action with big prizes, all wrapped in a fun and welcoming environment. After two stops in Tirana and one in Tallinn, it is time for a new destination as Europe's premier four-card poker tournament series has made its way to Casino Malta.
The two flagship events of every PLO Grand Slam are the three-day €10,300 Championship and the two-day €5,200 Million, with both tournaments having been present during each iteration so far. First up on the schedule is the Championship, starting with Day 1a at 3 p.m. local time today. The 10K Championship has been upgraded from one to two starting days and boasts a massive €2,000,000 guaranteed prize pool this time.
The most recent winner of this event is Imad Derwiche, who conquered a field of 148 entries in Tallinn to take home €338,370. Meanwhile, Tom-Aksel Bedell won the second-ever edition in Tirana, while an anonymous player was crowned the inaugural champion.
PLO Grand Slam €10,300 Championship History
| Stop | Field Size | Prize Pool | Winner | First-Place Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirana 2024 | 128 | €1,203,200 | "Benjamin N" | €219,200* |
| Tirana 2025 | 191 | €1,880,000 | Tom-Aksel Bedell | €438,000 |
| Tallinn 2025 | 148 | €1,410,000 | Imad Derwiche | €338,370 |
The starting stack in the €10,300 Championship amounts to 200,000, but thanks to the PLO Grand Slam's Early Bird Bonus, players who are in their seats when the first cards get dealt receive a bonus of 20,000 chips. Those who register during the first level also receive some extra chips, with 10,000 added to their stack.
The tournament kicks off with blinds at 500/1,000 with a 1,000 big blind ante. Ten levels will be played on each Day 1, with late registration remaining open for two more levels on Day 2. Unlimited reentries are permitted during the late registration period. The levels on Day 1a and Day 1b will be 45 minutes long, and a 75-minute dinner break is planned after Level 6, around 7:50 p.m. local time.
€10,300 Championship Day 1a Structure
| Level | Duration (min) | Small Blind | Big Blind | Big Blind Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 2 | 45 | 1,000 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| 3 | 45 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Break | 20 | |||
| 4 | 45 | 1,000 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| 5 | 45 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| 6 | 45 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Dinner Break | 75 | |||
| 7 | 45 | 2,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| 8 | 45 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Break | 20 | |||
| 9 | 45 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| 10 | 45 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
PokerNews will report the 10K Championship and the 5K Million live from the tournament floor the coming week, so check back in regularly to get your daily fix of high-stakes four-card action from the PLO Grand Slam Malta