Momentum Builds as Day 1c Takes Center Stage at the Malta Poker Festival
The action rolls on today at the Malta Poker Festival, hosted by Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s, as Day 1c of the €500,000 Guaranteed Grand Event kicks off at 2:00 p.m. local time. With two starting flights already in the books, the stage is set for a fresh wave of poker hopefuls to take their shot at a share of the massive prize pool.
The tournament has already seen 378 players enter the arena, with just 56 of those progressing to Day 2, securing themselves a minimum payout and the opportunity to play for much more.
Leading the way from the opening two flights is Julien Stropoli, who has set the standard for all those who enter the remaining flights. Running up a monstrous stack of 1,006,000, Stropoli is currently the only player to have surpassed the one million chip mark.
Hans Bjorklund and Max Gerritsen complete the current podium, having bagged 916,000 and 896,000, respectively, both of whom progressed from the Day 1a flight.
Overall Top Ten Counts After Day 1b
| Rank | Player | Country | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julien Stropoli | France | 1,006,000 |
| 2 | Hans Bjorklund | Sweden | 916,000 |
| 3 | Max Gerritsen | Netherlands | 896,000 |
| 4 | Andrea Calabria | Italy | 625,000 |
| 5 | Alessio Lucciarini | Italy | 614,000 |
| 6 | Maria Koutsouki | Greece | 585,000 |
| 7 | Lars Larsson | Sweden | 552,000 |
| 8 | Sacha Dadbin | United Kingdom | 531,000 |
| 9 | Thibaut Thevenet | France | 527,000 |
| 10 | Marko Cosic | Croatia | 523,000 |
Players will each start with a 50,000 stack with blind levels starting at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante. Each level will last 40 minutes, with late registration remaining open until the end of Level 10. Players are permitted unlimited re-entries during that period.
Play for all Day 1 flights will conclude once 15% of the field remains, at which point the remaining players will bag their chips and be guaranteed a minimum payout.
All players who advance from their respective starting flights will return for Day 2, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, November 1. Blind levels will then increase to 60 minutes, with the structure and length of play still to be confirmed.
Malta Poker Festival Grand Event - Remaining Schedule
| Day | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1c | October 29 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Day 1d | October 30 | 2:00 p.m |
| Day 1e | October 31 | 1:00 p.m |
| Day 1f | October 31 | 6:00 p.m |
| Day 1g | October 31 | 9:00 p.m. |
| Day 1h | November 1 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Day 2 | November 1 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Day 3 | November 2 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Day 4 | November 3 | 1:00 p.m. |
Be sure to stay tuned as PokerNews brings you chip counts, updates, and all the action from the €550 Malta Poker Festival Grand Event here in Portomaso Casino.