2019 Unibet Open Malta

Main Event
Day: 1bc
Event Info

2019 Unibet Open Malta

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q6
Prize
€71,620
Event Info
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€327,000
Entries
327
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
100,000 / 150,000
Ante
150,000
Players Info - Day 1bc
Entries
214
Players Left
93

Main Event

Day 1bc Completed

Christopher Heidelbacher Tops Day 1b of the Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Christopher Heidelbacher
Christopher Heidelbacher

Another flight is in the books as Day 1b of the Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event has concluded after 10 levels of poker. Another 165 players walked through the doors of the InterContinental Hotel and Casino Malta but only 66 will move on to Day 2 once the dust settled. That brings the total number of entries to 327, the largest Unibet Open Malta to date.

There were a few players who made a late charge for the chip lead in the closing hands of the evening but it was Christopher Heidelbacher from Romania who topped them all with 243,000 chips. Heidelbacher was trading with Angelo Tarallo who finished not far behind with 223,500 chips. In one of the last hands of the night, Tarallo scooped a pot well north of 120,000 chips from Peter Kaae with pocket aces - one of the only times they held up in the last level.

While it remains to be seen what happens in flight 1c, Heidelbacher will most likely hold the overall chip lead after the three starting flights. With over $30,000 in career tournament winnings in the last couple of years, all but one of his cashes have come in his home country. Heidelbacher will also be looking to top his largest score of over $16,000. A couple of other big stacks who had successful days were Petter Kaarstad (188,500) and [Removed:402] (187,500).

The action got underway for Day 1b at noon local time and tournament organizers were expecting a larger field than Day 1a which attracted 113 runners. It was clear that more players were in the building and the total entries quickly grew throughout the first few levels. Late registration remained open until after the dinner break but there was also Day 1c (a turbo flight) taking place for any of those wishing to re-enter.

Many more Unibet Ambassadors took to the felt today including Alexandre Reard (113,500), David Lappin (46,000), Espen Jorstad, Dara O'Kearney, and Monica Vaka. Unfortunately, the latter three failed to move on through this flight. Today was also the day that the Unibet Poker Twitch streamers tested their luck at the live format and a couple of them were able to make it through. Phil 'syrinxx' Schonebaum (106,000), and Yoan 'ToD' Merlo (61,500) will return with chips on Day 2.

There were 49 players who took their shot at running up a stack in a mere few hours on Day 1c with the levels reduced to 20 minutes. Many of those that were eliminated on Day 1a made their way back into the mix in hopes of finding a bag for Day 2. That event is still currently running and those players that advance will be posted upon completion.

All of those that advanced from the starting flights will return to the tables tomorrow for Day 2 which begins at 12 pm local time. The blinds will resume at 1,000/1,500 with a 1,500 big blind ante. The next goal for everyone will be to reach the money, which likely won't happen until later in the day. The blinds will continue at 60 minutes in length and the scheduled plan is to play down until the final table.

Follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team for all of the action straight from the tournament floor.

Tags: Alexandre ReardAngelo TaralloChristopher HeidelbacherDara O'KearneyDavid LappinEspen JorstadMonica VakaPeter KaaePetter KaarstadUnibet Open

End of Day Chip Counts (full)

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Player Chips Progress
Christopher Heidelbacher ro
Christopher Heidelbacher
243,000 93,000
Angelo Tarallo it
Angelo Tarallo
223,500 89,500
Petter Kaarstad no
Petter Kaarstad
188,500 9,000
[Removed:402] lt
[Removed:402]
187,500 37,500
Matthew Ireland gb
Matthew Ireland
168,500 43,500
Marco Fontanella it
Marco Fontanella
145,500 45,500
Mathias Joelsson se
Mathias Joelsson
133,500 117,800
Michael Brock gb
Michael Brock
131,500 28,000
Simon Nielsen dk
Simon Nielsen
123,000 53,500
Tore Matre no
Tore Matre
122,300 83,300
Alexandre Reard fr
Alexandre Reard
113,500 9,200
Lukas Podzemsky it
Lukas Podzemsky
109,000 109,000
Stig Bjornli no
Stig Bjornli
109,000 4,000
Phil Schonebaum de
Phil Schonebaum
106,000 106,000
Christian Andersen dk
Christian Andersen
105,500 105,500
Steven Fitzpatrick gb
Steven Fitzpatrick
103,000 73,000
Adam Martinsson se
Adam Martinsson
103,000 103,000
Quentin Lecomte fr
Quentin Lecomte
100,500 100,500
Peter Racz hu
Peter Racz
99,000 99,000
Szabo Levente hu
Szabo Levente
99,000 -31,000
Ilkka Heikkila fi
Ilkka Heikkila
99,000
Ian Simpson gb
Ian Simpson
94,000 94,000
Asbjorn Elvevold no
Asbjorn Elvevold
92,500 11,000
Fulgusin Marcel
Fulgusin Marcel
89,500
Bogdan Petrascu ro
Bogdan Petrascu
85,500 85,500

Read full

Last Four Hands of the Night

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

The tournament clock has been paused with 10 minutes remaining on the clock and each table will play four more hands. At the conclusion of those four hands, there will be a color-up of the 100 denomination chips before the players bag up their chips.

Aces Can't Hold Again

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

There was a raise to 2,800 and Michael Brock three-bet to 9,000. Georgios Koltoukis four-bet shoved all in for 34,600 from the blinds which got the initial raiser to fold. Brock asked for a count and contemplated his decision for a moment before making the call.

Michael Brock: {q-Clubs}{j-Clubs}
Georgios Koltoukis: {a-Hearts}{a-Clubs}

The flop came {q-Spades}{6-Hearts}{3-Spades} to give Brock a pair of queens and some hope. The {9-Spades} on the turn didn't change anything but it was the {q-Diamonds} on the river that gave Brock the best hand and eliminated Koltoukis.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Brock gb
Michael Brock
103,500 41,500
Georgios Koltoukis gr
Georgios Koltoukis
Busted

Tags: Michael Brock

Registration Closed for Day 1c

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

An update on flight on 1c as the players have returned to their seats after break and registration is officially closed. There were a total of 49 entries with 41 players still remaining. They will play four more levels before those that are still remaining will bag up their chips. The action is expected to start picking up with the blinds increasing at a feverish pace.

Some of those to still keep an eye on include Kenny Hallaert, Barny Boatman, Mateusz Moolhuizen, Martin Soukup, and Unibet Ambassadors Dan Murariu, Ian Simpson, and Monica Vaka.

Kaarstad Cracks Aces in Monster Pot

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Petter Kaarstad raised it up in early position and Samuel Quesada three-bet to 7,000 from the big blind. Kaarstad called and the dealer fanned the flop of {j-Clubs}{8-Spades}{5-Clubs}. Quesada led out for 8,000 and Kaarstad called to see the {j-Hearts} pair the board on the turn.

Quesada checked this time and Kaarstad dropped in a bet of 10,000. Quesada called and the {6-Hearts} hit the river. Quesada checked again and Kaarstad moved out a stack of chips, enough to put Quesada to the test for his remaining 37,000 chips.

Quesada thought for a minute before flicking in a chip to signify a call. Kaarstad turned over {k-Spades}{j-Spades} for trip jacks and Quesada showed {a-Spades}{a-Hearts} before leaving the table.

Player Chips Progress
Petter Kaarstad no
Petter Kaarstad
179,500 47,500
Samuel Quesada es
Samuel Quesada
Busted

Tags: Samuel QuesadaPetter Kaarstad

Haverkamp Folds to van Brabander

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Ronald Haverkamp raised it up from the hijack and Charlotte van Brabander defended her big blind after just arriving at the table. The flop came {a-Spades}{10-Clubs}{3-Spades} and van Brabander check-called a bet of 2,300 from Haverkamp.

The turn was the {q-Hearts} and van Brabander led out for 4,000 this time. Haverkamp called and the {q-Spades} completed the board. Another bet of 11,000 from van Brabander forced a fold from Haverkamp this time.

Player Chips Progress
Charlotte van Brabander be
Charlotte van Brabander
59,300 -34,200
Ronald Haverkamp nl
Ronald Haverkamp
21,000 21,000

Tags: Charlotte Van BrabanderRonald Haverkamp

Level: 10

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 1,200

Three Streets from Elvevold

Level 9 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Asbjorn Elvevold
Asbjorn Elvevold

[Removed:402] opened to 2,200 from under the gun and picked up a caller before Asbjorn Elvevold three-bet to 8,000 in the cutoff. Simon Nielsen flat-called from the small blind and the other two players folded.

The dealer spread the flop of {k-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}{4-Clubs} and Nielsen checked to Elvevold who bet 7,000. Nielsen called and the {10-Clubs} hit the turn. Nielsen check-called another 12,000 and the {9-Spades} completed the board. Nielsen checked once more and Elvevold shoved all in for just over 21,000. Nielsen quickly folded and Elvevold collected the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Asbjorn Elvevold no
Asbjorn Elvevold
81,500
Simon Nielsen dk
Simon Nielsen
69,500 39,500

Tags: Asbjorn Elvevold