€1,100 Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2022 Unibet Malta
€1,100 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2022 Unibet Malta
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€359,000
Entries
359
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
9
Players Left
1
Henrik Juncker Wins the 2022 Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event (€75,000)
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
The 2022 Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event has crowned a winner at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel in St Julian's. Out of a field of 359 entries, Denmark's Henrik Juncker claimed the lion's share of the €359,000 prize pool after he defeated Mats Karlsson in an all-Scandinavian duel for the title.
Juncker entered the final table, in which the nine contenders represented nine different countries, third in chips. The Dane quickly assumed control with his aggressive playing style to dominate the action and earned the top prize of €75,000 after a short but topsy-turvy battle with Karlsson.
The 15th anniversary edition of the popular mid-stakes tour headed to the Mediterranean island for the fifth time and set a new attendance record for the island stop. Tournaments took place in the Convention Center of the hotel while cash games ran in the adjacent Casino Malta situated in the same venue. It was the second record turnout for the operator in the current year as the Unibet Poker Belgian Championship at Casino Blankenberge also exceeded all expectations.
More than 100 players had gained their entry through the global Unibet Poker platform, ensuring a very recreational field. Besides the poker action during the five-day series with five-star accommodation, the brand also provided the usual fun activities and parties to bring back the usual jovial atmosphere for which it is widely known.
Nataly Sopacuaperu, Unibet Open’s Head of Events, was certainly happy with the outcome of the first live edition of a Unibet Open stop in more than two and a half years: "It is great to be back after such a long break of over 2 years. We are grateful to see that the players have found their way back to our tables from all over Europe and even beyond. The numbers speak for themselves however it doesn't say anything about the amazing vibe in the tournament area. We are back!"
Final Table Results 2022 Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henrik Juncker | Denmark | €75,000 |
| 2 | Mats Karlsson | Malta | €46,460 |
| 3 | Rene Kuhlman | Netherlands | €32,090 |
| 4 | Serdar Demircan | Sweden | €23,770 |
| 5 | Rain Mölderkivi | Estonia | €18,280 |
| 6 | Daniel Illingworth | United States | €14,070 |
| 7 | Tal Sardal | France | €11,250 |
| 8 | Samuele Lo Presti | Italy | €9,000 |
| 9 | Raymond Wheatley | Ireland | €7,200 |
The international line-up included 2019 Unibet Open Malta finalist Serdar Demircan, who broke his curse of finishing in sixth place in poker events on the island. Much of the spotlight during the last two days belonged to the Swede, who filled the entire room with a very active table presence. His elimination in fourth place was one of the pivotal moments on the final day as it propelled eventual champion Juncker into a commanding lead.
Rene Kuhlman was the sole Dutch player out of a strong contingent of countrymen to enter the competition and tangled back and forth with Demircan on several occasions. Three-handed play left the Dutchman card-dead and he was crushed by the aggression of Juncker to settle for the bronze spot.
Perhaps the most high-profile contender besides 2016 EPT Malta runner-up Karlsson was Daniel Illingworth, who has more than $1.3 million in cashes to his name. The American, now based in Belgium and traveling the European circuit, nursed a severe short stack and laddered up to sixth place for a payday of €14,070.
Irish businessman Raymond Wheatley reached the second major final table in a live poker event after his fourth place at the 2019 Irish Open Main Event, in which he came fourth for €85,000. Railed by fellow countryman and Unibet ambassador Dara O'Kearney, his student Wheatley became the first casualty on the final table but left the tournament room with a smile on the face.
O'Kearney said: “The festival has been an amazing success with record numbers and a huge buzz among players who hadn’t seen each other for years. And shoutout to my student Ray Wheatley who put the advice in “Endgame Poker Strategy” to good use to make it all the way to the final table of the Main Event,” the professional poker player and book author concluded at the end of a busy festival in the heart of Europe.
O'Kearney and Wheatley may very well be back at the poker tables on home soil when the next Unibet sponsored live event in Ireland kicks off. The popular International Poker Open returns to the European poker calendar in a few weeks from now and takes place from October 26 to 31 at the Bonnington Hotel in Dublin. Ongoing satellites for the six-day festival are available on the global Unibet Poker platform.
As far as the Unibet Open live tour is concerned, planning for the next stops is already underway and further news regarding the schedule for 2023 can be expected in the near future.
This concludes the PokerNews live updates from the largest Unibet Open Malta Main Event in history.
The Unibet Open Malta Stops at a Glance
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 293 | €417,525 | Mateusz Moolhuizen | Netherlands | €117,000 |
| 2016 | 292 | €292,000 | Martin Soukup | Czech Republic | €65,000 |
| 2018 | 273 | €273,000 | Daniel Jacobsen | Denmark | €60,090 |
| 2019 | 327 | €327,000 | Alan Carr | United Kingdom | €53,400 |
| 2022 | 359 | €359,000 | Henrik Juncker | Denmark | €75,000 |
Mats Karlsson Eliminated in 2nd Place (€46,460)
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Hendrik Juncker limped in from the button with the 
and Mats Karlsson checked his option with the 
. The 
flop gave Karlsson the flush draw while Juncker made top pair.
Karlsson opted to check and subsequently faced a bet worth 200,000 before check-raising to 700,000. Juncker peeked at his cards again and made the call to create a pot of two million.
The duo headed to the 
turn on which Karlsson carefully cut out a bet of 1,000,000 with two times as much behind. His opponent winced, studied the board briefly and called.
No diamond appeared on the river but instead it came the 
to double-pair the board. Karlsson moved all-in for the last 2.2 million and was beat into the pot by Juncker to crown a champion.
Karlsson's run ends just shy of victory as he departs in second place for €46,460. Juncker dominated the proceedings for most of the final table and has been crowned the 2022 Unibet Open Malta Main Event champion, taking home the top prize of €75,000.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
10,775,000 | 4,425,000 |
|
Busted |
Juncker Doubles Back Into the Lead
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Down to 3,075,000 after paying off Mats Karlsson with his queen-high, Henrik Juncker pushed all-in from the button. Karlsson eyeballed the stack for a couple of seconds and made the call.
Henrik Juncker: 
Mats Karlsson: 
Juncker flopped the goods on the 
board to double back into the lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,350,000 | 3,250,000 |
|
|
4,375,000 | -3,325,000 |
Juncker Pays Off Karlsson to Fall Behind
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Mats Karlsson opened the 
for 400,000 and Hendrik Juncker defended 
. The flop was all for Karlsson and Juncker check-folded to a bet worth 300,000.
Juncker then opened the 
and folded when Karlsson simply ripped it in with the .
Karlsson was the next to min-raise the button with the 
and Juncker flat-called with his 
. Following a flop of 
, Juncker checked and Karlsson's bet worth 400,000 was called.
Karlsson spiked the magical on the turn to cement his lead, picking up another check-call by Juncker for 600,000. Last but not least, Juncker checked the 
river with queen-high. Karlsson's final bet was worth 1,000,000 and Juncker eventually paid it off to see Karlsson pull into the lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,700,000 | 2,800,000 |
|
|
3,100,000 | -2,775,000 |
Karlsson Doubles Back Into Contention
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Shortly after the blinds went up, Hendrik Juncker pushed all-in from the button and Mats Karlsson called all-in for the 2,350,000 he had behind.
Mats Karlsson: 
Hendrik Juncker: 
The 
flop propelled Karlsson into a strong lead but he had to endure a sweat on the 
turn. However, the 
river ensured his double-up
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,875,000 | -2,725,000 |
|
|
4,900,000 | 2,700,000 |
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Juncker Catches Karlsson Bluffing
Level 30
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Henrik Juncker limped the button with and Mats Karlsson checked the 
out of the big blind. On the 
flop both players checked and Karlsson checked the turn as well.
Juncker bet 375,000 to earn a call by Karlsson, who missed on the 
river but bet 600,000. Juncker double-checked his cards and made the call after some consideration.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,600,000 | 1,400,000 |
|
|
2,200,000 | -1,400,000 |
Karlsson Gets Some Chips Back
Level 30
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Mats Karlsson raised the button with the 
and Hendrik Juncker called out of the big blind with . Both checked the flop and Juncker bet the turn for 250,000 into 750,000, receiving a call from Karlsson.
The fell on the river and both checked once more as Karlsson earned some chips back.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,200,000 | -1,100,000 |
|
|
3,600,000 | 1,100,000 |
Juncker Widens Gap Right Away
Level 30
: Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Mats Karlsson min-raised from the button with the 
and Henrik Juncker defended the . Both flopped middle pair on and Juncker checked, Karlsson bet 300,000 and received the call.
The turn paired the board and both players checked to the 
river. Juncker bet 550,000 and Karlsson quickly called to lose a portion of his shorter stack as the Dane widened the gap.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,300,000 | 1,600,000 |
|
|
2,500,000 | -1,600,000 |