€1,100 Main Event
Day 1a Started
2022 Unibet Malta
€1,100 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2022 Unibet Malta
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€359,000
Entries
359
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
120
Players Left
33
Welcome to the 2022 Unibet Malta €1,100 Main Event
Live poker in Europe is returning back to its usual strength and all major operators have recommenced their activities with Unibet becoming the latest brand to get back underway. After a hiatus of more than two and a half years, the popular mid-stakes tour Unibet Open heads to the Mediterranean island of Malta for a five-day festival packed with poker tournaments and activities away from the tables.
The brand celebrates Unibet’s 5th anniversary as well as the Unibet Open’s 15th anniversary during the stop at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel in St. Julians and the highlight on the schedule is certainly the 2022 Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event. It is the fifth time the operator visits the island after stops in 2011, 2016, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Two of the former champions here on Malta have etched their name into the history books of the tour already as Martin Soukop and Mateusz Moolhuizen have two Main Event titles under their belt. Only Dan Murariu has achieved the same feat in the live arena since the inception of the Unibet Open and it remains to be seen if any further former champions will be able to double their tally.
During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Unibet Open moved their competitions to the virtual arena and that's where another two-time champion was crowned. Irishman Padraig O'Neill became the first back-to-back Unibet Open Online winner for more than €130,000 in combined cashes.
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 |
With three starting days available in the €1,100 Main Event, all participants can enter a maximum of two times and those running out of chips on Day 1a and Day 1b can re-enter into the turbo heat 1c on Friday, September 30 as of 9pm local time. The late registration for both regular starting days is open until the start of level seven at approximately 7.40pm local time following a 60-minute dinner break.
More than 100 players have won their entry into the flagship tournament via online satellites on Unibet Poker and they will be joined at the tables by the brand ambassadors David Lappin, Dara O'Kearney, Monica Vaka and Alexandre Reard as well as popular Twitch streamer and Instagram influencer "CasinoDaddy".
While Day 1a kicks off at noon local time and wraps up around midnight, players can also look forward to the Unibet Open Welcome Party and an entertaining “Blingo” session at the Intercontinental Hotel. The following day, there is a Drinks Party at Casino Malta which is situated on the ground floor of the same venue. Last but not least, Saturday night features a Players Party at the Sky Club only a short walk away in the heart of Paceville.
The PokerNews live reporting team will be on the floor to cover all the poker action in the €1,100 Main Event from start to finish. Live stream action with cards-up coverage and commentary on a delay will also be available as well.
Shuffle Up and Deal for Day 1a
The cards are in the air for all tables with at least three players seated and the action is underway. At least 30 contestants are already in the mix but that number is certain to rise with several players waiting to buy in right now. A first batch of notable entries is to follow shortly.
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/100
Ante: 100
First Notables on Day 1a
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
||
Big Pot for Roos Right Away
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Koen Roos opened the action with a raise to 300 on the button and Tomasz Pawlowski three-bet to 800 in the big blind for the initial raiser to call. The flop came 
and Pawlowski's continuation bet for 1,200 was called. He then check-called for 2,800 on the 
turn and checked again the 
on the river.
Roos bet 8,000 and received a call to turn over 
for a flopped set of tens to drag in a big pot right out of the gates.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
44,000
44,000
|
44,000 |
|
|
17,500
17,500
|
17,500 |
Moolhuizen Among Next Notable Entries
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
The first Unibet Open Malta champion from back in 2011, Mateusz Moolhuizen, has been spotted in the field. He narrowly missed out on a WSOP gold bracelet earlier this year and will aim to further grow his legacy in the Unibet Open as one of just four multiple champions.
Moolhuizen's better half Dehlia de Jong is also in the field alongside Malta's "poker mama" Jackie Cachia.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
||
|
|
30,000 | |
Bengtsen Takes Two Hits
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
The early action on table six has not included Bas de Laat yet but his table neighbour Jannik Bengtsen lost two medium-sized pots in a row to surrender a portion of his stack. First, he gave up on the river of a 
board when facing a bet by Fredrik Josefsson.
Soon after, Ovidiu Jula bet 4,000 with the board showing 
. Once more, Bengtsen sent his cards into the muck and dropped below the starting stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
33,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
|
32,000
32,000
|
32,000 |
|
27,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
Guillaud Runs Into a Monster
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Nazim Guillaud raised to 300 and [Removed:394] called from one seat over in the cutoff. Julius Kettunen three-bet to 1,500 on the button and Guillaud then four-bet to 4,100 for Kettunen to call. On the 
flop, Guillaud bet 2,600 to earn a call before he also led the 
turn for another 8,000.
Kettunen came along once more and the 
on the river was then checked by both. While not the last aggressor, Kettunen announced pocket queens and tabled his 
for a set to win the pot as Guillaud silently sent his cards into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
46,000
46,000
|
46,000 |
|
||
|
|
29,500
29,500
|
29,500 |
|
14,500
14,500
|
14,500 |
New Entries in the Field
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
The Day 1a field is now up to 62 entries and all of the players still have chips at their disposal.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |