€1,100 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2022 Unibet Malta
€1,100 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2022 Unibet Malta
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€359,000
Entries
359
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
119
Players Left
9
Karlsson and Demircan Lead the Final Nine in the 2022 Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event
Level 23
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
The final table of the largest ever Unibet Open Malta Main Event is set and nine players from eight countries remain in contention for the biggest slice of the €359,000 prize pool. They have all locked up at least €7,200 for their efforts at the Intercontinental Hotel in St Julian's after leaving 350 opponents behind in the €1,100 buy-in.
Leading the way is Sweden's Mats Karlsson, who has been calling the island of Malta his home for numerous years. The 2016 EPT Malta Main Event runner-up finished the night with 2,515,000 in chips followed by Serdar Demircan (2,350,000). After the first break of the day, 2019 Unibet Open Malta sixth place finisher Demircan took the spotlight on the live stream table and talked up a storm en route to reaching back-to-back final tables.
Denmark's Henrik Juncker completes the overnight podium with 1,935,000 in chips and there is already y large gap to the remaining hopefuls. Rene Kuhlman (915,000) has 34 big blinds at his disposal with several finalists close behind. Near the bottom of the leaderboard, Raymond Wheatley can be found who is a student of Unibet ambassador Dara O'Kearney and has put the lessons to use with yet another final table experience under his belt.
Final Table Seat Assignments
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raymond Wheatley | Ireland | 515,000 | 17 |
| 2 | Tal Sardal | France | 645,000 | 22 |
| 3 | Serdar Demircan | Sweden | 2,350,000 | 78 |
| 4 | Rene Kuhlman | Netherlands | 915,000 | 31 |
| 5 | Samuele Lo Presti | Italy | 775,000 | 26 |
| 6 | Mats Karlsson | Malta | 2,515,000 | 84 |
| 7 | Henrik Juncker | Denmark | 1,935,000 | 65 |
| 8 | Daniel Illingworth | United States | 270,000 | 9 |
| 9 | Rain Molderkivi | Estonia | 870,000 | 29 |
There are 54:27 minutes left in the level, which continues with a duration of 60 minutes. Once there are six contenders in the mix, the duration will be reduced to 45 minutes each and the final three are competing for the victory in 30-minute levels.
Day 2 saw 119 survivors of the three starting flights return to their seats, all with the hopes of reaching the money stages. For O'Kearney and fellow Unibet ambassador David Lappin, that quest ended in the opening stages after both were unable to spin up their short stacks. Other notables outside of the money were Daragh Davey, Tomasz Kozub, Bas de Laat, Baard Dahl, Dehlia de Jong, Eszter Fabian, and Tomasz Brzezinski.
The money bubble turned out to be a tense affair with several severe short stacks awaiting their fate on a nub. Ultimately, it was Dutchman Egi Adriaans who became the last player to leave empty-handed and that triggered a frantic post bubble period in which the field was cut down in rapid fashion.
French Unibet ambassador Arnaud Enselme was cruising through the day but one big clash in a battle of the blinds with Daniel Pastor destroyed all of his hopes of an even deeper run. Enselme was knocked out by Ian Simpson shortly thereafter and Szymon Bujok followed to the payout desk moments later.
For former Irish Open champion Simpson, the tournament ended in 25th place while Pastor went from big stack to busto on the final three tables. Demircan dominated at the top of the leaderboard and self-handedly entertained the commentary team and viewers of the live stream table all night long. It still turned into a lengthy affair to determine the final table, however. Fittingly, it was Demircan who dispatched Andreas Hagen to end the night.
The final day is slated to recommence at 12 pm noon local time on Sunday, October 2, 2022, and the live stream and PokerNews updates are subject to a 30-minute delay. Stay tuned to find out who takes home the top prize of €75,000 and becomes the newest Unibet Open Main Event champion.
End-of-Day 2 Chip Counts
Level 23
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,515,000 | 65,000 |
|
2,350,000 | 50,000 |
|
1,935,000 | 385,000 |
|
915,000 | -385,000 |
|
870,000 | -130,000 |
|
775,000 | -90,000 |
|
645,000 | -255,000 |
|
515,000 | |
|
270,000 | -220,000 |
Andreas Hagen Eliminated in 10th Place (€6,260)
Level 23
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
On the feature table, Andreas Hagen got one shove through for 340,000 from under the gun when Serdar Demircan was tempted in the big blind but let go, exposing a nine in the process.
The very next hand brought the open-shove of Demircan in the small blind and Hagen called all-in.
Andreas Hagen: 
Serdar Demircan: 
Clubs were no good but instead, Demircan spiked the 
flop for two pair. The mandatory sweat came with the 
turn as Hagen now had a gutshot. Monica Vaka watched the action from up close and Demircan predicted to hit another jack for a full house.
That's exactly what happened on the 
river to knock out Hagen in 10th place and end the night.
All chip counts and a recap of today'd action are to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,300,000 | 745,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 23
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 30,000
Wheatley Gets a Shove Through; Lo Presti Doubles Through Hagen
Level 22
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
There was action on both tables at the same time but just one all-in showdown unfolded.
On the outer table, Henrik Juncker raised to 50,000 and then asked for a count when Raymond Wheatley pushed for 415,000 before letting go.
The feature table had delivered a big blind defend by Andreas Hagen against a min-raise, who then bet 60,000 into Samuele Lo Presti after a flop of 
. The Italian committed his last 365,000 and the cards were revealed.
Samuele Lo Presti: 
Andreas Hagen: 
Neither the 
turn nor the 
river changed anything and Lo Presti doubled to trade the spot on the leaderboard with Hagen.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,550,000 | -550,000 |
|
|
865,000 | 240,000 |
|
|
515,000 | 15,000 |
|
|
350,000 | -425,000 |
Sardal Gets Two Shoves Through
Level 22
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Henrik Juncker has remained active despite the recent setback and Tal Sardal then check-shoved a flop of 
. That forced a fold from Juncker, who seemed bewildered for a very short period.
Mats Karlsson then raised to 50,000 and folded when Juncker three-bet to 160,000.
Sardal got another shove through when he limped the small blind. Karlsson raised to 75,000 and the Frenchman limp-jammed successfully.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,450,000 | -250,000 |
|
|
2,100,000 | 590,000 |
|
|
900,000 | 155,000 |
Karlsson Pulls Further Ahead at the Top
Level 22
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Rene Kuhlman raised to 50,000 and was called by Henrik Juncker in the big blind. On the 
flop, Juncker check-called for 30,000 and then checl-folded the turn when facing a bet worth 130,000.
One hand later, Mats Karlsson opened to 50,000 on the button for Juncker to flat-call in the big blind. Both opted to check the 
flop before Juncker led the turn for 85,000. Karlsson called and did so again for 195,000 on the 
river.
Juncker confidently rolled over the 
but Karlsson had that beat with the 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,700,000 | 550,000 |
|
|
1,510,000 | -390,000 |
|
|
1,300,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
745,000 | -155,000 |
|
|
500,000 | 40,000 |
Demircan Let's It Go
Level 22
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Andreas Hagen raised it up to 55,000 with the 
and Serdar Demircan called in the big blind. The flop brought 
and Demircan checked to Hagen, who made it 70,000 to go.
Pondering about his decision for half a minute, Demircan opted to call and then checked again the on the turn. Hagen fired a second bet for 165,000. This somehow sent Demircan into a tank for more than three minutes and he then settled on a fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,600,000 | 45,000 |
|
|
775,000 | 210,000 |
Wheatley Doubles Through Sardal
Level 22
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Tal Sardal had previously raised to 50,000 on the button and then folded an face up when Henrik Juncker three-bet to 160,000 in the big blind.
Shortly after, Raymond Wheatley pushed for 275,000 and Sardal called while all other players folded.
Raymond Wheatley: 
Tal Sardal:
The classic flip went to the Irishman on the 
board and he nearly closed the gap to Tal.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
750,000 | -150,000 |
|
|
610,000 | 150,000 |