One of the brightest young stars in poker, Lövgren learned to play poker at just 16 years old. Four years later she was the first female ever to join Team PKR.

After four successful years flying the PKR flag - with results including a 30th-place finish at the EPT Main Event in San Remo, a 16th at the EPT High Roller in London and five impressive WSOP cashes - Lövgren made the jump to the elite Team 888poker this year.

One of the three finalists for the PokerListings Rising Star Award in 2013 Lövgren came to the Battle of Malta with her boyfriend, Luca Moschitta, and did nothing but solidify our impression of her as one of the great young ambassadors in poker.

While Moschitta walked away with the award last year it's Lövgren who is nominated again this year along with seven other great young players from across the world.

Now at the 2014 WSOP, PokerListings Sweden's Denni Balic took the chance to discuss her nomination, her move to Malta, her future in poker and more.

First-ever female PKR pro makes the leap to 888.

PokerListings: You’ve done many things lately. Left PKR, jumped over to 888poker and now moved to Malta. What’s the next thing?

Sofia Lövgren: It’s all in with 888poker! I’d like to dedicate more time to play poker and to travel around the world to play at some live events. Actually I just arrived in Vegas to play at the WSOP.

So far I've only had time to play one event and I actually won something! But my plan is to play at least seven events, including the Main Event. One of my goals is actually to reach the final table!

Then I really look forward to the European Poker Tour in Barcelona and the WSOP in Melbourne. It will so fun to play in Australia. That will be my first time ever!

PL: Last year you were nominated for a PokerListings Spirit of Poker Award in the same category as your boyfriend Luca Moschitta. Was there any dischord between you two after the award ceremony?

SL: No, I was actually very happy for Luca. 2013 was a good year for him so I think that they picked the right winner.

Keep in mind that he is Italian and they really hate to lose. So yeah, it was probably the best choice for our “domestic peace."

Just take a look at the things that happened when Italy lost against Uruguay in the World Cup.

PL: This year you're nominated again. How does it feel and what do you think about the other players in your category?

SL: You always have to be innovative, show passion and work hard to promote poker to others.

My goal is to spread the positive things about poker. So for me it’s a great honor to be nominated.

However, there are many other interesting players. (Jack) Salter is one of them. He is doing really well but I’m the only girl.

PL: So what is the next step in your career? You mentioned something about university studies before.

SL: When I finished secondary school I wanted to take a break. Just to travel and play poker full time.

"My goal is to spread the positive things about poker."

My idea was to do this before continuing my studies, but it went very well with poker and I got recruited to Team PKR.

For the moment I have the best opportunity to combine poker with my favorite hobby – to make money, travel around and meet new people.

The advantage is that I get the chance to learn more about international PR.

PL: And if you decided to study something, what would it be?

SL: I would say economy and business. It’s very interesting and also a family tradition.

If I would do something else instead of playing poker I would most probably start my own business.

PL: How long are you going to play poker for?

SL: Well, at least the coming years I think, as long as I continue to win.

Poker is something I really love even if I would decide to spend time on something else in the future.

Count on me! I will still play poker in the coming years.

PL: Last year you came to play the Battle of Malta. How do you think it will go for you this year?

SL: It was really fun to play at the 2013 Battle of Malta. I did well on Day 1 but on the second day I busted quite early.

This year there will be more players joining the tournament and the GTD is bigger, which makes the Battle of Malta even more attractive!

And did I mention that I’m living next to the casino? That should bring me some extra luck, right?

2014 Battle of Malta will be bigger than ever.

PL: How come you moved to Malta?

SL: We’ve been in Malta several times before we finally decided to move. I love Malta and the climate is fantastic. It’s so different from my hometown Gothenburg.

As a poker player you don’t have to stick to a specific place. As long as you have an internet connection, everything is fine.

You can work from wherever you want. It could be on a sailboat somewhere in Sweden or in a hotel room in Barcelona.

We fly to Gothenburg and Catania in Sicily quite often. After all I have to say that the connection between those destinations and Malta is good. This is very important for us.

There are many poker tournaments taking place in Malta too but the Battle of Malta feels like home.

PL: If you had the chance to choose a tablemate, who would it be?

SL: I would go for Richard Nixon, the old American president.

PL: How come?

SL: When he tries to bluff, he really sucks! I would so knock him out.

PL: Okay, let’s put it this way. Who would you rather avoid to sit with?

SL: I don’t really want to sit next to Suárez. Well, at least if I’m bare-shouldered.

PL: Both you and Luca are seen as part of the new "thinking generation” of poker players. How do you think other poker players perceive your success?

SL: No idea what they think about me, but I know that many people like Luca.

PL: What do you think the poker industry will look like in 10 years?

SL: For now it’s very hard to say. Everything depends on the market legislations around the world.

"You always have to be innovative, show passion and work hard to promote poker to others."

However, if they legalize online poker in more US states, then I think that poker would become more popular like it was in 2006.

PL: Back to the PokerListings awards. Why should people vote for you?

SL: I don’t like to brag about myself so it’s better if you ask the guys who nominated me.

PL: Okay, but what's the difference between you and the other nominees?

SL: It could be my love towards poker. I really love poker and I love the PR part around it.

Apart from that I always share my experiences with others. I think it’s good for the industry to see a normal girl from Sweden who is doing well, even internationally.

PL: If you manage to get to the final table or if you win the Battle of Malta 2014, how would you celebrate your victory?

SL: I would invite all the players to my place before we go out for a nice dinner at Portomaso.

Then I think there would be time for some crazy partying too. Who knows, maybe some journalists could join us.

PL: How do you celebrate your success in poker in general?

SL: Well, mostly with my closest ones. We always have a good meal together and obviously some wine too.

If you've got luck on your side you could win a €1,600 package to play the 2014 PokerListings Battle of Malta.

If you're more confident in your poker skill, satellites for the 2014 BOM also begin on Betsafe Poker next week with entry as low as €3.30.

Sign up for an account at Betsafe Poker via our review page to be eligible.

Top 50 in Every Freeroll Score

Every Thursday evening from July 24 until August 28 exclusive Flip Freerolls for PokerListings players will run on Betsafe Poker.

Each Flip Freeroll has €2,700 in added Battle of Malta prizes starting with a full €1,600 package to the winner. Over €1,000 in Daily and Weekly Final tickets will also be distributed to the next 49 players.

To be eligible to play the Flip Freerolls players simply need to play 50 raked hands seven days prior to the Freeroll start time. As an added bonus for those with limited time - you don't even have to log in to play, just be registered!

2014 Battle of Malta trophy could be yours.

Freeroll Prizes:

€1,600 Battle of Malta Packages include:

A full slate of daily and weekly Battle of Malta satellites start on Betsafe July 14 for as low as €3.30.

If you haven't created an account at Betsafe Poker yet, sign up for one via our review page to be eligible.

After hosting the largest poker tournament ever held on Malta last year the PokerListings Battle of Malta bumped the prize-pool guarantee up to €500,000 for 2014.

With the same low €550 buy-in the value is higher then ever and a new, expanded schedule of events takes it one step further.

With celebrity host Maria Ho, pro guests like Andreas Hoivold, Luca Pagano and Paul Jackson and the true feel of a big-tour poker event, the 2014 BOM will be the biggest yet.

2013 BOM champ Louis Cartarius will be back looking for even more value.

Second Chance, High Roller, Deepstack Turbo and More

While the €550 main event is still the centerpiece at the 2014 Battle of Malta players have even more chances at big ROI this time around.

New to the agenda  - by popular demand - are a €3,800+€380 Grandmaster High Roller event and a €300+€30 Deepstack Turbo.

Returning again is the extremely popular €200+€20 Siege of Malta Second Chance tourney.

Satellites for both the Main Event and the High Roller will also be running starting on the Wednesday before Day 1a (Thrusday) of the Main Event.

All events will be hosted at the world-class Portomaso casino in St Julian's with the main event in the spectactular Grand Master Ballroom. A full sellout of 1,400 players is expected.

Check the image below for the full timetable of events. Qualify for the 2014 BOM online here or buy your package directly here!

All summer long PokerListings playerscan either freroll or flip their way into a €1,600 Battle of Malta package with no more than 50 raked hands needed to qualify.

Twice-daily freerolls are also running meaning you could end up at the highest-value low buy-in tournament in Europe for $0!

Sign up for a Betsson Poker account via our review page here (in Swedish) to be eligible.

One €1,600 Battle of Malta Package Every Week!

Betsson's Steps tournaments are an unbelievably cheap way to get the 2014 BoM.

With twice daily freerolls "cheap" could even mean for nothing. Win your way up the steps or buy-in three times daily starting at €3.30.

Every Sunday a weekly final will award one €1,600 Battle of Malta package guaranteed. Steps schedule:

Betsson's €1,600 Battle of Malta Package includes:

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Flip 'Em

Every Thursday from July 24- Aug. 28 you can also flip your way to the Battle of Malta in Betsson's Flip Freerolls. Each Flip Freeroll has €2,700 in 201 BoM prizes including a €1,600 package to the winner. Payouts:

To qualify play just 50 Raked Hands 7 days before Freeroll start time. (Note: earn Raked Hands quicker on Betsson's Blaze Poker tables).

More information on the Flip freeroll promotion here. Sign up for a Betsson Poker account via our review page here (in Swedish) to be eligible!

Winning a €1k Estrellas Poker Tour event in Madrid in January for €103,053 would have been an impressive enough debut for any teenager.

But that wasn't enough for Mateos, who went on to bag the biggest title in Europe - the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event - in the Fall for €1,000,000.

Not ony did he win it against some of the toughest competition in the world - Fabrice Soulier, Dominik Nitsche, Ravi Raghavan, Benny Spindler and fellow Spirit of Poker nominee Shannon Shorr were all all that final table - but he did so in impressive fashion, looking calm, confident and aggressive the whole way through.

What could possibly be more inspiring than that kind of win at just 19 years old? The way Mateos handled it and kept on grinding, spreading the game and its joys to more and more people everywhere he went.

PokerListings Spain's Esther Amores caught up with Mateos to find out more about his whirlwind debut season, his optimistic outlook on life and poker and more.

Already won one of the biggest prizes in poker. What next?

PokerListings: What did you think when you found out you were one of the nominees for the PokerListings Rising Star Award?

Adrián Mateos: The first thing was to share the nomination with my parents and we were reading the article.

PL: What do you think about the awards, which not only focus on big scores but on inspiring people to play poker?

AM: Those awards give you recognition, they are very good because is something completely different from the first goal that you have in a tournament: make the most money as possible.

PL: Who do you thinks is the strongest nominee in your category?

AM: I think the strongest is Dominik Panka. He has some amazing performances this year and also he is a very friendly player. I have a good relationship with him.

PL: In your short poker career, you've achieved one of the biggest prizes with the WSOPE Main Event bracelet. Were you confident at the beginning of the tournament that you were going to win or did you have some doubts?

AM: I'm a very optimistic person. Obviously, one of my best thoughts was to win the tournament but I knew that it was something very difficult.

When I was able to cash and I was chip leader I started to think that I could win the bracelet and I could not miss this opportunity.

Next stop: EPT title.

PL: Could your next goal be to become the first Spanish player with an EPT title?

AM: Yes, this is my goal number one although I know it doesn’t depend only on me but I will be more than happy to carry out a “deep run” in an EPT.

I am planning to play all the stops of the EPT in this new season and I am sure that I will have my chance in one of them.

PL: Although you couldn't play the WSOP this year we imagine that you will go to Vegas next year. Are you anxious to play?

AM: Yes, I will celebrate my 21st birthday (July 1) there to play. I really look forward to playing the Main Event because it is annoyance not to be able to play.

I have the talent level and enough bankroll to make something good there but laws are the laws.

PL: At the WSOPE 888poker was your sponsor. Do you have a sponsor now, because it would make sense that more than one room would like to support you?

AM: Actually, I don’t have a sponsor right now. The second question is not for me but for rooms that are interested ;)

PL: Are you the kind of player that invests his winnings on outside projects or keeps them for playing poker?

AM: If I find good business opportunities I don’t think too much and I invest my money, but to play the levels I'm playing I need a lot of this money to play without problems.

Like everything in life, the balance needs to be correct.

PL: With your age we don’t think you could get bored of poker in the short term. Do you see yourself playing at a high level for 10, 20, 30 years? Do you have other plans in case poker changes for you?

2015 WSOP Main Event, watch out.

AM: I see myself playing poker in the short term, at least a few years more, but in the future I don't know. Business always calls my attention. I may focus on the business world if I get bored of playing poker.

PL: While most young people in Spain are studying or trying to work, you've already built a successful career. What are your friends and family telling you?

AM: I've played poker for more than a year but they still remain amazed. It is a world where money is a tool and moves very quickly, and this surprises some people very much.

They are very surprised but they are happy. I was lucky and I found the good side of poker and it is much easier to understand it.  

PL: Our PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards try to find players that inspire new people to play. Do you think you are a good example for future generations?

AM: Yes, I can represent the positives values of poker. I have gotten to be where I am with my work and study and much remains to be done.

PL: In your case, who has inspired you to play poker?

AM: I never have another player as a reference; I don’t like to focus exclusively on someone.

I try to copy and learn from the best players. At the beginning I read everything from all the pros that write in Spanish and, little by little, I built my own style.

The 2014 PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards will be handed out during a live ceremony at the €500,000 Guaranteed Battle of Malta Nov. 6-9. Vote for Mateos and your favorite nominees right here before August 26!

Steen crushed the Norwegian Championships in Dublin and was named "Player of the Championship" for winning one event and final-tabling two others.

He was so strong, even, that Elisabeth Hille said she hoped to never sit at the same poker table with him again after being destroyed in the final of the heads-up championship.

Not impressive enough? Try a near miss for his first WSOP bracelet last summer (he finished 4th in a $1,500 event) and claiming the overall leaderboard title in the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP).

While his accomplishments may have been overlooked by the general poker-playing public, PokerListings Editors noticed his talents repeatedly and he was among the first on our 2014 Rising Star nominee list.

PokerListings Norway's Thomas Hviid reached Steen by email during the WSOP Main Event - where he unsurprisingly also ended up in the money - to find out more about his fantastic year.

PokerListings: You've been nominated for a 2014 PokerListings Spirit of Poker Award. How does it feel?

"I have always just been very fascinated by the game."

Yngve Steen: It is very nice that somebody has noticed my results so it feels very nice!

PL: How do you feel about your experience playing poker over the past year?

YS: 2013 was a very good year for me, live as well as online. 2014 also started really well with a deep run in the PCA Main Event, a title and two final tables at the Norwegian Championships and a couple of final tables at side events at the EPT.

PL: Can you tell us how you started with poker?

YS: I was invited for a 100 NOK poker game by some friends and although I was really bad at it I instantly became fascinated by the game.

Then I started reading poker books and watch poker on TV and then I began to play a lot online.

PL: Is there anything/anyone that's had a lot of influence on your development as a poker player?

YS: No, nobody in particular. I have always just been very fascinated by the game, which has led to reading and watching a lot about poker and thinking about new strategies.

PL: You've had great results both online and live. Which of the two is closest to your heart?

Thor Hansen the definition of Living Legend.

YS: It is very hard to answer, they have each their pros and cons. Online poker is nice because you can play when you want and you don’t have to leave friends and family, but the level is often tougher than playing live.

In live poker you travel around to many places in the world, meet new people and experience some interesting things which you would not have done by just playing online.

But it is very expensive to travel around to the big tournaments so you are under a lot of pressure to deliver results over the short term, which is not so much fun.

PL: Who would you vote for in the other categories of the PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards?

YS: In the Living Legend category, without blinking I voted for Thor Hansen. A more Living Legend you won’t get!

For Most Inspiring Player I voted for Shannon Shorr. He is a very nice guy who has delivered stable and good results for about 10 years live and online.

PL: Give us a good reason why people should vote for you.

YS: I have delivered stable and good results both online and live and I am motivated to continue doing it :-)

The 2014 PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards will be handed out during a live ceremony at the €500,000 Guaranteed Battle of Malta Nov. 6-9. Vote for Steen and your favorite nominees right here before August 26!

Endlessly sociable at the tables, renowned for his integrity and fair play and always looking to improve his game, the only thing missing from Bevand's resume is the big win he needs to get the real international recognition he deserves. 

Not that he minds, of course. ManuB just continues along his merry way, sharing his love of poker and maintaining the values that are dear to him.

An early favorite in the voting for our 2014 Most Inspiring Player Award, PokerListings France's Fred Guillemot caught up with Bevand by email for his thoughts on inspiration, dedication and how poker can change the way you think in life.

PokerListings: Manu, you’ve been nominated in the Most Inspiring Player category at the 2014 PokerListings Awards. Is being a role model, through your game and behavior, one of your goals both as an individual player and a member of Team Winamax?

Manuel Bevand: I don’t think “being a role model” can really be a goal per se. It’s not something you decide, you just become one when you’re honest and genuine.

Grateful to the poker community for the chance to live his dream.

PL: What do you think makes you such a well-liked player and one of the most popular French players?

MB: I think that’s a question maybe for the people who like me, but I think it’s mostly because I’m still very approachable and I always try to be available for poker fans.

I just feel that I owe it to the poker community as a whole, and more particularly to the Club Poker community, because they’ve always supported me and thanks to them I was able to fulfill my dream and play live tournaments.

I am so grateful for that and I’ll never forget it.

PL: During the episode of the Winamax series “Dans la tête d’un pro” (Inside a pro’s mind) in which you were featured, we could see that discussion and self-analysis were very important to you. However, don’t you sometimes find it exhausting to always strive for perfection?

MB: Striving for perfection is hard, and endless, because perfection doesn’t exist. But as we always say, it’s the journey that matters, not the destination.

PL: In poker, one never stops learning. Do you think that this is one of the best parts of the game and is that the reason so many people are passionate about it?

MB: I think that the worst mistake you can make in poker - and in life in general - is thinking that you understand it all.

You have to find the right balance and be confident without becoming over-confident. It’s a big difference from some sportsmen who don’t hesitate to claim that they’re the best in the world (and regularly prove it).

The worst mistake you can make in poker is thinking you understand it all.

Also, there’s a significant difference between saying “I’m the best” and “My game is perfect." In poker, saying you’re the best just means you play slightly less badly than everyone else.

PL: Like a lot of other talented poker players, you’re a former - very successful - Magic: the Gathering player. Do you play Hearthstone or other card games? Do you think that these games are more or less fulfilling than poker in the long term?

MB: Magic is an exceptionally complex and tactically rich game. It also requires a lot of creativity.

I enjoy playing Magic much more than poker, but it’s almost impossible to make a living playing Magic.

I do not play Hearthstone. I gave it a try but it felt like a simplified version of Magic. I have to say I have neither the time nor the energy to dig deeper and see if I’m wrong.

PL: You started playing poker in 2005. What’s the most precious thing poker has brought you, on a personal level?

MB: Poker has changed the way I think in life. I’m less naive than I used to be and I’ve become more logical and pragmatic when I have to make a decision.

In some ways, it has revealed my true personality, both in its noble and weaker aspects. I also understand people better than before. And of course I’ve met a lot of incredible people! 

PL: I know that personal and spiritual development are very important to you. What are the books that have changed your outlook on life?

MB: What Makes You Not a Buddhist, by Dzongsar Jamyang. This is a great introduction to Buddhism for Westerners.

The Fabric of Reality, by David Deutsch. This is a very difficult but fascinating book about the nature of the universe and the epistemic reflection.

Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand. This character represents the moral ideal I’m striving for.

"Poker has changed the way I think in life."

PL: What do you think poker’s biggest stars still lack to really fulfill their role in the poker community?

MB: I think that poker players - especially those who benefited from the poker boom in the 2000s - owe it to their fans to spend some time with them.

Other than that, I’m a big admirer of the charity work that players like Igor Kurganov and Philipp Gruissem accomplish.

PL: Recently, Daniel Colman caused quite a stir when he refused to give the winner’s interview after his win in the Big One for One Drop. He was also very critical of poker in general. What do you make of that?

MB: I do understand his point of view, but the way he expressed it was wrong. He had the perfect opportunity to express his opinion.

PL: Do you personally feel that it is sometimes difficult to reconcile your personal beliefs and the promotion of poker?

MB: Yes, especially when you’re face to face with people who are losing but won’t do what it takes to win. Personally, I think we should tell the truth about poker and not promote it blindly.

Inspiration for Bevand comes from players like Davidi Kitai and Phil Gruissem.

PL: Who are the players that inspire you the most?

MB: Davidi Kitai is my role model as a competitor. He is a great person and a champion.

I also really like Daniel Negreanu, who’s a perfect ambassador for poker and one of the only “old school” players who’s always questioning himself.

As far as French players are concerned, I admire people like Nicolas Levi and Pedro Canali who manage to remain humane while playing poker.

PL: Who would you vote for in each of the categories of the 2014 PokerListings Awards?

MB: Philipp Gruissem (for his charity work), Adrian Mateos (I played with him for an hour and I was VERY impressed) and Roger Hairabedian (one hell of a character!).

PL: It’s hard to give short advice, but if you had one thing to say to the players who are reading this, what would it be?

MB: I think I’ll let Bobby McFerrin do the talking:

"In every life we have some trouble

When you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy... "

Voting is open in the 2014 PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards until August 26. Vote for Manuel and see our full list of nominees right here!

The 2014 Spirit of Poker Awards will be handed out during a live ceremony at the 2014 Battle of Malta Nov 6-9. Join us there!

That’s what Betsafe and Betsson are potentially offering in their exclusive “Flip” freerolls this Thursday (and every Thursday until Aug. 28).

To enter you simply have to play 50 raked hands seven days prior to the freeroll start time.

Once you’re in the Flip freeroll you just kick back and watch as every player is all-in on every hand. You don’t even have to be logged in to play, just registered.

If the cards go the right way you’ll walk away with a €1,600 package to sunny Malta this November.

The package includes four nights accommodation at the 5-Star Hilton Malta, €550 Main Event buy-in, €300 in spending cash, daily breakfast/buffet and tickets to two VIP parties.

Full details on our 2014 Battle of Malta qualifiers page right here.

$2,200 Package Every Sunday on 888poker

The Kipster is coming!

The Battle of Malta, which takes place Nov. 6-9 this year, is the top small buy-in, big prizepool guarantee VIP-style event in Europe.

Maria Ho, Andreas Hoivold, Paul Jackson and Luca Pagano are among the pros confirmed to play the tournament this year.

Danish pro Jesper 'Kipster' Hougaard is the latest pro to announce his intentions to play. Hougaard is best-known for his WSOPE bracelet he won in PLO in London in 2008.

While there will be some pros in attendance there will also be plenty of amateurs looking to bask in the Maltese sun while getting in a little poker action.

Nearly 1,400 players are expected to play this year’s event, hosted at the world-class Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s.

888poker also runs daily steps qualifiers for the Sunday BOM qualifier running all summer. The 888poker BOM steps program starts at just 1c for Step 1.

Each weekly winner of the 888 BOM qualifier receives a $2,200 package that includes a $300 flight credit.

For more information go to our Battle of Malta qualifiers page. If you fail to win a package you can also just buy-in directly for €550 on the Battle of Malta homepage at any time.

To enter the Battle of Malta Photo Competition just print out the flyer below and take a photo with the flyer visible. Then share the photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtags #BattleofMalta and #poker.

You must also email the photo directly to bomcomp@pokerlistings.com.

Whoever comes up with the most creative, popular photo will win a 2014 Battle of Malta package valued at €1,395.

“There's not too many chances to win a €1,395 package just by snapping one photo so we're excited to see what kind of creative ideas our readers come up with to win it,” said PokerListings editor in chief Matt Showell.

Submissions will be accepted until the end of the day August 21, 2014. PokerListings will then select the 20 best photos and post them for open online voting to determine the winner.

Whether the photo's taken at your home game, local casino or the top of the nearest mountain, points will be given for style, originality, location and concept.

Strong technical execution will certainly count in your favor but a really clever or funny idea won't be discounted just because it was shot on a mobile phone.

Download and Print the Battle of Malta Flyer

Click the images below or use the links to download the 2014 Battle of Malta flyer and then print them out so you can include them in your photo submission.

Battle of Malta Flyer #1

Battle of Malta Flyer #2

The 2009 WSOP Main Event “last woman standing” confirmed that she will be competing at the third-annual Battle of Malta and taking a shot at part of the guaranteed €500,000 prize pool.

“I'm looking forward to playing the Battle of Malta! I have considered it since the first edition and finally this year I could fit it into my schedule!” said Margets.

“I don't know Malta yet but I don't have plans to be a tourist,” she added. “The Battle of Malta is a great tournament and I hope to be very busy at the tables!”

Margets joins big-name players like new host Maria Ho, EPT champ Andreas Høivold, Paul Jackson, Sofia Lövgren, Jesper Hougaard and more.

This year's Battle of Malta features a massive main event that promises to be the biggest poker tournament in Malta's history, bigger and better parties and brand-new €4,180 High Roller and €300 Deepstack Turbo events.

Buy a full package incluidng hotel and buy-in right here and see the full calendar of events here.

Scott Absent but Høivold, Lövgren Return

2014 will be the first year since the Battle of Malta's inception in 2012 PartyPoker pro Kara Scott won't be playing/hosting.

This year the Battle of Malta coincides with the WSOP November Nine final table in Las Vegas, an event Scott has hosted since 2011.

“I love Malta for one and it's such a cool tournament with a great buy-in level and tons of interesting pros, so I'm really going to be sad to miss it,” Scott told PokerListings.

Andreas Høivold finished 30th last year and will be back in 2014 to go even deeper.

“One of the things I loved about the Battle of Malta is that people can get a real destination tournament experience and it's not going to take a huge hit out of their pocketbook,” she added.

Although Scott won't be at the event this year lots of big names who have played in the past will be returning for another shot at the BOM trophy.

“For me the Battle of Malta was really fun,” said former EPT champ Andreas Høivold, who finished 30th in the BOM main event last year.

“The poker was good but the times away from the table were a lot, a lot of fun. There were a ridiculous amount of parties."

Sofia Lövgren is another Scandinavian poker pro who will be playing the Battle of Malta again this November.

Lövgren is nominated for a PokerListings Spirit of Poker Award again this year in the Rising Star category. She was also nominated last year but lost out to boyfriend Luca Moschitta.

Head to the 2014 PokerListings Battle of Malta page for more information on how to qualify. Watch the video below:

2014 Battle of Malta: Europe's Hottest Low Buy-In Poker Event

All you have to do to enter is answer one simple question: Who won the Battle of Malta in 2013?

If you answer correctly you’ll be entered into a draw for a BOM package that’s valued at €1.3k and includes accommodations, meals, €550 buy-in and entrance to two VIP parties.

If that sounds easy enough to you just head over to our Competition of the Month page to enter.

Qualifiers Continue on Betsson, 888poker

Who will win the Battle of Malta this year?

If you miss out on our Competition of the Month draw than make sure you play a few qualifiers on 888poker, Betsson or Betsafe.

888poker is running a popular steps program that starts at just 1c but eventually leads to a weekly BOM qualifier that runs every Sunday.

Each weekly winner receives a BOM package that’s worth $2.2k and includes a flight credit worth $300.

Meanwhile Betsson and Betsafe are both running Flip freerolls where a player can win a seat to the 2014 Battle of Malta without even playing.

You simply have to play 50 raked hands in the week prior to the Thursday flip freeroll to qualify.

Betsson is also running steps satellites that start at $0 and work their way up to €175 where the winner wins a BOM package.

The Battle of Malta is the premier low buy-in, high-value poker event in Europe. Taking place from Nov. 6-9 this year's edition offers a €500,000 guaranteed prizepool.

To learn more head over to the Battle of Malta homepage.

Thanks to a €500,000-guaranteed prizepool nearly 1,000 players are expected to make the trek to Malta for the €550 buy-in tournament.

Andreas Hoivold, Leo Margets, Luca Pagano and Paul Jackson are among the notable poker pros confirmed to play. Maria Ho will be this year’s host.

“With a world-class location, full media coverage and a huge schedule of side events and parties the Battle of Malta gives recreational players a major tournament experience at a buy-in that fits their bankroll,” explained Ho in a new promo video for the event.

PLO Added to Battle of Malta Schedule

Leo Margets will play this year's Battle of Malta

Taking place from Nov. 6-9, 2014, the Battle of Malta will feature four official events with Pot-Limit Omaha on the schedule for the first time ever.

888poker pro Sofia Lovgren took part in the 2013 Battle of Malta and mentioned it was one of her highlights of the year.

“Battle of Malta was great last year,” she said. “It was really fun to go there and play. I think it will be even more fun this year.”

Andreas Hoivold added that he really liked the experience surrounding the tournament.

“The poker was fun but everything else was a LOT of fun,” he said.

The entire festival will take place at the Portomaso Casino and Hilton in picturesque St. Julian in Malta. There will be plenty going on beyond just poker with several VIP parties.

To learn more or to buy-in directly just head over to the Battle of Malta homepage.

Here’s a look at all the official events on the schedule (and below the schedule there is a new promo video for the event):

All told 24 players are still in the running for one of our three awards to be handed out during the Battle of Malta in November.

This is the 2nd year of the PokerListings Spirit of Poker awards which highlight players in the poker community who inspire in more ways than just big results.

By the volume of voting so far we can tell the idea is hitting home with poker fans.

For the full list of nominees for this year's awards and the reasoning behind each player's nomination, head to the Spirit of Poker Awards page and be sure to cast your vote before August 31.

Leaders Emerge Down Homestretch

With voting open over the summer several thousand readers have already taken part in the election process.

When voting closes on August 31 the top three finalists in each award category will make the shortlist to be considered by our PokerListings voting panel, from which three winners will emerge. Here's how the voting stands:

Tackling Kilimanjaro just the latest inspiring feat for Shannon Shorr.

1) Shorr, Lew Neck-and-Neck

In our signature award category, Most Inspiring Player, three very prominent names have risen to the top of the counts.

Our nominees in this category are a true collection of some of the most inspiring people in today’s global poker community so it's only fitting the results at this point are the closest.

Alabama's Shannon Shorr leads the MIP voting right with PokerStars Team Online pro Randy "nanonoko" Lew a close second. German high-stakes pro/effective altruist Philipp Gruissem sits third.

Consistency, Multipicity, Generosity

Three inspiring players, indeed, if you think of what they stand for. Shorr is an amazing example of consistency.

Having travelled the global circuit for more than a decade he's one of the few players who keeps winning every year without the help of a full-time sponsor.

Apart from the challenges in poker he's also a guy who likes to challenge himself. Only recently he climbed Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro and the way he thinks and writes about poker in his blog is an inspiration to every player.

Nanonoko is a living legend in the world of multi-tabling and his exploits have put him into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Lew loves to play and loves to share with his fans. He’s very active on social media which gives millions of players the chance to gain from his experience. At this stage, Lew (33%) trails Shorr (36%) by just 3% of the votes.

In third is Philipp Gruissem. The German high roller stands like no one else for high buy-ins and a strong sense for charity.

With his commitment to Effective Altruism and as a co-founder of Raising for Effective Giving, he has kicked off a movement where poker players take responsibility not only for themselves but also for society as a whole.

Maturing Devilfish man of the people.

Head to the “Most Inspiring Players” page to cast your vote.

Last year’s winner: Naoya Kihara, Japan’s only WSOP bracelet winner and flagbearer of poker in the Far East.

2) Devilfish, Thor and Tilly Pull Ahead

In our Living Legend category we recognize the men and women who were into poker before hoodies were invented, when you preferred to sit with your back against the wall and when wearing sunglasses meant you actually were a bad guy - you weren't just trying to look like one.

Now think of Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott. You kind of have to. The life story of the 60-year-old from Kingston-upon-Hull is so wild it couldn’t have been invented better by a screenwriter. If it is ever used for a movie, the director will probably be Guy Ritchie.

A softer, gentler Devilfish has taken over at the tables lately but the same vicious wit that got him here shows up from time to time too.

In second place at the moment: Thor Hansen. People tend to overuse superlatives but the Viking from Norway is, truly, a living legend.

He battled the live tables in Las Vegas for several decades and when cancer tried to get the better of him he fought back and is still there. An idol if there’s ever been one.

Jennifer Tilly is third in the voting. The actress-turned-poker-pro proved a long time ago that she's not a fluke at the poker table.

With her gregarious personality, steady results and infectious enthusiasm caught by all around her her impact on the game of poker can't be overstated.

Go to the “Living legends page” to cast your vote.

Last year’s winner: Pierre Neuville, the “Serial Qualifier” from Belgium.

3) Panka Leads Scandis

There are players who’ve "made" it, and there are players who will make it. Some are already on the way.

Can Sofia narrow the gap on Panka?

For now voters are favoring Poland's Dominik Panka to be the next big star in poker. Panka appeared on the poker stage over the past year with two big bangs -- winning the PCA main event and the EPT Deauville high roller event in close succession.

Sofia Lövgren from Sweden is nominated a second time in a row for the PokerListings Awards. She has recently moved to a new sponsor, 888poker, and her presence in the poker community is always growing with 4,400 friends on Facebook and almost 4,000 followers on Twitter.

She's currently holding down second place in the Rising Star voting.

On her heels is fellow Scandinavian Yngve Steen from Norway. Last year he won the WCOOP leaderboard and he 's already left his mark in several live tournaments. It's only a question of time until he takes down his first major title.

Go to the “Rising Stars” page to cast your vote.

Last year’s winner: Luca Moschitta from Italy, who has recently moved to Malta to continue his poker career.

Voting Ends August 31!

Get your vote in on each of the Spirit of Poker Award pages to have your voice heard and give credit to the players who you think deserve recognition.

Voting closes at 11.59 PM on August 31st.

The 2014 PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards ceremony will take place during the Battle of Malta 2014, November 6-9.

Every month PokerListings asks a simple trivia question and then gives away prizes like tickets to concerts or headphones or Spotify memberships but this Competition of the Month contest is arguably the biggest yet.

If you can answer the simple question of who won the 2013 Battle of Malta then you’ll be entered into the running for a €1.3 package to the €500k-GTD 2014 Battle of Malta in November that includes the following:

Spirit of Poker Awards, VIP Parties Scheduled for 2014 BOM

Spirit of Poker nominee Shannon Shorr

From Nov. 6-9 PokerListings also will host a number of side events including a €3,800+€380 high roller and a €150+€15 Pot-Limit Omaha event

Poker isn’t the only reason to head to Malta for the 2014 BOM, however.

The 2014 Spirit of Poker awards will be handed out to various winners and there will also be not one but two VIP parties to attend.

The entire festival will be hosted by Maria Ho and poker pros Leo Margets, Andreas Hoivold, Luca Pagano and Paul Jackson are confirmed to play.

If you don’t luck out in the contest you can also just buy-in directly for €550 or just buy a complete package that includes accommodations for €1,395.

To learn more head over to our Battle of Malta homepage.

Starting Sept. 1 RedBet is giving players five different options for satelliting their way into the Battle of Malta. 

The steps program starts at just $3.30 (or free if you win a ticket in one of the five weekly freerolls). It goes all the way up to a $145 buy-in tournament where the winner receives a full €1,550 package.

Here’s a look at the comprehensive package Redbet is awarding to players:

Prizepool Expected to Swell

Last year German Louis Cartarius took down €80,000 when he won the biggest Battle of Malta ever but this year first place is expected to top €100,000.

Over 1,000 players are expected to play Battle of Malta 2014, which will be held Nov. 6-9.

Poker pros Maria Ho, Andreas Hoivold, Paul Jackson, Leo Margets and Luca Pagano are among the many to confirm attendamce so far.

Here are the various options for qualifying for the Battle of Malta on RedBet Poker which start Sept. 1 and run to Oct. 31:

Daily

Weekly

Bi-Weekly

For more onoine qualifying options for the 2014 Battle of Malta, check our qualifier page here.

Now all that’s left is the big finish: picking a winner.

Or voting for a winner, more accurately.

It’s now on you, the PokerListings readers, to decide who will win a free €1,395 package including hotel, buy-in, meals and party tickets for the 2014 PokerListings Battle of Malta.

Many Tried, 20 Were Chosen 

Over the past three weeks PokerListings readers from around the world have submitted their best efforts in our BOM photo competiton.

The hopes: winning a premium package to our annual live poker festival.

The rules were simple: just print out one of our Battle of Malta flyers, take a photo with the flyer visible and then share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Creativity, style, location and technical execution were all considered but in the end the 20 finalists that made the cut all had something unique to offer.

Simple, funny, creative … whatever the case it was clear everyone who submitted was a true poker fan and eager to earn a seat at the 2014 BOM.

Voting Begins Now, Ends Sept. 15

So what happens next?

Head to our BOM photo competition voting page and pick which picture you think is most deserving of the package.

The winner will be the picture that receives the most votes. Its creator will be awarded a premium €1,395 package for the 2014 Battle of Malta that includes:

Winner will be notified shortly after the voting closes.

Best of luck to all the finalists and we’ll see one of you in Malta in November!

Click on the collage below to see the pics in full and cast your vote!

Taking place from Sept. 6 to Oct. 8, BetSafe is running three separate Endurance Challenges for players of all bankrolls and skill levels. 

It’s simple: if you manage to earn a minimum of 3,850 loyalty points every day in 28 out of 30 days then you’ll receive the Field Commander award and pick up a €1,600 package to the Battle of the Malta. Done and done.

If that’s a little too intense for your liking you can earn 250 loyalty points every day in 19 out of 30 days to get the General award, which gives each player a ticket into the General’s Final on Oct. 10 with three Battle of Malta Packages up for grabs.

Finally if you earn 125 loyalty points every day in 11 out of 30 days then you’ll snag the Captain award with a ticket into the Captain’s Final where one Battle of Malta Package will be awarded.

Each €1,600 package includes:

Battle of Malta Set to Go Off in November

Battle of Malta is coming

The 2014 Battle of Malta main event will take place Nov. 6-9 with a staggering €500,000 guarantee.

The eventual winner will walk away with a prize worth over €100,000.

Taking place in the picturesque Portomaso Casino and Hilton Hotel the Battle of Malta will see numerous pros take to the felt including Luca Pagano, Andreas Hoivold, Sofia Lovgren and Leo Margets.

Maria Ho will act as the host for the entire event, which will include plenty of side events and two VIP parties.

For more information, check the Battle of Malta homepage.

The hostesses will socialize with guests throughout the tournament and act as hosts for both VIP parties.

There will be a total of eight hostesses coming straight from Sweden including model Linda Vesterby.

“We are going to bring all the good vibes from Sweden to Battle of Malta,” said Vesterby.

“The island is just magical and we can’t wait to spend four lovely days mingling and having fun. We are all escaping from the cold of Scandinavia and sunny Malta is the place to be!”

Each hostess will be styled by high-end fashion stylist Pavli for PavliStyle.com.

Pavli is a fashion stylist, blogger and fashion event organizer. She has worked on numerous international fashion shows and countless photo shoots during fashion-week events from London to Berlin.

Seats Still Available for €500k-GTD Battle of Malta

Get ready!

Registration is still open for the €500,000-GTD PokerListings Battle of Malta, which runs from Nov. 6-9 at the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s, Malta.

You can buy-in directly online for just €550 or you can pick up a package that includes four-nights accommodation at a five-star hotel, daily buffet and breakfast and more.

A sellout is expected so i’s recommended players buy-in early to avoid any chance of being locked out of the biggest low buy-in event of the year.

Players will also be able to buy-in at the casino in person once the Battle of Malta festival kicks off.

Thanks to its boosted guarantee the 2014 Battle of Malta is expected to be the biggest poker tournament ever held in Malta with pros Maria Ho, Leo Margets, Luca Pagano, Paul Jackson, Sofia Lövgren and Andreas Hoivold all confirmed to play.

First off RedBet Poker is hosting five separate point races from Sept. 14 to Oct. 18.

Each points race lasts for a week with two $125 tickets into a BOM qualifier to be won.

If a player manages to win three out of the five races then RedBet will straight-up award that player with a $2,100 BOM package.

Poker skill isn’t the only way into the Battle of Malta, however. You can also compete in two tournaments on RedBet Casino.

Each tournament will last two weeks each and the player with the highest net win will win a trip for two to Malta for BOM, which takes place Nov. 6-9, 2014 in Malta.

The first tournament will run from Sept. 15-28 while the second will go from Sept. 29-Oct. 12.

Mission Malta Still Running on RedBet Poker

Make this place your mission.

In addition to the new promos the old $5,000-added Mission Malta is still ongoing on RedBet Poker.

In Mission Malta players can gain entry to an exclusive BOM Challenge Freeroll by completing a variety of achievements.

Each BOM Challenge Freeroll awards one $2,100 package to Battle of Malta but the top 7 finishers in each receive tickets to other BOM qualifiers worth $400.

Challenge 1 goes from Sept. 1-21 while Challenge 2 begins Sept. 22 and ends Oct. 12.

Here are the various challenges you can complete during the time period to get into the big BOM Challenge Freeroll:

BOM 400 PP Challenge: Collect a minimum of 400 player points in each counting period 

BOM 5 PP HU SNG Challenge: Collect 5 player points from Monday–Sunday and get the ticket to the BOM HU SNG Tournament, where the winner will get a ticket to one of the BOM Challenge Freerolls

BOM Freeroll Qualifier: Qualify through the freeroll/coin flip tournaments. The top 5 players from each freeroll/coin flip tournaments will qualify for one of the BOM Challenge Freerolls. We will also be handing out several BOM satellites tickets.

BOM Sunday Challenge: Finish the exclusive Jackpot Challenge $500 Deepstack in the TOP 3.

After 2.5 months of public voting and a week of deliberation by the PokerListings panel the well-respected trio rose to the top of their respective categories to claim the 2014 SOPAs.

Shorr takes home the headline award - Most Inspiring Player. His exceptional year included two WSOPE final tables, a runner-up finish at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open and a monumental personal accomplishment in climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Hansen claimed the Living Legend Award and there couldn't be anyone more fitting to earn said title than the Godfather of Norwegian poker.

After battling terminal cancer for the past two years Hansen has found solace and inspiration in the game of poker and still somehow managed to bring his best to the tables, both online and live.

Panka, winner of the 2014 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event and already Poland's all-time leading money winner, claimed the Rising Star Award.

The 2014 Spirit of Poker awards will be handed out in a live ceremony at the Battle of Malta in November. All award winners will be contacted shortly with full details about exclusive packages to attend the event.

Most Inspiring Player: Shannon Shorr

Made the most out of poker's opportunities.

As we said in our original nominations the 29-year-old Shorr has literally grown up on the poker circuit.

One of the original "online kids," Shorr broke through on the live scene overseas in 2006 before he even turned 21 with a 4th-place finish at the Aussie Millions.

His first summer in Vegas he chopped the Bellagio Cup main event and it's been a steady string of cashes since.

Despite still somehow missing a WSOP bracelet Shorr has lived a poker life to the fullest. He's criss-crossed the globe, expanded his horizons and when life-altering opportunities have presented themselves, like summitting Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer, he's taken them.

It hasn't all been easy, though, and as he's written about in his blog the ups and downs of poker have inspired him to not take anything for granted and to make the absolute most of life on the road.

At the felt Shorr has embodied consistency so much over the years he even outranked Phil Ivey on the GPI's Top 9 Players of the Decade list, coming in at #7.

In the final panel deliberation Shorr edged out PokerStars Team online pro Randy "nanonoko" Lew and late contender Mayu Roca in the final voting. Check the full list of nominees here.

Living Legend: Thor Hansen

Every one of the eight nominees in our Living Legend category embody a long and inspiring life in poker but it's no surprise Hansen was the name at the top of the ballots in the end.

In January 2012 Hansen was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Doctors told him the absolute maximum life expectancy in a case like his was two years. He's been in and out of debilitating chemotherapy since.

Impossible not to revere Thor.

Still, going on close to three years later, Hansen is still finding his way to the tables and giving his opponents all they can handle. He's even snuck in a final table or two.

As he told us less than a month ago at EPT Barcelona, "I know I am very, very sick. But I’m a strong guy, I can take a lot. I’m not even supposed to be alive anymore, but here I am playing the main event.”

Twice nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame but not inducted, PokerListings is thrilled to annoint Hansen with a Spirit of Poker Award that truly captures the magnitude of his accomplishments - Living Legend.

Also finishing in the top 3 of fan balloting were Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott and the amazing Jennifer Tilly. See the full list of nominees here.

Rising Star: Dominik Panka

If you followed the 2014 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event at all you'll also understand why Dominik Panka was the runaway winner of our Rising Star award for 2014.

Despite a stacked nominee list that included the much-adored Sofia Lövgren, Norwegian crusher Yngve Steen and WSOPE main event winner Adrian Mateos, Panka's cool, calm and inspiring play stuck with voters from Day 1.

Calm, cool, #1 at 23

While winning one of the signature events of the poker year for $1.4m was impressive his follow-up win at the EPT Deauville High Roller less than a month later sealed him as a player people couldn't take their attention off.

Just 23 and already Poland's all-time live tournament money leader, Panka obviously has a long and successful career in poker available to him if he chooses.

But, like all of our SOPA nominees, poker's still just one facet of a well-rounded life that sees him collect as much satisfaction off the felt as on.

Panka defeated fellow finalists Lövgren and Steen to earn the title; see the full list of Rising Star nominees here.