A card-playing Basset Hound couldn't defeat her. Not even a dour Angela Merkel could.

In the end only one winner could emerge from our 20 finalists in the BOM 2014 photo competition and that is Lilly DeFeu, a pyrotechnician and poker fan from Berlin.

DeFeu was the ony entrant to produce an animated GIF and, incorporating her pyrotechnic background and a little help from a photographer, she won over the voters with her winning entry below:

"When I heard first about the Battle of Malta tournament," DeFeu says, "I was super excited and was looking for ways to be part of it.

"Malta combines a few things I am really passionate about: Great climate and history, poker and pyrotechnics! Malta has a rich firework tradition and I always wanted to visit.

"I am a pyro technician and fire performer myself, and I do love playing poker. A friend told me about the picture competition and I was immediately sold"

BOM Batman was the runner-up in the votes. See the full list of finalists here.

Idea Came Together Considering Women in Poker

Understanding the context of being a woman in poker, DeFeu says she took that into consideration for her idea:

DeFeu: Playing for more than just herself.

"It took me a while to come up with a concept. One of the first suggestions I got from friends I consulted was: Get the logo body painted on you!

"After some thought I decided not to follow through with that. I am well aware about the picture of women in modern poker so I wanted to portray myself in a less sexualised position.

"So, fire it was. I phoned up my friend, Jascha Eidam, who is a vivid cosplay photographer if he would like to help to get me to Malta. I explained something about pirates, special effects and fire and he was sold on the spot"

"We met a couple of days later and had a great shoot together, much to the amazement of a couple of Berlin tourists, who witnessed the whole thing."

DeFeu won't just be playing for herself in the BOM Main Event either. Her photographer also stands to make a nice bit of cash if she goes deep.

"So, unfortunately I am not the richest person, so instead of money I promised my photographer 10% if I should win the picture competition and cash in the tournament.

"So here I am now, very happy to get the opportunity to visit Malta and play the Battle of Malta!"

DeFeu's winning package for the Battle of Malta includes:

Read more about the packages for the Battle of Malta here.

One of the best heads-up No-Limit Hold’em players in the world Cates has attended both editions of the Battle of Malta so far and says he plans to be there again.

This time, Cates added, his eyes will also be on a new addition to the Battle of Malta schedule: the €4,180 Grandmaster High Roller event.

An exciting new twist to the BOM schedule inspired by demand from players last year the High Roller suits the budget of some of the big-name pros set to attend BOM in 2014.

Already confirmed stars include PokerStars pros Leo Margets and Luca Pagano, Spirit of Poker Award winner Dominik Panka, Paul Jackson and more.

Still No Closure on durrrr Challenge

Hard man to pin down.

As one of the truly elite poker players in the world just the presence of Cates at the tables makes the atmosphere at BOM special for the casual poker fan.

Cates is one of only three people to win over $10m online on Full Tilt Poker, putting him in elite company alongside Phil Ivey and Patrik Antonius.

Among his many televised appearances are the made-for-TV NBC Heads-Up Championship, the PartyPoker Premier League and the €100k Super High Roller at the EPT Grand Final in April where he was the runner-up and earned $1.7m.

Beyond the first two editions of the Battle of Malta one other infamous poker event you might recognize Cates from is the still-to-be completed durrrr Challenge.

Agreed to and begun way back in 2010 Cates raced out to a huge lead and looked to be a lock for a $1.5m+ payday before Black Friday and durrrr's reticence to continue got in the way.

The Challenge briefly resumed last year but has been on hiatus since - although an agreement has been in place for Cates to be paid $40,000 per month if durrrr doesn’t meet a required number of hands. 

Five Events Make for Full Poker Festival

The Grandmaster High Roller is one of three new events added to the Battle of Malta festival in 2014.

A €165 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament and a €300 Deepstack No-Limit Turbo are the others. Rounding out the full BOM 2014 schedule is the €550 buy-in Main Event and the returning Siege of Malta Second Chance event, this time with an increased €200 buy-in.

Expanded lineup brings an even bigger festival feel.

Add in the VIP parties and casual, party-like atmosphere the Battle of Malta is easily one of the most fun, highest-value events in Europe for low- to mid-stakes poker players.

Given the size of the fields, with over 1,000 players expected for the €500,000 guaranteed Main Event, there’s also plenty of incentive for big-time pros like Cates to come out.

A fantastic group of professionals has already committed to attending BOM including PokerStars pros Margets and Pagano, 2014 PCA Main Event champ Panka, Andreas Hoivold, Jesper Hougaard, Sofia Lövgren and, of course, host Maria Ho.

More details on all the Battle of Malta festivities including the schedule, calendar and tournament structures can be found here. Watch a couple video clips of Cates at the Battle of Malta below.

Last year, with almost 900 entries, it even set the record for biggest poker tournament ever held on the island of Malta.

How and why did it get so popular so fast?

We sat down with the co-creator of the Battle of Malta, Ivonne Montealegre, to explain how the idea came to be and the driving forces that brought it to the level it’s reached today.

A New Challenge in Malta

Born and raised in Costa Rica Montealegre got her start in the poker industry more or less by accident in 1996.

BOM Tournament Director Ivonne Montealegre.

As the Marketing Manager of an online gaming company, one of the duties that fell on her plate included organizing a major poker tournament.

It wasn’t until much later, though, that Montealegre took her past experience (and new certification) in tournament direction and organized the 2011 Punta Cana Poker Classic in the Dominican Republic.

It was a great success, leaving Montealegre driven and motivated to find even more opportunity in the poker world. She was drawn to sunny Malta:

"I was looking for a new challenge," she says.

When Montealegre arrived on the island she had a vision of a poker tournament that connected poker, a vacation in the sun and a lot of shared fun with the other participants. The concept for ​​the Battle of Malta was born.

To realize that vision she needed a strong partner, which she found in PokerListings.

"I had the idea to organize a large low-buy-in tournament in Malta and knew and appreciated the work of PokerListings. So I went and presented my idea.

“They were very impressed and have made it possible to realize this project through their strong brand and great relationships."

"I Wanted to Offer Players as Much as Possible"

The name for the tournament, the "Battle of Malta," was picked based on the history of the island and the real-life battle which defines a large part of it.

The perfect location for it was the world-class Portomaso Casino, located in the 5-Star luxury Hilton Malta in the picturesque St. Julian's district.

An agreement was reached quickly and so, for the debut tournament in 2012, nothing stood in the way. For the first edition of the event, held in late November, the buy-in was set at €500  - a number picked very deliberately.

"I wanted to create a tournament where fun is in the foreground,” Montealegre says, “and create a tournament that everyone could afford.

"The first year is always something very special.”

"I also wanted to offer players as much as possible for their money."

At the time a prize pool of €150,000 was guaranteed, which was exceeded when 349 players came to Portomaso to play.

"The first year is always something very special,” Montealegre reminisces. “We had no expectations, and that has also made ​​the whole thing so enjoyable.

"If I had to describe the first Battle of Malta in one sentence I would say it was ‘small but nice.’"

The “small” in that sentence refers primarily to the fact that the Battle of Malta at that time consisted only of two tournaments – the main event and a second-chance event. Still, it was actually already one of the largest tournaments ever held in Malta and had more runners than the WPTs held there.

The heads-up was an all Italian affair between Giulio Astarita and Nicodemo Piccolo. The latter won out in the end and took €35,000 in prize money back to Italy. How it looked back then:

Big Money, Unexpected Challenges

After such a promising start a second Battle of Malta was quickly planned and the guarantee increased to €200,000.

The dates were moved up slightly in the year to Sept. 26-29 to take advantage of the European summer and organizers were confident going in that the guarantee would be passed.

Louis Cartarius enjoyed the spoils.

What happened next exceeded even the wildest of expectations.

"We had expected a slightly larger field of participants than in the first year,” Montealegre says, “but then almost 900 players poured into the casino."

Since no one had expected that kind of turnout the casino itself had reached its logistical limits and there were delays in player registration.

"The second Battle of Malta was blood, sweat and tears,” she adds. “We apologize to all the players who had to wait and rest assured it won’t happen this year."

German Louis Cartarius and all of the players who cashes were the beneficiaries of the massive attendance, however. Cartarius took home €80,000 for first place while the rest of the cashers divvied up over €430,000.

Battle of Malta 2013: A True Eye-Opener

On the other hand, despite the logistical struggles, organizers recognized the huge potential for more casual, mid-buy-in poker events.

"It has opened our eyes to what is possible,” Montealegre says. “After BOM 2013 the CEO of PokerListings made ​​the decision to more than double the guarantee but keep the same buy-in.

“Doing the simple math that means that you need at least 1,000 players just to reach the guarantee! We also moved the dates to early November, which caused some doubts as to whether you can bring that many players to Malta at that time.

2014 BOM should be filled to capacity.

"The fact that we need at least 1,000 players to meet the guarantee makes me sleep restlessly sometimes,” Montealegre admitted, “but this decision was taken jointly with analysts and according to the forecast we will exceed the guaranteed amount."

Sirp de Wit, Managing Director of PokerListings, is also confident.

“We at PokerListings are very proud to offer a unique tournament series with small buy-ins and great value. It gives an extra offline dimension to the PokerListings brand and complements our mission to be an “All-In” poker guide.”

“The third edition of the Battle of Malta is coming up fast and we want it to be a very memorable experience for all participants. In Malta the anticipation has already started to build and BOM 2014 will be bigger and better than ever."

Biggest Poker Tournament in All of Europe?

No longer just a main and second-chance event the Battle of Malta has grown into a full-fledged tournament series. Five events are on the schedule this year along with the ongoing cash games and satellites

2014 will see the first-ever €4,180 High Roller event along with a brand new €165 Pot-Limit Omaha event. A €300 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Turbo has also been added and the Second Chance Siege of Malta returns with a €200 buy-in.

With new host Maria Ho on board, sky's the limit for 2014 and beyond.

Variety is guaranteed and that makes the young tournament series even more interesting. Visiting players should also note that the beginning of November, when the cold season has already started in Central Europe, is still quite warm in Malta.

Working behind the scenes there’s an entire company committed to making the Battle of Malta a success.

“We work very hard to provide participants with a great experience,” Montealegre says, “and support in the community for the Battle of Malta has been terrific.

"There are numerous volunteers who work for free in their spare time and on weekends to cope with the huge rush and to allow guests to have as beautiful a time as possible.

“For us this is not just a job like any other, but something that we love."

When asked what participants can expect for the Battle of Malta 2015 and beyond, Montealegre says the sky’s the limit.

"I think the Battle of Malta will become the biggest poker tournament not only in Malta but throughout Europe.

“Our goal is to make the BOM the tournament with the smallest buy-in and biggest guaranteed prize pool and we’ll do everything possible to make it happen."

A taste of what awaits at the 2014 Battle of Malta:

For all the information on dates, times, structures and side events - and to secure your seat in this year's Main Event - visit our Battle of Malta page.

One of the new sponsors onboard for this year's BOM, Betting Connections will host the new centralized social hangout that will feature chillout music, a cash bar with great beer and cocktails and the company of the Swedish House Hostesses.

With a view over the entire tournament floor in the Hilton Grand Master Suite the Betting Connections Bar/Lounge will be the prime spot for players to catch their breath between hands, meet up with friends and scope out the action from above.

“We believe it is important, as an iGaming recruitment specialist, to get involved with industry events and not just participate!” said Betting Connections' Managing Director and Co-Founder Duarte Amado.

Duarte Amado, Co-Founder of Betting Connections (Photo: Times of Malta)

Based in Sliema, Betting Connections is Malta’s biggest and most diverse iGaming recruitment specialist.

“We are passionate about what we do and what we stand for," Amado adds.

"Events like this help us continue to develop our knowledge, keep updated on trends and also network not only with iGaming professionals but the players too!

“The Battle of Malta is even bigger and better this year and the bar really has been raised in 2014. We’re thoroughly looking forward to the full 4-day event.

"Hopefully we’ll gain more insight into the industry and make some friendships along the way!"

Big Numbers Expected, Seats Still Open

The 2014 Battle of Malta festival is set for Nov. 6-9 with a wide variety of events including VIP parties, cash games and five major tournaments on the schedule.

Still seats left for Main Event!

The highlight, of course, will the €500,000-guaranteed €550 Main Event but a new Grandmaster High Roller, a PLO event and a Deepstack Turbo also expect big fields.

With just five weeks to go anticipation is building and seats are going fast, although there's still room for new players to register either online or live at the Portomaso Casino.

Side event registration will be open online starting in the first week of October. To avoid longer registration periods we recommend players buy-in in advance via our secure online service here.

Normally priced at €1,395, the premium package will cost just €999 for a limited time.

The package includes four nights at the 5-Star Hilton, the €550 BOM Main Event buy-in, daily breakfast and dinner buffet and tickets to both BOM VIP parties.

PokerListings will pay the extra €396 directly to the hotel for accommodations as a gesture of appreciation for our loyal readers. In return all you agree to do is be a PokerListings sponsored player and wear our PL polo and hoodie during the BOM main event.

Note: This is direct saving for package buyers! We are investing our own money to support and reward our readers and help create a team atmosphere for the event.

The Flash Sale will run from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 but it’s only applicable for the first 10 packages sold so it’s important to contact PokerListings asap if you want the discount.

To get your package email battleofmalta@pokerlistings.com with the subject title: “BOM 2014 Flash Sale."

€500,000 Guarantee, Major Tour Atmosphere

The 2014 Battle of Malta will offer an enormous €500,000 guarantee with an estimated first-place prize of over €100,000.

Despite the significant amount of money on the table for this year’s tournament the Battle of Malta is about much more than just poker.

Plenty of offsite beach trips, water sports and nightlife is available for players and their friends/families.

The famed Battle of Malta experience is also bringing poker pros Maria Ho, Andreas Hoivold, Leo Margets, Luca Pagano and Paul Jackson to Malta this year.

For the first time ever the 2014 Battle of Malta will also include a high roller event with a €3,800+€380 buy-in along with a Deepstack Turbo event, a PLO event and the Siege of Malta Second Chance tournament.

The entire festival runs from Nov. 6-9 at the Portomaso Casino in sunny St. Julian’s.

For more information or to buy in directly visit the Battle of Malta homepage.

With an expanded capacity for up to 1,600 players the window is still very much open to participate, despite some localised rumors to the contrary.

To get a preferred starting day and package, though, it's still a good idea to book as soon as possible. Buying in live at the Portomaso Casino is also an option, says Eros Ganzina, Portomaso General Manager.

"We have great expectations for this year's Battle of Malta and we are sure it will be the tournament of the year for the island of Malta.

"We haven’t accepted any registrations yet from the Casino side and therefore it is not true that BOM is already full; I really hope that all the poker community will turn up for this wonderful event"

Expect an even bigger crowd this year.

"We're expecting a very big field," adds BOM Tournament Coordinator Ivonne Montealegre, "but we haven't yet reached capacity for the NLH main event or the side events.

"We are working hand in hand with Mr. Ganzina and Portomaso Casino to cater to all players that arrive at BOM 2014 but if players want to guarantee a seat - and their preferred start day -  we strongly recommend they buy-in online via our secure payment form."

Limited Packages Still Available for €999!

With just two days remaining in our 2014 BOM Flash Sale our intitial allotment of packages has been snapped up but a couple more have been released to cater to latecomers.

Normally €1,395 a BOM premium package can be had for just €999.

It's an incredible value considering it includes the €550 buy-in for the €500,000 guaranteed BOM Main Event, four nights at the 5-Star Hilton Malta, daily breakfast and dinner buffet and tickets to both BOM VIP parties.

PokerListings will pay the extra €396 directly to the hotel. All sale package players agree to wear our PL polo and hoodie during the BOM main event.

To lock in your package email battleofmalta (@) pokerlistings.com with the subject: "BOM Flash Sale"

If the side events appeal to you as well registration will be open for purchase online starting first week of October. To avoid a longer registration period at the casino we also recommend buying in online.

Your seat awaits. Preferably next to this guy.

Overflow Room, Streamlined Process

If players still want to wait until the day of the tournament to enter there will be a streamlined process this year.

"This year we added an 'Overflow' room adjacent to the Grand Master Suite to accommodate everyone who wants to play," Montealegre says. "We made a promise last year to polish up a lot of logistical aspects and we have been working hard to fulfill those expectations.

"The capacity for all BOM tournaments has been increased and our Main Event capacity is now 1600 players, which should meet all demand.

"I'd also like to emphasize that without our customers - our valuable poker players and sponsors - this event could not be possible and we appreciate all of the support. We promise to return as much added value as possible."

To find our more about he 2014 Battle of Malta incluidng the side event calendar, tournament structures and travel logisitics, visit our Battle of Malta homepage. Any additional questions, please email battleofmalta (@) pokerlistings.com.

The €3,995 BoM Giveaway event runs this Wed. Oct 22 at 8:15 CET.

Up for grabs are two full €1,600 packages for the highly anticipated 2014 BoM plus extra tickets to the last weekly BOM qualifier.

Buy-in is just €5.50 and prizes are guaranteed for the Top 15 finishers. Unlimited rebuys are available for the first 60 minutes plus one add on.

The top two finishers will score full packages that include:

Complete tourney details (find under the "Tournament Details" tab on Betsafe):

Prizes:

If you don't have an account at Betsafe Poker, sign up for one here.

Six-Figure First-Place Prize Expected

Big score for Cartaruius likely topped this year.

If you don't know much about the PokerListings Battle of Malta you're in for a pleasant surprise as it's one of the hottest tickets in European poker right now.

Well over 1,000 players are expected to descend on the island for the event with the Main Event guaranteeing €500,000 and running Nov. 6-9.

Last year's winner, Louis Cartarius from Germany, collected €80,000 for the win and this year's top prize is expected to be even higher

Plenty of side events and cash games are also on the agenda including the Siege of Malta Second Chance event, a Deepstack Turbo and more.

Check the full calendar for the 2014 Bom Right here.

Team PokerStars pro Johnny Lodden and French poker icon Fabrice Soulier have now added their names to the growing list of pros coming to Malta for the 2014 BoM festival.

The 29-year-old Lodden is a true online poker legend having made his name battling for millions under the name "bad_ip." Soulier is a WSOP bracelet winner with over $5.5m in career earnings.

Joining Leo Margets, Luca Pagano, Dominik Nitsche, Dan Cates, Dominik Panka, Thor Hansen and host Maria Ho the field is shaping up to be both the biggest and most talented BoM has ever seen.

Record Field, Record Payouts Expected

With a €500,000 guarantee for the BoM Main Event the first-place prize will top the €80,000 claimed by Louis Cartarius last year but there's lots more on the agenda to entice pros and amateurs to the Mediterranean

Oakleys on the table for BoM Top 9.

Along with the Second Chance Siege of Malta event three more side events have been added including a €165 PLO tourney, a €330 Deepstack Turbo and a €4,180 Grandmaster High Roller.

A massive new tourney room, a showcase bar and lounge overlooking the action, two VIP parties and the spectacular Mediterranean setting itself also set the table for a record-setting year.

Along with the added value of course come added sponsors and both Sunlab and Oakley have signed on as official sponsors.

The Sunlab franchise has six outlets in Malta and Gozo and one of its signature brands  -- Oakley -- will be the official eyewear of BoM 2014.

Each of the Top 9 players in the NLH Main Event will get a pair of Oakleys and Sunlab will be showcasing/selling the latest Oakley sunglasses in the lounge areas just outside the tournament floor.

PlanetWin €100,000 Freeroll Ticket for Top 40

Another intriguing value-added piece added to the 2014 Battle of Malta is the PlanetWin365 €100,000 Guaranteed freeroll.

Much more on the line than just a sweet trophy.

The top 40 players in the money of the BoM main event will each receive an invite to the freeroll on Nov. 11 at the Portomaso Casino.

The freeroll is an invite-only tournament with a €0 buy-in and just a €50 tourney fee. Players who stick around for just a couple of extra days can turn an already profitable run in the Main into an even bigger return.

A few premium BOM packages are still available for purchase at a cost of €1,395 and include the €550 main event buy-in, 4 nights at the 5-star Hilton Hotel, daily breakfast and buffet and tickets to both VIP parties.

Buy-ins by themselves are of course also available and can be purchased online as well.

Purchase one right here and participate in the biggest poker event ever on the Island of Malta!

With a great attitude and passion for the game they continually inspire poker players near and far to enjoy the game to the fullest and make the most of opportunities it presents.

Inaugural winners Naoya Kihara, Pierre Neuville and Luca Moschitta pased the torch on to 2014 winners Dominik Panka, Thor Hansen and Shannon Shorr this year and all six represent exactly what we had in mind when we created the SOPAs.

Two of our three PL Award winners will join us for the live Spirit of Poker ceremony at the Battle of Malta ths year and we caught up with all of them at EPT London for their thoughts on the award.

Panka: "It Feels Great to Be an Inspiration"

Inspired to be inspiring.

Dominik Panka, winner of the 2014 PCA main event and our 2014 Spirit of Poker Rising Star Award winner, was back on the felt at EPT London looking for his next big title in the main and the high roller.

He was also prepped for his trip to the Mediterranean, as we found out on one of the breaks of the main event.

“I appreciate this award a lot," Panka said. "I know it’s not one of the big international awards, but I don’t think I would appreciate any of them more.

"I don’t play only for the money, so to find recognition in such a way is great for me. I have never won anything like this and the value of the PokerListings Award might not be financial but is still highly idealistic.

"I am 23 years old, and I haven’t really been extremely active on social media. I am now trying to do better.

"It feels great to be an inspiration, but I don’t know if I could be an idol for young players, like Daniel Negreanu is. It carries a lot of responsibilities. I know I played well at the Aussie Millions, but to be honest I don’t always play that well. I also had good cards.

"I have never been to Malta and I’m really looking forward to it. I have everything planned and set up.”

Hansen: "These Awards Value the Game"

Thor Hansen, winner of our Living Legend Award, is one of the true pioneers of European poker.

For starters, he moved to Las Vegas before Chris Moneymaker was even born.

Hansen "proud and honored" to win.

Hansen has played not only in all of the iconic big games at Vegas casinos but also in private cash games with illustrious people like Hustler owner Larry Flynt, who actually staked Hansen for several years.

His ongoing battle with terminal cancer and his continued drive to play poker has also been an inspiration to many.

“I am proud and honored to receive this award," Hansen said on a quick break in London “I will be in Malta personally to pick it up and play the Battle.

"These awards value the game. It doesn’t matter that there is no money on it.”

Shorr: "I Feel Extremely Honored"

Made the most of a poker life.

The only one of our award winners who can't physically make it for the live ceremony is American pro Shannon Shorr, our 2014 Most Inspiring Player.

Shorr is a non-sponsored "pro's pro," travelling the world on his own dime and adding one winning year after another to his resume.

“I feel extremely honored," Shorr said in London. "You know, I’ve always prided myself on going out there and living my life and getting the most out of it, so being labelled as inspirational is almost better than any other poker award I could have ever gotten.”

Unfortunately, as Shorr can’t rely on a regular income from sponsors, he has plenty of things on his schedule and can't attend in person this year. On a side note, how can a player like Shannon Shorr not be approached by sponsors?)

“It’s an American thing," say Shorr. “There is just no market, as long as online poker is illegal. However, I am generally open to speak about it if a poker room approaches me.”

Being the only American in the mix he also has by far the longest trip to the island of Malta. He told us that he's already crossed the Atlantic twice this fall and won't be able to do it again.

“I really hate to miss it and I would be there if at all logistically possible. I really apologize," he explained, "but I’m going to record a video acceptance and send it to you. Hope you guys can use it!”

In the first-ever BOM Deluxe Sweden these two experienced poker players will go head-to-head in four events: chess, heads-up poker, boxing and a last-longer bet in the Battle of Malta Main Event.

The rivalry started from Lennaárd's blog on PokerListings.se and developed into bullying and nasty comments and blog posts back and forth.

Both Lennaárd and Bergman are looking forward to the chance to settle things like gentlemen both on the felt and in the ring.

“Ken has the only poker blog that is somehow interesting to read,” said Bergman. “He’s entertaining but at the same time, he is very hard headed.

"If the blog post is about goat breeding in Japan or the bush people in Alaska – Ken knows it all!

"It’s just ridiculous, so I see a chance here to shut his mouth.”

Lennaárd says this match is about defending himself and his wife and kid.

“Bergman is not going to fight with me,” said Lennaárd. “He’s fighting with himself and his own demons.”

The contests will play out during the 2014 PokerListings Battle of Malta at the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian's.

Four Events, Video on PokerListings.com

Lennaárd and Bergman will compete in four different contests to decide who comes out of this feud on top.

The first is a simple last-longer in the Battle of Malta Main Event. Whoever goes deeper in the tournament takes it.

Second, the two players will meet in a chess match at the Hilton Malta and third, a heads-up poker match in the Battle of Malta tournament room.

Lastly they'll put on the gloves and go one-on-one in the ring for three, three-minute rounds to be scored by a panel of judges.

The fight will happen at Lords Gym, just a short walk from the casino, at 8pm on November 7th. If either player backs out of the fight they'll have to pay a €2,000 fine.

The PokerListings video team will be documenting all the action and posting a video in the days after the event.

Keep an eye on the Battle of Malta Video Section for teasers as well as tons of video content from BOM 2014.

Watch BOM Deluxe Sweden Teaser Video

The 2014 Malta iGaming Seminar takes place from Nov. 11-12 but will kick off with a special €30+€5 poker tournament on Nov. 10 at the Hilton Hotel, in the same Battle of Malta tournament space.

“MIGS is very happy to align itself with Battle of Malta in that both of our events have been developed to attract an International audience,” said Andy Jones, CEO of Aliquantum Gaming.

“This event not only extends our event by an extra day but also adds further incentive for operators involved in BOM to attend our event as well.”

Industry Leaders to Speak at MiGS 2014

MiGS 2014 is the sixth edition of the conference, which seeks to raise awareness and develop the presence of Malta as a hotspot for the iGaming community.

The seminar is targeted towards operators, affiliates and various service providers in the gaming industry.

Started up by several leading figures within the Maltese iGaming and Business Community the purpose of MIGS is to offer the iGaming community a platform to discuss trends within the industry, to network and showcase Malta as a leading iGaming jurisdiction.

There are already a number of noted speakers confirmed for the event including Joe Cuschieri, the Executive Chairman of the Lotteries and Gambling Authority, Dr. Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Stephen Quinn, Director of Strategy at Ukash, Marja Appelman, Chief Executive for The Netherlands Gaming Authority and more.

The €35 opening tournament on Nov. 10 is open to anyone and will be a No-Limit Hold’em affair with a single re-entry allowed.

Last year around 100 players travelled from Norway to Malta, and based on the number of sold packages and buy-ins the number will double to around 200 this year.

But what is it that draws so many Norwegians to Battle of Malta? According to Johnny Lodden the nice weather is a major reason:

“The cold is starting to arrive in Norway, so Malta in November is enough good reason for me!" said Lodden.

"I will bring my family with me and will see it is a small vacation after the focus on my trial this autumn [Lodden sued the Norwegian tax authorities over some poker losses and won]. And then I can combine it with a bit of poker.”

The fact Norwegians are still unable to hold tournaments in their own country is also a major reason why many of them are happy to travel abroad to play.

“As long as we do not have casinos in Norway and it is illegal to play, many Norwegians will travel abroad to play," he said.

"The Norwegian Championships has attracted a couple of thousand players to Dublin, and I think it is also the combination of having a fun trip with friends and enjoying your hobby at the same time what draws people.”

Lodden, Hansen Attending 2014 Battle of Malta

Thor Hansen

Another poker pro at Battle of Malta will be none other than the Godfather of Norwegian poker, Thor Hansen.

He has received a special invite for Battle of Malta to receive a PokerListings Spirit of Poker Award in the Living Legend category.

Johnny Lodden is looking forward to see his good friend receive the award.

“This will be a big honour for Thor. He is a legend in Norway and deserves the award. He always takes time to talk to everybody and has a positive outlook.”

Concerning the play at the felt Lodden also has great expectations for Battle of Malta.

“I have had luck lately with two ITMs in London and my ambition is as always to get as far as possible. I expect a very nice atmosphere and numerous players. I am sure it will be a nice tournament. Definitely I will play the Main Event and then the other tourneys will be a bonus.”

Another famous Norwegian pro, Andreas Høivold, will join countrymen Lodden and Hansen at the 2014 Battle of Malta.

The 2014 Battle of Malta is on track to smash even more records this year and plenty of seats are still available for you to be a part of it.

A limited amount of full packages including buy-in, accommodation and VIP party tickets are available but lots of space is left for the showcase Main Event.

With pre-sales brisk and a walk-up rate comparable to last year expected, well over 1,000 players will hit the Portomaso Casino and the atmosphere is already building.

Lodden, Hansen, Margets, Cates, Panka and More

Leo Margets on the growing Pro list.

An impressive list of top caliber poker pros are coming to take a shot at the 2014 Battle of Malta - some back a repeat visit and some for their first time.

Among the repeat visitors will be high-stakes online legend Dan "Jungleman12" Cates, Norwegian ace Andreas Hoivold, Swedish star Sofia Lövgren and Italy's Luca Moschitta.

First-timers at BOM include PokerStars pros Johnny Lodden, Luca Pagano and Leo Margets and Spirit of Poker Award winners Thor Hansen and Dominik Panka.

Also confirmed to play are top pros Dermot Blain and Dominik Nitsche, UK footballer Steve Watts, fellow Brit Paul Jackson and Russian stars Anatoly Filatov and Konstantin Puchkov.

Host Maria Ho of course heads the celebrity list and will be both at the felt and on-camera with our live reporting crew.

High Roller, PLO, Deepstack Adds Bigger Return

Part of the reason even bigger crowds are expected over the four-day festival is the expanded tourney lineup.

Three new side events are on the schedule including a €4,180 Grandmaster High Roller event, a €165 PLO event and a €330 Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Turbo.

The €220 Siege of Malta Second Chance tournament is also back and expected to be twice the size of last year.

With pre-sale buy-ins for the Main Event already creeping up to the €500,000 guarantee - without any re-entries counted for - players should be able to expect record payouts in all events.

For the complete Side Event and registration schedule, check the BOM Calendar page. Players are advised to register as early as possible to avoid lines. You'll also have to register at the casino first. Quick glimpse at registration schedule:

~ Wednesday, November 5, 2014 ~

18:00 – 21:00 hrs: Registration for NLH Battle of Malta Main Event opens

~ Thursday, November 6, 2014 ~

11:00 - Registration for NLH Battle of Malta Main Event opens.

~ Friday, November 7 ~

11:00 - Registration for NLH Battle of Malta Main Event opens.

Overflow Room Added, RuckPack Official Drink

Among the preparations for the expected sellout has been a logistics improvement to minimize lines and speed up tournament registration and flow.

You should see him after some RuckPack.

Beyond the new, larger venue for the Main Event an Overflow Room has also been added to accommodate demand.

"We made a promise last year to polish up a lot of logistical aspects of the operation," Tournament Coordinator Ivonne Montealegre says, "and we have been working hard to fulfill that promise.

"The capacity of all tournaments has been increased and we expect to satisfy all demand."

An expanded lineup of sponsors also awaits players including a new official drink of the Battle of Malta - RuckPack Energy Drink.

Developed by a team of Special Ops Marines RuckPack is a single-source vitamin & energy shot designed to provide caffeine-free maximum performance.

A free 2-pack will be delivered to each package-winner’s room and RuckPackers will be around the tournament area offering free samples. For the Official BOM Limelight party they'll make sure all guests can keep the party going!

Check our Battle of Malta page for a complete rundown of all the events.

Not one but two exclusive parties will take place during the four-day festival, which runs from Nov. 6-9.

The Battle of Malta kicks off with a cocktail party and reception in the Oceana Suite of the Hilton Hotel on November 6.

Package holders, guests and sponsors will be able to get to know each other in a more intimate setting with great food and drinks. It will be a relaxed affair running from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Villa is Party Central on Nov. 8

Work hard, play hard.

On Nov. 8 the 2014 BOM really gets rolling with a VIP party at exclusive club The Villa, which is an award-winning venue that overlooks the stunning Balluta Bay.

Package holders get in free but other players can buy a ticket into the event for €25.

The all-out party will start at 9 p.m. and run late into the night. Last year various celebrity guests partied into the wee hours of the morning with non-stop dancing and general revelry fuelled by flaming bottles of champaign.

This year PokerListings has teamed with Malta-based fitness studio FreeMyMe to provide two dancing performances including one by iconic pole artist Michelle Shimmy, who’s flying in all the way from Australia.

Her performance will be followed by a “Free My Moves” Chair/Dance routine to get everyone warmed up for the blowout party to follow.

For anyone staying in Malta, FreeMyMe is even showcasing its new age vision and brand new, specifically designed classes absolutely free of charge from Nov. 10-15, which might be a good choice after a week of partying and poker at the Battle of Malta.

Here's the complete party schedule for the 2014 Battle of Malta:

Your first stop for coverage should be the Battle of Malta live update page, which will bring you up-to-the-minute updates straight from the tournament floor.

Expect to find all the big hands, photos, chip counts, player spotlights and flash features through the main event and side events.

Our renowned video team will also be on location and while their work will pop everywhere on the site you can also head direct to the source, the PokerListings video home page, for the straight goods.

It’s business as usual for a news section, which will be providing recaps and other noteworthy stories out of the 2014 Battle of Malta.

Finally the blog will pump out a few oddball pieces including a photo gallery or two.

Four Days of On-Demand Action

It's gonna be good.

Of course for everything Battle of Malta you should just head to the BOM homepage where you’ll find schedules, structures, side events and more.

The schedule on the page will give complete details for not only the €550 buy-in Battle of Malta but also the High Roller, PLO and Second Chance side events.

It makes more sense to call the schedule a calendar because it also includes a variety of activities non-poker activities such as the two very special VIP parties.

If you want to check out the action on social media than our Battle of Malta Facebook page and PokerListings Twitter account should suit your needs.

If you're still not getting the information you want just leave us a question in the comments section below. We'll try to answer it in our signature On-Demand style in the live updates.

Once again here are your live coverage links:

A sold out Day 1b is expected so if you for some reason won’t make it today the earlier you can let us know the better your chances of securing a seat on Day 1b.

If your flight is cancelled, boats don’t run or your bicycle has a flat tire, email us at battleofmalta@pokerlistings.com to see if we can accommodate a change.

BOM Staff will do anything we can to make it happen but with space filling fast we can’t give any guarantees.

Check our Battle of Malta live coverage page for any updates on registration throughout the day.

A busy early registration period pushed the numbers up close to the total entries of last year but with an overflow room set up and 70 tables ready to go, there's still room for more.

Up to 1,300+ players can be accommodated but the sooner you're here and registered, the better.

Registration Open at 12 Noon

Registration opens again today (Thursday) at 12 pm and a big crowd is expected. Registration starts tomorrow (Friday) at 12 pm as well.

Our online PokerListings payment gateway is no longer available and registration is now only possible on site at the Portomaso Casino.

As a small point of note: It will be easier to get a seat today on Day 1A than on Day 1B. As always, come early and bring some patience for the least amount of hassle as some lineups can be expected.

Check our live updates page for all the latest as we get started on the biggest Battle of Malta yet!

As of the start of Level 8 on Day 1a a total of 1,193 players are now registered for the Main Event, blowing past the €500,000 guarantee.

There's still room for plenty more to join the action on Day 1b, too.

With expected rebuys and walk-ins tomorrow the final field tally could climb well past the 1,300-player mark and a €650,000+ prize pool.

The overflow room will come into play and all efforts will be made to accommodate as many players as possible.

Battle of Malta Keeps Growing, Profile Rises

In just three years the Battle of Malta has continued to expand its reach well past the island and across the world.

Players from virtually every country in Europe can be found on the player list today along with a number of long-distance visitors from the US and Canada.

As usual Italians, Scandinavians and Brits are out in force but the vibe is decidely international.

Here's how the numbers have progressed by starting day since the BOM's inception in 2012

Day 1a

2012: 153

2013: 417

2014: 521

Day 1b

2012: 196

2013: 471

2014: 670 (confirmed) plus expanded capacity for even more

Lodden, Soulier, Margets Join Crowd of Big Names

PokerStars pro Johnny Lodden one of several new high-profile BOM players.

Along with the growing fields has come an increased profile across the industry and the attention of several big-name pros who usually battle for much higher stakes.

Drawn to both the vacation-friendly setting and the casual atmosphere the pros have come out in force in 2014. Among the participants already in the field are:

Joining us for Day 1b tomorrow are PokerStars pros Leo Margets and Luca Pagano, three-time WSOP bracelet winner Dominik Nitsche and former WSOP Main Event final tablist Phillip Hilm.

For a look at all the action from Day 1a, check our Battle of Malta Live Coverage page.

A total of 1,200 players are now registered across Days 1a and 1b with room for that number to jump even higher.

As it sits now the prize pool has topped €550k but will swell even more as a full tournament room, an overflow room and a to-be-determined number of waiting-list players get a piece of the action.

We won't know the exact number until the end of registration at the end of Level 6 tomorrow but if things hold true to form we could be looking at a €600,000 prize pool and a potential $100k+ first-place prize.

A total of 86 players remain from the 521 entries on the day and will join up with the survivors from tomorrow's Day 1b on Day 2 on Saturday.

Down Goes Cartarius, Up (and Down) Goes Lodden

Whatever the prize up top we will likely award it to a new champion. Last year's champ Louis Cartarius - who actually now calls Malta home - busted his first bullet today but should make a re-appearance tomorrow.

Big swings for Lodden as per usual.

There are plenty of poker players who will happily take his place wearing the BOM crown, too.

Some of poker's most renowned players waded deep into the mix today and several came up weighed down with chips for Day 2. Among the stacks of note:

Look for the full Day 1a chip counts shortly right here.

Big Day Coming; Record Smashed Again

With the 1,200 players already registered the 2014 BOM has easily surpassed the 888 entries that made last year's event the largest ever on the island.

Year-on-year the jumps have been substantial since the first go-round in 2012 which drew 349 entries. Last year's 888 entries crushed the €200k guarantee and produced a €430,000 prize pool.

With big money comes big names and expected to dive into the BOM player pool are notables including Leo Margets, Luca Pagano, Dominik Nitsche, Gaelle Garcia Diaz, Phillip Hilm and Rupert Elder.

Host Maria Ho will also be back to keep the mood light and the atmosphere buzzing in the tourney room. Check our Battle of Malta Live Coverage page for all the action.

Watch our Day 1a highlight video below:

As they also remember Hilm went from the top to the bottom in dramatic fashion, busting in ninth place while Jerry Yang went on to win the championship.

Since then, Hilm doesn't have a single entry in the Hendon Mob database. In terms of poker, he virtually disappeared.

"I Lost the Drive"

Did the way things went down in 2007 put him in a state of trauma? Did he quit poker altogether? And why does he live in Prague now?

“I honestly didn’t feel like playing anymore after that Main Event."

“I honestly didn’t feel like playing anymore after that Main Event," Hilm told us on the first break of Day 1b at the Battle of Malta. "I had lost the drive.

"I had been an online poker pro for seven years and I did play a couple of smaller live tournaments after the WSOP 2007, but with no results.

"Online poker didn’t appeal to me much more either. I only found it mildly interesting. So I stopped playing altogether. I began to direct my life in a different way.

"First, I moved to Poland – I am half Polish – and then later I lived in Holland and England, where I met my wife. She is a Swedish hotel manager and when she got a job in Prague, we moved there together.

"I’ve been investing and selling real estate and I only got back to poker about two years ago.”

Battle of Malta Reminds of WSOP Main Event

This might be an explanation for the 888 patch he is wearing on his shirt. But surely he didn’t simply sit down in front of the computer again?

“It’s the math that interests me most," Hilm says. "I love studying theory. Math brought me back to poker and I started playing at 888.

Big field, lots of value hits the spot.

"I’ve been grinding quite a bit and eventually it was 888 who invited me to come here to the Battle of Malta as one of their VIP players.

"I like this tournament a lot. It reminds me of the WSOP Main Event because it has a huge field with lots of amateurs sprinkled with a few really good players.

"Despite the low buy-in with the big field there is just enough money in it to make it interesting. It’s easy to spot who the nervous, fearsome players are and you can pick up a lot of tells, too.

"This gives the tournament a lot of value.”

On to Bigger and Better Things

So Hilm has come back to poker, which is nice to hear, but he's also pursuing other career projects.

“I would like to apply mathematical thinking to poker strategy," Hilm says, "to develop coaching software that uses game theory optimal. Much like PokerSnowie does.

"But for now, this is just an idea, not a fully developed project. Apart from that, I would like to help reform international educational school systems. In the majority of countries children aren't being challenged to the best of their abilities.

"Rather, they are being dragged down and the lesser-abled pupils determine the speed of the lessons. School classes should be diversified more often and build courses for different subjects, so students can learn in a suitable environment.

"Also, we have to focus more on the development of emotional intelligence. For example, in Canada, there have been experiments to bring young families with toddlers to school and then have the students examine the interaction between parents and children.

Busy finding a new life.

"Since they started these experiments 15 years ago bullying has gone down dramatically in Canadian schools. Obviously, they have had a massive effect on the development of emotional intelligence.

"There is room for a lot of improvements in many areas of international school systems, and it is time we start focusing on teaching the important things.”

One Day I'll Try Again

Clearly something that's just a phrase to other people applies very well to Philip Hilm: He's been off to bigger and better things. Still, the EPT will be in his current hometown next month and we had to wonder if he's going to play.

“No. I don’t see any value. High buy-ins and a lot of professionals make it hard to win.

"If there is any live tournament I really want to play again, it’s the WSOP main event because of its advantages similar to the BOM, as I explained.

"So one day, I will go back to Vegas and try to win it all over again.”