Alan Brincat was as close to being the first local to win the Battle of Malta title as you can be.

In the end - and we mean the absolute end - Brincat finished as the runner-up because he had a smaller stack than his opponent Antoan Katsarov when the tournament had to be stopped per casino regulations.

If he had a bit more time, Brincat says, the story might be slightly different:

“I was catching up to him," Brincat says in a follow-up interview at the PokerListings office a few days later.

“I think he was a little scared, but I would have needed more time. At one point during the heads-up he folded K-Q pre-flop, so I knew he didn’t really want to play anymore.

"I changed my strategy to playing more post-flop to force him to get involved in hands, but in the end I didn’t get there.”

Gaming Industry Vet Knows What to Look For

After 10 years playing and time spent in the industry, Brincat knows what he's looking for.

In real life Brincat works as an Operations Manager at Quasar Gaming, a Maltese gaming company that, among other games, features Novomatic content.

He’s also worked for Everest Poker, where he was responsible for detecting fraud like collusion and chip-dumping.

“Of course there are tools that help you," Brincat says, "but there are also patterns of behavior that you can spot and that are suspicious.

"For example, if someone is losing an unusual amount of money to another player in a relatively short time. And if, for example, both players come from the same country or have the same IP address, there might be something wrong.

"Safety is about the most important thing for a poker provider.”

As his background indicates, Brincat is no poker newbie. He’s been playing for about 10 years, mostly in home games.

“But I’ve played several live tournaments too," he adds.

None have been close to the size of the 2014 Battle of Malta.

"I played last year as well, but I never made the money. Also, I spent a lot of time queueing. This year it was better.”

"Sad to See Someone You Like Busted"

Given the massive field this year (1,447 entries - a Maltese record) and a mid-tourney boost to 60-minute levels, play stretched well into the early hours each day.

In the end, the "battle" part of the Battle of Malta was a very apt moniker.

Had momentum but ran out of time.

“Yes, I know, and I’ve been there to the very last hand. I played on Day 1B so I had over 40 hours of poker within three days.

"The tournament was great, though, despite the long hours. I enjoyed the last day the most. Well, obviously.

"Still, even so all of us players were getting tired, it also became more competitive, and while it became more competitive, it also became more social and more fun.

"It got to a point where you would be almost sad when someone who you liked busted. Of course, you would never show that, but then hey, we’re only human."

With 12 players left after the dinner break on Day 3 the Tournament Director gave players the choice of stopping at 9 players or playing until the 5 am hard stop required by law.

Should the tournament still be going play would be halted and the chips would decide the winner. Players unanimously decided to play on.

"I think that some people were a little disappointed about the ending of the tournament, there not being a final hand with all the chips in the middle.

"On the other hand, I understand that we had to stop it at one point. Personally, I didn’t care if we came back to finish it on Monday.

"But I was the only local and everybody else had early flights with connections, so I didn’t interfere with the discussion. It would have been a little unfair.”

Definite Plans for More Live Tournaments, EPT Malta

As we're doing our interview with Brincat in the PokerListings Malta office a colleague from Malta’s largest newspaper, Malta Today, also arrives to get a word from the local hero.

Plans to live up to his poker reputation.

It looks like Alan Brincat is becoming a local celebrity - something he's not about to shy away from.

“Yes," he says with a big grin. “And to live up to my reputation I want to play more live tournaments in the future.

"I will be in Paris next month (for a WPT National event), and I will definitely play the EPT Malta next March.”

Does Brincat have any worries about a tournament like an EPT main event with its myraid pros and higher-stakes hurdles? Not that he lets on.

“Although I didn’t have any of BOM's celebrity players at my table, I’m pretty sure I can handle it.

"Mind you, I would have really liked to have Maria Ho or Sofia Lövgren at my table.”

If you know a bit about winter sports you should recognize the Norwegian city of Lillehammer, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994.

Over the past few years Lillehammer has also become famous for being the home of the TV series Lilyhammer.

The series is among the most popular on Netflix and created by American Steven Van Zandt, also known as the guitar player in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

Van Zandt plays the lead role of a former American mob boss, Frank Tagliano, who moves to Lillehammer - a place he remembers as an idyllic wonderland from the Winter Games in '94 - under the witness protection program.

His intention is to live a quiet life under his new name, Giovanni Henriksen, but he quickly returns to his old ways. Along the way he builds a relationship with an officious social worker, Jan Johansen, who's tasked with finding Tagliano/Henriksen a new job.

What does all this have to do with poker?

Fridtjov Såheim, who plays the role of Johansen, is an avid poker player and was a surprise guest at the 2014 Battle of Malta.

The Boss Appears, Season 3 Debuts Tomorrow

Expect to see The Boss on this season of Lilyhammer.

"I've played poker for many years," Såheim explained as he played deep into Day 2 at BOM, "but only with friends.

"Two years ago I decided to do it properly, so I started playing in clubs and tournaments. When I take something seriously, I do it 100 percent."

Whether his acting ability helped with his poker face or he's simpy a quick study, Såheim showed he has what it takes to run deep as he finished an impressive 29th (out of 1,447 entries) to cash for €3,300.

In the Norwegian championships earlier in the year he finished 64th

"Besides the Norwegian championships where I went deep, this is the biggest tournament I've played," Såheim said. "It's almost too much for me."

"I had not heard of the BOM and I've never been to Malta before. Now that I know more, I will definitely come back for the next Battle."

The third season of Lilyhammer, which is currently airing on Norwegian TV, debuts on Netflix tomorrow in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Latin America, Denmark and the Netherlands.with a surprise performance from Bruce Springsteen himself.

More details on the upcoming season from Variety here.

This year at the PokerListings Battle of Malta, two Swedes met in person to settle a long-standing rivalry once and for all.

Ken Lennaárd is one of the most popular poker bloggers in Sweden and it was in the comment section of one of his posts that he first met Andreas Bergman.

According to Lennaárd, Bergman went way over the line, insulting him, his wife and his young daughter. According to Bergman, Lennaárd trash-talked him right back.

What we know for sure is that a bitter rivalry developed and eventually led to Bergman suggesting the two meet to settle their differences in person.

“He called my wife a prostitute and said his cat would scratch out the eyes of my one-year-old daughter,” said Lennaárd.

“Sometimes people need a punch in the face to know they've crossed the line and I'm going to provide him with that,” he added.

Bergman did not deny saying those things.

Best of Three in Poker, Chess, Boxing

Lennaárd and Bergman went toe-to-toe in three events: A last-longer bet in the Battle of Malta Main Event, a heads-up chess match and finally three rounds in a boxing ring.

It was Bergman who suggested the categories, a big mistake as we learned from talking with Lennaárd.

“I used to be a big talent in chess,” said Lennaárd before their match. “I got a scholarship to a chess high school in Sweden.”

After Bergman won the poker last-longer, Lennaárd made short work of him on the chess board, meaning it all came down to the boxing match which was set for later that night.

But as we soon learned, Lennaárd had a huge edge on his opponent in the ring.

Check out the video to see a surprising and heartwarming ending to what was a very bitter rivalry. It didn't turn out the way we planned but it's safe to say it was a very positive outcome for everyone involved.

This year at the 2014 Battle of Malta Hansen received the PokerListings Spirit of Poker Award in the Living Legend category and spoke candidly about one of the most amazing careers in poker history.

“I started playing poker more than 50 years ago in Norway and we'd play at the racetrack and in the woods with people,” said Hansen.

“Poker came naturally to me. I was playing a little bit of pool and I was always into gambling. I went to the racetrack when I was seven years old.

“I had an older brother that played a bit of poker and I was with him watching him play. He had to go to the bathroom and I had been watching for a while so he asked me to play. When he came back I had a lot of money in front of me so that's how we started.

“I never thought about what I was going to become. Poker just meant so much to me so quickly I never thought about anything else. I just wanted to play poker. So that's what I did.”

Watch Full Thor Hansen Video Interview

Lodden: “People Have Always Looked Up to Thor”

Though decades younger than Hansen, Johnny Lodden is no longer part of the younger generation of Norwegian poker stars.

Lodden is a legend in his own right and says Thor Hansen was part of what inspired him to get into poker.

Johnny Lodden

“People have always looked up to Thor,” Lodden told PokerListings. “I first heard his name when I was 16 or so and then there was a documentary about him in Norway and they interviewed Phil Ivey and then we really got respect for the old guy.

“He's a good example for how poker players should behave.”

But it wasn't Hansen's model behavior that inspired Lodden to follow in the elder pro's footsteps.

“I also know a lot of his friends from back in the days and they always talk about the old days playing in those games all around Oslo.

“There were poker clubs and blackjack and roulette. It looked like people had a lot of fun back then. I kind of wish I could play in those games.

“Thor always told me stories about partying in the Playboy mansion and hanging out with the celebs in Hollywood and just having a blast. It looked like such a fun life just to move to Vegas, live off gambling and party around.

“When you're 18, 19, 20 that's the dream. You had the whole package so definitely that was the inspiration for making a living like that.”

Hansen Hits Las Vegas, Meets Stu Ungar

Hansen didn't travel for poker until he was in his 20s but set a course for Las Vegas and hit the ground running.

“It was a lot easier to find a poker game in Las Vegas than Oslo that's for sure,” said Hansen.

“And I had a good start. The first time I got there I won a World Series bracelet and won all the money in the cash games.

“I played with the biggest guys in the world like Doyle Brunson and Chip Reese. So I learned in a hard school but I survived.”

Along the way Hansen became close friends with perhaps the biggest poker legend of them all, Stu Ungar.

Stu Ungar

“Stuey Ungar, I think he was a little bit schizophrenic because he could be a very bad boy but he was so kind and nice outside of poker," said Hansen.

“He was kind to everyone but it was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He could be so terrible but he was also so nice and such a good player. He was impossible to beat.

“Nolan Dalla wrote about him and wrote some good things about him but he forgot that they stopped playing No-Limit Hold'em in Las Vegas because of Stuey Ungar. Because no one could beat him. So those games disappeared when Stuey was around."

Hansen doesn't doubt how Ungar would stack up against the best players in the game right now.

“Stuey would beat them all today. He would still be 30 years in front of this crew just like he was back then," said Hansen.

“But he could also lose. He could be a bad player when he had a lot of money because he didn't like money. He got staked by the mafia a lot. When he was broke they gave him money to play and then he won. He always won when he got staked.

“I remember his last couple of months really well because everyone in Vegas gave him up. I wasn't in Vegas, I was in California playing seven-card stud because I owed so much money in Vegas for gambling.

“The games were really good and Stuey called asking for money of course because he was in bad shape. I told him to come out and I would give him ten thousand and maybe we could build something up.

“He came out and we were staying in a motel across from the casino and I think he won $200,000 in a week. But he was in very bad shape. We were walking back to the motel and he just fell down in the street and I picked up. He felt like about 60 pounds and I lifted him up and took him to the room and called a doctor.

“The next day he went back to Vegas. It was about two weeks later I went by because a friend of mine and me, we bought him a ticket to watch football which he loved.

“That week he died. That was the last time I saw him.”

A Decade of Playing and Partying with Larry Flynt

Spending a lot of time playing poker in California, Thor Hansen developed a reputation as a strong seven-card stud player. Word reached Hustler founder Larry Flynt who was looking for a ringer for his game.

Larry Flynt

“Poker brought me into a lot of stuff and I got to know a lot of famous people, a lot of fun people,” recalled Hansen.

“I was Larry Flynt's man in his poker game. It was his game and we played seven-card stud and I think we played about ten years and we made good money but there was a lot of fun around it.

“Somehow he learned I was a good seven-card stud player and he wanted to hire someone to play for him. He didn't want to learn anything. He liked to lose. He was the game. Everyone won of course because he was such a bad player.

“We became good friends because I won so much money for him. He didn't like me so much when I was losing but we had a make-up deal so I had to catch up before I got to the money again.

“But those were some fun years I will say that. So many strange people in there.

“After his wife died he had a nurse for many years and she wanted to marry him and he said yes so we had his bachelor party in Beverly Hills. That was some party.

“It cost like $2 million. That's what we were supposed to spend but after flying in all the girls we didn't have any money for food so we had to spend a bit more.”

Thor Hansen: "I've Become a Better Person"

Almost three years ago Hansen was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Doctors in America gave him just a few months but with the support of his family and friends and Norway's socialized medicine, Hansen is defying the odds.

Hansen had already been enjoying the opportunities his poker celebrity affords him but after the diagnosis he says his appreciation for everything in life spiked.

“After the new poker came with all these kids I got a lot of new friends,” said Hansen.

"I'm the happy one I think."

“People call me and want to take me out and it's very nice of course, when you're my age and you've got all these young friends.

“I'm happy to have everyone around me. I'm the happy one I think.

“When I got the diagnosis of cancer, that it was terminal and it was very bad, I had surgery the day after they found it in America and the doctor said I had a few months because it was bad. It's still bad but I went back to Norway and started treatments.

“That's almost three years ago and I feel good. I have poker and the guys around me. I have my American wife who takes very good care of me. She makes me eat healthy and do stuff.

“I'm just very strong. That's what the doctor's said. They can't believe it. They say I'm not built out of blood and flesh. They said I'm of steel.

“I'm a bit of a special case for the hospital because they don't understand why I'm holding so good. I tell them I've taken so many bad beats in poker, I'm used to the bad beats.

“I've been dealing with this now for almost three years and now I don't even think about it. I've been on chemo for three years, the highest doses, and I have no problems with it. I don't even feel it and it's very strange because people get sick from that all the time.

“I appreciate small things so much more than what I did in the old days, before in life. Every little thing I see that's nice I can fell a tear and it's more sentimental.

“Some good has come out of it. I feel like I've become a better person because I want to help people and I want to do this and I want to do that.

“The important thing for poker players is to be nice. It's such a nice community. There's always someone trying to destroy it but there's so many nice people in there and as long as they stay nice and can handle the bad beats they'll be okay.”

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There's more to poker than just money and PokerListings has once again honored three players who go above and beyond to exemplify the true spirit of poker.

Dominik Panka, Thor Hansen and Shannon Shorr won this year's Spirit of Poker Awards thanks to receiving more online votes than any of their competitors.

Panka won in the category of Rising Star, Hansen in Living Legend and Shorr in Most Inspiring Player.

Both Panka and Hansen were competing in the 2014 Battle of Malta and were able to accept the award in person while Shorr sent in a video acceptance speech since he couldn't attend the event.

“I'm very humbled and proud,” said Thor Hansen after being presented with his award by Battle of Malta host Maria Ho.

“I've been playing poker for 50+ years and I don't get this very often so I'm very proud.”

Hansen recently opened up on camera in an extended and candid interview with PokerListings about his long poker career and it's easy to see why he received the most votes in the Living Legend category.

Panka "I Enjoy My Role as a Poker Ambassador"

At the other end of the age spectrum was Dominik Panka.

At 23 years old Panka is already Poland's leading all-time money winner but, in keeping with the spirit of these awards, Panka emphasized poker means more to him than just money.

Dominik Panka

“I appreciate it a lot,” said Panka. “I think I had a lot of good fortune this season. Poker is such a difficult discipline, especially right now, so I'm very grateful for being so fortunate and for winning this award.

“Poker is definitely the kind of game where it's hard to compare players to each other apart from how much money they earn but for me it's about a little bit more.

“In Poland poker is a bit of a gray area so whenever poker gets attention I try to be there as a bit of a poker ambassador.”

And finally Shannon Shorr, who's long been respected in the poker community as an ambassador for the game, sent in a short video from America where he was busy playing poker.

“I'd like to congratulate all the finalists,” said Shorr. “All of them are great people doing great things. I'm happy to accept this award because any of us could have gotten it.”

Check out the full video below and keep clicking to watch more video from the 2014 Battle of Malta.

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Our final video from the 2014 Battle of Malta takes you behind the scenes to see what goes into one of Europe's biggest stand-alone poker tournaments.

In just three years the Battle of Malta has gone from the spark of an idea to a premiere destination event for recreational poker players from all over Europe.

In this video you'll hear from the woman who first dreamed up the Battle of Malta and we'll also take you inside the PokerListings head office in Malta to meet the people behind one of the biggest online poker resources in the world.

“It started with a very small idea and I pitched it to PokerListings,” said BOM organizer Ivonne Monteleagre. “I left the room thinking this will never happen. But it happened.

“From an event with 300 people which was the first Battle of Malta, now it's starting to become the milestone yearly tournament that makes the Maltese poker community proud.”

Ivonne Monteleagre

The idea was to offer recreational players a major poker event experience at a buy-in they can afford.

At just €550, the BOM Main Event nevertheless gives players the chance to meet and play with big-name poker stars, go to amazing VIP player parties and compete for a six-figure payday.

“If you compare Battle of Malta with a major poker event with a buy-in of $10,000 or more, this is just €550 so it's quite affordable and yet we're offering a quality product,” said Monteleagre.

“So you get a small buy-in but with the feel of an international, well-delivered event. And it's just growing every year so the sky's the limit.”

Check out the full video below and go to the Battle of Malta video page for more action from Europe's hottest low buy-in poker event.

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It's back!

In November 2015 PokerListings will host the fourth annual Battle of Malta and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.

Already the largest stand-alone tournament in Europe, the 2015 BOM is expected to retain that distinction yet again this year and offer up even more action.

Last year, Antoan Katsarov from Bulgaria turned his €550 buy-in into a massive €123,000.

This year the winner will cash for even more.

€500,000 GTD, 2,000 players expected

There's no other poker tournament in Europe with just a €550 buy-in and a half a million Euro guaranteed in the prize pool.

Last year that guarantee was easily surpassed with 1,447 entries generating a prize pool of over €700,000. In 2015, that prize pool should swell to €1m.

Last year it was Antoan Katsarov. This year it could be you.

BOM has grown so dramatically over its first 3 years, from 349 in year one to almost 1,500 in 2014, it's ready to become a veritable monster in 2015.

A field of 2,000 players from all over Europe and beyond is expected and would mean a prize pool of over €1 million.

To accommodate for the huge numbers of players we're adding an extra starting day!

So BOM 2015 will have three starting days instead of two. Day 1A will be on November 4.

Satellites, Side Events and Parties

Side events will also be massive and deliver more of the highly sought after BOM trophies.

The €220 NLHE Siege of Malta, the €165 PLO Knight’s Crusade and the €2,200 NLHE Grandmaster High Roller will all be back this year.

More events will also be added. Side events will be one or two day events so you'll have plenty of chances to play if you don’t make it to the finale of the main event.

If you've been to BOM before you know it's equally focused on raging parties. We’re not only inviting you for a welcome drink this year the BOM VIP party will be back and bring a few surprises. Last year, it was a pretty wild ride…

Online satellites for full 2015 BOM packages will be available at several of our partner poker sites; details should be released shortly.

PokerListings and the Casino Portomaso will also host several live satellites. The last-minute satellites will be packed so if you live on the island, don't leave it to the last minute.

If you want to secure your seat the easiest way is to book it online via our PokerListings event booking page. It’ll also soon be up and running.

You can get the buy-in only or the whole package including a room at the 5-Star Hilton Hotel, which will be completely at our disposal for the time of the BOM.

Maria Ho Returns! Celebrities Abound!

2014 BOM host Maria Ho -- twice the Last Woman Standing at the WSOP Main Event, Amazing Race star and highly-respected TV presenter -- will be back as our Battle of Malta host for 2015.

Maria Ho returns!

She’ll play the main event, too, so you'll be able to get a picture with her but also take her chips. As plenty of players have discovered before, however, that won’t be easy.

The fast growing BOM has also attracted a lot of professional players in its first three editions.

Daniel "Jungleman12" Cates, Dominik Nitsche, Leo Margets, Thor Hansen, Dominik Panka, Fabrice Soulier, Johnny Lodden, Sofia Lövgren, Luca Moschitta, Dermot Blain, Pierre Neuville, Andreas Hoivold, Rupert Elder, Luca Pagano and many more have played the event.

Who’s going to be there this year? Wait and see.

The Battle of Malta will be the poker event of 2015! There's no other low buy-in poker festival on the annual schedule that combines a vacation in the Mediterranean with the chance to make some serious money.

Summary

PokerListings’ breakout small buy-in, big-value tournament has been nominated for a European Poker Award.

The Battle of Malta is up for the best tournament of the year in the Up to €2,000 Buy-in category.

The tournament will have a chance at winning on home turf as this year’s European Poker Awards will take place at the Hilton in Malta on March 25.

The Battle of Malta will compete in its category against the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona, Eureka Poker Tour Prague and WPT500 Dusk Till Dawn.

You can see all the nominations on the European Poker Awards home page.

Record-Breaking Battle of Malta Draws 1,447 in 2014

2014 Battle of Malta host Maria Ho.

Since it debuted in 2012 the Battle of Malta has steadily grown with the guaranteed prize pool going from €150,000 to €500,000.

The €550 buy-in event has broken numerous records over the years and last year it became the biggest tournament ever held in Malta when Antoan Katsarov outlasted 1,447 players to win €122,750.

The event has also attracted some of the biggest names in poker including Kara Scott, Maria Ho, Leo Margets, Dan Cates, Dominik Panka, Johnny Lodden, Thor Hansen, Sofia Lovgren and others.

Small buy-in tournaments have begun to flourish since 2012 with WPT500 Dusk Till Dawn attracting 2,133 entries in 2014 and the WSOP set to introduce its first-ever $500 event this summer.

You can actually already qualify for the 2015 Battle of Malta on PokerListings.com.

While the first-ever EPT Malta is on everyone's lips this week at the Portomaso Casino, there's still another record-setting poker festival to come in Malta this year.

There will be a bit less money on the table, yes. But a world-class poker festival in its own right with a very different objective in mind: Fun.

With just a €550 buy-in and a €700,000 prize pool the 2014 Battle of Malta set all kinds of records including biggest poker tournament ever held on Malta and largest standalone tournament in Europe.

Despite the huge €140k first-place payout the emphasis was still on providing a casual, laid-back atmosphere and the perfect poker holiday for the low- to mid-stakes poker player.

With 1,447 entries the Battle of Malta main event delivered beyond expectations and was nominated in the Event of the Year (Under €2k Buy-In) category for the 2014 European Poker Awards, to be presented in Malta tomorrow night.

On the brink of the big moment PokerListings Sweden's Denni Balic spoke to BOM Tournament Director Ivonne Montealegre about her hopes for the award and big plans for Battle of Malta 2015.

DB: Ivonne this is the first time we’re speaking to you after last year’s Battle of Malta. How happy are you with last year’s tournament?

BOM inspiration Ivonne Montealegre

IM: We’re very, very happy here at PokerListings.

I think we corrected some issues and made it exactly the poker festival vibe we wanted to achieve.

I’m very, very happy. The company overall has been very involved in it, it’s our crown jewel promotion throughout the year, so we’re very happy with the results.

I mean 1,400 players plus is a really good number for Malta.

And everyone seemed to enjoy the poker festival, the tournaments, the side events, the parties.

DB: I met a couple of players and journalists at the EPT Malta yesterday and some of them told me that they enjoyed Battle of Malta a bit more. What do you think the reason is?

IM: Well, really that is very, very good news and it’s definitely flattering to compare it to a tournament the caliber of the EPT.

EPT sets the bar high for all of us.

I’ve been to EPT Malta, I think it’s a great event. We’re very happy to have an event of this caliber on the island; it sets the bar high for all of us.

I would say the EPT … they’re champions with their structures, the tournament itself is run in such a lovely way, so organized and everything. You can see that they put a lot of effort into it.

However I would say that the vibe is a little bit different. It’s a little bit more serious, a little bit more stressful, whereas the Battle of Malta is really all about the fun. It’s more of a poker holiday.

That’s why I think the EPT doesn’t focus too much on player parties and the poker community feel that we’re trying to push at Battle of Malta. They’re different events.

DB: The Battle of Malta is also nominated in the European Poker Awards (Ed. Note: Event of the Year Under 2k Buy-In). Can you tell us a bit about your expectations? 

IM: Oh, we want to win! We definitely want to win. It’s been three years of the Battle of Malta and it would be very nice to get that recognition from our peers in the poker industry.

We definitely would be very appreciative and we’d take that trophy home to our PokerListings office. We put a lot of effort into this.

I’ve said this before, the BOM volunteers, our employees that work for free for the tournament, we put a lot of love into this tournament, a lot of effort, so that kind of recognition from the industry would be something really to look forward to.

DB: Can you tell us a bit about the plans for the next Battle of Malta? Will there be any changes?

Even more cheek planned for 2015.

IM: Yes, we’re listening to the players. We’re always listening to the players. We did a player survey and I think that the calendar will be much better organized.

Last year we barely had time for anything. Players were missing the cocktail party. It was packed; the schedule was packed.

Now we’re having an additional starting day, which guarantees us a much smoother structure to play with and to also be able to attend all the activities we have. We’re planning a very cheeky, interesting player party!

DB: It looks like we have something to look forward to.

IM: Absolutely! Absolutely.

DB: Thank you Ivonne and good luck.

IM: Thank you so much!

For more information and to reserve a 2015 Battle of Malta package at a 10% discount, visit the Battle of Malta home page.

It's official: The 2014 Battle of Malta is the European Poker Award winner for low buy-in (under $2k) event of the year!

Awarded live during the ongoing EPT Malta festival tonight, Battle of Malta defeated co-nominees the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event, the Eureka Poker Tour Prague Main Event and the WPT500 at Dusk Till Dawn to take home the trophy.

With 1,447 entries and a €700,000 prize pool, the 2014 BOM smashed its own record for biggest poker tournament ever held on Malta and became the largest standalone event in Europe.

Danzer, Jacobson, Salter Among Elite Winners

Hard to top WSOP ME win.

The 2015 European Poker Awards had a star-studded lineup of nominees in the house in Malta and, accordingly, an impressive group of winners emerged.

2014 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Martin Jacobson fittingly claimed the Tournament Performance of the Year, although he had to top Vicky Coren Mitchell's second career EPT title to do it.

Davidi Kitai, for his dazzling play in WSOP Event #15, and Dominik Panka, for his PCA Main Event run, were also nominated.

England's Jack Salter, a member of Team UK at the recent Global Poker Masters, earned the title of Breakout Player of the Year, topping George Danzer, Panka and fellow Team UK'er Oliver Price.

Danzer didn't go home empty-handed, however, as he took home one of the marquee awards of the evening in Poker's Best Ambassador.

Ambassador of the Year George Danzer

The EPT Vienna Main Event won the award for Poker Event of the Year Over $2k Buy-in while EPTLive's Marc Convey won for Media Person of the Year.

The serial qualifier, Belgium's Pierre Neuville, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Charitable Initiative of the Year was awarded to the very deserving REG charity founded by Phil Gruissem, Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree.

Germany's Ole Schemion and England's Boeree took home the pre-determined awards for Male and Female Player of the Year, respectively.

The full list of 2014 European Poker Award winners:

Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees for a spectacular year in European poker in 2014! Find the full list of nominees here.

Just four months ago the 2014 Battle of Malta smashed its own record for biggest poker tournament ever held on Malta.

Just this week it won the European Poker Award for Low Buy-In Poker Event of the Year.

With 1,447 runners, a €700,000 prize pool and a €140,000 first-place prize it's also now the biggest standalone poker tournament in Europe.

And it's back for 2015!

With the same €550 buy-in and lucrative €500k guarantee, 3 VIP parties and even more amazing side events planned, up to 2,000 players will hit the tables at BOM this November.

And you can be a part of it with Early Bird packages on sale right now!

Extra Day, Extra Party, Extra Value

If you’ve yet to play the Battle of Malta you’ve missed the most social, high-value poker event in Europe for the low- to mid-stakes player.

Up to 2,000 players expected for BOM 2015.

On top of the deep prize pool and unmatched ROI potential, a big group of A-list pros also brings a major poker tour feel to an event designed for the casual poker player.

For 2015 we’ve doubled-down on what has made the Battle of Malta so successful while improving logistics and taking the BOM poker festival to the next level.

To start with our Early Bird discount on complete BOM packages is back and available to purchase online until May 15.

A 2015 Battle of Malta Early Bird Package costs just €1,295 or €1,390 (depending on starting day) and includes:

You'll love playing poker here.

By request we’ve also made extra tickets for the player parties available to purchase separately for both friends and guests.

Options include a BOM 2015 Party Package, individual BOM VIP Player Party, Cocktail Party and All-In Friday tickets and an exclusive 5-person All-In Friday Table Reservation.

Check our 2015 Battle of Malta Payment page for all the details and to secure your package/reserve your starting day now!

Win a €2,000 Battle of Malta Package on 888poker

Satellites and freerolls for the 2015 Battle of Malta are already underway on 888poker.

Share a table with Sofia and Maria.

Steps Tournaments starting at 1c run daily with just 5 steps to reach the weekly BOM qualifier.

Our weekly $160 BOM Qualifier runs every Thurs. at 7:05 pm GMT until Oct. 22 with at least one €2k package guaranteed in every event.

Our regular monthly $1k freeroll at 888poker has also been replaced with an exclusive, bi-monthly 2015 Battle of Malta freeroll with a deluxe €2,000 2015 BOM package available.

Package includes:

Check for more exciting online qualifiers at our online poker partners as we get them set-up. Full details on our 2015 Battle of Malta Online Qualifiers page.

The €500k guaranteed award-winning Battle of Malta will return this Fall and it’s the best possible time to make plans to join the battle.

For just €1,295 (Day 1b) or €1,390 (Day 1a) players can now pick up an early-bird package that includes the €550 Main Event buy-in, five nights accommodation at the 5-Star Hilton Malta, daily breakfast and buffet and more.

Have a couple friends interested in playing? Bring up to two more players, share a room and each pay only €951 via our group packages.

Full details here. The early-bird special runs until May 15.

Up to 2,000 Players Expected

2014 BOM winner Antoan Katsarov.

Set for Nov. 4-9, the 2015 Battle of Malta will return to the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s, Malta. Along with an extra starting day for the main event, more side events, parties and player perks are on tap.

Earlier this year the folks behind the European Poker Awards recognized the Battle of Malta as the best small buy-in tournament in Europe.

The reason? A record-breaking 1,447-player field, booming side events and parties and an amazing, casual vibe that celebrated the fun-side of poker to the fullest.

There’s a good chance this year the Battle of Malta will be even bigger thanks to the additional day of play and up to 2,000 can be accommodated.

Last year Bulgarian Antoan Katsarov outlasted the record field to win €122,750.

888poker Back As Title Sponsor, Packages Flying

888poker is once again the main sponsor for the Battle of Malta and will give PokerListings’ players multiple chances to win a package to the 2015 BOM for free.

Weekly qualifiers are already running with satellites from as low as 1c. Every other month 888 will also give away a €2k Deluxe BOM package that includes:

For the full list of qualifying options and more on the 2015 Battle of Malta schedule, check our Battle of Malta page.

This year's Battle of Malta is going to be massive so start prepping now with Maria Ho's top five strategy tips for low-stakes, big-field poker tournaments.

In 2014 Maria Ho hosted the Battle of Malta for the first time, helping the event crush the €500,000 guaranteed prize pool.

170 players made it into the money and Bulgaria's Antoan Katsarov went all the way to win €122,750, all from just a €550 buy-in.

Big-field, low buy-in tournaments are exploding in popularity because you can win a huge prize without risking a lot of money, but bigger fields and shorter structures mean a more treacherous journey into the money.

These events demand a specialized approach and in this video Maria Ho offers five key concepts you need to know to consistently make it deep.

Watch More Poker Tips from the Pros

Check out the video and keep reading below for more strategy:

#5: Capitalize On Other Players' Mistakes Early

Early in these tournaments there will be players who feel pressured to play loose and aggressive in an effort to build a stack quickly. And if it's a re-entry event, some players will be willing to gamble in the early stages because they know they can buy back into the tournament.

In the first few levels you're actually pretty deep-stacked so you don't have to be the one putting it all on the line with a marginal hand. It pays to be patient and wait for a really good spot before playing for your whole stack.

#4: Play in Position, Target Weak Players

Just because we advocate waiting for a big hand before you play for stacks, it doesn't mean you should be sitting out and missing good spots to pick up easy pots.

For beginner and intermediate players, the quickest way to find these spots is to play most of your hands in position, and against the players you've identified as weak or inexperienced.

Weaker players will let you take down the pot when they miss, especially when they're out of position, and they're more likely to overplay a medium hand and pay you off if you do flop something big.

#3: Learn to 3-Bet Shove with 20 Big Blinds

In this kind of tournament it's pretty common have a stack of 15 to 20 big blinds at some point and it can be an awkward spot for inexperienced players.

It's intimidating to call or raise before the flop because folding later in the hand will leave you shortstacked.

One really powerful move that uses the 15-20 big blind stack effectively is the 3-bet shove. Look for aggressive players who are opening lots of pots and jam your stack in before the flop.

You still have enough chips to force folds from medium hands, and if you choose the hands you do this with well, you won't be dominated when you do get called.

#2: Don't Be Afraid of the Bubble

During the bubble period of these kinds of events, a lot of players will shut down to try to make it into the money. This is a great time to pick up chips without have to take any big risks.

It's really important to get involved and try to build a stack while other players are tightening up.

You should also keep an eye out for other players who are also trying to take advantage of the bubble. Some of them will know that they should be playing aggressively on the bubble but they won't really want to play big pots when you put pressure on them.

You can 3-bet these players before the flop and call in position to try to take the pot away later in the hand.

#1: Get a Headstart on Building Reads for the Final Table

The big money in poker tournaments is at the final table and you can give yourself an edge by profiling everyone you play with earlier in the tournament, before you meet them at the final table.

It's common beginner advice to always pay attention, even when you're not in the hand, but it's something that most poker players fail to actually do well.

When there's five tables left, really start working on building reads. There's always a redraw at three tables, and sometimes at two, so chances are you'll play with everyone who makes the final table before you even get there.

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Stories like Antoan Katsarov’s are a big reason for the general public’s fascination with poker.

Last November the Bulgarian qualified online and turned €10 into €122,750 at the 2014 Battle of Malta.

Pokerzeit.com's Lars Liedtke met up with him again six months later, at the place of his biggest success, to find out what’s happened since.

PZ: Hello Antoan, thank you very much for taking the time. Can you introduce yourself to the audience and tell us when and where you first came into contact with poker?

Back where it began.

AK: I started playing poker four years ago while studying dentistry. At that time I was not sure if this is what I want to do with my life.

Then I discovered online poker. My first money I made in freerolls and after that I grinded my way up from NL2 before I decided to become a professional poker player.

PZ: Since Dimitar Danchev won the PCA in 2013 Bulgarians have become more and more a force in live tournaments. What do you think is the reason for the success? Do you exchange knowledge with each other? Can you describe the poker scene in Bulgaria?

AK: There are a couple of groups with 5 or 6 good players respectively, who exchange knowledge. 

Bulgaria is one of the poorest countries in Europe and in my opinion that’s why poker is quickly growing there as it gives people the chance to make a living.

With $1,000 you can live two to three months there.

PZ: You live in the capital, Sofia. Do you like living there? What makes up the charm of this city for you? Do you have casinos or poker rooms there where you can play live?

AK: In general Sofia is a great city for poker players as it is very cheap and Bulgaria has one of the fastest Internet connections in the world.

On the other hand crime is high, because the country is poor, and the rake on PokerStars is high since it became the first legal poker room last August.

In addition to that the market is getting more and more regulated. Online poker is legal now but there are much more restrictions than a year ago.

PZ: How did you hear about the Battle of Malta? And why did you decide to play the tournament?

AK: When I played the satellite I didn’t even know what exactly the Battle of Malta was.

I play poker professionally but don’t really care much about the poker scene.

PZ: You prevailed over 1,447 players and turned your buy-in of €550 into an unbelievable €122,750 at BOM 2014, which was the biggest poker tournament in Maltese history. What’s happened since then? Did this win change your life?

The biggest difference is I consider myself a much better player now.

AK: In fact it was much less as I qualified through a €10 satellite.

Since the win my life hasn’t changed that much. The biggest difference is that I consider myself a much better player now than I was back then.

At that time I was mostly playing mid-stakes and I learned a lot through playing high-stakes MTTs online afterward as those games are really tough.

I got some coaching and started to talk more with other players. In addition some of my friends are really good online players and they helped me become a better player.

PZ: The heads-up at the Battle of Malta was heavily discussed as you weren’t able to play it out and finish the tournament because of regulations in Malta. You had to make a deal in the end. What do you think about this way to end the tournament and did it affect heads-up play a lot?

AK: I was not happy at all because I played mainly Heads-Up Hyper Turbos at that time.

Heads-Up is my best game and I wanted to play to the end, as I was pretty sure that I would win.

PZ: You have your own coaching site and you also analyze hands for PokerStrategy Bulgaria. How did you become a poker coach? Do you also give private poker coaching or take coaching from other famous players? Does it help your own game when you coach less experienced players?

"I started from the bottom and invested a lot of time."

AK: I started from the bottom and invested a lot of time in the last few years to work on my game.

I analyzed around 4,000 hands for PokerStrategy. Regarding Sit & Gos I learned the most from “Unam,“ a Heads-Up Sit & Go coach from the German community.

When it comes to MTTs I recommend the public coaching of “bah22.”

Collin Moshman also helped me a lot. He became a good friend of mine. At PokerStrategy it is very common to exchange strategies.

Furthermore I have my own coaching site called “YourPokerSchool” where I have around 35 private students.

Analyzing their hands also helped me a lot and gave me a good unders

tanding of situations and ranges.

PZ: Can you compare the Battle of Malta to EPT Malta? What are the similarities and differences?

AK: The best tournament players in the world are playing in the EPT Main Events.

It is basically a REG-fest and the buy-in is above my bankroll, so I only play the satellites and wouldn’t buy-in directly as I don’t see myself at the same level of players like Vanessa Selbst.

The average player in an EPT Main Event is much better than at the Battle of Malta. BOM is more comparable to the IPT Main Event.

Reigning champ will be back to defend his honor.

In those two tournaments the average skill level is almost the same. There were good players at the Battle of Malta, but the number of them is much less than in an EPT and the value therefore is much higher.

PZ: What are your plans and goals for the future? Will you defend your title at the Battle of Malta 2015?

AK: My plan is to play more live tournaments and select them wisely. So I will travel next to the UKIPT Nottingham and then maybe to the Estrellas Poker Tour.

In November I will defend my title at the Battle of Malta. I am the reigning champion, so it is a question of honor.

It’s been called the best low buy-in tournament in Europe and players have until tomorrow to get into the action at an even more discounted rate.

The 2015 Battle of Malta Early Bird Special ends tomorrow (May 15), which means this is the last chance for players to get an up to 18% discount on their package.

The early-bird special is for hotel + buy-in packages, which start at €1,295. Each package also includes entrance to three separate VIP BOM parties.

You can buy packages for one, two or three players. The best deal is getting three of your friends together to play on Day 1b. That package costs just €2,759 for three players and offers a whopping 18% discount from regular pricing.

Head over to the Battle of Malta payment page ASAP to get it on the deal.

Extra Day Added to BOM for Potentially Bigger Field

Maria Ho

The Battle of Malta is once again set to be played out in the fall taking place Nov. 4-9, 2015, at the five-star Hilton Hotel in St. Julian’s.

The buy-in is just €550 with an enormous €500,000-GTD prize pool. Last year Antoan Katsarov outlasted 1,447 players to lock up a first-place prize of €122,750.

Maria Ho will once again handle the hosting duties with numerous pros expected to play the small buy-in tournament.

This year there may be even more players as an extra day has been added to the schedule to help assist with the massive throngs of players.

To learn more about the BOM or buy in directly you can head over to our Battle of Malta homepage.

After a record-setting 2014 the Battle of Malta is back and you can take advantage of our great-value packages to lock up your seat right now.

1,447 players entered the BOM Main Event last year, crushing the €500k guarantee and earning the 2014 European Poker Award for best new low buy-in live event.

With a bigger capacity, more parties and an enhanced schedule of side events, this year is going to be even bigger.

Celebrity poker player Maria Ho is back as host and she'll be joined by a big group of A-list poker pros November 4-9, 2015 at the Portomaso Casino in Malta.

You can lock up your seat right now with an affordable package that includes:

Click here to buy your 2015 Battle of Malta package now!

Qualify Online and We'll Refund Original Purchase Price

If you want to lock up a package now but think you might try to grind a BOM package online with one of our sponsors, don't worry.

Maria Ho is back as BOM Host.

Anyone who buys a package directly and goes on to win one online will be refunded the entire original package price.

Right now there's a weekly BOM satellite happening Thursdays on 888poker. The buy-in is $160 with at least one package guaranteed per week.

888 also has a great step-system that gives you the chance to win your way to the Battle of Malta for as little as one cent!

Last year Scotland's Brendan Doogan started by buying into a one-cent satellite and made it through all six steps to win a $160 ticket to win a full BOM package.

Doogan competed in the Battle of Malta Main Event and turned that one-cent investment into a poker holiday in Malta and a 101st-place finish worth €1,250.

Click here to check out the latest online BOM qualifiers.

Maria Ho Invites You to 2015 Battle of Malta

This November you can get in on one of the most exciting low buy-in poker tournaments on the planet.

Check out the video to get a taste of the action!

Now in its 3rd year the PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards are an annual celebration of the best poker brings out in people.

Defining just exactly what the "spirit of poker" is can be elusive, but one thing's for sure: we know it when we see it.

These are poker players who stand out with joy, heart and originality both on and off the felt.

Newcomers who burst on the stage and take the poker tournament scene by storm. Oldtimers who’ve been around since the early days but still have plenty of game to compete with today's young guns.

Starts from the top down.

Our signature category - the Most Inspiring Player - highlights the players who not only make poker a living but make it so inviting others want to be a part of it too.

Every year at the Battle of Malta PokerListings crowns three players for their outstanding achievements on and off the felt for the past 12 months.

Who they'll be in 2015 is up to you.

Rising Stars, Living Legends

Distributed across three categories - Rising Star, Living Legend and Most Inspiring Player - the 2015 Spirit of Poker Award Nominees are a cross-section of everything that makes the game of poker great.

Eight players have been fastidiously picked by our editorial panel in each category and every single one of them has brought something unique to poker that deserves to be recognized. The official nominees for 2015:

2015 Most Inspiring Player Award

Rising Star Award

Future is here.

Living Legend Award

Voting Open Now!

With the nominees officially named it's now up to you, the readers, to determine who makes it to the shortlist of three in each category.

Head to the PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards Main Page to vote and for an overview of the players' extraordinary achievements over the last year to help make your decision.

Voting is now open and will be until September 13, 2015, at midnight. The PokerListings team will then announce the three players with the most votes in each category.

The editorial panel will then vote on and determine the winners.

Past winners of Spirit of Poker Awards include Shannon Shorr, Dominik Panka, Thor Hansen, Luca Moschitta, Pierre Neuville and Naoya Kihara.

Award Ceremony at Battle of Malta 2015

Who will Maria crown this year?

The awards will be presented during the 2015 Battle of Malta which takes place November 4-9.

The 4th Annual Battle of Malta will be fought again in the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s, Malta.

It has grown every year since its inception in 2012 with almost 1,500 players in last year's main event to once again shatter the record for largest poker tournament ever in Malta.

Poker pro, TV presenter and 3-time Last Woman Standing in the WSOP main event, Maria Ho, will also be back to host again.

The 2015 Battle of Malta will be five intense days of poker. The main event will have three opening days to accommodate all players but you will also find side events every day including a 2-day Second Chance and a Pot-Limit Omaha Event.

Don’t forget the parties, either. Check out this video to see what they were like last year.

Go to our BOM payment page to book your VIP package. You can also qualify online for as little as 1c; find available satellites here.

Tell us who you think should get a PokerListings Spirit of Poker Award and vote! And we’d be thrilled to see you at the “Best Low Buy-in Poker Tournament in Europe."

While you can't book your seat in the November Nine anymore there are still plenty of chances to make your own life-changing final table this November.

With an expanded side-event schedule on top of the award-winning, €500,000 guaranteed €550 main event, a 2015 Battle of Malta final table is yours for the taking.

You can get there on the cheap, too, with satellites running daily and weekly on several online poker sites.

Platinum Sponsors 888poker, Betsson, Betsafe and NordicBet are all running dozens of events this summer with premium Battle of Malta packages on the line.

All packages are all-inclusive and include Main Event buy-in, hotel, party tickets, daily buffet and breakfast and more. Some also include extra cash for travel expense.

Silver Sponsor RedBet and Classic Sponsor PAFpoker are doing likewise and you can even begin your journey to the 2015 Battle of Malta for free.

Daily Freerolls at Betsson, Betsafe and NordicBet

If "free" is your current summer budget for poker satellites you still have lots of choices. Freerolls run twice daily at Betsson, Betsafe and NordicBet with 10 €3.30 Level 1 tickets added to each.

2,000 players expected in 2015.

Those €3.30 Level 1 satellites run 3x daily with €27 Level 2 tickets up for grabs.

One €175 weekly final ticket is guaranteed in each Level 2 event which can put you in the running for a premium €1,550 Battle of Malta package.

€2,000 2015 Battle of Malta Packages at 888Poker

Battle of Malta qualifiers at 888poker start at 1c and run daily. Win your way up to a $160 Step 5 Ticket and it can be used for any 888Live & Major Tournaments including the weekly BOM qualifier every Thursday.

Spectacular locale for spectacular poker.

Two more exclusive freerolls will also run over the summer on Aug. 2 and Oct. 4. PokerListings players who earn just 100 points in the respective qualifying periods will get a ticket.

Each winner will receive a deluxe $2,000 2015 Battle of Malta package including:

Sign up for an account via our 888poker review to be eligible and to qualify for an exclusive $888 bonus.

Win a €1,800 BoM Package at PAF Poker!

Play Against Friends (PAF) Poker is upping the stakes for its 2015 Battle of Malta packages to truly make it a poker holiday to remember.

Daily freezeouts are available from $5.50 to $108 buy-ins with tickets up for grabs to the next step in each. The Malta Live Poker Final $320 Freezeout runs every Sunday at 8 pm with at least one package guaranteed.

PAF Battle of Malta Packages include:

Check the Battle of Malta Qualifiers page for details. And check back regularly for more qualifiers added!

Most poker players, to some degree, have an idol. Someone they found so inspiring it “made” them jump into poker.

It can be the player's personality, success in the game, or even just something said on TV once. Maybe it's how he or she played a certain hand.

For the past three years PokerListings has put those players in the spotlight for our annual Spirit of Poker Awards. The awards are handed out in three different categories: Living Legend, Rising Star and Most Inspiring Player.

The eight nominees in each category are the players we feel have been the most inspirational on and off the felt over the past 12 months.

At the 2015 Battle of Malta PokerListings will host the third Spirit of Poker Awards ceremony and who will ultimately win in each category all comes down to you.

Who do you think deserves it? Take part in the voting and give your favorite player his or her due. As part of a three-part series here's a closer look at our 2015 Most Inspiring Player nominees.

Martin Jacobson

Age: 28

Country: Sweden

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 9/2

His $10 million triumph at the 2014 WSOP was the tipping point of a poker career that began in 2008 and had, to that point, included four runner-up finishes at EPT, WPT and High Roller events.

Jacobson immediately put that money to work for the global causes he finds important. Prior to becoming the world champ he signed on to represent the Raising for Effective Giving charity and donated 1% of his take - totaling $250,000 - in support of the humane treatment of animals.

Jacobson has also inspired the poker community with his continued dedication to better health. Physical fitness is a major trademark and it was only fitting the meticulous preparation he put in for last year’s WSOP final table paid off.

He trained with over 30 different players and had them take on the roles of his opponents, which they had to study in turn. Studies included videos, past events and statistical analyses.

The payoff: Jacobson overcame his shorter stack to win poker's ultimate championship. He's now #1 on the all-time Swedish money list, #1 in the Swedish POY ranking and made it into the Top 10 of the world’s all-time money list.

But his legacy will carry on far past any poker leaderboard.

Davidi Kitai

Age: 35

Country: Belgium

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 18/2

What can be more inspiring than ambition? The small-but-energetic poker powerhouse that is Belgium has brought forth the man we call the “Phil Ivey of Europe."

Kitai has made it his mission to conquer the GPI rankings and he’s already made it to second place. In the meantime he's #1 in the Belgian all-time money rankings and #1 in the Belgian POY rankings.

But maybe the most fascinating thing about him is his incredible insight into the game. Watch how he baffles his opponent at a WSOP final table, calling three streets with queen high and then showing confidently!

Leo Margets

Age: 31

Country: Spain

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 3/0

The Last Woman Standing at the WSOP main event in 2009, Leo has come a long way since then. She’s a PokerStars team pro, a writer and a sports fanatic.

She uses physical challenges to get in the right mindset and she even has an almost ready manuscript for a novel on her bookshelf.

She listens to what people has to say and 24k followers on Twitter are more than enough evidence that people like to listen to what she says, too.

Recently Leo has taken up writing a blog on PokerListings to give us some personal insight into the life of a professional player with all its ups and downs.

Many women learn poker from their boyfriends, as Margets did, but few go on to make it their own career and prevail in such a male-dominated environment.

Aditya Agarwal

Age: 30

Country: India

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 8/2

Plenty of players have stood out by influencing a larger group of people. Agarwal, by comparison, is the poker spearhead of a whole sub-continent with well over a billion people.

He’s the first player from India ever to be named to Team PokerStars Pro. He has more cashes than any other player from India. He’s made the money in the WSOP main event the last three years in a row (71st this year) and he’s number one in the Indian GPI.

Asia is still underrepresented on the global poker circuit despite a larger population than all the other continents together and it needs players like Agarwal to change that.

With the second largest population on Earth India's poker potential is unfathomable and Agarwal is the guy who might just wake up the Bengal Tiger.

Dominik Nitsche

Age: 24

Country: Germany

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 19/6

At the age of only 24 poker globetrotter Dominik Nitsche already has 92 cashes in international tournaments.

There are plenty of good players in Germany but nobody is as outspoken about the level of play, nobody spends as much time in commentary booths and nobody spends as much time on the road.

Since he burst on the stage with an LAPT win at the age of only 18 Nitsche has won titles and tournaments on all continents.

Recently 888poker has contracted him so he’s now a sponsored player who’s still winning. His second place at the Bellagio Cup post-WSOP is just one more example.

Anatoly Filatov

Age: 27

Country: Russia

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 9/2

Ever think there’s not enough fun in poker? Then you obviously haven’t met Anatoly Filatov.

The man from Moscow – often dressed in the most striking of colors – always has a very good time -- at the poker table as well as away from it.

Filatov this year led Team Russia into the finals of the inaugural Global Poker Masters in Malta, won the High Roller event of the WPT Cyprus and was a jury member at the European Poker Awards.

One of the most talked about and revered players on the Russian poker forums, Filatov may not be a big name in the English market yet but he's a driving force of one of the biggest poker markets in the world.

Jason Somerville

Age: 28

Country: US

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 3/2

One of the latest introductions to the PokerStars team Somerville has accumulated almost 7.5 million views with his broadcasts on Twitch -- many people seeing his clips as the most educational for new players out there.

He’s excelled as a live commentator for TV and entertained poker fans from all over the world with his chats with professional players.

Somerville has also received a lot of acclaim for his online poker career where he made over $2m without ever making a deposit.

His live successes include a 4th place in the $100k Las Vegas High Roller event for $1.3 million but maybe the bravest thing he’s ever done was coming out as poker's first openly gay pro in 2012.

He continue to inspire poker players - and people from all walks of life - to live out their best lives. And not much you can accomplish on the felt can top that.

Max Pescatori

Age: 44

Country: Italy

Cashes last 12 months/WSOP 2015: 22/7

“The Italian Pirate” this summer became the first European player ever to win four WSOP bracelets. His victories have come in four different games, too, as he's won tournaments in No-Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Hold’em/Omaha, Razz and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo.

Pescatori lives in Las Vegas but hails from Milan, Italy. Like many live players he’s on the road almost all the time. Over the last 12 months Pescatori has cashed in Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia and England.

He’s been partly responsible for two of the very few books on poker that were originally written in Italian. His live career began in 2002 and he’s now accumulated almost 200 cashes. He shows no signs of slowing down.

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Which of these players do you consider most inspiring to the poker community? Who do you look up to?

Cast your vote right here!

If you want to play the 2015 PokerListings Battle of Malta for free the upcoming satellites on RedBet Poker are an excellent place to start.

RedBet has just started its exclusive 'Road to Malta' promo with 10 exclusive freerolls every week.

Over $4,000 in tournament tickets and two 2015 Battle of Malta packages worth €1,550 each will be awarded.

The Road to Malta began on RedBet this week and will run straight through until Oct. 2.

You can qualify for the Road to Malta freerolls in two different ways:

1. Daily freeroll/coin flip tournaments.

2. Deposit €25 or more using that week’s code.

Over €3,000 in 2015 Battle of Malta Packages

The Battle of Malta

After the promo ends on Oct. 2 the player that sits atop the Road to Malta leaderboard will earn a full €1,550 package to the Battle of Malta.

In addition there will be a Road to Malta Final Freeroll on Oct. 9 where the eventual winner will walk away with a €1,550 package.

You can qualify for the Road to Malta Final Freeroll in three different ways:

- Finish in the top 3 on the Road to Malta Leaderboard
- Play 1,000 ranked hands between July 27-Oct. 2
- Play 8 out of the 10 Road to Malta freerolls

Last year the Battle of Malta attracted nearly 1,500 runners which created a prize pool of €701,795.

This year the tournament is expected to be even bigger, thanks to an extra starting day, and could potentially get close to a €1m prize pool.

For more information you can check out the RedBet Road to Malta homepage. Also be sure to check out our 2015 Battle of Malta homepage.