In the span of just two years the PokerListings Battle of Malta has become one of the largest poker tournaments in Europe.

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.

Just over a month remains until the 2014 Battle of Malta kicks off and if you're looking to get in on it, plenty of seats are still available.

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 PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards were introduced in 2013 to recognize players that do more than just play poker well.

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!”

There will be a slew of poker-hungry Norwegians at the 2014 Battle of Malta on Nov. 6-9 including heavy hitters Johnny Lodden and Thor Hansen.

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.

Expanded capacity for up to 1,500 players. Over 30 pros and celebs already on the player list.

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.

As most poker fans remember, Philip Hilm came into the 2007 WSOP Main Event final table as the chip leader.

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.”

The 2014 Battle of Malta main event has surpassed all expectations to become one of the largest live, standalone poker tournaments ever held in Europe.

A total of 1,447 entries generated a prize pool of €701,795 to smash our own record for biggest poker tournament ever held in Malta.

In fact, there has never been a €550 buy-in poker event in Europe with more players or a bigger prize pool.

With numbers like that the BOM now ranks as the biggest standalone (ie not a part of a larger tour) poker tournament of comparable buy-in size in Europe this year.

Attendance in 2014 has beaten out several traditional standalone events like the Irish Poker Open in Dublin, which had 411 runners this year.

Small but eye-opening crowd in 2012.

The event that comes closest to the BOM this year was the Norwegian Championship of Poker with 1,263 players in the main event.

The new King’s Cup, organized by PokerStars at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic on the exact same date as the BOM, attracted 551 players.

That’s 40 players less than the BOM’s Siege of Malta Second Chance event with its field of 593 players.

Crazy Idea Not So Crazy

When the idea for the first Battle of Malta was floated in 2012 the general consensus was it was risky to try and draw a crowd to a poker tournament in Malta November.

Turns out it wasn't that risky after all

Around 350 players made their way to the small Mediterranean island for the first edition, easily cracking the €150,000 guarantee and putting the BOM immediately on the poker map.

With stars like Leo Mergets taking notice, BOM is clearly on the radar.

One year later the BOM concept of combining a vacation with a low buy-in poker tournament for poker enthusiasts took off.

Instead of the expected 500 or so players an amazing 888 entries streamed in for the 2013 Battle of Malta main event, crushing the newly boosted €200,000 guarantee.

The guarantee was raised yet again to a daunting €500,000 this year but the players kept coming, making it the largest tournament prize pool of that buy-in size in Europe.

The pros noticed as well, with an elite list of names making their way to the island including Johnny Lodden, Thor Hansen, Leo Margets, Luca Pagano, Dominik Nitsche, Dominik Panka, Fabrice Soulier, Dermot Blain and more.

314% Growth Since Year One

From first to second year, the player field of the BOM main event grew by 154% and the event was nominated for “Best European Poker Event of the Year."

From the second year to this year it grew by another 63%. These are numbers you don’t see in any other poker event on the continent.

While the 2014 main event is currently down to its final two tables and side events are filling the tournament rooms, we would like to say thank you to all you hundreds of players, staff and sponsors from all over Europe who made this event possible.

From just an idea to an industry leader in under three years is an accomplishment all involved, on either side of the felt, can take pride in.

It’s been called one of the greatest small buy-in tournaments ever held in Europe but that doesn’t mean you necessarily have to pay the full buy-in.

PokerListings released a complete schedule of live qualifiers for the 2017 Battle of Malta today.

Satellites season will run from Aug. 27 to Oct. 30, 2017, with a variety of events at Portomaso Casino and one at the Oracle Casino in Buggiba.

It's all leading up to the €500,000-guaranteed Battle of Malta, which will take place Nov. 2-7, 2017, at the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s, Malta.

Live Satellites Start at €55

There are already 11 events listed on the official qualifier schedule with more to be announced in the future.

The satellites start at €55, which is pretty modest considering Robert Berglund walked with €160,000 when he won the 2016 edition of the Battle of Malta.

“The BOM organization is very excited to kick off the live satellite season,” said Event Director Ivonne Montealegre.

“With the start of the live satellites we also mark the beginning of the multi-faceted BOM experience. The live satellites are super affordable — starting at just €55.

“During live satellites we also get a lot of feedback from players and we are always listening. This year the live satellite tournament structure is identical to the Main Event one, scaled down to less players. It’s great practice for the actual Main Event!”

Of course live satellites aren’t the only way to qualify for the 2017 Battle of Malta. Players can also attempt to win their way in via one of the numerous online qualifiers.

Huge Numbers Expected for 2017 BOM

Last year the Battle of Malta attracted 1,813 but this year could be even bigger with more events with guaranteed prize pools than ever before.

Gianfranco Scordato, Portomaso General Manager, had this to say about the importance of BOM to the Maltese poker scene in general.

“BOM is the largest tournament in Malta and also a very important one in Europe,” he said.

“All players love the BOM and the start of live satellites also marks the start of the BOM season. We expect a massive field this year and, along with PokerListings, we have no doubt this BOM will also leave players impressed with the quality of the service we provide.

“I cannot think of a friendlier tournament, yet with a staggeringly-large field.”

The qualifiers begin on Aug. 27 with a Kickoff Event that features a €55 buy-in and at least three seats to BOM are guaranteed.

Every event on the qualifying schedule guarantees at least two Main Event buy-ins but some of the later qualifiers will award at least five seats.

Head over to our 2017 Battle of Malta Live Satellite Schedule Homepage to get a complete list of the qualifiers.

Of course if you want to skip the qualifying process you can still just go to our BOM registration page and buy-in directly for €550.

Have you got your vote in for the 2017 Spirit of Poker Awards?

If not, the time is now as the voting closes this Sunday, September 17.

Voting is open in three categories - Most Inspiring Player, Rising Star and Living Legend - and there's still plenty of room to sway the votes for the three finalists in each.

Staples Leads MIP Count

As of today the leader of the signature Most Inspiring Player voting is, unsurprisingly, Jaime "PokerStaples" Staples.

The affable Canadian has earned a legion of fans through his ambitious live streaming and Vlogging and his epic 150k weight bet with Bill Perkins has endeared him to even more.

Don't count Hesp out yet.

The Team PokerStars Online pro and his Streamboat cohorts had to evacuate the Virgin Islands last week in advance of Hurricane Irma but he took the opportunity to visit New York City for the first time and swing back to his hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta.

The noticeably slimmer Staples has a "slim" (see what we did there?) lead in the voting, though, with British WSOP sensation John Hesp and Italian legend Max Pescatori currently joining him in the Top 3.

Liv Boeree and Kenny Hallaert are very close behind and could easily jump into the Top 3 with a surge of last-minute votes. Jeff Gross, Ema Zajmovic and Mikhail Semin need to rally the troops.

Get your vote in right here!

Most Inspiring Player - Current Top 3

Jørstad, Fernández Neck-and-Neck for Rising Star

In our Rising Star category Spain's Oriol Fernández and Norway's Espen Uhlen Jørstad are a lock to make the final 3.

Espen Uhlen Jorstad

Jørstad's particularly inspiring story of finding poker and changing his life around has clearly moved the needle with voters but Fernández's fans aren't letting it go without a fight.

Who will join them for the final selection panel? Right now 888poker pro Parker Talbot has the edge but Brazil's Vivian Saliba could make a last-gasp push too.

Kelly Winterhalter is trailing but undoubtedly deserves her spot alongside the other four, regardless of the voting.

Make your vote for Rising Star here!

Rising Star - Current Top 3

Hildebrand Running Away with Living Legend

When Sweden's Per Hildebrand made the final 5 nominees for the Living Legend Award, he may have been overshadowed by some bigger names but he was never a "throw-in."

Hildebrand = HoF

The 2017 inductee into the Swedish Poker Hall of Fame deserves every accolade that comes his way but, it seemed, was a longshot to leap over such poker luminaries as Mike Sexton and Marcel Luske.

Consider that longshot to have come in. Hildebrand has crushed the voting over the past couple of months and now holds a commanding lead heading into the final days.

Could Sexton or Luske overtake him before Sunday? It's possible, we suppose. Barny Boatman and Padraig Parkinson could, too. 

But Hildebrand is clearly much-loved in Scandinavia and beyond and now the clear favorite to bring the award back to Sweden.

Vote for Living Legend right here!

Living Legend Award - Current Top 3

The 2017 Spirit of Poker Awards will be presented in a live ceremony at the 2017 Battle of Malta. See our past winners here.

Just 44 days remain until the Battle of Malta returns.

Do you have your seat yet?

If not, this might be the easiest way to save money while qualifying for the BOM main event. And all you need is the Appeak app.

It’s free to play and you can get it both in the Google store and in the iTunes/Apple store.

If you want to check it out on Facebook, click on this link and play some hands.

You’ll see shortly that the competition is … let’s say … manageable.

Black Pearls and Road to BoM

Once you've got the app, you'll need to play some SnGs to begin your qualifying for the Battle of Malta.

Competition is not fierce.

To play in these SnG satellites you need to buy in with Black Pearls. Black Pearls you can purchase for $30 apiece. 

Win an SnG and you get five points; finish second and you get two points. Collect 23 points and you’re there – you've won your BOM main event ticket worth €550.

When you have reached 23 points just send an email to battleofmalta(at)pokerlistings.com to claim your entry ticket.

Win a Seat for $150

So let’s break it down. Best-case scenario you can win your ticket for $150 with no strings attached.

While it’s unlikely you'll win five SnG in a row, the odds you won't have to go much further than five are pretty good.

Let’s say you need twice as many SnGs to win 5 - then your BOM main event ticket is $300 instead of €550.

Join the crowd!

Even if you need 15 SnGs to collect the required amount of points you’re still saving around €175/$210. 

More Ways to Win

Outside of Appeak there are still plenty of ways to get to BoM.

The easiest (and most direct) is to go to our BOM page and buy your exclusive VIP BOM package. You can also go for the economy package to save a few hundred Euros.

Then there are our online satellites. Play on Betsafe, Betsson or NordicBet for your BOM package, but you’ll have to face some stiff Scandinavian competition.

If you're on the island already, head to the Portomaso Casino and play our live satellites. We’re running €55+5 tournaments every week so one in 10 players wins a main event buy-in.

There is also a BOM satellite at the European Poker Adventure at the The Oracle Casino in Malta, but check out what’s happening in your country. Live sats are running all over Europe.

You can find all additional the information on PokerListings own poker event on our Battle of Malta page. Last year’s winner, Robert Berglund from Sweden, took home €160,000!

Right now you can qualify for the hottest low buy-in tournament of the year with Battle of Malta Platinum Sponsors Betsson, NordicBet and Betsafe.

Satellites are running, starting as low as €1.10, to help you get your hands on a €1,650 VIP BoM package.

Each package includes everything you’ll need to have the poker holiday of a lifetime. All you’ll have to do is get yourself to Malta this November 2-7.

This year’s Battle of Malta Main Event has a €500,000 guaranteed prize pool but if last year is any indication, that guarantee is going to get blown away. In 2016 the BoM Main Event drew 1,813 entries with a €879,305 prize pool.

Including the side events, last year’s Battle of Malta awarded almost €1.3 million in prizes, along with some of the coolest trophies in the poker world.

This year’s tournament has a brand-new host, Gaëlle Garcia Diaz, and for the first time ever we’re putting guarantees on all the side events. 2017 will also be the first time BoM has its own Ladies Event.

Learn More About 2017 BoM Online Satellites

Step Your Way to 2017 Battle of Malta

Right now you can take advantage of Steps Satellites to win your way to the Battle of Malta for as little as €1.10.

The idea is simple. Start at the lowest step for just €1.10 for a chance to win a ticket to the €11 second step. Win that and you’ll get a ticket to the weekly €110 final where you can win a VIP BoM Package.

BoM 2017 runs November 2-7.

Every Battle of Malta VIP Package includes:

The 2017 Battle of Malta is going to be massive and you could potentially turn a €1.10 investment into a six-figure payday plus a poker experience you’ll never forget.

Even if you don’t get in via online satellites, there’s huge value buying in directly. In addition to VIP packages for €1,460, you also have the option to buy our Economy Package for just €1,025 and stay at the nearby Ir-Rokna Hotel with breakfast buffet.

Whichever package you choose, you'll get your Main Event buy-in and access to all four parties.

Click here for more information on the 2017 Battle of Malta and how to qualify or buy-in directly.

The PokerListings readers have spoken.

For the fifth consecutive year, the PokerListings Spirit of Poker Awards aimed to recognize a group of players who have contributed more than just big results at the poker tables.

Their enthusiasm, passion and contributions to the game go well beyond the felt and the nominees put forward in 3 categories - Most Inspiring Player, Rising Star and Living Legend - symbolize the "Spirit" of poker that will keep the game flourishing for decades.

Our readers then took over and voted for the players they found most inspiring, most promising and most revered. After three months of online voting the results are now in and we're proud to announce our 2017 winners:

Liv Boeree – Most Inspiring Player

For most readers, no introduction is needed for Liv Boeree.

A long-time Team PokerStars pro, EPT main event winner, Raising for Effective Giving (REG) co-founder, astro-physicist and Burning Man regular, Boeree is widely known as one of the top poker ambassadors on the planet.

Liv began her poker career on a reality TV show where she learned the game from Phil Hellmuth but cemented her status as a rising star when she won the EPT San Remo main event in 2010 -- at the time the largest EPT event on European soil.

Unlike many EPT winners before and since, though, instead of fading back into the crowd she took it to even higher levels.

By working meticulously on her game she's now at home among the game's elite, exemplified by such varied turns as being captain of the London Royals of the GPL, appearing on the revived Poker after Dark and winning her first bracelet in the $10k Tag Team event at the WSOP this summer with her partner Igor Kurganov.

Outside of poker she’s an active supporter and co-founder of Raising for Effective Giving (REG), a burgeoning charity that raises money from poker players (and non-players alike) to maximize the impact charitable donations can have on those most in need.

Liv will often raise her voice to criticize political leaders and short-sighted decisions and discuss important issues like climate change while still finding the time to marvel at an amazing picture of Saturn.

If you ever get a chance to sit with her at the poker table, chances are that it’ll be an experience you'll remember on a number of levels.

Espen Uhlen Jørstad – Rising Star

From World of Warcraft to the world of poker to the world of meditation, Espen Uhlen Jørstad has lived in all of them.

The popular Norwegian Twitch streamer and Hans Zimmer fan is 29 years old, which makes him one of our oldest nominees yet for this award. But poker is a game for everyone, and people come to it when the timing is right for them.

Uhlen Jørstad has undergone quite a remarkable development. He went from being a “fat anxious slob” addicted to WoW to being a soldier in the Norwegian army to being an athletic poker player to being an ambassador for Unibet poker.

Based in Malta for the last couple of years Jørstad is currently travelling the US West Coast with a friend from Estonia, playing his favorite format - cash games – in the casinos between Seattle and San Francisco.

Based on the time and effort we know he puts into his game, take it from us -- it won’t be long until you see him at the final table of a big international event.

He shares his poker life via open and heartfelt blogs and vlogs so this will hopefully find him somewhere on the road and make for another great chapter in his expanding poker book.

Per Hildebrand – Living Legend

It’s been a good year for Per Hildebrand, one of the pioneers of Swedish poker, as he was recently inducted into the Swedish Poker Hall of Fame -- only the fourth player ever to enjoy this privilege.

In his induction ceremony Hildebrand was commended for both his attitude and for “greatly contributing to enhancing the reputation of poker both in Sweden and internationally as a player and organizer."

Our readers agree.

His poker career officially began when he came second in the European Poker Championship in Malta of 1988, which was won at the time by Norwegian poker legend Thor Hansen (who won this award in 2014).

Hildebrand’s biggest success was probably reaching the final three tables of the 2005 WSOP Main Event – the year Joe Hachem won – but just this past summer he missed a WSOP bracelet by a hair, finishing second in the $10k 2-7 Championship to show he hasn't lost a step at all.

For many years Hildebrand was one of the organizers of the Swedish Poker Championships and he was also active in one of the first poker clubs in Sweden. He later founded the website 24h poker which has since become the Entraction poker network.

For over 30 years, Hildebrand has given back to the game of poker and clearly remains both a gentleman and a role model for young players to admire in Sweden and beyond.

Spirit of Poker Awards at Battle of Malta!

The Spirit of Poker Awards ceremony will take place this November at the 2017 Battle of Malta, Europe’s friendliest poker tournament.

Previous winners of Spirit of Poker Awards include Felipe Ramos, Humberto Brenes, Silje Nilsen, Thor Hansen, Dominik Panka, Charlie Carrel, Anatoly Filatov and Konstantin Puchkov.

All SOPA award winners are personally invited to come play the Battle of Malta and attend the award ceremony.

Congratulations to this year's winners and thank you greatly for your contributions to the poker world! We'd be honoured to see you in Malta in November! 

The record-breaking 2013 Battle of Malta is down from 888 players to just 24 after Day 2 with two Finns - one expected, one not so much - taking center stage.

Young gun Lauri Pesonen - a PokerListings Spirit of Poker Award finalist and rising star on the major tour circuit - is the expected one.

A £2k side-event winner at EPT London earlier in the year Pesonen navigated expertly through the bomb-laden field to end Day 2 third overall with 1,241,000 in chips.

Loose cannon Jukka Hilden - 1/4 of the Finnish stunt crew The Dudesons - surprised a few people at the tables over the last couple of days to say the least. Moving chips around like a boss, Hilden swung up towards the end of Day 2 to also head to Day 3 in the Top 10 with 801,000.

Italians, Scandis All Over Final 24

Jukka Dudeson: Moved his chips around.

An impressively international Battle of Malta field skewed decidely towards a couple of geographic areas as we wound down to 24 today.

Italians, perhaps feeling a slight home-court advantage given its proximity to Malta, and Scandinavians are all over the chip counts with several eyeing a big win tomorrow.

Norwegian Ambjorn Haga is the overall chip leader heading into Day 3 with 1,849,000 to join the two Finns in the top 10.

Marcus Holmstrom, Jan Erik Saelevik and Pontus Dahlgren add a bit more Northern flavor to the final 24. Norwegian pro Andreas Hoivold seemed set to join them but busted late in the day.

Giorgio Piazza leads the Italians in fourth overall with 1,023,000 while Malta's Konrad Abela leads the hometown charge in second with 1,492,000. Chip counts for the remaining 24 players below:

Andreas Hoivold: Fell late in the day.

€80,000 On the Table for Winner

Given the phenomenal turnout for the 2013 Battle of Malta the inflated prize pool will make for an extremely exciting rundown to the title tomorrow.

The final nine will split roughly €240,000 between them with the winner snagging €80,000 - an incredible return on a €550 buy-in.

Tune in to our Battle of Malta live updates tomorrow at 1 pm CET to see how it all plays out. Learn a bit more about The Dudesons ballsy poker strategy below:

Europe's hottest low buy-in poker event is back this November and it's expected to set a new record for the biggest poker tournament ever held in Malta.

With the same low buy-in of €550 the Battle of Malta Main Event has a monster guaranteed prize pool of €500,000.

Last year 888 players competed in the Main Event with Germany's Louis Cartarius taking the title and €80,000. It set the record for the biggest poker field ever hosted on the Mediterranean island and this year it's going to be even better.

The Battle of Malta strives to capture the atmosphere and excitement of a big buy-in major and make it available to recreational players at a price point they can afford.

Big-League Poker at Budget Buy-In

The Battle of Malta is also about creating an inclusive experience for all its players with plenty of parties and the opportunity to see everything Malta has to offer.

“We've been to every major poker tournament on the planet and when you're at the Battle of Malta it feels like you're playing on the EPT,” said PokerListings.com editor in chief Matt Showell.

The Battle of Malta is about more than just poker.

“Our entire reporting staff is on site with a full video crew and celebrity host so it's definitely something special for a €550 buy-in event.”

Coverage of the Battle of Malta will be posted online in ten different languages so players' friends and family can follow them every step of the way.

Go to the Battle of Malta Home Page for more information and to find out how to qualify through one of our many online poker partners.

Celebrities and Top Poker Pros Flock to Battle of Malta

Adding to the Battle of Malta's big-league feel is a huge roster of elite poker pros and celebrities.

Last year Kara Scott hosted for the second year as accomplished players like Dan “Jungleman” Cates, Sam Holden, Andreas Hoivold, Luca Moschitta, Naoya Kihara, Sofia "welllbet" Lövgren and Lauri Pesonen all battled at the felt.

Joining the pros were celebs like the infamous Finnish stunt crew known as The Dudesons, adult-entertainer Puma Swede and pick-up artist/instructor Sasha Daygame.

Check out the video below for a taste of what the Battle of Malta is all about.

Due to popular demand PokerListings.com has extended its Early Bird Package discounts for the 2014 Battle of Malta.

Until June 30 you can get your seat in the €500k guaranteed BOM Main Event plus four-nights at the Hilton Malta and tons of perks for just €1,300.

And if you want to bring a friend you can both play the €550 Main Event, share a room at the Hilton and have access to buffets, parties and priority registration to side events for just €1,800

The 2014 Battle of Malta plays out November 6-10 and is set to be the biggest poker tournament Malta has ever seen.

Click here to reserve your seat at the 2014 Battle of Malta now!

Battle of Malta Host Maria Ho will be playing the main event as well as attending all the parties, along with other big-name poker pros and celebrities.

And remember, if you buy an Early Bird package now and end up qualifying online later, we'll refund the full purchase price.

Early Bird packages include:

Buy Early Bird Package Now and Join Maria Ho at 2014 Battle of Malta

This November hundreds of poker players will descend on the Hilton Malta for Europe's hottest low buy-in poker event.

The Battle of Malta is about great poker action as well as a fun, social atmosphere that's perfect for recreational poker players or more serious grinders looking for great value.

Keep an eye on our 2014 Battle of Malta News Page for updates:

Players looking to lock up their seat at the 2014 Battle of Malta have just one more week to take advantage of big early-bird savings.

Until the end of June, players can save up to €170 on their shot at the massive €500,000 guaranteed Main Event as well as guarantee their seat in an event that's expected to sell out.

Click here to buy your seat and save big with our special Battle of Malta Early Bird Package.

For just €1,300 you'll get the buy-in to the main event, four nights at the 5-star Hilton Malta including breakfast, daily casino buffet and priority access to a huge schedule of VIP parties and side events.

If you want to save even more, bring one of your poker friends and you can both play the Main Event and share a room at the Hilton for just €1,800 with our Battle of Malta Friend Package.

With big-name poker pros, VIP parties and a celebrity host, players can experience what it's like to play in a major poker tournament at a buy-in that fits their bankroll.

Friends and family can follow your progress every step of the way with live coverage, interviews plus photos and video.

Battle of Malta host Maria Ho is in Las Vegas right now competing in the World Series of Poker, but she's already looking forward to Malta this November.

Maria Ho will host and play the 2014 Battle of Malta.

“The WSOP is obviously an important time for poker players but I'm excited about just being able to relax, have fun and party at this year's Battle of Malta!” she said.

“I'm most looking forward to meeting new people and players that I wouldn't normally see on the circuit especially since I don't play often in Europe.”

New Room, New Bigger Guarantee for 2014

The Battle of Malta has exploded in popularity since its introduction in 2012 and last year it set the record for the biggest poker tournament field Malta has ever seen.

888 players bought in and this year PokerListings is guaranteeing it will be even bigger.

1,000 entrants are needed to reach the €500,000 guaranteed prize pool and with a maximum of 1,400, this event could be a sell-out.

To make sure all those players are comfortable, the Battle of Malta has moved to an even bigger tournament room at the Portomaso Casino in St. Juliens.

The Grand Master's Suite has capacity for over 1,000 players, a state-of-the art sound system and a raised stage that will serve as a feature-table area.

Keep an eye on our 2014 Battle of Malta page for the latest news and how to qualify for free.

And remember, if you buy an Early Bird Package now and end up qualifying online later, we'll refund the full package price.

If you're thinking it's too late to qualify online for the 2017 Battle of Malta, think again.

This week will see the last online satellites play out on Betsson, Betsafe and NordicBet capped by the last €100+€10 weekly final on Sunday, Oct. 22.

At least one €1,650 package for the Battle of Malta is up for grabs which will lock you in for a €550 BoM Main Event seat, 5 nights at the 5-star Hilton Malta, €250 for travel and more.

If €110 is still too rich for your bankroll steps qualifiers are running all week from as little as €1.10. They also include €2.20 freezeouts, €11 Daily Finals and €11 Sunday Flips.

Qualify on Betsson, Betsafe & NordicBet

All three of the Betsson group sites are in on the satellites so you can pick and choose between Betsafe, Betsson or NordicBet for your playing pleasure. 

The schedule is the same on each and looks like this:

BOM LEVEL 1 RE BUY

Buy-in: €1+ €0.10
Frequency: Daily
Style: Freezeout
Time: 18.00 CEST
Late Reg: 30 Mins

GTD Prize: €11 Ticket to level 2 - Daily Final

BOM LEVEL 1 FREEZEOUT

Buy in: €2 +€0.20
Frequency: Daily
Style: Turbo/Rebuy
Time: 21:00 CEST
Late Reg: 30 Min

GTD Prize: €11 Ticket to Level 2 - Daily Final

BOM LEVEL 2: DAILY FINAL

Buy-in: €10 + €1
Frequently: Daily
Style: Rebuy
Time: 20:00 CEST
Late Reg: 60 Min

GTD Prize: €110 Ticket to Sunday Final

SUNDAY FLIPS

Buy-in: €10 + €1
Frequency: 30 & 15 minutes before Sunday Final starts
Min Players: 8

GTD Prize: €110 Tickets to Sunday Final

SUNDAY WEEKLY FINAL

Buy in: €100 + €10
Frequency: Every Sunday
Style: Rebuy
Time: 20:00 CEST
Late Reg: 90 Min

GTD Prize: €1,650 Battle of Malta Package

If you're good (and lucky) enough to come out on top of the weekly final you'll be whisking your way to the 2017 Battle of Malta in just over a week's time.

Hilton awaits.

If you've yet to Malta in November, expect average temperatures in the low 20s (Celsius) and more sunshine than Northern Europe might see in weeks.

You'll also get to take advantage of a newly refurbished Hilton Malta that was already 5-stars to begin with.

Your 2017 Battle of Malta Package includes:

• €500+€50 buy-in to the €500,000 GTD Main Event
• 5 nights at the 5-star Hilton Hotel (breakfast incl.)
• €250 credit for travel and spending money
• Tickets to all 4 BOM player parties
• Daily buffet dinner at casino

2017 BoM Bigger, Better Than Ever

If you haven't checked out the 2017 Battle of Malta schedule yet, you're in for a pleasant surprise.

Gaelle awaits too!

Nine events will run over the 6-day festival with buy-ins from €100 to €1,320 for the Grandmaster High Roller.

Included in that calendar is our first-ever Ladies Event and super fun PLO Knight's Crusade, NL Win the Cross and PLAY2CARE Charity Pineapple tournaments.

If it's value you're looking for €650,000 is guaranteed between the BoM Main Event, Siege of Malta Second Chance and Grandmaster High Roller but if last year's turnout is a benchmark expect that to be closer to €1,200,000 or more.

New host Gaelle Garcia Diaz, 4 player parties and a cards-up live stream of the main event final table on Nov. 7 are also on tap to boost the atmosphere of what's already known as one of the friendliest tournaments in Europe.

Check our Battle of Malta main page for all of the details! Buy yourself a package including Main Event seat from as low as €1,025 right here.

Last Satellite at GUTS Poker Sunday at 20:00 CET!

Guts pro Silje Nilsen is in!

Also of note: Players on Guts Poker have one last chance to qualify for the 2017 Battle of Malta this Sunday!

The last weekly €135 buy-in freezeout plays at 20:00 CET and two €1,500 package are guaranteed! Win seats in the final via:

Your €1,500 packages include:

If it weren't for Tournament Director Ivonne Montealegre, the Battle of Malta wouldn't exist.

The native Costa Rican walked in to the PokerListings offices in 2012 to pitch the ‘crazy’ idea of a poker tournament in Malta in November and walked out with a directive to make it happen.

She did. After some impossibly long hours and a litany of hurdles overcome, 349 players put up the buy-in for the first BoM main event in 2012 and sowed the seeds for the 6-day, 9-event poker festival you’ll see this year.

Now six editions in, Montealegre is still the backbone of the Battle of Malta. And the work of more women behind and in front of the cameras is likewise.

Down to Every Detail

Over the last decade since the peak of the American poker boom, there's been a slow tick upwards in the amount of women playing the game of poker. Estimates of 20-30% of online poker players being female might even be too conservative. 

In live poker, though, it’s still another story. A generous average for female players in any given tournament field might be 5-7%.

At the highest buy-ins the figures are even smaller. Just 272 female players played the $10,000 WSOP Main Event in 2017 to make up 3.8% of the field.

At the Battle of Malta, we’re working hard to change those percentages. And that means in all aspects of poker tournament production as well.

"It hasn't necessarily been on purpose," says Montealegre, "but Battle of Malta relies a lot on the hard work on women. Mothers, daughters, colleagues and wives ... all amazing dedicated workers.

"From the Swedish House Hostesses to the Portomaso dealers to our floor managers to our sponsors and ambassadors, women are indispensable in making BoM happen. 

"Every detail at BOM has been carefully designed and has a female touch. We work very hard for something we care about. The commitment we get from our female staff members is just overwhelming." 

From Kara Scott to Maria Ho to Gaelle Garcia Diaz 

Host Kara Scott was the most prominent female player/personality at the first BoM but, much like that first event, the groundbreaking Scott set a precedent for BoMs to come. 

As the prestige of the tourney increased (it won Event of the Year Under 2k buy-in at the 2015 European Poker Awards), so did its female leads. 

Maria Ho took over from Scott as host in year 3 while prominent poker players like Fatima Moreira de Melo, Leo Margets, Sofia Lovgren, Claire Renaut, Sabina Hiatullah, Charlie Godwin, Silje Nilsen, Jackie “Poker Mama” Cachia and Gaelle Garcia Diaz have all taken seats among the field.

Celebs like Norwegian actor Tone Damli and Finnish DJ Amanda Harkimo have also jumped in to BoM to get their poker feet wet.

Finland’s Anne Meri became our first female final-tablist in 2015; last year we had more women in the field than ever before with Norway's Anne Mette Standal, Spain's Marina Ribas, Poland's Anita Kmiciewicz and American Sally Stephens (on a poker "bucket list" tour no less) all putting on impressive showings.

Nilsen, Cachia and last year's Last Woman Standing Standal have all confirmed they'll return for 2017. And keeping with our tradition of having a strong female host who plays great poker, Garcia Diaz will take over hosting duties.

New Ladies Event in 2017

Alongside Diaz comes our first-ever Ladies Event set to go this year.

With a €100 buy-in the stakes may be relatively small but with a growing contingent of female players led by Malta local Cachia, Standal and Nilsen, it’ll be one of the most spirited and social events of the series.

Anne Mette Standal

It’s also fitting that on the year we introduce our first Ladies event that none other than Liv Boeree – who we also hope to see at the 2017 BoM to receive her award in person – ran away with the votes for our 2017 Most Inspiring Player Award.

Friendliest Poker Festival in Europe

Beyond our high-value, 'big tour' feel, BoM is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and that starts with our popular group of hostesses, affectionately dubbed the ‘Swedish House Hostesses.’

Pernilla Sakert, Mimmi Bengtsson, Linda Vesterby, Carolin Kumlin and Anna Lindegren spend each tournament day circulating through the Hilton and Grandmaster Suite helping people find their tables, answering questions, listening to bad beat stories and making people feel as welcome and comfortable as possible.

When it comes to the nitty gritty details of the poker itself, women are front and center as well.

BoM floor manager Mikol Taifu has the daunting task of coordinating all of the dealers and staff for the events while Betsson VIP Manager Claudia Lama takes care of a massive group of Scandinavian players. 

When it comes to our huge cohort of Italian players, ambassador/journalist Romina D’Agostino has carried the torch across the Mediterranean to extol BoMs virtues and will be on hand in November to ensure our Italian contingent is celebrated and looked after during the festival.

"When You Get the Opportunity, Go!"

Ariela Rojas Gonzales, who took care of the photography for last year's Main Event, returns this year all the way from Costa Rica fresh from snapping pics at the Punta Cana Poker Open.

"When you get opportunities you can't really believe," says Gonzales, "what else can you do but go!  

"It's an amazing tournament that should interest any poker player. I'm excited to come back and work with the incredible PokerListings team and amazing BoM TD Ivonne Montealegre." 

As a Mom of 2, no time to waste!

Our in-tournament massage therapists, REVIVE TOUCH, will be all over the tourney floor again keeping everybody relaxed and in the mood for poker but it’s a decidedly collective effort from all that makes the BoM so special.

It couldn’t happen without the leadership and talent of our female staff.

"In my personal case," adds Montealegre, "BOM has become a substantial part of my life.

"And now that my life has to do with being a mother, my level of commitment is even more focused. The fact that I can’t be wasting time is a great motivator!"

Seats are filling up fast for the 2014 PokerListings Battle of Malta and one of those seats now belongs to Spanish Team PokerStars Pro Leo Margets.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scott Absent but Høivold, Lövgren Return

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2014 PokerListings Battle of Malta is scheduled to kick off on Nov. 6 and by the time the smoke clears it will likely be the biggest tournament ever held in the country.

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

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

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

PLO Added to Battle of Malta Schedule

Leo Margets will play this year's Battle of Malta

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

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

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

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

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

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

To learn more or to buy-in directly just head over to the Battle of Malta homepage. Here’s a look at all the official events on the schedule: