A total of 1,200 players are now registered across Days 1a and 1b with room for that number to jump even higher.
As it sits now the prize pool has topped €550k but will swell even more as a full tournament room, an overflow room and a to-be-determined number of waiting-list players get a piece of the action.
We won't know the exact number until the end of registration at the end of Level 6 tomorrow but if things hold true to form we could be looking at a €600,000 prize pool and a potential $100k+ first-place prize.
A total of 86 players remain from the 521 entries on the day and will join up with the survivors from tomorrow's Day 1b on Day 2 on Saturday.
Down Goes Cartarius, Up (and Down) Goes Lodden
Whatever the prize up top we will likely award it to a new champion. Last year's champ Louis Cartarius - who actually now calls Malta home - busted his first bullet today but should make a re-appearance tomorrow.
There are plenty of poker players who will happily take his place wearing the BOM crown, too.
Some of poker's most renowned players waded deep into the mix today and several came up weighed down with chips for Day 2. Among the stacks of note:
Hugo Lemaire - 355,500 Charles Chattha - 353,500 Andreas Berge - 300,000 Ludovic Henry 293,000 Andrew Cutator 294,500 Oscar Denzler - 255.000 Konstantin Puchkov - 210,000 Fabrice Soulier - 132.000 Luca Moschitta - 120,000 Maria Ho - 103,500 Johnny Lodden - 50,000 Thor Hansen 40,500
Look for the full Day 1a chip counts shortly right here.
Big Day Coming; Record Smashed Again
With the 1,200 players already registered the 2014 BOM has easily surpassed the 888 entries that made last year's event the largest ever on the island.
Year-on-year the jumps have been substantial since the first go-round in 2012 which drew 349 entries. Last year's 888 entries crushed the €200k guarantee and produced a €430,000 prize pool.
With big money comes big names and expected to dive into the BOM player pool are notables including Leo Margets, Luca Pagano, Dominik Nitsche, Gaelle Garcia Diaz, Phillip Hilm and Rupert Elder.
Host Maria Ho will also be back to keep the mood light and the atmosphere buzzing in the tourney room. Check our Battle of Malta Live Coverage page for all the action.
Watch our Day 1a highlight video below:
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