Cartarius: "At This Time of Year No Better Place than Malta"

When German poker pro Louis Cartarius won the 2013 Battle of Malta main event, it was his biggest live tournament cash.

It still is, actually - although he might be on the verge of resetting that bar this week as he's just made Day 4 of the €5,000 EPT Malta main event.

With 30 players left and a middle-of-the-pack stack, Cartarius still has some work to do to top that €68,000 score (a sixth-place finish or higher would do it).

When the hitherto unknown Cartarius outlasted 888 players to win that Battle of Malta, it formed the base for his future poker career.

Since then Cartarius has only had cashes in tournaments on Malta so it must clearly be his favorite place to play, right? We caught up with him on a break near the end of the Day 3 today to ask.

PL: Where have you been since your win at the Battle of Malta three years ago? Did you move back to Germany?

The check that changed things.

Louis Cartarius: Contrary to these rumors I’ve lived in Malta the whole time. I go back to Germany once in a while but only for visits.

PL: How did the BOM win change your poker career?

LC: Until today this is my largest tournament win, and it has changed a lot.

I’m going to about three or four live tournaments per year, but more importantly the BOM has made it possible for me to take shots at higher levels online.

PL: Did you buy in or satellite into the EPT main event?

LC: I bought in. The numbers are really low in the main event. €350k for first prize isn’t much. Maybe word has spread about the level of play.

The last EPT Malta was really tough to play because there were so many good players. This time it’s a lot easier.

PL: And if you compare it to the Battle of Malta?

LC: Actually, I don’t think the difference is half as big as the difference in buy-in. Of course, this is my personal opinion. It might have to do with the table draw, too.

PL: How do you explain the opposing development of the EPT versus the BOM?

LC: It seems that PokerStars are having trouble keeping the numbers up. After all a €5,000 buy-in is still a large amount of money.

The lower buy-in tournaments like the BOM show, however, that it’s still possible to be successful. The BOM has grown every year since it started.

"Lower buy-ins simply more affordable for more players."

Lower buy-in tournaments are simply more affordable for more players.

PL: Maybe Malta isn’t attractive enough as a poker location?

LC: On the contrary, at this time of the year there is no better place to go than Malta. Where else do you get such amazing weather?

PL: Are you going to try and claim your BOM title back this year?

LC: Yes. I’m going to play and try my best, but of course I know that in such a big field you can’t really expect anything.

PL: The way you’re running in Malta, your chances shouldn’t be too bad.

LC: It looks like it, but we know how poker is. Everything can change completely at any time.

Not afraid to get some shut-eye.

PL: What would you tell a BOM first-timer? Play many pots as long as you’re deep? Or play tight?

LC: Play standard, play rather tight. After all, your priority is to stay alive in a tournament.

PL: By the way, didn’t you almost fall asleep during Day 2 when you won the whole thing?

LC: Yes, that’s true. Maybe I shouldn’t really be the one to give strategy tips for beginners.