A doubled, €1m guarantee. Patrik Antonius and Boris Becker.
A massive new space capable of hosting 1,400+ players a day. Record pre-sales that portend a gigantic crush of players descending on the 2018 Battle of Malta.
We've already hinted at some of the grand additions to what is already the best low buy-in poker festival in Europe.
But did you know you can bowl for your €550 seat in the 2019 Battle of Malta Main Event? Watch a live stream from the tournament floor all six days?
How about win a sterling silver bracelet from luxury jewellers Tiffany & Co. if you win the BoM Ladies Event?
While the 2018 Battle of Malta will be flush with the same great atmosphere that's made the BoM famous, there's a lot more in store for those heading to the island in less than two weeks.
6-Day Live Stream, Full Commentary Final Table
The Battle of Malta has been live streamed the past 2 years but restricted mainly to the final table. That's changed for 2018.
Run by leading poker tournament broadcaster HDPokerStream, 2018 Battle of Malta live streaming will cover all six days of the Main Event.
All coverage will be cards-up with full graphics (thanks to RFID technology) with the first five days featuring a single-table and a fixed camera.
The final table, however, will go into 5th gear with full commentary, five cameras and a revolving group of guest hosts to help crown the winner.
Says HDPokerStream co-founder Heimar Lill: “We’re going to be live streaming for up to 60 hours across the six days of the tournament. It’s a very exciting project for us.”
Viewers from around the world can watch the stream on PokerListings.com, BattleofMalta.com, on the Battle of Malta facebook page and on Twitch. Sites that want to embed the stream can find the codes on the 888poker and MPN Facebook pages.
Bowling for 2019 BoM
While the Battle of Malta has had its fair share of parties for festival-goers to take part in there's a new tradition about to be established in 2019:
Bowling for BoM SeatsFans of the great American pastime will be happy to hear that on Saturday, October 27, there will be the first-ever Bowling for BoM event at the Eden SuperBowl.
Four-person teams (you must have a Battle of Malta or Casino Malta silicone wristband to compete) will battle it out over three heats for 4 seats to the 2019 Battle of Malta Main Event!
The Bowling competition kicks off at 8.30pm at the Eden SuperBowl (just minutes from the new BoM venue, Casino Malta) with three heats. Heat winners meet in the final at 11pm. The ultimate winning team of 4 will each win a 2019 BoM seat!
Registration for the Bowling event opens Friday, October 26 at noon; just visit the Eden SuperBowl to confirm the names of your team.
Get Spritzed, Get Beached
The new Bowling extravaganza isn't the only social event on the 2018 Battle of Malta calendar. On Thursday, October 25 players will be welcomed to the 2018 BoM with the Aperol Spritz Battle of Malta Welcome Party.
Hosted right at the Casino Malta all Battle of Malta players are invited to enjoy free Aperol Spritz drinks from 8pm onwards at the bar.
On Sunday night the volume goes up another notch with the Battle of Malta Players Party.
For the first-time ever the Players Party will be held at Paranga Beach, the Intercontinental Hotel’s exclusive, private stretch of shore just a few minutes’ walk away.
With music from one of Malta's elite party DJs all night and the memorable views of St Julians Bay throughout the evening, the BoM Beach Party will make more than a few envied appearances on the Instagram feeds of players and friends.
Luxury Bracelet from Tiffany's for BoM Ladies Winner
Founded in 2017 the Poker League of Nations (PLON) is "the world’s largest and most internationally represented women’s poker organization" and has dedicated itself to promoting women in poker. Among its missions as an international cooperative are to lobby event organizers to host more Ladies events and provide ladies-only satellites into bigger main events.
This year the PLON co-founders Maureen Bloechlinger and Lena Evans will both travel to the 2018 BoM to play both the Ladies Event and Main Event alongside:
PLON Malta Ambassador Jackie "Poker Mama" Cachia PLON Italy Ambassador Giada Fang and 888 Ambassador and PLON Spain Ambassador Ana MarquezAs the sponsors of the €110 buy-in Ladies Event on Saturday PLON has also put up the champion's package for the event which this year will include a stunning sterling silver bracelet from luxury American jewellers Tiffany & Co.
The PLON will also run a Ladies Last Longer for the €1m Main Event. All you have to do to participate is wear the PLON patch and be the Last Woman Standing on Day 2 (or at the final table).
The Last Woman Standing will win the last-longer cash, a Battle of Malta backpack and great Poker League of Nations swag.
45 BoM Seats Up for Grabs!
Still haven't secured your seat for the 2018 Battle of Malta Main Event? At least 45 Battle of Malta seats are still up for grabs in 5 “Battle for Your Sword” live satellites starting next week at Casino Malta.
The first four satellites (Oct. 19, 21, 22, 23) all have 5 seats guaranteed while the final satellite on Oct. 24 offering up 20 (!) guaranteed seats! Details below:
Friday, October 19, 8pm: €55 + €5 satellite
5 €550 seats guaranteed 25k starting stack with 15-min blind levels Unlimited re-entries Soft cap: 100Sunday, October 21, 8pm: €30 + €5 satellite
5 €550 seats guaranteed 15k starting stack with 15-min blind levels Unlimited re-buys until Level 8. Add-on also available: €30 for 30,000 stack Soft cap: 100Monday, October 22, 8pm: €55 + €5 satellite
5 €550 seats guaranteed 25k starting stack with 20-min blind levels Unlimited rebuys until Level 6 Soft cap: 100Tuesday, October 23, 7pm: €55 + €5 satellite
5 €550 seats guaranteed 25k starting stack with 20-min blind levels Single re-entry until Level 6 Soft cap: 150Wednesday, October 24, 6pm: €55 + €5 satellite
20 €550 seats guaranteed 10k starting stack with 20-min blind levels Unlimited re-entries until Level 6 Soft cap: 300More BoM Bits & Pieces:
--- Battle of Malta 2018 Tournament Directors will be Rodolfo Zirio and Luca Vivaldi, both well-known figures on the European poker circuit. Zirio will be the lead Tournament Director and Vivaldi responsible for the Battle of Malta schedule and tournament structures.
--- Battle of Malta 2018 team features more than 100 dealers, 5 Senior Floor staff and 5 Junior Floor staff. Floor staff speak six languages: English, Italian, French, Spanish, German & Hebrew.
--- Battle of Malta 2018 Senior Floor staff include Stephane Dumoulin (Gaming Events Coordinator at Grand Casino Brussels Viage), EPT vets Richard Thoman, Sebastian Portier and Nicola Pacifico and Alessandro Serpi of Casino Sanremo.
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