The Festival Malta Breaks Records, 50 Champions Crowned

Franke’s secret sauce

After eight days and 50 occasions, that’s a wrap for The Competition Sequence Malta. Martin ‘Franke’ von Zweigbergk introduced his tour to the Mediterranean archipelago, the place it would little doubt return subsequent 12 months given the large uptake for what’s a distinct sort of poker expertise. 

Franke’s secret sauce is how he caters to the lovers of blended video games

The massive one was the €550 ($594) Essential Occasion in fact, gained by Oystein Brenden of Norway for €60,700 ($65,590) however Franke’s secret sauce is how he caters to the lovers of blended video games, embraces a cross-over with the on line casino video games and places a number of thought into enjoyable off-the-tables adventures. 

The main focus may be very a lot on participant expertise as The Competition attracts individuals from throughout Europe with the assistance of Unibet Poker and its different companions. As somebody who has attended quite a few iterations of The Competition down the years, I can truthfully say that the one dangerous factor about them is having to hearken to Franke gloat loudly when he cashes a event or wins some cash in a money sport (the maniac actually goes from room to room to announce this stuff.)

Data smashed

Within the opening days of The Competition Malta, data have been smashed. The Sviten Particular occasion obtained 79 entries, an astonishing effort when you think about that solely 28 individuals on the planet know tips on how to play it. The 8-Recreation occasion obtained 93 gamers, one other enormous feat. 

To not be outdone, the Texas Maintain’em gamers additionally got here out in power with The  €250 ($270) PokerListings Championship additionally breaking attendance data with a whopping 354 contributors, producing a prize pool of €76,464 ($82,619). Younes Jarir defeated Manuel Blaschke heads-up in that one to say the €16,200 ($17,504) prime prize. 

Lovelock finally completed sixth for €3,250 ($3,512)

One other noteworthy efficiency within the Pokerlistings Championship was that of Colin Lovelock, the UK common, who made the ultimate desk and was in pursuit of back-to-back victories, having taken down the Nottingham version again in March. Lovelock finally completed sixth for €3,250 ($3,512). 

Selection is the buzzword 

If there’s a theme to The Competition, it’s that there is no such thing as a theme. Selection is the buzzword and, as a participant, it makes for a really eclectic poker expertise. There have been loads of PLO motion, 4-card, 5-card, 6-card, and PLO8 codecs all unfold at completely different factors within the week. There was a €1,100 ($1,189) PLO Highroller that obtained 60 runners and was gained by Levani Rozomashvili who took away €15,400 ($16,641) after a fierce heads-up chip with Balazs Somodi.

There was a ‘Win The Button’ event, a HORSE event, a Heads-up event, and a number of Open-face Chinese language Poker tournaments. There was even a Roulette Match, a Blackjack Match, and a Slots Match for many who take pleasure in a on line casino sport cross-over. 

Beate Etim defeated Christel Haller to take down the 47-runner Women Occasion

There was a Queens Women Occasion and a Seniors Occasion, the previous hosted by Laura Cornelius and the latter infiltrated by Franke regardless of him being a youthful-looking 49-year-old. Beate Etim defeated Christel Haller to take down the 47-runner Women Occasion whereas Gerhard Brimmers defeated Dieter Falzon heads-up to win the Seniors Occasion.

High quality and amount 

‘High quality over amount’ is a motto to reside by, however The Competition manages to supply each. Certain, there are some sacrifices. With seven or eight completely different tournaments beginning every single day, it will be honest to say that they cannibalize one another. Nonetheless, there are marquee tournaments that gamers plan their pageant round. 

One such event is the €1,100 ($1,189) Excessive Curler which attracted a subject of 70 entries to generate a prize pool of €67,200 ($72,612). The gifted Welshman Cory Desmond prevailed in that one after a heads-up take care of Domenico Zappia the place they obtained €18,000 ($19,450) and €17,500 ($18,909), respectively.

the large €5,000 ($5,401) bounty was gained by Marcel Fandre

Thriller Bounty tournaments are all the fashion nowadays with festivals incorporating one or two of them to inject a little bit of lottery into proceedings. That’s not to say that it isn’t a ability sport requiring strategic changes. Shoutout to my VegasSlotsOnline Information colleague Dara O’Kearney who simply printed a strategy book on the format. Discover his prime ideas in his newest article too. The Thriller Bounty at The Competition obtained 202 entries and the large €5,000 ($5,401) bounty was gained by Marcel Fandre. 

The Hendon Mob Championship was one other event that possessed added attract, for some at the least: