2016 Poker Hall of Fame Nominations Stir Up Discussion

The 2016 Poker Hall of Fame nominations have stirred up much discussion after Daniel Negreanu brought up in his new blog, that a few of the nominees don't even meet the criteria this year.

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Daily 3-Bet: Crowning Holz, Camp Nou-Limit, K of Poker Style

The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a snappy bowler, baize-clipped spatz and the foppish-iest afternoon poker news dandy you've ever laid eyes on.

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Today in the 3-Bet we find a ringing endorsement for #1 in the world, FC Barcelona loves its poker and Chris Straghalis drops the mic on poker fashion.

1) He's #1

The poker world tends to go around in circles when it comes to naming "the best poker player in the world," and rightly so.

There are clearly dozens of variables involved from game specialties and stakes to variance, bias and sample size that make declaring the game's #1 a muddy proposition.

Undisputed king of MTTs.

When it comes to No-Limit Hold'em tournaments, though, the answer to that question right now is easy. It's Fedor Holz ainec.

He's been #1 on the Global Poker Index Top 300 for 14 weeks. He's #1 in the GPI 2016 POY rankings. And he's won more money in the past 18 months than, like, all of poker combined.

Yep, he's run good. Great, even. But as recent WCOOP $102k heads-up choppee bencb789 told PokerStrategy, none of that even matters:

"He is definitely one of the best tournament players in the world. No sorry, he is the number one. And not just because of his recent success. I would have said the same if he had not won any tournaments this summer.

 

"His abilities are just insane and he deserves all the success. He was working very very hard for it. Nevertheless he is running very hot, which you obviously need to take down so many tournaments in such a short period of time."

We'll buy that.

2) Piqué on Camp Nou: "Everyone Loves Poker"

With two card-carrying, certified poker die-hards in Gerard Piqué and Neymar Jr. among its leaders, it's no surprise the odd poker game breaks out at FC Barcelona's storied football pitch, Camp Nou.

He's into it, for real.

It is a bit surprising, though, as Piqué revealed in a new interview with the PokerStars blog, that everyone else on the team gets into it, too - even if they don't step up and play €50,000 Super High Rollers:

"They really like it. Our teammates know we come here, and they always ask how it goes and if we enjoyed ourselves. The problem is they don't know how to play poker and if they did, they would probably come too!

 

"We do sometimes play in the dressing room; obviously not for money, but just for fun. It's fun because everyone loves poker, and not just to play. The players who don't know how to play like to watch."

That enthusiasm for the game carries over to the elite Spanish National Team as well, who Piqué says frequently spend their downtime at major championships grinding away:

"There are more very good poker players in the [Spanish] national team like David De Gea and David Silva. I'm trying to think of the best ones because we play with 15 players, and it's always the same ones that win!

 

"For example, in the last Euros [the UEFA European Championship] we had a lot of free time in the hotel, and playing poker is a great way to have fun when we have spare time."

Read the full piece about Piqué's love for the game and future plans here.

3) King of Poker Style

There are few things we love more than poker-inspired fashion and if you've ever sat in a poker tournament with Chris Straghalis you've likely got to experience it first hand.

Straghalis is famed for his electrifying poker attire, perhaps topped by this truly spectacular Ace of a green suit.

He's cracked out another gem at WPT National Ireland today, where he's off to a decent start chip-wise and unleashed a King of Hearts baseball jersey to die for.

Check the pic below (photo: WPT); follow his progress at WPTN Ireland right here.

 

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ltt1981 Wins $74k at NLHE

Good action at NLHE, PLO, 8-Game and HORSE tables

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PartyPoker.nj Set for $1m-GTD Garden State Super Series in October

Poker players in New Jersey aren’t going to have to wait long for their next big online series as PartyPoker.nj has something special planned for October.

The Fifth Annual Garden State Super Series will return to PartyPoker.nj (and Borgata Poker) on Oct. 9 and run all the way through Oct. 23.

The series will feature $1 million in guaranteed prize pools spread across 75 featured events including Hold’em, PLO and Stud tournaments.

Qualifiers for the series are already running on PartyPoker.nj.

Biggest Main Event in GSSS History

As usual the GSSS will culminate in a $215 buy-in re-entry Main Event but this time around the event will offer a $175-GTD prize pool, which is the biggest in the series’ history.

Mike Sexton rocking NJ colors.

"This is our fifth edition of the Garden State Super Series featuring our largest guaranteed prizepool for the New Jersey players of over $1,000,000,” said Group Head of PartyPoker Tom Waters.

“The GSSS continues to grow offering all types of players a fun poker experience in whichever event they play. The GSSS offers buy ins from $20-$1,060 so is accessible to everyone.”

GSSS V will kick off on Oct. 9 with $75k-GTD re-entry event, which should get things rolling.

For more information about PartyPoker.nj you can always check out our complete review.

It’s going to be a very busy month for NJ poker players as PokerStars is set to run a rival NJCOOP and live tournament series in October as well.

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Tonybet Poker Declares: “No More bad Beats” With Run It Twice Tournaments

Becomes the first poker room to allow players to run the board twice in online events

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Poker Pro David Williams Falls Short on MasterChef Finale

World Poker Tour winner and poker pro David Williams narrowly missed out on MasterChef glory recently in the US prime time show.

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Doug "WCGRider" Polk In New Poker Life Podcast

Joe Ingram & WCG talk twitch, 2+2 scandals, and bankroll challenges

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Daily 3-Bet: DW on Survivor, HoF on Blast, WPT Cambodia?

The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a tiny plaque, a bronzed chip protector and a 2x3 window to peak through into the afternoon poker news HoF.

Have something you'd like to see in a future 3-Bet? Drop a line in the comments.

Today in the 3-Bet we find David Williams eyeing another reality turn, old timers go off on Hall of Fame snubs and the World Poker Tour lands in Cambodia.

1) MC #2 >> Lone Survivor?

If you watched the pulse-pounding 2-hour finale of MasterChef USA 7 last night you know poker pro David Williams fell just short of the MC trophy, cookbook deal and $250k payday.

Reality TV gold.

While Las Vegas DJ Shaun O'Neale's entrée may have pushed him over the top there's no question who the breakout "star" of the season was.

Every reality show needs a good villain and Williams played the role to perfection with his play-to-win strategy, hot-headed temper and epic walk-out in the penultimate episode.

He also showed some dazzling creativity, plenty of charm and clearly earned the respect of Chef Gordon Ramsay, which made him as equally loved as hated among viewers. 

Importantly he made for some great TV, which usually bodes well when casting directors go looking for sure-win draws for other reality shows.

Can poker pal and Survivor legend Boston Rob now pull a few strings to get him on the greatest reality show of all-time? We hope so ...

Thanks Rob! Now tell your boy @JeffProbst I’m ready for @survivorcbs! https://t.co/f2tlDaNvPn

— David Williams (@dwpoker) September 15, 2016

2) Negreanu: Hall of Fame "isn't a Popularity Contest"

Remember those 10 Poker Hall of Fame finalists we mentioned the other day?  Turns out quite a few people in poker weren't so sure they were the 10 "best" candidates for the Hall this year. 

Not picking Moneymaker, it seems.

For a comparatively small (the HoF has just 50 members) and not-exactly tourist-friendly institution, the annual HoF nominations surprisingly stir up a ton of controversy.

In 2009 Tom Dwan made the final cut from public voting causing the HoF to introduce a age 40+ rule. Last year it was the absence of Europeans in the HoF altogether.

This year the conversation seems to be around "great player according to HoF criteria" vs. "ambassador" and "player" vs. "contributor."

HoF member Daniel Negreanu chimed in with a long blog on how he feels and how he'll vote along with a list of 8 players he thinks should also be on the list.

Dozens of famous poker names have also chimed in on Twitter with David Chiu, David Oppenheim, Isai Scheinberg and Huck Seed leading the list of snubs. Check some of the banter below:

I say this every year as a reminder: PHOF criteria for players says NOTHING about being an ambassador nor should it. Rate them on RESULTS.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) September 10, 2016

HOF list has more to do w marketing than w accomplishment. David Chiu, Huck, David Oppenheim & John Hennigan should all be top of the ballot

— Erik Seidel (@Erik_Seidel) September 10, 2016

One more name that I haven't seen brought up but deserves to be in HOF, Mori Eskandani https://t.co/M0vC4xLFvd

— Erik Seidel (@Erik_Seidel) September 15, 2016

Why isn't S. Lipscomb (WPT Founder) on list? Except for Binions NO ONE has grown poker like him #changedpokerforever https://t.co/gZMb6wJ5Zs

— Mike Sexton (@MikeSexton_WPT) September 15, 2016

Hmm lets see me- 9 million wn 4 wsop bracelets 2 main event ft toc champion poker ss champion 2013 nbc hu champion https://t.co/3aGvzw3gZP

— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) September 15, 2016

I agree w @RealKidPoker. My Hall of Fame votes go to: Carlos (too strong to ignore), Devilfish (he's done it all), Chris Bjorin @ToddBrunson

— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) September 15, 2016

3) WPT Announces Back-to-Back Events in Cambodia

If you played poker in the 90s or 2000s and/or have ever visited Cambodia, the idea that it might one day host not one but two World Poker Tour events in the span of three weeks one day would seem, well, absurd.

Queenco Hotel & Casino.

The global poker boom has miraculously reached that far now as the WPT has announced that very scenario coming this winter.

First up is WPT National Thailand, from Dec. 22-29, which will actually be held in the border town of Poipet, Cambodia, as poker is illegal in Thailand.

That will be immediately followed up by WPT National Cambodia, held in the oceanside hamlet of Sihanoukville from Jan. 2-13, 2017.

Main event buy-ins for each will be $1,100 and $1,485, respectively. Both will also have re-entry formats with two entries allowed per starting day for a total of six entries. 

Which ... wow. That's some big money in those parts. Check the full details from the WPT here.

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Sean "Nolez7" Winter Yesterday's Biggest Highstakes Winner

High rolling tourney star tops online cash game leaderboard

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€urop€an Caps WCOOP Super Tuesday, Wins More Than First Place

Finnish online poker player €urop€an knows how to make a deal.

The unidentified online pro took down WCOOP-35 $1,575 Super Tuesday Special for $297,450.

The original first-place payout? $292,450.

€urop€an achieved the feat by cutting a very smart deal three-handed. The three remaining players left an extra $36,450 for the winner and €urop€an went ahead and won that too.

€urop€an already has a Sunday Million victory and a SCOOP win so all that he’s missing for the so-called PokerStars Grand Slam is a TCOOP title.

Timex Falls Just Short of Final Table

As you might there were a number of celebrated online pros at the final table. Here’s a complete breakdown of the final table payout (*reflects three-way deal):

Near miss for Timex.

1. €urop€an -- $297,450.00*
2. XingsMaster -- $189,885.05*
3. reno8 -- $176,000.00*
4. ThEcLaiMEer -- $115,069.18
5. sandman20 -- $84,345.48
6. jonaj10 -- $61,824.84
7. probirs -- $45,317.37
8. mrAndreeew -- $33,217.61
9. dudd1 -- $24,348.41

In addition there were a number of big-name online pros who finished just short of the final table included Mike “Timex” McDonald (14th) and Sami “Lrslzk” Kelopuro (18th).

Ben “Sauce123” Sulsky, NigDawG and Mike “munchenHB” Telker also made the money.

There’s still plenty of time to get in on the 2016 WCOOP as the series runs until Sept. 26, culminating with a $10m-GTD $5,000 buy-in Main Event on Sept. 25.

You can always start a PokerStars account by grabbing one of the bonus deals on our review page.

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888Live Local Rolls into King's Casino, Win a Package Now!

Next year, the King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic will be the location of one of 888poker's new festivals.

With a multi-day, 17-event festival set to kick things off in London next month, its motto is “Make It Big” and there will be three or four stops over the year.

Until now no further locations were announced but now it transpires that the King’s Casino Rozvadov will be one of them.

As a dress rehearsal, so to speak, there will be an 888 Live Local event at Rozvadov next week – and it’s going to be big already.

Action Begins Sept 22

What to expect: No less than four starting days with a cap of 400 players each are planned, meaning this might be the largest Live Local event yet.

Expect a packed house.

The tournament is intended to finish on Day 2 so both days are going to be long and tough.

The buy-in for the event is €175 and you’ll get 30,000 chips to start with and 30-minute levels. One re-entry per day is allowed.

If you don’t want to pay the whole buy-in, you still have the chance to qualify online on 888poker.

Daily Satellites Running Now!

Tucked away in the forest on the Czech-German border, Rozvadov is Europe’s most successful casino with a booming slate of tournaments and cash games. 

Right now you can win a $350 Rozvadov package on 888poker which includes the tournament buy-in plus three nights in one of the 4-Star hotels adjacent to the casino.

You’ll have to make it through three satellites to secure your package for free but you can also buy-in to any of the later steps. The buy-ins there are $3 and $30, respectively.

The satellites are held on a daily basis, but hurry up - time is running out. The last satellites run on Monday.

888poker Live Local Rozvadov guarantees a €100,000 prize pool, meaning that the top players will walk away with a 5-figure payout.

Don’t have an account at 888poker yet? Check our 888poker review page for more info and to create your personal account quickly and easily.

You'll also be eligible for our exclusive $888 sign-up bonus.

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Aussie Millions Winner Ami "UhhMee" Barer Wins WCOOP Title

2014 Aussie Millions winner earns more than $111,000.

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Daily 3-Bet: Adelson HU for $2m, Cube 360°, Soul Reads 101

The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a pre-game fluff and dry, a velvet smoking jacket and just the right breeze to sense afternoon poker news danger.

Got a tip for a future 3-Bet? Tell us about it in the comments.

Today in the 3-Bet we find Brian Rast putting up $2m to prove poker's skill, take a 360° tour of the GPL Cube and bow down to some world-class laydowns.

1) Rast to Sheldon: HU for $2m?

Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson continued to prove his breathtaking ignorance about poker's merits as a skill game in an interview with Yahoo! Finance last week.

Among other things he claimed again that poker (and DFS) is gambling, immoral and clearly not primarily dependent on skill. Which, well, no.

These grandiose, "money where your mouth is" challenges rarely come to fruition (except in Norway, of course) but you have to admire poker pro Brian Rast's pluck throwing it out there in response:

Hey Sheldon Adelson, waz up? Poker is a skill game. Don't believe me? You're a billionaire, I'm not close. Let's play HU 4 2 million each.

— Brian Rast (@tsarrast) September 10, 2016

In fact Sheldon my man, I'll pay you 500$ 2 play 100bb freeze outs for 2mil, so if poker isn't a skill game u earning and can prove me wrong

— Brian Rast (@tsarrast) September 10, 2016

"Game of skill": optimizing decisions to create an advantage. Inferior & superior strategies. Can involve luck (gammon/poker) or not (chess)

— Brian Rast (@tsarrast) September 13, 2016

Computers can beat top humans in chess/gammon, but not poker. Nobody disputes if chess is game of skill. Sheldon and others are ignorant.

— Brian Rast (@tsarrast) September 13, 2016

Poker has luck and incomplete info., but MANY decisions to make that can be strategically optimized (near infinite in NL) - hence skill game

— Brian Rast (@tsarrast) September 13, 2016

But don't take my word for it Sheldon, I'd prefer to beat you for lots of money. Like I said I'll pay you to play HU matches. #herefishy

— Brian Rast (@tsarrast) September 13, 2016

 2) Up, Left, Down, A+B

We mentioned a few of the impending changes for the Global Poker League when it resumes next week yesterday but one thing that will definitely stay the same?

The signature Cube arena for the live heads-up matches.

It doesn't quite capture the intense heat or, say, the way Fedor Holz smells like money all the time but this 360° tour gives you a cool view of what it feels like in there:

 3) Top 5 Laydowns

The Van Den Bijgaart/Parlafes folds might be slightly better but the ElkY clip def. wins the day for its retro vibe and DNegs commentary.

Which fold do you think is best? Let us know in the comments.  And check out some more great/head-scratching laydowns here.

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Alexander "joiso" Kostritsyn Yesterday's Biggest Highstakes Winner

8-Game dominates online high stakes action yesterday

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888poker Super Series XL Kicks Off Saturday, Tweet for Your Seat

Can’t get enough big MTT action?

888poker is set to launch yet another massive Super Series XL this Saturday with $4,000,000 in guaranteed prize pools over the 40-event schedule.

A rising contender in the online poker series market, the upcoming Super Series XL will offer a variety of No-Limit Hold’em tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $5 all the way up to $1,050 for the Main Event.

The Super Series XL $1,050 buy-in Main Event will close out the series with a $1.5m-GTD prize pool tournament on Sept. 25.

Post a Tweet, Build a Bankroll

Want to play the Super Series XL but don’t really have the bankroll for it?

888poker is giving players a chance to get a quick boost through its Tweet for Your Seat promo.

Players on the site get a chance to play an $888 freeroll just for posting a simple Tweet.

All you have to do is follow 888poker on Twitter and post the following with your username:

My @888poker username is X. I want to play in the $888 Twitter Freeroll on 26/9/2016 #888series #888poker #poker

In addition qualifiers for the Super Series XL are already running and can be found in the 888poker lobby.

If that’s not enough you could always take advantage of one of PokerListings’ exclusive sign-up bonuses with 888poker.

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Understanding bluffing & why it needs to be perfected

Making the art of bluffing work is going to take a lot of thought and work

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Sands China's $2.9bn "Parisian Macau" Opens Its Doors

Sheldon Adelson opens 5th Macau property despite gaming slump

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Betsson Buys TonyBet

Stockholm-listed operator Betsson has acquired the privately owned gaming operator Lošimų strateginė grupė, UAB, trading as TonyBet in Lithuania.

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Daily 3-Bet: Back to GPL Lab, DW Master(Chef), App Central

The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a scalding burn, a batter-splattered apron and one perfectly risen soufflé served to the afternoon poker news judges table.

Have a tip for a future edition of the 3-Bet? Drop us a note in the comments.

Today in the 3-bet we find a new page turning for the Global Poker League, David Williams mastering MasterChef and the best of Poker Central on your phone.

1) GPL Reboot in T-Minus 7 Days

As regular readers of the 3-Bet know, we've been ardent followers of the Global Poker League since its launch earlier this year.

A virtual laboratory for world-class poker players revealing A-level strategy, there was no shortage of riveting moments and awe-inspiring poker during the first parts of Season 1 so far.

First up: Jon Little.

Aaron Paul playing poker in the Cube was a pretty stunning accomplishment for Alex Dreyfus and the GPL crew in itself.

That said, there were definitely some lulls to be had (and felt) and, by the numbers, the GPL hasn't built the rabid following it might have hoped for.

League action resume exactly one week from today and, according to Dreyfus, we can expect changes to the product to see just what kind of momentum can be built for Season 2. Among the tweaks to look forward to:

Jonathan Little (and rotating group of guests) joins studio hosts Laura Cornelius, Eric Danis and Roland Boothby Meet, Greet & Play GPL players at TwitchCon in San Diego GPL TV mobile app for iOS & Android w/ news, stats, videos, replays and exclusive “Fan Zone” More "fan fueled" initiatives including real-money fantasy and staking possible GPL Playoffs and Finals in Las Vegas Nov 29- Dec. 1 GPL Season 2 starts Q1 2017 with improved format, new draft (new teams, player changes and etc.) + trades between teams!

We'll be watching. Check out some good in-depth player stats from the first part of GPL season here.

2) Game Masterchef Optimal

From Vanessa Rousso on Big Brother to JRB, Anna Khait and Fatima de Melo on Survivor to Alex Jacob on Jeopardy! to Liv Boeree on Golden Balls, one thing we know for sure:

Wait'll they find out about diamond toothpick.

Average viewers do not like the way poker players approach strategy/reality games.

Between the math-driven Game Theory Optimal to the cutthroat tactics of isolating the weakest players and relentlessly exploiting the biggest spots, poker players play games differently than average people do.

As a result they usually end up becoming "the villain," as poker pro (and 2005 WSOP runner-up) David Williams has found out on this season of MasterChef USA.

Williams has shown to be a pretty fantastic chef, for starters, but also shown a very fiery/strategic personality that's flipped the game on its ear and erased some of his toughest competition.

As a result he finds himself in the final 3 with the 2-hour finale scheduled for tomorrow night. Check the preview here and tune in tomorrow; it's sure to be entertaining.

Get pumped for the 2-hour finale of #MasterChef this Wednesday at 8/7c on @FOXTV! http://pic.twitter.com/mfAs0J2yN4

— MasterChef (@MASTERCHEFonFOX) September 12, 2016

3) Poker Central App Coming On Strong

Have you checked out Poker Central's iPhone/iPad/Android App lately?

It started out a little light on content when it launched last year but since has built up a solid library of very watchable and entertaining poker shows.

Old episodes of Poker After Dark and Premier League Poker plus exclusive coverage of the Aria Super High Roller Bowls/Cash Games in particular are standouts as is the in-house produced Pokerography documentaries.

Download it from the iTunes store right here. Check out Poker Central's live streams on Twitch, too.

Try it! You'll like it!

 

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More Than Poker: BoM 2016 Event & Party Schedule is Here!

Have you put it in your calendar yet?

November 2-7 are the official dates for the 2016 Battle of Malta and, apart from our signature €550 main event, PokerListings has a lot more in store.

Side events, cocktails by the pool, blow-out parties, breakfasts, blackjack tournaments, world-class DJs, Karaoke, the inimitable Maria Ho ... the Battle is now so big it’s much more than just a poker tournament.

It's the ultimate poker destination holiday. Here's a quick overview of everything that awaits you at the best-value poker tournament in Europe.

The Poker

Where else to start but with the primary purpose (for most, anyway) of the whole thing? Not including the Main Event the 2016 BoM will feature eight (!) side events – more than ever before.

Poker. Then, more poker.

And that’s not even including the satellites.

The Main Event will have three starting days - Nov 2, 3 and 4. The final table will play on Monday, Nov 7.

As always the buy-in is €550 and the prize pool is €500,000 guaranteed. With 1,804 runners last year, however, that guarantee was easily smashed and reached a staggering €875,000.

Expect a similar number for 2016.

The Siege of Malta Second Chance Tourney has already established itself as the second-largest tournament of the festival. Last year 393 players put up the €250+€20 and the final six players split up over €66,000!

There will also be the Grandmaster High Roller, the PLO Knight Crusader, the 888poker Win the Button, a Deepstack Turbo and a Crazy Pineapple tournament.

On Monday we’ve added an IPC Turbo event and there will also be the special Blackjack Casino Crusaders tournament sponsored by Betsafe.

In addition to these there will be low buy-in satellites for both the main and the high roller event from Monday through to Friday night.

Register Early!

Queue for trophy, not to register.

Registration for the main event opens Monday, October 31 at 4 PM.

From November 2-7 the registration desk will open at 12 PM. We strongly recommend you register early as there will be queues later in the day.

There will also be cash games at different levels all through the week at the Portomaso Casino.

Get Social

No day is complete at the Battle of Malta without some form of celebration.

There will be a Karaoke night, a cocktail reception, a pool party, a VIP party and the All-in Friday at Club 22, from where you have the most amazing views of the island.

Maria Ho will be present at all the events and we can attest she is one of the most kind-hearted, considerate people on Earth when it comes to chatting with fans and taking pictures.

Everyone loves Maria.

That might be part of the reason why, according to our recent poll, she’s the second-most important reason players are looking forward to this year's Battle of Malta.

Make sure to secure yourself a complete package to get free access to all the events!

Get Oriented

All 2016 BoM events will take place at the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s. All package players will stay at the beautifully refurbished 5-Star Hilton or another of the luxury hotels in the area.

Because of the size of the BOM one hotel isn’t enough to accommodate all the players anymore.

The district of St Julian’s and in particular the district of Paceville is the epicentre of Maltese nightlife. The area is brimming with clubs, bars and restaurants, so boredom won't be an issue for you should you bust from events early.

Check back later this week in the Battle of Malta news section where we'll reveal the list of pros and celebs joining the events.

As a teaser: Dutch DJ duo Deepend will drive the action at the VIP Players Party on Saturday night. As a frame of reference, their hit track dropped just last month already has 1.8m views on YouTube.

Check the Battle of Malta schedule page right here for all the fine details for the events including buy-ins, starting times and days.

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