Main Event
Day 1bc Completed
2019 Unibet Open Malta
Main Event
Day: 1bc
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1bc
2019 Unibet Open Malta
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€327,000
Entries
327
Level
30
Blinds
100,000 / 150,000
Ante
150,000
Entries
214
Players Left
93
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Another flight is in the books as Day 1b of the Unibet Open Malta €1,100 Main Event has concluded after 10 levels of poker. Another 165 players walked through the doors of the InterContinental Hotel and Casino Malta but only 66 will move on to Day 2 once the dust settled. That brings the total number of entries to 327, the largest Unibet Open Malta to date.
There were a few players who made a late charge for the chip lead in the closing hands of the evening but it was Christopher Heidelbacher from Romania who topped them all with 243,000 chips. Heidelbacher was trading with Angelo Tarallo who finished not far behind with 223,500 chips. In one of the last hands of the night, Tarallo scooped a pot well north of 120,000 chips from Peter Kaae with pocket aces - one of the only times they held up in the last level.
While it remains to be seen what happens in flight 1c, Heidelbacher will most likely hold the overall chip lead after the three starting flights. With over $30,000 in career tournament winnings in the last couple of years, all but one of his cashes have come in his home country. Heidelbacher will also be looking to top his largest score of over $16,000. A couple of other big stacks who had successful days were Petter Kaarstad (188,500) and [Removed:402] (187,500).
The action got underway for Day 1b at noon local time and tournament organizers were expecting a larger field than Day 1a which attracted 113 runners. It was clear that more players were in the building and the total entries quickly grew throughout the first few levels. Late registration remained open until after the dinner break but there was also Day 1c (a turbo flight) taking place for any of those wishing to re-enter.
Many more Unibet Ambassadors took to the felt today including Alexandre Reard (113,500), David Lappin (46,000), Espen Jorstad, Dara O'Kearney, and Monica Vaka. Unfortunately, the latter three failed to move on through this flight. Today was also the day that the Unibet Poker Twitch streamers tested their luck at the live format and a couple of them were able to make it through. Phil 'syrinxx' Schonebaum (106,000), and Yoan 'ToD' Merlo (61,500) will return with chips on Day 2.
There were 49 players who took their shot at running up a stack in a mere few hours on Day 1c with the levels reduced to 20 minutes. Many of those that were eliminated on Day 1a made their way back into the mix in hopes of finding a bag for Day 2. That event is still currently running and those players that advance will be posted upon completion.
All of those that advanced from the starting flights will return to the tables tomorrow for Day 2 which begins at 12 pm local time. The blinds will resume at 1,000/1,500 with a 1,500 big blind ante. The next goal for everyone will be to reach the money, which likely won't happen until later in the day. The blinds will continue at 60 minutes in length and the scheduled plan is to play down until the final table.
Follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team for all of the action straight from the tournament floor.
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
243,000
93,000
|
93,000 |
|
223,500
89,500
|
89,500 |
|
188,500
9,000
|
9,000 |
![Profile photo of [Removed:402]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
|
187,500
37,500
|
37,500 |
|
168,500
43,500
|
43,500 |
|
145,500
45,500
|
45,500 |
|
133,500
117,800
|
117,800 |
|
131,500
28,000
|
28,000 |
|
123,000
53,500
|
53,500 |
|
|
122,300
83,300
|
83,300 |
|
113,500
9,200
|
9,200 |
|
||
|
|
109,000
109,000
|
109,000 |
|
|
109,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
106,000
106,000
|
106,000 |
|
105,500
105,500
|
105,500 |
|
|
103,000
73,000
|
73,000 |
|
103,000
103,000
|
103,000 |
|
100,500
100,500
|
100,500 |
|
99,000
99,000
|
99,000 |
|
|
99,000
-31,000
|
-31,000 |
|
99,000 | |
|
94,000
94,000
|
94,000 |
|
|
||
|
92,500
11,000
|
11,000 |
|
|
89,500 | |
|
85,500
85,500
|
85,500 |
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
The tournament clock has been paused with 10 minutes remaining on the clock and each table will play four more hands. At the conclusion of those four hands, there will be a color-up of the 100 denomination chips before the players bag up their chips.
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
There was a raise to 2,800 and Michael Brock three-bet to 9,000. Georgios Koltoukis four-bet shoved all in for 34,600 from the blinds which got the initial raiser to fold. Brock asked for a count and contemplated his decision for a moment before making the call.
Michael Brock: 
Georgios Koltoukis: 
The flop came 
to give Brock a pair of queens and some hope. The 
on the turn didn't change anything but it was the 
on the river that gave Brock the best hand and eliminated Koltoukis.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
103,500
41,500
|
41,500 |
|
Busted |
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
An update on flight on 1c as the players have returned to their seats after break and registration is officially closed. There were a total of 49 entries with 41 players still remaining. They will play four more levels before those that are still remaining will bag up their chips. The action is expected to start picking up with the blinds increasing at a feverish pace.
Some of those to still keep an eye on include Kenny Hallaert, Barny Boatman, Mateusz Moolhuizen, Martin Soukup, and Unibet Ambassadors Dan Murariu, Ian Simpson, and Monica Vaka.
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Petter Kaarstad raised it up in early position and Samuel Quesada three-bet to 7,000 from the big blind. Kaarstad called and the dealer fanned the flop of 
. Quesada led out for 8,000 and Kaarstad called to see the 
pair the board on the turn.
Quesada checked this time and Kaarstad dropped in a bet of 10,000. Quesada called and the hit the river. Quesada checked again and Kaarstad moved out a stack of chips, enough to put Quesada to the test for his remaining 37,000 chips.
Quesada thought for a minute before flicking in a chip to signify a call. Kaarstad turned over 
for trip jacks and Quesada showed 
before leaving the table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
179,500
47,500
|
47,500 |
|
Busted |
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Ronald Haverkamp raised it up from the hijack and Charlotte van Brabander defended her big blind after just arriving at the table. The flop came 
and van Brabander check-called a bet of 2,300 from Haverkamp.
The turn was the 
and van Brabander led out for 4,000 this time. Haverkamp called and the completed the board. Another bet of 11,000 from van Brabander forced a fold from Haverkamp this time.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
59,300
-34,200
|
-34,200 |
|
21,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
Level: 10
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 1,200
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
[Removed:402] opened to 2,200 from under the gun and picked up a caller before Asbjorn Elvevold three-bet to 8,000 in the cutoff. Simon Nielsen flat-called from the small blind and the other two players folded.
The dealer spread the flop of 
and Nielsen checked to Elvevold who bet 7,000. Nielsen called and the hit the turn. Nielsen check-called another 12,000 and the completed the board. Nielsen checked once more and Elvevold shoved all in for just over 21,000. Nielsen quickly folded and Elvevold collected the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
81,500 | |
|
|
69,500
39,500
|
39,500 |