Italy's Giuseppe Rosa leads the final nine players in the 2022 Battle of Malta Main Event at Casino Malta by Olympic Casino with his eyes on the coveted trophy and the €200,340 top prize.

Rosa, who bagged a massive stack of 15,875,000 in chips, had three huge hands near the end of the day to grow his below-average stack into the chip lead. The first of the trio of hands sent Michael Koren to the rail in 12th place with his ace-queen proving to be good against king-jack.

The next hand featured the biggest pot of the day. Rosa jammed the river with ace-seven for two pair and doubled through Jeremy Roseau who eventually called with a pair of kings holding king-six to win a pot north of 13 million in chips.

Finally, Rosa could have maybe won even more in a pot against Peep Kivistik. Rosa flopped a set with queens and somehow the stacks never got in the middle with Kivistik displaying some pot control on the final table bubble with short stacks on the other table.

Rosa with $133,135 in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob, is no stranger to a big final table stage as in 2019 he finished in fourth place in the EPT Madrid Open for his biggest lifetime cash €62,550. Coincidentally, he only needs a fourth-place performance at tomorrow's final table for a new personal best.

While Rosa has a big lead, a few other players are only a double-up away from being the table captain including Jeremy Soreuo (9,675,000), Peep Kivistik (7,825,000), Noam Garama (7,450,000), and Federico Petruzzelli (7,325,000). Also still in contention are Stan van Dijk (5,800,000), who had a massive rail of dozens of Dutch players in Malta, Yossef Cohen (4,375,000), Valter Marchi (3,900,000), and Karol Szyszko (2,650,000).

2022 Battle of Malta Final Table Seat Draw

The 2022 Battle of Malta attracted 2,592 entries to generate a €1,244,160 prize pool to more than double the €500,000 guarantee.

Action of the Day

Day 3 began with 65 players all with hopes of advancing to the final table and beyond. The day featured one-hour blind levels and moved at a fast and furious pace until there was only a couple of dozen players remaining.

Among the notable players advancing to the penultimate day but unable to find a bag to the final table included Josef Gulas Sr. (19th - €3,730), Kevin Malone (21st - €3,730), 2019 Battle of Malta runner-up Steven van Zadelhoff (39th - €2,670), and Dehlia De Jong (59th - €2,240). Alessandra Cuntro was the last female player standing after she bowed out in 48th place for €2,360.

The final table bubble was one to remember as the marathon affair took 27 hands. Eventually, the day was in the books after Francesco Cuoccio was unable to get there with eight-six against Yossef Cohen's ace-queen.

Final Table Payouts

All nine returning players are each guaranteed at least a five-figure haul of €10,580 with the eventual winner slated to be rewarded a whopping €200,340. Blinds will start with eight minutes remaining in Level 32 with blinds at 100,000/200,000 before increasing to 100,000/250,000.

Jason Glatzer, who has been blogging all week alongside Juhani Tyriseva, will be commentating on the live stream at a variety of social media channels on Tuesday starting at 2:30 p.m. CEST. But also, stay tuned to the blog as Tyriseva will be updating the blog all day long with posts, photos, and videos.

The final table was really fierce. All 10 players really wanted to sit down to the Final Table tomorrow. Plenty of time was used to almost every situation, which is understandable when pay jumps are growing.

Francesco Cuoccio got his short stack crippled against Valter Marchi, and he had only 1,000,000 left when he moved all in and got an instant call from Yossef Cohen.

Cohen

Cuoccio

The board ran and so Cuoccio's hopes for final table seat were smashed.

Cuoccio collected €7,780.

Hand 19 in the Final table bubble: Valter Marchi opened to 400,000 from the small blind, Francesco Cuoccio defended his big blind.

Players saw a flop now Cuoccio decided to bet 500,000, Marchi called The turn brought and Marchi moved all in 1,700,000. Cuoccio took his time and folded.

On the 11th hand of hand-for-hand play on the bubble, Giuseppe Rosa opened for 450,000 from the cutoff and was called by Peep Kivistik from the small blind.

Kivistik check-called for 375,000 on the flop before both players checked the turn. The river completed the board and Kivistik led out for 1,000,000. Rosa jacked it up to 3,600,000 and Kivistik went into the tank for about five minutes.

Eventually Kivistik made the call only to get the bad news with Rosa holding for a full house to crack Kivistik's to take down the pot.

On the fourth hand of hand-for-hand play on the final table bubble, Guiseppe Rosa opened for 800,000 from the small blind and was called by Giuseppe Rosa from the big blind.

Rosa fired out for 600,000 on the flop and for 1,500,000 on the turn and was called both times. The completed the board on the river and Rosa jammed for 3,575,000. Soreau went into tank for about three minutes before he made the called.

Rosa slammed down the for two pair and screamed in celebration and ran over to his rail shouting after he saw he beat the held by Soreau.

Michele Biggi and Noam Garama went all in preflop. The board ran to Noam's favor and we are down to 10 players.

Michael Koran and Giuseppe Rosa went all-in preflop. The board ran 3and Michael was eliminated.

Players are on what is likely their last 15-minute break.

Karol Szyszko was down to just a handful of big blinds not too long ago but is now back in business as he just doubled up again as follows.

Szyszko jammed for 2,350,000 and was called by Francesco Cuoccio.

Karol Szyszko:

Francesco Cuoccio:

It was a bit of a sweat for Szyszko with Cuoccio flopping a flush draw on the flop. The blank turn didn't change anything in the hand. Szyszko stood up and celebrated after the river completed the board and he doubled his stack with a set of sevens.

Karol Szyszko (picture above) jammed for 775,000 from the small blind. Yossef Cohen appeared to be deep in thought for about 40 seconds before he found the call.

Karol Szyszko:

Yossef Cohen:

Szyszko was ahead of Cohen the entire way with the dealt out on the board to double his stack.

Marco Cosic and Peep Kivistik went all-in preflop. The board kept Peep's snowmen in the lead all the way and Marco was eliminated.

Stan van Dijk moved all in from the small blind and Edoardo Mancinelli called all-in.The board crashed Edoardo's hopes of the final table seat.

Danel Vaitzman and Stan van Dijk called. The board did not help Danel, and he went to the cashier to collect his winnings.

Karol Szyszko and Michele Biggi went all in preflop. The board was favorable for Michele, who doubled up.

Michele Biggi opened, Noam Garama defended his big blind. The flop was checked. The brought Michele fired 380,000, Noam called. The river was scary Michele bet 825,000, Noam tanked for a while and called. Michele tapped the table and folded. Noam showed and collected a nice pot.

The clock was stopped waiting for the redraw but before that happened a hand that took more than 10 minutes.

Both players checked with more than 2 million in the pot and the on the board. Jeremy Soreau tanked for several minutes before he jammed. 

Valerio Mascolo tanked for about five minutes before Soreau called for time. With less than five seconds left on the clock, Mascolo called off for about 2 million.

Soreau turned over for a full house. Mascolo slammed his hand down in frustration and nearly left before he was given his payout slip after showing his losing hand of .

Alexandros Dranovitsas and Noam Garama went all-in preflop. The board did not help Alexandros.

We are down to 16 players. Total redraw is made, new seating order follows.

Ugo Gasparini and Stan van Dijk went all-in preflop. The board was not favorable for Ugo, and went to the cashier to collect his winnings.

Yossef Cohen jammed for 2.7 million from the small blind and was called by Karol Szyszko from the big blind.

Yossef Cohen:

Karol Szyszko:

Cohen whiffed the flop and the turn. But he celebrated after improving to a better two pair than Szyszko after the river completed the board.

Josef Gulas opened for 275,000 from early position and Jeremy Soreau defended his big blind. Soreau check-raised the flop from 200,000 to 600,000. The floor was called by Gulas who thought there was a string bet. The floor ruled it was a legal raise and Gulas called.

Soreau bet 1,100,000 on the turn and Gulas called. A jam came by Soreau on the river. Gulas went into the tank before calling off for about 2,600,000.

Soreau turned over for a straight and Gulas was out of the tournament in 18th place after showing .

Edoardo Mancinelli jammed for 1.2 million from the hijack. Stan van Dijk looked him up from the cutoff and the cards were turned over.

Edoardo Mancinelli:

Stan van Dijk:

Van Dijk shooked his head in frustration after the board as his opponent improved to trips to double his stack.

Alexandros Dranovitsas pushed his last 550,000 to the middle from small blind, Giuseppe Rosa called from the big blind. The board 8gave Alexandros a straight and a double up.

On the first hand after the break, Cory Desmond jammed for 2,495,000 from the button and was called by Stan van Dijk from the big blind.

Cory Desmond:

Stan van Dijk:

Desmond was ahead on the flip after both the flop and the turn. However, van Dijk's rail erupted after his nine paired on the river to oust Desmond in 20th place.

Players are back in their seats from the dinner break and ready for action. Just nine of the 20 players will survive the day and advance to tomorrow's final table. 

Federico Petruzzelli (pictured below) leads the way at the dinner break. Here is a look at all of the stacks of the final 20 players.

Players are now on a 75-minute dinner break.

Kevin Malone went all-in with his remaining 815,000. Valerio Mascolo sat next to him and called after a small hesitation.

The board ran so Kevin's returned hopes were smashed at the river.

Eros Nastasi jammed for 1,200,000 from the hijack and was snap-called by Josef Gulas from the big blind.

Eros Nastasi:

Josef Gulas:

Nastasi failed to snag a piece of the board to hit the rail in 21st place.

Peep Kivistik and Noam Garama have taken a couple of blind vs blind matches during the last hour. Now Peep limped, Noam raised to 325,000, Peep called. The flop was and both players checked. The turn brought Noam bet 175,000 and Peep called. The river was Noam fired 475,000, Peep took his time and decided to call. Noam folded quickly, now Peep wanted a confirmation from the dealer: "Do I have to show my hand", was the question. "No", replied the dealer, and Peep collected a nice pot, without showing his hand.

Ugo Gasparini and Karol Szyszko went all-in preflop. The board ran and Ugo's tournament life was saved by the bell, he doubled up.

Edoardo Mancinelli jammed for six big blinds from the cutoff and was called by Ugo Gasparini from the big blind.

Edoardo Mancinelli:

Ugo Gasparini:

Gasparini bricked the board. Meanwhile, Mancinelli, who didn't need to improve, had a full house at the end to double his short stack.

The board at the turn was and now Francesco Cuoccio and Kevin Malone the river did not help Kevin, so Francesco's two pairs were good, and he doubled up.

Samuel and Giuseppe Rosa went all-in preflop. The board did not help Samuel, and he was eliminated.

Edoardo Mancinelli checked the flop with about 700,000 in the pot. Federico Petruzzelli bet 125,000 and a few moments later Mancinelli raised to 600,000. Petruzzelli went into the tank for a couple of minutes before he jammed for 2,825,000. Mancinelli had his opponent covered and wasted no time in making the call.

Federico Petruzzelli:

Edoardo Mancinelli:

Petruzzelli had the better flush draw than that of his opponent and was ahead with king high. Mancinelli still had outs with any non-heart four, five, or six.

The turn took away most of Mancinelli's outs as it gave Petruzzelli the top pair. The blank completed the board on the river and the dealer awarded Petruzzelli a huge pot.

Ugo Casparini and Federico Petruzelli went all-in preflop. The board made Ugo a straight, so he doubled up.

Vincenzo and Giuseppe Rosa went all-in preflop. The board did not help Vincenzo, so we are down to 23 players.

The action was down to 24 players after Emanuele Cassibba hit the rail. Here is a look at the final three table redraw.

Kevin Malone opened from the middle position, Michael Koran 3-bet from the button, Kevin called. The flop was and both players checked. The turn brought and the players checked again. came to the river and now Kevin decided to bet 500,000. Michael seemingly did not like a bet, but started to think about this hand, which really had a dangerous board. Finally, he decided to call.

"You got me", confessed Kevin and showed Michael showed and raked a nice pot.

Danel Vaitzman jammed for 1,145,000 from under the gun. The action folded around to Alexandros Dranovitsas in the big blind who snap-called.

Danel Vaitzman:

Alexandros Dranovitsas:

Dranovitsas was ahead and remained that way after the came on the flop. The turn opened up both a flush draw and a gutshot straight draw in addition to winning the hand if a king came on the river. The flush draw was completed after the came raining down on the river and Vaitzman breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Here is the full chip count at the break.

"It was a bit weird hand", reported Finland's Keimo Suominen about his bustout. "Roberto Pinna opened 125,000, Noam Garama called behind, and I decided to call as well with my The flop came now I checked, Pinna lead 225,000, Garama called and moved all in 680,000. Pinna moved all in 1,600,000, Garama made some calculations and called as well. Pinna showed and Garama had Turn and made Garama a straight and sent me and Roberto to the rail", said Keimo.

Players are on a short break.

Antonio and Michael Koran went all-in preflop. The board did not help Antonio so he was eliminated from the tournament.

Mohammed and Stan van Dijk went all-in preflop. The board did not help Mohammed, and he was eliminated.

The two-day €1,100 High Roller DOMUS Bet Final attracted 154 entries. There are just 30 players remaining with just 27 players walking away with at least a min-cash of €1,500. 

The eventual winner is slated to receive a whopping €31,640.

Pawel Wakuluk, Martin von Zweigbergk, Christian Rysgaard, Jamie Nixon, Jonathan Therme, and Daniel Samson are among the players still competing for the title.

Here are the last missing players of today's photo session. Let us know if somebody who is still in has not gotten his face to the blog.

Marco Cosic

Michael Koran

Antonio Russo

Dario Comitini

Jeremy Sereau

Yossef Cohen

Steven van Zadelhoff finished runner-up in the Battle of Malta Main Event the last time it was held in 2019.

It was looking possible that "The Viking" could have made back-to-back final tables but he ran out of gas.

He lost a good amount of his stack when his didn't hold against . Shortly after, he jammed unsuccessfully from the small blind with the big blind waking up with .

Van Zadelhoff will have to wait until the autumn when the Battle of Malta returns to Casino Malta on Oct. 4-12 for his chance to win a Battle of Malta Main Event trophy this year.

Giuseppe Rosa

Michele Biggi

Mohamed Bouzgarrou

Edoardo Mancinelli and Michele Biggi went all-in preflop. The board was good for Edoardo, who doubled up.

"I moved all-in and Valerio Mascolo called me with and he actually beat me twice, first he made a straight and finally a nut flush", reported Stephane.

Cory Desmond

Danel Vaitzman

Diego Grisiglione

Noam Garama

Valerio Mascolo

Former footballer Anthony Gardner went deep in the Main Event but recently headed to the cashier to collect the 42nd place prize of €2,670.

His final hand went as follows. Gardner opened from the cutoff for 105,000. Noam Garama defended the big blind to go heads-up to see the flop.

Garama checked before Gardner bet 125,000. Garama jammed and Gardner called off his stack of around 600,000.

Anthony Gardner:

Noam Garama:

Garama's top pair was good enough to eliminate Gardner after blanks hit the turn and river.

Here are the biggest stacks at the break.

There are no more ladies remaining after Alessandra Cuntro hit the rail. Her husband, Gianluca Crimaldi shared with us about how her final hand went down.

Cuntro jammed with queen-jack suited from the small blind and was called by the player in the big blind with ace-eight. Both players bricked the board and the player in the big blind won the hand with ace-high to eliminate Cuntro.

We do our best to provide a photo of all still remaining players.

Federico Petruzelli

Antonio Merone

Edoardo Mancinelli

Stephane Roux

Mariano D'aquila

Day 3 is on its first break of the day.

Samuel Biland

Stan van Dijk

Pawel Fraczek

Karol Szyszko

Giovanni Anello jammed his short stack of 70,000 and was called by Paolo Pinazzo from the cutoff. Jeremy Sereau three-bet to 350,000 and Pinazzo went into the tank for about three minutes before he folded.

Giovanni Anello:

Paolo Pinazzo:

Anello's big slick held on the runout to more than quadruple up.

Lior Torgeman

Peep Kivistik

Dylan Cechowski

Alessandro Cuntro is the last lady standing in the event. While she doesn't have one of the biggest stacks in the room with 700,000 in chips, it would take just one double-up to put her ahead of the average stack of 1.3 million.

We found 7 players, who have more than 2 million.

Edoardo Mancinelli already had all his stack committed in a pot north of 1.5 million and was up against Angelo Patane and Mariano D'aquila.

Patane jammed for 525,000 on the flop. D'aquila went into the tank for a couple of minutes before he opted to fold.

Edoardo Mancinelli:

Angelo Patane:

Patane was unable to get there after the turn and river completed the board and Mancinelli earned a triple up. A short while later, Patane lost the rest of his stack as did Massimo De Giorgi, Kristaps Zarans, and Flaviano Cammisuli.

Christian Pedersen

Valter Marchi

Vincenzo Pellegrino

Francesco Cuoccio

Emanuele Cassibba

Liam Melis got the last of his 90,000 chips in and was up against Anthony Gardner and Noam Garama.

Gardner and Garama both checked the flop and did the same on the turn. Gardner checked again on the river before Garama bet 65,000. Gardner quickly folded and the cards were turned over.

Melis with was good until the river after the flop paired his queen. However, he was still out of chips with Garama improving to a better pair with for a rivered top pair. 

Also heading to the rail recently were Flaviano Cammisuli, Alsseandro Cannizzaro, Federico Luciano, Poor Yzhak, Dehlia De Jong, and Giuseppe Comitini.

Ugo Gasparini

Steven van Zadelhoff

Keimo Suominen

Gabriele Cappiello.

Stefano Titola

Josef Gulas

Eros Nastasi

Alexandros Dranovitsas

Ugo Gasparini opened for 75,000 from the cutoff. Michael Glansberg three-bet jammed his short stack from the small blind and Gasparini called.

Michael Glansberg:

Ugo Gasparini:

Gasparini was ahead and things got worse for Glansberg after the flop gave his opponent a set. Glansberg hit the rail after the turn and river completed the board.

A few other players hit the rail in the opening moments of Day 3 including Giovanni Grella, Ben Aluf, Demosthenous Demos, and Liad Himelfarb.

The Day 3 players have unbagged their chips and are ready for action.