The Battle of Malta is a perfect destination for British poker players, combining both a superb poker experience with the chance to enjoy a really great holiday resort.
So says Grosvenor Ambassador Jamie Nixon who has played at Battle of Malta twice and absolutely loves it. The 32-year-old Geordie was one of thousands of players who competed at the last Battle of Malta which was held in April.
The Battle of Malta – a former “Event of the Year” at the European Poker Awards – was launched in 2012 and is now widely regarded as the best poker festival on the continent for low to mid-stakes poker players. The highlight of the forthcoming event this Autumn is a €1 million guaranteed Main Event which is expected to attract a gigantic field. The festival takes place from October 4 to October 12 at the InterContinental Conference Centre in the buzzing tourist resort of St Julian’s.
MainEventTravel has some great special offers for October’s Battle of Malta giving players the chance to stay at the luxurious 5* Intercontinental Hotel for just €200 per night for two people sharing. Head to the Battle of Malta 2022 event page, choose your dates, and click Search. We also have Accommodation + Main Event Buy-in Special Offer packages available.
In addition to the flagship €1 million guaranteed Main Event, Battle of Malta will also include dozens of other tournaments ranging from €65 buy-in turbo satellites right up to the €1,100 High Roller.
Nixon said: “What I like most about Battle of Malta is that when you’re inside the venue, you really feel like you’re at a poker festival and the atmosphere is amazing, but when you go outside, you’re in a great holiday resort! It’s the best of both worlds and having the two together is really spot on.”
There is no doubt that Malta is a superb holiday destination with more than 300 days of sunshine every year, gorgeous beaches, and a thriving nightlife scene in St Julian’s. The resort has a wealth of amenities including clubs, restaurants, cafes, and bars while the Hotel InterContinental, where the festival is held, is Malta’s largest 5* hotel.
Nixon added: “The Intercontinental is a beautiful hotel, really nice – and the room where the tournament is held is very, very big but still has a great atmosphere. It’s a similar vibe to those huge rooms at the World Series – it’s just really exciting to see so many players at the tables. Also, the feature table is right in the middle of the room so wherever you’re sitting, you can still see it. That’s great.
“I’d say there are actually a lot of similarities between Grosvenor’s massive Goliath event and the Battle of Malta. There are lots of recreational players so that makes it more of a party atmosphere and if you pick up a cash or two, that’s a bonus. It’s a really good atmosphere. Everyone is there to have fun.”
Another big advantage of the Battle of Malta for British players is that you can speak English almost everywhere. Nixon added: “Despite the tournament being a really fun international affair, Malta is a great place to go for us Brits as English is the official language. That helps a lot when you’re in the big important pots!”
Nixon, who has been a member of Team Grosvenor since the start of 2021, is already having a stellar year at live events and managed three great High Roller runner-up finishes in a month in the Spring including the UKIPT London High Roller for £40,323 and the Irish Open High Roller a week later for €44,600. He said: “It was a bit of a crazy month but it gave me a reputation for being a “bottle job” – that is, you get heads-up and then you bottle it! Everyone was making a few jokes about me needing a heads-up coach but I hadn’t played many High Rollers at that point so I was very pleased. Then I went to Vegas and gave it all back!”
MainEventTravel’s partnership with Battle of Malta means players can register online for any of the six Main Event start days, as well as book flights or one of the dozens of hotels nearby – all in one go.