Greeks Entered the Finale from a Strong Position
The final day of the Battle of Malta 2026 Main Event kicked off at the televised table with everyone anticipating the significant role the Greek duo would play. Georgios Papakonstantinou led as chipleader with a stack of 22,525,000, followed closely by Stavros Passias with 19,275,000. Serbian Marko Cosic also had a strong position, while Alejandro Asenjo entered the finale from mid-field with a stack of 12,850,000.
The beginning of the final table was cautious. Short stacks waited for their spot, while larger stacks tested each other without taking unnecessary risks. The first major shift occurred after the break, kicking off the player eliminations. Norwegian Fredrick Bratein finished in eighth place for €19,350, shortly followed by Gianluca Donini in seventh for €27,050.
Danilo Scevola began the final day with only 13 big blinds, and despite finding a key double-up early on, his journey ended in sixth place for €35,600. Angelo Censabella played creatively and fearlessly but ran into trouble in key hands. After folding to a major preflop confrontation, he ended up all-in with K h J c against Marko Cosic’s 4 s 4 c. Despite hitting trips, Cosic turned a full house, knocking Censabella out in fifth for €43,900.
Conclusion Marked by Deal
After Censabella’s elimination, four players remained – Stavros Passias, Georgios Papakonstantinou, Marko Cosic, and Alejandro Asenjo. At that point, they agreed on a 4-way ICM deal. Originally competing for €176,070 for the winner, the deal reshuffled the payouts while the title and trophy were still up for grabs.
The finale then exploded into absolute chaos. Players began shoving chips into the pot with increased ease, transforming the tournament’s strategy from cautious pay jumps to a flurry of all-ins, flips, and dramatic showdowns. Former chipleader Georgios Papakonstantinou was the first to fall post-deal, securing €100,800 for fourth place.
He was followed by Stavros Passias, who, despite finishing third, claimed the largest payout of the entire final table thanks to the deal, earning €114,150. This left the trophy still at stake for Marko Cosic and Alejandro Asenjo.
The heads-up duel between Cosic and Asenjo was swift. Cosic managed to win an important flip, closing the gap in chip stacks, but ultimately, the last word belonged to the Spaniard. In the decisive hand, Cosic went all-in with 7 s 2 c , and Asenjo called with A d 8 c . The board 9 h T d T s J h Q s brought Asenjo a runner-runner straight, sealing the tournament. Cosic took second place for €90,850, while Alejandro Asenjo celebrated with the title, trophy, and €94,520 prize.
Final Table Results:
| Position | Name | Country | Earnings |
| 1. | Alejandro Asenjo | Spain | €94,520 |
| 2. | Marko Cosic | Serbia | €90,850 |
| 3. | Stavros Passias | Greece | €114,150 |
| 4. | Georgios Papakonstantinou | Greece | €100,800 |
| 5. | Angelo Censabella | Italy | €43,900 |
| 6. | Danilo Scevola | Italy | €35,600 |
| 7. | Gianluca Donini | Italy | €27,050 |
| 8. | Fredrick Bratein | Norway | €19,350 |
Battle of Malta Heads to Slovakia
The summer edition in Malta has concluded, but the Battle of Malta brand isn't stopping there. Organizers have announced that the series will expand beyond the island, with the Battle of Malta Slovakia Edition set to take place at Card Casino from September 7 to 14. The main event will feature a €400 buy-in and a €400,000 guarantee. Following this, the Battle of Malta will return to St. Julian’s from October 24 to November 4 for its autumn edition, boasting a €2,000,000 guarantee.
