Following our previous article, where we tracked the festival's kickoff and the first flight, the Battle of Malta has now fully showcased its prowess. It wasn't just about a successful day. More flights gradually filled up, with players arriving from across Europe and beyond, smashing the €700,000 guarantee well in advance. The heaviest influx came during the latter starting days as Casino Malta filled to capacity.
The first two flights, Day 1A and 1B, combined for 285 entries and 37 players advancing. Day 1C and 1D added another 629 entries, with 80 players moving on to Day 2. The largest surge of entries, however, came in the final flights Day 1E, 1F, and 1G, along with an extra flight in Cluj, Romania. This group contributed a total of 1,753 entries and 241 qualifiers.
Day 2 Kicked Off in the Money, but Only a Fraction Survived
Day 2 saw 358 players return, each with the safety net of a min-cash. The initial payout was €1,000, but the real target was advancing deeper towards substantial pay jumps and the final table. Day 2 was played at a brisk pace, and after six levels of play, only 75 players remained. They will return for Day 3 with blinds at 20,000/40,000 and an ante of 40,000.
Leading the tournament after Day 2 is Kristian Holmgren, who bagged 3,760,000 in chips. He is followed by Dimitrios Stampoultzis with 3,455,000 and Konstantinos Asgoudakis with 3,055,000. Among the top stacks are also Erlend Kalstad, Angelo Censabella, and Daniele Renzi.
Top 10 Players before Day 3:
| Rank | Player | Stack |
| 1. | Kristian Holmgren | 3,760,000 |
| 2. | Dimitrios Stampoultzis | 3,455,000 |
| 3. | Konstantinos Asgoudakis | 3,055,000 |
| 4. | Erlend Kalstad | 2,840,000 |
| 5. | Angelo Censabella | 2,585,000 |
| 6. | Daniele Renzi | 2,320,000 |
| 7. | Mark Vella | 2,310,000 |
| 8. | Fredrick Bratein | 2,230,000 |
| 9. | Ugnius Vestertas | 2,125,000 |
| 10. | Jiri Novak | 2,060,000 |
Winner to Take Home €176,070 and the Knight Trophy
The big news on Day 2 was the announcement of the payouts. The winner of the Main Event at the Battle of Malta Summer Edition 2026 will walk away with €176,070 and the iconic knight trophy. The runner-up will receive €101,910, while the third place will claim €69,480.
The field has narrowed down to 75 players, the average stack sits at 1,422,400, and every pot could significantly impact the tournament's trajectory. It's no longer just about the min-cash but a genuine chance to reach the marquee names of the summer edition. Who will make history?
Find the complete list of survivors and live reports from this event on the event's page here
