The €5,200 Million event has consistently been a highlight of the PLO Grand Slam schedule, attracting poker enthusiasts with a substantial €1,000,000 guarantee since its inception. This year, the tournament broke records in January by registering 225 entries in Tirana, making it the largest €5K PLO tournament ever held in Europe.
As the Diamond Poker Series arrived at Casino Malta, the €5K opener was set in motion. Day 1a unfolded with a robust field, beginning with 68 entries that narrowed down to 22 players. Leading the charge into Day 2 is bracelet winner Amir Mozaffarian, who finished the night with an impressive chip stack of 1,940,000, equating to 194 big blinds.
Mozaffarian’s chip lead places him well ahead of his closest competitor, Danyil Zaremba, who entered Day 1a after a brief exit during the earlier €10,300 Championship. Zaremba secured a solid position with a stack of 1,225,000. Among the notable players advancing to Day 2 are two-time PLO bracelet champions Robert Cowen and Dennis Weiss, along with Jessica Teusl and Youness Barakat, contributing to a competitive atmosphere as the tournament progresses.
The top ten chip counts from Day 1a are as follows:
1. Amir Mozaffarian (Germany) – 1,940,000 (194 BB)
2. Danyil Zaremba (Ukraine) – 1,225,000 (123 BB)
3. Andre Plaza Marcano (United States) – 1,169,000 (117 BB)
4. Lauri Varonen (Finland) – 1,137,000 (114 BB)
5. Robert Cowen (United Kingdom) – 1,067,000 (107 BB)
6. Gergo Nagy (Hungary) – 838,000 (84 BB)
7. Puk Nabuurs (Netherlands) – 814,000 (81 BB)
8. Aki Vihikainen (Finland) – 789,000 (79 BB)
9. Youness Barakat (Italy) – 648,000 (65 BB)
10. Erik Friberg (Sweden) – 609,000 (61 BB)
Day 1b of the tournament is scheduled to kick off today at 3 p.m. local time, providing a fresh opportunity for players looking to secure their spots. Participants will begin with a starting stack of 200,000 chips, with additional chips allocated for early arrivals or late registrants. The format for Day 1b includes ten levels of play, each lasting 45 minutes, with a dinner break after the sixth level.
Late registration remains open throughout Day 1b and will also continue into the early levels of Day 2. A 30-second shot clock rule will be in effect for the tournament, ensuring a brisk pace of play.
With another day of PLO action on the horizon at Casino Malta, players and fans alike can look forward to thrilling poker dynamics. PokerNews will be on the ground, providing live updates from this exciting tournament.stay tuned for all the action as it unfolds.