Swedish online player Robert Berglund has captured the top prize in the main event of the 888Poker-sponsored 2016 Battle of Malta main event, taking home a record Euro 160,000 after besting a field of 1,813 entries with a heavy Nordic component that generated a prize pool of Euro 900,000.
He also packed the attractive and unique Knight of Malta trophy in his home-bound luggage.
The final table took place Monday night, and the departure at third of Sweden’s Rasmus Eriksson (the winner’s best friend) set up the heads up between Berglund and Irish pro John Finnigan Linkins
Spain’s Gonzalo Pro Fernández, who finished fourth in the game, had an extraordinary evening, going quickly from low stack to chip leader, but then losing it all in a three-way tangle with US entrant Lawrence Brandt and Eriksson that saw him busted out at fourth.
The heads up between Berglund and Linkins was a relatively short affair in which Berglund’s advantage led to the Irishman’s departure after a spirited but fruitless attempt at a comeback. His consolation was a Euro 110,000 second placing check.
Other final table cashes were:
Rasmus Eriksson, Sweden – Euro 67.000
Gonzalo Pro Fernandez, Spain – Euro 56.000
Lawrence Brandt, USA – Euro 46.500
Flaviano Cammisuli, Italy – Euro 37.500
Robert Sverre Eik, Norway – Euro 29.000
Giorgio Ligasacchi, Italy – Euro 21.400
Jonas Hähnert, Sweden – Euro 14.540
The event was livestreamed, sponsored by Betsson, Betsafe and NordicBet, in which the sponsors included a free roll with a prize package for next year’s Battle of Malta.