Tereza Vernerova became the first female winner of the Battle of Malta

Tereza Vernerova made history by winning the Battle of Malta 2026 Main Event and becoming the tournament's first female champion. The prize pool amounted to €227,835.

Tereza Vernerova made poker history by becoming the first woman to win the Battle of Malta Main Event. During the 2026 Autumn Series at Casino Malta, the €600 buy-in tournament drew a record 5,368 entries, with the champion’s prize pool totaling €227,835. After more than 12 hours of play at the final table, Vernerova defeated Ofer Tadmor heads-up, securing €162,635 and the Knight’s Trophy following an ICM deal. Final Table: Results and Payouts The Battle of Malta Autumn Edition 2026 Main Event became one of the largest tournaments in the series, attracting thousands of participants. The final table was fiercely contested, with each of the eight finalists vying for impressive payouts. Final table results: 1st place: Tereza Vernerova — €162,635* 2nd place: Ofer Tadmor — €147,635* 3rd place: James Malatynski — €139,635* 4th place: Lulei Hu — €74,000 5th place: Rosario Saddemi — €56,000 6th place: Marios Kapiris — €42,000 7th place: Ivane Khazaradze — €32,000 8th place: Marco Lopez Coronado — €23,000 *The prizes for the top three places were determined by an ICM deal; the remaining €22,635 and the trophy were played for afterwards. The Road to a Historic Victory: Emotions and Support After the final heads-up, Tereza Vernerova could barely contain her emotions, noting that this was one of the best moments of her life. She admitted to feeling nervous before the final table, even though she entered as the chip leader. This was Vernerova’s first experience playing at such a major final table, and she didn’t know what to expect. However, her husband played a big role in her preparation, supporting her throughout the tournament: bringing her food and water, offering advice during breaks, and staying by her side until the very end. The Knight’s Trophy holds special significance for Tereza, as it will now take pride of place at home alongside her husband’s awards. She modestly admitted that this trophy will be the centerpiece of their shared collection. The victory brought not only a large cash prize and historic recognition, but also an invitation to future Battle of Malta stops in 2027. Organizers announced plans to hold series stops in Barcelona, Bratislava, Tallinn, and once again in Malta in the summer. Vernerova expressed interest in playing in Bratislava, which is close to her native Czech Republic, and also said she would like to return to Tallinn, where she previously played a WSOP Circuit event. Now, as the first female champion of the Battle of Malta Main Event, Tereza will be able to celebrate her success at several stops on the 2027 tour. Final Table Action: Survival Battles and Shifting Chip Leads The final table began with Lulei Hu in the toughest spot — he had the shortest stack of all the players. Despite this, he didn’t give up: early on, he managed to double up with a set against James Malatynski, and later he repeatedly came back from the brink when it seemed he was about to bust. Marco Lopez Coronado was the first to leave the final table. After losing most of his stack in a hand against Marios Kapiris, he was soon forced to go all-in with his remaining chips. Kapiris made a flush and sent Marco out in eighth place. Meanwhile, despite being the chip leader, Tereza Vernerova couldn’t significantly increase her stack — every time she tried to play aggressively, she met resistance from her opponents. However, thanks to her composure and discipline, she managed to maintain her lead during the first four hours of the final table. Soon, the balance of power shifted: James Malatynski started to gain momentum, doubling up again and winning a big pot from Lulei Hu in a tense river hand. This put Malatynski in the lead, while Hu was left on the verge of elimination. Ofer Tadmor also became a major contender, winning a significant pot from Vernerova with a straight flush and taking over the chip lead. Soon after, Malatynski knocked out Hu, who, despite several successful escapes, eventually exited in fourth place. When only three players remained — Tadmor, Vernerova, and Malatynski — they agreed to an ICM deal, guaranteeing themselves substantial payouts. However, €22,635 and the trophy were still up for grabs, keeping the intrigue and motivation alive until the very end. After the deal, Malatynski changed his strategy, switching to an aggressive style, but this led to him losing a significant portion of his stack. The key moment came when Vernerova made a heroic call on the river against his all-in, leaving Malatynski with a short stack and soon eliminating him, giving her a spot in the heads-up. Heads-Up: The Decisive Duel and Winning Moment The final showdown between Tereza Vernerova and Ofer Tadmor was tense and unpredictable. Vernerova quickly seized the initiative, winning a big pot with trips against Tadmor’s two pair and regaining the chip lead. Tadmor didn’t give up and managed to double up several times, narrowing the gap, but in the decisive hand everything was settled on the flop: Tadmor went all-in on a paired board, and Vernerova instantly called with trip tens. The turn and river changed nothing, and Tadmor finished second, while Vernerova became the champion. Tereza Vernerova’s victory was a historic event for the Battle of Malta and the entire European poker community. She not only took home a substantial cash prize, but also became the first woman to lift the Main Event trophy of this prestigious series. Context: The Battle of Malta Series and Its Significance Battle of Malta is one of the most popular poker series in Europe, attracting thousands of players to Casino Malta every year. The 2026 Autumn Main Event with a €600 buy-in drew a record 5,368 entries, reflecting the growing interest in live poker and the accessibility of the format for a wide audience. The Knight’s Trophy, awarded to the Main Event winner, is considered one of the most prestigious prizes on the European poker scene. Winning such a tournament opens new opportunities for the player — invitations to other series stops, attention from the poker community and sponsors, and the chance to go down in history as one of the best players of the year. The Battle of Malta organizers have already announced an expanded schedule for 2027: stops will be held in Barcelona, Bratislava, Tallinn, and again in Malta. This will allow more players to try their hand at major live tournaments and compete for impressive prizes. Final Table Standings 1st place: Tereza Vernerova — €162,635* 2nd place: Ofer Tadmor — €147,635* 3rd place: James Malatynski — €139,635* 4th place: Lulei Hu — €74,000 5th place: Rosario Saddemi — €56,000 6th place: Marios Kapiris — €42,000 7th place: Ivane Khazaradze — €32,000 8th place: Marco Lopez Coronado — €23,000 *ICM deal between the top three finalists; the remaining €22,635 and the trophy were played for separately. Key Moments of the Final Table Lulei Hu started the final table with the shortest stack but managed to double up several times and finished fourth. Marco Lopez Coronado was the first to bust, losing most of his stack in a hand against Kapiris. James Malatynski temporarily took the lead after winning a big pot from Hu, but after the ICM deal and an unsuccessful hand against Vernerova, finished third. Ofer Tadmor stood out by winning a straight flush against Vernerova and made it to heads-up, where he finished runner-up. Decisive hand: Vernerova called Tadmor’s all-in with trip tens and won the tournament. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Tereza Vernerova’s victory in such a prestigious and massive tournament as the Battle of Malta clearly shows that success in poker is accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, age, or previous experience in major live series. For PPPoker club players, this is an inspiring example: regular practice in online clubs, participation in club tournaments, and team support can be excellent preparation for performing at major offline events. Pay attention to the importance of discipline, composure, and the ability to make decisions under pressure — these are the qualities that helped Vernerova maintain her lead and find optimal solutions in key hands. At PPPoker clubs, you can train these skills in a safe and comfortable online environment, so you’re ready for any challenge in live tournaments. Moreover, the Battle of Malta is a great example of how poker series are expanding their reach and making major tournaments accessible to players from different countries. Keep an eye out for club satellites and qualifying tournaments on PPPoker: you could be the next participant or even the champion of a prestigious international event!