EPT Malta: Main Event Breaks Records, Roman Stoica Leads After Day 2

Record-Breaking Main Event Led by Roman Stoica After Day 2
 

The EPT Malta 2025 Main Event, with a buy-in of €5,300, has already made history. After the initial two days, it confirmed a record 898 entries, resulting in a prizepool of €4,355,300, the largest in Malta's EPT history. The winner will earn a prestigious title, the iconic trophy, and a prize of €760,000.

Out of the original 337 players who entered Day 2, 108 remain, all assured at least €9,650. Leading the pack is Moldovan Roman Stoica, bagging 928,000 chips, equivalent to 186 big blinds. Belarusian Aliaksei Boika, who conquered the Maltese Main Event in 2016, currently secures third place with 672,000 chips, formally defending his title.

Still in the hunt for the title are former EPT champions Adrian Mateos (401,000), Ognyan Dimov (194,000), Tom Middleton (185,000), and Dominik Panka (117,000). 

You can follow the tournament live from Day 2 through the finale via livestreams on YouTube and Twitch. Coverage of Day 3 is available today from 12:30 local time.

Top 10 Chip Counts After Day 2:

Nino Junior Pansier Triumphs in PLO High Roller
 

In Event #34: €25K Pot Limit Omaha High Roller, Dutchman Nino Junior Pansier emerged victorious, taking home €276,115. The prizepool reached €552,230, with only the top three finishers securing payouts.

The tournament drew an elite, albeit compact, field of players, including four-card format specialists like Laszlo Bujtas, Anton Suarez, Espen Myrmo (winner of the €5K PLO), and Gergo Nagy (winner of the €10K PLO). 

In the final three, alongside Pansier, was Swedish player Anton Suarez, who repeated his previous days' strong performances, finishing second in the €10K PLO event. Hungarian high roller Laszlo Bujtas took third, pocketing €110,446.

Japanese Player Kazuomi Furuse Wins €25K NL Hold'em
 

Another high-stakes event at EPT Malta 2025 brought victory to Japan's Kazuomi Furuse in Event #40: €25,000 No Limit Hold'em. The tournament gathered 21 entries, amassing a prizepool of €504,210.

For Furuse, this marks one of the biggest successes of his career, outplaying several WSOP bracelet holders and defeating Italian Enrico Camosci in a heads-up finale. Furuse claimed a prize of €252,110, setting a new career high, surpassing his April PGT title reward.

Source: PS Live, The Hendon Mob, Flickr, YouTube