Don’t miss the Summer Festival Malta, running from June 27 to July 2, 2023, at the Intercontinental Arena in St Julian’s.

Here are 10 reasons you should go.

CHEAPER THAN VEGAS

While Las Vegas is full of poker players spending $40 on cocktails and who-knows-what for phone chargers, you can rest easy knowing that Malta is considerably cheaper than Sin City.

For starters, flights to Malta are far less costly and accommodation will be significantly cheaper too. 

And if, like us, you determine how expensive a holiday destination is by Googling the price of a pint of beer, you can rejoice in the knowledge that it’s only €3 for a pint of Cisk, the local lager.

EASY TO GET TO

Poker players in Europe can fly to Malta in less than a third of the time it will take them to fly direct to Las Vegas. 

But if flying’s not your thing, Malta is also just a two-hour ferry ride from stunning Sicily. Perhaps it’s worth taking the boat just so you can spend some time on the largest Mediterranean island before or after your trip. 

Rent a Vespa. Cruise through the countryside. Take a Godfather tour. 

GREAT SCHEDULE

When it’s time to play some poker in Malta, you won’t be disappointed. The Summer Festival Malta has a fantastic schedule with 19 tournaments (including satellites) across six days of poker action.

Highlights on the schedule include:

• High Roller: June 27-28 – €2,200 
• Main Event: June 28 – July 2 – €1,100 
• Cup: June 30 – July 2 – €330 
• Live on Stars: June 30 – July 1 – €550 
• Super High Roller: July 1 – €5,300

Plus there are plenty of other affordable side events. 

Take a look at the full Summer Festival Malta schedule.

BIG PRIZES AT SUMMER FESTIVAL MALTA

This festival is sure to attract great numbers as poker players from Europe and beyond seek to combine some sun, sand and sea with their time at the felt.

That means great fields and big prize pools.

SOFTER-THAN-USUAL FIELDS

And while the fields are likely to be big, they’ll also be softer than you’d usually find at a PokerStars festival. That’s because thousands of top poker pros are over in Las Vegas grinding the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Make the most of this unique time of year for live poker.

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER

In between events, you’ll be able to spend your time soaking up some rays at your pick of Malta’s incredible beaches.

The average high temperature in Malta in July is 32ºC, so make sure you pack your sunscreen. 

TONS TO DO 

Should you bust a tournament early or simply have a day off, there’s plenty for you to see and do in Malta. 

Malta is a beautiful country known for its many historical sites, notably the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a breathtaking underground burial complex dating back to 3,000 BC, as well as many fortresses and megalithic temples. Why not plan a day trip?

Or if you’d rather just relax when away from the tables, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches, bars and restaurants.

MALTESE FOOD

Malta is known for its eclectic take on Mediterranean cuisine, with dishes fused from the many civilisations that have inhabited the island over the centuries.

Visit Malta recommends trying Lampuki Pie (a fish pie) and Kapunata (the Maltese version of ratatouille), then for dessert, give kannoli (tubes of crispy, fried pastry filled with ricotta) or one of the many Sicilian-style, semifreddo desserts (a combo of sponge, ice-cream, candied fruits and cream) a try.

DONE IN A WEEK

You don’t have to slog for two months across the entire summer to get your poker fix.

The Summer Festival Malta is done and dusted in less than a week, but with 19 tournaments and cash games on the side, there’s more than enough action to keep you entertained.

PRACTICE YOUR ITALIAN

“Grazie per le patatine. Ciao!”

If you’re learning Italian and want to practice around a poker table, you won’t find a better opportunity than at the Summer Festival Malta.

We expect to see a lot of Italian players making the journey, so here are some words and phrases you might want to learn in advance:

Malata – sick

Bruto colpo – bad beat

Ho le noci – I have the nuts

Dovrò pagare costi aggiuntivi per i bagagli per portare a casa il trofeo del Summer Festival Malta? – Will I have to pay extra luggage fees to take my Summer Festival Malta trophy home?

MORE ABOUT THE SUMMER FESTIVAL MALTA

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