Pescaglini Leads WPT Malta With 30 Remaining

With just 30 players left in the World Poker Tour Malta main event, Italian Cecilia Pescaglini went on a massive heater to build a massive chip lead with 976,000. A relative unknown on the circuit her lone live cash was a win in a Italian €300 No-Limit Hold’em tournament last summer where she won €36,000. There are 29 other players with some experienced pros still in the mix that will look to wrest that chip lead from her before the final table.

Experienced German tournament pro Marvin Rettenmaier has the next best chance with 415k with 2011 WSOP November Niner Matt Giannetti at 370k.

Notables still in the running include UK pro Simon Trumper (367k), Tony G (183k) and recently relocated to Malta formerly U.S. based Isaac Haxton (221k) and Justin Bonomo (157k).

The WPT Malta main event saw 240 players enter creating a €698,400 prize pool.

Phil Hellmuth drew a lot of attention, as always, playing in both Day 1's due to the re-entry option, but was unable to advance to Day 3 after having a doctor's visit either dealing with an ear infection or a spider bit he complained about. Apparently the medicine affected him and he joined Day 1B chip leader Tommy Vedes, German Tobias Renkenmaier, recent Malta transplant Steve O’Dwyer, PKR pro Sofia Lovgren and Claire Renaut on the rail.

Day 3's drive for the final table begins Friday at 2:30 CET at the Casino de Portomaso in Malta, but first they will play through the 27 person money bubble before reaching the six-person final table.

Winner takes €181,000 plus a WPT Bellagio seat. Runner-up earns €116,700.