Tereza Vernerova Is First Woman to Win Battle of Malta Main Event
Ahoooj, Prague. On Thursday 5 November 2026, Czech player Tereza Vernerova became the first woman to win the Battle of Malta Main Event, after a final table that ran past twelve hours.
The trophy had been waiting a while. Reports from PokerNews and Spadepoker say Vernerova beat Israel's Ofer Tadmor heads up at Casino Malta to take the Autumn Edition Main Event, a €600 buy in that drew 5,368 entries and built a prize pool of €2,413,281. Five thousand three hundred and sixty eight entries, and the last name standing is the first of its kind. GLUWUWULUGU.
She did not tiptoe in, either. Vernerova started the final day near the top of the counts, held a lead of more than two to one over Tadmor going into it, and had already banked the biggest live result of her career just by reaching the final table, according to Poker.pro, citing The Hendon Mob. Yet a big stack is only a loan. At the final table she faced a river all in for 34 million chips that threatened her tournament life, with a pair of kings in her hand and three bets already on the board. She called, and she was still sitting there when the dust cleared. OOOOOFU.
Heads up, the script flipped again. Tadmor began the duel with 119,800,000 chips to her 74,600,000, according to PokerCity. Then she flopped trips against his top two pair, took the chip lead back, and on the last hand she flopped trips again, called his all in without a flinch and ended it. A three way deal had already settled the cash among the final three, so she collected €162,635 plus the trophy, against the €227,835 first prize originally listed.
The moment after is the one worth keeping. She embraced her husband, lifted the Knight Trophy, and called it one of the best feelings of her life, admitting she had been nervous before such a big finale. As the first woman champion she will now get to celebrate the title at several stops on the 2027 Battle of Malta tour. The Spirit of Gambling is not known for caring about firsts, but he has a soft spot for anyone who calls the river and lives to tell it.
Ever sat at a table where nobody expected youluwu to be the last one standing? It is a good seat, reallu.
The Knight Trophy has a new name on it. Somewhere on next year's tour there is an empty chair across from hers, and the Spirit is already watching who finds the nerve to sit down.
Would youluwu call a river all in that could end your tournament?
No right answer. Just your gut, and the Spirit watching.
