€5,200 The 5k Million
Day 2 Completed
2025 PLO Grand Slam Malta
€5,200 The 5k Million
Day: 2
Event Info
2025 PLO Grand Slam Malta
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
€5,200
Prize Pool
€940,000
Entries
189
Level
25
Blinds
125,000 / 250,000
Ante
250,000
Entries
91
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 189
Filter
Level 25
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
The marathon that was Day 2 of the PLO Grand Slam Malta €5,200 Millions is in the books. Just before the clock struck 4:30 a.m., Gabi Livshitz was crowned the champion after 13 hours of four-card poker at Casino Malta. Despite the late hour, Livshitz had a lively rail, with many of his friends cheering him on as he dragged pots left and right. Livshitz took home €218,100 for conquering the field of 189 entries and winning his first-ever Diamond Poker Series event, the largest share of the slightly overlayed €940,000 prize pool.
Despite having won many tournaments since his first Hendon Mob recorded live cash in 2014, this marks Livshitz's maiden live pot-limit Omaha victory. However, Livshitz had already proven his four-card prowess by winning an online bracelet in the variant when the world was in lockdown in 2021, and his PLO Grand Slam trophy will form a nice addition to his trophy cabinet.
Meanwhile, runner-up Jelle de Kroon went home without a trophy, but the short-stacked player was elated with making the pay jump to the second-place prize of €148,000 after Aki Vihikainen got his aces cracked in a pot of 100 big blinds to be eliminated. Like Vihikainen, Filip Lovric was on his second final table of the series, finishing in sixth, while Carlo van Ravenswoud and Espen Myrmo also made an appearance.
PLO Grand Slam Malta €5,200 Million Final Table Result
| Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Gabi Livshitz | Israel | €218,100 |
| Jelle de Kroon | Netherlands | €148,000 |
| Aki Vihikainen | Finland | €100,000 |
| "LuxonTrustWallet" | €80,700 | |
| Filip Lovric | Sweden | €64,650 |
| Carlo van Ravenswoud | Netherlands | €50,100 |
| "NoNeedMoney" | €37,100 | |
| "Plato" | €27,300 | |
| Espen Myrmo | Norway | €21,800 |
Livshitz Leaves Competition Behind
Livshitz started Day 2 somewhere in the middle regions of the leaderboard, but he immediately made an impact by eliminating Onur Gur during the first few hands of the day. As the late registration was still open during the first two levels of Day 2, Gur reentered and would end up placing 17th for €13,150. Livshitz grew his stack steadily throughout the early stages of the day, while the likes of Dario Alioto, Jessica Teusl, Tom-Aksel Bedell, and Robert Cowen all fell before the money.
Just before the dinner break, Livshitz made sure the money was reached by busting Leonid Yanovski in 24th place. Livshitz entered the dinner break in the same position as he started the day with, in the middle of the pack, but after sending Lucas van den Belt (20th - €11,850) and "Sonic" (11th - €18,300) to the rail, he started the final table third in chips.
Livshitz shot further up the rankings as he busted a recently-tripled Myrmo with aces against kings, and not much later took care of "NoNeedMoney" to become second in chips with six players remaining. Livshitz was finally promoted to chipleader when he eliminated "LuxonTrustWallet" in fourth, after which a swingy three-handed battle began.
After the lead had changed a couple of times, De Kroon and Vihikainen seemed to get the upper hand over Livshitz, but the eventual champion spiked back-to-back flushes to reclaim his lead. Vihikainen then doubled through De Kroon, leaving the latter with around 15 big blinds, three times less than Vihikainen ended with. However, it was Vihikainen who would miss the heads-up, as he created a monster pot by jamming his aces into the flopped straight of Livshitz, eliminating him in the process.
With Vihikainen out of the picture, Livshitz's lead became insurmountable for De Kroon. Feeling delighted by making an unexpected pay jump to second place, De Kroon's final 12 blinds were committed preflop on the very first hand of heads-up. Livshitz would hit the board better, securing his victory and sending his cheering rail to the table to congratulate him with his newly acquired PLO Grand Slam trophy.
Although the PLO Grand Slam Malta is not done yet, with the highlight of the remaining two days being the €25,500 High Roller, the PokerNews coverage concludes with Livshitz's victory. The next Diamond Poker Series stop is already in the works, so keep an eye out for information on where Europe's premier Omaha tournament series is headed next. In the meantime, check out our live reporting hub for coverage on other events around the world.
Level 25
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
The players got it all in during the first hand of heads-up, with De Kroon being at risk for his short stack of 3,000,000.
Jelle de Kroon: K♣6♦6♣4♦ 
Gabi Livshitz: A♥J♦9♥5♠
De Kroon flopped best on 5♦K♥8♠, but Livshitz retaliated on the 5♥ turn, making trips for a big lead. The 2♠ river did not improve De Kroon, who happily took his pay jump to second place and congratulated the champion.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
39,000,000
3,000,000
|
3,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 25
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Gabi Livshitz had raised his button when Aki Vihikainen three-bet to 2,850,000 in the big blind. Livshitz tossed in a call to the 5♥9♦6♠ flop, where Vihikainen bet the pot.
Livshitz put his opponent all in for about 10,000,000, and Vihikainen snap-called for his tournament life.
Aki Vihikainen: A♠A♥9♠J♣
Gabi Livshitz: 10♦9♣8♦7♥
Livshitz had flopped the nuts, leaving Vihikainen drawing slim. The 8♥ river brought Vihikainen some outs, but the Q♦ river bricked off. Livshitz shipped the gigantic pot, leaving Vihikainen stranded in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
36,000,000
13,025,000
|
13,025,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,000,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 25
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
With 2,500,000 in the middle, Aki Vihikainen got his stack of 4,975,000 in on the 8♣3♠Q♣ flop against Jelle de Kroon, and was at risk.
Aki Vihikainen: K♠K♥J♠J♣
Jelle de Kroon: Q♠6♠7♥3♥
Vihikainen received a set on the K♦ turn, locking up the pot. The A♦ river did not matter anymore as Vihikainen raked in his double-up, leaving De Kroon as the short stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,450,000
6,950,000
|
6,950,000 |
|
|
4,100,000
6,650,000
|
6,650,000 |
|
|
||
Level 25
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Entering the pot with a 6♣Q♦2♦ and a pot of 1,575,000 on the table, small blind Aki Vihikainen checked to Gabi Livshitz in the big blind. Livshitz bet 800,000, which Vihikainen raised to 2,600,000.
Livshitz called to the turn, where his remaining 8,100,000 were quickly put at risk.
Gabi Livshitz: A♣Q♣10♦8♣
Aki Vihikainen: A♦6♦5♣2♥
Livshitz hit his flush draw on the 10♣ river, much to the delight of his growing rail. He scooped up the many chips in the pot, ending up with a big lead over his two opponents.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
22,975,000
8,075,000
|
8,075,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
10,750,000
1,850,000
|
1,850,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,500,000
9,800,000
|
9,800,000 |
Level: 25
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 20,000 ante
In a limped pot, the three contenders checked through the 5♦J♦9♣ flop. Jelle de Kroon checked out of turn on the 4♣ turn before Gabi Livshitz bet 700,000. De Kroon called, but Aki Vihikainen had other plans and raised to 3,600,000.
Livshitz quickly folded, while De Kroon called after some time in the tank. Vihikainen then jammed all in for about 6,600,000 on the K♠ river.
De Kroon again took his time, eventually opting to fold his cards, evening out the stacks.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
15,300,000
5,000,000
|
5,000,000 |
|
|
14,900,000
2,300,000
|
2,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
12,600,000
7,300,000
|
7,300,000 |
|
|
||
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 20,000 ante
Aki Vihikainen raised to 600,000 in the small blind. Gabi Livshitz announced a pot-sized three-bet to 1,800,000 in the big blind, and Vihikainen obliged with a call.
The 9♦A♠5♥ flop saw Livshitz continue for 1,100,000. Vihikainen quickly check-folded to relinquish the pot to his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
19,900,000
850,000
|
850,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
12,600,000
2,400,000
|
2,400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
10,300,000
1,550,000
|
1,550,000 |
Level 24
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 20,000 ante
Aki Vihikainen raised to 600,000 in the small blind, and Gabi Livshitz defended his big blind. Vihikainen check-called Livshitz's bet of 600,000 on the 8♠A♦2♦ flop and checked again on the 5♣ turn.
Livshitz bet the pot, Vihikainen moved all in, and Livshitz called off for 3,600,000 in total.
Gabi Livshitz: 10♠10♦9♦6♠
Aki Vihikainen: A♥K♠7♥5♥
Livshitz had some outs against the two pair of Vihikainen, and he hit one on the 6♦ river. He made a flush to double up and remain in contention for the trophy.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
20,750,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
11,850,000
6,800,000
|
6,800,000 |
|
|
10,200,000
4,700,000
|
4,700,000 |
|
|
||
