2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
€170 PokerNews Championship
Day: 2
Event Info
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
€170
Prize Pool
€41,467
Entries
291
Level
23
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
120,000
Entries
44
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 291
Filter
| Table | Seat | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Stuart Wilson | 142,000 | 18 |
| 1 | 2 | Dominik Frank | 226,000 | 28 |
| 1 | 3 | Leonard White | 60,000 | 8 |
| 1 | 4 | Vanessa Webley | 61,000 | 8 |
| 1 | 5 | Matthias Kribben | 73,000 | 9 |
| 1 | 6 | Kat Arnsby | 190,000 | 24 |
| 1 | 7 | Jakub Wojcik | 55,000 | 7 |
| 1 | 8 | Per Backstrom | 364,000 | 46 |
| 1 | 9 | Jascha Berger | 365,000 | 46 |
| 2 | 1 | Salvatore Incardona | 115,000 | 14 |
| 2 | 2 | Mary Kerr | 30,000 | 4 |
| 2 | 3 | Gerard Lemee | 117,000 | 15 |
| 2 | 4 | Jakob Simonsen | 39,000 | 5 |
| 2 | 5 | Mathias Jordi | 140,000 | 18 |
| 2 | 6 | Martin Pedersen | 472,000 | 59 |
| 2 | 7 | Craig Marcuss Smith | 358,000 | 45 |
| 2 | 8 | Laurence O'Kane | 263,000 | 33 |
| 2 | 9 | Lawrence Bonnici | 168,000 | 21 |
| 3 | 1 | Biniam Goepfert | 181,000 | 23 |
| 3 | 2 | Meike Nielsen | 392,000 | 49 |
| 3 | 3 | Keith Smith | 31,000 | 4 |
| 3 | 4 | Jonathan Farr | 55,000 | 7 |
| 3 | 5 | Sophie Waddingham | 162,000 | 20 |
| 3 | 6 | Luis Mata | 231,000 | 29 |
| 3 | 7 | Bora Uludag | 184,000 | 23 |
| 3 | 8 | Dalton Bezzina | 210,000 | 26 |
| 3 | 9 | Per Gaasand | 64,000 | 8 |
| 4 | 1 | David Ho | 198,000 | 25 |
| 4 | 2 | |||
| 4 | 3 | Dieter Falzon | 240,000 | 30 |
| 4 | 4 | Jiri Novak | 234,000 | 29 |
| 4 | 5 | Asenjo Garcia | 89,000 | 11 |
| 4 | 6 | Alexandre Henry | 265,000 | 33 |
| 4 | 7 | Eduard Werner | 106,000 | 13 |
| 4 | 8 | Gary Taylor | 390,000 | 49 |
| 4 | 9 | Grant Alexander | 151,000 | 19 |
| 5 | 1 | Angelo Vietti | 152,000 | 19 |
| 5 | 2 | Sebastien Silhol | 142,000 | 18 |
| 5 | 3 | Marion Mizzi | 370,000 | 46 |
| 5 | 4 | Mustafa Sen | 227,000 | 28 |
| 5 | 5 | Patryk Maszner | 242,000 | 30 |
| 5 | 6 | Alessandro D'Amore | 580,000 | 73 |
| 5 | 7 | Graham Keith | 287,000 | 36 |
| 5 | 8 | Troung van Dang | 196,000 | 25 |
| 5 | 9 | Filip Danyi | 207,000 | 26 |
After an action-packed Day 1 of the €170 PokerNews Championship at the Malta Poker Festival, just 44 players remain in contention from a field of 291 entries. With €8,100 and the coveted trophy reserved for the eventual winner, all eyes are now on Italy’s Alessandro D'Amore, who leads the way heading into Day 2.
D’Amore bagged an impressive 580,000 chips—good for 73 big blinds—and will return as the favorite when play resumes at 6 p.m. local time.
Trailing close behind are Martin Pedersen of Denmark (472,000) and Germany’s Meike Nielsen (392,000), both poised to challenge for a deep run.
Also navigating their way to big stacks were British grinder Gary Taylor (390,000), Marion Mizzi (370,000), and Jascha Berger (365,000). Meanwhile, players like Craig Marcuss Smith (358,000) and Alexandre Henry (265,000) also made the top ten stacks.
PokerNews Championship Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alessandro D'Amore | Italy | 580,000 | 73 |
| 2 | Martin Pedersen | Denmark | 472,000 | 59 |
| 3 | Meike Nielsen | Germany | 392,000 | 49 |
| 4 | Gary Taylor | UK | 390,000 | 49 |
| 5 | Marion Mizzi | Malta | 370,000 | 47 |
| 6 | Jascha Berger | Switzerland | 365,000 | 46 |
| 7 | Per Backstrom | Sweden | 364,000 | 46 |
| 8 | Craig Marcuss Smith | UK | 358,000 | 45 |
| 9 | Graham Keith | UK | 287,000 | 36 |
| 10 | Alexandre Henry | France | 265,000 | 34 |
Blinds will restart on Level 14: 4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 big blind ante as players set their sights on a slice of the €41,467 prize pool.
What They're Playing For
Every returnee is guaranteed at least €300. A final table appearance will lock up four-figure payouts, while reaching the podium secures at least €3,450.
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €8,100 | 10–11 | €860 |
| 2 | €5,350 | 12–13 | €750 |
| 3 | €3,450 | 14–15 | €650 |
| 4 | €2,560 | 16–17 | €560 |
| 5 | €2,087 | 18–20 | €470 |
| 6 | €1,640 | 21–23 | €400 |
| 7 | €1,350 | 24–27 | €350 |
| 8 | €1,120 | 28–31 | €320 |
| 9 | €980 | 32–44 | €300 |
What to Expect from the PokerNews Takeover
Whether you're grinding at the tables or soaking in the atmosphere, PokerNews will be right in the heart of the action during the MPF.
By taking part in our interactive scavenger hunt and you could win a Grand Event ticket. Make sure to stop by the PN booth for merch drops, giveaways, and a spin of the prize wheel.
You never know what you’ll walk away with!
Become a Bigger Part of the Action With MyStack
Planning on playing this event? PokerNews activates MyStack for every event, regardless of that tournament's buy-in, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting
MyStack is a free poker tool that puts you in control of your chip counts on our live reporting pages. Once you have created a free PokerNews account, you can use MyStack to update your chip counts in real time; hopefully, your stack will continue increasing throughout the event!
The Malta Poker Festival is back with a bang at the Portomaso Casino, and this year’s schedule is packed with events for every kind of player. Here's a look at the key highlights:
- 🟢 MPF Grand Event (€550) – The heart of the festival kicks off with seven starting flights from April 30 to May 3, building up to Day 2 on May 4 and the Final Day on May 5. Expect big fields, deep stacks, and life-changing prize money.
- 💰 Super Highroller (€2,500) – Poker’s elite go head-to-head in this premium event, with Day 1 on May 2 and the final table set for May 3.
- 🎯 Mystery Bounty (€330) – Running May 2–3
- 🌟 The Hendon Mob Championship (€250) – A must-play for fans of the game’s most iconic database, this two-day event starts May 4 and wraps up on May 5.
- 👑 Highroller UDSO GOLD (€1,100) – If you're looking a deeper challenge, join the action on May 4, with the final table on May 5.
Plus, don’t miss fan-favorites like the Ladies First!, Tag Team hosted by Team Roberts, HORSE, Sviten Special, and Bounty Hunter Days
Malta Poker Festival Schedule
| Date | Time | Tournament | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Apr 30 | 13:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT DAY 1B | €550 |
| Wed, Apr 30 | 16:00 | Betsson One Bullet | €170 |
| Wed, Apr 30 | 18:00 | HORSE | €230 |
| Wed, Apr 30 | 18:00 | PokerNews Championship Day 2 and FT | CLOSED |
| Wed, Apr 30 | 19:00 | Satellite to MPF Grand Event | €70 |
| Thu, May 1 | 13:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT DAY 1C | €550 |
| Thu, May 1 | 16:00 | Bounty Hunter Days Malta | €175 |
| Thu, May 1 | 18:00 | PLO Knight Crusaders | €300 |
| Thu, May 1 | 19:00 | Satellite to MPF Grand Event | €70 |
| Thu, May 1 | 21:00 | Satellite to Super Highroller | €300 |
| Fri, May 2 | 13:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT DAY 1D | €550 |
| Fri, May 2 | 16:00 | Mystery Bounty Day 1 | €330 |
| Fri, May 2 | 18:00 | Tag Team hosted by Team Roberts | €300 |
| Fri, May 2 | 19:00 | Super Highroller Day 1 | €2500 |
| Fri, May 2 | 19:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT DAY 1E TURBO | €550 |
| Fri, May 2 | 21:00 | Satellite to MPF Grand Event | €70 |
| Sat, May 3 | 13:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT DAY 1F | €550 |
| Sat, May 3 | 14:00 | Mystery Bounty Day 2 | CLOSED |
| Sat, May 3 | 15:00 | Super Highroller Day 2 and FT | €2500 |
| Sat, May 3 | 16:00 | Ladies First! hosted by Tanya Masters | €200 |
| Sat, May 3 | 17:00 | APAT Maltese Championship Day 1 | €120 |
| Sat, May 3 | 18:00 | Satellite to MPF Grand Event | €70 |
| Sat, May 3 | 19:00 | Satellite to Highroller UDSO GOLD | €150 |
| Sat, May 3 | 21:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT DAY 1G TURBO | €550 |
| Sun, May 4 | 13:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT DAY 2 | CLOSED |
| Sun, May 4 | 13:00 | The Hendon Mob Championship Day 1 | €250 |
| Sun, May 4 | 14:00 | APAT Maltese Championship Day 2 and FT | CLOSED |
| Sun, May 4 | 15:00 | Satellite to Highroller UDSO GOLD | €150 |
| Sun, May 4 | 15:00 | MPF Seniors hosted by Raphael Toledo | €300 |
| Sun, May 4 | 19:00 | Highroller UDSO GOLD Day 1 | €1100 |
| Mon, May 5 | 13:00 | MPF GRAND EVENT FINAL DAY | CLOSED |
| Mon, May 5 | 14:00 | The Hendon Mob Championship Final Day | CLOSED |
| Mon, May 5 | 15:00 | Bounty Hunter Days Progressive Closer | €170 |
| Mon, May 5 | 16:00 | Highroller UDSO GOLD Day 2 and FT | €1100 |
| Mon, May 5 | 19:00 | MPF Last Chance | €230 |
If you’re at or heading to the 2025 Malta Poker Festival and looking for something a little different to spice up your trip, PokerNews has just the challenge for you.
Start lacing up your walking boots and get your cameras ready, as we're launching an interactive Scavenger Hunt across the series, and one lucky winner will walk away with a €550 ticket to the MPF Grand Event, courtesy of the MPF team.
Scavenger Hunt List
So, what are you actually hunting for in the PokerNews Scavenger Hunt? Take a look at the full list below. You’ll need to complete any ten of the twelve challenges to qualify for the prize draw.
Want to get ahead of the pack? You can start knocking off some of the simpler tasks right now. Just make sure you’ve got the proof when you find us at the Portomaso Casino to get them officially ticked off.
- Take a selfie with the boss herself, Ivonne Montealegre
- Beat a PokerNews team member at rock, paper, scissors
- Find a “Lucky Fish” and snap a picture with it
- Like and share our Scavenger Hunt announcement post on Instagram and X
- Solve this cryptic crossword clue: “Hold Back and Lift Wager, Surprisingly” (5,5)
- Take a photo with the Fisherman and Cat statue
- Find LOVE in Spinola Bay
- Build a stack of 50 or more chips and post it on your socials, tagging PokerNews
- Play the PokerNews Championship and show us your receipt
- Visit the PokerNews booth and spin the prize wheel
- Sign up for MyStack and post an update during the PokerNews Championship.
- Video evidence of you trying Kinnie.
If you're posting any of your scavenger hunt submissions on social media, don’t forget to use the hashtag #PokerNewsinMalta so we can follow along and give your post a shoutout.
| Level | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 25 min. |
| 15 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 25 min. |
| 16 | 5,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 25 min. |
| 17 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 25 min. |
| 18 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 25 min. |
| 19 | 20,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 25 min. |
| 20 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 25 min. |
| 21 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 25 min. |
| 22 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 25 min. |
| 23 | 50,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 25 min. |
| 24 | 100,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 25 min. |
| 25 | 150,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 25 min. |
| 26 | 200,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 25 min. |
| 27 | 300,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 | 25 min. |
| 28 | 400,000 | 800,000 | 800,000 | 25 min. |
| 29 | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 25 min. |
€170 PokerNews Championship
Day 2 Started
