€550 Grand Event
Day 3 Completed
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
€550 Grand Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
Buy-in
€550
Prize Pool
€555,940
Entries
1,202
Level
32
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
10
Players Left
1
Level 32
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
After a quick-fire final day, Aurelio Vallone of Italy has emerged triumphant in the Malta Poker Festival Spring Grand Event, the Italian cash game specialist sealing an emotional victory at Portomaso Casino after defeating German Carsten Mawick heads-up, following a deal between the final two.
The 29-year-old Vallone celebrated his victory with a vociferous rail who had been supporting him throughout the final day, and after congratulating Mawick on his run, returned to them to continue the celebrations. There, the emotions started to flow, and he dissolved into tears as he hugged a friend, clearly overwhelmed by his achievement.
Vallone, a full-time cash pro for three years, takes home €94,600 of the €555,940 prize pool, after a deal which left €10,000, the trophy, and a package to the Malta Poker Festival Grand Event in October (€2,200) to play for - with Mawick taking home €68,400.
There were two key hands for Vallone - his ace-king held against the worse ace of Matteo Ferrara to eliminate Ferrara in fifth, leaving Vallone and Mawick with a big chip advantage over their final two opponents, Antonio Scala and defending champion Domenico Lando.
Then Vallone put Mawick in the ICM blender when he four-bet jammed the flop, forcing Mawick to fold and putting Vallone out on his own in the lead.
2025 Malta Poker Festival Grand Event Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurelio Vallone | Italy | €94,600* |
| 2 | Carsten Mawick | Germany | €68,400* |
| 3 | Antonio Scala | Italy | €43,500 |
| 4 | Domenico Lando | Italy | €32,150 |
| 5 | Matteo Ferrara | Italy | €25,050 |
| 6 | Vincenzo Popolo | Italy | €18,450 |
| 7 | Alexander Maskell | United Kingdom | €12,950 |
| 8 | Egon Holdhus | Norway | €10,850 |
| 9 | Dragan Ignjatovski | North Macedonia | €8,550 |
*Denotes heads-up deal
Once Scala disposed of Lando, and Mawick disposed of Scala, Vallone went into heads-up play with a 2:1 lead. The deal was struck, and Vallone quickly took the title when Mawick jammed the river over Vallone's bet on a double-paired board, but found that Vallone had the goods.
The result represents Vallone's first recorded live tournament result, and what an entry to open his account on The Hendon Mob.
Winner's Reaction
"This is a very emotional moment for me - all the tournament was really insane. I sometimes ran good and sometimes ran bad, but I had four big blinds at the last two tables, so to be here is amazing.
"I am a cash player, I study a lot. Five years ago I started playing properly and I've been a professional for three years, mainly online. Antonio Scala, who came third, is my coach. I think with cash games it is more consistent, you know your expected win rate for a year, but tournaments - two players of exactly the same skill can have completely different careers. But if you play a tournament for €10 you are more motivated than a €1,000 cash game because you want to be the last player standing!"
On whether the emotional reaction was purely due to the joy of victory or whether there was anything else behind it - "Yes, I am very happy - it's incredible for me - I had a tough start in life, when I was a child, when I was young, it was a bit difficult. Poker honestly changed my whole life - today is an incredible boost for sure. I really hope to pull off some more results like this!"
"I made some mistakes over the course of the tournament but I took some good ICM spots. Congratulations to Carsten, it was a fun battle."
"I don't think this will change my poker plans, I'll continue my way. I'm approaching 1k cash games online on the best sites - I want to try to become one of the best in this domain. I will continue playing live in Europe for sure, and one day the dream is Las Vegas, but not yet! For sure I have a lot less pressure from now."
"Thank you to the organisers, I lived in Malta for four years so it sort of feels like a home event to me. It's a fantastic event, it should get more exposure, it's great to see you guys here covering it."
"I also want to thank my coach, Antonio. Unlucky, but I beat you this time!"
That concludes our coverage of a hugely successful Malta Poker Festival, but be sure to check out PokerNews coverage of tournaments across the world.
Level 32
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Level 32
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
In the first significant hand of heads-up play, Carsten Mawick raised to 2,000,000 from the button, and Aurelio Vallone defended the big blind.
On the J♣8♠5♥ flop, Vallone check-called a bet of 1,400,000 from Mawick.
The J♥ turn paired the board, and Vallone changed approach, leading out with a bet of 2,800,000. After some thought, Mawick called.
The 8♦ river completed the board. Vallone fired out a bet of 3,600,000, and snapped when Mawick jammed for around 9,000,000.
With the title on the line, Mawick tabled A♠K♦ for ace-high with the double-paired board of jacks and eights, but Vallone had the goods with J♦10♥ for the full house.
"Yes, yes!" shouted Vallone, as he realized the victory was his, and he immediately turned to celebrate with his vociferous rail, who hailed him loudly as he collapsed into their arms. He returned to shake Mawick's hand, and gave him a hug.
Vallone then returned to his rail, and was overcome with emotion, tears starting to well as he hugged a friend.
Mawick is consoled with a €68,400 payday after the heads-up deal agreed with Vallone.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
60,100,000
17,600,000
|
17,600,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 32
Blinds: 400,000/800,000
Ante: 800,000
Level 31
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
A deal has been agreed, whereby Aurelio Vallone will take €84,600 and Carston Mawick will take €68,400 - with the players playing on for €10,000, the trophy and the €2,200 package.
Levels have now been reduced to 30-minutes during heads-up play.
Level 31
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
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Level 31
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
The players are deep in discussion regarding a potential deal.
Level 31
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Carsten Mawick has finished off Antonio Scala in consecutive hands.
In the first, Scala was all-in with 7♥7♣ against Mawick's K♠K♥, and no help arrived on the Q♣J♠2♠5♣4♣ runout.
Scala was left with 300,000 and was forced all-in in the small blind against Mawick in the next hand.
Scala had 10♠6♠ and was ahead of Mawick's 9♠7♣, but the Q♥9♥J♦A♠6♦ runout sent the pot to Mawick with a pair of nines.
A great run from Scala for his biggest career tournament score - Vallone goes into heads-up play with a more than 2:1 lead over Mawick.
The players have went on a short-break before heads-up play begins.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
42,500,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
|
|
17,600,000
9,400,000
|
9,400,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 31
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Antonio Scala opened to 1,200,000 from the button, and Domenico Lando three-bet jammed for 3,400,000 from the big blind. Scala thought it through and made the call.
Domenico Lando: 10♠10♥ 
Antonio Scala: A♠8♦
Lando was in good shape for a double-up, but the ace was in the window on the A♥K♣K♠ flop, and the 4♦Q♠ turn and river did not reverse matters.
An amazing run from defending champion Lando, but he has fallen just short of consecutive MPF Grand Event titles.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
41,000,000 | |
|
|
10,700,000
4,700,000
|
4,700,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,200,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
