No Bubble - Sukru Cracks Cowboys to Bust Hayes; Mortensen Goes Runner-Runner to Bust Giudice | 2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring

Mark Hayes was all-in for 111,000 and at risk versus Arican Sukru, in the first hand of hand-for-hand play - with 52 players left and 50 to qualify for Day 2. There was another all-in on Table 7 at the same time.

Mark Hayes: K♥K♠ All in
Arican Sukru: A♣K♣

Hayes was dominating his opponent, but the ace was in the window on the A♥8♣2♠ flop, and his face turned to ash. He was already up out of his chair and basically out the door before the 7♠4♥ turn and river were dealt.

On the other table, on a flop of 8♥6♥5♦ and with around 130,000 in the middle, Salvatore Giudice had jammed for 190,000 and been called by Sebastian Mortensen.

Salvatore Giudice: Q♥Q♠ All in
Sebastian Mortensen: J♥7♥

Giudice was ahead with the overpair, but Mortensen had a monster draw. However he got there in the most savage way possible, the turn and river bringing the J♠ and the 7♦ to give Mortensen two pair.

The watching crowd went wild, and the moment was made even more dramatic by the fact that Giudice thought he had held, clearly more concerned about the flush, and started celebrating. He put his head in his hands and walked away to the back of the room to be consoled by a friend when he realized the true position.

Play has now concluded in Day 1f for the day, stay tuned for updated chip counts and a recap of the day.