€550 Grand Event Day 1b | 2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring

04-30-2025 12:41 UTC+1

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Richard Hayes

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

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Level: 2

Blinds: 100/300

Ante: 300

04-30-2025 12:53 UTC+1

McDiarmid Takes Three-Bet Pot

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Kathleen Padovani opened to 600 under the gun, and was faced with a three-bet to 1,800 by Sean McDiarmid in the cutoff. Action folded back to Padovani, who called after some thought.

The flop came 5♥4♦2♠, and Padovani decided she could not continue in the hand in the face of a continuation bet of 3,200 from McDiarmid.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kathleen Padovani	50,000
Sean McDiarmid	48,000 2,000	2,000

Tags: Kathleen Padovani Sean McDiarmid

04-30-2025 13:00 UTC+1

Ostergaard Stacks Horvath

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Richard Horvath was getting up out of his chair, after coming off on the wrong end of a huge collision with Erik Ostergaard.

Both players had overpairs on the 8♣5♣5♦9♠7♥ runout, but Ostergaard's K♣K♦ took the pot versus Horvath's Q♠Q♦ in a big early cooler.

Player	Chips	Progress
Erik Ostergaard	96,000 96,000	96,000
Richard Horvath	Busted

Tags: Erik Ostergaard Richard Horvath

04-30-2025 13:18 UTC+1

Set for Pivonia

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Michael Pivonia opened to 600 from the cutoff, and Fidan Zahiti defended in the big blind.

The 9♦4♥3♠ flop was checked through to the 10♦ turn, where Zahiti check-called versus a bet of 700 from Pivonia.

The 5♥ river completed the board, and Zahiti check-called in the face of a bet of 1,300 from Pivonia.

Pivonia tabled 3♥3♦ for the flopped set, and Zahiti tapped the table and mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Pivonia	48,000
Fidan Zahiti	42,000

Tags: Fidan Zahiti Michael Pivonia

04-30-2025 13:20 UTC+1

Rolt Takes Three-Bet Pot

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Boban Stevanovic opened to 800 from middle position, and was met with a three-bet to 2,800 from Michael Rolt in the next seat. Action folded back to Stevanovic, who called.

The flop came 10♣9♠3♥ and Stevanovic checked to Rolt, who fired out a bet of 2,100.

After a brief period of consideration, Stevanovic sent his hand into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Rolt	51,000 51,000	51,000
Boban Stevanovic	47,000 47,000	47,000

Tags: Boban Stevanovic Michael Rolt

Level: 3

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 400

04-30-2025 13:30 UTC+1

Here’s What Happening at the Malta Poker Festival

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Calum Grant

Level 3 : 200/400, 400 ante

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

04-30-2025 13:34 UTC+1

Sets Galore for Pivonia

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Richard Hayes

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Around 14,000 was in the middle already, with the board reading J♥9♠3♥5♥, in a hand between Sean McDiarmid in middle position and Michael Pivonia on the button

McDiarmid check-called versus a bet of 7,500 from Pivonia.

The 6♦ river completed the board, and McDiarmid checked once more. Pivonia quickly fired out a bet of 12,000, and after some deliberation McDiarmid called.

Pivonia showed 6♠6♣ for the rivered set of sixes, his second set of the day, causing McDiarmid to exclaim "Wow, Jesus Christ, what a river", while he mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Pivonia	75,000 27,000	27,000
Sean McDiarmid	18,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Michael Pivonia Sean McDiarmid

04-30-2025 13:37 UTC+1

Koie Bests Liu

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Richard Hayes

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Junyu Liu opened to 1,000 from early position, and received calls from Stefan Koie in middle position, along with the players in the blinds. "No respect" smiled Liu.

On the 5♦5♣3♣ flop, action was checked to Koie, who slid out a bet of 1,500. Only Liu called.

The 6♠ hit on the turn, and Liu check-folded in the face of a bet of 2,000 from Koie.