Level: 7
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 1,200
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
€550 Grand Event
Day: 1c
Event Info
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1c
Buy-in
€550
Prize Pool
€555,940
Entries
1,202
Level
32
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
206
Players Left
31
Players Left 1 / 1,202
Filter
(1)
Level 7
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Vincenzo Popolo was all-in for 11,000 and at risk versus Adrian Rueda.
Vincenzo Popolo: A♣K♣ 
Adrian Rueda: J♥J♠
Rueda was ahead in a flip, but Popolo binked the turn on the 7♥5♣4♦K♣3♣ runout to send him the double-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
60,000 | |
|
25,000 |
Level 7
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
In the 889th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about the recent drama involving, you guessed it, Maurice Hawkins and Denise Pratt. The latter claims to be owed $11,200 after backing the former, and things boiled over when she confronted him at the payout desk at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica stop.
What's more, the crew reacts to an interview Hawkins gave on his own podcast, him agreeing to come on the PokerNews Podcast before not responding, and then goes one-on-one with Denise Pratt to hear her side of the story.
Mike then shares his experience as the last guest on the final episode of the Only Friends Podcast (they were kind enough to gift a piece of their set to the PokerNews Podcast set), Kyna joins Team Hotdog at the LIPS Spring Festival, and Chad headed up to the NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Oh, and Connor was busy at PokerGO Studio interviewing Jennifer Tilly, Mike Matusow, and comedian Ray Romano during the One Step Closer Foundation's "All in for CP" charity event.
Other stories include Pennsylvania online poker joining the MSIGA merged player pool, Mori Eskandani interviewing PA Governor Josh Shapiro, and Robbie Strazynski & others voicing concern over YouTube's algorithm crackdown on poker content. Check out all those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!
A new PokerNews Podcast will drop weekly every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Level 7
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Mark Attard opened to 2,600 from the cutoff, and was faced with a three-bet jam to 12,400 from Kevin Price on the button. Action folded back to Attard, who made the call.
Kevin Price: A♣9♦
Mark Attard: J♦8♦
Price was ahead, but the 6♥5♦3♦ flop spelt danger, Attard gaining a flush draw.
The 5♥ turn was brick, but the K♦ rolled off on the river to send the Attard the pot, who shrugged his shoulders apologetically to his opponent and tapped the table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000
130,000
|
130,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 7
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Melanie Simpson opened to 2,600 from early position and Alejandro Garcia defended the big blind.
On the K♠8♥7♥ flop, Garcia check-called versus a bet of 2,500 from Simpson.
The K♣ turn paired the board, and Garcia check-folded versus a bet of 4,400 from Simpson.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
160,000 | |
|
|
120,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
Level 7
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Stanislav Smeljov opened to 2,500, before Richard Sambron three-bet jammed for 15,900. Karl Cooper cold-called in the small blind, and Smeljov got out of the way.
Richard Sambron: J♦J♠
Karl Cooper: A♥A♣
Sambron had run into aces, and was up out his chair after the turn on the 7♣4♥2♠3♠ runout. However, the extra 5% equity the stand-up trick is guaranteed to bestow on an all-in player came in as the J♣ hit on the river, much to Sambron's surprise and his opponent's disgust.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
105,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
42,000
42,000
|
42,000 |
Level 7
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
The players have been sent on a 15-minute break.
Level 7
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Level 7
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
177,000
106,000
|
106,000 |
|
|
160,000 | |
|
|
155,000 | |
|
155,000
155,000
|
155,000 |
|
|
150,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
143,000
37,000
|
37,000 |
|
140,000 |
Level: 8
Blinds: 1,000/1,500
Ante: 1,500
