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

May 03, 2025

Zolte Busts on Bubble in Day 1d

Richard Hayes

Level 16 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Ilze Zolte moved all in under the gun for 42,000, and received a customer in Anastasios Apostolou. Action folded to Antonio Scala in the big blind, and he three-bet to 360,000, forcing out Apostolou.

Ilze Zolte: A♥K♦ All in
Antonio Scala: 9♣9♥

It was a fair fight, but unfortunately for Zolte, she completely bricked the 10♥3♣2♥10♦8♠ runout to exit empty-handed.

Play has now concluded in Day 1d, with 32 players progressing. Stay tuned for updated chip counts and a recap of the day.

Tags: Anastasios Apostolou Antonio Scala Ilze Zolte

May 03, 2025

Mountford Busts Montgomery on Soft Bubble

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Richard Hayes

Level 15 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Alex Montgomery was all-in for around 130,000 and at risk versus Daniel Mountford.

Alex Montgomery: 7♣7♠ All in
Daniel Mountford: A♦K♠

It was a flip, but Montgomery was behind after the K♣Q♦J♦ flop, and the J♣ turn and Q♥ river did not alter matters. We are now on the bubble.

Tags: Alex Montgomery Daniel Mountford

May 03, 2025

Intiso Gets Grech

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Richard Hayes

Level 15 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Alex Montgomery opened to 20,000 from middle position, and Joseph Grech three-bet jammed for 104,000 from the small blind.

Matteo Intiso was in the big blind, and he rejammed for around 300,000, forcing out Montgomery.

Joseph Grech: 9♠6♠ All in
Matteo Intiso: A♦J♦

Grech had got slightly out of line, but still wasn't in terrible shape. However he bricked the Q♣3♣2♦Q♥J♠ runout.

We are now down to 36 players in Day 1d, with the bubble approaching.

Tags: Alex Montgomery Joseph Grech Matteo Intiso

May 02, 2025

Navani Knackers Burns

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Richard Hayes

Level 13 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Padraig Burns opened to 15,000 from the button, and was met with a three-bet to 45,000 by Manoj Navani in the small blind.

Action back to Burns, who counted out his chips before four-bet jamming for around 115,000, earning a snap-call from Navani.

Padraig Burns: A♦10♠ All in
Manoj Navani: 9♠9♦

It was off to the races, and Burns could not connect with the 6♦5♠4♠Q♠J♣ runout.

Tags: Mahoj Navani Padraig Burns

May 02, 2025

Welby Busts Cox

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Richard Hayes

Level 13 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Guy Cox was getting up out of his chair, and Vanessa Welby was celebrating wildly, shouting "Come on!" - after she turned a flush with A♠9♠ versus Cox's Q♣J♦, on the Q♠8♠4♥10♠A♦ runout.

Tags: Guy Cox Vanessa Welby

May 02, 2025

Hewston Spikes Two-Outer

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Richard Hayes

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Mark Vella was all-in for 38,000 and at risk versus Jonathan Hewston.

Mark Vella: K♠K♦ All in
Jonathan Hewston: 10♥10♦

Vella had Hewston crushed, and the 9♦5♣2♣ flop was clear. However the 10♣ hit on the turn, and the 7♠ river did not give Vella an unlikely escape.

Tags: Jonathan Hewston Mark Vella

May 02, 2025

Eckert Rumbles Rey

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Richard Hayes

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Timothee Rey was all-in for 37,000 and at risk versus Christian Eckert.

Timothee Rey: A♦J♥ All in
Christian Eckert: 7♦7♠

Rey needed some help, and although he flopped a gutshot, he ultimately missed the K♦10♠5♣3♣4♥ runout.

Tags: Christian Eckert Timothee Rey

May 02, 2025

Marinelli Makes Hero Fold in Vain

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Richard Hayes

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Around 40,000 was in the middle on a board of 10♥6♣5♦10♠J♣, when Dario Marinelli fired out a bet of 35,000, leaving himself 6,000 behind.

Fidan Zahiti immediately raised to 75,000, and after around 90 seconds of thought, Marinelli open-folded 10♣ for trip tens.

Zahiti looked astonished, and showed the 10♦, but gave no indication as to whether he had a full house.

Marinelli's kicker must have been bad as he seemed certain he was beat - "Maybe I'll win the tournament now.", he said. The Italian busted a couple of hands later, but can have another crack in the remaining flights.

Tags: Dario Marinelli Fidan Zahiti

May 02, 2025

Montgomery Busts Bradley

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Richard Hayes

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Alex Montgomery jammed from the small blind with the covering stack, and after around 90 seconds of thought Jonathan Bradley got his 31,500 stack into the middle.

Jonathan Bradley: K♥4♣ All in
Alex Montgomery: A♣3♦

Bradley was behind, and Montgomery's ace-high was enough after the Q♥10♠8♦2♠5♣ runout.