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

05-02-2025 23:21 UTC+1

Intiso Gets Grech

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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matteo Intiso	430,000 430,000	430,000

Alex Montgomery	220,000 160,000	160,000
Joseph Grech	Busted

Tags: Alex Montgomery Joseph Grech Matteo Intiso

05-02-2025 23:12 UTC+1

Vietti Takes From Ostergaard

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Richard Hayes

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

Erik Ostergaard opened to 23,000 from early position and received a call from Angelo Vietti in the big blind.

On the K♠J♦7♦ flop, Vietti check-called in the face of a bet of 32,000 from Ostergaard.

The 5♦ turn was checked through to the 10♥ river. Vietti led out with a bet of 75,000, and Ostergaard quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Angelo Vietti	450,000 290,000	290,000
Erik Ostergaard	270,000 145,000	145,000

Tags: Angelo Vietti Erik Ostergaard

05-02-2025 23:08 UTC+1

Novak Puts Eckert's Mind at Ease

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Richard Hayes

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

Christian Eckert opened to 20,000 from early position and was met with a three-bet jam by Jiri Noval for 178,000.

Action folded back to Eckert who lamented, "It's the same hand man, the same fucking hand". Novak smiled.

Eckert thought it through for another 30 seconds, then open-folded 7♠7♥. "That's twice I show you sevens", while Novak turned over 10♦10♣.

"Thanks for showing" said Eckert.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jiri Novak	208,000 82,000	82,000
Christian Eckert	175,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Christian Eckert Jiri Noval

Level: 15

Blinds: 5,000/10,000

Ante: 10,000

05-02-2025 22:56 UTC+1

Two Pair for Zahiti

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Richard Hayes

Level 14 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

With around 44,000 in the pot, Fidan Zahiti check-raisedfrom the big blind to 37,000 in the face of a bet of 16,000 from Giuseppe Pandolfo, on a flop of 10♠5♥4♠. After some thought, Pandolfo called.

The 8♠ turn and 9♠ river were checked through. Zahiti took the pot with 10♦5♦ for two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fidan Zahiti	550,000 50,000	50,000
Giuseppe Pandolfo	155,000

Tags: Fidan Zahiti Giuseppe Pandolfo

05-02-2025 22:48 UTC+1

Paris Shows Epic Bluff

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Richard Hayes

Level 14 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

A pot of close to 100,000 had developed on a flop of Q♦10♦5♥, in a hand between Aurelio Vallone in middle position and James Paris in the big blind.

Paris led out with a bet of 71,000, and after around 90 seconds of thought, Vallone called.

The 4♣ hit on the turn, and Paris jammed for around 355,000, just covering Vallone

Vallone went deep into thought, looking pained by the decision. He stared intently at the board, stealing the odd glance at his opponent but not trying to stare him out, and gently riffling chips through his hands. Paris didn't move an inch throughout, looking cool as ice. After about three minutes, Vallone said "You're strong eh, really strong".

Paris' stony facade cracked momentarily as he let out a very slight smile, but he still maintained his posture and overall relaxed, confident vibe.

Vallone tried again - "If you bluff it's not a problem, it's a good spot", but nothing from Paris. After around another two minutes, Vallone sent his cards to the muck.

Paris turned over 7♠2♠ and the table erupted, Vallone included.

"Amazing, truly amazing my friend" Vallone said, and he wasn't being sarcastic in the slightest. "Honestly, just brilliant" he continued, and Paris smiled and said "You really made me sweat for it, king-queen?", and Vallone confirmed he had folded a queen.

Definitely the hand of the day so far.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Paris	580,000 150,000	150,000
Aurelio Vallone	370,000 370,000	370,000

Tags: James Paris Aurelio Vallone

05-02-2025 22:36 UTC+1

Denise Pratt Confronts Poker Debtor Maurice Hawkins at Payout Desk | PokerNews Podcast #889

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Richard Hayes

Level 14 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 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!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

05-02-2025 22:22 UTC+1

Top Stacks at Fourth Break

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Richard Hayes

Level 14 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Lukasz Korniluk	560,000 153,500	153,500
Christoforos Chrysochoidis	540,000 214,000	214,000
Fidan Zahiti	500,000 355,000	355,000
Manoj Navani	460,000 15,000	15,000
James Paris	430,000 156,500	156,500
Adrian Trigo	405,000 35,000	35,000
Alex Montgomery	380,000 180,000	180,000
Piotr Wasilewski	355,000 145,000	145,000
Antonio Scala	320,000 24,500	24,500