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

05-03-2025 12:41 UTC+1

Lorenzano Raises Turn

Richard Hayes

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Around 2,000 was in the middle in a three-way pot, between Giuseppe Lorenzano in middle position, and Jose Blanco and Pechnapa Punpa in the blinds.

On the Q♥9♣8♥ flop, Blanco led out with a bet of 800 when action was checked to him, and only Lorenzano called.

The 8♠ hit on the turn, and Blanco continued with a bet of 1,000. Lorenzano responded with a raise to 2,600, and after a brief period of thought, Blanco elected to fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giuseppe Lorenzano	65,000
Jose Blanco	22,000

Tags: Giuseppe Lorenzano Jose Blanco

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/300

Ante: 300

05-03-2025 12:57 UTC+1

Menant Puts Dobrigna in Blender

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

A pot of 20,000 had developed on a completed board of K♥Q♦5♠2♥5♥, in a hand between Hugo Menant and Loic Dobrigna, both in middle position.

Menant checked, and Dobrigna fired out a bet of 10,000. Menant was thinking it over, and after it was looking like a fold was the most likely outcome, after around two minutes, suddenly he check-jammed to 42,500.

Dobrigna definitely wasn't expecting it, and exhaled deeply. After around two minutes of thought, he sat back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head, stealing a sideways glance at his opponent. He took another couple of peeks at his cards, and eventually tapped the table and folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hugo Menant	72,500 72,500	72,500
Loic Dobrigna	30,500 30,500	30,500

Tags: Hugo Menant Loic Dobrigna

05-03-2025 13:09 UTC+1

Hogg Doubles via Cummings

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Charles Hogg was raking in a full-double up, after he turned a full house against Michael Cummings' flopped trips in a cooler.

Cummings had 8♥6♣ from the big blind and Hogg had 9♦9♠ on the K♥8♠8♣9♥J♥ runout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Charles Hogg	58,000 8,000	8,000
Michael Cummings	25,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Charles Hogg Michael Cummings

05-03-2025 13:15 UTC+1

Breuer Bests Keith

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Sean McDiarmid opened to 700 from middle position, and Graham Keith flatted in the cutoff, while Holger Breuer and Charles Hogg came along in the blinds.

On the Q♣8♥3♥ flop, action was checked to Keith, who fired out a bet of 1,200, which only Breuer called.

The 5♣ turn and 2♣ river were then checked through, and Breuer's 9♠9♥ were good versus Keith's A♥8♦ for second pair eights.

Although Keith didn't win this one, he's had a pretty fantastic week so far. He won the PokerNews Cup after battling back from three big blinds for €7,000, and then won a €550 Grand Event ticket in the PokerNews Scavanger Hunt - hopefully he hasn't used up all his run good for the trip!

Player	Chips	Progress
Holger Breuer	57,000 7,000	7,000
Graham Keith	46,000 4,000	4,000

Tags: Charles Hogg Graham Keith Holger Breuer Sean McDiarmid

05-03-2025 13:22 UTC+1

Two Pair Over Two Pair for Zucca

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Richard Hayes

Level 2 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Around 6,300 was in the middle, on a flop of J♦9♣5♦ in a four-way pot.

Stefano Olivetti and Raimund Longbottom checked in the blinds to Allan Johansen in the cutoff, who fired out a big bet of 6,000. Fabrizio Zucca called on the button, as did Longbottom.

On the K♥ turn, action was checked to Zucca, who slid out a bet of 11,500. Longbottom got out of the way, but Johansen stuck around.

The 6♦ river completed the board, and Johansen quickly check-called a bet of 15,000 from Zucca.

Zucca tabled K♠J♥ for the turned top two pair, while Johansen had rivered two pair with J♣6♣, but had the worst of it.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fabrizio Zucca	110,000 60,000	60,000
Raimund Longbottom	45,000
Allan Johansen	37,000

Tags: Allan Johansen Fabrizio Zucca Stefano Olivetti

Level: 3

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 400

05-03-2025 13:40 UTC+1

Lange Forces Chochola Fold

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Richard Hayes

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

A chunky pot of 19,000 had developed on a completed board of 9♦8♦6♥J♦5♥.

Adam Chochola checked to Thomas Lange, who fired out a value-seeking looking bet size of 6,400. Chochola looked suspicious, and after a bit of thought, elected to fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Lange	54,000
Adam Chochola	42,000 42,000	42,000

Tags: Adam Chochola Thomas Lange

05-03-2025 13:43 UTC+1

Arnsby Double-Barrels

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Richard Hayes

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Lukas Bischoff opened to 1,100 under the gun, and received calls from Giacomo Comitini in middle position, and Kat Arnsby on the button.

Action was checked to Arnsby on the 5♣4♣2♣ flop, who fired out a bet of 1,100. Only Bischoff called.

The 8♠ hit on the turn, and Bischoff checked once more. However he decided he could not continue in the face of a bet of 5,500 from Arnsby.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kat Arnsby	53,000 3,000	3,000
Lucas Bischoff	34,000 16,000	16,000

Tags: Giacomo Comitini Kat Arnsby Lukas Bischoff

05-03-2025 13:56 UTC+1

Bargouthi Busts Imsa

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Richard Hayes

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

A pot of 20,000 had developed on a board of 3♣3♠2♣10♠, and Sami Barghouthi fired out a pot-sized bet. His opponent, Adrians Imsa, thought for a bit before jamming for 26,000, Barghouthi making the quick call with the covering stack.

Adrians Imsa: 9♥9♠ All in
Sami Barghouthi: J♥J♠