A chunky pot of 46,000 had brewed by the river on a board of J♣6♣5♥7♦K♥, in a hand between Fabio Di Cosimo under the gun and Fausto Gravagna in middle position.
Di Cosimo checked and Gravagna fired out a bet of 50,000. Di Cosimo immediately said "I think you bluff", and went into the tank.
The pair chatted away in Italian for about 90 seceonds, the gist of it seeming to be whether Gravagna wanted a call. Eventually Di Cosimo called, and he tapped the table and mucked when Gravagna showed 9♥8♥ for the turned straight.
After a quick-fire final day, Aurelio Vallone of Italy emerged triumphant in the 2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring Grand Event. The Italian cash game specialist sealed an emotional victory at Portomaso Casino after defeating German Carsten Mawick heads-up, following a deal between the final two.
The 29-year-old Vallone celebrated his victory with a vociferous rail who had been supporting him throughout the final day, and after congratulating Mawick on his run, returned to them to continue the celebrations. There, the emotions started to flow, and he dissolved into tears as he hugged a friend, clearly overwhelmed by his achievement.
Vallone, a full-time cash pro for three years, took home €94,600 of the €555,940 prize pool, after a deal which left €10,000, the trophy, and a package to the Malta Poker Festival Autumn Grand Event to play for.
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring Grand Event Final Table Results
Salvatore Pitti was all-in on a board of 10♣8♦7♥J♥4♦, with 30,000 in the main pot, and a 42,000 side-pot still being contested by active players John Hanaphy and Fabio Di Cosimo.
Hanaphy check-folded versus a bet of 36,600 from Di Cosimo, and Pitti was disappointed to learn his 10♣8♥ for the flopped top two pair had been usurped on the turn by Di Cosimo's J♣9♣ for the straight.
Cheryl Perry was raking in a roughly 60,000 pot after the river was checked through against two opponents, her Q♣Q♥ forcing them to muck on a board of J♦10♠4♦7♠K♠.
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