Category Day 1C

Level 12: 2,000/3,000 (3,000)
Entries: 92/260

Giovanni Russo three-bet from late position to 27,000 over the early position open by Joengmin Lee. Joengmin called before he checked the Q♣9♥8♠ flop.

Russo fired out for 18,000 and Joengmin called. Joengmin checked the K♥ turn. Lee bet 21,000. Lee jammed a big stack and Russo snap-called for about 65,000 in total.

Giovanni Russo: A♣Q♠
Joengmin Lee: K♦9♦

Lee’s two pair was miles ahead and Russo, who was ahead on the flop only to fall behind on the turn, wasn’t able to get a miracle to save his Day 1c tournament life with the [8h] river completing the board.

Joengmin Lee – 300,000
Giovanni Russo – 0

Players are on their final break of Day 1c. There will be two more blind levels including 1,500/3,000 (3,000) and 2,000/4,000 (4,000) when the action resumes before the surviving players bag and tag their stacks into Sunday’s Day 2.

Level 11: 1,500/2,500 (2,500)
Entries: 105/260

Ingvill Nilsen jammed for 18,000 from under the gun. Arnasalon Chengalanee called from middle position before Stig Eketrapp there-bet jammed for 76,000. Chengalanee didn’t waste too much time before he called for a three-way showdown with both Norwegians Nilsen and Eketrapp at risk.

Ingvill Nilsen: 10♣10♦
Stig Eketrapp: A♦A♥
Arnasalon Chengalanee: A♦K♠

Eketrapp was ahead the entire way and even spiked the case ace on the river to double through Chengalee and oust Nilsen after the 7♣Q♣9♦2♠A♣ ran out on the board.

Stig Eketrapp – 173,000
Arnasalon Chengalanee – 20,000

Level 10: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 116/260

Richard Sambron jammed for 17,000 from middle position before Stig Eketrapp called from the cutoff.

Richard Sambron: A♠8♠
Stig Eketrapp: 10♣10♠

Sambron got up looking ready to go even before the cards were turned over. He grabbed his bag after the 7♥K♦4♥ didn’t help on the flop. No love came for Sambron on the J♠ turn. It was like looking at a deer in headlights as the A♥ spiked the river to push Sambron ahead to double his stack instead of hitting the rail.

“I thought I was done as soon as you called,” Sambron shared as he sat back down and began gathering his chips.

Stig Eketrapp – 60,000
Richard Sambron – 39,000

The Malta Poker Festival and Globetrotting Poker have combined forces to bring some unique activities throughout the week away from the tables.

If you have the time, we highly recommend the private bus charter to the majestic regions of Valletta and Mosta. The departure is from the Hilton at 10:30 a.m. and gives you a chance not only to enjoy the tour but enjoy it with fellow poker aficionados. This is also perfect if you travelled to Malta with a non-poker-playing friend or partner.

We wish the crew tons of fun away from the tables tomorrow morning and the best of luck when they are back in action at Portomaso Casino.