Category Live Updates

Level 13: 2000/4000 (4000)
Entries: 142/508

Antonin Hays raised 3x from the small blind, and Barry Smyth quickly called from the big blind. The flop came J♣7♠K♠, and Hays continued for 12,000, with Smyth snap-calling.

On the turn Q♥, Hays fired again, this time for 35,000, and Smyth responded with another instant call. The river 3♣ saw Hays take his time before shoving all-in for 68,500. Smyth, who had a similar stack, asked for a count before ultimately folding.

A bold play by Hays, who scooped the pot and left Smyth wondering what could’ve been.

Antonin Hays – 201,000
Barry Smyth – 73,000

It’s a busy day here at the Malta Poker Festival, with multiple tournaments underway, and here’s the latest on each one:

• Main Event Day 1E: A massive 508 entries were recorded, with 156 players still in the running. Out of these, 76 will advance to Day 2 and secure a minimum cash.
  
• Main Event Day 1F: Currently at 135 players out of 188 entries, with late registration open for 3 more levels. Plenty of time for players looking to take their shot!
  
• Main Event Day 1G Turbo: The turbo flight has 65 out of 82 entries still in action, with just over an hour left for late registration. This is one of the final chances to join the Day 2 action.
  
• MPF – PLO Knight Crusaders hosted by Mayoman: Only 18 players remain out of a strong 117-entry field. With just 15 spots paying, competition is fierce for the top prize of €7,650.
  
• Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty Day 1: This popular event has 62 out of 420 players still competing, and the excitement is building as they approach the bounty phase, Day 2 will be played tomorrow at 10:00.

Best of luck to everyone still in action, and stay tuned as we get closer to the bubble and beyond in each of these thrilling tournaments!

Level 13: 2000/4000 (4000)
Entries: 169/508

Alessandro Florio opened the pot to 8,000 and was quickly 3-bet by Fikri Basaran seated just one spot to his left. The rest of the table folded, and Florio wasted no time, shoving his 48,500 chips into the middle. Basaran made an instant call, and the cards were revealed:

• Alessandro Florio: Q♠Q♦ – seat 3 on the picture
• Fikri Basaran: A♣J♦ – – seat 5 on the picture

Florio was ahead but at risk, and the flop was a nail-biter: 7♣8♣9♣ gave Basaran outs for both a flush and a straight with a ten. The turn 9♠ and river [invalid notations]7d paired the board twice, and Florio’s queens held strong, dodging an array of dangerous outs to secure an important double-up for the Italian.

Alessandro Florio – 107,000
Fikri Basaran – 60,000

Level 11: 1000/2500 (2500)
Entries: 236/508

Danilo Mercuri (pictured below) opened from early position and was met with a 3-bet to 16,000 from Jesper Skeel of Denmark on the cutoff. The action folded back to Mercuri, who made the call. The flop came K♠2♣10♦, and both players checked.

The turn brought a Q♥, and Mercuri checked to Skeel, who bet 20,000. Mercuri responded with a bold check-raise to 53,500, which Skeel snap-called. The river 8♠ brought rapid action: Mercuri bet 69,000, and Skeel instantly shoved all-in for Mercuri’s remaining 133,500. Just as quickly, Mercuri called.

Skeel tried to muck his hand, but the dealer revealed K♦J♦ for one pair. Mercuri turned over A♥J♥ for the nut straight, securing a massive pot worth over 400,000 chips!

Danilo Mercuri – 410,000
Jesper Skeel – 20,000

Level 11: 1000/2500 (2500)
Entries: 242/508

Late registration has officially closed for Day 1E, only 76 players will be securing their spots in the money as we move closer to the finish line. Congratulations to all who made it this far, you still have a long way to go, so best of luck!

For those still looking to join the action, Day 1F and the fast-paced 1G Turbo flight are still open for registration. Don’t miss out on these last chances to advance to Day 2 in the MPF Grand Event!

Good luck to all players pushing forward!

Get ready to celebrate! The Malta Poker Festival Players Party kicks off tonight at 11 PM on the 22nd floor of the building right next to Portomaso Casino. It’s time to unwind, have some fun, and enjoy the fantastic view as we take a break from the tables.

Everyone who entered the tournament area at Portomaso Casino is welcome—just bring along your casino bracelet for access. Don’t miss out on the chance to party with your fellow players and enjoy a well-earned night of fun!

See you all there! 🎊 (The picture used is from the last event)

The first turbo flight of the MPF Grand Event, Day 1G, has just kicked off, and the energy in the room is electric! With 20-minute levels, this flight brings a thrilling, fast-paced format that’s perfect for players aiming to secure a Day 2 spot with high-intensity action.

For those looking for a quicker route to the big prize pool, Day 1G is the ideal way to keep the adrenaline pumping as blinds escalate quickly, creating action at every turn. With players feeling the pressure to make moves and stack up early, today’s turbo promises plenty of excitement.

Good luck to everyone at the tables in Day 1G – play fast, play sharp, and see you in Day 2!

Level 10: 1000/2000 (2000)
Entries: 263/502

Ftanssila in the small blind. Torquato made the call, and they saw a flop of K♥10♥8♣. Ftanssila continued with a bet of 12,500, and Torquato called in position.

The turn 3♣ brought a check from both players, and on the river 6♦, Ftanssila checked once more. Torquato seized the chance and fired a hefty 30,000 bet into Ftanssila’s 57,000 stack. After careful deliberation, Ftanssila made the call.

The cards were revealed:

• Luigi Torquato: Q♥J♦ (missed straight draw)
• Atte Ftanssila: 8♦9♦ (pair of eights)

The Finn’s sharp read and hero call won him applause from the table and boosted his stack to around 150,000.

Luigi Torquato – 45,000
Atte Ftanssila – 150,000

The Malta Poker Festival Grand Event continues to exceed expectations with a massive 500 entries in today’s Day 1E alone, as players eagerly vie for their spot on Day 2. And the action doesn’t stop there – our final standard-paced flight, Day 1F, is already blooming with 140+ entries and climbing.

Here’s a recap of the entries and qualifiers from each flight so far:

• Day 1A: 278 entries – 42 players advanced to Day 2
• Day 1B: 172 entries – 26 players advanced to Day 2
• Day 1C: 158 entries – 23 players advanced to Day 2
• Day 1D: 341 entries – 52 players advanced to Day 2

This incredible turnout, combined with entries from previous flights, brings our total to 1,600 entries so far, pushing the prize pool past the €750,000 mark. With such high participation, the prize pool has far surpassed the €500,000 guarantee, making this one of the most successful events in MPF history!

Good luck to everyone still in action, and for those looking for a fast-track, Day 1G Turbo begins tonight at 21:00 with 20-minute levels, followed by tomorrow’s last-chance turbo flight at 10:00.

Level 9: 1000/1500 (1500)
Entries: 287/497

After a preflop raise by Angelo Patane, June Jenkins defended her big blind. Following some action on the flop, there were 45,000 in the middle on a 10♠4♣6♥5♣ board, and Patane checked to Jenkins. She did some thinking, announcing an all-in shove for her remaining 81,000 chips. Patane, who slightly covered her, went deep into the tank as the floor counted down the last seconds before he made the call.

The cards were revealed:

• Angelo Patane: A♥10♦ (top pair, ace kicker)
• June Jenkins: 10♣9♣ (top pair, flush draw)

The odds favored Patane, but the river 3♣ gave Jenkins the flush, sparking her excitement as she raked in a 207,000 pot to stay alive!

Angelo Patane – 37,000
June Jenkins – 207,000