Day 1A – MPF Spring 2024

Eggenberger Rivers Flush Against Roberts

Level 5: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 109/142

Scott Roberts gave it a try but wound up with “egg” on his face in a hand against Stefan Eggenberger.

There was nearly 15,000 in the pot when Eggenberger check-called a bet of 5,000 on the K♣4♠9♠ flop. Eggenberger checked the 7♠ turn. Roberts fired out for 15,000. Eggenberger tanked for about 40 seconds before he called.

The 8♠ river put four spade on the board. Eggenberger checked again before Roberts jammed for more than the 7,800 his opponent had remaining. Eggenberger snap-called.

Roberts turned over the 10♥10♦ but this wasn’t good enough to win the hand as Eggenberger rivered the queen-high flush and doubled his stack after he turned over the Q♠J♥ for the winning hand.

Stefan Eggenberger – 90,000
Scott Roberts – 16,000

Early Day 1a Photos

Donna Morton in the House

Donna Morton, also known as Darkangel and the Godmother of Poker, just arrived straight off the plane to check out what was happening on Day 1a of the Grand Event while also catching up with old friends and meeting some new souls as well.

Morton has been a fixture at the Malta Poker Festival enjoying all the activities outside of the poker tables for the most part. But once in a while, Morton will surprise us and join in on the action herself.

It is too early in the week to know if Morton will play the Ladies First! or another side event but what we do know is that we are in for a treat and we are not just talking about her amazing company. Morton will be hosting several Spaces sessions at the artist formerly known as Twitter now known simply as X.

Also dropping by to say hi were poker mind coach Ilze Zolte and poker guru Craig Smith before they hop into the side event action in the Betsson One Bullet starting at 5 p.m.

We welcome all of our MPF family and wish them a good time and also good luck when they are at the tables.

Full House for Ablott

Level 4: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 116/128

There was a bit of betting on the 2♠10♦Q♠ flop before Bartilomiej Grabowski jammed his sub-starting stack. James Ablott came in over the top for a six-figure jam before David Lappin got out of the way.

Bartilomiej Grabowski: K♣K♥
James Ablott: Q♣2♣

It was a bit of a cooler for Grabowski but he still had some hope with two cards to come. However, things appeared grim for Grabowski after the Q♥ landed on the turn with Ablott improving to a full house. Grabowski was unable to improve to a better full house on the 8♠ river and hit the rail while Ablott added chips to his already impressive stack.

James Ablott – 150,000
David Lappin – 57,000
Bartilomiej Grabowski – 0

Top Two Pair for Talvard

Level 4: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 115/125

There were heaps of chips in a pot north of 70,000 which we learned later began with Antoine Talvard opening up from early position before getting calls by Jake Allen, Lisa Roberts, and Liutauras Armanavicius. Armanavicius got out of the way after some betting on the 10♣8♦Q♠ flop with more betting following on the 6♦ turn. All three players checked the A♥ river.

Talvard turned over the A♦Q♦ for the top two pair and won a big pot after Allen and Roberts mucked their cards.

Antoine Talvard – 115,000
Liutauras Armanavicius – 50,000
Lisa Roberts – 35,000
Jake Allen – 32,000

Various Big Stacks at Break

Player	Chips	Big Blinds
Boban Stevanovic	128,000	160
Lennart Bernett	125,000	156
Colin Cooper	116,000	145
James Ablott	112,000	140
Michele Adamo	100,000	125
John Forsman	95,000	119
Oyvind Stangnes	95,000	119
Ronald Christiaan Gijtenbeek	87,000	109
Mark Cornwell	70,000	88