Malta Poker Events - October Satellite Tournament – Episode 3 [15.10.09]

Date: 15.10.09
Time: 20:30hrs
Venue: Portomaso Casino, Malta
Starting stack: 3000 chips
Blind levels: 18 minutes


The Portomaso casino was full of fun packed poker action last night as the casino’s poker halls accommodated the Malta Poker Events October satellite – Episode 3 as well as the Poker Idol €330 side event for the group of professional poker players who qualified for the poker holiday package through the Poker Idol Poker Room. A €5/€10 cash game and the regular €1/€2 were also held for the many players who stormed the casino last night. Several Italian players were also present as they also joined in on the action against some of the best players introduced to the Maltese Poker Scene by Poker Idol, the online poker room tagged as ‘the future of online poker’.

The satellite event for the Halloween themed tournament attracted 19 local players this week, resulting in 5 payouts - 2 main event tickets being given out to the prize winners, two tickets for next week’s satellite event plus the remaining pot for Jackie Cachia, who placed fifth. The multi table tourney started at 20:30Hrs and progressed at the normal rate with the break taking place after approximately 75 minutes.

As a mid-game surprise for our players, the Portomaso Conference centre was set-up for this eventful day with a full blown buffet featuring a vast array of carefully prepared gourmet to suite the most discerning tastes. Players were invited to indulge in a wide range of sea food, pasta, cold cuts and an assortment of cheeses, sweets and exotic fruits to complement the fantastic overall turnout last night. In the buffet area, Malta Poker Events players also had the opportunity of meeting up and networking with professional poker players who participated in the Poker Idol Open side event which took place last night at the Portomaso Casino.

After refuelling with the exquisite food preparation, players rejoined their tables to compete for the final prizes for their respective tournaments.

The final table of the October edition Satellite tournament commenced at around 23:15Hrs and featured many of the regular players who participate in the weekly satellites as well as some new players who were hopeful about winning their buy-in to this month’s Halloween-themed event. Among these were also previous satellite winners JP Grech, Massimo Pappalardo, Rueben Velden and Leo Said.


After the tournaments were over and prizes given out, players were invited to club 22 at the Portomaso tower for a night of partying in company of the Poker Idol crew and players.


Photos may be viewed at the gallery section on the Malta Poker Events website.



Winners of the Halloween themed €220 event on the 1st November 2009 pictured above.
• Leo Said [Left]
• David Meli [Right]

Winners of satellite tickets
• Rueben Velden
• Joe Camilleri

Winners of remaining pot:
• Jackie Cachia

With just two remaining satellite events before the €220 tourney this month, join us next Thursday the 22nd October at the Portomaso Casino for your chance to win a seat into the Halloween themed poker tournament being held on the 1st November 2009. Prize pool is expected to exceed €13,000 this month!

Free parking, snacks and beverages for all our players.

For more information on our current event schedule, please contact us on info@maltapokerevents.com

Malta Poker Events

September Satellite - Episode 2

The satellite tournament, with a €27+3 entry fee attracted 44 enthusiastic poker players taking their seats in the Poker room at the Portomaso Casino on the 10th September 2009. Amongst the players present were three of the Malta Chili Poker Open 2009 finalists - Massimiliano Privitera from Italy who had placed 2nd, taking home €8,670, Gordon Mifsud who placed fifth and won €2,800 and Andrew Camilleri in 8th placing and €1,128 prize.

This week’s payouts included 5 seats to September’s end of month €220 tournament [27.09.09] and 3 seats for the satellite tournament taking place on 17.09.09.

The first break was over by 22:30hrs and by then, there were 30 remaining players with an average stack of 4,400 chips.

At the final table, Omar Granata and Daniel Mais went out in 7th and 8th place respectively,

With the blinds now at the 2K / 4K level, The strongest of the remaining 6 players at the table were Tanya Apap and Gordon Mifsud, and on the opposite end of the scale there was Giovanni Totsolino with 700 chips.

A struggling effort by Giovanni took place when he pushed all-in with his 700 chips while holding 5 6 and got called by Tanya who held a pair of fours at the time. The flop showed 9 3 3 6 7 helping Giovanni to double up when he paired his 6 on the turn.

In the next hand, Giovanni pushed all-in yet again, with a 1400 stack, and got called by Thomas Harvey and Gordon Mifsud. Giovanni’s KJ hit a pair on the flop and trips on the river when the flop showed 10 4 J 2 J. The 6 10 held by Gordon and A 3 held by Tommy could not match Giovanni’s hand and helped propel his chip count up to 5,400.

The deciding hand played was between Giovanni Totsolino and Massimo Pappalardo, while the dealer button was at Gordon Mifsud. Massimo [SB] holding 10 9 called Giovanni’s [BB] push and he showed his A 7 in turn. Massimo’s hand paired the 9 on the flop and kept it’s strength all the way to the river, beating the hand held by Totsolino. This play sent out Giovanni Totsolino in sixth position winning a ticket to a satellite event on 17.09.09, and leaving the reaming five players as the prize winners of the €220 tickets for the end of month tourney on 27.09.09.

Prizes for the €220 end of month tourney were awarded to:



From Left to right: Joe Smith, Gordon Mifsud, Tanya Apap, Massimo Pappalardo, Thomas Harvey

Satellite tickets were awarded as prizes to:
- Giovanni Totsolino
- Daniel Mais
- Omar Granata


See the rest of the photos at our Gallery at the Malta Poker Events website.

Malta Poker Events