2022 Malta Poker Festival Autumn Edition Live Blog – Day 3

Mirko Mostaccio defeated Thomas Harnes heads-up in the Malta Poker Festival (MPF) Autumn Edition €550 Grand Event Powered by partypoker for €136,970 after agreeing to a heads-up deal at the luxurious Portomaso Casino. Mostaccio also won a Las Vegas package sponsored by the World Poker Tour (WPT) valued at $2,500 and also won another €550 after winning the PokerDeals last longer competition.

The MPF Grand Event was a massive success with 1,326 entries generating a whopping €636,480 prize pool to smash the event’s €500,000 guarantee. A total of 143 players cashed for at least a €1,100 min-cash, representing exactly double the €550 buy-in.

Players came from far and near to play the Malta Poker Festival including from the United States and Canada making it one of the truly international recreationally minded poker events in Europe.

2022 Malta Poker Festival Autumn Edition Final Table Payouts

*Reflects heads-up deal at the final table.

Final Day Action

The final day began with 39 hopefuls in the hunt for Malta Poker Festival glory with Humberto Galindo in the captain’s seat. Galindo was unable to parlay his starting day pole position into a final table appearance as he eventually bowed out in 13th place for €3,500.

Meanwhile, Stefan Alvetjarn began the final day as one of the short stacks. But he doubled up twice early in the day to make it deep. However, he was eliminated in 10th place for €4,330 just short of the final table.

Runner-up Harnes began the final table with the chip lead with the eventual winner not too far behind in third place. The lead exchanged hands between a handful of players throughout what proved to be an entertaining final table.

On the other end of the scale, partypoker qualifier Karl Metz entered the final table with the shortest stack and hit the rail during the very first hand of the final table when his deuces failed to win a flip against the ace-six suited held by Alessandro La Cava.

Not too much later, Tobias Matuschuk delivered Steven Smith a cooler when his kings held against queens to send his opponent to the rail with Harnes sending La Cava packing shortly after to leave just six players remaining.

Although Matuschuk had the chip lead at this point, he lost some chips before getting involved in a monster pot with ace-queen. Instead, Harnes snagged the lead back while also eliminating Matuschuk when his sevens won the flip.

Glen Gaines, who a few months ago won the Tallinn Summer Showdown €1,100 Main Event that PokerListings also reported, lost his short stack to Luigi D’Alterio before local hero Andrew Cutajar hit the rail despite holding the nuts when the chips got in on the turn in a hand against Mostaccio.

D’Alterio was low on chips and was the next player to go when his ace-trey didn’t hold against Mostaccio’s ace-try. Mostaccio then had nearly double the stack of Harnes. Before a hand was played, the players took a break to agree on an ICM deal which left €23,400, the WPT package, and the €550 PokerDeals last longer prize on the line for the eventual winner.

The heads-up action didn’t last long. Mostaccio won a few small pots and had Harnes on the ropes when he got it in good with ace-queen against king-jack to eliminate Harnes. Despite missing out on all the glory, Harnes did collect a trophy for finishing in the top three along with a handsome €97,330 prize thanks to making the deal.

We would like to thank MPF founder, the Portomaso Casino, and the amazing staff at MPF’s technical partner Ludos Academy for their amazing work and hospitality. Of course, we appreciate the huge turnout by the players as well!

This concludes our coverage of the Malta Poker Festival. We look forward to seeing you soon!

*Reflects heads-up deal.

Level 33: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 1/1,326

Mirko Mostaccio just defeated Thomas Harnes heads-up to win the €135,670 top prize after making a heads-up deal with €23,400, while Thomas Harnes collected a tasty runner-up prize of €97,330. Mostaccio also won €550 as part of the PokerDeals last-longer competition and a $2,500 package to Las Vegas sponsored by the World Poker Tour.

Mostaccio whittled Harnes’ stack down to 8.5 million when Harnes limped the button. Mostaccio jacked it up to 1.5 million before he called a jam by Harnes for 8.5 million.

Thomas Harnes: K J
Mirko Mostaccio: A Q

The rails from both players gathered around the table before the 9 2 A flop had Harnes drawing very thin. Harnes was drawing dead after the 7 turn and already said ‘good game’ to his opponent.

The 6 river made things official and congrats to both players for an incredible run. Both players hugged their rail before hugging each other.

Stay tuned for the final payouts shortly with a recap of this amazing festival coming in the morning.

Players have agreed to a deal to flatten the payouts whereby Mirko Mostaccio has locked up €113,270 and Thomas Harnes has locked up €97,330. Originally the winner was slated to take home €145,000 and second place would have snagged €89,000.

There is still €23,400 to play for along with a WPT package valued at approximately $2,500 that WPT has sponsored for the winner. Also, since both players participated in the PokerDeals last-longer competition, they are also playing for another €550.

Level 33: 300,000/600,000 (600,000)
Entries: 2/1,326

Mirko Mostaccio jammed from the small blind before Luigi D’Alterio called off for his last 7 million in chips.

Luigi D’Alterio: A 3
Mirko Mostaccio: 10 8

It was the end of an incredible run for D’Alterio after Mostaccio pulled ahead of ace-trey on the K Q Q 10 8 board.

The action was paused after the hand for the two players to discuss a deal.

Mirko Mostaccio – 43.7 million
Thomas Harnes – 22.7 million
Luigi D’Alterio – 0

Level 32: 200,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 3/1,326

Thomas Harnes limped from the small blind. Mirko Mostaccio raised to 2 million. Harnes three-bet jammed for his chip-leading stack and Mostaccio snap-called for 19.8 million.

Mirko Mostaccio: Q Q
Thomas Harnes: A 3

Mostaccio earned a double up after his queens held on the 9 3 4 5 5 board to take the chip lead.

Mirko Mostaccio – 41 million
Thomas Harnes – 22 million

Level 32: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 3/1,326

Mirko Mostaccio opened for 800,000 from the button and was called by Luigi D’Alterio from the small blind and by Andrew Cutajar from the big blind. All three players checked the K 5 Q flop before fireworks erupted on the J turn.

Two players checked before Mostaccio fired out for 1,000,000. D’Alterio called before Cutajar jammed for 7,800,000. Mostaccio called and D’Alterio folded.

Andrew Cutajar: 10 9
Mirko Mostaccio: Q J

Cutajar was ahead but Mostaccio had outs for a full house and a flush. The full house was completed on the Q river and Cutajar was eliminated in fourth place for €35,000.

The floor has announced that after this blind level, the blind levels will be 30 minutes in length the rest of the way.

Mirko Mostaccio – 30 million
Andrew Cutajar – 0

Level 32: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 4/1,326

Luigi D’Alterio jammed his big stack from small blind. Andrew Cutajar called off his stack of 4.4 million.

Andrew Cutajar: J 9
Luigi D’Alterio: 10 9

The 2 8 K 7 4 board was good enough for Cutajar to double his stack.

Luigi D’Alterio – 20 million
Andrew Cutajar – 10 million

Level 32: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 4/1,326

Luigi D’Alterio opened for 800,000 from the cutoff and Glen Gaines, who was short on chips, defended his big blind to see the J 9 A flop.

Gaines checked before D’Alterio continued for 600,000. Gaines jammed for around 3,000,000 and D’Alterio called.

Glen Gaines: 10 8
Luigi D’Alterio: A K

Gaines was behind but did have some outs with an open-ended straight draw. The J turn and A river had an opposite effect than that of what Gaines wished and D’Alterio sent Gaines to the rail in fifth place for €25,000 with a full house.

Luigi D’Alterio – 25.6 million
Glen Gaines – 0

Level 32: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 5/1,326

Tobias Matuschek open-jammed from the hijack and was called by Thomas Harnes from the big blind.

Tobias Matuschek: 7 7
Thomas Harnes: A Q

Harnes pulled out ahead in the flip after pairing his queen on the 9 9 Q flop. Andrew Cutajar at this point began relaying the hand to the Maltese rail. Neither the 6 turn nor the 2 river was able to save Matuschek and he wished his opponents a good game on his way to the cashier.

Thomas Harnes – 22 million
Tobias Matuschek – 0

Players are on a short break. We will update the full chip counts shortly.

Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 6/1,326

Mirco Mostaccio opened for 600,000 from under the gun before Andrew Cutajar three-bet shoved for 4.9 million from the cutoff. Tobias Matuschek four-bet shoved for more than 10 million and Mostaccio folded.

Andrew Cutajar: A J
Tobias Matuschek: A K

The Maltese rail erupted as the local player Cutajar improved to Broadway on the Q 6 10 6 K board to double through Matuschek.

Andrew Cutajar – 11 million
Tobias Matuschek – 6 million

Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 6/1,326

Glen Gaines opened for 600,000 from the cutoff before Luigi D’Alterio defended his big blind. Both players checked the 8 9 4 flop and the 2 turn before D’Alterio fired out for 875,000 on the 10 river.

Gaines tanked for nearly two minutes before he called. D’Alterio showed 10 5 for top pair and that was good enough to win the hand with Gaines tossing his hand face down to the dealer.

Luigi D’Alterio – 16 million
Glen Gaines – 4 million

Level 31: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 6/1,326

Thomas Harnes opened for 600,000 from the hijack before Mirko Mostaccio defended his big blind.

Mostaccio check-called bets of 850,000 on the J 10 4 flop and for 1,600,000 on the 5 turn. The J river paired the board and both players checked. Mostaccio turned over K 10 for two pair and won the hand after Harnes mucked his cards.

Thomas Harnes – 19 million
Mirko Mostaccio – 15 million

Level 30: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/1,326

Alessandro La Cava limped from under the gun. Thomas Harnes called from the small blind and Glen Gaines checked his option from the big blind.

The players in the blinds checked the A 5 2 flop. La Cava fired out for 825,000. Harnes called and Gaines folded. Harnes checked again on the 4 turn. La Cava jammed for around 2.5 million and Harnes snap-called.

Alessandro La Cava: A J
Thomas Harnes: A 3

Harnes already had a wheel and La Cava was only drawing to a chop. The blank 7 completed the board on the river and Harnes ousted La Cava in 7th place while taking over the chip lead.

Thomas Harnes – 20 million
Alessandro La Cava – 0

Level 30: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 7/1,326

Glen Gaines opened for 500,000 from the button. Tobias Matuschek three-bet to 1,000,000 from the big blind before Gaines four-bet jammed for about 5,300,000. Matuschuk called and Gaines needed a lot of help.

Glen Gaines: 9 9
Tobias Matuschek: A A

Help was immediately on its way with Gaines improving to a set on the J 9 4 flop and eventually cracked his opponent’s aces with a full house after the 4 river and K river completed the board.

Glen Gaines – 11 million
Tobias Matuschek – 11 million

Level 30: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 7/1,326

Steven Smith had his 6 million stack committed and he was at risk against Tobias Matuschek.

Steven Smith: Q Q
Tobias Matuschek: K K

Despite seemingly getting there in many situations when behind in an all-in situation, this wasn’t one of them with the third-best hand in poker up against the second-best hand with the 10 2 5 6 4 running out on the board.

Congrats to Smith for his eighth-place performance for €9,000.

Tobias Matuschek – 17 million
Steven Smith – 0

Level 30: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 8/1,326

Steven Smith opened for 550,000 from under the gun and was called by Mirko Mostaccio from the cutoff.

Smith fired out for 525,000 on the 5 4 2 flop and for the same amount on the 6 turn. Mostaccio called both times and both players checked the 2 river. Smith turned over A 7 and his opponent won the pot after he tabled 8 8 .

Mirko Mostaccio – 10 million
Steven Smith – 5.5 million

Level 29: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 8/1,326

Alessandro La Cava opened for 775,000 from under the gun. Steven Smith jammed for about 6 million and La Cava went into the tank for more than five minutes when the clock was called. La Cava opted to call off his stack of around 3 million with just one second left on the clock.

Steven Smith: Q Q
Alessandro La Cava: J J

Smith was ahead but the players wound up chopping when the 5 4 3 2 6 runout put a straight on the board.

Level 29: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 8/1,326

partypoker qualifier Karl Metz jammed his short stack from early position on the very first hand of the final table and was looked up by Alessandro La Cava, who three-bet jammed from late position.

Karl Metz: 2 2
Alessandro La Cava: A 6

La Cava not only connected but nailed a full house on the 6 8 A A 7 board to eliminate Metz and boost his stack.

Alessandro La Cava – 5 million
Karl Metz – 0

Level 29: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 9/1,362

Jerome Moreau was down to just a handful of big blinds when he got them in with king-ten. Steven Smith held aces, and the rockets held on a blank board for Moreau. Very soon after, both Stefan Alvertjarn and Simone Maglianella hit the rail and the action is on a short break while the final table is being set up.

Steven Smith – 6.5 million
Jerome Moreau – 0
Stefan Alvertjarn – 0
Simone Maglianella – 0

Level 30: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 12/1,362

There are just a dozen players left after Humberto Galindo jammed his short stack with A 7 and was looked up by Steven Smith with A 10 .

The 2 J 6 Q 10 board didn’t save Galindo and he was eliminated in 13th place after starting today with the chip lead.

Steven Smith – 5 million
Humberto Galindo – 0

Level 29: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 13/1,326

Simone Maglianella opened for 400,000 from under the gun before Thomas Harnes three-bet to 1.6 million. Jerome Moreau asked Harnes how much he was on and Harnes showed his stacks. Moreau then four-bet jammed for 6 million or so. Maglianella quickly folded and Harnes just as quickly called off his stack of around 4 million and change.

Thomas Harnes: Q Q
Jerome Moreau: 8 8

“Oh fuck!” Moreau said when he saw how behind he was.

The 7 J 7 came on the flop. The 8 turn put Moreau ahead with a full house but the board wasn’t done yet. The Q spiked the river and Harnes doubled up with a better full house.

Thomas Harnes – 9 million
Jerome Moreau – 500,000

Level 29: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 13/1,362

Luigi D’Alterio opened for 400,000 from early position. Simone Maglianella three-bet to 1,600,000 from the small blind. D’Alterio jammed for more than 6 million. Maglianella went into the tank before he folded.

Before mucking his cards, D’Alterio showed the 3 to the table.

Luigi D’Alterio – 8.2 million
Simone Maglianella – 5.1 million

Players are on a 60-minute dinner break. We are also ready for some nighttime munchies, so we will also take a break to enjoy some tasty food on the casino floor.

As soon as we mouth down some chow, we will update the chip counts for the final 13 players. Blinds will increase to 100,000/200,000 with a big blind ante of 200,000 when the action resumes.

Level 28: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 13/1,326

We were almost down to a dozen hopefuls with Steven Smith nearly on the rail. Instead, some magic happened for Smith and he has some breathing room.

Smith jammed for 1,950,000 from the button and was called by Luigi D’Alterio from the big blind.

Steven Smith: 9 5
Luigi D’Alterio: A 10

A couple of the players at their table shook their head as Smith improved to trips on the 4 7 9 9 6 board to stay alive and double his stack.

Luigi D’Alterio – 5.5 million
Steven Smith – 4.5 million

Level 28: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 13/1,326

Tobias Matuschek with A A got his last 3,875,000 in the middle with the 3 7 4 8 on the board and was up against Mirko Mostaccio with J J . There was already about 5 million in the pot from betting on previous streets.

This isn’t a bad beat story as no two-outer came on the river. Instead, the 8 river paired the board and Matuschek doubled into the chip lead.

Tobias Matuschek – 12.5 million
Mirko Mostaccio – 6 milion

Level 28: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 13/1,362

Mike Alonso doubled his short stack once and was looking to do it again. He nearly did and here’s how.

Alonso jammed for 775,000 from the cutoff. Luigi D’Alterio asked for a count from the big blind before calling moments later.

Mike Alonso: A 2
Luigi D’Alterio: 3 3

Alonso was behind when the chips went in but his hopes must have been sky-high after the turn with the 4 J Q A running out on the board. The table gasped in amazement after the 3 river spiked the board to improve D’Alterio to a set and send Alonso to the rail.

Luigi D’Alterio – 5.6 million
Mike Alonso – 0

Level 27: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 15/1,326

Simone Maglianella opened the hijack for 275,000 and was called by Mike Alonso from the cutoff. Emanuele Onnis squeezed for his 600,000 chip stack and Maglianella tank-called. Alonso then shoved for for 3.4 million and Maglianella snap-called this as well.

Emanuele Onnis: 7 7
Mike Alonso: K Q
Simone Maglianella: A A

Maglianella celebrated after his rockets held on the 3 8 3 J K board to eliminate Onnis and leave Alonso on fumes.

Simone Maglianella – 7 million
Mike Alonso – 200,000
Emanuele Onnis – 0

Level 27: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 16/1,326

Jerome Moreau bet 1.5 million of his 1.75 million stack from the hijack and was put in for the rest by Humberto Galindo from the button.

Jerome Moreau: K J
Humberto Galindo: 9 9

Moreau connected with his jack to win the pot after the 8 4 J 5 7 ran out on the board.

Jerome Moreau – 3.8 million
Humberto Galindo – 3.5 million

Level 28: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 16/1,326

Jean Ruche jammed his short stack of less than 10 big blinds and was up against the big-stacked Mirko Mostaccio.

Jean Ruche: A Q
Mirko Mostaccio: J J

Ruche was unable to connected with the 3 3 3 K 8 board and lost the flip and his tournament life. The action is paused for a two-table redraw.

Mirko Mostaccio – 11.5 million
Jean Ruche – 0

Level 27: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 17/1,326

There will be a table redraw after one more elimination. The shorter stacks keep doubling, the latest was Nils Torp doubling through Jerome Moreau.

The stacks were in before the flop for a pot slightly north of 4 million in chips and Torp at risk.

Nils Torp: A K
Jerome Moreau: J J

Torp made it look easy as he improved to a full house on the A Q A Q K board to double his stack through Moreau.

Nils Torp – 4 million
Jerome Moreau – 1 million

Level 27: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 17/1,326

Glen Gaines three-bet jammed the button for 1,450,000 and was called by Tobias Matuschek from under the gun who opened for a min-raise.

Glen Gaines: K Q
Tobias Matuschek: A J

“Good luck, guys,” Mike Alonso said to both players.

The J Q 6 4 6 board gave Gaines a better two pair than Matuschek to stay alive and double his stack.

Tobias Matuschek – 6 million
Glen Gaines – 3.2 million

Level 26: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 17/1,326

Davide Iannoco jammed the button for 13 big blinds. Alessandro La Cava went into the tank for what seemed like five minutes from the big blind before he called.

Davide Iannoco: 10 7
Alessandro La Cava: A 7

Iannoco didn’t seem too thrilled with La Cava finding a call. He was less thrilled after not getting anywhere on the 3 3 Q A 6 board and was eliminated in 18th place.

Alessandro La Cava – 4 million
Davide Iannoco – 0

Level 26: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 18/1,326

There were eliminations happening simultaneously on Tables 1 & 2. Over on Table 1 it was a double elimination with Alessandro Forleo holding A Q , Raimondo Marcello holding A 7 , and Mirko Mostaccio holding 8 8 .

D’Alterio nailed a set of snowmen on the 8 10 2 A 10 board to send two players packing.

Meanwhile, on Table 2, Stefan Alvetjarn continues his impressive run and his J J was good enough to eliminate Leon Campbell with 10 10 . There was also another player in the hand with A K . The 2 7 J 4 Q runout gave Alvertjarn a set of jacks and is up to 5.2 million in chips, the exact amount he accidentally wrote on his bag last night when he had 525,000 in chips in reality.

Mirko Mistaccio – 11 million
Stefan Alvetjarn – 5.2 million
Raimondo Marcello – 0
Alessandro Forleo – 0
Leon Campbell – 0

Level 26: 50,000/100,00 (100,000)
Entries: 21/1,326

Nils Torp three-bet shoved over a min-raise open by Arturas Bliudzius. Bliudzius called and the cards were turned over.

Arturas Bliudzius: J J
Nils Torp: A 4

The 10 A 6 flop gave Torp some hope from top pair.

Several players wished Torp a good game after he was drawing dead to Bliudzius’ better flush after the 2 turn came. Torp was officially eliminated after the 2 river paired the board.

Arturas Bliudzius – 4.3 million
Nils Torp – 0

During the break, Rimko Meijer dropped by for a chat. He explained how he came in for 26 big blinds before doubling up a short-stacked player when his ace-queen didn’t hold against queen-eight. We already reported his final hand which was when his ace-nine didn’t hold against queen-eight.

Meijer shared this was his first live poker tournament. Not a bad result finishing in 24th place for €2,700 out of a massive field of 1,326 entries.

We wish Meijer the best of luck in future events and hope to see him around.

Level 25: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 22/1,326

Tobias Matuschek called bets on all of the streets by Dario Marinelli including a big jam on the river on the 2 5 Q 6 8 board.

Marinelli turned over K Q but this wasn’t enough and he was on the rail, while Matuschek collected a massive pot.

Just after, Rimko Meijer got his short stack in with A 9 and couldn’t hold against his opponent’s J 10 after the K 5 J Q 9 ran out on the board to give his opponent a straight. Meanwhile, Alessandro Santini lost his short stack and Raf de Wever found his way to the rail as well to leave 22 players remaining.

Shortly after, players went on their first break. We will update all of the chip counts after the break.

Tobias Matuschek – 6 million
Dario Marinelli – 0
Tobias Matuschek – 0

Level 25: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 27/1,326

Alessandro Forleo was down to just six big blinds but now has tons of breathing room about an orbit later. As we already reported, he first won a flip to double against Alessandro Santini. The next double-up went as follows.

Forleo three-bet jammed with ace-queen and was called by Luigi D’Alterio with queens. An ace hit the flop and Forleo held the rest of the way to double his stack again.

Alessandro Forleo – 3 million
Luigi D’Alterio – 1 million

Level 25: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 27/1,326

Alessandro Santini jammed for 620,000 from the cutoff. Alessandro Forleo called off his stack of 465,000 from the button and the players in the blinds laid down their hands.

Alessandro Forleo: 5 5
Alessandro Santini: 9 7

Forleo doubled through Santini after his opponent bricked the J 3 4 4 A board to win the battle of the Alessandro’s.

Alessandro Forleo – 1.2 million
Alessandro Santini – 155,000

Level 25: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 27/1,326

Hendrik Remmerde recently hit the rail and we decided to have a small chat with him. He shared that he is normally a cash game player and that this was his first live international tournament.

Not a bad run to get all the way to 28th place!

Remmerde shared he had a blast at the Malta Poker Festival and that he will likely play more events in the future now that he has had a great flavor for them at the Malta Poker Festival.

Remmerde said he was down to four big blinds when in the blinds he got it in with seven-five suited and didn’t get there against nine-eight offsuit.

We hope to see Remmerde at the Malta Poker Festival when it returns in 2023 and congrats on a great run in his first international event!

Level 25: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 29/1,326

The clock was reading Level 25, but it was still Level 24 when Leon Campbell opened for 150,000 from late position. Campbell was called by Simone Maglianella from the blinds. Maglianella check-called bets of 110,000 on the 2 8 4 flop and for 120,000 by Campbell on the 6 turn before checking one last time on the 9 river.

Campbell jammed for 865,000 and Maglianella tank-called. Campbell slammed down in excitement in K 7 for a flush which was more than enough to double through Maglianella who held 7 4 .

Meanwhile, Hendrik Remmerde, Antoine Talvard, and Uwe Matthias all hit the rail to leave just 28 players remaining in the field.

Simone Maglianella – 4 million
Leon Campbell – 3 million
Hendrik Remmerde – 0
Antoine Talvard – 0
Uwe Matthias – 0

Here is a look at a handful of final day photos of the MPF Grand Event.

Level 24: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 31/1,326

James Clarke and Humberto Galindo had their stacks in from the blinds with Clarke at risk.

James Clarke: A Q
Humberto Galindo: 10 10

Clarke stood up after he needed a miracle with Galindo improving to a set on the 10 6 3 flop. Clarke was drawing dead on the 5 turn and was officially eliminated after the 4 river completed the board.

Meanwhile, Kolade Akardiri hit the rail moments later on another table to leave just 31 players remaining.

Humberto Galindo – 5 million
James Clarke – 0
Kolade Akardiri – 0

Level 24: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 33/1,326

Craig Rose jammed his last 675,000 from under the gun and was called by Glen Gaines from one seat over.

Craig Rose: K Q
Glen Gaines: A J

Rose bricked the 3 9 5 10 A board and was eliminated in 34th place.

Glen Gaines – 4.5 million
Craig Rose – 0

Level 24: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 34/1,326

Leon Campbell checked with the 6 4 8 8 on the board after the turn. Simone Maglianella bet 375,000 into a pot north of 600,000 and Campbell called.

The 5 river completed the board and Campbell checked again. Maglianella jammed for more than the 2 million Campbell had left in his stack. Campbell tanked for a minute before he folded.

“Nice river to bluff with,” Campbell said to Maglianella.

Meanwhile, Sean Hopkin busted at a different table to leave 34 players remaining in the field.

Simone Maglianella – 5.5 million
Leon Campbell – 2 million
Sean Hopkin – 0

Level 24: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 35/1,326

We just mentioned a short time ago that Stefan Alvetjarn accidentally put an extra zero on his bag last night writing 5,250,000 instead of 525,000 and how he said he would double four times early today to get to that amount.

He is doing his best to be a man of his word as he has already doubled twice. The latest double was when his cowboys held again the jacks held by Johannes Grootelaar.

Stefan Alvertjarn – 2.3 million
Johannes Grootelaar – 700,000

Level 25: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 35/1,326

It was an incredible run for Caroline Schallock as she was the last woman standing. She came into today with a short stack but with hopes alive. Meanwhile, Steven Smith also came in with a short stack but now he is sitting with a healthy stack after some fireworks with Schallock.

First, Smith doubled through Schallock when his ace-ten got there against tens. A little while later, Schallock just had crumbs in her stack and was in the big blind. Smith had K J and Schallock had no choice but to call with 4 3 . No luck came Schallock’s way with the K 4 10 10 9 board giving Smith a better two pair. We hope to see Schallock at the next Malta Poker Festival with an even deeper run.

Just before then, Yossef Cohen and Tom Deschuytter also hit the rail to leave just 35 players remaining.

Steven Smith – 2.3 million
Caroline Schallock – 0
Yossef Cohen – 0
Tom Deschuytter – 0

Level 23: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 38/1,326

Antoine Talvard min-raised before Stefan Alvetjarn three-bet jammed for 10 big blinds. Arturas Bliudzius four-bet over the top for a bit more and Talvard folded.

Stefan Alvertjarn: K J
Arturas Bliudzius: J J

A king spiked the board for Alvertjarn to double his stack. Alvertjarn accidentally put an extra zero on his bag last night and joked with me in the morning that he will get those chips before too long by doubling up four times. Good luck, Stefan for three more double-ups to go!

Meanwhile, Cornelis Vreugdenhill was eliminated around the same time at a different table.

Stefan Alvertjarn – 1.3 million
Arturas Bliudzius: 1.2 million
Cornelis Vreugdenhill – 0

Level 23: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 39/1,326

Luigi D’Alterio min-raised from min-position and was called by Glen Gaines from the small blind. Gaines check-called a bet of 155,000 by D’Alterio on the 2 6 3 flop before check-calling a bigger bet of 380,000 on the K turn. The J river completed the board and both players checked.

Gaines turned over 5 5 which wasn’t enough to win the pot with D’Alterio showing K 9 for top pair.

Luigi D’Alterio – 3.3 million
Glen Gaines – 2.7 million

Level 23: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 39/1,326

Cards are in the air for the final day of the MPF Grand Event and the €1,100 CasinoCoin CUP.

Best of luck to the players in both tournaments. Our focus will be nearly 100% on the Grand Event.

Welcome back to our coverage of the 2022 Malta Poker Festival (MPF) Autumn Edition Grand Event. The action has progressed to its final day with just 39 hopefuls in the hunt for the title which comes along with a massive €145,000 top prize.

Humberto Jorge Lopes Galindo was absolutely crushing during Day 2 and finished the day with a chip lead stack of 4,240,000 in chips. Also bagging top five chip stacks into the final day were Jerome Moreau (3,940,000), Simone Maglianella (3,680,000), Alessandro La Cava (3,560,000), and Glen Gaines (3,290,000). Galindo has had a handful of cashes on the island and is looking for this one to be the biggest with his eyes on the €145,000 top prize.

Meanwhile, Luigi D’Alterio (2,705,000), Leon Campbell (2,150,000), Sylvere Paillot (1,800,000), Dario Marinelli (1,640,000), Uwe Matthias (1,175,000), and Caroline Schallock (805,000) are among some of the other players that advanced.

Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

Final Day Plan

The final day will begin at 2 p.m. CEST with 31:22 remaining on the clock on Level 25 with blinds at 25,000/50,000 along with a big blind ante of 50,000. After this blind level, the blinds will increase every 60 minutes providing the deepest structure of the tournament with most of the opening flights boasting 40-minute blinds levels and Day 2 featuring longer 50-minute blind levels.

PokerListings will be with you from the beginning until the latest MPF Grand Event winner is crowned to bring the action to you with hands, bad beats, and anything else fun that may take place. 

Remaining MPF Grand Event Payouts

The final 39 players have each locked up €2,400 with the payouts going up quickly from there. Here is a look at the remaining payout schedule:

Final Day Seat Draw