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“Poker Changed Everything for Me” – Aurelio Vallone Wins Big at Malta Poker Festival Grand Event (€94,600)

“Poker Changed Everything for Me” – Aurelio Vallone Wins Big at Malta Poker Festival Grand Event (€94,600)
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Melvin Schroen Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: May 11, 2025 · 2 minutes to read

Photo Credits: Malta Poker Festival

In a thrilling and emotional finish, Italy’s Aurelio Vallone captured the title at the 2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring Grand Event, taking home an impressive €94,600 after a heads-up deal with Germany’s Carsten Mawick. The tournament, held at the Portomaso Casino in St. Julians, saw Vallone rise from the short stack to the champion’s circle in a storybook ending.

Ivonne Montealegre, organiser of the Malta Poker Festival, once again managed to crush the guaranteed prize pool. Even better, with two more opening flights to go, it was already reached. The guaranteed prize pool was set at €300,000 and it turned out eventually to be €555,940, as there were 1202 entries made. 

The final table action moved quickly, but Vallone kept his cool through it all. Known game pro, the 29-year-old Italian secured his first-ever live tournament win in style, sealing the victory after outplaying Mawick during heads-up play. The two sealed the deal before battling for the final €10,000, the champion’s trophy, and a package for the festival’s October edition worth €2,200.

Italian Passion

Vallone’s victory was met with loud cheers from his friends on the rail, who had supported him all day. As soon as the last hand ended, emotions took over. Vallone burst into tears and hugged his friends, clearly touched by his incredible performance. It wasn’t just about the money – it was about the journey.

“I had just four big blinds left at one point,” Vallone said. “This is unbelievable. Poker has really changed my life.”

Vallone, who turned pro three years ago and mostly plays high-stakes online cash games, called the win “a dream.” He credited his coach, fellow finalist Antonio Scala, who finished third, for helping him sharpen his skills.

The Key Hands

Two big moments helped push Vallone to the top. First, he knocked out Matteo Ferrara in fifth place when his ace-king held against Ferrara’s weaker ace. That left Vallone and Mawick with the biggest stacks at the table. Then, Vallone pulled off a gutsy four-bet shove on the flop that forced Mawick to fold in a crucial ICM situation, giving Vallone full control.

The final heads-up match didn’t last long. Vallone started with a 2:1 chip lead and closed it out after Mawick moved all-in on the river of a tricky double-paired board—only to find Vallone had him beat.

Final Table Payouts

RankPlayerCountryPrize (€)
1Aurelio ValloneItaly€94,600*
2Carsten MawickGermany€68,400*
3Antonio ScalaItaly€43,500
4Domenico LandoItaly€32,150
5Matteo FerraraItaly€25,050
6Vincenzo PopoloItaly€18,450
7Alexander MaskellUnited Kingdom€12,950
8Egon HoldhusNorway€10,850
9Dragan IgnjatovskiNorth Macedonia€8,550
*Heads-up deal agreed
Egon Holdhus on MPFS 2025.
Egon Holdhus
Alexander Maskell on the final table MPFS 2025.
Alexander Maskell
Vincenzo Popolo on the final table MPFS 2025.
Vincenzo Popolo
Matteo Ferrara on the final table MPFS 2025.
Matteo Ferrara
Domenico Lando on the final table MPFS 2025.
Domenico Lando
Antonio Scala on the final table MPFS 2025.
Antonio Scala
Carsten Mawick on the final table MPFS 2025.
Carsten Mawick

A New Chapter Begins for Vallone

Ignacio Vallone comments on his win at MPFS 2025

Vallone reflected on his path, saying,

Vallone

“I didn’t have the easiest start in life, and poker gave me a new direction. This result means everything. I hope it’s just the beginning.”

He also shared his love for the Malta Poker Festival, saying it felt like a “home event” since he lived in Malta for four years.

Vallone

“I’m not changing my plans—cash games are still my main thing,” he added. “But I’ll definitely keep playing more live tournaments around Europe. At some point, I’m hoping to be playing in Las Vegas too.”

As he lifted the trophy, the tears started to flow. This wasn’t just about poker, it was a sign of pure relief, joy, and of course, Italian passion!

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