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Level 5
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
2025 SiGMA Poker Tour Malta
€400 Main Event
Day: 1ef
Event Info
2025 SiGMA Poker Tour Malta
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1ef
Buy-in
€400
Prize Pool
€150,000
Total Entries
411
Level
29
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
129
Players Left
20
Players Left 1 / 411
Filter
Level 5
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
In the 915th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are once again joined by Ben Ludlow to talk the latest stories and highlights from the poker world. That includes back-to-back WSOP Ladies Event champ Shiina Okamoto, who was back to her winning ways after taking down the Women's Event at the recently-completed EPT Barcelona. Is it time to start mentioning her name when talking about the G.O.A.T.s of the game?
Speaking of the EPT Barcelona, David Coleman had four runner-up finishes there, while Thomas Eychenne took down the EPT Barcelona Main Event for €1,217,175. It was actually in that tournament that PokerNews spotted Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll, the two friends who caused quite the controversy over the summer in the WSOP Millionaire Maker, seated next to each other. Strange coincidence, that.
From there, Chad offers highlights from his Wisconsin hangout with Phil Hellmuth, who then went ot New Hampshire for a "Beat the Champ" weekend that saw Brandon Cantu emerge victorious. Hellmuth also remembered the late, great Poker Hall of Fame tournament director Jack McClelland.
Speaking of winners, Grant Hinkle, Nick Rigby, and Maurice Hawkins all took down titles, which are recapped in this episode and inspired Mike to share a Rigby story of his own. Also, a preview of the upcoming PokerGO Tour (PGT) Venetian Las Vegas Classic.
Finally, remember PokerNews is giving away a seat in the World Tournament of Slots (WTOS). You could have an approximate one in 500 chance at a $1,000,000 top prize. Click here to learn more about the WToS.
Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! You can also find us on Spotify as well as our new page on SoundCloud!
Level: 5
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
Level 4
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
The players have been sent on a 15-minute break.
Level 4
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Marc Schembri opened to 1,200 from the cutoff, and was met with a three-bet to 5,000 from Benjamin Richards in the small blind.
Action back to Schembri, who took quite a bit of time for thought, before he produced a four-bet to 15,000.
Richards eyed him suspiciously, but folded after about a minute of pondering the spot.
Level 4
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Nicolas Chretien opened to 2,000, and received calls from three players.
The 9♦8♦7♣ flop was checked to Chretien, who slid out a bet of 4,500. Ilona Aleksandroviene folded, and Yves Farges and Karol Guzla called.
The 10♦ hit on the turn, and Chretien double-barreled with a bet of 10,000 when action was checked to him, leading to folds from both of his opponents.
Level 4
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Vincenzo Popolo limped from middle position, and Karol Guzla, who bubbled Day 1c, raised to 2,000 from the next seat. Oliver Mihajlovski called in the cutoff, as did Popolo.
On the K♠4♣2♦ flop, Guzla continued with a bet of 2,000. Popolo check-folded, and Mihajlovski called.
The A♦ hit on the turn, and Guzla check-folded versus a bet of 8,500 from Mihajlovski.
Level 4
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
In the 914th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are joined by Hayley Hanna (AKA Vegas Hayls), who is fresh off finishing fourth in the 2025 Arizona State Poker Championship. The trio discusses the sudden rise of Monarch, who is Finnish poker pro Ossi Ketola. While at the Onyx Cup in Cyprus, he challenged both Norway's Kayhan Mokri and Dan "Jungleman" Cates to high-stakes heads-up matches, and when all was said and done, Monarch was down eight figures!
From there, they talk about recent tournament winners, including Brandon Mitchell taking down the 2025 Arizona State Poker Championship for $525K, Jennifer Shahade winning the Women's Summer Festival, and both Jesse Lonis and Jeremy Ausmus winning over in Europe.
Other stories covered include the loss of Poker Hall of Famer Jack McClelland, a poker player robbed in Texas, Daniel Negreanu saying a Season 2 for Game of Gold is unlikely, and that goofball Nacho Barbero finishing another sponsorship opportunity.
Finally, remember PokerNews is giving away a seat in the World Tournament of Slots (WTOS). You could have an approximate one in 500 chance at a $1,000,000 top prize. Click here to learn more about the WToS.
A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Level: 4
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
Level 3
: Blinds 200/400, 400 ante
Jordan Buhagiar opened to 5,500 from early position, and Vincenzo Popolo called.
The A♠3♠2♦ flop was checked to the 6♥ turn, where Buhagair quickly check-folded versus a bet of 7,000 from Popolo.
"It was a mistake, I meant to open 1,500." An unfortunate 14 big blind error from Buhagair, but Popolo wasn't complaining.
