In recent times, Malta has change into one of many go-to locations for poker lovers in Europe and past, with the island nation taking part in host to quite a few enjoyable and inexpensive festivals. The Malta Poker Competition has actually helped create this atmosphere, establishing Malta’s place on the world’s poker map.
“The refurbishment of Portomaso On line casino marks a brand new chapter in our dedication to excellence. We’ve embraced a extra fashionable feel and look, making a streamlined expertise that blends type, consolation, and effectivity. This improve ensures that Portomaso continues to set the usual for premium gaming and leisure in Malta.”
— Jesmond Galea, Chief Operations Officer, Tumas Gaming Group
Simply final week, the Malta Poker Competition Autumn did it over again, attracting hundreds of gamers from in all places to the attractive Portomaso On line casino for a complete week of enjoyable and various event motion.
The competition schedule actually featured one thing for everybody, out of your basic No Restrict Maintain’em occasions, over thriller bounties, to combined sport tournaments, and all of them that includes buy-ins of just some hundred euros, making them extraordinarily bankroll-friendly.
The star of the present, as all the time, was the €550 Malta Poker Competition Grand Occasion, providing a hefty assure of €500,000. Because it turned out, that assure was on the conservative facet, as gamers turned up in droves to almost double that whole!
Joris Ruijs Triumphs in a Large Discipline
The MPF Grand Occasion featured eight beginning flights, giving gamers loads of alternatives to construct up a stack to take by way of to Day 2. It got here as no shock that many have jumped at this chance, bringing the entire variety of entries to 1,987. This meant that the unique assure was blown out of the water, bringing the event’s last prize pool to simply over €900,000.
For a €500 event to pay out practically a cool million in prizes is all the time an accomplishment, exhibiting as soon as once more simply how widespread the Malta Poker Competition has change into with gamers.
Naturally, a lion’s share of that huge prize pool was reserved for the winner, who would take residence €141,000 for his or her efforts. As the combo of ability and luck would have it, the dignity went to Joris Ruijs, a participant from the Netherlands, who managed to outlast all the area and declare the victory.
This wasn’t Ruijs’s first rodeo by any means. With virtually $4.5 million in dwell earnings, the person sitting within the sixth spot on the Netherlands’ All Time Cash Record has had his justifiable share of success on the tables. Nonetheless, the MPF Grand Occasion triumph stands out because the biggest-field event he was in a position to take down, and it’s additionally his greatest rating by way of the variety of buy-ins gained.
What’s additionally fascinating is that Joris is a daily in large buy-in occasions, having performed in quite a few €/$10,000+ plus tournaments, however he additionally likes to combine it up in cheaper tournaments, particularly once they happen in good areas.
Additionally it is price noting that the Grand Occasion was a fairly worldwide affair. The ultimate desk alone featured gamers from seven completely different international locations (out of eight gamers). The runner-up Vincent Schueler hails from Germany, the third-place finisher Thomas Grahs is from Sweden, whereas Italy, Serbia, France, and Denmark have been all represented as properly.
Match Motion Across the Clock
Though the Grand Occasion was the most important draw of the 2025 Malta Poker Competition Autumn sequence, there was lots extra motion available. The competition featured a very colourful schedule that included fairly a couple of area of interest choices for these trying to combine issues up.
For instance, the €280 Sviten Particular occasion attracted 69 entries. For these not acquainted, Sviten is a singular variation of Drawmaha, mixing parts of Pot Restrict Omaha and 5 Card Draw. The sport is sort of widespread in Scandinavian international locations, and the variety of entrants confirmed that it actually has its place at festivals like this.
In the same vein, the €230 H.O.R.S.E. occasion attracted a decent area of 57 gamers, producing the prize pool of simply over €10,000.
When it comes to participant numbers, the €250 Scandinavian Poker Championship exceeded expectations, attracting 740 entries and producing a prize pool of just below €155k. The winner, Mark Cornwell of the UK, pocketed €17,042.
Following the developments, the MPF schedule additionally featured a Thriller Bounty occasion, and that one generated a number of curiosity as properly. A complete of 654 entries within the area resulted in a prize pool of €58,848 and loads of motion on the tables as gamers have been searching for alternatives to get a shot at one of many envelopes.
From Malta With Love
The autumn version of the Malta Poker Competition is within the books, and gamers are actually again residence or already chasing glory at a distinct venue midway throughout Europe.
A few of them, like Ruijs and Cornwell, have been fortunate sufficient to pad their bankrolls through the competition. Many extra had important scores that can assist them pursue their poker goals.
Nonetheless, whatever the outcomes, most of those that had a chance to go to Malta and play some poker through the competition may have some nice recollections to make sure they’ll be again for the subsequent one. Whereas large prize swimming pools are what appeal to folks to tournaments, it’s the recollections of fine occasions that hold them coming again.
“At Portomaso On line casino, we’re proud to host over ten worldwide poker occasions every year, with the Malta Poker Competition standing as a flagship amongst them. Our current refurbishment — particularly the redesigned poker site — displays our dedication to delivering probably the most skilled and pleasurable poker expertise on the island. We consider this upgraded setup offers the proper atmosphere for gamers from around the globe to benefit from the sport at its most interesting.”
— Jonathan Micallef, Basic Supervisor, Portomaso On line casino
Per Malta Poker Competition Founder and Occasion Director Ivonne Montealegre, “I’m all the time shifting ahead with my initiatives and never wanting again; that’s a part of my mindset. I select to remain artistic and totally immersed in what I’m doing now. My philosophy is deeply rooted within the energy of the current second.”
Ivonne continued, “It’s been an intense and exquisite season for all poker gamers. Along with my Portomaso staff, we gave it every part — bringing integrity to the sport whereas nurturing the sense of neighborhood that defines the Malta Poker Competition. We additionally raised funds for significant causes like YMCA Malta, preserving each the spirit of poker and compassion on the coronary heart of what we do.”
Malta Poker Competition Spring 2026 Dates Introduced
It’s protected to say that the Malta Poker Competition has discovered a option to ship for gamers for years, now. The nice custom is ready to proceed into 2026, with the competition having simply introduced it’s Spring dates, for April 19-27 together with a €500,000 assured Foremost Occasion.
It’s by no means to early to start reserving your journey and lodging. Whereas full particulars of what to anticipate on the competition might be launched within the coming months, gamers can relaxation assured that the 2026 Malta Poker Competition Spring version might be one other stellar sequence of occasions!
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