Last night’s event kicked off at 20:30Hrs at the Portomaso Casino where two tables were set up for the participants. The event lasted around 4 hours in total with Ayu Fievet emerging as the winner of the 1st prize and seat to the main event of the Malta Chilipoker Open 2009.
The Malta Poker Events satellite was well attended with 13 players who got together for the 4th satellite tournament so far. The increased amount of players gave this week’s tournament an additional prize for third pacing and also included cash winnings for second and third place winners. Players included some familiar faces like Clive Tong [Previous winner], Konrad Abela, Trevor Caruana, and Ayu Fievet, who came second in a previous satellite, giving her free entry to last night’s satellite.
With some rare outcomes like a 5 way split pot, a majority of the players kept it tight for the initial stages of the tournament, yet there were some unfortunate flops for strong handed players like Jovin Genovese whose pocket Kings didn’t survive past the river.
The players were moved to the final table a few minutes before the tournament break, where the participants started picking up the pace as blind levels started to become more pronounced.
The action kept heating up as players started dropping out of the table following traps set up by better positioned players as well as well timed calls by those players who had the stacks to afford them.
With 5 players still left in the tournament, a pair of snowmen [88] helped Konrad Abela double up against Carmel Callus, chip leader at the time. Konrad’s all-in was called almost instantly by Carmel, who showed an A6 which didn’t develop into a stronger hand by the river.
Carmel didn’t last much longer at the table as a series of events turned him weaker and he exited the table at fifth place. Carmel was followed by Trevor Caruana, who ended up as the bubble, leaving Clive Tong, Konrad Abela and Ayu Fievet to battle it out for their placing in the final three positions.
Another All-in from Konrad who was holding 10Q was called by Ayu with her KQ. Clive also called this hand with his 99, yet Ayu came out as the winner when she hit her king on the flop, sending Konrad out in third place while leaving her and Clive in a heads-up for the first prize.
Being relatively short stacked at this stage and in need of a double up, the last three hands saw three All-ins by Clive. Ayu kept her focus and finally called Clive’s suited 10, 2 with her 10 Q when she paired her Q to claim her prize as winner of this week’s satellite.
Prizes given out during this week’s satellite were as follows:
1st Prize – Ayu Fievet – Seat to Main event of Malta Chilipoker Open 2009
2nd Prize – Clive Tong – Seat to next week’s satellite + €50
3rd Prize – Konrad Abela – Seat to next week’s satellite + €20.
Photos of the event may be viewed on maltapokerevents.com. A highlights video featuring interviews with some players will also follow shortly.
Next week’s satellite will be taking place at the Portomaso Casino on the 2nd April 2009. The event is set to start at 20:30Hrs