2025 The Festival Malta Day 4

Here are the payouts in the PLO 4/5/6.

The payouts have been released in the 1,100 No Limit Hold’em. Hendon Mob Champion Egi Adriaans, Player of the Series contender Ville Hakala and former Irish Open Main Event Champion Tero Laurila are all in contention for the title.

Leaderboard points are becoming a premium here at The Festival Series in Malta, exemplified by Ville Hakala playing two tournaments at once.

“Doubled up in the PLO!” said Hakala, as he made a quick dash across the tournament floor to retake his seat in the 1,100 No Limit Hold’em High Roller. This to me screams of a man on a mission to top the leader board come the end of the week, as he will be looking to best his friend and fellow countryman Kare Hallamaa, having finished second to him in the leader board rankings in Rozvadov.

The results are in from the Melvin Schroen Razz Big Bounty Bonanza here at the Portomaso Casino in Malta. Belgian national Wouter Schuurbiers (pictured) took down the title, overcoming the big stack and longtime chip-leader Fabio De Francesco. Below are the payouts exclusive of bounties. Kare Hallamaa, T.O.R.S.E.S. Champion Barrie Dear and Festival founder Martin ‘Franke’ von Zweigbergk all found the money once again and will add crucial leader board points to their tally as they are all in pursuit of the Player of the Series title.

In Mystery Bounty 1/A only 6 will progress of the 45 total entrants. Currently, 11 remain, and Hendon Mob Championship runner-up Attila Erdei sits atop the counts in this event.

In the 1,100 High Roller, 25 remain of 50 total entrants, and Hendon Mob Champion Egi Adriaans is in the field battling for his second title of the weekend.

Blogger was released from the shackles of his cage to participate in one of the Hospitality Wine Tastings at the JL Hotel with members of The Festival team and Hospitality package winners. This is why the blog has been fairly sparse this evening, despite some tournaments being in play. The former bartender in me jumped at the opportunity to sample some of Malta’s wine. Updates on those will follow. Here is a rundown of the wines sampled at the roof top bar.

First on the tasting menu was a 2024 oak-aged Chardonnay. It was fresh, tangy and full of notes of apricot with a decent body and legs when swirled around the glass. Usually a grape I would avoid, it was refreshing and perfect before a meal or during a light dinner.

The next offering was a Shiraz Rose from the idyllic island of Gozo. On the nose, the fragrance was delicate. Traditionally a young wine, this particular rosé was a 2023 vintage. That was apparent on the palate; a lot was going on, dry but refreshing, and definitely one that gets better with every sip, a well-rounded fruity and floral tipple. As a non-rose drinker, it was infinitely drinkable. Maybe it’s the heat.

Third up was a 2024 Medina Syrah, a red wine. It was dry and refined, with a decent body and long legs. Particularly woody on the nose, on the taste buds, fruity and full-bodied. This wine was aged in steel barrels. A very pleasant and easy going wine.

Fourth was the Victory Falls Merlot from Gozo, made with 100% Gozo Merlot grapes. On the nose, it was light, airy and floral. It was a pale purple colour, akin to a Pinot Noir. It was fruity on the palate, nice tangy acidity and very easy going.

Last but not least, the 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon. It was very fruity and rich in tannins, lots of plum and berry flavours which are beautifully fresh and ripe. A long finish, and pairs with meat, it was both simple to drink but rich in complexity simultaneously. It pairs well with anything you would eat for dinner and well worth buying. Definitely saved the best for last, at least in this blogger’s opinion.

A big thank you to JL Hotel for their Hospitality, and this event just goes to show that the Festival Series isn’t just about poker.

Cheers!

Twenty-five players have come together in the 1,100 High Roller. Rozvadov Main Event third-place finisher Richard Koppel is in the field, as is EPT regular Tero Laurila and Sviten Special Weekend Main Event Winner Ville Keranen.

Here are the payouts in the Razz Big Bounty. Chip leader Fabio De Francesco wagered that if the top prize payout was under €1,000 he would sit out and walk away. Thanks to The Festival’s Melvin Schroen, mostly, who fired four bullets, the top prize stands at €1,001 exclusive of bounties.

Tonight’s Hospitality activity for package winners is a Wine Tasting at the JL Hotel. Meet in front of the hotel for 6:50 p.m. to start at 7 p.m. Latest entry is 7:30 p.m. Below are a series of pictures from yesterday’s tasting.

At the break before registration closes, Fabio De Francesco leads the way in the counts. The Festival’s own Melvin Schroen and Kare Hallamaa are both in play with decent stacks, as is popular streamer and multiple Player of the Series winner Scott ‘Pokerbrahs’ Kenyon.

Only 18 are left of the 56 total entrants in the Razz Big Bounty. Scott ‘Pokerbrahs’ Kenyon, Melvin Schroen, Kare Hallamaa, Barrie Dear and Ville Hakala are all in the field.

Last night’s €1,100 PLO High Roller Winner Simeon Tsonev has fallen by the wayside, and Sviten Special Weekend Main Event Winner Ville Keranen is on his second bullet.

Here is a look at the players that are taking to the felt in the 1,100 No Limit Hold’em High Roller and Day 1A of the Mystery Bounty. The first table is the Mystery Bounty field and the second is the High Roller.

Here are the top 10 stacks currently in play in the Main Event. This Flight has seen 122 entries total, and currently 91 remain.

Here are the highlights of yesterdays action on and off the felt. Don’t forget to like, comment, share and subscribe!

1/C of the Main is nearing 100 total entrants, and 39 total have entered into the Melvin special Razz Big Bounty tournament, for which he is on his fourth bullet. Good job, buddy! In the field is The Festival Founder Martin ‘Franke’ von Zweigbergk, who his looking to cash in his eighth event this week.

Also in the Razz field is T.O.R.S.E.S Champion Barrie Dear, Sviten Special Weekend Main Event winner Ville Keranen, as well as Jose Gomez, who has travelled to Malta from Mexico for The Festival Series experience.

One of the quieter days on the schedule today here at the Portomaso Casino in Malta. Currently in play is the 1/C Flight of the Main Event, which has attracted 68 total entrants.

Today’s first Mixed Game offering is the 250 Razz, which has been altered to a Big Bounty format. A total of 21 have entered, and of course, it was The Festival’s very own resident Nederlander, Melvin Schroen, who hit the rebuy desk first.

Blogger had too much beauty sleep and he has some catching up to do. Stay tuned for the recap of the Hendon Mob action and results from across the floor yesterday.

We’re almost at the halfway point of The Festival in Malta and it’s neck and neck in the Player of the Series race. Swiss player Martin Schamaun has joined the UK’s Benjamin Sweetman at the top of the leaderboard on 81 points. They are just one point clear of none other than Mr Festival Series himself, Martin von Zweigbergk, better known to most as Franke, of course.

Both Schamaun and Sweetman played and cashed in Tuesday’s 8-Game, with the overnight leader finishing one place higher than his Swiss rival. However, Schamaun went on to play in the PLO HR, did not cash, but earned himself 11 participation points. This enabled him to close the gap and move up from 3rd place to joint 1st. 

The most significant leaderboard climber of the day was Franke. He moves up to 3rd place, just behind the leading pair, thanks to cashes in the HendonMob Championship (36th) and the Blackjack, in which he was 3rd. He has now played in seven tournaments in total, picking up lots of participation points along the way. Likely to play in almost everything he can, Franke is definitely one to watch during the latter stages of the week.

The Finnish duo of Hakala & Hallamaa both also remain strongly in contention. Hallamaa’s 6th place in TheHendonMob Championship has boosted his score up to 69 points and is not far behind Hakala, who secured another final table, taking 3rd place in the 8-Game. Hakala is now on 78pts and in 4th place overall, not far behind the top three. 

While Monday was a triumphant one for Barrie Dear, Tuesday was more of an ‘oh dear’ day for the Mixed Games Main Event champion. He played in several tournaments, firing more than one bullet in some, but failed to cash in any. Despite slipping down the leaderboard from 2nd to 5th, the participation points he received have boosted his total up to 70 points, so far.

Most of yesterday’s event winners have also broken into the top 25 on the leaderboard. Congratulations to Egi Adriaans, whose HendonMob win brings him up to 57 points and books him a berth in the Top 10. The 8-Game winner Sander Van Wesemael sits just outside the top ten, in joint 12th place along with Oliver Kubalek, both on 48pts. Jonas Rosqvist, the Pineapple PKO winner is in 14th place with 46 points, while PLO High Roller victor Simeon Tsonev is tied for 24th place on 36pts, along with Scott Kenyon.

Player of the Series Top 25

Read More: Full details on how the leaderboard points are awarded for the Festival in Malta

There are three events finishing on Thursday, the Razz, the NLH High Roller and the PLO 4/5/6 Cards. Will the top two still be tied after these events conclude? Or will one of the other protagonists rise up and take the beacon forward? Follow all the Day 4 action on the Festival blog to find out!

Read More: The Festival in Malta Player of the Series Leaderboard Standings After Day 3
Read More: The Festival in Malta Player of the Series Leaderboard Standings After Day 2