Malta Team Poker Casino di Venezia

The Malta Team Poker tournament was easily one of the most original concepts in the Maltese Poker scene that we’ve seen in a very long time.  Although a similar event had taken place at the Casino di Venezia during the Malta Madness tournament (Poker Idol), it only took the role of a side event.  That event was reasonably well attended, yet was largely overshadowed by the main event of €1,100. That was September 2010…fast-forward to May 2011 and the Team Poker tournament has taken on a life of its own!

Team Poker - Fabien Mezanger & Anna Colley

Largely anticipated by scores of Malta’s card sharks and poker fanatics, the tourney featured a very attractive buy-in at just €30 permitting players with all kinds of experience levels to participate.

At the tourney’s announcement approximately two months ago, numerous teams started to fill up the original 30 team places allocated to players.  Following its hugely positive response and numerous requests, this number of teams was eventually increased to 42 teams when the event kicked off on Saturday the 7th May, as 126 players got together at the waterside Casino di Venezia for the wackiest tournament of the year.

The concept for the tournament was nothing like most players have had time to get accustomed to so far…chip dumps, player time outs, seat changes, team captains….the Team Poker tourney made all this possible and more!  The instructions to the players were quite straightforward – Pick three members per team, choose similar clothing, colours, or accessories and most of all enjoy the team aspect in what is usually a very different kind of game, where traditionally, every player fends for himself.

Team Poker - Vodka JB UP

The casino floor was filled with many team players from different backgrounds each clad in their themed attire…and with team names like “Pink Piggies, Gallinari Prodigies, Kabocci, Vodka JB Up” the field was nothing short of colourful.  At €30, many amateur players were expected, however it didn’t detract the more experienced players from joining the action at the Casino di Venezia for this year’s most affectionately spoken about local tournament…The Casino di Venezia seems to have some tricks up its sleeve after all.

As far as the tourney progression went, 126 total participants from 42 teams took the prize pool up to €3,780 and the game officially begun at 8:30pm on Saturday the 7th May 2011. Read the rest of this entry →

‘Hitting the Nuts’ Poker movie enjoying a great reception amongst American audiences.

Hitting the Nuts - Poker Movie

The film was released on DVD on the 15th April 2011, and it’s currently the most recent poker movie to make it to the shelves.  By the looks of it, it’s already a very popular pick amongst American audiences.

The movie tag-line gives us an indication of the comical outlook of the movie by stating that ‘Even Professional Poker has a Farm System,’.  The movie is meant to be a representation of the 2009 underground poker tournament/championship which is held annually in Scott county, Indiana.

The overleaf on the DVD cover describes the plot of this light-hearted mockumentary as “an outrageous group of blue-blooded American misfits who have spent a lot less time hitting the nuts in life and a lot more time having life return the favor.”

Produced by ‘Rebel Pilgrim’, the movie was written by Joe Boyd who also took care of the movie direction.  Boyd also makes an appearance in the film as a character by the name of Ezekiel Yoder, an Amish farmer, come poker player.

Ther producer’s background in comedy allowed him to accentuate the documentary feel of the movie with improv dialogue in many of the scenes, which is reminiscent of the filming style used in the popular American tv series ‘the office’. Read the rest of this entry →

Since it first opened it’s doors in June 2006, the Casino at Portomaso has gained popularity especially during international poker events. As part of it’s dynamic strategy, the Casino started working on a project to extend the casino floor by 1000 m². The works have been going on for a couple of months, and finally the day of the inauguration is close by. On Saturday 23rd April, at 18:30, the casino will reopen for business after closing for three days due to the final stages of the extension project. The new area promises to impress and for the opening night, the Casino at Portomaso and the Oracle Casino are giving away a brand new KIA PROCEED Car. A lottery will be drawn at midnight and the lucky winner will drive away in his or her new car. Lottery tickets are being issued free to every player entering the casino on Monday 18th, Tuesday 19th and on the day of the opening.

The New Poker room at the Portomaso Casino

Poker players will benefit most out of the new extension, as it hosts a brand new spacious poker area. The new area has upgraded to 10 tables, to accommodate more poker players on a daily basis and guarantees that the weekly tournaments are continued during international poker events. To kick off the room, the casino is hosting a €35 Freezout starting at 20:00 on the 23rd April, complemented with delicious finger food and bubbly to add that extra spark to a grand night.

Slavatore Bonavena at the Malta Poker Dream

Salvatore Bonavena is mostly known as the first Italian player to win a European Poker Tour event.  He’s currently 4th in the Italian all time money list.  He also placed 4th in a WSOP event, nearly winning himself a bracelet at the tournament, and so far has made over $2m in tournament winnings alone.  IPT, EPT, WSOP – you name it, he’s played it, and probably cashed out from it.  We caught up with this ever-successful – yet even more humble poker player – at the Malta Poker Dream 2011.  During our interview with Salvatore Bonavena, he discussed with us success at poker, his passion for the game and his participation at the upcoming cinema release – Poker Generation, which was filmed at Malta during the Malta Poker Dream tournament week.
Read the rest of this entry →

BerPro Final Table

Fabio Albamonte wins the title after a heads-up against Claudio Di Francesco. Albamonte, who was also last years BetPro Live Poker Tour 2010 runner-up, is taking home €75,000 and a sponsorship deal with BetPro.it worth € 30,000. Claudio Di Francesco who qualified for this event through a satellite costing him €1, cashed out €50,000. Peter Monica, winner of BetPro Live Poker Tour 2010 arrived in 5th confirming his great abilities.

Congratulations to all 63 players who cashed out.  Here are the Malta Poker Dream Results:

Fabio Albamonte - Malta Poker Dream Winner!

1. Fabio Albamonte €75.000 + €30.000 (sponsorship)

2. Claudio Di Francesco €50.000

3. Giacomo Mangano €35.000

4. Carlo Cinà €25.000

5. Pietro Monica €20.000

6. Eros Nastasi €16.000

7. Domenico Stellitano €13.000

8. Antonio Trapuzzano €10.000

9. Alessandro La Corte €7.500

10. Salvatore Montagna €6.000

Malta Poker Dream Live Stream

If there is no video, stream has been interrupted, or the game is on break.  Enjoy!

Malta Poker Dream Stream