€170 PokerNews Championship
Day 2 Completed
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
€170 PokerNews Championship
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2025 Malta Poker Festival Spring
Buy-in
€170
Prize Pool
€41,467
Entries
291
Level
23
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
120,000
Entries
44
Players Left
1
Level 23
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
From nearly out to all the way up, Graham Keith staged one of the most improbable comebacks in the €170 PokerNews Championship at the Malta Poker Festival inside the Portomaso Casino.
Keith turned a three-big-blind stack into a €7,000 victory and the title after a rollercoaster final day of action, which saw the final three players come to a deal to end proceedings.
Bora Uludag and Filip Danyi were the respective second and third place finishers, and rounded out the podium from the 291-entry field.
"We’re absolutely thrilled with how successful this event turned out to be," said Daniel Williams, Community & Engagement Manager for PokerNews.
"I’m genuinely blown away that we managed to create a €41,467 prize pool. It just shows how passionate this community is. Huge thanks to all the players who turned up in droves, and of course to the Malta Poker Festival team for their incredible support.
"Don’t forget, the fun’s not over yet, our PokerNews Scavenger Hunt is still live, and there’s a €550 Grand Event ticket up for grabs!"
PokerNews Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graham Keith | €7,000* |
| 2 | Bora Uludag | €5,400* |
| 3 | Filip Danyi | €4,500* |
| 4 | Mathias Jordi | €2,560 |
| 5 | Sophie Waddingham | €2,087 |
| 6 | Van Dang | €1,640 |
| 7 | Lawrence Bonnici | €1,350 |
| 8 | Angelo Vietti | €1,120 |
| 9 | Craig Marcuss Smith | €980 |
*denotes three-way deal
Keith's Path to Glory
Keith was one of the standout performers on Day 1, finishing eighth among the 44 players who advanced to Day 2. But as the sprint to the final table began, the Brit soon found himself clinging on for survival. With just 15 players left, Keith was rooted to the bottom of the chip counts, holding a mere three big blinds.
But in poker, it only takes one chip and a chair. Keith kept his composure and stayed afloat while others fell by the wayside such as Day 1 chip leaders Martin Pedersen (13th – €750) and Alessandro D'Amore (12th – €750).
Dalton Bezzina’s exit in 11th place (€860) set up the final table bubble. After a frantic start to the session, play slowed considerably. Eventually, Dieter Falzon was the one to fall just short. His top pair and flush draw couldn’t hold against Lawrence Bonnici’s turned pair of kings, and just like that, the final nine players convened around a single table. During the player onslaught, Keith had climbed from shortest stack to second in chips by the time the final table began.
Keith’s fellow Brit, Craig Marcuss Smith, was also hoping for a comeback story, but it wasn’t to be. He was the first casualty of the final table, falling to Filip Danyi in a flush-over-set showdown.
The eliminations of Angelo Vietti (8th – €1,120), Lawrence Bonnici (7th – €1,350), and Van Dang (6th – €1,640) brought play down to five-handed. By this stage, Keith had slipped down the leaderboard again as Mathias Jordi and Bora Uludag seized control.
Sophie Waddingham, the last woman standing, had played a near-flawless game throughout. But with the blinds climbing, she was forced to shove with queen-ten and ran into Danyi’s queen-jack. A ten on the flop gave her hope, but a jack on the turn ended her run in fifth place.
That left Jordi, Uludag, Danyi, and Keith as the final four, with Keith once again the short stack. Deal talks nearly began, but the table pointed to Keith’s position and suggested discussions could resume once he was out.
Keith had other ideas. A key double-up and two successive pots won against Jordi turned the tide. Jordi was out in fourth after running into Keith's cowboys. The eventual champion surged into the lead with more than half the chips in play.
When the break arrived, the remaining players looked at the deal numbers and liked what they saw. Keith was declared the winner, earning the trophy and €7,000, while Uludag and Danyi banked €5,400 and €4,500 respectively.
Level 23
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Graham Keith, Bora Uludag and Filip Danyi have agreed to a deal at three-handed play, with Keith taking home €7,000 and the trophy.
Congratulations to the Brit for topping the 291 entry field and taking home the lion's share of the €41,467 prize pool. He was down to just three big blinds with just 20 players left.
PokerNews would like to say a huge thank you to everyone taking part, you've made this event truly special and we're really grateful for all the support.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graham Keith | €7,000 |
| 2 | Bora Uladag | €5,400 |
| 3 | Filip Danyi | €4,500 |
| 4 | Mathias Jordi | €2,560 |
| 5 | Sophie Waddingham | €2,087 |
| 6 | Van Dang | €1,640 |
| 7 | Lawrence Bonnici | €1,350 |
| 8 | Angelo Vietti | €1,120 |
| 9 | Craig Marcuss Smith | €980 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,730,000
4,110,000
|
4,110,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Level 23
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The players are on a 15-minute break and are discussing a deal.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,620,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
2,600,000
450,000
|
450,000 |
|
|
1,580,000
520,000
|
520,000 |
Level 23
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Graham Keith limped in from the small blind and Filip Danyi checked in the big blind. The A♥A♦4♦ flop checked through to the 10♦ turn. Keith check-called for 175,000 before the 3♣ completed the board.
Keith checked for a third time and Danyi weighed up his options before jamming for 1,175,000. Keith quickly released his hand.
Danyi could only laugh as he tabled 5♣2♠, which went runner-runner to a make a wheel straight.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,650,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
|
2,150,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
|
2,100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Level 23
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Graham Keith opened to 300,000 from the cutoff and Mathias Jordi defended his big blind. Action checked through to the river for board to read Q♥J♣10♠2♠A♣. Jordi check-called a bet of 225,000 and was shown A♥10♥ by Keith, which was good for two pair.
The following hand, Jordi jammed for his last 1,000,000 and Keith snap-called from the big blind.
Mathias Jordi: J♣7♦
Graham Keith: K♠K♥
Keith woke up with a monster and his cowboys held out on the A♦J♠5♥4♠6♠ runout to give him the overwhelming lead with three players remaining.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,500,000
3,100,000
|
3,100,000 |
|
|
2,200,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
|
2,000,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 23
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 120,000
Level 22
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Sophie Waddingham was all-in for her last 950,000 and was at risk to Filip Danyi.
Sophie Waddingham: Q♣10♥
Filip Danyi: Q♥J♥
Waddingham found her three-outer on the A♥10♣4♦ flop but thr J♣ turn put Danyi back in front. The 5♠ river completed the board and the last woman standing bowed out.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,300,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level 22
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Filip Danyi limped in from the cutoff. Mathias Jordi called from the small blind and Graham Keith checked his option.
Action checked to Danyi on the J♥7♦5♣ flop and he bet 100,000. Only Jordi called.
On the Q♠ turn, Jordi check-folded to a bet of 200,000. Danyi was frustrated to see the fold as he tabled A♦A♣.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,500,000 | |
|
|
1,400,000
210,000
|
210,000 |
|
|
1,400,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Level 22
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,500,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
2,450,000 | |
|
|
1,610,000
310,000
|
310,000 |
|
|
1,300,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
850,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
