
The Malta Chilipoker Open 2009, hosted by Malta Poker Events attracted 149 players who faced off at the Portomaso Casino, Malta, for the first Maltese tournament ever scheduled to receive local and international broadcast exposure.
The €330 No Limit Texas Hold’em Freezeout took place over three separate days with 70 players registering for Day 1A, the 24th of April 2009 and 79 players registered for Day 1B, the 25th of April 2009. Poker players from various European countries were given 10,000 chips each on their starting day reaching an average stack of over 33,000 by Day 2.
The tournament featured several professional players including celebrity player, WSOP Gold Bracelet winner & 2 Time WPT champion, Ron Rose. Ron had an unlucky run though as he didn’t make it past day one, losing twice holding the best possible pre-flop hand AA. Other professional players included Italian Massimiliano Privitera as well as a host of players from Scandinavian regions who relocated to Malta in favour of their cooler homelands.
Forty five players made it to the final day; betting, checking and folding their way to earn themselves the biggest share of the €44,000 pot. The pot was shared amongst the last eighteen players who made it through the final stages in the tournament.
A golden cup filled with €13,000 was awarded to the first prize winner, Umur Hatipoglu from Turkey, in the first of the Malta Poker Events calendar of tournaments this year.
Umur was followed closely by Massimiliano Privitera, who went back to Italy €8,670 richer, after several bullet dodging sessions with Umur and Simon Legouge, a French poker player and the third finalist, whose skills won him €5,160.
The highest ranking Maltese Poker player, Kenneth Vella, placed 4th, and took home €3,470 for enduring through the highly anticipated Malta Poker Events tournament.
Results - Malta Chilipoker Open 2009 -
1st - Umur Hatipoglu € 13,000
2nd - Massimiliano Privitera € 8,670
3rd - Simon Legougue € 5,160
4th - Kenneth Vella € 3,470
5th - Gordon Mifsud € 2,800
Photos may be viewed in the
Gallery section of the Malta Poker Events website.
Malta Poker Events teamed up with the Puttinu Cares charity for this event, and thanks to the generosity of several players, will be donating around 2% of the consenting winner’s prizes for the charitable cause, helping those who need it most.
Malta Chilipoker Open - 24th – 26th April 2009 – €300 + € 30 Poker Tournament [Main Event]
Venue: Portomaso Casino, Malta
Main Event: €300+30 [Freezeout]
Side events starting from €30
Several Cash games available.
The 3 day event was held at Portomaso Casino, Malta with highlights of the featured table and player interviews scheduled to be aired on The Poker Channel, and locally, on the Melita network.
The Malta Chilipoker Open will receive international TV exposure which guarantees a priceless value for poker players, as they stand a chance to be viewed by family, friends and poker players around the globe.
Entry requirements: 25yrs+ for Maltese nationals, and 18yrs+ for foreigners.
Malta Chilipoker Open ‘09 EXPLAINED
Players start with 10,000 in chips with levels at:
40 minutes on DAY 1A and DAY 1B and
50 minutes on DAY 2.
Players are only allowed to play on DAY 1A or DAY 1B and NOT both days. Surviving DAY 1A or 1B will automatically qualify them (the player) to DAY 2.
Players eliminated on DAY 1A will not be given a chance to register on DAY 1B.
DAY 1A Friday 24th April ’09 19:00 till 02:00
DAY 1B Saturday 25th April ’09 18:00 till 01:00
DAY 2 Sunday 26th April ’09 14:00 onwards
DAY 1A and DAY 1B blind structure.
|
LEVEL
|
ANTE
|
SMALL BLIND
|
BIG BLIND
|
MINUTES
|
|
1
|
|
50
|
100
|
40
|
|
2
|
|
75
|
150
|
40
|
|
3
|
|
100
|
200
|
40
|
|
4
|
|
150
|
300
|
40
|
|
5
|
25
|
150
|
300
|
40
|
|
6
|
50
|
200
|
400
|
40
|
|
7
|
50
|
300
|
600
|
40
|
|
8
|
75
|
400
|
800
|
40
|
|
9
|
100
|
500
|
1,000
|
40
|
DAY 1A and DAY 1B will finish at the end of the 10th Level. After which the players will continue on DAY 2 with their specific chip count.
DAY 2 blind structure.
| 10 |
100 |
600 |
1,200 |
40 |
|
11
|
200
|
800
|
1,600
|
50
|
|
12
|
200
|
1,000
|
2,000
|
50
|
|
13
|
300
|
1,500
|
3,000
|
50
|
|
14
|
400
|
2,000
|
4,000
|
50
|
|
15
|
500
|
3,000
|
6,000
|
50
|
|
16
|
500
|
4,000
|
8,000
|
50
|
|
17
|
1,000
|
5,000
|
10,000
|
50
|
|
18
|
1,000
|
6,000
|
12,000
|
50
|
|
19
|
2,000
|
8,000
|
16,000
|
50
|
|
20
|
2,000
|
10,000
|
20,000
|
50
|
|
21
|
3,000
|
15,000
|
30,000
|
50
|

Portomaso Event Layout
|
Place Finished
|
80-100
|
101-140
|
|
1st
|
30.00%
|
30.00%
|
|
2nd
|
20.00%
|
20.00%
|
|
3rd
|
11.90%
|
11.90%
|
|
4th
|
8.90%
|
8.00%
|
|
5th
|
7.00%
|
6.50%
|
|
6th
|
5.80%
|
5.00%
|
|
7th
|
4.60%
|
3.50%
|
|
8th
|
3.60%
|
2.60%
|
|
9th
|
2.60%
|
1.70%
|
|
10th to 13th
|
1.40%
|
1.40%
|
|
14th to 18th
|
|
1.04%
|

Malta Chillpoker Open -
Blind Structure
| LEVEL |
ANTE |
SMALL BLIND |
BIG BLIND |
MINUTES |
|
| 1 |
|
50 |
100 |
40 |
|
| 2 |
|
75 |
150 |
40 |
|
| 3 |
|
100 |
200 |
40 |
|
| 4 |
|
150 |
300 |
40 |
|
| 5 |
25 |
150 |
300 |
40 |
|
| 6 |
50 |
200 |
400 |
40 |
|
| 7 |
50 |
300 |
600 |
40 |
|
| 8 |
75 |
400 |
800 |
40 |
|
| 9 |
100 |
500 |
1,000 |
40 |
|
| 10 |
100 |
600 |
1,200 |
40
|
CR25 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 11 |
200 |
800 |
1,600 |
50 |
|
| 12 |
200 |
1,000 |
2,000 |
50 |
|
| 13 |
200 |
1,200 |
2,400 |
50 |
|
| 14 |
300 |
1,500 |
3,000 |
50 |
|
| 15 |
400 |
2,000 |
4,000 |
50 |
CR100 |
| 16 |
500 |
2,500 |
5,000 |
50 |
|
| 17 |
500 |
3,000 |
6,000 |
50 |
|
| 18 |
500 |
4,000 |
8,000 |
50 |
CR500 |
| 19 |
1,000 |
5,000 |
10,000 |
50 |
|
| 20 |
1,000 |
6,000 |
12,000 |
50 |
|
| 21 |
2,000 |
8,000 |
16,000 |
50 |
|
| 22 |
2,000 |
10,000 |
20,000 |
50 |
|
| 23 |
2,000 |
12,000 |
24,000 |
50 |
|
| 24 |
3,000 |
15,000 |
30,000 |
50 |
|
Malta Poker Events Tournament Rules and Regulations guidelines.
Television Production Requirements.
Section A:
Regulations relating to the wearing of branded logos by players at ‘The Malta Chilipoker Open' or ‘MPO’:
1. Players will be allowed to wear company logos/branding on their shirts provided that the following restrictions are accepted and implemented:
o One breast pocket logo no larger than 70 square cm
o Two upper shirt sleeve logos no larger than 25 square cm. (One on each sleeve)
2. No other branding on any part of the clothing or body.
3. Card protectors with logos will be allowed but no logos must be visible on them on the TV table.
4. Players can be sponsored by a company only before the tournament start. Any un-sponsored player, not wearing branded clothing or logos at the beginning of a 'Malta Poker Open' tournament, can only be sponsored by the headline sponsor (Chilipoker.com) (the "Sponsor").
5. No more than 10% of the overall entry field at any event on the 'Malta Poker Open' can wear the branding/logos of any single company with the exception of the headline sponsor of that event. If more than 10% of the players from any single company are wearing the branding/logos of any single company, then the players themselves or a company representative must decide which players wear the branded clothing. If no decision is made, then Malta Poker Open team will high card the players to make a decision.
6. No more than 2 players on the final table can wear the logos of any single company. If more than 2 players from any single company reach the final table then the players themselves or a company representative must decide which 2 players wear the branded clothing. If no decision is made, then Malta Poker Open team will high card the players to make a decision. Any player starting the final table with no logos must remain wearing no logos throughout the final.
7. Sandbox Ltd and the Tournament Director will have absolute discretion to approve the clothing and apparel worn by the players during the event. They will also have the right to remove any logo, image or words on the players' clothing and apparel, which in the opinion of Sandbox Ltd or the Tournament Director contravenes the requirements of the commissioning broadcaster, MPO or any regulatory body.
8. Players competing in any event on the Malta Chilipoker Open are required to permit their image to be shown on television internationally, without restriction and in all forms of media. Entry into each tournament is taken as that player giving their consent to participate in the TV coverage.
9. Any player playing in any event on the ‘MPO’ acknowledges to Sandbox Ltd that the entire copyright throughout the world in any film and /or video or other recordings of themselves taken or made during any event on the 'MPO' shall belong to Sandbox Ltd.
10. The player warrants to Sandbox Ltd that they are able to assign all such rights and give such acknowledgements.
11. Any player playing in any event on the 'Malta Poker Open' agrees to disclose their hole cards to the hidden camera at the final table and any refusal to do so could lead to disqualification from the event with no prize money being awarded and no refunds given.
12. Sandbox Ltd reserves the right to add or amend any tournament rules, as they deem appropriate. This will be done for the benefit of the game and all contestants will be informed of such changes as and when they occur.
13. A condition of entry into any tournament on the 'MPO' will be the completion and signing of a release form detailing all the above and distributed at the event by the Portomaso Casino and Malta Poker Events.
Malta Chilipoker Open (‘MPO’)
In the event of any disputes, the Tournament Director's decision is final.
Players are advised to familiarise themselves with any local rules and regulations before entering the tournaments held there.
POKER COMPETITION RULES:
1. Seating assignment will be determined by random draw and will not be transferable.
2. A draw for the button will be held at each table at the beginning of the tournament and also at the final table.
3. Players will be allocated the exact same number of chips as all other players and this amount bears no relation to the buy-in of the event.
4. All chips must be visibly displayed at all times. A player's highest denomination chips cannot be 'hidden' and must be visible at all times. Players may not have tournament chips in their pockets at any time. A player who has chips in his pocket will forfeit the chips and will receive a penalty as per (31). The forfeited chips will be taken out of play from the tournament.
5. There will be no foreign chips allowed on the table except for a maximum of one card cap.
6. When it is time to colour-up chips, they will be raced off with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The chip race will always start in the No 1 seat. A player cannot be raced out of a tournament. In the event that a player has only one chip left, the regular race procedure will take place. If that player loses the race, he will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play.
7. Betting will be in clockwise order and must be in turn.
8. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn may be binding:
o If a player bets, raises or calls out of turn the bet stands.
o If the player who should have acted first chooses to bet more than the out-of-turn bet, the player who acted out of turn can either make up the difference to call, or take back his bet and fold, or re-raise.
9. If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet, he will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed.
10. An oversized chip placed in the pot before the flop with no verbal declaration will be considered a call; after the flop an oversized chip put into the pot will constitute the size of the bet.
11. When raising, a player must put the amount of the raise out in one motion or state the raise amount. By stating the word 'raise' a player protects his right to raise, but the raise must be made in one additional motion unless the player states the amount of the raise.
12. Over-blinds (straddles) are not permitted in tournament play.
13. Under-raises are only permitted if a player is going "all-in". Less than a full raise does not re-open the betting to a player who has already acted.
14. Players must be in their seat when the dealer finishes the deal. If the player is not in their seat then the dealer will muck their hand immediately.
15. All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all action is complete.
16. Tournament play will use a 'dead button'.
17. When time has elapsed in a round and a new round is announced, the new limits apply to the next hand. A hand has begun with the first riffle.
18. Players may not ask for deck changes.
19. The one player to a hand rule will be enforced.
20. No rabbit hunting is allowed.
21. A player who intentionally dodges his blinds when moving from a broken table may forfeit the blinds and incur a penalty. The money will be put into the next pot and considered dead money.
22. A player wanting to use a cellular phone must step away from the table.
23. Verbal declarations regarding your own hand are not binding and commenting on the possible contents of an opponent's hand is allowed for the purposes of the televised tournament. However this only applies to players involved in the hand and not to players who have already passed their hand.
24. Players who are not in the hand may not discuss the hand in play until all action is completed. Discussing cards discarded is not allowed.
25. No player will be allowed to expose his or her cards during a hand.
26. It is a player's responsibility to protect their own hands at all times. If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to his money back. An exception would be if a player raised and his raise had not been called yet, he would be entitled to receive his raise back.
27. Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was turned face up and was obviously the winning hand.
28. Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as top priority in the decision making process. Unusual circumstances can, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be ignored in the interest of fairness. The floor manager's decision is final.
29. If two or more players are eliminated at the same table, the player with the higher chip count will receive the higher finishing place. During regular play, if two or more players are eliminated at separate tables, they will be assigned a finishing place based on the order of his/her elimination. In the event it is impossible to determine the order of elimination, they will equally split the prizes involved. During "Hand for Hand" play, if two or more players are eliminated at separate tables, they will equally split the prizes involved.
30. Management reserves the right to cancel or alter any event at its sole discretion in the best interest of the tournament or its players.
31. Tournament tables will be balanced all the time. Players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position.
32. A player can be issued the following penalties: (a) verbal warning, (b) missed hand penalty, (c) have a hand declared dead, (d) disqualification, or (e) elimination.
A missed hand penalty will be assessed as follows: At the beginning of the next hand, the offender will be required to miss one hand for every player (including the offender) who is at the table. A floor supervisor can assess a one-, two-, three-, or four-round penalty (For example: 7 players x3-rounds = 21 missed hands). While on a penalty, the offender must remain away from the table. Repeated infractions are subject to escalating penalties.
Note: If a player is moved while on a penalty, he/she will sit-out the remainder of the penalty at the new table. This action may require a player to miss and pay more than one set of blinds.
Players who are disqualified will not be entitled to a refund, their chips will be removed from play and their standing in the tournament will be established based on the time the chips are removed from play. A severe infraction of the rules may also result in a player being eliminated from the tournament meaning additionally the player will not be entitled to any prize money.
33. Calling for the clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given one minute to make a decision. If action has not been taken by the time the minute is over, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player has not acted on his hand by the time the countdown is over, the hand will be dead.
34. The use of bad language is strictly forbidden and will lead to penalties being imposed on the offending player/s.
35. In the event of any disputes arising during any tournament, the Tournament Director's decision is final.
36. A player who leaves a tournament at any stage and for whatever reason is deemed to have forfeited any right to the cost of entry. The chip stack of such player will continue to be blinded off, however, should the player finish in the money once all chips have been blinded off, the player shall remain eligible for the prize which corresponds to the order of his/her finish.