EPT Malta: Slovak Bendik Claims 9th EPT Title, First High Roller Won by Vogelsang

Return to Malta After Nine Years
 

After nine years, the European Poker Tour (EPT) has returned to sunny Malta, one of Europe's most beloved poker islands. From October 1 to 12, 2025, Casino Malta in St. Julian's is the epicenter of the poker world as it hosts the EPT Malta 2025 festival, bringing together prestige, luxury, and a Mediterranean vibe. The last time EPT Malta took place was in October 2016, when Aliaksei Boika won the Main Event. This return presents a great potential to surpass all previous records set during the Maltese edition nearly a decade ago.

The festival kicked off on October 1 with the popular €1,650 PS Open Main Event, whose winner will be revealed in a few days (October 6). However, the star of the festival is expected to be the traditional €5,300 EPT Malta Main Event (October 6 – 12), which is anticipated to become the largest in the Maltese edition's history.

In addition, players can look forward to other popular events such as:

• €100,000 Super High Roller (October 5–7)

• €3,250 Mystery Bounty (October 8–10)

• €10,300 EPT High Roller (October 10–12)

First EPT Malta 2025 Title Goes to Italy
 

The EPT Malta 2025 festival has already crowned its first champions. Italian Federico Fulciniti captured the initial title by winning the €550 Hyper Turbo Freezeout, taking home a prize of €12,020. The following day, another player from the Apennines emerged victorious, indicating that the Italians arrived in Malta aiming to dominate this year's EPT festival.

The second Italian champion is Umberto Ruggeri, who triumphed over 181 entries in the €1,100 NL Hold'em Freezeout event. The final table featured a mix of global contenders, but Ruggeri narrowly avoided facing his fellow countryman Di Giampietro in the heads-up. Di Giampietro finished in third place, with German Van Beuningen wedging between them.

Bendik and Krajnyak Bring Titles to Slovakia and Hungary
 

Slovak professional Ján Bendik and Hungarian player Peter Krajnyak secured additional victories at EPT Malta 2025, confirming that Central European players are respected figures on the European poker scene.

Ján Bendik triumphed in the €1,050 NL Hold’em Hyper Turbo Freezeout (Event #13), showcasing his experience among 76 entries, expanding his EPT trophy collection to nine. Bendik has achieved victories at EPT events in Barcelona, Prague, Deauville, London, Berlin, Dublin, and Monte Carlo, where he won the Main Event in 2016. A few weeks ago, he narrowly missed his first WSOP bracelet but quickly lifted his spirits with this win and continues to enhance his impressive EPT results.

Hungarian player Peter Krajnyak won the €550 Seniors Event for players aged 50 and above. He outperformed 97 entries, taking home €7,265 for first place, marking a career-high.

Tom Vogelsang Secures Highest EPT Malta 2025 Win
 

The largest win of the EPT Malta 2025 festival thus far has come from the €20,000 NLH high-roller event. The tournament attracted 30 entries, creating a prize pool of €576,240 and drew some of the biggest names in world poker.

In the end, it was Dutchman Tom Vogelsang who emerged victorious, defeating Latvia's Aleksejs Ponakovs in heads-up and taking home €219,040. The third place went to Austrian Klemens Roiter, while elite Spanish pro Adrian Mateos finished fourth.

Source: PokerStars Live, The Hendon Mob, PokerNews