From freerolls to main event glory: Highlights from the SiGMA Poker Tour 2025 in Malta
The SiGMA Poker Tour (SPT), powered by EvenBet Gaming, Cubeia and MTT Sports, made its return to Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s this September 02-07, transforming the island into the heart of live poker during SiGMA Euro-Med 2025. For one week, Malta became the global epicenter of poker action, uniting international pros, local grinders, ambassadors and industry insiders in a festival that felt as much about community as competition.
This was Malta’s chance to shine, bringing together the global poker ecosystem and showcasing the strength of its own community. With live poker in Malta often overshadowed by the island’s role as an online gaming hub, the SPT offered a platform where local players could mix with traveling stars, proving that Malta is just as capable at producing drama on the felt as it is at powering it behind the scenes.
A festival of action
The week opened on Tuesday, September 02, with satellites feeding into the €400 Main Event and the SPT Warm-Up, where Tobias Bollmann set the tone in unforgettable style, etching himself into SPT folklore from the very first night.
On Wednesday’s Day 1A, Tomasz Piotr Brzezinski bagged big and set the early benchmark. Thursday’s action tightened the field further, before Friday pushed things into overdrive with both Day 1C and the turbo-charged Day 1D.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the room reached a fever pitch as Aleksandroviene Ilona navigated the crowded tables with precision and nerve, ultimately claiming the Cubeia Platinum Freeroll title. By the final table, it was clear that Aleksandroviene had turned a dream scenario into a festival triumph, embodying the very essence of what the SiGMA Poker Tour represents: opportunity, inclusivity and the thrill of live poker where anyone, from newcomers to professionals, can leave their mark. Another standout at the Cubeia table was Dory Brito, who captured the spotlight earlier this year with her victory at the SiGMA Poker Tour Divas event in São Paulo. Her triumph in Brazil earned her a golden ticket to Malta, a victory package that brought her to the European stage for this leg of the tour. The SiGMA Poker Tour has quickly become a truly international festival, uniting players from every corner of the globe, all sharing the same felt in a celebration of competition and community.
Saturday delivered its own fireworks. The Hendon Mob Championship crowned Niklas Nyman as champion, adding his name to the growing list of Hendon Mob heroes, while the SiGMA Divas gave women their moment in the spotlight. With €2,000 added to the prize pool by SiGMA itself to support women in poker, Ekaterina Giganova of EvenBet emerged victorious. An industry professional by day, Giganova’s win against seasoned players embodied what the SiGMA Poker Tour is about, giving everyone, from pros to industry insiders, a chance to make history on the felt.
The evening rounded off with fast-paced formats: the SiGMA Sprint Turbo tested stamina and speed, while the suspense-filled Mystery Bounty added even more drama to an already packed schedule.
The main event: A marathon to remember
Of course, the centerpiece was the €150,000 guaranteed Main Event. By the time the final table was set, a twelve-hour battle was all that stood between the last nine players and glory. Tomasz Brzezinski, the Day 1A star, held on for a €19,000 runner-up finish. Romain Gachet, Joachim Vaesen, Jon Persent, Guillaum Otto, Christopher Convery, Agostino Vitiello and Terje Bremseth rounded out a talented final table that perfectly captured the international-meets-local spirit of the tour.
By Sunday, the field of 411 entrants had been whittled down to just 60, with Sebastian Mortensen, fresh from deep runs at the EPT, holding the overnight chip lead. The stage was set for a showdown and Portomaso delivered.
Day 2 was filled with high drama. Brzezinski, the Day 1A star, continued his strong run, knocking out Jonathan Therme to earn his final table spot. Romain Gachet stayed in the headlines too, driving Salvatore Incardona in a dramatic clash that carried him all the way to third place.
When the final table went live, streamed to audiences around the world, the tension was palpable. Davide Iannaco, an Italian player based in Malta, navigated the 12-hour battle with precision and nerve. His pocket kings dispatched Christopher Convery, before rockets of aces toppled both Joachim Vaesen and Gachet in back-to-back hands. Finally, Iannaco found the perfect spot against Tomasz Brzezinski heads-up, sealing his first-ever live tournament victory and the €28,500 top prize. “Obviously, I’m very happy! This is my first tournament that I have ever won!” Iannaco said afterward, trophy in hand, the pride of Malta’s poker community.
Brzezinski, who just a week earlier had cashed almost €50,000 at EPT Barcelona, pocketed €19,000 for his runner-up finish, cementing his place as one of the breakout stars of the season. Gachet rounded out the podium in third for €12,800, while Vaesen, Persent, Otto, Convery, Vitiello and Bremseth all earned their share of the prize pool in a final table that embodied the international-meets-local spirit of the tour.
Ambassadors join the action
Adding an extra layer of excitement were the SPT ambassadors themselves. Former Liverpool legend John Arne Riise tested his poker chops across the flights, giving fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the felt with a football icon. Twitch personality Lukas “RobinPoker” Robinson and content creator Drea Karlsen joined the grind, bringing energy both on and off the tables. Their presence proved that SPT is about accessibility, personality and atmosphere. Speaking with Poker Listings about the importance of SiGMA Poker Tour events, Karlsen shared “SiGMA stands for so much good. They help people. They do a lot of charity. SiGMA Foundation is a good foundation and Ivonne is a great woman I respect so much”, underscoring the deeper purpose behind the tour.
A spotlight on Malta
The SiGMA Poker Tour stop in Malta was a statement. By tying the tour to SiGMA Euro-Med 2025, the festival put the island’s poker community front and center on a global stage. From freeroll dreamers to EPT veterans, the mix of players reflected the diversity and inclusivity that makes poker thrive.
For Malta, a country already known as the beating heart of iGaming, hosting the SPT reaffirmed its live poker credentials. With Portomaso Casino buzzing day and night, the island reminded the poker world that it’s a destination for unforgettable moments on the felt.
What’s next?
As the last chips were bagged and the final celebrations wound down, one thing was certain, that Malta delivered. The SiGMA Poker Tour at Portomaso Casino raised the bar, proving that the connection between SiGMA summits and live poker is stronger than ever. Now all eyes turn to the next stop. Looking to future tours, Head of SiGMA Poker Tour & Conference Anna Colley shared, “2026 will see us back in Malta and Brazil, with first stops in Manila and Mexico and possibly even a fifth destination, so stay tuned! Our goal is to keep strengthening the links between the SiGMA summits and the SPT, so both players and partners benefit. Malta showed just how powerful that connection can be, and I am grateful to everyone who made it happen.”
Whether you’re chasing your first big score, aiming to join the legends of the main event or simply want to soak in the electric atmosphere, the SPT is calling. Check out the official SiGMA Poker Tour schedule and book your seat early, because the next deal could be yours.
