Mike “Timex” MacDonald bested a field of 74 entrants to win the Euro 25,750 buy-in European Poker Tour Malta High Roller event over the weekend, collecting the first prize of Euro 498,575 for his maiden high roller title.
in the final stages of the competition MacDonald faced a formidable final table that comprised Finland’s Juha Helppi Finland; US aces Nick Petrangelo, Jason Wheeler and Byron Kaverman; Sam Greenwood from Canada, and French duo Sylvain Loosli and Benjamin Pollak.
When Wheeler busted in fourth place, the three remaining players – MacDonald, Helppi and Petrangelo – paused to work out a chop, but could not reach agreement and the action recommenced.
Petrangelo fell shortly afterwards, leaving the heads up to MacDonald and Helppi, with the latter holding the chip lead.
MacDonald immediately set about changing that, playing aggressively and dominating the rest of the heads up to eliminate the Finn and send him home with the second prize of Euro 354,440.
Other final table cashes were:
Nick Petrangelo Euro 232,065
Jason Wheeler Euro 178,580
Byron Kaverman Euro 141,415
Sam Greenwood Euro 110,590
Benjamin Pollak Euro 87,025
Sylvain Loosli Euro 67,990