The final table of IPT Malta had it all, crazy bluffs, big suck-outs, and above all, some wonderfully skilful displays from those involved. Greek PokerStars player Georgios Zisimopoulos deservedly took the title after playing nearly perfectly, particularly after the tournament went short-handed.

Georgios Zisimopoulos

Zimsimopoulos, an Economics graduate from Athens University had previously had runner-up finishes in side events in London, Berlin and Prague while he has won nearly $2 million online including a WCOOP Omaha event for $100,000.

The tournament started with a bang when EPT champion Julian Track and Frederik Reusch both picked up aces within the first actual hand, predictably getting all their money within the middle preflop. This quickly set the tone for the general table - an overly aggressive one and Track was soon to become a victim of this action.

The IPT Malta final table players

Michael Feil had opened to 165,000 at 40,000/80,000 with K♠T♠ before Track made a positional three-bet to 365,000 from the button with 5♣3♣. Within the big blind, Zisimopoulos four-bet to 755,000. Feil got out of how and the onus was back heading in the right direction. Perhaps conscious about Zisimopoulos' reputation and the money on offer, Track shoved all in for just shy of five million chips, figuring there has been no way that Zisimopoulos could call without an absolute monster hand.

The problem for the German was that Zisimpoulos had picked up an actual hand - A♣A♥. Nevertheless, Track still gave the Greek player a sweat, the board came 8♣T♣4♥9♥5♥ and Zisimpoulos faded the flopped flush draw. Track soon lost a flip to compatriot Reusch and the tournament was quickly knocked all the way down to seven players.

Ezio Nisoli

Ezio Nisoli was the tightest player on the table and coming back after the break, the Italian player had just four big blinds remaining. He pushed from the button with K♦8♥ but Jaroslaw Sikora called within the small blind with T♦T♣. Nisoli couldn't discover a king at the J♣5♥Q♣A♥ board and he went out in 7th place, winning €29,800.

Georgi Abuladze quickly followed the Italian player out of the door, pushing for his last 13 big blinds with A♣7♠ from under-the-gun. Jaroslaw Sikora made the decision with 7♥7♣ and an ace-less board left the tournament with just five players remaining.

Georgi Abuladze

Action continued for around an hour and a half without much incident beyond Reusch doubling through Michael Feil and Nicolino di Carlo dominating the action. When the break came, the players debated for an hour on whether or not they could come to a deal. Eventually one was made where €28,000 was put aside for the winner with the next prizes for the rest players:

Nicolino Di Carlo - €119,585Georgios Zisimopoulos - €114,205Michael Feil - €101,260Jaroslaw Sikora - €97,975Frederik Reusch - €97,675

Immediately following this, Reusch pushed for his last 3.7 million (blinds 100,000/200,000) and Sikora made the decision with K♠K♥. Reusch showed 3♠3♦ and the board came an unhelpful A♥A♦5♣J♠4♥.

Frederik Reusch

At this point di Carlo was still the chip lead but he relinquished it to the Greek player has Zisimopoulos picked off several bluffs - including one where he donk-led the river for just 200,000 with Q♠J♣ on a K♦3♣Q♥A♣5♦ board. Di Carlo responded by raising to twenty-eight. million but Zisimopoulos snap-called. The Italian set free a wry smile and turned over 7♣6♥. Zisimopoulos wouldn't lose the chip lead for the remainder of the night.

It was all skill for Zisimopoulos, he had somewhat of luck too. Michael Feil have been all in with A♦9♣ on a 4♠9♥5♦ flop against Zisimopoulos' T♥9♠ but after a J♥ turn, the T♠ at the river gave the Greek player two pair leaving Zisimopoulos with two-thirds of the chips with play three-handed.

Three-handed action

Di Carlo went out in third, four-betting all in with 9♥9♦ against Zisimopoulos A♥J♥ for a pot worth almost half the chips in play. The board came A♦8♠3♣4♠2♠ and Sikora found himself heads-up for the title with just 15 big blinds but at an 8:1 deficit.

The heads-up battle was brief and bloody

Predictably, the heads-up battle didn't last long but Zisimopoulos had to hit a three-outer once again, very similar to his elimination of Feil. Sikora open-shoved for 12 big blinds with A♦K♦ and Zisimopoulos made the decision with A♥4♦, there has been a four at the 6♥4♠2♠ flop and the T♣ turn and 2♣ couldn't produce a king for the Polish player. Sikora finshed taking €97,975 for second while Zisimopoulos took the additional €28,000 to spice up his final earnings on this tournament to €142,205.

IPT Malta winner Georgios Zisimopoulos

With the IPT Main Event now over, all eyes will firmly rest at the EPT Main Event, you'll be able to follow the entire action here or check back on the entire reports at the IPT to peer how everything unfolded.

Event #4, €1K IPT Malta Main EventPlayers: 1,285Prizepool: €1,285,000Places paid: 191

1. Georgios Zisimopoulos (Greece) PokerStars player €142,205*2. Jaroslaw Sikora (Poland) PokerStars player €97,975*3. Nicolino di Carlo (Italy) €119,585*4. Michael Feil (Germany) PokerStars player €101,260*5. Frederik Reusch (Germany) PokerStars player €97,675*6. Georgi Abuladze (Estonia) PokerStars Qualifier €39,0007. Ezio Nisoli (Italy) €29,8008. Julian Track (Germany) PokerStars Qualifier €21,000

*Denotes deal five-handed

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Italian Poker Tour]