But after some relaxation, and online competition including the KKPoker Streamer Storm and a runner-up finish in the weekly KKPoker High Roller, where he narrowly lost to KKPoker Vegas Dream winner Toni Zengovski, Jon was ready for his next pursuit of live poker prizes. This time, his travels took him to the islands of Malta and Cyprus.
“As I have elite status on my PokerStars account, I was picked up at the airport and taken to my hotel.” said Jon.
“It didn’t take long before I jumped into the €1650 PokerStars Open. It started well, as I found a bag for Day 2, which meant no poker on the second day in Malta. However, Day 2 wasn’t the best, and I finished 264 /1845 players for a min cash.
“But next up was the exciting €2700 High Roller and the EPT Main Event. Cards weren’t exactly on my side as I lost every all-in preflop in the Main. I even got it in with KK vs 33 and lost, and then 99 vs 66.”
THE BIG BET
The Main Event may have been over for Jon, but with his impressive history of winning side events and vast knowledge of many poker formats, he jumped into the next tournament, the €1100 Big Bet Mix.
You may be asking, what is Big Bet Mix?
Big Bet Mix: An exciting poker format that combines multiple poker games, each with a big bet structure, where betting is either no-limit or pot-limit. In this format, players rotate through different poker variants like No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and sometimes even other games like 7-Card Stud or Big O. The big bet aspect means that players can make large bets or raises, which adds a layer of strategy and excitement to each hand. The Mix keeps the game fresh and challenging, as it requires players to adjust their strategies on the fly, depending on the poker variant in play. This dynamic mix of games and betting structures tests a wide range of skills, making it a favorite for more experienced players looking for variety and a deeper challenge.
The tournament achieved 31 entries, with six players paid. It was an opportunity for Jon to once again test his Mixed Game skills having earned 2nd for $148,462 in the 2024 WSOP $2,500 Mixed Games: Omaha 8 or Better/Stud 8 or Better and cashing in the 2025 WSOP$50,000 Mixed Games: Poker Players Championship.
Fast forward a few hours, and Jon was heads-up for title, and described a ‘crazy’ final hand.
“It was a crazy last hand where we played Pot-Limit Hi/Lo. I had A256 versus A244. The Flop came J74 rainbow. So we both flopped the nut low draw, but high is very rare to happen in heads-up play. Plus, I had the open-ender straight draw and he had the bottom set. No low for either of us and his set held up.“
DOUBLE DELIGHT
Since Mystery Bounty poker tournaments forged their way into the schedule of many live events, Jon had achieved 10 cashes, including a 13th place finish at EPT Barcelona, 3rd place at the Irish Poker Poker, and achieved victory at the CAPT Million Baden.
In Malta, the €3,250 total buy-in Mystery Bounty event attracted over 500 entries and a €962,000 prize pool. Jon once again made a deep run, earning a top 10% finish in the field in 51st position.
Jon’s final two side events had mixed results. With six players paid, Jon was chipleader, but a series of bad runouts resulted in a 7th place finish. In the €1100 Hyper Turbo, Jon had made the final table. With eight players remaining, Jon was the short stack and got into a hand with the second-shortest stack.
” My opponent jammed from the Button, and I called as shortest stack with 10BB holding Pocket Sevens. The Big Blind player overvalued their A3 suited and called, as did the Button with KQo. The board hit for them and my final Malta game ended with a €1,880 cash.“
SUCCESS IN CYPRUS AGAIN?
After his back-to-back final tables, Jon travelled to Cyprus the next day for WSOPC event in Kyrenia.
Jon’s previous visits to Kyrenia had seen him earn one victory, one runner-up, and one third-place finish, plus several other final table appearances.
“My first tournament was to late reg the $2,200 Mini Main Event. I had a cruising start and made it to 1/24 in chips for Day 3, but with only 44BBs in a very turbo format, I ended up coming 11/1,257 entries.” said Jon.
“Then I made two cashes in the $3300 Mystery Bounty as 15% made ITM, but only 10% made it for Day 2. However, I had no luck on Day 2.The interesting situation occurred when the Big Blind player was so short on chips that they had to go all in. So, with two $100K Mystery Bounties still available to be won, I put my 50BB in with 54s from the Cutoff, because only the Small Blind player covered me. However, I got called with JJ. The cards came A87, so I flopped a gutshot, turn 3 for double gutter, but the river was an 8, so an earlier than hoped exit in 75/980.“
Jon’s tactics were typical of an aggressive strategy in PKO and Mystery Bounty tournaments. With the Big Blind player auto-all-in and two huge bounty prizes left to be won, Jon had the perfect chance to put maximum pressure on the one opponent who covered his stack. Often, his aggressive shove will result in his opponent folding and having a ‘freeroll’ to eliminate the Big Blind player and the chance to pull a huge mystery bounty prize!
THE MAIN EVENT
The $5,300 NLH Main Event proved to be very popular with 1,350 entries, creating a $6.5M+ prize pool and a cool $1M top prize!
Jon jumped into the action and made a good early start, but ultimately he headed to rebuy after losing KJo<ATo.
“Second bullet, I late regged and busted straight away with KJo<77. My favourite hand wasn’t working very well for me until the third bullet. I had an amazing Day 1, ended up bagging a massive 145BB.” said Jon.
Despite Jon’s two early exits, he regained his composure and achieved the result he wanted for Day 2. Poker players, especially professionals, must be able to see every hand as a single moment. Forgetting the past and playing in the moment is a key way to progress. But would his momentum continue?
“Day 2 started hot as well, winning QQ>JJ straight away, and somehow, even though I only won one more all-in preflop, I still made it to Day 3 with 1.4M chips and 5th in the rankings. I was definitely running way hotter postflop than preflop!“
For Day 3, Jon was presented with another opportunity and another consideration point. He was assigned to play on the live stream table.
“I had another great Day 3, where I had a sick read on the live stream table.” said Jon.
“I jammed 98 on T94-5 rainbow versus a pot bet on the turn. I put him on KJ/QJ and didn’t want to give up to the 32% chance he had to hit his draw. I even said it into the microphone, and he did, in fact, fold QJ, which was a tremendous result. I ended up bagging the second chip lead with 5.5M!“
Jon had locked up a prize of at least $33,000, but of course, his eyes were set on a seat at the final table.
But unfortunately for Jon, it wasn’t to be this time.
“Day 4 started as badly as it could. I lost A9o<KQo all-in preflop, then lost KT<66 on K94-6-9 in a blind-versus-blind against Daniel Rezaei (who would go on to win the event).
“Then I lost all in again on a J95 flop with QQ versus T5, and they got there.
“Daniel then opened Lojack, and I defended in the Big Blind with KJ suited. The action went bet, bet, jam on K92-A-7, and I ended up calling being wrong as he had 22 for a flopped bottom set.
“Honestly, I couldn’t be more upset about how Day 4 ended, as I finished in 17th—still a great result and an amazing trip overall.“
Jon achieved 7 cashes over 16 days, totaling an impressive $82,000.
Next up, a trip to Las Vegas, where another final table would await him! Stay tuned for Jon’s next winter live poker adventures.
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