The Battle of Malta (BOM) celebrated its 10th Anniversary between 28 October – 5 November 2025 with an incredible €2,000,000 guaranteed event prize pool, and KKPoker was delighted to an be an official partner and offer our poker community the chance to win Main Event tickets and poker packages worth €1,060 from just $3!

Another of the KKPoker community to earn their ticket was Finland’s Tomi Arponen.

Tomi came to Malta with over $60,000 in recorded live poker tournament prizes, which included a final table appearence in the 2023 Kings of Tallinn – Summer Showdown Main Event, and a recent win at the WSOPC Tallinn.

KKPoker caught up with Tomi to learn about his six cashes at the Battle of Malta, playing against a well-known poker streamer, and his advice to aspiring live poker tournament players.

How did you first hear about the Battle of Malta satellites on KKPoker?

“It was already before the BOM last year. I already knew there was this kind of poker festival and googled around to see if there were any satellites, and then found out that KKPoker was running them. I won the package that time also 🙂“

What made you decide to try qualifying online instead of buying in directly?

“I had already decided to go anyway, but getting a ticket or a package reduces expenses nicely, so why not give it a shot?“

You managed to cash in several BOM tournaments! How did you keep your focus and energy throughout such a packed schedule?

“Yeah, played a total of 13 tournaments and cashed six, with two final tables!

“Very happy with the result, even though no trophies. I enjoy the game and have no issues sitting long hours at the tables. Not getting bored is the key, but it might not come naturally for everyone.

Which of your cashes felt most rewarding?

“This time, it was the Main Event, even though it was only a couple of pay jumps; it’s all profit due to the satellite package.

“And mostly because this is my first time cashing a live event where I bought in with a satellite ticket. Now that the curse is lifted :)”

You made a €5K profit over the series! What were your goals before playing?

“Just play the best I can, make good decisions, and stay focused. I don’t set any goals result-wise; that’s only a way to get yourself tilted if things don’t go your way.“

You’ve played a lot of live poker since 2023 — does online satellites motivate you to take more live shots or even focus more on certain formats?

“I mostly play satellites to cut down on the expenses of poker trips I would go to anyway. Though there have been a couple of occasions when I was going to attend a festival, I might not have played the target event of the satellite had I not won the ticket.“

Did you find that your online experience helped you in live play, or was it a totally different atmosphere?

“Online play does help on the theory side of the game, but if you haven’t played live before, there are a lot of things to consider, like keeping track of the pot, observing your opponents and such…“

What was the general atmosphere like at the Battle of Malta?

“Excellent! The event was very well organized, the weather was nice, and there were plenty of games to play, so everyone seemed to have a great time.“

What was your best or most memorable hand from the series?

“It must be two occasions where the same hand ruined my final tables. A8s. The first one was a short stack’s A8s versus my AQo. I lost the hand, become a short stack myself and bust out in 6th.

“Second was, again, short stack’s A8s versus my 88. Same story, I lost the preflop all-in, become a shortie and soon bust, again in 6th.“

Was there a particular opponent or moment that stood out?

“Jeff Boski, a poker YouTuber and sponsored professional.”

“I played with him in three different tournaments at the same tables and even busted him from the last Dark Knight event. He max late registered and sat to my right, and shoves his first hand. I peek Aces (because, why not! ha) and send him to play the last tourney of the night, the hyper turbo. Which he won, of course 🙂 “

What lessons or takeaways did you get from playing against such a large and diverse field?

“As always in live events, you need to pay attention.

“Stay off the phone and see how your opponents play. You need to know who is a recreational from whom you can squeeze the max value. You need to spot the pros who are able to run smart bluffs. Listen to the table talk, people give out lots of info without realizing it.“

What’s next on your poker journey — more live events, online grind, or both?

“Some online tourneys and cash games, but I prefer live, so I have already started planning my next trip. Most likely it will be to the next Kings of Tallinn or Irish Poker Open.“

Any advice for other KKPoker players thinking about trying satellites?

“A great way to reduce trip costs if you are going to go anyway. The same applies even if the target event is online. May lower the cost and/or gain access to tournaments beyond your bankroll. And do study some satellite strategy 🙂 “

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