This Week's Big Winner: Mike McDonald Takes Down EPT Malta High Roller

The Malta stop on the European Poker Tour proved to be one of the biggest series of the year with many notable winners and huge prize pools. Among the champions was Canadian poker pro Mike McDonald, who spent three days winning the €25,000 buy-in high roller event.

The tournament drew a field of 74 players, creating a total prize pool of nearly $2 million. This was McDonald’s tenth live tournament win overall. For his efforts, he picked up the $548,433 first-place prize. As a result, he now has $12,438,514 in career tournament earnings, which is good enough for 15th place on the all-time tournament winnings list.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest hands that propelled McDonald to victory.

Hand No. 1 – McDonald Picks Off Big Bluff From Greenwood

Player	Hand	Chip Count
Mike McDonald	A3	1,250,000
Sam Greenwood	J10	1,085,000

The Action

With 20 players remaining and about 550,000 already in the pot from previous action on a board reading 9988, Sam Greenwood checked and Mike McDonald checked behind. The river was the 2 and Greenwood put in a nearly pot-sized bet of 475,000. McDonald took some time to think it over, but eventually threw in the call. Greenwood showed down J10 for a busted straight-flush draw, but McDonald’s A3 was good enough to take the pot.

Hand No. 2 – McDonald Makes Another Hero Call Against Helppi

Player	Hand	Chip Count
Mike McDonald	J7	9,230,000
Juha Helppi	109	9,270,000

The Action

With the stack sizes nearly identical during heads-up play, Juha Helppi raised to 400,000 on the button and Mike McDonald called. The flop fell J63 and McDonald checked. Helppi bet 450,000 and McDonald called. The turn was the K and both players checked. The river was the A and McDonald checked. Helppi bet 900,000 and McDonald went into the tank. After a minute, he called with J7 and took the pot when Helppi showed 109.

Hand No. 3 – McDonald Sniffs Out Another Bluff To Take Big Chiplead

Player	Hand	Chip Count
Mike McDonald	KQ	11,700,000
Juha Helppi	102	6,775,000

The Action

Mike McDonald raised to 350,000 on the button and Juha Helppi called. The flop fell AA5 and Helppi checked. McDonald bet 275,000 and Helppi called. The turn was the 6 and both players checked. The river was the 6 and Helppi bet 500,000. McDonald reluctantly called and Helppi turned over his 102 for a missed flush draw. McDonald showed his KQ for king high and took down the pot.

Final Results

*Photo courtesy of PokerStars

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