It was the kind of marathon that makes you wonder if the sun ever set on the Casino Malta floor that night. After more than 13 grueling hours of four‑card Omaha, Gabi Livshitz finally emerged as the champion of the Diamond Poker Series’ PLO Grand Slam Malta €5,200 Millions event. The Israeli ace walked away with a cool €218,100 – the biggest slice of a €940,000 prize pool – and, more importantly, his first live Pot‑Limit Omaha trophy.
Livshitz’s win is a milestone in a career that’s been ticking up cashes since his first recorded live score back in 2014. While he’s racked up a respectable list of tournament victories over the years, this was the first time he lifted a live PLO title. He’d already proved his mettle in the variant during the pandemic, snatching an online bracelet in 2021 when the world was stuck at home. Now, with the physical felt beneath his chips, the trophy finally found its place on his shelf.
Day Two: The Long Haul
The second day of the Grand Slam was a marathon of endurance and skill. The clock struck 4:30 a.m. when Livshitz’s name was announced as the winner, but the battle had been raging since the early afternoon. He started the day somewhere in the middle of the leaderboard, a spot that could have been a comfortable seat at the table or a quick exit – depending on the cards.
Early on, Livshitz made a statement by taking out Onur Gur, a player who had re‑entered after a late registration and would later finish 17th for €13,150. That early elimination set the tone: Livshitz was not there to merely survive; he was there to dominate.
As the blinds climbed, several notable names fell before the money. Dario Alioto, Jessica Teusl, Tom‑Aksel Bedell and Robert Cowen all saw their stacks evaporate, leaving the field thinner and the action tighter. Livshitz, meanwhile, kept his chip count climbing steadily, slipping into the money by busting out Leonid Yanovski in 24th place just before the dinner break.
From Mid‑Pack to Final Table
When the break came, Livshitz was still sitting in the middle of the pack – a position that could have been a comfortable cushion or a precarious perch. But he used the intermission to regroup and, as the action resumed, began to climb the ladder.
He knocked out Lucas van den Belt (20th) and a player known only as “Sonic” (11th) shortly after the break, propelling himself into third place in chips as the final table took shape. A few more well‑timed bust‑outs – including a clean aces‑against‑kings elimination of Filip Lovric’s recent‑tripled opponent Espen Myrmo – saw Livshitz rise to the second spot with six players left.
The final push came when he eliminated “NoNeedMoney,” taking the chip lead for the first time. From there, the drama unfolded in classic poker fashion: leads changed hands, flushes hit the board, and the tension was palpable.
Heads‑Up Drama
Jelle de Kroon of the Netherlands, who had been a steady presence throughout the day, found himself in the final two. He ultimately secured second place and a €148,000 payday, a result he described as an “unexpected pay jump.”
The climax came when Livshitz and de Kroon went heads‑up. Livshitz’s hand hit the board better, sealing the victory and prompting a roar from the rail – a group of friends and fellow players who’d been cheering him on all night.
Final Table Payouts
| Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Gabi Livshitz | Israel | €218,100 |
| Jelle de Kroon | Netherlands | €148,000 |
| Aki Vihikainen | Finland | €100,000 |
| LuxonTrustWallet | — | €80,700 |
| Filip Lovric | Sweden | €64,650 |
| Carlo van Ravenswoud | Netherlands | €50,100 |
| NoNeedMoney | — | €37,100 |
| Plato | — | €27,300 |
| Espen Myrmo | Norway | €21,800 |
The field started with 189 entries, each hoping to break through the slightly overlayed €940,000 prize pool. Livshitz’s triumph not only gave him the biggest share but also pushed his live‑tournament earnings past the $2 million mark – a milestone that many players spend years chasing.
What This Means for Livshitz
Beyond the cash, the win adds a coveted live PLO trophy to Livshitz’s collection. The PLO Grand Slam Malta is part of the Diamond Poker Series, a circuit that’s become a staple for European Omaha enthusiasts. With the next stop already on the calendar, Livshitz will likely be a name to watch as the series rolls on.
For the broader Omaha community, the event reinforced the growing popularity of four‑card variants. The blend of deep‑stack strategy and high‑variance action continues to attract a mix of seasoned pros and hungry up‑and‑comers, making events like the Grand Slam a highlight of the European poker calendar.
As the lights dimmed on the final hand and Livshitz lifted his trophy, the applause echoed a sentiment shared by many: hard work, patience, and a dash of luck can still turn the tables in a game that’s as much about endurance as it is about skill.
