RKH Interview: TD Ivonne Montealegre Promises Fantastic Poker Holiday with Battle of Malta!

In 2011 Ivonne Montealegre took the concept of a ‘poker holiday’ in Malta to PokerListings and together they have since been writing the record-smashing success story of The Battle of Malta. Ivonne herself comes from Costa Rica and features in the RKH database with a cash in 2014 LAPT Chile. Though she is not a pro player herself, she does ‘play professionally’ in another sense - to collect experience and ideas, to analyze, and take the best of what’s on offer in the live circuit in order to incorporate it in the events she creates herself as tournament director.

Tell us a little about your own poker history? Do you still find time to play?

Basically, I’m a leisure, casual player, what is known as a complete donk. Twenty years ago, back in Costa Rica, a friend of mine suggested we go play some poker. And since then I’ve been fascinated with the sport, with poker tournaments. However, I’m a complete leisure player. I’m really passionate about the social aspect and I’m a very social player. But it’s a fun thing for me, I don’t play it professionally.

I came to be part of a group of friends travelling together to play poker and that has been really great. Being with friends who share a common interest and topic of conversation, going to all these fantastic places to play… That’s how the ‘poker holiday’ idea was born.

Poker is a really big part of my life - my partner plays poker, we have poker-playing friends, we travel to play poker… I still try to remain active and play as much as possible to analyze tournaments and implement the best features in my own events.

How did the PokerListings Battle of Malta come about?

I was working for another company when I first came to Malta. And once here I realized what a great location this was for poker. And the community is fantastic.The Maltese community has a lot to do with the RankingHero motto and the way RKH tries to make poker social. Because it’s a very beautiful community. Very fun, supportive and loyal.

So when I started getting involved in the poker community here, as a player, this idea came to mind - that this was the perfect location to make a yearly tournament that would unite the local poker community and people from abroad who could discover and enjoy the beauty of this jewel in the middle of the Mediterranean.

And then I took the idea to PokerListings - and they were so receptive, they’ve been fantastic with the idea. It has been thanks to them that I have been able to explore and enjoy this beautiful ride ‘The Battle of Malta’.

In the first Battle of Malta, you had 349 entrants playing for €150,000. Last year you had 1,447 Main Event entries and broke all kinds of records. Which of these do you hope to better this year?

The first edition was successful but the second one was really unbelievable. I mean, Malta is an island, after all, and it’s not so easy getting people to come. And now this year we are making a lot of improvements because we’re being recognized by the governmental authorities here, and Battle of Malta is starting to become something to be proud of to the Maltese.

We hope to improve attendance and the number of players in the Main Event, and therefore to have a bigger prize pool, so more than 1,500. But we’re not really here to break the records. That’s something that happens parallel. For me, what really matters is that each player has a great playing experience. That, for me, is more rewarding than breaking a record. And if we focus too much on volume we might lose sight of the fact that we want to create a fantastic poker holiday experience for the players and their guests.

How does the poker holiday concept translate into the tournament structure, what adjustments have you made?

We want the Main Event to have a good playing structure. We are trying to stay away from a fast blind structure that increases the luck factor. We want to give players the opportunity to enjoy some play, some post-flop poker. Skill plays a larger role in this kind of slower-paced structures. We are also fighting all the time for the rake to be lower than in most tournaments.

And that’s also why the professionals come to play the Battle of Malta and normally do really well. Typically, after the bubble, the field is quite tough. But because of the low buy-in we also have a lot of success stories with casual players for whom this was the very first live tournament and who cashed.

The structure is conceived to ensure a very professional atmosphere but still have that fun element. We’re fighting all the time to keep the buy in as low as 550. For a main event, that’s pretty good, especially one that requires so much handling as the Battle of Malta ME.
And that’s one great thing you see in Battle of Malta - you have the setup of a big tour, there’s a big tour feel, but since the cost is low, the players can really relax and enjoy the tournament.

As a TD, did you have to deal with any particularly challenging situations in Battle of Malta 2014? And which is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

Last year we faced a very difficult situation which we knew was likely to arise as we had few starting days - we had only two. This resulted in a super-packed calendar. At some point on Saturday, on Day 1b, we had to make an adjustment to the tournament structure and we had to turbo at some levels. Also, the casino needed to close on Sunday at 4 am, and at this stage we had to ask the players if they wanted to keep playing till the end, or take it to the next day. This creates a lot of hassle, and players need to make adjustments...
I prefer to keep the structures as they are published, and this is one adjustment we’ve made this year, with an additional Day 1C. That will give us a very playable and enjoyable tournament, parallel with all the activities that we are planning for the players.

And one of the aspects of my job that gives me great satisfaction is listening and responding to players’ concerns; trying to give them the fairest resolution to any conflict and to keep up the integrity of poker as a sport that we all love.

So I find it most rewarding when players notice the amount of effort you’ve put and come and give us a warm comment, about how great the experience has been, and how much they have enjoyed it. It’s great when you can make the players happy, at least for a weekend.

Tell us about these side activities you mentioned?

We’re always trying to give and add value to the players and it’s difficult because we have expenses like everyone else. This is where you see the good faith and support of all our sponsors. Battle of Malta is sponsored by PokerListings and its online poker partners: 888, Betsson, Betsafe, NordicBet, RedBet, Turbo, NetBet and PAF. Also joining us this year will be the Betting Connections Viewing Gallery, which is a very novel concept on a poker tournament.

This year, in addition to the free buffet, the package includes three parties. And the highlight will be a jaw-dropping Saturday Player Party for everyone to enjoy, it’s going to be very special. We’re putting a lot of work into it, and we’re very excited to deliver a top-notch nightclub experience where we all can unwind after a good session of poker.

We will have a booth powered by the Malta Tourism Authority. It’s very cool because it’s an independent, impartial entity and will be informing the players about their options, about what to do and where to go.

What is your own favorite hangout in Malta?

My own favorite spot is anywhere in the sea. Swimming in this beautiful Mediterranean salty water, that’s what I love best! You can do that all over the Hilton area, there are a lot of beautiful hang-out places near the hotel, and that’s free for everyone to enjoy.

In general, how important is it for poker players to gain recognition? Is it something you’ve taken into account with Battle of Malta?

Yes, definitely, as in any sport, poker players need and seek recognition.
There’s been a very interesting drift in the past five years, by the way. Now players are really focused, a lot of them do their meditation exercises, eat healthy. You see a fitter, younger, health-conscious type of player.

Even though Battle of Malta is a recreational and fun tournament, we’re also a bit ambitious in the sense that we want to make it a titled event. We want the Battle of Malta champion title to be an important thing in the poker world. Funnily enough, our trophies are highly appreciated and very cherished. They are medieval knights we get from a local artisan company, and people love them. It has become not only about the money, but also about having one of those BoM trophies on your shelf.

Which is your own favorite live poker event worldwide? Which live event was Battle of Malta modelled after or inspired by?

We’ve taken a little bit from many different ones. I like the professionalism of an EPT, the way it’s run so flawlessly, I think that’s fantastic. And I like the fun of RedBet Live, they have these really fun elements outside the poker arena.

So I’d say the seriousness and professionalism of an EPT, and also of the LAPT of which I am a big fan, with elements of some other smaller tours that have a lot of personality like the RedBet Live or the BetSafe Super Weekend, for example.

And if I have to single out just one personal favorite, I’m very fond of LAPT Chile, in which I cashed. It’s such a beautiful and romantic location. It holds a very special place in my heart.

What is the best thing that could happen to the poker industry in the near future and how do you see the role of projects like RankingHero, with our mission to bring back the fun in poker?

There are a lot of improvements that could help us all but a US online poker market that enters a regulated era is something that will have an impact in the whole poker industry worldwide. The launch of regulated real-money online poker in gray-area markets would have great benefits for the customers, the casual players, as well as for us organizers and companies. It’s something that should happen to provide the players with a better experience, to keep their bankroll safe, and basically to boost the sport we all love.

I think RankingHero is making a great effort that benefits everyone in the poker industry. By making poker more accessible, and providing a platform for social interaction but also recognition and prestige for players at all levels.

published by @Annie RKH, May 25 2015 #RKHinterview #BOMpreflop 

Battle of Malta 4 is set for November 4-9, 2015 at the @Casino at Portomaso  Stay tuned as we are about to announce a special mission and the coveted medieval knight may well turn up on a Ranking Hero's shelf!