Malta Poker Festival’s Ivonne Montealegre fighting for what she believes in
Lee Davy sits down with the Malta Poker Festival‘s founder, Ivonne Montealegre, to talk about her legal issues with Net Gaming, the ‘why’ behind her new creation, and her desire to work with more influential female ambassadors situs judi online.
Malta Poker Festival’s Ivonne Montealegre fighting for what she believes inHaving become the first Finance Minister of a G8 country, Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity and so you should take heed when she says:
“Grit your teeth and smile. In the face of adversity, go. They don’t deserve you.”
And it was Lagarde who crossed my mind during a conversation with Malta Poker Festival’s founder, Ivonne Montealegre, another strong, independent and passionate woman who grits her teeth and says, “Bring it on,” when nostrils begin to flare.
Seven years ago, Montealegre joined forces with the poker affiliate PokerListings, to create one of the most affordable, mass-hysteria, No-Limit Hold’em tournaments in the world.
The Battle of Malta (BOM) was a fantastic success shifting up the gears every single year growing from 349-entrants in 2012, to a record-breaking 2,074 in 2017. In 2014, the poker industry acknowledged Montealegre’s hard work by pinning the European Poker Award for Best Poker Event Under €2,000 medal onto its chest.
Everything was going as smooth as a babies stool until, in 2017, NetGaming acquired PokerListings and decided to sell the BOM trademark to Casino Malta, ending Montealegre’s involvement with Malta’s most successful tournament.
The sale of BOM saw the event leave the Portomaso Casino for the first time, and Montealegro reacted by creating the Malta Poker Festival for her loyal Portomaso players and beyond.
Casino Malta reacted by suing Montealegro, and that’s where our communication begins.
Why did Net Gaming take legal action against you?
“The Casino Malta tried to prevent me from running the Malta Poker Festival claiming it would compete with their tournament. They failed in this attempt, and this is a matter of public record. I believe that you can’t obstruct or prevent someone’s right to make a living because you might compete with someone else. If that were the case, we would see only one burger joint or only one clothes shop on our streets. Competition is healthy – it makes us all work harder and rewards the customers, giving them a broader choice and more great events to play. No one company or person should have a monopoly on poker in Malta.”
Why did you choose to create the Malta Poker Festival after what happened with BOM?
“After this judicial process, even more, I decided to stick with Portomaso and keep servicing my clients. I genuinely believe they are the only casino in Malta with the poker acumen to make an event of this magnitude – at least for now. The others can catch up, but this growth needs to be organic. It is so easy to buy things!
“The Malta Poker Festival has created a markedly different product, by offering a schedule that includes four main standalone events, run in collaboration with four different poker operators. My life has been in poker, and I am determined, with the help of my partners, sponsors and clients, to make the Malta Poker Festival the best low-buy-in poker festival in Europe.”
Why are you the person to do this?
“Many people can do this…but I come from Costa Rica, and I’ve seen the rise and fall of poker online, live poker, Black Friday, etc.… I have worked in the online poker operator side to the online affiliation side and even brick and mortar casino action. I have a clear picture of why the backend of a poker affiliate can compromise a live event. I have more than 24 years in poker experience and a big network of very talented people in our field.”
What is your difference versus BOM?
“We are a completely stand-alone event; we are not linked to any poker affiliate (getting CPA from players), compromising operators and cornering poker networks. We have an information website that is designed for players to get information, and enjoy, not compromised embedded in an affiliate site which is a real gimmick.”
Who is this event for?
“This event is for the players and their guests: our clients! My team works very hard in detail and customer satisfaction. Sponsors are amazing and very into making this event a jaw-dropping one.”
What will future players say to their friends once they have experienced your tournament?
“I hope that the Grand Event’s opening is something they truly enjoy. We are putting long hours behind it. I also wish that they see the amount of work and integrity behind the whole operation. The location is wonderful and has no comparison.”
What value are you providing for the players?
“We are providing the same service we have been producing for seven years now. Players can expect absolute respect to the game and enforcement of the rules, with a standard rake on cash games. Mistakes happen
