Benidorm Expat Retiree Cashes In €200,550 Playing Poker

Benidorm-based retiree Tom-Aksel Bedell has transformed his aureate years into poker gold, pocketing €200,550 aft finishing 5th successful nan Main Event of nan prestigious PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Malta. The tourney attracted 898 entries, each vying for nan coveted EPT Malta title.

Originally from Norway, Tom first visited Benidorm successful 1967 and now calls nan municipality his main home. A erstwhile edifice and edifice owner, he ran a edifice and 7 restaurants successful nan area earlier retiring.

The 65-year-old has been playing poker for galore years but enjoyed a spectacular breakout astatine nan EPT Malta event, featuring successful immoderate of nan tournament’s biggest hands and often sitting down 1 of nan largest stacks successful nan $5,300 buy-in Main Event, which drew players from 63 countries. Tom held commanding spot leads heading into some Days 4 and 5, yet finishing a highly respectable fifth. Poland’s Tomasz Brzezinski claimed nan apical prize of €631,592 and nan prestigious EPT Malta title.

Spain, Norway and Ecuador

A passionate traveller, Tom splits his clip betwixt Spain, Norway and Ecuador erstwhile he isn’t astatine nan poker table, visiting galore destinations each twelvemonth to travel nan paper crippled he loves.

EPT Malta was held astatine Casino Malta from October 1-12, featuring 73 tournaments successful an action-packed schedule alongside a scope of memorable off-the-felt experiences. The land is quickly emerging arsenic a hotspot for nan world’s champion poker players, making it nan cleanable mounting for 1 of Europe’s premier poker tours.

After a nine-year hiatus, nan European Poker Tour yet returned to Malta, offering nan vibrant civilization and historical backdrop unsocial to this Mediterranean gem. The arena delivered thrilling on-the-felt action, attracting some seasoned professionals and newcomers alike.

Beyond nan poker tables, visitors enjoyed Malta’s renowned nightlife, unique beaches, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. With luxurious venues and state-of-the-art facilities, EPT Malta proved to beryllium a must-visit arena for poker enthusiasts, combining world-class play pinch plentifulness of nosy successful nan sun.

For Tom-Aksel Bedell, nan tourney was much than conscionable a competition; it was nan cleanable culmination of years of dedication and passion for poker. From his early days successful Benidorm to travelling nan globe successful pursuit of nan crippled he loves, finishing 5th astatine EPT Malta was a testament to his skill, perseverance, and nan joyousness of embracing caller challenges moreover successful retirement.