The 2025 888Live Madrid Ménage-à-Trois: A Battle of the Poker Titans
Madrid's Ruler: Ian Simpson Takes the Throne in Spain's Capital
Staying up late on a Sunday, I was treated to a thrilling end to the 888Live Madrid Main Event. With the blinds sky-high and the pressure mounting, Alvaro "The Falcon" Murciano, Angel "The Matador" Perez, and 888 ambassador Ian "The English Maestro" Simpson engaged in an exhilarating game of poker.
You know that intense focus you get when your body's running on adrenaline? That's exactly what these players exhibited. They were in the zone, giving the spectators a deeply captivating display of their skills.
As the chips flew, something had to give, and it was Perez who eventually fell in third, his Kings crushed under Simpson's flopped Kings. The stage was set for an engaging heads-up duel between the two survivors.
Kings and Queens of Madrid
The heads-up battle was a masterclass in poker, with Simpson marginalizing Murciano's stack. But the Spaniard, despite the rough card distribution, clung on, managing to fashion plausible bluff lines from the most improbable of hands.
Simpson had his chances to end it all, but a series of bad beats kept Murciano alive. The Spaniard fought back, leveling the scores time and again. In a dramatic twist, Murciano, with just 70% of the chips, found his coup de grâce when he ran Simon's Ten-Eight suited into pocket Tens. And just like that, the two titans were even.
The Final Showdown
As the blinds went up, the tension mounted, and the poker gods must have been smiling down on the remaining players. Simpson, with a slight lead, pulled off a risky bluff, forcing Murciano to fold. As the dust settled, Simpson had a comfortable 2:1 advantage once more.
But Murciano wasn't ready to throw in the towel. Pushing his last nine big blinds, he raised Simpson's Ace-Three. The crowd on the rail erupted, calling for an Ace to secure the win. The flop came and went, and the tension hung heavy over the table. The turn was an Ace, but the river brought no twist in the tale, and it was Simpson who was crowned the King of Madrid.
Simpson's Triumph
Simpson, a seasoned pro with a reputation for deep runs, had finally won an 888poker Live Main Event. Speaking exclusively to VSO News, he paid tribute to Murciano, calling him a fierce competitor. He also thanked his supporters, who stayed up past 4am to cheer him on.
"It's such a benefit to have people who care about you watching out for you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "It all keeps your spirits up and your head in a good place."
With this win, Simpson added another trophy to his already impressive collection, which includes victories at the Irish Open, the UKIPT London, and the WPT Five Diamond. But this Madrid win, he said, was more special because of the love and support he received from his 888 family.
Final Table Results
- Ian Simpson - €62,000
- Alvaro Murciano - €42,000
- Angel Perez - €30,500
- Carlos Diaz - €22,500
- Michaelangelo Serra - €17,000
- Jonas ten Cate - €13,400
- Jorge Alvarez - €10,000
- Yakiv Syzghanov - €7,600
- Alberto Diaz - €5,985
[1] The 888Live Madrid Main Event had a buy-in of €800 + 88, and it took place from January 15 to 19, 2025. (Source: PokerNews)
- Despite the preponderance of poker, the thrill at the 2025 888Live Madrid Ménage-à-Trois extended to sports betting, as many spectators eagerly watched the ongoing sports events on the side-screens.
- After his triumph at the 888Live Madrid Main Event, Ian Simpson expressed his interest in exploring casino-games and sports-betting, hoping to showcase his versatility in different forms of casino-and-gambling.
