Tarmo Tammel is one of the most accomplished Estonian poker players. Patrisha Rimfire sat down with him to talk about his Battle of Malta experience so far.

Tammel mentions that he has played in the Battle of Malta six times in the past, primarily in the main event, and although he hasn’t had any deep runs, he is satisfied with his overall performance and results. He describes Battle of Malta as a great place to compete.

When asked about the differences between Battle of Malta and other tournaments, Tammel compares the energy and players. He notes that in Estonia, where he usually plays, there are more Nordic players, while Battle of Malta attracts players from Mediterranean countries like Italy and Israel. He highlights that these players are generally more emotional and less aggressive, making it easier to understand their emotions and play styles.

Tammel shares some memorable hands from the tournament. He recalls a critical bubble hand where he successfully squeezed with a weak hand, causing an opponent with Ace Jack to fold, ensuring his survival in the tournament. In another hand, he played pocket Aces deceptively, extracting good value from an opponent with Jacks before the flop, resulting in a significant pot win.

Tammel mentions that Texas Hold’em is the most popular variant, with some players also enjoying Omaha and a few participating in an eight-game format. He acknowledges a slight influence from Swedish poker culture in Estonia, where unique games are played, though not as widely.

Check out the full interview here: