Antoine Degiorgio, the founder of Malta Poker Fish and one of the most recognizable figures in the Mediterranean poker community, suffered a devastating heart attack in March 2026 that left him with brain damage and changed his life in an instant. His family has now launched a fundraiser to fund the next stage of his rehabilitation, and the poker world is being asked to help.
Who Antoine is to Malta Poker Community
Antoine has been a fixture in Maltese poker for nearly two decades. As the founder and admin of Malta Poker Fish, a Facebook community that has grown to over 5,000 members, he has spent that time promoting the island’s poker scene with no personal financial gain, connecting international players with local events, and acting as an unofficial ambassador for every major festival that has come through Malta including the Battle of Malta, the Malta Poker Festival, The Festival Series, and many more. He has 49 live cashes on the Hendon Mob and a best result of $48,174, but his contribution to poker in Malta was never measured in tournament earnings. It was measured in phone calls answered, players welcomed, and a community built from nothing into one of the most active on the circuit.
What Happened and How to Help
In March, Antoine suffered a heart attack that left him with brain damage. His family says he has made remarkable progress in the months since, fighting step by step to regain abilities and reach milestones that once seemed impossible. He is still in hospital in Malta, but the services available to him there can no longer provide the ongoing specialised cognitive rehabilitation and long-term support he requires.
His family is hoping to raise €85,000 to fund one full year of care with a campaign on WhyDonate. That money would cover live-in carers, specialised cognitive therapy, physical and neurological rehabilitation, private medical and therapeutic support, and the creation of a suitable home environment. The goal is to move Antoine out of hospital and into a safe and supportive environment where he can receive daily care and continue working towards greater independence.
“Antoine has already shown us what he is capable of,” his family wrote on the fundraiser page. “We just don’t want his journey to end because the support available to him has run out.”
As of August 20, the fundraiser nearly €47,000 was raised toward the €85,000 goal. Every donation of any size helps, and those unable to donate financially are urged to share the fundraiser as widely as possible.
If you have ever played poker in Malta, been welcomed into a festival by someone who made you feel at home, or benefited from the community that Antoine built for no reward other than the love of the game, this is the moment to give something back.
