2009 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final

Day 5 completed

Posted 05-03-2009 22:59 GMT+3

Pieter de Korver Wins the 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final (€2,300,000)

After six grueling days of poker and a record-breaking field of 935, we are down to just one -- deliriously happy and dazed Dutch freeroll champion and newly-sponsored Team PokerStars player Pieter de Korver.

Not only did de Korver battle through almost 1,000 runners, he came to the final table in not particularly great shape and was at one point down to just two big blinds. A triple-up, a double-up, another double-up and suddenly he had knocked out the former chip monster Dag Mikkelsen and was in possession of most of the chips in play with three players left -- a truly extraordinary comeback, and a truly extraordinary win.

Thus ends this PokerStars.com EPT season, and it has proved that the European Poker Tour is going from strength to strength. With the total number of runners reaching nearly 8,000 and the total prize pool over the season topping €52,000,000, this has been the tour to be on. Congratulations to all the winners, and until next season, from PokerNews.com in Monte Carlo, it's over and out.

Matthew Woodward Eliminated in 2nd Place (€1,300,000); Pieter de Korver Wins 2009 EPT Grand Final!

Hand No. 154:

Woodward finally decides to raise a button, making it 750,000 to go. Pieter de Korver calls. Hooray! The flop: . De Korver checks, allowing Woodward to bet another 750,000 before de Korver check-raises all in for 20,000,000. Woodward shakes his head, thinks it over, then calls.

de Korver:
Woodward:

De Korver has middle pair, with not a great kicker, but surprisingly he's ahead of Woodward's middle pair, worse kicker! The only difference is that Woodward has a heart draw to go with his pair. He's going to need another pair or a heart to stay in this tournament.

Turn:

Woodward looks deflated. Even though he has more outs to a chop now, he seems to know that the title is not in his future. He's right; the river falls and Woodward is out in second place. He's getting €1,300,000.

Tags: Matthew Woodward, Pieter de Korver.

Hand #153 - Pieter de Korver

De Korver raises to 650,000, and the blinds are his.

Hand #152 - Pieter de Korver

Matthew Woodward folds his button again.

Hand #151 - Matthew Woodward Gets a Walk

Hand #150 - Pieter de Korver

For the second time in a row, Matthew Woodward folds his button.

Tags: Pieter de Korver.

Hand #149 - Matthew Woodward

Limping for de Korver, checking for Woodward to see themselves a flop.

Much checking to the turn of the board, when Woodward bets 350,000 and de Korver makes it 900,000. Woodward now moves all in -- and a fold from de Korver puts Woodward up to 7,750,000, still way behind.

Tags: Matthew Woodward, Pieter de Korver.

Hand #148 - Pieter de Korver

A walk for Pieter de Korver.

Hand #147 - Matthew Woodward Gets a Walk