2009 PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw

PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw Championship Main Event
Day: 5
Event Info

2009 PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a7
Prize
1,493,170 PLN
Event Info
Buy-in
23,500 PLN
Entries
203
Level Info
Level
25
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
4,000

PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw Championship Main Event

Day 5 Completed

Congratulations to Christophe Benzimra, 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw Champion!

Christophe Benzimra - Champion!
Christophe Benzimra - Champion!
In just under eight hours of final-table action, the last eight players have been whittled down to just one.

Christophe Benzimra of France stands alone as champion tonight after outlasting a tough field and collecting every chip on the table. The man who says "To me, poker is more about having fun than making money," is the man walking away with all the cash -- 1,493,170 PLN in all.

After coming into the final table sitting in sixth in chips, Benzimra won the largest and most important pot of the day when he got it all in with pocket jacks against Rusland Prydryk's queens and Oleksandr Vaserfirer's aces. If it wasn't for a jack on the flop, Benzimra would have been out of here a long time ago. Instead, he stormed up the leader board, nearly overtaking Vaserfirer for the chip lead.

From there, he picked his spots well and was able to picks up chips here and there to work his way to the top. Benzimra almost eliminated his eventual heads-up opponent, Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti, when four handed, but a lucky river card saved Battisti from the rail. After that, Benzimra went on to bust a crippled Luca Pagano in fourth place. Battisti busted Vaserfirer in third.

After a break in the action for dinner, Benzimra and Battisti returned to do battle and it wouldn't take long for the two to clash. They were involved in a lot of action and saw a lot of flops together. Battisti took his last shot on a flush draw, but failed to get there against Benzimra's two pair, eliminating him in second place.

Benzimra's played plenty of EPT's and his perseverance has finally paid off with a win here in Poland. He'll take home the prize money, the trophy, and an entry into the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo.

Congratulations to all the winners and especially to Christophe Benzimra, the 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw champion!

So long from Poland and thanks once again for following PokerNews.com! We'll see you on the next stop.

Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti Eliminated in 2nd Place (834,870 PLN); Christophe Benzimra Wins!

Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti - 2nd Place
Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti - 2nd Place
Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti was faced with a raise from Christophe Benzimra to 120,000. Battisti wasted about 20 seconds before reraising, making it 250,000 to go. Benzimra was right there to make the call. These two players have wasted little time with lollie-gagging around and were off to another flop.

The flop came down a very monotone {A-Clubs} {7-Clubs} {5-Clubs}. Battisti was first out of the gate with a bet of 300,000. Benzimra looked at his cards, then at his opponent, and then looked at the dealer and tournament staff to verify how much the bet was for.

"Three-hundred thousand." it was confirmed.

"I raise." replied Benzimra, sliding out two uneven stacks of chips for a raise to 900,000.

Battisti put his head down and eyed his own stack. When he brought his head back upright he announced, "all in".

"I call!" was the response from Benzimra, standing and tabling {A-Diamonds} {7-Spades}. He had flopped two pair and was up against Battisti's {K-Clubs} {10-Hearts} for a flush draw.

The cards were aligned on the table for all of the cameras and spectators to see before the hand continued. The turn was then dealt the {8-Hearts}, keeping Benzimra in the lead and another pause ensued before the river card was dealt.

"Three of clubs one time!" yelled onlooker Dario Minieri, rooting for the flush to give his friend the most crucial double up of the tournament. "Black card!" he pleaded on.

The river was neither a club nor was it black as the {5-Hearts} rolled off. Benzimra and Battisti shook hands and congratulated each other on a job well done. Battisti would take second place for 834,840 PLN, while Benzimra was crowned the champion of the 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw.

Tags: Alfio BattistiChristophe Benzimra

Battisti Picks Up Two Pots

Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti raised from the button to 120,000 and Christophe Benzimra made the call. The two players would see another flop together as it came {A-Hearts} {K-Clubs} {Q-Diamonds}.

Benzimra made things easy for Battisti when he check-folded to one single bet of 220,000.

On the next hand, Benzimra raised the button to 120,000. Battisti called and we were off to another flop. It came down {4-Hearts} {3-Hearts} {3-Spades}. Battisti led right into Benzimra for 150,000. Again, Benzimra let Battisti take down the pot and he climbed back over two million.

Battisti now has 2.05 million and Benzimra has 4.040 million.

Tags: Alfio BattistiChristophe Benzimra

Battisti Under Two Million

Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti raised to 140,000 after Christophe Benzimra called from the button. Benzimra also called the raise and the flop was {8-Hearts} {6-Spades} {3-Diamonds}.

Battisti was the preflop aggressor and first to act. He fired 210,000. Benzimra began counting out a bunch of chips. He then put in a raise to 645,000. Battisti folded almost instantly, dropping below two million.

Tags: Alfio BattistiChristophe Benzimra

Battisti Mucks On River

Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti had the button and raised to 100,000. Christophe Benzimra called. The flop came down {Q-Spades} {8-Diamonds} {4-Hearts} and Benzimra checked. Battista fired 120,000 and got called.

The turn brought the {6-Hearts} and both players checked.

The river was the {Q-Diamonds} and Benzimra checked. Battista didn't attempt to fire at the pot, but he didn't check behind either. He simply flung his hand into the muck.

Benzimra was pushed the pot, moving over four million.

Tags: Alfio BattistiChristophe Benzimra

Oleksander Vaserfirer Eliminated in 3rd Place (500,900 PLN)

Oleksandr Vaserfirer - 3rd Place
Oleksandr Vaserfirer - 3rd Place
Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battisti raised to 110,000 and action folded to Oleksandr Vaserfirer in the big blind. He moved all in for about 570,000 total. Battisti immediately looked at the dealer and made the call.

Battisti tabled {A-Hearts} {K-Spades} and Vaserfirer tabled {A-Clubs} {8-Hearts}.

The board ran out {Q-Clubs} {Q-Diamonds} {J-Hearts} {3-Diamonds} {5-Diamonds} and that was the end of the line for Vaserfirer. He took home 500,900 PLN.

Tags: Alfio BattistiOleksandr Vaserfirer

Battista Wins One

Fresh off his double up, Christophe Benzrima raised to 120,000 and was called by Alfio "aLFioSn0b" Battista out of the big blind.

Battista checked dark and the flop came down {K-Hearts} {5-Spades} {2-Spades}. Benzimra checked behind. The turn brought the {8-Spades} and Benzimra folded to a bet of 120,000 from Battisti.

Tags: Alfio BattistiChristophe Benzimra