2011 European Poker Tour Grand Final Madrid

Main Event
Day: 5
Event Info

2011 European Poker Tour Grand Final Madrid

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
109
Prize
€1,500,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€10,000
Prize Pool
€6,860,000
Entries
686
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

Main Event

Day 5 Completed

Ivan Freitez is Crowned EPT Grand Final Madrid Champion (€1,500,000)

Level 31 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Ivan Freitez (c) Neil Stoddart
Ivan Freitez (c) Neil Stoddart

This five day €10,000 extravaganza of tournament poker has ended after a whirlwind final table that crowned Ivan Freitez champion of the 2011 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final at the Casino Gran Madrid. His €1,500,000 first prize represents one of the largest on offer in the European poker world, gained after besting one of the toughest fields seen on the circuit this year.

The first try at streaming from a final table, on the day, with the players' hole cards on display for the world to watch on TV and the internet was a huge success, the added frisson of seeing what the last four players saw adding to the drama of this high-stakes final.

Before that stage, both two remaining PokerStars Team Pros Alex Gomes and Juan Maceiras made their exits, as did popular American online players Eugene Yanayt and Andrew Li. No one left this final without a six figure payday, lessening the pain of elimination with the trophy in sight.

With the world watching, Andrey Danilyuk raced his way out in 4th place, his short stack no match for Freitez who not only busted him but won 8 out of the first 9 hands with a headlong show of aggression. Picking up many a preflop ace, one in particular helped him on the way to victory - the one falling on the flop when he had Tamas Lendvai all-in preflop with nines vs. his {A-Hearts}{9-Hearts}. Spiking to eliminate Lendvai, he went into heads up monstrously stacked, and despite doubling up Torsten Brinkmann at one point, had clinched the victory within a level.

This tournament, hosted in the glamorous surroundings of the Casino Gran Madrid, was a fitting end to Season 7 of the EPT. Tomorrow, however, the first ever Champion of Champions tournament will provide the cherry on the icing on the cake, as every winner of an EPT has been invited to participate in a €100,000 freeroll, live in Madrid. An event which has broken ground in so many areas will end with a bang tomorrow, and the beginning of Season 8, we bid you adieu.

Tags: Ivan Freitez

Torsten Brinkmann Eliminated in 2nd Place (€900,000)

Level 31 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Torsten Brinkmann
Torsten Brinkmann

Ivan Freitez raised to 320,000 with {10-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}, a pretty looking hand heads up but when Torsten Brinkmann reraised all in with {A-Hearts}{K-Clubs} for about 3 million we all thought, "Well, that's the end of this hand, he's not going to call this all in..."

Instant call with the ten-high from Freitez.

The Venezuelan was behind but only a 3:2 dog against Brinkmann's big slick. The flop of {5-Hearts}{2-Spades}{9-Spades} came with great cheers from Freitez' Latin American rail, he'd jumped ahead and now only had to avoid an ace or king to win the first ever EPT Madrid Grand Final. The {6-Diamonds} turn changed nothing and Brinkmann now desperately needed one of his six outs otherwise it was curtains for the German.

The {8-Clubs} river came down and Freitez raised his arms in triumph, his supporters rushed through the rail to mob him and celebrate loudly. Brinkmann may feel deflated but the truth is that Freitez blitzed this table, especially once we got four-handed. Nevertheless, the German player will be taking home €900,000 with him and when he wakes up tomorrow morning, he'll consider this a job well done.

Tags: Ivan FreitezTorsten Brinkmann

More for Freitez

Level 31 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

A board of {A-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}{A-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}{2-Hearts} is checked down to the river by Ivan Freitez {4-Clubs}{2-Clubs} and Torsten Brinkmann's {q-Clubs}{8-Clubs}. The latter led when he made his river pair to the bemusement of David Williams. Brinkmann then folded.

The next hand saw Freteiz raise to 320,000 with {6-Spades}{5-Spades} and Brinkmann folded the big blind as he only had {6-}{3-}

Tags: Torsten BrinkmannIvan Freitez

Freitez Floating on Air

Level 31 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

{A-Hearts}{J-Spades} on the button for Brinkmann saw another little pot head his way when Freitez called in the big blind with {A-Clubs}{2-Spades}. The potential fireworks never materialised - Brinkmann took it down with a bet of 320,000 on the {Q-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}{9-Hearts}.

Moments later and it was {J-Spades}{8-Clubs} for Freitez in the big blind, with which he got to another flop, this time {3-Clubs}{2-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}. Brinkmann c-bet holding {J-Diamonds}{4-Clubs} and Freitez check-called. Hitting an {8-Diamonds} on the turn, Freitez opted to lead for 200,000; Brinkmann folded.

Tags: Ivan FreitezTorsten Brinkmann

Freitez Angling For Victory, Then Brinkmann Doubles

Level 31 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Torsten Brinkmann
Torsten Brinkmann

Ivan Freitez raised to 330,000 on the button with {K-Hearts}{Q-Hearts} and Torsten Brinkmann folded {10-}{7-} in the big blind.

Brinkmann folded {7-Clubs}{6-Clubs} on the button/small blind.

Freitez raised to 330,000 on the button with {5-Hearts}{5-Clubs} and Brinkmann chose to fold {K-Diamonds}{3-Spades} in the big blind.

Brinkmann moved all in from the small blind with {A-Clubs}{5-Clubs} for about 2.4 million and Freitez instantly called with {Q-Hearts}{Q-Clubs}. Would this seal the streamrolling performance of the final table?

The flop came {9-Spades}{A-Diamonds}{7-Spades} and for the first time it looked as though our chip leader could be outdrawn and lose a big pot, the {6-Hearts} came on the turn and the river was the {7-Hearts}. Brinkmann is back in this match.

Will this change the momentum?

Tags: Ivan FreitezTorsten Brinkmann