Main Event
Day 4 Completed
Epic Poker League Event #1
Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Epic Poker League Event #1
Buy-in
$20,000
Prize Pool
$3,085,200
Entries
137
Level
23
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000
Chino Rheem Wins Inaugural Epic Poker League Main Event ($1,000,000)!
Level 23
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
The first-ever Epic Poker League Main Event is in the books and Chino Rheem has emerged victorious with the $1,000,000 first-place prize!
When the final table began, six of the absolute best poker players in the world were in alive and in contention for the title. Rheem was joined by Erik Seidel, Jason Mercier, Hasan Habib, Huck Seed and Gavin Smith. Just about 10 hours after the first hand was dealt, all five of them had been eliminated and the only man left standing was Rheem.
The first player to go was Seed, who entered the final table with the least amount of chips. He was followed by Smith in fifth place and then the start-of-the-day chip leader Habib in fourth. When three-handed play began, Rheem was up against Mercier and Seidel. All three were fairly close in chips and had been playing their A-game so far.
Mercier was clearly the fan favorite in the final table arena. He had the largest rail and almost everyone seemed to be pulling for him. After losing a big flip to Seidel with pocket fives versus Seidel's big slick, Mercier was left short. He ended up shipping the last of his chips in from the small blind with the 
and was called by Seidel in the big blind with the 
. No help came for the youngest player to make the final table and he was out the door in third place, setting the stage for a Rheem-Seidel battle.
After nearly 50 hands of heads-up play, the last hand finally took place. Rheem had been steadily eating at the stack of Seidel all throughout the duel and then the two got all of the money in with Seidel being dominated. he held the 
to Rheem's 
. Both players flopped and ace, but it was the king kicker for Rheem that held strong throughout the hand, eventually giving him a flush on the river and the victory.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chino Rheem | $1,000,000 |
| 2 | Erik Seidel | $604,330 |
| 3 | Jason Mercier | $360,970 |
| 4 | Hasan Habib | $237,560 |
| 5 | Gavin Smith | $154,260 |
| 6 | Huck Seed | $107,980 |
That wraps up PokerNews' coverage of the first EPL Main Event and it was a blast from start to finish. Congratulations to all the winners and especially to Rheem for outlasting a superstar field of 137 players to take home $1,000,000 and the gold championship ring!
Erik Seidel Eliminated in 2nd Place ($604,330)
![[user75311]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 23
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
The action on the final hand happened in an instant. Erik Seidel was on the button and raised to 100,000. Chino Rheem moved all in and Seidel quickly made the call.
Seidel:
Rheem:
The flop was 
and the turn was the 
. That left Seidel with only two outs or Chino Rheem would become the Epic Poker League's very first Main Event Champion. The river was the 
and gave Rheem the nuts, officially eliminating Erik Seidel.
Seidel Down to One Million
Level 23
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
From the button, Chino Rheem raised to 100,000 and then Erik Seidel three-bet to 300,000 from the big blind. Rheem thought things over and then made the call to see the flop, which came down 
. Seidel fired 300,000 and Rheem thought for a bit before announcing a raise. He made it 720,000. Seidel thought for a little bit and then folded his hand, leaving himself with one million in chips.
Seidel Grinding Down
Level 23
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Shortly after the 200th hand of the night, Erik Seidel raised on the button to 100,000. Chino Rheem made the call and the flop was 
. Rheem checked to Seidel who bet 125,000 and Rheem made the call.
The turn was the 
and the river the 
. Both streets went check-check and Rheem tabled 
to win the pot.
Level: 23
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 5,000
Pair of Aces for Chino
Level 22
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
From the button, Erik Seidel raised to 80,000 and Chino Rheem called from the big blind. The flop came down 
and Rheem check-called a bet of 100,000 from Seidel.
The turn was the 
and both checked to see the 
land on the river. Both checked again.
Rheem showed the 
and Seidel mucked.
Rheem Takes One
Level 22
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
On the flop of 
, Chino Rheem checked and Erik Seidel bet 100,000. Rheem called.
The turn was the 
and both players checked to see the land on the turn. Rheem bet 275,000 and Seidel mucked.
Rheem Shows a Card
Level 22
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
On the river of a 
board, Erik Seidel checked and Chino Rheem bet 240,000. As Seidel was considering his next move, Rheem asked our tournament director, Matt Savage, if he was allowed to talk about his hand. Savage told him that since we were heads up at the last stages of a tournament they are allowed to discuss the hand during play and you are even allowed to show cards if you'd like.
Rheem took advantage by tabling the prompting Seidel to call and Rheem to get paid on his straight with 
.
Rheem Raises Turn
Level 22
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
From the button, Chino Rheem raised to 100,000 and Erik Seidel called out of the big blind to see the 
flop. Seidel checked and Rheem bet 125,000. Seidel called.
The turn was the and paired the board. Seidel now led with a bet of 225,000 and Rheem quickly raised to 500,000. Seidel gave it some thought and then folded.