PokerStars.net EPT Barcelona, Final Table: Sebastian Ruthenberg Triumphs

September 15 2008, John Hartness

Sebastian Ruthenberg started the final table at the PokerStars.net European Poker Tour Barcelona Open just out of the chip lead, and over the course of eight hours outlasted his opponents to take down the event and its €1,361,000 top prize. The young pro bettered his previous top finish of third place in an EPT event, and earned an EPT trophy to go along with the WSOP bracelet he earned earlier this year. The chip stacks and seating assignments looked like this when the day kicked off:

Seat 1: Martin Nielsen (Denmark) 1,229,000
Seat 2: Davidi Kitai (Belgium) 600,000
Seat 3: Dren Ukella (Germany) 734,000
Seat 4: Jason Mercier (United States) 526,000
Seat 5: Samuel Chartier (Canada) 879,000
Seat 6: Daniele Mazzia (Italy) 359,000
Seat 7: Fintan Gavin (Ireland) 701,000
Seat 8: Sebastian Ruthenberg (Germany) 1,204,000

After a slow start, the first eliminations came in a burst, as the seventh- and eighth-place finishers were determined in a matter of moments. Martin Nielsen was first to fall when he moved all in over the top of Jason Mercier's preflop raise. Mercier's was ahead of Nielsen's , and the flop was no help, as it came down . The on the turn gave Nielsen additional outs, but the on the river left Mercier with a better two pair and Nielsen with €119,000 for eighth place.

Samuel Chartier went to the rail just moments later in seventh place (€178,000). He open-shoved preflop from the button, and Fintan Gavin thought for quite some time before making the call with . Chartier was behind with , and the flop came down . The turn was no help, and the river missed both players as Gavin's ace kicker was enough to eliminate Chartier.

Next EPT San Remo champion Jason Mercier moved all in over the top of Gavin with , and was in deep trouble when Gavin called with . Mercier, who had not run well throughout the final table, continued in his unfortunate streak as the board ran out . No two-outer appeared for Mercier, and he picked up €227,000 for sixth place.

Dren Ukella became the next player to fall victim to Gavin when he moved all in over the top of Gavin on a flop of . Gavin thought for a bit before calling with for second pair. Ukella tabled for the nut flush draw, and needed a heart to stay alive. The on the turn was no help, and the river missed as well. He picked up €292,000 for his fifth-place finish.

Daniele Mazzia moved the last of his chips into the middle, preflop, and was called by both Sebastian Ruthenberg and Davidi Kitai. Ruthenberg and Kitai checked down the board as it ran out . Mazzia tabled Q-8 for two pair, but Ruthenberg sent him packing when he showed J-9 for the straight and the win. Mazzia was eliminated in fourth place, worth €351,000.

Three-handed play continued for quite a while before SRuthenberg moved all in from the button and was called by Kitai. Gavin open-folded , and Kitai showed that two of his outs were gone as he opened . Ruthenberg tabled , and his pocket pair held up on a board of . Kitai picked up €455,000 for third place.

With nearly a 5:1 chip lead going into heads-up play, it took only three hands for Ruthenberg to eliminate his last challenger. Fintan Gavin made a move preflop, shoving all in with , and Ruthenberg called with . Gavin moved ahead on the flop. Ruthenberg took the lead when the came on the turn, but that card also gave Gavin flush outs. The on the river made two pair for Ruthenberg and sent Gavin home with €792,000 for second place. After an impressive performance over four days at the Gran Casino Barcelona, Sebastian Ruthenberg took down the title and the €1,361,000 top prize.

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