PokerStars EPT Prague: Everything You Need to Know

EPT Prague

The European Poker Tour continues its ninth season this weekend with one of the most popular stops on the schedule—Prague, Czech Republic. The EPT Prague began back on December 5 at the Hilton Prague Hotel, but the climax kicks off on Sunday, December 9 with the €5,000 + €300 Main Event.

The Hilton Prague, which opened in 1998 and is open daily from 2 p.m. to 6 a.m., will house the tournament in the Casino Atrium where players will be able to use both Euros and the Czech crown on the property. In addition, they'll be treated to free drinks, a buffet, and great casino games such as American Roulette, Poker Black Jack, Pontoon, Punto Banco, slot machines, and poker cash games of all levels.

While most people will be spending their time inside the casino, including the PokerNews Live Reporting Team, the host city is not to be overlooked. Every December for the past six years, players have flocked to Prague to take their shot at poker glory. The political, cultural and economical center of the country, Prague not only boasts great poker action but also 600 years of startling architecture including a castle, cathedral, museums, galleries, and famed Yuletide markets complete with hot wine stalls and gingerbread. In other words, there’s no better time for a great poker tournament than near the holidays.

In preparation for the Main Event, which will run for an entire week, we thought we’d take a quick look back at the event’s winners:

EPT Prague Season 8 Final Table

In 2011, the EPT Prague drew 722 players, the largest in its history, and created a prize pool of €720,000. Interestingly, the final table was represented by seven different countries—Germany, Netherlands, United States, Ukraine, Spain, Denmark and France—and saw Deutschland’s Martin Finger begin the day with more than 25% of the chips in play. He was soon responsible for the elimination of Andreas Wiese in seventh place, and took care of American Ari Engel in sixth just a few hands later.

It took just four hours, but eventually the 21-year-old Business Science student and Supernova Elite on PokerStars made it down to heads-up play against Holland's David Boyaciyan. The pair made a chip chop and left €100,000 on the table along with the title, which obviously meant a lot to both competitors as they played a marathon heads-up match.

On what would be the final hand, Boyaciyan raised to 380,000 on the button and Finger pushed back with a three-bet to 875,000. Boyaciyan four-bet to two million, Finger moved all in, and Boyaciyan called.

Showdown
Finger: AK
Boyaciyan: 1010

It was a classic race, but not after the flop came down KK6 and Boyaciyan fell behind to Finger's trip kings. The Q on the turn changed nothing, and neither did the 9 river. Boyaciyan finished in second-place and earned a consolation prize of €535,000; meanwhile, Finger became the EPT Prague champion.

For more on the EPT Prague Season 8, revisit our Live Reporting Blog.

PokerStars EPT Prague: Everything You Need to Know 101
Martin Finger won the EPT8 Prague for €720,000.

Buy-inEntrantsPrize PoolNumber of PayoutsDate
€5,000 + €300772€3,501,700104December 5-10, 2011
PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1stMartin FingerGermany€720,000
2ndDavid BoyaciyanNetherlands€535,000
3rdNicolas LeviFrance€270,000
4thGuillen UseroSpain€205,000
5thDenys DrobynaUkraine€160,000
6thAri EngelUnited States€125,000
7thAndreas WieseGermany€90,000
8thMats WissingDenmark€66,700

EPT Prague Season 7 Final Table

Buy-inEntrantsPrize PoolNumber of PayoutsDate
€5,000 + €300563€2,730,55080December 13-18, 2010

PokerStars EPT Prague: Everything You Need to Know 102
Roberto Romanello won the EPT7 Prague for €640,000.

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1stRoberto RomanelloUnited Kingdom€640,000
2ndEmiliano BonoItaly€435,000
3rdMarcin HoreckiPoland€247,000
4thPeter SkripkaRussia€163,000
5thMarco LeonzioItaly€130,000
6thJan BendikSlovakia€100,000
7thManuel BevandFrance€71,000
8thRoberto NulliItaly€54,500

For more on the EPT Prague Season 7, revisit our Live Reporting Blog.

EPT Prague Season 6 Final Table

Buy-inEntrantsPrize PoolNumber of PayoutsDate
€5,000 + €250586€2,930,00080December 1-6, 2009

PokerStars EPT Prague: Everything You Need to Know 103
Jan Skampa won the EPT6 Prague for €682,000.

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1stJan SkampaCzech Republic€682,000
2ndEyal AvitanIsrael€454,000
3rdStefan MattssonSweden€255,000
4thAnthony RouxFrance€171,000
5thLarry RyanRepublic of Ireland€135,000
6thLuca PaganoItaly€100,000
7thGustav EkerotSweden€71,000
8thSven EichelbaumGermany€55,500

For more on the EPT Prague Season 6, revisit our Live Reporting Blog.

EPT Prague Season 5 Final Table

Buy-inEntrantsPrize PoolNumber of PayoutsDate
€5,000569€2,764,50056December 9-13, 2008

PokerStars EPT Prague: Everything You Need to Know 104
Salvatore Bonavena won EPT5 for €774,000.

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1stSalvatore BonavenaItaly€774,000
2ndMassimo Di CiccoItaly€445,000
3rdAndrew ChenCanada€257,000
4thAlexiou KonstantinosGreece€199,000
5thFrancesco CirianniItaly€166,000
6thFredrik NygardFinland€130,000
7th[Removed:197]Germany€99,500
8thRaul MestreSpain€71,800

For more on the EPT Prague Season 5, revisit our Live Reporting Blog.

EPT Prague Season 4 Final Table

Buy-inEntrantsPrize PoolNumber of PayoutsDate
€4,700555€2,530,24056December 10-14, 2007

PokerStars EPT Prague: Everything You Need to Know 105
Arnaud Mattern won the first EPT Prague for €708,400.

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1stArnaud MatternFrance€708,400
2ndGino AlacquaItaly€407,300
3rdKristian KjøndalNorway€235,300
4thJuha LauttamusFinland€182,200
5thMarkus GolserAustria€151,800
6thNedzib SumanSweden€119,000
7thDag PalovicSlovakia€93,600
8thMikael NorinderSweden€63,200

For more on the EPT Prague Season 4, revisit our Live Reporting Blog.

Also, here's a look at the Season 9 Player of the Year race headed into the EPT Prague:

PokerStars EPT Prague: Everything You Need to Know 106
Mikalai Pobal leads the EPT9 POY race.

EPT 9 Player of the Year

PlacePlayerPoints
1Mikalai Pobal1,320
2Ilari Sahamies1,300
3Ludovic Lacay1,000
4Jan Bendik945
5Joni Jouhkimainen900
5Slavan Popov900
7Keven Stammen860
8Jason Lavallee850
9Anaras Alekberovas840
10Dan Smith825

Follow our live updates from the EPT Prague in our live reporting section.

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Executive Editor U.S.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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