After only five hands of heads up play to finish off our epic six days of EPT over here, Finland is left out in the cold while the crown goes to the Netherlands in the shape of young Dutchman Constant Rijkenberg.
It has been a rollercoaster ride of a final table for Rijkenberg. He almost immediately lost half his stack to Dragan Galic who was chip leader going into every day of the tournament, and then clawed it back, largely through hitting some fortunate flops very hard, to stomp on the rest of the table with obvious glee. Whatever he was doing up there on final table, it clearly worked for him, as the 20-year-old whippersnapper now has an EPT title, a shiny trophy and a gigantic cheque for €1,508,000 to his name.
As we leave the Casino San Remo for the last time, headed for Monte Carlo and the finale of this EPT season, it is safe to say that no-one will be having more fun tonight than Constant Rijkenberg. Until next week in Monaco, it's goodnight from PokerNews.com.
Constant Rijkenberg opens with a raise to 250,000. Kalle Niemi responded with a reraise to 850,000. Rijkenberg, never shy about putting chips in the pot, very quickly calls. The flop doesn't seem like much of an action flop, . Niemi makes a massive 1.075 million bet and again Rijkenberg quickly calls.
The turn is the . Niemi moves all in for 2.765 million and Rijkenberg double-fist-pump-snap-calls!
Niemi:
Rijkenberg:
A cunningly laid trap by Rijkenberg! It helps that Niemi made top pair on the flop and didn't see a scare card on the turn. Both players are out of their seats. With just one card to come, Niemi can only be saved by a river ten. The dealer burns and turns the to secure the 2009 San Remo Main Event championship for Constant Rijkenberg. Niemi will leave with a "disappointing" €862,000.
Kalle Niemi raises to 250,000 from the button. Constant Rijkenberg calls to a flop of . He checks over to Niemi, who bets another 275,000. Rijkenberg thinks things through before check-raising to 620,000. Niemi throws his hand away.
Kalle Niemi limps in from the small blind. Constant Rijkenberg raises to 325,000. Niemi calls for the second hand in a row, although this time he has position after the flop. That flop, by the way, is . Rijkenberg bets out 525,000 on the flop. Niemi puts in a large raise, inducing a quick fold from Rijkenberg.
Constant Rijkenberg opens the pot for 225,000. Kalle Niemi calls from the big blind and acts first on a flop of . Niemi checks to Rijkenberg, who fires out a continuation bet that wins the pot.