We hadn't seen any limped pots yet, but there's a first for everything.
Eli Heath limped in from the small blind holding 
. Sotirios Koutoupas checked his big blind with 
.
Heath bet out 65,000 and Koutoupas made the call.
On the flop Heath didn't have much equity with his hand, but he picked up some more with the 
on the turn. He bet again, 140,000 this time, and Sotirios Koutoupas folded.
Another 20 minute break for the players.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,470,000
130,000
|
130,000 |
|
||
|
6,400,000
-80,000
|
-80,000 |
|
2,105,000
-125,000
|
-125,000 |
|
2,090,000
-310,000
|
-310,000 |
|
1,005,000
-195,000
|
-195,000 |
|
||
Rustem Muratov, an electrical equipment distributor from Russia, had only played three tournaments before this one, his biggest cash not even worth half the buy-in at EPT10 Deauville. But after winning his way in on PokerStars for only €82, Muratov made it all of the way to sixth for a magical run in a city he calls a "fairy tale" place. Read more on the PokerStars blog.
Level: 29
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 10,000
![[user265690]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
On the first hand back from the break Oliver Price three-bet shoved for 2,050,000 with ace-king. The original raiser was Sotirios Koutoupas and he elected to fold his pocket threes.
It's a long road to an EPT final table during which most players will enjoy and endure swings up and down. The PokerStars blog plots the path of the eight final table players here and finds it's been an easier route for some than others. Click and compare the final tablists' tourney journeys.
Eugene Katchalov shoved from the button for 855,000 wuth 
. Eli Heath folded pocket deuces but Sotirios Koutoupas made the call from the big blind holding 
.
Katchalov was well ahead but wouldn't get the 1.8 million pot. The 
flop was of no danger but did make for some split pot outs for Koutoupas. The 
on the turn was no direct heat, but the 
made it a split pot.
The hand after Katchalov shoved again, this time with deuces. Katchalov got no callers and worked his stack up to above the million mark.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,705,000
235,000
|
235,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,050,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
|
||
Another shove from Eugene Katchalov and another chopped pot, although on this occasion he was glad of the chop as he had to sweat the river card.
Pre-flop Katchalov moved all-in for 1,195,000 (roughly 15 big blinds) with , it folded to Oliver Price in the big blind and he peaked down at 
. He took about 15 seconds to think it over and then announced call.
The 
flop meant that only Price could win the pot outright. The 
turn meant that any club on the river would eliminate Katchalov and end his Triple Crown bid. The dealer revealed the and Katchalov breathed a sigh of relief.
Chop pot.
Sotirios Koutoupas opened the button to 160,000 with . Oliver Price folded his small blind but Harry Law had more creative plans in the big blind.
With just 
he thought for some time, and then made it 425,000.
This didn't scare Koutoupas however. The Greek player grabbed two towers of chips and pushed them forward. 925,000 in total and Law quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,905,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,500,000
-900,000
|
-900,000 |
