Back to back eliminations for the second time at this final table, albeit this time they were separated by a 20 minute break.
From under-the-gun Eli Heath moved all-in for 1,230,000 (12 big blinds) with , next to act Sotirios Koutoupas called with , both blinds folded and it was time to go to showdown.
Yet again Heath had got it in good, but yet again he'd be brutally outflopped as the first three community cards were . Heath was now just an 11% shot to stay in the tournament. He didn't get there on the turn or river and shook the hand of his opponents as he left the table.
Sotirios Koutoupas opened the small blind to 250,000 holding . Oliver Price didn't have all that many big blinds left anymore and pushed all in with from the big blind. Snap call by Koutoupas.
Commentator Joe Stapleton jokingly said that Koutoupas would have this confrontation locked up after the flop, the way he has been running this final table.
"Ha!" Stapleton shouted as the window card became visible. The and that accompanied the queen for the flop gave Price something of a chance. Only one out of twenty times would Price still win this certain situation though.
"So you're telling me there's a chance?!"
The on the turn turned Price's 5% hand into an 18% hand. With an up and down, every ten and five would now give him the much needed double up. All other cards would mean he was out.
The river was a and the fairy tale was over for Price. Price, who wasn't planning on playing this event until Dominik Nitsche convinced him, walks away with €271,200 during his second ever EPT.
As you ready to follow heads-up play in the Main Event, read on the PokerStars blog how PCA Main Event winner Dominik Panka has confirmed his arrival as a bright new talent in the game by winning the €10,300 EPT Deauville High Roller for €272,000. Panka beat a final table including EPT winners Davidi Kitai, Martin Schleich and Kent Lundmark, as well as former EPT Player of the Year Ondrej Vinklarek.
On the first hand of heads-up play Sotirios Koutoupas raised to 200,000 with and Eugene Katchalov defended with . On the flop Koutoupas bet 150,000 and Katchalov called. The fell on the turn, Katchalov led for 350,000 and Koutoupas folded.
Two hands later Koutourpas made the same pre-flop raise with and Katchalov called with . On the flop Koutoupas c-bet 150,000 and Katchalov just called. The turn gave Katchalov a full-house, he checked and so did Koutoupas. On the river Katchalov led for 400,000 and Koutoupas folded.
Sotirios Koutoupas just made the first three-bet of heads-up play, he raised to 450,000 with and Eugene Katchalov, who had opened to 200,000 on the button with pocket fives called. On the flop a continuation bet of 350,000 from Koutoupas was enough to get it done.
With three players among the final five, the U.K. was hoping to secure a second EPT title this season after Tom Middleton's triumph at EPT10 Barcelona. But Sotirios Koutoupas took care of all three, setting up this heads-up battle with the Triple Crown-seeking Eugene Katchalov. Both have come close to EPT greatness before, as told on the PokerStars blog.
No big pots as yet in this heads-up battle but Sotirios Koutoupas has got some back. He called with from the big blind after Eugene Katchalov raised to 200,000 from the button with . The Greek player outflopped Katchalov on the flop. It checked to Katchalov, he bet 200,000 and Koutoupas called.
There was no further betting on the turn or river and Koutoupas won the pot.