2022 PokerStars EPT Prague

€5,300 EPT Prague Main Event
Day: 6
Event Info

2022 PokerStars EPT Prague

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a3
Prize
€913,250
Event Info
Buy-in
€5,300
Prize Pool
€6,144,950
Entries
1,267
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
125,000 / 250,000
Ante
250,000
Players Info - Day 6
Entries
4
Players Left
1

€5,300 EPT Prague Main Event

Day 6 Completed

Jordan Saccucci Wins Record-Breaking 2022 EPT Prague €5,300 Main Event (€913,250)

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Jordan Saccucci
Jordan Saccucci

The largest-ever PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague €5,300 Main Event has crowned its winner in the Czech capital. Only four players returned on Sunday to the Hilton Hotel Prague, the remaining survivors from a record field of 1,267 entries that had generated a prize pool of €6,144,950.

In the end, Canada's Jordan Saccucci went wire to wire in fewer than four hours on the final day, defeating two-time WSOP Main Event finalist Antoine Saout in heads-up.

Both players agreed to a deal prior to battling for the EPT Main Event trophy and it was the 33-year-old from Mississauga, Toronto who came out on top and secured the top prize of €913,250. Saout had to settle for a consolation prize of €800,000, the third-best live poker score of his career.

The final day also included Hungarian hotel and restaurant owner Istvan Pilhofer and Japan's Jun Obara.

Final Table Result 2022 EPT Prague Main Event

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (in EUR)
1Jordan SaccucciCanada€913,250*
2Antoine SaoutFrance€800,000*
3Istvan PilhoferHungary€470,500
4Jun ObaraJapan€361,950
5Parker TalbotCanada€278,450
6Luigi D'AlterioItaly€214,150
7Petar KalevBulgaria€164,750
8Javier Gomez ZapateroSpain€126,700
9Paul-Adrian CovaciuRomania€97,450

*denotes heads-up deal

Jordan Saccucci
Jordan Saccucci and family

Winner's Reaction

The winner was certainly relieved that his trip to Prague went better than the last time when he "had his ass kicked". Among the most talkative players throughout the entire tournament, Saccucci appeared laser-focused for the final showdown and had his family on the rail for support.

"Last time, I had a bad run but this time it was better," Saccucci told Joe Stapleton after his short-lived heads-up duel with Saout.

However, it wasn't smooth sailing for the winner at the final table.

"It was a roller coaster! Ups and downs, got lucky a few times. But it was good, I enjoyed it and I had fun," said the new 2022 EPT Prague Main Event champion, promising that he would "keep grinding".

The Canadian survived the Day 1 with over three times the starting stack. From there on, he gradually climbed the leaderboard and was near the top for the better part of the last three and a half days of play.

Action From the Final Day

Throughout the tournament, Saccucci had been the recipient of a lot of big pocket pairs, and that continued on the final day when he found pocket kings in the very first hand, sending Japan's Obara to the rail in the proc.ess.

Jun Obara
Jun Obara

Saccucci continued to dominate from the top of the leaderboard, but with no increase in aggression it was Saout who steadily chipped up to ultimately take over the lead. Pilhofer was short-stacked, but did manage to secure a double through Saout. However, the second clash of the duo ended in favour of the Frenchman and London resident when pocket deuces flopped a set against ace-nine.

Brief deal discussions emerged, and both contenders agreed to secure a payday of €800,000 each with €113,250 and the trophy awaiting the winner.

From there on, it was mostly one-way traffic as Saccucci hit most boards and quickly established a 2:1 lead over Saout. In the final hand, his ace-trey was up against pocket sixes and the Canadian flopped trips to lock up the victory.

Antoine Saout
Antoine Saout

The first part of the final table the previous day also featured PokerStars ambassador Parker Talbot, who eventually had to settle for fifth place. That was one spot better than his performance in 2016 and he took home a cash prize of €278,450 for the efforts. Other finalists included Luigi D'Alterio, Petar Kalev, Javier Gomez Zapatero, and Paul-Adrian Covaciu.


Parker Talbot Falls Just Short of Joining Exclusive PokerStars Team Pro Club


However, they all failed to stop the hot run of Saccucci, who scored the biggest victory of his poker career so far and topped the largest EPT Prague Main Event in history.

For PokerStars, the next major live poker series is just around the corner as the operator has the eyes already firmly set on the return of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA). The festival on the Bahamas also includes the highly anticipated second-ever edition of the PokerStars Players NL Hold'em Championship (PSPC) and the entire festival runs from January 22 until February 3, 2023 at the stunning Baha Mar Resort.

Tags: Antoine SaoutIstvan PilhoferJavier Gomez ZapateroJordan SaccucciJun ObaraLuigi D'AlterioParker TalbotPaul-Adrian CovaciuPetar Kalev

Antoine Saout Eliminated in 2nd Place (€800,000)

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Antoine SaoutJordan Saccucci
Antoine SaoutJordan Saccucci

In hand number 77 on the final day, Jordan Saccucci raised to 600,000 on the button. Antoine Saout three-bet to 2,000,000 with 9,650,000 behind and Saccucci then moved all-in.

It was somewhat uncharacteristic for the Canadian to do so and Saout mulled it over for a few seconds before he called it off to create a pot of more than 23 million.

Antoine Saout: {6-Hearts}{6-Clubs}
Jordan Saccucci: {a-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}

Antoine Labat called for a six from the rail but moments later, the flop fell {4-Spades}{3-Spades}{3-Hearts} to give Saccucci trips and leave Saout with two outs for a full house or running cards to a straight.

Nothing changed with the {9-Hearts} turn and the {9-Spades} river ended the run of Saout in second place. According to the deal struck by both players, he walks away with a consolation prize of €800,000. Saccucci topped a record-breaking EPT Main Event here in Prague for a top prize of €913,250.

Antoine SaoutJordan Saccucci
Antoine Saout and Jordan Saccucci

A recap of today's action is to follow.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jordan Saccucci ca
Jordan Saccucci
38,000,000
12,450,000
12,450,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Antoine Saout fr
Antoine Saout
Busted

Tags: Antoine LabatAntoine SaoutJordan Saccucci

Two-to-One Lead for Saccucci

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

In a limped pot to the {q-Spades}{j-Spades}{4-Clubs} flop, Jordan Saccucci checked with the {q-Hearts}{7-Diamonds} for the top pair. Antoine Saout bet 250,000 and called a check-raise to 600,000 by his opponent.

The {k-Hearts} fell on the turn and both players checked to see the {7-Hearts} river for free. Saccucci now bet his two pair for 1,600,000 and Saout folded.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jordan Saccucci ca
Jordan Saccucci
25,550,000
850,000
850,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Antoine Saout fr
Antoine Saout
12,250,000
-850,000
-850,000

Tags: Jordan SaccucciAntoine Saout

Saccucci Widens the Gap

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Jordan Saccucci limped the small blind with the {a-Clubs}{5-Diamonds} and Antoine Saout raised to 850,000 with the {k-Spades}{7-Hearts} in the big blind. The Canadian called and the {a-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{2-Clubs} flop cemented Saccucci's lead. Saout bet 525,000 and Saccucci came along.

After the {3-Diamonds} turn, Saout slowed down and check-called a bet worth 600,000 before heading to the {8-Diamonds} river. Saout checked once more and then faced a bet worth 1,200,000 by Saccucci, which sent the Frenchman into the tank.

He used one time bank extension before sigh-calling and Saccucci widened the gap.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jordan Saccucci ca
Jordan Saccucci
24,700,000
2,925,000
2,925,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Antoine Saout fr
Antoine Saout
13,100,000
-2,925,000
-2,925,000

Tags: Antoine SaoutJordan Saccucci

Saccucci Pulls Ahead at the Start

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Jordan Saccucci raised to 625,000 with the {k-Clubs}{q-Spades} and Antoine Saout defended the {5-Clubs}{2-Hearts}. The {a-Diamonds}{a-Clubs}{8-Diamonds} flop missed both players and Saout check-folded to a bet worth 400,000.

Saout then folded the button and Saccucci received a walk with pocket kings.

Saccucci raised to 500,000 with the {10-Spades}{8-Spades} and Saout called with {j-Clubs}{3-Hearts} in the big blind. The {a-Spades}{7-Spades}{6-Clubs} flop gave Saccucci a gutshot and flush draw. Saout checked and folded once more to a continuation bet.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jordan Saccucci ca
Jordan Saccucci
21,775,000
2,325,000
2,325,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Antoine Saout fr
Antoine Saout
16,025,000
-2,325,000
-2,325,000

Tags: Antoine SaoutJordan Saccucci

Deal Discussions Underway Prior to Heads-Up Play

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Jordan Saccucci and Antoine Saout are currently checking potential ICM deal numbers prior to the heads-up with near even stack sizes and the negotiations will last a few minutes until the cards go back in the air.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jordan Saccucci ca
Jordan Saccucci
19,450,000
-550,000
-550,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Antoine Saout fr
Antoine Saout
18,350,000

Tags: Antoine SaoutJordan Saccucci

Istvan Pilhofer Eliminated in 3rd Place (€470,5000)

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Istvan Pilhofer
Istvan Pilhofer

Antoine Saout moved all in from the small blind for 5,050,000 effective in Istvan Pilhofer's stack. Pilhofer called quickly, and the two were heading to a race with Pilhofer at risk.

Istvan Pilhofer: {a-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}
Antoine Saout: {2-Hearts}{2-Clubs}

Cheers roared from the rails for each player. "Ace! ace!" met with "Deuce! Deuce!

The flop came {6-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}, Saout drilling a set, leaving PIlhofer drawing very slim. The turn {8-Hearts} sealed it with the full house, and the river {j-Diamonds} made it official. Pilhofer was eliminated in third place and left the other two to play heads up.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Antoine Saout fr
Antoine Saout
18,350,000
5,850,000
5,850,000
Profile photo of Istvan Pilhofer hu
Istvan Pilhofer
Busted

Tags: Antoine SaoutIstvan Pilhofer

Level: 33

Blinds: 125,000/250,000

Ante: 250,000