€5,300 EPT Prague Main Event
Day 6 Completed
2022 PokerStars EPT Prague
€5,300 EPT Prague Main Event
Day: 6
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 6
2022 PokerStars EPT Prague
Buy-in
€5,300
Prize Pool
€6,144,950
Entries
1,267
Level
33
Blinds
125,000 / 250,000
Ante
250,000
Entries
4
Players Left
1
Jordan Saccucci Wins Record-Breaking 2022 EPT Prague €5,300 Main Event (€913,250)
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
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
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Saccucci | Canada | €913,250* |
| 2 | Antoine Saout | France | €800,000* |
| 3 | Istvan Pilhofer | Hungary | €470,500 |
| 4 | Jun Obara | Japan | €361,950 |
| 5 | Parker Talbot | Canada | €278,450 |
| 6 | Luigi D'Alterio | Italy | €214,150 |
| 7 | Petar Kalev | Bulgaria | €164,750 |
| 8 | Javier Gomez Zapatero | Spain | €126,700 |
| 9 | Paul-Adrian Covaciu | Romania | €97,450 |
*denotes heads-up deal
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.
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.
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.
Antoine Saout Eliminated in 2nd Place (€800,000)
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
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: 
Jordan Saccucci: 
Antoine Labat called for a six from the rail but moments later, the flop fell 
to give Saccucci trips and leave Saout with two outs for a full house or running cards to a straight.
Nothing changed with the 
turn and the 
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.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
38,000,000 | 12,450,000 |
|
Busted |
Two-to-One Lead for Saccucci
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
In a limped pot to the 
flop, Jordan Saccucci checked with the 
for the top pair. Antoine Saout bet 250,000 and called a check-raise to 600,000 by his opponent.
The 
fell on the turn and both players checked to see the 
river for free. Saccucci now bet his two pair for 1,600,000 and Saout folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
25,550,000 | 850,000 |
|
|
12,250,000 | -850,000 |
Saccucci Widens the Gap
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Jordan Saccucci limped the small blind with the 
and Antoine Saout raised to 850,000 with the 
in the big blind. The Canadian called and the 
flop cemented Saccucci's lead. Saout bet 525,000 and Saccucci came along.
After the 
turn, Saout slowed down and check-called a bet worth 600,000 before heading to the 
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
24,700,000 | 2,925,000 |
|
|
13,100,000 | -2,925,000 |
Saccucci Pulls Ahead at the Start
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Jordan Saccucci raised to 625,000 with the 
and Antoine Saout defended the 
. The 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 
and Saout called with 
in the big blind. The 
flop gave Saccucci a gutshot and flush draw. Saout checked and folded once more to a continuation bet.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
21,775,000 | 2,325,000 |
|
|
16,025,000 | -2,325,000 |
Action Recommences With Deal in Place
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Both players have come to an agreement and locked up €800,000 each. The winner takes home an additional €113,250 and the golden EPT Main Event trophy.
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Saccucci | Canada | 19,450,000 | 78 | €800,000 |
| 2 | Antoine Saout | France | 18,350,000 | 73 | €800,000 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
19,450,000 | -550,000 |
|
|
18,350,000 |
Istvan Pilhofer Eliminated in 3rd Place (€470,5000)
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
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: 
Antoine Saout:
Cheers roared from the rails for each player. "Ace! ace!" met with "Deuce! Deuce!
The flop came 
, Saout drilling a set, leaving PIlhofer drawing very slim. The turn 
sealed it with the full house, and the river 
made it official. Pilhofer was eliminated in third place and left the other two to play heads up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
18,350,000 | 5,850,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 33
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000