$2,200 Eureka High Roller
Day 2 Completed
$2,200 Eureka High Roller
Day 2 Completed
There has been another winner crowned at the 2023 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus, as the $2,200 Eureka High Roller has come to its conclusion following a three-way deal involving Valeriy Pak, Takahiro Tsugu and Alexander van der Swaluw. Pak then won the flip for the trophy to be confirmed as the overall winner.
Pak took home $338,460, while Tsugu and Van Der Swaluw locked up $300,000 and $292,320 respectively in a day that lasted nearly 17 hours.
Day 2 began with 216 players, from an initial 1,444 entries, who were already in the money and featured notable names such as EPT Main Event winners Anton Wigg (49th - $7,775), Piotr Nurzynski (146th - $3,850) and Tom Middleton (102nd - $4,425).
Place | Winner | Country | Prize (USD) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Valeriy Pak | Belarus | $338,460* |
2 | Takahiro Tsugu | Japan | $300,000* |
3 | Alexander van der Swaluw | Netherlands | $292,320* |
4 | Joris Ruijs | Netherlands | $153,950 |
5 | David Karsenty | France | $118,300 |
6 | Guillermo Gordo | Spain | $90,875 |
7 | Wael Sarkis | Lebanon | $69,925 |
8 | Aziz Efe | Turkey | $54,075 |
9 | Baurzhan Akimov | Kazakhstan | $41,575 |
*Denotes ICM deal
Click here to see the full list of payouts
Maximilian Silz and PokerStars ambassador Alejandro Lococo came into the day as the chip leaders after topping the field on Day 1a and 1b, respectively. Lococo had a premature exit and bowed out in 103rd place for $5,100. Silz put in a deeper run before being ousted in 29th place for $10,275.
The field was whittled down to the final table of nine players after 13 hours of play. Luke Martinelli’s (10th - $32,000) ace-three outflopped Wael Sarkis’ ace-jack, but a jack on the turn and a brick on the river marked the end of the Australian’s journey.
The chips were then passed around the table with several double-ups taking place, which included aces being cracked in consecutive hands to prolong nine-handed play.
After 90 minutes of the final table, someone had to be the first to exit, and that player was Baurzhan Akimov. He ran king-ten into ace-king and couldn't connect on the runout. Akimov collected $41,575, which marked his biggest ever live cash, taking him over the $100,000 mark in live tournament earnings.
Aziz Efe was next to go. He was reduced to crumbs after doubling up Sarkis and was finished off by Pak. Like Akimov, Efe’s payday of $54,075 also gave him his biggest-ever tournament score.
Pak then claimed his second elimination in quick succession as his pocket jacks remained best against Sarkis’ pocket nines. Sarkis banked $69,925 and secured a career milestone of passing $1 million in live earnings.
It was then Guillermo Gordo’s turn to book his best-ever tournament payout, which netted him $90,875. His sixth-place finish came at the hands of Joris Ruijs. Shortly after, David Karsenty jammed into ace-king with suited connectors but failed to leapfrog the big slick and was ousted to set up four-handed play.
Pak began to pull away, but Van Der Swaluw and Rouijs doubled through him in back-to-back hands to halt his domination. Van Der Swaluw then claimed the rest of Rouij's chips after he rivered a full house to bust his compatriot.
The three remaining players quickly came to an ICM deal and decided to flip for the trophy. Still the chip leader, Pak flopped trip queens to seal the victory.
That concludes PokerNews live reporting of the $2,200 Eureka High Roller
After a few hands of three handed play an ICM chop was floated and the clock was stopped.
The players looked over the numbers and came to an agreement.
Final Three Payouts
Place | Name | Country | Prize |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Valeriy Pak | Belarus | $338,460* |
2 | Takahiro Tsugu | Japan | $300,000* |
2 | Alexander van der Swaluw | Netherlands | $292,320* |
The players also agreed to run out one hand for the trophy.
The dealer put out a board of Q♠3♥Q♦2♦4♥. Alexander van der Swaluw tabled 10♠8♠, Takahiro Tsugu tabled 7♦6♦, and the chip leader at the time of the deal, Valeriy Pak tabled Q♥6♣ to win the trophy and the largest of the three final prizes.
Play has now concluded and a final recap will follow shortly.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Valeriy Pak |
43,320,000
26,320,000
|
26,320,000 |
Takahiro Tsugu | Busted | |
Alexander van der Swaluw | Busted |
Joris Ruijs jammed for 6,000,000 from the small blind and Alexander van der Swaluw called from the big blind to put his compatriot at risk.
Joris Ruijs: K♣2♣
Alexander van der Swaluw: 4♦4♠
Ruijs had some counterfeit outs to go along with his overcard after the J♥10♥10♣ flop. The A♦ also gave him a gutshot to Broadway. The 4♥ river resulted in Van Der Swaluw having a full house for the winning hand.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Alexander van der Swaluw |
14,000,000
9,300,000
|
9,300,000 |
Joris Ruijs | Busted |
Level: 37
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Valeriy Pak jammed from the small blind and Joris Ruijs called off his 3,475,000 stack from the big blind.
Joris Ruijs: Q♦10♦
Valeriy Pak: J♦5♦
Pak paired up on the J♥7♣2♠ flop and remained ahead on the 7♥ turn. However, the Q♣ river gave Ruijs the winner with a pair of queens.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Valeriy Pak |
17,000,000
-2,800,000
|
-2,800,000 |
Joris Ruijs |
7,000,000
4,275,000
|
4,275,000 |
The action folded to current chip leader Valeriy Pak on the button who open jammed covering the table. The small blind folded before Alexander van der Swaluw called off for his tournament life.
Alexander van der Swaluw: K♠Q♣
Valeriy Pak: A♠Q♥
The full board ran out 2♥5♠8♠K♥4♦ and Swaluw got a very important double at the four-handed final table.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Valeriy Pak |
19,800,000
-2,400,000
|
-2,400,000 |
Alexander van der Swaluw |
4,700,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
David Karsenty moved all in for 6,000,000 from the button and Takahiro Tsugu snap-called from the big blind.
David Karsenty: 6♦5♦
Takahiro Tsugu: A♥K♠
Tsugu paired up on the 2♣8♥K♦ to leave Karsenty drawing thin. The K♥ confirmed Karsenty's exit and the 7♣ completed the board.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Takahiro Tsugu |
14,700,000
6,600,000
|
6,600,000 |
David Karsenty | Busted |
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Valeriy Pak |
22,200,000
8,700,000
|
8,700,000 |
Takahiro Tsugu |
8,100,000
-4,050,000
|
-4,050,000 |
David Karsenty | 6,000,000 | |
Alexander van der Swaluw |
4,100,000
-1,900,000
|
-1,900,000 |
Joris Ruijs |
2,725,000
-1,275,000
|
-1,275,000 |
Joris Ruijs opened to 2,500,000 from the hijack and David Karsenty called off his 2,375,000 stack from the cutoff.
David Karsenty: 3♦3♠
Joris Ruijs: A♥2♥
Karsenty's small pair held out to scoop the pot following the A♣10♣7♥4♣8♠ runout.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
David Karsenty |
6,000,000
1,375,000
|
1,375,000 |
Joris Ruijs |
4,000,000
-2,400,000
|
-2,400,000 |