2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

$2,200 Eureka High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info

2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q6
Prize
$338,460
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$2,772,480
Entries
1,444
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
216
Players Left
1

$2,200 Eureka High Roller

Day 2 Completed

Valeriy Pak Wins $338,460 and the Eureka High Roller Trophy After 17 Hour Poker Session

Level 37 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Valeriy Pak
Valeriy Pak

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).

EPT Cyprus $2,200 Eureka High Roller Final Table Results

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (USD)
1Valeriy PakBelarus$338,460*
2Takahiro TsuguJapan$300,000*
3Alexander van der SwaluwNetherlands$292,320*
4Joris RuijsNetherlands$153,950
5David KarsentyFrance$118,300
6Guillermo GordoSpain$90,875
7Wael SarkisLebanon$69,925
8Aziz EfeTurkey$54,075
9Baurzhan AkimovKazakhstan$41,575

*Denotes ICM deal

Click here to see the full list of payouts

Day 2 Recap

Alejandro Lococo
Alejandro Lococo

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.

Takahiro Tsugu
Takahiro Tsugu

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.

Alexander Van Der Swaluw
Alexander Van Der Swaluw

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

Tags: Alejandro LococoAlexander van der SwaluwAnton WiggAziz EfeBaurzhan AkimovDavid KarsentyGuillermo GordoJoris RuijsLuke MartinelliMaximilian SilzPiotr NurzynskiTakahiro TsuguTom MiddletonValeriy PakWael Sarkis

The Final Three Have Agreed to a Chop

Level 37 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

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

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Valeriy PakBelarus$338,460*
2Takahiro TsuguJapan$300,000*
2Alexander van der SwaluwNetherlands$292,320*

The players also agreed to run out one hand for the trophy.

The dealer put out a board of Q3Q24. Alexander van der Swaluw tabled 108, Takahiro Tsugu tabled 76, and the chip leader at the time of the deal, Valeriy Pak tabled Q6 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
Profile photo of Valeriy Pak uz
Valeriy Pak
43,320,000
26,320,000
26,320,000
Profile photo of Takahiro Tsugu jp
Takahiro Tsugu
Busted
Profile photo of Alexander van der Swaluw nl
Alexander van der Swaluw
Busted

Tags: Alexander van der SwaluwTakahiro TsuguValeriy Pak

Joris Ruijs Eliminated in 4th Place ($153,950)

Level 37 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Joris Ruijs
Joris Ruijs

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: K2
Alexander van der Swaluw: 44

Ruijs had some counterfeit outs to go along with his overcard after the J1010 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
Profile photo of Alexander van der Swaluw nl
Alexander van der Swaluw
14,000,000
9,300,000
9,300,000
Profile photo of Joris Ruijs nl
Joris Ruijs
Busted

Tags: Alexander van der SwaluwJoris Ruijs

Level: 37

Blinds: 300,000/600,000

Ante: 600,000

Ruijs' Turn to Double Through Pak

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Valeriy Pak jammed from the small blind and Joris Ruijs called off his 3,475,000 stack from the big blind.

Joris Ruijs: Q10
Valeriy Pak: J5

Pak paired up on the J72 flop and remained ahead on the 7 turn. However, the Q river gave Ruijs the winner with a pair of queens.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Valeriy Pak uz
Valeriy Pak
17,000,000
-2,800,000
-2,800,000
Profile photo of Joris Ruijs nl
Joris Ruijs
7,000,000
4,275,000
4,275,000

Tags: Joris RuijsValeriy Pak

Swaluw Doubles Through Pak

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

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: KQ
Valeriy Pak: AQ

The full board ran out 258K4 and Swaluw got a very important double at the four-handed final table.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Valeriy Pak uz
Valeriy Pak
19,800,000
-2,400,000
-2,400,000
Profile photo of Alexander van der Swaluw nl
Alexander van der Swaluw
4,700,000
600,000
600,000

Tags: Alexander vanAlexander van der SwaluwValeriy Pak

David Karsenty Eliminated in 5th Place ($118,300)

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
David Karsenty
David Karsenty

David Karsenty moved all in for 6,000,000 from the button and Takahiro Tsugu snap-called from the big blind.

David Karsenty: 65
Takahiro Tsugu: AK

Tsugu paired up on the 28K to leave Karsenty drawing thin. The K confirmed Karsenty's exit and the 7 completed the board.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Takahiro Tsugu jp
Takahiro Tsugu
14,700,000
6,600,000
6,600,000
Profile photo of David Karsenty fr
David Karsenty
Busted

Tags: David KarsentyTakahiro Tsugu

Karsenty Holds to Double

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

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: 33
Joris Ruijs: A2

Karsenty's small pair held out to scoop the pot following the A10748 runout.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of David Karsenty fr
David Karsenty
6,000,000
1,375,000
1,375,000
Profile photo of Joris Ruijs nl
Joris Ruijs
4,000,000
-2,400,000
-2,400,000