Blind on blind, Sam Grafton bet 16,000 on the K♥K♣Q♠ flop and Thomas Santerne called.
The turn was the J♣ and Grafton checked. Santerne bet 80,000 and Grafton called.
The river was the 5♣ and Grafton checked again. Santerne shoved and Grafton quickly folded with around 16 big blinds behind.
Thomas Santerne opened to 32,000 and was called by Niklas Astedt, and Teun Mulder in the big blind.
The trio checked the 9♣9♠7♣ flop and Mulder bet 36,000 on the 4♦ turn. Santerne was the only caller.
The river was the 3♠ and Mulder bet 70,000. Santerne folded and Mulder took down the pot.
The road to PokerStars European Poker Tour glory always has plenty of twists and turns, and the record-breaking 2023 EPT €5,300 Prague Main Event was no exception.
Jon Kyte, who had led the tournament from Day 3, entered the finale with 229 big blinds and a historic chip lead, one that was assumed to be unassailable. Padraig O'Neill had other ideas and was unexpectedly awarded the final EPT Trophy of the 2023 season after overcoming the Norwegian in heads-up play.
Known affectionately as "Smidge" in the Irish poker community, O'Neill came into the day as the shortest stack and turned his 12 big blinds into a €1,030,000 payout. With the victory, he became Ireland's second-ever EPT Main Event champion, 11 years after Steve O'Dwyer reigned supreme in Monte Carlo.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Padraig O'Neill | Ireland | €1,030,000 |
| 2 | Jon Kyte | Norway | €643,000 |
| 3 | Umberto Ruggeri | Italy | €459,240 |
| 4 | Cheng Zhao | China | €353,240 |
| 5 | Adam Wagner | Czechia | €271,660 |
| 6 | Grigorii Rodin | Russian Federation | €209,000 |
| 7 | Govert Metaal | Netherlands | €160,750 |
| 8 | Marle Spragg | United States | €123,600 |
| 9 | Vincent Meli | France | €95,000 |
Level: 13
Blinds: 8,000/16,000
Ante: 16,000
The remaining seven players are heading on another 20-minute break. When they return the blinds will be 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 big blind ante.
Teun Mulder opened to 27,000 and Nikita Kuznetsov three-bet to 90,000 from the next position.
It folded back to Mulder who quickly folded, with Kuznetsov flashing A♥K♦ and taking down the pot.
Sergey Lebedev opened to 25,000 and Teun Mulder asked how much his opponent was playing before raising to 70,000.
Nikita Kuznetsov then asked Sam Grafton how much he was playing and four-bet to 195,000.
Lebedev folded with Mulder not far behind him.
"I think my hand was better than yours," Lebedev said to Mulder.
"80% likely," said Kuznetsov.
Thomas Santerne appeared to call but instead min-raised blind on blind and Niklas Astedt defended his big blind.
Both players checked the K♦J♣2♦ flop and Q♥ turn. The river was the 9♥.
Santerne checked and Astedt bet 20,000. Santerne thought before calling.
"Jack," said Astedt tabling J♠8♥ and Santerne mucked.
"What just happened!" said tablemate Sam Grafton. "Did you just value bet third pair?"
"He knows me," said Santerne.
Thomas Santerne opened to 25,000 and was called by Niklas Astedt. Sergey Lebedev then three-bet all in for 359,000.
It folded back to Santerne who folded, with Astedt appearing torn before ultimately folding as well.
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