Gilles Simon within the Driver’s Seat Forward of EPT Cyprus Foremost Occasion Finale

The PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus is in its twilight phases after the penultimate day of the $5,300 Foremost Occasion performed out contained in the Benefit Royal Diamond Lodge and Spa.

The stage is now set for the seven finalists, who return at 12:30 p.m. EEST, to compete for the $1,042,000 high prize alongside the glitz and glamour that comes with being an EPT Foremost Occasion Champion.

Main the pack of survivors is the esteemed on-line poker participant and the inaugural winner of PokerStars’ Dare to Stream competitors Gilles Simon. The 24-year-old bagged 8,075,000 after snatching the chip lead within the dying moments of Day 5.

Halil Tasyurek shouldn’t be too far behind with a stack of seven,825,000. Nikita Kuznetsov (7,475,000), who started the day as one of many quick stacks, is rounding out the highest three counts.

Additionally coming again for Day 6 is Austrian-based German participant Yannick Schumacher (6,050,000), Jose Gonzalez Sanchez (4,700,000), start-of-day chip chief Andrea Dato (2,875,000) and Bjorn Kozenkai (2,575,000). Kozenkai was one of many quick stacks in the course of the bubble on Day 2 however has since run up a stack and has already locked up the largest money of his profession.

EPT Cyprus Foremost Occasion Closing Desk Seat Draw

Closing Desk Payouts

Day 5 Motion

Simply 16 gamers had made it by means of to this stage of the Foremost Occasion, and the strain was palpable from the shuffle-up and deal.

The quick stack coming into Day 5 was Alessandro Minasi, and he managed to navigate the primary hour of play and steal the blinds on just a few events till he was flipped out of competition by Simon.

It was enterprise as common for the subsequent 45 minutes till controversy struck on the outer desk between Kuznetsov and Sanchez. Confusion arose when Kuznetsov moved all in. This was unbeknownst to Sanchez, who was within the small blind. Sanchez flicked in a T-25,000 chip, pondering he was limping in. To the latter’s shock, the vendor introduced that Sanchez had referred to as the all-in. A prolonged deliberation from the ground dominated that Sanchez might forfeit the 50,000 he had put in. He was not pressured to name as he had not verbalized any motion.

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Shortly after every part calmed down, the charismatic Timur Vardanian was despatched to the incorrect aspect of the rail after operating queens into kings simply earlier than the primary break of the day.

Over the course of the subsequent degree, Aleksandr Faterin and Marc Foggin discovered themselves ejected after jamming into aces and jacks respectively. The exits of Gerard Carbo and Day Three chip chief Nathan Tetart passed off within the following degree to carry on the ultimate desk bubble.

ICM issues then got here much more into play, with nobody yielding for the subsequent two and a half hours. Tasyurek was the primary beneficiary of this and sailed to the highest of the counts after displaying unimaginable endurance and selecting his spots properly.

Ultimately, somebody needed to give, and that was arguably essentially the most skilled participant on the desk in Kenny Hallaert. The Belgian veteran was the favourite for a double up however Sanchez was in a position to spike a three-outer to carry the sphere to its remaining 9.

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The hopefuls have been then despatched on a dinner break, and upon their return, the motion picked up tenfold than earlier than.

On the primary hand again, Priit Parmasto, who gained his first main title again in March, three-bet jammed with ace-jack however was referred to as by Kuznetsov’s queens and located no assist on the runout. It has been a breakout yr for the Estonian, as he picked up his first main title in March, and now the 35-year-old can add this milestone to his resume.

Moments later, Victor Yugay shipped in his stack with ace-queen, however Sanchez was there with ace-king to finish the hopes of the Uzbek. It was fairly the story for Yugay, as he had certified for the Foremost Occasion for simply $55. He was in a position to parlay that right into a $125,350 payday.

Schumacher then leapfrogged Tasyurek into the chip lead after cracking Sanchez’s kings with ace-ten. Schumacher then picked up kings of his personal and took down a four-bet pot towards Tasyurek, who received out of line for the primary time of the day.

Schumacher additionally pulled off the bluff of the day after firing three streets with the diaper and managed to fold out Kuznetsov’s flush.

Schumacher then relinquished the chip lead again to Tasyurek after the latter rivered a full home to crack the previous’s cowboys.

The sphere then regarded like it might attain the six-player mark within the dying moments of the ultimate degree. Sanchez received it in with ace-jack and was referred to as by Tasyurek’s pocket queens. He rivered journey jacks to double up, which confirmed that Day 6 would begin with seven gamers. The hit to Tasyurek’s stack then confirmed Simon because the chip chief.

The ultimate day kicks off at 12:30 p.m. EEST on Sunday, October 22, with play resuming on Stage 32. The blinds can be 100,000/200,000/200,000.

The PokerNews reside reporting workforce could have boots on the bottom to carry you all of the motion from this Championship Occasion.

Editor & Dwell Reporter

Calum has been part of the PokerNews workforce since September 2021 after working within the UK vitality sector. He performed his first hand of poker in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the sport. Calum’s proudest poker achievement is successful the one event he has ever performed in Las Vegas, the distinguished $60 Flamingo night occasion.

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