Thrilling Action at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus: Day 1 Highlights of the $10,300 EPT High Roller
The 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) in Cyprus has kicked off with an electrifying start, showcasing top-notch poker talent and heart-pounding action on the prestigious felt. The centerpiece of today’s excitement was the much-anticipated $10,300 EPT High Roller, which drew an impressive 405 players to the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. After an intense Day 1, a total of 164 players will return to continue their quest for glory.
Top Performers of the Day
After ten grueling levels of play, it was Parahat Nurmuhammedov, hailing from Turkmenistan, who emerged as the Day 1 chip leader with a commanding stack of 524,000 chips, representing a phenomenal 349 big blinds. Nurmuhammedov’s play has been nothing short of remarkable, with this tournament marking a potential turning point in his career. With just shy of $100,000 in live tournament earnings and already two cashes in this series, he is poised to leap to new heights if he continues to run hot.
Following Nurmuhammedov is Germany’s Berthold Winz, sitting in second place with 391,000 chips (261 big blinds). Not far behind is the United States’ Ray Qartomy, who completed the podium with 378,000 chips (252 big blinds). As we look ahead to Day 2, these top three players are certainly ones to watch.
End of Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parahat Nurmuhammedov | Turkmenistan | 524,000 | 349 |
| 2 | Berthold Winz | Germany | 391,000 | 261 |
| 3 | Ray Qartomy | United States | 378,000 | 252 |
| 4 | Simeon Spasov | Bulgaria | 324,000 | 216 |
| 5 | Umberto Ruggeri | Italy | 314,500 | 210 |
| 6 | Aleksei Gortikov | Russian Federation | 310,500 | 207 |
| 7 | Nichan Khorchidian | Lebanon | 306,000 | 204 |
| 8 | Boris Kuzmanovic | Croatia | 286,000 | 191 |
| 9 | Xiaosheng Zheng | China | 276,000 | 184 |
| 10 | Belarmino De Souza | Brazil | 268,000 | 179 |
Notable Players and Historic Moments
Among the many players vying for a deep run, one of the names to watch alongside the leaders is Roberto Romanello. The Welsh poker veteran boasts a remarkable record, with nearly $5 million in live tournament earnings and a storied history in EPT events. With a Day 1 stack of 231,500 chips, Romanello’s experience on this magnificent stage could play a crucial role as the tournament progresses. His journey in EPT began back in 2007, and he etched his name into poker lore after winning the EPT Prague Main Event in 2011.
Others who survived Day 1 included rising stars like Jelle Moene (218,500), Masashi Oya (199,000), and Steve O’Dwyer (198,500), among others. As the tournament continues, it will be fascinating to see how these players adapt and maneuver through the escalating pressures.
Survival and Setbacks
The intense competition also claimed several notable casualties today. Fintan Hand, a prominent PokerStars Ambassador, exited early after a difficult run-in with online legend Simon Mattsson. Other familiar faces such as Teun Mulder, Mustapha Kanit, and Andrey Pateychuk met with early exits as well. However, since the tournament allows for reentry, there’s a likelihood that many of these players will re-enter for a second chance.
What’s Next?
Day 2 of the $10,300 EPT High Roller resumes tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. local time, commencing with Level 11, where blinds will start at 1,000/1,500 with a 1,500 big blind ante. As levels are shortened to 50 minutes each, the pace of the tournament is set to quicken, and the remaining players aim to place themselves into the money and ultimately battle it out until a winner is crowned.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for ongoing coverage of the $10,300 EPT High Roller and all events taking place at the 2024 EPT Cyprus stop, as the drama unfolds and the stakes soar!
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