2024 European Poker Tour Cyprus: Exciting Day 2 of the $5,300 EPT Main Event
As the sun dipped below the horizon in Cyprus, the lights of the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa illuminated the excitement of the 2024 European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus. Day 2 of the highly anticipated $5,300 EPT Main Event saw the tournament shift gears and ramp up the stakes, as players fought hard for a coveted spot in the money.
A Record-Breaking Field
With registration open until the start of Day 2, the tournament welcomed an additional 55 players, swelling the total entries to an impressive 1,284. This massive turnout translated into a staggering prize pool of $6,227,400, with the eventual champion set to pocket a life-changing $1,030,000. The excitement was palpable as players knew that even a min-cash would yield $8,400, with the top 191 positions guaranteed a payout.
Chip Leaders at the End of Day 2
The competition was fierce, and Bulgaria’s Fahredin Mustafov emerged as the dominant force, finishing the day with a chip count of 920,000, equivalent to 184 big blinds. Just a hair’s breadth behind him was Russia’s Ivan Zabiiakin with 915,000 chips. Germany’s Oliver Weis rounded out the top three with a respectable 715,000.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 920,000 | 184 |
| 2 | Ivan Zabiiakin | Russia | 915,000 | 183 |
| 3 | Oliver Weis | Germany | 715,000 | 143 |
| 4 | Damir Zhugralin | Kazakhstan | 705,000 | 141 |
| 5 | Shankui Li | China | 693,000 | 139 |
| 6 | Chakib Mhiri | Tunisia | 648,000 | 130 |
| 7 | Georgios Tsouloftas | Cyprus | 620,000 | 124 |
| 8 | Radoslav Stoyanov | Bulgaria | 575,000 | 115 |
| 9 | Boris Kuzmanovic | Croatia | 573,000 | 115 |
| 10 | Mohamad El Rais | Switzerland | 563,000 | 113 |
The Day 2 Action
The action kicked off at noon, and with the midday deadline for registration looming, players were eager to make their mark. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as several big-name players joined the fray, including EPT Barcelona champion Stephen Song, Aliaksei Boika, and the renowned Niklas Astedt.
However, not everyone had their day go as planned. The dreaded rail awaited several notable players early on, including Barny Boatman, Dimitar Danchev, and Sam Grafton, all of whom saw their tournament experiences come to an abrupt end.
Bubble Burst Drama
As Day 2 progressed, tension mounted as the bubble approached. Players were acutely aware that just three more eliminations were needed before they could secure a payout. The stakes were heightened during the final level of play when French player Samuel Fournier found himself in a crucial coin flip with pocket queens against Mihai Niste‘s ace-king. Despite a promising flop for Fournier, the turn and river turned the tide against him, leaving him as the unfortunate bubble boy and thrusting the remaining 191 players into the money.
Mustafov’s Rise to the Top
Following the bubble’s burst, Fahredin Mustafov wasted no time in climbing the leaderboard. He secured a massive pot worth nearly 800,000 after making a full house against Ali Al-Kubasi. With two EPT titles under his belt, Mustafov’s confidence surged as he aimed for his third title in Cyprus.
End of Day 2 also saw the exit of other prominent players, including Hossein Ensan and Stephen Song, while Lucien Cohen ended his day with a stunning four-of-a-kind, securing himself a strong position for Day 3.
Remaining Payouts
What’s at stake in the EPT Main Event is nothing short of spectacular. The remaining payouts have players eyeing significant potential rewards:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,030,000 |
| 2 | $642,300 |
| 3 | $459,000 |
| 4 | $353,100 |
| 5 | $271,400 |
| 6 | $208,720 |
| 7 | $160,500 |
| 8 | $123,400 |
| 9 | $94,940 |
| 10-11 | $73,100 |
| 12-13 | $60,900 |
| 14-15 | $50,760 |
| 16-17 | $42,280 |
| 18-20 | $36,740 |
| 21-23 | $31,940 |
| 24-27 | $27,780 |
| 28-31 | $24,160 |
| 32-39 | $20,980 |
| 40-55 | $18,240 |
| 56-71 | $15,880 |
| 72-95 | $13,820 |
| 96-119 | $12,020 |
| 120-143 | $10,460 |
| 144 | $9,100 |
Looking Ahead to Day 3
As Day 3 approaches, players are set to return on Thursday, October 17, at 12 p.m., with blinds at Level 16, 2,500/5,000 and a 5,000 big blind ante. With an average stack of 267,500, the competition promises to heat up as players vie for dominance and a path to the prestigious title.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the latest updates, stories, and exciting moments from Day 3 of the $5,300 EPT Main Event in Cyprus!
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