Thrilling Day 4 at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus: Tsouloftas Takes the Lead
The energy was palpable as the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus entered its fourth day of competition, hosted at the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. With a total of 1,284 entries in the $5,300 Main Event, anticipation hung thick in the air as 45 players returned for the day, aiming to chase the coveted title and a lion’s share of the $6,227,400 prize pool.
Tsouloftas Emerges as Chip Leader
After a day filled with riveting action and critical eliminations, only 16 players survived by the time the chips were bagged. Leading the pack was Georgios Tsouloftas, a skilled player from Cyprus, who made headlines by amassing a whopping 7,970,000 chips, translating to an impressive 159 big blinds when play resumes. This marks a significant achievement for Tsouloftas, who sits fourth on the Cypriot all-time money list with over $1 million in live tournament earnings, mostly earned on home soil. Until now, a deep run in an EPT event had eluded him, making this moment all the more significant after recently finishing 26th in the $1,100 Eureka Main Event.
Coming in as Tsouloftas’ nearest contender is Oliver Weis, holding a stack of 4,540,000 chips. Weis, a German player with a record of just over $2 million in live earnings, notably clinched the title in the €10,300 High Roller event at EPT Paris 2024. In third place sits Andriy Lyubovetskiy from Ukraine with 3,970,000 chips, known for his experience in five-figure buy-ins and a career total of nearly $2.5 million in live earnings.
Noteworthy Players in the Race
The table was dotted with notable names, including last year’s runner-up Andrea Dato, fellow Cypriot Eleftherios Sinnos, and the last female contender standing, Marta Miquel Munoz. Another intriguing storyline includes Anton Wigg, who aims to join the exclusive ranks of two-time EPT champions.
End of Day 4 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgios Tsouloftas | Cyprus | 7,970,000 | 159 |
| 2 | Oliver Weis | Germany | 4,540,000 | 91 |
| 3 | Andriy Lyubovetskiy | Ukraine | 3,970,000 | 79 |
| 4 | Damir Zhugralin | Kazakhstan | 3,160,000 | 63 |
| 5 | Mikhail Shalamov | Russian Federation | 2,600,000 | 52 |
| 6 | Andrea Dato | Italy | 2,575,000 | 52 |
| 7 | Eleftherios Sinnos | Cyprus | 2,595,000 | 52 |
| 8 | Marta Miquel Munoz | Spain | 2,235,000 | 45 |
| 9 | Philip Joyce | United Kingdom | 1,650,000 | 33 |
| 10 | Anton Wigg | Sweden | 1,555,000 | 31 |
Among other notable players still in the game are Halil Tasyurek, who is aiming to replicate his fourth-place finish from last year, and Bobby James, who faced a tumultuous day but managed to hold on to 1,215,000 chips.
Day 4 Recap: Explosive Action and Key Eliminations
The day began with high hopes but quickly turned explosive as the first level saw the number of players drop from 45 to just 34. Diogo Coelho and Victoria Livschitz were among the first to exit, each taking home $18,240. As the day unfolded, subsequent eliminations included Taago Tamm and Ranno Sootla, both of whom met unfortunate fates that emphasized the unpredictable nature of poker.
Notably, Marta Miquel Munoz showcased her talents, eliminating Daniel Jackson and Roeland Peeks in quick succession, which propelled her deeper into contention. By the time the dust settled, Tsouloftas had secured his lead after eliminating rivals including Chakib Mhiri and Yisha Chen, signalling a triumphant day where he dominated the action at the tables.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
With the day wrapped, Tsouloftas and the remaining contenders will return to battle for glory tomorrow at noon local time, where they will play down to a final table—a significant milestone in the tournament. Each of the remaining players has assured themselves a payout of $42,280, with greater sums awaiting as the tournament escalates.
As the excitement builds towards the final rounds, the stakes continue to rise. Players who reach the official final table will be guaranteed a six-figure prize, with the champion walking away with a mind-boggling $1,030,000.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for the riveting Day 5 action, as we await to see who will emerge victorious in the 2024 EPT Cyprus Main Event!
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