The 2024 European Poker Tour Cyprus: Countdown to the Final Showdown in the $5,300 Main Event
As the final day of the 2024 European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus approaches, the excitement in the air is palpable. After a week filled with intense competition, just six players have emerged from a formidable field of 1,284 entrants in the $5,300 Main Event. Tomorrow, October 20, at the luxurious Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Spa, these players will vie for not only a coveted trophy but also the sensational first-place prize of $1,030,000 and the title of EPT Main Event Champion.
The Road to the Final Table
The journey to the final table was no walk in the park. It took just over three action-packed levels for the competition to filter down to the six finalists, which included some of the best talents in the poker world. Leading the charge is the accomplished German player Oliver Weis, who has solidified his dominance with a staggering chip lead, having bagged up a whopping 18,505,000 chips, more than three times that of his closest competitor, Mikhail Shalamov at 6,050,000.
Weis’s journey this year has been nothing short of a breakout. With significant wins at major tournaments, including a notable $274,313 score in Jeju, South Korea, and a victory in the €10,300 High Roller at EPT Paris for a career-high of $1,050,978, he has confidently stated his aspirations for the ultimate EPT title: "It would be amazing to cap the year off with another win."
The Final Table Contenders
The final table consists of a mix of experienced players and electrifying newcomers, all of whom will be aiming to make their mark in poker history. Below are the final table participants and their respective chip counts:
| Seat | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikhail Shalamov | Russia | 6,050,000 | 61 |
| 2 | Bobby James | United Kingdom | 5,215,000 | 52 |
| 3 | Oliver Weis | Germany | 18,505,000 | 185 |
| 4 | Georgios Tsouloftas | Cyprus | 2,255,000 | 23 |
| 5 | Anton Wigg | Sweden | 3,190,000 | 32 |
| 6 | Andriy Lyubovetskiy | Ukraine | 3,295,000 | 33 |
Highlights from Day 5
Day 5 of the tournament was filled with dramatic eliminations and nail-biting moments. Sixteen players returned to the felt, and the action was fast and furious from the start. The day began with the unfortunate elimination of Boris Tabiyev, who, despite entering the day as the short stack, made a stand with king-seven only to be eliminated by Philip Joyce, who caught a flush on the river.
The day continued to see excitement as renowned players such as Marta Miquel Munoz and Eleftherios Sinnos either fell short of the final table or had their ambitions thwarted in quick succession. Munoz was eliminated after clashing with Bobby James while holding ace-queen against James’s pocket kings, marking another year without a woman claiming an EPT Main Event title.
As the field narrowed, Weis’s prowess became increasingly evident. His aggressive and strategic play led to a monumental bluff that pushed him ahead, setting the stage for his rush of eliminations, including Andrea Dato and Timo Kamphues, as the competition reached a fever pitch.
Impactful Eliminations
As the final table unfolded, tension filled the air. Dato, who had entered the day in strong contention, suffered a setback when his pocket aces were cracked by Shalamov’s pocket sevens. The domino effect saw Dato eventually eliminated in eighth place, leaving him to reckon with his frustration after finishing as a runner-up the previous year.
In the end, Anton Kraous, nursing a short stack, went all-in with king-jack, only to run into James’s ace-jack and fell in seventh place. Each elimination brought the remaining players closer to the immense rewards that awaited.
Final Table Payouts
The stakes could not be higher as the final six players looked towards their payouts, each level intensifying the competition and the prize pool. Here are the potential payouts as they stand:
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,030,000 | |
| 2 | $642,300 | |
| 3 | $459,000 | |
| 4 | $353,100 | |
| 5 | $271,400 | |
| 6 | $208,720 | |
| 7 | Anton Kraous | $160,000 |
| 8 | Andrea Dato | $123,400 |
| 9 | Timo Kamphues | $94,940 |
Looking Ahead
As the final showdown approaches, each surviving player not only seeks to elevate their poker careers to new heights but also to hold the prestigious title that comes with being an EPT Main Event Champion. The remaining players will return to the tables on October 20 at 12:30 p.m. local time to face off with just under 70 minutes left in Level 29, featuring blinds at 50,000/100,000.
With just five eliminations standing between the players and poker glory, the stakes couldn’t be higher. PokerNews will be there to cover all the action as the tension builds, and the cards are set to be dealt on what promises to be an exhilarating final day at the 2024 EPT Cyprus. Who will rise to the occasion? Only time will tell.
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