The European Poker Tour (EPT) Most important Occasion has come to an finish and a long-time Canadian participant has received the pot. Mike Watson has turn out to be his prime finisher, signing a take care of his Leonard Maue of Germany so as to add his €749,425 (US$749,425) to his poker financial institution.
The Most important Occasion attracted 1,098 entries, setting a brand new file and boosting the prize pool to €5,325,300 (US$5.87 million). Watson finally rose to the highest of the stack, but it surely wasn’t simple getting there.
On day 4 of the match, the winners of the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Journey (PCA) confronted elimination. Solely his one card stored him from taking an extended aircraft trip dwelling, however he discovered it and stayed alive. From there it was largely clean crusing.
The buy-in for the Monte Carlo Most important Occasion was €5,300 (US$5,847), doubled for 323 gamers to outlive. By the point Jason Wheeler moved as much as his seventh place, everybody was on observe or dwelling.
expertise pays off
Watson has confirmed himself in each digital and on-line felts. He has amassed lifetime earnings of nicely over $19 million since profitable his first reside money in 2006, and has received the Championship of On-line Poker title ten instances. improve.
The expertise allowed Watson to maintain his cool and combat again from what ought to have been an elimination on Day 6 to dominate the desk. Watson is now in an in depth group of 4 gamers who’ve not less than received two of his EPT Most important Occasion titles. He shares that house with Vicky Coren-Mitchell, Mikalai Pobal, and his two EPT On-line Most important Occasion-winning Swedish gamers “WhatIfGod.”
Heading into the ultimate desk, Watson was second in chips, simply behind Leo Worsington-Leese. The cardboard continued to go in favor of Watson, however the identical couldn’t be mentioned for Worthington-Reese. The participant was in a position to chip away at his stack till lastly his €397,450 (US$438,506) relegated him to 3rd place.
Solely Watson and Maue confronted one another within the remaining heads-up battle. The eventual winners have been forward in chips, however they determined to chop the deal as an alternative of placing up a combat.
Watson acquired €716,085 and Maue €697,175 (US$790,056 and US$769,193 respectively) from the transaction. All that was left was to play for the title and his €33,340 (US$36,784) at stake.
Maue continued to present away his remaining chips to Watson and tried one final try to bluff with nothing. Maybe assured in his run, Watson known as to take the sport with a boarded two pair. The runner-up tried unsuccessfully to hit a straight and Watson did not get caught within the entice.
Badziakouski bounce again
Final 12 months, Belarusian poker professional Mikita Badziakouski misplaced to Adrian Mateos within the $100,000 EPT Monte Carlo Excessive Curler occasion. He could not idiot his prime Spanish participant with a bluff, however he discovered a bit redemption this 12 months.
The €25,000 (US$27,582) excessive curler noticed Badziakouski tackle England’s Ben Heath. They battled for the title earlier than deciding to cut the pot, cementing the ultimate winner’s place with a remaining one hand.
Badziakouski went 3-2 and Heath went 5-4. On the flop he bought a 3 and paired with Belarus’ prime participant. Heath was of no assistance on the flip or river, giving Badziakouski the sport and him €938,042 (US$1.03 million). Heath earned €801,068 (US$883,818).
Mateos was additionally on the recreation, which most likely introduced again unhealthy reminiscences for Baziakowski. He did a deep run, however he completed twelfth earlier than being eradicated.
