Because the mud settled on the penultimate day of the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague €5,300 Fundamental Occasion, solely six gamers remained from the record-breaking discipline of 1,458 entries. With practically €7 million within the prize pool, the remaining contenders are only one step away from claiming the celebrated EPT trophy and the life-changing €1,146,500 first-place prize.
The journey to the ultimate desk was something however simple, as the biggest Fundamental Occasion discipline in EPT Prague’s historical past noticed one of the best and brightest fall by the wayside over the previous 5 thrilling days. For the surviving six, the stakes are larger than ever, with every now assured not less than €233,050, however all with their sights set on the final word payday. The stage is ready for an epic finale as considered one of poker’s most coveted titles hangs within the stability.
After a drama-filled day on the felt contained in the Hilton Prague, Paul Runcan started because the chip chief and maintained his dominance all through, ending with a formidable 18,025,000 chips. His stack is sort of double that of his closest rival, Pedro Marques, who will return with 9,225,000 chips as the ultimate desk approaches its conclusion.
Remaining Desk Seat Draw & Chip Counts
Runcan, who has already secured his career-best rating with this closing desk end, delivered a masterclass efficiency, leveraging his large stack to dominate the motion and safe the chip lead. The Romanian participant beforehand made an EPT closing desk in a Deepstack occasion at EPT Paris earlier this yr, the place he completed ninth. This time, nevertheless, Runcan goals to shut out the match from the alternative finish of the standings—and with the chip lead firmly in his grasp, he’s in prime place to just do that.
Marques is a seasoned EPT veteran with no fewer than ten closing desk appearances to his identify, together with two victories which have introduced in practically €500,000. At present ranked second on Portugal’s all-time cash record, Marques has persistently confirmed his talent on the massive stage. It is no shock that he as soon as once more finds himself getting ready to capturing one other main title.
Anton Bergstrom is a reputation that will already resonate with EPT lovers, and he now has the prospect to make historical past because the first-ever participant to win three EPT Fundamental Occasion titles. Whereas his earlier victories, below the alias “WhatIfGod”, got here in on-line Fundamental Occasions in 2020 and 2021, incomes him a mixed whole of practically $1,400,000, this fascinating element solely got here to gentle right now. Till now, Bergstrom had saved these monumental achievements a secret, including an intriguing twist to his story as he goals to say his first stay Fundamental Occasion trophy and additional cement his place in EPT historical past.
Not happening and not using a battle is Barak Oz, who ended the day with 4,500,000 chips. Oz’s stack fluctuated wildly all through Day 5, however with 30 large blinds at his disposal heading into the ultimate day, he stays a formidable contender. Becoming a member of him within the battle are Siarhei Alontsau (3,150,000) and Jaehyung Park (2,100,000), each seeking to mount comebacks. Park, specifically, confirmed his resilience on Day 5, efficiently spinning up his stack a number of instances to remain in rivalry.
Day 5 Motion
Sixteen hopefuls returned to the felt with Runcan main the way in which after a dominant Day 4 efficiency. With simply 47 minutes left in Stage 26, the environment was cautious as gamers eased into the day, avoiding early drama.
However when Stage 27 arrived, the motion lastly exploded, thinning the sector by 5 gamers earlier than the extent concluded, with Runcan additional solidifying his lead.
The primary to exit was Joshua McSwiney, whose ace-jack fell quick towards Marques’ ace-queen. Subsequent, Georgios Vrakas appeared destined for a double-up after his king-ten related with a ten on the flop towards Runcan’s ace-queen. Nonetheless, a well timed ace on the flip continued Runcan’s streak of fine fortune, sending Vrakas to the rail.
Dimitrios Gkatzas (14th) misplaced a flip, whereas the always-entertaining Sylwia Studniarz bowed out in thirteenth after she turned pocket fives right into a bluff, solely to run into Danut Chisu‘s rivered full home.
Lastly, the elimination of Alexander Sokolovsky in twelfth capped off an action-packed degree. As soon as once more, Runcan reigned supreme, constructing his stack to over eight million chips.
Umberto Ruggeri was the subsequent to fall after changing into short-stacked. He seemed poised for an important double-up with pocket jacks towards Tjenno Eskes‘ queen-jack. Nonetheless, poker’s merciless nature revealed itself as soon as once more as Eskes spiked a gutshot straight on the flip, dashing Ruggeri’s hopes and bringing his match run to an abrupt finish.
The ultimate desk bubble was a tense and drawn-out affair, with a number of gamers biking via the short-stack place because the bigger stacks maintained their dominance. Finally, it was Vidar Oie who fell simply shy of the ultimate 9. Oie flopped high pair, however his kicker couldn’t compete with Oz’s stronger hand, sealing his destiny and finishing the lineup for the finale.
As the ultimate desk started, Runcan held a commanding lead with practically twelve million chips — near a 3rd of the chips in play. Eskes sat in second place with simply over seven million, whereas Siegfried Kapeller, Chisu, and Park confronted an uphill battle, every beginning with fewer than twenty large blinds.
Kapeller was in danger in one of many first few fingers when he known as all-in with pocket jacks and needed to compete with the pocket kings of Alontsau. It appeared to be the tip for Kapeller, particularly after a dry flop that gave him no additional fairness. Nonetheless, a jack on the flip introduced him again from the brink of elimination and again into rivalry.
Chisu discovered himself as the brand new quick stack and couldn’t climb out of final place. His closing hand noticed him shove with ace-six, solely to be known as by Oz’s pocket eights. A clear board sealed his destiny, making Chisu the primary elimination of the ultimate desk.
An insane hand then performed out with the chip chief Runcan and Kapeller, which resulted in in all probability the bluff of the match. Kapeller had turned a flush with six-trey and check-raised the flip, which Runcan known as to a board-pairing river. The pot had near 4 million chips within the center when Kapeller guess half of his stack on the river, and Runcan immediately moved all in with simply trey-deuce. Kapeller took his time and elected to fold, and Runcan confirmed the bluff, which was the start of the tip for Kapeller.
Simply moments later, Kapeller obtained his twelve large blinds into the center with ace-queen, and was put in danger by Marques’ pocket nines. A 9 on the flop all however sealed the deal for Kapeller, and similar to that, he was out in eighth.
Seven-handed play noticed the motion sluggish significantly as gamers tightened up, cautious of the escalating pay jumps. The breakthrough got here when Eskes determined to make his stand with ace-six, solely to be known as by Runcan holding king-ten. In what has turn into a well-recognized sight, Runcan hit the nut straight on the flop, sealing Eskes’ destiny. The Dutchman’s elimination in seventh place introduced an eventful Day 5 to a detailed, leaving the ultimate six time to regroup and put together for the finale.
Remaining Payouts
The stage is ready for an epic conclusion as the ultimate six gamers return on Sunday, December 15, at 12:30 p.m. to battle it out for the title. With slightly below half-hour remaining in Stage 26 (100,000/150,000 with a 150,000 large blind ante), each resolution will carry immense weight as the sector performs all the way down to a champion.
Protection will run on a 30-minute delay to align with the official stay stream.
