EPT Grand Final Monte Carlo
Final Day

The final eight have arrived and they are here to battle for the largest prize pool in European poker. Both 1st and 2nd place will receive over €1million and all eight are guaranteed a pay day of over €150,000. Tensions are high and the money is ready to be splashed across the table to this year’s winner. Many big names have come and left like the big Phil’s Ivey and Hellmuth. Bracelet holders, tournament professionals, millionaires, celebrities and many qualifiers have all some and passed. Only eighth players remain and one will walk away as champion of the EPT series. Today was the deciding day.

The biggest name on the final table was most arguably the highly talented and successful poker professional Ram Vaswani. He started the day as the short-stack and one could bet their bottom dollar that he would be playing to fight and win. Indeed he fought but unfortunately he couldn’t get the double up he needed. Check raising on a two diamond flop with J10 of diamonds was his moment of elimination. A customary all-in move by Vaswani was turned over as Marc turned over K10. The diamond he needed did not appear and the crazy horse was walking. One of the true greats of European poker had gone collecting €159,270. Seven remained in Monte Carlo now and nobody knew who would win it.

The second high profile name of the European poker scene Andy Black was the next finalist to bite the dust. Following a very encouraging week that included being chip leader at both the climax to day three and four. The popular Irishman with rucksack drooped over his back for much of the weekend looked glum at his elimination in 7th place. Pushing all-in with 77 only to run into an even bigger pocket pair JJ is quite nasty indeed. No help on the board meant it was curtains for Black. Still though €238,000 for his performance isn’t bad at all for a €10,000 investment. 

Steve Jelinek was the sole remaining UK participant at this point and unfortunately for Steve would be next out. Having being quite psyched up in the preliminary introductions and talk of sleepless night this week have all lead to an emphatic performance by Jelinek. His passion for the game seems strong, not least giving him sleepless nights. He was however eliminated in sixth place receiving €305,270. Like Andy before him, Steve ran into JJ. Although pocket 99 a strong holding short-handed, it would lead to him elimination. No miracle 9 and we were down to five players for the trophy.

A relatively unknown player who made it to the final table was Josh Prager. The Californian rounder was destined to earn his biggest payday to date in Monaco this weekend following on from his best success that came in the 2005 World Series main event. The chirpy Prager became some €391,000 richer here this weekend. He couldn’t bring home the trophy too as he was eliminated in fifth. Pushing all-in on an 8-2-2 board with pocket 77 only to be called by Soren’s pocket 10s. This meant we were four handed for the climax.

With many Scandinavians in town for the contest, there was sure to be a representation on the final table. Kristian Kjondal was Norway’s representative, getting the furthest of the Norwegian contingent. With four players left he must have felt destined for the biggest prize in European poker. 89 suited would be his elimination hand however. An 8-6-4 flop looked good giving him top pair but gave Griffin an even bigger one with his 44. With all the chips in the centre and no runner-runner Kjondal was eliminated in 4th. He received a tidy €471,180 for his participation here in Monte Carlo.

Søren Kongsgaard was the final Scandinavian player remaining yet he could only manage one place better than Kjondal. The Dane has been doing very well over the last 6 months with cashes in tournaments in Ireland, France and Malaysia. His finest result in his career came here in Monaco this weekend. Coming third was a tremendous achievement and netted him €610,550. Not bad for a weeks efforts in Monaco. He made an untimely bluff on an ace high board only to run into Gavin Griffin’s AJ. The Scandinavian along with the rest of Europe were now out of the running in Monaco and we were heads-up for the trophy. Only a Canadian and United States participant remained. 

Marc Karam started the heads-up play as chip leader. Not an unassailable lead but a healthy one none the less of about 60:40. The bout lasted over two hours with both players flip-flopping the chip lead. Each looking to grind out an advantage over the other, this was very tight indeed. Interestingly the hand that saw all the chips go in the centre was quite a standard flop. Many people thought it would take two massive hands on a massive action flop to the get the money in with these two grinders and the huge jump in cash between first and second places. On a 3-2-4 flop, Karam held 74 for top pair while Griffin held K5 for one over card and an open-ended straight draw but fundamentally no pair. The 3 on the turn didn’t help Gavin but the king on the river very much did and that is one card he’ll remember forever. Karam an unlucky loser as he got his chips in ahead and that’s all you can do in poker. For second place, Marc received a cool €1,061,820. Not bad for a runner up!

For Gavin Griffin it was a case of job well done. Having won a bracelet in 2004 in pot-limit hold’em, Gavin was thrilled to win another big tournament. What a place to win the tournament in too.  The river won him the EPT crown and gave him the title along with a whopping €1,825,010. Congratulations Gavin, the winner of the biggest prize in European poker.