Seat 2: Alain Medesan, 33, Baia Mare, Romania – 919,000 | 2010 PokerStars.net EPT Snowfest

Medesan has been a fulltime poker professional since December 2006. ‘I decided then that I would play for everything. I would play with all my heart,’ he says. It’s a sentiment that is backed up by his supporters who have been ringside throughout Day 4. Seven of them helped stake Medesan into the event which the 33-year old admits would have been too expensive for him otherwise. Their loyalty has already been repaid several times over and we may now get our first ever Romanian champion. Medesan jokes that he is being “coached” by his friend and fellow Romanian Mihai Manole who came fourth at EPT Barcelona. His biggest live result before EPT Snowfest was €17,025 for a second place finish in a €700 tournament in Slovenia, but he’s no slouch online where his biggest score has been a $85,000 3rd place finish in a $100 rebuy event.