Seat 7: Rustem Muratov, 41, Kazan, Russia - 1,070,000 chips
Rustem Muratov qualified for EPT Deauville on PokerStars for €82 and is already in massive profit after winning Skrill’s Last Longer (the €5,300 Deauville buy-in is credited to his Skrill account). Now the 41-year-old from Kazan in Tatarstan, Russia, is headed for the biggest live cash of his life. Muratov, who works as a distributor for the electrical equipment company Schneider, is guaranteed at least €63,900 for making the EPT Deauville final and whatever happens, is already up at least €69,118. This is his first ever EPT, only his fourth live tournament and the biggest buy-in event he’s competed in. He has only two recorded live cashes to date, the biggest being $2,356 for 18th place at a tourney in Cyprus.
He said: “I’m already very happy. My best result before now was winning the seat for this event! I like Deauville, it looks like a fairytale place (apart from the rain).” Muratov and his wife Svetlana are soon to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary and have two older daughters and a nine-month old son. Svetlana couldn’t come to Deauville but is following all the action on EPTLive back home. Muratov is being supported here by his friend Ilyas who came along to play the cash games.