2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

$5,300 EPT Main Event
Day: 6
Event Info

2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k8
Prize
$1,042,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,300
Prize Pool
$6,402,000
Entries
1,320
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Players Info - Day 6
Entries
7
Players Left
1

Simon Shoves River With Nine-High

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Gilles Simon
Gilles Simon

Gilles Simon opened to 500,000 in the cutoff with 98 and Halil Tasyurek called in the big blind with A4.

Tasyurek checked on the flop of A22 and Simon continued for 250,000. Tasyurek called. Tasyurek checked again on the 5 turn and Simon sized up to 1,200,000. Tasyurek again called.

Tasyurek checked once more on the 10 river and Simon pulled the trigger by moving all in to bring an instant fold from Tasyurek.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Gilles Simon nl
Gilles Simon
14,930,000
2,450,000
2,450,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
EPT Main Event Champion
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Halil Tasyurek tr
Halil Tasyurek
5,150,000
-2,950,000
-2,950,000

Tags: Gilles SimonHalil Tasyurek

Nikita Kuznetsov Eliminated in 6th Place ($211,850)

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Nikita Kuznetsov
Nikita Kuznetsov

Nikita Kuznetsov opened to 625,000 from under the gun with 88 before Halil Tasyurek jammed for 3,300,000 from the small blind with KK. Kuznetsov opted to fold, which put him as the shortest stack.

The following hand, Gilles Simon made it 500,000 from under the gun. He then called Kuznetsov 4,000,000 jam.

Nikita Kuznetsov: 44
Gilles Simon: KK

Kuznetsov could not find a four on the 983107 runout and was eliminated

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Gilles Simon nl
Gilles Simon
12,500,000
3,000,000
3,000,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
EPT Main Event Champion
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Halil Tasyurek tr
Halil Tasyurek
4,425,000
1,745,000
1,745,000
Profile photo of Nikita Kuznetsov ru
Nikita Kuznetsov
Busted

Tags: Gilles SimonHalil TasyurekNikita Kuznetsov

Tasyurek Folds the Best Hand

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Halil Tasyurek
Halil Tasyurek

Jose Gonzalez Sanchez opened to 500,000 on the button with AQ and Halil Tasyurek called in the big blind with K10.

Tasyurek checked on the flop of 6K6 and Sanchez checked back. Tasyurek then bet 700,000 on the 2 turn. Sanchez responded with a raise to 2,300,000 and Tasyurek called.

Tasyurek checked on the 7 river and Sanchez put him to the test by moving all in. Tasyurek laid it down.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jose Gonzalez Sanchez es
Jose Gonzalez Sanchez
12,050,000
3,100,000
3,100,000
Profile photo of Halil Tasyurek tr
Halil Tasyurek
4,180,000
-3,000,000
-3,000,000

Tags: Halil TasyurekJose Gonzalez Sanchez

Sanchez Rivers A Flush

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Jose Gonzalez Sanchez
Jose Gonzalez Sanchez

Nikita Kuznetsov opened to 425,000 from under the gun with 99 and Jose Gonzalez Sanchez called in the cutoff with [ahj] before Halil Tasyurek called in the small blind with 1010.

Tasyurek checked on the flop of 364 and Kuznetsov continued for 425,000. Sanchez and Tasyurek both called.

Tasyurek checked again on the Q turn and Kuznetsov sized up to 1,000,000. Sanchez called and Tasyurek folded.

Kuznetsov then checked on the 2 river and Sanchez moved all in to bring a quick fold from his opponent.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jose Gonzalez Sanchez es
Jose Gonzalez Sanchez
14,350,000
5,270,000
5,270,000
Profile photo of Halil Tasyurek tr
Halil Tasyurek
7,180,000
-1,250,000
-1,250,000
Profile photo of Nikita Kuznetsov ru
Nikita Kuznetsov
3,650,000
-2,380,000
-2,380,000

Tags: Halil TasyurekJose Gonzalez SanchezNikita Kuznetsov

Bjorn Kozenkai Eliminated in 7th Place ($162,925)

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Bjorn Kozenkai
Bjorn Kozenkai

Bjorn Kozenkai jammed for 2,475,000 from the cutoff and was called by Jose Gonzalez Sanchez called from the big blind.

Bjorn Kozenkai: K10
Jose Gonzalez Sanchez: A10

Kozenkai was dominated, and it remained that way following the 972 flop. The J turn gave him a straight draw but the 3 river confirmed Kozenkai as the first bust out of the day.

Bjorn Kozenkai
Bjorn Kozenkai
Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jose Gonzalez Sanchez es
Jose Gonzalez Sanchez
7,200,000
2,500,000
2,500,000
Profile photo of Bjorn Kozenkai hu
Bjorn Kozenkai
Busted

Simon, Tasyurek Lead Into Final Day Of EPT Cyprus Main Event

Halil Tasyurek
Halil Tasyurek

The final day of the PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus $5,300 Main Event is upon as the seven remaining players return at 12:30 p.m. local time to battle for the $1,042,000 top prize.

Leading the seven hopefuls is Gilles Simon, a 24-year-old former streamer who has already locked up his biggest career cash. The same is true for Yannick Schumacher and Bjorn Kozenkai.

Jose Gonzalez Sanchez, who received a lease on life last night when he doubled with ace-jack to crack the queens of Halil Tasyurek, needs to finish fourth or better to best his victory in the 2022 Eureka High Roller in Prague for €343,750.

Tasyurek, a Turkish native who started playing poker in 2010, has also locked up his biggest score in what he calls a "dream spot" at the "best EPT I have ever attended."

Nikita Kuznetsov, meanwhile, will need to finish third or better to best his $445,892 score from 2021, while Italy's Andrea Dato will need to finish second or better to beat out his $481,299 score from a fourth-place finish in the 2014 EPT Barcelona Main Event.

EPT Cyprus Main Event Final Table Seat Draw

TableSeatPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
11Halil TasyurekTurkey7,825,00039
12Yannick SchumacherAustria6,050,00030
13Bjorn KozenkaiHungary2,575,00013
14Nikita KuznetsovRussia7,475,00037
15Gilles SimonNetherlands8,075,00040
16Jose Gonzalez SanchezSpain4,700,00024
17Andrea DatoItaly2,875,00014

Final Table Payouts

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1  $1,042,000
2  $652,200
3  $465,425
4  $358,075
5  $275,425
6  $211,850
7  $162,925
8Victor YugayUzbekistan$125,350
9Priit ParmastoEstonia$96,425

Day 6 should be shorter than Day 5, which extended past 12 hours of play as the field shrunk from 16 to seven. A lengthy seven-handed battle as the night wound down means that players will return to shallower stacks on the final day.

Action will pick back up Level 32. The blinds will be 100,000/200,000/200,000. Levels will continue to last 90 minutes in duration with 20-minute breaks at the end of each level.

PokerNews will be live reporting on a 30-minute delay as to avoid any spoilers with the PokerStars stream.

Stay tuned as the PokerNews live reporting team is on-site here at Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Spa and will continue to provide updates as the first-ever EPT Cyprus Main Event closes out.

Tags: Andrea DatoBjorn KozenkaiGilles SimonHalil TasyurekJose GonzalezJose Gonzalez SanchezNikita KuznetsovPriit ParmastoVictor YugayYannick Schumacher