$10,200 NL Hold'em
Day 2 Completed
2024 PokerStars EPT Cyprus
$10,200 NL Hold'em
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2024 PokerStars EPT Cyprus
Buy-in
$10,200
Prize Pool
$843,900
Entries
87
Level
22
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
60,000
Entries
57
Players Left
1
Level 22
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
The $10,200 No-Limit Hold'em was one of the final opportunities to win a trophy at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus, and nobody wanted it more than Mikalai Vaskaboinikau.
Vaskaboinikau has been on a heater this year, taking down a Triton event for $4,737,000 in May worth more than half of his total live tournament winnings. Here at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa, the hot run continued. Vaskaboinikau claimed his first ever PokerStars Shard earlier in the series, winning the $50,000 Super High Roller for $601,397.
One week later, Vaskaboinikau was sitting on a final table once again and up against some of the top talent from around the world, looking for yet another trophy to add to his collection.
As soon as Ren Lin was eliminated in third place, Vaskaboinikau made a heads-up deal with Krasimir Neychev and, despite having a dominant chip lead, was happy to propose a 50-50 split of the prize money on one condition; he would be declared the winner and would walk away with the PokerStars Spade to add to his collection.
His opponent immediately obliged. Vaskaboinikau and Neychev both walked away with $195,500 for first and second place, while Vaskaboinikau was crowned the champion.
"I really wanted the trophy, this is my first Spade" said Vaskaboinikau. "These trophies are where you get proud of yourself, right?! I said [earlier in the series], we have two kids and the third is coming, so I need the third trophy - and I've got it already here!"
$10,200 No-Limit Hold'em Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikalai Vaskaboinikau | Belarus | $195,500* |
| 2 | Krasimir Neychev | Bulgaria | $195,500* |
| 3 | Ren Lin | China | $109,500 |
| 4 | Farid Jattin | Columbia | $84,300 |
| 5 | Julien Sitbon | France | $64,800 |
| 6 | Viktor Ustimov | Russia | $51,500 |
| 7 | Nikita Kuznetsov | Russia | $41,200 |
| 8 | Hassan Nashar | Gambia | $33,000 |
| 9 | Kully Sidhu | UK | $26,400 |
| 10 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | $21,100 |
| 11 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | $21,100 |
Final Day Action
Including a handful of max-late registrations, the event attracted 87 entries to make a prize pool of $843,900. Of those, 57 were sat down at the start Day 2 to battle it out for the top 11 paid spots.
Being a turbo tournament, intense action was expected from the onset. During the first level of play, at least ten players hit the rail, with dozens more to follow before the first break.
During this time, Ren Lin had accumulated a decent stack when he put Roman Hrabec under pressure and continued to show aggression all the way to the final table.
Vaskaboinikau was also building a mountain of chips, although it was Day 1 chip leader Farid Jattin who had maintained his lead after the first break. Vaskaboinikau then solidified his chip lead when his ace-king held to eliminate Aren Bezhanyan.
Action slowed down as the bubble approached and Adrian Mateos proved why he's one of the best in the world when he made a huge hero-call with fourth pair to send Gregoire Auzoux packing.
When all was said and done, it was a classic race that burst the bubble as Krasimir Neychev's ace-king cracked Tomas Jozonis' queens.
The bust-outs continued to come fast and Mateos was first to be eliminated in the money when Vaskaboinikau got the better of him to keep his chip stack healthy heading into the final table.
Lin, Neychev and Vaskaboinikau continued to journey to the top of the pack as they scored respective eliminations on the final table while Jattin lost most of his chips after shoving all in and getting called by Lin, who won the pot to double his stack. Lin eliminated Jattin moments later and the tournament went three-handed.
Vaskaboinikau then won a big pot with a flush against Lin before winning a flip moments later to send Lin out in third place for $109,500.
Heads-Up Deal Made
Immediately after Lin was eliminated, Vaskaboinikau suggested a deal. At this point, he had more than twice the chip count of his opponent Neychev, but was happy to take a 50-50 split. All he asked was for the trophy to be his. The competition, success, and winning trophies, after all, is most of his motivation for playing.
Neychev happily obliged and both players walked away with $195,500. Vaskaboinikau was declared the champion and proudly picked up his Spade, his second trophy of the series and third including Triton, to match his third child who is on the way.
"It feels amazing! For ten years, no trophies, and now two in a row. The poker gods were really nice to me and sometimes all the luck comes together!" said Vaskaboinikau.
Congratulations to Mikalai Vaskaboinikau for winning two events at EPT Cyprus, a rare accomplishment that the online businessman will be proud of. His trophies will now be on display for loved ones and guests at his home to see.
Level 22
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
After agreeing on a heads-up deal, Mikalai Vaskaboinikau is declared the winner of the EPT $10,200 No-Limit Hold'em for $195,500, his second EPT title of the series.
Stay tuned for the winner's reaction and a recap of the day's action.
* denotes a heads-up deal
Level 22
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Before heads-up play could begin, Mikalai Vaskaboinikau proposed a fifty-fifty split of the money under the condition that he would get to keep the trophy and the title. Krasimir Neychev, who was at a significant chip deficit, agreed to the deal without a pause of consideration.
The two players will take home $195,500 each, while Vaskaboinikau will be declared the victor and keep the PokerStars silver spadie; his second trophy of the series.
* denotes a heads-up deal
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,700,000
2,500,000
|
2,500,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 22
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau raised to 120,000 from the button, Ren Lin moved all in for 1,675,000 from the small blind and Vaskaboinikau called.
Ren Lin: A♠J♠ 
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: 7♣7♦
Vaskaboinikau was ahead until the 5♥J♦6♦ flop gave Lin top pair. However, the 7♥ turn propelled Vaskaboinikau into the lead with a set and Lin was drawing dead. The 2♥ river confirmed the start of heads up play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,200,000
1,900,000
|
1,900,000 |
|
|
2,500,000
550,000
|
550,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 22
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau completed the small blind and Ren Lin checked his option in the big blind.
The flop came 5♦Q♥3♦ and Vaskaboinikau continued for 60,000, which Lin called. The turn was the Q♦ and Vaskaboinikau sized up to 200,000. Lin called again.
The river was the K♥ and Vaskaboinikau pushed across two full stacks of greens worth 1,000,000. Lin made the call. Vaskaboinikau showed 10♦4♦ for a flush and Lin gave a wry smile as he mucked his hand to give Vaskaboinikau the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,300,000
-28,700,000
|
-28,700,000 |
|
|
1,700,000
-1,200,000
|
-1,200,000 |
Level 22
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Farid Jattin raised to 375,000 from the button, an effective all in with 30,000 behind the line. Ren Lin, in the big blind, called.
The remaining 30,000 went in on the 5♥7♥Q♣ flop and the cards were tabled.
"You're drawing dead my friend!" Lin announced as he showed his holding.
Farid Jattin: K♦2♦
Ren Lin: K♥Q♥
Lin did in fact have Jattin drawing almost dead. The K♣ turn and 5♦ saw the start of Day 2 chip leader exit to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,900,000 | |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 22
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Farid Jattin was all in from the button for 245,000 and Mikalai Vaskaboinikau made the call in the small blind. Players flipped their cards, with Jattin at risk.
Farid Jattin: A♣K♥
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: A♥10♦
The flop came 10♥6♥4♠ and Vaskaboinikau pulled ahead by pairing his ten. The turn brought the K♠ though, which gave Jattin a pair of kings. The river was a blank, the 6♦, and Jattin held to double his stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,300,000
-300,000
|
-300,000 |
|
|
625,000
345,000
|
345,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 22
Blinds: 30,000/60,000
Ante: 60,000
Level 21
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Action was on the flop on a board of 3♦2♣7♣ and Mikalai Vaskaboinikau checked. Ren Lin bet 100,000 and Vaskaboinikau called.
The turn came the A♦ and Vaskaboinikau checked again. Lin sized up to 275,000 and Vaskaboinikau called.
The river was the 4♥ and both players checked to showdown. Vaskaboinikau said "king high" as he flipped over K♦10♦. Lin chuckled as he mucked his hand to give Vaskaboinikau the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,600,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
|
|
2,900,000
-345,000
|
-345,000 |