$50,000 EPT Super High Roller
Day 3 Completed
2024 PokerStars EPT Cyprus
$50,000 EPT Super High Roller
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2024 PokerStars EPT Cyprus
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$2,279,970
Entries
47
Level
23
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
160,000
Entries
6
Players Left
1
Level 23
: Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Every poker player has a different reason for why they play the game. Some do it exclusively for the money and to make a living. Others like the social aspect and how poker helps bring people together. Still others enjoy the competition and the thrill of winning.
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau has no doubt about which category he falls under. He wants to win and be the one lifting the trophy at the end. Everything else is secondary. And today at the final table of the European Poker Tour Cyprus $50,000 Super High Roller, he got to live out a dream he’s been chasing for ten years.
“Normally players play poker for money. I like to get trophies,” he said, after defeating Artur Martirosian heads up and besting a field of 47 of poker’s biggest stars to win the $601,397* top prize and Golden Shard trophy.
“This is the second big one. Really amazing. This is the main target for me in poker, competition and to win trophies.”
2024 EPT Cyprus $50,000 Super High Roller Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikalai Vaskaboinikau | Belarus | $601,397* |
| 2 | Artur Martirosian | Russia | $495,815* |
| 3 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | $555,758* |
| 4 | Roman Hrabec | Czechia | $262,200 |
| 5 | Alexander Zubov | Russia | $205,200 |
| 6 | Jamil Wakil | Canada | $159,600 |
* - denotes three-way deal
This year was already shaping up to be a fruitful one for Vaskaboinikau. He won the Triton Series Main Event in Montenegro in May for more than $4.7 million. His win today pushes his live earnings past $9 million, second all-time among Belarussian players.
“That was one of the top three or five events in the year,” Vaskaboinikau said about his earlier win. “It’s a dream for a poker player to do it. It was a very big moment for me. I will never forget this moment in my life.”
An EPT title, however, had always eluded him. He’s been playing on the EPT since Barcelona in 2014. He finished second in a $25,000 event at the 2018 PCA, and was fourth in the €100,000 Super High Roller at EPT Monte Carlo in 2022.
“Ten years and never win even a small trophy. But now I have a big one and I can relax,” he said.
Poker is just a hobby for the Belarussian businessman, even if it’s a lucrative one. He enjoys the diversion the game provides him, the chance to get away from the day-to-day problems the business world presents him and enjoy the competition.
“Poker is something to clear your mind from business and to just get out of some problems, some routine, and so on. Just enjoy the game. To feel yourself like a child and compete for something,” he said.
Vaskaboinikau dedicated his win today to his family. He and his wife have two children, with a third on the way. He desperately wanted to bring the trophy back to his kids and the pride that would bring to his family. “For every father, if he gets success in something he feels proud. His family feels proud for him,” he said.
Final Table Action
The final six players took their seats at the final table at 12:30 p.m. local time on the main feature stage inside the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. Spanish superstar and EPT champion Adrian Mateos had a big chip lead at the start of the final table with 5,175,000, while Vaskaboinikau was part of a group of three players at the bottom, hovering around ten big blinds, who battled to survive yesterday’s lengthy money bubble.
Jamil Wakil was left with less than one big blind after checking down a pot with Mateos. He managed to quadruple up, but was forced all in from the small blind the next hand and Alexander Zubov made a flush to beat Wakil’s deuces, sending the Canadian to the rail in sixth place.
Vaskaboinikau doubled up for 620,000 with ace-queen against Zubov’s ace-jack, knocking Zubov down to just 85,000. He was eliminated in fifth place shortly after when he was forced all in from the big blind and Mateos picked up pocket fives under the gun.
Mateos crossed the 6,000,000 milestone but gave some back when Roman Hrabec successfully bluffed him off trips on the river with a shove for 1,110,000. It was one of the few pots the Czech star managed to win at the final table, as he slid down to 940,000 when he got his last chips in with ace-ten against Vaskaboinikau’s eights. Vaskaboinikau won the flip and Hrabec, who began the final table in second place, was forced to settle for a fourth-place finish.
Martirosian took the chip lead from Mateos before Vaskaboinikau spiked a king on the flop and moved all in on the river for 1,545,000. Martirosian called with pocket queens and Vaskaboinikau doubled up into a big chip lead. The three players immediately called over Tournament Director Toby Stone to look at the numbers and discuss a deal. Vaskaboinikau was so intent on taking home the trophy he offered to give back money if he could secure it. He ended up taking $542,120, despite his lead, while Mateos locked up $555,758 and Martirosian $495,815, leaving $59,277 for the ultimate victor.
Martirosian picked up ace-king and doubled for 1,895,000 against Mateos holding ace-ten, leaving the former chip leader on a short stack. Mateos won a flip against Vaskaboinikau by flopping trip kings against pocket threes to double up, but he fell back down to less than 2,000,000 when he jammed from the small blind and Vaskaboinikau snap-called on the button. Mateos had ace-three and Vaskaboinikau had him dominated with ace-king. The board provided no help to Mateos and he was sent to the rail in third place.
Vaskaboinikau led Martirosian 6,420,000 to 5,330,000 at the start of heads-up play, but Martirosian survived an all in with ace-jack against jack-ten to double up to 6,500,000 and retake the lead. The young Russian phenom appeared to have a firm grip on the title when Vaskaboinikau moved all in for 5,130,000. Martirosian woke up with aces and snap-called, but Vaskaboinikau hit a running flush for a miracle double and left Martirosian with just eight big blinds.
A few hands later, Martiroisan shoved for 1,410,000 with ace-deuce and Vaskaboinikau called with two fours. No lucky ace arrived for Martirosian, and Vaskaboinikau finally had the title he so dearly coveted.
Vaskaboinikau made it clear: he plays for the trophies and the glory. Today he has both, taking the trophy back to his kids while earning the prestige that comes from conquering such a star-studded field. After ten years, it was a feeling well worth the wait.
That concludes PokerNews’ coverage of the EPT Cyprus Super High Roller. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the series.
Level 23
: Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Artur Martirosian jammed for 1,410,000 from the button and Mikalai Vaskaboinikau quickly called from the big blind.
Artur Martirosian: A♣2♦
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: 4♠4♦
Martirosian paired up on the J♠3♠2♥ but it wasn't enough to take the lead. The 6♠ turn removed some outs for Martirosian, who's runner-up finish was confirmed after the 9♦ river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
11,750,000
1,330,000
|
1,330,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 23
: Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Artur Martirosian raised to 320,000 on the button, Mikalai Vaskaboinikau moved all in for 5,130,000, and Martirosian snap-called.
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: A♦4♦
Artur Martirosian: A♠A♣
Both players stood up from their seats as Martirosian showed down aces with the title within his grasp. The flop came J♣7♠3♦, but the 7♦ turn gave Vaskaboinikau hope with a flush draw.
The 8♦ fell on the river and Vaskaboinikau completed his flush to double up into a massive chip lead, leaving Martirosian with around eight big blinds.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,420,000
5,130,000
|
5,130,000 |
|
|
1,330,000
-5,130,000
|
-5,130,000 |
|
|
||
Level 23
: Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
In a limped pot to the J♠7♦2♦ flop, Mikalai Vaskaboinikau Q♦4♠ check-raised to 420,000 from the big blind over Artur Martirosian's 8♠5♥ bet of 120,000. The latter snap-folded.
Vaskaboinikau limped in before Martirosian made it 720,000. As the bigger stack, Vaskaboinikau jammed, and Martirosian called for his tournament life.
Artur Martirosian: A♣J♠
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: J♦10♥
Martirosian's ace remained best following the 6♦5♠4♣8♣2♥ runout and he took the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,460,000
2,930,000
|
2,930,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,290,000
-2,930,000
|
-2,930,000 |
Level: 23
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 160,000
Level 22
: 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Artur Martirosian 9♦6♦ raised to 240,000 from the button. Mikalai Vaskaboinikau K♠Q♦ jammed from the big blind and folded out his opponent.
Vaskaboinikau 8♣4♣ opened to 240,000 from the button and Martirosian Q♥3♥ defended the big blind. Martirosian check-folded to a bet of 500,000 on the A♠J♠9♠ flop.
Martirosian Q♠J♠ made it 240,000 from the button. Vaskaboinikau 10♥5♦ called from the big blind. Martirosian made top pair on the Q♦8♣2♦ flop and forced out Vaskaboinikau with a bet of 400,000.
Vaskaboinikau J♣4♣ clicked it to 240,000 from the button and Martirosian 7♥2♥ came from the big blind. Vaskaboinikau made trips on the Q♣4♠4♥ flop, and the action was checked to the 8♦ turn. Martirosian bet 300,000 and Vaskaboinikau called. The J♦ river filled up Vaskaboinikau and he shoved over a bet of 900,000. Martirosian snap-folded his seven-high.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,220,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
3,530,000
-1,800,000
|
-1,800,000 |
|
|
||
Level 22
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Level 22
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The fourth season of the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) run by PokerStars is well underway and the action only continues to heat up with the recent schedule release for its marquee stop in Las Vegas. Running from Friday November 1st through Sunday November 10th at Resorts World Las Vegas, the series is not one to miss as it features a whopping 36 tournaments in the span of a week and a half.
Buy-ins range from just $250 all the way up to $25,000 so there are plenty of options for those who want to enjoy some live tournament action without breaking the bank while also providing an opportunity for high stakes regulars to satisfy their desire to play for eye watering sums of money. The high volume means the series comes with a healthy $4,000,000 in total guarantees, including a sizable $3,000,000 set aside for the $5,300 Main Event.
Level 22
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau and Artur Martirosian have been sent on a 20-minute break ahead of heads-up play getting underway.