Marian Virlanuta Dominates Day 2 of the $1,100 Eureka Main Event
In the thrilling world of competitive poker, it’s a rare feat for a player to climb to the top of a tournament leader board and maintain their position throughout multiple levels of intense play. However, Romanian pro Marian Virlanuta did just that during Day 2 of the $1,100 Eureka Main Event at the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa in Cyprus. His impressive performance over eight taxing levels not only secured him the chip lead at the start of the day but also allowed him to exit as the definitive leader, boasting an impressive stack of 4,680,000 chips.
The Triumph of Marian Virlanuta
Virlanuta entered Day 2 with 1,156,000 chips, quickly demonstrating his strategy and skill as he expanded his stack consistently throughout the day. His play showcased resilience and expertise, as he navigated through early challenges, overcoming bad beats and executing clutch plays during pivotal moments. By the end of the day, he had amassed 117 big blinds, ensuring a strong position as he heads into Day 3.
Interestingly, this isn’t Virlanuta’s first notable run in Cyprus. He previously finished 34th in the $5,300 EPT Main Event held at the same venue last year, earning $21,500—a payout that remains one of the largest in his notable career.
A Competitive Field
Following closely behind Virlanuta was local favorite Georgios Tsouloftas, who bagged 3,900,000 chips to secure a solid second place. The competition was fierce, with two Russian players—Igor Abelmasov and Andrey Pateychuk—detailed in third and fourth positions with stacks of 3,800,000 and 3,700,000, respectively. Turkish grinder Muhtar Taysi rounded out the top five with 3,170,000 chips, marking him as the only other player to surpass the 3 million chip threshold.
End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marian Virlanuta | Romania | 4,680,000 | 117 |
| 2 | Georgios Tsouloftas | Cyprus | 3,900,000 | 98 |
| 3 | Igor Abelmasov | Russian Federation | 3,800,000 | 95 |
| 4 | Andrey Pateychuk | Russian Federation | 3,700,000 | 93 |
| 5 | Muhtar Taysi | Turkey | 3,170,000 | 79 |
| 6 | Alexey Badulin | Russian Federation | 2,960,000 | 74 |
| 7 | Guoliang Wei | China | 2,540,000 | 64 |
| 8 | Vladislav Dubanov | Russian Federation | 2,475,000 | 62 |
| 9 | Andre Marquardt | Germany | 2,400,000 | 60 |
| 10 | Sebastian Ting | Germany | 2,350,000 | 59 |
Among the notable players who also made it through to Day 3 include overseas veterans Martin Zamani (2,090,000) and Michael Wang (490,000), alongside established talents such as Alexandre Reard (1,400,000), Pieter Theelen (1,240,000), and PokerStars Ambassador Marle Spragg (695,000).
Day 2 Action Summary
Day 2 began with 418 players returning from an enormous field of 2,803 entrants, each guaranteed to walk away with at least $1,680. Early departures included stars like Aliaksei Boika, Bart Lybaert, and Sebastian Huber, who fell out before the tournament entered the heart of action.
The day progressed with players making strides in the chip counts, as evident from notable payouts secured before the final stages. Players such as Sergei Bortsov (177th – $2,900) and defending champion Ankit Ahuja (223rd – $2,210) experienced bittersweet exits as the competition advanced.
As the day neared its conclusion, the remaining 56 contenders took a moment to regroup and bag their chips, gearing up for Day 3, where the blinds will start at 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 big blind ante. Strategies will become crucial as players work towards reaching the final table—a goal that not only bears the thrill of competition but also a lofty prize of $386,210 awaiting the first-place finisher.
Remaining Payouts
Incredibly, all players are currently eyeing the lucrative payouts already guaranteed, including:
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $386,210 | 12-13 | $22,950 |
| 2 | $241,290 | 14-15 | $19,120 |
| 3 | $172,060 | 16-17 | $15,900 |
| 4 | $132,120 | 18-20 | $13,260 |
| 5 | $101,390 | 21-23 | $11,050 |
| 6 | $78,770 | 24-27 | $9,190 |
| 7 | $60,850 | 28-31 | $7,670 |
| 8 | $46,600 | 32-39 | $6,660 |
| 9 | $35,840 | 40-55 | $5,780 |
| 10-11 | $27,560 | 56 | $5,030 |
Looking Ahead
As the tension and excitement loom, all eyes will be on the players as they prepare for Day 3, scheduled to commence at noon local time on October 13. Poker enthusiasts around the globe eagerly await the outcome of this high-stakes tournament, hoping to see which player will seize the moment and claim their place in poker history. Tune in to PokerNews for live updates and insights as the action unfolds.
