Day 2 Highlights of the $3,000 Mystery Bounty at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus
An electrifying Day 2 of the $3,000 Mystery Bounty tournament unfolded at the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa, showcasing the finesse of poker players from around the globe. Starting the day with a hefty field of 305 participants, the action-packed atmosphere gradually dwindled as the day progressed, leaving only 15 competitors remaining by the end of the day.
Bubble Burst and Participant Success
As the tension escalated, only 128 players secured their place in the money. The tournament reached a breaking point when two players—Lukas Zaskodny and Fabian Schmidt—bust out on the bubble, thus splitting the min-cash, a disappointment contrasted by the thrill that victory brings for others advancing.
Uladzimir Zhyharau Takes Commanding Lead
Coming out as the chip leader, Uladzimir Zhyharau from Belarus secured a staggering 4,920,000 chips by the end of the day. Zhyharau showcased incredible skill by doubling his stack with pocket tens, decisively taking many chips from Krum Polihronov. Continuing his stellar performance, he furthered his lead with pocket eights against Aren Bezhanyen.
While not completely flawless, Zhyharau’s performance was near perfect, positioning him as a strong contender for his largest-ever cash in live tournament poker. Following closely behind is Ryhor Karapanau, bagging 3,225,000 chips after a series of key eliminations, including notable players like Konstantin Voronin and Henok Tekle.
Notable Chip Counts Going into Day 3
The top three players at the end of Day 2 included Nicolae Paunescu in third place with 3,020,000 chips, followed by Marius Kudzmanas in fourth with 2,735,000 chips, and Matthias Lipp rounding out the top five with 2,325,000 chips.
End of Day 2 Chip Counts
| Position | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uladzimir Zhyharau | Belarus | 4,920,000 | 98 |
| 2 | Ryhor Karapanau | Latvia | 3,225,000 | 65 |
| 3 | Nicolae Paunescu | Romania | 3,020,000 | 60 |
| 4 | Marius Kudzmanas | Lithuania | 2,735,000 | 55 |
| 5 | Matthias Lipp | Austria | 2,325,000 | 47 |
| 6 | Valeriu Rosca | Romania | 1,340,000 | 27 |
| 7 | Stoyan Obreshkov | Bulgaria | 1,295,000 | 26 |
| 8 | Karen Nazarian | Russia | 1,300,000 | 26 |
| 9 | Guo Liang Wei | Hong Kong | 1,155,000 | 23 |
| 10 | Hadi Khordbin | Iran | 1,050,000 | 21 |
| 11 | Aziz Efe | Turkey | 1,005,000 | 20 |
| 12 | Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 1,000,000 | 20 |
| 13 | Morten Klein | Norway | 965,000 | 19 |
| 14 | Anze Smajd | Slovenia | 905,000 | 18 |
| 15 | Maroun Jazzar | Lebanon | 490,000 | 10 |
Mystery Bounty Madness Continues
The allure of the Mystery Bounty format captivated many players, as it allows for unique prize opportunities unparalleled in traditional poker settings. The bounty tokens came into action at Level 15, where players could win top prizes, including three prizes of $75,000 and two $40,000 envelopes.
Alik Zazian was the first to pull a $75,000 prize. Although he finished in 116th place with a payout of $3,400, the estimate of winnings more than satisfied him.
But the drama unfolded further during a dinner break when Matthias Lipp, igniting a wave of cheers, pulled two consecutive $75,000 prizes from the bounty chest. Lipp is currently riding high, not only in chip count but also in total bounties claimed, solidifying his chances at a lucrative finish.
Remaining Payouts and Future Prospects
With the major Mystery Bounty prizes already claimed, expectations for Day 3 are that it will mimic a more conventional freezeout tournament as stakes rise. The remaining prize pool totals around $1,509,072, and players will return to battle it out for their share in the high-stakes environment.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $265,972 | 8 | $31,990 |
| 2 | $166,330 | 9 | $24,610 |
| 3 | $118,810 | 10 – 11 | $19,800 |
| 4 | $91,390 | 12 – 13 | $16,490 |
| 5 | $70,310 | 14 – 15 | $13,750 |
| 6 | $54,090 | 16 | $11,950 |
| 7 | $41,590 |
Day 3 is set to commence at midday local time, starting with blinds at 25,000/50,000 and a 50,000 big blind ante. With players returning to an average stack of over 30 big blinds, the excitement is palpable, and the action is expected to be lively.
As the tournament approaches its thrilling conclusion, stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates from the frontlines as players battle down to the final table and a victor in the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour.
