Day 2 Recap: $10,300 EPT High Roller at PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus
The second day of the highly anticipated $10,300 EPT High Roller event at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus has wrapped up at the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. With an impressive starting field of 215 entries, the stakes were high and the atmosphere electric, culminating in a thrilling day of poker that saw the competition whittled down to just 24 players.
Leaderboard Snapshot
As Day 2 came to a close, it was seasoned poker powerhouse Steve O’Dwyer leading the charge with a commanding chip stack of 2,235,000. O’Dwyer is no stranger to the spotlight in high-stakes tournaments; currently ranked 13th in the worldwide all-time money list with over $44,000,000 in recorded cashes, he seeks his eighth EPT trophy, a feat few can even dream of achieving.
Following closely behind O’Dwyer is Diogo Coelho from Portugal, boasting a strong stack of 1,995,000. Coelho, who has nearly $2,300,000 in live tournament earnings, aims to cap off an impressive week after winning the $2,200 Eureka High Roller just days before for over $350,000. Rounding out the top three is Shankui Li from China with a solid count of 1,725,000—a player who has already made waves this week with significant finishes in both the Main Event and the Eureka Main.
Top Three Chip Counts
- Steve O’Dwyer (Ireland) – 2,235,000
- Diogo Coelho (Portugal) – 1,995,000
- Shankui Li (China) – 1,725,000
A Day of High-Stakes Action
The energy at the tables was palpable as Day 2 kicked off with 164 players from Day 1 being supplemented by an additional 51 entrants taking advantage of the late registration option. This brought the total number of entries in the tournament to 456 and created a staggering $4,423,200 prize pool. Earning money in this event required skill and strategy, with payouts starting at $18,300 for a minimum cash, and the eventual winner set to claim a hefty $865,700.
As the first few hands unfolded, it quickly became clear that the day would be (metaphorically) blood-soaked. Early eliminations included notable names like Sonny Franco and Dimitar Danchev, with poker veterans like Parker Talbot also exiting before the first break.
Despite the rapid turnover, the resilience of players like Niklas Astedt and Jessica Teusl quickly shined through. Teusl surged up the leaderboard, aiming for a chance at glory, while Astedt navigated through a rollercoaster of highs and lows—eventually landing in the top ten chips at day’s end.
Magnificent Moments on the Felt
Key hands shaped the landscape of the chip counts. Coelho’s rise towards two million came after a critical hand where his top pair held against Michel Molenaar. Additionally, Shankui Li enjoyed a timely surge as he benefitted from a massive cooler against Aliaksandr Shylko, further solidifying his spot in the upper tiers of the chip counts.
The Bubble and Final Placements
The bubble burst after the dinner break, marking a pivotal moment for the remaining players. Stephen Song, the EPT Barcelona Main Event champion, experienced heartbreak as his kings were cracked, leading to his unfortunate exit without any cash.
As play wound down towards the end of Day 2, more players like Elias Gutierrez, Patrick Leonard, and Roberto Romanello saw their chips lost in pivotal pots, sealing their fates as the tournament field tapered down to a mere 24 contenders.
Looking Forward to Day 3
The action resumes on Sunday, October 20, at noon local time, with anticipation thick in the air as the remaining players prepare to battle it out. They will return to 50-minute levels at Level 23, blinds set at 10,000/25,000 with a 25,000 big blind ante as the backdrop for the final showdown.
The excitement of high-quality poker looms large, and the stakes could not be higher. Expect intense competition as these skilled players lay it all on the line for the coveted EPT High Roller trophy.
Stay tuned with PokerNews for further coverage and all the live updates from this thrilling event as we witness who ultimately walks away as the champion. The stakes are high, the players are skilled, and anything can happen in the realm of high-stakes poker.
