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Weis Rises Dramatically on the Second-to-Last Day of the EPT Cyprus Main Event | PokerStars EPT Cyprus 2024

The Thrilling Finale Awaits: EPT Cyprus Main Event Heads to the Last Six

As the sun sets on a long and arduous week at the 2024 European Poker Tour (EPT) in Cyprus, the tension in the room grows palpable. The spotlight now shines brightly on the remaining six contenders of the prestigious $5,300 Main Event, an event that attracted a staggering 1,284 entrants. Tomorrow, they will return to the opulent Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Spa to battle for the championship trophy and a life-changing first-place prize of $1,030,000.

Journey to the Final Table

The culmination of Day 5 saw players arriving with high hopes, but only six would emerge victorious enough to advance to the final table. As the rounds progressed, it became clear that Oliver Weis was a force to be reckoned with. By the end of the day, he bagged a commanding 18,505,000 chips, giving him a chip lead more than triple that of his closest competitor, Mikhail Shalamov, who managed to end the day with 6,050,000 chips.

Weis has had a breakout year, experiencing remarkable success at other EPT events — notably winning $1,050,978 in a high roller event in Paris and taking home $274,313 from a Jeju event in South Korea. His confidence is soaring, and it’s no wonder. "I’m feeling pretty good going into the [final day]," Weis stated. "It would be amazing to cap the year off with another win. Last year was not so good, so hopefully, I can reach the ultimate goal of winning an EPT Main Event."

The Final Table Line-up

As the final table approaches, the remaining players line up as follows:

Seat Name Country Chips Big Blinds
3 Mikhail Shalamov Russia 6,050,000 61
4 Bobby James United Kingdom 5,215,000 52
6 Oliver Weis Germany 18,505,000 185
7 Georgios Tsouloftas Cyprus 2,255,000 23
8 Anton Wigg Sweden 3,190,000 32
9 Andriy Lyubovetskiy Ukraine 3,295,000 33

These players will fight tooth and nail to secure their position in poker history.

Riveting Day 5 Action

Day 5 of the tournament kicked off with 16 players vying for a deep run. The atmosphere was electric as chips began to fly. Boris Tabiyev, the short stack, took a brave stand early in the day, but luck was not on his side as he fell to Philip Joyce, marking the first elimination of the day. Meanwhile, Marta Miquel Munoz’s journey also came to an abrupt end as she ran her ace-queen into Bobby James’ pocket kings, continuing the decades-long drought of female winners in EPT Main Events.

The action became even more intense as Eleftherios Sinnos and Halil Tasyurek were both eliminated within minutes of each other. The showdown between Joyce and Anton Kraous was nothing short of sensational; Kraous managed to crack Joyce’s pocket aces, setting the stage for further eliminations as the field dwindled.

Oliver Weis, however, began his ascent to the chip lead during this period. A combination of skillful bluffing and strategic gameplay saw him thrive, particularly in a critical hand against the former chip leader, Georgios Tsouloftas. Weis secured his position at the top of the leaderboard after inflicting brutal blows on his competitors, managing to eliminate key players like Damir Zhugralin.

Final Table Highlights

The final table promises to be a riveting showdown. Andrea Dato, despite starting strong, faced adversity as his aces were cracked by Shalamov’s sevens, leading to a significant chip loss. Timo Kamphues became the first casualty of the final table after running into Weis’s two pair, further solidifying Weis’ dominating position.

The stakes have never been higher as each player vies for not just the monetary prize, but the title of EPT Main Event Champion. With six players left and chips spread across the felt like a tapestry of fate, they know every decision counts.

The Stakes of the Final Table

The final table kicks off on Sunday, October 20, at 12:30 p.m. local time, with 69:54 minutes left in Level 29, featuring blinds of 50,000/100,000 and a 100,000 big-blind ante. The prize pool distribution further fuels the competitive spirit, with payouts as follows:

Place Prize
1 $1,030,000
2 $642,300
3 $459,000
4 $353,100
5 $271,400
6 $208,720

As the final day approaches, the anticipation builds. Will Weis continue his impressive run and capture his first EPT Main Event title, or will one of the other contenders rise to the occasion?

PokerNews will cover every twist and turn until the last hand is dealt and a new champion is crowned, adding another glorious chapter to the rich tapestry of poker history. For those passionate about poker, this is not just a tournament; it’s a battlefield where skill meets chance, and dreams are forged with every chip that crosses the felt.

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