EPT Cyprus Produces International Star Winners With Merit
The European Poker Tour’s first trip to Cyprus has been hailed as a “huge success”. The inaugural EPT Cyprus Main Event, played at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa and staged during October, attracted 1,320 entries from 70 countries. Combined, they created a $6,402,000 prize pool.
Gilles Simon (left) got the better of Andrea Dato heads-up in the EPT Cyprus 2023 Main Event. ©Danny Maxwell / PokerStars
Gilles Simon, who hails from Valkenburg, fared best of the 896 individual players. His winner’s prize was $1,042,000. The 24-year-old is the seventh EPT champion from the Netherlands and the first since December 2016.
The EPT Cyprus Main Event was a truly international affair. At the business end, the first ten finishers came from different countries. The UK’s best-placed finisher was Marc Foggin. He was awarded $61,850 for 13th. Toby Joyce fared best for Ireland. He collected $14,150 for his 77th-placed finish.
EPT Cyprus 2023 Main Event Final Table Results:
| 1st | Gilles Simon | Netherlands | $1,042,000 |
| 2nd | Andrea Dato | Italy | $652,200 |
| 3rd | Jose Gonzalez | Spain | $465,425 |
| 4th | Halil Tsyurek | Turkey | $358,075 |
| 5th | Yannick Schumacher | Germany | $275,425 |
| 6th | Nikita Kuznetsov | Russia | $211,850 |
| 7th | Bjorn Kozenkai | Hungary | $162,925 |
| 8th | Victor Yugay | Uzbekistan | $125,350 |
Supporting competitions underlined the global appeal of PokerStars European Tour events. The Eureka Cyprus Main Event – with 2,659 players and a $2,552,640 prize pool – was won by India’s Ankit Ahuja. His final table rivals came from, amongst others, Romania, Ukraine, Iran and Lebanon.
Spanish players Juan Pardo and Vicent Delgado agreed to a deal in the $50,000 EPT Super High Roller. The former ‘won’ the title and $688,560 after a short heads-up battle. It was Russia’s turn in the $10,300 EPT High Roller. Here, Ilia Pavlov defeated Turkey’s Selahaddin Bedir heads-up to prove the best of 407 players and win $787,400.
Reflecting on the festival, Cedric Billot, Associate Director of PokerStars Live Events, said: “The very first EPT Cyprus was a huge success. From the player’s party, the off-the-felt activities, and, of course, the poker at the tables, we hope everyone enjoyed themselves, whether it was their first EPT experience or they’re a veteran of PokerStars events. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to EPT Prague in December.”
No Luck Needed for Bootcamp Winner Ulrick
The EPT Cyprus was also the venue for the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown. Forty participants from around the world took part in this eight-week female-only poker boot camp hosted by PokerStars and Poker Power. None had previous poker experience.
However, following an intense program – which included weekly practice games, home game tournaments and mentoring from PokerStars Team Pro Jen Shahade – the top 10 recruits travelled to EPT Cyprus to compete in the Showdown.
It was British player Louise Ulrick who emerged victorious despite never having played a hand of poker until a few months ago. The 55-year-old former math teacher turned licensee consultant landed a package to EPT Prague (in early December) for her winning effort.
