Fifth Day of EPT Open Sochi, October 2019: Report
WSOP Champion and PokerStars Pro Chris Moneymaker Arrives at EPT Open Sochi
The EPT Open Sochi is abuzz with excitement as World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion and PokerStars professional team member Chris Moneymaker has made his presence felt. The American poker veteran promptly joined the Deep Stack tournament and delighted fans with photo opportunities during breaks.
During the Sochi EPT Open from 11-13 October, a tournament will be held in Moneymaker's honor. The victor will not only receive a substantial cash prize but also a coveted Platinum Pass worth over €26,000 ($30,000). This prestigious prize package includes a €22,500 buy-in for the 2020 PSPC Main Event, luxury accommodations, airport transfers, branded merchandise, a travel allowance, and an exclusive program for Platinum Pass holders.
Deep Stack Tournament wraps up after 22-hour marathon
Tuesday, October 8, saw an intense Deep Stack tournament conclude at the EPT Open Sochi, with a winner crowned only in the morning. The buy-in for this tournament was 32,200 rubles ($460). Players started with 50,000 chips and played 30-minute levels. Late registration was open for 8 rounds, and a total of 361 entries were recorded, generating a prize pool of $147,288. The money bubble burst at 55th place, with the winner taking home over $28,000.
Notably, Moneymaker led the chip count for a considerable period before finishing in 13th place, securing $2,000 in prize money.
The final table was set at 5 AM.Top 9 Final Table Results:1. Lukyanov Andrey (Russia) - $28,5702. Sboev Evgeniy (Russia) - $18,1203. Nikitina Tatyana (Russia) - $13,0904. Bolshakov Artemiy (Russia) - $10,5905. Tutoyan Misak (Russia) - $8,3806. Melnikov Alexey (Russia) - $6,4507. Gabdullin Damir (Russia) - $4,8008. Vitkind Dmitriy (Russia) - $3,4809. Moiseenko Lev (Russia) - $2,818
Tatyana Nikitina, the lone female competitor in the men's line-up, competed valiantly and impressed with her gameplay, securing a Top 3 finish and $13,000 in winnings.
The heads-up match featured Evgeniy Sboev and Andrei Lukyanov, with the former enjoying a threefold chip lead. Both players refused to settle for a tie and continued their fierce competition.
After two grueling hours, the second Deep Stack event at EPT Open Sochi concluded, with Evgeniy Sboev claiming second place. In a twist, Sboev had won the previous day's Bounty tournament, taking home $7,8K in prize money.
However, it was Andrei Lukyanov who emerged victorious and pocketed $28,5K as champion of the 22-hour marathon!
The champion's photo is yet to be released, so we'll publish it tomorrow.
Upcoming events at EPT Open Sochi:- Main Event of EPT Open Sochi started today, October 9, with a buy-in of 133,000 rubles ($1,900) and a guaranteed prize pool of 70,000,000 rubles ($1,000,000). The Main Event has three starting flights.- The Final Day will take place on October 13.- Today's Main Event Flight A features Olympic champion and PokerStars Pro Fatima Moreira de Melo.- One-Day Main Event Satellites are also scheduled for October 9, at 16:00 and 20:00, giving players a chance to win a seat worth 100,000 chips. Unlimited re-entries are allowed.
Stay tuned for more updates from the EPT Open Sochi!
I'm not sure if Chris Moneymaker will participate in the casino-games such as poker during the casino-and-gambling events at EPT Open Sochi, as he hasn't announced his plans yet. However, sports enthusiasts might get a chance to witness more of his participation, since he's scheduled to take part in the Main Event of EPT Open Sochi starting October 9.
