EPT Season 5 (2008-2009)
Recap of the 5th European Poker Tour Season
The 2008 season of the European Poker Tour began in September at Casino Barcelona in Spain. The buy-in for this initial event reached an all-time high of €8,000. The first place prize of over €1.3 million went to German Sebastian Rutherberg, who defeated several strong opponents, including American Jason Mercier, who had won Season 4’s Sanremo event only five months earlier. Rutherberg also captured a World Series of Poker bracelet in June for Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better.
European Poker Championships in London
Season 5 featured two events in London, England, starting with the 2008 European Poker Championships at Grosvenor Victoria Casino in early October. This five-day event drew 596 entrants. American Michael Martin won the £1,000,000 prize with pocket fours, a significant improvement from his fifth-place finish at the previous season’s Grand Final. Martin’s victory was hard-earned, beating players like Irishman Alan Smurfit, who had won a WSOP bracelet the previous year, and high-ranking EPT leaderboard players Johannes Strassmann and Antony Lellouche.
High Stakes in London: £1 Million Showdown
The second London event of Season 5, the EPT London £1 Million Showdown, saw Jason Mercier claim first place, overcoming top players like John Juanda (second), Scotty Nguyen (fifth), and David Benyamine (eighth). This two-day bonus event extended the Grosvenor Victoria Casino play and had a £20,000 buy-in, the highest in EPT history. Mercier walked away with the best of the nine payouts.
First Time in Budapest
Season 5 introduced Budapest, Hungary, to the EPT lineup for the first and only time. At the Las Vegas Casino Sofitel Hotel, Englishman Will Fry won the €595,839 first place prize with pocket jacks, outlasting 531 competitors. Ciprian Hrisca, the first Romanian to make an EPT final table, finished second. Team PokerStars Pro member Johnny Lodden finished eighth, marking one of his eight EPT money finishes to date.
EPT Polish Open in Warsaw
In mid-November 2008, the EPT Polish Open took place at Casinos Poland Hyatt Regency in Warsaw. The event had nearly 150 fewer buy-ins than the previous year. Atanas Gueorguiev of Bulgaria became the first Bulgarian to make an EPT final table. PokerStars celebrity Dario Minieri finished third, while Portugal’s Joao Barbosa won the $459,226 first place prize.
Competitive Play in Prague
December saw the fifth official event of Season 5 at EPT Prague, held at the Hilton Prague Hotel. With a €5,000 buy-in and a €2,764,500 prize pool, the event awarded 56 payouts. Italians made an impressive showing, with Salvatore Bonavena winning €774,000 for first place, Massimo Di Cicco taking €445,000 for second, and Francesco Cirianni finishing fifth for €166,000.
PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
The return of the EPT PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) saw intense competition. The Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas hosted 1,347 entrants vying for the $3,000,000 grand prize. Canadian Poorya Nazari won the top prize, with four Americans making the final table, including Kevin Saul, Tony Gregg, Dan Heimiller, and Dustin Dirksen. Brazilian Alexandre Gomes, a WSOP and WPT titleholder, was knocked out by Benny Spindler’s quad jacks.
French Dominance in Deauville
Season 5 saw the return of Deauville, France, as a locale and the only time both Deauville and Dortmund, Germany, appeared as event sites. The French dominated the final table at Deauville Casino, with German Moritz Kranich winning the €851,400 prize. Arnaud Esquevin and Tristan Clemençon took second and third place, respectively.
Scandinavian Open in Copenhagen
The EPT Scandinavian Open in Copenhagen, Denmark, saw American Tim Vance winning the kr6,220,488 first place prize. Over 450 entrants paid the kr50,000 buy-in, with Finnish Jens Kyllönen taking first and Swedish Peter Hedlund coming in second.
Final Event in Dortmund
As Season 5 bade farewell to Dortmund, Germany, the final table at Casino Hohensyburg was dominated by German players. Sandra Naujoks won the €917,000 first place prize, defeating notable players like Michael McDonald, Luca Pagano, and William Thorson.
Record-Breaking Event in Sanremo
The penultimate event of Season 5, EPT Sanremo, held at Casino Sanremo in Italy, was one of the largest events of the tour. Dutchman Constant Rijkenberg won €1,508,000 with pocket aces, while Dragan Galic and Ovi Balaj made notable final table finishes.
Grand Finale in Monte Carlo
Season 5 concluded with the EPT Grand Final at Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort in Monaco. With 935 entrants and a €10,000 buy-in, the prize pool reached €9,350,000. Dutchman Pieter de Korver won €2.3 million, while American Matthew Woodward finished second with €1.3 million. Norwegian Dag Martin Mikkelsen, who started with a substantial chip lead, ultimately finished fourth.
Conclusion
Season 5 of the European Poker Tour showcased thrilling competitions, unexpected victories, and a mix of veteran and emerging poker stars. The variety of locations and the introduction of new events contributed to making this season a memorable chapter in EPT history.