Home / Poker News September 2011 / EPT Barcelona – Martin Schleich Wins
EPT Barcelona – Martin Schleich Wins
Posted by: James Carter. - Sun, 2011-09-04 02:49
The final day of EPT Barcelona action saw only 8 players return to the felt from the initial starting field of 811. The day was by no means an easy stroll through the park for the eventual winner. The battle was long and exhausting: it was around 3:30 AM when the winner was finally able to hoist the trophy above his head.
PokerStars pro Eugene Katchalov had doubtlessly stolen all the limelight at the final table, as a potential win of his would’ve meant a Triple Crown achievement. Katchalov did manage to inch pretty close to the title, but eventually, it was Martin Schleich who picked up the €850k top prize.
Isabel Baltazar’s presence at the final table was quite a meaningful one, especially considering the fact that apparently no woman had made an EPT final table since Liv Boeree’s
EPT San Remo win.
Baltazar became the first victim of the Barcelona final table, when she picked up two Qs and shoved all-in against Eugene Katchalov’s pocket rockets.
Juan Manuel Perez was the next one to bite the dust. He got his chips into the middle on an A,Ko. He was called by Tomeu Gomila, who had pocket 10s and proceeded to land a set on the river the seal the deal.
Saar Wilf was bounced in 6th by Katchalov, whose pocket 3s came out on top against Wilf’s A,2o. Gomila would exit the tournament in 5th place, followed by Raul Mestre who had held the chip lead shortly before, in 4th. Schleich was responsible for Gomila’s elimination while Katchalov bounced Mestre.
3-handed play continued for around 3 hours, before Eugene Katchalov busted out at the hands of Schleich.
The heads-up stage between Schelich and Dragan Kostic began with Schleich holding a massive chip lead.
The final hand of the event saw Schelich’s A,9o triumph over Kostic’s A,7o in a rather dramatic fashion, by hitting a pair of 9s on the river. The runner-up pocketed a prize of €532k.
