EPT Cyprus Mystery Bounty: High Stakes at Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa
The PokerStars European Poker Tour made its mark at the luxurious Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa in Northern Cyprus, where Day 3 of the highly anticipated $3,000 EPT Mystery Bounty event unfolded. With a formidable field of 981 entrants, this tournament generated an impressive prize pool of $2,664,396. A staggering $981,000 was earmarked for the enigmatic Mystery Bounties, adding an extra layer of excitement on Day 2.
Battle of the Best: 18 Players Vie for EPT Glory and $298,496
After 27 intense levels of play spanning two days, the action was narrowed down to 18 players who returned to the felt with their eyes set on EPT glory and the top prize of $298,496. A further ten levels of fierce competition passed, and it was Quan Zhou who emerged victorious, etching his name in poker history as the EPT Cyprus Mystery Bounty champion. Zhou had previously tasted success in the series, making his second final table appearance, donning an all-white suit and shades in anticipation of a winner’s photo. This win marked his fifth and most significant cash of the series.
The Final Showdown: $3,000 EPT Mystery Bounty Final Table Results
- Rank 1: Quan Zhou (Hong Kong) – Prize: $242,623
- Rank 2: Walid Bou Habib (Lebanon) – Prize: $242,623
- Rank 3: Dmitrii Nazarov (Romania) – Prize: $133,400
- Rank 4: Dumitru Pora (Romania) – Prize: $102,600
- Rank 5: Manuel Fischer (Germany) – Prize: $78,950
- Rank 6: Dylan Destefano (United States) – Prize: $60,700
- Rank 7: Jacques Der Megreditchian (France) – Prize: $46,700
- Rank 8: Kemal Aslan (Turkey) – Prize: $35,900
- Rank 9: Damir Zhugralin (Kazakhstan) – Prize: $27,600
Unveiling the Mystery Bounties: A Game-Changer
Day 2 introduced the Mystery Bounties, adding an exciting twist to the tournament. For each opponent eliminated, players earned a token that gave them the chance to unveil a Mystery Bounty. Amid the intriguing choices, it was the two $75,000 bounties that captured the field’s attention. Francesco Blasio was the first to claim a $75,000 bounty, a staggering sum surpassing his career earnings. Georgios Vrakas secured the second $75,000 bounty, marking his fourth and most substantial win of the series in Cyprus.
Bounty Bonanza: Players’ Fortunes Grow
A remarkable list of players claimed one of thirteen $25,000 Mystery Bounties, including poker veterans Jon Kyte, Alexandre Vuilleumier, Aliaksandr Shylko, and the eventual winner, Quan Zhou. Day 3 witnessed Manuel Fischer securing the last $25,000 bounty on behalf of his tablemate, Dumitru Pora.
Day 3 Drama Unfolds: From 18 to the Final Table
The final day of action commenced with the swift exit of Silius Moll, followed by Ouassini Mansouri and Damir Gabdullin. The field underwent a final reshuffle, resulting in the last 15 players securing seats at the final table.
Gradually, Ekrem Sanioglu, Farid Jattin, Milos Petakovic, Deividas Daubaris, and Nikolay Ponomarev exited the tournament, leading to the bubble of the final table. Hossien Taki departed in tenth place after intense stalling, securing a $6,350 pay jump and the honor of making it to the final nine.
High-Stakes Battles at the Final Table
As the final table action unfolded, Damir Zhugralin was the first to bow out, falling victim to Dylan DeStefano. Kemal Aslan’s short stack met its demise against Dumitru Pora’s kings, leading to Aslan’s exit in eighth place. Jacques Der Megreditchian, who impressively climbed from a short stack to seventh place, departed after an unfortunate hand against Walid Bou Habib.
DeStefano’s tournament journey ended in sixth place after a crucial flip of his pocket jacks against Zhou’s ace-queen. Manuel Fischer’s kings were outmatched by Dmitrii Nazarov’s ace-queen, leaving Fischer in fifth place.
Aces and Queens Prevail: Final Three Battle It Out
Dumitru Pora met his match in fourth place as his ace-four was outdone by Zhou’s ace-queen. This marked the third consecutive elimination by an opponent holding ace-queen. A grueling three-handed battle ensued, leading to the elimination of the start-of-day chip leader, Dmitrii Nazarov, who secured third place.
A Deal and a Trophy Showdown: Zhou’s Triumph
The heads-up battle between Quan Zhou and Walid Bou Habib proved to be a fierce contest. Initially, they made a deal to divide the money equally, leaving $25,000 and the coveted trophy to be won. However, after an hour of chip lead exchanges and Habib’s urgency to register the upcoming high roller event, the deal was revised.
The money was evenly split, but the floor insisted the trophy be contested. Zhou’s determination to claim the victory led to Habib gracefully conceding his chips hand by hand. In the end, Zhou secured the title and the trophy, solidifying his status as the EPT Cyprus Mystery Bounty champion.