Pole position at EMOP Malta Grand Final
Krzystzof Grubka from Poland wins EMOP Malta Grand Final as 291 players compete in final leg of inaugural tour for biggest prize pool yet.
Grubka won the €1,500 buy in event at the European Masters of Poker Malta Grand Final topping the field of 291 in Vittoriosa on the Mediterranean island at the weekend.
The final stop on the five-leg tour attracted a number of big names from across the globe including Johnny Lodden, Mel Judah, Jonas Kyllönen, Abel Mejberg, and David Steicke, as well as previous EMOP winners Johanna Pyysing, Anton Wigg, and Reuven Dayan vying for a share in the €436.500 prize pool – the largest of the tour.
After two days of play the final table was:
Seat 1: Martin Gudvangen — 473,500
Seat 2: Tobias Knutås — 988,000
Seat 3: Tero Aho — 453,500
Seat 4: Lukas Bäumer — 454,000
Seat 5: Krzystzof Grubka — 444,000
Seat 6: Leo Nordin — 318,000
Seat 7: Joakim Sörensen — 584,000
Seat 8: Christer Larsson — 557,000
Swede Leo Nordin was first out. He bet 25,500 from a middle position and Sörensen called. Flop 9s5s8s. Nordin bet 56,000 and Sörensen shoved immediately. Nordin called showing 5-5 while Sörensen showed 8-8. The flop and turn fell 9 and 8 to bust the unlucky Nordin.
Seventh place went to Martin Gudvangen. He was all-in from the cut-off with K-J offsuit. Aho liked his chances with A7 in the small blind and call winning with ace-high.
Next to bust in sixth was Christer Larsson, all-in from the button and called by Aho with 10-10. Larsson turned over A-4 off-suit and made no improvement.
Tobias Knutås exited in fifth. Grubka bet 65,000 on the button and Knutås calld from the big blind. Flop TsJs7c. Knutås bet 77,000 and Grubka raised to 280,000. Knutås pushed immediately and Grubka called just as fast. Knutås showed 8s-5 s for a flush draw and Grubka K-J for top pair. The turn was the 2h and the river Ac and Knutås was gone.
Next to be eliminated was Lukas Bäumer. Krzystzof Grubka bet 100,000 in the cut-off and Bäumer pushed all-in with 7-7. Grubka called and showed A-9 off-suit. Grubka hit a 9 on the turn and stayed ahead sending Bäumer to the rail in fourth.
Third place went to Tero Aho. Sörensen raised on the button to 100,000. Aho in the small blind went all-in, the big blind foldeds out of the way. Sörensen was uncertain for quite some time but called with Ac5c. Aho held KsTc. Neither comes and Sörensen won the pot with ace high sending Aho home.
Heads-up, Krzystzof Grubka started with 2.4 million in chips and Joakim Sörenson with 1.9 million. They swiftly cut a deal and Grubka took home €95,000 and the title while Sörenson collected €88,000 for second place.
The final table results and payouts were:
1 Krzystzof Grubka — POL €95,000
2 Joakim Sörenson — SWE €88,000
3 Tero Aho — €43,650
4 Lukas Bäumer — GER €26,190
5 Tobias Knutås — €21,800
6 Christer Larsson — SWE €17,460
7 Martin Gudvangen — NOR €14,481
8 Leo Nordin — SWE €12,221
The European Master of Poker saw five stops across Europe from February to September 2009. The previous winners were:
Tallin, Estonia, Feb.20 to 22: Johanna Pyysing – €69,440. 248 players made a total prize pool of €248,000.
Varna, Bulgaria, April 15 to 18: Reuven Dayan – €77,750. 311 players made a total prize pool of €311,000
Prague, Czech Republic, June 24 to 28: Vladislav Shuravin – €39,675. 258 players created a prize pool of €258,000
Barcelona, Spain, July 29 to August 1: Anton Wigg – €55,502. 399 players created a prize pool of €399,000.
