Online Poker Press

EPT Warsaw, $9,000 No Limit Hold’em, Warsaw, October 20th-25th 2009

Entrants: 203
Buyin: $9,000 US
Prize pool: $1,717,000 US

1. Christophe Benzimra, France, €358,644
2. Alfio Battisti, Italy, €200,520
3. Oleksandr Vaserfirer, Ukraine, €120,311
4. Luca Pagano, Italy, €85,938
5. Ruslan Prydryk, Ukraine, €71,041
6. Clayton Mozdzen, Canada, €56,144
7. Alexander Klimashin, Russia, €44,687
8. Anatoly Gurtovoy, Russia, €32,082

Age triumphed over youth in the EPT Warsaw Main Event, which came to a climax when 47-year-old Frenchman Christophe Benzimra stormed through a final table with an average age of under 31. The previously unknown French Plexiglas factory owner took just under 8 hours to shatter the rest of the final table, claiming 4 knockouts along the way. The most notable player at the final table was EPT record breaker Luca Pagano who was making his 5th EPT final table, and his 12th EPT cash. He had fought his way through a relatively small field of just 203 players, which EPT regulars seemingly preferring warmer climates such as Barcelona.

The first elimination took place during the 8-handed action when EPT Regular Anatoly Gurtovoy raised all-in preflop with A-Q. Oleksandr Vaserfirer made the call, and his pocket Jacks held up to eliminate the Russian. Mother Russia took another hit when Alexander Klimashin was the next man out. Alexander made the open-raise all-in with pocket Nines, but Benzimra called with A-K and the Ace on the flop was enough to send the second Russian packing in quick succession.

The last player from outside Europe was the next eliminated when Canadian Pokerstars qualifier Clayton Mozdzen three betted all-in Alfio Battisti who snap-called with A-A. The Ace’s held and the Canadian pocketed a cool €56,144 for 6th place.

The next elimination saw Benzimra win the biggest hand of the tournament when he made the move all-in, which was called by the two Ukrainian’s at the table, Olexsandr Vaserfirer and Ruslan Prydyk. Benzimra was well behind when he showed J-J to Vaserfirer’s A-A and Prydyk’s Q-Q, but a Jack on the flop sent Prydyk out, and took a big chunk of Vaserfirer’s chip lead. Benzmira then notched up his third knockout when his Q-10 paired the board against Pagano’s shove all-in with A-5. Vaserfirer was next to go out in third when his A-8 got no help from the board against Battisti’s A-K.

The heads-up battle lasted just an hour and all the chips when in when Battisti picked up the nut flush draw against Benzimra’s two pair. Benzimra dodged the remaining clubs and took victory, including the €358,644 first place prize.

The EPT is next in action in Vilamoura, Portugal from November 17-22.