The first event of the new PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) has been concluded at the Casino Barcelona with the Barcelona Open.  A field of 619 players competed in the No Limit Hold’em main event – an EPT record.

It was 2008 WSOP bracelet winner Sebastian Ruthenberg of Germany who took the title after starting the final table in second place.

The players that reached the final table included 6 Europeans and 2 North Americans but sadly there was no British presence.   Their chip counts at the start of the 8-way action were:

Seat 1. Martin Nielsen (1,229,000 chips)
Seat 2. Davidi Kitai (600,000 chips)
Seat 3. Dren Ukella (734,000 chips)
Seat 4. Jason Mercier (526,000 chips)
Seat 5. Samuel Chartier (879,000 chips)
Seat 6. Daniele Mazzia (359,000 chips)
Seat 7. Fintan Gavin (701,000 chips)
Seat 8. Sebastian Ruthenberg (1,204,000 chips)

Despite being chip leader at the start of play Denmark’s Martin Nielsen was the first player to fall after Jason Mercier gambled all of his chips in a showdown with the Dane. 

Samuel Chartier of Canada was the next player to be eliminated this time to Irishman Fintan Gavin.  This meant Gavin was the third player on the final table to have more than I million chips.  Jason Mercier finished in sixth place and Dren Ukella was fifth with both players again falling at the hands of Gavin.

Daniele Mazzia finished fourth and Davidi Kitai was third leaving a final table showdown between Gavin and Ruthenberg.

Although Gavin had made some good process, Ruthenberg had built up a good chip lead from the beginning of the final table action.  Gavin was 5:1 down in chips to Ruthenberg at the start of the heads-up meaning he had a mountain to climb.

It only took three hands for Ruthenberg to defeat the brave Irishman.  On the third hand Gavin went all-in with the pre flop and Ruthenberg was crowned the first EPT champion of the season 5.

The prize money earned by the finalists was as follows:

Sebastian Ruthenberg – 1,361,000 euros (£1,075,310)
Fintan Gavin – 792,000 euros (£625,860)
Davidi Kitai 455,000 euros (£359,430)
Daniele Mazzia 351,000 euros (£277,275)
Dren Ukella 292,000 euros (£230,670)
Jason Mercier 227,000 euros (£179,300)
Samuel Chartier 178,000 euros (£140,595)
Martin Nielsen 119,000 euros (£93,995)

The EPT comes to England with the EPT London event taking place in the capital in early October.  

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