The PokerStars EPT Copenhagen, or otherwise known as the Scandinavian Open poker tournament, has taken place at the Casino Copenhagen in the Danish capital.

It has been won by American online qualifier Timothy Vance, who battled his way through a field of 460 players to win the title and prize money of £628,643.

Some of the players participating in the EPT Copenhagen included recent EPT Dortmund Champion Micheal “Timex” McDonald, EPT Prague Champion Arnaud Mattern, 2008 Party Poker Premier League Champion Andy Black, last year’s WSOP bracelet winner Katja Thater and 1980 WSOP Main Event Champion Tom McEvoy.  These were just some of the big names participating in the tournament, and this proves how competitive EPT events have become.

What makes Vance’s achievement all the more remarkable is that the 46 year-old was an online qualifier from a Pokerstars tournament.

The eight players that progressed to the final table were: another PokerStars qualifier Daniel Ryan (USA), Simon Dorsland (Denmark), Rasmus Hede Nielsen (Denmark), Magnus Hansen (Denmark), Soren Jensen (Denmark), Nicolas Dervaux (France), Patrik Andersson (Sweden) and of course Timothy Vance.  At the start of final table play, Vance had a significant chip lead over his nearest rival Rasmus Hede Nielsen with 1,408,000 chips, compared with Nielsen’s 789,000 chips.  These two players were in fact both way ahead of the rest of the field at this stage.

Swedish player Patrik Andersson was the first player to depart the final table.  He was followed by Simon Dorsland who did well in front of his home crowd to finish seventh after losing out to Vance.  Frenchman Nicolas Dervaux was to finish in sixth place.

Daniel Ryan - one of two qualifiers left at the final table - had a good run to finish in fifth place.  Rasmus Hede Nielsen had some bad luck as he lost a coin flip with Vance to be eliminated into fourth position. 

Vance, Jensen and Hansen battled it out in some intense three-handed play.  This was to last some time before Hansen lost out to Jensen.

If the three-handed play lasted some time it was to be dwarfed by the final heads-up action which lasted over five hours.  Vance and Jensen were neck to neck and for a long time it was difficult to back a winner.  Soren Jensen, despite having the home crowd on his side, was eventually defeated by Vance.

In addition to the £628,643 prize money and the title Vance wins a seat at the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final.

After his victory Vance said, “Winning the title was at least as important to me as the money but I knew I was going to win today – I was the best player and I wanted it the most.  It was a tough competition though – as tough as anywhere I’ve ever played and now I just can’t wait to call my daughter Nanzi.  She’s been watching it back home with her grandmother.

“I’m going to go to my room and call my kid; call my mom; get trashed and lay back in a hot tub.”

The placings and payouts for the final table were:

1. Timothy Vance (£628,643)
2. Soren Jensen (£355,805)
3. Magnus Hansen (£206,665)
4. Rasmus Hede Nielsen (£157,709)
5. Daniel Ryan (£129,978)
6. Nicolas Dervaux (£102,288)
7. Simon Dorsland (£80,986)
8. Patrik Andersson (£57,542)