“There are only two places in the world where we can live happy – at home and in Paris,” wrote Ernest Hemingway, and it seems most of Europe’s poker players – and some from further afield – agree this month, with record-breaking numbers showing up for the PokerStars EPT stop in the French capital.
A week on from its Valentine’s Day start, we’ve had high drama in the Super High Rollers, dreams dashed in the world of poker streamers, and a Main Event that topped last year’s numbers long before registration closed.
With the France Poker Series (FPS) running alongside the EPT at the Le Palais des Congrès de Paris, there was no shortage of choice for visitors to Europe’s ‘City of Light’ (La Ville Lumière).
Dutchman Duco ten Haven kicked things off with victory in the €10k Mystery Bounty, almost doubling his €126,500 with some well-earned bounties, including one of the top-earning €50k envelopes.
Back down the buy-in ladder a bit we saw another man from the Netherlands, Mateusz Moolhuizen, scoop the €470,830 top prize in the €1,100 FPS Main Event.
Moolhuizen outlasted the largest-ever FPS field of 4,149 entries, going on an “insane run” to turn a measly 6BB stack on day two into history-making victory on day four.
Close but no cigar for Talbot...again
The 'big boys' – there were no women at all amid the super high rollers – tried their luck in two €25k events (won by Stephen Chidwick and Daniel Dvoress respectively).
Local (and newcomer to the highroller circuit), Thomas Santerne, denied Chris Brewer back-to-back wins heads-up in the €50k.
Parker 'tonkaaaaP' Talbot was, surprisingly to many, looking for his first-ever tournament win after 14 years of live tournament play. Despite numerous big online wins, the popular streamer’s victory celebrations will have to continue to sit on ice after losing out heads-up to Henrik Juncker in the €2,200 FPS High Roller.
Bubble time approaches in the Main Event
The flagship Main Event is currently on day two, a monster field of 1,747 already whittled down to just 300 players and counting, with the money bubble just around the corner.
A min-cash of €8,650 will make some players’ Paris adventure a happy one, while others will be looking to get closer to the €1,287,800 sitting up top, along with EPT Main Event winner bragging rights.
We’ll bring you the best of the action as it builds to a climax in the French capital, so stay tuned!
Images courtesy of PokerStars Live/Danny Maxwell/Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd
