After a highly successful first three seasons, poker entrepreneur John Duthie answered demand by raising the buy-in bar to €8,000 Euros for the much anticipated Season 4 of the continent's most esteemed pokerthon, the Pokerstars.com European Poker Tour (EPT).The spondoolies may have near doubled, but the kick-off venue was the same, as were many of the circa 550 players who swamped the Gran Casino in Barcelona. Notable regulars included Martin Wendt, Isabelle Mercier, Marcel Luske, Jan Sjavik, Noah Boeken and recent bracelet winner Katja Thater, whilst the across-the-pond-ferry had sent over established superstars Daniel Negreanu, Phil Gordon, Paul Wasicka, David Williams, Greg Raymer, Humberto Brenes and the legendary Johnny Chan.
However, as most of these ‘big names’ fell by the wayside, it was a former EPT winner, Mark ‘The Snapper’ Teltscher, who flew into fifth gear, heading into Day 3 second in chips with a massive 300,600 in stackage.
Not too far behind was Adam Junglen (below-right), one of the many young Americans hoping to echo the success of Messieurs Williams, Mizzi and Griffin. A former Sunday Million winner, Adam’s ‘any two cards’ style came to our attention in Monte Carlo when he made a fearless call to Patrik Antonius’ all-in with Ace high. He was ahead (!), but was outdrawn and never managed to recover.
Similalry spot-lighted was 19 year old Austrian sensation Nikolaus Jedlicka whose ‘cool as a cucumber’ demeanour saw him carry the chip-lead into the final day before later joining a final table line-up that looked like such:
Seat 1: Greg Dyer -- 1,606,000
Seat 2: Adam Junglen -- 320,000
Seat 3: Nikolaus Jedlicka -- 569,000
Seat 4: Mika Paasonen -- 924,000
Seat 5: Mark Teltscher -- 676,000
Seat 6: Sander Lylloff -- 502,000
Seat 7: Tronde Eidsvig -- 374,000
Seat 8: Patrick Bruel -- 374,000
Although the most recognisable face on the final table, Patrick Bruel would be the first to exit to a generous applause when his Td-Ts push on a dangerous Ah-3h-8h was correctly called by Teltscher’s As-9h.
An aspiring football player in his early life, Patrick quickly became one of France’s most successful stars, accruing over 40 film credits, presenting a European version of the WPT show, and releasing a CD that sold over two million copies. But his David Hasselhoff-esque resume wasn’t enough to save him in Barcelona, as the Algerian born star was forced to settle for a commendable €104,500.After losing Nikolaus Jedlicka (T-T vs. Teltscher’s A-Q), Adam Junglen (A-4 vs. Lyloff’s 8-8), Tronde Eidsvig (K-K vs. Paasonen’s T-9 on a J-9-6-T board) and Paasonen (A-7 vs. Dyer’s K-T on a 2-7-J-9-K board) in 7th to 4th respectively, we were left with our final three warriors, one of whom was not only flying the British flag, but looking to become the first double EPT winner in history.
Mark Teltscher -- 2,529,000
Greg Dyer -- 1,982,000
Sander Lylloff -- 922,000
With Lyloff and his American Airlines eliminating America’s Dyer in 3rd it looked as though records could be broken, but the amicable Dane had other ideas when his J-T cruelly outdrew The Snapper’s Pocket Cowboys, all-in pre-flop with a soul-crushing J-Q-7-J-4 board.
A trophy and comedy cheque later (not to mention Big TR announcing him as hailing from Copenhagen, Norway – doh!), Sander Lyloff was announced as the Pokerstars.com Barcelona EPT Champion winning a tear-inducing €1,170,700.
A former Chess champion, the 25-year old Dane was reserved in victory and understandably timid in front of the cameras. Mark ‘The Snapper’ Teltscher was quite the opposite, singing the praise of his heads up opponent and adding, ““It would have been great to win, but if it had to be anyone else, I’m glad it was Sander.” And so we were another EPT down, but what a success it was. John Duthie has come a long way since the dark, chaotic days of Season 1 in Barcelona, but with an unrelenting determination to make the Tour a success and the credible backing it has received from sponsors Pokerstars.com, the Duthster has turned his in-the-bath-tub brainstorm into one of the world’s most popular Tours.
blonde poker tips its proverbial hat to you sir. 