Max Altergott Wins EPT Grand Final Super High Roller for �1,746,400; Jason Mercier 2nd
The final day of the final event of Season 9 on the European Poker Tour came to an end in spectacular style on Wednesday. The PokerStars and Monte-Carlo? Casino EPT Grand Final crowned Max Altergott as the last major winner of the 10-day festival after he took down the �100,000 Super High Roller event for �1,746,400.
Just as incredible is the fact that this is the first live tournament cash ever recorded for Altergott. The German (residing in Austria) is a renowned high-stakes heads-up cash-game player, but has just started to play live tournaments.
�100,000 Super High Roller Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Altergott | �1,746,400 |
| 2 | Jason Mercier | �1,115,700 |
| 3 | Sorel Mizzi | �679,100 |
| 4 | Timothy Adams | �485,100 |
| 5 | Vladimir Troyanovsky | �339,500 |
| 6 | Scott Seiver | �266,900 |
| 7 | Mike Watson | �218,300 |
All seven players who returned for Day 3 were relaxed in the knowledge they all had �218,300 locked up. Many of the players were very short at the start of play after the long bubble period the night prior, and the first of those to crack was Mike Watson. He did manage to double up on the second hand of the day but the next time he was all in, he ran into Sorel Mizzi's aces and busted.
Surprisingly, it took another 100 minutes before we lostScott Seiver in sixth place. It was a pretty standard bust for Seiver after he moved all in with 9x9x and was called by Mercier, holding AxQx, who rivered a flush. The best year of Seiver's career continued with a �266,900 score.
The eliminations came thick and fast from there on in. Vladimir Troyanovsky was eliminated in fifth place for �339,500 after another preflop all-in encounter. Mizzi three-bet all in with AxJx and the Russian called off with KxQx, but failed to come from behind. Next to go was Timothy Adams who had done very well to ladder up two places given his chip stack at the time. He moved all in with 9x9x and was called by Altergott holding Ax8x. The German turned an ace, and that was that for Adams. He took home �485,100 for his efforts.
The three remaining players were fairly evenly stacked and tried to come to a deal. After trying to work out some numbers and a bit of discussion, Mercier told his two opponents he would just like to play it out. Not long after, the tournament saw the back of Mizzi as he walked out the door. He made a large three-bet all in with KxQx, but Altergott had opened with JxJx, called, and went on to make a full house. Mizzi had played brilliantly all day and was rewarded with �679,100 for less his three days of work.
Following Mizzi's elimination, it was Mercier versus Altergott. Altergott had the chip lead with 7,350,000 to Mercier's 5,150,000, and the two took a short break to possibly work out another deal. Again, though, no deal was made and the two were playing for the standard payouts of �1,746,400 for first and �1,115,700 for second.
After less than six hours of play, Altergott defeated Jason Mercier heads up. He crippled Mercier after a huge encounter a short while after their heads-up battle had begun. Mercier moved all in when he had turned a flush draw to go with his pair. On a board of J?8?7?4?, Mercier had the K?7?. Altergott had an overpair (Q?Q?) and made the call. The river was a blank (2?), and Altergott finished off the job the very next hand.
With just 220,000 in chips left, Mercier was all in with the 10?6?. Altergott held the J?9? and secured the victory when the board ran out K?6?5?7?8? to give him a straight.
The Team PokerStars Pro will take home �1,115,700 for finishing second. Mercier has now cashed for more than $1 million in five out of the last six years and has been one of the best players of the festival. Before finishing second here, he took down the Open-Face Chinese event and made the final table of the �10,000 Main Event.
This season of the EPT, with the reduced festival-like schedule, has been a huge success and PokerNews looks forward to being an integral part of Season 10. The search for the first double champion continues. Will one be crowned before the 100th EPT at the beginning of Season 11? Stay tuned to find out!
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