Wigg Remains Last EPT Champion Standing as Main Event Enters Day 4 in Cyprus
The 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus is nearing its climax, with the $5,300 EPT Main Event now past its halfway point. Play resumes at 12 p.m. EEST as 45 contenders, from an initial 1,284 entries, return to the felt at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa.
Among the remaining players, one stands out—Anton Wigg, the last former EPT Main Event champion in the field. Wigg, who claimed his title at EPT Copenhagen in 2010, has come close to another final table but hasn't returned since. In 2012, he narrowly missed the final nine in Berlin, finishing 14th. Ironically, his next-best EPT finish came at this very venue, when he exited in 18th place at the inaugural EPT Cyprus after a crucial flip in the final level of Day 4.
Now, Wigg finds himself deep in contention again, starting Day 4 tenth in chips with 1,195,000 chips, ready for another run at the final table.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bobby James | United Kingdom | 2,605,000 | 174 |
| 2 | Damir Zhugralin | Kazakhstan | 2,410,000 | 161 |
| 3 | Philip Joyce | United Kingdom | 2,175,000 | 145 |
| 4 | Daniel Jackson | United Kingdom | 1,560,000 | 104 |
| 5 | Lander Lijo | Spain | 1,490,000 | 99 |
| 6 | Roeland Peeks | Netherlands | 1,350,000 | 90 |
| 7 | Adrien Quetelart | France | 1,275,000 | 85 |
| 8 | Artsiom Lasouski | Belarus | 1,240,000 | 83 |
| 9 | Christopher Nguyen | Germany | 1,200,000 | 80 |
| 10 | Anton Wigg | Sweden | 1,195,000 | 80 |
Also still in the mix are two players who reached the final table in the last edition: Andrea Dato and Halil Tasyurek. Dato finished as the runner-up to Simon Gilles, while Tasyurek narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth.
The duo will be hoping for a repeat performance this time around, having both finished in the top ten chip counts at the end of Day 4 in 2023, with Dato ending the day atop the leaderboard.
Currently leading the field is the United Kingdom's Bobby James (2,605,000), who has enjoyed a successful run on the Mediterranean coastline, with the potential for even greater rewards ahead.
Earlier in the festival, James achieved impressive finishes, placing 19th in the Eureka Main Event and 12th in the High Roller. He also captured a Spadie trophy by winning the $1,100 8-Game for $11,200.
Rounding out the top three are Damir Zhugralin from Kazakhstan with 2,410,000 and Philip Joyce, also from the United Kingdom, with 2,175,000..
Plan for Day 4
Play resumes at noon local time, starting at Level 21 with blinds of 10,000/15,000 and a 15,000 big blind ante, with the average stack holding close to 60 big blinds.
The expected plan is to play until 16 players remain or six levels, whichever comes first. Breaks will also take place after the completion of each level.
The remaining 45 players are each guaranteed at least $18,240 from the $6,227,400 prize pool. A seat at the final table will be worth a minimum of $123,400, while the champion will take home $1,030,000 along with the EPT trophy.
Alongside the PokerNews updates, cards-up coverage of the feature table will be available on PokerStars' live streaming channels. The broadcast will kick off at 12:30 p.m. EEST.
Remaining Payouts
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