It seems that the PokerStars brand has increased its popularity in Romania, as things are getting bigger and bigger every time when the international poker brand holds an event in Bucharest, the capital city of the country.
After the great success of what happened to be the first and last Eureka Poker Tour in 2016, this year has provided local poker fans with the opportunity to enter the PokerStars Festival 2017 edition, which Main Event at the cost of €1,100 turned out to be the largest live poker tournament that has been ever held on the territory of Romania.
Despite the fierce competition, only one player was crowned as the champion of the Main Event. That was Sam Grafron, a player well-known at the poker arena, who managed to emerge victorious and took home the Main Event’s trophy as well as a monetary prize of €117,707 after striking a two-hand deal with his last standing opponent. The victory helped him boost his total live earnings, which had amounted to a total of $771,460 before Sam “SamSquid” Grafton won the PokerStars Festival Bucharest 2017 Main Event. His best live cash so far amounts to $163,953, generated by him winning the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour – Grand Final’s Main Event in 2012.
The PokerStars Festival Bucharest 2017’s €1,100 Main Event accumulated an overall players field of 736 entries, who accounted for a total prize pool of €706,560. The Main Event’s Day 1A started with a total of 177 competitors, followed by a really successful Day 1B which saw the €500,000 guaranteed prize pool milestone surpassed. The second level of play also saw 401 entrants, and was followed by the popular turbo Day 1C, with only the players who have already entered and busted being eligible to join. That session saw another 158 entries join the total players field of 736, with only 111 of them finishing in the money at the end.
One by one, the players got eliminated and after Day 2, only 58 of them returned for Day 3 action, all of them being hopeful to reach the final table of eighth. It was Yiriy Kudrynskyy who got eliminated first of the final eighth, leaving only seven players in the competition for the Main Event’s title. The final day kicked off on Sunday, with not one, not two, but three players being eliminated over the first 45 minutes of play.
At the time when heads-up play started, Anil Ozdemir held the chip lead with 16.4 million in chips to Grafton, who had only 5.6 million in chips at this point. The British player, however, managed to pull himself together, and put his extensive knowledge and skills into action. A few hands later it was Grafton who had the chip lead. A bit later, the two of them decided to pause the clock in order to discuss a two-way deal. At that point, Grafton had 13.5 million in chips in comparison to the 8.95 million in chips held by Ozdemir.
Eventually, the two players agreed on a deal, leaving Grafton with a prize of €117,707 and Ozdemir with a total of €97,993. An additional prize portion of €7,700 as well as the event’s trophy were left for the winner.
A number of hands later, it was Grafton who emerged victorious from the €1,100 Main Event. Commenting on his victory, the British said he has always wanted to win a PokerStars event, so his victory came as a dream come true.
With the British player Sam Grafton occupying the first place in the ranking, taking a guaranteed prize pool cash portion amounting to €117,707, the Turkish player Anil Ozdemir remained on the runner-up position, scooping a monetary prize of €97,993. Daniel Nietrzebka from Poland took the third place and was granted with a prize amounting to €57,600 for his efforts.
Fahredin Mustafov from Bulgaria was fourth, followed by the Romanian player Patrick Bueno. The sixth place in the ranking was taken by the French Johann Eclapier, while Traian Bostan from Romania and the Unkranian Yuriy Kudrynskyy took the seventh and the eighth positions, respectively.
- Author
Harry Evans
