06/05/2011, Poker Tournaments

British player Rupert Elder has become the champion of the fourth EPT event of the year. The player defeated German Max Heinzelmann in one of the most dramatic heads-up finals of the year, taking home the title and the €930,000 first place prize.

The 24 year-old man entered the final table as the chip leader and exploited this advantage until he became the star of the San Remo casino's poker room. The former Economics student, now a full time online cash game pro, is the second British player who wins the EPT San Remo, after Liv Boeree won it in 2010. So, the trophy will stay in the British Isles for at least another 12 months.

The €5,300 buy-in tournament was held in north-western Italy, and that explained the massive field of players, half of which was comprised of Italians. Unfortunately, they only managed to occupy the last four positions of the final table.

The final table payouts were:
1st: Rupert Elder, UK – €930,000;
2nd: Max Heinzelmann, Germany – €600,000;
3rd: Xuan Liu, Canada – €360,000;
4th: Max Lykov, Russia – €290,000;
5th: Francesco de Vivo, Italy – €220,000;
6th: Massimiliano Manigrasso, Italy – €170,000;
7th: Costantino Russo, Italy – €125,000;
8th: Roberto Spada, Italy – €81,950.