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The record-setting EPT Barcelona event arrived to its end, as the main event final table was played yesterday. Eugene Katchalov, the Ukranian Team PokerStars pro was looking for his Triple Crown despite his short stack (he already scored a WSOP and WPT victory earlier).

Seat 1: Saar Wilf - 4.555.000
Seat 2: Martin Schleich - 2.260.000
Seat 3: Juan Manuel Perez - 1.090.000
Seat 4: Eugene Katchalov - 690.000
Seat 5: Isabel Baltazar - 2.270.000
Seat 6: Dragan Kostic - 2.155.000
Seat 7: Raul Mestre - 4.260.000
Seat 8: Tomeu Gomila - 6.985.000


He started out rather well, he managed to double up on Saar Wilf; he was already at 1,400,000. 10 minutes later Katchalov sprung into action; he raised to 110,000 from UTG+1, Isabel Baltazar reraised to 275,000, to which Katchalov replied with an all-in, Baltazar called.

Katchalov: A A
Baltazar: Q Q

On a neutral board, Katchalov's aces prevailed, Baltazar was out.

Tomeu Gomilla eliminated Juan Manuel Perez rather soon by winning a flip, then Wilf and Katchalov clashed again. This time both players went pre-flop all-in.

Katchalov: 3 3
Wilf: A 2

Board: J 5 4 T 2

Wilf finished 6th, Katchalov already had 9,000,000. On the 31th blind level (10.000/60.000/120.000) Gomilla and Martin Schleich played a classic flip, Gomilla's Ace King didn't pair, Katchalov's queens were enough.

A few hands later Raul Mestre pushed his chips in with A 5 , Katchalov called with Q T . The J 8 8 flop and the 9 turn gave a straight to the Ukranian pro, and Mestre was out.


The three-handed play didn't last too long, in a lucky pot Schleich doubled up on Katchalov, and on the 34th blind level (30.000/120.000/240.000) he got pre-flop all-in with Schleich.

Schleich: 9 9
Katchalov: 7 7

Board: 7 9 3 8 2

The first turn card made Katchalov's set, but he was eliminated against Schleich's overset.

Martin Schleich: 15,500,000
Dragan Kostic: 8,775,000

The short heads-up didn't bring much action, in the last hand Schleich raised in position, Kostic went all-in, Schleich called.

Kostic: A 7
Schleich: A 9

Board: Q 5 2 K 9

Martin Schleich won his first live tournament.


Final Results:

1. Martin Schleich, Germany, €850,000
2. Dragan Kostic, Spain, €532,000
3. Eugene Katchalov, Team PokerStars Pro, Ukraine, €315,000
4. Raul Mestre, Spain, €244,000
5. Tomeu Gomila, Spain, €185,000
6. Saar Wilf, Israel, €145,000
7. Juan Manuel Perez, Spain, €105,000
8. Isabel Baltazar, France, €73,000