€5,300 EPT Main Event | 2019 PokerStars EPT Prague

2019-12-16 21:23 UTC+1

Seat 3: Tomas Paiva, 28, Portugal - 3,380,000

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He may have only seven reported live cashes to his name, but 28-year-old Tomas Paiva is a very prolific poker player with a strong online background. Paiva is one of the top sharks from Portugal who has proved his abilities in some of the world's toughest online tournaments. He has a multitude of PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) and Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) final tables to his name.

Unlike many of his fellow countrymen, Paiva has not been drawing attention at live tournaments on a regular basis. However, he has already claimed a six-figure payout here in Prague; a sixth place in last year's €10k High Roller secured him €117,340.

It has been more than 10 years since the EPT celebrated a Portuguese champion (Antonio Matias at EPT6 Vilamoura). Luis Medina, Rui Sousa, and Giovani Torre navigated to final tables in Monaco and Barcelona, but they couldn't bring the trophy home. Paiva now follows in their strides, hoping to make it all the way to the top.

Tomas Paiva's Main Event run:

Day	Chip Count	Position
Day 2	71,400	212 / 415
Day 3	237,000	62 / 141
Day 4	767,000	7 / 41
Day 5	4,405,000	2 / 12
Day 6	3,380,000	5 / 5

Tags: Tomas Paiva

2019-12-16 21:21 UTC+1

Seat 4: Norbert Szecsi, 28, Hungary - 7,350,000

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From Budapest, Norbert Szecsi has been collecting live cashes since 2010. While the first half of the decade saw him claim his first bracelet in Las Vegas, it's been mainly his performance over the last two years that has propelled him among the top-earning players from Hungary. The soon-to-be 29-year-old – Szecsi will celebrate his birthday later this week – is currently the only Hungarian with two WSOP titles under his belt.

But it's not only Vegas where he thrives. Szecsi's highest payday, €626,357, came last year at EPT Barcelona where he chopped the €10k High Roller with Max Silver and Joris Ruijs. Last month, he topped another $10k event in The Bahamas, adding $400,000 to his resume. That result helped Szecsi cross the $3 million mark in Hendon Mob cashes, vaulting him to third place on his nation's money list. A top-two finish in the Main Event would catapult him into the lead which is currently in the hands of two-time EPT runner up Marton Czuczor.

Norbert Szecsi's Main Event run:

Day	Chip Count	Position
Day 2	165,000	36 / 415
Day 3	190,000	82 / 141
Day 4	1,978,000	3 / 41
Day 5	6,715,000	1 / 12
Day 6	7,350,000	3 / 5

Tags: Norbert Szecsi

2019-12-16 21:17 UTC+1

Seat 5: Gaby Livshitz, 34, Israel - 11,205,000

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Gaby Livshitz has been a familiar face not only on the poker but also on the chess circuit. Livshitz is an International Master with a current FIDE rating of 2,452. At the poker felt, Livshitz has amassed more than $420,000 in live cashes, his performance here so far guaranteeing him his biggest ever prize however the final table’s story unfolds. He had previously notched up one six-figure cash for a runner-up finish in a Merit event in Cyprus.

Livshitz has been a regular attendee at EPT Prague, but this year marks his first deep run outside of side events. Livshitz has one previous Main Event cash to his name, a modest 81st place from 2014. Sitting outside the top 30 on the Israeli all-time money list, Livshitz is set to climb at least 10 spots higher with a top-five payout already in the bag.

Gaby Livshitz' Main Event run:

Day	Chip Count	Position
Day 2	117,000	96 / 415
Day 3	301,000	44 / 141
Day 4	2,053,000	2 / 41
Day 5	3,925,000	4 / 12
Day 6	11,205,000	1 / 5

Tags: Gaby Livshitz