$25,000 No-Limit Hold'em Kicks Off Today at 12:00 p.m.
The PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa continues with the $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em. Today’s event is the last of six $25,000 buy-in tournaments that have been hosted at EPT Cyprus. The event was originally scheduled to be a two-day event with Day 1 set to take place yesterday, October 21, but has instead been changed to a one-day event beginning at 12 p.m. local time today, October 22.
Thursday’s $25,000 NL Hold'em tournament attracted a total of 21 entries. It was Aleksejs Ponakovs who eventually lifted the trophy and claimed the $216,810 first-place prize. This was Ponakovs' second final table of the week and a career-first PokerStars silver Spadie.
Thursday's $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksejs Ponakovs | Latvia | $216,810 |
| 2 | Daniel Smiljkovic | Germany | $136,100 |
| 3 | Leon Sturm | Germany | $90,800 |
| 4 | Juan Pardo | Spain | $60,500 |
It is highly anticipated that these finalists and many more familiar faces will resurface today for the final high-stakes event of the series.
The high rollers to find their way to the felt today will be met with a starting stack of 100,000 and will play through 30-minute levels until a winner is crowned. Those unfortunate enough to bust will be allowed to reenter an unlimited number of times, with registration closing at the end of Level 10. Approximately 15% of the field will be paid.
A shot clock will be implemented from the start of the event, with all players being given a total of six time bank chips. A singular time bank may be redeemed for 30 extra seconds of thinking time. The players who are seated at the first hand of every odd level number (3, 5, 7, etc.) will receive one extra time bank. There will be a 15-minute break every four levels.
PokerNews will be reporting live for the entirety of this $25,000 buy-in event as it plays down to a winner, so be sure to stick with the updates to keep up with all the action.