Huge Fields and Career Bests: Europe’s Live Poker Winners This Week

Low buy-ins produced huge fields, established pros added more trophies and several players recorded the largest cashes of their careers during a busy week on the European live circuit.

The action stretched from Cyprus to Rozvadov, with the Mediterranean Poker Party and King’s Million EPC both still running. Elsewhere, UKPL Manchester and The Festival Malta have already packed away the tables after crowning their latest Main Event champions.

The biggest completed event so far in Cyprus belongs to Congya Zhang.

The festival’s $5,400 Main Event is now the tournament to follow, carrying a $5 million guarantee through the closing weekend.

The first major King’s Million EPC title went to Romania.

Viorel Gavrila topped a remarkable 4,389 entries in the €250 Mini Main Event at King’s Resort Rozvadov. The field filled out the tournament’s €1 million guarantee, with Gavrila taking €125,500 and the first Royal Scepter awarded during the new festival.

Gavrila had never previously recorded a six-figure live cash. He controlled much of the final day before eliminating the last four opponents himself.

Ian Simpson’s week required two trips to the winner’s photo.

The 888poker ambassador won the UKPL Manchester High Roller and then followed it by beating 345 players in the Main Event, collecting £38,000 for the latter and more than £54,000 across the two trophies.

The Festival Malta closed with its largest Main Event field to date.

Terje Bengtsen came through 804 entries to take €65,001, defeating Sweden’s Mehdi Yazdanpanah heads-up after spending much of the final day chasing the longtime leader.