Vitaly Lunkin Wins EPT Barcelona €50K Super High Roller Vitaly Lunkin Wins EPT Barcelona €50K Super High Roller
flipchip / LasVegasVegas.com, Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
Key Takeaways
  • The high priced event drew 40 of the games biggest names for a total of 51 entries, thanks to 11 rebuys, generating a healthy prize pool of nearly €2,500,000.
  • Lunkin defeated Eric “Seiborg” Seidel heads up to win the €771,300 first place prize.

The European Poker Tour Barcelona (EPT) €50,000 Super High Roller came to a conclusion over the Labor Day weekend and it was Russian professional poker player Vitaly Lunkin who claimed the trophy, Shamballa Jewels bracelet and €771,300 first place prize.

The high priced event drew 40 of the games biggest names for a total of 51 entries, thanks to 11 rebuys, generating a healthy prize pool of nearly €2,500,000.

It was a victory truly earned as Lunkin not only had to fade a stacked field and final table, but when it came to heads up play he found himself across from the King of the High Rollers, Eric “Seiborg” Seidel. Seidel, if you will recall, once amassed over $3M in high roller winnings in a single month in 2011, and regularly finds himself deep when the buy-in exceeds $10k. Even though he was unable to overcome Lunkin, Erik currently sits in 3rd in the prestigious Hendon Mob All-Time Money list with the addition of the €557,100 second place cash from this event.

In addition to Seidel, Lunkin survived as EPT Grand Final Champion Steve O’ Dwyer (€355,100), EPT Dortmund Champion Mike McDonald (€269,400) and current November Niner David Benefield (€208,150) all hit the rail before him at the final table.

Also making the money were a pair of German professionals, rising star Ole “wizowizo” Schemion (€159,200) and Fabian Quoss (€128,515). Canadian Timothy Adams also made the official final table of eight players, but would be the first to bust, thus making him the bubble boy for the tournament as only the top seven cashed.

For complete EPT event coverage, check out the PokerStars Blog and watch daily live action from EPT Live.

Cover photo courtesy of flipchip / LasVegasVegas.com