Castaignon Claims EPT Title; Thew Scoops GPS Opener

Frenchman Claims EPT Deauville Title

Over the weekend a new EPT Champion in the form of Remi Castaignon was crowned thanks to a whirlwind final table.

Having entered the finale with over 40% of the chips in play (one of the largest leads in EPT final history), the French pro made light work of his opponents who each held around 20bbs.

Such a skewed dynamic meant eliminations began on the very first hand of the final table when Jeffrey Hakim’s A-K ran into the pocket aces of Enrico Rudelitz.

With one player down before the remaining players had stacked their chips properly, it soon became apparent the finale was going to be the Castaignon show.

As the field thinned and Castaignon’s stack grew, the final eventually came to a close when the Frenchman’s pocket threes held up against Walid Bou Habib’s [Kh] [8h].

Having scooped the last of the chips in play it was time for Castaignon to hoist the EPT trophy aloft and mentally spend his €770,000 first place prize.

Thew Outlasts a Few at GPS

The Genting Poker Series’ reputation as one of the UK’s fastest growing tours took another step forward over the weekend after their opening event attracted an impressive 590 runners.

After counting everyone’s £400 entry and re-entry fees, the final prizepool stood at £236,000, which meant the eventual winner would walk away £40,120.

Amongst the masses anteing up inside Birmingham’s Star City was the likes of Ross Boatman, Daiva Barauskaite and former EPT Champion, Julian Thew.

While all three managed to make it into the money, it was Thew who made it the furthest after defeating Barry Neville heads-up for the title.

The well respected UK player admitted that he needed to exercise his rebuy option on Day 1, but after making it through the opening session he never dropped below the 100bb mark until late on Day 2.

That momentum finally spurred him on to another live victory and a payday which now takes his lifetime earnings to $2,889,238.

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