Steve O’Dwyer Conquers the EPT Grand Final’s Main Event

Dramatic Conclusion to this Year’s EPT Grand Finale

It was billed as one of the toughest EPT final tables of all time and the action at the felt certainly disappoint. After grinding their way past more than 520 players, this year’s final eight players in the EPT Grand Final Main Event were among the best in the world. Indeed, unlike many major final tables in the last few years, today’s session didn’t contain any amateur players.

Leading the way with 4,452,000 chips when the first cards were dealt was Steve O’Dwyer. The American pro stood atop of a stellar cast of pros that included: Andrew Pantling (4,180,000), Jake Cody (1,633,000), Daniel Negreanu (1,581,000), Johnny Lodden (1,402,000), Noah Schwartz (1,068,000), Jason Mercier (824,000) and Grant Levy (786,000).

Such a stacked line-up was always going to produce fireworks and the first player to hit the rail was short stack Grant Levy. After making a three-bet with [Ah] [Ks] against Andrew Pantling, Levy proceeded to move all-in on a [3c] [Jh] [7c] flop after a check from Pantling. In an instant Pantling called with [Jc] [Tc] and after the [Ac] and [8s] fell on the turn and river it was Levy who was heading for the rail €103,000 richer.

Following the first elimination the rail soon became littered with talent as Mercier, Schwartz, Cody and Negreanu all fell in succession. That left just three players, Lodden, O’Dwyer and Pantling, vying for €1,224,000 and, importantly, the EPT’s most prestigious title.

Having enjoyed an impressive return to form during the early stages of this year’s Main Event, it looked as though Johnny Lodden might be on course for his first major title. However, a dose of bad luck and a touch too much aggression ultimately led to his downfall. After watching Lodden three-bet pre-flop with [Ah] [Jd], Steve O’Dwyer made the call and followed a similar course of action with [Ad] [Th] after bet from Lodden on the [7c] [4s] [Td] flop.

As the [3s] fell on the turn, Lodden moved all-in and without hesitation O’Dwyer called. Needing a jack to survive, Lodden looked to the heavens, but on this occasion the poker gods were unwilling to help and after the [Kd] fell the Norwegian pro was sent to rail with a consolation prize of €467,000.

With momentum firmly on O’Dwyer’s side a tense heads-up match eventually culminated in the biggest win of his career. In a fitting conclusion to a stunning finale, O’Dwyer managed a last minute escape to take down the title. After raising pre-flop with [Tc] [8h], O’Dwyer found a willing caller in Pantling with [Ks] [5s]. An [8d] [8s] [Js] flop offered something for both players and after a series of bets the [4s] prompted all the money to go into the middle.

With Pantling looking likely to get a timely double-up, his chances of success were soon crushed after the [8c] on the river gave O’Dwyer quads and a hugely impressive win over one of the strongest final tables in recent memory.