David Yan Triumphs at 2016 EPT Malta High Roller

New Zealand high-stakes pro David Yan has won the EPT Malta €25,750 High Roller, after defeating a field of 46 players over three days at the world-renowned Portomaso Casino. After a victory on the Mediterranean island which netted him €465,800, the 23-year-old player commented:
“I’m pretty happy with it. It’s tough to explain, but it feels pretty nice. It’s pretty cool.”
As one might expect, the EPT Malta High Roller attracted some of the game’s most talented pros, with players such as 2-times WSOP bracelet winner Adrian Mateos (9th), and 3-times WSOP bracelet winner Davidi Kitai (7th) just finishing short of a final table appearance.
The six players who did make the final table also include an impressive line-up, with Ole Schemion the first to exit in 6th after his pocket jacks shove was picked off by Ramin Hajiyev with pocket kings.
Two-and-a-half hours later, Max Silver (J-10) sent Mikita Badziakouski (A-K) to the rail in 5th, but after being dealt A-Q and losing most of his chips to David Yan (J-J), Oleksii Khoroshenin then took Silver’s remaining chips to bounce him from the competition in 4th. Nevertheless, Hajiyev (A-10) subsequently eliminated Khoroshenin (3-3) in 3rd to usher in the final heads-up battle for the EPT title.
The brief affair soon came to end, though, after Ramin Hajiyev (9h-6d) bluffed all-in on a Jh-10d-5h-7d-Qh board, only for David Yan (Qc-10c) to make the call having made two pair. Hajiyev then received €334,400 for his second place finish, while David Yan was crowned the 2016 EPT Malta High Roller champion.
Following his latest victory, David Yan now boasts more than $3 million in live career earnings, including in August finishing runner-up at the EPT Barcelona €25,500 event for €704,755 ($796,459).
Final Table Results:
1: David Yan (NZ) €465,800
2: Ramin Hajiyev (AZ) €334,400
3: Oleksii Khoroshenin (UKR) €217,400
4: Max Silver (UK) €164,030
5: Mikita Badziakouski (BY) €127,400
6: Ole Schemion (GER) €98,740
7: Davidi Kitai (BEL) €78,050
8: Patrick Leonard (UK) €60,500
9: Adrian Mateos (SPN) €46,180