Sotirios Koutoupas Becomes Greece's All Time Money Winner

Sotirios Koutoupas has become the first Greek player to win a European Poker Tour title, after taking down the 2014 EPT Deauville main event for a massive €614,000 ($839,670) payday.
The Greek pro’s previous biggest score came in 2012 when he finished runner-up at the €5,000 EPT Prague main event for €510,000 ($666,614). Following his remarkable victory in France, the 31-year-old now boasts $1,583,469 in live earnings, propelling him to the number one spot on Greece’s All Time Money List. Commenting on his latest win, Koutoupas, said:
“It was my time now, it was my time to win. I was very lucky today in some situations but that’s poker. Everything went well for me. After Prague, I had some more to do.”
The €5,300 EPT Deauville attracted a field of 671 players to create a prize pool worth $4,404,573. After the final table of eight had been reached, Sotirios Koutoupas (Kd-Qd) then proceeded to bust Anthony Lerust (A-A) from the tournament in 8th (€63,900), before being dealt Ah-Kh and doing likewise to Harry Law (A-A) in 5th for  €164,600. Koutoupas (K-J) subsequently eliminated Eli Heath (A-8) in 4th (€207,800), and Oliver Price in 3rd (€271,200) to go heads-up against Team PokerStars Eugene Katchalov for the title.
As the final battle commenced, Koutoupas held a roughly two-to-one chip lead over his Ukrainian opponent, and eventually the Greek’s good fortune held after a preflop all-in in which his A-3 bested Katchalov’s A-K with the dealer subsequently putting out a 3-3-5-2-Q board.
Sotirios Koutoupas was then rewarded with the 2014 EPT Deauville main event crown, while Eugene Katchalov had to be satisfied with a runner-up finish worth €379,500. Commenting on his deep run in the competition,  Katchalov, said: “At this point in my career I’m obviously looking for first places and the Triple Crown is always in the back of mind, but at the same time I realize how hard it is to win a tournament. I think I was a lot more upset in Barcelona. I think I’ve grown up and don’t put so much pressure on myself to win. I’m satisfied with second place. I’ve got a lot of money to soothe my wounds!”
Final Table Results:
1. Sotirios Koutoupas  €614,000
2. Eugene Katchalov    €379,500
3. Oliver Price             €271,200
4. Eli Heath                 €207,800
5. Harry Law               €164,600
6. Rustem Muratov      €128,200
7. Carlo De Benedittis  €93,000
8. Anthony Lerust        €63,900