Alexandru Papazian Wins EPT €25K High Roller for €1.2M

Alexandru Papazian has won the European Poker Tour €25K High Roller, after defeating a record 231 player field at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel to capture the title, and collect a first place prize worth €1,197,000 ($1,381,499). Following the biggest score of his professional career, the 27-year-old Romanian pro now boasts $1,565,052 in live tournament earnings to go with the $2,992,591 he has won playing online.
The €25K EPT High Roller event featured a prize pool worth €5,659,500 ($6,531,825), and amongst the big name pros subsequently seeing a return on their buy-ins was Steve O’Dwyer in 31st (€49,800), Ivan Luca in 26th (€55,460), Amit Makhija in 24th (€55,460), Dan Smith in 22nd (€61,120), Daniel Negreanu in 15th (€83,760), and Byron Kaverman in 13th (€92,250).
On Day 3, Papazian then entered a tough final table which included Max Silver, Anthony Zinno, and 2015 WSOP Main Event finalist Zvi Stern. Papazian (Q-Q) was responsible for both Stern (A-7), and Rafael Da Silva Moraes’ exit in 4th and 3rd respectively, after which the Romanian faced off against Greek player Alexandros Kolonias for the coveted title.
As the final battle got underway, the two players were fairly even in chips, and the heads-up battle would continue for hours before the deciding hand was played with Kolonias moving all-in preflop holding pocket nines. Papazian made the call with A-4, and after the dealer laid out a 4-3-2-J-A board, Kolonias had to settle for a runner-up finish worth €805,900, while Papazian was crowned the EPT champion.
Alexandru Papazian’s victory now propels him to number three on Romania’s ‘All Time Money List’, just behind Mihai Manole in top spot with $2,057,845, and Ionel Anton in second place with $1,932,476.
Final Table Results:
1: Alexandru Papazian (Romania) €1,197,000
2: Alexandros Kolonias (Greece) €805,900
3: Rafael Da Silva Moraes (Brazil) €568,200
4: Zvi Stern (Israel) €460,700
5: Eddy Maksoud (Lebanon) €364,500
6: Anthony Zinno (USA) €276,750
7: Max Silver (UK) €202,050
8: Imad Derwiche (France) €147,710