EPT San Remo 2011 Won By Rupert Elder

UK pro Rupert Elder has just triumphed at the 2011 EPT San Remo, after overcoming a field of 987 players over seven days to lift the title, as well as collect the €930,000 ($1,374,540) first place-prize. 
The €5,300 buy-in tournament held in north-western Italy managed to attract a massive field, half of which was comprised of Italian players. This proportion was then reflected at the final table of eight, although disappointingly the Italians ended up taking only the bottom four positions.
First to exit the final table was Roberto Spada in 8th (€81,950) who saw his chip count dwindle to just seven big blinds before pushing with K-3 into Max Lykov Ah-9h.
Costantino Russo then picked up €125,000 in 7th place after shoving his pocket nines to Xuan Liu’s min-raise with A-Q, who then hit an ace on the flop.
Next, Massimiliano Manigrasso was unfortunate to have been dealt pocket queens at the same time his opponent was dealt pocket kings and so he exited the tournament in 6th (€170,000). Moments later he was joined by the last remaining Italian, Francesco de Vivo who finished 5th for a €220,000 pay-day.
Russian pro and Team PokerStars Pro Max Lykov, then saw his perfectly timed move backfire after being dealt pocket kings and re-raising two players only to be shoved back by Canada’s Xuan Liu with pocket tens, who then spiked a 10 on the turn. Max Lykov collected €290,000 for his 4th place finish.
However, Xuan Liu’s celebrations were short-lived after crashing out in 3rd (€360,000) holding Ah-Jh to Rupert Elder’s Ac-7h with the board running out 4-5-7-10-6.
Rupert Elder with 70% of the remaining chips in play then went heads-up against Max Heinzelmann and before long the German had pushed all-in from the button holding Q-5 only to be called by Elder’s A-5. With the board then falling 3-2-7-10-K, Max Heinzelmann finished the runner-up for €600,000, while Brit Rupert Elder was crowned the 2011 EPT San Remo Champion.
As well as winning €930,000 ($1,374,540) in prize-money, the 24 year-old was also awarded an entry into the Grand Final in Madrid, next week.