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Poker.co.uk - Poker News Archive
Monday 17th December 2007 Backgammon Pro Masters Poker at the EPT Prague
Over 500 players entered the EPT Prague Main Event, the first time a European Poker Tour event had ventured to the Czech Republic. The title was won by French backgammon master Arnaud Mattern, winning €708,400 in his first ever EPT cash. Mattern had begun the final table second on the chip count, but outlasted the chip leader Mikael Norinder to beat Gino Alacqua heads up for the title.
The Swedish pro started well enough, taking out one of the short stacks early on. Norinder’s pocket nines were better than Johannes Strassmann pocket deuces from pre-flop to river, and Prague was down to eight. From here, the nightmare began for Norinder, and it was he who was to go out in eighth place.
The horror moment came for Norinder in one massive pot which involved eventual champion Mattern. . Kristian Kjondal raised preflop and Norinder called from middle position. Mattern re-raised from the small blind, and Kjondal folded. Norinder then put out chips intending to call, but put out more than 50% too many chips, now forcing him to make at least the minimum raise. Norinder made the minimum raise and Mattern instantly moved all in. Norinder reluctantly had to call, and the Swede’s Ah-Qh was drawing thin against Mattern’s pocket Kings. No ace or flush, and Norinder was crippled.
From here it was Mattern’s tournament to lose as he now had over half of the chips in play. He almost did though, and did well to outplay Gino Alacqua heads up, overturning a two-to-one chip deficit. It was to be Mattern’s largest ever cash, adding to an already impressive gaming resume including the French Backgammon Championship and 2005 Gutshot Poker Master tournament.
Source: OnlineCasinoNews
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