Sebastian Malec turned €27 into an EPT title and €1,122,800 (Neil Stoddard photo)

When PokerStars announced that the European Poker Tour was being morphed into a worldwide PokerStarsLive tour, some people started reminiscing about some of the most memorable moments the EPT had ever produced. Late Sunday night in Barcelona, 21-year-old Sebastian Malec might have put himself at the top of that list.

In one of the most memorable conclusions ever to an EPT Main Event, Malec, who qualified for the event for €27 on PokerStars, beat Uri Reichenstein heads-up to win the EPT Barcelona Main Event and €1,122,800 ($1,250,000 US).

Sunday’s final table began with just seven players and it didn’t take long to get six-handed. On just the eighth hand of play, action folded to Thomas De Rooij in the cutoff and he raised to 450,000 and Harcharan Dogra Dogra called from the big blind. The 9c[95s]2h flop got Dogra Dogra to move all in and De Rooij called instantly. Dogra Dogra showed 3h2c and was ahead with a pair of twos while De Rooij tabled Ah4s for two over cards and a gustshot wheel draw. The turn was the Kd but the 4d river gave De Rooij a pair and eliminated Dogra Dogra in seventh.

Just seven hands later Andreas Chalkiadakis, who came into the final table third in chips, was eliminated in sixth place. De Rooij oped to 450,000, Chalkiadakis moved all in for 4,075,000 before Adam Owen moved all in for 6,160,000 forcing De Rooij to fold. Chalkiadakis flipped over KhQs but found bad news after Owen tabled AcQc. The board ran out AsQdJdAh8h to give Owen the pot and bust Chalkiadakis.

Uri Reichenstein moved into the chip lead for the first time just four hands later. Reichenstein raised to 400,000 from the button and Zoriu Er called from the big blind. The flop came AdKd3d, Er checked, Reichenstein bet 200,000 and Er called. The Tc turn got Er to check again, allowing Reichenstein to bet 900,000 and Er called again. The 6h river saw Er check again before Reichenstein bet 4,700,000. Er called and tabled AsJc but was eliminated when Reichenstein tabled Td4d for a flopped flush.

The four remaining players eventually paused play to discuss a chop before ultimately deciding to play on. Four-handed play continued for 34 more hands before Reichenstein claimed another victim.

A shortstacked De Rooij moved all in from UTG for just three big blinds. Malec simply called from the small blind before Reichenstein made it 3,300,000 forcing Malec to fold. De Rooij was ahead with As7c over Reichenstein’s Js3d but the Ts4d3h flop changed that and the Qh turn and 5s river failed to save De Rooij and the Dutchman was out in fourth.

Mixed game specialist Adam Owen was sent packing on the very next hand. Malec called from the button, called from the small blind before Owen moved all in from the big blind for 5,600,000. Malec moved all in over the top and Reichenstein folded. Owen held QdJs but was trailing Malec who showed Ah8s. The board ran out 7d6s2c8c6d to give Malec the pot and eliminated Owen.

When heads-up play began Reichenstein had a 3-2 chip lead over Malec. While the first five eliminations took place over a span of a little over five hours, heads-up play between the two took longer. Both players traded the lead back and forth more than once but the final hand is the one that the tournament will be remembered for.

Malec limped from the button and Reichenstein checked behind. the flop came QhJs6h and Reichenstein bet 800,000. Malec raised to 3,000,000 and Reichenstein called. The turn was the 8h and Malec lead out for 5,000,0000. After a short time in the tank, Reichenstein called. The river was the 8d and Malec shoved all in putting Reichenstein to a decision for his tournament life.

Reichenstein went into the tank while Malec invoked Scotty Nguyen’s famous line from the 1998 WSOP Main Event, “you call, it’s gonna be all over, baby.” Reichenstein talked himself through a number of hands Malec could have while the 21-year-old sat on the rail with his friends, even posing for a selfie. Reichenstein called and Malec sprint to the table to showdown Ah3h for a turned nut flush while Reichenstein showed Th9c for a turned queen-high straight to give Malec the pot and the title.

Final Table Payouts

  1. Sebastian Malec – €1,122,800
  2. Uri Reichenstein – €807,100
  3. Adam Owen – €646,250
  4. Thomas De Rooij – €535,100
  5. Zorlu Er – €431,550
  6. Andreas Chalkiadakis – €330,290
  7. Harcharan Dogra Dogra – €230,950
  8. Pavel Plesuv – €165,950
  9. Stephen Malone – €123,450