Sur-Praz! Bansi in the Money
Praz Bansi has been a fixture at the EPT ever since this blogger, at least, started out in the poker industry. He has played virtually every big tournament in Europe and at the WSOP since he burst on to the scene in 2005, and in that time he's picked up two WSOP bracelets, $2.4 million in tournament winnings and even before today stood at 15th in the all-time UK money list.
Just one thing was missing from his life - an EPT cash.
Until now.
Congratulations, we told him. "Thanks," he said, "It only took me four years. I'm actually still convinced that something's going to happen, they're going to say they made a mistake and there's still another 20 people in the tournament or something."
Bansi did manage to finish in an impressive 18th place at the PCA last year, but by that point it had become part of the NAPT and therefore didn't count as an EPT cash. He's not sure exactly how many EPTs he's played - he estimated it at, "About 500" - but it has been a bizarre statistical anomaly that a player of his calibre played so many yet never cashed in any of them.
"I didn't think I'd be this happy," he admitted, telling us that this landmark cash represents a massive weight off his shoulders. We in the press room who have watched him crash out of so many EPTs with nothing to show for it feel the same way. Mr. Bansi - we salute you.