The record-breaking 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague €5,300 Main Event has reached its climax, as the final six players prepare to battle for poker glory and the monumental €1,146,500 first-place prize. From an unprecedented field of 1,458 entries, these six contenders have maneuvered their way to the final table after enduring five grueling days of poker at the luxurious Hilton Prague.
Each has already secured a minimum payout of €233,050, but today’s ultimate goal is to hoist the coveted EPT trophy and claim one of the biggest prizes in European poker history. Today, one of these six players will etch their name in poker history.
Romania’s Paul Runcan enters the final table with a commanding stack of 18,025,000 (120 big blinds), putting him in the driver’s seat as play resumes. Runcan has been a dominant force throughout the tournament, leveraging his big stack on Day 5 to outmaneuver opponents with a mix of well-timed aggression and fearless bluffs. This performance has already earned Runcan the largest cash of his career, and with such a significant lead, he’s in prime position to close out the victory.
Final Table Seat Draw & Chip Counts
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siarhei Alontsau | Belarus | 3,150,000 | 21 |
| 2 | Paul Runcan | Romania | 18,025,000 | 120 |
| 3 | Anton Bergstrom | Sweden | 6,725,000 | 45 |
| 4 | Pedro Marques | Portugal | 9,225,000 | 62 |
| 5 | Barak Oz | Israel | 4,500,000 | 30 |
| 6 | Jaehyung Park | South Korea | 2,100,000 | 14 |
Trailing Runcan is Portugal’s Pedro Marques, who brings 9,225,000 (62 big blinds) to the final table. Marques, one of Portugal’s most accomplished players with over $4.7 million in live tournament winnings, is no stranger to being in this kind of situation. With two EPT titles and a history of success on the big stage, he has both the experience and skill to challenge for the title.
Sweden’s Anton Bergstrom is poised for a historic run as he looks to add a live EPT Main Event title to his two online EPT championships. Bergstrom starts the day with 6,725,000 chips (45 big blinds) and remains a serious threat despite his relatively shorter stack compared to the leaders.
Israel’s Barak Oz (4,500,000), Belarus’ Siarhei Alontsau (3,150,000), and South Korea’s Jaehyung Park (2,100,000) round out the final six. Park, the short stack with just 14 big blinds, has shown tremendous resilience throughout the tournament and will be looking for a quick double-up to stay in contention. Alontsau and Oz, with 21 and 30 big blinds respectively, still have room to maneuver but will need to carefully pick their spots as they aim to climb the leaderboard.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €1,146,500 | ||
| 2 | €716,950 | ||
| 3 | €512,100 | ||
| 4 | €393,950 | ||
| 5 | €303,000 | ||
| 6 | €233,050 | ||
| 7 | Tjenno Eskes | Netherlands | €179,250 |
| 8 | Siegfried Kapeller | Austria | €137,900 |
| 9 | Danut Chisu | Romania | €106,050 |
Play will resume today at 12:30 p.m. local time with just under 30 minutes remaining in Level 26 with blinds of 100,000/150,000 and a 150,000 big blind ante. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with every hand potentially worth thousands of euros as the remaining players eye the escalating payouts.
The final day promises thrilling action as these six players battle it out for one of the most prestigious titles in poker. Follow PokerNews throughout the day for comprehensive live updates and catch the action on the official live stream, running on a 30-minute delay. By the end of the day, the EPT Prague Main Event will have crowned its champion—don’t miss a moment!
