Igor Kurganov Wins European Poker Tour Grand Final


Wednesday, May 2,2012 : MILLION EURO PAYDAY FOR POKER PRO
 
Kurganov and Negreanu in an epic heads up in Monte Carlo
 
The PokerStars.com Euro 25,000 buy-in European Poker Tour Grand Final High Roller has been decided after an epic two-and-a-half-hour heads up in which the lead changed several times between participants Igor Kurganov and Daniel Negreanu, both of whom provided a master class in daring but disciplined poker.
 
Despite Negreanu holding the advantage at the start of the heads up, the winner at the end of this enthralling one-on-one confrontation was Russian and German player Kurganov, a highly experienced pro who has played live tournaments across Europe, amassing career earnings of almost $2.5 million.
 
Those were augmented hugely Tuesday when he claimed the winner's prize of Euro 1,08 million – his biggest payday yet.
 
The stylish and voluble Negreanu gave Kurganov a full run for his money in this exciting match, but in the end he had to be content with the runner up prize of Euro 598,600.
 
It must have been a disappointment to Negreanu; this was his fourth final table this year, bringing his 2012 earnings to just under $1.5 million, and his career earnings to more than $16.1 million. Over the week, Negreanu made almost a million dollars, counting his sixth placing in the Euro 100,000 Super High Roller tourney, where he earned Euro 310,000.
 
Justin Bonomo, who at one point looked like surefire winner material, started the final table as chip leader, but was out at fourth, taking home Euro 266,000. Bonomo has nevertheless enjoyed a profitable week, winning Euro 1.64 million the Euro 100,000 Super High Roller, and coming in 28th in the EPT main event, which added another Euro 35,000 to his bank balance.
 
Other members of the very talent-heavy final table were: Philipp Gruissem, Artem Litvinov, Noah Schwartz, Nathan Schoo and Max Lykov.