PokerStars.com EPT Budapest - Live Updates

This tournament is over! Will Fry has defeated Ciprian Hrisca to take the title and the cash. Read on for the gory details.

Despite being knocked back by Ciprian to a 4-1 deficit earlier, Fry has fought back to a chip lead now with some well timed heads up aggression!

Then....THIS HAND HAPPENED!

Ciprian raises to $150k from the button, Fry lays down the hammer, popping it to $650k and now Ciprian moves all-in!

Fry calls and we have a showdown for nearly all the chips in the tournament!

FRY: J♦ J♠

HRISCA: A♣ 6♦

Fry with the advantage, which holds on through a Q♠ T♦ 6♣ flop.

The turn is the K♣, meaning only a jack or a six will stop the young English player from winning the title.

The river is....the Q♣!

It's paint but no good for Ciprian meaning he is knocked out in 2nd spot, the Romanian netting himself €342,608 but...

WILLIAM FRY is the CHAMPION of the Hungarian EPT, winning €595,839. An incredible journey for the UK player from tournament unknown to EPT champion!

Head on over to check out the final table recap and make sure to hit the winner interview we did moments after the victory.

 

 

Fry raises it up preflop to $130,000 and is called by Ciprian.

The two players check down a board of A♥ 2♣ 7♥ 3♥ Q♠ to the river where Fry bets out $200,000 and is called by Ciprian.

Fry's J-Q however is good as he makes a smart value bet with his second pair...

Will Fry just managed a much-needed double-up to bring his stack near even with Ciprian Hrisca. The money went in before the flop with Fry's J♦ T♣ racing Hrisca's 7♥ 7♠, Fry managed to pair both his ten and his jack to double through with two pair.

Ciprian Hrisca opened the pot to $170,000 and Fry re-raised to $840,000. Cirprian moved all-inn and Fry called. A♦ 5♣ for Fry was trailing Ciprion's A♣ 6♠. The board ran K♠ J♦ T♥ J♥ 4♦ and the two players split the pot.

Ciprian and Fry see a flop of 8♥ 4♣ 5♣ .

Fry checks, Ciprian bets out $200,000 and Fry calls...

The turn is the 8♠, again William checks and again Ciprian bets $200,000, only for the young englishman to check raise to ONE MILLLION DOLLARS - again!

This time Ciprian is going nowhere and moves in, only for William...to muck his hand!

Big coup for the Romanian moves him into a 4 million to one million lead!

Ciprian Hrisca pops it up to $130,000 preflop, only for William Fry to re-raise the Romanian to $400,000.

Hrisca has not been one to fold to re-raises often and he makes the call for the additional $270,000.

The flop comes 9♣ T♣ 2♠ and William bets out a whopping ONE MILLLLLLLION DOLLARS!

Ciprian isn't interested though and passes his hand...

William and Ciprian are the last two players vying for the title with a suitcase of money, the artistic EPT Trophy andthe fame of being the latest EPT champion awaiting the victor!

Hand one, the two players check down a board of 6♠ 9♥ J♥ K♥ Q♥ and Fry shows a jack which is good for the pot...

Round one to the English player...

Ciprian Hrisca and Martin Jacobson go heads up to an unraised pot, the flop coming K♥ 6♥ 3♣.

The two players check the flop and see the 8♥ come on the turn.

Ciprian now bets out $100,000 and Jacobson cuts out the chips and calls...

The river is the K♠ and Ciprian now moves his stack all-in. He has Jacobson easily covered and the Swede will be calling off his entire stack if he makes the call...

Jacobson tanks and looks uncomfortable but eventually...HE CALLS!

Jacobson tables T-8 for two pair, but scowls as the unpredictable Romanian Ciprian shows T♥ 2♥ for the flush. The pair shake hands, and Martin Jacobson is eliminated in 3rd place, winning €197,904.

This leaves UK player William Fry heads up versus the Romanian Ciprian Hrisca.

Hrisca holds approximately a $3.5 mllion to $1.8 million chip lead as the pair face off to decide who will be the champ!

If the spirit of today's final continues, this could be fast...

Jacobson pops it up to $104,000 and Ciprian calls from the big blind.

The flop falls the T♣ 9♣ 3♠

Both players check.

The turn card is the 5♦ and the two player's reticence continues with both players checking.

The river is the 9♦.

Ciprian now bets $150,000 and after a few moments contemplation, Jacobson calls, showing A-Q high.

An understandable call, given the board texture, but Ciprian had made a very tight, but good value bet with 8-5, his two pair eights and fives good for the pot and the Romanian sweeps in a pot.

 

Martin Jacobson can't afford to hang around too long with the bigger stacks bulllying and he chooses to immediately make his move after the break, but it's an odd hand...

Ciprian shoves all-in on the button and Jacobson calls his stack off with 8♥ 9♥!

A K♦ 8♦ 3♠ flop appears and it looks like the Swede is going out...

The turn is the A♥ and Ciprian's pair of Kings appear as if they will consign the Swede to the rail... BUT the river falls the 8♣!

A dramatic last card gives Jacobson trips and he doubles through to $1,500,000 chips whilst Ciprian's big stack takes a hit.

The drama continues!

 

 

The short break is over and the players resume three handed, with Romanian Ciprian Hrisca narrowly behind William Fry and the Swede Martin Jacobson the shortstack...

The fast paced final has been temporarily slowed with a 15 minute break for the players to refresh themselves ready for the three handed battle ahead.

It's been an incredible final so far with drama after drama and we anticipate an exciting climax to the contest.

Stay with us for the full lowdown as we close in on crowning the eventual champion of EPT Budapest!

 

We are down to three here in Budapest with the elimination of Albert Iverson. He was short and open-shoved from under the gun for around $330,000. Will Fry was on the button and made the call.

The rest of the table got out of the way and it was time for showdown. Iverson was trailing with 9♠ 7♠ to Fry's 8♠ 8♦. The board ran K♣ T♠ 5♦ 7♥ 6♣ and Fry's pair of eights were good for the pot and the elimination.

Albert Iverson is out in fourth and will take home €153,216.

Head here for the new chip counts.

William Fry and Albert Iversen go to war preflop...

The two players see a T♣ 4♣ K♣ flop and both players check.

The turn is a potential flush completing A♣.

This turn card convinces Fry to bet out $54,000 once Iversen had checked.

Iversen....calls!

RIVER: 4♠

Iversen checks, Fry leans back and takes a sip of water before requesting a chip count from his Danish foe.

Eventually, he checks behind also, showing the 8♣ 7♠ for a flush whilst Iversen mucks!

We've lost another player at this sprint of a final table. Marino Serenelli has been eliminated in fifth for €127,680.

Marino was in the small blind and raised to $85,000. Will Fry was in the big blind and re-popped to $140,000. Serenelli called and the flop came down Q♥ 7♥ 6♠. Marino checked, Fry bet $90,000 and Serenelli called.

The turn was the 2♦ and Serenelli checked again. Fry moved all-in and Serenelli called off his remaining chips. And the hands:

Serenelli: 8♦ 5♣

Fry: 6dJ♥

Serenelli was on the draw but missed when the river brought the 7♠. Serenelli's chips go to Fry and Serenelli heads out the door.

Preflop, Ciprian raises to $60,000 and Iversen lays the smack down, re-raising to 190k.

Hrisca, who has been involved in lots of pots so far on this final makes the call and we have another big pot brewing...

The flop comes: A♥ 6♦ 5♦.

Iversen leads for $175,000. Hrisca flat calls this bet...

The turn falls the K♥ and after Iversen checks, Hrisca now bets out $200,000...

Iversen contemplates the flop and goes deep into the tank, all the while studied intently by the Romanian...

Eventually he folds and Ciprian bolsters his chip lead, flashing a mysterious Jack at the Dane as he sweeps up the pot...

William Fry calls an under the gun raise from Romanian Hrisca to 84k from the big blind.

The flop falls J♣ 4♣ 4♠, Fry checks and the Romanian also checks behind...

The turn falls the 2♥, prompting a small bet of $30,000 from Fry, which Hrisca called quickly.

The river 6♣ was the cue for the English player to lead for $60,000 though Hrisca wanted no more part of it and folds, leaving Fry to sweep up the pot and hold his position as 2nd chip leader.

Ciprian Hrisca remains the chip leader though with $1,884,000.

Click here for full chip counts.

William Fry has just doubled through Albert Iverson after winning a big all-in coin-flip. Iverson raised and Fry shoved for just over $500,000. Iverson made the call and they tabled their hands.

Fry: 9♥ 9♦

Iverson: A♠ K♠

The flop came Q♠ 9♣ 4♦ and Fry jumped out to a big lead. The turn sealed the deal, bringing the 4♥, and the river was the meaningless 7♣. Fry doubles and Iverson is left with around $450,000.

For the new counts hit the chip count page.

Marino Serenelli has been quiet so far, but sprung into action on the last hand, re-popping an Iversen raise to $80,000 to $160,000.

Iversen decides not to take on the Italian, passing his hand and Serenelli shows pocket Queens...

 

It's been a bad day for the older guys at the final table, with both Hungarian Toth and experienced Italian Gino Alacqua crashing out in the early stages.

On $15k/$30k, Romanian Hrisca makes it $60k preflop, only for Gino Alacqua to shove his stack in for $300k or so...

Iversen now called behind(!) and Ciprian also made the call...

The flop fell J♥ 8♣ T♥ and when Ciprian checked Iversen bet out $240k...Ciprian called!

The turn was the J♠, the river the 9♥ and there was no further betting...

Alacqua showed up with A♠ T♠ but 2nd pair was no good once Iversen flipped up Aces.

Ciprian however turned up with A-Q for the rivered straight and punched the air in celebration as his straight took down the pot.

Meanwhile Gino Alacqua busts out in 6th spot, winning €100,016.

 

Albert Iverson has just taken a big pot from Martin Jacobson with some suspicious-looking betting on the turn and river. It folded to Jacobson in the small blind who limped and Iverson checked his option in the big blind.

The flop came down 6♦ 5♠ 4♥ and Jacobson led out for $30,000. Iverson raised to $85,000 and Jacobson called. It didn't end there, however, as Jacobson popped it again to $200,000. The turn was the 9♣ and Jacobson checked.

Iverson counted out chips and made it $110,000. After some thought Jacobson made the call and we saw the T♣ hit the river. Jacobson checked and Iverson bet a very small $175,000 bet. Jacobson thought for a long time before mucking his hand and conceding the pot.

Zoltan was left with a mere $43,000 after that last hand, $20,000 of which was in the big blind.

He was always going to find himself all-in on this hand and Gino Alacqua and Iversen tagged teamed preflop to knock him out.

Zoltan made the obligatory pre-flop call all-in...

The two live players checked down a3♥ 8♠ 4♣ Q♥ 3♠, Alacqua flipping up A-2 for ace high, but when Iversen turned up Q-T for top pair and Toth could only show up with 2-6, it was all over for the Hungarian, who was busted out in 7th for €78,736.

From chip leader to out inside the first level!

We anticipated a fast start and we have had it. The lightning start we've witnessed has seen two casualties already. We thought it would be a fast final and the players aren't disappointing us...

An amazing hand jsut played between Jacobson Johnny Lodden and Zoltan Toth.

The three players and Iversen all called a raise to $150k and they went 4 handed to a flop of J♦ 2♦ 8♣.

First to act Jacobson now shoved for $500k...only for Johnny Lodden to mvoe all-in behind!

The action wasn't over yet though as Zoltan Toth also called behind!

Amazing!

The players all flipped their hands.

Jacobson showed T♦ 7♦ for a gutshot and flush draw, whilst Johnny shows K♠ K♣ for the overpair.

Toth meanwhile held a hand which crushed Jacobson's outs, the A♦ K♦ for the nut flush draw!

This was a pivotal moment, could Lodden get his big pair to hold versus the draws?

The turn came the 7♥, Lodden's overpair still good but a cruel 9♠ on the river made Jacobson's straight.

The Swede had looked in bad shape but the fortuitous river gave him the pot and Lodden is eliminated in 8th spot winning €53,200 with Zoltan Toth hurt badly, down to $43,000, jsut two big blinds.

So one of the favourites is dismissed and the local hero is crippled.

What a start!

Gino Alacqua may have been hurt by that hand against Jacobson, but he isn't giving up just yet, re-raising a William Fry button raises all-in and getting him to fold.

That moved the Italian to $350,000 whilst Fry was knocked back to $450,000...

The depth of the stacks in relation to the blinds today means we are likely to have a fast final, as has been the case in recent EPTs.

It looks like we have another fast and furious day on our hands!

Martin Jacobson started the day with a small stack of 274,000 but that has all changed for the Swede now.

Folded to Gino Alacqua in the small blind, the Italian moved his $566,000 stack into the middle, only for the Swede to immediately call, as he had found cowboys in the big blind.

Gino showed he had just been stealing the blinds with 9♥ J♥ and he raced off against Jacobson's K♠ K♦.

The flop looked like Alacqua might get out of it, giving him an open ended straight draw as it fell 2♦ T♦ Q♦ but the Swede had the king high flush draw, and although Gino made his straight on the 8♦ turn, Jacobson's flush was superior and he doubles through to $550,000 whilst Alacqua loses half his stack...

We have early action!

Zoltan Toth called a raise to $60k by Romanian Ciprian Hrisca from the big blind and checked the 7♥ 6♣ 2♠ flop to the Romanian.

Ciprian bet out $60,000 only for Zoltan to make it $135,000. Ciprian looked puzzled, but made the call.

On the turn Zoltan led for $200,000, a big bet, representing 20% of his stack. Ciprian made a surprisingly fast call.

The river fell the A♠ and now both players decided to check. Ciprian showed A-T for a rivered pair and Zoltan mucked his hand!

Johnny Lodden looked shocked at Ciprian's hand but however he came by the chips, Ciprian takes down a big pot, hurting local favourite Zoltan and soaring into the chip lead.

 

The final table of the inaugural PokerStars.com EPT Budapest main event is moments from kick-off. This is one of those rare EPT final tables devoid of North Americans so, one way or another, this title will be staying in Europe.

PokerListings will be furnishing you with up to the minute live updates for the duration so stick with us as we take you down the road to an EPT5 Budapest champion!

Here are the start of day chip counts for our final eight players.

Seat 1	Marino Serenelli	$357,000
Seat 2	Will Fry	$572,000
Seat 3	Ciprian Hriska	$1,038,000
Seat 4	Gino Alacqua	$466,000
Seat 5	Martin Jacobson	$306,000
Seat 6	Albert Iverson	$1,017,000
Seat 7	Johnny Lodden	$500,000
Seat 8	Zoltan Toth	$1,059,000