At the start of Tuesday's final table, the buzz surrounded Sam Trickett, the 24-year-old British pro, who has been on an extreme hot streak of late. Could he come back from his short stack to claim another title and add to his nearly $3 million tournament bonanza in 2011? It was not to be, as he went out in 6th collecting €43,545 when his pocket fives ran into the pocket nines of Tepper.
Three handed, it looked like Jean-Louis Tepper's tournament to lose. He applied consistent pressure, especially on Nikitina who was prone to folding under pressure, but he did it one too many times and Nikitina took a stand with the best hand eliminating Tepper in third.
Finally in the heads-up match it seemed Brivot's aggression would take the match as he grabbed the lead with his all in shoves over Nikitina's three bets. She showed fatigue as the 13 hour final table dragged on. The pivotal hand came when she called the all-in shove of Brivot with a suited A,2, only to see his A,Q. When a 2 came on the flop, she was destined to be teh big chip leader again and on the final hand, Nikitina's A,3 held against the K,J of Brivot.
Final table results and payouts:
1. Natalia Nikitina - €243,830
2. Alexandre Brivot - €174,170
3. Jean-Louis Tepper - €113,210
4. Benjamin Pollak - €69,670
5. Tobias Wagner - €52,250
6. Sam Trickett - €43,545
7. Ingo Paulus - €34,835
8. Nicolo Calia - €26,120
On a side note, the final table of the €10,000 High Roller Event is set to play out on Wednesday.
Seat 1: Yacoub Dori – 51,700
Seat 2: Saïah Bouali – 136,500
Seat 3: Firas Nassar – 53,300
Seat 4: Nichlas Mattson – 64,100
Seat 5: Haim Kakoun – 88,200
Seat 6: Imad Derwiche – 132,600
Seat 7: Basil Haiche – 184,100
Seat 8: Ludovic Lacay – 113,500
