PokerStars Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press/Analyst contact
Conrad Brunner, Marketing Manager,
PokerStars 0870 351 8710
conrad@pokerstars.com
FIRST EVER EPT GRAND FINAL CHAMPION CROWNED
March 20, 2005 - Dutch professional poker player, Rob Hollink, was crowned poker champion of Europe after winning €635,000 in the European Poker Tour (EPT) Grand Final in Monte Carlo on Saturday 19th March 2005.
The Grand Final of the inaugural European Poker Tour, sponsored by PokerStars.com, set a new record as the biggest poker tournament ever held in Europe, with a total prize pool of €2,110,000.
Conrad Brunner of PokerStars.com said "We're thrilled to be announcing the first ever European Poker Champion, at the end of a hugely successful first season of the EPT. Rob played fantastically throughout the whole tournament and showed that he was the best player on a very strong final table."
Hollink, 42, from Groningen, Holland, splits his time between playing poker and looking after his three children. He has made countless final tables on the European poker circuit over the last four years, and the prestigious title of European Poker Champion finally sees his talent recognised.
Hollink beat EPT French Open winner, Brandon Schaefer from the USA into second place to take the top prize in a thrilling heads up, finally claiming the title with Jacks and eights, versus Schaefer's pair of Kings.
Early contenders for the top prize included World Series Of Poker Champions Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker as well as World Poker Tour Champion Isabelle Mercier, French actor musician Patrick Bruel and former World tennis number one Yevgeni Kafelnikov.
A total of 211 players entered the €10,000 buy-in event generating the bumper prize pool of €2,100,000 ($2,830,000.00).
FINAL TABLE RESULTS
1. Rob Hollink, Groningen, Holland €650,000
2. Brandon Schaefer, Seattle, USA €350,000
3. Alexander Stevic, Gothenberg, Sweden €178,000
4. Romain Feriolo, Marbella, Spain €139,000
5. Kevin Seeger, Los Angeles, USA €118,000
6. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Paris, France €99,500
7. Ben Grundy, London, England €79,000
8. Mikhail Ustinov, Moscow, Russia €59,500
Poker fans can re-live all the action from season one of the EPT on: http://www.eptblog.com
