2015 EPT Barcelona Main Event: Day 6 Juanda Takes The Title

8 years ago
2015 EPT Barcelona Main Event Day 6 Juana Wins €1million
00:22
31 Aug

John Juanda left the Barcelona Main Event €1,022,593and one EPT trophy richer today after defeating Steve Warburton heads-up at the end of a fascinating 12-hour final table battle. A 3-way deal, which included 3rd place finisher Frederik Jensen, helped to bring the hugely successful main event to a timely close after a marathon session yesterday.

Such a scenario had seemed unlikely at the start of play today; indeed it would have taken a brave man to bet against the Ukrainian Denys Shakfikov - after all, he had 10 million chips more than anyone else at the table. With huge jumps in the prize-money, it was expected he would bully his way to the title by picking on the clutch of mid-stacks. Naturally, the mid-stacks had ideas of their own!


First to hit the rails (which gave us the official final table, the EPT preference being 8 players) was the short-stacked Victor Bogdanov, his A♦ 7♦ falling to Jensen’s A♠ K♦. Though Bogdanov itself is a popular name on the Hendon Mob database, Victor is not one of them and this result marks an excellent start to his professional career, the more so since Barcelona is his family’s new home-from-home – his sons are studying at the city’s University!

Mario Sanchez was the next to go, once again running into a big-slicked Jensen. This time it went all the way to the river, Jensen betting out his nut-flush and Sanchez tanking, then reluctantly calling with his straight. It wasn’t enough, but the Spaniard’s consolation prize of €137,080 should help to soften the blow.


Amir Touma and Andreas Samuelson, who were both seriously short-stacked were guaranteed almost €200,000 now, and within 5 hands they were joining Sanchez on the rails, Juanda’s turned straight and Warburton’s pocket rockets accounting for them respectively.

Although AK was a weapon in the hands of Jensen, it proved to be Kempe’s downfall. Dominating Shafikov’s KQ, the flop came a demoralising QQ5 and the turn and river blanked to send Shafikov to the chip lead and Kempe to the cash desk. This was to be Shafikov’s last spot of good fortune though as shortly afterwards his pocket aces were cracked on the river by Warburton’s 10♠ 10♣ and when Juanda made a set a few hands later, the Ukrainian’s dreams of glory were shattered.


Down to 3 players, and the players wanted to cut a deal. The calculators came out and eventually it was decided to play for €100,000 and the EPT title. The winner was guaranteed a million euro payout, but it wasn’t to be Jensen, who was seeking his 2nd EPT title after winning the Main Event in Madrid back in 2012. Juanda disposed of the Dane when his full house arrived on the river, and this left Juanda and Warburton in a heads-up battle for the crown.

After some serious to-and-froing, the final blow when it came was a classic pair over pair. Juanda raised his Q♠ Q♦ on the button and Warburton 3-bet his 8♠ 8♥.It would prove impossible for the Englishman to get away from. Juanda 4-bet and, Warburton shoved and Juanda’s snap-called. The cards ran out 10♣ J♦ 2♣ 2♦, Warburton’s fans screamed for an 8, but when the river produced the 9♥ it was Juanda’s hands on the trophy and the €1,000,000 paycheck.


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Andrew from Edinburgh, Scotland, is a professional journalist, international-titled chess master, and avid poker player.Read more

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