Barbosa Wins EPT Polish Open in Warsaw

Barbosa Wins EPT Polish Open in Warsaw

Thursday, 20 November 2008

João Barbosa has won the PokerStars.net European Poker Tour Polish Open Main Event, winning the trophy and €367,141 top prize. Barbosa didn't have it easy though, with a final table including Dario Minieri and Arnaud Mattern. In the end Barbosa saw off Nico Behling heads-up to win his first major title, and the first EPT title for Portugal.

Barbosa began the day as one of the short-stacks and began the day slowly, avoiding the rail rather than setting the final table alight. His day began in earnest when he eliminated one time chip leader Sergey Shcherbatskiy in sixth after his pocket Queens picked off the overly-aggressive three-bet from Shcherbatskiy.

The momenutum continued as Barbosa then used a little luck to eliminate Mattern in fifth, spiking an eight on the flop for trips against the pocket tens of the EPT Prague winner from 2007.

The Portuguese player then got lucky again to eliminate Atanas Gueorguiev in fourth after both players flopped top pair on a K-x-x board. Barbosa's KQ was behind to AK of Gueorguiev, but when a queen came on the river it sent Barbosa's stack through the roof and Gueorgiev to the rail.

Minieri was next to be eliminated at the hands of Barbosa after the Italian's pocket sevens were dominated by the nines of Barbosa. The birthday boy eventually saw off Nico Behling when his AT held up against J7 to secure the win for 26 year-old.

EPT TrophyEPT Trophy



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