John Juanda wins largest EPT event ever for more than €1 million

John Juanda defeated the record-breaking field of 1,694 players to claim the EPT Barcelona Main Event title and more than €1 million. This was the third biggest score of Juandas career and the win put him into 9th place on the all-time tournament money list.

John Juanda already had a shot at an EPT title in London back in Season 7, but was eventually defeated by David Vamplew, Juanda received £545,000 for his runner-up finish.

The final table started with the following stacks and seating.

1    Denys Shafikov     (Ukraine) - 17,515,000    
2    Amir Touma (Lebanon) - 1,180,000
3    Rainer Kempe    (Germany) - 3,775,000    
4    Steven Warburton (United Kingdom) - 7,180,000    
5    Victor Bogdanov (Russia) - 1,415,000
6    John Juanda (Indonesia) - 4,040,000    
7    Mario Sanchez    (Spain) - 2,885,000    
8    Frederik Jensen (Denmark) - 5,580,000    
9    Andreas Samuelsson (Sweden) - 7,005,000    

Denys Shafikov had a huge chip lead over the rest of the table and he kept the lead for most of the finale.

The first player to be eliminated was Victor Bogdanov, he shoved all-in for 1.395 million during Level 32 (80,000-160,000-20,000 ante) afterFrederik Jensen raised to 325,000 from UTG. Jensen snapcalled with AK after it was folded back to him, Bogdanov shoved A7s and the best hand held up.

The next one to fall was Mario Sanchez, he raised with KJs and called when Jensen decided to re-raise. Both players checked the 4-3-T flop with two spades with Jensen having the backdoor nut flush draw. Sanchez bet with his open-ended straight draw when the Queen of spades hit the turn and Jensen called with his monsterdraw.

The 9 of spades on the river gave Jensen the nut flush and Sanchez the nut straight.

Sanchez checked, Jensen shoved and the Spanish player thought for five minutes before eventually calling all-in.

Just one hand later Amir Touma was also eliminated, he moved all-in with just 2,5 big blinds over Juandas UTG raise with QJ, which both Steve Warburton (ATs) John Juanda (33)  called.

The two active players checked the 6-2-5 flop and Juanda hit a straight when a 4 hit the turn. He bet 420,000, Warburton folded and Touma was out the door, receiveing €194,100 for his 7th place finish.

Andreas Samuelsson was the next one to bust, he shoved for 1.21 million (still Level 32) from the cutoff with JT, unfortunately for him Steve Warburton woke up with Aces in the big blind and Samuelsson couldn't hit his gutshot after the A-K-8 flop.

Rainer Kempe finished in 5th place, he raised to 400,000 from UTG (Level 33, 100,000-200,000-25,000 ante), then 4bet shoved all-in for 3.475 million after Shafikov made it 900,000 from the big blind.

Shafikov didn't like the situation he put himself into and took 5 minutes before eventually calling with KQ suited. The Q-Q-5 flop was a disaster for Kempe who couldn't hit a miracle runner runner, he made €320,400 with his 5th place finish.

Shafikov, who had been dominating the final table lost several big pots (including an AAvsTT preflop all-in against Jensen) and was left shortstacked by level 35 (150,000-300,000-50,000 ante) and shoved his final 3.725 million from the button with QT. Juanda called after a minute with A-6 and eliminated the Ukranian player after the board ran out 6-J-3-4-6.

The three remaining players agreed on a deal where all of them got more than €800,000 and with €100,000 left to play for.

Steve Warburton - €941,613
John Juanda - €922,593
Frederik Jensen - €810,294

Fredrik Jensen finished in third after a hero call gone wrong. During Level 37 (250,000-500,000-50,000 ante) Juanda limped from the small blind with Q7 and Jensen checked behind with JT.

Juanda check/called a bet of 600,000 on the J-2-7 (two spades) flop and improved to two pair when an offsuit Queen hit the turn. Juanda check/raised Jensens bet of 1.6 million to 4,8 million and Jensen called after thinking for a while. The river 7 filled up Juanda who moved in for 10.78 million effective and Jensen decided to call after thinking for 6 minutes.

Juanda started the heads-up with a 4:1 chip lead but Warburton managed to double up with AK against A6.

During Level 38 (300,000-600,000-100,000 ante) Juanda made it 1.2 million from the button and Warburton made it 2.6 million. Juanda asked for a count then 4bet to 5.1 million  then snapcalled when Warburton shoved for 15 million.

Juanda showed QQ and was way ahead of Warburtons 88. The Queens easily held up on the J-T-2-2-9 board and with that John Juanda won his first ever EPT title and €1,022,593.

Final table results

1    John Juanda -1,022,593
2    Steve Warburton - 941,613
3    Frederik Jensen - 810,294
4    Denys Shafikov - 405,100
5    Rainer Kempe - 320,400
6    Andreas Samuelsson - 253,900
7    Amir Touma - 194,100
8    Mario Sanchez -137,080