Michael Tureniec Wins the 2011 PokerStars.net EPT Copenhagen (DKK 3,700,000)!
We have known for some hours that the "Scandie Open" title was going to do last year's champion Anton Wigg proud and stay in Swedish hands, but after the elimination of John Eames in third place, it took more than three and a half hours to determine exactly which Swede was going to claim the top prize and which Swede was going to have to settle for second.
Per Linde might have started the final with a huge lead - in fact, he'd maintained the lead since Day 3 - but it was all change after Linde doubled up John Eames and Eames then proceeded to double up Tureniec in a massive coinflip for the chip lead, meaning that Michael Tureniec started the heads-up with the bulk of the chips.
Linde doubled up several times, but Tureniec's reaction each time was simply to stay focused and carefully up the measured aggression. Linde too failed to tilt, and the match could really have gone either way - it was left to the poker gods to decide it in the final flip that could easily have doubled Linde up and reversed the stacks. As it was, this was Tureniec's moment, and he finally gets to know what it's like to finish first - his previous best was runner up to Michael Martin at the 2008 EPT London. He is a kroner millionaire 3.7 times over, and gets to take home the cash, the trophy and a rather nice bracelet from sponsors Shamballa Jewels.
While the Swedish contingent head down to the bar to party the Danish night away, the rest of the EPT circus prepares to pack up its belongings and head for Austria. The PokerNews European live reporting team will be following them, and blogging will resume in just a few weeks' time from the lovely Alpine ski resort of Saalbach-Hinterglemm for EPT Snowfest. Until then, it's over and out.