€5,300 EPT Main Event
Day 4 Completed
2024 PokerStars EPT Prague
€5,300 EPT Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
2024 PokerStars EPT Prague
Buy-in
€5,300
Prize Pool
€7,071,300
Entries
1,458
Level
36
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
53
Players Left
16
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Paul Runcan delivered an impressive performance on Day 4 of the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague Main Event. Starting the day fourth in chips, Runcan now tops the leaderboard with 5,040,000, as only 16 players remain in contention for the coveted EPT trophy.
Runcan demonstrated his control over the table with well-timed aggression, winning significant pots without a showdown, including a notable hand where he forced Pascal Vos to fold with a four-bet. His ability to manage risks was evident, as he kept his losses in smaller pots minimal.
Eliminations were also part of Runcan's story. He sent three players to the rail, including Gianfranco Iaculli (52nd) with ace-king against pocket fives, Vos (25th) with jack-ten suited against pocket nines, and Adrian Mack (21st) with pocket aces overpowering pocket sevens.
With $270,910 in total live tournament earnings and a best cash of $75,600 this year, Runcan is on track to set a new career high with a deep run in this event.
Siarhei Alontsau (4,745,000) is in second place on the leaderboard, followed by Anton Bergstrom (4,570,000), Siegfried Kapeller (4,440,000), and Barak Oz (4,000,000).
End of Day 4 Chip Counts
Contenders to Watch
While Runcan leads, three other players stand out as key contenders heading into Day 5:
Anton Bergstrom: Last year, Bergstrom finished 24th in the EPT Main Event, but this year, he has already far surpassed that. Starting Day 4 as the chip leader, he grew his stack to secure third place in chips after winning a massive pot against Sylwia Studniarz with a straight versus trips.
Sylwia Studniarz: She has already secured the largest live cash of her career, according to The Hendon Mob. Following in the footsteps of Marle Spragg, who reached the final table of this event last year, Studniarz now has the chance to make history. A victory would see her become only the fifth woman to win an EPT Main Event, joining the elite company of Victoria Coren Mitchell, Liv Boeree, Maria Lampropulos, and Sandra Naujoks.
Umberto Ruggeri: A familiar face, Ruggeri finished third in this event last year. Despite being 12th in chips, he has the potential to repeat or even improve on last year’s result.
Day 4 Highlights
The day began with 53 players from a record-breaking field of 1,458 entries. Early eliminations included Alessandro Pichierri, who fell to Nikita Kuznetsov’s ace-queen. Ironically, Kuznetsov followed soon after, finishing 45th when his ace-queen lost to Conor Bergin’s jack-ten suited.
Other notable busts include Stanislaw Grodek (24th), Christian Rudolph (23rd), and Arjel Daci (22nd) once the field reached the final three tables. Mack fought his way through the tournament, finding opportunities to steal pots and double up his short stack multiple times. Despite his efforts, his run came to an end in 21st place, falling just short of a deeper finish.
Kapeller had a remarkable comeback, doubling through Tjenno Eskes and later eliminating Fabian Bartuschk (20th) while claiming a big chunk of Pawel Wojciechowski's stack. Wojciechowski managed to double back with pocket kings but ultimately fell in 17th place, with Kapeller’s straight ending his tournament run.
What’s Next
The final 16 players, representing 14 different countries, have locked up€47,250, but tomorrow, they’ll compete for a spot at the final table and a guaranteed payday of €137,900. Beyond that lies the ultimate goal: the EPT gold-plated trophy and a life-changing €1,146,500 top prize.
Action resumes at the luxurious Hilton Prague Saturday at noon with 47 minutes left in Level 26 (blinds 25,000/50,000, big blind ante 50,000).
The largest EPT Prague Main Event in history is set for an intense battle as the field narrows to the final table. PokerNews will be there to cover it every step of the way.
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
5,040,000
-85,000
|
-85,000 |
|
||
|
4,745,000
820,000
|
820,000 |
|
4,570,000
370,000
|
370,000 |
|
||
|
4,440,000
440,000
|
440,000 |
|
4,000,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
3,970,000
320,000
|
320,000 |
|
||
|
3,160,000
-440,000
|
-440,000 |
|
2,900,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
1,760,000
-105,000
|
-105,000 |
|
1,500,000
-350,000
|
-350,000 |
|
1,490,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
1,440,000
490,000
|
490,000 |
|
1,305,000
-375,000
|
-375,000 |
|
1,280,000
370,000
|
370,000 |
|
1,160,000
-140,000
|
-140,000 |
|
||
|
990,000
-210,000
|
-210,000 |
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Play has concluded for the night with 16 players managing to make it through to Day 5 tomorrow. Stay tuned for a recap of the day and full chip counts to follow.
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Sylwia Studniarz opened the action with a raise to 100,000 from under the gun, drawing two callers, including Siarhei Alontsau.
The flop came 2♣7♦7♥, and Studniarz continued for 150,000. Alontsau was the only one to stick around, making the call.
On the K♦ turn, Studniarz checked, but when Alontsau bet 225,000, she responded with an aggressive check-raise to 600,000. Undeterred, Alontsau called without hesitation.
The J♥ river saw Studniarz deliberate before opting to check. Alontsau, after asking for a count of her remaining chips, decided against applying further pressure and checked back. At showdown, Studniarz revealed 6♦5♦ for a missed flush draw, while Alontsau’s A♦J♦ secured the pot with a pair of jacks on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,925,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
1,400,000
-250,000
|
-250,000 |
|
|
1,300,000
-600,000
|
-600,000 |
|
|
||
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Pawel Wojciechowski raised to 100,000 from under the gun and Siegfried Kapeller defended out of the big blind.
The flop fell 7♦K♦4♣ and Kapeller check-called a bet of 120,000 from Wojciechowski.
When the 7♣ came on the turn Kapeller led out for 225,000, which Wojciechowski called.
After the 3♦ hit the river, Kapeller shoved for Wojciechowski's remaining 620,000. Wojciechowski had no time bank cards remaining and after thirty seconds, he made the call.
Pawel Wojciechowski: A♦A♣ 
Siegfried Kapeller: 6♠5♦
Kapeller had got there on the river with a straight to crack the pocket aces of Wojciechowski. Kapeller pulled in the chips and Wojciechowski was eliminated in 17th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,000,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Anton Bergstrom raised the button to 100,000 and Sylwia Studniarz defended out of the big blind.
The flop fell Q♦8♥8♠ and Studniarz check-called a bet of 50,000 from Bergstrom.
Both players checked the K♥ turn for the 4♥ to fall on the river. Studniarz led out for 200,000 and was met by a raise to 725,000 from Bergstrom. Studniarz quickly folded and surrendered the pot to Bergstrom.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,200,000
-130,000
|
-130,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,900,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
|
||
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Barak Oz made it 105,000 from the button and Siegfried Kapeller called on the button.
On the A♠8♦9♠ flop, Kapeller checked and Oz fired out 80,000. Kapeller called.
A 2♠ on the turn was checked through to the 9♣ river, where Kapeller led out for 225,000. Oz mulled it over for a while, but curiosity got the better of him, and he called.
Kapeller then showed 10♠7♦ for a busted straight draw, and Oz's 4♥4♣ won the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,750,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
|
2,900,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Danut Chisu opened to 105,000 from under the gun, and Vincent Meli called from the button.
The flop came 9♠7♣Q♦, and Chisu continued with a bet of 125,000, which Meli called. The turn brought the Q♠, and Chisu checked. Meli got the initiative with a bet of 225,000, and Chisu called after some thought.
The 9♥ completed the board, and Chisu checked again. Meli moved all in, sending Chisu deep into the tank. After using two time bank cards, Chisu slammed his chips in to call. Meli revealed A♠7♠ for ace-high and a counterfeited pair of sevens, and Chisu won the pot with his K♠K♦, eliminating Meli in 18th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,800,000
1,305,000
|
1,305,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 26
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Siarhei Alontsau opened the action with a raise to 100,000 from under the gun, and Pedro Marques defended his big blind with a call.
The flop came 7♦J♦Q♣, and Marques check-called Alontsau’s continuation bet of 120,000.
On the J♥ turn, Marques switched gears, leading out with a 115,000 bet, which Alontsau called.
When the 4♣ landed on the river, Marques opted to check. Alontsau seized the opportunity to bet 200,000. After burning through two time bank cards, Marques made the call.
Alontsau revealed K♠Q♦ for two pair, queens and jacks, which was enough to scoop the pot as Marques mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,895,000
1,245,000
|
1,245,000 |
|
|
3,650,000
-590,000
|
-590,000 |
|
|
||