Antonio Buonanno and Jack Salter have been torturing each other for 10 hours heads-up before the fate of the €1,240,000 first prize of the EPT Grand Final Main Event was decided.
The Final Table of the EPT Grand Final €10,600 Main Event kicked off with Jack Salter in the chiplead and Columbian WCOOP champion Mayu ‘Marroca5’ Roca not far behind. The seat draw was as follows:
Seat 1: Kenny Hicks – 1,875,000
Seat 2: Jack Salter – 5,170,000
Seat 3: Sebastian Bredthauer – 755,000
Seat 4: Mayu Roca – 4,625,000
Seat 5: Magnus Karlsson – 2,595,000
Seat 6: Malte Moennig – 1,150,000
Seat 7: Antonio Buonanno – 2,065,000
Seat 8: Sebastian von Toperczer – 1,240,000
Play started on Level 27 (5,000/25,000/50,000) and the first major hand did not take long to occur: Salter opened to 115,000 from UTG with A:c 4:c, Buonanno called from the Button with 8:s 8:d and the flop came 4:h 7:c T:h. Salter bet 145,000, Buonanno called and the 8:c arrived on the turn, making Salter improve to flush draw and Buonanno to trips. Salter checked, Buonanno bet 135,000 in the 635,000 pot, Salter shoved and Buonanno called. The river came neutral and the Italian doubled up to 4,035,000 in chips, while the Brit melting to 2,850,000.
A couple of hands later, 100 FPP online satellite qualifier Sebastian Bredthauer was eliminated, his A-8 getting cracked by Salter’s A-K. Kenny Hicks followed soon after, losing a flip to Buonanno, and then came Sebastian von Toperczer and Magnus Karlsson.
Meanwhile, Salter managed to retake the lead and kept building his stack, even though he had some frustrating moments, tanking about 7 minutes in one hand before Malte Moennig calling time on him, only to fold; or swearing loudly on a regular basis. Nevertheless, his stack was soon an eight-digit count, eliminating Roca with pocket queens.
The heads-up was soon formed, Moennig getting railed with A-5s against Buonanno’s A-Ko.
Jack Salter – 10,780,000
Antonio Buonanno – 8,690,000
The option of a deal was offered but, after consulting his backer, Aussie Millions 2014 Main Event champion Ami Barer, Salter refused. A 10-hour long duel ensued and Salter managed to keep his edge for long but not to eliminate his opponent. On Level 34 (30,000/125,000/250,000), the tide turned after all and Buonanno grabbed the lead, winning a flip with pocket tens against A-K. The Italian went on to dominate the game and Salter was more and more on tilt, losing a game he felt sure to win.
On Level 35 (40,000/150,000/300,000), the Brit limped with K:c Q:h, Buonanno checked with T:h 5:h and the flop came Q:c 5:s 5:c. Both players checked, the turn came T:s, Buonanno checked again with his flipped full house and Salter bet 300,000. Buonanno check-raised to 900,000, Salter called and the 8:h arrived on the river. Buonanno then pushed his stack to the middle, making Salter swear and tank, unable to figure out his opponent’s play. After eight minutes, Buonanno called time on him, which Salter let count down and his hand was ruled dead.
In the next hand, Buonanno raised to 600,000 preflop, Salter shoved for 4,950,000 and Buonanno called.
Buonanno: A:s 4:h
Salter: K:d 7:d
Board: J:h 9:s 2:h Q:d 3:s
Buonanno won with an ace high.
Antonio Buonanno surpassed his previous career best score, a 4th finish in the WSOP 2013 $5,000 NLHE for $231,147 by scooping in the €1,240,000 first prize.
The end results are as follows:
1st: Antonio Buonanno – €1,240,000
2nd: Jack Salter – €765,000
3rd: Malte Moennig – €547,000
4th: Mayu Roca – €419,000
5th: Magnus Karlsson – €332,000
6th: Sebastian von Toperczer – €258,300
7th: Kenny Hicks – €188,500
8th: Sebastian Bredthauer – €128,800
9th: Martins Seilis – €102,000
