Day 1 Recap: The $25,000 Second Chance at the European Poker Tour Cyprus
The vibrant atmosphere of the 2024 European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus continued with the highly anticipated $25,000 Second Chance event, hosted at the luxurious Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. This exclusive tournament attracted a diverse field of 31 players on Day 1, marking it as the final high-stakes event of this year’s prestigious series. Although the initial action lasted only four hours, the excitement was palpable as many players busted and quickly re-entered, driving the total number of entries to 38. With late registration still open until the start of Day 2, anticipation is building for an even larger field.
Chip Leaders: Daher, Gutierrez, and Nashar Shine
After the dust settled, Albert Daher emerged as the chip leader, amassing an impressive stack of 885,000 chips. A seasoned veteran in high-stakes poker, Daher showcased his skills in a field where only the best compete. His resume includes multiple EPT High Roller titles, with his latest victory coming last year in Cyprus when he claimed the top prize of $264,690 by defeating the formidable Mikita Badziakouski.
Close on his heels is Elias Gutierrez, a PokerStars Team Pro, who ended the day with 808,000 chips. Recently crowned champion of the $25,000 SHR Warm Up, Gutierrez is known for his aggressive and strategic play, making him a serious contender in this high-stakes setting. Rounding out the top three is Hassan Nashar, who fought through three buy-ins before ending the day with 805,000 chips, demonstrating resilience and determination.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Name | Country | Chips | Day 2 Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert Daher | Lebanon | 885,000 | 148 |
| 2 | Elias Gutierrez | Spain | 808,000 | 135 |
| 3 | Hassan Nashar | Senegal | 805,000 | 134 |
| 4 | Johannes Straver | Netherlands | 624,000 | 104 |
| 5 | Teun Mulder | Netherlands | 616,000 | 103 |
| 6 | Vladimir Korzinin | Estonia | 587,000 | 98 |
| 7 | Kayhan Mokri | Norway | 541,000 | 90 |
| 8 | Danilo Velasevic | Croatia | 500,000 | 83 |
| 9 | Aleksejs Ponakovs | Latvia | 454,000 | 76 |
| 10 | Vicente Delgado | Spain | 430,000 | 72 |
Highlights of the Day: Key Hands and Shifts in Momentum
The day kicked off with Masashi Oya, one of the 17 players, securing an early lead by expertly slowplaying pocket aces against Juan Pardo, who held ace-king on a king-high board. However, Oya’s cautious approach saw him settle at roughly an average stack by the day’s end with 356,000 chips.
Another major moment came when Jelle Moene seized the lead amidst a brutal cooler, where both he and Jérémie Zouari held straights, but Moene’s was superior. As the players took their first and only break, Moene was comfortably leading the pack. However, this dominance was short-lived, as Nashar entered with an aggressive style that quickly shifted the dynamics of the table.
Playing in an unorthodox manner, Nashar often engaged with massive chip sizes relative to the blinds, causing turbulence among opponents. He was able to double through Gutierrez early on, and although he later faced elimination, he quickly re-entered and fought back, eliminating Moene through a flip with pocket tens.
As the cards flew, Daher found his moment, securing a pivotal pot against Simone Andrian, improving his stack further after hitting a five on the river with ace-five vs. ace-king.
Looking Ahead: Day 2 Awaits
With the action set to resume on Thursday, October 17, at 12:30 p.m. local time, players will return to Level 9 with blinds at 3,000/6,000 and a 6,000 big-blind ante. Players can expect fifteen-minute breaks after every four levels, along with a 75-minute dinner break following Level 20.
As late registration remains open, more players are anticipated to join the fray, heightening the competition and building excitement for the journey to crown the next high roller champion. Make sure to stay tuned with PokerNews for continuous updates and coverage as the tournament unfolds!
Don’t miss out on the riveting action expected in the coming days at the EPT Cyprus. With players like Daher, Gutierrez, and Nashar among the frontrunners, the stakes are higher than ever, and every hand could lead to a dramatic turnaround. Stay connected for a front-row seat to the culmination of this thrilling tournament!
