Thrilling Action on Day 2 of $3,000 Mystery Bounty at EPT Cyprus
The excitement at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa reached a fever pitch as Day 2 of the $3,000 Mystery Bounty event unfolded during the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus. The day commenced with a robust field of 305 players, all vying for a slice of the generous prize pool, but by night’s end, only 15 remained, each battling for glory and considerable rewards.
The Money Bubble Bursts
As the day progressed, tension mounted at the tables, especially as the money bubble approached. A total of 128 players would eventually cash in on this event, but the moment came to a head when Lukas Zaskodny and Fabian Schmidt both busted out simultaneously on the bubble, leading to a split of a min-cash payout. This thrilling turn was just a prelude to the action-packed day that lay ahead.
Zhyharau Maintains Command
Leading the pack is Uladzimir Zhyharau from Belarus, who ended Day 2 as the chip leader with 4,920,000 chips. Zhyharau started the day with a chip advantage and only expanded it further. His key moment came late in the day, where he doubled his stack with pocket tens against Krum Polihronov. Zhyharau continued to apply pressure, expertly navigating the field and eliminating Aren Bezhanyen with pocket eights to solidify his lead.
While the path was not entirely without obstacles, Zhyharau’s experienced play ensured he was well-positioned to take down his largest cash prize in live tournament poker history.
Rising Contenders
Close on Zhyharau’s heels is Ryhor Karapanau, who bagged 3,225,000 chips for second place at day’s end. Karapanau demonstrated formidable prowess, eliminating multiple players as the day wound down, including well-known names like Konstantin Voronin and Henok Tekle.
The top three was rounded out by Romania’s Nicolae Paunescu, who amassed 3,020,000 chips. Other notables include Marius Kudzmanas in fourth place and Matthias Lipp in fifth, the latter already boasting a reputation as a Mystery Bounty specialist.
Final Standing Overview
As players prepared to tackle Day 3, here’s how the chip counts shaped up for the top contenders:
| Position | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uladzimir Zhyharau | Belarus | 4,920,000 | 98 |
| 2 | Ryhor Karapanau | Latvia | 3,225,000 | 65 |
| 3 | Nicolae Paunescu | Romania | 3,020,000 | 60 |
| 4 | Marius Kudzmanas | Lithuania | 2,735,000 | 55 |
| 5 | Matthias Lipp | Austria | 2,325,000 | 47 |
Mystery Bounty Madness
One of the standout features of the Mystery Bounty format is the excitement of the bounty system itself. The intrigue began at Level 15, where multiple bounty tokens were available for players to draw. Among these, impressive top prizes included three separate envelopes containing $75,000 each, along with several $40,000 prizes.
Alik Zazian took home the first $75,000 prize during a pivotal moment in the bubble. Although he later exited in 116th place with a cash of $3,400, the excitement of his bounty win certainly left a memorable mark.
The evening continued with Matthias Lipp thrilling the crowd when he pulled not one, but two $75,000 prizes in a row from the bounty chest, further solidifying his status as a fan favorite. As Lipp cheers echoed throughout the casino, he secured more than the second-place payout before even finishing the tournament.
Remaining Prize Pool and Expectations for Day 3
With the bulk of the Mystery Bounty opportunities already claimed, Day 3 is poised to play out with heightened intensity. The payout structure remains lucrative, as the remaining prize pool stands at a remarkable $1,509,072.
Here’s the prize breakdown for the final table:
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $265,972 | 8 | $31,990 |
| 2 | $166,330 | 9 | $24,610 |
| 3 | $118,810 | 10-11 | $19,800 |
| 4 | $91,390 | 12-13 | $16,490 |
| 5 | $70,310 | 14-15 | $13,750 |
| 6 | $54,090 | 16 | $11,950 |
| 7 | $41,590 |
Action resumes on Day 3 at midday local time with blinds at 25,000/50,000 and a 50,000 big blind ante. With players returning to an average stack of over 30 big blinds, the excitement is sure to continue as the fight moves towards a dramatic conclusion.
As the competition intensifies, fans can follow along with live updates from PokerNews to keep up with all the thrilling moments from the tournament floor. Stay tuned as we edge closer to crowning a champion in this enthralling $3,000 Mystery Bounty event!
