Action-Packed Day 2 of the $3,000 Mystery Bounty at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus
The excitement is palpable at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa as the $3,000 Mystery Bounty event unfolds during the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus. Day 2 has wrapped up, and what a thrilling day it was! Starting with a robust field of 305 players, the stakes intensified as the tournament progressed, ultimately narrowing the field down to a mere 15 contenders vying for victory.
The Bubble and Money Spots
The day began with anticipation, but not without its share of heartbreak. As the action heated up, 128 players managed to make the money. However, two players found themselves busting on the bubble — Lukas Zaskodny and Fabian Schmidt. Despite their misfortune, they made the best of a tough situation by splitting the min-cash, a reminder of the unpredictable nature of tournament poker.
Chip Leaders Emerge
By the end of Day 2, Uladzimir Zhyharau from Belarus emerged as the chip leader with a whopping 4,920,000 chips. Zhyharau, who began the day with the chip lead, showcased his prowess on the felt by doubling up with pocket tens against fellow player Krum Polihronov. Later, he increased his stack further by outmaneuvering Aren Bezhanyen with pocket eights. Although it wasn’t a flawless run, Zhyharau found himself in an excellent position to secure his largest cash prize in live tournament history, setting the stage for an exhilarating Day 3.
In close pursuit is Ryhor Karapanau, who finished Day 2 in second place with 3,225,000 chips after eliminating several players late in the day, including Konstantin Voronin and Henok Tekle. Nicolae Paunescu is the only other player to surpass the 3,000,000 mark, closing out the day in third place.
End of Day 2 Chip Counts
Here is a summary of the top chip counts as the players prepared to move forward:
| 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 |
| 6 | Valeriu Rosca | Romania | 1,340,000 | 27 |
| 7 | Stoyan Obreshkov | Bulgaria | 1,295,000 | 26 |
| 8 | Karen Nazarian | Russia | 1,300,000 | 26 |
| 9 | Guo Liang Wei | Hong Kong | 1,155,000 | 23 |
| 10 | Hadi Khordbin | Iran | 1,050,000 | 21 |
| 11 | Aziz Efe | Turkey | 1,005,000 | 20 |
| 12 | Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 1,000,000 | 20 |
| 13 | Morten Klein | Norway | 965,000 | 19 |
| 14 | Anze Smajd | Slovenia | 905,000 | 18 |
| 15 | Maroun Jazzar | Lebanon | 490,000 | 10 |
Mystery Bounty Madness
The essence of the Mystery Bounty format adds an electrifying twist to the tournament. Introduced during Level 15, players began vying for bounties alongside traditional payouts. Three grand prizes of $75,000 were announced, as well as two envelopes with $40,000 each.
In a dramatic turn, Alik Zazian was the first to claim one of the coveted $75,000 prizes, pulling a bounty during the bubble. Although Zazian finished in 116th place for a payout of $3,400, his bounty will certainly sweeten the journey.
Just as the tournament broke for dinner, Matthias Lipp created a stir by pulling out a $75,000 prize from the bounty chest. The cheers echoed throughout the venue as he shocked everyone by securing a second $75,000 prize moments later. After accumulating additional smaller bounties, Lipp had effectively secured more than the projected second-place payout — a remarkable achievement to cap off an incredible day.
Remaining Payouts and Day 3 Outlook
With many of the significant Mystery Bounty prizes already claimed, the tournament will resemble a freezeout as the cashing phase approaches. A total of $1,509,072 is up for grabs, and with the final table looming, the stakes have never been higher.
Here’s a look at the remaining payouts for the final positions:
| 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 is set to resume for Day 3 at midday local time, with levels at 25,000/50,000 and a 50,000 big blind ante. Players can expect rapid gameplay as they return with average stacks above 30 big blinds—an exhilarating prospect for both players and spectators alike.
Stay Tuned
For those following along, stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates straight from the tournament floor as the drama unfolds on Day 3. With 15 players left, only one can emerge victorious, but only time will reveal who will claim the prestigious title and the substantial prize waiting at the finish line. Will it be Zhyharau, Karapanau, or an unexpected dark horse? The excitement continues in stunning Cyprus!
