Adrian Mateos Rises as Predator on Day 2 of the €50,000 Super High Roller at EPT Cyprus

The Battle of the Titans

Some days, you’re the predator; other days, you’re the prey. This duality is particularly pronounced in the high-stakes arena of tournament poker. Day 2 of the $50,000 Super High Roller at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus saw renowned player Adrian Mateos converting from the hunted to the hunter. After a tumultuous Day 1 where he faced multiple eliminations, forcing him to fire three bullets just to stay afloat, he embarked on Day 2 with one of the shortest stacks but displayed a masterclass in resilience and strategy.

Navigating the shark-infested waters of elite poker, Mateos leveraged his seasoned skills and instincts, erupting into the chip lead as he closed in on the final table. With a dramatic turnaround, he transitioned from precariousness to power, tantalizingly close to the crown and the hefty $786,570 top prize that awaited the champion.

Final Table Line-up

As Day 2 wrapped, six players emerged from an initial field of 47 entries, preparing to battle it out for glory and significant cash on the live-streamed final table. Joining Mateos are an elite cadre of players:

• Roman Hrabec (Czechia) – 2,630,000 chips
• Mikalai Vaskaboinikau (Belarus) – 660,000 chips
• Artur Martirosian (Russia) – 2,235,000 chips
• Alexander Zubov (Russia) – 625,000 chips
• Jamil Wakil (Canada) – 425,000 chips

After the bubble burst on the final hand of the night, the players locked in at least $159,600, marking a victory in their own right, even before the chips are stacked for the final showdown.

A Day of Big Hands and Big Moves

The day’s rapid pace was underscored by high-profile eliminations and memorable hands. Eleven new entrants joined the 16 survivors from Day 1, contributing to a staggering $2,279,970 prize pool. The early hours of Day 2 saw established heavyweights like Dimitar Danchev and Juan Pardo bidding farewell, as the competition sliced through the field dramatically.

Vicente Delgado, starting Day 1 as the chip leader, initially maintained his command. However, he quickly faced a formidable challenge from Hrabec, who skyrocketed in chips after a thrilling hand against Nikita Kuznetsov.

In this climactic showdown, Kuznetsov attempted a three-bet, but Hrabec, sensing the moment, cold four-bet himself. As the flop brought an ace for Kuznetsov and deuces for Hrabec, the latter enjoyed a serendipitous twist of fate; having pocket tens, Hrabec hit quads on turn and river, sending his opponent packing and cementing him as a frontrunner.

The Mateos Surge

The intrigue deepened as Mateos began his ascent, doubling his stack through Delgado when he hit a set of tens, continuing to demonstrate why he’s a respected figure at poker tables worldwide. His next pivotal moment saw him eliminate Manuel Fritz with a straight before picking up aces to dispatch Biao Ding.

The tipping point of Mateos’ game materialized during a standout hand with Delgado, where a daring reraise and a fortunate turn card allowed him to dominate the pot and establish dominance at the final table. By the evening’s end, Mateos commanded about one-third of the chips in play, establishing himself as a formidable opponent to watch on Day 3.

Final Table Dynamics

The first significant hand at the final table came as Mikilai Vaskaboinikau faced off against Daniel Rezaei. Vaskaboinikau, showcasing his poker prowess, went all in with pocket nines against Rezaei’s ace-king, while Hrabec opted to fold his own kings, complicating the board dynamics. Vaskaboinikau managed to hold on, eliminating a competitor and maintaining his seat at the table.

The excitement peaked when Rezaei found kings of his own to push all-in shortly after, only to see Zubov raise with a jack-ten. Meanwhile, on the bubble, Thomas Eychenne managed a miraculous quadruple up with his queens, stealing the show momentarily before Martirosian’s ace-king eclipsed him with a better pair, ultimately curtailing the day.

Looking Ahead to Day 3

The atmosphere is electric as the remaining six players gear up for the livestreamed final table, slated for 12:30 PM local time. With 41 minutes remaining in Level 18, blinds currently sit at 25,000/50,000 with a big blind ante of 50,000. Each finalist has already secured a six-figure payout, but their hopes are set high on the grand prize of $786,570 awaiting the champion.

For poker enthusiasts and fans alike, stay tuned to PokerNews to catch the latest updates, thrilling hands, and stories as the elite battle it out for supremacy in EPT Cyprus. The stakes have never been higher, and with Adrian Mateos leading the charge, this final table promises to deliver unforgettable moments in the world of high-stakes poker.