Robin Ylitalo Sweeps EPT London Title

Robin Ylitalo Sweeps EPT London Title

Monday, 14 October 2013

Jeff Rossiter might have entered this year's EPT London Main Event final table with the chip lead but when the betting had stopped it was Sweden's Robin Ylitalo who emerged victorious.

The 27-year-old had been amongst the top stacks in the tournament for the two days leading up to the finale but during the ultimate session he was able to push himself one step further. Indeed, after watching Birmingham's Kully Sidhu and veteran pro Jan Sjavik become the first two casualties of Saturday's final, Ylitalo began to make his break for the front.

After Ludovic Geilich raised with Jd 8d and Stefan Vagner called with Qc Jh, Ylitalo seized his opportunity to make a squeeze play with Ah Kd. With the pressure mounting Geilich made the fold but in an act of defiance Vagner decided to fight back with an all-in.

At this point Ylitalo was able to make the easy call and after watching the board roll out: 7s 6c 5h Ad 2h, the Swede scooped the remainder of Vagner's chips as the tournament reached five players.

By this time former chip leader Rossiter was in trouble and despite getting all his chips in ahead of Georgios Karakousis, the Australian's pocket fours were unable to hold against his opponent's Kd Qh.

With just four players left it soon became the Ylitalo and Karakousis show as Geilich and the one remaining Brit, Leo McClean (who'd qualified for £93), hit the rail in fourth and third respectively.

Heads-up it was wealthy amateur Karakousis that held the chip lead but after pegging back his foe after just a few hands the title was soon within reach for Ylitalo. With greater experience of the two and the weight of momentum on his side Ylitalo soon found a spot to end his opponent's misery. Indeed, after a flurry of pre-flop betting the last of Karakousis's chips went in the middle with As 6d, but as Ylitalo revealed Ac Kc and the board ran out: 2s 5h 5c 8c Jh the match was brought to a close.

With the hand complete the two players exchanged pleasantries before Ylitalo was mobbed by his supporters and given the opportunity to bask in the spotlight as the latest EPT London champion.

“It’s amazing to win this, the best feeling,” said Ylitalo. “I absolutely thought I could do it... I thought I was able, but it didn’t happen. I can’t put words to how great it feels. I have been dreaming of this for a long time.”

EPT London Main Event Final Result:
1st Robin Ylitalo £560,980
2nd Georgios Karakousis £349,200
3rd Leo McClean £249,850
4th Ludovic Geilich £193,340
5th Jeff Rossiter £152,320
6th Stefan Vagner £119,225
7th Jan Olav Sjavik £88,175
8th Kully Sidhu £60,640


Image courtesy of Neil Stoddart @ PokerStars.

The EPT heads east to Prague for its next stop with the €5,300 Main Event running from 12-18 December 2013. Qualifiers are up and running at PokerStars where new players can enjoy a 100% bonus on their first three deposits up to $400. Sign up using the code STARS400.




Tags: EPT London Main Event, Robin Ylitalo