PokerStars Qualifier Moritz Kranich Wins EPT Deauville
DEAUVILLE, France, January 26, 2009: The PokerStars European Poker Tour celebrated a spectacular return to France this week with PokerStars qualifier Moritz Kranich winning €851,400 against a record field in theirst EPT to be held here for three years.
Moritz Kranich, who was in contention for the title for most of the final days of the tournament, eventually triumphed after knocking out French business student Arnaud Esquevin.
Moritz, a 28-year-old online pro from Hamburg, took up poker four years ago and has already enjoyed considerable success, including third place in the PokerStars WCOOP Second Chance tournament. As part of his EPT Deauvile prize, he also wins a seat in the €10,000 EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo. He said: "It's amazing to win this event. I never imagined when I got here on Tuesday that this would happen. I'm very, very happy."
Moritz, who only married six months ago, now plans to buy an apartment with his wife Jessica - as well as play more EPT tournaments and the World Series next summer.
Italian Andrea Benelli continued his phenomenal EPT run by making the Deauville final - his second final table this season, and his third cash. He won €219,800 for fourth place.
Team PokerStars Pro Isabelle Mercier, who made the final table here in Season 2, cashed again - coming 61st for €6,225. The tournament also featured a wealth of other international stars, including PokerStars-sponsored WSOP champion Peter Eastgate as well as Team PokerStars Pros Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Noah Boeken, Dario Minieri, Luca Pagano, Alex Kravchenko and German ShootingStars Sebastian Ruthenberg and Sandra Naujoks. Former French international footballer Vikash Dhorasoo and French rap star Bruno "Kool Shen" Lopes also competed alongside poker pros Andy Black, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, Freddy Deeb, Fabrice Soulier and Bruno Fittoussi.
The €5,350 buy-in tournament, hosted by Barrière Poker at the beautiful Casino de Deauville, attracted a record field of 645 players from 50 countries, including 120 players who won their seats online with PokerStars.
The total prize pool was €3,096,000.
The final table was filmed for broadcast by French national TV channel NRJ12. Extended highlights of the final table, featuring cards up action, were broadcast directly after the conclusion of the tournament. The extended highlights were also shown, with commentary in English and French, via EPT.com. www.ept.com
The EPT founder John Duthie said: "Two years in exile seems to have strengthened the resolve of French poker players to support and celebrate this popular event. The EPT's return to Deauville - with record field and prize pool - has been an extraordinary success.
