Former Economics student and now full time online cash game pro, Rupert Elder is the 2011 European Poker Tour San Remo champion, ensuring the much sought after trophy stays in the British Isles for at least another 12 months, after Liv Boeree won it in 2010.

Elder primarily plays $2/$4, $3/$6 and the occasional game of $5/$10 no limit Holdem cash games online but has recently started playing more tournaments recently with decent success. His most recent score was also his career best, his 80th place finish at EPT Berlin just a few weeks ago netting him €10,000. Now he has completely obliterated this figure by winning a staggering €930,000 by besting a 987 strong field in picturesque Italy.

The British pro started the day as chip leader and was always there or thereabouts throughout the final table, which was completed in just six hours. First to head for the rail was Roberto Spada, an Italian player who started the day third in chips but after doubling up Xuan Liu twice in quick succession, found himself down to just 480,000 chips with blinds at 40,000/80,000/5,000a. The action folded to Spada and he open-shoved whilst holding the lowly Kd3c but he was in a whole world of pain when Max Lykov re-shoved with Ah9d. The final board ran out Td-4s-7s-Js-8s and Spada was eliminated in eighth place, a finish worth €81,950.

An hour later and there was a flurry of eliminations to turn the play short-handed. First Costantino Russo lost a flip with 9h9s against the AdQc of Liu, then less than five minutes later Massimiliano Manigrasso ran his pocket queens straight down the throat of Elders black kings. Just ten minutes later and the last remaining Italian player found himself chipless, though €220,000 richer than when he started the tournament. Francesco de Vivo was nursing a short stack and decided to call off his remaining eight big blinds with Qs9h when Liu open-shoved from the small blind with just Jh4d, but she was rewarded when the door card was the 4h, followed by 2s-7s-Ac-5c.

Almost half hour passed by after the Italian implosion before another player headed for the rail. In the hand Max Heinzelmann, making back-to-back EPT final tables, opened the betting with a raise to 200,000 from the button, Liu re-raised to 490,000 from the small blind then Lykov four-bet to 925,000 from the big blind. Heinzelmann got out of the way but Liu was going nowhere and moved all in. Lykov quickly called and turned over KhKs, which was up against the TdTc of the diminutive Liu. The 4h-5h-7d flop changed nothing but he arrival of the Ts turned the hand around completely and left Lykov drawing to two outs on the river. The 6s was not one of them and the Russian was eliminated in fourth place with €290,000 to show for his efforts this past week.

The table played three-handed for around 60 minutes before another suckout saw Liu exit in third place. With blinds now 60,000/120,000/15,000 Elder raised to 250,000 and when Heinzelmann folded, Liu moved all in for what turned out to be 2,480,000. Elder finally called and turned over Ac7h and looked in pain when he saw the AhJh of Liu. He need not have worried though as he spiked a seven on a 4h-5h-7d flop and when the turn and river was the Ts and 6s respectively Lius hopes of an EPT title lay in tatters.

Going into heads up Elder held a massive 20,290,000 to 9,245,000 chip lead over Heinzelmann but within an hour the tables had completely turned and the chip counts reversed. Then the most exciting hand of the tournament took place which swung the tie back in favour of Elder. Heinzelmann min-raised to 320,000 and Elder called. The flop came down 7h-6c-9h, Heinzelmann bet 300,000, Elder made it 825,000 to play and then flat-called when Heinzelmann put in a raise to 1,700,000. The As on turn was met with a check, a bet of 2,410,000, an all-in bet and an insta-call, all happening so fast the dealer did not have the chance to count the chips! Elder turned over 6s6h for a set but was crushed by the Tc8s of his opponent that had flopped the nut straight. Just as it looked like Heinzelmann was going to win every chip in play the dealer put out the Ac on the river to improve Elder to a full house!

This gave the momentum to Elder and within half hour he had regained his substantial chiplead. The final hand saw Heinzelmann open the betting with an all-in raise and after a count of the chips, Elder called. Heinzelmann revealed Qd5s and was in big trouble against Elders dominating Ad5c. Neither player improved on a board reading 3s-2c-7c-Th-Ks but Elders ace-high was the best hand, winning him the title of EPT San Remo Champion and resigning Heinzelmann to his second runner-up finish in as many EPT Main Events.

Along with the €930,000 in prize money, Elder also wins a commemorative bracelet made by Shamballa Jewels worth €16,000 and a seat to the €25,000 EPT Grand Final held in Madrid in just a couple of days time.

Final table payouts

1st: Rupert Elder €930,000 2nd: Max Heinzelmann €600,000 3rd: Xuan Liu €360,000 4th: Max Lykov €290,000 5th: Francesco de Vivo €220,000 6th: Massimiliano Manigrasso €170,000 7th: Costantino Russo €125,000 8th: Roberto Spada €81,950

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