Lewis Wins EPT Vilamoura
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Toby Lewis navigated a tough final table to win the PokerStars European Poker Tour Vilamoura main event, winning €467,835 for first place. Lewis came into the final table with a slim chip lead over Sam Trickett, but faced some stiff competition from some of the shorter stacks.
Indeed, the final table featured some big names – including one known for his skills on the football pitch rather than at the poker table. Swedish Pro Martin Jacobson entered the final table with one of the shorter stacks, as did former EPT Grand Final champion Rob Hollink, who held the fewest chips at the final table.
But former footballer Teddy Sheringham posed a bigger problem, entering the final table third in chips. The former Manchester United and Tettenham Hotspur striker wasn’t to be taken lightly; he finished 14th in the 2009 World Series of Poker – Europe main event, and in April, cashed in the WPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo.
However, it wasn’t a name for the big names. Hollink was knocked out by Sheringham in 7th place. Hours later, Sheringham bowed out to Jacobson in 5th.
Jacobson made it to heads up play. Though he had come into the final table with just 441,000 chips – compared to over 3.3 million for Lewis – he went into heads up play with a significant chip lead, with 7 million chips to Lewis’ 4.4 million. Lewis clawed his way back, and the two players traded the chip lead back and forth.
Eventually, Lewis emerged with the lead. On the final hand, Lewis raised preflop and was called by Jacobson. Both players checked on the AT9 rainbow flop. The 5 of spades fell on the turn, causing Jacobson to make a bet. Both players raised twice more on the turn, with Jacobson eventually moving in and Lewis calling. Jacobson revealed 95 for two pair, but Lewis had him all but beat, showing 55 for a turned set. A river ten sealed the deal, making Lewis the tournament champion.
For second place, Jacobson took home €297,984.
The next European Poker Tour takes place in London in late September and early October. The EPT, which is sponsored by PokerStars, features 13 events in this season, including future stops in Prague, Copenhagen and Berlin.