The European Poker Tour is off to a good start in Malta, with German pro Dietrich Fast claiming a well-earned Euro 174,000 main prize in the Euro 10,000 buy-in Single-Entry Rebuy event.
The mainly professional field comprised 60 entries in total from 48 players.
Fast’s performance was impressive; the German pro bulldozed through the field to end both the first and second days as chip leader, although he stumbled somewhat at the four handed stage of the final table in a clash with Italian ace Dario Sammartino.
However, he recovered his discipline and momentum to enter the heads up against Russia’s Viacheslav Buldygin, a relatively unknown player, with a significant advantage.
Buldygin put up a good if brief fight, but the chip disparity was too great for him to overcome and a dominant Fast quickly consigned the Russian to second spot and a reward of Euro 126,300.
Other final table cashes included:
Dario Sammartino, Italy, Euro 81,480
Pratyush Buddiga, USA, Euro 61,690
Ramin Hajiyev, Azerbaijan, Euro 47,720
Davidi Kitai, Belgium, Euro 37,250
Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Russia, Euro 29,680
Orpen Kisacikoglu, Turkey, Euro 23,280