The Pokerstars European Poker Tour San Remo, Italy came to an end this week after four tough days of poker, with 20-year-old Dutch poker pro Constant Rijkenberg taking the honours and a truly rewarding first place cheque for Euro 1 508 000 – his first EPT victory.
The entry field of 1178 players included some of the top names on the international circuit, but it was Rijkenberg and Finnish pro Kalle Niemi who ended up facing each other in the heads up, with the Dutchman way ahead by some 7.5 million in chips, which perhaps predictably enabled him to wrap up the game within four hands. Niemi earned a second place take-home of Euro 862 000.
Rijkenberg, a former economics undergrad, was full of confidence going into the final table, playing a seemingly erratic but disciplined and very aggressive style of poker and showing little if any emotion throughout, although he allowed himself a fist-pumping celebration as the game ended in his favour, giving him his largest payday yet.
The final result was disappointing for Dragan Galic, who held the chip lead at the end of play on Days 1 through 4, but could not make the heads up and was eliminated in fifth place on the final table.