Glen Chorny Wins European Poker Tour Grand Final in Monte Carlo

Lance Bradley | April 18, 2008 at 12:04 am

For the third year in a row a North American has captured the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final. Glen Chorny, a 22-year old from Ontario, Canada came out on top of the 842-player field to win the ¬2,020,000 ($3.2 million US) first place prize.

Runner-up Denes Kalo, from Hungary, earned ¬1,179,000 ($1.9 million US) after being eliminated on the first hand of heads-up play. Another Canadian, Maxime Villemure, finished third despite fighting a fever and stomach issues for the final two days of play.

Entering the day as the chip leader Chorny continued his hot play throughout the final table and managed to find ways to get paid off on his big hands. None of his eliminations were bigger than when he ousted Isaac “westmenloAA” Baron in fourth spot.

Baron raised pre-flop and Chorny called. The flop came 6s2c7s and Chorny bet out. Baron went into the tank and Chorny called for a clock. When Baron responded by moving all-in Chorny quickly called and showed pocket aces. Baron’s A-Q failed to catch up and Chorny was in full control.

His win follows Gavin Griffin in 2007 and Jeff Williams in 2006 as back-to-back-to-back North American Grand Final winners. Rob Hollink, of the Netherands, who won in 2005, is the only European player to win the tournament.

European Poker Tour Grand Final Monte Carlo Final Table Payouts

1. Glen Chorny - ¬ 2,020,000
2. Denes Kalo - ¬1,179,000
3. Maxime Villemure - ¬ 715,000
4. Isaac Baron - ¬ 589,000
5. Michael Martin - ¬421,000
6. Luca Pagano - ¬337,000
7. Valeriy Ilikyan - ¬253,000
8. Antonio Esfandiari - ¬ 168,000
9. Henrik Gwinner - ¬ 126,000