🇮🇹 Eugenio Cupellini is the King's Birthday Main Event winner!

Entries 5769

It does not happen that often, but this time it did.

After starting the Final Day among the top stacks, Eugenio Cupellini completed the job and conquered the King’s Birthday Main Event at King’s Resort Rozvadov, turning a dominant run into the biggest result of his career.

Before going through the story of the Final Table, let’s start from the numbers of this huge event, part of the 23rd anniversary celebrations of King’s Resort. The Main Event recorded 5,976 entries and awarded the champion €125,000, plus a full €3,000 package including four tickets, among them the €1,150 King’s Super Main Event ticket for next September.

Cupellini started the Final Table as chip leader with 64,400,000 chips, followed by Vasilis Nikolas on 54,900,000 and Mato Misic with 42,500,000. Also in contention were three more Italians: Eros Zappacosta, Giovanni Capuano and Paolo Coser. Zappacosta, in particular, may not have a long list of major live results, but he is certainly a very experienced player, especially thanks to his background as an online Spin & Go specialist.

The Final Table

The first player to leave the Final Table was Dejan Jakovljevic, eliminated in ninth place for €13,045, package included. Paolo Coser followed in eighth place for €16,500, before Giovanni Capuano ended his run in seventh position for €20,900.

At six left, Vasilis Nikolas was eliminated for €26,700, before the field was reduced to five players with the exit of Mircea George Olaru, who collected €34,500.

Once four players remained, the finalists tried to discuss a possible deal, but no agreement was reached. Cupellini was still firmly in control of the chip count, and the action continued.

The fourth-place finisher was Tourist, one of the main protagonists of the previous days and the overall chip leader at the end of Day 2. Cupellini, meanwhile, had started the Final Day as the best Italian and second overall in chips, but arrived at the final stages with an even stronger position.

Three-handed play featured Eugenio Cupellini, Eros Zappacosta and Mato Misic. Misic was the next player to fall, eliminated by Cupellini and forced to settle for third place and €58,500.

That set up an all-Italian heads-up between Cupellini and Zappacosta. Cupellini started with a massive advantage, holding around 85% of the chips in play, while Zappacosta began the duel with roughly 10 big blinds.

Zappacosta managed to double up shortly after the start of the heads-up, winning a lucky coinflip with K-Q against 2-2, thanks to both a king and a queen appearing by the turn. For a moment, it looked like the match could reopen.

Cupellini, however, showed the calm and confidence of a veteran. Against a heads-up specialist like Zappacosta, he kept control, picked the right spots, and landed several important value bets, slowly pushing his opponent back down. After having climbed over 20 big blinds, Zappacosta was reduced again to around five big blinds before the final hand.

The last showdown saw Zappacosta all-in with J-5 offsuit against Cupellini’s K-6. First a six, then a king on the river, sealed the elimination of Zappacosta and delivered the trophy, the title and the first prize to Eugenio Cupellini.

Winner's interview

A remarkable ending for Cupellini, whose path to the tournament had started from a last-chance Pineapple Flip & Go qualifier to Day 2. From there, he turned the opportunity into a weekend to remember, securing the biggest result of his career after last year’s High Roller victory at the People’s Poker Tour, also here in Rozvadov, for around €30,000.

Zappacosta can still be proud of his performance, finishing runner-up for €80,500, package included, and also earning the chance to return to King’s Resort in September for the King’s Super Main Event.

Radiant, even if naturally calm, Cupellini described his run this way after the victory:

“I always felt in control of the situation. I always had at least twice the tournament average, and that allowed me to apply pressure in the key stages, especially before the Final Table bubble, where I managed to pick up several uncontested pots.

It also allowed me to manage the Final Table in the best possible way, without having to play huge preflop spots for a big portion of my stack. At most, I invested around 10-15% of my stack, so I was able to take the minimum necessary risk.

I think I played the best tournament of my life. I have nothing to regret in any spot, and I’m extremely happy with this result.

I dedicate this victory to my son, and of course I’ll be back here for the King’s Super Main Event.”

Unofficial chip count

Next Events

---