Shooting Star Sebastian Ruthenberg Wins PokerStars EPT Barcelona

Sebastian Ruthenberg from Germany is the new PokerStars EPT Barcelona champion. Ruthenberg, 24, takes home the $1,938,045 (€1,360,100) first prize after defeating 619 players in the record, sell-out event.

This summer Ruthenberg won a World Series of Poker bracelet when he took down the Seven Card Stud Hi-Low championship event. His victory in Barcelona establishes him among Europe’s elite high stakes poker players.

Ruthenberg started today’s final table as chip leader but faced tough competition - including American PokerStars player Jason Mercier, winner of EPT San Remo in April, Italian pro Daniele Mazzia and Belgium’s #1 player Davidi Kitai, as well as PokerStars qualifier Fintan Gavin from Galway, Ireland, who was runner-up.

Ruthenberg, one of seven poker professionals from the PokerStars.de Shooting Stars team, has gone from strength to strength since winning the German Open in 2006. He was runner-up at a WCOOP event last year and came third in EPT3 Dortmund. He then joined the PokerStars Shooting Stars team and went on to success in Las Vegas.

Ruthenberg, from Hamburg, brought the first EPT of Season 5 to a close when he called Gavin’s all-in raise after just three hands of heads-up play. Gavin, manager of the Eglinton card room in his native Ireland, had 7-4 against Ruthenberg’s K-9.

“There was actually no moment when I thought I might win it,” said Ruthenberg. “I was card-dead for a long time and just waiting to make a play. But I know I am running good at the moment. This win is worth more money than the WSOP and I have to say – the money is important.”

There were 619 players, including 104 PokerStars.com qualifiers, who entered the $11,400 (€8,000) buy-in EPT Barcelona event creating a record prize pool of $7,057,537 (€4,952,000). Among those who competed were Swedish NHL superstar Mats Sundin and Spanish tennis legend Sergi Bruguera, both making their first EPT appearances as PokerStars Ambassadors, as well as Team PokerStars Pros Chad Brown - who finished 34th for $24,662 (€17,300) - Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer and Vanessa Rousso.

Jason Mercier missed winning a second EPT title when he was eliminated in sixth place for $324,842 (€227,800). His friend Sam Chartier from Montreal, another PokerStars qualifier, came 7th for $253,812 (€178,000).

“This year’s EPT Barcelona was even bigger and better than we expected with a sell-out field which, considering our high expectations from previous seasons, is a fantastic achievement. This tournament brought everything together - great poker action, a multi-million dollar prize pool and world-class amenities at the Gran Casino Barcelona,” said John Duthie, Executive Producer of the European Poker Tour.

Final payouts:

1) Sebastian Ruthenberg — Germany — PokerStars.de ShootingStar $1,940,776
2) Fintan Gavin — Ireland — PokerStars qualifier $1,129,386
3) Davidi Kitai — Belgium $648,827
4) Daniele Mazzia — Italy $500,526
5) Dren Ukella — Germany $416,392
6) Jason Mercier — USA — PokerStars player $324,842
7) Sam Chartier — Canada — PokerStars qualifier $253,913
Martin Nielsen — Denmark $169,751

The next stop on the PokerStars European Poker Tour is the $9,350 (£5,200) buy-in London event from October 1-5 at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino. For the first time in EPT history, PokerStars.com is guaranteeing a $1,799,793 (£1 million) first prize. Also for the first time, there will be a special High Roller event: the ‘PokerStars.net EPT London £1 million Showdown’ takes place October 5-6 with a $39,000 + $585 (£20,000 + £300) buy-in. For more information, please visit http://www.ept.com