We've heard his name many times before on the EPT scene but today Greek player Georgios Sotiropoulos gained a whole new Latin American audience as well. The 25-year-old Greek pro just took down the $2,200 LAPT Bahamas Main Event, beating a 851-entry field to scoop the title along with the $308,220 first prize and distinctive trophy. During the winner presentation this evening Sotiropoulos pointed to his new piece of silverware and said "I already have one of this shape". He was referring to his victory in the EPT Grand Final Stud High Low Championship in Season 10 but it is his runner-up finish in the EPT10 Prague Main Event for which he is best known. He earned €700,000 in that event - his biggest payday so far.
In the Greece all-time money list, only EPT Deauville champion Sotirios Koutoupas is ranked high than Sotiropoulos. Koutoupas has just over $2 million but the new LAPT Bahamas champion narrowed the gap today, bringing his live tournament winnings close to $2 million as well. Three months ago, he also won his first WSOP bracelet in Berlin.
Sotiropoulos was just 14 when he first started playing poker in home games with friends. Originally from Rhodes, he relocated to Vienna to play online, playing as "GeoManousos" on PokerStars. His results include both Sunday Million and Super Tuesday title and a six-figure cash in the Sunday Warm-Up.
Sotiropoulos is deferring celebrations for a while as he is planning to jump straight in to Day 1b of the PCA Main Event today, with about a level and a half to go before end of play.
Former University of Massachusetts Lowell baseball player Taylor Von Kriegenbergh, 27, came second. His $187,220 cash takes him over $2m in live tournament winnings.
The stacked final table also featured PCA 2015 $25k High Roller runner-up Joe Kuether (who finished 4th for $99,060), PCA 2011 $25k High Roller champ Will Molson (5th for $78,080) plus American pro Darren Elias and German mixed games specialist Ismael Bojang, who busted in seventh and eighth, respectively. Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari fell just shy of reaching the final table, finishing tenth for $18,900.
There were 851 entries to the LAPT Bahamas (606 unique players + 244 re-entries + one no-show), creating a $1,650,940 prize pool.
2016 LAPT Bahamas final table results:
1st - Georgios Sotiropoulos, Greece, PokerStars player, $308,220
2nd - Taylor Von Kriegenbergh, USA, $187,220
3rd - Knut Karnapp, Germany, PokerStars player, $132,080
4th - Joe Kuether, USA, $99,060
5th - Will Molson, Canada, $78,080
6th - Chad Eveslage, USA, $58,440
7th - Darren Elias, USA, $41,100
8th - Ismael Bojang, Germany, PokerStars player, $28,900
PCA 2016
A record 104 tourneys are taking place at Atlantis during the 2016 PCA festival. Aside from the Super High Roller, second LAPT Bahamas Main Event (unlimited re-entries, starts January 7, now with reduced $2,200 buy-in) and PCA 2016 Main Event, there is also a $50k One-Day High Roller Single Re-Entry on January 9. The three-day $25k High Roller starts Jan 12 and the $600 Ladies Event on Jan 14. Check out the PCA 2016 promo video here.
POKERSTARS BLOG / SOCIAL MEDIA
Full reports and updates can be found on the PokerStars blog. For social media, see @PokerStars_PCA.
PCA WEBCASTS
EPTLive is broadcasting live tomorrow with coverage of the PCA Main Event from noon (EST). Coverage continues daily until the January 14 cards-up final table.
Georgios Sotiropoulos triumphed in the LAPT Bahamas Main Event. (Photos: Neil Stoddart)
