Erkut Yilmaz Wins Card Player Poker Tour Atlantis Main Event for $42,665

It might have been K5 that won the Card Player Poker Tour Atlantis main event for Erkut Yilmaz, but it was AJ that gave him the chips to begin slowly propelling his way to the win.

After a three-hour heads-up battle with Vincent Remmel, who at one time held a nearly 6-to-1 chiplead, Yilmaz became the victor in the 182- player field $1,100 no-limit hold’em $125,000 guarantee main event for $42,665.

The shift in momentum began when Remmel raised to 36,000 from the button and Yilmaz moved all-in for his last 326,000 with AJ. Remmel called with A2 and the board ran out Q96Q3 to give Yilmaz a double-up.

He then slowly chipped away at his opponent until Remmel moved all-in with A2 and Yilmaz snap-called with K5. The soon-to-be-champion picked up a pair of fives on a flop of 1053 and things only got better from there. The turn was the 10, and the 8 on the river sealed Yilmaz’s fate as the fourth winner of CPPT Season II. He also picked up 336 Card Player Player of the Year points.

Remmel left with a $34,467 payday for his efforts.

The heads-up match began with the elimination of Ravi Shanmugam as the third place finisher, who saw his tournament come to an end at the hands of the runner-up. Although Remmel fell just short of the title, he made an extremely noteworthy run on the final day of play, picking up a massive chiplead on the money bubble and holding it until the tournament reached the heads-up match.

The money was hit in grand fashion when Remmel sent day 1a chipleader Damon Shulenberger to the rail in hand that also included 10th place finisher Brandon Honig. Remmel raised to 7,000 from early position and Honig three-bet to 22,000. Shulenberger moved all-in for 16,000 and Remmel called the three-bet.

With a side pot to play out, Remmel and Honig saw a flop of AAA and Remmel check-called a bet of 40,000 from Honig. Both players checked the 9 on the turn and when the 6 opened on the river Remmel led out for 60,000. Honig called and all three hands were tabled.

Shulenberger was eliminated with KQ and Honig was also on the losing end with pocket tens. Remmel showed pocket queens to take the pot and a massive chip lead at the time with 643,500.

Remmel’s domination continued throughout the day as he eliminated 11th place finisher Daniel Chamberlain, eighth place finisher Aaron Easley, sixth place finisher Bill Watchman and fifth place finisher Gary Grover.

The only players at the final table who did not make their exits at the hands of Remmel were Gerald Rahm (fourth), Bobby Pham (seventh) and CPPT Foxwoods Champion Ronnie Pease (ninth).

The 31-tournament series kicked off March 21 and hosted a wide range of events including no-limit hold’em survivors, Omaha, limit hold’em, win the button and black chip bounty tournaments.

One two-time winner emerged from the series – Chamberlain – who won the $340 black chip bounty for $2,968 and the $230 no-limit hold’em six-max for $2,794, bringing his lifetime live tournament earnings to over $200,000.

Other winners from the series include Johnny Knight ($120 Omaha eight-or-better), Daniel Schneider ($340 no-limit hold’em $50,000 guarantee), Sjoeke Lazor ($120 limit hold’em), John Burr ($230 win the button) and Ed Miller ($540 $40,000 guarantee).

Up next, the CPPT will head over seas for its first international stop in Dublin, Ireland for the Paddy Power Poker Irish Open April 18-22.

For more information about the CPPT, click here.

Atlantis Reno Final Table Table Results

Card Player Poker Tour Season II Champions

bestbet Jacksnoville – Harvey Vandeven – $76,598
Palm Beach Kennel Club – John McNulty – $68,191
Foxwoods – Ronnie Pease – $91,347
Atlantis Reno – Erkut Yilmaz – $42,665