This Week's Big Winner: Ole Schemion Continues To Dominate Poker Tournament High Roller Circuit German Poker Pro Wins EPT Grand Final Super High Roller

The EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo is always one of the biggest tournament series on the European Poker Tour and the €100,000 buy-in super high roller is no exception, often creating some of the most lucrative prize pools in the game today. The 2016 edition drew a field of 61 players, creating a total prize pool of more than $6.7 million.

In the end, the title went to 23-year-old poker pro Ole Schemion, who has found a winning strategy on the high roller tournament circuit with 12 career titles and five straight years with at least $1.5 million in earnings. With the $1,829,002 that he picked up for his latest victory, Schemion now has four seven-figure scores on his poker resume and he narrowly missed out on adding a fifth just a few days later in the €50,000 buy-in event which he finished second in for $977,255. In total, the German phenom now has more than $11 million in total winnings, good enough for 28th place on the all-time money list.

Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Schemion to the win.

Tournament: EPT Grand Final Super High Roller

Buy-In: €100,000 ($111,150)
No. of Entries: 61
Prize Pool: $6,774,586
1st Place Prize: $1,829,002

The Action

With nine players remaining and only eight getting paid, Ole Schemion raised to 100,000 from late position. Mike McDonald, sitting on less than seven big blinds, called from the big blind. The flop came down K 6 5 and McDonald moved all in, hoping for the best from his stop-and-go play. Unfortunately for him, Schemion caught a piece of the board with K J and snap-called. McDonald needed help with his pocket deuces, but the turn and river fell 6 then 5 to send him to the rail short of the money. The final eight players were all guaranteed at least €236,750.

The Action

Ole Schemion raised to 130,000 from the cutoff and Ali Reza Fatehi called from the big blind. The flop came down 10 8 3 and Fatehi bet 125,000. Schemion called and the turn was the 5. Fatehi bet 230,000 and Schemion called once again. The river was the 10 and Fatehi bet 340,000. Schemion called with A 2 and Fatehi threw his K 4 for a busted flush draw into the muck.

The Action

Paul Newey raised to 200,000 and Ole Schemion defended his big blind. The flop came down 10 9 8 and Schemion checked. Newey bet 285,000 and Schemion moved all in, having Newey barely covered. Newey instantly called with a set of eights, and Schemion needed help with his Q 6 with straight and flush draws. The turn was the 3, giving Schemion the flush, but he still needed to avoid the board pairing. The river was the K, and Newey was eliminated in fifth place, earning €485,300. The pot was enough to put Schemion in a tie for first place.

The Action

With just a slight lead in heads-up play, Ole Schemion raised to 325,000 on the button and Mustapha Kanti called. The flop came down J 6 3 and Kanit led for 350,000. Schemion called and the turn was the 4. Kanit bet 875,000 and Schemion called. The river was the 3 and Kanit bet 1.95 million. Schemion went into the tank for a bit before calling with A 5 for ace-high. Kanit was forced to muck his 10 7 and Schemion took a big lead in the match.

The Action

After grinding his way to a 5-1 chip lead, Ole Schemion raised to 350,000 on the button and Mustapha Kanit moved all in for his last 16 big blinds. Schemion called with pocket queens, and Kanit could only wince as he turned over his own pocket sevens. Schemion was an 81 percent favorite to win the title, and the flop of K Q 2 increased his chances to 96 percent. The 9 on the turn did give Kanit a flush draw, but the 7 on the river was too little, too late and sent him to the rail in second place. He earned €1,462,000 for his runner-up performance, increasing his lifetime earnings to more than $7.7 million. The title and the first-place prize of €1,597,800, however, went to Schemion.

Final Table Results

1. Ole Schemion — $1,829,002*
2. Mustapha Kanit — $1,673,551*
3. Ali Reza Fatehi — $948,384
4. Igor Kurganov — $718,070
5. Paul Newey — $555,523
6. Stephen Chidwick — $433,555
7. Sam Greenwood — $345,493
8. Ivan Luca — $271,008

*Denotes a heads-up deal that left an extra €50,000 for the winner.