Vicky Coren Mitchell Is The First Ever Two-Time European Poker Tour Main Event Winner

It took 98 tournaments for the European Poker Tour to find it’s first two-time main event champion, but it finally has.

Nearly eight years after taking down the 2006 EPT London, Vicky Coren Mitchell topped a field of 556 entries in the 2014 EPT Sanremo main event to write her name in the history books, earning €476,100 ($657,780 USD) and 1,680 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. She now sits in 14th place in the POY standings as a result.

“I’m a natural pessimist. I never expect to win," said Coren Mitchell after her win. "My policy has always been to be happy with a profit and – most importantly – to enjoy myself. It hasn’t really sunk in yet but I’m incredibly grateful that so many people have got behind this.”

Coren Mitchell (who formerly went by Coren but changed her name after marrying famous British comedian David Mitchell) came into the final table as the short stack, being the only player with less than a million in chips heading into the final eight. Coren is part of PokerStars Team Pro, but is not a full time poker professional. She also is a writer and a TV presenter, with columns for The Observer and The Guardian newspapers and hosts the television quiz show Only Connect. Despite her numerous other endeavors it was made clear at this final table that she can still play impressive poker.

Coren Mitchell survived to three handed play as the short stack. Without winning any one huge double up she was able to grind back into the mix before a key turning-point hand arose. Jordan Westmorland raised on the button to 200,000 with the Q10 and Coren Mitchell three-bet to 500,000 from the big blind with A10. Westmorland called and the flop brought the 10102. Coren Mitchell checked, Westmorland bet 550,000 and Coren Mitchell raised to 1.2 million.

Westmorland called and the turn brought the 4. It went check, check and the river completed the board with the 3.Coren Mitchell bet 1.5 million and Westmorland announced that he was all-in. Coren Mitchell made the call to double up to more than 11 million, seizing the chip lead and leaving Westmorland crippled. Just a few hands later Coren Mitchell sealed the deal, eliminating Westmorland in third place. The young online pro earned €213,850 ($295,455 USD) for his deep run.

Coren Mitchell entered heads-up play with a roughly 3-to-1 chip lead over her opponent Giacomo Fundaro. Only a few hands into the one-on-one battle the next key showdown arose. Coren Mitchell raised from the button with QJ to 260,000 and Fundaro sneakily flat-called with the AA.

The flop brought the QJ7 giving Coren Mitchell top two pair and she fired out 350,000 after Fundaro checked to her, continuing to under represent his hand. Fundaro then check raised to 825,000. Coren Mitchell made the call and the turn brought the 10. Fundaro checked and Coren Mitchell bet 1 million. Fundaro then moved all-in and Mitchell made the call. Fundaro was in need of help going into the river, and the 4 didn’t provide it, instead securing the pot and the historic title for Coren Mitchell.

Fundaro earned €298,700) ($412,684 USD) and 1,400 POY points for his runner up finish.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

Photos courtesy of PokerStars / Neil Stoddart.

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