2024 PokerStars EPT Prague: Friday the 13th Delivers EPT Title #2 For Mats Ullereng in €3K Mystery Bounty (€267,560)

While Prague might be bundled up for winter, the poker action at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) is red-hot! And when most people were avoiding ladders and sidewalk cracks on Friday the 13th, Norway’s Mats Ullereng (cover image) was busy defying superstition and making poker history in the Czech capital. He didn’t just win the €3,000 Mystery Bounty; he crushed it, conquering a field of 835 entries to seize the title and a career-best €265,560 payday. Toss in another €2,000 in bounties, and his total winnings hit €267,560.

“I’m very happy to win,” Ullereng said, beaming. “One of my friends [David Vinaya] was at the final table too, we travel together to EPTs. I only really play live at EPT’s—most of my volume is from playing online.”

This victory is actually Ullereng’s second EPT title this year! He also took down the €1,100 No Limit Hold’em at EPT Paris in February for €144,520. And he’s not just a one-event wonder; he’s had deep runs in two other events here in Prague – the €550 NLHE Eureka Cup (15th for €9,130) and the €2,100 NLHE (22nd for €3,420). This latest win pushes his total live earnings over €700,000!

But the good news doesn’t stop there for Ullereng. “My girlfriend and I are expecting our first child,” he shared joyfully. “The ‘baby run-good’ must be real!”

It seems like life is dealing Ullereng a winning hand both on and off the felt. And how does he plan to celebrate this incredible confluence of good fortune? “I’ll celebrate and drink a few beers before flying home on Sunday,” he said with a grin.

It’s a well-deserved reward for someone who took a leap of faith during the chaotic COVID era. Leaving a stable marketing job to pursue his poker passion was a bold move, and it’s clearly paying off in spades.

The final showdown saw Ullereng face off against Poland’s Grzegorz Kozieja, last year’s €2,200 Eureka High Roller champion. Their heads-up battle lasted almost an hour before Ullereng finally came out on top, claiming his largest-ever score. Kozieja, though disappointed to finish second, still took home a respectable €174,700 (including €9,000 in bounties), his second-largest score ever.

Mystery Bounty Highlights

The €3,000 Mystery Bounty drew a tough crowd and generated a prize pool of €1.43 Million. The top 119 players cashed for at least €3,100, making for an exciting race to the finish.

Day 2 witnessed the awarding of some of the biggest bounties. David Savocka and Dean Hutchison each snagged €75,000 bounties, and Eros Calderone pulled out the final €75,000 envelope. David Von Schnehen and Ullereng’s travel buddy, David Vinaya, both scored the €40,000 bounties.

Despite strong performances from top players like Tom Middleton (114th for €3,100), Martin Finger (73rd for €3,600), and Robin Ylitalo (41st for €4,700), none of them could make it to the final table.

Day 3 began with 16 players, the tension building as they fought for a spot at the final table. The action was swift and unforgiving, with eliminations coming thick and fast. Oleh Okhotskyi was the first to fall, his run ending in 15th place for €13,100.

Eros Calderone, who started the day with high hopes and a healthy stack, saw his pocket queens cracked, falling in 14th place for the same amount. Dean Hutchison, despite an early double-up, couldn’t maintain his momentum and exited in 13th place for €15,700.

The final table bubble loomed large, and it was Ori Miller who felt the sting of defeat. Losing a crucial coin flip to Kozieja, Miller’s tournament run ended in 10th place (€18,900).

With Miller out, the final nine players were set to battle for the title and the biggest share of the prize money.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. David Vinaya – 5,000,000
2. Grzegorz Kozieja – 4,700,000
3. Klemens Roiter – 4,000,000
4. Jonas Hagstrom – 2,600,000
5. Abdelhakim Zoufri – 2,100,000
6. Sebastian Malec – 2,000,000
7. Mats Ullereng – 1,875,000
8. Humberto Lopes Galindo – 1,750,000
9. Erik Bakker – 900,000

Final Table Recap

The final table of the EPT was nothing short of dramatic as the action unfolded and dreams of glory clashed with the harsh reality of poker. Erik Bakker was the first to fall. Holding , he couldn’t withstand the heat from Abdelhakim Zoufri’s , which found an ace on the board to send Bakker packing in ninth place.

After a brief respite, the intensity picked up. Jonas Hagstrom scored a major double-up, shaking up the dynamic at the table. However, not everyone’s luck held. Former EPT champion Sebastian Malec‘s tournament ended in eighth place. His ran into Kozieja’s pocket sixes , which found another six on the flop, ending Malec’s hopes of adding another title to his resume.

For Abdelhakim Zoufri, the rollercoaster ride was about to hit its end as well. Holding , Zoufri found himself squaring off against Ullereng’s in a critical flip. The jacks held, eliminating Zoufri and strengthening the Norwegian’s position at the table.

Following him to the rail was Klemens Roiter, who bowed out in sixth, leaving the remaining players to battle for a seat closer to the title.

The eliminations didn’t stop there. Ullereng’s friend, David Vinaya, was shown the door next. Kozieja took him out in fifth, further asserting his dominance on the final table.

Humberto Lopes Galindo hung on determinedly but fell short of a podium finish when Ullereng paired his king on the river to eliminate him in fourth place.

With three players left, there was no shortage of adrenaline. Although they briefly considered an ICM deal, the decision to play it out was unanimous, with each player hungry for a shot at the title. Ullereng made a big move, climbing into the chip lead in spectacular fashion. His flopped a set against Jonas Hagstrom’s in a massive all-in showdown, cementing his position at the top.

A remarkable fighter, Jonas Hagstrom managed to double through Kozieja in a spirited comeback attempt. Unfortunately, his time at the table came to an end in third place when Kozieja’s bested his . Hagstrom, known online as “flerrehuve,” walked away with an impressive haul of €170,300, adding €52,000 in bounties to his €118,300 in prize money—the second-best haul of his career.

Heads-up play began with Ullereng holding a 3-1 chip lead against Grzegorz Kozieja. Kozieja landed the first blow, but Ullereng quickly regained control. It was an aggressive battle that kept the rail on edge until the final hand. It was all over when Kozieja moved all-in with , only to receive a call from Ullereng holding . The board revealed , granting Ullereng the winning two-pair to claim his second EPT title.

Final Table Results (EURO) (Including Bounties)

1. Mats Ullereng – €267,560 (€2,000 in bounties)
2. Grzegorz Kozieja – €174,700 (€9,000 in bounties)
3. Jonas Hagstrom – €170,300 (€52,000 in bounties)
4. Humberto Lopes Galindo – €94,000 (€3,000 in bounties)
5. David Vinaya – €122,000 (€52,000 in bounties)
6. Klemens Roiter – €77,000 (€24,000 in bounties)
7. Abdelhakim Zoufri – €49,400 (€8,000 in bounties)
8. Sebastian Malec – €39,900 (€8,000 in bounties)
9. Erik Bakker – €24,500

Content & Images Courtesy: PokerNews and PokerStars

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