Vladimir Burstein crowned 2017 Grand Prix Austria champion

Vladimir Burstein headed to the Montesino Casino in Austria with the aim to play some cash games, but decided to enter the 2017 partypoker LIVE Grand Prix Austria Main Event instead.

It turned out to be an excellent decision on Burstein’s part because he is now a Grand Prix champion having outlasted a bumper field of 5,230 entrants and has turned his €115 investment into a much more impressive €47,520.

2017 partypoker LIVE Grand Prix Austria Main Event Final Table Results

Place | Player | Country | Prize
1 | Vladimir Burstein | Czech Republic | €47,520*
2 | Martin Lechner | Austria | €48,530*
3 | Rolando Lombardi | Italy | €32,980*
4 | Aristeidis Moschonas | Austria | €32,560*
5 | E.A. | Austria | €29,920*
6 | Ela Kubincova | Slovakia | €13,500
7 | D.A. | Austria | €10,000
8 | Dragan Zaric | Slovenia | €7,500

*reflects a five-handed deal

By the time the final day was reached, the field had been whittled down to a more manageable crowd of 41 players, each of whom were guaranteed at least €1,350 for their efforts. Some of those who had previously bust inside the money included Team partypoker pro Natalia Breviglieri, Martin Hruby, Julian Herold, and Erich Kollmann.

The final table was reached during the 38th level of the tournament, which meant the blinds were 400,000/800,000 with an 80,000 ante. Martin Lechner of Austria led the way with a 63,100,000 stack, with Aristeidis Moschonas bringing up the rear with 10,200,000 chips, although Moschonas locked up a $10,000 Caribbean Poker Party package due to reaching the final table with a Golden Chip in his possession.

First to bust from the eight-handed final table was Dragan Zaric. Lechner raised to 1,600,000 with , Zaric three-bet all-in with and Lechner called. Zaric extended his lead on the flop, then fell behind on the turn. The river completed the board and confirmed Zaric’s demise.

Ten minutes later, the man wanting to be known simply as “D.A.” fell by the wayside. D.A moved all-in on the turn of the board with what turned out to be but was drawing dead against the in the hand of Moschonas.

The tournament then became an all-male affair during the 39th level when Ela Kubincova was eliminated by Moschonas. Rolando Lombardi of Italy opened to 2,700,000, Kubincova three-bet all-in for 15,500,000 and Moschonas re-shoved for 25,000,000 from the small blind. Lombardi folded, Kubincova turned over , and Moschonas revealed .

Kubincova paired her ace on the flop only to see the turn resign here to a sixth-place finish. The inconsequential completed the community cards and with that only five players remained in the hunt for the title.

The final five players asked for the tournament clock to be paused so they could discuss a deal. With the buy-in for this tournament only being €115 and the prizes on offer now being offered upwards of €30,000, it made sense to look at the numbers.

After some discussion, the players struck a deal that locked up between €29,860 and €40,530 leaving €19,120 to be divided up among the top three finishers; the champion would receive an extra €10,000, second place €6,000 and third place €3,120.

Almost immediately after the restart, the player known only as “E.A.” crashed out after finding himself all-in on the river of the board with and being called by Lechner holding .

Fourth place went to Moschonas who managed to get almost 45 big blinds in preflop with against the [Js[ of Lombardi. The flop meant Lombardi stayed ahead but did not want to spike a jack, and he didn’t as the turn and river fell and to send Moschonas to the sidelines.

Heads-up was set when Lombardi and Lechner clashed and the latter came out on top. Lechner raised to 5,000,000 on the button during the 1,000,000/2,000,000/200,000a level and Lombardi called in the big blind. Both players checked the flop with Lombardi leading for 2,000,000 on the turn. Lechner raised to 10,000, Lombardi moved all-in and Lechner snap-called.

It was for Lechner and for Lombardi. The river was a brick for both players and Lombardi’s tournament ended in third place.

The stacks were almost even going into heads-up with Lechner holding a slender 134,100,000 to 127,700,000 lead over Burstein yet after only 10-minutes of one-on-one action, the tournament was over.

The final hand saw Burstein limp in with and Lechner check with . The dealer fanned the flop, Lechner checked, Burstein bet and was check-raised. Burstein moved all-in and Lechner called. Lechner needed some help on the turn or river and could hit any three, four or five to win. The turn was the which missed by a country mile, and although the river was closer, it was ultimately the to gift the title to Burstein.

Next on the partypoker LIVE calendar is the eagerly anticipated Caribbean Poker Party in November. $10,000,000 is guaranteed across several events in Punta Cana and you still have time to qualify for the $5,000,000 guaranteed Main Event online at partypoker. Check out the Live Events tab in the partypoker software to see how you can qualify for the $1,050 final on Sunday where 20 x $10,000 packages are guaranteed.