Paul Tedeschi Wins Inaugural EPT Prague Mixed Game Main Event

Paul Tedeschi has won the inaugural Mixed Game Main Event held at European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague.

The very first 10-game championship held as part of the EPT schedule saw Tedeschi overcome a field of 83 players and defeat Ali Abdulzahra heads up to take home €44,884.

EPT Prague Mixed Game Main Event Final Table Reults

Winner’s Reaction

Tedeschi told PokerNews about how much fun he’s had playing in the tournament over the three-day event.

“The 10-game mix is so good,” he explained. “Normally it’s 8-game but with Badugi and No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw — those are two of the most fun games. So they’re cool to add.”

A funny moment occurred three-handed when eventual third-place finisher Jeremy Trojand asked Tedeschi where he learned to play, with Tedeschi responding, “By playing events like this.” The field was a mix of seasoned mixed game professionals and those using the Mixed Game Main Event to dip their toe in the format.

“Some are really good players,” said Tedeschi. “But some players are just trying. Maybe they play well in half of the games, but are learning some of them.”

Player feedback will be used to evaluate the success of the inaugural event, but Tedeschi said that he’d welcome a quicker format.

“Maybe next time if it’s shorter it would be good. Maybe Day 1 we need more levels of play, or maybe we need to register on Day 2. Overall it was a great event.”

Final Day Action

Day 3 began just two eliminations off the final table, and with two clear short stacks it didn’t take long. Sami Bechahed doubled before Tobias Hausen was eliminated, with Dario Alioto following him out the door less than 15 minutes later, as Tedeschi led the final seven.

Tedeschi kept on rising after scooping a monster Stud Hi-Lo pot and eliminating Alexander Freund in seventh place.

He also sent former NAPT Main Event champion Bechahed to the rail in sixth place before pushing ahead to sit with close to half the chips in play.

The only player who was close to Tedeschi was Jeremy Trojand, who eliminated Lee Horton in fifth before Tedeschi reestablished the gap with the elimination of Patrick Bueno in fourth.

Three-handed play was a long affair, echoing the bubble of late last night, and it was Trojand’s journey that captivated onlookers. Akin to a yo-yo, Trojand bounced from chip lead to short stack over the course of three and a half hours of play.

Eventually, neither he nor Abdulzahra had an answer for the onslaught from Tedeschi who appeared to grow his stack to with ease. As a result, both Trojand and Abdulzahra spent more time eyeing one another up than mounting an assault on the Frenchman. Trojand doubled, but fell just short of heads-up play, with Abdulzahra starting heads-up with a 9:1 chip deficit.

He almost made it work! Bouncing back to sit with over a million before the Frenchman came again and finally secured victory.

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor.

He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.