Earlier today we told you the story of LAPT Season 3 Florianopolis champ of 22-year-old Matthias Habernig, who has been focusing on his studies in Vienna. Habernig told us that he had never been to Monte Carlo before, so he decided to come play some poker.
He got off to a rough start early on when he "donked off" about half his stack, but he seems to have turned things around.
In a recent hand, 2012 World Poker Tour Montreal champ Jonathan Roy opened for 525 from the cutoff only to have Habernig three-bet to 1,700 from the small blind. The big folded, Roy pushed back with a four-bet to 3,700, and Habernig moved all in. Roy, who had about 14,000 total, called off.
Habernig:
Roy:
It was a classic flip, but Habernig needed to catch if he hoped to eliminate a tough opponent. Luckily for him, that's just what he did when the flop came down . Habernig took the lead with a pair of kings, and he never looked back as the appeared on the turn followed by the on the river.
Roy was eliminated in Level 4 while Habernig climbed above the starting stack for the first time in the tournament.
Back in 2010, 19-year-old Matthias Habernig from Klagenfurt, Austria made poker headlines when he topped a field of 364 players to win the Latin American Poker Tour Season III Florianopolis Main Event for $247,491. It was an exciting moment for Habernig, who had been playing online poker since he was 18. Prior to it, his career highlights include an $11 re-buy win on PokerStars and cashing in a $1,000 side event at LAPT Lima.
As if things couldn’t get any better, Habernig was back at a LAPT final table a month later. That’s when he navigated a field of 258 players to make the final table of the LAPT Season 3 Grand Finale in Rosario, Argentina. Habernig was looking to follow in Team PokerStars Pro Nacho Barbero’s footsteps by winning back-to-back LAPT titles, but that dream ultimately came to an end in sixth place for $49,400.
Since then Habernig has essentially disappeared from the poker landscape. In July 2011 he finished sixth in a €300 no-limit hold’em event at the CAPT Velden Open for €1,390, and in August 2013 he placed 25th n the IPT Nova Gorica Main Event for €3,300. Other than that, Habernig has stayed out of the poker eye.
That said, the poker eye is a keen one, and we happened to spot the now 22 year old, who will be celebrating his 23rd birthday on June 27, here in the EPT Grand Final field. Habernig was kind enough to inform us that since his win he has been focusing on his studies at the University of Graz, though he still enjoys playing poker.
He hopes to make it out to the World Series of Poker for the first time either this year or in the future, but for now his focus is on his education. In the meantime, he’ll remain content playing European events. Well today he’s playing arguably Europe’s most prestigious tournament, and only time will tell if the Austrian can find himself the last man standing once again.
That said, he’ll face an uphill battle as he’s already down to 16,000 in chips. “I donked off a little,” Habernig said with a smile.
The Skrill Last Longer competition has been being held at each stop on this season’s EPT, of which they’re an official sponsor. The promotion is simple – players sign up for the promotion either online (preregistration is available) or at the Skrill booth (which will be present at each stop); don a Skrill patch; and then aim to be the last man or woman standing. The last player remaining will then receive their buy-in back via their Skrill account.
It's the last stop of Season 10, and that means it's the last Skill Last Longer competition of the season. Yesterday, 214 players took their shot at poker glory on Day 1a, and of them 31 players participated in the contest, which was 14% of the field. Day 1b has attracted even more players, and they have the chance to sign up through the dinner break. Once registration is closed, we'll be sure to let you know how many "Skrillees" are competing.
While Skrill upped the ante for Season 10 with a bigger branding initiative, it wasn't their first appearance on the EPT; as a matter of fact, they were a sponsor of Season 8 and have held previous “Last Longer” promotions.
The company’s website provides a bit more information on Skrill, which rebranded from Moneybookers back in 2010:
“Skrill has been moving money digitally since 2001. We offer online payment solutions for businesses and consumers, allowing them to pay and get paid globally. Over 36 million account holders already trust Skrill. Our customers can send and receive money worldwide in 200 countries and 40 currencies, securely and at low cost, without revealing their personal financial details. Your business will benefit from our worldwide payment network with over 100 payment options. Whether through a simple one-step integration or a fully-tailored payment solution. Whoever you are, however you like to pay or get paid, trust Skrill to make your online payments simpler, faster and safer.”
Headquartered in London, Skrill is looking to make their presence known in the poker world with a commitment to customer satisfaction through innovation and service. Not only that, they’re looking to be more than just a company by becoming a trusted and respected member of the poker community.
We're back for the final start day of the last main event of Season 10 of the European Poker Tour to see who will become the 99th EPT winner.
Yesterday 214 players stumped up €10,000 to take part with Samir Hadad finishing on top with 178,100. Today the field is expected to be even bigger as more players flock to Monte Carlo in the hopes of pursuing a dream. Among those thought to be playing today will be Daniel Colman, who last night won the €100,000 Super High Roller event, runners-up Daniel Cates and Igor Kurganov are also likely to be involved.
So what does the buy-in get you exactly? You'll receive 30,000 chips with the aim of getting through eight 75-minute levels (with a 75-minute dinner break after level 6). Manage that and you'll be through to Day 2 alongside the 106 qualifier who made it past Day 1a.
Play will begin at 12pm. This is the big one, a blue ribbon event and one of the most important tournaments of the poker calendar.
. Habernig took the lead with a pair of kings, and he never looked back as the 
appeared on the turn followed by the 
on the river.
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