Rocket Propulsion Technologies' triumphant rocket launch, entwined with Cyprus' recent scandal
RPT DeepStack Festival Kicks Off with a Bang in Cyprus
The RPT DeepStack Festival, under the leadership of Russian Poker Tour, Live Events, and PokerDom.com, commenced in sunny Cyprus from November 14 to 23, and it's fair to say the event got off to a fantastic start! The new champion of the RPT Main Event has been crowned, and participants can look forward to some exclusive giveaways for the Main Event of EPT Prague.
The RPT Main Event, featuring a buy-in of €550 and a guaranteed prize pool of €100,000, attracted poker heavyweights from across the globe. However, it was the least seasoned live tournament player from Lysva, Russia, Pavel Aneichik, who clinched the title. Aneichik, a first-timer in live tournaments, pocketed a whopping €24,080 for his victory.
The final table results are as follows:
- ANEICHIK PAVEL (Russia) - €24,080
- BIZ MUSTAFA (Turkey) - €16,640
- AHMED MEHMED (Bulgaria) - €12,365
- SENER SENOL (Turkey) - €9,700
- LAURYNAS VAINIUS (Lithuania) - €7,275
- JOSIPOVIC LJUBOMIR (Austria) - €5,335
- BERGUTAY ERKAL (Turkey) - €3,830
- SAPITAVICIUS ARUNAS (Lithuania) - €3,010
- KAGANOVICH YURI (Russia) - €2,360
- SMITH COLIN DONALDSON (USA) - €1,725
PokerDom.com, the general online partner of the festival, was running a promotion called "Last Man Standing", offering each player a chance to win a €500 prize to cover their buy-in.
The Turbo Deepstack €20,000 GTD was won by Russian player Pavel Zuev.
Tournament Results:
- PAVEL ZUEV (Russia) - €7,400
- BERGUTAY ERKAL (Turkey) - €4,400
- ZHURBA ANDREI (Russia) - €2,700
- SAPITAVICIUS ARUNAS (Lithuania) - €1,900
- LIPSKIS PAULIUS (Lithuania) - €1,500
- MARKIN MIKHAIL (Russia) - €1,200
- ARDA OZGUR (Turkey) - €900
Meanwhile, the winner of the Super Knockuot €2,000 (Bounty 1000) was YILDIZ SEVKET, who took home €16,160, including the Bounty.
The winner of the Classic Deepstack €30,000 GTD for €660 was Andrei Nikonov. The tournament had a total of 63 entries, including re-entries.
- NIKONOV ANDRE - €11,770,
- MILER ORI - €7,595
- LEVI ASAF (Israel) - €5,429
- MINCHUK IGOR - €3,615
- AHMED AHMED MEHMED - €2,710
- FELIX HUGO - €1,985
- SAPITAVICIUS ARUNAS - €1,625
- PAPANTONIOU STYLIANOS - €1,445
Apart from the thrilling poker tournaments, the series organizers have lined up sports competitions for the players. Yesterday, the Volleyball Cup Cyprus 2014 took place, with the team "Sieve" captained by Pavel Zuev emerging victorious.
Hotel Merit Scandal
The DeepStack Festival in Cyprus hasn't been free of controversy, with the hotel complex Merit generating headlines. Specifically, the gaming establishment within the hotel that hosts live poker series has been placing players from the joint stage of Russian Poker Tour and Live Events PokerDom.com on a blacklist. This move is seen as a blow to the Russian, Kazakh, Ukrainian, and Belarusian poker community, who have historically benefited from the hotel's advantageous packages, including free accommodation and tournament buy-ins.
Eric Shahbazyan, founder and organizer of Russian Poker Tour, expressed his views on this matter:
"Two years ago, I promised myself not to discuss poker series competing with ours, even in private conversations with player friends. But now, after Merit effectively started manipulating players by banning them from attending RPT, my hands are untied, and I can share my thoughts.
Regardless, my opinion is subjective, and Mike and I are considered the main threat to poker's existence in Merit. After working with various Turkish partners for the past year, I'm continually amazed by the lack of basic rationality and logic in the actions of Turkish managers, especially in Merit's case.
Poker in Merit is dying, and I have no doubt that it will soon cease."
Sources:1. Tripadvisor Review of Merit Royal Premium Hotel Casino & Spa2. Casino Expansion and Legal Changes in Northern Cyprus3. Impact of Casinos on Local Tourism in Northern Cyprus
Enrichment Data:
- Racism Allegations at Merit Royal Premium Hotel Casino & Spa: A review from July 2023 on Tripadvisor claims that the hotel exhibited racist behavior, prioritizing Turkish and white guests over people of color.
- Casino Expansion and Legal Changes: Recent legislation in northern Cyprus has relaxed laws regarding casino operations, which has been met with criticism. Some argue that this could lead to casinos becoming centers for money laundering and could negatively impact the area's tourism by prioritizing casinos over smaller hotels and other forms of tourism.
- Impact on Local Tourism: The expansion of casinos, such as those associated with hotels like Merit, has been criticized for overshadowing smaller hotels and other tourist attractions, potentially affecting the overall tourism landscape in northern Cyprus.
While these issues do not directly relate to the Russian Poker Tour DeepStack Festival, the broader context of casino expansion and legal changes in northern Cyprus could potentially influence future events hosted by hotels like Merit.
What sports events are available for participants at the RPT DeepStack Festival in Cyprus apart from poker tournaments?Volleyball competitions are lined up for the players, with the team "Sieve" captained by Pavel Zuev emerging victorious in the Volleyball Cup Cyprus 2014.
