29 players on Final Day, one German in the lead

Fabian Kunze ran Jesus at the end of the day to bag up the chiplead on the eve of Day 3 of the €550 Circus Cup. The German player didn't lose a move all-in, passing a bluff to Mathias Moutaoukil before opening all the hands late in the day to bag up 5,785,000... a treasure when the action resumes on Sunday 2pm on blinds 30,000 - 60,000 (60,000). 

28 other players will still be in his way to prevent him from taking €93,000 and a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket. They include Yves Sergeant, Martin Aurelio Garcia, Yann Nasser, Evert Rosseel, Vincent Verdickt, Mitch Vulperhorst, Philippe Riminucci, Mike Niegho and Ivo Schoofs. 

Participants in the final day of the Circus Cup are guaranteed a €2,310 prize, and will need to reach the final to win a CPS Main Event ticket (last satellite on November 26 at 9:15pm for $109 on PokerStars, editor's note) and finish at least 8th to walk away with a 5-figure prize. 

This final day will be played over 50-minute levels, with a televised final where the cards will be revealed. Join us at 2 p.m. on Sunday to follow the build-up to the final table. 



There were 1,380 players on the starting line, and another 336 with their sights set on one of the 199 paid places, early Saturday afternoon. It took 2 hours 30 of poker to keep the In The Money players at bay, Zakaria Ben Omar being the last to leave empty-handed. Pierre Neuville, Farukh Tach, Alexandra Quach, Antoine Haussetete, Johnny Nedved and Guy Goossens had already jumped long before... 

After entering the money, the pace of eliminations was steady until Bryan de Riddere's elimination at the end of the day (33rd). Kader Slila, Fabrice Somers, Patrice Libert, Firat Baltaci, Abdel Lamrani, Raphael Canta, Meddi Ferrah, Mohammed Boudazdit, Romain le Dantec or Steven Rottheut added a line to their palmares without reaching the Top 100. 

Djamal Boutaleb, Dominique Potenza, Slimane Mameche , Maxence Melin, Samy Barka (65th), Tawfik Samih (57th), Jorden Verbraeken (46th) and Miro Alilovic (38th) had their hopes up, but they won't be on Day 3 either...

Complete Chipcount 
Fabian Kunze 5,785,000
Evert Rosseel 4,890,000
Ivo Schoofs 4,620,000
Iulian Calagiu 3,715,000
Yacine Naciri 3,275,000
Yann Nasser $2,400,000
François Grossmann $2,400,000
Obeid H. 2,160,000 
Philippe Riminucci 1,915,000
Vincent Verdickt 1,800,000

Fabien Garcia 1,800,000
Mitch Vulperhorst $1,785,000
Mathias Moutaoukil 1,775,000
Cayan Ademiz $1,550,000
Rene Middleberg $1,550,000
Loic ALexandroff $1,385,000
Aurelio Martin Garcia $1,350,000
Raf Ielegems 1,190,000
Jordy Jehafs 1,180,000
Viorel Merisan $1,150,000

Mehdi Maroufi 1,100,000
Iman Gheshayar 1,090,000
Yves Sergeant 1,000,000
Jordy Brouwer 835,000
Bernard Jensen 835,000
Jean-Pierre Cruccas 615,000
Simon Nickmans 585,000
Mike Niegho 510,000
Jeffrey Jol 280,000

In the Nasser

6 players jumped on the first level of Day 3. Play continues today with 23 players in the 40,000 - 80,000 blinds (80,000) and an average of 2.4 million. 

There were 1,380 players at the start, 336 at the start of Day 2 and 29 for the Final Day, which will end with a €93,000 champion being crowned live on a televised table, with the cards revealed. 

Seventh in the chipcount at the start of the season and a regular success in Namur, Yann Nasser had more chips than the average at the start. He joined the rail in 26th place after playing and disputing three moves. 2700€ is no consolation when you start with a stack so close to a big win! 

Nasser started his day by losing 13 blinds with the 7s against a shove from a short-stack who hit to turn his unaccompanied Ace into a straight. One more lost move dropped Yann to 15 blinds... who had everything to make up for it with Kings against Ten all-in preflop. Here again his opponent hit to win a crucial 20-80! 



Last of the class on the resumption, he had sent on the last hand of Day 2 to see Mitch Vulperhorst wake up with the queens and put him to shame, Jeffrey Jol didn't do it again on Day 2. Jeffrey had started Day 2 with 3 blinds to reach the money and deep-run, this time he had 5 and the exit was immediate for €2,310 (29th).

Finalist in the BPT Deauville a few weeks ago, Aurelio Martin Garcia bowed out in 28th place... he missed out on the step up taken by Jensen Bernard (27th for €2,700). 



Also for Simon Nickmans who doubled with Ace Dame against the Aces at Mitch Vulperhorst's before giving up a few minutes later (25th). Then it was Cayan Ademiz who lost. 

Cayan had sent Valet 6 offsuit at the end of Day 2 to double up... and Yves Sergeant had called with Ace Ten only to see his hand destroyed by a 7 9 8 Ten 4 board. Cayan failed to capitalize on this space double-up... he attempted a 6 and 3 defense followed by a check-raise to all-in on King Queen 9, Fabien Garcia paid with Aces to take him out in 24th place.

The Frenchman is in the Top 5 of the tournament with 3.5 million chips. 

All participants in this second level of Day 3 are guaranteed a win of €3,130... the big money is coming! 


They Sautéed on Day 3
24th - Cayan Ademiz - €2,700
25th - Simon Nickmans - €2,700
26th - Yann Nasser - €2,700
27th - Jensen Bernard - €2,700
28th - Martin Garcia Aurelio - €2,310
29th - Jeffrey Jol - €2,310

Semi-finals approach

Renne Middleberg fell on a flip. The German lost with Ace Dame against the Ten at the Belgian Evert Rosseel's. The latter took advantage of the situation to come back not far from the head of the debates with 6.3 million...

These 3 players bowed out on Day 3 for €3,130: 

21st - Rene Middleberg (photo)
22nd - Loic Alexandroff 
23rd - Jean-Pierre Cruccas 

Checkpoint

20 players have reached the first break, play resumes on 50,000 - 100,000 (100,000) with an average of 27 blinds...

Table 17 (in seat order)
Mike Niegho 575,000
Viorel Merisan 1,200,000
Evert Rosseel 6,725,000
Iulian Calagiu 5,950,000
Fabien Garcia 3,575.000
Vincent Verdickt 325.000

Table 16 (in order of seating)
Mehdi Maroufi 1.800.000
Ivo Schoofs 6.525.000
Fabian Kunze 5.050.000
Jordy Jehaes 2.000.000
Raf Ielegems 1.150.000
Yves Sergeant 1.225.000
Mathias Moutaoukil 1.050.000

Table 15 (in order of seats)
Philippe Riminucci 1.500.000
Mtanyos Obeid 2,175,000
Francois Grossmann 2,550,000
Yacine Naciri 3,450,000
Jordy Brouwer 1,800,000
Iman Ghashayar 3,425,000
Mitch Vulperhorst 2,250,000

Fabien Fait le Ménage

Back from break on blinds 50,000 - 100,000 (100,000) and Fabien Garcia has just taken out two players in shorts, Mike Niegho and Vincent Verdickt. 



Mike put in 4 blinds and went all-in with Ace Ten, only to see the Frenchman wake up in the big blind with Ace King. Despite a flush draw on the flop, Mike Niegho finally bowed out in 20th place for €3,610. 

On the next hand, Vincent Verdickt goes all-in almost automatically and turns over 6 and 4 of spades when Fabien Garcia pushes from the small blind. Fabien reveals the kings and climbs to 4.4 million chips one board later. 

Sergeant won't be a Major

No success in the key spots for Yves Sergeant, who leaves the game in 18th position after 3-bet shove 11 bb from the blinds with Ace Dame.



Mitch Vulperhorst had opened with Ace 7 and hesitated before paying... well done him as he hit a 7 on the turn to reduce the field to 17 survivors out of the 1,380 on the starting line of this €550 Circus Cup.

There are 25 minutes left before the blinds are raised to 50,000 - 125,000 (125,000). With 17 players, the average is 3.2 million chips... 

They collected €3,610
18th Yves Sergeant
19th Vincent Verdickt
20th Mike Niegho

Viorel Merisan Misses the Semi-Finals

Viorel Mersian opens with Queen Ten and pays out of position after being raised... He finds a straight draw on both ends on the flop, but runs into Evert Rosseel, who has found a flush draw on the flop! A turn and a river later, Evert is up to €7.8 million, while his Belgian compatriot is on the rail, €4,140 richer for his efforts! 




The Semi-Finals after the redraw... Fifteen minutes to go on the blinds 50,000 - 100,000 (100,000). 

Table 15 (in seating order)
Evert Rosseel
Iulian Calagiu 
Jordy Brouwers
Philippe Riminucci
Fabien Garcia 
Mathias Moutaoukil 
Mitch Vulperhorst
Ivo Schoofs

Table 17 (in seating order)
Mtanyos Obeid
François Grossmann 
Jordy Jehaes 
Raf Ielegems 
Yacine Naciri
Mehdi Maroufi
Iman Ghashayar
Fabian Kunze

No final

From the two-table reunification, Jordy Jehaes surrendered with 8's. He fell on 9's to the chipleader at the start of the day and Germany's Fabian Kunze stayed ahead one board later...

Jordy pockets €4,140 for 16th place...

 
Next up was Mtanyos Obeid, who joined the rail in 15th place, €4,920 richer for this superb deep-run in a field of 1,380 entrants. 

Raf Ielegems quickly follows him into the rail, pushing with 3s for a small stack. Call from François Grossmann who turns over a pair of tens and stays ahead to propel himself to 3.1 million with a big quarter of an hour left to play on 50,000 - 125,000 (125,000). 

Ielegems also collects €4,920 for 14th place.... 

La Dernière Table gets closer

Mehdi Maroufi 3-bet call an open from Iulian Calagiu with Ace King and the latter turned over the Queens at showdown. With 2.2 million on the blinds 50,000 - 125,000 (125,000), Maroufi had no choice and the coin fell the wrong way. 

Iulian Calagiu is up to 10.5 million chips, while the Belgian finishes 13th for €5,900 after this flip...



Five minutes later, Jordy Brouwers also left the game €5,900 richer. The Dutchman lost a flip to Mathias Moutaoukil of France. 

Moutaoukil took the opportunity to climb to 4.4 million chips, in time for a big deep-run and, above all, to qualify for the final. 

Just before the break, François Grossmann (below) showed a little too much aggression. After an open from the cutoff and a call from the small blind, François sends in 3.6 million and goes all-in. 

The opener Iman Ghashayar asks for a count and decides to pay even though he has three more blinds. Iman flips the Jacks and faces Ace 2 sweat from the Belgian, who joins the rail on a 6 Queen 5 2 7 board! 

Heading for the 8 million chip mark for the executioner, François leaves the game in 11th place for €7,015.

After a short break, the final bubble will take place on two 5-player tables! 

 

Reprise

Play resumes with 10 players on two tables and an average of 5.5 million. The game is played on blinds 75,000 - 150,000 (150,000)...



TV table (In order of seating)
Evert Rosseel 6,350,000
Philippe Riminucci 1,175,000
Mathias Moutaoukil 7,600,000
Mitch Vulperhorst 3,025,000
Ivo Schoofs 5,825,000

Table 17 (In order of seating)
Iulian Calagiu 6.150.000
Fabien Garcia 2,825,000
Yacine Naciri 3,750,000
Iman Ghashayar 8.300.000
Fabian Kunze 10,325,000

Air Max

There are 9 minutes left to play on 75,000 - 150,000 (150,000) when Iman Ghashayar opens to the cutoff for 300,000 chips. Just to his left Fabian Kunze 3-bets to 750,000 and pays when Iman 4-bets to 1.7 million chips. 

The table holds its breath, it's the bubble of the final and the two big stacks clash. On the flop 8 Ace Jack with no flush draw, Iman checks and soon pays a 1.2 million bet to the man who was chipleader at the start of the day. 

The dealer unwraps a 3 of clubs turn that still doesn't open a flush draw and both men slow down. On the river 5 of clubs, Iman checks a third time with 4.5 million chips in front of him. 

Kunze who covers him announces all-in and advances a stack. It takes Yacine Naciri 7 minutes of tanking to apologize to Iman and finally ask for time. With 10 seconds to go, Iman hands over his cards... Fabian reveals King Ten of Diamonds for Air! 

Kunze bluffs his way to 14.5 million! Then the blinds rise to 100,000 - 200 (200,000)...

Yacine Naciri Bulle la Finale (7.015€)

Winner of the Kill Tilt Amnéville Main Event a few weeks ago, Yacine Naciri sends in the next move following Kunze's big bluff. 

The Frenchman posts 10 blinds with Ace 2 of spades and Iulian Calagiu wakes up with Ace 8 of hearts in the blinds to pay. 

The dealer unwraps a 4 King 8 Ace 2 board which eliminates Yacine for €7,015 in 10th place in a field of 1,380 entrants. 

Calagiu is piling up precious chips as the ultimate reunification gets underway. They are 9 with 49 minutes to play on 100,000 - 200,000 (200,000) and an average of 6.1 million... 

Final kick-off

The final kicks off for 49 minutes at blinds 100,000 - 200,000 (200,000), after which the survivors will take a dinner break for at least 70 minutes. 

The final 9 players in the running secured a €9,020 prize and a €2,200 ticket to the CPS Main Event... the champion will pocket €93,000! 

You can stream the action opposite... 



The Final (In order of seating)
Philippe Riminucci (BEL) 3,375,000
Mitch Vulperhorst (NED) 5,400,000
Evert Rosseel (BEL) 5,625,000
Fabien Garcia (FR) 6,400,000
Iulian Calagiu(ROM) 6,900,000
Ivo Schoofs (BEL) 1,800,000
Iman Ghashayar (NED) 4,525,000
Fabian Kunze (GER) 13,525,000
Mathias Moutaoukil (FR) 7,650,000

Day 3 Payout
Winner - €93,000
Runner Up - €60,000
3e - 43.000€
4e - 33.500€
5e - 25.700€
6e - 19.800€
7e - 15.250€
8e - 11.764€
9e - 9.020€

10th Yacine Naciri €7,015
11th Francois Grossmann €7,015
12th Jordy Brouwer €5,900
13th Mehdi Maroufi €5,900
14th Raf Ielegems €4,920
15th Mtanyos Obeid €4,920
16th Jordy Jehaes €4,140
17th Viorel Merisan €4,140
18th Yves Sergeant €3,610
19th Vincent Verdickt €3,610
20th Mike Niegho €3,610
21st Rene Middelberg €3,130
22nd Loic Alexandroff €3,130
23rd Jean Cruccas €3,130
24th Cayan Akdeniz €2,700
25th Simon Nickmans €2,700
26th Yann Nasser €2,700
27th Jensen Bernard €2,700
28th Aurelio Martin Garcia €2,310
29th Jeffrey Jol €2,310

Mitch Vulperhorst bows out (9.020€)

A two-stage finish for Mitch Vulperhorst. The Dutchman collected €9,020 and a €2,200 CPS ticket for his deep-run... 

Right from the start of the final, Mitch played a big pot with King 3... In heads-up play, he bets river on a King King 5 9 6 board and pays when Philippe Riminucci sends in his stack. 

Bad surprise for Mitch who falls to 1 million chips or 5 blinds when Philippe returns King 9 of diamonds for Full House. Riminucci reraises to nearly 7 million as the Dutchman is in agony. 

He's going to send it in after an open from Fabian Kunze. The German pays with the Ten and it's a flip as Mitch has found Ace Roi suité!

After a Valet 5 4 7 Queen board, Kunze rises to 16 million, while Mitch joins the rail...




The start of the final is very lively, as two minutes after Mitch's exit, we have another all-in & call! 

This time it was Ivo Schoofs who was in danger. The Belgian went straight under the gun with King-Queen of hearts for 9 blinds... and just to his left. Iman Ghashayar wakes up with the Kings.

The Dutchman hesitates for a moment and decides to simply pay, but everyone will step aside behind. The dealer unwraps a Queen Ten 7 board that gives Ivo outs, the turn 6 of hearts adds a flush draw that will go home on a river 5 of hearts!

Ivo doubles up to 4.2 million while Iman plummets to 2.7 million... all-in shots are now worth a lot of money!

9 minutes to go before the dinner break... 

La Main Dans le Sac

After Fabian Kunze's early open bet paid for by Fabien Garcia in the cutoff, Ivo Schoofs decides to place a small blind 3-bet to 1.7 million.

Ivo is in the middle of the moove with Queen 5 mismatched... and Iman Ghashayar wakes up in the big blind with Ace King. Iman goes all-in for 2.8 million chips!

Kunze returns Ace Queen suit, Garcia drops King Queen suit... and Ivo adds 1.2 million with Queen and 5 off! One board later, he's down to 2 million chips, while Iman is up to 6.9 million...

The dinner break isn't far off...

Schoofs Dans le Rail (11.764€)

Caught red-handed a few minutes ago, Ivo Schoofs is going all-in with Valet Dix from the button.

Fabian Kunze defends his big blind with 9 and 6 to pay off the opponent's stack on a Queen 3 9 board with two clubs. Turn 5 and river 4 did not change anything and the Belgian joined the rail for a 5-figure win and a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket. As for the German, he racks up additional chips to climb to 18 million. 

Dinner break is imminent. 

Dinner Break

The game was paused until 9:40 p.m., when it resumed with 7 players and an average of 7.8 million... 

Play resumes at blinds 125,000 - 250,000 (250,000)... 
 
The Final (In order of seating)
Philippe Riminucci (BEL) 6,125,000
Evert Rosseel (BEL) 5,850,000
Fabien Garcia (FR) 6,850,000
Iulian Calagiu(ROM) 4,575,000
Iman Ghashayar (NED) 7,100,000
Fabian Kunze (GER) 18,550,000
Mathias Moutaoukil (FR) 6,250,000



Day 3 Payout
Winner - €93,000
Runner Up - €60,000
3e - 43.000€
4e - 33.500€
5e - 25.700€
6e - 19.800€
7e - 15.250€
8th - Ivo Schoofs - €11,764
9th - Mitch Vulperhorst - €9,020

10th Yacine Naciri €7,015
11th Francois Grossmann €7,015
12th Jordy Brouwer €5,900
13th Mehdi Maroufi €5,900
14th Raf Ielegems €4,920
15th Mtanyos Obeid €4,920
16th Jordy Jehaes €4,140
17th Viorel Merisan €4,140
18th Yves Sergeant €3,610
19th Vincent Verdickt €3,610
20th Mike Niegho €3,610
21st Rene Middelberg €3,130
22nd Loic Alexandroff €3,130
23rd Jean Cruccas €3,130
24th Cayan Akdeniz €2,700
25th Simon Nickmans €2,700
26th Yann Nasser €2,700
27th Jensen Bernard €2,700
28th Aurelio Martin Garcia €2,310
29th Jeffrey Jol €2,310

15.250€ for Mathias

Mathias Moutaoukil's game came to an end a few minutes after the restart. The Frenchman bowed out in 7th place after defending 8 and 7 of diamonds in the big blind on a Fabien Garcia open from the Hijack. 

19th in the last BPC, 10th in the 7Handed Festival Main Event, the Frenchman signed a new deep-run in Namur. He donked on a 6 4 2 flop with two diamonds, but the opener went all-in. Moutaoukil decides to pay for his 20 blinds and discovers the Aces in front. 

The 7 of hearts on the turn further improves his hand, but the river 3 of hearts eliminates him. There are 15 minutes left to play on blinds 125,000 - 250,000 (250,000) with an average of 9.2 million chips. Fabien has 12 million after this move...

Chipcount

Resuming

Mathias Moutaoukil has been jumping for 1 hour 40 minutes, if we take into account the quarter-hour break that just ended.

Play resumes on 200,000 - 400,000 (400,000) with an average of 9.2 million chips... the margin for manoeuvre is shrinking at the bottom of the leaderboard!

The Final (In seating order)
Philippe Riminucci (BEL) 5,350,000
Evert Rosseel (BEL) 11,325,000
Fabien Garcia (FR) 13,700,000
Iulian Calagiu(ROM) 3,800,000
Iman Ghashayar (NED) 6,925,000
Fabian Kunze (ALL) 14,025,000

19,800€ for Philippe Riminucci

After almost three hours with 6 players, the floodgates have just burst. 



Day 3 Payout
Winner - €93,000
Runner Up - €60,000
3e - 43.000€
4e - 33.500€
5e - 25.700€
6th - Philippe Riminucci - €19,800
7th - Mathias Moutaoukil - €15,250
8th - Ivo Schoofs - €11,764
9th - Mitch Vulperhorst - €9,020



10th Yacine Naciri €7,015
11th Francois Grossmann €7,015
12th Jordy Brouwer €5,900
13th Mehdi Maroufi €5,900
14th Raf Ielegems €4,920
15th Mtanyos Obeid €4,920
16th Jordy Jehaes €4,140
17th Viorel Merisan €4,140
18th Yves Sergeant €3,610
19th Vincent Verdickt €3,610
20th Mike Niegho €3,610
21st Rene Middelberg €3,130
22nd Loic Alexandroff €3,130
23rd Jean Cruccas €3,130
24th Cayan Akdeniz €2,700
25th Simon Nickmans €2,700
26th Yann Nasser €2,700
27th Jensen Bernard €2,700
28th Aurelio Martin Garcia €2,310
29th Jeffrey Jol €2,310

Belgium at the foot of the podium

Down to 14 blinds on blinds 250,000 - 500,000 (500,000), Evert Rosseel sends his stack from the button with a pair of 5s. 

Fabien Garcia decides to call the 6.9 million requested with Ace Jack of Diamonds in the blinds and eliminates his opponent at the end of a 7 Ace 4 6 4 table. There's no Belgian left in the tournament! 

Evert pockets €25,700 for his incredible deep-run in a field of 1,380 entrants. He also takes a €2,200 ticket to the Circus Poker Series Main Event... 

Fabien Garcia took the lead with over 25 million. He fell back to 19 million a few minutes later when Iulian Calagiu doubled up. The Romanian now has 14 million in chips... 

Kunze Denied Podium

Germany won't win in the end. Chipleader at the end of Day 2 and author of a very fine performance on Day 3, Fabian Kunze finally bowed out at the foot of the podium. 

Kunze lacked a little success to keep his opponents from doubling up in the final, and eventually lost to the man who would come back to beat him, Romania's Iulian Calagiu. 

Calagiu opens with King-Queen and Kunze pushes his big blind stack with Ace-8 mismatched for 20 blinds. Calagiu pays by covering his opponent and hits a King 7 7 8 2 board to take out a dangerous opponent and soar up the leaderboard with 27 million! 

<

3

Levels have been reduced to 25 minutes after the switch to blinds 300,000 - 600,000 (600).

Iulian Calagiu is in the lead with 27 million compared to 15 for Dutchman Iman Ghashayar and 13 million for Frenchman Fabien Garcia.

Iman Ghashayar misses the HU (43.000€)

The blinds are now 400,000 - 800,000 (800,000) and Iulian Calagiu will start the final duel with a nice lead against Frenchman Fabien Garcia, who will have just over 20 blinds...

Dutchman Iman Ghashayar will be back for the €2,200 Main Event, having won a CPS ticket like all the finalists. 

Day 3 Payout
Winner - €93,000
Runner Up - €60,000
3rd - Iman Ghashayar - €43,000
4th - Fabian Kunze - €33,500
5th - Evert Rosseel - €25,700
6th - Philippe Riminucci - €19,800
7th - Mathias Moutaoukil - €15,250
8th - Ivo Schoofs - €11,764
9th - Mitch Vulperhorst - €9,020



10th Yacine Naciri €7,015
11th Francois Grossmann €7,015
12th Jordy Brouwer €5,900
13th Mehdi Maroufi €5,900
14th Raf Ielegems €4,920
15th Mtanyos Obeid €4,920
16th Jordy Jehaes €4,140
17th Viorel Merisan €4,140
18th Yves Sergeant €3,610
19th Vincent Verdickt €3,610
20th Mike Niegho €3,610
21st Rene Middelberg €3,130
22nd Loic Alexandroff €3,130
23rd Jean Cruccas €3,130
24th Cayan Akdeniz €2,700
25th Simon Nickmans €2,700
26th Yann Nasser €2,700
27th Jensen Bernard €2,700
28th Aurelio Martin Garcia €2,310
29th Jeffrey Jol €2,310

Fabien Garcia Runner-Up (€60,000)





The last duel lasted 8 minutes, and no deal was struck as Fabien lost his first double-up attempt... he will be consoling himself with €60,000 and a CPS Main Event ticket. 

Iulian Calagiu wins the Circus Cup for €93,000

1,380 entrants and a Romanian who triumphs without a deal at the Circus Casino Resort in Namur. The €550 CPS Circus Cup Event#4 reached its verdict after a final 5-minute duel.

Iulian Calagiu won for €93,000 and a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket... quite a return on the investment of 169 buy-ins!

The final was spread over 5 hours of play, and after two eliminations in the first half-hour and Mathias Moutaoukil's exit after the dinner break, it took over 2 hours 40 of play by 6 players for the final ranking to take shape.

With another €272,000 of the €621,000-plus prizepool generated by the 1,380 entrants still to be contested, it was only natural that nobody wanted to give up an inch or give away their chips!

Philippe Riminucci, who came last in the class, finally bowed out in 6th place, leaving Evert Rosseel (5th) as the last Belgian holdout.

Dominant at the end of Day 2 and perfect at the start of Day 3, Fabian Kunze was unsuccessful at the end and bowed out at the foot of the podium for €33,500. Like the last 8 players in the tournament, he walked away from this €550 event with a 5-figure payout. More big money in Namur!

Day 3 Circus Cup Payout
Winner - Iulian Calagiu (Romania) €93,000
Runner Up - Fabien Garcia (France) €60,000
3rd - Iman Ghashayar (NL)- €43,000
4th - Fabian Kunze (GER) - €33,500
5th - Evert Rosseel (BEL) - €25,700
6th - Philippe Riminucci (BEL) - €19.800€
7th - Mathias Moutaoukil (FR)- 15.250€
8th - Ivo Schoofs (BEL) - 11.764€
9th - Mitch Vulperhorst (NL)- 9.020€

*The 9 finalists win a CPS Main Event ticket at 2200€

10th Yacine Naciri 7.015€
11th Francois Grossmann 7.015€
12th Jordy Brouwer 5.900€
13th Mehdi Maroufi 5.900€
14th Raf Ielegems 4.920€
15th Mtanyos Obeid 4.920€
16th Jordy Jehaes 4.140€
17th Viorel Merisan 4.140€
18th Yves Sergeant 3.610€
19th Vincent Verdickt 3.610€
20th Mike Niegho 3.610€
21st Rene Middelberg 3.130€
22nd Loic Alexandroff 3.130€
23rd Jean Cruccas 3.130€
24th Cayan Akdeniz 2.700€
25th Simon Nickmans 2.700€
26th Yann Nasser 2.700€
27th Jensen Bernard 2.700€
28th Aurelio Martin Garcia 2.310€
29th Jeffrey Jol 2.310€

Find the complete tournament ranking in the PDF below...