Jason Mercier proved once again he is one of the best live tournament players in the world, defeating 50 former EPT champions to win the EPT Madrid Champion of Champions event in Madrid, Spain. It represented his 11th live victory and gave him considerable momentum heading to the Ballegio World Poker Tour season ending player's championship.

Sandra Naujoks was the unfortunate fifth place finisher after 13 hours of play to receive nothing for her deep run.

Galen Hall, the PCA main event champ, had a 3-2 chip advantage when play reached heads up. They discussed a chip chop, then played out for the victory. The pivotal hand saw Hall's A,K lose to Mercier's A,J all in preflop and the result was decided soon after.

1st: Jason Mercier - €50,000 in EPT Season 8 buy-ins
2nd: Galen Hall - €25,000 in EPT Season 8 buy-ins
3rd: Max Lykov - €15,000 in EPT Season 8 buy-ins
4th: Victoria Coren - €10,000 in EPT Season 8 buy-ins

The structure was swift, leaving many short stacked with only push fold considerations for much of the tournament. The 50 former EPT champions each started with 100,000 chips with rapid-fire 20 minute.

Former EPT champions that played:

  • Rob Hollink
  • Pascal Perrault
  • Brandon Schaefer
  • Alexander Stevic
  • Jeff Williams
  • Mats Iremark
  • Jan Boubli
  • Peter Jepsen
  • Andreas Hoivold
  • Roland de Wolfe
  • Thang Duc Nguyen
  • Vicky Coren
  • Bjorn-Erik Glenne
  • Glen Chorny
  • Jason Mercier
  • Michael Schulze
  • Tim Vance
  • Mike McDonald
  • Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier
  • Arnaud Mattern
  • Joseph Mouawad
  • Pieter de Korver
  • Constant Rijkenberg
  • Sandra Naujoks
  • Jens Kyllönen
  • João Barbosa
  • Will Fry
  • Nicolas Chouity
  • Liv Boeree
  • Anton Wigg
  • Jan Skampa
  • Antonio Matias
  • Christophe Benzimra
  • Aaron Gustavson
  • Carter Phillips
  • Galen Hall
  • Roberto Romanello
  • Kent Lundmark
  • Michael Eiler
  • David Vamplew
  • Kevin Stani
  • Ben Wilinofsky
  • Vladimir Geshkenbein
  • Noah Boeken
  • Maxim Lykov
  • and others