London keeps making Poker History

As if the first World Series of Poker in Europe was not enough, London keeps hosting big tournaments and making headlines on the poker scene. This time it’s about the European Poker Tour, where another prize of over $1 million has been scored.

There is a new champion for the £5,200 No Limit Hold'em EPT tournament played last Saturday at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London, and it is Joseph Mouawad, a 47-year-old property developer from Beirut. A father of three, Mouawad classified for the EPT on PokerStars, and was proud and excited of his accomplishment: "I didn't expect to win at all," said Mouawad. "It was fun, and a big achievement, and I went up against some great players." He is especially glad of the rise of Lebanese players in the poker community: "There are now a lot of successful players from Lebanon including Joe Hachem and Freddie Deeb."

Mouawad won the tournament on a heart-stopping all-in finish against the reigning champion, young German pro Florian Langmann. Besides a record-making first prize of £611,500 ($1,247,000), Mouawad also won a seat at the €10,000 EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final next April.

It was not an easy field for Mouawad to defeat: within the 392 players who entered the event were Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Noah Boeken, Hevad Khan, Dario Minieri, Katja Thater, Luca Pagano and Chris Moneymaker, who came 17th for £12,230.

Final table/payouts: