When’s the last time you made $800,000 in five days? For South Jersey local Chris Klodnicki, it was just this past week when he took home the top earnings in the Epic Poker League Main Event. The top 10 players in the world took on Klodnicki at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for the third annual event. Following five days of action packed tournament play amongst a stacked field, it was Klodnicki emerging as the victor, taking $801,680 and the Champion’s ring back home.
If you don’t know anything about poker, brace yourself. “In the final hand of the night, Lichtenberger went all-in on a flop of 8c7d3d with AK off suit. Klodnicki called, holding A4 of diamonds for an Ace-high flush draw. Klodnicki paired the four on the turn and that was enough to beat Lichtenberger,” an official report about the win states.
“It was a trip getting through this Epic Poker League Main Event which had a really tough field,” said Klodnicki. “I enjoyed the Mix-Max format which caters to top poker players, and while draining, I liked how the tournament progressed. Epic puts players first.”
The third Epic Poker League Main Event featured an elite field and Joe Tehan, Scott Clements, Andrew Lichtenberger and Michael Mizrachi all made the final table alongside Klodnicki.
Klodnicki and runner-up Lichtenberger both secured their spots in the season-ending $1,000,000 Epic Poker League Championship Freeroll, which is open to the 27 players with the highest earnings in the four regular season Epic Poker League Main Events. With their respective earnings of $801,680 and $514,480 Klodnicki and Lichtenberger are each guaranteed one of those 27 seats. They join the first Main Event Champion David “Chino” Rheem and runner-up Erik Seidel, as well as the second Main Event Champion Mike “Timex” McDonald and runner-up David Steicke. The Epic Poker League Season One Leaderboard can be viewed at www.epicpoker.com.
“The third Epic Poker League Main Event featured a talented field with all of the top 10 GPI players in attendance,” said Annie Duke, commissioner of the Epic Poker League. “The action at the tables throughout the tournament was thrilling and viewers be captivated by the high-level of play and amazing hands these top pros exhibited.”
With this win, Klodnicki increases his lifetime earnings to $2,818,881. Not bad for some silly card player.
