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John Duthie, the EPT founder, would have been hoping to make it a 3rd bracelet for the British contingent in Vegas this year but has fallen at the last hurdle by losing over 3 matches to law student Leo Walpart in the Heads Up World Championship a.k.a Event #29.

It was a gruelling 4 days for both men who each blasted their way through 7 tough opponents to reach the final showdown. There was just over $1m in prize money to be played for in this final battle but despite falling behind in the first match, it was Walpert who came away with the coveted bracelet and $625,682 in cash. Duthie’s second place was good for $386,636.

In the first match of this “best of three” format, Leo Walpert looked to have all the momentum behind him until he allowed Duthie to double up after he had rivered a flush. Walpert was left shortstacked and soon surrendered the game to Duthie. He soon fought back though and evened things up again when both players got their chips into the middle in only the 9th hand of the second match. Duthie held Top Pair, Top Kicker and was drawing dead on the turn against Walpert’s flopped set.

It was the third and final match that was to be the real test of nerve and discipline for both players. It lasted almost 200 hands which was almost double the hands of the two previous matches combined! Leo had maintained the chiplead from the very beginning but John refused to go do without a fight before eventually moving all-in with top-pair only to be called by the two-pair of Walpert that held to ensure he took down the event.

So, now that John Duthie has been injected with cash, maybe he’ll be considering bringing his beloved EPT back to Ireland