Local portuguese businessman Antonio Matias is the new, and first-ever, EPT Vilamoura champion. The tournament was the riches ever held in Portugal, and Matias headed home with a a cheque of €404,793.

Matias, 54, bested some of the biggest names in the circuit in the €5,300 main event to claim the title. Matias was the first player to win on home since Sandra Naujoks achieved the same on Season 5 Dortmund event.

Antonio Matias, EPT Portugal champion

“I like to think of myself as a citizen of the world but it is very satisfying win an EPT in my home country,”- Matias said

The runner-up was Pierre Neuville, from Belgium. Neauville has already played some EPT, and this one is his biggest cash to date. Pierre bubbled final table on last season’s San Remo event. He walked away with €257,681 for his second place.

Great numbers for fist ever EPT held in Portugal, where 322 players took their seats in the €5,300 event. The total prize pool was €1,561,700.

EPT Vilamoura results:

1 Antonio Matias Portugal €404,793
2 Pierre Neuville Belgium €257,681
3 Jeff Sarwer Canada €156,170
4 Jan Skampa Czech Republic €117,128
5 João Silva Portugal €78,085
6 Michel Abecassis France €62,468
7 Ryan Franklin USA €46,851
8 Andrei Vlasenko Russia €31,234