For a long time it looked like Mukul Pahuja would be the champion of the EPT Malta €10,000 High Roller, because he had the lead for much of the final day of play and had close to a four-to-one lead against Byron Kaverman when heads-up began.
Kaverman doubled up early in the battle for the title with ace-king vs the ace-five of Pahuja. Later on Kaverman took down a big pot and overtook the chip lead for the first time. About 15 minutes into level 28, Kaverman moved all in with pocket fives after Pahuja limped from the button. Pahuja made the call with his final 1.5 million chips and tabled ace-four.
Kaverman's pocket fives held up all the way to the river and Pahuja was eliminated in second place for €290,100. Kaverman received an EPT trophy and €480,300 for being the last man standing in the tournament, which attracted 210 entrants.
Final table results:
1. Byron Kaverman (United States) €480,300
2. Mukul Pahuja (United States) €290,100
3. Mikalai Vaskaboinikau (Belarus) €204,500
4. Ihar Soika (Belarus) €165,800
5. Vladimir Dobrovolskiy (Russia) €131,180
6. Roberto Romanello (United Kingdom) €96,620
7. Bryn Kenney (United States) €72,730
8. Kevin MacPhee (United States) €53,150
