February 25 2012, Lee Davy

A total of 299 players participated at the Copenhagen stop of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour and after six days of pulsating play, two members of Team PokerStars found themselves seated across the table playing heads-up for a first-place prize of DKK2,515,00 (“338,133).

It seemed as though you could not have written a more intriguing script, with the cherubic PokerStars Team Online player, Mickey “mement_mori” Petersen pitched into war against the more mature Team PokerStars Pro, Pierre “Zoutechamp” Neuville. Unfortunately, the script went out of the window, because the heads-up match was devoid of any of the razzmatazz that came before it.

Heads-up play lasted six hours and was dominated by the younger poker player. Neuville looked tired, weary and, like he had simply run out of ideas, while the time just seemed to go on, and on, and on. The action was stuck in a loop with Petersen raising Neuville out of the game until he would eventually find a premium hand, would move all-in, and find the double up. Neuville was so patient he would regularly go below the 10 big blind mark in order to wait for his premium hand to arrive.

Then finally, after six hours of nondescript activity Petersen finally managed to get Neuville to call an all-in showdown where Petersen was ahead. Petersen’s was up against Neuville’s , and everyone was expecting a split pot. The flop of increased the split-pot possibilities ten-fold, but the on the turn gave Peterson a ray of light, and then the secured the deal giving Mickey Petersen the distinction as 2012 EPT Copenhagen champion.

But it wasn’t always that formulaic.

When action began, former PokerStars Caribbean Adventure final tablist, Aage Ravn, was the favorite to win with 2,458,000 chips.

Play didn’t even breach the second level of the day before the first elimination occurred. Former Sunday Million winner, Spencer Hudson fount in a great spot against then chip leader Aage Ravn, who was holding . The flop was clear of any mines – – before the on the turn blew Hudson’s dream of a double up apart and sent him reeling to the rail. The first level ended with Hudson being the only confirmed casualty, and Ravn extending his lead at the top.

We waltzed into Level 24, with blinds at 12,000/24,000/3,000, and Steve O’Dwyer became the second person to leave the EPT Copenhagen final table. Once again Aage Ravn played the role of the conqueror, but this time he did not have to come from behind. Ravn’s dominated the of Ireland’s latest resident, O’Dwyer, and he was eliminated in seventh place.

While Americans were being deported left, right and center, there was a Dutchman who had developed a seemingly perfect strategy. Niels van Alphen found pocket aces and then pocket kings, and each time a willing partner to play all-in poker. But just when van Alphen was seemingly finding premium hands for fun, a Pierre Neuville found one with just a little bit more strength. Van Alphen found and Pierre Neuville found and the Dutchman was out in sixth place.

Steve O’Dwyer joined the commentary booth and told the viewers how impressed he was with the play of Jacob Rasmussen and then completely jinxed him! Rasmussen lost the majority of his chips to Bjarke Hansen after calling all-in on a board of , while holding . Hansen’s held up and as Hansen joined Petersen and Ravn at the top of the counts, Rasmussen was in deep trouble at the bottom.

With five big blinds and no choices left except to move all-in or fold, Rasmussen went about his business and went about it well. Ironically, it was the man who was responsible for his demise who became his chip benefactor. Hansen doubling Rasmussen up twice, first holding the mighty against , and then versus .

While Rasmussen was experiencing a renaissance, Mickey Petersen was finding a set against the experienced Neuville to take the chip lead for the first time in the day. Interestingly, as soon as Petersen took the lead, Ravn couldn’t win a pot, and he started to lose ground on the leaders in rapid fashion.

Then Rasmussen’s luck dissipated as Petersen called his all-in holding . Rasmussen had and a slight mathematical advantage, an advantage that would flip on its head after an flop. Rasmussen found himself in a minefield with nowhere to turn and the sealed his fate with a fifth place finish. After Rasmussen’s exit Petersen enjoyed a 2:1 chip advantage over Bjarke Hansen and Aage Ravn, while Pierre Neuville had a mere 12 big blinds.

Neuville had to move his 12 big blinds into the middle sooner rather than later, and when he did he could not have timed it more perfectly. Mickey Petersen was his all-in opponent holding and Neuville held a monster – . Not that he needed it, but the flop handed Neuville quads, and increased his stack to around 25 big blinds, giving him a little more room to play.

Despite the Neuville double up, he was still short-stacked, but the continuing spiral of Aage Ravn had other plans. Ravn got his chips into the middle holding against Hansen, who was holding . Ravn looked likely to double up as the hit the board but the on the river dashed his hopes and play was three-handed.

Pierre Neuville reminded his two younger counterparts that there was life in the old bones. The Team PokerStars Pro doubled up against his teammate Mickey Petersen, after Neuville’s survived a flip against Petersen’s . Neuville then went on a mini heater.

Level 27 was a great one for Neuville as he glided to the top of the chip counts after a series of huge pots involving another clash with Petersen. With all three players on an even par, Bjarke Hansen raised to 100,000 on the button, Petersen three-bet to 255,000, Hansen four-bet to 550,000, Petersen moved all-in and Hansen called. Neuville was licking his lips as Hansen tabled and Petersen tabled . The board changed nothing and Hansen was out and the intriguing heads-up encounter between Petersen and Neuville was set.

For his win, Mickey Petersen takes home the EPT Copenhagen trophy, a nice shiny Shamballa bracelet and DKK2,515,000.

2012 EPT Copenhagen Final Table Results

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November 04 2011, Chad Holloway

Playing your first World Series of Poker and making the final table of the Main Event is every poker player’s dream. In 2011, that dream came true for 22-year-old Pius Heinz, a student from Euskirchen, Germany. To make things even sweeter, Heinz becomes the first player from Germany to make the Main Event final table. If he hopes to become the first German champion, he’ll have his work cut out for him; he starts the table seventh in chips with 16,425,000.

Before the Main Event, Heinz actually navigated a field of 2,713 in Event #48 $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em to make the final table, ultimately finishing in seventh place for $83,286. That win gave Heinz the bankroll and confidence to enter the Main Event.

PokerNews recently caught up with Heinz to get his thoughts on being a member of the November Nine, what he’s been up to since July, and what he’s doing to prepare for the final table this weekend.

Was there any hand during the Main Event that you thought was a turning point for you?

Obviously there were a couple of really important hands. On Day 1 actually, in the first level, there was a hand where I had a four-card nut flush draw. My opponent had a straight flush draw. It was with two clubs, an offsuit on the turn, and the on the river. I bet 1,800 and my opponent, like a 58-year old gentleman, made it 5,000. I just called [with the ace-high flush] and he showed . This could have eliminated me from the tournament, so that was pretty interesting.

On Day 6, I won a gigantic flip against Sebastian Ruthenberg when I had and he had . I was fortunate enough to win the flip in an eight million-chip pot at the time, which was for a top three stack I believe.

What did it feel like making the November Nine? How long did it take to set in?

It felt incredible, just unbelievable. I was waiting for someone to wake me up. It was really, really, really sick and completely unbelievable. It took me a pretty long time to realize actually. When it happened, I wasn’t feeling anything else but happiness, basically. It’s really hard for me to describe that moment.

What was the reaction of your family and friends back home in Germany?

They obviously went crazy. Most of them aren’t poker players, so you might expect that they don’t really realize what’s going on, but they may have been even more excited than me to be honest. They were really excited, and we had a small party. They were really, really proud of me.

Who will you be bringing to watch you at the final table this weekend?

I have a couple of poker friends coming. Most of my family is going to be here: my brother, my sister, and my mother. A couple of other friends from back home.

What have you been doing in the days leading up to the final table?

I have a couple of interviews to do. I’m going to try to use the next couple of days to relax. When I have the time, I’m not going to do anything too overly exciting. I’m just going to relax as much as I can.

During the three-month November Nine hiatus, what did you do with your time? Did you do any traveling? Play any tournaments?

I actually didn’t play that many tournaments. I moved to Vienna, that’s not really traveling, but it obviously takes some time. I went to Barcelona for the European Poker Tour. I busted on Day 2, but I managed to win a side event, so it turned into a pretty profitable trip, which was nice. Other than that, I was just meeting friends, doing all sorts of media stuff, playing some online poker, and basically just taking it easy.

Have you spent anytime watching the ESPN broadcasts of the Main Event and studying your opponents?

I watched a lot of the coverage, mainly from Day 8. I’ve watch a little from Day 5 and everything, but I’ve watched everything from Day 8.

If you were to make it to heads-up play, whom would you like to face off against?

Probably against Bob Bounahra.

Is that because you feel he is the easiest to defeat?

I don’t want to say it that way, but I think I would have an edge against him. It would be fun though, he’s a pretty cool guy. He was really excited and definitely enjoying his time. I think it’d be pretty fun actually.

What’s more important to you: the money of the Main Event bracelet?

The money.

Did your final table earlier in the WSOP give you the bankroll and confidence to enter the Main Event?

Yeah, but I swapped with people, which is pretty standard. I mean everybody did that. I don’t think anybody at the final table [didn't swap] other than maybe Badih, who is a businessman, and I guess maybe Ben Lamb. It just makes the best since because you can beat the variance more easily.

Do you have any plans for your money? Any big splurges?

No, not really. I’m not really worried too much about that right now. I haven’t bought anything meaningful like a house or car or anything like that. I don’t know what I’ll win yet, I know the minimum amount, but there is quite a bit of difference between winning [and finishing ninth].

Do you think poker is in your future? Do you plan to travel the circuit a little bit?

Oh yeah, I’m definitely going to be doing that. You’ll find me at a lot of EPTs this season.

It was announced the day after this interview that Heinz became the latest PokerStars Pro, joining Team Germany.

To learn more on Heinz, check out his post-November Nine interview:

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Follow Chad Holloway on Twitter – @ChadAHolloway