Russian Poker Player Wins EPT Kiev

First ever European Poker Tour event in Kiev ends in victory for Maxim Lykov.

Maxim Lykov, a 21-year-old poker player from Moscow, triumphed at the opening event of the new European Poker Tour (EPT) season in Kiev on Sunday (August 23rd).

Lykov outlasted a field of almost 300 players in the Ukraine capital to claim the €330,000 (£286,350) first prize, with Alexander Dovzhenko winning €220,000 for second and third-placed Vitaly Tolonnikov taking home €140,000.

The young poker star, who also won $145,000 in a no-limit hold'em event at the World Series of Poker earlier this summer, is the first EPT champion to win an event after holding the chip lead for three consecutive days.

"On days two and three, I really felt quite confident that I would make the final. I am very proud to win this tournament," Lykov told the EPT website.

"It was a hard contest but I believed I could do it," he added.

The opening event of the EPT's season six was initially scheduled to take place in Lykov's home city, but the recent closure of all Moscow's casinos under new Russian gambling laws meant that the tournament was moved to the Kiev Sports Palace.