Poker player from Finland has a $225 000 start to 2008

Online poker player ‘Saage’ from Finland has had a happy start to the New Year, and is over $225 000 richer following significant consecutive day wins in tournament play at Mansion Poker.com.

Saage secured a first place finish in the December 30 Grand Tournament to pocket $203 040 at the online poker website, having won the Euro Grand Prix $70 000 guaranteed tournament the previous day, earning an additional $22 875 in prize money.

Saage had to survive a large 847 player entry field - all looking for the lion’s share of the $847 000 prize-pool - to finally claim victory in the Texas Hold ‘em Grand Tournament - his first major tournament win at the site.

The final hand saw Saage dealt pocket rockets on the big blind Heads Up against his opponent’s A-3 off suit. All the money went in pre flop and the board showed 7H-2S-QD-TC-6H, with Saage’s pair of Aces holding up to take the pot and first prize.

January’s Grand Tournament will probably be attracting similar interest, offering as it does a $500 000 guaranteed prize-pool. Players can buy-in directly for $1000+$40 or participate in one of several online qualifiers throughout the month from as little as $1.

The Grand Tournament format is a No Limit Hold’em Freezeout ‘flights’ event with a 10 000 chip starting stack, a 30 minute blind structure, and an option of two starting days. Surviving players from both heats automatically earn a ticket to the Final with their ‘flight’ chip stacks carried over.

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