With only one event between the European Poker Tour German Open and the Grand Final, excitement was high, and 667 players turned out for one last chance at an EPT title in the 2008-2009 season.

More than a few Germans showed up for a shot at the over four million dollar prize pool.

EPT 2009 in Retrospect: The German Open

The real story of the German Open was the presence of Sandra Naujoks at the final table. Were Naujoks to win she would be the second woman to win a European Poker Tour crown. However, it would be an uphill climb for Naujoks, as she was the second shortest stack at the table, with over a million fewer chips than the leader, Hoger Kanisch.

Eye on Sandra Naujoks

Najuoks would outlast her first opponent when Luca Pagano moved in with pocket sevens and was called by Marc Gork's A9. Pagano looked good until a nine on the turn ended his EPT dreams. Naujoks, proving she could be as aggressive as any man, moved in repeatedly to build her chip stack, and assured herself at least a fourth place finish by knocking out defending champion Mike McDonald with pocket tens against his KJ.

When she woke up with AK against Johan Storakers AQ, Naujoks guaranteed that a hometown German would win the final and that she had a 2-to-1 chance to be that German.

Naujoks Triumphant

The two male Germans were unmoved by the opportunity to help Naujoks make history, but it mattered little. Naujoks effortlessly doubled up against Gork with pocket tens against Gork's pocket sixes, then stood back as Kanisch knocked Gork out with pocket sevens against Gork's KT.

The heads up battle was fierce, and it looked like Kanksch might take a commanding lead when he got it in with AQ against Naujoks A9.

A meaningless ace came on the flop, but when a nine came on the turn, it was the improbable comeback story Sandra Naujoks who hoisted the EPT German Open trophy, the second female EPT champion ever.