With sooner or later within the books and another 10 still to come, the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final is a marathon. But it is a marathon comprising quite a few sprints.
The first of these raced away at a remarkable clip this afternoon within the Sporting Club on the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel. It was Day 1 of the primary €10,000 high roller event, and it attracted a remarkable 156 players. To think they simply opened about five tables on the start, so unsure were the tournament organisers that any one was yet on the town. In fact they were. And they are all already playing.
Leading the pack heading across the first bend is Paul Newey, who bagged up 189,500 chips tonight after eight levels of play. He did that on his first and only bullet (so far), boosted by an early double-knockout when he rivered an entire house against a flush and a suite. Jean-Noel Thorel is close behind, with 189,000.
Early leader: Paul Newey
The prize pool swelled with the money of these less fortunate. About 50 players were knocked out, of whom 21 have already taken the optional re-entry.
Registration is open until the beginning of Level 11 tomorrow, that's the third they're going to play. So there might be many more players and more re-entries. We'll also know the whole size of the field, and the prize structure, somewhere with reference to the mid-point of the day.
Among the opposite big stacks tonight are the following:
Julian Stuer - 180,000Bryn Kenney - 168,000Vlad Darie - 166,000Stefan Sontheimer - 155,500Koray Aldemir - 151,200Onur Unsal - 148,500Jason Wheeler - 137,000Kully Sidhu - 137,000Farid Jattin - 135,900Steve O'Dwyer - 133,000
But there are big names during this field. Other familiar faces, and their stacks, include:
Charlie Carrel - 130,300Chance Kornuth - 121,800Dzmitry Urbanovich - 93,500Patrik Antonius - 39,300Jason Mercier - 24,000
Action grows much more frenetic tomorrow, when the France Poker Series (FPS) main event and the Monaco Cup both get going and there is also a €10,000 super-satellite to the super high roller tournament. Our spotlight will be at the FPS and this €10K, where they are going to play another 10 levels. The primary two will last 45 minutes, then it's 60-minute levels until the end.
Scroll right down to read all of today's coverage. And that chip-count page may have the whole counts from the day's play as and once we get them.
Goodnight for now.
* * * * *
FULL DAY 1 COVERAGE:
12:54am: Day 1 involves an end
With all the tables having dealt their final hands, Day 1 has come to an end with Jean-Noel Thorel, Andrey Zaichenko, and Paul Newey looking as if they're bagging up one of the most biggest stacks within the room. Back shortly with a recap of today's first day of action from the €10K Single Re-Entry High Roller. --MH
12:45am: Six more handsLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
The clock was paused and after a draw of a card the tournament director has ordered each table to deal six more hands, then Day 1 can be complete. --MH
12:41am: Even bluffers can also be bluffedLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Pedro Oliveira was the person bluffing a short time ago, but he was the only being bluffed at present. Steve O'Dwyer did the bluffing and he was more than pleased with himself on the end of the hand.
Around 30,000 lay within the middle and Oliveira led for 22,400 before O'Dwyer raised to 71,700. Oliveira went into the tank for some time after which picked up his cards to have a look at them and said, "Probably the worst fold I ever make" before tossing them within the muck.
He pleaded with O'Dwyer to turn one and the previous champion of nearly every tournament held showed the K♦. "Ahhhhh!" responded Oliveira. He dropped back to 105,000 as O'Dwyer rose to 124,000. --MC
O'Dwyer shows one
12:34am: Almost doneLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
The big board shows QUARTER-HOUR left to move within the night's level, and they're going to be pausing that clock soon to deal the general hands of the night. A COMPLETE of 176 players have registered to this point, with 136 of them still in with an opportunity of constructing it to tomorrow's Day 2. --MH
12:32am: You must be DzmitryLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
The young Polish wizard is as much as his old tricks again. They are saying you have to play well and run well to win a tournament, and playing well is something you do not have to fret about in the case of Dzmitry Urbanovich. However, we just caught just a little his lucky side.
Urbanovich opened to 2,500 and was three-bet by Senh Ung to 6,000. It folded back to Urbanovich who jammed for 30,800 and Ung snap-called with J♥J♦. Urbanovich trailed with 9♦9♣, but -- like we told you already -- he gets lucky. Sorry for the spoiler.
The first three cards came K♣8♣J♣, giving Ung a suite and Urbanovich a club flush draw. He'd hit the flush at the turn when the 7♣ fell, but would have to fade the board pairing to secure the double. It was the T♠ that landed at the river, and the chips shipped to Urbanovich who's as much as 63,000. Ung is right down to 19,500. --JS
12:26am: Peters gets a quick doubleLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
David Peters has just got a far needed double-up and it came on the expense of Dietrich Fast. The yankee was all-in for 16,600 with K♣Q♦ and needed help as he was up against Fast's A♦J♦. The J♣9♣J♥ flop dropped the risk of a Peters double-up from 38.21% to 17.17%. But the T♥ turn was just the ticket for Peters and he hung on the 8♥ river to climb to the relative safety of a 35-big blind stack. --NW
12:18am: Gruissem opens, then Gruissem opensLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Philipp Gruissem, whose moustache keeps the dashing Douglas Fairbanks look alive, opened to 2,300 from early position. Dmitry Yurasov was opposite within the hijack and raised to 6,000. The action was folded back to Gruissem who pulled back his original bet and replaced it with a four-bet worth 13,400. That got a handy guide a rough fold from Yurasov.
On the following hand they did all of it again. Gruissem, under the gun this time, opened for 2,300 and Yurasov raised to 6,000. Dan Smith was waiting this time. From the button he raised to 13,800, forcing Gruissem to fold. Yurasov though announced he was all in for around 35,000 more. Smith called, and shrugged after they both turned over ace-king. The board ran blank. They split Gruissem's chips. --SB
12:13am: Yaghmai takes a ChanceLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
From under-the-gun Nariman Yaghmai raised it as much as 2,200. Then from one seat along Bahram Chobineh smooth-called just for Chance Kornuth to make the cost of poker on this hand 8,500 straight.
That didn't deter Yaghmal or Chobineh -- they both called and the flop fell A♦9♦2♠. The action was on Yaghmai and he elected to transport all-in, a chance worth in regards to the size of the pot. That removed Chobineh, but Kornuth swiftly called and it was time for showdown.
Kornuth: A♣K♣Yaghmai: A♠K♦
The Q♠ and 5♦ completed the board and so they chopped the pot. "I'm glad you did not have ace-queen," said Kornuth to Yaghmai, before adding "Pleasure doing business with you." --NW
| 8 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
12:07am: Oliveira holds out no branches
Sometimes you have to bluff on this game, other times there's just no use. Pedro Oliveira bluffed in a large pot, after which the very next hand, a straight won him a small pot.
In the primary hand (the last of Level 7), he and Christian Christner had made it to the river of a 5♣2♥9♦7♥4♥ board and around 85,000 chips had found their way into the center. Christner checked from the hijack and folded after Oliveira bet 27,000. Oliveira showed a bluffing K♦J♥ and added, "You were going to fold, then you definitely raised!" Christner's stack dropped to a still impressive 140,000.
In the very next hand (the primary of Level 8, although the blinds/antes weren't yet bumped up so it was essentially still Level 7), Oliveira raised to 2,000 and Andrei Konopelko was the one caller from the small blind. Both players checked the 9♥4♥T♣ flop before Oliveira check-called 2,000 at the 6♣ turn. The river was the 7♣, Oliveira checked again, after which winced once Konopelko checked behind. That's because he'd gotten there with A♠8♣, beating Konopelko's A♠6♠. He rose as much as 135,000. --MC
12:06am: Antonius cut in halfLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
It hasn't been the most productive evening of poker for Patrik Antonius, a person known for winning the equivalent of High Roller first-place prizes in single cash game hands alone. He's right down to 25,000 -- half the starting stack -- after losing a pot to Edmund Yeung.
I picked up the action with 7,000 within the middle and the board reading 6♦8♠2♦8♥. Yeung bet 3,500 and Antonius called (Mihai Niste was also within the pot but got out of how at this point).
The river came the 9♠ and now the bet from Yeung was 5,200. Antonius thought for a minute or so and at last made the call, but he should have been seeking to catch a bluff as Yeung's 6♠T♠ for a couple of sixes to compliment the eights at the board was enough to assert the win. --JS
Antonius, still among us
12:05am: For those about to rock (a second entry), we salute youLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
You know what they are saying -- if to start with you do not succeed, try again. Just once mind you, surrender after that.
So way over a dozen have bought back in for his or her one and only second chance on this single re-entry event. That group includes Fady Kamar, Oleh Okhotskyi, Alexander Kopylkov, Bahram Chobineh, Pierre Neuville, Sergio Aido, Sean Winter, Pratyush Buddiga, Adreas Munoz, Mike Watson, Anthony Zinno, Isaac Haxton, Adrian Mateos, Jack Salter, Dominik Nitsche. --MC
In the re-entry line... FIRE!
12:03am: Zaichenko tied for the leadLevel 7 - Blinds: 400/800 (100 ante)
Andrey Zaicenko have been increasing his chip stack during the last few levels and is now tied with Orpen Kisacikoglu for the lead with 145,000 chips. Find the newest selected chip counts here. --SB
12:00am (the stroke of midnight): The awful Reaper strikes from afarLevel 7 - Blinds: 400/800 (100 ante)
Something appeared to be brewing at the table featuring Chance Kornuth and Dominik Nitsche, and it was brewing between those two alone. Nitsche, from middle position, raised to 1,800 and Kornuth, within the hijack seat, raised to 4,500.
Action folded during the blinds and back to Nitsche, and he four-bet to 11,000. Kornuth checked out a stack of about 40,000 more and moved all-in. Nitsche, with an analogous stack size but with a transparent plan for just such an eventuality, snap-called.
Nitsche turned over A♣K♠ and was in pretty good condition against Kornuth's Q♣T♠. That's before the flop brought the Q♥ nestled between the 7♠ and 2♣, however, and the 9♥ turn, followed by the 2♠ river, didn't dig Nitsche out of the hole.
The dealer established that Kornuth's total stack was worth 45,100. Nitsche had him covered by about 1,300 -- crumbs by the factors of Level 7.
Here's an amusing coda to this hand. Nitsche is not the form of player to permit any more or less bad beat dampen his habitually cheery mood and immediately after seeing just about all of his stack slid to his neighbour, he shared a joke with Charlie Carrel, then picked up his phone.
Immediately upon turning at the screen, it became apparent there has been a photograph of the EPT Media Co-ordinator Mad Harper on it, beaming out from amid some text. It turned out that Nitsche was reading a piece of writing that had recently been published on (whisper it) another poker website* that profiled our friend and colleague Mad.
In the interview she gave to (whisper it) that other poker website, Harper remembered her early days at the EPT when her job involved giving out baseball caps to players who had just been eliminated from the tournament.
In her eagerness to ensure she didn't miss out anybody, Harper used to lurk behind the short-stacked players, preparing handy them their consolatory free gift. It ended in players regarding her as one of those Grim Reaper character, looming menacingly within the background as they went through their death throes. She retold this story with glee.
Harper isn't in Monaco this week, but Nitsche has now came upon that her powers transcend geographical location. There she was, looming on his phone, waiting to sell him a ticket to eternal tournament damnation**.
*Imagine you were dealt two fives in Texas hold'em. Then imagine you named a database of online tournament results, and a forum, after that hand. You will see that the interview there.
**Well, probably not eternal. There is a re-entry, too. --HS
11:49pm: The Gruissem twosomeLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
Mustapha Kanit is not the only man within the room sporting a mustache. Philipp Gruissem also has some groomed hair upon his top lip.
Gruissem kicked off this hand with a 2,000 bet, which was called by Pablo Melogno behind him and Andres Munoz within the big blind. It was a pretty-looking flop because it came A♠8♦A♣, which Munoz checked to the raiser. Gruissem continued for 2,500 and Melogno called, while Munoz threw his hand away.
The turn was the 9♣ and both checked, leading us to the 4♣ river. Now Gruissem picked up his betting habit again with a 5,500 wager, and Melogno didn't take too long to name. Gruissem was confident to start with -- he showed the A♥2♥ for trips. However, those two cards weren't good enough, as he was outkicked by Melogno's A♦T♦.
Gruissem slipped to 44,000, while Melogno increased his stack to the very same amount. --JS
11:40pm: Ramos too slick for MateosLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
Adrian Mateos will likely always have fond memories of this stop of the tour as he won his EPT title here in 2015. He's just been knocked out of this event, however, with Felipe Ramos claiming the scalp.
In the hand in question, Mateos opened to 1,800, there has been a smooth-call, then Ramos then raised it as much as 8,000 total. Back on Mateos he moved all-in for 28,200 and when it folded back to Ramos he tanked for approximately 10 seconds before calling.
Mateos: A♦Q♣Ramos: A♣K♠
The K♥3♦7♥8♠7♣ board kept Ramos in front and he's as much as around 74,000 whilst Mateos still has the choice to re-enter. --NW
Mateos down, not necessarily out
11:31pm: Nacho flushed awayLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
Just before the last break, Nacho Barbero bowed out in a 100,000-chip pot. Here is what happened.
Barbero and Vlad Darie took to an 3♠8♠T♥ flop when the chips went flying in. Barbero, and his remaining 45,300, were just covered by the Romanian.
Barbero: K♠J♠ for the second-nut flush draw.Darie: A♠T♠ for prime pair and nut-flush draw.
It seemed like a perfect flop for Barbero, but it surely truth it was an awful one. "Good luck guys!" he said after the board ran out 6♣ then T♣, giving Darie trips and the pot. Darie moved as much as 127,000. -- MC
Next year, it can be you. Click here to get a PokerStars account.| 7 | 400 | 800 | 100 |
11:11pm: One last break
Level 6 is finished and players are taking what is going to be the last 15-minute break of the night. Two more 45-minute levels after that, and Day 1 may be over. --MH
11:10pm: Orpen Kisacikoglu into the leadIt's a small lead, but it is a lead nonetheless for Orpen Kisacoglu with 157,000 to Paul Newey's 155,000. Find the most recent selected chip counts here. --SB
11:09pm: Even Mercier bows to KanitLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Mustapha Kanit is king of the EPT right now, and perhaps even the poker world. You recognize that is the case when Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier comes all of the way around the room to the touch you for luck. It didn't end at touching though, because the two had a funny exchange.
Mercier: "I just desired to touch you!"
Kanit responds while pointing at Mercier's beard: "What's this? It's bigger than your head, bro!"
Mercier answers while pointing on the patches on Kanit's chin: "What about this? Should you could grow one, you would!"
Kanit has the final word: "We grow Moustacha over here, bro!" while stroking his moustache. --MC
The mustachioed Mustapha
11:08pm: Luca gives Ozgur an 'Arda decisionLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
In a hand that extended into the break, Ivan Luca really put Ozgur Arda to the verdict at the river. It started when Luca got the action started, raising to 1,500, Arda three-bet to 4,100, and Luca stuck around.
There was no betting at the 8♦Q♥K♣ flop, and the 2♥ hit the turn. Luca fired out of venture of 4,100 and Arda smooth-called. The 7♥ finished off proceedings and Luca overbet the pot, firing out a chance of 25,750. Arda tanked for over four minutes before throwing his cards away. He's all the way down to 45,000 whilst Luca is as much as 98,000. --NW
11:02pm: Freitez train comingLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Julian Thomas opened it as much as 1,300 and Ben Heath instantly raised it to 3,500. It folded to Venezuela's Ivan Freitez and he shoved all-in for 23,250, which got folds all-round. Until it got to Heath, that is, who snap-called with Q♥Q♦.
Heath was way prior to Freitez' A♠7♠, however the 2♠5♠T♥ flush-draw providing flop certainly didn't help the young Brit. Freitez was looking forward to a spade to arrive, however the 6♦ turn wasn't amenable. The 4♠ then came screeching in at the river to present the Freitez train a flush and leave Heath's ladies with no ride. Heath is right down to 23,000 after that one while Freitez bumps up just about 50,000. --JS
10:59pm: WunderkinderLevel 6 - Blinds: 300/600 (75 ante)
There's no objective method to determine who's the most up to date prospect in world poker, but two of the highest candidates can slug it out among themselves this evening. Dzmitry Urbanovich has just showed as much as get his EPT Grand Final campaign started. His neighbour is Fedor Holz. You decide one. --HS
10:56pm: Carrel wants it allLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
I arrived on the table to peer a 4♣6♠K♥ flop at the felt and a raffle of 5,000 in front of Charlie Carrel. There has been about 7,900 within the pot (along with Carrel's bet) and action was on Aviv Meir. He elected to raise, making it 12,000 in total, and it didn't take Carrel too long to come excessive with a gamble of 23,000.
Meir desired to see what Carrel had back and Carrel obliged. "I HAVE about 35,000," he said, adding "I NEED to play with all of it or without any of it." Meir thought it over for somewhat longer after which mucked his hand. --NW
Charlie Carrel: Committed
10:50pm: The fashionably late continue to trickle inLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Late registration is open until the beginning of Level 11 of this event, and they are only playing eight levels today. That implies the good and the great of poker are continuing to reach to take the numbers on this event ever higher.
Patrik Antonius, who has a house in Monte Carlo, has made the fast journey to play and high roller regular Thomas Muehloecker has also joined the fray.
We may also get an appearance from a definite Kid Poker, although likelihood is that he won't be buying in until tomorrow. --NW
10:46pm: Four times fourLevel 6 - Blinds: 300/600 (75 ante)
Joao Simao opened from the under the gun and Nick Petrangelo was the one caller, sitting to Simao's right within the big blind.
There was no hanging around from there, particularly after the flop fell 4♦4♣9♦. Petrangelo checked, Simao bet 1,200 and Petrangelo quickly moved all-in for under 5,450 total.
A priced-in Simao called, but chuckled upon seeing Petrangelo's hand. It is not that he had a four. It's that he had two f them. Simao's Q♦J♥ was already drawing dead against Petrangelo's 4♠4♥. --HS
Nick Petrangelo: The fours are with him
10:42pm: Stars from 2012 do battleLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Mohsin Charania and Justin Bonomo are still stars within the poker world, but here at the EPT they shone brightest on the Grand Final back in Season 8. Charania took down the principle Event that year for €1,350,000 while Bonomo won the Super High Roller for €1,640,000.
The two are sat beside one another today and recently got their chips in after both found big hands. Charania was within the cutoff and three-bet an open to 3,100 before Bonomo cold four-bet to 6,100. The unique raiser folded but Charania five-bet to 22,000 and called all-in for 26,225 after Bonomo jammed.
Charania: K♥K♦Bonomo: Q♥Q♣
The board ran 3♣5♦9♣6♣5♥ to overlook both players. Bonomo dropped back to 41,000. --MC
10:37pm: Ike doesn't like being put to the testLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Ike Haxton was there and done it in terms of poker, so there's nothing that may happen that he hasn't handled before. That does not mean it's nice when you are forced to make your mind up on your tournament, though.
Haxton opened to 1,200, and Andrei Konopelko made the decision. Julian Stuer then made a three-bet to 5,200, which Haxton would call. But not Konopelko -- he shoved all-in for 84,700, which got Stuer out the way in which easily.
Meanwhile Haxton was harder to eliminate. He sat for a few minutes together with his palm over his forehead, deep in thought. He eventually felt it was best to provide it up, though, and Konopelko raked it in. --JS
10:33pm: Kenney sent to back of the QuLevel 6 - Blinds: 300/600 (75 ante)
Bryn Kenney is a comparatively recent arrival to this tournament, but when he thought he could get an early fillip, he picked the incorrect man to visit battle with when he took on Boyuan Qu. Actually, I AM NOT sure this was anything but totally standard, but Qu has just doubled his short stack through Kenney.
Kenney opened to 1,500 from under the gun and it folded around to Qu within the big blind. Qu shoved for slightly greater than 9,000 and Kenney got a count before calling. He tabled 5♥5♠ and was trailing Qu's J♦J♥.
The dealer didn't hang about. She flew during the board of Q♥9♣A♥6♣4♣ and Qu had double what he started with. --HS
10:30pm: Chip counts in Level 6Level 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Paul Newey still leads, while Steve O'Dwyer is an in depth second after sending Sean Winter to the rail. Find the most recent selected chip counts here. --SB
Paul Newey, newly on top
10:25pm: There may be just one Mustapha! There may be just one Kanit!Level 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
He won the €25K High Roller on the last EPT stop, bro. He followed it up by a win within the Sunday Million only a few weeks later, bro. He's only in his early twenties and he's already a legend, bro. It may well only be... Mustapha Kanit.
The Italian is in the home and able to play on this €10K. So, let's go, bro. --JS
| 6 | 300 | 600 | 75 |
10:24pm: Dvoress check-raises Wheeler out of itLevel 5 - Blinds: 250/500 (50 ante)
Jason Wheeler opened to 1,150 from early position and action folded around to Daniel Dvoress within the small blind. Dvoress called, and Rocco Palumbo also known as from the massive blind.
The flop came A♥8♠5♥ and both Dvoress and Palumbo checked. Wheeler tossed out a continuation bet of 2,100 but Dvoress seized on it shortly. He raised to 5,600.
Palumbo snap-folded and Wheeler wasn't far behind.
That was one of the most final hands in Level 5. They're now going into Level 6, with blinds of 300-600 and a 75 ante. --HS
10:17pm: One red wine and one triple-up pleaseLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
Chance Kornuth had a tight period of time to attend before he saw whether his squeeze all-in was rewarded in a triple-up. He wasn't worried as he had a pitcher of wine for company.
Peter Roche had opened to 1,500 from early position and was called in a single spot before Kornuth made his move -- for 12,525 -- from the button.
"How much is that?" asked Charlie Carrel with a way of urgency from the large blind. He called and so did Roche. The flop fanned 3♥7♠7♥ and Carrel led for 6,000. Roche folded to go away the EPT Dublin €25k High Roller finalists to it.
Carrel: A♣K♦Kornuth: J♠J♥
The board ran out T♠Q♠ and Kornuth's wine tasted just a little more Reserve-like. --MC
10:07pm: A view out to seaLevel 5 - Blinds: 250/500 (50 ante)
The unexpected turnout for Day 1 of this event has meant that it's overspilled already into the high stakes cash game area. There's one tournament table up in that section, which this evening has afforded the lucky eight players a spectacular view over Monte Carlo bay--and, as an added bonus, the sight of a firework display around the Principality.
Hey...! Look over here!!!
Yeah, like all of them even batted an eyelid.
It was business as usual despite the million euros being strapped to rockets and embarked on the Med as Anthony Zinno, Dario Sammartino, Ivan Soshnikov, and Vlado Banicevic got desirous about a pot. Soshnikov opened from under the gun, making it 1,000 to play. Banicevic, one seat to his left, called and that persuaded both Zinno and Sammartino in from the blinds.
The flop fell 6♠5♣7♣ and Zinno, first to act, led out. He bet 1,600. Sammartino and Soshnikov folded, but Banicevic called. The 3♥ came at the turn and Zinno kept up his aggressive line. He bet 5,000. Banicevic called again, and that took them to the 4♦ river.
Zinno bet again, this time 7,000. Banicevic sigh-called, but Zinno turned over K♣3♣, playing the board. Banicevic was also doing that, but he had essentially been outdrawn. He had flopped a collection along with his 6♦6♥. --HS
9:51pm: Ace hand for ThorelLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
Two big hands don't always equal a large pot, but it surely did within the following instance.
By the time a J♥4♣7♦ flop hit the felt there has been already enough within the pot to indicate they'd been some heavy preflop action. Atanas Malinov checked to Jean-Noel Thorel and the Frenchman bet 5,500. Malinov hadn't checked to offer up, however, as he check-raised to 14,500 total. Call from Thorel.
The 6♣ fell at the turn, Malinov moved all-in, and Thorel quickly called. The Bulgarian showed pocket queens, but he was behind to Thorel's A♦A♣. The A♠ river improved Thorel further and he doubled up.
Thorel was all-in for 25,700 at the turn, and so is as much as around 85,000. Malinov meanwhile is all the way down to just 3,800. --NW
Jean-Noel Thorel likes the look of his hand
9:43pm: Big pot brewingLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
I glanced over at one in all our many tables and saw roughly 18,000 within the pot. Then I directed my stare towards the finished board -- T♣5♠J♦K♦8♠. Next I SPOTTED there have been two players within the pot -- Oliver Weis and Farid Jattin. And eventually I clocked that Weis had checked, and Jattin had put out a big gamble of 13,400.
Before I had an opportunity to process all of that, Weis then jammed excessive for about 50,000. I USED TO BE still counting out exactly how much the raise was when Jattin made a fast call, only to muck when he Weis revealed his A♠Q♦ for a rivered straight.
Jattin has slipped to 24,000, while Weis is sitting pretty with something near 120,000. --JS
Day 1 of the €10K Single Re-Entry High Roller continues
Next year, it may be you. Click here to get a PokerStars account.| 5 | 250 | 500 | 50 |
9:21pm: Break time
They've reached the top of Level 4, and players are taking another 15-minute break. --MH
9:19pm: Some countsLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
Below are the present counts of a few of the names and notables within the field today. --NW
| Ivan Luca | 91,000 |
| Philipp Gruissem | 76,000 |
| Andrey Zaichenko | 73,000 |
| Isaac Haxton | 72,700 |
| Ben Heath | 63,000 |
| Charlie Carrel | 59,000 |
| Vladimir Troyanovskiy | 47,800 |
| Benjamin Pollak | 47,600 |
| Ollie Price | 41,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 39,800 |
| Sean Winter | 38,900 |
| Nick Petrangelo | 37,400 |
| Daniel Dvoress | 37,200 |
| Mike Watson | 34,500 |
| Chance Kornuth | 24,125 |
9:17pm: Aido doubles (to 8 per cent of a starting stack)Level 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
It was a type of double-ups where the player is excited about winning the pot, but in addition perhaps wondering whether it might has been better for to bust and re-enter. Sergio Aido was very short, but he's just managed to double -- and he's still very short with just 4,000 or 8% of the 50,000 starting stack.
Aido jammed for 1,950 and it folded to France's Hassan Fares within the small blind. Not knowing that there have been any action before him, Fares took out his small blind and put out a 500 chip instead, aspiring to call the 400 big blind. The ground needed to be called when he said it was a good mistake, however the ruling was that the five hundred needed to stay in. Fares folded and waved goodbye to the additional 200.
Chaofei Wang snap-called from the large blind though, and turned over his A♥J♣, which was sooner than the Spaniard's Q♣J♦. Only until the flop however, which came 4♥Q♦6♣ and Aido shot ahead. The turn was the 2♦ and the river the 7♠, and the chips shipped Spain's way. --JS
Some aid for Sergio Aido
9:12pm: Piotrowski chops ChobinehLevel 4 - Blinds: 200/400 (50 ante)
I arrived at the river with the board showing 9♥Q♣J♠J♦4♣ and Bahram Chobineh having just committed the last of his chips versus Przemyslaw Piotrowski.
Piotrowski tabled Q♥J♣ for a whole house, and Chobineh briefly flashed his cards -- king-ten for a straight -- before departing. Piotrowski is now as much as 110,000 and challenging for the chip lead as Level 4 nears its end. --MH
9:10pm: Newey takes the chip leadLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
As the song says, "Live and die at the river."
Paul Newey is as much as 115,000 after eliminating Yang Wang and Pierre Neuville within the same hand, our thanks visit Oliver Price for filling within the details for us. Pre-flop, Yang and Neuville limped and Newey raised to 2,000. Both players called.
The flop fell [Ax][Tx][6x] with two hearts and before the turn had come down all of the chips were within the middle and it was easy to peer why.
Newey: [Ax][Tx] - top two pairNeuville: [6x][6x] - bottom setYang: Q♥7♥ - flush draw.
The K♠ was a blank but a 10 at the river improved Newey to an entire house and eliminated either one of his opponents. It is a re-entry after all so we might even see them again. --NW
9:08pm: Jattin collectingLevel 4 - Blinds: 200/400 (50 ante)
Farid Jattin opened for 1,050 from early position, then Alexandre Rivero made it 2,875 from the button and Jattin called. The flop came T♠J♣7♦, and Jattin check-called a raffle of 3,050 from Rivero. With much deliberation, both then checked down the 5♦ turn and 2♣ river. Jattin then tabled 8♣7♣ for a couple of sevens, and Rivero mucked.
Jattin has 75,000 now, while Rivero sits on about 30,000. --MH
9:05pm: A hand that fizzled outLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
Sometimes you get excited watching the beginnings of a hand as a result of multiple bets getting in from early position (an excellent sign), and a player out of position getting concerned to boot (another good sign), but then you're left underwhelmed on the way it plays out.
Dominik Nitsche opened to 1,000 from early position before Chance Kornuth three-bet to 3,200 from the following seat. The action folded around to Nariman Yaghmai within the big blind and he had an even think before calling. Nitsche called too they usually were the last chips to go into the pot. The Q♥9♦6♥J♣2♦ board rolled out and all three players checked it the entire way down.
Yaghmai opened pocket fives and lost out to his two opponents who both opened Ace-nine and chopped the pot. In the end that excitement initially and no player had the decency to win the pot outright. -- MC
Dominik Nitsche: Not this time
9pm: Wu stares at Luca, Luca stares at nobodyLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
On a flop of 5♠T♥J♦ there have been five players within the pot, with Ozgur Arda of Turkey first to behave. He checked, and Andrei Streltsou of Belarus bet 2,400. Next to behave was Raymond Wu, who called, prompting a fold from seat eight.
It meant the action was on recent Eureka Rozvadov winner Ivan Luca. Never one to speed a decision, or to modify his expression, Luca paused before moving some chips around and raising to 7,000. Slow, methodical, and for these reasons the entire more menacing.
That forced folds from Arda and Streltsou and gave Wu a call. He checked out his cards again, after which at Luca (oblivious), after which mucked. Luca is as much as around 82,000. - SB
8:55pm: Ramos's rocky startLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
Felipe Ramos is within the building, but he's got a difficult table with both Martin Finger and Sam Chartier sharing his felt. He just lost a pot to the person to his left - Finger - and here's the way it played out.
Abdel Omais kicked things off with an open to 850, which Ramos, Finger and Chartier all called. It was four to the flop, which came the 8♣2♣T♥ and was checked the entire way across the. Q♥ fell at the turn and it checked to Ramos, who took control with a 2,000 bet.
Only Finger made the decision so we were heads-up by the point the 7♥ hit the river, and now Ramos checked - allowing Finger to install a chance of 5,900. That was enough to secure the fold and the win. --JS
8:50pm: The Ivan Freitez wayLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
There was no messing about from Ivan Freitez in a hand he played out with Isaac Haxton and Julian Stuer. He had the look of a person who desired to get his chips in quick and needed to wait until the flop before it was feasible.
Stuer opened from under the gun and was called by Haxton within the cutoff before Freitez squeezed to 4,000 from the button. Both players called to the K♠Q♥3♠ flop and checked the action over to the previous EPT Grand Final champion. He immediately moved all in for 17,175. Yaghmai and Haxton both released their hands. -- MC
8:45pm: Schillhabel having a sick year, but not sick anymoreLevel 4, Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)
If you were to glance on the the highest 10 highest money earners in live poker tournaments this year the bulk would come as no surprise. David Peters, Fedor Holz, Steve O'Dwyer, Bryn Kenney and Connor Drinan make up the highest five.
It's only while you reach the lower echelons that you simply might say, "Who's that during"? eighth place is Devan Tang. Every penny of his $1,405,500 earnings came when he finished third - behind Holz and Peters - within the $200,000 No Limit Hold'em Triton super high roller series
Then comes Stefan Schillhabel. The German pro is having some 365 DAYS. He finished fourth within the EPT Malta main event in October for €260,500 and hasn't stopped there. We last saw him at the EPT in Dublin where he did the UKIPT/EPT main event double profit. the UKIPT he was sick for the latter stages of the tournament. Coughing his lungs up and chain sucking cough sweets on his strategy to an 18th place finish.
Since then he's had his breakout win, taking down the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star in March for slightly below $1,300,000. He had an extra two small cashes in America but is now back in Europe. He had a few small cashes on the Grand Final last year but could be hoping to make a larger splash this time round. --NW
8:41pm: Kopylkov KO'dLevel 4 - Blinds: 200/400 (50 ante)
We found out a hand involving Alexander Kopylkov that left him looking not up to pleased. Then came another that ended with a large weary smile from the Russian, though not from gladness. Rather it was a kind of what-can-you-do grins we've all seen poker players make sometimes right after losing their stacks.
In the primary hand, Kopylkov had check-called a turn bet from Farid Jattin to built a pot up over 20,000. The board showed 5♥6♣2♣T♦, and after the 4♠ river Kopylkov checked again and Jattin fired another 10,500. Kopylkov thought slightly and called, and that is the reason when the frown came when Jattin showed J♥T♠ for jacks and the most productive hand.
Down to a brief stack, a couple of hands later Kopylkov watched a middle-position player raise to 700, Oliver Weis call from the button, and Martin Jacobson call from the small blind. Kopylkov then chose to reraise all-in for his last 5,300, knocking everyone out but Weis.
Weis turned over 7♠7♦ and Kopylkov had to improve along with his A♣5♠. The 3♣2♥5♦ flop brought him some hope, then the 4♦ turn made him a wheel.
But the river was the 6♦, putting a six-high straight at the board and giving Weis a seven-high straight, enough to send Kopylkov to the rail -- though not with no wry grin.
That's just the third knockout up to now today. Weis is up around 40,000 now. --MH
| 4 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
8:40pm: 119 entered so farLevel 3 - Blinds: 150/300 (25 ante)
Moving through Level 3, the large board is showing 119 entrants thus far, with 117 still with chips. Among those joining the thrill this level thus far are Fabian Quoss, Martin Jacobson, and Pablo Melogno. --MH
8:35pm: Early hit for MercierLevel 3 - Blinds: 150/300 (25 ante)
Jason Mercier had barely had time to tuck into his dinner before he hit a slight bump within the road of this event. He opened to 700 and it got two callers - Julien Stuer (to Mercier's immediate left) and Ike Haxton within the big blind.
The flop was the J♣J♠2♥ and Haxton checked it, allowing Mercier to continue for 1,150. Stuer made the call, Ike gave it up, and we saw the 9♦ at the turn. Now the bet from Mercier was 3,700, but Stuer had plans of his own and bumped it as much as 11,200. Mercier gave it up, dropped to around 44,000, and went back to his dinner.
Maybe it'll have a Popeye/spinach like effect and he'll be raking within the pots very quickly. --JS
8:30pm: Dan Smith's giant elastic bandLevel 3 - Blinds: 150/300 (25 ante)
Dan Smith has with him a huge blue elastic band, something I AM NOT sure we have seen before on the Grand Final festival. Actually it looks as if an invaluable strategy to stretch the body out a bit after hours sat hunched over chips and cards. It's small, portable, and discreet, or is till it's put to use.
Which Smith does from time to time, standing behind his chair as much as pull apart what looks as if a cam belt in front of him, then behind his back, then above his head. Which came in useful in a hand against Mareshki Veselin.
Dan Smith: A PERSON with good form in Monaco
Veselin opened from the small blind which Smith called from the massive. The flop came A♣5♣A♥. The action was checked to Smith who bet 800, which was called for a K♥ turn. Now both players checked.
With the 7♠ at the river Veselin immediately bet 2,100. Smith paused for a couple of moments, tilting his head sideways and stretching his neck in some way that would well has been impossible had he not loosened up with the blue rubber band.
It was no good though. No pain within the neck but pain in having to fold, which he did, giving the pot to Veselin. - SB
8:25pm: Early leader SontheimerLevel 3 - Blinds: 150/300 (25 ante)
The early leader on this one seems to be Germany's Stefan Sontheimer. No less than he sits atop the embryonic chip-count page.
8:20pm: Nacho dips into Chobineh's chipsLevel 3 - Blinds: 150/300 (25 ante)
With about 7,000 within the middle and the board showing 6♣7♥T♥, Ole Schemion led with a big gamble and got callers from both Bahram Chobineh and Nacho Barbero. The turn brought the 6♥, and this time Schemion checked. Chobineh took the invitation to fireplace of venture of 2,600 and only Barbero called. Both remaining players then checked the 2♣ river.
Chobineh showed 8♦7♣ for sixes and sevens, but Barbero had a greater two pair with Q♦T♠ and claimed the pot. Barbero bumps as much as 75,000 with that one, Schemion still sits with about 45,000, and Chobineh slips to 18,000. --MH
8:15pm: Nacho Nacho manLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)
Nacho Barbero is as much as 61,000 after creating a tough, but ultimately correct, river call against Bahram Chobineh.
There was no betting at the 9♦Q♦3♥ flop, but Chobineh picked up the betting baton at the 8♥ turn. He fired out 3,200, Barbero stuck around but Ole Schemion, who also still had cards, ducked out of the way.
So it was heads-up to a 9♠ river. There followed a pause from Chobineh, a big gamble of 6,200 and an extended tank from Barbero. He plucked the desired chips from his stack, thought for approximately another 10 seconds and called.
Chobineh rolled over A♥T♦ for a failed bluff, while Barbero had picked off that bluff with third pair, T♣8♣ to be exact. --NW
8:10pm: Duarte bets, Price paysLevel 3 - Blinds: 150/300 (25 ante)
Paul Newey opened for 700 from middle position, then Luiz Duarte three-bet to 2,000 from the cutoff seat. Oliver Price called the re-raise from the button, the blinds and Newey stepped aside, and the flop came 2♥5♠6♠. Duarte led for 3,000 and value called. The turn was the 8♣ and Duarte was betting again, this time 9,000, and value called once more.
The river then brought the A♣, and when Duarte pushed out 16,000 Price decided he'd had enough and let his hand go. Duarte is as much as 75,000 now while Price drops to about 40,000. --MH
8pm: Check pleaseLevel 2 - Blinds: 150/300 (25 ante)
This hand looked to be as dull as dishwater, but then again, some hands can also be deceiving.
Fedor Holz opened it to 750, Orpen Kisacikoglu called, Daniel Dvoress also matched it from the small blind, while Rocco Palumbo gave up his big blind. The 3 saw a 8♣2♠8♥ flop, and it went check-check-check. (There could be an entire lotta checkin' on this one). The turn was the J♥ and the checks were within the mail all over again. Then the A♦ hit the river.
It really didn't look like anyone had any of this up until this point, so would that Ace have changed much? The Ace has showdown value, in order that could warrant all players to test. On the other hand an Ace may well be best, so maybe that may has been worth a chance. Then again, what do I DO KNOW about high-level poker?
All I DO KNOW is Dvoress checked, then Holz checked, and the action was on Kisacikoglu. He waited a moment before putting out a big gamble of 1,400, and here's where the hand sprung into life. Dvoress patiently counted out a 5,000 raise and slid it around the line.
Holz gave it up quickly, and the action was back at the man from Turkey. He made the decision and Kisacikoglu mucked when Dvoress flipped over the A♠8♠ for a whole house. He had all of it along, and should have been looking ahead to someone to catch up.
His plan worked perfectly, but he's still not quite back as much as a starting stack with 43,000. --JS
7:50pm: Jason joins the gameLevel 3, Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)
Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier has just taken his seat to take the sector to 110 players. Mercier had a deep run more often than not event here in Season 11, finishing 28th. Over time this stop of the tour was a contented hunting ground for him. In 2013 he had an outright victory within the Open Face Chinese event and a second place within the €100,000 super high roller. Oh, and he was also on that ridiculous main event final table, which was won by Steve O'Dwyer. --NW
| 3 | 150 | 300 | 25 |
7:40pm: End of the level, break time
With two levels done, players are heading for his or her first break of the day. --HS
7:38pm: Gu gets a fewLevel 2 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
In the last hand of Level 2, Justin Bonomo opened for 525 from under the gun, Huidong Gu called from the cutoff, and Mohsin Charania often known as from the massive blind.
The flop came T♠8♦J♦ and it checked around to Gu who bet 1,500. Only Charania stuck around. Both remaining players then checked the 2♦ turn, then after the J♠ came on fifth street Charania bet 4,000. Gu paused for several seconds, then raised to 12,000, and after thinking himself a little while Charania called.
Gu turned over J♣T♥ for a rivered full house and Charania mucked. Gu goes to wreck with about 68,000 while Charania has 35,000. --MH
7:37pm: Easing into the chip-counting gameLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (50 ante)
We'll get that chip-count page working after the primary break (that is bobbing up.) Within the meantime, listed here are three counts:
Phil Gruissem - 49,000Dan Smith - 55,000Stephen Chidwick - 52,000
The dashing Phillipp Gruissem
Starting stack was 50,000. (SO THAT YOU can see why we have not been massively bothered with the chip-count page to now.)
7:35pm: River bombs working wellLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (50 ante)
If you rarely show all the way down to win a hand in a poker tournament you're (ultimately) going have a big return to your investment. Pierre Neuville, Steve O'Dwyer and David Yan just fired big river bets to get their respective opponents off their holdings.
Neuville was within the big blind and bet 7,500 at the river of a 6♣T♥A♣9♣8♥ board and Imed Mahmoud tank-folded, while showing an ace, from the cutoff. The Belgian raked within the pot while showing an ace of his own.
Pierre Neuville: Ace
Moments later, O'Dwyer had similar success versus Orpen Kisacikoglu. Far fewer chips had made it into the center by the point their board rested as K♣5♦Q♠T♠6♠. Kisacikoglu checked from the massive blind and wasted little time in folding to O'Dwyer's 3,200 bet.
David Yan had the tricky task of ousting Jean-Noel Thorel from a hand, but he succeeded. His 6,000 turn bet was followed up by a 20,000 river bet. Thorel called quickly at the turn however the final 2♣T♦8♣4♦6♥ board wasn't worth this sort of wager and he also folded.
Neuville and Yan moved just past 60,000 and O'Dwyer moved as much as 72,000. - MC
7:30pm: Some light readingFor all you stats fans out there, here is a brilliant take a look at probably the most numbers from all of the festivals at the European Poker Tour. Which player's EPT cash comprises the most important percentage in their overall career earnings? Which 11 players recorded their first career cash with a primary event win? All of that, and more!
7:25pm: "Poker viral"Level 2 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
What do you call it when a hand played at one EPT stop continues to be being mentioned on the next one? Now we have our answer.
Chance Kornuth and Charlie Carrel are sharing a table here initially of this €10K single re-entry high roller. You may also recall those two were also sharing a table near the tip of a high roller on the last EPT festival in Dublin -- the €25K high roller through which Kornuth finished second and Carrel third.
The hand they were discussing? You remember it, too -- the only during four-handed play wherein eventual winner Mustapha Kanit bluffed Anton Bertilsson off the latter's pocket queens holding only queen-high. (Bertilsson would go directly to finish fourth.)
"It went like... poker viral," explained Carrel to the remainder of the table, well describing how discussions of the hand spread wildly in the course of the poker world once it had aired on EPT Live.
Expect more "poker viral" hands from Monaco, especially once cards-up coverage of events begins starting with the €100K super high roller final table later this week. --MH
7:20pm: If to start with you do not succeed...Level 2, Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)
Fady Kamar was the primary player eliminated today but it is a single re-entry tournament and he's hopped back in.
The second bullet is currently going the similar way because the first. He's all the way down to 46,000 after losing a pot to Christian Christner. --NW
7:15pm: Ask and also you shall receiveLevel 2, Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)
A few players were clamoring for a late night or early morning satellite to this event, for the reason that late registration is open until the beginning of level 11 - roughly 2.45pm local time tomorrow.
Well we've just heard that there'll be a €1,000 + €50 hyper turbo satellite at nighttime tonight. Players gets an 8,000 starting stack and 10 minute blinds. --NW
7:05pm: Late arriversLevel 2 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Level 2 is easily under way, where the blinds and antes have remained the similar however the field is increasing with every pass between the tables. Keep in mind that late registration is open (and the facility to re-enter also allowed) all the way until the start of Day 2
Among the most recent to sign up for the crowd are Justin Bonomo, Chance Kornuth, Andrey Zaichenko and Ivan Luca. --MH
7pm: Shak's spreadsheetsLevel 2 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
You do not get anywhere in life without putting in place the exertions. However, you've also got to bear in mind to take time for yourself too. Work hard, play hard, as they say.
One man who epitomises that may be Dan Shak. AN OVERLY successful man clear of the felt, Shak is here mixing it up on this €10,000 event - his "fun" job, in case you like any. time I've covered Shak in an event though, he always has his laptop to hand while he plays, deep in both spreadsheets and spread pots. Today is not any different.
Dan Shak's mobile office
Meanwhile, Jack Salter, Matas Cimbolas and Ivan Luca are only among the many new names within the field. --JS
6:55pm: Finger's impressionLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)
Martin Finger - tanned and in attire ready for summer - is in a calm mood and very looking ahead to the poker festival.
"Every time I come to Monaco, I AM GETTING an ideal first impression," said the previous EPT main event, high roller and super high roller champion. "Sometimes, before coming, I worry before about numbers but this year I'm excited again, especially with the numbers already on this high roller."
Martin Finger: Now chasing a turbo high roller title
Finger went directly to ask if the choice of players is asking good for the following 12 days and we told him that greater than 300 players alone have won their way commonly event on PokerStars, including about 120 via the Spin and Go promotion.
"Wow," Finger said. "You're probably just playing Spin and Goes for fun after which you win. What do you do? Take per week off work and are available to Monaco after all"! --MC
Next year, it can be you. Click here to get a PokerStars account.| 2 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
6:46: Solid Orpening level for KisacikogluLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
With greater than 20,000 within the middle and 4 players still vying for the pot, the board showed 4♠K♦6♠7♦Q♠ when Ole Schemion checked from the small blind. Sitting to his left, Mareshki Veselin fired of venture of 11,000, then around the table in middle position Orpen Kisacikoglu called. Sean Winter was also within the hand at the button and he folded, and Schemion chuckled somewhat before sending his cards to the muck as well.
Veselin turned over 5♥3♣, having turned a straight, but Kisacikoglu had rivered a flush with J♠T♠ and picked up the large pot. Kisacikoglu is up over 75,000 now because the day's first level concludes. --MH
6:45pm: Former neighbours, together againLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Ike Haxton, Steve O'Dwyer and Justin Bonomo all used to live within the same building in Las Vegas - the infamous Panama Towers. While they've since moved on (Haxton and Bonomo have lived in Malta for the past few years) the 3 friends (plus the fourth member of that group, Scott Seiver) probably know each other's games better than any one.
The excellent news for us, then, is that Haxton, O'Dwyer and Bonomo are all at the same table at the moment. All we'd like is Seiver to reach and get a seat on that table and it will be friends reunited. --JS
6:44pm: Fashionably late arrivalsLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari, Dominik Nitsche, Byron Kaverman, Francisco "Tomate" Benitez and Mike McDonald have all now taken their seats across the felt. --JS
Andre Akkari: Team Pro in from Brazil
6:42pm: Greenwood scores a knockoutLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)
We reached the table to look the overall throes of an enormous pot between Fady Kamar (hijack) and Sam Greenwood (cutoff). There has been around 8,500 already within the middle and a whole board of 3♠5♦8♥K♣4♠ at the felt.
There have been significant river action too as there has been a gamble if 15,075 in front of Greenwood and an all-in bet of 33,475 in front of Kamar. Though they were sat side by side Greenwood stared straight ahead and it seemed he was faced with a very tough call. He was fidgeting with his remaining 5,000-denomination chips and seemed set to drop them over the betting line once or twice only to modify his mind on the last second.
Eventually, though, Greenwood decided calling was the proper plan of action and dropped his chips over the road. Kamar showed 4♥4♦ for a rivered set but Greenwood had got there one street earlier with K♦K♥. The Canadian is as much as 83,000 because of this while Kamar has, we think, gone to rebuy. --NW
6:40pm: Banicevic calls, collectsLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Playing from the hijack seat, Nick Petrangelo opened for 425 and was called by either one of the players to his left: Vlado Banicevic (cutoff) and Fady Kamar (button).
The flop came 9♣6♦Q♠ and Petrangelo continued for 900, with only Banicevic sticking around. Both players checked the A♥ turn, then the J♥ completed the board.
Petrangelo paused a moment, then pushed out a raffle of 2,000. Banicevic thought of the same quantity of time and called, then saw Petrangelo table his 9♦5♦ for a couple of nines. Banicevic turned over K♠J♣ for a greater pair, and he claimed the pot. --MH
6:38pm: Unorthodox but not unexpected start for SchemionLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Ole Schemion doesn't do many stuff the standard way - from his poker to his fashion to his approach to transport around poker rooms. (WE HAVE SEEN him ride a skateboard across the tables at previous EPT stops). Something that does appear to be a convention for him is getting off to great starts in tournaments.
He is on his feet and dressed casually today, but his poker continues to be removed from traditional. After facing an open to 650 from Bahram Chobineh, Schemion made the decision from the massive blind and the 2 saw a T♠5♦8♦ flop. Now, the standard play can be to test to the raiser, but Schemion led straight out for 750. This ended in a raise to 2,200 from Chobineh, which Schemion called.
The A♣ landed at the river but rather than checking Schemion again snatched the betting lead. He put out 3,800 and got his Chobineh to put it down.
Schemi-on and upwards for the German. --JS
6:35pm: SirWatts is servedLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Lots of multi-way action early on within the day's first level where players began with stacks 250 big blinds deep.
Just now 2016 PCA Main Event champion Mike Watson watched his neighbor raise and he chose to three-bet from the cutoff, earning a few callers behind plus the unique raiser. A BIG GAMBLE from Watson at the single-suited 7♠9♠3♠ flop winnowed the sphere to simply one opponent, then another at the A♥ turn earned him the pot. Watson chips up just about 60,000 within the early going. --MH
6:30pm: High roller or musical chairs?Level - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)
Don't get comfortable to your seats, players, as you may also not be there long.
The tournament is growing to such an extent - the eighth table is being opened, and the ninth might be along shortly - that many players are being moved from their original seats to new tables to be joined by fresh players. Two such players were Isaac Haxton and Simon Deadman.
Simon Deadman: Back to the tournament scene
We're hoping Deadman can still remember easy methods to play tournament poker. He was last seen on tour leaving the PCA and heading to Las Vegas where he's been grinding cash games formerly. -- MC
6:25pm: Nothing but namesLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Players are continuing to flock in o the tournament room for this high roller event. Sam Greenwood and Daniel Dvoress are here, but a sighting of former PCA winner and two-time WSOP bracelet winner John Gale didn't actually mean he's playing this one. Gale seems like he's actually playing the FPS satellite.Expect the large names to maintain on coming' nonetheless --JS
6:15pm: Ante up!Level 1, Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)
There aren't too many tournaments that experience an ante from Level 1, but this one does. The players are forced to install a minimum of 25 in their 50,000 starting stack within the middle on each hand through the opening level.
The idea is, of course, that a running ante creates action--and at the first hand I witnessed the action folded to Dan Smith within the small blind. He completed and Martin Finger checked his option. Neither player bet the "actiony" 9♣7♦T♦ flop but Finger fired out 325 at the 6♣ turn and he took the pot.
So, apparently regardless of the way you attempt to force the action players will still play snug in the beginning. --NW
6:10pm: Another Grand Final championLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
In addition to Adrian Mateos, the reigning Grand Final champ, Ivan Freitez has also slipped into this event. Freitez won the Grand Final when it decamped to Madrid for a season, but he's mixing it within the €10,000 high roller today, sitting next to Dan Smith. --HS
6:07pm: First arriversLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
Preparations are still being finalized over often tournament area for the two-week festival, so Day 1 of our event is going on over on one side of the already thriving cash game area where about 20 tables are in action.
About 20 players are already of their seats to start the tournament today with more arriving as Level 1 begins. Among those here for the primary orbit are Ole Schemion, Stephen Chidwick, Ben Heath, Charlie Carrell, Nick Petrangelo, Isaac Haxton, Martin Finger, and EPT11 Grand Final Main Event champion Adrian Mateos. --MH
Adrian Mateos, back on the scene of greatest triumph
6:04pm: Shuffle up and dealLevel 1 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
The first arrivers are of their seats and the initial hands of the €10K Single Re-Entry High Roller are underway.
As the tournament director just explained, they'll be playing eight 45-minute levels today, with late registration open the entire way through today and to the beginning of Level 11 tomorrow. --MH
| 1 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
5pm: The EPT Grand Final festival set to begin
It's day one of the most EPT Grand Final festival in Monaco. After five hard fought contests around Europe (and the Caribbean) we've reached the Riviera, the spiritual home of the ecu Poker Tour.
We start today with the only Re-Entry High Roller event, with the weird start time of 6pm local time (12 noon ET). We'll play eight 45 minute levels for an early morning finish, after which come again for the more traditional start time of 12:30pm for Day 2 tomorrow.
This is an new event to the festival, which precedes the super high roller which begins on Thursday. A seat today costs you $10,000 (and another €10,000 if you would like the re-entry), with the overall table on Thursday.
While we watch for the beginning in an hour's time, make the most of the links below for one of the vital background to the festival, and the EPT App which features the entire details of each one of the crucial 80 events to be played over the following ten days.
Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account.Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for the remainder of the season.
Also all of the schedule information is at the EPT App, that is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team on the EPT12 Grand Final: Howard Swains, Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Nick Wright, Jack Stanton and Martin Harris. Photography by René Velli. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
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