This is an archive of a prior day's coverage. Please read our live updates for the most recent from the tournament floor.
The biggest ever EPT Grand Final main event field was whittled down significantly over Day 1A and Day 1B, but that also didn't mean shall we fit all of them in a single room today. It was Day 2 of the primary event and a combined 574 players were back for more; meanwhile we had 24 modern entries this morning.
First off, let's gown to the nitty gritty. The cheese. The scrilla. The bunse. Y'know - as in "bunsen burner, nice little earner". I'm talking in regards to the PRIZE POOL people.
Chip leader Pierre Calamusa
The 1,098 players created a prize pool of €5,325,300, as a way to be shared between 159 people. A min-cash gets you €8,890, but when you'll go the entire way - like Adrian Mateos did last year - you'll pick up a primary place prize of €961,800.
So, who's closest to that sweet money presently? That'll be France's Pierre Calamusa, who finished Day 2 with 580,800. He'll be closely followed on Day 3 by Marcin Chmielewski (493,500), and PokerStars Team Online's Randy Lew, who ended the day with 385,800.
Good day for Randy Lew
It was a mixed day for those wearing the red spade. Of the Team PokerStars Pros who were still on this event, Jason Mercier, Liv Boeree, Lex Veldhuis, Celina Lin, Naoya Kihara and Chen Ang Lin all busted.
Meanwhile, Vanessa Selbst, Jake Cody, Fatima Moreira de Melo, and the aforementioned "nanonoko" are still going strong. They're within the 205-ish players still left.
Here are some selected chip counts (the whole list won't be with us until much later, but we'll update the Blog once we get it).
| Pierre Calamusa | France | 580,800 |
| Marcin Chmielewski | Poland | 493,500 |
| Randy Lew | Canada | 385,800 |
| Albert Daher | Lebanon | 375,000 |
| Erik Seidel | United States | 368,400 |
| Fatima Moreira de Melo | Netherlands | 367,200 |
| David Susigan | France | 351,000 |
| Enzo Del Piero | United Kingdom | 348,000 |
| Adrien Allain | France | 347,000 |
| Fady Kamar | Lebanon | 343,000 |
| Sam Chartier | Canada | 283,300 |
| John Gale | United Kingdom | 267,500 |
| Dario Sammartino | Italy | 220,400 |
| Jack Salter | United Kingdom | 198,700 |
| Andreas Hoivold | Norway | 186,900 |
| Alex Luneau | France | 177,400 |
| Ami Barer | Canada | 162,000 |
| Jake Cody | United Kingdom | 150,100 |
| Tobias Reinkemeier | Germany | 146,200 |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | 113,000 |
| Dimitar Danchev | Bulgaria | 101,300 |
| Faraz Jaka | United States | 66,600 |
| David Peters | United States | 57,800 |
We'll need roughly 40-50 players to bust tomorrow before we get to the bubble - after which yet one more unlucky person to be eliminated before we get to the money. You will not wish to miss our bubble coverage tomorrow.
In fact, you will not need to miss any of our coverage tomorrow, which starts 12pm just as play does. So join us back here at the PokerStars Blog at midday.
Until then, we bid you adieu. --JS
8:15pm: Last five handsLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
The tournament clock have been paused and they're going to be five more hands before play is finished for the day. Among those who've just fallen short are: Martin Finger, Preben Stokkan and Eva Jiretorn. 216 players remain and the typical stack is 152,500. --NW
8:10pm: A flush and a straightLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
Dimitar Danchev greater than doubled up towards the tip of the last level, getting his stack north of 120,000. This was a type of pots that was almost impossible to piece together retrospectively because once I arrived on the table the flop was already out -- 5♠A♣4♣ -- and 3 players had weird amounts of chips in front of them, suggesting perhaps a bet, a call, a shove and a tank.
Let's skip the entire forensics and say that Knut Karnapp called Danchev's shove with A♦J♠ but that Danchev's flush draw -- he had Q♣5♣ -- got there at the 2♣ turn. The 3♠ at the river meant he had a straight too. Good for him.
The former PCA champ should now be a lock for Day 3. -- HS
8:05pm: Wow, seriously wowLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
Joao Vieira opened to 5,700 and Marco De Vincenti called from a few seats along. Isabel Baltazar moved all in with a ferocious intent and it was enough to look off Vieira. But De Vincenti immediately called.
Baltazar turned over 7♦7♠ and fans of my previous work (hello all!) will know what De Vincenti had. Yep: Q♠Q♣. (See 7:45pm post, and join the fan club.)
Every time I saw pocket queens on that previous table, they won the hand. And it gave the impression of being the standard story through a flop of 2♥K♠8♥ after which a turn of 9♠. However even supposing Baltazar was standing up and able to depart, the 7♣ at the river kept her alive.
"Wow, wow, wow!" she said. -- HS
8:01pm: The disagreeable prospect of a Seidel check-raiseLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
Perhaps you're a thrillseeker, the kind who thrives upon taking over anxiety-producing challenges and surviving them. For you, the possibility of facing an Erik Seidel river check-raise probably won't seem all that intimidating.
But for many us, it is not necessarily a thrill we seek. Denys Shafikov certainly didn't appear to enjoy it just now.
After raising 5,000 from middle position and getting called by Seidel from the blinds, the flop came K♠3♠6♦. Seidel check-called Shafikov's continuation bet of 6,000, then check-called again of venture of 13,000 after the 5♥ turn.
The river brought the T♠ and another check from Seidel. Checking behind would avoid the chance of that aforementioned check-raise challenge, but Shafikov chose to bet another 20,000. Seidel, characteristically leaned back in his chair, sat quiet and still for approximately a half-minute, then in a flash set out a min-raise to 40,000.
Shafikov looked upwards in response, studying the ceiling and searching as if he'd love to replay that last minute of action. A FEW beats later he folded, and with deliberation the winner of $26.5 million in tournaments stacked his newly-won chips.
Seidel has 383,000 now, while Shafikov has 138,000. --MH
8pm: ExitsLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
Just 225 players remain looking for the money that'll be dished out to the highest 159 finishers. Sadly for fans of Saar Wilf, Michael Melin, Robert Haigh, Deniz Ozen, Ike Haxton, Andrei Stoenescu, Ali-Talha Kilikli, Wenxiong Luo, Samuel Bonnett, Gerhard Meir, Stefano Terziani, Fergal Coyle, Aharub Khatri, Mark Teltscher, Jessica Drissi, Noah Novick and Patrick Nataf they will not be among them as they've all been knocked out. --NW
7:55pm: Bullets for GunLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
Gun Taljo is as much as 130,000 after doubling up with aces. He three-bet all-in from the large blind for 63,200 with A♦A♣. Kenneth Hicks had opened from the button and he looked him up with A♠K♦. A 8♠6♥5♦ flop was followed by the 8♣ turn and Q♦ river and the aces held firm.
Hicks drops to 85,000 after that hand. --NW
7:50pm: Another one down; 225 leftLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
Michael Melin was just all-in with a brief stack behind A♠J♣ against the K♦T♦ of Alp Tosuncuoglu. The J♠A♦5♦ flop improved Melin to top pair, however the 6♦ turn made a flush for Tosuncuoglu and Melin was drawing dead to be eliminated.
Just 225 players are left. --MH
7:45pm: Seven queensLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
There have to be a minimum of 15 queens within the deck on Faraz Jaka's table. In three consecutive hands, no less than one player had pockets queens they usually all went to showdown.
In the first, Erwann Pecheux opened to 5,500 from under the gun and Loc Tu called. Then Peter Akery raised to 17,500 and Andrei Stoenescu jammed from the cutoff for not a lot more than Akery had.
Pecheux and Tu folded, but Akery called and turned over the primary pair of queens. The precise brand was Q♥Q♦ and so they stayed good against Stoenescu's K♣Q♣. Stoenescu is out.
Shortly after, Faraz Jaka called Arno del Curto's shove. Jaka had K♦Q♦ but Del Curto had Q♣Q♠. The queens were good again, and it left Jaka with about 44,000.
On the very next hand, the action folded to Saar Wilf at the button and despite a tiny stack, he made a small opening raise. Jaka only had that pretty small stack within the big blind and he made a suspiciously-small three-bet, which prompted Wilf to shove.
Jaka called and both players had the type of big hands their tricky play suggested: Wilf had A♥K♣ and Jaka Q♣Q♠.
The board bricked again and after counting down who had more chips--Jaka did, by about 1,000--Wilf hit the rail. Jaka now has just shy of 100,000 because the day's final level progresses. -- HS
7:45pm: Prize pool details
The EPT12 Grand Final Main Event will play 159 places, from a combined prize pool of €5,325,300. The winner will receive €961,800. For full details take a look at the payout page.
7:35pm: Nice stack!Level 14 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
As we enter the last hour of play the players below look to be answerable for the ten biggest stacks within the room. They include Albert Daher, who's been near or on the top of the chip counts for his entire tournament, Erik Seidel, Team PokerStars SportsStar Fatima Moreira de Melo and Govert Metaal. It is the latter who leads at the moment but it's tight on the top.
| Govert Metaal | Netherlands | 390,000 |
| Marcin Chmielewski | Poland | 380,000 |
| Albert Daher | Lebanon | 350,000 |
| Erik Seidel | United States | 345,000 |
| Randy Lew | United States | 316,000 |
| Paolo Compagno | Switzerland | 299,500 |
| Fatima Moreira de Melo | Holland | 298,000 |
| Michel Dattani | Portugal | 290,000 |
| Dirk Gerritse | Netherlands | 272,000 |
| Dominykas Karmazinas | Lithuania | 270,000 |
You can take a look at our chip count page here.
7:30pm: Cody orders a doubleLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)
After losing a biggish pot a short time ago (see our 7:10pm post) Jake Cody gave up around half his stack. He did have 150,000 before that hand, and now he has it again and more after securing a double up.
Jinfeng Huo opened to 5,100 and Grzegorz Grochulski called from the small blind. Cody, within the big blind, then moved all-in for 77,000 and Huo gave it up before Grochulski made the call.
That was music to Cody's ears as he had the K♠K♥ against the 7♣7♦. The board was safe the entire way or even gave Cody a collection at the river. The Team Pro is as much as 160,000 now. --JS
7:25pm: Aces fail VladimirovichLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
Starastin Vladimirovich just went out of the development once you have his pocket aces cracked by Marcin Chmielewski.
The pair made it to a T♠7♦9♦ flop at which point Chmielewski pushed and Vladimirovich called off his last chips. The latter showed his A♦A♥, but unfortunately for him Chmielewski had a collection with 7♠7♥.
The turn was the 9♠ and river the 5♣, and Vladimirovich is out. Chmielewski has 380,000 now. --MH
7:15pm: Buonanno busto, and other elimsLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)
After being crippled in that three-way hand earlier won by Fabio Sperling, Lucas Monnier was sent railward soon thereafter.
Others busting before the last level completed were Pierre Neuville, Atanas Kavrakov, Sofia Lovgren, Ollie Price, Jean-Noel Thorel, and EPT10 Grand Final Main Event champion Antonio Buonanno. --MH
| 14 | 1,200 | 2,400 | 300 |
7:11pm: Shifting power on table SelbstLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
Michel Dattani doesn't quite have the profile of Vanessa Selbst or Patrik Antonius, but he goes by the moniker "FreeLancerZZ" on PokerStars and has no less than one Super Tuesday online. In other words, he can play.
He's actually now overtaken both Antonius and Selbst in chip counts too, most recently taking a large chunk out of the latter. Dattani bet 42,800 after Selbst checked the river taking a look at a board of 9♣4♥K♣8♠3♥.
After a very long time within the tank, Selbst called but saw some bad news. Dattani turned over 8♦8♣ and Selbst folded.
That put Dattani as much as about 290,000 and Selbst right down to about 155,000. -- HS
Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account.7:10pm: Three triangles, pleaseLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
Jake Cody just spotted an outstanding spot to attain a double elimination and build his stack beyond 200,000 chips. But though the spot was good, neither of these things came to pass.
The hand began in innocuous fashion with Jinfeng Huo opening to 5,000 from mid position. Immediately after that, it was like a runaway car had careered into some roadworks: red warning triangles were scattered around the felt.
First Ihar Soika moved all in. That brought out red "All-In" triangle Number 1. Then, one seat to his left, Grzegorz Grochulski wanted one too. He said he was all-in. (Soika had about 36,000; Grochulski had about 130,000.)
The action now came to the Team PokerStars Pro, one seat further around. Cody, with about 200,000, said that he too was all in precisely. because the dealer started searching on Amazon Prime for a job-lot delivery of All-In triangles (Preferred Deliver Date: Just about now, please), everyone else, including Huo, folded.
That meant they were going to a flop with the next hands:
Cody: A♦K♥Grochulski: A♣K♣Soika: 8♦8♣
The pocket pair was looking good for the all-in player together with his two opponents covering each other. So it proved because the board was dry until the river, when another eight popped out. -- HS
7:05pm: More for Moreira de MeloLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Team PokerStars SportStar Fatima Moreira de Melo is now right up there with the chip leaders.
I arrived at her table with a 7♥A♣4♥ flop showing. Dario Sammartino was within the pot and he checked, as did Moreira de Melo. Tomas Jozonis then put out a 10,000 bet, and both called.
We saw a 6♥ flop and Sammartino checked again. Now Moreira de Melo led for 28,000, which Jozonis called while Sammartino folded. The river 8♥ and now Fatima's bet was 55,000. That was too big for her opponent and Moreira de Melo moves as much as an overly respectable 313,000. --JS
6:55pm: Lew leaps upLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
Randy "nanonoko" Lew of Team PokerStars Pro Online and Abdelkarim El Haddouti had battled back-and-forth to the river during which point the board showed 4♣2♠3♥6♦Q♦. That's when El Haddouti bet 17,000, then Lew jammed all-in over the top, putting El Haddouti to a choice for the last 27,000 he had behind.
El Haddouti hemmed and hawed a couple of minute, then finally called, and Lew turned over the bad news -- A♥5♥ for a six-high straight. El Haddouti showed his Q♥7♥ for a couple of queens, and he headed to the rail.
Afterwards, Lew invited his followers on Twitter to count his chips. What do you're thinking that... around 300,000? --MH
6:50pm: Lodden thinksLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Earlier on, when Stephen Chidwick was at the TV table and Team Pro Johnny Lodden was within the commentary booth, Lodden proclaimed that Chidwick was his least favourite person to play against of the entire players at the EPT circuit. Quite a compliment. "He's simply too good," Lodden said.
A lot of individuals within the room are watching the live stream on their phones or tablets, and it kind of feels Lodden's words have got through. Chidwick opened a pot to 4,500 and both blinds called. The flop came J♦A♠2♥ and it checked to Stevie444, but once Chidwick went to c-bet both folded quicker than wet napkins. --JS
6:40pm: Sperling springs upLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
Following a Lucas Monnier open from the button, Andrei Simon reraised all-in along with his short stack from the small blind and Fabio Sperling did the similar from the large. Monnier didn't wait very long before calling to position either one of his opponent's at risk.
The trio tabled their cards, with both Monnier and Sperling standing as they did:
Simon: J♦T♠Sperling: J♣J♥Monnier: A♦K♠
The flop came 9♦T♦Q♠ to present both Simon and Sperling up-and-down draws, then the 3♦ turn gave Monnier a draw to the nut-flush. However the river was the 3♠, meaning Sperling's jacks were best.
Simon -- who'd remained seated the entire time -- needed to rise up to go away as he'd been eliminated. Meanwhile Monnier slips right down to on the subject of 15,000 while Sperling springs as much as 220,000. --MH
6:35pm: Nanonoko wins a healthy pot from FingerLevel 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
It seems to has been a sexy steady ride for Team Online's Randy 'Nanonoko' Lew on this main event. His chips don't appear to have been threatened once, and he's been steadily building his stack, including picking up a pleasing pot from Martin Finger just now.
Lew opened to 5,000 from under the gun and it folded to Darie Vlad at the button. He'd call, as would Finger from the large blind. We then saw a K♦8♦5♠ flop fall and Finger checked before Lew continued for 6,400. Both called.
The turn was the 2♣ and Finger checked another time. Lew now made it 18,500 which got Vlad out the way, but Finger wasn't able to give it up just yet. He called the river came the 4♣. A check from Finger saw Lew put the German all-in, and after all he'd make a fold.
Finger has just 36,200 remaining, while Lew is as much as 260,000. --JS
Ready to join PokerStars? Click here to get an account.6:30pm: Three becomes noneLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
This main event is a whiff for the Greenwoods after the last brother, Luc, has just been knocked out. Greenwood open shoved for his last 26,000 and Silma Macalou was the one called. Macalou had A♣K♣, which stayed better than Greenwood's A♦J♥ through a board of T♦Q♣7♣8♥6♥. -- HS
6:20pm: Sammartino ousts IgnatLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
Dario Sammartino opened from middle position and it folded around to Liviu Ignat -- a.k.a. "0Human0" on PokerStars -- within the big blind who reraised all-in for his last 30,000. Sammartino quickly called the push, showing Q♥Q♣ while Ignat was wanting help with 8♠8♥.
The board rolled out 4♣A♦3♥A♠7♣, and Ignat is out. Sammartino is now as much as 265,000. --MH
6:15pm: Daher remains dangerousLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
Albert Daher won't has been on the top of the counts because the first level or so today, but he hasn't ever been anything not up to totally comfortable and now has about 330,000. That's top five.
He just knocked out Matas Cimbolas after the previous WPT champion and EPT Deauville finalist open shoved from the small blind for 36,000. Cimbolas had 2♠2♦ and went to the races against Daher's K♠Q♠.
The board was good for Daher. It fell 8♦J♠Q♦7♣K♥ and Cimbolas wandered off. -- HS
6:10pm: Chip leaders on the breakLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)
Below are the counts of the chip leaders originally of the extent. Experienced Dutch player Govert Metaal is the present chip leader with Neil Strike, Vanessa Selbst and Albert Daher within the chasing pack.
| Govert Metaal | Netherlands | 331,000 |
| Neil Strike | United Kingdom | 315,000 |
| Paolo Compagno | Switzerland | 299,500 |
| Vanessa Selbst | USA | 278,000 |
| Albert Daher | Lebanon | 278,000 |
| Sam Chartier | Canada | 274,000 |
| Dirk Gerritse | Netherlands | 272,000 |
| Dominykas Karmazinas | Lithuania | 270,000 |
| Preben Stokkan | Norway | 270,000 |
| Andrei Boghean | Romania | 266,000 |
| David Susigan | France | 263,200 |
| Steven van Zadelhoff | Holland | 261,000 |
| John Gale | United Kingdom | 260,000 |
| Matthew Davenport | UK | 256,000 |
| Pierre Calamusa | France | 250,000 |
| Freddy Darakjian | France | 250,000 |
| 13 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 300 |
5:40pm: Break time
Players are actually on a 20 minute break.
5:36pm: Sixes disappoint BouchamaLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
We arrived at Tarek Bouchama's table after the cards have been dealt and his fate determined, his muttering helping confirm that it wasn't terribly pleasant.
Before him sat his hand 6♠6♦, which one might think would've been a pleasant holding with a board showing A♠K♦6♥9♦A♦. However the hand sitting before his opponent, Freddy Karakjian, was a greater one to have -- A♥K♥ for a greater (rivered) full house.
Bouchama picked up his sixes and slapped them back off at the felt as though to punish them for disappointing him so. He's out of the tournament, while Darakjian is as much as 242,000. --MH
5:35pm: AN ADDITIONAL cullLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
It have been a nasty level for members of Team PokerStars Pro Asia with both Naoya Kihara, of Team Online, and Chen Ang Lin hitting the skids. There aren't any details of Kihara's exit, and only the scantest concerning Lin. The latter lost out to Patrik Antonius, whose K♠5♠ made a flush at the 7♠8♥4♠T♠9♦ board.
Other eliminations include: Xi Yang, Manuel Nunez, Aleksandr Orlov, Jean-Louis Perez, Darren Floyd, Frangois Jean D del Peso-Mancebo, Declan Connolly, Viktor Shener, Alexandre Poulain and Tarek Bouchama.
Fabian Quoss and Ole Schemion were also both eliminated within the last level, so that they may choose to play the heads-up phase of the poorly named €50,000 "single-day" high roller. -- HS
5:30pm: Ole Schemion - more or less a large dealLevel 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
When Ole Schemion goes all-in, it is a big deal. The freshest player on the earth at the moment about to either double-up or bust the EPT Grand Final main event? Everyone must know.
So when Schemion shoved all-in just now, I USED TO BE the one person on the table. Then came the camera crews. Then came the photographers. Then came my fellow bloggers. Heck, even one in all Schemion's tablemates was filming the spectacle on his phone.
The shove for 39,800 came from the large blind following a 3,500 open from Patrice Chamarre and a three-bet to 10,300 from Andrei Boghean at the button. Chamarre then folded, Boghean snap-called and the cards were on their backs:
Schemion - K♠T♦Boghean - A♦A♠
It didn't look good for the German savant, and he'd get absolutely no assistance on the 8♠4♠9♥4♣4♦ run-out.
Ah well, Ole. You cannot win 'em all, eh? But what now you can do is go and win the 50K high roller. Schemion and Fabian Quoss are actually both out this event, so we would see them play their heads-up battle early. --JS
Ready to join PokerStars? Click here to get an account.5:25pm: Chip countsLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
We've just updated our chip counts page and it's Pierre Calamusa who leads the best way with a stack of 325,000. The common stack is around 100,000 in this day and age but there are many big names who've amassed no less than double that figure.
| Pierre Calamusa | France | 325,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | USA | 315,000 |
| Nacho Barbero | Argentina | 310,000 |
| Neil Strike | United Kingdom | 295,000 |
| Dominykas Karmazinas | Lithuania | 288,000 |
| Govert Metaal | Netherlands | 277,000 |
| Paolo Compagno | Switzerland | 263,000 |
| Albert Daher | Lebanon | 241,000 |
| Randy Lew | United States | 230,000 |
| Sam Chartier | Canada | 220,000 |
| Fatima Moreira de Melo | Holland | 215,000 |
5:20pm: Elementary, my dear WatsonLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Did you realize that Sherlock Holmes never actually said: "Elementary, my dear Watson" in any of the 56 short stories or four Holmes novels? Not once. And yet it is a phrase often related to probably the most famous fictional detective.
Why do I bring this up, I hear you cry? Because I just watched Mike Watson win a pot. They usually have the similar surname you notice. It's Watson.
A phrase that will soon be related to Mike Watson is "All-in". I've seen him make the move once or twice today already, and this time it led to him busting a player.
Max Silver kicked off the hand with an open to 3,600, and Watson called, as did Danyel Boyaciyan and Timur Khamidullin. The flop fell 2♦6♠7♠ and Silver checked, which let Watson take control of the betting with a 7,500 bet. Only Boyaciyan called and the 2 saw another deuce hit the turn. It was the 2♠ and both checked, leading to another deuce at the river - the 2♣. Watson moved all-in, or essentially bet enough to position Boyaciyan all-in. He didn't take long to name but was gutted when he saw his 7♣9♣ for deuce filled with sevens was beat by Watson's T♣T♥ for deuces stuffed with tens.
Boyaciyen hit the rail, and Watson moves as much as 125,000. --JS
5:16pm: Kings serve ThiagoLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
Another hand from the table of Davidi Kitai and David Peters to report, this one also involving the Brazilian WSOP bracelet holder Thiago Nishijima.
Nishijima opened with a raise to 3,500 from middle position, getting called by Peters frm the following seat over and both blinds, including Kitai within the big. The flop came A♣6♦T♠ and all four players checked. The J♣ turn card then saw it check to Peters who bet 9,200, and after the blinds got out, Nishijima called. Both Nishijima and Peters then checked following the Q♣ river.
Nishijima turned over K♦K♠ and Peters mucked, and Nishijima collected the pot.
He's as much as 175,000 now, with Kitai at 154,000, and Peters at 78,000. --MH
5:15pm: The empty seatLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
We've been eyeing the empty seat of Tina Andersen today. Andersen bagged up 123,000 to finish Day 1, but has yet to turn today which means that her stack have been blinded and anted all the way down to about 80,000 so far.
That's still just a bit below the common with lower than 350 players left. --MH
5:10pm: Kitai versus PetersLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
The tough table featuring Ike Haxton, Davidi Kitai and Tobias Reinkemeier has now broken, scattering those sharks around the field. Kitai has washed up at the same table as David Peters and the 2 of them played a small pot straight away.
Kitai opened to 4,200 from the hijack. (That's an entire thousand chips greater than the min-raise, so maybe it was a mistake. Or Kitai just chose to combine it up.) Peters called from the large blind. It was just those two to a flop of Q♣2♦J♠ and Peters checked.
Kitai bet 3,900 and Peters called. Then they both checked the 8♠ turn and the 5♥ river. Peters turned over A♦K♠ and Kitai folded. -- HS
5:05pm: Nacho chipsLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
Two-time Latin American Poker Tour champion Nacho Barbero is doing what he can so as to add an EPT title to his résumé, having pushed as much as 310,000 now to challenge for the chip lead not quite halfway through Day 2. --MH
5:pm: Salter gets strongerLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Two years ago, back at the EPT10 Grand Final main event in 2014, Jack Salter had his breakout moment. He ended up runner up, but he truly made a reputation for himself, both with the €765,000 score and his quality of play.
Is it an excessive amount of to invite to head one better this year and win the item? It's certainly an issue Salter might be asking, and he's at the right path so far.
In his latest hand, Luc Greenwood opened to 4,000 from the under the gun, and Salter called, as did two other players. The flop came the A♥3♥2♣ and Salter check-called a chance of 4,250, and he found himself heads up within the pot. The turn was the 2♠ and both players checked, before the 5♠ hit the river. It checked to Salter again and he led for 10,900 which was called. Salter took it down with the A♦9♥.
He's as much as 150,000 now. --JS
4:55pm: Antonius still playing second fiddle to SelbstLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
On the topic of EPT champions we do not often see, Patrik Antonius fits rather snugly. He was a typical within the early seasons, winning in Baden, but in this day and age his appearances are a point more scarce.
Antonius is at the same table as Vanessa Selbst still, but seems to be content to permit her to play table captain. She does have about 300,000, that is about 250,000 greater than him, so it makes sense.
Antonius did pick up a small recent pot when his bet of 6,000 on a flop of Q♠8♦K♣ persuaded Selbst and David Dayan to present it up. I expect something more interesting will happen there soon. -- HS
4:45pm: Latest eliminationsLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Among those new to the elimination list are: Lex Veldhuis, Gabe Nassif, Artem Metalidi, Davy Stevens, Christian Enz, Anatoly Gurtovoy, Nicola D'Anselmo, Vladimir Dobrovolskiy, Jason Mercier, Justin Bonomo, Florence Allera, Murad Akhundov, Javier Perez, Eric Florentin, Ali Baalbaki, Nikolaus Teichert, John Haigh, Stuart Green, Alan Smurfit, Mari Lopez, Andrew Lichtenberger, Bryn Kenney, Sylvain Loosli, Lucien Cohen, Zvi Stern, Marti Aguilar, Georgios Sotiropoulos and Winfred Yu.
4:40pm: NosebleedLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Arguably the most productive poker documentary available in the market is Nosebleed. The film follows high-stakes French pros Alex 'Alexonmoon' Luneau and Sebastian 'Seb86' Sabic as they grind the largest cash games on PokerStars in a pleasing London flat. They then head to Vegas in a quest for a bracelet.
It seems that one of the most two players could also be here in a quest for an EPT title.
Alex Luneau called Silma Macalou's 2,800 open from out of the massive blind, and the 2 saw a T♠T♣9♣ flop hit the felt. Both decided to test that one, and that led to a T♦ turn. Now Luneau took control with of venture of 3,000, which was called, followed by the 6♦ arriving at the river. Luneau's 9,000 bet was enough to take down the pot and move his stack as much as 75,000. --JS
4:35pm: Susigan wins again, as much as 300,000Level 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz have been eliminated once you have his last 25,000 or so in behind T♥8♥ and running into David Susigan's J♠J♣.
The K♥9♥A♠ board did help Abdulaziz, but that did not prevent him from rising from his chair in preparation of departing. Neither the A♣ turn nor 5♣ river stopped his progress, and he soon found the exit.
Susigan, meanwhile, has won plenty of hands today and is up over 300,000 now -- greater than 3 times the typical and now challenging Dirk Gerritse, Paolo Compagno, and Neil Strike for the chip lead. --MH
| 12 | 800 | 1,600 | 200 |
4:25pm: Sport for the SportStarLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 100)
Fatima Moreira de Melo once got reprimanded by Lex Veldhuis for being too aggressive. That tells you about all it's a must to learn about Moreira de Melo's game. Today she has a large stack and so she's always going to be getting involved, even though Albert Daher may be now on her table.
Here's a contemporary indication of ways things may well be going. Moreira de Melo, Daher and Andrey Da Silva were at a flop that read J♥8♥9♠. Both Da Silva and Daher checked, Moreira de Melo bet 7,000. Only Da Silva called.
The 7♣ came at the turn. Da Silva checked. Moreira de Melo bet 14,000. Da Silva called.
The 2♥ came at the river. Da Silva checked. Moreira de Melo bet 25,000. Da Silva folded.
General message: don't mess. -- HS
4:24pm: Zisimopoulos all the way down to zeroLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
IPT Malta champ Georgios "ZISIMO7" Zisimopoulos have been eliminated after betting the last of his chips on A♠6♦ and facing having to conquer Ivan Soshnikov's A♣K♥.
A board of A♦Q♥T♣4♠4♦ didn't work for Zisimopoulos, and his exit comes just as Level 11 is set to finish. Meanwhile Soshnikov has just over 200,000 heading into Level 12. --MH
4:20pm: Losing LichtenbergerLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
The field is down another player as Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger have been felted, leaving 360 players still with an opportunity on the EPT Grand Final title. --MH
4:15pm: Sticking to the three-betLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 100)
Natan Chauskin raised to 2,500 from the cutoff and Mark Teltscher, at the button, bumped it to 6,500. Action folded back to Chauskin and he flicked 16,200 over the line.
"Really?" Teltscher said, wrinkling his nose in disgust as if Chauskin had just told him that he preferred Pepsi to Coke. Chauskin stuck to his guns, albeit silently.
"No," Teltscher said. "Nice hand." He mucked. -- HS
4:10pm: Cody's starting stack multiplied by fiveLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Team Pro Jake Cody is having a very good main event to this point. He ended Day 1B with 114,000, then had 125,000 on the first break, and is now as much as 150,000.
In the hand that got him as much as that sum, Cody check-called a raffle of 2,600 from on a 5♠K♣T♦ flop, his only opponent Georgios Sotiropoulos. The turn was the J♣ and Cody check-called again, but this time the bet was 6,200.
The river came the A♠ and now Cody took the betting lead. He made it 18,000 and Sotiropoulos gave it up, bringing Jake's stack as much as 5x what he started the tournament with. --JS
4:07pm: All-in win for LinLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
Just after returning to Celina Lin's table following that recent update, we thought we'd be racing back to inform of her bustout after spotting her all-in with A♠Q♣ versus an opponent's Q♦Q♠ and the board showing 2♦6♦5♥8♠.
But the river brought the A♣, saving Lin and bumping her back up around 85,000. --MH
4:05pm: The lesser spotted EPT championLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 100)
This bumper field in Monaco has attracted a variety of former champions who don't always appear at the European Poker Tour in this day and age. A few of them are still involved as well, including: Mark Teltscher (55,000), Andreas Hoivold (25,000), Christophe Benzimra (28,000) and Joseph Mouawad (65,000).
Hoivold isn't the only former champ on his table. He also has Davidi Kitai for company--as well as Ike Haxton and Tobias Reinkemeier. Yeah, that's a lovely difficult table too. -- HS
4pm: Phillips busts OlmsLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
I joined the action to look a big gamble of 2,500 in front of Benjamin Philipps and a raise to 7,500 from Anthony Spinella around the betting line. Action was on Sascha Olms and he moved all-in for greater than 7,500 but lower than 10,000. Philipps then jammed and Spinella reluctantly released his hand.
Philipps: Q♣Q♠Olms: T♠8♠
The 5♣6♣2♠T♦K♠ run out eliminated Olms and sent the pot to Philipps. Some post-hand discussion between Spinella, Philipps and Vanessa Selbst revealed that Spinella woud've got there had he stayed within the hand. --NW
3:55pm: Checking in on Celina and FatimaLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
Tables keep breaking as more are eliminated. With 378 left within the tournament now, Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin was moved to a brand new table, and finds herself at the right of her teammate Fatima Moreira de Melo.
Lin is persevering presently with a below average stack of 45,000, while de Melo continues to be maintaining her big stack of 215,000. --MH
3:50pm: Calling WatsonLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
What were those first words ever uttered over a phone line? "Mr. Watson, come here -- I WOULD LIKE to peer you," right?
Mike "SirWatts" Watson opened for 2,600 from under the gun. Despite the show of strength indicated by the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event champion raising from early position, at least four players called, including Max Silver within the big blind.
The flop came A♣7♦A♠, providing hard evidence that not more than two players will have an ace of their hands. Then after Silver checked, Watson fired 6,000.
Everyone was calling Watson, but nobody desired to see his flop bet. All four of his opponents folded, making it safe to imagine none had an ace.
Watson has about 95,000 now, while Silver sits with about 110,000. --MH
3:41pm: Selbst, Bonomo and Antonius clash in enormous potBlinds - Level 11: 600/1,200 (200 ante)
An enormous three-way hand puts Vanessa Selbst some of the leaders and sends Justin Bonomo to the rail.
Vanessa Selbst
Selbst opened for 2,800 under the gun. Bonomo called at the button before Patrick Antonius raised to 8,600 from the small blind. Selbst called they usually saw a flop: 9♠4♥6♣
Antonius bet another 13,000. Both Selbst and Bonomo called for a 5♠ turn card.
Antonius bet another 35,000 using all blue chips. Selbst took a couple of minutes to come back to a decision, which was to transport all-in for about 175,000. With the action on Bonomo he too took time to come back to a call, eventually moving all in himself for 47,600.
That left Antonius to decide, a decision which took several minutes to achieve. He said nothing, he simply folded by turning over his two black aces: A♣A♠
Selbst: 9♣9♥Bonomo: 4♠4♣
Set over set Selbst was ahead. The river card came 8♠ to send Bonomo to the rail, and leave Selbst with greater than 300,000.
"I'm not used to folding aces," Antonius said."Well if there's ever a time," Selbst said. - SB
Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account.3:40pm: Zhu done, Kihara inLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
Naoya Kihara and Yaxi Zhu, of Team PokerStars Pro Online and Offline, respectively, shared a table to begin play today, and both continued to maintain their seats throughout the first two levels.
Alas for Zhu, she's now lost her stack and has joined the group at the rail. Kihara, however, is hanging on. --MH
3:35pm: Cry Mercier a riverLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
OK, so Jason Mercier didn't actually cry when he got unlucky at the river to bust the principle event. He's a qualified. He's been there, done it, and got the T-shirt. But that does not mean it didn't hurt.
The Team PokerStars Pro opened and got one caller: Ruediger Weber. The flop came Ace-King-seven and Mercier continued for 4,000 when it was checked to him. Weber then bet enough to place him all-in and Mercier made the decision with Ace-ten, which was sooner than Weber's Ace-three.
The turn was a blank, however the river was a 3 giving Weber two pair over Mercier's one.
Team PokerStars Pros are dropping like flies what with ElkY and Mercier gone prior to now short time. However, Vanessa Selbst has just won an enormous pot through Patrik Antonius and Justin Bonomo, and we'll have the entire details of that hand shortly. --JS
3:30pm: Preparing for next yearLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
During the latest tournament break, EPT President Edgar Stuchly took to the stage to announce the primary three stops of EPT Season 13. Click through to peer all of the details for yourself. (A HANDY GUIDE A ROUGH preview: Barcelona, Malta and Prague. Spoiler alert!)
The announcement
3:25pm: The dream is overLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
There's no easy technique to say this but Arthur Conan, Ognyan Dimov, Luca Falco, Wajdi El Hage, Manig Loeser, Boris Kolev, Jean Montury, Mikita Badziakouski, Staale Eggen, Vincent Garat, Cristiano Guerra, Hady El Asmar, Oscar Alache Orrego, Fira Nassar, Jovan Pupovac, Imad Derwiche, Arsens Sakanjans, Jozef Bartalos, Pascal Hartmann, Mark Vronskii, Hector Rodriguez, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Jelcides Monteiro, Ismael Bojang, Ana Marquez, Dominik Nitsche, Stefan Johrendt, Ivan Luca, Fabrice Soulier, Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier, Senh Ung and Jeremy Nock all have the similar chance of winning the principle event as I do. Zero. As they're a few of the latest eliminations.
There are 414 players remaining. --NW
3:20pm: Nitsche gets clear of oneLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
The table containing Dominik Nitsche, Vanessa Selbst et al have been moved from the feature table back out into the belly of the principle room. I ENDED by the table to peer what was happening and as I did so Nitsche raised to 2,500 from early position. Eva Jiretorn was within the big blind and he or she moved in for 13,200 total.
"Do you could have an excellent hand?" Nitsche asked."I've got a wonderful hand," Jiretorn said.
Nitsche folded A♦T♠ face-up and Jiretorn showed A♦A♠. "YOU AREN'T GETTING more fabulous than that!" quipped another player on the table. --NW
3:10pm: ElkY saYs goodbYeLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
We've lost Bertrand Grospellier from the primary event. Four people - including ElkY - saw the Q♦2♦8♠ flop fall, and the French Team Pro bet 6,600 when it was checked to him. He got one caller.
The turn came the 6♥ and ElkY jammed for around 15,000 more, and got snap-called. ElkY was way ahead along with his A♦9♦ flush draw against his opponent's 4♦7♦ flush draw, so just a four, seven, or five - that wasn't a diamond - could eliminate him.
The river was the 4♥. ElkY set free a sigh and slightly laugh, tapped the table and went on his way. --JS
3:05pm: Schemion gets another double with acesLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)
Pick up aces, double up. Easy game.
Ole Schemion only entered this tournament at first of the day, but throughout the first HALF-HOUR he doubled as much as 60,000 with aces. And he just repeated the trick.
He opened to 2,500 from early position, then from one seat along Knut Karnapp called and Vladimir Dobrovolskiy three-bet to 8,800 at the button. Action passed back to Schemion, who was getting a massage on the time, and he dwelled for a beat or three after which effortlessly moved his big chips over the line, leaving a few towers of T100 chips where they were.
Karnapp passed, Dobrovolskiy then moved all-in and Schemion called off his shrapnel. He showed A♥A♦ and Dobrovolskiy opened Q♣Q♠. The J♦J♠J♥5♠4♥ board kept Schemion in front and he doubled to 95,000. Dobrovolskiy is all the way down to 25,000. --NW
3pm: Double DutchLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 100)
As they head into Level 11, two Dutch players have bludgeoned their way into the highest five stacks within the tournament. So far as we will be able to see, Dirk Gerritse is out in front, with about 310,000. Govert Metal has 272,000. Between them we discover Albert Daher (285,000), Paolo Compagno (300,000) and Neil Strike (293,000). Latest chip counts. -- HS
| 11 | 600 | 1,200 | 100 |
2:35pm: Nice turn card for CardynLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
In the last hand of the level, the board showed J♠9♦T♠ and there has been about 4,000 within the middle when Boris Kolev checked, Nicolas Cardyn bet 2,300, Kolev check-raised to 7,200, and after thinking a couple of beats Cardyn called.
The turn brought the T♣ and an all-in push by Kolev, and Cardyn called immediately. Kolev had K♥Q♣ for a flopped straight, but Cardyn turned an entire house along with his J♥T♦. The J♦ river made Cardyn's full house even better, and he scooped the pot.
A count showed Kolev to be left with just 1,200 going to the break. Cardyn didn't stack up his mass of chips before departing, however the mess looks as if he'll be he 70,000-80,000 range once they return. --MH
Ready to join PokerStars? Click here to get an account.2:30pm: Chidwick chips upLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Stephen Chidwick has climbed to around 125,000, quite a rise from his start-of-day stack of 22,500.
In one recent hand, Antonio Buonanno opened to 2,500 from under-the-gun, Chidwick three-bet to 6,000 from one seat along after which Sofia Lovgren folded 7♣4♠ face-up. Buonanno is in seat eight and Chidwick seat one, so Lovgren hadn't seen that Chidwick still had cards. She apologised to the table. Buonanno then asked Chidwick how much he was playing (about 80-85,000) and four-bet to 12,500 total. Call from Chidwick.
On the Q♦6♠Q♥ flop Buonanno fired out of venture of 11,000. Call from Chidwick. AN IDENTICAL pattern occurred at the J♣ turn: bet of 12,000 from the Italian, call from Chidwick. At the J♥ river Buonanno slowed down, checking it to Chidwick. The united kingdom pro moved all-in for around 44,500 and after a few minutes within the tank Buonanno folded to drop to 58,000. --NW
2:25pm: Sanioglu wins the gambleLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Ekrim Sanioglu threw out a big gamble of 7 blue chips, worth 35,000 in total. Before he did that, though, there have been an open by Matthew Wood at the button, a choice from Sanioglu within the small blind, a raise to 6,000 from Ara Melkistian within the big blind, a decision from Wood, after which the raise to 35,000 from Bleiker.
That bet was enough to position Melkistian all-in and he went into the tank. Eventually he slammed all of his chips down - almost angrily - and said, "Let's gamble."
Wood gave up his hand and the cardboard were revealed.
Sanioglu - A♣3♣Melkistian - K♥Q♦
The board never really gave Melkistian any hope, and in any case here's the way it looked: 4♠3♥9♦5♥5♦.
"Yes!" Sanioglu shouted as he gestured for all of the chips to be pushed his way, bringing his stack as much as around 130,000.. Melkistian's gamble hadn't paid, and he rushed out the room visibly upset. --JS
2:20pm: Coren Mitchell cut downLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Victoria Coren Mitchell has lost the last of her chips here throughout the latter 1/2 Level 10.
After raising from early position, the two-time EPT champion saw Iacopo Brandi of Italy reraise from a couple of seats over. The action returned to Coren Mitchell and she or he put her stack all-in, and Brandi called.
It was ace-king for Brandi versus Coren Mitchell's pocket jacks. The flop brought two kings to present Brandi trips, and when neither the turn nor river brought a jack to avoid wasting her, Coren Mitchell was eliminated.
Victoria Coren Mitchell
Brandi now has 72,000. --MH
2:15pm: The DeadLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
This exceptional purge of talent continues apace with big names and previous)( big stacks reduced to dust. The most recent list of eliminated players includes the following:
Paul Newey, Felipe Ramos, Kully Sidhu, Rupom Pal, Robert Spano, Yaxi Zhu, Yingzi Wang, Yang Wang, Gaelle Baumann, Dan Smith, Martins Adeniya, Peter Eichhardt, Igor Kurganov, Liv Boeree, Martin Jacobson, Byron Kaverman, Alex Difelice, Vicente Delgado, Walid Bou Habib, Osman Mustanoglu, Slaven Popov, Ilkin Amirov, Vasili Firsau. -- HS
Felipe Ramos: Out!
2:15pm: Bojang bounced by LovgrenLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Sofia Lovgren opened from middle position and watched the table fold around to Ismael Bojang within the small blind who re-raise-shoved for his last 13,400. The action traveled back to Lovgren who called and opened A♠J♣ to turn a preflop edge over Bojang's A♦T♦.
"I feel a chop coming," Bojang said.
The board then came A♥9♣3♥, then J♦, then 3♠, that jack at the turn producing a wince from Bojang because it sealed his elimination.
Lovgren has about 100,000 now. --MH
2:05pm: Daher maintains his leadLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Albert Daher holds directly to his overnight lead on Day 2 while Team Online's Randy Lew moves as much as 220,000. Click here for the newest selected counts.
The continuing upsurge of Randy Lew
2pm: Cowboys KO SatubayevLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Shyngis Satubayev moved all-in for his final 12,500 and collected a decision from Raymond Langbraaten. Next to behave was Andrey Bondar and he didn't call, instead he re-shoved for 42,200 total. Langbraaten thought hard and long about his decision before folding what he said after the hand was over was ace-queen.
Satubayev: 3♦3♥Bondar: K♠K♦
Flop: Q♦6♠A♣ - terrible fold from Langbraaten!Turn: K♥ - great fold from Langbraaten!River: 2♠ - still an excellent fold from Langbraaten!
Bondar climbs to around 70,000 after that hand. --NW
Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account.1:55pm: Moore no moreLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
With the board showing J♣Q♥5♥J♦3♦ and his opponent, Didier Pitcho, having bet enough to position him all-in, Robert Moore thought a short time after which finally announced he was calling.
Pitcho tabled A♦J♥ for trips, good enough against Moore's two pair with A♣Q♦, and Moore departs. Pitcho is now all the way as much as 198,000 -- a pleasing start for the Frenchmen who began the day with 33,100.
There are actually 459 players remaining. --MH
1:50pm: Love is all you wish to have; or, Carlino's wayLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Following an early-position raise, Joseph Carlino put his last 15,000 or so ahead as an all-in three-bet, then saw his neighbor to the left call. It folded back to the unique raiser who got out, then Carlino saw he was taking his Q♦Q♣ up against A♦Q♠.
The flop was safe for the Frenchman, but an ace at the turn left him seeking only one out. "Ahh... why do this"? he cried with a grin to the dealer, who completed the board with the 4♦, spelling the top of Carlino's run.
"I go now... I WILL BE ABLE TO have dinner with my wife tonight," Carlino told the others. "I'm sorry it's important to go," Yucel Eminoglu said from around the table. "But your wife might be happy."
"Yes," nodded Carlino, who instantly broke into song. "All you want is love...!"
Joseph Carlino: The singing stops
With a final "Goodbye, everybody!" Carlino departed, leaving the famous Beatles tune with the French national anthem intro playing in everyone's heads. --MH
1:45pm: Kings dethronedLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Oleh Cherepianyi opened to 2,300 from middle position and he picked up a decision from Adrian Szuman at the button. Gerald Eisele was within the big blind and he moved all-in for 13,600. Cherepianyi requested a count and after you have confirmation of the all-in bet he folded. Szuman though was going nowhere and he called the extra.
Eisele: K♣K♥Szuman: A♦J♣
The 7♥2♥A♣ flop gave Szuman the lead and Eisele stood up, sensing that the sport was up. The Q♥ turn and J♦ just rubbed it in and Eisele was on his way. --NW
1:40pm: SidDOH! Kully pays off quadsLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Kully Sidhu had some of the biggest stacks within the room firstly of the day, but a misstep has just cost him a large chunk of his blue 5K chips.
Makram Saber started the hand with an open to 2,200 which Sidhu, to Saber's direct left, then three-bet to 5,600. The flop came the 5♠T♠A♠ and Saber checked to the raiser who continued for 6,500 and was called.
The 5♦ hit the turn (yep - two fives on board) and Saber checked once more, allowing Sidhu to steer again for 17,000. At this point Saber counted out calling chips, but then also began picking up chips as though he was going to lift. However, he popped them back at the pile and just called.
The river was the 4♣ and Saber did what he considered doing at the turn; he shoved for 36,500. Sidhu got a count after which announced "I call."
Saber flipped over his 5♥5♣ for quads, which obviously meant Sidhu's 7♠8♠ flopped flush was no good. He's all the way down to 122,000 now. --JS
1:30pm: Coren Mitchell still seeking third EPT titleLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Only one player has ever won two main events within the history of the ecu Poker Tour. Her name is Victoria Coren Mitchell.
The poker player slash journalist slash TV presenter slash author slash with regards to everything else saw a 2,100 open from Iacopo Brandi, followed by an all-in bet for 12,000 total from Vicent Bosca. Coren Mitchell looked down and saw the 9♠9♦ and decided she'd call off her last 8,200, and the action was back on Brandi.
While he was thinking, Coren Mitchell and Bosca (who're sat next to one another) decided to ease the strain a little bit by showing one another their hands; they were both already all-in after all, so they'd both see them soon enough anyhow.
When Brandi folded it turned out Bosca had the J♠T♠, so we were racing. The 4♣K♠A♦ flop brought Bosca a gutshot, however the 2♠ and 2♥ that completed the board were no help.
Coren Mitchell is now on 19,000, while Bosca was left in trouble with fewer than four big blinds. --JS
| 10 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
1:25pm: Double for DiazLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
I joined the action to peer a T♥J♦3♦Q♥ flop at the felt. Francesco Di Profio (button) bet 6,000, Guillaume Diaz (big blind) had check-raised to 18,000 and Di Profio had shoved all-in. He was the covering stack and Diaz, who had about 40,000 behind, was engaged on his next move.
"Do you've gotten ace-king?" Diaz, who's French, said to Di Profio, who's Italian, in English. There has been no answer. Another 30 seconds or so passed and Diaz went for it, committing his chips. Di Profio turned over 3♣3♥ for a collection and Diaz showed 9♥8♥ for a straight.
Diaz still needed to dodge some river outs to carry on and he did so at the 5♣ river. He was all-in for 56,100 and climbs to around 120,000 because of this. Di Profio is right down to 57,000. --NW
Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account.1:20pm: Ciao, MustaphaLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
As Level 9 neared its conclusion, Ioakim Papadopoulos opened for 1,800 from early position and got a caller in two-time Latin American Poker Tour Main Event champion Oscar Alache.
It folded to Mustapha Kanit within the small blind, and he set forward his entire stack of 16,800 as an all-in re-raise. The action moved back over to Papadopoulos who thought a little while before calling, and Alache got out of the way.
The pair tabled their cards -- 9♠9♥ for Kanit, and A♣J♥ for Papadopoulos -- and both nodded to one another in acknowledgement of the soon-to-commence race.
A J♠4♣7♣ flop meant Papadopoulos had surged in front, with the J♦ improving him further to trips. The Q♥ river sealed it, and with a "Ciao" Kanit heads to the rail as another early Day 2 casualty.
Papadopoulos has about 35,000 now, while Alache is sitting behind 112,000. --MH
1:15pm: Even moreLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
This is a bloodbath. The next at the moment are also out:
Niall Farrell, Martin Illavsky, Emil Patel, Patrick Bruel, Dany Parlafes, David Jaoui, Jacopo Foglie, Terje Bengtsen, Milcho Angelov, Vladimir Khreshatiy, Kacper Pyzara, Edward Tombs, Riccardo Stevens, Yingui Li, Georges Yazbeck, Bruno Morra, Jesse Liljegren, Favia Francesco,Andres Munoz, Georgios Karakousis, Philipp Kober, Eric Rapp, Dieter Albrecht, Anthony Ghamrawi. -- HS
1:10pm: EliminationsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
There's no easy strategy to say this, but when you were heading to the venue to rainy of the following, then turn around as they're all out: Rui Ye, Beat Hans Husi, Aleksandr Bodnya, Zhikang Dai, Leo Margets, Keith Johnson, Antoine Farhat, Matiss Liks, Julian Stuer, Christopher Frank, Robert Buky, Samuel Panzica, Kasra Pour Khomamy, Thierry Gogniat, Dragoslav Timarac, Andrei Streltsou, Jonathan Khalifa, Louis Salter, Oliver Muller, Richard Ward, Timothee Marlin, Alexandre Moreau and Thomas Hansen. --NW
1:05pm: Kagawa collects from BoereeLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
"Want me to head home? Want me to go?"
So asked Liv Boeree of Rintaro Kagawa, sitting to her right. With Boeree within the small blind and Kagawa at the button, the pair had together made it to the river building a decent-sized pot because the board came A♠7♦J♥5♣3♣.
Rintaro Kagawa and Liv Boeree
Boeree bet 16,000 so that you could earn those riches within the middle, but Kagawa thwarted those plans with an all-in raise, forcing the Team PokerStars Pro to consider whether she desired to put her last 27,000 within the middle.
"You have an excellent hand?" she asked. Kagawa just smiled and chuckled in response. "If I fold, you show the bluff?" she tried, and he again replied wordlessly.
"Good answer," Boeree said.
Decision time for Liv Boeree
Finally she folded, and Kagawa slid his cards toward the dealer face down. He's as much as 165,000 now. --MH
1pm: Schemion gives Mercier the lowdownLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
"Hey Ole, d'you win?" Jason Mercier said.
Ole Schemion - who has made an improbable return to the EPT after skipping February's Dublin - is sat at the adjacent table to Mercier.
"We're heads up," Schemion said."You guys make a deal?""Nope."
Fabio Gago, who's sat next to Mercier, then offered his congratulations. "Thanks," Schemion said. "I got Aces vs Queens to double-up!" --JS
12:55pm: Secondary feature table?Level 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
If the players at table 24 were glad to peer the back of the damaging Argentinian Matias Ruzzi then it is a case of watch out what you would like for as Stephen Chidwick has replaced him. Chadwick is busy chatting with Ismael Bojang, on his direct left. They were discussing accommodation plans for Vegas this summer.
To remind you, Chidwick has joined a table that still includes Fabian Quoss, Gabriel Nassif, Ollie Price, Lex Veldhuis, Sofia Lovgren and Antonio Buonanno. --NW
Ready to join PokerStars? Click here to get an account.12:50pm: ElkY delivers the knock-outLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
It's been a pleasing opening level of the day for Team Pro ElkY. He made an under-the-gun raise to 1,600 and Christopher Frank moved all-in for around 20,000. When it got back to Frenchman, he made a swift call together with his A♥K♥ - prior to Frank's A♠Q♥.
He'd desire a queen, but at the 6♦J♠9♠ flop, the 5♠ turn, and the 4♣ river, it was once, twice, 3 times no lady. Frank is out, but ElkY is as much as 57,000 now. --JS
12:45pm: Szabo likes Liks' chipsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
All-in and in danger against two opponents, Matiss Liks couldn't have liked the appearance of items when Zoltan Szabo fired into the side pot at the flop and was called, then after checking the turn bet, the river and got a fold.
The board showed T♠8♦3♠A♥3♦ and Liks turned over his A♣7♥ hoping it would be good. But Szabo had two pair with A♦8♥ and Liks is out.
Szabo is now up around 115,000. --MH
12:40pm: The DepartedLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
In addition to Fedor Holz, the next players haven't made it during the first HALF-HOUR of play today: Samir Moukawem, Maroun Jazzar, Andras Kovacs, Rumen Nanev, Robert Giordano, Paul Linton, Alexander Timokhin, Jussi Nevanlinna, Renaud Lejal, Ulf Rosenkranz, Craig Smith, Christophe Lesage, Henri Kasper, Brian Ganon, Ceyhun Altundag, Rober Karian, Matias Ruzzi, Salman Behbehani, Steinar Aker, Ezequiel Kleinman, Nicolaj Antoni, Mathieu Rabalison and Hallstein Boerve. -- HS
12:36pm: Got to win them flipsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
There was raise to 2,100 from Chang He in early position, Jack Salter then called at the button and Craig Smith moved all-in for around 10,000 from the small blind. After a couple of seconds He called from his 100k stack and Salter went into the tank. The EPT10 Grand Final runner-up had about 80,000 himself and at last elected to let his hand go.
He: A♦J♦Smith: 2♦2♥
The Q♦J♠5♣8♥Q♥ board favoured the overcards and Smith tapped the table and was on his way. --NW
12:35pm: No halting for Holz; multiple shoves then bustsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)
Fedor Holz won €271,670 last night within the €50K high roller. Two days before that, he won €169,000 within the €10K high roller. Today, though, he came in as one of the vital shortest stacks within the room, and he didn't waste long in making some moves.
He moved all-in within the first two hands of the day, but picked up no callers. A FEW hands later, though, he wouldn't only find one but two. Holz jammed from middle position for 10,500, and it folded to Jozef Bartalos within the small blind who called.
Team PokerStars' Fatima Moreira De Melo was within the big blind, and she or he looked interested. She didn't just call Holz' bet though, she raised it to 24,000 and Bartalos came along.
The flop was the 8♣K♥5♥ and it checked to Moreira de Melo who continued for 20,000. Now Bartalos moved all-in for around 30,000, and Moreira de Melo made a fast call.
Moreira de Melo had the A♥K♣, but she was tying with Bartalos who had the A♦[jkd]. Holz needed numerous help along with his Q♠J♠, however the 3♠ turn and 7♦ river have him nada and the German superstar made his exit. Meanwhile, Moreira de Melo and Bartalos each added 5,250 to their stacks. --JS
12:30pm: Schemion wakes up with acesLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Speaking of Ole Schemion and Fabian Quoss playing into the wee hours last night (see below), Schemion could also be here and on one of the vital first hands of Day 2 happily picked up pocket aces versus Andrea Cortellazzi's pocket queens. A ten-high runout enabled Schemion to enjoy an early double-up to start out his day.
That'll wake an individual up. Schemion's table is probably going at the alert besides now that he is suddenly up around 60,000 and a typical stack. --MH
12:25pm: The television tableLevel 9 - Blinds 4000/800 (ante 100)
If you see a scarcity of updates about Vanessa Selbst, Dominik Nitsche, Patrik Antonius, Justin Bonomo, Martins Adeniya or Fabrice Soulier over the primary couple of levels there is a excellent reason behind that.
That table was picked because the first feature table of the day and from today, for the primary time ever, EPT Live is broadcasting cards-up coverage from Day 2 of the primary event.
Below is the table in all it's glory. Eva Jiretorn is one among greater than 120 players who won their technique to this event via Spin and Go's on PokerStars.
| 22 | 1 | Dominik Nitsche | Germany | 14,200 | |
| 22 | 2 | Justin Bonomo | USA | PokerStars qualifier | 72,600 |
| 22 | 3 | Fabrice Soulier | France | PokerStars qualifier | 63,500 |
| 22 | 4 | Patrik Antonius | Finland | 58,000 | |
| 22 | 5 | Benjamin Philipps | UK | PokerStars qualifier | 78,000 |
| 22 | 6 | Vanessa Selbst | USA | Team PokerStars Pro | 155,200 |
| 22 | 7 | Anthony Spinella | USA | PokerStars player | 129,400 |
| 22 | 8 | Eva Jiretorn | Sweden | PokerStars qualifier | 35,600 |
| 22 | 9 | Martins Adeniya | UK | 75,000 |
12:11pm: Rise and shine, FabianLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Today's redraw has ended up making a formidable selection of talent at Table 24, with Ismael Bojang, Fabian Quoss, Gabriel Nassif, Oliver Price, and Lex Veldhuis all sitting side-by-side in a row to absorb greater than half the table.
Quoss appeared like he just stifled a yawn before an early hand was dealt, something for which he will also be forgiven. After all, he and Ole Schemion were up after 5:30am playing the not-so-accurately titled Single Day High Roller last night, with those two slated to complete out the tournament later tonight.
Price asked Quoss about how things ended last night and he filled within the details. "Couldn't sleep very quickly once I got back," he added, noting how he's only occurring a couple of hours of rest today.
Quoss and Schemion might be back at it at 9pm tonight, because of this both can be capable of play to the top of Day 2 before they come again at it. --MH
Ready to join PokerStars? Click here to get an account.12:10pm: NewbiesLevel 9 - Blinds 4000/800 (ante 100)
Here's the entire list of newbies for today. That's another 24 players, so I FEEL that puts us at 1,091. Which will still must be confirmed.
Maximilian Hornung, Alan Rocamora Garcia, Christian Mosbach, Massimiliano Patroncini, Anatoly Gurtovoy, Nils Maibaum, Ilan Boujenah, Erik Seidel, Igor Kurganov, Ole Schemion, Alain Daien, Hector Alvarez Rodriguez, Payam Anskrina, Ramin Hajiyev, Mehmet Tezol, Pierre Ailment, Ivan Luca, Yingui Li, Salman Behbehani, Murad Akhundov, Dermot Blain, Bryn Kenney, John Juanda and Diego Zeiter. --HS
12:10pm: Two roomsLevel 9 - Blinds 4000/800 (ante 100)
So many players entered this event that play today - for now anyway - is spread across two rooms. There are 11 tables in use in what's mostly the money game area. We suspect these would be the tables that get broken first.
Among the massive names currently plying their trade on this area are Yaxi Zhu, Galle Baumann, Nacho Barbero, Matas Cimbolas, Stephen Chidwick and Ole Schemion.
The latter two are sat side by side with Chidwick having position. Schemion only entered the development this morning as he's been too busy winning super high rollers and crushing at some point €50,000 single-day high rollers to have time to do the rest. -- NW
12:02pm: Day 2 beginsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Players have filled the spacious tournament room here on the Sporting Club and the primary of six Day 2 levels is now under way. --MH
11:35am: What number of more?Level 9: Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
It's Day 2 of the €5,000 main event on the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final. Over the former two days, 1,067 players have registered, making this the most important Grand Final main event in history.
But registration only closes prior to play today, so there'll likely be a couple of more joining the fray.
Ready to join PokerStars? Click here to get an account.Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news and results.
Also the entire schedule information is at the EPT App, that's available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT12 Grand Final main event: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris, Howard Swains and Nick Wright. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
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