2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final
Day: 4
Event Info

2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$3,198,500
Event Info
Buy-in
$15,764
Prize Pool
$13,393,124
Entries
842
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
10,000

Mostafa Tilting

Since running pocket jacks into Joe Hachem's queens earlier in the day, Mostafa Belkhayate has been a loose cannon, firing chips relentlessly into practically every other pot.

Most recently, he gave about 90,000 away to American Noah Siegel, calling bets down to the river on a {3-Spades}{Q-Diamonds}{K-Clubs}{7-Diamonds} board. When the {2-Clubs} fell off on the river, Siegel put on the brakes and passed the first option to Mostafa, who bet 45,000. Siegel made a quick call forcing Mostafa to show {A-Hearts}{3-Hearts}. Siegel tabled a meager {Q-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} for a pair of queens, which was good enough to take down the pot.

After the hand, Mostafa was left with approximately 230,000 in chips - down from the 523,000 he started the day with, while Siegel climbed to 410,000.

Stig's Great Call; Kruger Eliminated

David Kruger
David Kruger
The flop read {5-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} and after some furious action Stig Top Rasmussen was left facing around a 200,000 call for all of his chips after the aggressive David Kruger announced he was all in.

Rasmussen stood from his chair and thought long and hard about the decision, before making a courageous call with {7-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}. Kruger didn't seem too disappointed in the knowledge that he had plenty of outs with his {Q-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}.

The players waited anxiously as the turn brought the {6-Spades} and river {8-Clubs} as Rasmussen let out a cry of delight as he scooped a tournament make or break pot worth in excess of 600,000 chips!

"I put you on {7-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}" said Rasmussen, not realising that he actually held the {7-Diamonds}. "Now I'm going to be dangerous!"

Two hands later Kruger shoved the last of his 55,000 chips over the top of an opening raise of Claudio Pagano who made a quick call. Kruger showed {A-Clubs}{10-Clubs} and was behind Pagano's {J-Clubs}{J-Diamonds}.

The flop virtually ended it all as it arrived {J-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{6-Hearts}, with the {5-Spades} on the turn and {A-Hearts} on the river were enough to send a disappointed Kruger to the rail.

Tags: David Kruger

Isaac Baron Doubles Through Gerasimo Deres

On a flop of {Q-Hearts}{8-Spades}{8-Diamonds}, Isaac "westmenloAA" Baron led out for 24,000 and Gerasimo Deres called. The turn was the {2-Clubs}. Baron led again, this time for 50,000 and was met with a raise from Deres to 125,000. Baron moved all in for 100k or so more and Deres made what looked like a reluctant call.

Deres {Q-Diamonds}{J-Spades}
Baron {K-Clubs}{K-Spades}

The river was the {2-Spades} and Baron got a nice double-up to start his day.

Tags: Gerasimo DeresIsaac Baron

Alexander Morozov Eliminated

Alexander Morozov
Alexander Morozov
Alexander Morozov committed all of his chips into the middle pre-flop against Raymond Rahme. Rahme just had him covered in chips and was happy to get it all in holding pocket aces! Morozov was in big trouble with his A-K. Needing a miracle to survive, the board bricked out and Morozov was eliminated from the event in 35th place while Rahme jumps to around 270,000 chips.

Esfandiari Weaves More Magic

Antonio Esfandiari raised the action up to 17,000 from early position and Tomas Brolin came over the top for the rest of his chips. It was 68,000 to Esfandiari, which represented such a small portion of his stack that he made a pretty easy call with {A-Diamonds}{Q-Spades}. Brolin flipped {A-Clubs}{K-Diamonds} and was looking in good shape for a double up.

However a queen in the door on a flop of {Q-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{3-Clubs} gave "The Magician" the lead and Brolin was left needing one of three kings to survive. The turn was the {4-Diamonds} and river {5-Clubs} and Tomas Brolin was eliminated from the tournament, as Esfandiari's stack continues to swell.

Tags: Antonio Esfandiari

T6Anthony Aggressive Early

Anthony Chatelain has been aggressively pushing his short stack early on today. He has been all in on several occasions but yet to be called, recently showing the table pocket jacks as he accumulates much valued blinds and antes to put him back up over 100,000 chips.

Tags: Anthony Chatelain

Hachem Doubles Early

One time....
One time....
2005 WSOP Main Event Champ Joe Hachem has just doubled up through Mostafa Belkhayate of Morocco. Belkhayate opened with a big raise from middle position holding pocket jacks and when the action folded around to Hachem on the button, he moved in over the top for a total of 185,000. Mostafa made the call prompting Hachem to turn over his hand - pocket queens.

The board ran out {9-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{2-Spades}{9-Spades} and a relieved Hachem raked in the 370,000 pot - not a bad way to start the day!

Tags: Joe Hachem

Deeb Bests Dwek

On a flop of {9-Hearts}{7-Spades}{3-Diamonds}, both Freddy Deeb and Jonathan Dwek checked. The turn was the {J-Clubs}. Dwek led out for 20,000 and got a call. The river was the {4-Hearts}. Dwek checked, Deeb bet 40,000 and Dwek called. Deeb showed K-J and took it down with top pair.

Tags: Freddy DeebJonathan Dwek