$5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1a | 2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

10-16-2023 23:05 UTC+3

Seven-Three Isn't Good

Maxime Taldir

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Bart Lybaert raised to 2,500 in the cutoff, and was called by Tom Fuchs on the button. Mikhail Katykhin defended from the big blind, and checked on the flop A♣7♦9♣.

Lybaert checked too, but Fuchs chose to bet 3,000. Katykhin counted his stack, seemed to hesitate, but moved all in for 26,300. Lybaert quickly folded, and Fuchs called.

Mikhail Katykhin: 7♣3♣
Tom Fuchs: A♥Q♦

With bottom pair and a flush draw, Katykhin could still win. But the A♦ on the turn and the 10♥ on the river sent him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tom Fuchs	100,000 78,000	78,000
Bart Lybaert	65,000 65,000	65,000
Mikhail Katykhin	Busted

Tags: Bart Lybaert Mikhail Katykhin Tom Fuchs

10-16-2023 23:00 UTC+3

Vardanian Wins Three-Bet Pot With River Bet

Matt Warburton

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Ludovic Periaux raised to 2,500 from under the gun and Timur Vardanian three-bet to 7,500. Vadym Koriagin called and so did Periaux.

The flop came Q♣J♣J♦ and all three players checked. The turn was the 3♣. Action checked to Vardanian, who bet 8,500. Koriagin called and Periaux folded.

The river came the 3♦. Vardanian bet 16,500 and Koriagin found the fold to give Vardanian the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadym Koriagin	170,000 10,000	10,000
Timur Vardanian	150,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Ludovic Periaux Timur Vardanian Vadym Koriagin

10-16-2023 22:55 UTC+3

Mangroe Picks Up Queens to Take Out Martirosian, Konopelko

David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Mohamed Mangroe raised to 2,600 in the cutoff before Artur Martirosian, who had only entered the tournament during this level, moved all in for 5,600 on the button. Andrei Konopelko also shoved for around 35,000 in the big blind and Mangroe snap-called, having both players covered.

Artur Martirosian: A♠10♣
Andrei Konopelko: A♣J♦
Mohamed Mangroe: Q♣Q♦

Mangroe had both Martirosian and Konopelko crushed with his queens, and neither opponent received any help on the 8♥K♣6♥2♣10♠ board as they were sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohamed Mangroe	90,000 90,000	90,000
Artur Martirosian	Busted

Andrei Konopelko	Busted

Tags: Andrei Konopelko Artur Martirosian Mohamed Mangroe

10-16-2023 22:48 UTC+3

Talbot Takes the Turn

Josh Noy

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Evgenii Sboev opened to 2,500 in the hijack and Parker Talbot made the call to his left. Majid Nadeem followed with a call on the button, as did Yassin Mahmoud in the big blind.

The flop of J♣3♥8♣ saw Mahmoud and Sboev check to Talbot, who slid out a bet of 1,400. That was quickly raised by Nadeem to 6,400, with Mahmoud and Sboev folding before Talbot called.

Talbot led out on the 10♣ turn for 7,000, taking down another sizeable pot when Nadeem folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Parker Talbot	284,000 12,000	12,000

Evgenii Sboev	98,500 -19,500	-19,500
Majid Nadeem	65,500 32,500	32,500
Yassin Mahmoud	48,500 -53,500	-53,500

Tags: Evgenii Sboev Parker Talbot Majid Nadeem Yassin Mahmoud

10-16-2023 22:47 UTC+3

Kennedy Takes Out Kulev, Dato Makes a "Close Call"

David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Anthony Kennedy raised to 2,400 under the gun and Andrea Dato called on the button before Alex Kulev, in the big blind, moved all in for 18,300. Kennedy then reshoved for 45,000.

Dato agonized over the decision for a minute before mucking.

Alex Kulev: A♦6♥
Anthony Kennedy: A♥A♠

Kulev held his six in front of the board pleading for help, but none arrived on the 9♥10♠4♠K♣8♦ runout and he was sent to the rail.

"What did you have? I showed you," Kennedy joked with Dato.

"I had a close call," Dato replied.

"Jack-ten off, huh," Kennedy added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrea Dato	90,000 15,000	15,000

Anthony Kennedy	65,000 20,000	20,000
Alex Kulev	Busted

Tags: Alex Kulev Andrea Dato Anthony Kennedy

10-16-2023 22:43 UTC+3

Vardanian Takes From Wiciak

Maxime Taldir

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

A very happy Timur Vardanian opened to 2,500 from early position, and was called by Simon Wiciak in the small blind and by the big blind.

On J♠2♦3♦, Vardanian made a continuation-bet to 3,000. But this time, only Wiciak called. Vardanian fired a second barrel of 5,000 on the turn K♠, and Wiciak called again.

The 10♣ came on the river, and Wiciak checked. Before Vardanian took some chips to bet, Wiciak folded and let the pot go in Vardanian's direction.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simon Wiciak	160,000 10,000	10,000

Timur Vardanian	110,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Simon Wiciak Timur Vardanian

10-16-2023 22:38 UTC+3

Sullivan Gets One Shove Through, But Not the Next

David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Timur Vardanian had three-bet to 7,500 from the hijack and Vadym Koriagin called in the cutoff before Michael Sullivan put in a four-bet to 15,500 on the button.

Both opponents called to see the Q♠9♥K♠ flop, where Sullivan moved all in for 34,100. Vardanian and Koriagin both folded and Sullivan asked Koriagin to pick one of his cards, exposing the 6♥.

The next hand, however, Sullivan tangled with Simon Wiciak in a pot that saw Wiciak get his last 87,100 in from the big blind as Sullivan called on the button.

Simon Wiciak: J♥J♣
Michael Sullivan: 10♠10♥

"Ah, for f**ks sake," Sullivan cried out when he saw he was dominated by Wiciak's jacks. Both players stood up from their seats, Wiciak taking out his phone to film the action, as the dealer spread the 4♣6♠5♥Q♦7♣ board.

The stacks were counted down and Wiciak had Sullivan barely covered, sending him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadym Koriagin	160,000 -5,000	-5,000
Simon Wiciak	150,000 65,000	65,000

Timur Vardanian	95,000
Michael Sullivan	Busted

Tags: Michael Sullivan Simon Wiciak Timur Vardanian Vadym Koriagin

10-16-2023 22:34 UTC+3

Ercan Makes Flush, Peffly Makes Full House

Matt Warburton

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Alex Peffly open raised from late position and Mustafa Timur Ercan reshoved from the small blind for less than a starting stack. Peffly called and players flipped their cards, with Ercan at risk.

Mustafa Timur Ercan: 9♠7♠
Alex Peffly: Q♣Q♦

The board ran out A♠A♦10♠J♠Q♠. Ercan flopped a flush draw and completed his flush on the turn. Peffly then made a full house on the river to get back ahead and win the pot, sending Ercan to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Peffly	200,000 20,000	20,000
Mustafa Timur Ercan	Busted

Tags: Alex Peffly Mustafa Timur Ercan

10-16-2023 22:34 UTC+3

Netaliev Shoves Into Kings

David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Sam Greenwood raised to 2,600 in the cutoff before Motokatsu Uhara three-bet to 7,500 in the small blind. Oleg Netaliev then moved all in from the big blind, Greenwood folded, but Uhara called for his last 13,000.

Motokatsu Uhara: K♣K♦
Oleg Netaliev: A♠Q♦

Uhara had picked up kings and was poised for a double up as the board came 10♥5♥8♣8♠5♠, securing him the pot and his survival at this table that also includes Karolis Sereika, Julien Sitbon, and Dylan DeStefano.

Player	Chips	Progress
Karolis Sereika	140,000
Julien Sitbon	100,000 20,000	20,000
Oleg Netaliev	60,000 -14,000	-14,000
Sam Greenwood	35,000 20,000	20,000
Dylan DeStefano	32,000 -7,000	-7,000
Motokatsu Uhara	30,000

Tags: Oleg Netaliev Motokatsu Uhara Sam Greenwood

10-16-2023 22:28 UTC+3

Hadioglu Wins the Flip

Maxime Taldir

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Paul Hofer opened to 2,500 from under the gun, and Florian Duta three-bet to 6,500 on the button. In the big blind, Nuri Hadioglu shoved for 27,100. Hofer folded, but Duta called.

Nuri Hadioglu: A♠K♦
Florian Duta: Q♦Q♥

On 7♦3♠A♦2♣7♠, Hadioglu won the flip to double up. Down to 2,200, Duta was eliminated a few hands later.