The 2013 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

€100,000 Super High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info

The 2013 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j9
Prize
€1,746,400
Event Info
Buy-in
€98,000
Prize Pool
€4,851,000
Entries
50
Level Info
Level
21
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Shakerchi Puts Juanda in His Place

Level 2 : 600/1,200, 200 ante
Talal Shakerchi
Talal Shakerchi

Talal Shakerchi is having a better day, so far, than he did playing in the big cash game two days ago. John Juanda tried to get him off a hand on the flop but ended up giving up on the turn.

Shakerchi opened to 2,500 from under the gun and was called by Juanda on the button and Jonathan Duhamel in the big blind.

Shakerchi continued for 5,100 on the {7-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} flop only for Juanda to raise to 15,000. Duhamel folded before Shakerchi three-bet to 40,200. Junada called but folded to a 63,000 bet on the {8-Spades} turn.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Talal Shakerchi gb
Talal Shakerchi
340,000
90,000
90,000
Profile photo of John Juanda id
John Juanda
140,000
140,000
140,000
Poker Hall of Famer
EPT 1X Winner

Tags: John JuandaJonathan DuhamelTalal Shakerchi

Big Slick Pays for Marchese

Level 2 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Tom Marchese's stack is into the black after he won a pot off Philipp Gruissem.

The two players took to a {k-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{3-Spades} flop where Marchese check-called a 10,000 bet. Both players elected to check {5-Clubs} turn before Marchese led for 28,000 on the {7-Diamonds} river. Gruissem called and mucked upon seeing his opponent's {a-Clubs}{k-Diamonds}.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Tom Marchese us
Tom Marchese
275,000
25,000
25,000
Profile photo of Philipp Gruissem de
Philipp Gruissem
170,000
-80,000
-80,000

Tags: Philipp GruissemTom Marchese

Set of Snowmen for Watson

Level 2 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

On the {K-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{2-Spades} flop, Mikhail Smirnov fired a bet of 6,000, and Andrew Lichtenberger called. Mike Watson also called to close off the action, then the {4-Clubs} was added to the board on the turn. Smirnov bet 16,000, and Lichtenberger folded. Watson put in a raise to 46,000, and Smirnov called.

The river was the {J-Diamonds}, and Smirnov checked. Watson bet 78,000, and Smirnov made the call. Watson tabled the {8-Diamonds}{8-Clubs} for a set of eights, and Smirnov mucked his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
382,000
132,000
132,000
EPT 2X Winner
Profile photo of Andrew Lichtenberger us
Andrew Lichtenberger
228,000
-22,000
-22,000
Profile photo of Mikhail Smirnov ru
Mikhail Smirnov
106,000
106,000
106,000

Tags: Andrew LichtenbergerMichael WatsonMike WatsonMikhail Smirnov

Level: 2

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 200

Nuts For Esfandiari

Level 1 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Antonio Esfandiari
Antonio Esfandiari

We just caught Antonio Esfandiari check-calling a bet on the {3-Clubs}{10-Spades}{8-Spades} flop against Marc-Andre Ladouceur but didn't quite see the bet size. On the turn the {4-Spades} hit and this time Esfandiari lead out for 19,300. Ladouceur, seated on the button, thought for a while and called.

On the river the {7-Spades} hit and Esfandiari picked up some more chips and he fired out 36,300 this time. Ladouceur eventually made the call and mucked when Esfandiari turned over {a-Spades}{9-Spades}.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Antonio Esfandiari us
Antonio Esfandiari
385,000
50,000
50,000
StakeKings
Profile photo of Marc-Andre Ladouceur ca
Marc-Andre Ladouceur
142,000
-28,000
-28,000

Tags: Antonio EsfandiariMarc-Andre Ladouceur

More for Blom

Level 1 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Viktor Blom
Viktor Blom

The stakes are big so it's no wonder that Viktor Blom is in his element. Dan Smith is no stranger to winning big buy-in tournaments but he had to admit defeat in a hand with the Swede.

Smith opened to 3,000 from the hijack and called when Blom three-bet to 8,600 off the button. The flop fanned {10-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}{9-Hearts} and Smith led for 14,000. Blom called to see the {q-Hearts} turn where he bet 28,000 when Smith checked to him.

Smith called and checked to Blom on the {k-Clubs} river. Smith gave up and folded after he was faced with a 58,500 bet.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Viktor Blom se
Viktor Blom
360,000
60,000
60,000
Full Tilt
Profile photo of Dan Smith us
Dan Smith
200,000
-50,000
-50,000
Run It Once

Tags: Dan SmithViktor Blom

The Raising Game Didn't Work For Ladouceur

Level 1 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

Marc-Andre Ladouceur and Antonio Esfandiari battled in the blinds and it was the latter that came out on top.

On a {9-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{4-Clubs} flop Esfandiari led for 4,300 from the small blind and Ladouceur called to the {3-Hearts} turn where he bet 6,500 when the action was checked to him. Esfandiari check-raised to 20,000 and his Canadian opponent called.

The river fell {k-Clubs} and both players checked. Esfandiari opened {10-Hearts}{10-Clubs} and it was good as Ladouceur mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Antonio Esfandiari us
Antonio Esfandiari
335,000
85,000
85,000
StakeKings
Profile photo of Marc-Andre Ladouceur ca
Marc-Andre Ladouceur
170,000
-80,000
-80,000

Tags: Antonio EsfandiariMarc-Andre Ladouceur

Duhamel Might've Saved Chips

Level 1 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Jonathan Duhamel
Jonathan Duhamel

From the button, Team PokerStars Pro Jonathan Duhamel raised to 3,000. Dani Stern made the call from the small blind, then Vladimir Troyanovsky reraised to 11,000 from the big blind. Duhamel and Stern both called, and the dealer pulled in the bets before running out the {A-Diamonds}{7-Spades}{6-Spades} flop.

On the flop, Stern checked first, then Troyanovsky fired 18,000. Duhamel flatted behind before Stern gave it up and left the other two to do battle.

The turn was the {3-Diamonds}, and Troyanovsky checked. Duhamel checked behind.

The river was the {6-Hearts}, and Troyanovsky checked again. Duhamel took his time, then fired 28,000. Troyanovsky tank-called, and watched Duhamel roll over the {J-Spades}{9-Spades} for a missed flush draw. Troyanovsky showed the {A-Spades}{3-Spades} for two pair, but he also had spades, so it could've been very bad new for Duhamel if he did in fact hit his flush.

Tags: Dani SternJonathan DuhamelVladimir Troyanovsky

Two Pair for Ivey Beat's Bulychev's Cowboys

Level 1 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

From under the gun, Andrew Lichtenberger raised to 3,000. Russia's Ilya Bulychev called from the cutoff seat, and Phil Ivey called from the button.

The flop came down {9-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}, and action checked to Ivey. He fired 6,000, and Lichtenberger folded. Bulychev made the call.

The turn was the {6-Spades}, and both players checked to see the {4-Spades} fall on the river. Bulychev led for 10,000, and Ivey called.

Bulychev showed the {K-Hearts}{K-Spades}, but his cowboys were no good against the two pair that Ivey held with the {7-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}.

Tags: Andrew LichtenbergerPhil Ivey

Negreanu Ready for a Big Day; Involved Early

Level 1 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu

Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu is back in action following a fourth-place finish in the €10,000 Main Event last night. He also attending the PokerStars party last night, but stayed off the alcohol in preparation for a big, important day of poker. Last year, Negreanu had a little bit too much fun prior to the start of the €100,000 Super High Roller and suffered through the last hours of Day 1 following a late entry.

On the {K-Diamonds}{J-Spades}{10-Diamonds} flop, Negreanu was involved with Mike "Timex" McDonald. Both players checked, with Negreanu acting first, then the dealer placed the {8-Clubs} out on the turn. Both players checked again.

The river completed the board with the {10-Hearts}, and Negreanu checked. McDonald opted to go for a bet, and wagered 4,500. Negreanu folded, and McDonald won the pot.

On the next hand, action folded to Negreanu on the button, and he raised to 2,500. McDonald called from the small blind, and once again it was these two taking a flop together.

The {K-Clubs}{10-Spades}{5-Hearts} rolled out, and that's as far as this hand would go. Following a check from McDonald, Negreanu's continuation bet of 3,200 was enough to do the trick because McDonald folded.

Tags: Daniel NegreanuMike McDonald