2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final
Day: 1a
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

Edlund Hanging Tough

Sandra Edlund
Sandra Edlund
A former poker dealer from Sweden, Sandra Edlund was a late entry into today's Day 1a field and has proven her worth, having already outlasted over 170 players.

Representing T6 Poker, Sandra currently sits with approximately 28,000 in chips - the tournament average - and has held her own throughout the day against some solid competition, including one Patrik Antonius, who has occupied a seat directly across the table from Sandra for much of the day.

Tags: Sandra Edlund

Sleepy Schwartz Sent Home

It's been a long day for many jet-lagged players as evidenced by the recent performance of Justin Schwartz. During a lengthy hand that he wasn't involved in, Schwartz decided to rest his tired head on the table and re-charge his batteries before the next hand. Unfortunately he fell asleep and when the next hand was dealt he didn't rise from his peaceful slumber! A quick poke from Barry Greenstein and a startled Schwartz was back in action.

However he didn't last much longer, pushing all in soon after with pocket nines and running into the pocket kings of an opponent to eliminate Schwartz from the tournament and send him back to his hotel room early for some more shut-eye!

Tags: Justin Schwartz

Maria Maceiras Eliminated

Maria Maceiras has certainly taken the worst of it in the luck department today. First, she ran her Q-Q into K-K, and then her K-K into A-A in a three-way pot. She would have gone broke on the latter hand, had her tablemate Sorel Mizzi not gotten cute with J-10, creating a 10K side pot that went to Maceiras.

"I'm telling my dad you raised me with J-10!" she teased after the hand.

Maria met her end when she moved all in with A-K and found a caller in Mizzi. She was in excellent shape against his K-Q... that is, until he flopped a queen. Maceiras picked up some outs with a straight draw, but they never materialized, and she headed to the rail.

Mizzi's stack continues to rise, now cresting the 45,000 mark.

Tags: Maria MaceirasSorel Mizzi

Lindgren's Kings Cracked

Erick Lindgren
Erick Lindgren
Erick Lindgren limped from under the gun and a player in middle position went all in for his last 3,175. A late-position player flat-called this raise, and the action folded back around to Lindgren, who sized up the situation before plonking four white 5,000 denomination chips into the middle to declare another raise. With one player all in, Lindgren's isolation play worked as the late-position player was forced to fold and the cards were tabled:

Lindgren: {K-Spades}{K-Diamonds}
Opponent: {A-Diamonds}{J-Hearts}

The board was looking good for Lindgren when it arrived {Q-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}, but unfortunately for him the {A-Clubs} on the river gave his opponent the hand and a much-needed triple-up.

Lindgren drops back to about the average chip stack with close to 27,000 in chips.

Tags: Erick Lindgren

Musical Chairs

Tables seem to be breaking at a faster pace now that the ante has come into play, and as a result, new match-ups are being created all over the room.

One such table now has Johnny Lodden, Josh Arieh and Anna Wroblewski all pitted against each other. Lodden currently leads the table with just over 50,000 in chips while Anna trails not far behind with 41,000. Meanwhile, Arieh is still trucking with just under 10,000.

Tags: Josh Arieh

Antonius Likes The Ladies

Patrik Antonius
Patrik Antonius
In a raised pot, Patrik Antonius and his opponent saw a flop of {10-Diamonds}{K-Spades}{6-Hearts}. Antonius checked the action over to his opponent who bet 2,800 in chips. Antonius deliberated in his usual style before making the call. The turn brought the {9-Spades} and both players checked. The river landed the {8-Hearts} and once again it was checked down. Antonius flipped {Q-Spades}{Q-Diamonds}, which was too good for his opponent who had {A-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts} for a missed gutshot straight draw.

Antonius is gathering momentum late in the day and will be dangerous to contend with as he uses his large stack to his advantage.

Tags: Patrik Antonius

Niki Jedlicka Eliminated, Maria Maceiras Crippled

"KaiBuxxe" = Busto
"KaiBuxxe" = Busto
Maria Maceiras opened the pot for 800 from the button, the small blind raised to 3,000 and Niki Jedlicka pushed all in for less. Maceiras called. The flop was {J-Clubs}{7-Spades}{2-Spades}. The small blind bet 4,000, leaving himself only a few hundred behind. Maceiras pushed in a large stack of chips, intending to set the small blind all in (though she did not make a verbal declaration). The small blind called and flipped over {K-Clubs}{K-Spades}. Maceiras showed {Q-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts}, while Jedlicka was in dire shape with {8-Spades}{8-Hearts}. The turn was the {10-Diamonds}, the river was the {7-Hearts} and the main pot went to the small blind.

However, while counting out their stacks the dealer discovered that the small blind had Maceiras covered, rather than the other way around. Since no verbal "all-in" declaration was made, the size of the pot stood and Maceiras ended the hand with a scant 1,900 in chips, while Jedlicka was eliminated.

Tags: Maria MaceirasNiki Jedlicka

Level: 6

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25