2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final
Day: 2
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

Level: 9

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 100

PokerStars Pros on the Rise

Yoo can dooo it!!
Yoo can dooo it!!
After starting the day with only 5,825 in chips, Barry Greenstein has built his stack up to over 50,000. One table over, fellow Team PokerStars pro Victor Ramdin was nearly down to the felt with only a paltry 1,950 to start and is now sitting on 30,000. David Levi stopped by Greenstein's table a few moments ago to marvel at his friend's suddenly healthy stack.

"You can do it, Barry!" exclaimed Levi, though we're not sure if he was serious, or quoting that great American piece of cinema, "The Waterboy."

Across the room, Luca Pagano went into Day 2 with an above-average stack of 43,000 and change and is now one of the chip leaders, with a 155,000 chip castle sitting in front of him at present.

Tags: Barry GreensteinDavid LeviLuca PaganoVictor Ramdin

Anna Wroblewski Doubles Up

Anna Wroblewski
Anna Wroblewski
A short stacked Anna Wroblewski was looking for an opportunity to double up and she found it on a flop of {7-Diamonds}{8-Spades}{9-Diamonds}. In the big blind with four limpers in the pot, she pushed the last of her 4,350 chips into the middle. The player under the gun made the call and Wroblewski quipped, "Ok, at least I can now go outside and have some fun," with the innocence that only Anna can bring.

The cards were flipped and Wroblewski's {Q-Spades}{9-Hearts} held the lead against her opponent's {8-Clubs}{6-Clubs}. The turn was the {4-Diamonds} and the river {A-Clubs} and Wroblewski grabbed a much needed double up to around 11,000.

"Come back again in half an hour and I'll have a mountain of chips," she said with a smile....

Tags: Anna Wroblewski

Luske v. Antonius II; Patrik's Demise

Marcel Luske and Patrik Antonius
Marcel Luske and Patrik Antonius
Patrik Antonius has just been eliminated from the tournament by fellow pro Marcel Luske - the result of a heads-up confrontation that exploded after the flop.

Marcel checked in the dark before the dealer spread a flop of {A-Spades}{10-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds} and Patrik opened with a 2,500 bet. A traditional raise in this situation might reach five, seven, or maybe even ten or twelve thousand in chips, but this is Marcel Luske we're talking about and he's anything but traditional. Marcel decided to shove all in over the top of Antonius' bet, putting Patrik to a decision for all ~30,000 of his remaining chips. Holding A-K with the ace of diamonds, Patrik made the call only to see Marcel turn over A-10 for top two pair.

The turn and river ultimately blanked out and Marcel raked in one of the biggest pots of the day, sending Patrik to the rail, early on Day 2. Marcel now sits with right around 97,000 in chips.

Tags: Patrik Antonius

Marcel Luske Hoarding the Greens

Don't Touch My Greens!
Don't Touch My Greens!
Having acquired every single green 25-denomination chip on his table, Marcel Luske was refusing to give his tablemates change so they could post the antes! The tournament staff instead had to bring additional greens over to Luske's table so the game could continue.

According to sources on the floor, this is typical for Luske. The man loves the look of a big stack, I suppose.

Tags: Marcel Luske

Alexia Portal Takes One Off Marc Goodwin

Actress Alexia Portal
Actress Alexia Portal
Marc Goodwin opened the pot for 1,700 and Alexia Portal made the call. The flop was {Q-Clubs}{3-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}. Goodwin immediately fired out a continuation bet of 3,200, and Portal, in her lilting French accent just as quickly said, "I raise," eliciting a cringe from Goodwin. She tossed out 8,000 and Goodwin flashed his A-K before mucking his cards.

"Ace-queen?" inquired Goodwin. And with a sly smile, Alexia flashed that very hand as she stacked up the pot.

Tags: Alexia PortalMarc Goodwin