PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final Day 3 | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

04-15-2008 14:40 UTC+2

Break

[user67765]

The players are now taking a 10-minute break.

04-15-2008 14:39 UTC+2

Just prior to the break, Eli Elezra pushed the last of his short stack into the middle holding pocket fives and was flat called by France's Vincent Secher. Trond Erik Eidsvig from Norway also contemplated a call and thought for a long time as the media gathered around the table before eventually making a reluctant fold.

Secher flipped pocket kings and was well in front of Elezra. The board ran out {7-Spades}

and Elezra was left to exit the tournament area within sight of a cash finish.

Tags: Eli Elezra

04-15-2008 14:30 UTC+2

100 Players Remaining

[user38449]

We're nearing the end of the first level of play and have already lost 24 players, leaving us with 100. The average chip stack is currently 126,300.

The race to the money is on!

04-15-2008 14:21 UTC+2

Sorel Haggles But No Deal

[user67765]

In a battle of the blinds, James Campbell raised it up to 6,000 from the small blind and Sorel Mizzi defended from the big blind by making the call.

The flop came an interesting {A-Clubs}

and Campbell led out with a bet of 11,000 before Mizzi then popped it up an additional 17,500.

Campbell thought for a few moments before raising once again, making it another 62,500 to go! Mizzi went into the tank with a huge decision and started a barrage of questions on his opponent.

"Will you show me if I fold?" questioned Mizzi
"What if I fold and show, will you show?"
"What if I show and I pay you 50 Euros, will you show?"
"How about 100 Euros?"

Unable to reach a deal, Mizzi laid down his hand and Campbell collected a nice pot. Mizzi is still is great shape however, with in excess of 200,000 chips.

Tags: Sorel Mizzi

04-15-2008 14:16 UTC+2

Bon Soir, Marcel!

[user38449]

The ever-popular Marcel Luske has just played his last hand at this year's EPT Grand Final and his elimination comes just 25 (or so) out of the money.

According to Luske's conquerer, Canadian Glen Chrony, Luske open-shoved for around 55,000 holding {10-Hearts}

on a board of {7-Hearts}

. Chorny made the call holding {A-Diamonds}

and the turn and river blanked out {K-Diamonds}

,

to send Luske to the rail.

Tags: Marcel Luske

04-15-2008 14:01 UTC+2

High Stakes Sit'n'Go Fun

[user38449]

Elsewhere in the Salle de Etoiles, a group of eight PokerStars pros and one Supernova Elite qualifier have gotten together to play a $10,000 buy-in, filmed-for-TV sit'n'go which is currently in progress. Each of the pros paid out of pocket to play, while the Supernova Elite earned his buy-in last night in a freeroll tournament on PokerStars. The kind folks at Stars also added an extra $10,000 to the kitty to make it an even $100,000.

Here's a look at the line-up:

Daniel Negreanu (word on the street is, Kid Poker's already out)
Vicky Coren
Joseph 'bigjoe2003' Michael (Supernova Elite qualifier)
Katja Thater
Dario Minieri
John Duthie (Founder of the EPT)
Noah Boeken
Barry Greenstein
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier

We'll let you know who takes this puppy down - an accomplishment rumored to be worth $50,000.

Tags: Noah Boeken

04-15-2008 13:50 UTC+2

Judah Not Betrayed by His Jacks

[user38449]

A very short-stacked Mel Judah has just given himself a bit of extra breathing room after doubling through Felipe Ramos of Brazil. Judah shoved pre-flop holding a pair of red jacks and Ramos gave him action with {A-Diamonds}

. EPT Warsaw runner-up Ricardo Sousa told the table he almost made the call with A-5, but ultimately let Judah and Ramos settle things themselves.

By the turn, the board had filled out {4-Clubs}

leaving Ramos hoping to hit one of seven outs to send Judah to the rail, but the {6-Hearts}

on the river ensured the pot for Judah, who now sits with just over 16,000 in chips.

Tags: Mel Judah

04-15-2008 13:47 UTC+2

Valeriy Ilikyan Likes Pocket Aces

[user25067]

Facing an opening raise from Raul Paez Corral, Valeriy Ilikyan moved in for 37,800 from the big blind. As Corral pondered his call, Ilikyan started chattering away.

"I know you have Ace-King. I'm positive."

Corral made the call and instead turned up {Q-Hearts}

. Ilikyan tabled {A-Clubs}

.

"Deal it slow" Ilikyan begged the dealer, perhaps wanting to relish the moment.

The flop was {J-Diamonds}

. The turn was the {7-Clubs}

, and the river the {K-Spades}

. As that final card fell Ilikyan leaped up from his seat, knocking over a table full of water glasses that shattered on the ground and exclaimed several sentences in a foreign tongue. Many of the spectators and media surrounding the table seemed confused, as he looked more like a man who just took a bad beat.

"Does he know he won?" whispered another journalist in my ear.

Ilikyan is now up to over 90,000 in chips.

Tags: Valeriy Ilikyan

04-15-2008 13:38 UTC+2

Elezra's Kings Cracked

[user25067]

Eli Elezra made an opening raise to 6,000 from UTG+1 and Joseph Udine re-raised to 23,000 from the button. Elezra set him all in and Udine, now pot committed, called off his remaining stack, saying "nice hand" as he turned up {8-Clubs}