Main Event
Day 1a Started
The 2012 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
The 2012 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final
Buy-in
€10,000
Entries
665
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000
Welcome to Day 1a of the EPT Grand Final
![[user169505]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Good morning and welcome to the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final. Season 8 has been a season to remember but luckily we have one more event to go before we lock up the memory banks and move forward into Season 9.
The Monte Carlo action has already started with the €100,000 Super High Roller having gone through two days of play, the €5k heads-up side event starting yesterday and a whole host of side events and cash games on offer.
Players have arrived by train, car and even helicopter to make their mark on the biggest EPT of them all. This time last year we were in Madrid and the title was taken down by Ivan Freitez for a cool €1,500,000. Freitez has arrived early and is excited about retaining his crown. No doubt Freitez will be joined by a plethora of Season 8 title holders including the likes of Team PokerStars Online Mickey Petersen, Benny Spindler, Martin Schleich and our most recent EPT winner and Triple Crown owner Davidi Kitai.
We are expecting a whole host of PokerStars Team pros to join the field today including the likes of Pierre Neuville, Arnaud Mattern, Richard Toth, Humberto Brenes, Joe Cada and Vanessa Selbst.
The action starts at 12:00 (CET) and we will be bringing you as much action as we can write here in the pages of Pokernews.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Names and Tables
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
There are going to be so many name players in this event that we’re going to struggle to get around them all. We’ll do our best and we’ll certainly give players who start to make a break away our full attention. As ever please feel free to use the shout box down the right hand side of the page for any specific player requests.
We’re still awaiting player lists but a first walk around the tournament room has thrown up some interesting table draws already.
John Eames is going to have to watch out for some Pierre Neuville three-bets today as the Team PokerStars Pro is directly to his left.
Jonathan Karamalikis is one of Australia’s most feared poker players and he’s trying to invade our fair shores. He has the spritely Xuan Liu to his left, though and she’s no easy character. Also, she won her seat via a live satellite last night so has the pressure of playing as 10k buy-in off her back. Then there's high-roller specialist Philipp Gruissem a few more seats further along.
The two most difficult tables I’ve laid eyes on are minefields. Ignat Livui is really making a name for himself in the live scene but he has to deal with Adam Levi and Chris Brammer to start with. At least he’s sat to their left.
One table along and we see Scott Seiver sat in seat one. He’s out of position to Martin Stazko and Nicolas Chouity, who was victorious the last time we were here for a grand final. Then there's the current WSOPE champion Elio Fox sat at the end of the table.
That's just the start......
Eames Wins His First Pot
John Eames raised to 300 in middle position, the player in the hijack seat called as did Talal Shakerchi on the button. The flop was 
and Eames c-bet for 525, the player in the hijack raised to 1,525 and Shakerchi folded. Back to Eames and he wasted little time in making the call. That was the end of the action as the 
and 
were checked through and we had a showdown.
| Eames |   |
| Hijack |   |
Eames dragged in the pot with a higher two pair, the deck was changed because of a rogue and the action continued.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
32,100 |
Formalities
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The tournament team have just announced that we will be playing eight levels without a dinner break. Here is the schedule for the day:
| Time | Level | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:15 - 13:15 | 1 | 50 | 100 | - |
| 13:15 - 14:15 | 2 | 75 | 150 | - |
| 14:15 - 14:35 | break | |||
| 14:35 - 15:35 | 3 | 100 | 200 | - |
| 15:35 - 16:35 | 4 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
| 16:35 - 16:55 | break | |||
| 16:55 - 17:55 | 5 | 150 | 300 | 25 |
| 17:55 - 18:55 | 6 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
| 18:55 - 19:25 | break | |||
| 19:25 - 20:25 | 7 | 250 | 500 | 50 |
| 20:25 - 21:25 | 8 | 300 | 600 | 75 |
Nunes Picks Off Benzinou
Joel Benzinou raised on the button for 250, Team PokerStars Pro Joao Nunes called in the small blind as did Guillaume Darcourt in the big blind. The action was pretty sterile as all three players checked down to the river on a board of 
when Benzinou bet 400. Nunes called, Darcourt folded and Benzinou slid his cards unseen to the dealer handing the pot to Nunes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
31,000 |
Snap River De Meulder Fold
Matthias De Meulder is mixing it up early but had to fold in a pot to Dermot Blain. The Belgian Team PokerStars Pro raised from early position and bet a 
flop. Blain defended his big blind and check-called on the flop before both players checked through the 
turn.
The river came 
and De Meulder bet 650,00 but snap-folded when Blain check-raised to 2,200
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
31,500 | |
|
28,500 |
You First
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Joel Benzinou raised to 250 in the cutoff and Roberto Romanello defended his big blind. Once again the action was checked through to the river on a board of 
, only this time Benzinou did not try a cheeky river bet.
"It's on you…you were the last aggressor," said Romanello.
After a little bit of debate, Benzinou reluctantly turned over 
.
"Why are you afraid to turn over the nuts?" Said Romanello as he mucked his hand.
Benzinou just gave him a puzzled ne comprends stare
Darcourt Getting Busy
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Guillaume Darcourt raised to 250 on the button and the player in the big blind three-bet to 700. Darcourt made the call and the pair shared a flop of 
. The big blind allowed Darcourt to take the betting lead when he check-called a 850 bet. The turn card was the and the big blind checked once more. Darcourt bet 1,850 and the player in the big blind folded.