2014 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

€10,600 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2014 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a4
Prize
€1,240,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€10,000
Prize Pool
€6,500,000
Entries
650
Level Info
Level
35
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
40,000

Paris Eliminates Zayonts

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Alexander Zayonts has been eliminated after he called all in on a {9-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{6-Spades} flop against Bryan Paris. Paris held {10-Clubs}{10-Spades} to Zayonts' {A-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds} and the board came {2-Spades} and {7-Spades} to make the American a straight.

Paris, who made the final table of the biggest ever Eureka Poker Tour event in Vienna, is up to 130,000.

Player Chips Progress
Bryan Paris us
Bryan Paris
130,000
33,000
33,000
Natural8
Alexander Zayonts
Alexander Zayonts
Busted

Tags: Bryan Paris

Moolhuizen Eliminated

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Well before the break we ran into Mateusz Moolhuizen. He was standing at the information desk with the schedule in his hand, probably checking out what other tournaments to play this week.

He told us that Ole Schemion had opened the pot. He had shoved with {A-}{J-} for 23,000 and another player had made the call holding {8-}{8-} while Schemion folded his {K-}{Q-}. The flop came eight-high and Moolhuizen was sent packing his bags.

Player Chips Progress
Mateusz Moolhuizen nl
Mateusz Moolhuizen
Busted

Tags: Mateusz Moolhuizen

Morgensztern Exits With Lower Pair

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Gil Morgensztern was all in before the flop and got called by Philippe Rouas. Morgensztern had {8-Clubs}{8-Hearts} and was the player at risk. He was devastated and got out of his seat when he saw the {10-Diamonds}{10-Clubs} of Rouas.

The board ran out {3-Spades}{6-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{7-Spades}{3-Diamonds} and Rous collected Morgensztern’s chips as he headed for the exit.

Player Chips Progress
Gil Morgensztern br
Gil Morgensztern
Busted

Tags: Gil MorgenszternPhilippe Rouas

Running Like Ole

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante
Ole Schemion
Ole Schemion

Ole Schemion opened for 2,800 from early position and Rumen Nanev shoved allin from the hijack for 25,500. In the small blind Aslan Daurov reshoved allin for an amount we're not sure of, but it was a lot. The big blind folded and Schemion instantly called.

Ole Schemion: {A-Spades}{A-Clubs}
Aslan Daurov: {Q-Hearts}{Q-Clubs}
Rumen Nanev: {6-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}

The flop ({9-Spades}{J-Clubs}{2-Spades}), turn ({K-Hearts}), and river ({8-Spades}) were of no harm for Schemion who won the huge pot. Schemion is doing very well again in this tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Ole Schemion de
Ole Schemion
184,000
84,000
84,000
Rumen Nanev bg
Rumen Nanev
Busted
Aslan Daurov
Aslan Daurov
Busted

Tags: Ole SchemionRumen Nanev

Ivey’s Future Plans

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante
Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey

We overheard Talal Shakerchi asking Phil Ivey about his future poker plans. Ivey confirmed that he will be playing the One Drop and all the WSOP events this year but also said it would be the last time he would do such a heavy WSOP schedule.

This year would be the end of a three-year WSOP bracelet bet and from next year on Ivey stated that he planned to play cash and maybe eight or so bracelet events.

Tags: Phil IveyTalal ShakerchiWSOP

Team PokerStars Pro Eugene Katchalov Reflects on His First EPT Grand Final

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante
Eugene Katchalov
Eugene Katchalov

Prior to the 2014 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final, Team PokerStars Pro Eugene Katchalov, who placed 18th in the tournament way back in Season 1, talked about his first-ever EPT main event.

You can read the full interview by clicking here, but here is a sample on what he had to say:

How did you come to play your first EPT? Was it a buy-in, satellite, or something else?

Katchalov: EPT Monte Carlo was one of my first major events and my first EPT main event at the time. I was already playing cash games quite a bit and had some small successes in tournaments, so I had the confidence and bankroll to risk playing a big main event like that. I had a friend who took half of my action in the event and I was able to buy the other piece for myself. I had an amazing run and it was certainly one of those memorable events that inspired me to play more in the future.

You finished 18th in that event. At the time, was that disappointing or a great accomplishment?

I remember being disappointed and happy at the same time. It felt great to go so deep and even make a little profit, but of course there is always a bit of disappointment when the "big" money was just a little further away. Either way, I remember having a great time and had a lot of confidence and inspiration to take away for future tournaments.

Do you remember how you were eliminated? If so, care to share?

Surprisingly, I actually do remember how I was eliminated in that event and even by whom. I remember I was a bit short from 30 people on down, but then accumulated a pretty good stack and got moved to a new table. After about an hour or so of being card dead and losing the few hands I would play, I finally picked up {q-}{q-} and got into a preflop raising war with Antony Lellouche who had {A-}{K-}. He had me slightly covered and won the flip to crush my dreams.

What's your best EPT Monte Carlo memory from any season?

I think my best memory is actually from that first time that I played an EPT in Monte Carlo. I vividly remember getting cashed out after finishing 18th and having all the cash laid out in front of me with each bill separated. It all seemed quite crazy at the time and I was just amazed that I could make so much money in such a short time. It was of course also somewhat bittersweet considering that the pay jumps were just about to become big.

Tags: Eugene Katchalov

The Last of the Level 10 Eliminations

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante
Player Chips Progress
Remy Mougel
Remy Mougel
Busted
Alberto Lapena
Alberto Lapena
Busted
Erwann Pecheux fr
Erwann Pecheux
Busted
Tamer Kamel gb
Tamer Kamel
Busted
Gilbert Diaz fr
Gilbert Diaz
Busted
Byron Kaverman us
Byron Kaverman
Busted
Benny Spindler de
Benny Spindler
Busted
Mikal Blomlie no
Mikal Blomlie
Busted
Yann Dion ca
Yann Dion
Busted
Jacek Markowski
Jacek Markowski
Busted
Vincenzo Cortese
Vincenzo Cortese
Busted
Stefano Garbarino
Stefano Garbarino
Busted
Ariel Malnik lt
Ariel Malnik
Busted
Sam Cohen us
Sam Cohen
Busted
Dori Yacoub lb
Dori Yacoub
Busted
Wesley Pantling ca
Wesley Pantling
Busted
Douglas Souza
Douglas Souza
Busted
Darie Vlad ro
Darie Vlad
Busted
Sorel Mizzi ca
Sorel Mizzi
Busted
Martin Hanowski de
Martin Hanowski
Busted
Pratyush Buddiga us
Pratyush Buddiga
Busted

Raskin Runs Into Kanaan's Pocket Kings

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Prior to the break, Micah Raskin got his stack all in preflop and was up against Michael Kanaan.

Kanaan: {k-Diamonds}{k-Spades}
Raskin: {9-}{9-}

It was a bad spot for Raskin, and he paid the price after the board ran out a dry {8-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}{3-Hearts}. The stacks were fairly even, but after the dealer broke everything down, it was discovered Raskin was covered.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Kanaan au
Michael Kanaan
120,000
86,400
86,400
Micah Raskin us
Micah Raskin
Busted

Tags: Micah RaskinMichael Kanaan

Level: 11

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 200