2015 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

€50,000 Super High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info

2015 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k7
Prize
€936,500
Event Info
Buy-in
€49,000
Prize Pool
€3,201,660
Entries
66
Level Info
Level
24
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000

€50,000 Super High Roller

Day 1 Completed

Mustapha Kanit Wins the €50,000 Super High Roller for €936,500!

Level 24 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante
Mustapha Kanit - PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final 2015 €50,000 Super High Roller Winner
Mustapha Kanit - PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final 2015 €50,000 Super High Roller Winner

Welcome to the big time, Mustapha Kanit. You've done it.

The €50,000 Super High Roller at the 2015 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final was a fast-paced, action-packed affair that took just one day to finish. Kicking off shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, the final hand was dealt just before 3:30 a.m. Monday morning.

When registration closed, 66 entries and a prize pool of over €3.2 million were tallied. The top prize was worth €936,500, and it would be the Italian walking away with the title. Entering this event, Kanit boasted live tournament earnings of nearly $2.7 million, and he's now scored the largest payday of his young career. Previously, Kanit's largest result came in early 2014 when he took fourth in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,500 High Roller for $492,600.

The top nine finishers were set to cash, and when the final 10 remained, it was a fighting battle for the short stacks to stay alive. Eventually, Vladimir Troyanovskiy was eliminated in 10th place to serve as this event's "bubble boy."

Scott Seiver had once again reached the money of a super high roller event, but his run ended in ninth place. He was foliowed to the payout desk by Ivan Luca, Mark Teltscher, Andrei Streltsou, and then a trio of Germans — Fabian Quoss, Fedor Holz, and Martin Finger.

The last man standing in Kanit's path to the trophy was Mike Watson, and extremely formidable opponent. Quickly into the match, Kanit doubled against Watson and took the chip lead. From there, there was one small bump in the road for Kanit, which came in terms of a double for Watson when he fell super short, but that was it. Kanit's jovial aggression, backed by the support of his boisterous rail, helped him finish the job.

On the final hand, Kanit's {K-Clubs}{7-Hearts} dominated Watson's {K-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}. The young pro known as "lasagnaaammm" on PokerStars flopped trips and won from there, holding through the {7-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}{10-Clubs} board.

For his runner-up finish, Watson took home €672,300, but all eyes were on the champion, Mustapha Kanit.

Tags: Andrei StreltsouFabian QuossFedor HolzIvan LucaMark TeltscherMartin FingerMichael WatsonMike WatsonMustapha KanitScott SeiverVladimir Troyanovskiy

Mike Watson Eliminated in 2nd Place (€672,300)

Level 24 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante
Mike Watson
Mike Watson

Mike Watson was crippled and only had about a million left, but doubled up not long after. Kanit moved all in and while Watson tanked for a bit, Kanit was already celebrating; "The Champion!" Kanit laughed, "This is the hand! I take the picture like this!" he continued while holding his two cards in the air, not showing them to Watson just yet.

Watson wasn't impressed and called. Kanit showed {8-Clubs}{9-Diamonds} and Watson tabled {J-Clubs}{2-Clubs}. Kanit seemed confident he would hit, and he did, but he wouldn't win the tournament just yet: {8-Diamonds}{J-Hearts}{4-Spades}{3-Spades}{10-Clubs}.

"He called him with jack-high!" Dan Smith yelled from Watson's rail.

Watson doubled up to ten big blinds, but would hand those chips over three hands later. Watson shoved from his button and Mustapha Kanit made the call.

Mustapha Kanit: {K-Clubs}{7-Hearts}
Mike Watson: {K-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}

Watson was dominated, but a split pot wasn't out of the question with these hands. After the flop, that was nearly impossible: {7-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}. A split pot wasn't in the realm of possibilities anymore after the {3-Hearts} hit the turn, but Kanit wasn't home safe just yet as a four could still spoil his party.

The dealer didn't make much of a show out of it fortunately, and the {10-Clubs} on the river was dealt straight away. Kanit shook hands with Watson, and then celebrated with his rail.

Player Chips Progress
Mustapha Kanit it
Mustapha Kanit
Winamax
13,200,000 1,000,000
Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
EPT 2X Winner
Busted

Tags: Mike WatsonMustapha Kanit

Kanit Pulls Way Ahead

Level 24 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante

Mustapha Kanit raised on the button, and Mike Watson called from the big blind to see the flop come down {7-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}{3-Hearts}. Watson checked, and Kanit checked behind.

The turn was the {2-Diamonds}, and Watson bet 500,000. Kanit raised to 1.275 million, and Watson called.

The river was the {5-Spades} to complete the board, and Watson checked. Kanit paused, then announced a bet of 3 million. Watson called.

Kanit quickly turned over the {A-Diamonds}{6-Spades} for a straight, getting there on the river, and Watson mucked his hand before sending the chips over.

Player Chips Progress
Mustapha Kanit it
Mustapha Kanit
Winamax
12,200,000 5,040,000
Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
EPT 2X Winner
1,000,000 -5,040,000

Tags: Mike WatsonMustapha KanitMichael Watson

Level: 24

Blinds: 100,000/200,000

Ante: 30,000

Kanit Doubles and Grabs the Lead

Level 23 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

Mustapha Kanit made it 450,000 to go and Mike Watson shoved all in over the top. Kanit instantly called all in for 3,560,000 holding {A-Diamonds}{K-Clubs}, Watson tabled {K-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds}.

The flop came {2-Spades}{A-Hearts}{4-Spades} and that just about settled it. The {J-Clubs} gave Watson some suckout possibilities, but the {8-Hearts} wasn't one of the cards he was looking for. Double up for Kanit!

Player Chips Progress
Mustapha Kanit it
Mustapha Kanit
Winamax
7,160,000 3,460,000
Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
EPT 2X Winner
6,040,000 -2,960,000

Tags: Mike WatsonMustapha Kanit

Martin Finger Eliminated in 3rd Place (€437,000)

Level 23 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Martin Finger
Martin Finger

Martin Finger shoved all in from the small blind and big blind Mustapha Kanit instantly called.

Martin Finger: {4-Spades}{4-Clubs}
Mustapha Kanit: {A-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}

The board ran out {8-Diamonds}{A-Spades}{K-Diamonds}{8-Spades}{2-Hearts} and Kanit eliminated his German opponent.

Kanit and Finger are guaranteed €672,300, and play heads up for the €936,500 first place prize. No deal talk as of yet.

Player Chips Progress
Mustapha Kanit it
Mustapha Kanit
Winamax
3,700,000 850,000
Martin Finger de
Martin Finger
EPT 1X Winner
Busted

Tags: Martin FingerMustapha Kanit

Finger Loses Lots With Kings

Level 23 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

Mike Watson limped in from the small blind and Martin Finger bumped it up to 460,000 from the big blind. Mike Watson made the call.

Watson checked on {A-Clubs}{10-Spades}{3-Hearts} and Finger bet 410,000. Watson called.

Watson check called another 1 million on the {Q-Clubs} turn, and checked again on the {2-Hearts} river. Finger tanked for a bit before betting 2,080,000. Watson immediately called.

Finger showed {K-Hearts}{K-Diamonds}, Watson tabled {Q-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} and left Finger crippled.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
EPT 2X Winner
9,000,000 3,790,000
Martin Finger de
Martin Finger
EPT 1X Winner
1,000,000 -4,500,000

Tags: Martin FingerMike Watson

Fedor Holz Eliminated in 4th Place (€329,800)

Level 23 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Fedor Holz
Fedor Holz

Fedor Holz shoved his stack worth a little over 1 million in chips to the middle from first position. Finger and Kanit threw their cards in the muck rather rapidly, but Mike Watson in the big blind was interested. He thought for just a few seconds before calling.

Holz was ahead with the {A-Diamonds}{7-Clubs} as his opponent turned over {10-Spades}{Q-Spades}.

The {10-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{2-Spades} flop was disastrous for Holz though, and he was drawing dead by the time the {10-Hearts} hit the turn. Holz got up from the table while the dealer burned and put the {3-Spades} on the river to make things official.

Holz shook hands with his three former opponents and headed to the pay out to collect his cheque wort €329,800, just slightly less than the €337,500 he made for his 7th place in the €100,000 Super High Roller last night. No titles and trophy's just yet here in Monaco, but not too bad a start to the festival for the young German.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
EPT 2X Winner
5,210,000 1,390,000
Fedor Holz de
Fedor Holz
Busted

Tags: Fedor HolzMike Watson