2015 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

€10,600 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2015 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a8
Prize
€1,082,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€10,000
Prize Pool
€5,640,000
Entries
564
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000

Velvelt vs. Chehab

Level 1 : 50/100, 0 ante

Four players each put in 1,700 preflop and watched the flop come down {5-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}. All four players checked, the dealer burned and turned the {Q-Clubs}, and the player in the small blind checked. that opened the door for Urmo Velvelt to bet 3,000 from the big, El Amir Ziad Chehab called from the cutoff, and PCA champ Kevin Schulz folded from the button.

The small blind also got out of the way and it was heads-up action to the {4-Hearts} river, which both players checked. Chehab tabled the {a-Hearts}{q-Diamonds} for queens with an ace kicker, and Velvelt held the same with the {a-Clubs}{q-Hearts}. Chop it up!

Player Chips Progress
Kevin Schulz us
Kevin Schulz
EPT 1X Winner
30,000
El Amir Ziad Chehab lb
El Amir Ziad Chehab
19,000 19,000
Urmo Velvelt ee
Urmo Velvelt
18,000 18,000

Tags: El Amir Ziad ChehabKevin SchulzUrmo Velvelt

Small One for Bonomo

Level 1 : 50/100, 0 ante
Justin Bonomo
Justin Bonomo

With 3,600 in the pot and a board reading {6-Hearts}{2-Spades}{k-Spades}{7-Diamonds}{4-Spades} the player in the small blind was in the tank as Justin Bonomo had bet 2,800 from the big. A couple of minutes ticked by, all the while Bonomo sat stoically.

"It's a crying call, but I think I'm ahead," the small blind said, seeming as though he was going to call. He didn't though, instead opting to fold. "Nice hand."

Player Chips Progress
Justin Bonomo us
Justin Bonomo
31,000 1,000

Tags: Justin Bonomo

"That Guy Never Folds"

Level 1 : 50/100, 0 ante
Dani Stern
Dani Stern

With 650 in the pot and a flop of {5-Clubs}{8-Clubs}{6-Clubs}, Praytush Buddiga checked from the big blind and Dani Stern did the same from the cutoff. Action repeated itself on the {a-Spades} turn, and Buddiga checked for a third time on the {4-Hearts} river. Stern tossed out a small bet of 200, and Buddiga reluctantly called.

Stern tabled the {j-Spades}{10-Diamonds}, but it was no good as Buddiga held a pair with the {5-Spades}{k-Diamonds}.

"That guy never folds," Stern said jokingly.

Player Chips Progress
Pratyush Buddiga us
Pratyush Buddiga
31,000 1,000
Dani Stern us
Dani Stern
29,500 -500

Tags: Dani SternPratyush Buddiga

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

The Last Main Event of the EPT Season 11 is About to Kick Off

Monaco Harbour
Monaco Harbour

Welcome to Day 1a of the 2015 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final €10,600 Main Event. While the €100,000 Super High Roller, which is down to the final eights players, will be playing down to a champion up at the feature table, hundreds of players will take their shot at poker glory in one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year.

One year ago, this very event attracted 650 entries and created a prize pool of €6.5 million. Some of the game's best cashed in that event including Stephen Chidwick (84th - €19,200), Sam Trickett (75th - €19,200), Igor Kurganov (52nd - €24,400), Ole Schemion (44th -€24,400), Scott Clements (20th - €49,350), and Ivan Soshnikov (13th - €69,000).

In the end, it came down to Italy's Antonio Buonanno versus the UK's Jack Salter for the title. It took over 300 hands, nearly 18 hours of final table play, and a lot of back-and-forth heads-up jostling before Buonnano finished as the last man standing to claim the €1,240,000 first-place prize. Buonnano joined a illustrious list of former EPT Grand Final winners that include Steve O'Dwyer (Season 9 - €1,224,000), Mohsin Charania (Season 8 - €1,350,000), and Ivan Freitez (Season 7 - €1,500,000), just to name a few.

Today is the first of two starting days, so it remains to be seen who will take their shot in the opening flight, and who will wait until tomorrow to jump into the fray. One thing's for sure, there are plenty of big names here in Monaco including Team PokerStars Pros George Danzer, Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Selbst, and Jason Mercier; reigning World Poker Tour Player of the Year Anthony Zinno; last year's Super High Roller champ Daniel Colman; and the man many consider to be the best in the world, Phil Ivey.

The plan for the day is to play eight 75-minute levels with a 20-minute break after every two. At the end of Level 6, there will be a 75-minute dinner break. Players will start with 30,000 in chips. Late registration will remain open until the start of play on Day 2.

Cards will be in the air in a couple of hours, so stay tuned as the PokerNews Live Reporting Team brings you all the latest and greatest straight from the tournament floor.

€10,600 Main Event

Day 1a Started