2015 PokerStars.com EPT Season 12 Malta

€10,300 High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info

2015 PokerStars.com EPT Season 12 Malta

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
55
Prize
€430,800
Event Info
Buy-in
€10,000
Prize Pool
€2,037,000
Entries
210
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Name Your Price

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand Grospellier just jumped in the High Roller following the dinner break and already has it up close to six figures.

So when it folded to ElKY in the small blind and he limped in, it was decidedly unreasonable for big blind Justin Bonomo to ask how much it would cost to get him to fold.

Apparently, 2,000 wasn't enough, because when Bonoma bet about that, Grospellier made the call.

The flop came {10-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}{6-Spades} and after a check from Grospellier, Bonomo announced a bet of 3,200, answering his earlier question when Grospellier finally relented.

"Yes," laughed Bonomo. "Max value."

Player Chips Progress
Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
90,000 15,000
Justin Bonomo us
Justin Bonomo
41,000 -20,000

Mercier Busts Charania and Ho; Takes Lead

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier

After a raise to 1,600 by Denis Timofeev and the call by Michael Ho, Jason Mercier three-bet to 6,500 out of the small blind. Mohsin Charania then moved all in from the big blind for his last 9,500. Since it was not a full raise, all remaining players were only allowed to call, a fact Mercier had confirmed by floor staff.

On the {8-Spades}{J-Spades}{8-Clubs} flop, Mercier continued for 17,000 and both Timofeev and Ho called.

Mercier then splashed in his stack of T-5,000 chips after the {K-Clubs} turn to put the two remaining opponents all in. Timofeev folded, but Ho called for his last 25,000.

Ho: {A-Spades}{7-Spades}
Charania: {9-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}
Mercier: {A-Clubs}{A-Diamonds}

The {6-Diamonds} river was a blank and Mercier busted two players at once to take the overall lead.

Player Chips Progress
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
262,000 92,000
Michael Ho us
Michael Ho
Busted
Mohsin Charania us
Mohsin Charania
EPT 1X Winner
Busted

Tags: Dennis TimofeevJason MercierMichael HoMohsin Charania

Only One Back In

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

All of the below players busted, some on their second bullet. Paul Newey was on his first bullet and has reentered since while Nikolaus Teichert sent his stack to Mohsin Charania with sevens versus pocket aces.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Newey gb
Paul Newey
50,000
Chris Hunichen us
Chris Hunichen
Busted
Craig Varnell us
Craig Varnell
Busted
Anton Wigg se
Anton Wigg
EPT Main Event Champion
EPT 1X Winner
Busted
Vicente Delgado es
Vicente Delgado
Busted
Anatoly Filatov ru
Anatoly Filatov
Busted
Juha Helppi fi
Juha Helppi
Busted
Christoph Vogelsang de
Christoph Vogelsang
Busted

Tags: Mohsin CharaniaNikolaus TeichertPaul Newey

Zinno Ponders Retirement; Readers Sense Sarcasm

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Anthony Zinno
Anthony Zinno

In a year that has seen him win two WPT Main Event and a WPT High Roller title practically back-to-back-to-back, then go out to the World Series of Poker, make five final tables, and book a massive seven-figure bracelet win, Anthony Zinno leads just about every Player of the Year race in poker.

To sure things up, he's been turning up at just about every tournament series on the planet these days and, of course, EPT Malta is no exception.

In fact, he's in with a shot here in this High Roller, slowly building it up to 67,000 already, a day after winning the €5,000 + 300 Pot-Limit Omaha - 8 Handed event here at Portomaso to add to his growing resume.

Zinno is certainly committed to putting in the volume to make sure 'Player of the Year' appears before his name at the end of 2015 and has plans to round out the year with trips to Jacksonville, Montreal, Prague and Las Vegas.

"I'm tired," he said with a smile. "After all this I may just retire."

Player Chips Progress
Anthony Zinno us
Anthony Zinno
67,000 18,000

Tags: Anthony Zinno

Boeree Misreads Hand; Busts

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

There was some laughter at the table as soon as Liv Boeree busted and she walked straight over to Igor Kurganov to report about her mishap. Martin Finger had opened to 1,600 from early position and Boeree pushed for her last 8,600 with {Q-}{8-}. Finger called with the {A-}{9-} and stayed ahead, Boeree was however shocked when she flipped over the cards after thinking it was pocket eights.

Player Chips Progress
Martin Finger de
Martin Finger
EPT 1X Winner
110,000 15,000
Liv Boeree gb
Liv Boeree
Busted

Tags: Igor KurganovLiv BoereeMartin Finger

Grospellier Doubles Through Gu

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

Huidong Gu fired all the way and then pushed the river of a {J-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{Q-Spades}{4-Clubs}{4-Hearts} board with the {A-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds} only for Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier to call the all in with less chips on the river. Gu's bluff was exposed and Grospellier doubled up with the {A-Spades}{Q-Hearts} for a full house.

Player Chips Progress
Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
75,000 40,000
Huidong Gu mo
Huidong Gu
15,000 2,000

Tags: Huidong GuBertrand Grospellier

Time for a Coffee

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

Mike "Timex" McDonald was almost falling asleep back from break and eventually they called a waiter to order some coffee. Roberto Romanello and Jake Cody immediately jumped on as well to order a black coffee, so it will be interesting to see what influence that has on the table dynamics in a few minutes.

In other and unrelated news, the field size has increased to 174 entries with 18 reentries and 139 players remaining.

Tags: Jake CodyMike McDonaldRoberto Romanello

Bojang Caught by Alvarado; ElkY Arrives

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier just came over and was set in between Justin Bonomo and Theo Jorgensen, immediately chatting with the former about Hearthstone. At the same time, JC Alvarado checked his small blind on the turn {J-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{7-Spades}{A-Hearts} and Bojan bet 9,500. Alvarado called and the {8-Clubs} fell on the river.

Alvarado checked again and Bojang bet 13,500, receiving a very reluctant call after several minutes of consideration. Alvarado flipped over {A-Clubs}{4-Clubs} and Bojang showed the {K-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}.

Player Chips Progress
JC Alvarado mx
JC Alvarado
85,000 35,000
Ismael Bojang de
Ismael Bojang
55,000 5,000
Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
35,000 35,000

Tags: Bertrand GrospellierIsmael BojangJC AlvaradoJustin BonomoTheo Jorgensen

The Sun Also Rises

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier

One aggressive opponent thought it would be a good idea to three-bet Jason Mercier with the {K-Clubs}{3-Clubs}.

Mercier just called with the {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs} and they both turned a flush.

The Team PokerStars Pro got all his opponents chips in on the river and now sits among the second half of Day 1 leaders.

Player Chips Progress
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
170,000 104,000

Tags: Jason Mercier