2016 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

€25,750 High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info

2016 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a4
Prize
€1,197,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€25,000
Prize Pool
€5,659,500
Entries
231
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
125,000 / 250,000
Ante
25,000

€25,750 High Roller

Day 2 Completed

Zvi Stern Leads Last 12 in €25,750 High Roller

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Ofer Zvi Stern
Ofer Zvi Stern

Day 2 of the 2016 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final €25,750 High Roller finished with 12 players left in the field and Ofer Zvi Stern in the lead.

Before play on Day 2, another 11 entries were tallied, including four hopefuls that won entry to the tournament in last night's hyper-turbo satellite. With 231 entries in total, a new record attendance for this event was set and a prize pool of over €5.65 million was created. The top 31 spots are guaranteed at least €49,800, with €1.197 million awaiting the champion.

Among those that will be returning to the tables of the Salles des Etoiles were €100,000 Super High Roller champion Ole Schemion, Bryn Kenney, Igor Kurganov, John Juanda, Tobias Reinkemeier, and PokerStars team pros Jason Mercier and Liv Boeree. But unfortunately for those players, all of them joined the rail within the first hour.

Joining the rail as an eliminated player was Mike McDonald, who failed to earn any points for towards EPT Player of the Year and close the gap he's behind Steve O'Dwyer.

After six 60-minute levels, only 36 hopefuls headed to the dinner break with 2015 World Series of Poker November Nine member Ofer Zvi Stern in the lead.

After dinner, [Removed:17] shoved into Imad Derwiche with a busted straight and flush draw and the runner-up of this event last year called with a set of jacks to leave Yan with dust. Ben Heath lost a flip with ace-king to queens, and 2014 WSOP Main Event champion Martin Jacobson could not get there with ace-nine versus Derwiche's pocket sevens.

Ami Barer was eventually crowned the "bubble boy" after taking a flip for his last 10 big blinds with the {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}. Julian Stuer looked him up with the {A-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds} and hit the {A-Clubs} on the river to secure a payday for all remaining participants.

Going back to the aforementioned O'Dywer, he reached the money which meant that he added some distance between himself and McDonald as the current leader in the EPT Player of the Year race. O'Dwyer was the first one out once the money was reached, but he can't be feeling too bad with points and a cash to take away from it.

Also of note was the run of Niall Farrell, as he entered the day with the chip lead. Ultimately, Farrell busted in 20th place.

A man who is no stranger to poker success, Daniel Negreanu reached the last two tables and was eliminated in 15th place after three-way action with Alexandru Papazian and Stern. Papazian check-raised a {Q-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{4-Diamonds} flop with the {7-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} and Negreanu then shoved with the {A-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs}. Stern out of the way, and Papazian called before he went on to hit the {5-Diamonds} on the turn to bust "Kid Poker."

Julian Stuer and Byron Kaverman were eliminated in the last level of the night and 12 players bagged up chips. Stern was in the lead after claiming 1.638 million, and we was followed by Max Silver on 1.342 million. Alexandros "mexican222" Kolonias (1.338 million), Papazian (1.231 million), Ivan Deyra (1.16 million), and Rafael Da Silva Moraes (1.026 million) are the others with seven-figure chip counts.

Last year's runner-up Derwiche was still in contention as well, and he'll look to finish one spot better this time around. He bagged up 840,000.

Day 3 Seat Assignments

TableSeatNameCountryChips
11Anthony ZinnoUSA816,000
12--empty------
13Imad DerwicheFrance840,000
14Zvi SternIsrael1,638,000
15Ramin HajiyevAzerbaijan366,000
16--empty------
17[Removed:2]Lebanon907,000
18Alexandru PapazianRomania1,231,000
     
21Saar WilfIsrael509,000
22Thomas MillerUSA383,000
23Max SilverUK1,342,000
24Alexandros KoloniasGreece1,338,000
25Rafael Da Silva MoraesBrazil1,026,000
26Ivan DeyraFrance1,160,000
27--empty------
28--empty------

The 12 left have locked up €92,250, but all eyes are set on the first-place payout of €1.197. Action will resume at 12.30 p.m. local time on Friday, with Level 22 and blinds of 12,000/24,000/3,000. The PokerNews Live Reporting team will be on hand to provide all the action until a winner is crowned, so stay tuned for more coverage from Monaco.

Tags: Adrian MateosAlexandros KoloniasAlexandru PapazianAmi BarerAndre AkkariAnthony ZinnoBen HeathBryn KenneyByron KavermanDaniel NegreanuDzmitry UrbanovichErik SeidelIgor KurganovImad DerwicheIvan DeyraJason MercierJohn JuandaJulian StuerKeith JohnsonLiv BoereeMarko NeumannMartin JacobsonMax SilverMike McDonaldMohsin CharaniaMustapha KanitNiall FarrellOfer Zvi SternOle SchemionRafael Da Silva MoraesRafael MoraesRamin HajiyevSaar WilfStephen ChidwickSteve O'DwyerThomas MillerTobias ReinkemeierZvi Stern

Final Chip Counts Day 2 (full)

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Player Chips Progress
Zvi Stern il
Zvi Stern
1,638,000 412,000
Max Silver gb
Max Silver
1,342,000 -8,000
Alexandros Kolonias gr
Alexandros Kolonias
1,338,000 238,000
Alexandru Papazian ro
Alexandru Papazian
1,231,000 -229,000
Ivan Deyra fr
Ivan Deyra
1,160,000 190,000
Rafael Da Silva Moraes br
Rafael Da Silva Moraes
1,026,000 26,000
[Removed:2] lb
[Removed:2]
907,000 107,000
Imad Derwiche fr
Imad Derwiche
840,000 -80,000
Anthony Zinno us
Anthony Zinno
816,000 71,000
Saar Wilf il
Saar Wilf
509,000 -196,000
Thomas Miller us
Thomas Miller
383,000 -117,000
Ramin Hajiyev az
Ramin Hajiyev
366,000 6,000

Bag and Tag

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

The 12 players remaining are bagging up with Level 21 now through. A full recap and chip counts will follow.

Kaverman's Kings Cracked

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Byron Kaverman
Byron Kaverman

[Removed:2] made it 45,000, then called it off when Byron Kaverman shoved for 240,000.

Kaverman's tournament life was riding on the {k-Spades}{k-Hearts} against Maksoud's {a-Clubs}{5-Clubs}. The {q-Clubs}{3-Hearts}{5-Spades} flop gave Maksoud a pair, the {j-Clubs} turn gave him a flush draw to go with it, and the {6-Clubs} river completed it to rail Kaverman 13th.

Player Chips Progress
[Removed:2] lb
[Removed:2]
800,000 235,000
Byron Kaverman us
Byron Kaverman
Busted

Tags: Byron Kaverman

Deyra Gets Another One

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

Max Silver raised from under the gun and Ivan Deyra flat-called from the button, Thomas Miller filled up from the big blind and they headed to the flop {Q-Diamonds}{J-Hearts}{5-Clubs}. Miller checked and subsequently folded while Silver check-called a bet worth 60,000 by Deyra before they checked the {2-Hearts} turn.

On the 54d] river, Silver bet 135,000 and Deyra called with {A-Clubs}{Q-Spades} to better the king-ten of his opponent. Deyra high-fived his rail and even Silver joined in with a smile on the face.

Player Chips Progress
Max Silver gb
Max Silver
1,350,000 -290,000
Ivan Deyra fr
Ivan Deyra
970,000 160,000

Tags: Ivan DeyraMax SilverThomas Miller

Zinno Runner Runners Kaverman

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

After having to let go some hands previously, Anthony Zinno raised to 55,000 from the small blind and Byron Kaverman called from the big blind to see the {K-Spades}{J-Diamonds}{3-Hearts} flop.

Both checked and the {4-Spades} turn saw Zinno bet 75,000. Kaverman tossed in a single chip for the call and was shown {6-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds} for a runner runner straight to remain short.

Player Chips Progress
Anthony Zinno us
Anthony Zinno
745,000 62,000
Byron Kaverman us
Byron Kaverman
223,000 -347,000

Tags: Anthony ZinnoByron Kaverman

Derwiche Doesn't Get Paid Off

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

On the {10-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}{8-Spades} flop, Imad Derwiche check-called a bet worth 50,000 by Alexandru Papazian while Zvi Stern folded. The {J-Clubs} turn was checked through before the {Q-Spades} river saw no betting action either.

Papazian's check behind saved him some chips, as a frustrated Derwiche turned over his {J-Diamonds}{10-Hearts} for a turned full house.

Player Chips Progress
Imad Derwiche fr
Imad Derwiche
920,000 160,000

Tags: Alexandru PapazianOfer Zvi SternZvi SternImad Derwiche

Deyra High Fives his Rail

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

Alexandros Kolonias raised to 45,000 from the button and Ivan Deyra called out of the big blind before check-calling a continuation bet worth 30,000 on the {K-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{2-Diamonds}. Both players checked through the {A-Clubs} turn before Deyra also checked the {5-Clubs} river.

Now Kolonias made it 60,000 to go and Deyra went into a short think tank before making the call. Upon discovering that his {J-Hearts}{4-Hearts} was good, he got out of his chair and headed to the rail to high five his friends there.

Player Chips Progress
Alexandros Kolonias gr
Alexandros Kolonias
1,100,000 -220,000
Ivan Deyra fr
Ivan Deyra
810,000 155,000

Tags: Alexandros KoloniasIvan Deyra

Kaverman Takes from Papazian

Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

Byron Kaverman opened to 45,000 and Alexandru three-bet to 135,000 out of the big blind. The flop came {K-Diamonds}{K-Clubs}{2-Diamonds} and both checked, same applied again for the {4-Spades} turn. Papazian checked the {10-Clubs} river and Kaverman's bet of 125,000 on the river did the trick to force a fold from his opponent.

Player Chips Progress
Alexandru Papazian ro
Alexandru Papazian
1,460,000 -220,000
Byron Kaverman us
Byron Kaverman
570,000 50,000

Tags: Alexandru PapazianByron Kaverman