2018 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT

Feature Coverage
Day: 5

Packed Schedule on Tap for Day 5 of EPT Monte Carlo

SHR Trophy
SHR Trophy

Things have been building slowly but surely at 2018 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT, and today they'll hit a crescendo with the most loaded schedule of the festival.

There are four tournaments on the docket for Saturday scheduled to get coverage here on PokerNews, and they run the gamut of buy-ins, ranging from €330 to €100K.

Perhaps most relevant for poker fans will be the conclusion of the €100K Super High Roller, set to play to a conclusion when a winner will pocket €1,520,000. A loaded final six has emerged from a field of 44, with all of the remaining players in the money.

Everyone is looking up at Christoph Vogelsang, as the scarf-wearing German bagged over 100 big blinds to notch a decent lead over the red-hot Sam Greenwood — the Canadian enters having shipped two recent high roller events, one for over $1.2 million in Barcelona.

Here's how they'll be arrayed when play resumes:

SeatPlayerCountryChip Count
1Ali Reza FatehiIran1,840,000
2Ole SchemionGermany1,490,000
3Christoph VogelsangGermany3,020,000
4Isaac HaxtonUnited States1,680,000
5Sam GreenwoodCanada2,065,000
6Justin BonomoUnited States1,405,000

Hand history updates can be found at the PokerStars Blog. Those wishing for a more direct line on the action can tune in to the live stream.

Also of import, the Main Event at least gets under way. The marathon grind begins with the first of two starting days, with players able to enter — and now reenter once, for the first time ever — at the €5,300 price point. Ten levels are on tap today and we'll bring you hand history coverage right here on PokerNews.

Two prominent side events will conclude as well.

The €1,100 EPT National has just 24 players remaining in contention for a €250K first-place prize. Chip leader Michal Mrakes, PokerStars Team Pro Online Randy Lew and Gaelle Baumann appear to be the headliners.

Meanwhile, the €2,200 EPT National High Roller sees 55 players return out of 462. They're fighting for a €173K windfall. Plenty of big names remain in contention, including Leo Margets, Dario Sammartino, Jack Salter and Rainer Kempe.

Finally, the third and fourth flights of the €330 EPT Cup will go down.

PokerNews will bring you recaps, features and updates from all of the above throughout the day.

Tennis Star and TV Host Mariano Zabaleta Opens Up About His Passion For Poker

Mariano Zabaleta
Mariano Zabaleta

A warm smile accompanies former tennis star, TV host and poker enthusiast Mariano Zabaleta as he takes a moment to talk about his presence at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT, his love for the game of poker and the parallels between tennis and poker. Zabaleta had been in the principality of Monaco for the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters ATP tour before this event and will be present at the EPT until April 29.

A Spanish translator is present to make sure nothing gets lost in translation, but the first thing out of the tennis star's mouth needs no translation:

"I love poker," he says with a big grin.

"I've played poker for many years," he continued. "I've played many LAPT events in the past and was invited by PokerStars to come over here. Obviously, I'm very excited to play at this fantastic event."

According to The Hendon Mob, Zabaleta cashed two LAPT events in Lima, Peru, back in 2012: a fifth place in a $500 turbo event ($2,100) and 28th place a day later in the $1,100 Grand Final ($1,875). It shows Zabaleta's passion for poker goes back a while. Did he discover poker while playing the APT tour?

"I love tennis just like I love poker," he said. "You have to be prepared. Playing poker gives me the same adrenaline as playing tennis. That's why many other tennis players have been interested in playing poker as well."

Zabaleta's tennis career has been a major success, with three singles titles, five runner-up finishes and $3,204,127 in career prize money. His highest ranking was 21st, back in 2000. Zabaleta's deepest run at a Grand Slam event was at the 2001 US Open, where he made the quarterfinal as an unseeded player.

When asked about his best poker results, Zabaleta erupts in laughter.

"I play like shit."

Playing "like shit" or not, Zabaleta's competitive drive is present in poker as well.

"I've always wanted to get to a final table," he said. "I've been able to get from a Day 1 to a Day 2, and even a Day 3, but I'm not really making any money. As an average Joe, just like other people can't imagine playing tennis for four, five hours straight, I can't believe poker players can do that. After eight, nine hours, my mind is so exhausted. It's really tough to win a tournament."

After hanging up his rackets, Zabaleta became a TV host for ESPN and presents the very popular Argentinian show "Con Amigos Así" (translated as: "with friends like this [who needs enemies]"). Famous athletes often appear on the show and they do what Zabaleta called "fun stuff."

To get an idea of "Con Amigos Así," check out the video below of the latest episode.

Back in his heyday as a tennis pro, Zabaleta was known for his unusual but effective service. Has the Argentinean brought the proverbial ace up his sleeve to the poker table as well?

"I don't play enough to know," Zabaleta admitted. "I play whatever seems right at the time. If it feels good, I go for it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't," he concluded with a laugh.

Zabaleta has played the €2,200 National High Roller, but wasn't able to cash, and will play the Right to Play Charity Tournament on April 28 at 6 p.m.

He may never reach $3 million like he did on the tennis court, but Zabaleta will continue to enjoy the game, especially as a celebrity guest of PokerStars.

Mariano Zabaleta
Mariano Zabaleta playing the €2,200 EPT National High Roller

Gaelle Baumann Bubbles the €1,100 EPT National Final Table

Gaelle Baumann
Gaelle Baumann

The final table in the €1,100 EPT National is set after Gaelle Baumann was the one to bubble the final table. With ten players left, Michal Mrakes opened with {A-}{9-} from the cutoff, Baumann three-bet shoved 1,300,000 (16 big blinds) on the button with {A-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds} and Mrakes called. The best hand held up to send the French pro to the rail in 10th place (€15,830).

The final table is set with the following players and chip counts. Players will return in the level 40,000/80,000.

€1,100 EPT National Final Table

SeatNameCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Abdullatif AttiaFrance1,150,00014
2Michal MrakesCzech Republic8,805,000110
3Randy LewUnited States4,715,00059
4Abraham PassetGermany3,540,00044
5Giuseppe La GuardiaItaly3,505,00044
6Federico PetruzzelliItaly9,395,000117
7Sorin SufragiuRomania3,575,00045
8Danilo CangianielloItaly2,750,00034
9Guillaume DiazFrance7,555,00094

Payouts

PlacePrice (in €)
1250,000 + $30,000 Platinum Pass
2143,000
3100,000
474,120
557,840
644,000
733,740
824,620
918,910
Randy Lew
Randy Lew

Tags: Gaelle BaumannMichal MrakesRandy Lew

Two-Time EPT Champion Coren-Mitchell in the Main Event Field

Victoria Coren-Mitchell
Victoria Coren-Mitchell

We've seen Mark Teltscher, Steve O'Dwyer and John Juanda. All are former EPT champions in their own right, and they've been joined in the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT field by another former champion, and this one is a special one.

Victoria Coren-Mitchell took down EPT 3 London for £500,000, and then followed it up with a history-making second title at EPT 10 San Remo for a further €476,100. She spoke to us briefly and explained how she was enjoying a break with her husband and child.

"We took the train to Paris and then drove down from there," she explained, "It's a fun holiday now, but it's expensive! By the time you are here you have to come third to make your money back."

Coren-Mitchell could have been excused for thinking that, after the introduction of the PokerStars Championship tournaments, that her feat of winning two EPT titles was secure in the annals of history. However, with EPT Sochi a month ago, the tournament is back on the European poker calendar.

Now that it's back, how would she feel if a former champion joined her in the two-time club?

"I would be very happy for them," she said jovially, "I think it would show that there are still people and players around in poker today who have been playing poker for long enough that it's possible."

Last year Coren-Mitchell cashed in the PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo Main Event, and she's back for another EPT stop this year. Will we be seeing more of her at tournaments in the future?

"Maybe. I was going to go to Barcelona but then I went on a proper holiday instead. I'd definitely play a bit more if they had a big tournament in London. I'm thinking of organizing a big tournament in London. It's a case of if you want something done, then you have to do it yourself!"

Kenny Hallaert and Victoria Coren-Mitchell

We'll be keeping an eye on Coren-Mitchell throughout the rest of the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT Main Event.

Tags: Victoria Coren-Mitchell

Players and Staff Enjoy Carnival-Themed PokerStars Party

EPT Monte Carlo players party
EPT Monte Carlo players party

A big PokerStars Live event isn't complete without a PokerStars players party, and the one for PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT went down Friday night. It turned out to be quite the show, complete with a carnival theme, and seemed to be enjoyed by all who made the trip to the gala.

Things kicked off early in the evening and players and staff — those who didn't have to work deep into the night, anyway — headed out to find a typical setup with a dance floor and an open bar, which everyone began to enjoy. There was also a food spread featuring appetizers, pasta and lamb among the entrees, and a table with numerous dessert choices.

But that's all fairly standard for a PokerStars party. What made this one unique was the spread of carnival games and performers around to liven things up.

Those looking to flex their athletic muscles could compete with either arms or legs. For the former, there was a classic "throw an object at a pyramid of cans" setup where competitors could win little plush prizes if they knocked over all the cans. For the latter, a carnival-style soccer goal had been erected, with players tasked to kick the ball through holes in the goal worth different point values.

EPT Monte Carlo players party
The bean bag throw.

Other attractions included the classic claw game, grabbing prizes from a bin, and a shooting gallery.

EPT Monte Carlo players party
The shooting gallery.

Perhaps nothing, however, proved more popular than the mechanical bull.

EPT Monte Carlo players party
The bull.

And then, there were the performers. A man on stilts sauntered about, spinning glowing sticks. Others piloted actual robots, wandering them on to the dance floor where they did anything but fit into the crowd.

EPT Monte Carlo players party
A transformer on the dance floor.

Drinks were downed. Food was consumed. Dances ranging from the graceful to the drunk and sloppy were on display. PokerStars Team Pros Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov went at each other in air hockey so hard their knuckles were in mortal danger.

By the time things wrapped up around midnight, everyone seemed to be in agreement that PokerStars had put together a strong party, and it was on to after hours for the adventurous or bed for the faint of heart.

Randy "nanonoko" Lew Eliminated at €1,100 EPT National Final Table

Randy Lew
Randy Lew

In the final hand before the dinner break, a massive clash between Michal Mrakes, Randy Lew and Danilo Cangianiello in the €1,100 EPT National resulted in the Team PokerStars Pro Online biting the dust in 7th place (€33,740). After Mrakes had opened to 450,000, Lew moved all in for 3,230,000 to his direct left. Danilo Cangianiello called all in from the small blind for 1,445,000 and action was back on Mrakes.

The Czech tournament crusher thought long and hard before reluctantly putting a large stack of T-100,000 chips in to put both players at risk.

Danilo Cangianiello: {10-Clubs}{10-Hearts}
Michal Mrakes: {J-Clubs}{J-Spades}
Randy Lew: {A-Hearts}{K-Hearts}

The flop was {10-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} and Cangianiello clapped his hands in excitement. Neither the {6-Diamonds} on the turn nor {2-Spades} on the river changed anything and Cangianiello tripled up. Mrakes dragged the big side pot from Lew and has 4,300,000, while Lew said his goodbyes.

There are six players remaining as the field goes on a 75-minute dinner break. Runaway chipleader is Federico Petruzzelli, who's been on a tear since the start. Petruzzelli eliminated both Sorin Sufragiu in 9th (€18,910) and Giuseppe La Guardia (8th - €24,620) and already has over 50% of the chips in play in front of him.

Dinner Break Counts

SeatNameCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Abdullatif AttiaFrance5,725,00029
2Michal MrakesCzech Republic4,300,00022
4Abraham PassetGermany3,175,00016
6Federico PetruzzelliItaly22,025,000111
8Danilo CangianielloItaly4,650,00023
9Guillaume DiazFrance5,125,00025
Federico Petruzzelli
Federico Petruzzelli

Tags: Federico PetruzzelliMichal MrakesRandy Lew

€2,200 EPT National High Roller Final Table About to Start

Dario Sammartino
Dario Sammartino

The nine remaining players in the €2,200 EPT National High Roller have returned to the Salle d'Etoiles in Le Sporting to kick off the final table. Smain Mamouni from France holds the overwhelming chip lead. Last year, Mamouni finished fourth in an 1K event in Monte Carlo, where he won €22,550, and needs to finish 7th or better this year to outperform on that.

Also at the final table is Italian high roller Dario Sammartino, who has slipped back to 700,000, Isabel Baltazar (970,000) and Alexandre Reard (525,000) also have a shot at the first place prize of €173,000. The blinds will resume in the level 20,000/40,000.

SeatPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Raffaele CarnevaleItaly810,00020
2Isabel BaltazarFrance970,00024
3Christopher ChaudeyFrance580,00017
4Honglin JiangNew Zealand535,00015
5Dario SammartinoItaly700,00018
6Smain MamouniFrance2,525,00063
7Karim AbdelmoumeneFrance1,210,00030
8Dmitry ShchepkinRussia1,390,00035
9Alexandre ReardFrance525,00013

Payouts

PlacePrize (in €) 
1173,000 
2109,000 
378,000 
462,000 
548,500 
638,000 
728,580 
820,000 
915,500 

Tags: Alexandre ReardChristopher ChaudeyDario SammartinoIsabel BaltazarSmain Mamouni

€1,100 EPT National: Petruzzelli's Lead Crumbles as Diaz Rises

Guillaume Diaz
Guillaume Diaz

Federico Petruzzelli came out of the dinner break holding a massive lead of more than 50% of the chips in play. However, in two hands most of those chips went to Guillaume Diaz, who is now the monster chipleader with five players remaining.

In the first hand, Petruzzelli opened on the button and Diaz three-bet shoved 26 big blinds from the big blind holding {A-Spades}{J-Spades}. Petruzzelli called with {K-}{Q-} but was left basically drawing dead after the {K-Spades}{9-Spades}{8-Spades} flop.

A couple of hands later, Diaz raised to 500,000 from under the gun, Petruzzelli three-bet to 1.8 million from the big blind and Diaz called. Petruzzelli kept firing with 1.5 million on the {7-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}{2-Spades} flop, 2.6 million on the {10-Diamonds} turn, then the rest on the {K-Diamonds} river. It was a dream scenario for Diaz, who simply had to call with his {7-}{7-} on each street to scoop up the monster pot.

Petruzzelli showed {J-Spades}{8-Spades} for a complete airball and dropped below 7 million in chips. Diaz rose to 22 million and is now the one with more than half the chips in play.

Tags: Federico PetruzzelliGuillaume Diaz

€1,100 EPT National Down to Final Three After Amazing Rundown

Danilo Cangianiello
Danilo Cangianiello

After former chipleader Michal Mrakes had bowed out in 5th place (€57,840), an amazing hand ran out to end Danilo Cangianiello's deep run in 4th place (€74,120). In his final hand, Cangianiello was all in for his last 7.5m in chips and Guillaume Diaz had looked him up.

Danilo Cangianiello: {K-Spades}{K-Hearts}
Guillaume Diaz: {A-Spades}{K-Diamonds}

The packed French rail, by now en masse behind their countryman Diaz, yelled for an ace in unison. The dealer failed to oblige on the {8-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{5-Spades} flop, but the {5-Diamonds} landed on the turn to provide Diaz with one additional out.

"Cinq, cinq!", the French word for 'five', became the frantic new request from the rail.

As if scripted, the {5-Clubs} fell on the river and a massive cheer erupted from the Salle d'Etoiles. Diaz couldn't believe it, Abdullatif Attia, who has been laddering up with a short stack couldn't believe it either and both ran to their friends on the rail. Cangianello gracefully accepted his cruel fate and went off to the payout desk.

The stacks are now Diaz 25.2 million, Petruzzelli 16 million and Attia 3.8 million.

Tags: Danilo CangianielloFederico PetruzzelliGuillaume DiazMichal Mrakes

€1,100 EPT National: Diaz Wins!

Guillaume Diaz
Guillaume Diaz

Guillaume Diaz has become the winner of the €1,100 EPT National for €250,000! Diaz will also receive a Platinum Pass worth $30,000. Runner-up Federico Petruzzelli will go home with €143,000.

In the final hand, Petruzzelli raised to 650,000, Diaz three-bet to 2,200,000 and Petruzzelli cut out a four-bet to a little over 6 million. Diaz responded with a snap-shove and Petruzzelli snap-called it off for 16,000,000 total.

Guillaume Diaz: {9-Hearts}{9-Spades}
Federico Petruzzelli: {A-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds}

It was the most important coin flip of both player's careers and the crowd gathered around the table to watch the action unfold. The {8-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}{3-Clubs} flop kept Diaz ahead, as did the {10-Clubs} on the turn. The {10-Hearts} on the help didn't help Petruzzelli either and the crowd and Diaz loudly cheered.

A recap of the day is to follow.

Tags: Federico PetruzzelliGuillaume Diaz