Strangely enough, it could have something to do with Sam Grafton. Yesterday, Sasha Salinger caught up with the current EPT Monte Carlo Main Event Final Table chip leader.
Wei Huang open-jammed first to act with the 
for 3,060,000 and Manig Loeser in the small blind asked for a count with the 
. Loeser then made the call and Ryan Riess folded in the big blind.
Huang paired his deuce on the 
flop and spiked the 
turn to take the lead. A blank 
followed on the river and Huang jumped into the second spot with five players remaining.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
7,520,000
-3,380,000
|
-3,380,000 |
|
||
|
6,440,000
3,700,000
|
3,700,000 |
|
||
Last year, Haoxiang Wang got as close as you can to winning a European Poker Tour EPT Main Event, going into the final table at EPT Barcelona as the chip leader but ultimately having to settle for second.
In Monte Carlo, there’s a chance for redemption as his countrymate and roommate here in Monaco Wei Huang now sits at the €5,300 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event final table big stage with the golden trophy and €827,700 on the line.
“Last year I lost the championship, so I really want my friend to win, so I can touch the trophy,” Wang told PokerNews.
Click here to the read the full article at the PokerNews homepage.
Ryan Riess ended up all in with his severe short stack and was called by initial raiser Viktor Katzenberger.
Ryan Riess: 
Viktor Katzenberger: 
Riess paired his nine on the 
flop, while Katzenberger picked up a flush draw on the . The 
river was a blank and Riess survived yet another all in on the final table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,685,000
-635,000
|
-635,000 |
|
2,800,000
1,360,000
|
1,360,000 |
|
||
Manig Loeser limped the 
and Ryan Riess checked with the 
. They checked the 
flop and the turn.
On the 
river, Loeser bet 1,500,000 which had Riess's 980,000 covered. The 2013 WSOP Main Event champion used a time bank before making the call with his ten-high to double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,700,000
-980,000
|
-980,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,560,000
1,180,000
|
1,180,000 |
|
|
||
In the previous hand, Wei Huang raised to 400,000 from under the gun with 
. Viktor Katzenberger had on the button and three-bet to 1,050,000 with the blades. Both the blinds and Huang snap-folded.
The next hand, Nicola Grieco raised to 500,000 and Huang called out of the big blind. On the 
flop, Huang checked and Grieco instantly shoved it in, covering Huang's stack. It was 3,700,000 total for the Chinese if he was to call it off.
Huang burned through all of his five (!) time bank cards before calling it off for his tournament life.
Nicola Grieco: 
Wei Huang: 
Grieco revealed first and Huang slammed his hand open on the felt after seeing he was ahead. The 
on the turn added extra outs for the Italian, but the 
river was safe for Huang, who celebrated the double-up with Haoxiang Wang on the rail. Grieco gave the Chinese pair a death stare and added some words in Italian before sitting back down.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,750,000
-650,000
|
-650,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,700,000
3,400,000
|
3,400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,840,000
1,400,000
|
1,400,000 |
|
|
2,340,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
|
||
|
2,000,000
-4,050,000
|
-4,050,000 |
|
||
On hand #197 of the final table, more than nine hours after Luis Medina had busted in sixth place, it was Nicola Grieco who shoved all in for 1,475,000 on the button. Manig Loeser was in the big blind and considered calling off the six big blind shove.
"I'm gonna gamble," he said after twenty seconds.
Nicola Grieco: 
Manig Loeser: 
Rainer Kempe, who had just won the €25,000 High Roller, came over to support Loeser. The 
flop was as perfect as they'd come for the German high staker, and Grieco got up from his chair. The on the turn sealed it for Loeser, which rendered the on the river moot.
There were plenty of players at risk over the course of nine hours, but finally, one of them was gone from the EPT Main Event. Grieco took home €206,590 for finishing in 5th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,700,000
3,350,000
|
3,350,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Down to his last 1,125,000, Ryan Riess moved all in from the small blind and Wei Huang called in the big blind, then walked to the rail
Ryan Riess: 
Wei Huang:
The 
flop all but sealed the double for Riess, but the cruel turn and river run out gave Huang a straight and Riess was eliminated in 4th place for €265,620.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,300,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Manig Loeser raised to 500,000 on the button with and Wei Huang called 
from the small blind. With 
in the big blind, Viktor Katzenberger three-bet shoved all in for 5,000,000 and Loeser folded.
Huang, who had Katzenberger covered, asked for a count. The Chinese was out of time bank cards after the earlier clash with Nicola Grieco, and called it off within the allotted time.
Katzenberger flopped huge on 
to improve to trip deuces, but Huang still had the nut flush draw to win the hand. The on the turn improved Katzenberger to a full house and his rail loudly celebrated and shouted: "Double up!"
Katzenberger went over to his rail and handed out fistbumps to each of his railbirds. As if he had jinxed it, the landed on the river for an improbable chop pot. It took the Chinese pair of Huang and Haoxiang Wang about two seconds before slowly realizing the pot was indeed chopped and everyone had a good laugh about it.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,780,000
1,880,000
|
1,880,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,380,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
Manig Loeser limped the 
and Wei Huang checked his option with to see the flop. Huang checked out of turn, Loeser bet 250,000 and Huang called. On the 
turn, Loeser continued for another 850,000 and Huang quickly called.
Loeser got there with the river and bet 2,000,000 into a pot of 2,950,000. Without much hesitation, Huang moved all in for 6,550,000 and Loeser immediately tossed in a time bank extension. Another time bank followed and only then Loeser asked for a count on the shove.
Without using any further time bank, Loeser folded his seven-high straight and Huang claimed the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,500,000
3,350,000
|
3,350,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
11,250,000
-3,850,000
|
-3,850,000 |
|
|
||
