€100,000 EPT Super High Roller Day 1 | 2023 PokerStars EPT Barcelona

08-26-2023 16:12 UTC+2

Mokri Gains Chip Lead

Tyler Foran

Level 2 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Kayhan Mokri raised 2,500 in middle position, and Alejandro Lococo called next to act before Felipe Ketzer came along in the big blind.

The Q♠J♣2♣ flop was checked through for all three players to see the 8♣ turn.

Ketzer checked to Mokri who fired a bet of 3,000 into the middle. Both Lococo and Ketzer made the call.

When the 4♥ river completed the board, Ketzer check-folded to a bet of 16,500 from Mokri, but Lococo called quickly.

Mokri tabled A♣3♣ for the nut-flush and Lococo slid his cards towards the dealer.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kayhan Mokri	368,500 58,500	58,500

Felipe Ketzer	269,000 -11,000	-11,000
Alejandro Lococo	190,000 -40,000	-40,000

Tags: Alejandro Lococo Felipe Ketzer Kayhan Mokri

08-26-2023 16:02 UTC+2

Mokri Gets Paid With Big River Bet

David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Kayhan Mokri raised to 3,000 on the button and Steve O'Dwyer called in the big blind.

The flop came 9♣K♥J♥ and Mokri continued for 5,500. O'Dwyer called to the 4♦ turn, where Mokri bet another 22,500.

O'Dwyer again called and the 2♣ fell on the river. He checked over to Mokri, who this time fired out 80,000. O'Dwyer threw in all his time bank chips and burned through three of them before he tossed in the chips to call.

Mokri turned over 9♦9♥ for the flopped set and O'Dwyer mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kayhan Mokri	310,000 83,000	83,000

Steve O'Dwyer	170,000 -117,000	-117,000

Tags: Kayhan Mokri Steve O'Dwyer

08-26-2023 15:29 UTC+2

Grafton Puts Mokri on Aces

David Salituro

Level 1 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Kayhan Mokri opened to 2,500 from under the gun and Sam Grafton called in the cutoff, as did small blind Jean-Noel Thorel.

All three players checked the 5♥5♣K♥ flop before Mokri bet 7,500 on the 2♥ turn. Only Grafton called this time.

The river came the 8♦ and Mokri bet another 22,000. Grafton used up a time bank chip before he mucked.

"Aces are good," he told Mokri.

"I haves aces or kings every hand," Mokri replied.

"You didn't have kings. I had king-jack," Grafton added.

"Is it that important for you to know? I'll text it to you," Mokri said back to Grafton.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kayhan Mokri	290,000 35,500	35,500

Sam Grafton	275,000 -25,000	-25,000

Jean-Noel Thorel	180,000 -20,000	-20,000

Tags: Jean-Noel Thorel Kayhan Mokri Sam Grafton

08-26-2023 15:12 UTC+2

Thorel Gets Paid on All Streets

Tyler Foran

Level 1 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Jean-Noel Thorel opened 2,500 in the cutoff and received calls from Timothy Adams on the button as well as Alejandro Lococo in the big blind.

The dealer fanned a flop of J♠10♥2♦, and once checked to, Thorel dropped a bet of 3,000 across the line. Adams quickly got out of the way, and Lococo made the call.

The A♠ fell on the turn, and Lococo check-called once again, this time for 10,000.

When the 4♦ hit the river, Lococo checked for a final time and Thorel fired a bet of 15,000. Lococo thought about it for about 10 seconds before making the call. Thorel tabled J♣10♦, flopping top two and Lococo mucked his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timothy Adams	212,500 -37,500	-37,500
Alejandro Lococo	198,000 -52,000	-52,000

Jean-Noel Thorel	180,500 40,500	40,500

Tags: Timothy Adams Jean-Noel Thorel Alejandro Lococo

08-26-2023 14:58 UTC+2

Thorel Can't Bluff Grafton

David Salituro

Level 1 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Sam Grafton raised to 2,500 from middle position before Jean-Noel Thorel three-bet to 7,000 in the cutoff. Action folded back around to Grafton who called to see the 3♥10♣3♣ flop.

Grafton checked to Thorel who continued for 11,000. Grafton called and the 3♦ fell on the turn.

Thorel then bet another 26,000 and Grafton quickly called to the Q♠ river, where Thorel bet 50,000.

Grafton instantly flicked in a green 25,000 chip to signify a call and Thorel turned over K♠J♣ for just king-high. Grafton showed J♠J♥ for a full house as he took the big pot.

"You can bluff him but you can't bluff me," Grafton told Thorel, pointing across the table at Timothy Adams. "I won't fold every hand like he will."

Player	Chips	Progress
Sam Grafton	320,000 100,000	100,000

Jean-Noel Thorel	140,000 -100,000	-100,000

Tags: Jean-Noel Thorel Sam Grafton

08-26-2023 11:02 UTC+2

Poker's Elite Begin Their Chase For the Coveted Trophy on Day 1 of the EPT Barcelona €100,000 Super High Roller

David Salituro

The day poker’s high rollers have had circled on their calendars for the past 12 months will finally arrive when Day 1 of the €100,000 Super High Roller at the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona begins at 12:30 p.m. local time.

This event brings together the elite of the poker world and some deep-pocketed amateurs to create one of the most star-studded fields of the year. Last year’s event featured the likes of Patrik Antonius, Dan Smith, Stephen Chidwick, Michael Addamo, and even an appearance from Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar.

Mikita Badziakouski stood tall over all of them, prevailing over a field of 68 entries and defeating Erik Seidel to earn €1,979,220. The final table included Ben Heath, Timothy Adams, Mike Watson, and Nick Petrangelo. Badziakouski also won the inaugural version of this event in 2018; he didn’t play in 2019 when Spain’s own Sergi Reixach won the title on home soil, so Badziakouski is currently riding a two-year winning streak.

Past Results

Year	Champion	Entrants	Prize	Runner-Up
2022	Mikita Badziakouski	68	€1,979,220	Erik Seidel
2019	Sergi Reixach	64	€1,816,210	Sam Grafton
2018	Mikita Badziakouski	54	€1,650,300	Ahadpur Khangah

Players in this year’s event begin with 250,000 chips and will play eight 60-minute levels on Day 1, with a 20-minute break every two levels. Late registration is open until the start of Day 2 and unlimited reentries are allowed during the registration period.

This is it. The day poker’s elite have been waiting. The EPT Barcelona Super High Roller is one of the most prestigious fields on the poker calendar, and the journey to capture the coveted prize and bragging rights for the next year begins today. Stay tuned as PokerNews brings you all the action from the game’s brightest stars.

Tags: Ben Heath Dan Smith Erik Seidel Michael Addamo Mike Watson Mikita Badziakouski Nick Petrangelo Patrik Antonius Sergi Reixach Stephen Chidwick Timothy Adams