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

08-26-2023 14:48 UTC+2

Ketzer Takes Another, Bets Out Grafton

David Salituro

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

Sam Grafton raised to 3,000 on the button and was called by Felipe Ketzer and Jean-Noel Thorel in the blinds.

The flop came 4♥2♥7♠ and action checked to Grafton, who bet 5,000. Ketzer then raised to 14,000 and Thorel got out of the way.

Grafton called to see the 7♦ turn, where Ketzer fired out another 19,000. Grafton took one last look at his cards before sending them into the muck as Ketzer, who already won a €25,000 title here at EPT Barcelona, took down another early pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Felipe Ketzer	280,000 26,000	26,000
Jean-Noel Thorel	240,000 -10,000	-10,000
Sam Grafton	220,000 -30,000	-30,000

Tags: Felipe Ketzer Jean-Noel Thorel Sam Grafton

08-26-2023 14:55 UTC+2

One for Mokri

Tyler Foran

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

David Yan opened 2,500 in middle position and Jean-Noel Thorel called on the button before Kayhan Mokri came along in the big blind.

When the 9♣9♠6♥ flop hit the felt, all three players tapped the table.

The 10♦ landed on the turn, and Mokri check-called a bet of 6,000 from Yan, while Thorel mucked his hand.

The A♠ river received checks from both players and Mokri tabled Q♣10♠, making tens and nines to scoop the pot as Yan's cards hit the felt face down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kayhan Mokri	254,500 4,500	4,500

Jean-Noel Thorel	240,000
David Yan	234,000 -8,500	-8,500

Tags: David Yan Jean-Noel Thorel Kayhan Mokri

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 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 15:18 UTC+2

Lococo Put in Another Tough Spot

David Salituro

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

Action folded to Alejandro Lococo in the small blind who put in a raise to 3,500. Steve O'Dwyer called in the big blind and both players checked the 9♦5♠7♥ flop.

The turn came the 10♠ and Lococo led out for 8,000. O'Dwyer called to the 6♣ river and Lococo checked.

O'Dwyer then bet 24,000 and Lococo tanked for a moment before calling. O'Dwyer showed 10♣8♦ for a straight and Lococo surrendered another pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve O'Dwyer	270,000 20,000	20,000

Alejandro Lococo	185,000 -13,000	-13,000

Tags: Alejandro Lococo Steve O'Dwyer

08-26-2023 15:19 UTC+2

Thorel Shows the Nuts

David Salituro

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

Jean-Noel Thorel raised to 2,000 from early position and was called by David Yan and Sam Grafton in the blinds.

The three players saw a flop of 3♣3♦9♠ and checked through to the 10♣ turn. Yan then led out for 4,000 and only Thorel called.

The river came the K♣ and Yan bet another 3,000. Thorel then raised to 16,000 and Yan called, only for Thorel to turn over 3♥3♠ for flopped quads to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sam Grafton	300,000 -20,000	-20,000

David Yan	210,000 -24,000	-24,000
Jean-Noel Thorel	200,000 19,500	19,500

Tags: Sam Grafton Jean-Noel Thorel David Yan

08-26-2023 15:25 UTC+2

Yan's River Bet Drags the Pot

Tyler Foran

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

Steve O'Dwyer raised 2,500 in the hijack before David Yan three-bet to 9,000 next to act. The action quickly folded back to O'Dwyer as he made the call.

When the Q♦8♣2♠ flop hit the felt, O'Dwyer check-called a bet of 7,000.

The 10♣ turn was checked through to see the 8♦ river. O'Dwyer checked once more and surrendered the pot when Yan put out a bet of 25,500.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve O'Dwyer	280,000 10,000	10,000

David Yan	225,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: David Yan 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 15:30 UTC+2

Lost and Found: Poker Player Tries for 43 Days to Locate Missing Cat - What Happened?

Kaelaine Minton

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

Zach Gruneberg, a poker player from Pennsylvania with more than $2.2 million in lifetime tournament earnings, recently lost one of his cats, who escaped from his home while he was out in Las Vegas. What ensued was a frantic search-and-rescue effort that spanned a month and a half.

More specifically, it was a 43-day affair “through hell and back” according to Gruneberg, a five-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit ring winner, including back-to-back wins in the WSOP PA Online Series at the end of July.

Gruneberg, who is nine years clean and sober, is on Twitter as @HustlerGrune where it states he is both an anime addict and cat dad. One of those cats is a sleek gray feline named “Nook.”

“Nook is the only cat I've had since he was a kitten,” Gruneberg told PokerNews. “He is a super friendly high energy guy that loves to jump up into high places and play more so than any of my other cats.”
So, what’s the story behind Nook’s disappearance?