$5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1a | 2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

10-16-2023 19:12 UTC+2

Shaw Finds a Dominating Double

David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Damir Zhugralin raised to 1,600 in the hijack and Ivan Deyra called on the button before Carl Shaw moved all in for 16,800 in the small blind. Zhugralin folded, but Deyra called to put Shaw at risk.

Carl Shaw: A♦Q♥
Ivan Deyra: A♥10♥

Shaw had Deyra dominated but had to sweat the board as the 3♥4♥7♣ flop gave Deyra the nut flush draw. Deyra missed the 6♠ turn, while the 3♦ river secured the pot for Shaw and doubled him up just as the table was breaking.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	75,000
Carl Shaw	35,000 3,000	3,000
Ivan Deyra	35,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Ivan Deyra Damir Zhugralin Carl Shaw

10-16-2023 19:12 UTC+2

Smiljkovic Takes From Smith

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Maxime Taldir

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

In a blind versus blind situation, Mark Smith opened to 2,200, and Daniel Smiljkovic defended his big blind to see the flop J♦6♣5♣.

Smith checked and called a bet of 2,800, and check-called again for 5,500 on the turn 5♦.

On the river 9♠, Smith checked again. Smiljkovic fired a third barrel of 14,000, but Smith gave up and folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Smiljkovic	120,000 26,900	26,900
Mark Smith (UK)	50,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Daniel Smiljkovic Mark Smith

10-16-2023 19:17 UTC+2

Rodin Runs Into Aces

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Grigorii Rodin and Peng Yang were heads up on a board showing Q♠A♣6♥9♦4♦. Rodin fired a bet of 5,500 before Yang asked for a count of his remaining stack.

After seeing the 20,000 chips behind, Yang asked for all of it by betting enough to put Rodin all in. Rodin took a moment before committing the rest of his stack.

Grigorii Rodin: Q♥4♣
Peng Yang: A♠A♥

Rodin could not get away from his two pair on the river, falling to the flopped set of aces for Yang.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peng Yang	136,000 125,500	125,500
Grigorii Rodin	Busted

Tags: Grigorii Rodin Peng Yang

10-16-2023 19:18 UTC+2

PN Podcast: Was Idea for Rounders Stolen? Guest Jeffrey Allan Grosso Alleges So

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Chad Holloway

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Connor Richards, and Matt Hansen talk about Ari Engel capturing his record 16th World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit gold ring, remember poker author Anthony Holden, and reveal what six new players have confirmed to play the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop. They also recap Isaac Haxton winning the Super High Roller Bowl, winners from the Mixed Game Series II, WSOP Player of the Year Ian Matakis winning another tournament, and Next Gen Poker becoming ambassadors for PokerStars USA ahead of the NAPT.

Chad also shares highlights from his vacation on a Virgin Voyages cruise where he played in the WPT at Sea poker room, Matt tells you how you can win a seat into the $10,000 WPT World Championship, and Connor comes to you straight from the EPT Cyprus, which just kicked off.

Finally, Chad chats with Jeffrey Allan Grosso, author of the poker book Dirty Dealing. In it, he alleges that his ideas and screenplay were stolen by Miramax Films and ultimately turned into the movie Rounders. It might sound crazy, but there was a court case and everything. Chad read the book prior to chatting with Grosso, who opened up about what he claims happened, how he feels about it, and why he ultimately decided to write a book about his experience.

Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast.

Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!

10-16-2023 19:21 UTC+2

Kalev Pays Off Sitbon; Da Silva Picks Up Aces on Sullivan

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Julien Sitbon and Petar Kalev built a pot of around 32,000 as they headed to the river on a board of 3♦8♠Q♠7♠7♣. Sitbon, under the gun, then moved all in for 24,500.

"Show me if I fold? Only one," Kalev asked as he began tanking from the hijack.

"Show or no? Last chance," Kalev added as Sitbon remained silent throughout the interrogation. Kalev eventually called and Sitbon showed J♠10♠ for a flush. Kalev mucked and surrendered the double up.

At the same time at another table, Fabio Da Silva was all in for around 21,000 from early position and Michael Sullivan called in the small blind.

Fabio Da Silva: A♠A♣
Michael Sullivan: J♣J♠

Da Silva was a big favorite to double up with his aces as the board came 9♥4♣7♥9♣10♦, securing him the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Julien Sitbon	80,000 35,000	35,000
Fabio Da Silva	43,000 12,000	12,000
Michael Sullivan	32,000 3,000	3,000
Petar Kalev	8,000 37,000	37,000

Tags: Fabio Da Silva Julien Sitbon Michael Sullivan Petar Kalev

10-16-2023 19:26 UTC+2

Bigot Takes From Tamasauskas

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Maxime Taldir

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

In middle position, Fabrice Bigot raised to 1,800, and was called by both players in the blinds.

All three of them agreed on a check on the flop 5♦A♥4♦. On the turn 6♠, Vladas Tamasauskas took the lead and bet 5,000. Bigot was the only one to call.

On the river A♠, after Tamasauskas checked, Bigot bet 8,000. Tamasauskas didn't call and gave his cards to the dealer.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fabrice Bigot	65,000 15,000	15,000
Vladas Tamasauskas	51,000 1,000	1,000

Tags: Fabrice Bigot Vladas Tamasauskas

10-16-2023 19:27 UTC+2

Mateos Keeps Firing

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Mario Trattou opened to 1,600 from under the gun with the action folding around to Adrian Mateos on the button. Mateos three-bet to 6,000 and Trattou called to see the K♥6♣2♥ flop.

Mateos followed a check from his opponent by continuing for 2,500. Trattou called to the J♣ turn, checking the action to Mateos again.

This time, the bet was 10,500, producing a quick fold from Trattou and Mateos took down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mario Trattou	104,000 27,000	27,000
Adrian Mateos	64,800 34,800	34,800

Tags: Adrian Mateos Mario Trattou

10-16-2023 19:28 UTC+2

Hallaert Goes For Value From Shylko

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Kenny Hallaert raised to 1,900 on the button as action folded to Aliaksandr Shylko in the big blind. "Nine? Milking," Shylko joked as he tossed in the chips to call.

The flop came K♠7♣4♥ and Hallaert continued for 1,500. Shylko again called and both players then checked the 7♦ turn.

The Q♣ fell on the river and Shylko checked again. Hallaert then bet 5,000 and Shylko paused for a moment before calling. Hallaert turned over Q♦9♣ for a rivered pair of queens and Shylko mucked.

Adrian Mateos is also at this table, while Thomas Eychenne, who had been sitting to the left of Mateos, is no longer in his seat and has been eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kenny Hallaert	75,000 37,000	37,000

Adrian Mateos	55,000 9,800	9,800

Aliaksandr Shylko	21,000 34,000	34,000
Thomas Eychenne	Busted

Tags: Adrian Mateos Aliaksandr Shylko Kenny Hallaert Thomas Eychenne

10-16-2023 19:35 UTC+2

Virlanuta Scoops Pot on River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Matt Warburton

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Julien Montois raised to 1,600 from under the gun, Priit Parmasto called and Marian Virlanuta called.

The flop came 10♣8♥3♣. Montois checked, Parmasto bet 2,100 and only Virlanuta called. The turn was the 8♦. Parmasto checked and Virlanuta fired for 4,600, which Parmasto called.

The river came the 4♠. Parmasto checked and Virlanuta bet 26,100. Parmasto folded and Virlanuta scooped the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Priit Parmasto	143,000 30,000	30,000
Marian Virlanuta	35,000

Tags: Julien Montois Marian Virlanuta Priit Parmasto

10-16-2023 19:37 UTC+2

Bizokas Puts in a Massive Shove, Clock Called on Zubov

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

A massive pile of chips was already in the middle as Alexander Zubov and Juozas Bizokas went to the turn on a board of 6♦7♣10♠K♣.

Zubov, on the button, then bet 15,000 before Bizokas moved all in from the big blind for 51,500. Zubov spent several minutes counting out his stack as he considered the decision.

The floor was eventually called and a 30-second countdown begun when Zubov finally called. Bizokas then showed 9♣8♣ for the nut straight.

"Ten on the river," Zubov pleaded as he turned over K♦10♣ for two pair. The river, though, was the A♣ and Bizokas improved to a flush to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Juozas Bizokas	120,000 120,000	120,000
Alexander Zubov	32,000 7,000	7,000

Tags: Alexander Zubov Juozas Bizokas