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

10-16-2023 21:43 UTC+2

Vardanian Takes From Wiciak

Maxime Taldir

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

A very happy Timur Vardanian opened to 2,500 from early position, and was called by Simon Wiciak in the small blind and by the big blind.

On J♠2♦3♦, Vardanian made a continuation-bet to 3,000. But this time, only Wiciak called. Vardanian fired a second barrel of 5,000 on the turn K♠, and Wiciak called again.

The 10♣ came on the river, and Wiciak checked. Before Vardanian took some chips to bet, Wiciak folded and let the pot go in Vardanian's direction.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simon Wiciak	160,000 10,000	10,000

Timur Vardanian	110,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Simon Wiciak Timur Vardanian

10-16-2023 21:47 UTC+2

Kennedy Takes Out Kulev, Dato Makes a "Close Call"

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Anthony Kennedy raised to 2,400 under the gun and Andrea Dato called on the button before Alex Kulev, in the big blind, moved all in for 18,300. Kennedy then reshoved for 45,000.

Dato agonized over the decision for a minute before mucking.

Alex Kulev: A♦6♥
Anthony Kennedy: A♥A♠

Kulev held his six in front of the board pleading for help, but none arrived on the 9♥10♠4♠K♣8♦ runout and he was sent to the rail.

"What did you have? I showed you," Kennedy joked with Dato.

"I had a close call," Dato replied.

"Jack-ten off, huh," Kennedy added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrea Dato	90,000 15,000	15,000

Anthony Kennedy	65,000 20,000	20,000
Alex Kulev	Busted

Tags: Alex Kulev Andrea Dato Anthony Kennedy

10-16-2023 21:48 UTC+2

Talbot Takes the Turn

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Josh Noy

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Evgenii Sboev opened to 2,500 in the hijack and Parker Talbot made the call to his left. Majid Nadeem followed with a call on the button, as did Yassin Mahmoud in the big blind.

The flop of J♣3♥8♣ saw Mahmoud and Sboev check to Talbot, who slid out a bet of 1,400. That was quickly raised by Nadeem to 6,400, with Mahmoud and Sboev folding before Talbot called.

Talbot led out on the 10♣ turn for 7,000, taking down another sizeable pot when Nadeem folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Parker Talbot	284,000 12,000	12,000

Evgenii Sboev	98,500 19,500	19,500
Majid Nadeem	65,500 32,500	32,500
Yassin Mahmoud	48,500 53,500	53,500

Tags: Evgenii Sboev Parker Talbot Majid Nadeem Yassin Mahmoud

10-16-2023 21:55 UTC+2

Mangroe Picks Up Queens to Take Out Martirosian, Konopelko

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Mohamed Mangroe raised to 2,600 in the cutoff before Artur Martirosian, who had only entered the tournament during this level, moved all in for 5,600 on the button. Andrei Konopelko also shoved for around 35,000 in the big blind and Mangroe snap-called, having both players covered.

Artur Martirosian: A♠10♣
Andrei Konopelko: A♣J♦
Mohamed Mangroe: Q♣Q♦

Mangroe had both Martirosian and Konopelko crushed with his queens, and neither opponent received any help on the 8♥K♣6♥2♣10♠ board as they were sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohamed Mangroe	90,000 90,000	90,000
Artur Martirosian	Busted

Andrei Konopelko	Busted

Tags: Andrei Konopelko Artur Martirosian Mohamed Mangroe

10-16-2023 22:00 UTC+2

Vardanian Wins Three-Bet Pot With River Bet

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Matt Warburton

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Ludovic Periaux raised to 2,500 from under the gun and Timur Vardanian three-bet to 7,500. Vadym Koriagin called and so did Periaux.

The flop came Q♣J♣J♦ and all three players checked. The turn was the 3♣. Action checked to Vardanian, who bet 8,500. Koriagin called and Periaux folded.

The river came the 3♦. Vardanian bet 16,500 and Koriagin found the fold to give Vardanian the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadym Koriagin	170,000 10,000	10,000
Timur Vardanian	150,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Ludovic Periaux Timur Vardanian Vadym Koriagin

10-16-2023 22:05 UTC+2

Seven-Three Isn't Good

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Maxime Taldir

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Bart Lybaert raised to 2,500 in the cutoff, and was called by Tom Fuchs on the button. Mikhail Katykhin defended from the big blind, and checked on the flop A♣7♦9♣.

Lybaert checked too, but Fuchs chose to bet 3,000. Katykhin counted his stack, seemed to hesitate, but moved all in for 26,300. Lybaert quickly folded, and Fuchs called.

Mikhail Katykhin: 7♣3♣
Tom Fuchs: A♥Q♦

With bottom pair and a flush draw, Katykhin could still win. But the A♦ on the turn and the 10♥ on the river sent him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tom Fuchs	100,000 78,000	78,000
Bart Lybaert	65,000 65,000	65,000
Mikhail Katykhin	Busted

Tags: Bart Lybaert Mikhail Katykhin Tom Fuchs

10-16-2023 22:07 UTC+2

Kotlyk, Lijo Tangle In Massive Classic Flip

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Xixiang Luo raised to 2,500 in the hijack and Ricardo Sleiman called in the cutoff. Lander Lijo then three-bet to 7,300 on the button as action went on Volodymyr Kotlyk in the big blind, who four-bet to 19,000.

Luo and Sleiman both folded, but Lijo announced he was all in. Kotlyk snap-called for his last 80,000.

Volodymyr Kotlyk: Q♣Q♦
Lander Lijo: A♦K♦

it was a classic flip with nearly 170,000 chips at stake, and the board came 4♥7♦4♠9♣10♠ missing Lijo and keeping Kotlyk's queens in the lead to earn him a double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Volodymyr Kotlyk	170,000
Ricardo Sleiman	50,000 8,000	8,000
Lander Lijo	30,000 59,000	59,000
Xixiang Luo	15,000 11,000	11,000

Tags: Lander Lijo Ricardo Sleiman Volodymyr Kotlyk Xixiang Luo

10-16-2023 22:16 UTC+2

Auzoux Runs Into a Blind-on-Blind Cooler

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Gregoire Auzoux had a bet of 9,000 in front of him from the small blind before Miguel Cardoso made it 18,000 in the big blind. Auzoux called and they went to the flop of 3♥5♣4♦.

Cardoso continued for 11,000 and Auzoux came back with an all-in shove for around 80,000. Cardoso snap-called.

Gregoire Auzoux: Q♥Q♦
Miguel Cardoso: K♥K♦

Auzoux let out a loud groan when he found he had run into a massive cooler. The 8♠ turn and 7♣ river didn't provide any miracles and he was sent to the rail while Cardoso raked in the pot to climb over 200,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Miguel Cardoso	220,000 145,000	145,000
Gregoire Auzoux	Busted

Tags: Gregoire Auzoux Miguel Cardoso

Level: 10

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 1,200

10-16-2023 22:22 UTC+2

Iermolcheva Busts to Marques

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Matt Warburton

Level 10 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Andre Marques raised to 2,600 from late position and Olga Iermolcheva three-bet to 10,000 from the small blind. Marques called.

The flop came 2♥J♠4♦. Iermolcheva continued for 3,000, Marques raised and Iermolcheva shoved all in. Marques quickly made the call and the cards were turned, with Iermolcheva at risk.

Olga Iermolcheva: 9♥9♠
Andre Marques: J♦9♦

Iermolcheva had pocket nines and Marques had a pair of jacks. The turn came the 10♥ and the river was the Q♣. Marques held and Iermolcheva was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andre Marques	220,000 160,000	160,000
Olga Iermolcheva	Busted

Tags: Andre Marques Olga Iermolcheva