$50,000 EPT Super High Roller | 2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

10-16-2023 22:30 UTC+3

Grafton Leaves Sturm Short-Stacked

Ryan Lashmar

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Sam Grafton opened to 60,000 from the button and Leon Sturm three-bet to 190,000 from the big blind. Grafton made the call.

The flop came 10♣7♣5♠ and Sturm bet 105,000. Grafton made the call.

Sturm checked on the J♠ turn and Grafton moved all in, covering Sturm's remaining stack of 425,000. Sturm quickly folded, leaving himself with just over ten big blinds when players come back from break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sam Grafton	1,900,000 250,000	250,000

Leon Sturm	440,000 -135,000	-135,000

Tags: Leon Sturm Sam Grafton

10-16-2023 22:21 UTC+3

Small Bet Gets It Done for Mulder

Frank Visser

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Sam Grafton raised it up to 60,000 from the hijack and the action folded to Teun Mulder in the big blind, who defended. Mulder then checked the 5♣8♠4♠ flop and Grafton followed suit.

When the 8♦ turn hit the felt, Mulder took the initiative with a bet of 45,000, receiving a call from his opponent. Mulder bet again on the J♥ river, this time for a lesser amount of 35,000, but it was still enough to let Grafton slide his cards towards the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sam Grafton	1,650,000 -170,000	-170,000

Teun Mulder	1,425,000 265,000	265,000

Tags: Sam Grafton Teun Mulder

10-16-2023 22:12 UTC+3

Zhou Eliminates Vaskaboinikau to Burst Money Bubble

Ryan Lashmar

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Mikalai Vaskaboinikau moved all in for 360,000 from the cutoff. Quan Zhou asked for a count and then quickly made the call with a covering stack.

Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: J♦7♦
Quan Zhou: K♦Q♥

Both players caught a piece of the Q♦J♠4♠ flop but Zhou was ahead with top pair. The 5♦ turn did give Vaskaboinikau a flush draw to go with his pair of jacks but the 3♠ was a brick and Vaskaboinikau was eliminated on the stone bubble.

All remaining players are guaranteed at least a min-cash of $156,200 but all eyes will undoubtedly be on the top prize of $769,860.

Player	Chips	Progress
Quan Zhou	1,650,000 375,000	375,000
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau	Busted

Tags: Mikalai Vaskaboinikau

10-16-2023 22:04 UTC+3

Pardo Hits Ace from Space to Survive Bubble

Frank Visser

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

The action folded to Mikalai Vaskaboinikau in the small blind, who made a raise to 90,000. Juan Pardo was his opponent in the big blind and he jammed all in for 605,000. Vaskaboinikau rechecked his cards quickly before making an even quicker call to put Pardo at risk.

Juan Pardo: A♠3♣
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: K♠K♣

It was looking like the min-cash was about to be secured for the six other players, but Pardo immediately flopped an ace on 8♦A♥2♠. No kings showed their faces on the 9♦ turn or 2♦ river and Pardo survived the bubble with his double-up. Meanwhile, Vaskaboinikau was left with 12 big blinds and remained the shortest stack on the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Juan Pardo	1,240,000 495,000	495,000
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau	360,000 -500,000	-500,000

Tags: Juan Pardo Mikalai Vaskaboinikau

10-16-2023 21:57 UTC+3

Delgado Passes Five Million

Ryan Lashmar

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

With two players seeing a board of 10♥8♠2♠ and about 125,000 in the middle, Teun Mulder checked in the small blind and Vicente Delgado bet 50,000 from the button. Mulder made the call.

Both players checked the 7♥ turn leading to the 5♣ river. Mulder bet 100,000 and Delgado raised to 550,000. Mulder used one time extension before flicking in the call.

Delgado tabled 6♠4♦ for a rivered straight to take the pot and further extend his lead over the rest of the field.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vicente Delgado	5,100,000 550,000	550,000
Teun Mulder	1,160,000 -690,000	-690,000

Tags: Teun Mulder Vicente Delgado

10-16-2023 21:54 UTC+3

Stone Bubble Arrives as Plausinaitus Busts

Frank Visser

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

The action folded to Vicente Delgado in the small blind and he inquired after the stack of Paulius Plausinaitis in the big blind. After the latter was kind enough to give him an exact count, Delgado shoved all in. Plausinaitis slowly peeled his cards and called soon thereafter.

Paulius Plausinaitis: A♥2♣
Vicente Delgado: Q♥4♠

Plausinaitis had a slight lead, but it would not last long when Delgado flopped the higher pair on 7♣2♠Q♣. The K♦ turn and 9♠ river did not help Plausinaitis in any way, and he was eliminated in eighth place.

Seven players remain and with six of them being paid, the official bubble has begun.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vicente Delgado	4,550,000 325,000	325,000
Paulius Plausinaitis	Busted

Tags: Paulius Plausinaitis Vicente Delgado

10-16-2023 21:47 UTC+3

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

Chad Holloway

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 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 21:47 UTC+3

Grafton Fires Two Barrels

Ryan Lashmar

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Teun Mulder opened to 60,000 from the hijack and Sam Grafton called from the small blind.

Both players checked the 10♥6♠4♦ flop leading to the J♦ turn. Grafton bet 60,000 and Mulder called.

Grafton bet again on the 2♣ river, this time for 200,000 which was enough to force a fold from Mulder.

Player	Chips	Progress
Teun Mulder	1,850,000 -180,000	-180,000
Sam Grafton	1,820,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Teun Mulder Sam Grafton

10-16-2023 21:37 UTC+3

Sturm Gets Four-Bet

Frank Visser

Level 16 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

The action folded to Quan Zhou, who made it 60,000 to go from the cutoff. Leon Sturm sat on the button and made a reraise to 150,000 before the action folded back to Zhou.

Zhou used one time bank extension before putting in the four-bet to 320,000, eliciting a fold from Sturm, who left himself with less than 20 big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
Quan Zhou	1,275,000 325,000	325,000
Leon Sturm	575,000 -145,000	-145,000

Tags: Leon Sturm Quan Zhou

Level: 16

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 30,000