€2,200 FPS High Roller Day 1a | 2023 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo

Apr 30, 2023

Oldak Picks Off Jacobson

Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Martin Jacobson opened to 8,000 in early position and was called by Thierry Oldak on the button. The flop fell 9♠9♣3♠ and both players checked to the 4♥ on the turn.

Jacobson fired out a bet of 6,000 and Oldak stuck around for the 6♣ on the river. Jacobson splashed in a bunch of chips and Oldak was put to the test for his last 26,000 chips. Oldak eventually made the call and Jacobson showed K♦10♥. Oldak celebrated as he tabled A♦3♦ to stay alive in the tournament.

Tags: Thierry Oldak Martin Jacobson

Apr 30, 2023

Benoliel Picks Up Pocket Queens

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Matt Hansen

Level 15 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Eugenio Peralta raised to 8,500 from under the gun and Jean-Jacques Benoliel raised to 25,000 from late position. The rest of the table got out of the way before Peralta shoved and Benoliel called for a total of 70,500.

Jean-Jacques Benoliel: Q♦Q♥
Eugenio Peralta: J♦J♣

The board ran out 8♥4♠2♥5♦A♥ and the queens held to secure a double for Benoliel.

Tags: Eugenio Peralta Jean-Jacques Benoliel

Apr 30, 2023

Orpaz Soars to the Top

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Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

The action folded to Vasileios Panagiotidis in the hijack who just open-shoved all in for 81,500. Tom Orpaz was next to act in the cutoff and asked for a count before making the call. The rest of the table folded and the two hands were tabled.

Vasileios Panagiotidis: A♦J♥
Tom Orpaz: Q♠Q♦

The flop came 10♥9♥2♥ and Panagiotidis held the only flush draw. The 2♠ bricked the turn and the 4♦ was also no help on the river as Orpaz claimed the chips to become the chip leader.

Tags: Vasileios Panagiotidis Tom Orpaz

Apr 30, 2023

Updated Chip Counts

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Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Level: 15

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 4,000

Apr 30, 2023

Pichierri Wakes Up with Aces

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Adam Lamers

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Alessandro Pichierri opened to 6,500 from under the gun and Bing Zhou three-bet to 18,500 on the button. The blinds folded and Pichierri four-bet shoved all in for 46,500. Zhou quickly called and the cards tabled.

Alessandro Pichierri: A♥A♦
Bing Zhou: A♠Q♠

The flop came J♥10♠8♥ which made things sweaty as Zhou picked up a two-way straight draw. However, the 7♣ and 8♦ runout was safe for Pichierri who gained a double-up.

Tags: Alessandro Pichierri Bing Zhou

Apr 30, 2023

Kassouf is in for the Maximum-Minimum

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Matt Hansen

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Arrived in Monte Carlo for the @PokerStarsLIVE EPT festival! Having already won a €6,200 seat & expenses package o… https://t.co/oEfOeRFZF7
— William Kassouf (@WilliamKassouf)

Apr 30, 2023

Asaulenka Sends Heveli to the Rail

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Matt Hansen

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Kiryl Asaulenka raised to 7,000 and Richard Heveli shoved from the next seat over. The rest of the table got out of the way and action was heads up with Asaulenka at risk.

Richard Heveli: Ax2x
Kiryl Asaulenka: 6♠6♣

The board ran out 7♥5♣9♣2♣4♣ and Asaulenka picked up a club to beat Heveli's clubless ace-deuce with a flush.

Tags: Kiryl Asaulenka Richard Heveli

Apr 29, 2023

Banic Doubles Through Nigro

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Adam Lamers

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Ivan Banic raised it up to 6,500 in middle position and Gilles Nigro three-bet to 18,000 in the cutoff. The action folded back to Banic who peeled a flop of 10♦5♣2♦. Nigro continued with a bet of 19,000 and Banic check-raised to 42,000. Nigro ripped all in and Banic quickly called off his stack of 126,500.

Ivan Banic: 6♦5♦
Gilles Nigro: A♥K♣

Nigro tried to make a move with just ace-king but Banic was ahead with a pair and a flush draw. The 9♣ and Q♥ runout changed nothing and Banic earned a double-up.

Tags: Gilles Nigro Ivan Banic

Apr 29, 2023

Every Past PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo Main Event Champion

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Matt Hansen

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

The 2023 edition of the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo festival runs from April 26 through May 6 at the luxurious Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. You already know that PokerNews is bringing you live and exclusive coverage from seven of the biggest EPT Monte Carlo events, including the prestigious Main Event, the tournament every player wants to win.

Some of poker's most recognizable faces and names have returned home from a trip to Monaco with the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event trophy in tow. Fourteen poker stars have written their names in the EPT's history books under the heading EPT Monte Carlo Main Event champion.

Check Out the Full List on PokerNews!