€5,300 EPT Main Event Day 2 | 2023 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo

05-02-2023 18:22 UTC+2

Quad Threes at Table 3

Connor Richards

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

There was some commotion at Table 3 as Christopher Chaudey played a heads-up pot against Yann Helwig on a board of 7♥3♠3♣4♣9♦.

Chaudey bet 7,000 on the river and Helwig paid him off as Chaudey turned over [3h3ds] for flopped quads.

"I promise, before the flop I was praying for quads!" Chaudey said as he raked in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yann Helwig	215,000 170,500	170,500
Christopher Chaudey	145,000 -23,000	-23,000

Tags: Christopher Chaudey Yann Helwig

05-02-2023 18:14 UTC+2

Ponakovs Jams River Into Noja

Andrew Knowles

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

In a heads-up pot with just over 50,000 in the middle on a completed board showing 8♦6♦5♦2♦A♠, Danielle Noja bet 18,000 from the hijack and Aleksejs Ponakovs moved all in for 120,000 next to act. Noja went deep in the tank, contemplating for several minutes.

"Sorry guys I don't usually take this long," said Noja as he was deep in thought.

After close to three minutes, Noja reluctantly let his cards go and the pot was sent to Ponakovs.

"Pick a card," said Ponakovs to Noja who gladly accepted and picked the card nearest to him. Ponakovs rolled over the A♦ and Noja was relieved to have picked the card confirming he made a good fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksejs Ponakovs	190,000 -55,500	-55,500
Danielle Noja	168,000 -2,500	-2,500

Tags: Aleksejs Ponakovs Danielle Noja

Level: 14

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 3,000

05-02-2023 17:35 UTC+2

Lyubovetskiy's Rockets Shot Down by Ducks

Kaelaine Minton

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

On the last hand of the level at the feature table, picking up the action on a flop of 5♠4♠5♥ and a pot of about 50,000:

Artur Martirosian checked from the cutoff to Andriy Lyubovetskiy on the button, who took his time to bet 25,000. Martirosian called to see the 3♠ on the turn. This time he opted to lead out for 20,000, which Lyubovetskiy called.

The river brought the 2♣ and Martirosian jammed for 266,750, having Lyubovetskiy well covered. Lyubovetskiy took an extended visit to the tank, apologizing to the table for taking so long, before committing his last 96,500 to the pot and revealing A♦A♣ for a wheel.

Martirosian rolled over 2♠2♦ for rivered deuces-full to take the pot, sending Lyubovetskiy to the rail just before the break. With that pot, Martirosian joined those at the top of the leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
Artur Martirosian	504,000 288,500	288,500

Andriy Lyubovetskiy	Busted

Tags: Andriy Lyubovetskiy Artur Martirosian

05-02-2023 17:32 UTC+2

Break Time

Andrew Knowles

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

The remaining 189 players have stepped out for another 20-minute break. The action will resume shortly.

05-02-2023 17:25 UTC+2

Guerrero Gets Thin Value From Rodrigues

Andrew Knowles

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Martin Guerrero limped in from early position and it folded around to Michael Rodrigues on the button who limped in as well. The small blind folded and Olivier Paris checked his option from the big blind.

The flop came J♣4♣2♥ and action checked to Rodrigues who tossed out a bet of 5,000. Paris quickly folded and Guerrero came along to the 6♦ turn.

Both players checked to the 7♦ river and Guerrero elected to lead out for a bet of 15,000. Rodrigues pondered for a moment before making the call and Guerrero tabled 9♣9♦. Rodrigues double-checked his cards before sending them to the muck and the pot was shipped to Guerrero.

Player	Chips	Progress
Martin Guerrero	260,000 191,500	191,500
Michael Rodrigues	135,000 32,000	32,000
Olivier Paris	56,000 -4,500	-4,500

Tags: Martin Guerrero Michael Rodrigues Olivier Paris

05-02-2023 17:22 UTC+2

Shylko Nearly Risks It All, Leaves Liperis Short

Adam Lamers

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Picking up the action on the turn, Aliaksandr Shylko and Yiannis Liperis were involved in a hand with a little less than 30,000 in the middle. The board read 7♠6♦5♦4♣ and Shylko led out with a bet of 7,000 from the big blind. Liperis raised to 27,000 and Shylko clicked it back to 64,000 which Liperis called.

The 6♠ paired the board on the river and Shylko pushed out a bet of 90,500, leaving just a single big blind behind. Liperis dipped into the tank and eventually, the clock was called. As time was running out, Liperis stuck in a call and Shylko turned over 9♣8♥ for the nut straight to scoop the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aliaksandr Shylko	335,000 213,000	213,000
Yiannis Liperis	22,000 -161,000	-161,000

Tags: Yiannis Liperis Aliaksandr Shylko

05-02-2023 17:19 UTC+2

Faria Bets and Takes It

Connor Richards

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Luis Faria opened to 5,500 from under the gun and Weijie Zheng called on the button before [Removed:449] also called out of the big blind.

Sadeghpourfard checked on the flop of 5♥Q♠5♣ and Faria continued for 6,000. Zheng and Sadeghpourfard both folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
[Removed:449]	315,000
Weijie Zheng	135,000
Luis Faria	85,000 85,000	85,000

Tags: Weijie Zheng Luis Faria

05-02-2023 17:18 UTC+2

Watson Overtakes Grieco

Adam Lamers

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Nicola Grieco raised to 10,000 in the cutoff and Mike Watson reraised to 36,000 out of the small blind. Grieco called and the flop of J♣8♥2♦ was spread on the felt.

Watson led out with a bet of 45,000 and Grieco mulled it over for a minute before dispatching his cards. Watson became the new table captain and one of the leaders in the entire field.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Watson	495,000 143,000	143,000

Nicola Grieco	350,000 -48,000	-48,000

Tags: Nicola Grieco Mike Watson

05-02-2023 17:05 UTC+2

Every Past PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo Main Event Champion

Matt Hansen

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 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!