€5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1a | 2023 PokerStars EPT Prague

12-11-2023 15:49 UTC+2

Drake Enters Day1a and Takes a Small One Down

Peter Robinson

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Ian Drake all the way from the Isle of Man entered Day1a and was straight in the action when he defended his Big Blind to an open from Martin Kuthan of 600.

The flop came 10♦4♥4♦ and Kuthan continued for 700 and Drake made the call and both saw the J♠ hit the turn.

Both players checked and the 9♥ was the river card. Drake then led out for 2,300 and his opponent made the fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ian Drake	33,000
Martin Kuthan	31,000

Tags: Ian Drake Martin Kuthan

12-11-2023 15:40 UTC+2

Suhonen Three-Bets Brandstrom Twice

Josh Noy

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Simon Brandstrom opened to 700 from under the gun for a second straight hand and was facing a second straight three-bet to 2,500 from Elias Suhonen in the hijack.

Brandstrom checked the K♠Q♣2♠ flop and called when Suhonen continued for 1,500. The 5♦ turn brought another check from Brandstrom before Suhonen sized up to 5,700.

Brandstrom let his hand go, as Suhonen got the better of him again.

Player	Chips	Progress
Elias Suhonen	37,000
Simon Brandstrom	27,200

Tags: Elias Suhonen Simon Brandstrom

Level: 3

Blinds: 100/300

Ante: 300

12-11-2023 15:22 UTC+2

PokerStars Announces Full Five Stop 2024 EPT Schedule; Paris and Cyprus Return

Josh Noy

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

PokerStars has unveiled the full schedule for the 2024 European Poker Tour (EPT) season, which shows five destinations, including a return to EPT Paris and EPT Cyprus. Both Paris and Cyprus made their EPT debut in 2023, and they return for 2024, much to the delight of the players.

EPT Paris is the first stop of the 2024 European Poker Tour season. It takes place between February 14-25 at a new venue. The stunning Le Palais des Congres has a 120-table capacity, meaning there will be a more extensive schedule for the festival. Cedric Billot, Associate Director for Live Events and Operations, believes the new-look EPT Paris could be one of the largest EPT festivals on record.

Check out the full schedule

12-11-2023 15:04 UTC+2

First Break of the Day

Josh Noy

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Players in the EPT Main Event have been sent on their first 20-minute break of the day.

12-11-2023 14:51 UTC+2

Not the Best Start for Shylko

Peter Robinson

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Aliaksandr Shylko having just lost a big pot defended his big blind having been raised to 700 by Igor Pihela Jr.

The flop came 3♥2♦4♥ and after a c-bet of 1,200 Shylko made the fold.

Not the best start for Shylko who won the 2023 PokerStars Players NL Hold'em Championship for $3,121,838.

Player	Chips	Progress
Igor Pihela Jr	31,000 31,000	31,000
Aliaksandr Shylko	10,000 10,000	10,000

12-11-2023 14:47 UTC+2

A Round of Chip Counts

Milko van Winden

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Julien Sitbon	62,000 32,000	32,000
Ognyan Dimov	46,000 46,000	46,000

Alberto Stegeman	40,000 40,000	40,000
Maximilian Silz	39,000 39,000	39,000
Raoul Refos	36,000 36,000	36,000
Tobias Peters	33,000 3,000	3,000
Bo Hoebe	32,000
Govert Metaal	32,000 2,000	2,000
Konstantin Hammermueller	30,000 30,000	30,000
Leo Margets	27,000 27,000	27,000
Ramon Colillas	27,000 27,000	27,000

Felix Schneiders	20,000 -10,000	-10,000

12-11-2023 14:45 UTC+2

Plocki Sends Stumbo Out

Josh Noy

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Anthony Desai opened to 500 from middle position and was called by Maciej Plocki on the button. Anthony Stumbo then three-bet in the small blind to 1,500, with Desai folding and Plocki calling.

Stumbo led out for 1,000 on the 10♥9♦7♠ flop and was promptly raised to 3,000 by Plocki. The call was made to see the Q♥ turn. A check from Stumbo was followed by an all in from Plocki. Stumbo called and the hands were turned over.

Anthony Stumbo: A♠A♥
Maciej Plocki: 9♣9♥

Stumbo smirked as showed his pocket aces, seeing he trailed the flopped set of Plocki. The 4♥ river changed nothing, as Stumbo was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maciej Plocki	45,000 15,500	15,500
Anthony Desai	8,500 8,500	8,500
Anthony Stumbo	Busted

Tags: Anthony Desai Anthony Stumbo Maciej Plocki

12-11-2023 14:40 UTC+2

Salandi Takes one Down with Big Slick

Peter Robinson

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Two players saw the flop of A♣2♦3♠ and Egidio Salandi the pre flop raiser continued to the tune of 4,000 and was quickly called from Tristan Forge.

The turn card brought the 6♥ and again Salandi bet 4,000 and was again called by his opponent.

The river card was 7♥ and both players checked. Tristan Forge showed the 4♦3♦ for a busted draw and only a pair of three's and Salandi was shocked to see his A♠K♦ take down the nice pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Egidio Salandi	38,000
Tristan Forge	32,000

Tags: Egidio Salandi Tristan Forge

12-11-2023 14:27 UTC+2

Everyone Loves a Chop Pot

Peter Robinson

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Rafal Gontarczy opened to 500 and was called by Ricardo Postigo to a flop of 10♠K♣4♣.

Gontarczy continued for 700 and Postigo quickly made the call.

The turn of the Q♦ proved to be the action card and Gontarczy bet 2,000 and was quickly three bet to 7,500.

After a couple of minutes in the tank Gontarczy announced all in and was snap called from his opponent.

Both players tabled AJ and the river was a blank, the Broadway straight for both players ensured a chop pot.

Does everyone really love a chop pot? :)

Player	Chips	Progress
Ricardo Postigo	31,000
Rafal Gontarczy	25,000

Tags: Ricardo Postigo Rafal Gontarczy