€1,100 FPS Main Event Day 1a | 2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo

04-24-2024 16:07 UTC+2

Apicella Bows Out in Six-Bet Pot

Calum Grant

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Jean Autran opened to 1,500 second to act and was called by Anthony Apicella from the hijack. Efim Dorfman clicked it to 3,000 from the cutoff which Autran called. Apicella responded with a four-bet to 6,500 before Dorfmann made it 23,000. Autran folded and then Apicella jammed for 23,900. Dorfman called and there were some raised eyebrows as the cards were unveiled.

Anthony Apicella: A♥Q♥ All in
Efim Dorfman: 4♠4♥

Dorfman was the slight favorite and remained ahead after Apicella failed to connect on the K♠9♣2♣ flop. The 10♦ turn gave Apicella outs to Broadway but the 3♥ river was a brick, awarding the pot to Dorfman.

Player	Chips	Progress
Efim Dorfman	100,000 100,000	100,000
Anthony Apicella	Busted

Tags: Anthony Apicella Efim Dorfman

04-24-2024 16:16 UTC+2

Swiderski Hits the Turn to Bust Benabou

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 3♠A♥2♥, Adam Benabou bet 5,000 from the big blind, Kacper Swiderski raised to 10,000 in the hijack, and Benabou stuck in his last 15,000. Swiderski called.

Adam Benabou: A♦Q♦ All in
Kacper Swiderski: 7♥6♥

Benabou was ahead with top pair, while Swiderski was chasing a flush draw. The 5♥ turn completed his flush and Benabou was already drawing dead by the J♠ river and headed for the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kacper Swiderski	90,000 50,000	50,000
Adam Benabou	Busted

Tags: Adam Benabou Kacper Swiderski

04-24-2024 16:53 UTC+2

Sydenstricker Fails to Find His Miracle

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Joao Sydenstricker moved all in for around 10,000 in the small blind and Jose Manuel Monosis put him at risk from the hijack.

Joao Sydenstricker: K♥J♦ All in
Jose Manuel Monosis: K♠Q♣

"Just a miracle now," Sydenstricker said after finding out he was dominated. The flop came 3♠7♠Q♦ and Monosis pulled further ahead with top pair.

"No miracle," Sydenstricker said as the board ran out 3♣10♠, sending last year's EPT Barcelona runner-up to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jose Manuel Monosis	70,000 70,000	70,000
Joao Sydenstricker	Busted

Tags: Joao Sydenstricker Jose Manuel Monosis

04-24-2024 17:03 UTC+2

Rutigliano Can't Find a Fold

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Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Gerard Fenech opened to 2,000 from the hijack before Antonio Rutigliano three-bet to an unconventional sizing of 12,000 from the small blind. Fenech made the call, bringing in the 8♠7♠8♥ flop. Rutigliano, with around 20,000, continued for 4,500. Fenech raised to put his opponent all in and after some time in the tank, Rutigliano committed the last of his chips.

Antonio Rutigliano: A♥K♦ All in
Gerard Fenech: Q♠Q♣

Rutigliano need to pair up to stay in contention, but found himself on the wrong side of the rail after the 2♣ turn and 9♦ river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gerard Fenech	110,000 110,000	110,000
Antonio Rutigliano	Busted

Tags: Antonio Rutigliano Gerard Fenech

04-24-2024 17:16 UTC+2

Huber Flips Apicella to the Rail

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Anthony Apicella moved all in for 14,000 from the big blind and Oliver Huber called in the hijack.

Anthony Apicella: 2♥2♦ All in
Oliver Huber: A♣J♥

The flop came 5♣10♥A♠ to give Huber the lead with a pair of aces. Apicella couldn't catch up on the Q♦ turn or 8♠ river and was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Oliver Huber	100,000 82,600	82,600
Anthony Apicella	Busted

Tags: Anthony Apicella Oliver Huber

04-24-2024 17:20 UTC+2

Gilboa Hits the River to Bust Istria

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Cedric Istria moved all in for 6,000 under the gun and Uri Gilboa called on the button, as did big blind Cedric Theveniaud.

Gilboa and Theveniaud checked to the river on a board of 7♠2♦A♥10♣8♣ when Gilboa bet 6,000. Theveniaud quickly folded.

Istria showed A♣J♠ for top pair, but Gilboa had 8♠8♦ for a rivered set to win the pot and send Istria to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Cedric Theveniaud	90,000 90,000	90,000
Uri Gilboa	45,000 45,000	45,000

Cedric Istria	Busted

Tags: Cedric Istria Cedric Theveniaud Uri Gilboa

04-24-2024 17:49 UTC+2

El Berrak Bows Out; Geller Fires Back at Bigot

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Calum Grant

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

The early position player limped in before Ivan Barbuto raised to 3,700 from middle position. Mohamed El Berrak called from the hijack before Axel Bayout jammed as the bigger stack from the button. The blinds, the early position player and Barbuto folded but El Berrak decided to commit his stack of 31,500.

Mohamed El Berrak: 10♠10♣ All in
Axel Bayout: J♠J♦

Barbuto lamented his fold after seeing the K♥Q♥6♥ flop, saying he had A♥Qx. El Berrak remained behind and couldn't catch up on the 2♣ turn and 9♥ river.

As the hand wrapped up, a big pot between Fabrice Bigot and Maya Geller was brewing on Table 25.

With around 30,000 in the pot and the 10♣6♥4♥ flop on display, Bigot bet 11,000 from the big blind. Geller, the wife of poker legend Patrik Antonius, raised to 25,000, leaving herself with around 20,000 behind. Bigot went deep into the tank, staring at Geller to pick up any reads. Eventually, Bigot released his hand, and Geller took in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Axel Bayout	86,000
Maya Geller	85,000 3,000	3,000
Fabrice Bigot	56,000 18,500	18,500
Mohamed El Berrak	Busted

Tags: Axel Bayout Fabrice Bigot Ivan Barbuto Maya Geller Mohamed El Berrak

04-24-2024 18:29 UTC+2

Jacks No Good For Belmessieri, Fanniere

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David Salituro

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

Marlon Arch moved all in for 24,500 in the hijack and Francois Fanniere called under the gun.

Marlon Arch: A♣Q♣ All in
Francois Fanniere: J♦J♥

Arch took the lead on the 8♣Q♦9♣ flop with a pair of queens, while Fanniere couldn't catch up on the 8♥ turn or A♥ river as Arch doubled up.

At the same time on another table, Andrea Belmessieri got in his last 25,000 in a blind versus blind battle against Daniel Merlante.

Andrea Belmessieri: J♣J♦ All in
Daniel Merlante: K♣K♥

Merlante was ahead with his kings as the board ran out 9♣Q♥7♦2♠9♥ to send Belmessieri to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Merlante	80,000
Marlon Arch	50,000
Francois Fanniere	40,000
Andrea Belmessieri	Busted

Tags: Andrea Belmessieri Daniel Merlante Francois Fanniere Marlon Arch

04-24-2024 18:36 UTC+2

Rouissi Wins a Massive Flip On Christy

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David Salituro

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

Woody Christy had a raise of 96,200 in front of him from the big blind and Enis Rouissi called under the gun.

The flop came 2♠6♣8♥ and Christy stuck in his last 2,000. Rouissi snap-called.

Woody Christy: A♠K♥ All in
Enis Rouissi: J♣J♠

Rouissi shot out of his seat after finding out he was ahead in the massive pot. The board ran out 10♥J♥ and Rouissi made a set to send Christy to the rail.

The two players exchanged some terse words involving Rouissi's backpack falling on the ground before Christy headed for the exit, while Rouissi moved into contention for the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Enis Rouissi	230,000 145,000	145,000
Woody Christy	Busted

Tags: Enis Rouissi Woody Christy

04-24-2024 18:41 UTC+2

Baroukh Wakes Up With Aces at the "Murder Table"

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David Salituro

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

Remy Mougel moved all in for around 28,000 from the small blind and Fowzi Baroukh called in the big blind, while the rest of the table got out of the way.

Remy Mougel: K♣Q♣ All in
Fowzi Baroukh: A♦A♣

Mougel had run into Baroukh's aces as the 4♦6♣K♠ flop gave him some hope with top pair. The 6♠ turn took away some of his outs, while the 9♦ fell on the river to send him to the rail.

"Must be nice to hear all in when you have aces," a tablemate said to Baroukh.

"I was trying to get that gentleman in. Of course I was calling," Baroukh replied, pointing across the table to another player that had initially opened the pot.

"This is a murder table. Aces, kings, queens," another tablemate added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fowzi Baroukh	60,000 15,000	15,000
Remy Mougel	Busted

Tags: Fowzi Baroukh Remy Mougel