2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo
Christian Stantchev raised to 30,000 in the hijack, Ankit Ahuja three-bet to 55,000 in the cutoff, and Stantchev called.
The flop came 9♣10♦Q♣ and Ahuja continued for 50,000. Stantchev called.
The turn was the 7♦ and Ahuja bet another 130,000. Stantchev spent several minutes in the tank before calling.
The 8♦ fell on the river and Stantchev checked again. Ahuja spent a few minutes before he put in a bet of 250,000. Stantchev went into the tank again for several minutes, but this time folded as Ahuja took the pot in a hand that lasted nearly ten minutes.
Brice Guido raised from the cutoff and called when Kai De Windt jammed for 190,000 from the button.
Kai De WIndt: A♣Q♠
Brice Guido: 6♠6♥
Both players smashed the A♦A♠6♣ flop, but Guido remained ahead as he had a full house. De Windt, with trip aces, needed to fill up or make quads to survive, but no help arrived on the J♥ turn or 2♦ river.
Alessio Peciarolo was all in for 200,000 from the hijack and up against Vladimir Erceg on the button.
Alessio Peciarolo: 10♠10♣
Vladimir Erceg: A♠K♥
Peciarolo was ahead through the turn on a board of Q♦2♦9♥9♦, but Erceg spiked the A♥ on the river. "One minute," Peciarolo said as he snapped a photo of the board, followed by some Italian curse words on his way to the exit.
At the same time at another table, Gabi Livshitz and Eusebiu Jalba built a pot of around 400,000 as they went to the river on a board of 2♠9♣Q♣J♦5♥.
Livshitz then bet 375,000 from middle position and Jalba, in the hijack, went into the tank for several minutes. He eventually called with K♦Q♦ for a pair of queens and Livshitz sent king-jack into the muck.
Georgios Vrakas opened to 30,000 from middle position and called when Pedro Lourenco three-bet to 95,000 from the small blind.
Lourenco checked on the 7♥6♠3♥ flop and Vrakas bet 125,000. Lourenco paused for a few moments before moving all in for 300,000. Vrakas had him slightly covered, and called after his own time in the tank.
Pedro Lourenco: K♣K♠
Georgios Vrakas: 8♣8♠
Lourenco was miles ahead with kings and he held to double after ending up with a set after the 4♣K♦ runout.
Tamas Balogh raised under the gun to 35,000, prompting Luigi Minolfi to call. Atanas Malinov, who was the second chip leader after the break, made a three-bet to 110,000. Balogh snap-called and Minolfi's cards found their way to the muck.
The 9♣K♥7♠ flop led to a 150,000 bet from Balogh, which Malinov called.
Another quick bet of 150,000 from Balogh on the 9♠ turn was again called by Malinov.
Balogh didn't back down and confidently bet 500,000 on the 10♠ river, causing Malinov to frown briefly. He called and Balogh immediately showed A♥8♥. Malinov revealed A♠K♦ and scooped the big pot with two pair, kings and nines.
After the hand, the table broke and Malinov continued building his 3,200,000 stack at another table.
Nicolas Hamouni raised to 100,000 in middle position, leaving himself 50,000 behind, and Lucas Scafini moved all in from the big blind. Hamouni tanked for a few minutes before the clock was called and he eventually tossed in his last chips.
Nicolas Hamouni: A♥9♦
Lucas Scafini: J♥J♣
The K♥Q♣2♥9♣4♦ board was no help to Hamouni and he was sent to the rail.
Level: 22
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 20,000
Jacques Der Megreditchian moved all in for 190,000 in the hijack and Serhii Tarnakin called on the button.
Jacques Der Megreditchian: A♣J♥
Serhii Tarnakin: K♣Q♣
The flop came 5♠7♦A♥ and Der Megreditchian took an even bigger lead with top pair. The rest of the board came 9♦3♣ and Der Megreditchian doubled up.