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€2,200 FPS High Roller
Day 1a Completed
2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo
€2,200 FPS High Roller
Day: 1a
Event Info
2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
Buy-in
€2,200
Prize Pool
€2,336,640
Total Entries
1,217
Level
35
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
795
Players Left
118
Players Left 1 / 1,217
Filter
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Day 1a of the €2,200 PokerStars France Poker Series High Roller has concluded with two French at the top of the tree at Sporting Monte-Carlo. Kamel Marzouk heads the 118 players from this flight, having amassed a stack of 710,000. 795 have entered this flight, including reentries.
Following Marzouk in second place is Bruno Khalifa with 564,000, over a 100,000 less than his compatriot. Khalifa asserted himself as the chip leader towards the midpoint of the tournament, only to be eclipsed by Marzouk in the final levels. Marzouk's best live cash is $11,469 and Khalifa's is even less at $3,492, according to thehendonmob.com.
Rounding out the top three is Jon Vallinas with 525,000. The Spaniard currently in 3rd place will be looking to build on his 4th place finish for €41,300 in the €10,200 Mystery Bounty here at EPT Monte Carlo. Toni Kaukua sits in 4th place with 495,000. At EPT Paris this year, Kaukua achieved a 178th place finish for €4,440 along side a 23rd place finish in the €10,300 EPT High Roller for €36,100. Sitting in fifth is Javier Gomez with 483,000. Gomez is no stranger to deep runs here in Monte-Carlo, having finished 33rd for €19,850 in the €5,300 EPT Main Event last year.
End of Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kamel Marzouk | France | 710,000 | |
| 2 | Bruno Khalifa | France | 564,000 | |
| 3 | Jon Vallinas | Spain | 525,000 | |
| 4 | Toni Kaukua | Finland | 495,000 | |
| 5 | Javier Gomez | Spain | 483,000 | |
| 6 | Jamie Dwan | United Kingdom | 440,000 | |
| 7 | Mykhailo Sezonenko | Ukraine | 410,000 | |
| 8 | Ravi Sheth | United Kingdom | 408,000 | |
| 9 | Enis Rouissi | France | 408,000 | |
| 10 | Christian Dressler | Germany | 391,000 |
Other notables to bag a stack for Day 2 outside of the top 10 include Axel Hallay with 223,000, Felipe Boianovsky with 220,000, Ramiro Petrone with 214,000 and Ole Schemion with 210,000, and newly crowned EPT winner Antoine Labat.
Highlights
At one point, Ravi Sheth thought he was about to be stacked when he ran his deuces into the tens.
Simeon Naydenov found himself involved in a multiway all in scenario as a covered stack, yet managed to go runner runner to crack kings and queens.
Second in chips Khalifa always seemed to be on the right side of all in situations, coming out on top on numerous occasions to maintain is stack.
Day 2 is set to commence at 12 p.m. local time on Sunday, April 28th where a winner will be crowned by the end of the day. Players will be returning to blinds of 2,000/5,000 with a 5,000 big blind ante.
As always, PokerNews will be bringing you continued coverage of all the EPT Monte Carlo action from here at the Sporting Monte-Carlo.
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
For the complete seat draw to this and all EPT Paris events, be sure to get the PokerStars LIVE App.
Download it now on Android or iOS.
EPT event seat draws can also be found online here.
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
The remaining 118 players in Day 1a will return tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time.
Stay tuned for end-of-day chip counts and a recap of the day's action.
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Pascal Peraldi opened in early position to 25,000 and made the call when Ilya Smolko moved all in for his last 100,000 in the big blind.
Ilya Smolko: Q♥Qx
Pascal Peraldi: K♣K♦
Smolko was in danger from the start, but the 10♥8♥2♥ flop provided some additional flush outs. The 4x turn and 10x river were bricks, as Perdaldi held to eliminate Smolko on the bubble.
The remaining 118 players are all in the money.
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Hand-for-hand play is underway with 120 players remaining.
The top 118 will bag up for Day 2 in the money.
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Action was picked up with Yevhen Dzhura all in and at risk for around 65,000 versus the covering stack of Javier Gomez Zapatero.
Yevhen Dzhura: J♠J♥ 
Javier Gomez Zapatero: A♦6♥
The K♠10♣2♠ flop was good for Dzhura's jacks, as was the 9♦ turn. However the A♠ sent Dzhura to the rail just shy of the bubble. Ramiro Petrone rubbed Zapatero's jumper seemingly to gain some of his luck.
Level 16
: Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
The 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Monte Carlo is fast approaching, kicking off on April 24. The EPT has been visiting Monte Carlo for years, and this year's edition has the potential to be the most memorable yet, with a large number of participants expected. The exclusive principality on the Mediterranean Sea is sure to attract poker players from far and wide this spring.
However, as always, EPTs are not just about poker. The EPT will provide a full range of activities for players and their guests, ensuring that there is always something to do, whether you are at the poker table or not.
