€5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1a | 2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo

04-28-2024 15:15 UTC+2

Kitai Flips Ketzer to the Rail

David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Hossein Ensan raised to 700 in the hijack before Felipe Ketzer three-bet to 1,700 on the button. Davidi Kitai four-bet to 4,500 in the small blind and Ensan folded, but Ketzer moved all in for around 12,000 and Kitai snap-called.

Felipe Ketzer: A♠K♦ All in
Davidi Kitai: Q♥Q♣

The two players were racing for Ketzer's tournament life, and the Brazilian high roller couldn't find any help on the 3♦9♥5♥J♠6♣ board as he headed for the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Davidi Kitai	45,000

Hossein Ensan	25,000 1,000	1,000

Felipe Ketzer	Busted

Tags: Davidi Kitai Felipe Ketzer Hossein Ensan

04-28-2024 15:14 UTC+2

Wheeler Left Short as Scafini Makes Nut Flush

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Matt Warburton

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Lucas Scafini raised from early position and Jason Wheeler put in the three-bet to 2,200 from middle position, which Scafini called.

The flop ran out 4♥9♥K♥. Scafini checked and Wheeler continued for 1,800. Scafini called the bet. The turn was the J♥ and Scafini checked again. With four hearts now on the board, Wheeler bet again for 2,100, only slightly more than his flop bet.

The river was the 7♣ and Scafini checked. Wheeler now had just 8,000 left behind and after thinking it through also opted to check back his hand. Scafini flipped over A♥6♥ for the nut flush, his check on the river an invitation for Wheeler to barrel again.

Wheeler avoided the final bluff, but was left short stacks as Scafini pulled in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lucas Scafini	45,000 45,000	45,000
Jason Wheeler	8,000 4,000	4,000

Tags: Jason Wheeler Lucas Scafini

04-28-2024 15:07 UTC+2

Alilovic Picks Off Roca With Kings

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Christian Alilovic raised to 1,000 on the button before Manuel Roca three-bet to 3,100 in the big blind. Alilovic then moved all in and Roca called for his last 18,000.

Manuel Roca: J♦J♣ All in
Christian Alilovic: K♥K♣

The 8♥Q♥3♥ flop gave Alilovic a flush draw and left Roca drawing to one out heading to the turn. The rest of the board came 6♣6♥ and Alilovic made his flush to send Roca to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christian Alilovic	80,000 80,000	80,000
Manuel Roca	Busted

Tags: Christian Alilovic Manuel Roca

04-28-2024 15:05 UTC+2

Moreno Makes Flush, Appleton Rivers Full House

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Matt Warburton

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Action folded around to Francisco Perez Moreno, who open raised from the button. Luke Appleton three-bet from the big blind and Moreno called.

The flop came K♥7♥4♥. Appleton made a continuation bet for 3,400 and Moreno called the bet.

The turn was the K♠. Appleton slowed down with a check, but Moreno picked it up with a bet of 9,000, putting pressure on his opponent, who had just 15,200 left behind. There was an anguished look on Appleton's face as he deliberated his next move before throwing in the rest of his stack. Moreno quickly called the extra few chips.

Appleton turned over A♠K♦ for trip kings, but Moreno flipped J♥9♥ for a flopped flush.

In a dramatic twist, the river fell the 4♣ to give Appleton a full house. He almost apologetically scooped the chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Luke Appleton	43,000 43,000	43,000
Francisco Perez Moreno	13,000 13,000	13,000

Tags: Francisco Perez Moreno Luke Appleton

04-28-2024 14:59 UTC+2

Navarro Drags Along Schusteritsch With a Set

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Heads-up on a flop of A♥9♣2♥, Mario Navarro bet 2,200 from under the gun and Josef Schusteritsch raised to 4,600 in the cutoff.

Navarro called and they saw the turn come 8♥. Schusteritsch then bet 4,200 and Navarro again called.

Navarro checked over to Schusteritsch on the Q♥ river, and this time Schusteritsch checked back as Navarro showed 9♦9♥ for a set of nines to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mario Navarro	40,000
Josef Schusteritsch	10,000

Tags: Josef Schusteritsch Mario Navarro

04-28-2024 14:56 UTC+2

Valeo Picks Off River Bluff

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Matt Warburton

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Following an early position raise from Jason Rocha, Matthew Valeo flat called, then Samir Rahal executed a three-bet to 2,700 from the small blind. Both Rocha and Valeo called the raise and action went to the flop.

The cards were dealt Q♣2♦8♥ and all three players opted to check it back. The turn was the 10♣ and Rahal placed out a bet of 3,100. Valeo was the only player to call the bet.

The river came the 8♦ and Rahal led out again. Valeo weighed up his options before finally making the call. It was a hero call with a small pair, 4♣4♥. Rahal turned over A♦K♣ for a bluff and Valeo won the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matthew Valeo	53,000

Samir Rahal	39,500 2,500	2,500

Tags: Matthew Valeo Samir Rahal Jason Rocha

04-28-2024 14:52 UTC+2

PokerStars Ambassador Konnikova Paid for the Straight

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Sava Krink

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

On the J♣Q♠10♣ flop, with approximately 4,800 already in the pot, PokerStars Ambassador Maria Konnikova executed a check-raise from middle position, raising to 3,900 after Christophe Morbee's initial bet of 1,300 from the button. Morbee opted to call.

The turn revealed the A♣, prompting Konnikova to swiftly put 10,000 into the pot, forcing Morbee all-in with just 10,500 remaining. Clearly displeased with the situation, Morbee deliberated before ultimately committing his chips. Konnikova, naturally, made the call.

Christophe Morbee: 10♥10♦ All in
Maria Konnikova: K♥9♥

With Konnikova holding a flopped straight, Morbee needed help from another ten or a card to complete a pair for a full-house. However, the 2♠ on the river failed to provide the assistance he needed, and Morbee was eliminated from the tournament.

"You already got me on the flop," Morbee remarked as he departed from the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maria Konnikova	49,000 19,000	19,000

Christophe Morbee	Busted

Tags: Christophe Morbee Maria Konnikova

04-28-2024 14:49 UTC+2

Mamou Cracks Middleton's Nut Flush

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Heads-up on a board of 2♥3♦5♥2♦, Gary Mamou bet 3,000 from the big blind and Tom Middleton called on the button.

Mamou checked the 7♥ river and Middleton bet 11,500. Mamou then moved all in for 30,200.

Middleton spent several minutes pondering the decision before he called. He showed A♥10♥ for the nut flush, but Mamou had 5♣2♠ for a full house to win the pot and double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gary Mamou	70,000
Tom Middleton	13,000 27,000	27,000

Tags: Gary Mamou Tom Middleton

04-28-2024 14:48 UTC+2

Catch Up on EPT Winners So Far in Monte Carlo 🏆

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Josh Noy

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

https://twitter.com/PokerStarsBlog/status/1784563843550605759

04-28-2024 14:36 UTC+2

Lakein Fills Up to Double His Short Stack

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Ilya Nikiforov three-bet to 3,000 on the button, Dovid Lakein moved all in for 4,100 in the cutoff, and Nikiforov called.

Dovid Lakein: K♠Q♠ All in
Ilya Nikiforov: A♦10♠

The flop came 7♦Q♦Q♣ and Lakein hit trips to take the lead. The 7♠ turn improved him to a full house, and he secured the double up once the 9♣ completed the board on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ilya Nikiforov	38,000
Dovid Lakein	9,000

Tags: Dovid Lakein Ilya Nikiforov