€5,300 EPT Main Event
Day 1a Started
2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo
€5,300 EPT Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 16 / 1,208
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It took one huge hero call for the EPT record books to be changed forever.
A year ago, Mike Watson picked off a big bluff from Leonard Maue to win the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo title and €749,425 top prize. It was the Canadian high roller’s second EPT title after he won the PCA in 2016, joining Victoria Coren Mitchell and Mikalai Pobal on the short list of multiple-time champions. He beat out a field of 1,098 entries and a final table that also included Leo Worthington-Leese, Arnaud Enselme, and Jason Wheeler.
2023 EPT Monte Carlo Final Table results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Watson | Canada | €749,425 |
| 2 | Leonard Maue | Germany | €697,125 |
| 3 | Leo Worthington-Leese | United Kingdom | €397,450 |
| 4 | Joachim Haraldstad | Norway | €305,750 |
| 5 | Samy Boujmala | France | €235,150 |
| 6 | Arnaud Enselme | France | €180,900 |
| 7 | Jason Wheeler | United States | €139,150 |
| 8 | Arunas Sapitavicius | Lithuania | €107,050 |
It was just the latest in a series of magical moments that have taken place here at Sporting Monte-Carlo, a tradition that continues today when Day 1a of the €5,300 Main Event begins at noon local time.
Ever since Dutch poker legend Rob Hollink won the first edition of this event in 2005, Monte Carlo has seen champions such as Triple Crown winners Gavin Griffin and Mohsin Charania, as well as Adrian Mateos, Manig Loeser, and Watson. It was here that Steve O’Dwyer finished atop what was arguably the most talent-packed final table in EPT history in 2013. A year later, Antonio Buonanno and Jack Salter played into the early hours of the morning in a legendary heads-up duel that will go down in EPT lore until Buonanno emerged victorious.
One player will add their name to this legacy this week, and that journey begins today. Players begin the tournament with a 30,000 starting stack. The two Day 1 flights consist of 10 60-minute levels, with a 20-minute break every two levels and a 75-minute dinner break at the end of Level 6, which should come around 6:40 p.m. Two entries maximum are allowed across both starting flights, with late registration open until the start of Day 2 on April 30.
PokerNews will be following the action throughout the tournament, so stay tuned for all the live updates.
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/100
Ante: 100
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Play is now underway with 85 players currently registered
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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30,000
30,000
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30,000 |
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Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
With around 2,000 in the pot on a board of J♠2♠6♥8♠, Imanol Cabello bet 1,200 from the cutoff and Derk van Luijk called on the button.
The river was the K♣ and Cabello checked. Van Luijk then bet 1,800 and Cabello called.
Van Luijk turned over K♠J♦ for a rivered two pair and Cabello mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
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33,000 | |
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27,000 | |
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Michael Gathy open raised to 300 from middle position, Fouad Rabahie called, then Francisco Martin-Romo three-bet from the button for 1,200. Gathy responded with a four-bet to 3,600 and Rabahie folded. Martin-Romo asked "how much?" before eventually mucking his hand to give Gathy an early pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
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33,000
33,000
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33,000 |
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29,000 | |
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Jabulane Sekano and Fouad Rabahie built a pot of around 5,000 as they went heads-up to the turn on a board of J♣10♥J♦K♣.
Both players checked and the river came the A♦. Rabahie then bet 3,100 from under the gun. Sekano called from the small blind and Rabahie turned over 8♥8♦.
Sekano showed A♠K♦ for two pair as he took the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
37,000 | |
|
23,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
EPT founder John Duthie is among the latest additions to the field, as is 2014 champion Antonio Buonanno.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
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30,000 | |
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30,000 | |
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30,000 | |
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30,000 | |
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30,000 | |
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30,000 | |
Level 1
: Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Ruslans Nagornijs raised to 300 on the button and Ehsan Amiri called in the big blind.
The flop came J♥2♥9♦ and Nagornijs continued for 400. Amiri called.
The turn was the 5♦ and Nagornijs bet another 1,000. Amiri then raised to 2,500 and Nagornijs called as they saw the Q♦ river.
Amiri bet 3,200 and Nagornijs called once again. Amiri showed J♦8♣ for a pair of jacks, but Nagornijs had 2♣2♠ for a set of deuces to win the pot.
At the same table, EPT Barcelona champion Simon Wiciak has already lost nearly a third of his starting stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
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42,000 | |
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22,000
22,000
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22,000 |
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22,000
8,000
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8,000 |
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