€5,300 Main Event | 2025 PokerStars EPT Monte-Carlo

05-10-2025 20:09 UTC+1

Shevliakov Picks Off Kokhestani

David Salituro

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Khossein Kokhestani limped in from the button and Aleksandr Shevliakov checked.

Both players checked the K♣K♠10♥ flop. Kokhestani then bet 300,000 on the J♣ turn and Shevliakov called.

The river was the 7♦ and Kokhestani bet 700,000. Shevliakov took a moment before calling once again and Kokhestani showed 4♥3♦, playing the board. Shevliakov turned over Q♦4♦ and won the pot with his queen-kicker.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Shevliakov	21,600,000 1,300,000	1,300,000

Khossein Kokhestani	14,100,000 1,300,000	1,300,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 20:03 UTC+1

Shevliakov Gets Paid by Kokhestani, Retakes Lead

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David Salituro

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

In a limped pot, Khossein Kokhestani bet 300,000 from the button on a flop of A♦10♦5♠ and Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 1,000,000 with 8♦6♣. Kokhestani folded J♣3♦.

Shevliakov then limped and Kokhestani checked back. The flop came K♥7♥6♣ and Shevliakov bet 300,000. Kokhestani was the one to put in a raise to 1,000,000 this time, and Shevliakov called.

The Q♣ turn was checked through and Kokhestani also checked the 10♣ river. Shevliakov then bet 1,500,000 and Kokhestani snap-called.

Shevliakov showed 10♥6♠ for two pair and Kokhestani mucked J♠7♣.

With that pot, Shevliakov has once again retaken the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Shevliakov	20,300,000 3,700,000	3,700,000

Khossein Kokhestani	15,400,000 3,700,000	3,700,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 19:54 UTC+1

Back From Dinner

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David Salituro

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Aleksandr Shevliakov and Khossein Kokhestani have returned from dinner break and heads-up play is back underway.

Blinds are still 150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 big blind ante. They have eight more hands at this level before the next blind increase.

05-10-2025 19:10 UTC+1

Poker Cheat DQ’ed, Dwan Update & Hawk Tuah Returns | PokerNews Podcast #890

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Kaelaine Minton

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

In the 890th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about admitted poker cheat Ali Imsirovic being DQ'ed mid-tournament from an event in Florida. Was it the right thing to do?

It was a highly debated development, and the crew dove headfirst into the drama by discussing a poker black list, what bestbet Jacksonville could've done differently, and if poker pariahs could even be welcomed back to the game.

They then give an update on Tom Dwan, whose recent social media posts really concerned the poker community, and then Connor Richards headed to PokerGO Studio to chat with the controversial Haliey “Hawk Tuah Girl” Welch and others at the Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) Game Night VI.

From there, it's highlights from the Hustler Casino Live (HCL) Million Dollar Game III, such as old-school player Erick Lindgren satelliting his way in, Texas Mike's wild ride, and an interview with Steve! Oh, and we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about that epic hand between Alan Keating and Peter.

Mike then talks about making a final table at the Venetian and playing with Batman at a recent Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) event, Brad Gafford and John Juanda both win tournaments, and poker media veteran Paul Oresteen talks about his new Substack, which you can subscribe to here.

Finally, PokerStars North America has introduced a dozen new "Throwables" and the PokerNews Podcast crew not only shares their favorites, but they also offer fans of the show an opportunity to win some just by either listening to or watching the podcast.

Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!

05-10-2025 18:57 UTC+1

Dinner Break

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David Salituro

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

The players are going on a 60-minute dinner break. Action should resume around 8:55 p.m. local time.

Level 33-34 Highlights

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	19,100,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	16,600,000

05-10-2025 18:54 UTC+1

Kokhestani Wins Small Pot Before Dinner Break

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Matt Warburton

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 600,000 from the button with 10♥5♠ and Khossein Kokhestani called with 9♠5♥ in the big blind.

The flop came 9♥J♥6♥ and Kokhestani checked. Shevliakov bet 400,000 and Kokhestani used a time bank before calling. On the A♣ turn, Kokhestani checked again and Shevliakov checked behind.

The river was the 7♠ and both players checked to showdown. Kokhestani won the hand with a pair of nines in the last hand before the dinner break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	19,100,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	16,600,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 18:42 UTC+1

Shevliakov Puts in Four-Bet

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Matt Warburton

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 600,000 from the button with K♣8♥ and Khossein Kokhestani three-bet to 1,800,000 from the big blind with 9♦2♣.

Shevliakov wasn't having any of it and four-bet to 3,800,000 and Kokhestani let his hand go to give Shevliakov the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	18,450,000 2,700,000	2,700,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	17,250,000 2,700,000	2,700,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 18:33 UTC+1

Kokhestani Gives It Up on the River

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David Salituro

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 600,000 on the button and Khossein Kokhestani called with Q♦5♠.

Shevliakov continued for 400,000 on the K♦Q♥6♦ flop and Kokhestani called. Both players then checked the 4♠ turn.

Kokhestani led out for 500,000 on the 10♣ river and Shevliakov folded 7♥7♣.

Kokhestani then limped in with J♦6♥ and Shevliakov checked back Q♣2♥.

The 10♣9♦6♠ flop was checked through and Shevliakov bet 300,000 on the 8♣ turn. Kokhestani called and the 9♣ fell on the river.

Shevliakov then bet 1,000,000 and Kokhestani gave up his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	21,150,000 1,600,000	1,600,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	14,550,000 1,600,000	1,600,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 18:24 UTC+1

Shevliakov Hits the River

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David Salituro

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Khossein Kokhestani limped in from the button, Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 900,000, and Kokhestani called.

The flop came 9♦9♠8♠ and Shevliakov bet 550,000. Kokhestani called to the 3♠ turn as Shevliakov checked. Kokhestani then bet 500,000 and Shevliakov called.

Shevliakov again checked the J♦ river and Kokhestani this time checked back. Shevliakov showed Q♦J♠ for rivered two pair and Kokhestani mucked K♠7♣.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	19,550,000 1,350,000	1,350,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	16,150,000 1,350,000	1,350,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 18:17 UTC+1

Kokhestani Raises River With Trips

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Matt Warburton

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Khossein Kokhestani raised to 650,000 from the button with 8♣5♣ and Aleksandr Shevliakov called with A♥8♥ on the button.

Shevliakov checked on the 3♣J♦5♦ flop and Kokhestani bet 400,000, which Shevliakov called.

The turn was the 7♠ and both players checked to the 5♠ river. Shevliakov opted to lead out for 350,000 and Kokhestani raised it up to 3,000,000. Shevliakov folded and Kokhestani claimed the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	20,900,000 200,000	200,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	14,800,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani