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

05-10-2025 18:09 UTC+1

Kokhestani Makes Flush and Takes Chip Lead

Matt Warburton

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

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

The flop came 10♥7♣3♥ and Kokhestani checked. Shevliakov made it 1,000,000 to go, which Kokhestani called.

Shevliakov made a pair of fives on the 5♣ turn and Kokhestani picked up a flush draw. Both players checked to the A♣ turn and Kokhestani completed his flush. He led out for 1,500,000 and Shevliakov called.

Kokhestani won the pot and reclaimed the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	20,700,000 3,500,000	3,500,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	15,000,000 3,500,000	3,500,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

Level: 34

Blinds: 150,000/300,000

Ante: 300,000

05-10-2025 18:02 UTC+1

Three in a Row For Shevliakov

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 500,000 on the button with A♥2♦ and Khossein Kokhestani called with K♥10♦.

The flop came 6♠5♠5♣ and Shevliakov bet 300,000. Kokhestani quickly folded.

Kokhestani then limped in on the button and Shevliakov checked back 8♣7♣. The flop came A♣9♣2♠ and Kokhestani bet 300,000.

Shevliakov called with his flush draw, then led out for 550,000 on the A♦ turn. Kokhestani folded 5♥4♥.

Shevliakov raised again on the button to 500,000 the next hand and Kokhestani called.

Shevliakov continued for 350,000 on the 4♣3♦2♦ flop holding Q♠J♣ and Kokhestani folded J♦9♥.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Shevliakov	18,500,000 1,550,000	1,550,000

Khossein Kokhestani	17,200,000 1,550,000	1,550,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 17:52 UTC+1

Kokhestani Misclicks the First Hand But Wins Anyway

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

On the first hand of heads-up play, Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 500,000 on the button and Khossein Kokhestani defended K♣Q♠.

Both players checked the 6♠4♦3♦ flop. Kokhestani then went to bet the K♦ turn but accidentally grabbed the white 500,000 chips and put in 2,000,000. Shevliakov could only flash a smile as he folded 9♥3♥.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	18,750,000 500,000	500,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	16,950,000 500,000	500,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 17:46 UTC+1

Flashback: Derk van Luijk Wins 2024 EPT Monte-Carlo Main Event

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kaelaine Minton

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

There were times during the final table of the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte-Carlo Main Event that it seemed like it was fate for Derk van Luijk to be the one to hoist the gold-plated trophy at the end.

The 43-year-old Dutchman was all in on the penultimate day with ace-jack against aces but caught running jacks to make trips and earn a miracle double up. He was a card away from elimination on the final day but spiked two pair to stay alive. Van Luijk doubled up six different times over the course of the day. He ended up winning the most important all-in of all, the last one, as he defeated Boris Angelov at the end of an epic heads-up match to win the EPT title and the €1,000,000 top prize.

“That’s an amazing feeling. I cannot even realize still that I’ve won. It feels like I’m spacing right now. You don’t realize it yet, but it’s an amazing feeling,” Van Luijk said after conquering the largest field in EPT Monte-Carlo history with 1,208 total entries.

2024 EPT Monte-Carlo Main Event Final Table Results

Place	Name	Country	Prize
1	Derk van Luijk	Netherlands	€1,000,000
2	Boris Angelov	Bulgaria	€620,500
3	Rania Nasreddine	United States	€442,900
4	Jovan Kenjic	Serbia	€340,500
5	Jonathan Pastore	France	€261,700
6	Niclas Thumm	Germany	€201,000
7	Jonathan Guedes	Brazil	€154,900
8	Jozef Cibicek	Slovakia	€119,000

Find the Full Recap Here

05-10-2025 17:39 UTC+1

Short Break

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Khossein Kokhestani and Aleksandr Shevliakov are taking a short break before the start of heads-up play.

05-10-2025 17:38 UTC+1

Boris Angelov Eliminated in 3rd Place (€439,200)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Matt Warburton

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Khossein Kokhestani raised to 625,000 from the small blind with 10♣6♠ and Boris Angelov called with A♣8♥ in the big blind.

The flop came 2♦7♣9♣ and Kokhestani continued with a bet of 700,000, which Angelov called.

On the 10♠ turn, Kokhestani made a pair of tens and Angelov picked up a straight draw. Kokhestani shoved on his opponent with the covering stack.

Angelov scratched his head and creased his forehead, throwing a time bank card into the middle and leaning on his hands, then throwing in his last time bank card. He then called all in for 4,725,000.

Angelov needed to find help on the river in the form of an ace, jack or six. The river came the 3♠ and Kokhestani held to win the pot.

The 2024 Main Event runner-up Angelov couldn't quite top last year's result and was eliminated in third place for €439,200.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khossein Kokhestani	18,250,000 6,570,000	6,570,000
Aleksandr Shevliakov	17,450,000 2,400,000	2,400,000

Boris Angelov	Busted

Tags: Boris Angelov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 17:16 UTC+1

Kokhestani Makes Flush

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Matt Warburton

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Khossein Kokhestani raised to 650,000 from the button with Q♥6♥ and Aleksandr Shevliakov called with 9♣7♣ in the big blind.

On the 10♣8♥3♥ flop, Shevliakov checked and Kokhestani checked behind to the 5♥ turn. Shevliakov led with his straight draw and Kokhestani called with his flush.

The river came the Q♦ and Shevliakov bet 900,000. Kokhestani raised to 3,000,000 and Shevliakov folded to give him the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Shevliakov	15,050,000 2,300,000	2,300,000

Khossein Kokhestani	11,680,000 3,980,000	3,980,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani

05-10-2025 17:09 UTC+1

Angelov Raises Shevliakov on the River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 500,000 on the button and Boris Angelov defended K♥8♦.

Both players checked to the river on a board of Q♠8♣5♠7♦K♠. Angelov also checked the river and Shevliakov bet 575,000.

Angelov then raised to 2,650,000 with two pair and Shevliakov took a moment before folding K♦6♣.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Shevliakov	17,350,000 1,830,000	1,830,000

Boris Angelov	9,100,000 725,000	725,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Boris Angelov

05-10-2025 16:59 UTC+1

Shevliakov Pulls Ahead on the Turn

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Aleksandr Shevliakov raised to 750,000 in the small blind with K♣Q♠ and Khossein Kokhestani called in the big blind with A♦7♥.

Both players checked the J♠7♣2♣ flop. Shevliakov then bet 500,000 on the Q♦ turn with top pair and Kokhestani called with a pair of sevens.

Shevliakov bet another 1,400,000 on the 8♣ river, but this time Kokhestanin gave up his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Shevliakov	19,180,000 1,005,000	1,005,000

Khossein Kokhestani	7,700,000 1,500,000	1,500,000

Tags: Aleksandr Shevliakov Khossein Kokhestani