€5,300 Main Event Day 1a | 2025 PokerStars EPT Monte-Carlo

05-04-2025 13:51 UTC+1

Lehr Whiffs as Kolonias Scores Big Knockout

David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Keith Lehr and Alexandros Kolonias built a pot of around 18,000 as they went heads-up to a flop of K♦J♦9♥. Kolonias then bet 5,000 from the big blind, Lehr moved all in for 19,500 on the button, and Kolonias tanked for a minute before calling.

Keith Lehr: A♦10♦ All in
Alexandros Kolonias: Q♦Q♠

Kolonias was ahead with his queens, while Lehr was looking to complete straight and flush draws. The board ran out 5♥3♠ and Lehr missed both of his draws as he hit the rail.

"Good call," Lehr said to Kolonias who raked in the massive pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexandros Kolonias	65,000 27,000	27,000
Keith Lehr	Busted

Tags: Alexandros Kolonias Keith Lehr

05-04-2025 14:00 UTC+1

Lipp Catches Grieco Making a Move

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

With nearly 10,000 in the pot on a flop of 4♥A♣8♣, Nicola Grieco bet 8,100 from the small blind and Matthias Lipp called in the hijack.

The turn was the 10♠ and Grieco moved all in for 15,000. Lipp snap-called and turned over 8♥8♦ for a set, while Grieco could only show K♥J♦ for a straight draw.

Grieco didn't improve on the 3♥ river and Lipp scored the knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matthias Lipp	60,000 30,500	30,500
Nicola Grieco	Busted

Tags: Matthias Lipp Nicola Grieco

05-04-2025 14:05 UTC+1

Metaal Pays Off the Champ

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Heads-up on a board of 6♠2♦Q♣2♣, Derk van Luijk led out for 2,000 from the big blind and Govert Metaal called in the cutoff.

The river was the 7♦ and Van Luijk bet another 4,000. Metaal again called and Van Luijk showed A♣Q♠ as the defending champion took down the pot with two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Derk van Luijk	35,000 5,000	5,000

Govert Metaal	8,000 11,000	11,000

Tags: Derk van Luijk Govert Metaal

05-04-2025 14:10 UTC+1

Boatman Promises to Return

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

John Howlett raised to 800 in early position and received two callers before Barny Boatman stuck in his last 5,000 from the big blind. Only Howlett called.

Barny Boatman: 7♦5♦ All in
John Howlett: A♥Q♠

"That's no good," Boatman said as the cards were revealed. The flop came J♣6♠3♣ to give Boatman some hope with a straight draw.

"Any fours around?" he asked, but Boatman didn't improve on the K♦ turn or 8♦ river and was sent to the rail.

"Are you going to reenter today?" tablemate Maria Konnikova asked Boatman, who promised he would be back for another bullet.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maria Konnikova	65,000 3,000	3,000

Dimitar Danchev	45,000 6,400	6,400

John Howlett	40,000 10,500	10,500
Boris Angelov	28,000 4,800	4,800

Jozef Cibicek	27,000 3,000	3,000
Barny Boatman	Busted

Tags: Barny Boatman John Howlett

05-04-2025 14:25 UTC+1

Kraous Hero-Calls Wiciak For a Bustout

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Selim Amghar raised to 700 under the gun and Anton Kraous called in middle position. Simon Wiciak then three-bet to 2,200 in the hijack and only Kraous called, donning his hood as he and Wiciak went to the flop.

The flop came 9♥4♠4♣ and Wiciak bet 2,500. Kraous called to the 9♣ turn, where Wiciak bet another 5,600. Kraous again called.

The river was the 2♥ and Wiciak moved all in for 15,500. Kraous ripped off his hood and went into the tank for a few minutes until eventually calling.

Wiciak could only show K♥10♥ for king-high, while Kraous turned over A♥8♥ for ace-high to win the pot and send Wiciak to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anton Kraous	60,000
Selim Amghar	25,000 1,000	1,000
Simon Wiciak	Busted

Tags: Anton Kraous Selim Amghar Simon Wiciak

05-04-2025 14:26 UTC+1

Jaraiz Makes Set, Golinski Loses Chips, Boatman Tries to Take Seat

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Matt Warburton

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Three players were in the pot on a flop of 3♠10♣4♥ and Mariusz Golinski checked. Eric Afriat bet 2,000, which Jose Jaraiz and Golinski both called.

The turn was the 8♦ and Golinski checked. Afriat bet 4,500, which both Jaraiz and Golinski called again.

The river came the J♣ and Afriat checked. Jaraiz sized up a bet of 16,000 and Golinski went into the tank, placing his head on his hands and leaning on the table. He eventually placed his chips in the middle in dramatic fashion. Afriat folded and players showed their cards.

Golinski had 10♠8♥ for two pair, but Jaraiz flipped over 3♥3♣ for a set of threes to win the pot. Golinski's stack was reduced to around half what it was towards the start of the level.

On the table behind, mild drama was unfolding as Barny Boatman tried to take his seat for his second bullet, only to find a player already seated who also had the same seat number on his ticket. The floor was called and the situation cleared up. Boatman took his seat with a fresh 30,000 stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jose Jaraiz	68,000 31,500	31,500
Mariusz Golinski	45,000 50,000	50,000
Barny Boatman	30,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Barny Boatman Eric Afriat Jose Jaraiz Mariusz Golinski

05-04-2025 14:36 UTC+1

Afriat Reads Zagar Correctly

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

With around 8,000 in the pot on a flop of K♣10♠6♥, Eric Afriat bet 3,500 from the hijack and Franck Makaci called on the button, as did big blind Vid Zagar.

All three players checked the A♦ turn. Zagar then led out for 9,000 on the 3♦ river.

Afriat spent a minute in the tank before folding, while Makaci quickly mucked. "Show one time," Afriat pleaded with Zagar, who obliged by showing Q♦J♦ for a straight.

"I had two pair. See how I folded and checked the turn? You're the only one who can have a straight there," Afriat added after the hand.

Matthew Wantman recently took his seat at this table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vid Zagar	37,000 2,000	2,000
Matthew Wantman	30,000 30,000	30,000
Franck Makaci	25,000 25,000	25,000
Eric Afriat	17,000 10,500	10,500

Tags: Eric Afriat Franck Makaci Vid Zagar

05-04-2025 15:17 UTC+1

Bogdanov Spikes a Straight Flush in Three-Way All In

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Alessandro Traversi bet 6,000 from early position on a flop of J♠10♠7♠ and Maksym Filipovskyi raised to 12,000 in the hijack. Yulian Bogdanov then moved all in for 39,100 in the cutoff, Traversi tossed in his last few chips, while Filipovskyi also called having both players covered and at risk.

Alessandro Traversi: A♣K♥ All in
Yulian Bogdanov: Q♠9♠ All in
Maksym Filipovskyi: J♣J♦

Filipovskyi turned over a set of jacks, but Bogdanov had flopped a flush to take the lead. The turn, though, was the 10♦ as Filipovskyi improved to a full house and was poised for a double knockout until the K♠ fell on the river to give Bogdanov a straight flush.

Traversi was sent to the rail, while Bogdanov earned the massive double up off Filipovskyi.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yulian Bogdanov	95,000 50,000	50,000
Maksym Filipovskyi	15,000 50,000	50,000
Alessandro Traversi	Busted

Tags: Alessandro Traversi Maksym Filipovskyi Yulian Bogdanov

05-04-2025 15:18 UTC+1

Custodio Cracks Aces on River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Matt Warburton

Level 4 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Daniel De Sousa Custodio raised to 1,000 from the button, the small blind called, then Kestutis Jungevicius three-bet to 3,600 from the big blind. Custodio clicked it back, the small blind folded and Jungevicius five-bet to 11,800, leaving himself less than 2,000 behind. Custodio called.

The flop came 6♠2♥Q♥ and Jungevicius put his last few chips in the middle. Custodio was never folding. Players turned their cards for the all in.

Kestutis Jungevicius: A♠A♦ All in
Daniel De Sousa Custodio: 10♠10♥

The turn came a blank, the 3♣. The river changed it all, though, the 10♣ giving Custodio a set of tens to crack Jungevicius' aces. Custodio won the pot and Jungevicius was sent to the rail.

Elsewhere, Dario Talio got his chips in the middle on the turn against Attila Ivacson. Talio had a pair of tens and Ivacson won the pot with pocket kings to send Talio to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Attila Ivacson	55,000 36,400	36,400
Daniel De Sousa Custodio	48,000 48,000	48,000
Dario Talio	Busted
Kestutis Jungevicius	Busted

Tags: Attila Ivacson Dario Talio Kestutis Jungevicius

05-04-2025 15:46 UTC+1

How to Approach Day 1 of the EPT Main Event

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

David Docherty, Masato Yokosawa, Barny Boatman, & Jerome Sgorrano

Thinking About Day 1 Strategy? We asked top players including Barny Boatman, Masato Yokosawa, and David Docherty how they approach the start of the EPT Main Event.

From staying patient with deep stacks to observing table dynamics and avoiding early slip-ups, their advice could make all the difference.