€5,300 Main Event Day 1b | 2025 PokerStars EPT Prague

12-09-2025 18:36 UTC+2

Petcu and Ilkka Pick Up

Laura Fryer

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Ivan Zhechev opened to 1,000 on the button and saw a single call from Elvis Petcu in the big blind.

The 5♠2♠Q♣ flop was checked by Petcu and Zhechev bet 700. Petcu called and players checked through the 3♣ turn and Q♥ river to get to showdown.

Petcu showed 9♠3♦ for two pair, which was enough to make Zhechev muck.

In the next hand on the same table, Kasperi Ilkka raised to 1,100 on the button and saw both Elvis Petcu and Damian Rapanowicz call from the small and big blinds respectively.

The 7♦4♣Q♠ flop was checked to Ilkka, who continued for 1,200. Both the blinds gave up their hands and Ilkka picked up an easy pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damian Rapanowicz	78,800 78,800	78,800
Elvis Petcu	67,000 67,000	67,000
Kasperi Ilkka	39,100 39,100	39,100
Ivan Zhechev	17,000 17,000	17,000

Tags: Damian Rapanowicz Elvis Pectu Ivan Zhechev Kasperi Ilkka

12-09-2025 18:31 UTC+2

Sporri Soars With Set

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Frank Visser

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

The pot amounted to 16,500 when Christoph Sporri got his stack of 29,000 in from the hijack on the 7♣9♠10♥ flop against Andreas Tomazou in middle position.

Christoph Sporri: 7♥7♦ All in
Andreas Tomazou: K♦10♦

Tomazou's top pair was drawing dead after the A♦ turn, and Sporri raked in a big double up when the meaningless 3♣ river completed the board.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christoph Sporri	74,400 74,400	74,400
Andreas Tomazou	12,500 32,500	32,500

Tags: Andreas Tomazou Christoph Sporri

12-09-2025 18:30 UTC+2

Panka Cracks Kings to Double

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Martin Hofmann opened to 1,200 from early position, Ronald Steinmetz three-bet to 3,000 from middle position, and Dominik Panka four-bet shoved for 13,900 from the hijack. Hofmann got out of the way, before Steinmetz called with a covering stack to put him at risk.

Dominik Panka: A♦Q♥ All in
Ronald Steinmetz: K♣K♠

Panka took the lead with top pair on the 10♣6♥A♥ flop, leaving Steinmetz drawing to two outs. Steinmetz couldn't make a set on the 5♠ turn or 9♦ river, and Panka doubled up at his expense.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dominik Panka	30,300 17,400	17,400

Martin Hofmann	20,500 20,500	20,500
Ronald Steinmetz	15,600 15,600	15,600

Tags: Dominik Panka Martin Hoffman Ronald Steinmetz

12-09-2025 18:22 UTC+2

Quevedo Triples Up

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Frank Visser

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Pietro Nicastro opened to 1,000 in middle position. Stanislav Petriv tossed in a call from the cutoff before Zakaria El Khattal squeezed in a three-bet to 4,500 on the button.

Big blind Federico Quevedo then moved all in for 6,400, and Nicastro quickly rejammed for 23,300. El Khattal asked for a count, but he ultimately opted to get out of the way, following Petriv in doing so.

Federico Quevedo: J♠J♣ All in
Pietro Nicastro: A♠K♦

"I'm happy with that," Quevedo stated when he saw Nicastro's hand. Quevedo ended the hand even happier as the 8♣10♠5♣4♥10♣ runout saw his jacks hold to triple up to a healthy stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zakaria El Khattal	65,000
Federico Quevedo	19,000
Pietro Nicastro	16,900
Stanislav Petriv	10,000

Tags: Federico Quevedo Pietro Nicastro Stanislav Petriv Zakaria El Khattal

12-09-2025 18:20 UTC+2

Mesika Doubles Up, Still Exits Early

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Laura Fryer

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Matan Mesika was all-in for his remaining 3,900 chips in the hijack and saw Oscar Mas Pons call from the big blind.

Matan Mesika: K♠Q♣ All in
Oscar Mas Pons: 10♥8♥

Mesika was looking to hold and flopped top pair on the 9♣3♥K♥ board, but Mas Pons also picked up a heart flush draw.

The 6♠ turn was safe for Mesika, and he held on the 4♣ river to secure a double up, taking him up to 9,500.

Unfortunately, his time ran out just a few hands later as he was seen leaving the tournament area.

Player	Chips	Progress
Oscar Mas Pons	27,500 27,500	27,500
Matan Mesika	Busted

Tags: Matan Mesika Oscar Mas Pons

12-09-2025 18:17 UTC+2

Gunchev Felts Darchia

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Giorgi Darchia shoved for just over 5,000 from middle position, and Nikola Gunchev called from the hijack with a covering stack to put him at risk.

Giorgi Darchia: A♦K♣ All in
Nikola Gunchev: 9♦9♥

Darchia couldn't connect with his overcards as the board ran out 2♠6♠4♥10♥9♣, resulting in his elimination while Gunchev claimed his remaining chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nikola Gunchev	28,500 28,500	28,500
Giorgi Darchia	Busted

Tags: Giorgi Darchia Nikola Gunchev

12-09-2025 18:13 UTC+2

Massesson Makes Gulseven Fold

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Laura Fryer

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Erdal Gulseven opened to 1,200 and Oskar Massesson three-bet to 6,000 from the small blind. Gulseven called, and the players went heads-up to the flop.

The 3♠8♠9♠ flop was bet by Massesson for 2,500 and Gulseven raised to 8,500. Massesson moved all in for 31,900 and Gulseven counted it out from his stack, but pulled the chips back.

After asking for a confirmation count from the dealer, Gulseven folded his hand but showed pocket tens. Massesson turned over his A♥K♠ as he pulled in the pot, showing Gulseven that he had folded the best hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Oskar Massesson	52,400 52,400	52,400
Erdal Gulseven	26,500 26,500	26,500

Tags: Erdal Gulseven Oskar Massesson

12-09-2025 18:13 UTC+2

Life Outside Poker: Mounir Tajiou Brings No Filter to Life w/ Scotty Nguyen, Michael Mizrachi & Juha Helppi

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Sandra Barbour

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 35th episode, Connor talks with No Filter Poker Series founder Mounir Tajiou about growing up in Sweden, working as a high court judge, playing professional soccer, making a deep run in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, and the new No Filter Poker Series, which values fun at the table over poker strategy.

We also hear from 1998 Main Event champion Scotty Nguyen, reigning WSOP champ Michael Mizrachi and Finnish poker legend Juha Helppi about their involvement with the No Filter Poker tour.

Learn More About Life Outside Poker!

12-09-2025 18:09 UTC+2

Empty Seats and New Faces

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Frank Visser

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Nikolay Ponomarev	30,000 30,000	30,000
Martin Stausholm	30,000 30,000	30,000
Paul Hofer	30,000 30,000	30,000
Walter Treccarichi	30,000 30,000	30,000
Pascal Vos	30,000 30,000	30,000
Timo Kamphues	30,000 30,000	30,000
Eros Calderone	30,000 30,000	30,000
Leo Worthington-Leese	30,000 30,000	30,000
Jamie Dwan	30,000 30,000	30,000
Paolo Boi	30,000 30,000	30,000
Claas Segebrecht	30,000 30,000	30,000
Mihai Niste	Busted
Michael Rocco	Busted
Kees van Brugge	Busted
Lars Kamphues	Busted
Itay Kimhi	Busted
Marc Sen	Busted
Gerard Rubiralta	Busted
Nikolai Mamut	Busted
Aliaksei Boika	Busted

Elie Nakache	Busted
Jasper Meijer van Putten	Busted

Bart Lybaert	Busted
Michel Karim	Busted

12-09-2025 18:08 UTC+2

Miegel Rivers Two Pair to Take the Pot

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Sava Krink

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

With around 12,500 in the pot and the board showing A♠Q♠8♥2♣, Jakob Miegel checked to Georgi Sandev, who bet 7,000. Miegel took a moment to think before calling.

The J♠ completed the board on the river, and both players checked through. Miegel turned over A♣J♦ for two pair, which was enough to scoop the pot as Sandev’s hand went into the muck.

“Did I need it?” Miegel asked, with Sandev giving a clear nod, indicating Miegel had been behind until that final card.