button in Safari
Seat 5: Nicolas Chouity, 40, Beirut, Lebanon – 1,975,000
Nicolas Chouity will pick up his 16th EPT Main Event cash when he finishes his outstanding run this week. He is the only former champion left in the field, hoping to become the fifth person to do it twice (and the fourth in the live environment). But Chouity, who turned 40 last week, isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“If it comes, it comes,” he says. “I’m doing what I can.”
Chouity’s victory at the Monte Carlo Grand Final in 2010 remains one of the most dominant final table performances ever seen on the EPT. He had a huge stack throughout and steamrolled all opponents on his way to the massive €1.7 million payout.
Sixteen years later, he admits he usually enjoys different events more than the Main. “Typically high rollers, because they’re shorter,” he said. “But once you get deep in this, the adrenaline comes in.”
Chouity’s longevity is remarkable, but he points to a rather obvious motivation for continuing to return to at least two or three EPTs every year. “Winning is still exciting,” he says.
Having played the EPT since 2009, he has now become the first Lebanese player with two final table appearances.
Player bios courtesy of Jan Kores/Florence Mazet//PokerStars
Career statistics
The Hendon Mob Earnings: $5,861,887
EPT Main Event cashes: 15
Best result: Champion, 2010 EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final (€1,700,000)
Tournament progression
Day 1: 106,500 (78/193, 1A)
Day 2: 181,000 (124/205)
Day 3: 1,050,000 (23/67)
Day 4: 1,475,000 (18/28)
Day 5: 2,000,000 (9/13)
Day 6: 1,975,000 (6/6)
Key hands
During the final stages of Day 4, Chouity doubled up with pocket kings against Sebastian Malec's ace-jack, ensuring he made it through to Day 5.
Another late-night all in occured at the tail end of Day 6. With seven players remaining, Chouity jammed king-four into Gerard Carbo's king-eight. The players ended up chopping, and Carbo was eliminated in seventh place mere minutes later.