€5,300 Main Event | 2026 PokerStars EPT Monte-Carlo

May 10, 2026

Raul Mestre Eliminated in 7th Place (€129,050)

Frank Visser

Level 30 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Raul Mestre was on the button, and he made it 250,000. Bernhard Binder tanked a while in the big blind before announcing a three-bet to 1,000,000.

Mestre did not take long before moving all in for 5,325,000, only to be snapped off by Binder.

Raul Mestre: K♦9♣ All in
Bernhard Binder: A♦K♥

Mestre's move proved to be ill-timed, and he could only look on as the K♣6♠2♦10♠5♦ runout did nothing to prevent his elimination.

The PokerStars ambassador left his third EPT final table in seventh place, while Binder dragged the immense eight-figure pot to reclaim his spot atop the counts.

Tags: Bernhard Binder Raul Mestre

May 10, 2026

Ju Doubles Through Binder's Barrels

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Frank Visser

Level 30 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Chipleader Bernhard Binder opened his button to 250,000 . Samuel Ju called in the big blind and check-called Binder's bet of 175,000 on the 2♠J♥3♣ flop.

Binder sized up to 550,000 on the A♣ turn. Ju spent one time bank before check-calling, seeing him check a third time on the 10♠ river.

Binder put the ultimate pressure on Ju by moving all in, sending Ju into the tank once again. Ju disassembled his towers of chips to properly count them, and shook his head a few times as he thought things through.

After four time extensions, Ju decided to call for his tournament life. Binder could only show a stone-cold bluff with his 9♥4♥. Ju tabled A♥2♦ for two pair, and he raked in a double-up worth nearly 45 big blinds.

Tags: Bernhard Binder Samuel Ju

May 10, 2026

Stoica Secures Double in Vital Flip

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Frank Visser

Level 30 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Roman Stoica was on the button. He raised to 250,000 once it had folded around to him, which Longmao Fan three-bet to 750,000 in the big blind.

Stoica moved all in for 2,275,000 after little thought, and Fan snap-called him with a covering stack.

Roman Stoica: J♠J♦ All in
Longmao Fan: A♦K♦

A low full house appeared on the 3♥5♦3♠5♥3♦ board, meaning Stoica's jacks held on to double up.

Fan, meanwhile, was left with just over three big blinds in his stack.

Tags: Longmao Fan Roman Stoica

May 10, 2026

Longmao Fan Eliminated in 6th Place (€167,850)

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Frank Visser

Level 30 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Longmao Fan open-jammed his remaining 775,000 in the hijack, and Bernhard Binder made the call in the small blind.

Longmao Fan: K♦7♦ All in
Bernhard Binder: 6♠6♥

Fan flopped a flush draw on 2♣3♦A♦ to gain some outs, but the 3♠ turn and 4♠ river saw Binder's sixes hold to dash any hopes of a comeback Fan might have had.

Tags: Bernhard Binder Longmao Fan

May 10, 2026

Ju Shortest, Djian Back on Top

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Frank Visser

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Samuel Ju limped in from the small blind and called when he faced a raise to 425,000 by David Djian in the big blind.

The players checked through the 9♥5♦8♥ flop and 5♠ turn, prompting the dealer to place the 7♠ on the river. Ju checked a third time, but Djian added 750,000 to the pot with a bet.

Ju was visibly displeased with the situation, but could not get away from his A♥9♦ and called off. His intuition proved to be correct, as Djian tabled 6♥2♦ for a straight to win the pot and reclaim the lead.

Tags: David Djian Samuel Ju

May 10, 2026

Jose Malpelli Eliminated in 5th Place (€218,300)

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Frank Visser

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Roman Stoica made it 300,000 to go in the cutoff. It folded to Jose Malpelli in the big blind, who decided to wager his entire stack worth 2,675,000. Stoica mulled things over for a bit before he called with the covering stack.

Jose Malpelli: 9♥9♣ All in
Roman Stoica: A♦Q♣

Malpelli was in a flip for his tournament life, and he became a big favorite to win it after the 4♥8♥4♣5♥ flop and turn remained absent of aces and queens and presented him with a flush draw.

The river came the A♣, however, giving Stoica top pair to be awarded the pot and send Malpelli to the rail.

Malpelli shook hands with his former opponents before he headed to the payout desk to pick up €218,300, nearly 1,000 times the €250 he paid to qualify for the Main Event.

Tags: Jose Malpelli Roman Stoica

May 10, 2026

Djian Crosses Eight Figures Again

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Frank Visser

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

David Djian limped in from the small blind. Bernhard Binder upped the ante to 650,000 in the big blind, which Djian called. Binder fired 850,000 on the Q♥A♠4♣ flop, seeing his opponent check-call.

The 7♦ turn made Binder size down to 800,000. Again, Djian check-called. Djian then promptly led out for 1,400,000 on the Q♣ river. Binder used one of his remaining time banks before calling.

Djian stood up triumphantly as he tabled 4♥4♦ for a full house. Binder swiftly added his A♥10♣ to the muck in defeat, and Djian celebrated as he raked in the sizable pot.

Tags: Bernhard Binder David Djian

May 10, 2026

Samuel ju Eliminated in 4th Place (€283,550)

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Frank Visser

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Bernhard Binder raised his button to 400,000, Samuel Ju moved all in from the big blind for 1,800,000, and Binder immediately called.

Samuel Ju: 10♠10♣ All in
Bernhard Binder: A♠Q♥

Ju flopped a set on J♣10♥2♠ to increase his lead, although Binder had a straight draw to remain in contention.

Binder started cutting out an exact call as the 5♥ turn left him unimproved, but the K♥ river gave the Austrian player Broadway to win the pot, eliminating Ju in the process.

Ju said his goodbyes in fourth place, taking home €283,550 for his efforts.

Tags: Bernhard Binder Samuel Ju

May 10, 2026

David Djian Eliminated in 3rd Place (€368,750)

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Frank Visser

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Roman Stoica limped in from the small blind. David Djian checked his option in the big blind, and bet 250,000 when Stoica checked to him on the 6♦3♦8♣ flop.

Stoica then raised to 900,000, which Djian called. Stoica pushed in 800,000 more on the A♦ turn. Djian wanted to see one more card and slid in more calling chips, after which the 10♥ river completed the board.

Stoica put Djian to the test by moving all in. Djian shook his head a few times but quickly committed his 3,525,000 remaining chips to the pot.

Stoica revealed 10♦9♦ for a flush. while Djian had rivered two pair with his 10♠6♥ to be eliminated.

Tags: David Djian Roman Stoica

May 10, 2026

Bernhard Binder Eliminated in 2nd Place (€515,000)

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Frank Visser

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Roman Stoica limped in on the button. Bernhard Binder was in the big blind, and he raised to 800,000. Stoica called, and the 4♠7♣7♦ flop was fanned.

Binder started with a check, causing Stoica to take the initiative with a bet of 350,000. Binder called to the 9♠ turn, on which he knuckled the table again.

Stoica sized up to 1,100,000. Binder stuck around with another call, seeing the Q♠ river complete the board.

Stoica then put his opponent all in. Binder took off his sunglasses as he assessed the situation. Before his 30-second shot clock ran out, Binder committed his last 3,225,000 to the middle.

Stoica revealed trip sevens with 7♥5♥. Binder was unable to beat it, having rivered two pair with K♦Q♦, and the two players shared a hug before Binder left the TV stage to pick up the €515,000 he had just earned with his runner-up finish.

Tags: Bernhard Binder Roman Stoica