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Each year, the ever-glamorous Monte-Carlo becomes the focal point of the poker world, as the Sporting Monte-Carlo welcomes the PokerStars European Poker Tour to its iconic setting on the Mediterranean coast.
With the 2026 EPT Monte-Carlo series already underway, today sees the spotlight shine on the €5,300 Main Event, which takes centre stage as the first of two starting flights begins at noon local time.
As one of the must-visit stops on the poker calendar, there is little doubt the opening flight will play to a full house, with players travelling from far and wide seeking to make their mark. Each of those players will have two opportunities to realise that dream, with a maximum of two entries permitted across the starting flights, including the ability to join the field up until late registration closes at the start of Day 2.
Each player will start with a 30,000 stack, with blinds opening at 100/100 and a 100 big blind ante.
Both starting flights are scheduled for ten hour-long levels, with a short break after every two levels. Players will take a 75-minute dinner break after Level 6, at around 6:30 p.m. local time.
Day 1a Schedule
| Level | Duration | Small Blind | Big Blind | Big Blind Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 min | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | 60 min | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| 15 min break | ||||
| 3 | 60 min | 100 | 300 | 300 |
| 4 | 60 min | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| 15 min break | ||||
| 5 | 60 min | 200 | 500 | 500 |
| 6 | 60 min | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 75 min dinner break | ||||
| 7 | 60 min | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| 8 | 60 min | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 15 min break | ||||
| 9 | 60 min | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| 10 | 60 min | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
Each of the players who advance from their respective flights will return for Day 2, scheduled for noon local time on Wednesday, May 6th, at which point the tournament will change to a 90-minute clock for each blind level. Day 2 will also see the introduction of a shot clock at the start of the day.
The event will crown a champion on May 10th, wrapping up seven days of competition with one player etching their name into EPT history.
A little under 12 months ago, it was Aleksandr Shevliakov whose name was thrust into the limelight, as the Russian player bested a 1,195-strong field to claim the coveted Golden Shard trophy and take home a cool €1,000,000.
Just two places further down the payouts last year, Boris Angelov will be hoping to complete his podium hat trick in this year's edition, having finished 2nd in 2024 and finishing 3rd in 2025.
2025 EPT Monte-Carlo Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandr Shevliakov | Russia | €1,000,000 |
| 2 | Khossein Kokhestani | Ukraine | €615,000 |
| 3 | Boris Angelov | Bulgaria | €439,200 |
| 4 | Enrico Coppola | Italy | €337,900 |
| 5 | Mariusz Golinski | Poland | €259,900 |
| 6 | Jamil Wakil | Canada | €199,750 |
| 7 | Miguel Capriles | Venezuela | €153,600 |
| 8 | Leon Zeaiter | Germany | €118,150 |
Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all the major moments, chip counts, and live coverage throughout the 2026 EPT Monte-Carlo.
