€5,300 Main Event Day 1b | 2026 PokerStars EPT Monte-Carlo

May 05, 2026

Mustafov Falls for Trap

Frank Visser

Level 4 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

In a pot worth 6,500, Almira Skripchenko checked the K♥8♥6♣ flop from under the gun to Fahredin Mustafov in the next seat over. Mustafov flicked in a bet of 2,400, which Skripchenko raised to 6,400.

Mustafov called to the 3♥ turn, where Skripchenko reverted to checking. Mustafov inquired about Skripchenko's remaining chips before he put her all-in for 12,000. Skripchenko wasted no time and snap-called.

Almira Skripchenko: A♥7♥ All in
Fahredin Mustafov: A♦J♥

Mustafov was drawing dead against the nut flush of Skripchenko, and she was awarded her double-up when the inconsequential Q♥ river completed the board.

Tags: Almira Skripchenko Fahredin Mustafov

May 05, 2026

Clean Double for Xu

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Frank Visser

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Hang Xu got his 29,900 chips in preflop from the small blind and was looked up by Ramiro Petrone in the cutoff.

Hang Xu: A♥K♥ All in
Ramiro Petrone: A♦Q♠

The 4♥4♦8♦ flop brought some chop outs, but they disappeared when Xu paired his king on the K♠ turn. Petrone cut out the exact amount from his stack and paid Xu as soon as the 8♣ river had completed the board.

Tags: Hang Xu Ramiro Petrone

May 05, 2026

Lappin Finds a Flush to Double

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Stewart Morrison

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Arriving with 7,900 already in the pot, and a 7♣8♠5♠ flop face up on the felt, Alexandre Bermon placed a bet of 3,500 from middle position. In response, PokerStars Team Pro member David Lappin moved all in for 32,800 from the cutoff, and Bermon called.

David Lappin: A♠3♠ All in
Alexandre Bermon: 5♦5♣

The J♠ turn brought immediate service for Lappin, whose double up was confirmed when the 4♥ completed the board.

Tags: Alexandre Bermon David Lappin

May 05, 2026

Konnikova Wins Big With Rivered Flush

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Frank Visser

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Catching the tail end of a pot between Maria Konnikova in the small blind and Gianluca Cedolia in the cutoff, Konnikova checked the completed 3♠A♥10♥8♣7♥ flop over to Cedolia.

Cedolia then placed an overbet of 15,700, which appeared to be about one and a half times the pot. Konnikova did not take long before she flicked in a call.

Cedolio briefly flashed a straight, prompting Konnikova to table 9♥8♥ to take down the pot with her flush.

Tags: Gianluca Cedolia Maria Konnikova

May 05, 2026

Aksu Cracks Kings to Climb Back to Six Figures

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Frank Visser

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

In a blind-on-blind battle, Osman Aksu and Eric Sfez got their chips in the middle preflop, with Sfez being at risk for his stack of 37,000.

Eric Sfez: K♥K♦ All in
Osman Aksu: A♠K♣

The 9♦6♦4♠ flop remained safe for Sfez, but Aksu celebrated as the A♣ turn left his opponent with one out. The final king did not reveal itself on the 6♥ river, and Sfez took a picture of his unfortunate exit before he left for an early dinner.

Tags: Eric Sfez Osman Aksu

May 05, 2026

Konnikova Puts Padilha in Tank

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Frank Visser

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

The action was picked up on the Q♠2♦9♠Q♥ turn. With a sizable pot of 35,000 in the middle, Pedro Padilha checked from the hijack. Maria Konnikova followed suit in the cutoff, after which the J♣ appeared as the river.

Padilha checked again, prompting Konnikova to fire a massive bet of 46,000, covering Padilha's remaining chips. Padilha thought it over for a while before he decided to preserve his 54 big blinds by mucking his cards.

Tags: Maria Konnikova Pedro Padilha

May 05, 2026

Sammartino's Second Exit

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Frank Visser

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Dario Sammartino got his stack of 27,000 in from the big blind and was up against David Djian in middle position.

Dario Sammartino: Q♠Q♦ All in
David Djian: A♣K♦

Djian paired up on the A♠J♠9♥ flop for a big lead. The 8♣ turn gave Sammartino a straight draw, but the 6♣ river was of no use.

Sammartino busted his second bullet of the day, ending his EPT Monte Carlo Main Event on Day 1.

Tags: Dario Sammartino David Djian

May 05, 2026

Parmar's Woes Continue

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Frank Visser

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Abdullah Turan opened to 2,000 in early position. Former chipleader Taran Parmar then three-bet to 5,000 in the hijack and quickly called when Turan moved all in for 27,300.

Abdullah Turan: A♣K♣ All in
Taran Parmar: 10♦10♣

Turan won the flip by making a pair on the K♦3♥9♠6♥Q♦ board and doubled up.

Tags: Fabiano Cappelli Taran Parmar

May 05, 2026

Lewis Left Short as Tsokaridis Flops Nuts

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Frank Visser

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Romain Lewis raised under the gun and called button Paraskevas Tsokaridis' three-bet to 7,700.

Both players then checked the 7♦10♠9♣ flop, and Lewis checked again on the 3♥ turn. Tsokaridis fired a bet of 5,500, which Lewis called after some thought.

Lewis then pondered for a while on the 6♠ river, eventually opting to check a third time. Tsokaridis settled on a bet of 17,000, and Lewis once again entered the tank.

The clock was eventually called on Lewis, and he slid in a call during his 30-second countdown.

Tsokaridis revealed J♥8♥ for a flopped straight, and Lewis returned his cards to the muck in defeat.

Tags: Paraskevas Tsokaridis Romain Lewis

May 05, 2026

Studniarz Shoves and Shows

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Frank Visser

Level 9 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

The action was caught on a 6♠3♠9♦ flop. Sylwia Studniarz checked from the big blind, prompting Rodrigo Selouan to add 12,000 to the 30,000 pot from middle position.

Studniarz responded with a raise to 30,000, which Selouan quickly called. The 8♦ turn saw Studniarz quickly move all in for 71,700. Selouan asked for a count, but folded his hand upon hearing the correct number.

Studniarz then tabled A♠J♠ for a flush draw, and Selouan admitted he had folded a pocket pair.

Tags: Rodrigo Selouan Sylwia Studniarz