2015 PokerStars.com EPT Season 11 Malta

€10,300 High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info

2015 PokerStars.com EPT Season 11 Malta

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
44
Prize
€597,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€10,000
Prize Pool
€2,979,200
Entries
304
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

The Big Trimming Starts at 12

Can Silver get his revenge?
Can Silver get his revenge?

An enormous field was formed in the €10,000 High Roller yesterday. No less than 289 entries were made (228 unique players plus 61 re-entries). The latest entrant to join the field was EPT Malta €25k High Roller winner Dzmitry Urbanovich, but more players can still sign up as registration is open till 11:45 a.m. today.

Ten levels were played and it was Rui Ferreira coming out on top with 280,000 in chips. The 23-year-old player from Portugal bagged 280,000 in chips, closely followed by Max Silver who is used to finish the day amongst chip leaders here in Malta after ending in first position at the end of Day 1b of the Main Event. Silver ended up not cashing in the Main Event after a day of bad luck on Day 2, will he get his revenge here in the High Roller?

The plan for Day 2 is to again play ten levels, or down to the final table of eight. The first hurdle to take will be reaching the money. With still a minimum of 142 players remaining, that may take some time. Here's what the levels look like today:

LevelSmall BlindBig BlindAnte
111,0002,000300
121,2002.400300
20 minute break   
131,5003,000400
142,0004,000500
20 minute break   
152,5005,000500
163,0006,0001,000
75 minute break   
174,0008,0001,000
185,00010,0001,000
20 minute break   
196,00012,0002,000
208,00016,0002,000

The €10k is the official EPT High Roller, meaning that - in addition to the trophy and cash prize - the champion will receive a luxury watch from Swiss brand SLYDE, the Official EPT Season 11 sponsor for Main Events and High Rollers.

Check back with PokerNews.com at noon (in 2.5 hours) as we'll bring you coverage of Day 2 of the €10,000 High Roller. In the mean time, check out the interview Sarah Herring did with high roller Bryn Kenney:

Tags: Max SilverRui Ferreira

Selbst out, Ravnsbaek Up

Level 11 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst

Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa Selbst has just been knocked out, and it seemed like she had lost a big pot prior to being all in for her tournament life.

With a small side pot the board showed {3-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} on which Simon Ravnsbaek bet from the small blind, and Craig McCorkell made the call from the big blind. The action went fast, as the Dane showed {A-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds} for the nut flush to take down the pot, Selbst left the room and McCorkell hit the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Simon Ravnsbaek dk
Simon Ravnsbaek
75,000
17,900
17,900
Craig McCorkell gb
Craig McCorkell
65,000
-18,800
-18,800
Vanessa Selbst us
Vanessa Selbst
Busted
PokerStars

Tags: Vanessa SelbstSimon RavnsbaekCraig McCorkell

Tons of Chips for O'Dwyer After Busting Lunkin

Level 11 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Steve O'Dwyer
Steve O'Dwyer

Steve O'Dwyer just raised to 4,700 and Vitaly Lunkin three-bet to 12,000 from the big blind. O'Dwyer opted to move all in and Lunkin called off his total stack worth around 80,000 chips.

Lunkin: {J-Spades}{J-Diamonds}
O'Dwyer: {K-Spades}{K-Clubs}

The board ran out {Q-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}{3-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}{2-Hearts} and Lunkin was knocked out while O'Dwyer joins the chip leaders atop the chip counts.

Player Chips Progress
Steve O'Dwyer ie
Steve O'Dwyer
307,500
88,900
88,900
EPT 1X Winner
Vitaly Lunkin ru
Vitaly Lunkin
Busted

Tags: Steve O'DwyerVitaly Lunkin

Stern Loses a Big One

Level 11 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Dani Stern
Dani Stern

Francisco Benitez opened to 4,000 under the gun and Dani Stern right next to him three bet to 10,800. Action folded back around to Benitez who grabbed two chips back, and added a 25,000 chip to make it 27,000 total.

Stern wasn't so sure about that and said that if Benitez didn't declare a raise, it was a call since he added a single chip. The floor came over and ruled that Benitez indeed had to call.

The flop came {5-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}{6-Hearts} and Benitez lead out for 12,300. Stern raised it up to 29,000 and Benitez called.

The turn {A-Clubs} made both players check and the {J-Spades} completed the board. Benitez shoved all in for 110,000 and Stern folded after some hefty tanking.

Player Chips Progress
Francisco Benitez uy
Francisco Benitez
189,600
21,800
21,800
Dani Stern us
Dani Stern
150,000
-70,000
-70,000

Tags: Dani SternFrancisco Benitez

Three Champions Looking to Make Poker History in the Main Event

Level 12 : 1,200/2,400, 300 ante
Fedor Holz
Fedor Holz

There are some fascinating stories that could emerge over the next two days in the Main Event. Three players have already left their mark on the poker world but, after tasting success, are hungry for more of the same.

Dominik Panka turns 24 today and will want to make it a birthday to remember. The PokerStars Sponsored player took down one of world’s “majors” when he defeated Mike "Timex" McDonald in an epic heads-up battle at the 2014 PCA to win more than $1.4 million.

One of his birthday wishes today might’ve been to secure an early double up, and he’s managed just that, increasing his stack by more than 375,000 already, before dropping back a little.

Panka is not the only former EPT champion in the field today. Robin Ylitalo took down EPT London in Season 10 for more than $900,000 and would love to be the first man to do an EPT double. He spoke to PokerNews before play this morning.

“It would mean a lot and would be pretty big to win again. Pretty boring that I can’t be the first overall double champion but it would be cool to be the first man to do the double.

“My plan for the day is to wait a bit and get a feel for how it starts off and see what happens. I only have 30 big blinds so there’s not that much play left, but I’ll see what the other guys do and then maybe I’ll start to loosen up a bit.”

Ylitalo, being Swedish, couldn’t help but get involved early on. He doubled up Bart Kuiper before making a recovery to more than a million chips, partly due to eliminating his countryman, Bjorn Lundgren.

Another major story that could emerge is that of German starlet, Fedor Holz. The 21 year-old is already an online legend after he took down the 2014 WCCOP Main Event on PokerStars for $1,820,700 and he’s just returned to the #1 spot in the world in the PocketFives Online Poker Rankings.

PokerNews asked him what it would feel like to add a major live title and his transition from online to live play.

“It would mean a lot more actually. I’m so excited right now as live play is so much more intense with more emotions. I think a lot of it is to do with the longer time period.

“I actually enjoy live poker more than online. I like both quite a lot, but live gives me the opportunity to think about hands in a more in-depth way. Overall I found the transition from online quite easy.

“My plan for today is to just try and play my best game. I want to play good and take each situation on as it arises and see what happens!”

The Main Event is down to its last two tables and all three players are still in the hunt and aiming to make poker history.

Tags: Dominik PankaFedor HolzRobin Ylitalo

PokerStars to Make at Least Five More Millionaires Over the Next Eight Weeks

Level 13 : 1,500/3,000, 400 ante
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier

You can become a millionaire with PokerStars; in fact, the world's biggest online site has created more than 150 poker millionaires drawn from online tournaments such as the World Championship of Online Poker, live events like the European Poker Tour, made-for-TV poker competitions such as Million Dollar Challenge, and recent product offerings like Spin & Go’s. A millionaire won't be crowned here in the EPT Malta High Roller — the winner will take home €597,000 — but that's not going to stop us from telling you about one of PokerStars biggest and boldest campaigns ever.

Over the next eight weeks, PokerStars promises to make at least five players millionaires in what is being called "PokerStars Makes Millionaires." The promotion will kicks off today, March 27, with the return of the incredibly popular $1 Million Spin & Go promotion, and will continue through May 24 when a minimum of $1 million is guaranteed to the winner of the Spring Championship of Online Poker Main Event High tournament.

“PokerStars has a long history of hosting online and live events that turn normal players into millionaires," said Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier, who won his first seven-figure score ($2 million) at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in 2008. "It happened to me at the PCA and there will be several more millionaires created in the next month. New games like Spin & Go’s, where literally anyone who enters has a chance to become a millionaire, is generating excitement amongst the online poker community again.”

PokerStars has a long history of making millionaires. To date there have been 22 players who have won $1 million or more in online tournaments, with the biggest winner being Tyson ‘POTTERPOKER’ Marks for his win in the 2010 World Championship of Online Poker Main Event for $2,278,098. In the live realm, 95 millionaires have been made, with Niklas Heinecker being the biggest thanks to his $4,463,293 win in the 2013 GuangDong Asia Millions Main Event.

Interestingly, one of those millionaires, Fedor "CrownUpGuy" Holz, is still alive in the EPT Malta Main Event, which is playing out across the room. If you recall, Holz won $1.3 million after topping a field of 2,142 entrants in the 2014 WCOOP Main Event. Not too shabby for the youngster who started his journey at the micros.

"I think the first tournaments I played on PokerStars where the micro-limit sit-and-go, like 180-mans," Holz previously told PokerNews. "I want to win a super high roller. I enjoy playing live tournaments and this would be the cherry on top of an awesome year."

Holz didn't win a high roller in 2014, but something tells us he'd be just as happy to win an EPT Main Event here in the first quarter of 2015. We'll have to wait and see if he can do it, but first he'll need to survive today and make the final table.

Finally, PokerStars has crowned two millionaires via TV shows — Million Dollar Challenge and Shark Cage — and three Spin & Go millionaires in "sss66666," "Tornádo111," and "anushan_2323."

PokerStars Makes Millionaires Schedule

Here’s a rundown of the key PokerStars Makes Millionaires events and dates:

  • $1 Million Spin & Go (From March 27) — Players can turn $5 into $1,000,000 in just minutes with special $1 Million Spin & Go’s. Click here for more info.
  • EPT Grand Final Promo (March 27 – April 6) — Players can win a free package to the EPT Grand Final Main Event in Monaco, with a guaranteed €1 million for the Main Event winner. There are a series of freerolls from March 27 to April 6 in which PokerStars is giving away three free Main Event packages, and players can also claim a free €11 satellite ticket by making a deposit. Click here for more details.
  • EPT Grand Final Mega Qualifier (April 5) — Players can win a €14,000 EPT prize package in the Mega Qualifier on April 5 at 13:05 ET, with 10 packages guaranteed. Click here for more info.
  • Millionaire Month (Round 1: April 6 – 17, Round 2: April 19 – 30) — PokerStars is giving away more than $4 million in cash prizes during Millionaire Month which gives players the chance to win $1 million via two Millionaire Finals. Players need to complete simple challenges during the qualification periods for entry into $150,000 All-in Shootouts. The winner of each of the six All-in Shootouts in Round 1 (April 18) and in Round 2 (May 1) advances to the six-player Millionaire Finals tourneys on May 10 at 13:00 ET, where two new cash millionaires will be crowned, one in each of the finals. For more details, click here.
  • May 2-22: SCOOP All-in Shootout Deposit Raffle — Players can win their way to the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) Main Event (High) for free and play for a first prize of at least $1 million. Players simply need to make a deposit to receive a raffle ticket. In the All-in Shootout we’ve got 16 free SCOOP High Main Event entries - each worth $10,300 - up for grabs, plus over 2,000 free entries to the SCOOP Low and Medium Main Events. See here for more details.
  • SCOOP High Main Event (May 24) — $1 Million is guaranteed to SCOOP High Main Event winner. For more details, click here.

For more on what it's like to become a PokerStars millionaire, check out this video featuring those who have done it:

Tags: Fedor HolzPokerNews Live Blog FeaturePokerStars Makes Millionaires

PokerNews Podcast Episode #274: RAWA Reaction feat. Giuliano Bendinelli and Anatoly Filatov

Level 14 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
Giuliano Bendinelli
Giuliano Bendinelli

Rich and Donnie break down Wednesday's RAWA hearing on Capitol Hill, and Remko talks to Global Poker Masters champion and MVP Giuliano Bendinelli, along with Russia's Anatoly Filatov.

You can subscribe to the entire iBus Media Network on iTunes here, or you can access the RSS feed here. The PokerNews family of podcasts is now available on Stitcher.

Tags: Anatoly FilatovGiuliano BendinelliPokerNews Podcast

Katchalov Busts to Quads

Level 14 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
Eugene Katchalov
Eugene Katchalov

Puk Nabuurs told us about the hand where Eugene Katchalov got eliminated.

Emrah Cakmak opened before the flop and Eugene Katchalov made the call from the blinds. Katchalov check raised Cakmak's continuation bet on {K-Clubs}{6-Spades}{5-Hearts} and Cakmak called. Katchalov fired on the {A-Clubs} turn as well and shoved all in on the {5-Spades} river.

Cakmak called all the way with {5-Diamonds}{5-Clubs} for quads, Katchalov had {K-}{6-} for flopped top two.

Player Chips Progress
Emrah Cakmak fr
Emrah Cakmak
230,000
-46,000
-46,000
Eugene Katchalov ua
Eugene Katchalov
Busted
PokerStars

Tags: Eugene KatchalovPuk NabuursEmrah Cakmak

Geilich's Giving a Clinic

Level 16 : 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante
Ludovic Geilich
Ludovic Geilich

We picked the action up on the turn when the board read {3-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}{8-Clubs} when Ludovic Geilich checked to Frederik Jensen. The two were engaged in a blind battle, and Jensen bet 40,000 from the big blind. Geilich made the call and checked again on the river when the {4-Clubs} popped up.

Jensen tanked for quite some time before he eventually bet 80,000.

"All in," Geilich said, after just five seconds had passed.

"Why didn't I just check behind," Jensen sighed.

Thirty quiet seconds went by before Jensen decided to fold, and Geilich showed {Q-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} for complete air.

"I may have had the best hand," Geilich teased Jensen, who tapped the table and shook his head.

"You're giving a demonstration, it's nice to see," Govert Metaal said, as he went on to express how impressed he was with Geilich's play today.

Geilich's up to 675,000 chips now and it seems like he's in full control of his table.

Player Chips Progress
Ludovic Geilich gb
Ludovic Geilich
675,000
245,000
245,000
Frederik Jensen dk
Frederik Jensen
130,000
-350,000
-350,000
EPT 1X Winner

Tags: Frederik JensenGovert MetaalLudovic Geilich

Geilich Runs Kings into Tureniec's Aces

Level 16 : 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante
Michael Tureniec
Michael Tureniec

Ludovic Geilich raised to 12,000 and Michael Tureniec opted to three-bet to 31,500, and the initial raiser called. The flop came down {9-Clubs}{J-Hearts}{5-Clubs} and Geilich checked to Tureniec who bet 38,000.

Geilich check-raised to 80,000 and Tureniec moved all in for 226,000 total. Geilich called.

Geilich: {K-}{K-}
Tureniec: {A-Clubs}{A-Hearts}

The board ran out {2-Clubs}, {A-Diamonds} and Tureniec got himself a full double up.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Tureniec se
Michael Tureniec
520,000
185,000
185,000
EPT 1X Winner
Ludovic Geilich gb
Ludovic Geilich
418,000
-257,000
-257,000

Tags: Ludovic GeilichMichael Tureniec