Petter Northug and Marcus Hellner, the two best cross-country skiers in the world, have been engaged for several years in a personal poker, tennis and jet-ski duel, which has entered its third round. There's been hurdy-gurdy aplenty at the Grand Final in Monaco as the two double Olympic champions took the gloves and goggles off. PokerStars Blog watched.
Mikita Badziakouski in his hand versus Christopher Frank.
Badziakouski check-called a 4,700 bet on the turn and checked to face an all in bet of 19,050 on the river. The board rested as 
.
The two were sat in seats next to each other and the Belorussian stared intermittently at Frank trying to get a tell. He then dramatically cut the calling chips from his stack and then turned sharply to stare at Frank again from inches away. He saw what he thought he needed to see and made the call.
Frank opened 
and took the pot as Badziakouski mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
55,000
17,000
|
17,000 |
|
53,000
53,000
|
53,000 |
Paul Volpe checked to Dmitrii Grinenko on a flop of 
, and the Russian fired out 4,500. Volpe called.
The turn was the 
, both players checked, and the 
completed the board. Volpe checked a third time, Grinenko tossed out 12,000, and Volpe tank-called.
The Russian tabled 
for a rivered flush, and Volpe mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
95,000 | |
|
75,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
In 2008 a heavily-guarded Boris Becker sat down to play his first EPT main event in Monaco. Five years later the guards have gone, leaving behind a greatly improved poker player. Read on at the PokerStars Blog.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
125,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
|
68,000
9,000
|
9,000 |
|
65,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
55,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
50,000
9,500
|
9,500 |
|
||
|
48,500
15,500
|
15,500 |
|
||
|
41,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
40,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
|
||
|
38,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
33,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
25,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
9,500
14,500
|
14,500 |
Just 62 players remain in the final level of play which puts the average stack at 52,258 or 104 big blinds.
Level: 8
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 75
Daniel Carlsson checked to Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody on a flop of 
. The Brit tossed out 2,800, and the Swede called.
The turn was the , Carlsson checked again, and Cody fired 4,175. Carlsson tanked for a bit, then called.
The 
fell on the river, Carlsson checked a third time, and Cody plopped 7,650 in front of him. That's when things got weird. Carlsson reached for chips, and thinking the bet was worth more, dropped 11,500 in front of him. This is more than 150% of Cody's original bet, and should've been a raise to 15,300.
Thinking he was just going to get a rebate, Carlsson opened up 
. Confused, Cody opted to show 
for the best hand, and rake in the pot.
The Team Pro now sits with over 100,000 chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
115,000
58,000
|
58,000 |
|
||
|
14,000
16,000
|
16,000 |
On the 
flop, one player checked to Arlo Dotson, and he bet 2,000. His opponent called, and the turn brought the 
. Both players checked.
The river was the , and both players checked again. Dotson showed the 
for nine high, and his opponent mucked.
Hendrik Latz opened to 1,100 on the button, and Ville Wahlbeck called out of the small blind. The two checked on the 
flop, when the 
turned, and after the 
completed the board on the river.
Wahlbeck picked up his cards, ready to muck them, but then Latz opened up 
for nine-high. Wahlbeck happily tabled for jack-high, and raked in the pot.
