€5,300 EPT Main Event Day 2 | 2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo

Apr 30, 2024

EPT Monte Carlo 2024 Main Event Breaks Records with 1,208 Entries

Calum Grant

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

The 2024 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event has shattered previous records, drawing an impressive 1,208 entries.

This edition marks the largest turnout in the event's history, surpassing the 1,098-entrant editions seen in 2016 and 2023. This year's total entries grew by 9% compared to the previous year's event, which attracted 1,098 players.

Among the 1,208 entries, there were 832 unique players and 376 reentries.

Breaking down the nationality of players, the event saw representatives from a remarkable 71 countries. The top five nations represented in the tournament were France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany.

France led the pack with 148 players, comprising 17.8% of the field, followed by Italy with 74 players (8.9%), the UK with 64 players (7.7%), Spain with 51 players (6.1%), and Germany with 39 players (4.7%).

Country	Players	%	Country	Players	%	Country	Players	%
France	148	17.79%	Estonia	8	0.96%	Colombia	2	0.24%
Italy	74	8.89%	Lebanon	8	0.96%	Finland	2	0.24%
United Kingdom	64	7.69%	Poland	8	0.96%	Moldova	2	0.24%
Spain	51	6.13%	Portugal	8	0.96%	Senegal	2	0.24%
Germany	39	4.69%	Turkey	8	0.96%	Slovenia	2	0.24%
Romania	27	3.25%	India	6	0.72%	South Korea	2	0.24%
Ukraine	27	3.25%	Lithuania	6	0.72%	Tunisia	2	0.24%
Bulgaria	23	2.76%	Hungary	5	0.60%	United Arab Emirates	2	0.24%
Russia	22	2.64%	Latvia	5	0.60%	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1	0.12%
USA	22	2.64%	Serbia	5	0.60%	Cuba	1	0.12%
Canada	20	2.40%	Sweden	5	0.60%	Honduras	1	0.12%
Brazil	18	2.16%	China	4	0.48%	Iceland	1	0.12%
Switzerland	17	2.04%	Mexico	4	0.48%	Kyrgyzstan	1	0.12%
Austria	14	1.68%	Uruguay	4	0.48%	Malta	1	0.12%
Greece	14	1.68%	Australia	3	0.36%	Montenegro	1	0.12%
Israel	14	1.68%	Azerbaijan	3	0.36%	Morocco	1	0.12%
Belgium	12	1.44%	Croatia	3	0.36%	New Zealand	1	0.12%
Ireland	12	1.44%	Cyprus	3	0.36%	North Macedonia	1	0.12%
Japan	12	1.44%	Denmark	3	0.36%	Singapore	1	0.12%
Argentina	11	1.32%	Hong Kong	3	0.36%	South Africa	1	0.12%
Norway	11	1.32%	Iran	3	0.36%	Venezuela	1	0.12%
Armenia	10	1.20%	Kazakhstan	3	0.36%
Netherlands	10	1.20%	Slovakia	3	0.36%
Belarus	8	0.96%	Albania	2	0.24%
Czech Republic	8	0.96%	Algeria	2	0.24%

Apr 30, 2024

Cowen Doubles Up

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Sava Krink

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

It was a classic preflop showdown situation after Robert Cowen raised to 3,000 and Yudai Futai three-bet to 7,000. Cowen went all in, and Futai called.

Robert Cowen: A♦J♣ All in
Yudai Futai: K♠K♦

The A♣4♣8♣ flop immediately favored Cowen with an ace and a flush draw. Futai was left with just one out because any club would complete Cowen's flush. Neither the 4♥ turn nor the 2♦ river improved Futai's hand, and Cowen celebrated a double up.

Tags: Robert Cowen Yudai Futai

Apr 30, 2024

Niciforo Doubles, Leaves Machado Short

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Matthew Warburton

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Mario Niciforo was all in preflop with a short stack and was called by Hugo Machado, who had him covered as players flipped their cards.

Mario Niciforo: K♦10♠ All in
Hugo Machado: Q♦Q♥

The board ran out 2♣7♠7♦K♣2♥ to give Niciforo a pair of kings on the turn, two pair with the sevens on board. He won the pot, surviving, doubling his stack, and leaving Machado short.

Tags: Mario Niciforo Hugo Machado

Apr 30, 2024

Pflock Shoves the Flop on Moraes

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Toni Kaukua raised to 3,500 in early position and Rafael Moraes called in the cutoff. Pascal Pflock then three-bet to 12,000 on the button and only Moraes called.

The flop came 9♠4♦7♠ and Pflock continued for 10,500. Moraes then raised to 28,000.

Pflock came back with an all-in shove for 98,000 and Moraes tanked for nearly two minutes before giving up his hand.

Tags: Pascal Pflock Rafael Moraes Toni Kaukua

Apr 30, 2024

Saleh Catches Up on the Turn, Pardo Spikes the River

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Sadri Saleh moved all in for around 20,000 in the small blind and Juan Pardo called under the gun.

Sadri Saleh: A♦4♦ All in
Juan Pardo: A♣K♥

Saleh was dominated heading to the 3♣5♥K♥ flop, which gave him a straight draw. The 2♥ turn completed his straight, and the 8♥ fell on the river before the pot was about to be pushed to Saleh. The table then pointed out that Pardo had rivered a flush and Saleh was sent to the rail.

Tags: Juan Pardo Sadri Saleh

Apr 30, 2024

Malec Gets Paid With Aces

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Around 20,000 was in the pot as Sebastian Malec and Oleksii Ievchenko saw the turn on a board of J♥K♣6♣4♦.

Malec then moved all in for 22,000 from under the gun and Ievchenko called in the big blind. Malec showed A♠A♦ and was ahead of Ievchenko's K♦9♣.

The river was the 8♥ and Malec held on to double up.

Simon Wiciak, Damian Salas, and Kenny Hallaert are also at this table.

Tags: Damian Salas Kenny Hallaert Oleksii Ievchenko Sebastian Malec Simon Wiciak

Apr 30, 2024

Busso Survives to Double

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Calum Grant

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Marco Chiappetta opened to 3,500 from under the gun and called when Timothe Busso moved all in for 23,500 from the hijack.

Timothe Busso: 3♥3♣ All in
Marco Chiappetta: K♠10♣

Busso managed to dodge all of Chiappetta's outs as his little pair remained best following the A♥Q♠6♦9♥7♣ runout.

Tags: Marco Chiappetta Timothe Busso

Apr 30, 2024

Cowen and Talbot Battle

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Calum Grant

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Action folded to Robert Cowen in the small blind, and he asked Parker Talbot, who was in the big blind, how much he had behind.

Talbot confirmed his stack at 14,500 and Cowen moved all in.

"The first one's f****** great," said Talbot, who then called for his tournament life after peeling his second card.

Parker Talbot: Q♦9♦ All in
Robert Cowen: K♥J♣

Talbot was behind but picked up a host of outs on the A♣A♦6♦ flop. The J♦ turn gave the PokerStars ambassador a flush but Cowen could still make a full house to take the pot.

The K♣ river kept Talbot ahead and he doubled up.

On the next deal, Louis Perez opened to 4,000 from the cutoff and called when Cowen moved all in for 11,000.

Perez tabled J♣5♣ while Cowen was ahead with A♥10♥.

"Jack-five, I respect it," said Cowen.

The J♠ was in the window but was followed by the A♣A♦ to give Cowen trips. The K♦ turn confirmed his double-up before the 7♦ completed the board.

The following hand, Cowen limped in from the cutoff, with Talbot doing the same from the button. Yudai Futai checked his option in the big blind.

Action checked to Cowen on the J♥10♣5♦ flop, and he fired out 2,000. Only Parker called. Cowen then check-folded to a bet of 3,500 on the 8♠ turn.

Tags: Yudai Futai Robert Cowen Parker Talbot Louis Perez

Apr 30, 2024

Grafton, Maue Among Early Bustouts

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Sam Grafton and Leonard Maue, who finished runner-up in this event last year, were among the players to bust so far on Day 2.

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Apr 30, 2024

Livshitz Three-Outers Hulme

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Calum Grant

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Andrew Hulme, in early position, opened to 3,000 out of his short stack and was called by Eros Calderone from the hijack. Gabi Livshitz, off of a stack around 65,000, three-bet to 12,000 from the small blind. Hulme jammed for 28,000, pushing out Calderone. Livshitz called and the cards went on their backs.

Andrew Hulme: A♠K♠ All in
Gabi Livshitz: A♣J♣

Livshitz paired up on the J♥10♦9♠ flop to take the lead and held out to score the elimination after the 10♥ turn and 9♥ river.