Could YOU Make This Hero Call at an EPT Main Event Final Table?

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Aug 21, 2022 3 min read Last updated Nov 30, 2022

The PokerStars and Barcelona©Casino European Poker Tour Main Event is on its final day, but not before we saw one of the craziest final table rails in EPT history.

Two Brazilians — Neville Costa and Fabiano Kovalski — were roared on by a vociferous crowd late on Saturday night, but it was Kovalski who would take center stage with a stunning hero-call to bring Day 5 to a close.

In the midst of some of the craziest scenes ever seen at an EPT Main Event final table, Kovalski pulled off one of the most impressive hero-calls to send Michael Pinto to the rail. Could you make the same call?

Hand History

The hand began with Patrik Jaros raising from the cutoff with 4♦4♣ and Kovalski called on the button with A♣Q♣. Michael Pinto also called in the big blind with Q♦J♦ and the trio saw a flop of K♠6♥3♠.

All three players checked and the turn was the K♦. Pinto bet 350,000 out of the big blind and Kovalski was the only caller. The river was the 8♦ and Pinto immediately shoved for 2,400,000 into a pot of 2,225,000.

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Kovalski tanked for around 90 seconds in total before eventually calling, with his ace-high good and sending Pinto the rail and causing Kovalski's rail — and EPT Commentators Joe Stapleton and Nick Walsh — to erupt.

Commentator Reaction

"In the most dramatic fashion I have ever seen, we have finally put an end to Day 5!"

"The hero Kovalski," cried Stapleton.

"Unbelievable!" exclaimed Walsh. "He's done it!"

"Kovalski puts this night to bed with the ace-high hero call," continued Stapleton. "Pinto went for it, [and] did not pull it off. In the most dramatic fashion I have ever seen, we have finally put an end to Day 5. Kovalski the hero of the day."

Social Media Reaction

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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