Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened for and was three-bet from the small blind by Fabiano Kovalski. The big blind folded and Troyanovskiy made the call.
They saw a flop of . Kovalski continued for 35,000 and was raised by Troyanovskiy to 86,000. Kovalski thought for a while before making the call leaving 140,000 behind.
The turn was the and both players checked. A river card saw another check from Kovalski and a bet of 112,000 from Troyanovskiy who cut out what it would cost him. It would leave him with just 40,000 if he called and lost. Call he did though and Troyanovskiy showed for an ace high missed flush draw. Kovalski was good with the set.
That was a big pot to put a dent in the once chip leaders stack.
In the space of one level, Talal Shakerchi went from third in chips to out of the tournament. There was one questionable hand, but in all the others it's fair to say he ran terrible.
In what would be his last hand, Shakerchi moved all in from early position for 46,000 and Martins Seilis looked him up from the small blind.
Shakerchi:
Seilis:
Shakerchi was behind, but he did hold two live cards. However, he had been running awful, and that held true to form as the board ran out a useless . With that, Shakerchi's was sent to the rail.
To say it's been a rough level for Talal Shakerchi would be an understatement. The high roller began the level third in chips with 558,500, but now he's got just 63,000!
In his most recent hit, Team PokerStars Pro David Williams got his last 140,000 all in on a flop and Shakerchi called him.
Williams:
Shakerchi:
Shakerchi was ahead with top pair, but then the dealer burned and turned the . Shakerchi made two pair, but Williams took the lead with a straight. The river failed to pair the paint, and Williams doubled through.
EPT regular David Boyaciyan got his last 110,000 all in preflop and was in bad shape against Dani Stern.
Boyaciyan:
Stern:
"Good luck," someone at the table said.
"I'm the one who needs it," Boyaciyan joked. Indeed he did, but most times in poker you don't get what you want. The flop was no help to Boyaciyan, and the turn meant he needed to catch an ace and ace only on the river to extend his tournament life.
The dealer burned one last time and put out the . It was a blank, and Boyaciyan returned the favor by wishing the table luck before making his way to the payout desk in 70th place to collect €21,800.
Talal Shakerchi opened for 13,000 from early position and Martins Seilis three-bet to 28,000 from the small blind. The big blind folded and Shakerchi made the call.
The flop was and Seilis bet 18,000. Shakerchi moved all in and had Seilis easily covered.
Seilis made the quick call with and Shakerchi showed
The turn was the and the river came the . It was brave call by Seilis to double up.
Muhyedine Fares has just been eliminated and it was again [Removed:17] collecting the scalp. After Sam Trickett another bust for Yan.
The two of them ended up all in before the flop with Yan holding and for Fares. The on the flop made for some split pot possibilities, but the and that followed weren't any of the cards Fares was looking for.
PokerStars online regular Nick 'FU_15' Maimone has won several seats to the EPT Grand Final Main Event, but this is his first time in Monaco and he's off to a good start. A few months back he chopped the Sunday Warm Up and the $100 Rebuy on the same day and is having a great 2014. As we are on the bubble Maimone opens up to Jennifer Robles about his special shirt, his confidence levels and how he gives back to those in need with money he's won playing poker.
Team PokerStars Pro Johnny Lodden opened from the button for 13,000. Scott Clements put a big stack of yellow T25000 chips over the line to make his intentions clear. The big blind folded and Lodden made the call.
Lodden:
Clements:
The final board showed and Lodden was out in 73rd place.
The bubble lasts for hours now on the EPT, even if it only actually takes one or two hands. PokerStars Blog assumes (in)action stations early on Day 3 as the cruellest time of a poker tournament plays out.