The Defending Champ Has Been Eliminated

The EPT Malta will have a new champion.

Earlier this year, France's Jean Montury made history by becoming the first-ever EPT Malta champ, a feat he accomplished after topping a field of 895 players – which created a €4,340,750 prize pool – to take home a €687,400 first-place prize along with a SLYDE championship watch.

Montury was in action here on Day 1b, but his title defense came to an abrupt end shortly after returning from dinner.

We missed the hand unfold, but managed to obtain some details after the fact. Montury's demise came after Mamouni Smain opened for 1,200 and then called when the defending champ three-bet to 3,600. Smain proceeded to check-call a bet of 3,600 on the two-heart flop, and then checked the non-heart turn. Montury bet 7,200, Smain check-raised all in, and Montury called off his remaining 3,000 or so.