2018 PokerStars.es EPT Barcelona

€50,000 Single-Day High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info

2018 PokerStars.es EPT Barcelona

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a9
Prize
€979,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€50,000
Prize Pool
€3,347,190
Entries
69
Level Info
Level
20
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000

Thorel Takes the Lead

Level 19 : 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

In a battle button versus big blind, Jean-Noel Thorel bet the {J-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}{6-Hearts} flop for 150,000 and Benjamin Pollak check-called. Pollak checked again the {K-Spades} on the turn and called a bet of 250,000 before checking the {A-Hearts} on the river. Thorel bet 475,000 and Pollak called.

Thorel showed {Q-Spades}{10-Clubs} for a straight and Pollak sighed visibly, then mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jean-Noel Thorel fr
Jean-Noel Thorel
2,860,000
885,000
885,000
Profile photo of Benjamin Pollak fr
Benjamin Pollak
2,750,000
-1,000,000
-1,000,000
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
1,480,000
220,000
220,000
Chip Leader Coaching

Tags: Benjamin PollakJean-Noel Thorel

Level: 19

Blinds: 30,000/60,000

Ante: 60,000

Foxen and Pollak Trade Chips Back and Forth

Level 18 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Benjamin Pollak raised to 110,000 on the button and Alex Foxen defended the big blind, then check-called a bet of 90,000 on the {A-Clubs}{Q-Spades}{7-Spades} flop. Both checked the {5-Clubs} turn and Foxen bet the {10-Spades} river for 280,000. Pollak called and was shown the {A-Diamonds}{5-Hearts} for aces and fives by Foxen.

"I had an ace also, almost wanted to lead the turn," Pollak said.

Soon after, the turn showed {8-Spades}{7-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{K-Clubs} and both invested 125,000. The {9-Clubs} fell on the river and Foxen checked. Pollak now bet 370,000 and Foxen used one time bank before making the call. Pollak revealed {10-Hearts}{4-Hearts} for a straight and gained back the chips he had previously lost to Foxen.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Benjamin Pollak fr
Benjamin Pollak
3,750,000
150,000
150,000
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
1,260,000
-65,000
-65,000
Chip Leader Coaching

Tags: Alex FoxenBenjamin Pollak

Pollak Pulls Further Away

Level 18 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

Benjamin Pollak has won several small pots with his aggression and Alex Foxen kept almost the same stack, while Jean-Noel Thorel had to forfeit some chips. Most of the pots were rather small and limped to the flop, while Pollak had one three-bet from 100,000 to 360,000 against Foxen that went through without resistance.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Benjamin Pollak fr
Benjamin Pollak
3,600,000
550,000
550,000
Profile photo of Jean-Noel Thorel fr
Jean-Noel Thorel
1,975,000
-675,000
-675,000
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
1,325,000
125,000
125,000
Chip Leader Coaching

Tags: Alex FoxenBenjamin PollakJean-Noel Thorel

Ryan Riess Eliminated in 4th Place (€344,700)

Level 18 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Ryan Riess
Ryan Riess

After losing a pot to Benjamin Pollak in the first hand of the new level, Jean-Noel Thorel was in the big blind and Ryan Riess announced all in first to act. Action folded to Thorel and he asked for a count.

"I have 735,000" Riess immediately said and Thorel verified that amount twice before announcing the call.

Ryan Riess: {7-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}
Jean-Noel Thorel: {3-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}

The {Q-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds}{2-Clubs} flop was no threat for Riess yet, however, the {3-Clubs} appeared on the turn and Thorel improved to a full house. Riess had four outs remaining with the sevens and queens for a superior full house, but the {5-Clubs} on the river was a blank. Riess was eliminated in 4th place for €344,700.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Benjamin Pollak fr
Benjamin Pollak
3,050,000
550,000
550,000
Profile photo of Jean-Noel Thorel fr
Jean-Noel Thorel
2,650,000
850,000
850,000
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
1,200,000
-100,000
-100,000
Chip Leader Coaching
Profile photo of Ryan Riess us
Ryan Riess
Busted

Tags: Benjamin PollakRyan RiessJean-Noel Thorel

Level: 18

Blinds: 25,000/50,000

Ante: 50,000

Thorel Gets Very Active

Level 17 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Jean-Noel Thorel
Jean-Noel Thorel

Alex Foxen raised on the button to 90,000 and Jean-Noel Thorel moved all in from the big blind, Foxen asked for a rough count and folded - he was shown the {Q-Hearts}{Q-Spades} by Thorel.

Then, Thorel raised to 100,000 first to act and Benjamin Pollak called in the big blind with the words "I call Mister Thorel," his countryman replied "thank you" and smiled. The flop brought {Q-Spades}{8-Clubs}{6-Hearts} and Pollak check-called a bet of 125,000. On the {7-Hearts} turn, Pollak check-folded to a bet of 300,000 and asked to see a card. Thorel shook his head and raked in the pot.

Ryan Riess opened to 80,000 and Thorel called in the big blind.They checked the {A-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}{2-Clubs} flop and Thorel bet the {A-Spades} turn for 100,000, Riess called. The {7-Hearts} river was checked again and Thorel showed {K-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts}, Riess claimed the pot with the {K-Hearts}{K-Clubs}.

Just before the end of the level, Thorel had a river bet paid off on a board of {Q-Diamonds}{7-Spades}{5-Spades}{6-Clubs}{4-Clubs} and showed {10-Hearts}{8-Hearts} for a straight, Foxen mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Benjamin Pollak fr
Benjamin Pollak
2,500,000
-430,000
-430,000
Profile photo of Jean-Noel Thorel fr
Jean-Noel Thorel
1,800,000
300,000
300,000
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
1,300,000
-400,000
-400,000
Chip Leader Coaching
Profile photo of Ryan Riess us
Ryan Riess
875,000
25,000
25,000

Tags: Alex FoxenBenjamin PollakJean-Noel ThorelRyan Riess

Mikalai Vaskaboinikau Elkiminated in 5th Place (€267,800)

Level 17 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau

Within two hands, Mikalai Vaskaboinikau doubled and then busted to join the rail in 5th place.

Alex Foxen raised to 85,000 and Vaskaboinikau moved all in for 335,000, which Foxen called.

Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: {4-Spades}{4-Diamonds}
Alex Foxen: {A-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}

The board came {K-Clubs}{K-Spades}{9-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{2-Diamonds} and Vaskaboinikau doubled.

In the very next hand, he three-bet all in when facing the raise to 85,000 by Benjamin Pollak and the Frenchman quickly called.

Mikalai Vaskaboinikau: {A-Spades}{K-Diamonds}
Benjamin Pollak: {Q-Clubs}{Q-Diamonds}

This time, the Belarusian found no help on a board of {9-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{3-Spades}{6-Hearts}{9-Hearts} and headed to the rail in 5th place. Vaskaboinikau had won his seat for the event in a €5,200 Satellite the previous evening and turned that into a payday of €267,800.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Benjamin Pollak fr
Benjamin Pollak
2,930,000
730,000
730,000
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
1,700,000
-350,000
-350,000
Chip Leader Coaching
Profile photo of Mikalai Vaskaboinikau by
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau
Busted

Tags: Alex FoxenBenjamin PollakMikalai Vaskaboinikau

Seth Davies Eliminated in 6th Place (€207,500)

Level 17 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Seth Davies
Seth Davies

Alex Foxen raised to 85,000 and Seth Davies defended the big blind to see a flop of {K-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}. Davies checked, Foxen bet 105,000 and Davies check-raised to 210,000. Foxen moved all in and Davies called it off.

Seth Davies: {K-Spades}{7-Clubs}
Alex Foxen: {A-Diamonds}{A-Spades}

The {8-Spades} turn and {6-Hearts} river brought no help for Davies and he was eliminated in 6th place for €207,500.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
2,050,000
750,000
750,000
Chip Leader Coaching
Profile photo of Seth Davies us
Seth Davies
Busted

Tags: Alex FoxenSeth Davies

Riess Jams Into Foxen

Level 17 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Ryan Riess limped the small blind and Alex Foxen checked his option to a flop of {K-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{8-Hearts}. Riess checked, Foxen bet 55,000 only for Riess to check-raise all in. Foxen shook his head and folded.

Jean-Noel Thorel joined the action after the break and raised, and Riess called to see a flop of {A-Clubs}{K-Hearts}{2-Spades}. Both checked, Thorel bet the {Q-Diamonds} turn for 100,000 and Riess folded.

The next hand, Riess made it 80,000 from the cutoff and Benjamin Pollak called in the small blind. Thorel instantly three-bet to 500,000 and that won the pot without resistance.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jean-Noel Thorel fr
Jean-Noel Thorel
1,500,000
285,000
285,000
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
1,300,000
-140,000
-140,000
Chip Leader Coaching
Profile photo of Ryan Riess us
Ryan Riess
850,000
-80,000
-80,000

Tags: Alex FoxenBenjamin PollakRyan RiessJean-Noel Thorel