$5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1a | 2024 PokerStars EPT Cyprus

10-14-2024 17:19 UTC+2

Hallaert Wins a Flip Against Chouity

Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Nicolas Chouity opened the hijack to 1,400 and Dmitry Zakharov called from the cutoff before Kenny Hallaert three-bet from the big blind to 7,000. Chouity then put in a four-bet to 14,000, which got Zakharov to fold, then Hallaert was left with a decision.

"I'm not folding," said Chouity.

"I know," replied Hallaert, who then shoved for around 25,000 total. Chouity quickly called.

Kenny Hallaert: A♣Q♠ All in
Nicolas Chouity: 10♣10♠

It was a classic flip and Hallaert took the lead on the 3♥A♥7♦ flop, as he paired his ace. An 8♦ on the turn didn't change anything, and neither did the 6♥ river, which meant Hallaert doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kenny Hallaert	55,000 32,000	32,000

Dmitry Zakharov	50,000 -10,000	-10,000
Nicolas Chouity	30,000 -4,000	-4,000

Tags: Dmitry Zakharov Kenny Hallaert Nicolas Chouity

10-14-2024 16:37 UTC+2

Tamm Finds River Hero Call

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Richard Hayes

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Taago Tamm opened to 1,100 under the gun, and received a call from Suhan Guler in the next seat.

On the 9♣8♥8♦ flop, Tamm continued with a bet of 800, receiving a call from Guler.

The 4♥ hit on the turn, and Tamm fired again with a bet of 2,300, which Guler again called.

The 9♦ river brought a double-paired board, and Tamm checked. Guler fired out a bet of 7,200, and after a brief period of thought, Tamm made the call.

Guler frowned and tabled 5♥5♣, his pocket pair having been counterfeited, and playing two pair, nines and eights, with a five kicker, marginally better than the board.

Any card above a five would do for Tamm, and he showed K♥Q♦ for two pair, nines and eights, with a king kicker, sending him the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Taago Tamm	48,000 18,000	18,000
Suhan Guler	37,000 37,000	37,000

Tags: Suhan Guler Taago Tamm

10-14-2024 16:35 UTC+2

Talbot's Fortune Changes in the Space of Two Hands, Kaukua Surges Up the Leaderboard

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

After just winning a big pot, Parker Talbot is no longer in the Main Event!

Talbot was seen wishing his tablemates good luck with all of his chips going to Toni Kaukua on his right. The board read 8♠3♦A♥3♥9♠ and the chips had been piled into the middle by the time they got to showdown. Talbot showed AxKx, but he was beaten by the 8♥8♦ of Kaukua, who had flopped a set and turned a full house.

Talbot, who was sitting very comfortably with around 85,000 the hand prior, is now eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toni Kaukua	180,000 75,800	75,800
Parker Talbot	Busted

Tags: Parker Talbot Toni Kaukua

10-14-2024 16:26 UTC+2

Korzinin Coolered by Abdellatif

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Richard Hayes

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Action folded to Ahmed Abdellatif on the button, who opened to 1,300. Vladimir Korzinin, fresh off a third place finish in the $10,200 Mystery Bounty, was in the small blind and he produced a three-bet to 3,200.

Action back to Abdellatif, who reached for chips and produced a four-bet to 10,300. Korzinin quickly got the remainder of his 30,000 stack in the middle, and Abdellatif snapped.

Vladimir Korzinin: K♠K♥ All in
Ahmed Abdellatif: A♠A♥

In a brutal button versus small blind spot, Korzinin's cowboys had run straight into Abdellatif's rockets, and no unlikely escape was provided for the Estonian by the J♦6♥5♠6♣3♥ runout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ahmed Abdellatif	132,000 39,500	39,500
Vladimir Korzinin	Busted

Tags: Ahmed Abdellatif Vladimir Korzinin

10-14-2024 16:12 UTC+2

Talbot Binks River and Gets Paid

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Richard Hayes

Level 5 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Arsenii Karmatckii opened to 1,100 from the hijack and received calls from Parker Talbot on the button, and Dinesh Alt in the big blind.

On the 9♣3♣3♠ flop, action was checked to Talbot, who fired out a bet of 500. Only Alt called.

The turn brought the 2♣, and Alt again check-called versus a bet of 2,100 from Talbot.

The A♣ river completed the board, and Alt checked for a third time. Talbot fired out a bet of 13,700, and after a brief period of thought, Alt made the call.

Talbot tabled K♣10♠ for the rivered nut flush and he scooped a decent pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Parker Talbot	43,500 13,500	13,500

Dinesh Alt	30,000 30,000	30,000
Arsenii Karmatckii	28,900 28,900	28,900

Tags: Arsenii Karmatckii Dinesh Alt Parker Talbot

10-14-2024 15:18 UTC+2

Full House Crushes Trips: Gutierrez Doubles Up

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Sava Krink

Level 4 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

With about 4,300 in the pot and the board showing 7♦9♦6♦7♥, Apoorva Goel, first to act, checked. Elias Gutierrez responded with a bet of 3,500. Goel took his time, contemplating his next move, before deciding to go all in. Gutierrez snap-called.

Goel revealed 10♥7♣ for trip sevens, while Gutierrez held 9♥9♣ for a full house. The only card that could save Goel was the last remaining seven in the deck, but the dealer revealed the Q♠ on the river, securing the double-up for Gutierrez.

Player	Chips	Progress
Elias Gutierrez	30,300 30,300	30,300

Apoorva Goel	21,200 21,200	21,200

Tags: Apoorva Goel Elias Gutierrez

10-14-2024 15:08 UTC+2

Shark Attack! Palma Devours Gabdullin's Jack-Ten with All-In Bite

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

Level 4 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Jose Valls Rebollar made it 900 from the hijack and Damir Gabdullin three-bet the cutoff to 3,000. Nick Palma was on the button and pushed all of his 18,500 chips into the middle while holding a stuff shark toy and repeating "The shark is coming, the shark is coming,".

Rebollar got out of the way, and after a few moments contemplating, Gabdullin stuck in the call.

Nick Palma: J♠J♥ All in
Damir Gabdullin: J♣10♣

Gabdullin didn't like what he saw and didn't pick up much hope with the 4♥Q♠2♠ flop, which left him needing to hit running cards to eliminate Palma. However, the 4♠10♥ runout locked up the pot for Palma, who celebrated with his shark toy.

"Yum, yum, yum," said Palma while his shark toy went on a feeding frenzy with the chips he just won.

"This guy thinks he can KO me with jack-ten? I flew here for this. He calls with jack-ten? I mean I'd swim here for this!" Palma continued.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fahredin Mustafov	60,000 60,000	60,000

Damir Gabdullin	45,000 45,000	45,000
Nick Palma	40,000 40,000	40,000
Ihar Soika	1,000 1,000	1,000

Tags: Damir Gabdullin Jose Valls Rebollar Nick Palma

10-14-2024 14:35 UTC+2

Sevens Good at Showdown For Gadzhiev

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

Level 4 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Roman Gadzhiev raised to 900 from under the gun and got called by both Stefanos Kehagias & Yulian Bogdanov before Nicolas Chouity three-bet the button to 4,600. Gadzhiev called, and both Kehagias & Bogdanov folded.

On the flop of 5♥6♦6♠, Gadzhiev check-called a bet of 3,300 from Chouity to the 8♦ turn, which went check-check.

The river brought a 2♦ which was again checked through, and Gadzhiev showed a pair of sevens with 7♥7♣. Chouity rechecked his cards then tossed them in the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roman Gadzhiev	60,000 1,000	1,000
Nicolas Chouity	34,000 -8,000	-8,000

Stefanos Kehagias	30,000 30,000	30,000
Yulian Bogdanov	25,000 25,000	25,000
Kenny Hallaert	23,000 4,500	4,500

Tags: Nicolas Chouity Roman Gadzhiev Stefanos Kehagias Yulian Bogdanov

10-14-2024 14:20 UTC+2

Sarkis Gets Instant Service, Stacks Sipavicius

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

With around 15,000 chips in the pot on a board of Q♥7♠8♥, Aurelijus Sipavicius had fired a bet of 6,000, and Wael Sarkis raised to 13,000. Sipavicius then took his time before he put in a flop three-bet to 25,000, then Sarkis shoved for almost 40,000. Sipavicious only had around 10,000 behind, and didn't immediately call

"Come on, you only have that back and you are tanking," remarked Sarkis . Eventually Sipavicius did call off the remainder of his stack, which left him at risk.

Aurelijus Sipavicius: K♠K♣ All in
Wael Sarkis: A♥7♥

Sarkis had a pair plus the nut flush draw and needed to crack the pocket kings of Sipavicius with two cards to come. Fortunately for Sarkis , he only needed one card as the 4♥ turn gave him an unbeatable flush, which left Sipavicius drawing dead. The 4♦ river was just a formality, and Sarkis scooped in the pot as Sipavicius vacated his seat.

Player	Chips	Progress
Wael Sarkis	90,000
Evgenii Ushakov	37,000 -13,600	-13,600
Ryan Mandara	36,000 -14,100	-14,100
Stephen Song	35,000 5,000	5,000

Barny Boatman	33,000 5,000	5,000

Aurelijus Sipavicius	Busted

Tags: Aurelijus Sipavicius Wael Sarkis

10-14-2024 14:17 UTC+2

Song Takes Most of Toujani's Stack

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Matt Warburton

Level 3 : Blinds 100/300, 300 ante

Action was on the turn on a board of 5♦10♠6♠K♣ and Yunkyu Song checked. Fouad Toujani moved all in, which prompted Song to stand up and put his jacket on, surely a mistake in the blistering heat of the room as the air conditioning had only just kicked in.

Song made the call for 28,200. Toujani flipped over A♥Q♥ for a bluff with ace-high and Song had K♠Q♠ for a pair of kings.

"50-50," said Song.

The river came the 8♥ and Song held to win the pot and double up his stack, taking most of Toujani's stack in the process.