Gabi Livshitz has been playing mind sports since he was a child. He started with chess when he turned five. Since then, he's made it to the high ranks of most talented chess players, earning the International Master title back in 2002. His current ELO rating is 2,446.
More importantly, though, Livshitz has been able to adapt his skills to excel in poker like several other chess competitors, such as PokerStars AmbassadorJen Shahade. Livshitz has been pretty good at playing cards, having accumulated $1.6 million in career earnings.
Ranked tenth on the Israeli all-time money list, Livshitz has already been to an EPT Main Event final table (fourth for €316,780 at EPT Prague 2019). While he won't top that score here at FPS Monte Carlo, the 39-year-old can get quite close to matching his best result.
As the prestigious 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Monte Carlo reaches its climactic stages, six finalists have emerged in the €1,100 FPS Main Event, which plays inside the opulent Sporting Monte-Carlo.
These competitors have navigated through a massive field and are now each guaranteed at least €61,520. However, all eyes are on the top prize of €303,190, which will be decided later on today.
Final Table Payouts
Place
Prize
1
€303,190
2
€189,220
3
€135,160
4
€103,970
5
€79,980
6
€61,520
Meet the Finalists
Gabi Livshitz
Gabi Livshitz from Ashkelon, Israel, enters the final table with 6,050,000 in chips. An accomplished chess International Master with a rich background in mind sports, Livshitz has skillfully transferred his strategic acumen to poker. With $1.6 million in career poker earnings and a notable fourth-place finish at EPT Prague 2019, he is a formidable contender for the title.
Atanas Malinov, hailing from Bulgaria with a commanding 21,725,000 chip lead, has been a consistent figure on the European poker circuit for over a decade, accumulating more than $700,000 in winnings. With a history of significant online and live tournament success, including a WCOOP title, Malinov is positioned as a strong favorite.
Virgile Turchi, the 24-year-old from Montpellier, France, now living in Liverpool, UK, holds 10,700,000 chips. A rising star in the poker world, Turchi's aggressive and adaptable play style helped him maintain momentum from an early chip lead, propelling him into his first major final table appearance.
Remy Murcia
Remy Murcia of Nice, France, brings local flavor to the final table with 4,325,000 chips. Transitioning from online arenas to the live tournament scene, Murcia's experiences in both local and international settings have prepared him well for his major final table debut.
Guillaume Nolet from Montréal, Canada, comes to the table with 10,500,000 chips. A veteran in high-stakes online poker with a history of substantial earnings, including a memorable run in the 2015 World Championship of Online Poker, Nolet's extensive experience makes him a serious contender.
Marco Gambini, the 49-year-old Italian, rounds out the final six with 9,525,000 chips. From a professional sommelier to a successful entrepreneur, Gambini's journey in poker mirrors his diverse career path, highlighted by his strategic prowess and timely luck at key moments in the tournament.
Day 3 Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Atanas Malinov
Bulgaria
21,725,000
72
2
Virgile Turchi
France
10,700,000
36
3
Guillaume Nolet
Canada
10,500,000
35
4
Marco Gambini
Italy
9,525,000
32
5
Gabi Livshitz
Israel
6,050,000
20
6
Remy Murcia
France
4,325,000
14
The action resumes with just 24 minutes left on Level 34, featuring blinds at 150,000-300,000 plus a 300,000 big blind ante. The final table will be streamed on a 30-minute delay by PokerStars starting at 1 p.m. local time.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you live updates and witness who will be crowned the champion out of this exciting and diverse field.
Gabi Livshitz jammed from the small blind K♥6♣ for 2,400,000. Atanas Malinov called in the big blind with A♦7♣. Livshitz became the favourite on the K♠Q♣3♣ flop and sealed the checkmark on the K♦ turn. The 10♥ completed the board, and Livshitz doubled up.
Marco Gambini made it 900,000 from the cutoff before Livshitz three-bet to 1,800,000 from the button. Malinov then moved all in from a small blind, which folded out Gambini, who had 5♥5♦. Livshitz snap-called off his stack of 5,200,000, and the cards went on their backs.
Gabi Livshitz: A♥A♦
Atanas Malinov: A♠K♥
Livshitz booked consecutive doubles through the chip leader after remaining best on the drama-free 10♦6♥2♦8♥2♥ runout.
The following hand, he picked up A♦Q♣ in the small blind and raised it to 1,300,000, which folded out Marco Gambini in the big blind.
Gabi Livshitz then received a walk in the big blind.
Virgile Turchi opened to 850,000 with from under the gun with Q♣J♥ and folded out his opponents.
Atanas Malinov
Atanas Malinov raised to 4,000,000 from the small blind with A♣3♦ and folded out Turchi in the big blind. After that, Malinov raised to 800,000 with K♥9♣. Turchi looked down at 4♥4♣ from the small blind and moved all in for 6,550,000. Nolet folded in the big blind, and Malinov also returned his cards to the dealer.
Back in the small blind, Nolet made it 1,200,000 from the small blind and pushed out Gambini in the big blind.
Atanas Malinov opened to 800,000 from under the gun with J♣6♣ and folded out the table. He then received a walk in the big blind the hand after.
Livshitz opened to 900,000 from the button with A♥9♣ and folded out the blinds.
Malinov got active again, waking up with A♣J♦, on the button and raising to 800,000. Nolet defended the big blind with Q♠7♠. Nolet check-folded to a bet of 850,000.
The following hand, Malinov made it 800,000 from the cutoff with 9♦7♥. Marco Gambini defended in the big blind with 5♠3♠. Gambini made two pair and just check-called for 700,000 on the Q♦5♦3♥ flop. The J♥ turn checked through to the 2♦ river. Gambini checked and Malinov didn't take the bait and checked behind with his nine-high.
Gabi Livshitz jammed for 4,550,000 from the small blind and was called by Atanas Malinov called from the big blind.
Gabi Livshitz: A♦Q♦
Atanas Malinov: A♣5♥
Malinov jumped into the lead on the J♥5♦4♦ flop, but Livshitz had a flush draw to leave him with plenty of equity. The A♥ turn kept Malinov ahead, and he secured the elimination after the A♠ river filled him up.
Atanas Malinov jammed as the big stack from the button and Guillaume Nolet committed his stack of 4,950,000 from the big blind.
Guillaume Nolet: A♥J♦
Atanas Malinov: J♥6♥
The deck continued to be unkind to Nolet as Malinov found his three-outer on the 10♠6♦4♠ flop. The 6♣ turn was the final nail in the Canadian's coffin. The 10♣ completed the board to leave the tournament with its final three players.
Atanas Malinov jammed from the button and Marco Gambini called off his stack of 7,550,000 from the big blind.
Marco Gambini: A♣9♠
Atanas Malinov: 4♥4♣
Gambini paired up on the 9♣3♦2♣ to take the lead and was one card away from doubling up after the 6♥ turn. However, the 4♦ river gave Malinov a set to bring the tournament to heads-up play.
Atanas Malinov shoved on the button and Virgile Turchi made the quick call in the big blind.
Virgile Turchi: K♣7♥
Atanas Malinov: 10♠7♠
Turchi was in a dominant position as the cards were revealed, but Malinov found a pair on the 8♣6♥10♦ flop. The 4♣ turn changed nothing, while the 6♣ clinched the final hand for Malinov.
Turchi was eliminated in second place for €189,220, as Malinov claimed the FPS Main Event title.
