Seat 4: Jonathan Pastore, 29, Le Mans, France (lives in Mexico) – 3,350,000
Jonathan Pastore, originally from Le Mans, France, has been a dedicated PokerStars player for a decade, initially on the .fr client and, after relocating to Malta, within the global .com player pool. He now resides in Mexico among a community of French professional poker players.
Pastore's poker journey began in small clubs and gradually progressed to the professional circuit. His career reached new heights in 2022 when he secured a WSOP bracelet in a $5,000 buy-in 6-max event in Las Vegas. A few months later, he achieved a runner-up finish at the WSOP Europe Main Event in Rozvadov, accumulating over $1.6 million in earnings within just five months.
Beyond the poker tables, Pastore is passionate about tennis, a sport he considered pursuing at a professional coaching level. However, during the Covid years, he fully committed to poker and also became a coach for various French poker stables.
Prior to this tournament, Pastore's results in EPT events had been modest, with only one previous Main Event cash. Now at the final table, he has the opportunity to add a prestigious EPT title to his achievements. “My mother will probably come tomorrow,” he mentioned, indicating that she, along with his friends, will be supporting him from the rail.