€1,100 FPS Main Event
Day 4 Completed
2024 PokerStars EPT Paris
€1,100 FPS Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
2024 PokerStars EPT Paris
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€3,983,040
Entries
4,149
Level
43
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,500,000
Ante
2,500,000
Entries
6
Players Left
1
Level 43
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
The €1,100 PokerStars France Poker Series Main Event was a four-day grind of focus and determination at Le Palais des Congrès, where players were looking to outlast the largest FPS field ever and earn a coveted trophy at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris.
Of course, a little luck doesn’t hurt either. After six opening flights, the massive field finally combined for Day 2, where title contenders would separate themselves from the pack. Of the 619 who returned from the starting field of 4,149 entries, Mateusz Moolhuizen began that day as one of the short stacks. Almost 60 hours later, the Dutchman was celebrating with fiancée and fellow poker pro Dehlia de Jong.
“It's like a dream, to be honest, because I started Day 2 with six big blinds,” Moolhuizen said after his trophy ceremony. “People came to me and they're like, how are you doing in the main? Well, I'm going to be there two or three minutes and then I'm going to have breakfast.” But those plans changed quickly, as Moolhuizen recalled. “After two hours I had 70, 80 big blinds and I was very, very hungry. So yeah, I had an insane run. Obviously, I was very lucky.”
Luck was only part of the equation, as the 34-year-old used a timely bluff and a fortunate run of cards to add this title to an impressive poker resume. Moolhuizen's list of career wins includes victories over other large fields, but it marks his first in a PokerStars Main Event.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mateusz Moolhuizen | Netherlands | €470,830 |
| 2 | Blaz Zerjav | Slovenia | €294,530 |
| 3 | Yassine Baqal | France | €210,220 |
| 4 | Enis Rouissi | France | €161,710 |
| 5 | Kacper Pyzara | Poland | €124,390 |
| 6 | Scott Margereson | United Kingdom | €95,680 |
| 7 | Pierre Merlin | France | €73,580 |
| 8 | Julien Duveau | France | €56,590 |
| 9 | Pietro Corsi | Italy | €43,540 |
Winner’s Reaction
The record-breaking field this week generated a whopping €3,983,040 prize pool, and the final six players entered Day 4 ready to battle for the title. Moolhuizen sat third in chips to start, but was able to navigate his way to the win. He was admitted tired after a long session to bag the previous night, and did not get much rest ahead of the final day.
“I couldn't sleep,” said Moolhuizen, “I slept like, four hours. But the adrenaline just keeps you going anyway, right?” Not only was he able to stay awake, but the newly crowned champion also used meditation to control the adrenaline. “I'll be very honest. I don't do it enough. But it's good to keep calm.”
With his fiancée cheering from the rail, Moolhuizen gave the couple one reason to feel more attached to the host city of Paris. Another will come in just a few months. “I mean, it's the city of love and getting married in France” he explained. “It's amazing. That's the story for sure, for sure.”
Final Table Action
The final table marked the start of the PokerStars livestream here in Paris, and action was quick right from the start. Less than 30 minutes into the day, Moolhuizen scored the first knockout. Scott Margereson entered as the short stack and was unable to catch a set before exiting in sixth place.
From there, things slowed down until Kacper Pyzara got unlucky against start-of-day chip leader Enis Rouissi to finish in fifth position. Despite entering the day with a commanding advantage, Rouissi was the next to go in fourth when his queens ran into the kings of Blaz Zerjav.
Throughout much of the day, Yassine Baqal was on a short stack but managed to survive four consecutive all-ins. The last two came at the expense of Zerjav, but the Slovenian pro finally got his revenge and sent Baqal home in third place.
Heads Up Play
That left Moolhuizen and Zerjav to fight for the title, and the two had tangled in a key pot hours earlier. Moolhuizen got a bluff through after risking almost his entire stack, propelling him back into contention at that point.
The heads-up battle began with virtually even stacks, and the two combatants traded the lead before Moolhuizen was able to pull away. A key turn card left the Dutchman with a massive chip advantage, and the stacks were all in soon after with Zerjav coming up short.
With a big victory under his belt here in Paris, Moolhuizen will try to get some rest before jumping into the EPT Main Event. “Tomorrow, I'll be definitely tired,” he said before leaving the feature table stage. “I'm not looking forward to playing tomorrow now, a day later. It's a position everybody wants to be in, but I'll probably be less talkative tomorrow on the table.” Perhaps his play can do the talking again, as he begins the quest for a rare double at an EPT stop.
This concludes the PokerNews coverage of the FPS Main Event, but our live reporting from Paris continues. Check out our event hub for all of the action at Le Palais des Congrès, and look out for coverage of major events elsewhere around the poker world.
Level 43
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
Mateusz Moolhuizen shoved on the button and was quickly called by Blaz Zerjav in the big blind.
Blaz Zerjav: K♠Q♦
Mateusz Moolhuizen: A♠7♥
Zerjav needed help but was unable to run down the ace-high of Moolhuizen, who improved to a flush after the 10♥5♥5♦6♥2♥ runout. Zerjav had to settle for a runner-up finish, as Moolhuizen took down the title.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
125,000,000
29,300,000
|
29,300,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 43
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,500,000, 2,500,000 ante
Blaz Zerjav limped on the button with Q♥4♣ and Mateusz Moolhuizen tapped the table holding K♣10♥ in the big blind.
Moolhuizen checked the 9♥4♥3♣ flop before Zerjav fired 2,500,000. Moolhuizen then check-raised to 6,500,000 and Zerjav made the call.
The 10♦ turn swung the advantage and Moolhuizen took some time before betting 12,000,000. Zerjav called to see the 2♣ river.
Moolhuizen moved all in, leaving Zerjav with a decision for his tournament life. Zerjav went into the tank for several minutes, chatting with Moolhuizen while pondering his decision.
Zerjav ultimately decided to fold, as Moolhuizen took a commanding chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
95,700,000
21,000,000
|
21,000,000 |
|
|
27,800,000
-22,000,000
|
-22,000,000 |
Level: 43
Blinds: 1,000,000/2,500,000
Ante: 2,500,000
Level 42
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Mateusz Moolhuizen called on the button with 9♠8♠ and called after Blaz Zerjav raised to 7,000,000 with K♥4♣ in the big blind.
The flop of 2♣J♦9♦ saw both players check. The dealer then slid out the 3♣ turn, where Zerjav checked once again. Moolhuizen lid out a tower of chips amounting to 14,000,000.
Zerjav quickly folded and Moolhuizen extended his chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
74,700,000
9,000,000
|
9,000,000 |
|
|
49,800,000
-9,000,000
|
-9,000,000 |
Level 42
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
After slowly losing some ground, Blaz Zerjav called on the button with J♣3♣. Mateusz Moolhuizen checked holding A♦8♦ in the big blind.
Both players checked the 9♦10♠3♠ flop and the dealer revealed the 10♣ turn. Moolhuizen checked and made the call after Zerjav fired 4,000,000.
The river brought the J♠, as Moolhuizen checked once more. Zerjav slid out a bet of 10,500,000 and Moolhuizen made the call. Zerjav showed his superior two pair to take down a big pot and climb back to almost even.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
65,700,000
-4,000,000
|
-4,000,000 |
|
|
58,800,000
4,000,000
|
4,000,000 |
Level 42
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Mateusz Moolhuizen limped on the button with Q♠3♦ and Blaz Zerjav checked his big blind option holding 5♣3♥.
The A♥J♥9♥ flop saw Zerjav check-call a bet of 2,000,000 from Moolhuizen, with the 4♦ falling on the turn. Both players checked to the J♠ river.
Zerjav took some time before sliding out a bet of 8,000,000. Moolhuizen considered his options before finally making the lay down, as Zerjav closed the gap.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
69,700,000
-4,000,000
|
-4,000,000 |
|
|
54,800,000
4,000,000
|
4,000,000 |
Level 42
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Blaz Zerjav limped on the button with A♥K♦ and Mateusz Moolhuizen checked his option with 8♣5♦ in the big blind.
Moolhuizen checked after connecting big on the J♥5♠5♣ flop. Zerjav fired 2,000,000 and made the call after Moolhuizen check-raised to 5,000,000.
The 6♦ turn saw Moolhuizen take his time before leading out for 8,000,000. Zerjav made the call to see the 7♠ river. Moolhuizen again fired 8,000,000 and Zerjav took a few minutes before making the fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
73,700,000
15,000,000
|
15,000,000 |
|
|
50,800,000
-15,000,000
|
-15,000,000 |
Level 42
: Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Mateusz Moolhuizen opened to 4,000,000 with K♠7♣ on the button before Blaz Zerjav shoved with K♥Q♠.
Moolhuizen let his hand go as Zerjav took a slight chip advantage to begin heads up play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
65,800,000
4,000,000
|
4,000,000 |
|
|
58,700,000
-4,000,000
|
-4,000,000 |