2024 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo
Samir Rahal was all in for 111,000 from middle position and up against Javier Caballo in the cutoff.
Samir Rahal: A♣Q♠
Javier Caballo: J♥J♦
Rahal was racing for his tournament life as the flop came 7♠A♦8♣. "Yes. So far," Rahal yelled out as he hit top pair. The turn was the 5♣ to keep him in the lead.
His optimism proved short-lived, however, as Caballo spiked the J♠ on the river to make a set and send Rahal to the rail.
Valeriano Toledano had opened from under the gun only for Javier Caballo to three-bet to 38,000 from the cutoff. Toledano four-bet shoved for roughly 330,000 and Caballo snap-called with a covering stack to put Toledano at risk.
Valeriano Toledano: A♦5♦
Javier Caballo: Q♦Q♣
Toledano was drawing dead by the turn on the J♠7♦4♣Q♠2♥ runout and made his exit from the tournament area while Caballo raked in a pot worth well over 100 big blinds.
Vladimir Troyanovskiy bet 25,000 from early position on a board of 6♣A♠2♥8♥ and Juan Baraza called in the big blind.
The river was the 10♥ and Troyanovskiy bet 200,000, enough to put Baraza all in. Baraza called for his last 70,000.
He showed A♣2♣ for two pair, but Troyanovskiy had 9♣7♣ for a rivered straight to send Baraza to the rail.
Stephane Guelpa opened to 12,000 from the button and Jeremie Zouari defended from the big blind.
The flop came J♥9♥2♦ and Zouari check-called an 11,000 continuation bet from Guelpa.
Zouari checked again on the 5♠ turn and Guelpa bet 15,000. Zouari put in a check-raise to 55,000 and Guelpa's hand hit the muck.
Dan Smith opened to 13,000 from under the gun and was called by Danut Chisu and Vahe Martirosyan from the cutoff and big blind.
The J♣10♥9♦ flop checked through to the 2♣ turn. Martirosyan led out for 22,000, pushing out Smith, Chisu then jammed for 76,000, and folded out his opponent after they used up a time bank.
Action folded to Claudio Di Giacomo in middle position, who moved all in for 72,000.
PokerStars Ambassador Elias Gutierrez was on the button and asked for a count, before calling. All other players folded.
Claudio Di Giacomo: A♦10♦
Elias Gutierrez: Q♠Q♦
Di Giacomo was in trouble versus Gutierrez's pocket queens and no help arrived on the 9♠8♥8♦3♥6♠ runout.
Demosthenes Kiriopoulos opened to 12,000 from the hijack and Jonathan Pastore defended from the big blind.
The flop came K♠Q♣6♠ and Pastore check-called a 9,000 continuation bet from Kiriopoulos.
Both players checked the 9♣ turn leading to the 8♠ river. Pastore bet 10,000, Kiriopoulos raised to 60,000 and Pastore quickly called.
Kiriopoulos tabled Q♥8♥ for two pair but Pastore showed down K♥6♦ for a bigger two pair to take down a healthy pot.
Heads-up on a flop of K♣9♥5♠, Danilo Velasevic bet 38,000 from the cutoff, Derk van Luijk raised to 175,000 under the gun, and Velasevic called.
The turn was the 3♥ and van Luijk moved all in. Velasevic pondered the decision for around 30 seconds before calling for 179,000.
He showed A♥A♣, while van Luijk had A♦K♠. The river was the 5♥ and Velasevic's aces held up to earn him a massive double up.
After the hand, tablemate Boris Angelov picked up Velasevic's aces and pretended to put them under his sleeve.
"Easy life," Velasevic joked with Angelov.
Hrayr Grigoryan moved all in for his last 50,000 from early position and Silviu Baltateanu called in the hijack.
Hrayr Grigoryan: K♠Q♦
Silviu Baltateanu: Q♠Q♣
Grigoryan needed help as Baltateanu turned over a pair of queens, but none arrived on the 8♣4♦7♣10♦3♦ board and Balteatanu sent him to the rail.