2026 EPT Monte Carlo Hands of the Week: Incredible Cooler Crushes Former Champ’s Dream in Main Event

The 2026 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) lately wrapped up its cease in Monte-Carlo. Whereas there, PokerNews supplied dwell updates from the €5,300 Major Occasion, which attracted a report 1,011 entries and awarded €4,903,350 in prize cash. All through the match, PokerNews captured some massive, attention-grabbing, and game-changing arms, a few of that are highlighted beneath.

Morgan Aceto Bubbles EPT Monte-Carlo Major Occasion

On Day 2, reporter Stewart Morrison caught the bubble hand, which happened in Degree 15 (2,000/4,000/4,000). Left with only one 1,000 chip, Morgan Aceto was compelled all in from the small blind. When the motion folded to Fabian Berraboukh within the hijack, he moved all in for 49,000, which no person referred to as.

Morgan Aceto: J♠6♣ Fabian Berraboukh: Ok♥Ok♣

An already troublesome job grew to become tougher when the ten♠3♦10♦ flop left Aceto, requiring working playing cards to outlive.

The three♥ flip sealed the deal, confirming Aceto’s elimination earlier than the 9♣ river had even been dealt.

Lasouski on Piles After Hero-Name in 5-Wager Pot

On Day 3 in the identical stage, reporter Frank Visser watched Gianluca Cedolia open to eight,000 below the gun. Hugo Blaison made it 24,000 within the cutoff earlier than Artsiom Lasouski four-bet to 51,000 on the button. Cedolia instantly bought out of the way in which, however Blaison clicked it again to 95,000.

Lasouski confirmed the quantity earlier than calling, and the 4♣5♠2♣ flop was fanned. Blaison continued for 27,000, which Lasouski referred to as. Blaison sized as much as 102,000 on the 9♦ flip, however was nonetheless unable to shake his opponent as Lasouski referred to as once more.

The river fell the 6♣. Blaison moved all in, protecting Lasouski’s 175,000 remaining chips. Lasouski went deep into the tank, however ultimately tossed a single chip within the center to sign a name.

Blaison tabled A♠10♣ for simply ace-high, prompting Lasouski to triumphantly present 8♥8♦. His pair of eights gained him the large pot value greater than 200 massive blinds, and noticed him ascend to be among the many leaders within the room.

Sirghi Cracks Aces in Three-Means Conflict, Heath Left Brief

In one other Day 3 hand reported by Visser, it was Degree 17 (3,000/6,000/6,000) when massive blind Sergiu Sirghi, Andras Nemeth within the hijack, and Ben Heath on the button bought all their chips within the center preflop. Sirghi performed 69,000, and Nemeth was in danger in opposition to Heath for his stack of 311,000.

Sergiu Sirghi: A♦Ok♦Andras Nemeth: A♠A♣Ben Heath: J♠J♥

Sirghi flopped the nut flush on 6♦8♦5♦. The 5♣ flip gave each Nemeth and Heath outs, however the river fell the innocuous 7♠, deciding the pot in Sirghi’s favor.

He tripled as much as a stack of round 35 massive blinds, whereas Nemeth shipped the massive aspect pot together with his aces. Heath paid each opponents and was left with simply over 20 massive blinds heading into the break.

Mestre’s Large Name Wins Largest Pot of Event

One stage later in Degree 18 (4,000/8,000/8,000), Visser picked up the motion on a 6♠3♠5♠ flop, Yurii Zabrodotskyi wager 25,000 below the gun, and Workforce PokerStars Professional Raul Mestre raised to 85,000 within the hijack. Zabrodotskyi referred to as to the 7♥ flip, which each gamers checked.

Zabrodostkyi then made a gargantuan shove of 615,000 when the ten♣ river appeared, a wager value round 3 times the pot. Mestre went deep into the tank, speaking to himself whereas agonizing over his choice.

Ultimately, he slammed in a tower of chips to name. Zabrodotskyi may solely present ace-high with A♠9♣, and Mestre let loose a sigh of aid as he triumphantly confirmed 4♠4♥ for a straight.

Zabrodotskyi hurried out of the match space, whereas Mestre stacked up his new chips and retook his lead over the remainder of the sphere.

Unbelievable Cooler Crushes Van Luijk’s Goals

On Day 4 in Degree 20 (6,000/12,000/12,000), Visser reported that 2024 EPT Monte Carlo champ Derk van Luijk and Jason Wheeler had created a pot of 375,000 within the blinds after they went to the A♣4♣2♥2♣9♠ river. After some thought, Van Luijk moved his remaining 214,000 all in, solely to be snap-called by Wheeler.

Van Luijk confidently tabled 4♠4♥ for a full home, however Wheeler turned quad deuces together with his 2♠2♦ to win the pot.

A surprised Van Luijk was despatched to the payout desk, dashing his hopes of including one other EPT Monte-Carlo title to his resume. In the meantime, Wheeler chipped as much as cross the seven-figure mark.

PR & Media Supervisor for PokerNews, host of each the PokerNews Podcast & MPST Podcast Introduced By PokerNews, and 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.