PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final

Day 5 Completed

04-18-2008 01:46 UTC+1

Au Revoir, Monte Carlo!

[user67765]

A record 842 players took to the felt earlier this week and after 13 hours of play today we finally crowned a champion, Canadian Glen Chorny. Glen entered the final table with the chip lead and held it for most of the day to finally emerge victorious and become the 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final Champion.

Chorny earned an astounding $3,198,500 for his win, the largest prize ever handed out at a European poker tournament.

Congratulations to all the final table participants for a fantastic tournament and a grueling yet entertaining day of poker today.

That wraps up our coverage from beautiful Monte Carlo. Our next stop on the tournament trail lands us in Salzberg, Austria for the PokerNews Cup - we look forward to your company then!

04-18-2008 01:41 UTC+1

Hand #274 - Glen Chorny Wins the 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final ($3,198,500), Denes Kalo Eliminated in 2nd Place ($1,866,790)

[user25067]

Denes Kalo has the button He raises to 300,000, Glen Chorny moves all in and Kalo calls.

Kalo: {K-Hearts}

Chorny:

The flop is {A-Spades}

pairing Chorny's ace. The turn is the {6-Diamonds}

, the river is the {10-Diamonds}

, and after only a two-hand heads-up match, Chorny is our 2008 PokerStars EPT Grand Final champion, winning $3,198,500!

Denes Kalo makes his second runner-up finish on the EPT this season, collecting a $1,866,790 payday.

04-18-2008 01:34 UTC+1

Hand #273 - Denes Kalo

[user38449]

Glen Chorny folds his small blind and gives Denes Kalo a walk.

04-18-2008 01:29 UTC+1

Glen Chorny vs. Denes Kalo for the Title

[user38449]

The recent elimination of Canadian Maxime Villemure has set up a heads-up match between Glen Chorny and Denes Kalo. Chorny enters the final duel with a towering 9-to-1 chip lead over his Hungarian foe:

Glen Chorny - 11,360,000
Denes Kalo - 1,265,000

Ironically enough, Kalo finished second to Julian Thew earlier this year at EPT Baden, and while we're not doubting Kalo's comeback skills, it looks as if he's headed in that same direction today.

Stay tuned for the conclusion...

04-18-2008 01:26 UTC+1

Heads-Up

[user25067]

The clock has been paused while the players take a short break before heads-up play commences.

04-18-2008 01:24 UTC+1

Hand #272 - Maxime Villemure Eliminated in 3rd Place ($1,132,107)

[user67765]

The button is with Denes Kalo in Seat 1.

Maxime Villemure completes from the small blind and Glen Chorny checks his option in the big blind.

The action checks through to the turn on a board of {10-Hearts}

, where Villemure check-calls the 200,000 bet from Chorny. The river lands the {9-Diamonds}

and Villemure this time leads out with a 550,000 bet into the middle. Villemure is noticeably coughing during this hand. Chorny suddenly comes over the top all in and Villemure insta-calls.

Villemure: {Q-Hearts}

Chorny:

Both players show a straight but Chorny holds the nut straight, which sees an unfortunate Maxime Villemure sent home after a courageous five days of play in third place for a tidy payday of $1,132,107.

Tags: Maxime Villemure

04-18-2008 01:20 UTC+1

Hand #271 - Glen Chorny

[user38449]

Glen Chorny has the button in Seat 7 and opens with a standard raise, effectively stealing the blinds and antes.

04-18-2008 01:18 UTC+1

Hand #270 - Denes Kalo

[user25067]

Maxime Villemure has the button in Seat 6. All three players limp and see a flop of {J-Spades}

. Action is checked to Villemure, who bets 250,000. Chorny folds and Kalo raises to 580,000, Chorny folds and Kalo wins the pot. He shows 10-8.

04-18-2008 01:15 UTC+1

Too Passive?

[user67765]

Compared to the usual aggressive style we see at a modern-day poker table, the three remaining players are currently playing passively. The deep stacks and good structures mean that no one feels the need to force the action or play too aggressively, preferring to sit back and wait for premium hands or draws before committing any significant portion of their stacks. Perhaps the player who starts to get aggressive here and takes control will emerge victorious from this tight battle.