EPT Grand Final Monte Carlo
Day 4

32 players remain in the deciding leg of the Monte Carlo EPT, the final leg of the poker tour. Today will see the steady demise of just over 20 players leaving with a final table of eight going into day five. Monaco has really adapted to the poker playing community since the EPT rolled into town. Poker is getting big and with nearly 3 times as many participants this year than last, poker is here to stay.

Andy Black came into today as chip leader just like he did yesterday. The colourful Irishman not sporting the mow hog this weekend that caught many an eye at this years William Hill grand prix, Black was back and he meant business this week. His hair was back too, thankfully. There was a job to do here in Monte Carlo and Andy had his sight set on the final table. On the feature table for most of the day did little to unnerve or intimidate the confident and chatty the Buddhist activist. He has learned to express himself and interact with the others around him. He has an n air of confidence that exudes itself onto the table. He used this to devastating effect today, thus seeing him thought the day and into the final day. Andy got through the day but with a few battle scars to show for it. He will start tomorrow’s action sixth in chips with 683,000.

Another popular player who went into today’s action was former World Series champ Carlo Mortonsen. The tricky Spaniard played a solid game for most of the day but was nursing a short stack for the most part. The long day was not beyond him and he fought like only champs do for most of the day. Winning plenty of small pots and stealing the antes was the order of the day for this cool customer. As nightfall drew and things were getting desperate Carlos managed a timely double up. The classic match-up of AQ vs. 99 favoured the over cards this time despite a healthy flop for the pocket pair. The Spaniard spiked an ace on the river and got back some breathing room. His joy was short lived however and before long Mortonsen was left scratching his head again. His opponents straight made him head for the door. His 11th place finish this weekend did still earn him €66,360 for his troubles.

12th place finisher David Peters will be most disappointed with his elimination. Getting all your chips in the centre pre-flop with pocket kings and losing is tough to take. AQ doing the damage as Peters’ opponent Alex Kim hit his ace on the window card of the flop. Peters received the same token for his efforts as Mortensen, a bounty of just over sixty-six grand. It was Kim who went on to finish on the final table bubble for just under one hundred thousand. Both Gavin Griffith and Marc Karem quickly called his push all-in and checked down the board. Kim’s A9 suited beaten by the big hand buster itself J10. The final table was upon us.

With 9 players remaining only one more player would be allowed be eliminated today to leave eight going into the final day as per EPT rules. The last day always consists of eight rather than nine on the deciding final table. We’re in the EU here not the US! Dutchman Eric Van Der Burg was the target as his short-stack was the most vulnerable at the table. So much so that many predicted he was all-in with pretty much any hand. He needed chips and the blinds were coming towards his very weak stack.

Van Der Burg pushing all-in over an initial raiser’s A5 suited with AQ. The man from Holland was rather unlucky when his opponents suited cards developed into a flush and giving him the pot. Eric was eliminated in 9th and received €99,550 for his troubles.

So with only one day left, eight players remain in the hunt to become EPT champion 2007. Gavin Griffin is in pole position, as he will start tomorrow’s action as chip leader with over 2,500,000 in chips. It remains to be seen if the American can see out his advantage and land the coveted prize. All the answers will be found tomorrow.