A sight the other players surely won't want to see is Dan Colman chipping up, but that's exactly what's happening as the famed high roller came in under 15 big blinds but has about 40 now. In one recent pot, he checked from the blinds on a flop and then check-raised to 4,500 after his opponent put in a bet of 1,800. That player conceded the pot, and Colman could be building toward another big run to add to his $28 million in cashes.
Maria Ho opened to 2,300 in the hijack in a hand with a dead button, and Mark Teltscher three-bet it to 6,500 on her left. Ho called, and the flop came . She check-called 5,500, and the turn was an . Ho checked again, this time calling 12,000. On the she checked a final time. Teltscher stared at the sky for a bit and seemed pained before he checked.
Ho turned over , but Teltscher had . He expressed a bit disgust that he didn't get more value.
Despite the setback, Ho is well above where she began the day, which was under 20 big blinds.
In a four-way limped pot, Steve O'Dwyer saw a flop from the blinds for free. The exact earlier flop action was unknown, but Steve O'Dwyer had a T-5,000 chip in front of him. Paul Tedeschi had raised to 16,000, O'Dwyer went all in for 27,500 and Tedeshi called it off.
Paul Tedeschi:
Steve O'Dwyer:
O'Dwyer was looking for straight and flush outs against Tedeschi's set, but the on the turn slammed that door shut. The meaningless river sealed it for O'Dwyer, who already racked up two six-figure scores earlier this week.
In a multiway pot, Thomas Muehloecker bet 4,200 on a board. The other players folded to Lander Lijo, who check-raised to 12,500. Muehloecker called with 24,000 behind, but folded when Lijo shoved all in in on the turn.
Yes, giant transformers with scary voices, stilt walkers, a sword swallower, free drinks, quality DJ, dozens of poker stars... it can only mean one thing. It's the PokerStars Monte-Carlo Championship Player's Party!
Randy Lew was one of the 11 players that registered at the start of Day 2, which gave him 30 big blinds to work with. The Team PokerStars Pro was able to enjoy those chips for just one level before they were all gone.
In his final hand, Lew opened to 2,200 and Patrik Antonius called on the button. Hideki Takafuji three-bet big from the small blind, Lew shoved 18,400 total, Antonius folded and Takafuji called.
Randy Lew:
Hideki Takafuji:
Lew was behind from start to finish on and headed for the rail.
The first-ever PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing is off and running with the 2017 PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo going on now through May 5, followed by WPT Amsterdam featuring WPTDeepStacks May 5-13. With an estimated €32.5 million in total prize pools across the two stops, there is no better place to be in the poker world right now.
Combine the huge amounts of money to be won at the two spectacular locations with more than $50,000 in added cash and prizes, and you just can’t beat the MonteDam Swing.
In addition to the money that can be won from the greater than 80 poker tournaments that make up the MonteDam Swing, here’s a refresher on the five ways players can additional cash and prizes.
1. Finish in the Top 5 of the MonteDam Swing Leaderboard
In similar fashion to the WPT California Swing, the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing allows players the chance to compete across multiple circuit stops to win additional prizes. The four events players can earn points from on the MonteDam Swing are the €1,100 buy-in PokerStars National Championship Monte Carlo (April 26-30), the €5,300 buy-in PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo Main Event (April 29-May 5), the €1,500 buy-in WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam (May 5-8), and the €3,300 buy-in WPT Amsterdam Main Event (May 9-13).
To be eligible to win one of the MonteDam Swing leaderboard prizes, a player must finish in the money in both PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing locations from those four listed events. So cash in either the PokerStars National Championship Monte Carlo or PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo Main Event followed by cashing in either WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam or the WPT Amsterdam Main Event are you become eligible.
The top five finishers of the MonteDam Swing leaderboard will earn the following prizes:
1st: PokerStars Championship Barcelona Main Event package (worth €7,500)
2nd: WPT Main Event* package (worth €6,000)
3rd: WPTDeepStacks* package (worth €3,000)
4th: PokerStars National Championship Barcelona Buy-in (€1,100) + Barcelona hotel voucher (€500)
5th: WPTDeepStacks* Buy-in (€1,500)
*WPT and WPTDeepStacks prizes only apply to events in Europe.
Position
Player
Points
1
Andreas Klatt
115
2
Romain Lewis
95
3
Børge Sandsgaard
85
4
Ka Kwan Lau
75
5
David Bourseau
65
6
Basem Hamed
55
7
Norberto Korn
45
8
Thierry Brigitte
35
9
Patrick Khayat
25
10
Samy Boujmala
20
Click here to view the full up-to-date MonteDam Swing leaderboard.
2. Participate in a Tournament at Both Stops
All players who participate in at least one PokerStars tournament in Monte Carlo and one WPT tournament in Amsterdam, will receive an online ticket to take part in a freeroll at PokerStars, with a prize pool valued at $30,000. The freeroll will be an all-in shootout format held on PokerStars’ online poker client on May 15 at 19:30 CET.
The freeroll will award the following prizes:
1st: $2,100 PokerStars SCOOP ticket
2nd-9th: $1,050 PokerStars SCOOP ticket
10th-100th: $215 PokerStars SCOOP ticket
3. Compete in Both Main Events
Players who compete in both main events will receive $324 in vouchers towards buy-ins for the 2017 PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker. This is an instant form of rakeback on your entries to the PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo and WPT Amsterdam main events that could see you score a huge payday from the SCOOP events you choose to enter using the vouchers.
Players to compete in both main events will earn one $215 SCOOP ticket and one $109 SCOOP ticket.
4. Score the €1,000 Bonus Prize
For a player who cashes in the €1,100 buy-in PokerStars National Championship Monte Carlo, the €5,300 buy-in PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo Main Event, or the €1,500 buy-in WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam, a bonus prize of €1,000 will be awarded if the same player goes on to cash in the WPT Amsterdam €3,300 Main Event.
That’s right, all you have to do is cash in one of the first three events listed and then cash in the WPT Amsterdam Main Event to earn the €1,000 bonus. The bonus will be paid in cash upon receiving your payout at Holland Casino in Amsterdam.
5. Cash in the WPT Amsterdam Main Event as a WPT Champion
Last, but certainly not least, if you are a member of the WPT Champions Club and you cash in the WPT Amsterdam Main Event, you will earn a €1,000 bonus for simply doing so. Unlike the €1,000 bonus prize offered to all players, as described above, being a member of the illustrious WPT Champions Club automatically qualifies you for the €1,000 bonus prize. This bonus will also be paid in cash upon receiving your payout at Holland Casino.