Lodden Maintains Lead in Monte Carlo

Lodden Maintains Lead in Monte Carlo

Friday, 10 May 2013

Moving at a somewhat faster pace than anticipated, yesterday’s EPT Grand Final Main Event action in Monte Carlo saw the 105 starters quickly whittled down to 81. With the bubble threatening to send one player home without any money, a twist of fate ensured that everyone left in the tournament went home with something.

Indeed, after Chad Brown’s exit in 82nd place, the hand-for-hand play soon saw David Vamplew and Taylor Paur both all-in on separate tables. With the potential for a double elimination the dealer’s actions were carefully orchestrated by the tournament director.

After a brief pause both players soon watched as their hands came up short and their tournament lives were brought to an end. Because of their simultaneous exits, each player was given an equal split of the 16,000 minimum cash.

Once the double bubble had burst the pace picked up again and by the close of play it was Johnny Lodden who was leading the 34 player field with a stack of 1,232,000. A large part of Lodden’s success came late in the session when Panagiotis Gavriildis decided to turn pocket deuces into a bluff.

After a 3-bet and call pre-flop, both players exchanged bets on the Jh 5d 4c flop before Gavriildis decided to move all-in on the 6d turn. After three minutes in the tank, Lodden called with pocket kings and once the 10c had completed the board he was able to rake in the largest pot of the tournament.

Also making through to today’s session was: Steve O’Dwyer (963,000), Andrew Pantling (943,000), John Juanda (939,000), Jason Mercier (746,000) and Daniel Negreanu (684,000).



Tags: EPT Grand Final 2013, Johnny Lodden, Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda, Jason Mercier