ShareBulgaria’s Alex Kulev picked the right time to land his maiden live major title, taking down the EPT Monte Carlo €100k SHR for a monster €1,036,287 following a heads-up deal with Mikita Badziakouski...
Kulev was one of 37 entries into the three-day, nosebleed stakes tournament, the likes of Mike Watson, Ike Haxton, Sam Greenwood, Justin Bonomo, and Stephen Chidwick among the elite line-up at the Casino Monte-Carlo in Monaco.
However, none of these star names would make the six paid spots, Watson firing three bullets to no avail and Chidwick falling on the final table bubble.
It was India’s Santosh Suvarna who took the unlucky money bubble spot...
Suvarna: 9♥ 9♣
Mateos: A♥ J♥
Flop: 7♥ A♣ J♦
Turn: 3â™
River:8♥
The remaining six, all playing one bullet, bagged for day three with €250k locked up, and with the €1,238,440 top prize in their sights.
Orpen “Orp the turk” Kisacikoglu couldn’t advance any further when they resumed, losing out with AQ against Badziakouski’s AK, and he was followed to the cashier’s cage by Adrian Mateos in 5th place.
Martirosian’s run ended in 4th spot when English pro Ben Heath’s king outflopped the short stacked Russian’s ace, another cowboy on the turn ending matters.
Heath would have to be content with a podium spot and €556,400 when he found himself short and Kulev showed up with a decent hand and an even better flop...
Ben Heath: Qâ™ 9â™
Alex Kulev: Kâ™ 5â™
Flop: 6â™ 5♦ 10â™
Turn: 2♦
River: 2♣
Heads-up now, an ICM deal saw Kulev lock up €993,213, with Badziakouski taking €1,009,853, the remaining €43,074, the trophy and the EPT Monte-Carlo SHR title still to play for.
A short but topsy-turvy battle ensued, the final hand looking like it would favour the Belarusian until a fateful river appeared...
Final results
| 1 | Alex Kulev | €1,036,287 |
| 2 | Mikita Badziakouski | €1,009,853 |
| 3 | Ben Heath | €556,400 |
| 4 | Artur Martirosian | €412,800 |
| 5 | Adrian Mateos | €323,100 |
| 6 | Orpen Kisacikoglu | €251,300 |
“I was really fortunate throughout the whole event,” Kulev told reporters afterwards. “This whole occasion is so very special to me. It's my first big live event and I love the city, I love PokerStars, and I really appreciate the chance that I get to perform on the stage.”
He explained to PokerNews: “I did have the confidence [to win]. But in our game, when especially with this calibre of players that were at this final table, luck plays a major factor. So I just got very lucky in all the right moments.”
“That's one of the main reasons why I played this game,” he said of the elite opposition he faced. “To play against opponents who, you know, are extremely good, and they give me a chance to improve by observing them. The whole challenge is what captivates me and excites me to play.”
The highroller crowd will be back in a few days for the €25k, but meanwhile the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event is well underway, with a newly-crowned ex-World champion among the participants.
Magnus Carlsen gave up his chess crown recently, with China’s Ding Liren named as his successor at the weekend after a thrilling tiebreak victory over Russia’s Ian Nepomniatchtchi.
Whether the Norwegian can replicate his chess success on the green felt remains to be seen, but having played several tournaments and high-profile cash games recently, he seems determined to give it a go.
