The 2026 edition of the prestigious European Poker Tour Monte Carlo delivered unforgettable action, brutal coolers, and massive tournament swings as poker’s elite battled inside the €5,300 Main Event. Hosted by PokerStars, the tournament attracted a record-breaking 1,011 entries and generated an impressive €4,903,350 prize pool.
Throughout the week, fans witnessed dramatic eliminations, fearless hero calls, and shocking river cards that completely changed the course of the tournament. At pokerclubgames, we break down the biggest and most talked-about hands from the 2026 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event.
Morgan Aceto Bubbles the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event
One of the toughest moments of the tournament came on Day 2 when Morgan Aceto became the unfortunate bubble player.
During Level 15 with blinds at 2,000/4,000/4,000, Aceto was left with just a single 1,000 chip in the small blind and was automatically all in. Action folded to Fabian Berraboukh in the hijack, who moved all in for 49,000 to isolate.
Morgan Aceto: J♠ 6♣
Fabian Berraboukh: K♥ K♣
The flop came:
10♠ 3♦ 10♦
Aceto needed running cards to survive, but the 3♥ turn officially sealed his elimination before the meaningless 9♣ river appeared.
The heartbreaking bustout guaranteed every remaining player a cash finish and marked one of the most emotional moments of the event.
Artsiom Lasouski Wins Massive Pot With Hero Call
Day 3 produced one of the tournament’s best hero calls when Artsiom Lasouski faced a massive river shove against Hugo Blaison.
After aggressive preflop five-bet action, the flop landed:
4♣ 5♠ 2♣
Lasouski called continuation bets on both the flop and turn before the river completed with the 6♣. Blaison then moved all in, putting Lasouski to the ultimate test for his remaining 175,000 chips.
After several minutes in the tank, Lasouski finally made the call.
Hugo Blaison: A♠ 10♣
Artsiom Lasouski: 8♥ 8♦
Lasouski’s pocket eights were good enough to scoop a massive pot worth more than 200 big blinds. The fearless call instantly pushed him near the top of the leaderboard and became one of the defining moments of the tournament.
Sergiu Sirghi Cracks Pocket Aces in Huge Three-Way Clash
Few poker moments are more painful than watching pocket aces get cracked in a huge all-in confrontation.
That nightmare became reality for Andras Nemeth during another dramatic Day 3 hand involving Sergiu Sirghi and Ben Heath.
Sergiu Sirghi: A♦ K♦
Andras Nemeth: A♠ A♣
Ben Heath: J♠ J♥
The flop dramatically shifted everything:
6♦ 8♦ 5♦
Sirghi instantly flopped the nut flush, leaving both opponents drawing thin. The board safely ran out, allowing Sirghi to triple up while Nemeth survived through the side pot.
Meanwhile, Ben Heath was left with just over 20 big blinds after paying both players.
The hand served as another reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in high-stakes tournament poker.
Raul Mestre Makes Incredible Call in Biggest Pot of Tournament
Team PokerStars Pro Raul Mestre found himself at the center of the biggest pot of the tournament during Level 18.
After heavy action on the flop and turn, the board showed:
6♠ 3♠ 5♠ 7♥ 10♣
Yurii Zabrodotskyi moved all in for a massive 615,000 chips on the river, applying maximum pressure with a bet nearly three times the size of the pot.
Mestre agonized over the decision before finally making the call.
Yurii Zabrodotskyi: A♠ 9♣
Raul Mestre: 4♠ 4♥
Mestre’s straight was enough to win the enormous pot as Zabrodotskyi’s aggressive ace-high bluff failed.
The spectacular call shocked railbirds and showcased the elite-level hand reading skills required to survive deep in major poker tournaments.
Incredible Cooler Ends Derk van Luijk’s Title Defense
The most unforgettable hand of the week came on Day 4 when defending champion Derk van Luijk suffered a devastating cooler against Jason Wheeler.
The completed board read:
A♣ 4♣ 2♥ 2♣ 9♠
After building a sizeable pot, Van Luijk moved all in on the river and was instantly called.
Derk van Luijk: 4♠ 4♥
Jason Wheeler: 2♠ 2♦
Van Luijk confidently tabled a full house, only to discover Wheeler had rivered quad deuces.
The brutal cooler crushed Van Luijk’s hopes of winning consecutive EPT Monte Carlo titles and instantly became one of the most talked-about hands of the 2026 poker season.
Meanwhile, Wheeler climbed above the seven-figure chip mark and strengthened his position for a deep tournament run.
EPT Monte Carlo Continues Delivering World-Class Poker Drama
The 2026 European Poker Tour Monte Carlo once again proved why it remains one of the premier stops on the global poker calendar. From emotional bubble eliminations to fearless hero calls and devastating coolers, the tournament delivered nonstop entertainment for poker fans worldwide.
As major live poker events continue growing in popularity, tournaments like EPT Monte Carlo continue producing unforgettable moments that define modern tournament poker.
For more poker tournament news, strategy guides, online poker updates, and major event coverage, visit Poker Club Games.
FAQs
1. What was the biggest hand at the 2026 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event?
One of the biggest hands featured Jason Wheeler beating Derk van Luijk’s full house with quad deuces in a brutal cooler.
2. Who bubbled the 2026 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event?
Morgan Aceto became the official bubble player after losing with J♠6♣ against Fabian Berraboukh’s pocket kings.
3. Which player made the best hero call in the tournament?
Artsiom Lasouski made one of the best hero calls by calling an all-in river shove with pocket eights against ace-high.
4. How many entries were in the 2026 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event?
The €5,300 Main Event attracted 1,011 entries and created a prize pool of €4,903,350.
5. Where can I read more poker tournament news and updates?
You can find poker tournament news, strategy guides, and live poker updates at Poker Club Games.
