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7:50pm: Stephane Dossetto wins FPS Monaco (€218,000), Niall Farrell second (€127,900)
Level 35 - Blinds 200,000/400,000 (ante 50,000)
It's all over and Stephane Dossetto is the winner of this massive 1,261 runner FPS Monaco Main Event!
In the final hand Dossetto opened to 1,500,000 with [7s][7c]. Farrell shoved for 4,725,000 with [Ad][Jh] and Dossetto -- whose name in fact means "two-seven" - made the call with "his" hand.
The [5s][7h][Kc] flop all but ended the proceedings ("it's always coming seven," noted James Hartigan in the commentary booth). Farrell needed something on the turn to at least take the hand to the river and he found it, the [Th] giving him four outs with one card to come. But the final card in this hand, and the tournament, was the [3s].
Dossetto celebrated with his friends and he and Farrell shook hands. Congratulations to both on fine performances over the past five days. Stay tuned for a full recap of an exciting final day of action. --NW
| LEVEL | SMALL BLIND | BIG BLIND | ANTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 200,000 | 400,000 | 50,000 |
7:38pm: Farrell down to 10 big blinds again
Level 34 - Blinds 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000)
Stephane Dossetto has further eroded Niall Farrell's stack and now leads by 28,050,00 to 3,275,000. What's more the blinds are about to go up. --NW
7:31pm: Farrell folds the best hand
Level 34 - Blinds 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000)
Niall Farrell has been put in some horrible river spots in this heads-up duel. To his credit he's made the right decision the majority of the time, but he just got one wrong.
He opened to 650,000 with [Tc][9d] and Stephane Dossetto called with [8h][5c]. The [6c][Ad][6d] flop checked through and the [9h] hit the turn. Dossetto elected to bet 1,000,000 into Farrell, and the latter called with his pair.
The [3c] hit the river and Dossetto fired again, this time 2,200,000. "It's a strange spot to bluff, but it might work" said Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier in the commentary booth. And work it did, as Farrell folded with a smile. --NW
7:20pm: Niall Farrell doubles up
Level 34 - Blinds 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000)
Stephane Dossetto shoved from the small blind with [Ah][3d] and Niall Farrell instantly called with [Ad][Ks]. He was all-in for 3,375,000.
The [8d][9s][5s] was about as safe as they come for Farrell, and the [Kd] turn card left Dossetto drawing dead.
Farrell's back up to 6,850,000 whilst Dossetto is down to 24,475,000. --NW
7:11pm: Farrell down to 10 big blinds
Level 34 - Blinds 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000)
Having rallied a little bit Niall Farrell is now back down to 10 big blinds and just can't get any momentum. He limped the button with [6c][2c] and Stephane Dossetto checked his option with [Jh][2h].
The [9c][Ac][Js] flop checked through and the [3s] fell on the turn. Dossetto bet 600,000 and Farrell called. The [9d] completed the board and Dossetto check-called a bet of 1,000,000 from Farrell.
It's now 28,300,000 for Dossetto and just 3,000,000 for Farrell. --NW
7:02pm: Farrell in the danger zone
Level 34 - Blinds 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000)
Niall Farrell is down to just 12 big blinds after losing another pot to Stephane Dossetto where he had a piece of the board but not as big a piece as Dossetto.
It was Dossetto who had position, limping in with [Kc][3c], and Farrell checked his option with [9s][8d]. Both players checked the [Kh][4d][Qc] flop, then the [9d] hit the turn to give Farrell a pair. Check-check. The [6c] completed the board and when he was checked to Farrell bet 400,000, Dossetto check-raised to 1,000,000, and Farrell paid him off.
It's now 27,650,000 versus 3,675,000 for Dossetto. --NW
6:57pm: More for Dossetto
Level 34 - Blinds 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000)
Niall Farrell picked up a strong hand on the button -- [As][Qs] -- and opened to 650,000. Stephane Dossetto looked down at [Jh][8d] and called the raise.
A [Td][Jc][4d] flop meant Dossetto had outflopped Farrell yet again. Both players checked though and the [Th] paired the board on the turn. Farrell fired out a delayed c-bet of 500,000, Dossetto check-raised to 1,100,000, and Farrell stuck around.
The [4h] river went the same way as the flop, and that means Dossetto is up to 24,700,000 and Farrell is down to 6,625,000. --NW
6:45pm: Dossetto shoves on Farrell
Level 34 - Blinds 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000)
Niall Farrell opened to 650,000 with [Kd][9h], but folded after Stephane Dossetto shoved with [As][7c]. Farrell's now down to 22 big blinds. --NW
| LEVEL | SMALL BLIND | BIG BLIND | ANTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 150,000 | 300,000 | 50,000 |
6:19pm: End of the level, 20-minute break
The players are now on a 20-minute break. When they return the blinds will be 150,000/300,000 (ante 50,000). The stacks are as follows (with the BBs to start the next level):
Stephane Dossetto - 23,325,000 (77 big blinds)
Niall Farrell - 7,475,000 (24 big blinds)
6:06pm: Dossetto extends his lead
Level 33 - Blinds 120,000/240,000 (ante 25,000)
For the first time Niall Farrell looks a little disconsolate as he got rivered in a pot but paid off Dossetto's river bet.
Farrell had opened with [4h][2c] and Dossetto flatted with [8c][7h]. Farrell flopped best on the [2h][Ad][3d] board and continuation bet 500,000. In response, Dossetto reached for chips and check-raised to 1,300,000. Call from Farrell.
Neither player bet the [Th] turn, then the [7d] river gave Dossetto the lead. He bet 1,500,000 into a pot of 3,700,000, and Farrell had a long old think before flicking the call in. Farrell threw his cards in the muck and the two players exchanged a little bit of analysis about the hand before the next one was dealt. Dossetto claimed he was value betting, whilst Farrell thought otherwise.
After that hand Dossetto is up to 23,925,000 and Farrell is down to 6,875,000. --NW
5:54pm: Dossetto with a 2-to-1 lead
Level 33 - Blinds 120,000/240,000 (ante 25,000)
Stephane Dossetto has jumped out to a large chip lead after making a good river call. There was 2,700,000 in the pot by the time the two players reached the river of a [6h][3d][4c][9h][4h] board. Farrell -- who was in position -- bet 2,500,000 with [Kc][5c] after being checked to, and Dossetto went into the tank. The Frenchman had [Kd][3c], and after some thought made a good call with bottom pair.
He's up to 20,300,000 now and Farrell down to 10,100,000. --NW
5:42pm: Back and forth continues
Level 33 - Blinds 120,000/240,000 (ante 25,000)
Stephane Dossetto had opened up a small lead, but it's just been closed again after he tried to bluff Niall Farrell off a pot.
It was the Scotsman who opened the action, raising with [Kd][6s], and Dossetto called with [Ad][5c]. On the [Qc][7d][2s] flop, Farrell c-bet 550,000 and Dossetto smooth-called. The [6d] turn got checked through and the [9h] rounded out the community cards.
Dossetto was first to act and he fired out 1,000,000. Farrell thought for about 10 seconds before making the call to collect the pot. He's now up to 14,900,000 and Dossetto down to 15,980,000. --NW
5:26pm: Farrell takes the lead
Level 33 - Blinds 120,000/240,000 (ante 25,000)
The chip lead is swinging back and forth and it's just swung Niall Farrell's way.
Just now after Stephane Dossetto had opened with [8c][4c] from the button, Farrell called with [Tc][7c]. The [Ts][Jc][5d] flop was checked through and the [7d] fell on the turn. Dossetto had a double-gutter and with it he bet almost full pot, firing out 1,000,000 straight. Meanwhile sitting pretty with two pair, Farrell smooth-called. The [5h] paired the board and that proved enough of a scare card for it to go check-check.
Farrell moved up to 15,900,000 after that one, and Dossetto down to 14,900,000. But just a few hands later Dossetto was back on top in this see-saw battle. --NW
| LEVEL | SMALL BLIND | BIG BLIND | ANTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 125,000 | 250,000 | 25,000 |
5:15pm: Farrell gets a bit back
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
The two players reached the turn of a [Kh][6d][6c][3c] board with a little over 1,000,000 in the pot. Stephane Dossetto had [Jh][9h] and checked for the second time to Niall Farrell. The Scotsman had raised from the button with [Jd][8c] but checked the flop. He bet the turn, though, firing out 500,000, and Dossetto found a float with the jack-high.
The [8s] river improved Farrell to the best hand, they both checked, and Farrell claimed the pot. He's up to 13,925,000 whilst Dossetto is down to 16,875,000. --NW
5:04pm: Farrell finds a fold
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
On a [8d][Jc][Qs] flop, Niall Farrell elected to lead out with [9s][3s] and Stephane Dossetto called with [Ts][4s]. The [9d] turn then gave Farrell a pair, but also filled Dossetto's straight. There was no betting, though, and the [3d] river improved Farrell to two pair.
Dossetto fired out 800,000 and despite getting 4-to-1 on a call Farrell laid his hand down. He drops to 12,400,000, and Dossetto increases his edge by moving up to 18,400,000. --NW
4:55pm: Dossetto into the lead
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
It's awful close right now, but Stephane Dossetto has taken the lead after flopping trip queens.
In this one, Niall Farrell raised from the button with [7c][6h] and Dossetto defended with [Qd][4d]. On the [9h][Qh][Qs] flop, Dossetto check-called a bet of 500,000, but that was all he got from Farrell as the [5h] turn and [7s] river were checked down.
Dossetto is up to 16,000,000 whilst Farrell is down to 14,800,000, so there's just a handful of blinds between them. --NW
4:45pm: First big pot goes to Dossetto
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
Stephane Dossetto has closed the gap on Niall Farrell after winning a decent-sized pot at the start of heads-up play.
In the hand, Niall Farrell opened with [Qs][2c] and Dossetto flatted with [Ts][5s]. On the [6c][Ks][4s] flop, Farrell continued for 500,000 and Dossetto smooth-called.
The [3s] made Dossetto's flush and Farrell's bet of 1,100,000 was check-raised to 3,300,000 by Dossetto. Although Farrell had a spade in his hand, he let it go very quickly.
It's now 16,720,000 to Farrell and 14,420,000 to Dossetto. --NW
4:38pm: Heads-up begins
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
The final two players are back in their seats and the endgame has begun. (No deal to report, by the way.) Take a look at the stacks to start heads-up play below. --MH
| Name | Country | Status | Chips | Big blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niall Farrell | UK | PokerStars player | 18,165,000 | 90 |
| Stephane Dossetto | France | Live Satellite | 12,970,000 | 64 |
4:25pm: Julian Fernandez eliminated in third place (€89,000)
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
We're heads-up in Monaco!
From the button Niall Farrell opened to 425,000 with [Kh][Kc], and Julian Fernandez called from the small blind with [Th][9h].
The two of them went heads-up to a [8d][8h][8s] flop. Farrell continued for 350,000 and Fernandez stuck around. The [9s] then looked like a great card for Fernandez, but it would prove to be his downfall. He fired out a bet of 550,000 with his full house, Farrell bumped the price of poker up to 1,250,000, Fernandez moved all-in for 4,200,000, and Farrell snap-called.
There were only two cards in the deck that could save Fernandez on the river, and the [As] did not fit the bill. He's out in third for €89,000.
There will now be an impromptu 10-minute break before heads-up play begins. --NW
4:16pm: Dossetto takes the lead
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
There haven't been too many family pots three-handed, but we just saw a rare post-flop pot involving all three players. It was Julian Fernandez who opened the action, raising on the button with [Qd][Th]. Stephane Dossetto then called with [Ah][7h] from the small blind and Farrell came along with [Kc][5c] from the big.
The [Ac][6h][Jc] flop gave Dossetto top pair and he led for 700,000. With the nut-flush draw Farrell wasn't going anywhere. He flat-called, and Fernandez folded.
The [5s] turn was checked through, then Dossetto made aces up on the [7d] river. He bet 1,000,000 and Farrell let his hand go. Dossetto is up to 13,770,00 whilst Farrell slips to 13,065,000. --NW
4:05pm: Two in a row for Farrell
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
In the nascent moments of Level 32, Niall Farrell has chipped away at both his opponents to stretch his chip lead.
He's up to 14,340,000, Stephane Dossetto is down to 11,920,000, and Julian Fernandez has slipped to 4,880,000. --NW
4:02pm: Play resumes
Level 32 - Blinds 100,000/200,000 (ante 25,000)
Our FPS Monaco power trio is back and rocking their way into Level 32. --MH
| LEVEL | SMALL BLIND | BIG BLIND | ANTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 100,000 | 200,000 | 25,000 |
3:41pm: Break time (3 remain)
The three remaining players are on the first break of the day. Take a look at the current chip counts below, with added big blinds (heading into the next level). --MH
| Name | Country | Status | Chips | Big blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niall Farrell | UK | PokerStars player | 13,080,000 | 65 |
| Stephane Dossetto | France | Live Satellite | 12,290,000 | 61 |
| Julian Fernandez | France | 6,050,000 | 30 |
3:35pm: Fernandez plays back at Farrell
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
We had not seen Julian Fernandez go after Neil Farrell in their blind-on-blind battles thus far, but that all changed just now with the Frenchman getting out some raising chips to stop the Farrell express.
It had folded to Farrell in the small blind and he opened with [Qs][3d]. Fernandez didn't have much of a hand -- [6s][4c] -- but he raised it up and Farrell folded.
"I'll see what you bluffed me with later," said Farrell as he released his hand. --NW
3:32pm: Stefano Terziani eliminated in fourth place (€67,100)
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
We're down to three and it was a short-stacked Stefano Terziani who's been knocked out in fourth place.
He was down to 1,665,000 when he found a spot to shove from the small blind with [Kd][4s]. Stephane Dossetto was in the big blind and he snap-called with [Ah][7h]. A [7s][Qd][3c][2s][2h] board wasn't what Terziani was looking for, and he took his leave of the stage. --NW
3:23pm: Niall Farrell doubles through Stefano Terziani
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
"I can't see who's going to fold here," said Theo Jorgensen when he saw the hands that Stefano Terziani and Niall Farrell had picked up on the button and big blind, respectively. It was [8s][8c] for Terziani and [As][Kh] for Farrell.
Jorgensen's not a Team Pro for nothing, and with 35 big blinds effective the chips did indeed go in. Terziani opened, Farrell three-bet, Terziani four-bet shoved, and Farrell called it off.
The board came [Ad][7s][2c][Qc][5h], and Farrell went from worst to first as he's up to 12,190,000. Meanwhile Terziani is now the short stack with just 1,890,000 or just under 12 big blinds. --NW
3:15pm: More for Dossetto
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
Stephane Dossetto opened for 360,000 from UTG holding [Kc][Jd], getting callers in Julian Fernandez in the small blind with [Qh][Js] and Stefano Terziani in the BB with [Ac][6c].
The flop came [4h][Kh][9c], Fernandez fired 475,000, Terziani stepped aside, and Dossetto called right away. The turn was the [3d]. This time Fernandez checked, and Dossetto took the opening to bet 700,000. Fernandez contemplated the sitation a short while, then folded.
Fernandez is down to 6.125 million while Dossetto adds to his lead, moving up to 11.14 million. --MH
3:12pm: Everyone loves a chopped pot
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
This was one of the more interesting chopped pots we've seen and it was another pot between Niall Farrell and Julian Fernandez.
Farrell opened to 350,000 with [8h][7s] from the small blind and Fernandez defended with [8s][7h] from the big blind.
The two players had virtually the same hand, but it was Farrell who picked up the freeroll on the [2h][7c][Kh] flop. It checked through as it did following the [Ah] turn. The [7d] river gave both players trips, and this is where the fun began.
Farrell checked, Fernandez value bet 460,000, Farrell check-raised to 1,460,000, and Fernandez snap-called. Both players chuckled when the hands were turned over. As you were then. --NW
3:06pm: Fernandez folds overpair after Farrell's flop shove
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
Niall Farrell opened for 325,000 from under the gun holding [Ah][6s] and got a caller in Julian Fernandez sitting with [7d][7c] on the button.
The flop came [5d][2h][5s], and Farrell continued for 300,000. Fernandez responded by raising to 840,000, and Farrell riffled chips for a short while before shoving his remaining 4.425 million in the middle.
The chips were counted out as Fernandez thought about whether or not his sevens were still good. He had almost 7 million behind, so to call would mean risking more than half his stack. Fernandez tanked for a couple of minutes, stood from the table and thought for another minute, then sat back down exhaling and furrowing his brow for yet another minute more.
Finally he dug out calling chips, and with an exasperated look let his cards go.
Farrell moved back up over 5.5 million on that one, while Fernandez still has just under 7 million. --MH
2:55pm: Terziani gets the bluff through
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
There hasn't been much tanking at this final table, but Stephane Dossetto just took almost three minutes to make a tough river decision.
He raised from UTG with [Td][Tc] and Stefano Terziani defended from the big blind with [Ac][2c]. On the [4s][3c][7h] flop Dossetto continuation bet 450,000 and Terziani smooth-called. The [6d] fell on fourth street and Terziani led for 625,000. "This is baffling to me," said James Hartigan in the commentary booth. Dossetto obviously wasn't convinced as he swiftly called.
The [Qh] completed the board and Terziani reached for chips again, betting out 1,600,000. "Why so expensive?" asked Dossetto to Terziani, who didn't reply. Then after that three-minute tank, Dossetto elected to fold.
Terziani is up to 8,620,000 whilst Dossetto drops to 9,800,000. --NW
2:53pm: Updated chip counts (4 remain)
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
| Name | Country | Status | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephane Dossetto | France | Live Satellite | 11,880,000 |
| Stefano Terziani | Italy | PokerStars Qualifier | 7,565,000 |
| Julian Fernandez | France | 8,045,000 | |
| Niall Farrell | UK | PokerStars player | 4,970,000 |
2:48pm: Fernandez takes more from Farrell
Level 31 - Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
Julian Fernandez opened for 380,000 from under the gun with [Kd][Jd], then it folded to Niall Farrell in the big blind with [Ad][5d].
The flop came [7c][Td][Ts], and after Farrell checked, Fernandez fired a bet of 325,000. Farrell thought a beat, then called, and the turn brought the [Ah]. Farrell checked, Fernandez bet again -- this time 775,000 -- and after some thought Farrell called once more.
The river then brought the [Qd], giving Fernandez a straight, and Farrell checked over to the Frenchman. Fernandez bet big -- 2.2 million -- and Farrell was able to find a fold to avoid losing even more.
Fernandez is up to 8.045 million now, while Farrell drops just under 5 million. --MH
| LEVEL | SMALL BLIND | BIG BLIND | ANTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 80,000 | 160,000 | 20,000 |
2:40pm: Chip leaders clash
Level 30 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)
The four remaining players are all deep-stacked, but Niall Farrell and Stephane Dossetto are the top two and they just played a big pot against each other.
Dossetto opened from under the gun with [3h][3d], Farrell three-bet to 625,000, Julian Fernandez folded [Ac][4c], and Dossetto elected to call.
The [6c][3c][Jc] flop gave both a hand (Fernandez would've flopped the nuts), and Farrell bet 225,000 with top pair. Call from Dossetto. The [9h] fell on the turn. Dossetto checked again, Farrell bet 300,000, and Dossetto then check-raised to 700,000 total. Farrell had a think and then called.
The [Jd] river was a card that looked like it might get Farrell into a whole heap of trouble, and so it proved. Dossetto settled on a value bet of 1,425,000 and Farrell said: "I don't think I can fold but I'm very sad about it."
He thought a while longer, called and saw the bad news. "I should just fold. Why am I the worst? I know I should fold."
After that hand Farrell has dropped to the bottom of the chip counts with 6,230,000 whilst Dossetto is up to 11,880,000. --NW
2:28pm: Double elimination! Miguel Silva eliminated in 5th place (€51,780); Jean-Baptiste Bertrand eliminated in 6th place (€38,500)
Level 30 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)
What a start to the final table!
From the cutoff Julian Fernandez opened to 360,000 with [Qc][Qd]. Jean-Baptiste Bertrand then shoved for 805,000 with pocket tens and Miguel Silva -- who had 2,460,000 -- peeked down at [Ac][Jd] in the small blind. He took some time and then he, too, announced all-in.
There was no snap call from Fernandez, instead he leaned back, puffed out his cheeks and then called! The fruit and vegetable trader had both players at risk and the queens held up on the [5d][3h][Kd][9h][6s] board and he eliminated two players to climb to 6,700,000.
By virtue of having more chips to start the hand, Silva finishes fifth for €51,780 whilst Bertrand collects €38,500 for finishing sixth. --NW
2:15pm: Silva doubles through Farrell
Level 30 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)
Miguel Silva was one of the short stacks coming into the final table, and on Hand #3 he shoved all-in with [2d][2c] for 1,200,000 from middle position. Playing from the small blind, Niall Farrell looked him up with [Kd][Qs].
It was actually a classic race with the king-queen just barely over a 50% favourite. But the [Js][5s][Jd][4h][Ad] board meant the deuces held, and Silva is up to 2,640,000 whilst Farrell drops to 8,340,000. --NW
2:11pm: Farrell wins first post-flop pot
Level 30 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)
On the second hand of the final table, Stefano Terziani raised it up to 250,000 on the button with [Qs][9h]. Stephane Dossetto folded the small blind, but Niall Farrell defended with [9c][8c] from the big blind.
The Scotsman flopped top two on [9d][8d][7s] board. Both players checked and the [5d] fell on the turn. Farrell elected to lead for 300,000 and Terziani folded. --NW
2:09pm: Cards in the air!
Level 30 - Blinds 60,000/130,000 (ante 10,000)
The final six are seated and after a few preliminaries the first hand of this final day of the France Poker Series Monaco Main Event is being dealt. There are about 33 minutes left to go in Level 30. --MH
| LEVEL | SMALL BLIND | BIG BLIND | ANTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 60,000 | 120,000 | 20,000 |
1:55pm: Time to crown a winner
Level 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)
Over four days of pulsating poker action the 1,261 players who entered the FPS main event have been whittled down to the last six. That half-dozen now get to show off their poker prowess under the bright lights of the EPT Live feature table. You can watch cards-up coverage with commentary from James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton right here.
If you prefer your updates in the written form then you're in luck as we'll be following it every step of the way right here. Coverage should start at 2pm CEST and below is how the final six will stack up when the first card is dealt.
| Seat | Name | Country | Status | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stefano Terziani | Italy | PokerStars Qualifier | 7,565,000 |
| 2 | Stephane Dossetto | France | Live Satellite | 9,525,000 |
| 3 | Niall Farrell | UK | PokerStars player | 9,165,000 |
| 4 | Julian Fernandez | France | 3,200,000 | |
| 5 | Jean-Baptiste Bertrand | France | 1,105,000 | |
| 6 | Miguel Silva | Portugal | PokerStars player | 1,260,000 |
Whilst waiting for the final table to start why not learn a bit more about the final six:
Seat 1: Stefano Terziani, 32, Italy, PokerStars qualifier, 7,565,000
Stefano Terziani hails from Florence's suburb Scandicci and has experienced the live event final table atmosphere several times before. The 32-year-old's best result dates back to August 2012 when Terziani finished second in the IPT4 Campione Main Event, banking $131,646. He also has a WSOP final table appearance under his belt and couple more top ten finishes in EPT side events. The Italian has amassed nearly $300k in live tournament winnings so far.
Seat 2: Stephane Dossetto, 28, Paris, France, Live satellite winner, 9,525,000
A regular in Parisian poker circles, Stéphane mainly play live poker tournaments. He won the FPS3 High Roller at Cadet for a prize of €65,000 back in November 2013, the young entrepreneur's best performance to date. Stéphane qualified for FPS Monaco in a live satellite at the Monte Carlo Bay Casino. He's great friends with fellow finalists Romain Matteoli and Julian Fernandez and hopes to share the podium with his pals . "My last name means Two Seven and it was a pair of 7s that got me into this tournament", says Stéphane, who feels very optimistic about the final.
Seat 3: Niall "firaldo87" Farrell, 28, Glasgow, UK, PokerStars player, 9,165,000
Arguably the biggest star on the final table is 28-year-old Niall Farrell. He became a poker pro after graduating with a law degree from Dumfries University. The Glaswegian belongs to the group of EPT champions, winning his title back in October after taking down the EPT12 Malta Main Event for €534,330. He's closing on a $2m mark in live tournament winnings and is second to David Vamplew on Scotland's all-time money list. Farrell is also well-known online, playing as "firaldo87" on PokerStars. His online accolades include a FTOPS Main Event title worth $236,232.
Seat 4: Julian Fernandez, 25, Toulon, France, 3,200,000
Seasonal fruit and vegetable trader Julian Fernandez discovered poker with his father and his friends while still a teenager but the 25-year-old from Toulon doesn't have much time for his hobby, and has never played online. "I don't play very often but this is a week of fun and a chance to see friends, play poker and enjoy myself," he said, before explaining that his mates are fellow finalists Romain Matteoli "I've known him for five or years" and Stéphane Dossetto, "a childhood friend I've known for 15 years." Julian had played the FPS Monaco Main Event last year but failed to cash. This time he is aiming for a top five finish.
Seat 5: Jean-Baptiste Bertrand, 29, Montpellier, France, 1,105,000
A DJ by profession, Jean-Baptiste Bertrand has been playing poker for five years, mainly online where he plays tournaments between €10 and € 100 on PokerStars.fr. His results there include winning a Night on Stars and a Daily Fifty, Bertrand bought in direct for the FPS Monaco Main Event, his second France Poker Series appearance after competing at FPS Cannes last year. However he's doing way better this time; he didn't manage to get past the fourth level in Cannes.
Down to just 26k at the end of Day 1, Bertrand had a dream Day 2 - and a little bit of luck - when he went all in with AJ against 87 on a J87 flop and found two runner-runner kings to win the hand and end the day among the chip leaders. A huge fan already of PokerStars Live, Bertrand has identified his main rival on the final table - Niall Farrell - who he watched during the live stream from EPT Malta. With the motto "Do not jump," Bertrand hopes to pull off a good performance tomorrow as well as enjoy life and have fun. "That's what will make me happy", he said.
Seat 6: Miguel Silva, 27, Portugal, PokerStars player, 1,260,000
Portuguese player Miguel Silva is set to earn the biggest cash of his live poker career today. His best result before reaching the final of teh FPS Monaco Main Event was third in the EPT12 Prague €1k Turbo Bounty for €20,380. That contributed to the $133k he's racked up to date in live tournament winnings; he currently sits in 48th place on Portugal's all-time money list. Silva also made two final tables at EPT12 Dublin back in March, earning over €18k combined. However, thiis is the 27-year-old's first major final table.
PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at FPS Monaco: Martin Harris and Nick Wright. Photos by Jules Pochy. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog