The Silent Assassin – Aleksandr Shevliakov Wins EPT Monte Carlo Main Event

Eight great players took on the final table of the EPT Main Event in Monte Carlo hoping to win the million-Euro top prize. Only one managed it, and when the Russian player Aleksandr Shevliakov did so, it was mired in controversy. At a hotly contested final table, the Russian appeared to angle shoot with a monster hand, alleged to have acted shadily in raising with ace-king of hearts.

Early Eliminations at Final Table

With 1,195 entries, a top prize worth seven figures and a prizepool of well over $6 million, this year’s EPT Monte Carlo Main Event was a huge one. The buy-in of €5,300 ($5,895) was a big one, with players such as Harry Lodge (175^th for $9,455) edging inside the money places. By the time the final table was reached, just eight players remained, with Shevalieakov in the lead marginally from Boris Angelov.

Out in eighth place was Germany’s Leon Zeaiter. He moved all-in on the river of a board showing A-8-2-7-4 with just jack-seven and when he was called by Mariusz Golinski with ace-king, it was all over. The German player headed home with $131,425 as the impressive Polish player Golinski continued to build a chip mountain.

Soon, the final day’s six-handed drama was set. The Venezuelan player Miguel Capriles moved all-in with king-deuce of hearts on a flop of T-4-3 with two hearts. Boris Angelov made the call and was right to do so with ace-ten including the ten of hearts. That blocker helped the Bulgarian fade hearts as an offsuit four and seven fell on turn and river to end the hand in his favor. Capriles cashed for $170,850 as Angelov marched into the final day with the chip lead.

Controversy as Wakil Claims ‘Angle Shoot’ Upon Exit

With six players left, the ‘water cooler’ moment played out in the heat and humidity of Monte Carlo. Jamil Wakil raised with queen-jack before a few seats round, Aleksandr Shevliakov made an illegal raise to 350,000 chips claiming that he didn’t see Wakil’s raise. The Russian was ruled to have to make it 420,000 and Wakil shoved over-the-top with his hand. Then Shevliakov snap-called with ace-king. Wakil initially looked crestfallen on the sole basis that he’d made the move at the wrong time. That was until another player informed Wakil that the Russian had tried the same trick with 20 players left.

Wakil also stated that, “[Shevliakov] repeatedly declined to place both of his cards in the RFID card reader box unless the hand went to a flop” in a full and frank statement on X after the tournament finished where he alleged an angle shoot in clear terms. The hand ended with Shevliakov winning and Wakil leaving with $222,200. with five left, the Russian’s play, innocent or not, had come at the exact right time.

After an extended period without an elimination, five became four, as Golinski’s pursuit of the gold ‘shard’ EPT trophy ended for $289,000. All-in with ace-nine of spades, he lost out to Shevliakov’s ace-king of hearts as a flop of Q-J-T flopped the latter the Broadway straight. Golinski couldn’t catch up and the Russian looked hot favorite to seal the deal.

A Controversial (and Silent) Winner

With four players left, Enrico Coppola became the Russian’s next victim, leaving just outside the podium places for a score of $375,850. All-in with just jack-three, Shevliakov’s pocket sixes were good pre-flop and post as despite a three on the flop, the board of 7-3-2-5-9 sent the Italian home.

Boris Angelov doubled through Shevliakov, but there was to be no happy ending for most neutrals’ hero in Monte Carlo. Angelov called with a straight draw on the turn of a board that came 9-7-2-T-3 but Ukrainian Khossein Kokhestani’s ten-six was good enough to send play heads-up, the Bulgarian Angelov winning $488,550.

The final due wasn’t an easy ride for Shevliakov, but Kokhestani, who had been the player to inform Wakil of the Russian’s previous for fake raising, couldn’t emerge victorious. Russia vs. Ukraine at the poker felt is always an emotional conflict and in the end, the Ukraine player was unlucky, all-in with ace-six, losing to Shevliakov’s king-deuce as a board of 9-7-2-Q-8 fell to give the most controversial player at the felt the title. Afterwards, the winner didn’t tackle the most pressing questions of the day.

“Ran good, of course. Just good,” he said. “Maybe I will play some high roller tournaments, but I don’t think it will change. WSOP will be great as well, Triton too, but let’s start with this.”

Given his lack of accountability for the final table’s most controversial moment and a distinct lack of personality to go with it, Aleksandr Shevliakov might be one of the least popular EPT Main Event winners yet.

With $1,112,365 in winnings, perhaps he’ll care about nothing else.

Photograph by Manuel Kovsca for PokerNews in Monte Carlo.