Derk Van Luijk from the Netherlands Takes EPT Monte Carlo Main Event Title

Derk Van Luijk from The Netherlands has won the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo Main Event, securing a $1,080,000 prize. The tournament attracted 1,208 participants and generated a nearly $6.3 million prize pool, a record for this event. After a week of intense play, Van Luijk claimed the largest paycheck of his career.

The competition was fierce from the start, with Boris Angelov leading as the initial chip holder. Van Luijk, who began the final day sixth in chips among seven players, watched Angelov eliminate three opponents, increasing his chip lead. Van Luijk’s fortunes changed when he won a crucial hand with pocket jacks against Jovan Kenjic’s Ace-King, which moved him out of the danger zone.

His momentum continued as he won a significant hand against Rania Nasreddine, gaining the lead after hitting a higher two pair on the river. This left Nasreddine with just three big blinds, and she exited in third place, taking home $478,332.

The final headsup for the title turned out to be a long battle between Angelov and Van Luijk. The decisive moment came when Van Luijk called Angelov’s all-in with an Ace-Queen against King-Seven. The flop brought another Queen, securing the victory for Van Luijk and relegating Angelov to second place with $670,140.

Van Luijk, still processing the win, shared his feelings: “I still can’t realize it. I’m serious, it’s amazing.”

This victory is a significant boost for Van Luijk, whose previous top win was $101,053 at a 2022 EPT Barcelona event. The Dutchman’s total career earnings now exceed $1.3 million according to the Hendonmob.

Final Table Results

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