This Week's Big Winner: Sergio Aido Wins 2019 EPT Monte Carlo €100,000 Super High Roller

Sergio Aido has won the 2019 European Poker Tour Monte Carlo €100,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em super high roller. The Spanish poker pro emerged victorious from a field of 52 total entries to capture the title and the top prize of €1,589,190 ($1,779,893 USD), the largest payday of his career.

Aido’s lifetime earnings grew to more than $10.3 million, making him the third highest earning Spanish-born player in tournament poker behind only Adrian Mateos ($17.4 million) and Carlos Mortensen ($11.9 million).

Here are the five hands that propelled Aido to the title.

Tournament – EPT Monte Carlo Super High Roller
Buy-In: €100,000 ($113,664)
No. of Entries: 52
Prize Pool: €5,045,040 ($5,650,446)
1st Place Prize: €1,589,190 ($1,779,893)

The Action

Aido was short-stacked and desperate during the eight-handed money bubble, but two quick double ups, including one hand where he was dominated, and he was right back in contention. After Koray Aldemir went out on the bubble, Aido raised to 200,000 on the button. Malinowski moved in for his last 570,000, and Aidio called with A K. Malinowski was dominated and in bad shape, and failed to connect as the board ran out J 10 3 6 7. He earned €264,860 ($296,643) for his seventh-place finish.

The Action

The action folded around to Carrel in the small blind and he moved in for just over ten big blinds. Aido looked down as his cards in the big blind and saw just enough to make the call, tabling A 2. Carrel was at least drawing live with his 9 5, and he picked up additional outs as the flop fell J 8 7. The turn and river were bricks, however, coming 2 8, and Carrel was sent to the rail in sixth place, earning €327,930 ($367,282).

The Action

Sitting four-handed, Dvoress was short-stacked and made his final move from the cutoff. Aido asked for a count and then made the call from the small blind, and Cortes folded his big blind. Dvoress showed A 9, but was in trouble against Aido’s pocket kings. The flop ended all of the drama, bringing two kings, and Aido’s quads were more than enough to send Dvoress home. Dvoress picked up €554,950 ($621,544) for his run.

The Action

Greenwood raised to 250,000 on the button and Aido three-bet to 960,000 from the small blind. Greenwood then opted to shove all-in for 3,250,000, and Aido snap called with pocket kings once again. Greenwood held A 10 for one over card, but failed to connect as the dealer produced a board of 9 6 2 4 8. Greenwood banked €731,530 ($819,314) for his third-place showing.

The Action

Aido limped in on the button and Cortes, facing a huge heads-up chip deficit, moved all in for 1,750,000. Aido called with K Q, and was well ahead of Cortes and his 9 2. The board ran out A J 8 J 5 and Aido’s king high was enough to take down the last pot of the tournament. Cortes picked up €1,147,750 ($1,285,480) as the runner-up, while Aido took home the title, the trophy, and the €1,589,190 ($1,179,893) first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Sergio Aido — €1,589,190 ($1,179,893)
2. Jesus Cortes — €1,147,750 ($1,285,480)
3. Sam Greenwood — €731,530 ($819,314)
4. Daniel Dvoress — €554,950 ($621,544)
5. Mikita Badziakouski — €428,830 ($480,290)
6. Charlie Carrel — €327,930 ($367,282)
7. Wiktor Malinowski — €264,860 ($296,643)