A Dominant Ride and a Swift Finale
The final day of the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event was unexpectedly swift, lasting just about four hours. Stoica, who has been in great form with deep runs at EPT Main Events in Prague and Malta over the past year, left nothing to chance this time. Though he began the final from the middle of the field, he managed to win crucial hands, gradually taking control of the table.
His opponent in the final heads-up was Austrian professional Bernhard Binder, who had dominated the event for the previous two days. Stoica, however, started the duel with a massive 3:1 lead and wrapped up the match after only a few hands. In the last hand of the tournament, Stoica, holding 7 h 5 h, hit a set on the board of 4 s 7 c 7 d 9 s Q s, which Binder, with K d Q d, could not beat.
After his career-defining victory, Roman Stoica could not hide his emotions, although at first, exhaustion from the demanding six-day poker marathon prevailed. “I’m a bit tired, but incredibly happy to have become an EPT champion. This is every poker player's dream,” he stated in a post-tournament interview.
Despite the prestigious title, he revealed that celebrations in Monaco would have to wait. “I just want to go to bed and rest. I will celebrate later when I’m home,” Stoica concluded, after winning €825,000.
Final Table Results of the EPT Monte Carlo 2026 Main Event:
|
Position |
Player |
Country |
Winnings |
|
1. |
Roman Stoica |
Russia |
€825,000 |
|
2. |
Bernhard Binder |
Austria |
€515,000 |
|
3. |
David Djian |
France |
€368,750 |
|
4. |
Samuel Ju |
Germany |
€283,550 |
|
5. |
Jose Paul Malpelli |
France |
€218,300 |
|
6. |
Longmao Fan |
China |
€167,850 |
|
7. |
Raul Mestre |
Spain |
€129,050 |
|
8. |
Oshri Lahmani |
Israel |
€99,450 |
An Emotional Farewell to a Legend
Besides the winner, other players also captivated the audience. Frenchman Jose Malpelli achieved a career milestone, having qualified for the tournament through an online satellite for just €250, turning his investment into a remarkable €218,300 for fifth place. Conversely, the hopes of Team PS Pro faded at seventh place, where PS Pro team member Raul Mestre exited the tournament.
This final table was special for another reason. It was the last broadcast commentated by the legendary Joe Stapleton. After 17 years, “Stapes” bid farewell to his fans in an emotional finale alongside long-time partner James Hartigan. You can watch the entire historic finale, including Stapleton's farewell, on YouTube:
We offer a few photo moments from this extraordinary evening:
Sources: PS Live, Flickr, YouTube
