Two Irish Open players have made it to the final day of the €5,300 PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo Main Event, one of the most significant events on the international poker calendar.
German entrepreneur Samuel Ju, who won the €3k Irish Open High Roller in 2024, lies in third place for today’s final in Monaco with 4m in chips while London-based Longmao Fan, who cashed four times at this year’s Irish Open, has 2,475,000.
There are just eight players left in the 1,011-entry Monte Carlo Main Event with all guaranteed at least €99,450. First prize is €825,000 and the current chip leader is Germany’s Bernhard Binder who has 7,200,000 in chips.
Samuel Ju
Tech wizard Samuel Ju, 42, only became passionate about poker a few years ago but has now accumulated more than $3.8 million in live tournament earnings. Co-founder of Pokerbase, a popular bankroll tracker app, Ju is already recognised as one of Germany’s elite players. He won €92,275 – and his first ever tournament trophy – when he beat Roberto Romanello in 2024 to take down the 172-entry €3k Irish Open High Roller. The win is still one of his biggest cashes. Regarding today’s final, he said: “I’m tired but super happy and focused.”
Longmao Fan
Longmao Fan, 32, originally hails from China, but moved to London for undergrad studies eight years ago and has lived in the UK ever since. He now has a doctorate in electrical engineering and runs his own export business. Fan came close to reaching the EPT Malta final last year but says he was a little intimidated by the tough lineup on the last two tables and eventually bust in 13th place. He said: “I was very nervous back then but I am much calmer now and doing much better.” His confidence will certainly have been bolstered by an impressive run at this year’s Irish Open where he cashed four times – including fifth in a €1k mystery bounty event for €10k and a total Dublin haul of €34,680. He starts today’s final with 2,475,000 and, whatever happens, is assured of a career-best payout.
Play resumes at 12.30pm local time with live updates on PokerNews and the PokerStars live stream starting at 3.30pm. Today will be your last chance to hear Joe Stapleton in action as he leaves the PokerStars commentary team at the end of EPT Monte Carlo.
Good luck to both Longmao and Samuel – we’ll be rooting for you!
EPT Monte Carlo banner pic credit: Eloy Cabacas, Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd
