Just nine players remain in the €100,000 buy-in Super High Roller on the European Poker Tour’s Monaco stop. Monte Carlo is the scene for some of the world’s best poker players to battle it out for the $2.1 million top prize. With Patrik Antonius leading the way, others such as Ben Hearth, Byron Kaverman, David Yan and Stephen Chidwick will all be attempting to stop the fantastic Finn from taking the title and bragging rights on the French Riviera.

Bumper Field Sees Bonomo Cash but Miss Mega Money

With 72 entries in total, a prizepool of over €7 million ($7.47m) saw eye-watering numbers in the podium places. With only 11 players being paid, stars of the live high roller scene such as Adrian Mateos, Sergio Aido, Artur Martirosian, Daniel Dvoress, Morten Klein, Bert Stevens, Joao Vieira, Dan Smith, Steve O’Dwyer, Mikita Badziakouski and Mike ‘Sir Watts’ Watson all missed out on profit in the event.

For Watson, that painful elimination came on the bubble as the Canadian fell to Jean-Noel Thorel. The enigmatic Frenchman, who has become something of a legend in recent years with a reputation for finishing second in huge high rollers such as this, called Watson’s shove on a flop of to take him out. Thorel held and was ahead with top pair, needing to fade aces and clubs as Watson had check-shoved with . A turn helped Watson pick up more outs but none of the cards he chased came in on the river and he departed with no return on his six-figure buy-in.

The first player to make money will have been disappointed to do so. With over $2.1 million up top, Justin Bonomo’s pursuit of Bryn Kenney at the top of the All-Time Money List could have ended tomorrow with him overtaking the Long Island poker legend. The difference between the two men is still $1.7m, however, after Bonomo’s fell to Juan Pardo’s after the chips went in pre-flop and the board came . Bonomo cashed for $186,870 but could see his second spot lead over Stephen Chidwick trimmed if the British player reaches the upper limits of the leaderboard tomorrow.

Petrangelo Ousted, Final Nine Led by Antonius

With ten players left, only one more player needed to bust to herald the close of the day’s play and the final nine. That unlucky competitor was Nick Petrangelo. The American won the same amount as Bonomo – $186,870 – when his lost a race against his countryman Byron Kaverman’s . The board of saw KAverman vault his chips to 1.5 million as Petrangelo departed.

At the close of play, then, Patrick Antonius had the chip lead with

You’ll be able to watch all the action via the PokerStars Twitch channel as the final nine battle to victory. Heading into the action with the chip lead is Patrik Antonius. The former professional tennis player and Full Tilt Poker poster boy will be tough to stop, starting the action with 3.94 million chips (the equivalent of 65 big blinds).

Behind Antonius, the only player with over 50 big blinds is Juan Pardo. The Spanish player, who will go past $10 million in live tournament winnings no matter which position he finishes in will start with 3.4 million, or 56 big blinds. With a top prize of $2.1 million and a ninth-place prize of ‘just’ $292,000, there is a lot on the line.

Other Challengers as Final Looms

There are seven other great players who will face off at the final table felt, with Ben Heath the highest challenger to the top two. The British player Heath will begin with 2.48 million (41BB), while behind him Chris Vogelsang (2.39m/39BB) and Byron Kaverman (2,085,000/34BB) will be a big challenge too.

Other players to make the final table include the New Zealand player David Yan. With a strong background in high rollers, Yan’s stack of 1,425,000 (23BB) will still be a very dangerous stack, while Stephen Chidwick (1,095,000/18BB) will have his eyes on that top prize and another major title.

French player Jean-Noel Thorel has work to do with 1,095,000 chips (18BB) as he bids to finish at least second again, while the short stacked Alex Kulev will need plenty of fortune to double up from just 775,000 chips, the only six-figure stack at the felt and just 12 big blinds.