blonde poker

 
Back in 2006, I battled through wind, rain and, if I remember correctly, a whole lot of snow to cover the Scandinavian Open in Copenhagen. At the time, it was my first EPT event, and it was Danish star Mads Andersen who lifted the trophy. Two years later and although I was forced to view proceedings from the comfort of my own home, not much had changed, four Dane’s on the final table proving that the home nation’s prowess in this tournament had failed to disperse.

Seat 1:  Rasmus Hede Nielsen (Denmark) -- 789,000
Seat 2:  Timothy Vance (USA) -- 1,408,000
Seat 3:  Daniel Ryan (USA) -- 557,000
Seat 4:  Patrik Andersson (Sweden) -- 283,000
Seat 5:  Simon Dørslund (Denmark) -- 267,000
Seat 6:  Nicolas Dervaux (France) -- 336,000
Seat 8:  Søren Jensen (Denmark) -- 500,000
Seat 9:  Magnus Hansen (Denmark) -- 458,000

In what became a highly entertaining line-up which included a crazy Dane, an enigmatic American and a lone, but heavily supported Frenchman, it was Sweden’s Patrik Andersson who would fall first, his early double up courtesy of Simon Dorslund proving academic as he exited in 8th for Kr 569,333 (€76,386).

Next to depart Casino Copenhagen would be Dorslund. All-in with A-8 versus the A-K of Tim Vance, the dairy production student from Skjern, Denmark was unable to milk out one of three eights and was swiftly sent packing.

With six left, the weight of a country was lifted from the shoulders of Nicolas Dervaux when he became the latest casualty. After pushing just moments prior, Nicolas would eventually be looked up by Soren Jensen’s (left) A-7s, the Dane’s call forcing the Frenchman to reveal a paltry J-5. A Jack on the Flop looked promising, but the Ace Turn and blank River led to an unusual combination of victory dance and blowing of fingers whilst Dervaus could but meekly exit stage left.

As the five remaining players dreamed of becoming millionaires (well, in Kroner anyway), Tim Vance and Soren Jensen remained ahead of the pack, their main concern being online hotshot Danny ‘THE_D_RY’ Ryan, the young American’s online reputation finally translating to the live felt. However, when Ryan ran A-Q into the A-K of Rasmus Hede Nielsen, that threat vanished and Ryan was gone in 5th.

After eliminating Ryan, Nielsen would himself hit the deck, Jensen becoming the assassin with his second scalp of the night. Coinflipping with Eights vs. A-Q, Rasmus would have been content with the J-9-7 Flop, but the awkward Jack on the Turn not only paired the board, but offered Jensen a total of nine eights, one of which arrived when out came, in the great words of Barry Greenstein’s notorious publication, an Ace on the River.

With just three players remaining, it truly was anyone’s game, but when Magnus Hansen dropped in 3rd (top pair versus Jensen’s bottom two pair), it was heads up time, an all-singing, all-dancing, all-car painting Dane locking horns with an equally charismatic American who constantly conversed with pictures of his daughter that lay in the inside of his hat.

What prevailed was an exhausting see-saw battle, and one which would take an age to conclude, but when it eventually did, Tim Vance triumphed in style, calling a bet and all-in on the Turn and River of a 2c-7c-8s-3s-4s board before announcing “It’s been nice playing with you” and revealing As-Ts for the nut flush.

A 46-year old construction company boss from St Louis, Illinois, Tim Vance crosses the Atlantic with not only an EPT title, but also Kr 6,220,488 (€834,590) in spondoolies. Soren Jensen, who wore the same set of clothes throughout the tournament, cashes in for Kr 3,521,429 (€472,463) and may well consider buying a fresh pair of undies. Congratulations to both!

1st   Tim Vance -- Kr 6,220,488 (€834,590)
2nd  Soren Jensen -- Kr 3,521,429  (€472,463)
3rd   Magnus Hansen -- Kr 2,045,381 (€274,425)
4th  Rasmus Hede Nielsen -- Kr 1,560,394 (€209,355)
5th  Danny Ryan -- Kr 1,286,270 (€172,576)
6th  Nicolas Dervaux -- Kr 1,012,147 (€135,798)
7th  Simon Dorslund -- Kr 801,283 (€107,507)
8th  Patrik Andersson -- Kr 569,333 (€76,386)