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Play resumes at 2.30pm.

Jerome Bradpiece -- 608,000
Peter Evans -- 596,600
Ganesh Rao -- 362,600
Mohammed Shafiq -- 340,900
Chris Bruce -- 270,400
Raj Patel -- 246,300
Adam Wilkinson -- 239,300
Joe Beevers -- 237,600
Dan Carter -- 232,200
Des Jonas -- 225,700
Billy Ngo -- 178,600
John Conroy -- 132,200

Redraw sees the players in these positions:

Table Bandit

Ganesh Rao    362,600
Dan Carter     232,200
Chris Bruce     270,400
Peter Evans     596,600
Billy Ngo         178,600
Joe Beevers     237,600

Table Big Name

Jerome Bradpiece  608,000
Des Jonas             225,700
Mohammed Shafiq   340,900
John Conroy           132,200
Raj Patel                246,300
Adam Wilkinson       239,300

Raj Patel is gone in 12th

Jerome Bradpiece raised pre-flop, Raj Patel moved all-in from the big blind with A-K and Jerome called, for quite a chunk, with Pocket Threes.

7-5-J-9-5 board

Chris Bruce is down to the felt while Dan Carter doubles his stack out of the 'middling' ones...

Ganesh Rao raised on the button, kicking off a large pot as Dan Carter pushed all-in on the small blind.  Thinking he was at it (and fairly enough) Chris Bruce re-raised all-in, getting rid of Rao while Dan was happy to see his Qs Qd up against Chris Bruce's Ac 9d.

Flop:  Aspades Ad 2d 
Turn:  7s  (Dan is looking ready to bow out)
River:  Qc  ("Online!"  mutter the railers, continually horrified by how similar the live game is.)

And just as he's got em, Jerome's lost em, doubling up fan favourite Des Jonas.

Battle of the blinds (Jerome small, Des big), all the chips manage to fly in with Des's A-5 in hot water against the domineering Fives of Gutshotter Jerome.

And with a J-Q-Q Flop it wasn't looking good until the Jack Turn surprised everyone by pairing the board, thereby counterfeiting Jerome's pair.

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Meanwhile, on the other table, short-stacked Chris Bruce finds a much needed double up with A-7 vs. the A-2 of Dan Carter.

------------------

Double up heaven for Conroy. Also shorstacked, John perhaps though Shaf was on a complete steal and so moved all-in on his pre-flop raise, but Shaf called and revealed Ad 9d, which was well in front of John's A-4o. However, a Q-4-4-x-x board meant that Punk Floyd lives to fight another day.

Jerome Bradpiece -- 535k
Des Jonas -- 525k
Mohammed Shafiq -- 205k
John Conroy -- 360k
Adam Wilkinson -- 180k

Ganesh Rao -- 395k
Dan Carter -- 385k
Chris Bruce -- 115k
Peter Evans -- 470k
Billy Ngo -- 260k

Despite being relatively quiet, young Ganesh Rao has been gradually upping the aggression throughout the tournament, and is clearly not keeping a tight grip on his stack at the expense of opportunities to increase it.  He's nicked several blinds, and released when he's found serious opposition, just now showing that he can even lay down a reasonable hand when the timing is right...

He raised, and found Billy Ngo re-raising all in out of the blinds, and launching the high-speed verbal at him (with absolutely no effect).  Ignoring the "I'll show you my hand if you pass.  You see it either way..." he thought for a while, saying, "I got you beat..."
"Do you want a side bet?" pipes up Ngo instantly, prompting the floor to squash the idea.  Ganesh passed Ahrt Qc face up, shown Jd Jc by Billy.   

I don't know whether he would have wanted to take that straight gamble if he'd known exactly what his opponent's cards were.

Adam Wilkinson finishes in 11th place, winning  £3,600

Straight all-in+call scenario, quick as you like, with Adam finding 9d 9c at the same time as Jerome found Ts Tc.  A third Ten just iced the luckbox chip leader's cake.

Shaf escapes elimination now - Jerome raises on the button to 50k, and big blind Shaf instantly moves all in.  He's in between saying "all" and "in" when Jerome calls, flipping Qs Qd.  Shaf has Ad Td.

Flop:  3c 5c 2c  Shaf says, "Club, club please."
Turn:  8c
River:  Kc

He got what he asked for.  Should have said "Ace or a Four, please, or a million pounds."

And here are the final Nine's potential prizes:

1 £111,600
2  £59,400
3  £39,600
4  £28,800
5  £21,600
6  £18,000
7  £14,400
8  £10,800
9   £7,200

Chris Bruce finishes in 10th, eliminated by Billy Ngo. Kings v Queens, Queen on Turn after Ngo had made the call to the all-in re-raise of Carter initial 28k min pre-flop raise. Board = 9-8-2-Q-7

Blinds will start at 7k/14k, as has been decided will always be the case to ensure that the final has Play.

The Final:

Seat 1:  Jerome Bradpiece  918,400
Seat 2:  Dan Carter            440,000
Seat 3:  John Conroy         256,000
Seat 4:  M. Shafiq             203,000
Seat 5:  Joe Beevers         135,000
Seat 6:  Peter Evans          448,000
Seat 7:  Ganesh Rao          181,000
Seat 8:  Billy Ngo               548,000
Seat 9:  Des Jonas             506,000

The Walkons have brought us a little surprise - the Seat Draw has been redone (apparently a computer problem -?) and the actual seat order is now:

Seat 1:  Joe Beevers         135,000
Seat 2:  Des Jonas             506,000
Seat 3:  Peter Evans          448,000
Seat 4:  M. Shafiq             203,000
Seat 5:  John Conroy         256,000
Seat 6:  Dan Carter            440,000
Seat 7:  Ganesh Rao          181,000
Seat 8:  Billy Ngo               548,000
Seat 9:  Jerome Bradpiece  918,400

Name                                        Blinds Nicked
Billy the Kid                                      I
Peter the Bandit                               I
Shaf                                               III

Peter raises to 30k, he gets some more blinds.  Then John Conroy makes it 45k... "How much you playing, John?" asks Billy Ngo.  He counts some chips out, then re-raises - 80k more, giving John a beaming smile.  But John really lets him stew for a while, and the smile fades after a good couple minutes of waiting to see if Conroy will go for it.  "You don't get so much time on the computer," says Billy.
"One time," says John, passing something good - A-K while Billy showed Q-Q.  "Queens have been good to me," he says.

Cutoff Bandit raises to 35k, Shaf re-raises on the button to 85k.  That's enough to win it.
Next hand, Joe Beevers moves in on other short stack Ganesh Rao's big blind.  Ganesh looks like he has around 240k or so... someone pipes up saying, "Is there any rule about two small stacks going against each other?"  If there is, Ganesh hasn't heard of it... Call!

Joe Showes Aspades Tc
Ganesh shows:  Kh Qd

Flop:  9h 3h 6s
Turn:  9d
River:  8c

So we have a double through for cool as cucumber Joe, and a really short stack in Ganesh Rao.

John Conroy gets it all in preflop, instacalled by Jerome Bradpiece, who showed Ahrt Ad.  John had Aspades Ac.
The flop brought two clubs, a third on the turn but a red Ten river left them with half the pot each.  I bet that one gets on TV.

Ganesh knows he's got to do it, and now moves in on the cutoff.  It looks like Joe Beevers is going to call, and he does.

Joe shows:  9c 6c
Ganesh shows:  Qd Ac

Flop:  4d 6h 8c
Turn:  2c
River:  Kc

A flush, eventually, is what eliminates Ganesh Rao in 9th place, for £7,200

This hand gets to the flop before the chips are all in!

Flop:  4s 2s Js
Joe bets 60k, Shaf says, "I'm all in," pretty fast, and it's enough to get rid of Mr. Beevers.

The next hand, Shaf gives it another go, raising to 55k preflop, but instantly releases when Billy the Kid moves in.

After the break, blinds will be raised to 8k/16k ante 1k.  Even the comfortable stacks must surely be intending to do something - I am waiting for The Bandit and Dan Carter to wake up (the latter is surprising us with his quietness, even though he can't be loving Shaf on the button when he's on the big blind, or the fact that it's Billy's big blind he's in position to nick).

Joe Beevers -- 105,000
Des Jonas -- 456,000
Peter Evans -- 415,000
Mohammed Shaffiq -- 284,000
John Conroy -- 441,000
Dan Carter -- 381,000
Billy Ngo -- 679,000
Jerome Bradpiece -- 875,000

Jerome gets Shaf's small blind, with the minimum of abuse, but he does ask him, "Is it like the tinternet [sic]?"
----------------------

Shaf raises (so many pots seem to start like that) and says, "I've got exactly 180,500," before anyone can ask him.  Dan Carter thinks about it, before calling the 40k raise.  Billy says, "Tempting..." but was wary of the lack of raise from Dan  - saw him call a raise with KK yesterday which trapped two players with smaller pairs into getting all in against him - and leaves the two of them to see the flop.

Flop:  3c 2s 3h  Dan checks, Shaf bets 30k, Dan passes.

Dan gets one with a preflop raise.
Even when passing, Shaf has to commentate.  "Shaf passes." 

----------------------

Jerome calls on the button, and Joe does too on the small blind.  Check from Des on the big blind.
Flop:  6s 6h 5d  Check, Des Jonas bets something smallish and that's good enough.

Joe Beevers doubles up in style.

Jerome limps, shortstacked Joe moves all-in and Jerome decides to take a gamble with 8c 7c.

Joe Turns over Ahrt 3c, but is chagrined by the 3d 8s 5c.

His sorrow, however, translates into joy when the Turn brings the 3s and then amusement on the 3h River.

Dan raises to 46k, pass round to Des Jonas on the button, who's acted fairly fast up to this point, deliberately re-raises to 160k.  Dan gives it up, and the crowd gives it up for the very popular local.

Small blind Jerome re-raises 120k preflop over the top of Billy Ngo (on the button).  He doesn't look like he's enjoying it that much, asking, "Show me if I fold?"
"I guess..." says Jerome.  Then "Don't fold," in a plaintive voice. 
Billy loses his nerve, passes and gets shown 2h 3d, just like he asked.

Billy Ngo has been put down to the felt by Peter Evans.

Billy raised pre-flop to 70k, only for The Bandit to make it 160k a few seats down.

Billy spent a decent amount of time in the think tanks before calling the extra 90k, and then moving in on the 7d 9h 7h Flop.

Peter called instantly and showed Eights, way ahead of Billy's Fives.

Turn = Jc

River = 9s

******************DINNER BREAK  1HR**********************

Updated Chip Counts:

Joe Beevers     202,000
Des Jonas        496,000
Pete Evans      676,000
Shaf               341,000
John Conroy    379,000
Dan Carter       382,000
Billy Ngo          220,000
Jerome Bradpiece  940,000

The inscrutable John Conroy raised preflop another 30k.  Big blind Joe Beevers moves in over the top, prompting a long think from John.  It's a call, and he says as he makes it, "This is a terrible call."  Well, he said it.

Joe:  Ahrt Jd
John:  Kc Jc

Flop:  Ac Qh Aspades
Turn:  Ad   (bringing the second set of televised quads for Joe in two hours!)
River:  5c

Double through for Joe, who's comfortable for probably the first time today with over 420k...

John Conroy is OUT and becomes the 8th place finisher winning £10,800

Moving all-in from the small blind, John got caught with his panties down when Dan Carter woke up with Tc Ts, miles ahead of Punk Floyd's Jd 9s.

A Jack could still do it though, but not after the Ks Td 3h Flop, a Queen was required now, or even an 8 when the Turn brought the 7h.

But a Jh River and it was all over for the Irishman.

Down to 7.

Des and the Bandit see a flop.  And a turn.

Th 8s 8c 6h  Des bets 20k, Peter calls.
River:  3c  Des bets 30k, Peter passes.  Another one for him after his uncalled all in just now.  Pre dinner break you almost forgot he was there...maybe the buffet has given him the energy to get involved. 

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Jerome raises to 70k under the gun (again, as noted by Billy, whose big blind it is).
"I've got a hand here," says Billy
"You're not the only one," replies Jerome.
He passes Ahrt Js to the chip leader, in the end, and Jerome said he had Tens.  Unverified.

Billy Ngo thinks for a moment before moving all-in for 244k.  Joe's all-in too, which gets rid of the players in the middle.

Joe shows:  Kd Kh
Billy shows:  Aspades Qs

Flop:  Ts 7c 8s
Turn:  2h
River:  Ks  Bringing the totally irrelevant trips for Joe Beevers, and the flush which doubles up The Lucky Kid to half a million.

Joe is all in again (what a rollercoaster for the Mobster) - this time Shaf considers the 158k total bet but lays it down, while big blind Dan Carter passes with no soul-searching whatsoever.  His determination is admirable, and his experience shows through in the calm way he's getting on with it.

Billy, relieved at having most of Joe's chips, says, probably not truthfully, "It's going to take a crowbar to get these."
"Shut up you imbecile," says Shaf, in another great moment for at-the-table diplomacy.

----------------------

Jerome raises under the gun yet again, wins the blinds yet again, shows a hand yet again (A-Q)

----------------------

Blinds Billy and Jerome check it all the way down after a limp-check preflop - Billy stealing it on the end with what looked like 5-high.

Here we go again, Billy's raised 50k after small blind Dan Carter limps in.  "I'll call, go on raise me, I'll call."  Heard that before, but this time when Dan passes he shows Ad Kd.

Chip Estimates:

Joe Beevers       100k
Des Jonas          500k
Peter Evans       560k
Shaf                 220k
Dan Carter         300k
Billy Ngo            640k
Jerome Bradpiece  1,000,000+

Joe Beevers is OUT and becomes the 7th place finisher winning £14,400

And just like that, we have another exit, this time the Hendonmobber who moved his shorstack in from the small blind with the paltry holding of 7d 4c. Des Jonas called instantly with Qh Jh.

Board = 6s Qc 4h Ks Qd

---------------

Current chip counts:

Des Jonas -- 701,000
Peter Evans -- 614,000
Mohammed Shafiq -- 293,000
Dan Carter -- 290,000
Billy Ngo -- 642,000
Jerome Bradpiece -- 1,096,000

Both Jerome and Billy are now sporting BlueSquare T-shirts, which is standard, considering they are both online qualifiers. 

Now short-stacked (comparatively) Dan Carter moves in preflop - for 224k more - and Pete the Bandit has a think after button raising.  "I think he's at it," says Evans, but obviously doesn't want to put his money where his mouth is (or had a bag of spanners) as he re-checks his cards, counts his chips and generally dwells for a while before passing.

Billy limps on the small blind, Jerome checks.
Flop:  8h 5d Ts  check; Jerome bets 30k and it looks like Billy's passing, as long as "You show me yours and I'll show you mine."  Billy passes 3d 3h, Jerome shows 5s 2c.

"The powerhouse," he says as he picks up the pot.

-----------------------------------------

Des raises out of the big blind, getting rid of Peter Evans, while Jerome (button caller) considers the 105k it will cost to call.  He does call.
Flop:  Td Kc Jc  Des checks, Jerome asks the Question (How much are you playing?).  600k is the answer, and Jerome bets half of that.  It wins.  Des says, "If the King doesn't come, I get the lot off you..."

Shaf asks big blind Billy "What should I do?" and then just moves in, winning some blinds.  He's still the short stack, however.


Peter raises to 60k.  Shaf says, "Mr. Evans, sir, I pass," breaking the trend.
Jerome calls.
Flop:  5s 9c 5c  Jerome checks, so does Peter.
Turn:  2c  check-check
River:  7s  check-check  "Nothing."  "Ace-high."  Jerome Bradpiece wins with the Ace.

Shaf's all in on the button twice with no call, then raises from the cutoff only for Jerome to put him all in and backs off.  Every hand seems to involve one of these guys.

During Break Chip Counts:

Des Jonas       855,000
Peter Evans    527,000
Shaf              252,000
Dan Carter      196,000
Billy Ngo          513,000
Jerome Bradpiece  1,293,000

Blinds 20k/40k ante 4k.

Peter Evans raises a chunk of chips on the button after giving Shaf a walk in the big blind.  No interest.  Shaf's button all-in gets similar passing. 

Next hand, Peter Evans makes a raise (meaning he's put a minimum of 80k in the middle), Shaf moves in yet again (340k) and Peter is looking like he might have to call.
Call.
Peter:  Qh Qc
Shaf:  Aspades Kd

Flop:  Ahrt 4h Kc
Turn:  9h
River:  2s  "GET IN THERE!"

Now Peter might be the one having to get a double through, having been in comfortable second place for a very long time.

Shaf has 742k.

Expectedly, Shaf raises to 180k the next hand.  "Come on you f***ers.  Let's see if you can re-raise me out this time!" (Jerome gives up his big blind).
"Couple more like that, it'll be all over."

-------------------------------

Peter Evans now has around 100k, and it looks like he's going to be committed to call in the small blind when Billy announces all in (for the second time in a row).  Oh, no, I'm wrong.  Pass.

Des raises it up to 130k.

Dan Carter counts his chips, separates them into piles and nervously rifles some chips in his hand before putting his head in his hands in deep thought.

With a pained expression on his face, the youngster lifts up his head and pushes them all-in with one single motion.

Des makes the obligatory call.

Des = Ac 8c

Dan = Aspades Ts

Board = 3h Ahrt Kd 5c 4c

Carter doubles through.

Peter Evans is OUT and becomes the 6th place finisher winning £18,000

Peter Evans moves his micro stack in and Dan Cater pushes behind him with Ad Ks.

"Kings," gloats Bandit as he turns over Qs 4d.

Board = 2c 6c Tc

"Club please," asks Bandit.

Turn = 6d

River = 2s

Down to 5.

Shaf has been warned by the staff to keep it down (prompting a round of applause).  So he resorts to violence, "I'll get my kit off.  Dazzle the audience."  The mind boggles.

------------------------------

Button Dan Carter raises, and Billy Ngo quickly reraises all in from the small blind.  It's a 447k call, and Dan, newly chipped up or not, backs off. 

------------------------------
Threeway pot -
Aspades Jh Kc flop:  Jerome (sb) Des and Dan check.
Turn:  5d  Jerome bets 60k, Des calls, Dan raises all in.  Jerome passes instantly, and Des says, "I'm going to make an amazing pass here" showing J-5!

Dan shows the 9h.

Des Jonas is OUT and becomes the 5th place finisher winning £21,600

Jerome raises pre-flop to 130k and Des moves all-in for another 225k.

After mulling it over for a few minutes and saying, "If you have an overpair, I'm dead in the water", Jerome decides to gamble with Td 3d, behind but far from dead against Des' Ahrt Qc.

Exciting Flop = 4d Qd Ks

Killer Turn = 8d

Academic River = Kc

--------------

Approx chip counts:

Bradpiece -- 1.5 mil
Shaf -- 600k
Carter -- 800k
Billy Ngo -- 700k

Name                         Blinds Taken                With a re-raise?
Jerome                              III                                  (one walk)   
Shaf                                  I

Dan and Billy check it down as blinds, both end up with King high and Dan's 8 kicker takes it.  "I think I played that quite well," he says.

That's pretty much it for the last 15 mins.

****************15 minute break**************

Dan makes up the small blind and Billy checks.

2-K-K Flop

Dan bets 40k, Billy calls.

Ten turn

Both check

Nine River

Dan bets 80k and Billy makes it 180k.

"I really think you've got K-2," says Dan.

"I swear to God I don't have that," responds Billy.

Dan moves all-in and Billy calls.

Billy takes the pot with K-T, Dan has Nines.

Dan down to the felt with under 100k.

Dan is all in for 97k (what a surprise)... Jerome calls the 72k extra from the big blind.
Qc 5c vs Aspades 5s - ooh, not a good match up for a double through, and with an Ace and two Tens on the flop, Dan was already standing up as the turn and river came out.

So Dan Carter finishes 4th, winning £28,800


Three-way Chip Counts:

Mohammed Shafiq -- 684,000
Jerome Bradpiece -- 1,639,000
Billy Ngo -- 1,277,000

BREAKING NEWS - - - - THERE IS NO DEAL

Shaf wanted to split 60% between them and play for the rest.  Jerome, quite rightly, told him where to go.

Blinds are now 25k/50k  Shaf goes all in two hands in a row and picks up a pile of chips in blinds.

Mohammed Shafiq is OUT and becomes the 3rd place finisher winning £39,600


Bradpiece raised with Th Ts, Shafiq announced "all-in" with Ad Qc and Bradpiece, after a momentary dwell, called.

Board = Kc 3d Jc 6d 7h

-----------------

Jerome Bradpiece -- 2.3 million
Billy Ngo -- 1.3 million

Cagey start, 1 x walk for Jerome, then:

1) Jerome raises on the button - +100k.  Billy re-raises all in.  Pass. 
2) Billy flat calls, Jerome raises another 140k.  Billy moves in. "Really?" asks Jerome.  "Absolutely."  "No messing about, huh Billy?"  Jerome debates out loud whether he can pass the hand he has heads up - and worries about the evening of stacks which will occur should he call and lose.  CALL -

Jerome shows:  Ac Jc
Billy shows:  Ahrt 8d

Flop: Ts 2h 4h
Turn:  2s
River: 6s

Which means Billy 'The Kid' Ngo is 2nd place finisher, winning £59,400............

                                  .......and Jerome Bradpiece is THE CHAMPION, winning £111,600, BlueSquare's £10k and a seat in the Final.  And a watch.