blonde poker forum

We'll be back in what seems like no time to watch the final two tables dwindle to their thrilling conclusion.  3pm (2pm UK time) scheduled.

(This is the no pictures non-interactive thread for poker quick fixers).

Table 1:

Jacob Rasmussen -- 657k
Vincent Sokalski -- 278k
Christoph Stiehler -- 182k
Nicolas Levi -- 365k
Johnny Lodden -- 360k
Erick Lindberg -- 266k

Table 2:

Sebastian Ruthenberg -- 537k
Cristiano Blanco -- 424k
Andreas Hoivold -- 335k
Phillip "Clap Your Hands Say" Yeh -- 597k
Gunnar Rabe -- 431k
Thomas Fourgeron -- 192k
Michael Mucklish -- 440k


Sweepstakes for the updaters, I'm going for the fabulously named Gunnar Rabe, Jen is going for Lodden. How dull... ::)

And we are playing, blinds are 10k/20k/2k

Just seen Lodden raise from the small blind and big blind Erick Lindberg pushed from the big. Lodden agonised for a while before passing.

Early double through for Eric Lindberg - Qd Qh vs the AK of Vincent Sokalski - Queen on the flop and then although a 2-4-5 gutshot came, the river was no help and he's down to under 100k...

Nicolas Levi has now doubled through with errrrr.... 2c 3c against Erick Lindberg's Kh Jh

The board read:

Jc 9c Tc

Chips flying in...

4s and Ac turn and river change nothing.

Levi on 680k now, Lindberg shorter on 280k

No!  Ben Gallen reports that just this minute Johnny has been eliminated by neighbour Erik Lindberg - his (Lodden's) 6s 6c vs. Lindberg's Ahrt Kd... Newly chipped up Erik is now pretty much splitting the majority of the chips on his table with Jacob Rasmussen...

Going to have a look at the new table situation (6 + 6) now that Johnny Lodden is OUT in 13th place, winning €20,900.

Vincent Sokalski pushes his shortish (80kish) stack in against Nicolas Levi's raise...

Sokalski:

Aspades Qs

Nicolas Levi:

Th 3h

Flop:

Js 2s 3s

Looks over doesn't it...
Turn:

Td

But hang on...

River:

6d

Sokalski doubles through but it still short and pushes again, this time, chip leader Jacob Rasmussen calls.

Solkalski:

Ahrt Td

Rasmussen:

Aspades Qc

Flop:

Ks 6c 5s

Turn:

3s

River:

6s

Meaning Vincent Sokalski is OUT in 12th place winning €27,800.

A huge spectator roar as Thomas Fougeron doubles up with Aces against Kings (ouch) - with Christoph Stiehler suffering the flip side of this unavoidable situation.  He leaped out of his seat when it was all over, still probably getting over having come back from two big blinds on Day One.

It was pointed out that there are only four levels left on the EPT tournament structure sheet.  Officially it will max out then, but we are positive a final table blinds rollback will happen.

Blinds currently a punishing 15k/30k ante 3k. 

Michael Muecklisch is OUT in 11th place, winning €27,800

A huge hand (flush over flush - Homer has the details) saw Christiano Blanco get the Leader's Stack while knocking Michael down to the felt, and the cheer for 11th place just now went up.

They will now play hand for hand, make a final table at nine, and the final table* at eight.



*Televised Final.  Although if they all get on the final table there might well be that live streaming coverage.

Yes, Muecklisch lost a huge pot holding a Jack high flush against Cristiano's King high flush. His remaining chips went all in with Qc 3s against Cristiano's Ad Kd.

Board:

6d 8d 7s Ts Qd


We are now playing hand for hand on two tables of five.

And we are down to 9 players and are on a 15 minute break.

Philip "Clap Yours Hands Say" Yeh is OUT in 10th place winning €37,100

Andreas Hoivold, (here shown on the right with Philip), made what he called, "A sick call with A-6," but was ahead of Yeh's K-T suited. a raggy board helped neither.

Nicolas Levi is down to 160k after calling Gunnar Rabe's all-in with Ace Queen and finding himself up against pocket Jacks. The board came all raggy low cards and Rabe can now start gunning for the top places with his chip count now over half a million.

A lot of the updaters are rooting for the likable Thomas Fourgeron, who, at one stage on Day 1B, suffered a very bad beat and left the table thinking he was out, only for the dealer to call him back, he had just 600 chips and the blinds were at 150/300 then. Somehow he has managed to come all the way back, and amazingly has a real shot of winning this.

Nicolas Levi, dented after being doubled through, doubles up himself:  All in with Jc Ts, he stood up immediately when Jacob Rasmussen called and showed Qd Js.
Flop:  4s Td Kd
Turn:  3h
River:  8c  so saved by the Ten he gets a reprieve and a not-so-desperate stack.

Actually, perhaps a bit desperate, seeing as the blinds have reached a never-before-played 20k/40k ante 4k level. 

And just as I was about to waffle about blinds again, we lose our 9th place player....it's Christoph Stiehle, who wins €37,100

Christoph Stiehler pushed with 8d 6c and was called by Sebastian Ruthenberg's Jd Jc

Board:

6h Qc Ts Td 4c



As soon as we get the seat redraw we'll put up chip counts and pictures of all 8 remaining players.

He's in good spirits and says that if the blinds are rolled back (which they will be) then "If there's proper play, I fancy my chances."  There has to be a decrease in blinds because otherwise the commentators (like our friend George Danzer, non-stop on the German one as the other commentators are ill or absent) will have nothing to say except "All-in.  Pass.  All-in.  Pass.  All-in.  Call."

Finalists are taking their seats.

Seat 3: Nicolas Levi, 24, from France
Originally from Paris, Nicolas now lives in London and is an online pro - known as “Croque Monsieur” as well as being a familiar figure in the card rooms. He studied computer sciences at Norwich University before turning pro. Although he went deep in a number of tournaments in 2006, including 7th in the Caribbean Classic $6,000 event, he has yet to trouble the cashiers at an EPT. He writes up his poker performances on his blog: teamrobusto.com

The blinds have been more than halved - 8,000/16,000 now.  What a jump back - the players are probably loving this, and we are getting ready for a long evening.  Perhaps a sensible middle ground might have been 10k/20k, but we're not complaining.  Just get comfortable.

The Lineup:

Seat 1: Andreas Hoivold -- 750,000
Seat 2: Erick Lindberg -- 617,000
Seat 3: Nicolas Levi -- 467,000
Seat 4: Jacob Rasmussen - 265,000
Seat 5: Sebastian Ruthenberg -- 717,000
Seat 6: Cristiano Blanco -- 1,258,000
Seat 7: Thomas Fourgeron -- 286,000
Seat 8: Gunnar Rabe -- 668,000

Nicolas raises it up to 41k, Cristiano makes it 151k and Nicolas passes.

Preflop Raiser                              Result
Christiano Blanco 75k                      gets the blinds
Thomas Fougeron, tapis                  gets the binds

Erik Lindberg, to 45k                      Nicolas calls, Jacob Rasmussen calls. 
Flop:  Th 3s 6d  Erik Checks, Nicolas bets 65k, it's his.

It's a bit slow.  All about the re-raise preflop, pretty much.  (Christiano Blanco has won several through this method).

Next hand, Cristiano raises to 58k in the sb and Thomas Fourgeron passes.

Next hand Cristiano raises to 55k from the button Gunnar Rabe calls from the big blind.

Flop:

Ahrt Ac Jh

Gunnar Rabe check/calls Cristiano's 110k bet.

Turn:

Qd

Check check

River:

7d

Gunnar bets a very suspicious 60k on the river into a 440k+ bet, Cristiano calls.

Gunnar:

Ad 5h

Cristiano:

Aspades 2h


(http://members.shaw.ca/legion_roll_call/legionnaires/karate_kid/karate.gif)

Seat 6: Christano Blanco, 26, from Rome, Italy
TV football journalist Christiano has only been playing a couple of years - mainly online and in home games with friends. This is the biggest tournament he’s been in and he’s delighted to have made the final table. Although mad about football – he says he will travel anywhere for an AC Roma match – he reckons it’s poker that’s going to make him rich. He said: “In poker, I’m a marathon runner, rather than a sprinter. It’s the person who folds well that’s the best.”

3c 2d Ac flop seen by Jacob Rasmussen and Gunnar Rabe.  They check.
Turn:  Qc  Jacob checks (much more quickly than on the flop) and Gunnar bets 60k.  Lengthy think; call.
River:  Aspades  Jacob bets 16k(!)  Gunnar announces, "Raise," then asks how much Jacob is playing... raises 80k, about half of Jacob's stack.  Dwell again, to the point where the clock gets called as he's one of the shorter stacks whose tournament might be in question if he gets it wrong.

"Call." 

Gunnar shows  5d 6d
Jacob shows Kd Kh to take down a large pot.

For the second time, Nicolas Levi raises (to 45k) and gets Christiano Blanco reraising - makes it 136k.  Will they play a flop?  Nope.  Nicolas lets it go, saying, "You can have the small ones."  Very generous of him. 

We were just treated to a shot of Barry Martin and Lee Jones miked up in the commentary booth - I can think of many people who might falter in the chat over 7 hours, but they aren't among them.

Blinds are now once again 10k/20k/2k.

Seat 4: Jacob Rasmussen, 23, from Denmark
This is Jacob’s second big tournament and he’s doing even better than in his last one – January’s EPT in Copenhagen where he won €7,424 after coming 27th. Known as “Sasuke” in the poker community, he’s been playing around three years, fitting in his online cash games while studying Economy &  Law at Odense University. He is being supported here in Dortmund by his girlfriend Jagge.

Thomas Fougeron is the short stack now. He's just pushed with Q8 and got no callers.

Seat 7: Thomas Fougeron, 32 from Lille, France
Thomas is a well-known figure on the European poker circuit but still holds down a day job as the manager of a computer services company. His biggest tournament wins recently were two cashes in last season’s EPTs in Deauville and Barcelona. Thomas travels the EPT circuit with his great friend, poker champion Pascal Perrault. He is an “ultra” supporter of the Olympique Marseille, Tony Cascarino’s old team.

Gunnar Rabe, (my choice in the media sweepstakes organised by Rolf) gets it all-in, Andreas Hoivold makes the call because of pot odds.

Gunnar:

7d 7h

Andreas:

8h 6h

3c Tc 3h 2s Jh is the board. And Gunnar isn't shooting blanks there.

Seat 8: Gunnar Rabe, 53, from Vasteras, Sweden
PokerStars qualifier Gunnar runs an engineering company in his home town and this is only his second ever live tournament. The first was last July’s WSOP when he qualified online with PokerStars and came 287th for around $39,000.  He’s wearing the same PS cap now to bring him luck. He’s been playing about three years, almost exclusively in online tournaments. He’s married with two children.

Photos (including these ones of the finalists) over on the Interactive thread.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=21275.msg431304#msg431304 (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=21275.msg431304#msg431304)

Thomas calls a minimum raise (20k) in the sb from Gunnar in the big blind.

Both check the 6h Ac 8d flop.

Turn:

6c

Thomas checks, Gunnar bets out 40k and Thomas moves all-in, Gunnar thinks for about ten seconds, before saying, "I don't have an ace..." but then says, "Call."

Thomas:

Qh Td

Gunnar:

9c 8c

River:

3c

So Thomas Fourgeron is OUT in 8th place winning €60,300

Nicolas Levi moves in facing two players - only Gunnar Rabe was left at showdown.  Do these two have some sort of history?

Nicolas:  Kh Qd
Gunnar:  Ac Ks

Flop: 3c 5c Jc
Turn:  Aspades
River:  Qh  Too little, too late, so Nicolas Levi is our 7th place finisher, winning €85,700

So down to six suddenly, and Gunnar Rabe might well be the new chip leader.  Mike Tse played him on Day Two and said he was liable to call.  In general. 

New Chip Standings:

Andreas Hoivold    280,000
Erik Lindberg        430,000
Jacob Rasmussen  480,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg  760,000
Christiano Blanco    1,150,000
Gunnar Rabe         2,000,000

Sebastian raises to 65k.  Christiano (the button) re-raises a further 100k.  It works again, another pot for the Italian football journalist.
_____________________

Gunnar's button - raise to 50k, Andreas in the small blind instapushes, and Gunnar gives it up without a moment's resistance.
_____________________

Seat 1: Andreas Hoivold, 35, from Kristiansand, Norway
Andreas Hoivold’s  decision to turn pro seven months ago has proved a pretty good move. In December, he banked $250,000 after coming 3rd in the Poker Million and he is now on the final table in Dortmund, assured of at least €60,300. He also won €24,000 last May after winning the Tallin Challenge Cup in Estonia. Andreas used to have the largest comic book collection in Norway and is known as the “Cartoon Collector” - but he recently sold the lot to concentrate on his poker career. His card marker is a Mickey Mouse.

Preflop Raiser Andreas Hoivold finds Erik Lindberg moving in preflop (over the 66k raise).  This time he takes a lot longer to make a decision, and the decision is...to pass. (He flashes a red Ace).

That brings this session to its Dinner Break - Back in 40 minutes.

Updated Chip Count: (Blinds 15k/30k/3k)

Andreas Hoivold -- 302k
Erik Lindberg -- 430k
Jacob Rasmussen -- 608k
Sebastian Guthenberg -- 632k
Cristiano Blanco -- 1.375 million
Gunnar Rabe -- 1.698 million

Seat 5: Sebastian Ruthenberg, 23, from Hamburg, Germany
Known as “Luckbox”, Sebastian is a big online player and qualified for this event in a PokerStars Frequent Player Point satellite. Now a professional and well-known in Germany, he’s been playing about three years. His biggest win so far was 50k in an invitational tournament. Online, he plays both tourneys and cash games.

Right away post dinner break and Andreas is all in first hand, no callers, before passing his big blind the next hand to Sebastian Ruthenberg's 75k preflop raise.

Third hand, Andreas now the small blind gets a fold round to him.  We're all thinking he's going to go for it - and he does.  "All my cookies."  Erik might well have been expecting it too, but 270k or so a bit much to call with whatever it was the big blind gave him.

It looks like the table short stack isn't content to remain so, and I am just going to keep reporting hands because eventually someone will call him.

Andreas has been all in preflop three times already, the next hand there's a limper (Gunnar) - he notices, asks, "You want me to raise it?" passes instead and lets Sebastian check the big blind.
Flop:  3d 4s 4c  Sebastian checks, Gunnar bets 40k and that wins it.

One hand off, and Andreas raises the next one to 75k and big blind Christiano Blanco calls.  Christiano checks the Q 7 3 flop, Andreas bets 85k, counts himself down as having around 290, "Call it 300."  Christiano passes.  The audience is warming to the odd Norwegian. 

"It was only 293k."

Jacob raises to 75k, Christiano calls, as does Gunnar.

Flop:

Ahrt 4h 8d

Christiano checks. Gunnar checks, Jacob moves all-in and both pass quicky.

Jacob announces, "Aces."

Lee Jones says, "Well, we'll see that on TV."

Jacob smiles a little...think he might have been lying... :D

I think someone spiked Andreas' drink in the dinner break, as he's all chatty now.  His big blind gets raised in spite of his trying to make a deal: "If you flat call I promise I'll check blind."  He passes, showing a Deuce, sees the raiser's Ace and informs the audience, "An Ace is better than a Deuce in this game."
______________________________

Small blind Andreas makes up the small blind, but big blind Erik immediately pushes in.  Pass; another Aspades shown. 
______________________________

Christiano raises to 100k, all pass to Sebastian in the big blind who passes 7c 4h....


Will that pass come back to haunt him?

________________________________________

Andreas raises to 77k, Christiano calls the extra 47k from the big blind.

Flop:

5d 5c 4s

Christiano checks, Andreas bets 90k, Christiano calls. Andreas says, "Good call."

Turn:

Qh

Check check.

River:

8d

Christiano bets 120k. Andreas says, "I hope you don't have anything because I have to call..." and he does.

Christiano shows:

Ad 2s

Andreas:

Ks Qd

A little whoop of delight from the cartoonish Norwegian, as he rakes in a pot of over half a million.

Following that, Sebastian raises to 80k from the cut-off, Christiano calls from the button. Gunnar calls from the small blind and Andreas sizes it up and calls. Big pot of over 300k now.

Flop:

Kh 3c Ts

Gunnar and Andreas checks, as does Sebastian after a dwell. So does Christiano.

Turn:

3h

Checked around:

River:

Ks

Checked again. Christiano's Ace high surprisingly takes it down.

"You raised without Ace High? You're a bad bad boy." Andreas tells Sebastian.

Erik moves in preflop, Christiano wants a countdown.  It's under 300k

Time ticks tensely by.

Christiano calls with 6d 6h
Erik has Kc Js

Flop:  5s 9s Aspades
Turn:  7d
River:  3h

So Erik Lindberg finishes in 6th place, winning €109,000

Thomas, who finished 8th, has just arrived in the pressroom, he rates Christiano, saything that although he may be a relative newcomer to the game, he seems naturally very aware and perceptive of all that is happening.

Updated Chip Counts

Andreas Hoivold       620,000
Jacob Rasmussen     600,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg   780,000
Christiano Blanco        1,720,000
Gunnar Rabe             1,320,000

Christiano just had his 100k bet on the turn of a Ad Qd Ts 6s board raised to 220k having had his 60k bet called on the flop by Gunnar.

Christiano folds, Gunnar shows the Qs.

Christiano Blanco gets the first walk of the final.

Table time:

Preflop Raiser                       Times blinds (20k/40k ante 4k) nicked
Sebastian Ruthenberg                                   I  (+1xwalk)
Jacob                                                           I
Andreas pushes again (for 650)                       I plus Gunnar's raise to 100k

As perennial underdog supporters, we're sticking with Andreas Hoivold. He's funny and is keeping some humour at the table, whereas as everyone else is fairly serious. He's also the only non-shades wearing player, which has nothing to do with it. ;)

He's also just pushed all in...


And Gunnar passed.

Now Sebastian's 100k raise is re-raised to 200k by Gunnar Rabe and Sebastian passes.

Andreas makes it 106k, saying "Six is my lucky number."

Jacob re-raises all-in. Andreas says, "Can he do that?"

Andreas calls.

Jacob has Qd Jc

Andreas has Kd Kh

Andreas says, "May the best hand win..."

Flop:

7s Th 3d

"I don't want a King, pair the board."

Turn:

3h

River:

Jd


Andreas has Jacob covered, which means Jacob Rasmussen is OUT in 5th place winning €139,000

Andreas has 1.1 million chips now.

Gunnar raises 60k after Christiano had limped. He calls the raise.

9d 3c 3h

Christiano checks. Gunnar bets 80k. Christiano makes it 180k. Gunnar calls.

Turn:

Aspades

Christiano bets 180k. Gunnar calls.

River:

4c

Check check. And Gunnars Ks Kc beats Christano's 9h 7h

New counts:

Andreas Hoivold     1,300,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg  750,000
Christiano Blanco    1,300,000
Gunnar Rabe         1,700,000

Sebastian raises, Gunnar and Andreas called.

Flop:

8d Js 7h

Checked around.

Turn:

Ac

Checked to Sebastian who bets 140k. Gunnar check/raises to 600k. Andreas dwells and folds, Sebastian also quickly mucks.

Sebastian only has about 400k now.

Christiano makes a preflop raise, no action.
When Gunnar does the same, Andreas calls on the button... The blinds get out of the way and the flop comes:  4h 2c Tc
Gunnar bets 120k (into a pot now over 260k).  Andreas calls.
Turn:  2d  Gunnar checks, Andreas checks
River:  5h Check-check  Gunnar shows AK and Andreas' pocket Eights win him that pot.

This whole hand, I might add, took less than a minute and a half.  Maybe that ultra slow play people were talking about earlier dissipates on the final to some extent.

Sebastian Ruthenberg now has ten big blinds.  It's therefore not surprising that he's moved in on the button, giving Christiano something to think about, clearly, as he counts out the pink 10k chips necessary for a call, lifts his sunglasses and gives the young German a stare.  He decides against it, and big blind Gunnar was just waiting to pass, and Sebastian's picked up 72k with that push.

Heads up on a flop of Qd Tc 8h  Christiano checks, Gunnar bets 100k.  When he gets a pass, he shows Qc Js.
_________________________

After a one hand gap, Sebastian moves all in preflop once more.  Andreas says, "Do you want me to call or fold?"
"I don't care."
"I better look at my cards then.  I think I'm folding.  I am folding."
Sebastian shows a Seven and Andreas says "60/40 then."  I think he might be stealing the show, if nothing else.

Limp from Christiano on the last hand of the level, but Gunnar's not as keen on a four-way flop as Andreas and raises to 140k.  Christiano calls.
Heads up for the Flop:  9d 2d 8d  Check-check
Turn:  Td  Christiano checks, so does Gunnar
River:  Kc  also checked.

Christiano takes it with Ahrt 8h, it looks like, beating Gunnar's A-J.

***********************15 min break**************************

New counts as the break draws to a close:

Andreas Hoivold     1,361,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg  457,000
Cristiano Blanco       1,082,000    (We have now had 'official' spellings Christiano and Cristiano - anyone know the real one?)
Gunnar Rabe          2,146,000

Instant Action:  Sebastian moves in preflop...
Andreas, after a lenthy dwell, talks himself into calling with Kd Qs
Sebastian shows Js Jc

Flop: Ahrt 6d 8d
Turn:  9d
River:  Tc

So Sebastian Ruthenberg gets a quick double up to a more playable mil.

Andreas re-raises Sebastian the very next hand.

Sebastian says something along the lines of, "I'm not sure where I am.."

Andreas, "You're in Dortmund, sitting at the final table."

Sebastian passes A-J face up.

Blinds are now 25k/50k/5k Meaning there's 95k in each pot before we start now.

Qh 2h Jh

Gunnar bets 100k, Andreas calls

Turn:

Ac

Check check.

River:

Th

Check check.

We don't see the cards but apparently Rabe had 5-6, but Andreas is holding the 7h which is good.

"You tried to bluff. That's not nice."

8s Jd 9s is the flop seen by Gunnar and Cristiano after the latter has called the former's 130k raise. (Too small cry the pressroom).

Cristiano leads out for 100k. Gunnar passes.

__________________________________


Next hand Rabe raises again from the small blind, this time to 150k, Andreas mucks the 'Tikay special', the J-2 off.

__________________________________

Td Aspades 4s 8s board and a big pot developing between Sebastian and Gunnar. Sebastian has check/raised the flop and Gunnar called.

Sebastian bets 400k on the turn. Called by Gunnar. Huge pot.

Sebastian checks the the 5s and Gunnar moves all-in. Sebastian calls instantly. And would you believe it? Neither of them holds a spade.

Sebastian:

8h 8c

Gunnar:

Tc Qc

Huge 2 million or more pot sent over to the german. George's words earlier are starting to sound eerily prophetic...

Crikey - we have another new chipleader in the form of old chipleader Sebastian Ruthenberg.  "Aggressive calling" - a new chapter in the tournament poker handbook.
______________________________

Andreas re-raises all-in preflop after Cristiano raised - and got the fold (after a good think) of Cristiano's A-4...

There have been some all-in moves, mainly from Gunnar Rabe (now short on around 300k) but the most recent one has been called by Andreas looking at one card:

Gunnar shows:   2s 2h
Andreas shows:  Ahrt 9d

Flop:  5h 5c 4d
Turn: Jd
River:  9h

So Gunnar Rabe finishes in 4th place, winning €169,000

Sebatian re-raises Andreas initial raise to 400k and both Cristiano and Andreas pass.
__________________________

Sebastian raises to 160k on the button and the others pass.

__________________________

Andreas raises to 150k, Sebastian folds. Cristiano moves all-in and Andreas folds.

Ks 7h Aspades Ahrt 5s board

Cristiano bets 200k, Sebastian calls. Cristiano shows 9-6, slighty ahem...behind the K-J of Sebastian.

Well, it's not like there's no action, but the threeway raises/all-in's result in passing so far, so there's not much to report.

Unbelievably, it's Climber of the Final Andreas Hoivold who seems to be the most relaxed and in the most pots.  Speaking of which...

He and Sebastian see a flop: 2d 3s Th Andreas bets 200k... Sebastian calls.

Turn: 9s Andreas bets 500k.  Sebastian quickly moves in over the top, Andreas calls!

SHOWDOWN

Sebastian shows:  Aspades 5s
Andreas shows:  Kd Kc

River....8c and Andreas jumps up in chips while doubler through Sebastian is low now.

Sebastian is all-in with Ad 2s vs the 9d 3h of Cristiano.


Board:

Jd 6h Td Js 6c


He doubles up but is still super short with around 180k. Blanco has 700k and Hoisvold the rest.

Sebastian moves all-in, both Andreas and Cristiano call.

On the turn of the 5s 7h 5d 6h

Andreas bets 200k

Cristiano folds.

Andreas shows 9s 5h

Sebastian has Aspades 3s

River:

8h

Straight and trips are good enough for Andreas to knock out Sebastian Guntherberg who is OUT in 3rd place winning €220,000

Straight away (and I mean less than two minutes) the chipped-up Andreas calls when Cristiano moves in preflop.

Cristiano shows: 9d Th
Andreas shows: Qs Qc

Flop:  Q.... (And then the cameras panned away for no apparent reason, but from the clapping and the smiling from Andreas I know the set wasn't outdrawn)

Which means, after the quickest heads up EVER:

Cristiano Blanco takes 2nd spot, winning €380,000..............


                                                 .....And the EPT German Open Champion is Andreas Hoivold, who wins €672,000

So that's you're lot. Got to rest because then Snoopy and I will be updating with Snoopy the Warsaw EPT which starts on Wednesday. Lucky Jen, meanwhile is getting a holiday break, but knowing her, she'll probably find somewhere to play poker. Sick girl, that one.

Congrats to Andreas, who entertained us completely and all the other finalists, and thanks to the Casino Staff who kept Jen stuffed with pretzels and steak.

Anyway see you all on Wednesday...

 ;stickaforkinme;

Yes, that's your lot - we've been fed like kings, worked like humble press and generally enjoyed this part of the world.

Thank you to Casino Hohensyburg for hosting us so well, and Mad Harper for keeping it all balancing...


Congratulations to all cashers, and Andreas Hoivold, who literally pocketed his winning Queens as the metaphorical curtain came down.

;stickaforkinme;