blonde poker forum

Well, the Final Nine will play down to a winner starting at 2pm (1pm UK time) - so supporters, get up that hour earlier...

We have already been provided with the seat draw, so can give you a sneak preview of what the final table looks like:

Seat 1: Paul 'Rocketman' Gourlay -- 122,000

Seat 2: Jeff Wallace -- 103,000

Seat 3: Will Ma -- 610,000

Seat 4: Yuri Kerzhapkin -- 111,500

Seat 5: Tor Gammelgard -- 255,000

Seat 6: Runar Runarsson -- 309,000

Seat 7: Ram Vaswani -- 413,000

Seat 8: Jeff Lisandro -- 490,500

Seat 9: David Redlin -- 370,500

Will Ma -- 610,000
Jeff Lisandro -- 490,500
Ram Vaswani -- 413,000
David Redlin -- 370,500
Runar Runarsson -- 309,000
Tor Gammelgard -- 255,000
Paul Gourlay -- 122,000
Yuri Kerzhapkin -- 111,500
Jeff Wallace -- 103,000

Prize Structure:

1  €422,560
2  €224,480
3  €158,460
4  €105,640
5   €79,230
6   €66,020
7   €52,820
8   €39,615
9   €26,410

great updates guys, great that the wpt outfit aren't there to spoil the clock.
oh & gl to man who's really going places of late, paul gourlay

thanks for the support mr THEW   

cum on my son,bring home the bacon,best of luck buddy.win it for the shadows........

Zippy

good luck to everyone of course, but special good vibes wished towards Will Ma from 2+2.

wd to the final 9 carnt be easy playing over so many days carnt get a head of steam up

After a traffic-frenzied taxi journey here to the Aviation Club, we've just about made it in time.

"Shuffle Up and deal!"

And according to the Rocket Man himself... Aces first hand, takes the blinds uncontested.

We've just kicked off here, with the last 10 minutes of the blinds being 3k/6k.  They've coloured up overnight - pictures of the new improved stacks (and plaques!) soon...

Will Ma arrived ever so slightly late, missing one hand before bounding over the ropes...

We arrived in the nick of time, having taken a taxi out of laziness and respect for today's earlier start, which took twice as long as walking it...

Chip Race!  They have no more need of the 500 chips now, and so off they go.  Pictured is chip leader Will Ma with a nice stack of those blue 25k plaques.  Traditionally every year there's one red 100k plaque which is of an even more ludicrous size, but this year we've looked for it in vain...ah well.

 ;goodluck; to Mr Ram & Mr Gourlay

And just like that (hmm, Tommy Cooper?), we have a double up.

All-in pre-flop, Jeff Wallace's Kd Jc is swiftly called by Jeff Lisandro and his leading Ahrt 7h, but, and most likely to the chagrin of Rocket Man, the first card out was a King, follwed by a rainbow 3-4-4-9 board.

Double up for the American, still on 9.

Final table piccies...

15 cagey minutes later, I swap back off with Snoopy... we have great final table hovering access, btw - the scarcity of journalists and the lack of TV paraphernalia means that we can actually see everything that goes on.  Oh, the luxury...

Ram Vaswani, Jeff Lisandro and Yuri Kerzhapkin take down some little pots preflop, the latter, however, pushing in pre over the top of a 25k raise from David Redlin to add a few extra.  He also checked an entire board down with big blind caller of his 25k button raise Runar Runarsson, winning with Ace-high.  If that doesn't sound like enough action to you -

Paul Gourlay limps in early position, the button and small blind join the party and big blind Jeff Lisandro checks. 
Flop:  3s 7d 5c.  Lisandro bets out 25k, only to find Paul moving in straight away and springing up from his seat like someone had put something pointy on it.  It's 83k more to Lisandro (pictured left next to David Redlin)...who passes, saying, "Got any of that?" in a tone which implied skepticism.  Paul only shows him the 7c 7h.

Action is a bit lacking at the moment, most the hands being taken pre-flop, the big boys taking it in turns to take the blinds, although the last time Jeff did show Aces.

Please send my best wishes to Yuri from Eric! (I was playing on his table on day 1B). He doesn't speak a lot, but he is a very nice guy once you get to know him! So go go go mate!!!

Apparently, Paul 'Rocket Man' Gourlay flopped a set of sevens early doors but couldn't find a customer.

Oh well, important thing is that he is still in his seat.

I'm one of rocketmans best friends... go on ging gang gourlay, you can do it mate... slithergadee is routing for you.

Can someone explain this "WPT speeding the clock for the final table"?

Why would they need to do that for a show that's recorded (other than for the obvious reducing the amount of time paid to crews)?

And more importantly, that's surely within the players' ability to do something about. No players = no show to sell to a TV network.

Just as with sport, TV controlling the structure of events is not healthy in my opinion. They don't even have the excuse of trying to fit it in to a live broadcast.

oh.. and hello to everyone on the forum, outstanding forum that it is!

Yes, that was that multilimp pot [see above] - he may be still in his seat, but he's definitely a short stack, even more so now Jeff Wallace just pushed for 106k from the small blind over the top of Paul's button 22k raise.  He passed (flashing what looked like a pair of threes or some such) abd was shown Jeff's Jd Jh in return.  Around 110k left for him, but he must surely be cheered by the appearance in the country, and on the sidelines, of these lovely railers...

Will Ma raises to 22k from the button, Runar Runarsson calls from the small blind. 9c-4d-Td Flop, Runar bets 32k, Ma asks for a chip count, Runar answers '270k' and Ma folds.

Hi betsy, I shall pass on your good luck messages.

You should be here instead, Paul's been getting the rounds in.  ;D

They don't need to do it, they just choose to so the day goes quicker and they keep costs down.

Unfortunately, they still get big fields, TV table crapshoot or not.

Ram Vaswani and Jeff Lisandro have been clashing repeatedly, with the lilac-shirted American getting the best of our UK player... first with Ram on the button and Jeff on the small blind, Ram found himself check-raised on a 7d 9c 9h flop.  He called (around 80k).  The Aspades came on the turn, and Lisandro just announced, "All in," a serious bet which put his opponent's tournament at stake.  Pass.  The very next hand, Jeff called Ram's 25k preflop raise (on the button himself now) and bet the 2d Qh 5c flop when it was checked to him, picking up another one...

Ram pictured looking serious...

wish i was there!! in greece, on a pacific nitro as we speak!!

With the blinds at 4,000 and 8,000 with a running ante of 1,000, Paul Gourlay's stack is looking a tad vulnerable at 58,000, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him push a few times within the next couple of rounds.

Double up for Tor Gammelgard - all-in on a 9h Jh Th board with the vulnerable but winning Jd Jc against Ram Vaswani's Qd Td (I bet he was pleased not to see a heart draw too)... The turn and river brought the 7s Aspades and Ram doesn't look best pleased, clunking in the nearly 200k he has to pay off in plaques.

Paul Gourlay has pushed all-in!

"Call!" says Will Ma.

Ma = Kd Qc

Gourlay = Ad Th

Flop = Qs Kc 7d

Turn = 8h

"Jack," begs Paul. "Jack!"

River Qh

Paul 'Rocket Man' Gourlay is OUT and becomes the 9th place finisher winning €26,410

Kit Kat time.

(http://www.brandchannel.com/images/FeaturesProfile/235_profile_img1_kitkat3.jpg)

Just before the current break it's been the Ram Vaswani show - he's been in every hand - nicking some blinds, losing a small pot to David Redlin, winning a small pot re-raising Will Ma off preflop and playing this one against Jeff Lisandro (small blind vs. big blind).  Limp check preflop, flop 2s 2c 6h - Ram bet 10k; call.
Turn:  3c  Check-check
River:  Td  Ram check-calls Jeff Lisandro's bet of 25k, winning the pot with 6d 4d.

Current chip counts:

(Seat 2) Jeff Wallace -- 140,000
(Seat 3) Will Ma -- 640,000
(Seat 4) Yuri Kerzhapkin -- 140,000
(Seat 5) Tor Gammelgard -- 365,000
(Seat 6) Runar Runarsson -- 308,000
(Seat 7) Ram Vaswani -- 395,000
(Seat 8) Jeff Lisandro -- 590,000
(Seat 9) David Redlin -- 211,000

Paul Gourlay and entourage head off for some probable drinking and general sunny Parisian hijinks - just time for one more photo of him just pre-exit, with bodyguard...

Will Ma makes it 34k on the button, and small blind Yuri Kerzhapkin moved all in.  A further 90k to Will, with the pot already that size, and a brief dwell later he's called with Ad 3s, finding Yuri holding Kh Qh. 
Flop:  2c 8d 3d
Turn:  Aspades
River:  4h  so...

Yuri Kerzhapkin finishes in 8th place, winning €39,615

"He was short stacked the whole entire tournament," comments David Redlin, quite correctly.

Jeff Wallace and Ram Vaswani inevitably get all the spondoolies in pre-flop for a classic coin-flip.

Jeff Wallace = Ad Qs

Ram Vaswani = Jd Jc

Flop = Kh 7c 9h

Turn = 7h

River = Ac

A rare show of emotion from Ram who was clearly frustrated by the River.

Blind vs. Blind  (Will Ma vs. Tor Gammelgard)... Will raised it to 36k when it passed round, and Tor called. 
Flop:  Th Ahrt Tc  double-check
Turn:  6c  Will bet out 48k, called by his opponent.
River:  7h  Now Will goes into full Deliberation Mode, picking up four, then two, then three 25k plaques and settling somehow on a bet of 85k after a minute or so.  Tor goes into the tank for a good while, before passing, leaving himself around 200k.

while simultaneously munching on my omelet, I managed to catch sight of two hands in quick succession, both involving Icelander Runar Runarsson as the pre-flop aggressor. The first he raised it up to 35k, before pushing off Jeff Lisandro off the 5h-7h-Tc Flop with a 60k bet. The second, he made the same raise, but found a different caller in Ram. However, the action fizzled out on the Jc-Td-Ad board, the two players checking down the 2c Turn and 3s River Runar ultimately winning the pot with Pocket Queens.

There may be a lack of hands to report (all pre-flop and uncontested at the moment), but that's not just because we're eating our din dins, but also due to the cracking structure that's stopping people from going all-in every second.

7 left
6k/12k blinds
1k antes
Level 16
Av stack = 397,142

Tor Gammelgard is OUT in 7th place, winning €52,820...

The big hand was that prior to the one where he was forced all in on the big blind with Qc 4d and knocked out by Ks Js... he'd raised under the gun and found button David Redlin pushing all in for 178k.  This was almost all of his stack, and he called with a speed which alarmed David (who held 8c 8h).  He was actually racing Tor's Ad Ks, and was clearly pretty tense about it...when the 2s 8d 6c flop came down he had a bit of a Clap-Yes! moment and the rainbow rags meant that his totally quiet, impassive opponent was drawing dead, and out the next hand.

David Redlin (top) and Tor Gammelgard pictured.

Ram Vaswani bets 35k, Will Ma re-raises (a LOT) and Ram folds before Ma has even pushed his columns in.

The Hendon Mobber certainly isn't interested in Oscar winning performances.

We are currently on a 10 minute break.

Chip Counts:

Jeff Wallace     160,000  ("You're going to tell everyone I have no chips.." No - some is infinitely more than none...)
Will Ma            877,000
Runar Runarsson  396,000
Ram Vaswani     385,000
Jeff Lisandro      530,000  (Overheard telling Rolf, "Im in it for the win - will do what I have to do...")
David Redlin       417,000  (Front runner in break-demanding, as the blinds rise to 8k/16k ante 2k - and the clock goes down to one hour...)

This might be a good point at which to mention that the traditional press Bet on the Winner (which Rolf Slotboom traditionally always wins) is looking good for me, having picked amiable chip leader Will Ma (pictured) last night.
Snoopy has gone for Runar Runarsson, Rolf for Jeff Lisandro Vincent for David Rudling and Benjo for Ram.  They're all still in!  I can almost feel the crisp tenner.  I think it would serve us all right if underdog Jeff Wallace came back from the short stack to storm the final five and take it down...

So much action now, and so little flop... Will Ma standard raised preflop, and found big blind Jeff Lisandro re-raising to 160k.  Back to Will...who announces all-in.  That's a big stack, and a big bet.  As soon as the towers of 5k chips start to cross the line, Lisandro makes his decision and passes, but is clearly not in the best of moods now - immediately telling off the press for standing behind him even though there are only four of us and no one was less than five feet away. 

Come on Jeff!!

With the blinds now 8k/16k with less than 100k (to start with) Jeff (pictured) has taken the short stack brakes off, moving in on three consecutive hands.  No one wanted to call the 78k, 112k or 146k in the big blind...

As you might expect, shortstacked Jeff Wallace moves in from the small blind with Ahrt 5h after the other players folded around to him, and Will Ma called in the big with Ad Jc.

Flop = 9s 6s 4s

Turn = 8s

"Space," pleads Jeff (why he didn't demand a 5 or 7, I'm not sure)

River = 2s

It's a funny old game, as Jimmy once said...

(http://www.tv-am.org.uk/uploadedfiles/jimmygreaves2.JPG)

Should someone who's close to winning 422 big ones really be wearing white socks and black loafers? Well, Will 'Wacko Jacko' Ma is, and he's current chip leader with 990,000.

WE HAVE ACTION!

;as;

David Redling made it 42k to go on the cutoff, and found small blind Will Ma re-raising to 120k.  He decides after a brief ponder to flat call.
Flop:  4c 7d Qh  Will bets out 140k, which looks like it might be just under half of what David has left.  He gets a prompt call. 
Turn:  5s  Will puts his opponent all in, and gets instacalled...

Will Ma shows:  Kc Ks
David Redling shows:  Qs Qd

River:  Jc

And David Redling doubles through to become chip leader (saying, "You almost got me there, I didn't think you had Aces or Kings...AK perhaps..." while Will Ma is under 500k for the first time in a couple of days...

And this is what players look like after winning and losing the biggest pot of the tournament. I don't think it's tough to decipher which one's which.

And our new young giant stack just sent Jeffrey Lisandro to the rail in 6th place (for €66,020)...

In brief:  small blind (Lisandro) with Ad Kd vs. big blind (Redling) with Ahrt Qd - all in preflop (although I can't imagine it wouldn't have been on the flop, somehow):
Flop: Aspades 5h 6h
Turn: Qs
River: 7c

And Queens remain David Redling's lucky cards today, having just won him a hand which could very well have taken him out, they remove another player from the table, bringing them down to Five...

Pictured:  the final as it is now...and lookie there, who's managed to install themselves in the TD's chair...

Ruling!

a great effort from captain fantastic...ul chap.
we last played together in a 500 at walsall in february...he went onto win it from karl marenholz(?) after 4 of us did a deal...& oh yeah i seem to remember doubling him up 5 times from two tables out ;hattip;
he played a little too tight back then but i guess a few things must have clicked since that win...

After an uneventful round, we eventually see a Flop after David Redlin's pre-flop bet of 55k is smooth called by Will Ma on the button.

Flop = 6c Jh 2d

Check, check

Turn = Ts

Check, check, although Ma briefly threatened a bet.

River = Aspades

"Some one must have hit by now," I thought to myself.

Redlin checks, Ma bets 60k and Redlin calls in that, "I could well be behind here but I have no choice" kinda way.

Ma shows an Ace, Redlin shows an Ace, Ma shows a Queen, Redlin folds.

Chip Counts at the break:

Jeff Wallace             172,000
Will Ma                     594,000
Runar Runarsson       320,000
Ram Vaswani            650,000
David Redlin             1,100,000

That final leading stack has been honoured with the appearance of the Red Plaque (pictured).  Many thanks to Sabine for bringing it out of its cupboard...we like a license plate-sized 200k chip on the table for absolutely no reason...one of the highlights of this tourney every year :)

After another short break (1 hours clock now, you see), the player have returned and are braced for some hardcore five-way action.

Ma raises from the button, Ram re-raises from the small blind and Ma calls the extra 110k.

Flop = 8s 6h Qd

Ram bets out 200k and Ma folds what I expect was something like A-J or A-T

And we've lost our short stack - valiant attempt at the double-up given, Jeff Wallace pushed once again (with Js 7s, on the button) and found a caller in Will Ma, with Aspades Jh on the small blind.  Finding himself a little dominated (again, by the same player) he fails to improve, with the board coming a final 8c 8h Td Qh 5c.  "Good game"s all round, as he takes his leave - and a spot on the rail...

...so Jeff Wallace is our 5th place finisher, for €79,230

It's not often you see Ram Vaswani getting het up, but he was on this occasion, seemingly frustrated by what he considered to be poor dealing.

It all started when Will Ma pushed 65k over the line pre-flop.

David Redlin asked how much it was, the dealer responded 60k and so Redlin said call and put in the 60k.

At this point, they realised it wasn't 60k, but in fact 65k

Ram claimed that chips had crossed the line before the verbal announcement, so the bet was definitely 65k, but he also said that David should be able to take his chips back and make a decision for 65k.

However, after discussing it with the dealer (pictured below), the tournament director made Redlin keep his 60k in the pot (even though Redlin tried to fold adding "This is too weird to me") and chuck in an extra 5k.

Ram, although not in the hand, found this incredibly annoying and commented that it was the dealer's job to correctly announce the amount of chips in there, and therefore not the fault of Redlin.

Anyhow, a 3s 5d 4h Flop was dealt, followed by a 6c turn and a 9c River, before Redlin's 45k bet on the end was re-raised to 135k by Ma, which led to an instafold from his opponent.

please win Rambo! tell him the check shirt backers got the lot and tell him he is the best in 10k euro events!

Will Ma gets called up for string betting (counting out 60k but only putting in 20k, then announcing ,"Sixty."  It's been a long week...anyway Ram sees the flop on the big blind as does Runar Runarsson:  Ac 3d 6c on which Runar check-raises Will all in, winning that one.  Runar's stack, incidentally, is a kind of raft of 25k plaques, with a tower of chips on top, and a miniature golden Eiffel tower on the top of that.  Pictured: his stack yesterday, as an example.
_________________________

Meanwhile Ram has taken two lots of 10k/20k blinds with uncontested preflop raises. 

this is rams bes chance for a while now i hope he scoops the lot. an yh wat was u sayin bout the check shirt roland. he would of dissapointed us if he didnt where it lol.

We have a...

;bp;

and it involves the Hendon Mob's Ram Vaswani, who raised it up pre-flop to 75,000.

The lively Will Ma made it 200,000, only for Ram to nonchalantly announce all-in, slightly waving his hand forward in that cool calm, "Aaaah, it's only money" manner that only Ram knows.

After a few minutes in the think tank, head bowed down deep in thought as seems to be the norm with the Canadian, Will Ma lifts up his head and says, "I know this is going to look like a crazy move, but I think there's a wide range of hands you could be making that bet with" and makes the call.

Ram Vaswani = Ac Qh

Will Ma = Aspades 9d

A rather shocked group of onlookers raise their eyebrows in befuddlement, but the Canadian is keen to defend himself, pretty much echoing his previous statement.

Flop = 9c 7d 5h

Ram, as seems to have been the case this final, lets his emotions uncharacteristically slip (although still only marginally), and the look of combined disgust and disappointment is evident for all to see. His shoulders slump somewhat, and he can only look on with disdain as the dealer lets the final two cards hit the felt...

Turn = Tc

River = 5d

No help, and a shocked Ram, seemingly motionless as he looms over the table, can only look on as Ma apologises for what is a huge beat in a huge pot.

The dealer requests 617,000 from Ram, after the wounded Hendon Mobber sighs, "How much is it?", and casually shuffles through his €25,000 plaques as if they were raffle tickets.

Down to 120k, but not out, Ram looks like a shot deer, and I'd be very surprised if he gets himself back into this year's Grand Prix de Paris final after such a major setback.

Now autoallin on the big blind with Qh 7d, Ram is up against the Aspades Jh of Runar Runarsson...
Flop:  6s 3h 3s
Turn:  Qd 
River:  Ahrt  Runar quietly marvels to himself, in the manner of all poker players ever:  "I actually won on the river card!"

Meanwhile a very dignified-in-defeat Ram shakes hands all round, hearing the contrite Will Ma saying (about the previous hand):  "I overestimated how crazy you were - I thought you were completely crazy..."
"No probs mate.  I've done it myself."  In two years of updating, that is probably the kind of thing you hear the most rarely.  Honestly.

So Ram Vaswani becomes the 4th place finisher, winning €105,640

Will is Canadian!! Keep it up Will you sicko.

sigh

... and before you ask Roland, Thomas Wahlroos is NOT chip leader.  ;grr; ;nanana;

sick thats all i can say. u still need the luck even if u r the best on the table ram.

hes right bout iove done it myself tho lol

Thanks for that confirmation, SirWatts.

To be fair, Will has played tremendous poker all week, it's just on that occasion, his read was way off and he clearly had a rush of blood, putting his tournament life on the line rather unnecessarily with a hand that had a huge chance of being dominated, in my humble opinion of course. I'm sure there were plenty better spots.

Will and David just got involved in a hand (pictured below) after which they discovered that they often play together online... we hear that "What's your name on..." conversation happen at quite a few final tables.  It's pretty interesting sometimes to find out who's who.  But even more so perhaps is Will's response to being asked if he's going to Vegas this summer - I think it was, "No, I'm eighteen."  With David being 22, that leaves Runar at 44 to be older than his other two opponents combined.

u humble get it right snoops

Yeah it was a misread, we've all done it at some point. Sounds like he and Ram had been going at it a bit, they were bound to play a big one at some point.

3-handed:

Will Ma (Canada) -- 1,250,000
Runar Runarsson (Iceland) -- 883,000
David Redlin (America) -- 733,000

They're brought out the big guns...  ;snoopy'sguns;

The ipods are off now, but I got this picture when they were still six-handed.  Another advantage of being off a TV-table - the musical freedom... also looks kind of like they're in a weird sort of mirror, which I like.  I so rarely get a decent photo. 

I want to spend 1 day in the mind of Jen Mason, just 1 day!

goooooooooooooooooooo canada

They've decided not to keep us waiting until heads up and bring out the trophy and a bucketload of pink and yellow cash right away!  Great. 

Isn't that the National Anthem?

 ;booder;

Remember guests, to see any of the photos we upload on this thread, you must be a member (free!) of the forum. Simply click 'register' in the forum menu bar.

In other words, sign up now or kitty gets it!  ;snoopy'sguns; ;nemesis;

(http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6595/cutekitten9ah.jpg)

Aren't we nice to our Canadian friends. Apologies, Sorel.  ;hattip; You did give us sweets after all...

(removed the good ones first mind!  ;grr;)

The last fifteen minutes have seen no flops - two walks and two preflop raise-and-takes.  Once Runar Runarsson did the "arm-wave-tapis" where you just brush the air over your chips and announce all in, over the top of Will Ma's preflop raise; Will laid it down.
Then David Redlin called Runar's raise (from, oddly, it being threehanded the cutoff and under the gun).  85k each, and the flop came:  6d 3h 9h.  Check-check.
Turn:  3s Check-check
River:  Ac  Runar checked and David's 100k bet won him that pot.

Snoopy's turn to stand like a lemon by the table trying to stay out of the way of the photographer... ;)

Another session of raise, fold, fold (predominatly led by Ma, who appears to be the most aggressive of the three by some way), before we finally saw a Flop, Redlin calling a 80k pre-flop raise from Runar (button) and checking it down to the River of a Qc-4c-Kd-Th-8h board, the Icelander taking it with Pocket Nines.

It's become clear over this three-handed period, that if it wasn't for Ma, we'd be looking at a potentially lengthy evening. However, Ma has just about enough aggression to perhaps loosen the other two up and encourage them to play more hands. Let's just hope Ma isn't the next out, for the sake of my evening of boozing on the tiles.  ;pokergods; ;angel;

Back in the hotel, Just woke up after catching a nap now the drama is over.

Just wanted to say thanks for all the support and the great updates from the team and unlucky Ram.

See you at the next one.

Runar Runarsson makes it 85k to go on the button...small blind David Redlin re-raises, a further 240k.  This includes the Red Giant Chip.
"You want to give me the plate?" asks Runar, before descending into a very long dwell.  This culminates in the usual questions he asks before making his big decisions:  "You want me to call?"  "Why so much?"  "You have a pair?" 
David Redlin calls the clock.
Runar passes Ahrt Qs, leaving himself a stack of 485k.

Merci Monsieur, enjoy the rest of your time in Paris.  Mine, unfortunately is now up - I am leaving the final three just as danafish arrives in the city.  In about 5 minutes I will leave you in the capable hands of Snoopy, and will be watching this if my Vodafone card works on the Eurostar at all...

More final table piccies...

Final report from me:  Will Ma re-raises small-blind-limper David Redling off preflop with a handful of 25k plaques... "Should have limped..." mused Redling:  "Ten-Jack suited..."

Then Runar Runarsson's Qd 3s stays good after a limp-checked flop of 4d 3d 4s was bet out by sb Will Ma, called by Runar.  They checked the rest of the way on that one.

Lots of play - there are a large number of hands per hour, and more flops being played than there were a couple of levels ago. 

Final final report:  There's an unoccupied pair of shoes under the table.  One of our three players has changed into sandals without the dresscode watch kicking him out.  Guess who?

Unlucky mate- gutted for you. Enjoy Paris nightlife tonight x

Will Ma FTW

"Tapis! Tapis" exclaims the Icelander, his 85k being re-raised to 165k by Will Ma, who, after a brief dwell, decides to gamble for 345k more with Qd Td.

Runarsson, who stacked his chips up like the Lost cast heading out to sea on a raft, flips over a leading, but not dominating Ad Ks.

Board = 7d 7c 5c Jd 7h

The whole of Iceland (pretty much the three fans in the crowd) go mad and Runarrson leaps in the air like a salmon shouting "Yes, yes!" at the top of his voice.

"Your bet with the other media guys looks good now, huh?" he says to me cheerfully.

Er... I do only have €1 at stake, but yes, it don't look half bad now.  ;yippee;

Runar Runarrson is currenlty wearing flip-flops, his shoes sitting quietly underneath the table.

Lies, I'm not there.

Chippy update:

Runar Runarsson (Iceland) -- 1,425,000
Will Ma (Canada) -- 857,000
David Redlin (America) -- 503,000

Blinds are now 20,000 and 40,000 with a running ante of 5,000.

David Redlin makes it 135k, Ma re-raises, Redlin instafolds.

Ma not slowing down one bit.

David Redlin is OUT and becomes the 3rd place finisher winning €158,460

Raise from the button (Redlin), all-in Big Blind (Runarsson), tapis, tapis, tapis, etc

Redlin = Ad 5d

Runarsson = Ahrt Qs

Board = 4s Tc Jh 7c 6h

Heads Up:

Runar bets 140k, Will announces all-in (circa 1 mil more) and, although asking for a count and whatnot, Runar folds, leaving him with around 1.4 million in chips.

Both players see a cheap Ac Ts Kc Flop.

Runar bets 50k, Will calls.

Turn = 4c

Runar checks, Will bets 140k, Runar folds.

Runar makes it 140k pre-flop, Will calls.

Flop = Ks 3s Ac

Runar bets 175k, Will folds.

Will is very precise in his actions, announcing every move he makes as clearly as possible.

In contrast, Runar is a silent assassin, just moving in chips and letting the dealer count them out.

Runar takes a small pot, his 75k bet with Q-5o on an A-5-5-8-J rainbow flop swiftly called by Ma's inferior (and mucked) holding.

Board = Td 6h 6s Jh Qc

Runar bet 50k on the Turn and 100k on the River, both called by Will Ma who was swiftly shown 9c 8h for the straight.

As a result of that hand, among many others, Will Ma has been ground down to 550k, meaning Runar now has over 2 million in chips.

Nice catch

Will's still got this!

More updates pls :)

We're currently experiencing an exchange of all-ins, Runar making his opponent sweat on more than one occasion before eventually folding.

The end is near...

gulp  ;pokergods; ;pokergods; ;pokergods;

10 minute break.

We know that Will Ma has exactly 480,000, which means that his hairless opponent has a gigantic stack of 2.3 to 2.4 million.

Crikey!  :o :o :o

Now that's just showing off!

 i hope runar runarsson hits runner runner to win , that would be funny as f

Not too much change, Will Ma still with 400-500k and looking very vulnerable.

Runar is remaining patient though and waiting for a hand to catch his Canadian opponent with.

Due to the blinds being as high as 25,000 and 50,000 with a running ante of 5,000, it hasn't taken Will Ma to get right back into this, stealing (or maybe not) his way back up to a commendable 750-800k.

We have a new tete-a-tete encounter before us...

The Chips vs. The Plaques

Who will rise triumphant?!

Runar makes it 75k pre-flop, Will calls.

Flop = 3h 2d 9c

Runar bets 125k, Will pushes all-in, Runar folds.

As a result, Will now has 1,175,00.

Typo? or does Will have the chip lead??

WE HAVE ACTION!

;as;

It was only a matter of time.

Flop = 5c Qd Th

All-in on the Flop with Will making the final call.

Will = Ac Ad

Runar = Kc Qs

Turn = 9h

River = 7d

Will has taken the chip lead, leaving his dejected opponent with 600k.

Sry, typo, long week, should be 'Will' on that post.

To be more precise, Runar Runarsson is down to 550,000 after that mammoth hand.

Does Will have the RED CHIP?!!!

Brace yourself...

Yes  ;yippee;

I think that's what hurt Runar the most.

LOL Runar is nothing without that chip.

The insight provided by the beagle is phenomenal

We have an all-in and a call from Will!!!

Will Ma = Ac Jd

Runar Runarsson = Ad 5d

Flop = Qd Qc Jh

Turn = 8d

River = Td

Double up for Runar.

... to the sheer delight of all the bloggers.  ::)  :'(

Approximate chip counts:

Will Ma = 1.9 million
Runar Runarsson = 800,000

(Ma has taken a few blinds and antes since the double up)

holy! Will just got Runar'd Runar'd!! :(

Runar down to 400k again after losing a couple of blinds and then being beaten by Ma's Q-T on a K-T-x-x-x board. Didn't catch the action, but I saw a bet and a call on the River. Runar mucked.

More importantly, he never got that plaque back when he doubled through.

Lol Will made sure of keepin it eh. Definitely key.

Runar Runarsson is OUT and becomes the 2nd place finisher winning €224,480

Will Ma pushes all-in and Runar Runarsson calls.

Will Ma = Jd 4h

Runar Runarsson = Tc 8c

Board = Ts Ac Jc Ahrt 5d

Shipppp!!!!

Ship it! Congrats Will!

Awesome nice job Will! It was inevitable.

Stick a fork in them

Congratulations to Will Ma of Canada...

Time to go.

I hope you enjoyed the updates. If you did, then please feel free to return, even if it's just to talk about the location of the 200k chip.

Until then...

 ;stickaforkinme;

Au revoir.

Thankyou Snoops and Jen. Top Updating.  ;applause;

 YES

 Will got Runar Runared  ;yippee;

It's 01:25 now and I'm not walking around in some card room in France. My hands are shaky and I'm wide awake. Cold Turkey anyone?!

What happened to the picture you took of Samir Shaktoor in the cocktail bar Snoop? Can you email it to me, that would be great :D

Quality updates!