blonde poker forum

Welcome back for Day 2 of the Gala Poker Tour Grand Final.

Here are the opening chips counts for when the game resumes. Lots of big names are littering the field posing lots of interesting questions...

Can Antonio (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=815) Esfandiari (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=815) weave some magic and take down a UK event...?

Will the Hendon Mobsters, Joe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=204) Beevers (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=204) and Barny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=41) Boatman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=41), who are both well placed, show Ram how it's done...?

Can Jennifer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1062) Tilley (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1062) add to her bracelet win after a strong showing yesterday where she dominated her table at times...?

Also well represented are the Hit Squad;  both their entries into the competition, Chaz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=63) Chattha (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=63) and Priyan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=354) De Mel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=354), made it into day 2 with healthy stacks and everyone knows they are capable of some great poker.

My money is on Dead Stack. His patient play on day one, picking the perfect time to double up off Barny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=41) Boatman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=41) was rewarded with a trip to day 2. If he can up the aggression factor just slightly, he's got to be in with a great shout.

Who's your pick to make it through to the televised final tomorrow? We'd love to hear your views..

Table Draw:

Table 1

Jonothon Butters -- 47,575
Omar Ghandur -- 19,050
Rob Akery -- 72,325
Paul Gardner -- 40,450
Benedetto Passantino -- 21,425
Bobby Rach -- 12,975
Ian Woodley -- 34,775
Surinder Sunar -- 6,250
Joe Beevers -- 54,950

Table 2

Andrew Mitson -- 20,650
Jennifer Tilly -- 74,100
Richard Haile -- 20,950
Jitesh Thakker -- 36,625
Antonio Esfandiari -- 30,075
Joshua Tyler -- 10,700
Paul Gourlay -- 21,300
Stan Essen -- 53,400
David Lloyd -- 12,000

Table 3

Alex Torrance -- 13,825
Trevor Pearson --  26,775
Jeffrey Flewitt -- 33,200
Bambos -- 36,800
Pete Singleton -- 12,775
Albert Sapiano -- 46,350
Ash Abdullah -- 26,575
Jim Tierney -- 54,500
Manuel Palanca --  53,900

Table 4

Andrew Flemming -- 35,200
Neil Channing --  42,625
Carl Wahlberg -- 10,850
Michael Clees -- 27,625
Rakesh Gupta -- 8,600
Roland De Wolfe -- 29,950
Mark Mcgill  -- 17,775
Mika Ollila -- 42,850
Marcus Farthing -- 27,800

Table 5

Matt Tyler -- 21,700
Daniel Wilmer-Brown --  16,375
Tony Croalla -- 20,400
Chris Royle -- 33,475
David Harris -- 25,050
Priyan De Mel -- 17,925
Andrew Feldman -- 14,975
Mark Stuart -- 55,225

Table 6

Stuart Rutter -- 16,650
Peter Cockayne -- 28,875
Barny Boatman -- 36,500
Chaz Chattha -- 22,725
Mark Seagal -- 1,000
Danny Dodds -- 19,825
Jani Johansson -- 500
Jim Reid -- 12,600

And the players are now filtering into the cardroom with an assortment of drinks, Matt Tyler -- Espresso, Albert Sapiano -- Some sort of Orange cocktail, Ian Woodley -- Cup of Tea.

There's a stench of salad dressing in the air... But that's mainly because Junglecat is eating.

Bizarrely we have two dead stacks, both on the same table again, so we're guessing a table may break pretty quickly.

Blinds start at 400/800/75

We've just lost one of the two dead stacks, Jim Reid raising from the small blind to knock out Stu Rutter in the big blind, showing Ts 9c but finding himself behind to a pair of fours until he hit a nine on the flop to knock out one of them.

On the next table, Neil Channing had to pass his 3k raise to a re-raise all-in from Carl Wahlberg, who showed Ac Ks.

Can you spot a certain blonde-haired fellow in a suit in this photo?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4111&g2_serialNumber=1)

Pete Singleton is OUT. We heard something about Kings vs Queens.

Matt Tyler and Priyan De Mel's table is off to an interesting start.

Mark Stuart raises to 2.5k from UTG+1 and it is passed around to Priyan in the small blind who looks pained...

"I'm sure I've got the best hand" but eventually folds. Andrew Feldman also folds his 800 big blind and Mark picks up the 1800 in the pot. Priyan turns his folded cards over to reveal A-Q.

"That's my one hand of the day gone!" he says. Mark mucks his cards and Matt, not one to miss a trick or a bit of ribbing says "He had nothing..."

A few hands later on Matt's big blind, Mark now raises from the small blind to 2,400.

Matt asks him a few questions, "where are you from?", "what will you do on the flop if I call?" before eventually calling.

The flop comes 6h 7h 9h.

Mark checks and Matt bets 3.6k which Mark eventually calls.

The turn comes the 2c and both players check.

The river is the As and after Mark checks, there is a long period of  contemplation from Matt before he bets 7.5k, which eventually Mark folds to, claiming he had a straight flush draw...

A nice early boost for Matt...

Tim Blake raises to 2,100 in early position, David Harris calls in the big blind the check/raises his 4k bet all-in on a Kc Jc Jh board, Tim goes for it with Ahrt Kh for his last 10k or so, but Harris turns over the Js 9s and scoops the pot. The only positive story out of this hand is that a coke for Tim suddenly appears moments after he leaves, one which I'm able to purloin.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4113&g2_serialNumber=1)

A few hands later Harris doubles up Andrew Feldman with Kh Kd against Aspades Ts on a 3s Tc 3h 9h Td board, all the money going in on the flop. "The one player I didn't want to see being doubled up..." sighs Matt Tyler.

Antonio Esfandiari raises to 4,400. A short-stacked Paul Gourlay pushes in for around 11,000. David Lloyd decides to go for it too and moves in from the small blind. As I'm taking the photo the big blind, Andrew Mitson, flashes me his cards which look to be Ahrt Ts which he then mucks as Antonio makes the fairly automatic call.

Antonio:

Ad Jh

Paul:

Ks Kc

David:

5c 5s

Board:

4d 7c Qc Ac Qh

A clap of the hands from Antonio to take down the 35k pot or so. Paul is a bit fed-up, I'm not sure if he's cross about his exit or the fact he now has a five-hour train journey back to Leeds.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4115&g2_serialNumber=1)

10 minutes of this level remain then it's 600/1200/100.

Surinder Sunar just moved allin...

Facing a raise to 2.4k or so from Paul Gardner, Surinder moved in over the top.

With Surinder's small stack of only just about 5k or so, this was an auto call for Paul, especially holding 8-8 and he found himself racing versus Surinder's Ad Qd.

The Jh 6c Tc gave a few additional outs to Surinder but the turn 2h and the final decisive 8d on the river gave Paul a set that was surplus to requirements, and consigned Surinder to the rail, meaning Surinder Sunar is OUT!

Incidentally, after Antonio won the giant pot Floppy has just told you about, I caught him looking over at the pretty brunette he was canoodling with last night and mouthing what looked suspiciously like "I'm going to win!" with a big grin on his face.

Not short of confidence then, and nor should he be as his stack and prospects for victory grow ever larger...

I'm sorry to report Alex Torrance is OUT. I had a quick word last night with Alex, who came across as a really nice guy and he told me his son was enjoying reading the updates of how Dad was getting on.

Unfortunately he's now sitting on the rail, looking a little glum. "How did you go out?" he was asked.

"Power poker. I went allin with A-J, it's just a shame the guy had A-K..."

One more player down...

Benedetto Passintino aka 'DaMatrix' has just doubled up through Ian Woodley after making a good call for his tournament life with Ac Ts. He'd button raised, Woodley had set him in from the big blind and eventually DaMatrix called. Woodley showed Kd 6d and the board came:

Ad Jd Jc 9s 4s.

Stuart Rutter just got shoved off a raise by Jennifer Tilly, he made it 2,800 to play, she bumped it up to 12,000 and he passed after a short think.

Blinds are now 600/1200/100, they're just racing off the 25's.

(http://www.adoptionblogs.com/media/Open%20Adoption/sick_dog_in_bed_hr.jpg)

That Neil Channing is one sick puppy. He's just been all-in preflop with 7h 5h against Mika Ollila's Aspades Ahrt. The board came:

5c 5d 9h 7d Kh

Conversation heard from the same table.

"I saw there was that Robert Williamson III playing the other day. Is that old Bob the local guy?"

"Nah, he's some American geezer."


Stuart Rutter has knocked out Jim Reid, they checked a 5-7-7-7-9 board to the river, where Jim bet 800, Stuart made it 2,800 with A-9 and then Jim moved in. Stuart called and Jim mucked.

Paul Gardner, Roland De Wolfe and Mark Mcgill have just been tangling.

After Paul raised to 1800 or so preflop, Roland reraised to 4k and Mark Mcgill behind moved all in for 14 k or so. Paul now reraised to isolate and Roland was seen shaking his head as he passed...

Their cards were revealed and Paul was well in front with Q-Q versus Mark's A-J.

After a Ac 8s 2s 3h 9h flop though, Mark had more than doubled up as he swept in the 30+k pot and Paul's stack has been damaged by that beat.

Speaking to Alex Torrance, he told me that Mark is one of the local Bristol lads left in the competition. He described him as a very strong cash player, who likes to defend his big blind ferociously.

I just had a chat with the jovial Matt Tyler. He told me that he was bluffing in that hand with Mark Stuart earlier , on the 6h 7h 8h board and fancied he could take Mark off the hand on the river. It was a risky move given he only had 6 or 7k back but he pulled it off successfully and he seems happy with the way things are going.

As I watch his table, Matt is again in the big blind. He tells the table "give me a walk one time and I promise I'll shut up" referring to the constant stream of banter he has kept going since the day started.

Joshua Tyler passes in late position "seeing as you have the same surname as me" and Mark Stuart, no doubt still smarting after getting his fingers burnt by Matt earlier also passes, giving Matt the walk he asked for.

"That's the way lads, well done"

Someone grumbles "thought you said you'd shut up Matt!"

Matt: "I'm a poker player, I'm allowed to bluff aren't I?"

Stuart Rutter is OUT. Kd 4c no good against Ahrt 9c.

Also gone, much earlier, was Priyan De Mel, who pushed with Q-4 into Andrew Feldman's A-9.

Joshua Tyler and Mark Stuart have just played out a big pot.

The preflop action was unseen but there was 5k or so in the pot preflop...

The Qs 5c Th flop was checked by Josh then checked by Mark.

The turn was the Ts, checked by Josh and now Mark bet out 2.2k.

"Are you stealing it?" asked Josh "Or do you have a T?"

"I'm going to test you out" said Josh before check raising Mark's bet. Mark moved in and Josh called instantly.

Cards on their back, Josh had As Tc for trip tens, but Mark was holding 5-5 for a full house.

The 7s on the river was an inconsequential brick and as Mark had Joshua covered, that meant Joshua Tyler is OUT, eliminated at the hands of Mark Stuart.

Matt said he is enjoying playing his table at the moment as he feels the dynamic is perfect for him to pick up chips. He is currently sitting on 40k or so...

Chaz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=63) Chattha (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=63) is OUT. Fives into Joe Beever's Aces. Didn't sound like he'd had many hands today.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4121&g2_serialNumber=1)

Fellow mobster Barney Boatman cheekily checked the Jd 5h Jc Kc 4c board to Jennifer Tilly, only for her to check behind him and Barny to ruefully show Js Jh. Jennifer had raised his flop bet but the turn killed his action from her, most likely, medium pair.

Mikka Ollila is OUT. I think he was a little tilted after losing with his aces and his Qh 4h came unstuck against Aces on a Q-6-6 board.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4119&g2_serialNumber=1)

Josh Tyler is OUT. Say goodbye to his colourful hoodie.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4117&g2_serialNumber=1)

The players are now on a short break.

We will resume on 800 -1600 -100, 36 players remain and the average stack is 41,700.

Back soon guys!

*********************************************************************************************

Andrew Feldman gets moved to the right of Ian Woodley and it's passed to him in the small blind.

"I should be raising this hand but I just can't," and Andrew passes. "What did you have?"

"T-8," says Woodley.

"You were ahead then."

"Well, damn right you shouldn't be raising there!"

"I had 8-7 suited."

"You had 8-7 suited and you didn't raise?" says Joe Beevers.

"I know he'll move in on me," replies Andrew, "I've seen him play on the telly."

"Yeah, so you know I'm a f**king idiot," laughs Woodley.

Ian Woodley is OUT. his 8c 7c no good against Joe Beever's Ad Jd. Matt Tyler has also knocked a short stack with Aces against J-T.

David Harris has been taken out by I think Marcus Farthing Tc Td against Jh 9h on a 9s 5d Js board that then bricked out.

Four remaining tables.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4171&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4173&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4175&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4177&g2_serialNumber=1)

The official rule is that when a stack is all-in, his cards are always live.

Jennifer Tilly and Joe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=204) Beevers (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=204) look to be the chip leaders with roughly 80k (It's really hard to count the chips, and almost impossible for JC because they have no numbers on them and he is colourblind).

GB - Antonio looks to have around 55k at the moment.

Jim Tierney was jsut seen raising Albert Sapiano's blind, which Albert, yes, called.

Albert checked the 2c kh Js flop and a 3k bet by Jim was sufficient to take the pot down.

Next hand Jim raised to 4.6k UTG and after a logn period of chip counting he was reraised by Manuel Palanca another 10k to 14.6k. Everyone else scarpered out of the way and Jim passed showing A-K face up.

Manuel tapped the table to indicate a good pass but didn't show his cards.

Meanwhile Albert's been involved in a big pot and again Manuel Palanca was involved.

Albert raised Manuel's big blind with about 39k back to 6k. Manuel, who had albert covered, looked at his cards and saw Kings. He pushed allin and Albert, possibly influenced slightly by that earlier hand Manuel played against Jim........called of course!

Manuel's K-K was comfortably ahead of Albert's J-J and when a scareless board transpired, and the dust settled, Manuel scooped up the 90k pot and Albert Sapiano was OUT!

Manuel is the chip leader now with about 120k and is  understandably looking pretty happy with how things are going...

Jennifer Tilly raises it up in midposition, Antonio Esfandiari - It seems so utterly bizarre I'm reporting on a hand between these two players on a wet Saturday night in a casino in Bristol - repops it 16k more. Jennifer passes and Antonio shows 6c 5c, and begs me like a mischevious schoolboy to go and tell Phil Laak in the cash game what he's just done.

Here is the affore-mention Manuel Palanca, whose overbet with Kings was bound to catch Albert with any decent hand.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4189&g2_serialNumber=1)

12 seconds for the requested update to arrive. Sorry for the delay, I had to resolve world hunger, finish a rubik's cube and order a coke first  :)

He's looking very sprightly at the moment, as you would being the chip leader with just 29 players remaining.

******************************************************************************************

The blinds have just risen to a whopping 1k-2k-200. Average stack is 51,700 and we are down to 4 tables.


(http://www.kennethpwoodruff.com/flying/education/images/flames.jpg)


Things are hotting up...

Roland is giving this guy 'evils' because he's just been floated off a pot by this chap, (whose name we don't know).

He button raised, Roland called in the small blind and then bet 8,400 on the Kd 4s Ks board. The button flat-called this bet after a think, Roland checked the 2c turn to him, and the button thought for a bit before betting out 12,000. Roland folded quickly and was shown Th 2s for his troubles, although it's very possible he's bluffing with the best hand here.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4191&g2_serialNumber=1)

Antonio is obviously enjoying bluffing Jennifer.

Raising her 7k bet on a 2c 6c 3d flop by 15k or so, Jennifer passed before Antonio showed her Ad Td...

"Make sure you tell Phil about that hand guys" says Antonio, loving pushing Jennifer about.

Manuel Palanca is chip leader on about 120k.

Antonio's aggression levels have upped his stack to 90k ish...

Jennifer's stack is moving the wrong way after all those Antonio bluffs but is still in good shape at about 80k or so.

Joe Beevers, Mark Stuart and Bambos are not far behind, all hovering about the mid 70k's.

******************************************************************************************

Incidentally I believe the chap in the photo Homer posted there, being given the evil stare by Roland, is Paul Gardner.

Roland's laggy reputation works for him too though. On a Kd 6c Ac Ahrt Qs board, he bets 9k against DaMatrix,

"Busted flush draw?" but Roland is silent.

DaMatrix calls, only to be shown the rivered Broadway Jd Td, DaMatrix now short.

DaMatrix is OUT. Kings into Ace Jack which hit both cards, more annoying was the fact that another player had also passed Ace Jack.

Antonio Esfandiari has just lost a 30k+ pot setting his opponent in with Qc Tc on a Aspades 6s Th Qs board and getting a call from Kh Kd, until the river was the Ks. Matey with his coat on (obviously) was forced to take it back off.

I just spoke to Omar Ghandur who is sitting pretty on 69,000 at the moment.

He told me "I'm doing well, but the table hates me now" and a general murmur of assent from the table confirms this!

Omar's story is an interesting one. He doesn't play much poker but when a canadian friend came to visit him he played in a £20 competition at his friend's suggestion.

He won, but discovered it was actually a satellite to a £200 satellite to get into this competition. He duly won that satellite too to find himself playing a £2,500 event with not much poker experience. He has acquitted himself well so far. After the early luck he had of hitting a one out in a set vs set coup, and surviving losing a bit pot at a the end of day one to a 2 outer, he now finds himself in contention with just 26 runners remaining.

Not bad for someone who doesn't play much...

He told me earlier his strategy for today would be to "get drunk and enjoy myself" It looks like his strategy is working so far!

Andrew Flemming is OUT!

I didn't see the preflop action but he had all his chips in on a 9c 3c 5d flop with Ac-Kd versus Bambos' Jh Js.

a 4d turn and 5h river did nothing to change the status quo, Bambos' Jacks holding and sending Andrew to the rail.

Bambos is now nursing a very large stack and will be up there with the chip leaders at this point.

We are down to 24 runners with an average of just over 60k. 10 minutes remain of Level 12 before the players will be breaking for 45 minutes for dinner.

The level after will be 1500-3000 with a 300 ante...

Matt Tyler raises to 6,300. Roland asks him for a count and then calls. Joe Beevers in the big blind starts to think,

"Time for a squeeze Joe?"

Joe decides to just call making an enticing 20k pot.

Flop:

Jh 2h 5s.

Checked to Roland who bets 12k and Matt and Joe both pass. How boring after all that build-up...

Jim Tiernay moves in for about 30k on a Kh 2d 5d board. Neil Channing decides to give it up.

************** 45 minute dinner break *******************

Table Roland

Jonothon Butters -- 33k
Omar Ghandur -- 50k
Rob Akery -- 104k
Matt Tyler -- 40k
Roland De Wolfe -- 107k
Mark McGill -- 53.5k
Marcus Farthing -- 27k
Joe Beevers -- 64.6k

Table Tilly

Andrew Mitson -- 40k
Jennifer Tilly -- 57k
Paul Gardner -- 80k
Jitesh Thakker -- 48k
Antonio Esfandiari -- 46k
Bobby Rach -- 55k
Peter Cockayne -- 21k
Stan Essen -- 43k
Barny Boatman -- 70k

Table Bambos

Trevor Pearson -- 17.6k
Neil Channing -- 51k
Bambos -- 145k
Mark Stuart -- 80k
Andrew Feldman -- 68k
Ash Abdullah -- 20k
Jim Tierney -- 50k
Manuel Palanca -- 112k

Ash Abdullah has doubled through Andrew Feldman with Ac Jh against Kh Qc. An ace on the flop quashing any hope.

Roland raises to 9k utg, Marcus Farthing moves all-in for about 21,900 more. Eventually Roland calls.

"You've probably got me," say Marcus showing Kd Qd. Roland shows Kc Qc.

Flop:

2c Ad 9c

"ooooh..."

Turn:

6d

"Wow, that's so sick," says Antonio.

(If you don't want to know the result, look away now...)



River:

Kh!

Peter Cockayne just moved allin for 17,600. With the blinds at 1500 3000, this was not that big a raise and a trivially easy call for Andrew Mitson to make in the big blind with J-J.

Indeed he was dominating Cockayne's 3-3.

A flop of 4s 5c 6d drew a gasp from the crowd that had gathered round and gave Cockayne 8 more outs.

The turn 7s completed the outdraw, and there was no split-inducing 3 or 8 on the river meaning Cocakyne doubles up to 37k or so, whilst Andrew Mitson had lost half of his 40k stack...

Roland continues to be in all the action, he just re-raised Omar's preflop raises with Sevens only for Mark McGill to wake up with Queens in the blinds. Roland's stack has been halved, but that hasn't stopped him from continually raising, stealing Joe Beever's big blind but then passing on Jonothon Butter's big blind when Butters moved in.

Phil Laak is once again drawing a crowd in the cash game, he seems completely bewitched by the chocolate bar shaped £100 tokens, he says he feels like James Bond in Casino Royale.

Antonio was jsut involved in another pot with Jennifer Tilley.

There was an early position limper for 3k before Jennifer too limped for 3k, the small blind of Jitesh Thakker completed and Antonio checked.

The flop came Td 4d Kh.

Checks all round.

TURN: 2d

Antonio bet out 6k and was called by Jennifer Tilley.

RIVER: Th

Antonio thought a while and bet out 9k silently pushing his chips over the line.
Jennifer counted the chips out, riffling them up and down interminably with her diamond-bedecked fingers before ultimately calling, no doubt not wanting to bluffed off yet ANOTHER pot by Antonio.

Antonio turned over T-6 for trips whilst Jennifer gave no clue to her hand as she mucked pretty quickly. Antonio is certainly not taking it easy on his friend's better half today, bluffing her off when he's behind and getting her to call when he's ahead.

NO MERCY!

Jennifer Tilly has a lot of chips. Sadly for her they're mostly of the 100 and 500 demominations... She just saw her 9k raise in midposition re-raised by Paul Gardner, who showed the 6s when she passed.

Elsewhere, Neil Channing made what looked like a pure thievery bet on the turn of a 6d 5s 3c 4s board in a three-way pot against Bambos and Andrew Feldman, however the 8.5k bet was enough to get his opponents to fold.

Bambos' table has seen some action in the last few hands.

Mark Stuart raised from the hijack and was met with a reraise by Ash Abdullah. Everyone else folded to Mark who also folded, showing the table A-2 whilst Ash showed the mighty A-A. "It's all I play!" he told his tablemates.

The next hand, the shortstacked Andrew (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=787) Feldman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=787) pushed allin on the button for what looked like 15k or so. Jim Tierney called instantly, as you would with Kc Kd.

Andrew tabled 9c 7d.

The Ad 6d Qc 5d flop and turn gave Andrew a longshot gutshot.....BUT the river bricked out in the form of the 5h meaning Andrew (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=787) Feldman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=787) is OUT!

The quiet, reserved but increasingly dangerously stacked Jim Tierney added yet more chips to the towers he is amassing and we find ourselves down to 22 players...

Barny Boatman and Jennifer Tilley have just clashed.

Barny raised from UTG and Jennifer went allin over the top.

Passed round to Barny who made the call very quickly for all his chips with Kh Kd.

Jennifer's As Qh looked in bad shape, and she called "ACE ACE ACE" as the dealer started to deal the flop.

"Don't do it to me" pleaded Barny but the flop was a set-tastic Kc 7h 4s and a 3s 6s turn and river completed the hand, giving a nice chunky set of chips to Barny.

As their stacks were tallied and Jennifer put her coat on and collected her bag, it was determined that Jennifer had Barny outchipped by a mere 700 chips so she took her coat back off and sat down. Next few hands though, her pittance was thrown in to no avail and she has now been eliminated, leaving us with 21 players and Barny with a big smile on his face...

Jonothon Butters is OUT, his Ace Jack falling to Rob Akery's Aces. Akery looks to have taken over the chip leader with over 150k. Also gone is Trevor Pearson, we think with A-6 against Manuel Palanca's Kings.

Players are dropping like flies now as the short stacks find their options increasingly diminished by the increasingly ferocious blinds, which have now risen to 2k 4k with a 400 ante.

Floppy has news of another exit coming and I have just been told that whilst the Tilley drama with Barny Boatman was happening, Trevor Pearson has also busted. He had a realtively small stack of 17k so his exit was doubtless the result of some preflop shenanigans, and it appears that Manuel Palanca was his executioner. If we can get details of the hands shortly we will.

Also one of the fallen is apparently Antonio Esfandiari, who was seen leaving the card room a few moments ago...

As I sit typing this, no doubt 4 or 5 more players will have fallen so I am off to join the battlefield and see if I can pick my way through the hacked off limbs and pools of blood scattering the fray to find out more information for you guys.

I join Barny's table to see Barny with an enormous stack of chips that keep falling over as he attempts to arrange them. I think he must have been the one who knocked out Antonio, exlplaining his hordes of chips.

At this stage it is likely that Barny is the chip leader.

Matt Tyler looks over the moon...shortstacked down to 16k or so, he moved allin with K4 to be called by Joe Beever's Q7. One King high flush later he was on 34k. He now found A-K and moved in, and was called by Roland De Wolfe with A-J. Again his hand held up to propel him to 65k or so. He then picked up Q-Q and took down the not insignificant blinds to find himself on 75k, having worked his pittance back up to a respectable stack.

Floppy has some good photos of Matt enjoying himself...

Antonio Esfandiari was short and pushed with Ad 3d but was called by Barny Boatman's Ace King, and despite flopping a straight draw and a four-flush, the last overseas vistor was out.

Matt Tyler has continued his rush, he just knocked out Bobby Rach, who, short-stacked pushed from the cut-off and Matt called with Ahrt Ts. Despite his desperation, Bobby had found a big hand, showing Ad Kc.

Board:

3h Th 9h Ac 3c.

There's now a table redraw for the last two tables and Matt is delighted to now be sitting to the right of Joe Beevers and Roland De Wolfe.

Here he is stacking up the chips which have gone from 16k to over 110k in the last 5 hands or so.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4227&g2_serialNumber=1)

I have a second, more comedic, slightly more gormless looking photo of Matt. But I'm not going to post it. Unless... At least 10 people specifically request to see it, then it's all your faults when Matt comes to kill you all (and me).

I can say it's a very funny photo, but you're just going to have to take my word for it...Any takers?

Post it! (does my vote count?)

Anyway, further blood has been shed. Sitting on 40k Omar Ghandur raised to 12k from middle position to find Peter Cockayne moving in behind him for 45k or so. No sooner had he done that than Stan Essen also moved in behind for a similar sized stack - 50k or so!

Wowzer.

Back to Omar who said "1st hand I raise in an hour and I get two allins. I prefer blackjack" before folding.

Peter turned over Td Th but was in bad shape versus Stan's Qd Qs.

A Q popped out on the flop pretty much ending affairs, and no straights or flushes or backdoor quads were forthcoming, meaning Stan has received a timely double up, whilst Peter Cockayne is OUT!

Obviously this hand left Omar short so he will surely be moving shortly, for now we are down to 16 players...

The tension is as thick as treacle round the two remaining tables now.

An expectant crowd is gathered round, watching every moment of proceedings and even the ice-cool Joe Beevers has had to remove his jacket as the heat starts to rise...

Jitesh Thakker just moved in for a tad over 50k on Bambos big blind.

Bambos checked his cards, got a count, shrugged his shoulders and CALLED!

Cards on their little backs, Thakker was found holding the perfectly respectable T-T, which though nice, was no match for Bambos' dominant J-J.

There were no suprises from the board meaning Jitesh Thakker is OUT and he looked understandably pretty disappointed at having run into a hand this close to the money. Poor lamb.



***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************


Several hands later, Jim Tierney limped from the cut off for 4k and Barny Boatman completed from the small blind for a further 2k.

Omar saw this as an opportunity to win some chips with his shortstackand pushed allin. Jim looked disgusted, perhaps with himself for limping and ultimately passed before Barny simply said, "I call" for the additional 30k chips.

Omar tabled Kh 7h, but found Barney concealing his strength preflop with 9-9.

The flop proved no help to Omar beyond a single 7, meaning Barny's 9-9 held, he added yet further to the large stack he is amassing and Omar Ghandur is OUT!

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

We are now down to 15 players, the average is 100k and as we have reached the end of the level, the players are now on a 15 minute break.

The players will return to blinds of 3k- 6k with a 600 ante. We'll be back shortly

The TD has just informed the players that to prevent the contest turning into a crapshoot the blinds are being frozen for this level at 2k 4k with a 400 ante...

After the short break the players are champing at the bit to restart, as are we, and have jsut taken their seats so we will be starting any moment now.

Rough chip counts:

Jim Tierney -- 70k
Bambos -- 200k
Andrew Mitson -- 30k
Barny Boatman -- 126.5k
Neil Channing -- 85k
Stan Essen -- 125k
Manuel Palanca -- 170k

Mark McGill -- 90k
Mark Stuart -- 46k
Paul Gardner -- 30k
Roland De Wolfe -- 115k
Joe Beevers -- 91k
Matt Tyler -- 100k
Rob Akery -- 170k

Ash Abdullah is OUT, JC with the scoop. (The latter part of that sentence makes me feel like a 1920's hack in New York).

1st hand after the break, Roland De Wolfe is unsurprisingly the first to raise and announces "I open for 12k"

The short stacked Ash Abdullah moves in behind him for his entire chip stack of 23,900.

All pass to Roland who has an auto-call for an additional 11,900.

Ash shows 9d 9h, Roland As Th.

One coinflipping flop of As Qc Td 7s 6d later and Ash's stack had gone up in smoke, the 50k+ pot heading Roland's way, meaning Ash Abdullah is OUT, and we are left 14 handed with 2 tables of 7 remaining...

Mark Stuart and Paul Gardner, despite the roll back in blinds to play the 2k/4k level again, are both still relatively short in chips and keep pushing most unopened pots that come their way. Neither has been called just yet because even short, their stacks represent at least a third of most of the other stacks. Not many flops are being seen either, the only one in recent memory was Rob Akery raising to 10k, Matt Tyler calling in the big blind.

Flop:

6h 2d 3h,

Matt checks, Rob bets 12k, Matt gets out a stack of the pink 5k chips and begins to play with them menacingly. He then raises, but only a little, making it 26k. It's too much for Rob though and he passes. Matt then offers him a glass of wine, perhaps as a trade off?

On the other table, Andrew Mitson is another big short stack, but again, so far, the others have be relunctant or unable to call his once-a-round pushes.

Bambos has been suffering at the hands of his tablemates who keep taking bites out of his stack.

First off he limps on the short stacked Andrew Mitson's big blind. "any rasie?" asks the dealer. "Yes" says Andrew and tries to move allin but lifts up some of his chips and puts them over the line, before lifting up the rest of his chips.

The dealer rules this a string bet and only allows his to make a minimum raise to 8k. Bambos passes anyway...

The next hand Bambos raises to 12k on the button, and Andrew successfully announces " allin " this time. It's about 25k more to bambos with 30k or so in the pot, but he says "I have a bad hand" before passing, and Andrew shows the table A-K...

A few hands later Bambos again raises but AGAIN he is met by an allin, this time by Neil Channing, who raises something like 53k more. "Don't do that again" says the languid Bambos before passing again...

He must be getting fed up of this!

We have some action!

It's folded round to Rob Akery, whose youthful looks belie the capable way he has played in this tournament. From the small blind Rob raises to 12k preflop which is called by Mark Mcgill.

The Qc 5s 4h is checked by both players.

On the turn Qd, Rob bets out 16k and Mark immediately moves allin for another 60k or so.

"allin?" says Rob, not sure if he's heard correctly, blinking lots in surprise (and also possibly due to the amassed camera lights round the table shining in hsi face)

"I call" he says without too much hesitation.

Rob shows Qh Js for trips whilst Mark shows 7s 8s for a semi bluff with a gutshot...

The river doesn't bring the 6 though, meaning Rob's stack moves well over 250k whilst Mark Mcgill is OUT!

*****************************

We are now 13 handed and the average is 115,400.

In the last 20 minutes, Paul Gardner has been pretty much playing like a man possessed. He was down to around 30k, but he's just not stopped raising and pushing, and as of yet, he's not been called once. He's back up to almost 80k now, causing Joe Beever's to remark that it was like someone else was playing on his online account...

Either way, I've been very impressed by his play and he's certainly not looking out of place in the last two tables.

OK, the last hour has had fewer allins with the larger number of amalgamated stacks.

Those with smaller stacks seem to have prospered...at least those on Matt Tyler's table anyway.

Paul Gardner, who was very low at one point has stolen enough pots to propel him from 25k ish to 75 now. Matt Tyler said they were all itching to bust him. Also a thorn in the other player's sides has been Mark Stuart who has pushed and pushed at least once a round with his 50k ish stack to keep himself afloat.  At one point on pushing Matt's blind, Matt asked him for an explanation. "My M is low" explained Mark, which set Matt off in laughter "He's quoting Harrington at me....SUPERB!" but eventually Matt passed...

Level 15 is starting, meaning the blinds are getting ever more big and will be ripping 3k 6k 600 sized chunks out of the player's stacks now.

At 13,200 a round in blinds, the players will go under soon without a few raises, so we can expect plenty of action this level, even if their need to attack will be mitigated slilghtly by the fact they are now so close to the money.

How will it pan out? Let's join the action and find out!

With the blinds now at 3k/6k, players are now stealing the antes every round with all-in moves. And in true 'bok' style (I'm going to rename it a "Floppybok") Paul Gardner loses a race to the short stack Mark Stuart. Paul pushed in under the gun with 9c 9s, and Mark called for his stack with Aspades Ts

Board:

Th 4d 3d Jh 3s

Mark Stuart survives to move to around 80k and Paul is knocked down to below 60k.

There has been a big hand played out on Barny's table.

When Neil Channing made a big raise in late position, as he has done fairly often, Jim Tierney felt he couldn't pass the pretty looking Ah Qh.

Both players chips flew into the middle.

Neil showed 6d-6s flipping against Jim's Ah Qh.

The flop came a mouth watering 8c 6h 3h, both players catching a piece of it; a set for Neil but the nut flush draw for Jim.

However the 3d on the turn, completed Neil's full house, nailed the coffin shut for Jim and the ever so slightly ironic 7h on the river gave him the nice looking but ultimately useless nut flush.

Heart-breaking to get so close to the final, Jim Tierney has been eliminated in 13th spot after playing well all tournament and Neil Channing moves his stack to what will be around the 140k mark and mvoes himself ever more credibly into contention...

Here are the glittering cash prizes that await our lucky final 9 players.

There were a round 100 entries into the competition (RIGGED!) meaning a prize pool of precisely £250,000 or a quarter of a million. Whichever sounds juicier to you.

1st  -- £87,500
2nd -- £53,250
3rd  -- £36,500
4th  -- £22,250
5th  -- £16,000
6th  -- £11,000
7th  -- £9,250
8th  -- £8,000
9th  -- £6,250

No doubt they will arrange some sort of saver for 10th but those are the official payouts

Andrew Mitson had let himself get very short and was down to 16,700. He announced "ALLIN!" and found Neil Channing reraising to  40k isolate him.

Neil flipped over 9s 9c whilst Andrew had found a hand in As Ks.

"Nice hand. Good luck sir" the massively chipped up Neil wished Andrew.

The flop came Ad 7d 2c to give Andrew a healthy advantage and big likelihood of doubling up.

HOWEVER the turn came a cruel 9h to give Neil a set and leave Andrew drawing dead and saying farewell to his fellow gladiators glumly.

Neil's stack is now awash with chips.

Anyway Andrew Mitson is OUT in 11th which, with 9 players paid, means of course that it's

;mc;

Just before Mitson's exit, the Floppybok had struck Paul Gardner a second time when he pushed with Jc 5s in the small blind and Roland called with Ad 6d in the big. (I had posted it, but lost my connection at the same time).

Board:

3d 9h Qc 5h Aspades

Mark Stuart looks to be the shortest of the remaining stacks, and although they pay 9, we're told the final will be 8-handed.

Stan Essen just moved in for 80k or so on the button.

We're anticipating a fold, until Manuel Palanca in the small blind looks at his cards and groans "ohhh why did you do that!"

After thinking for a while and realising a call will leave him with only roughly 20k, he announces "I can't get away from this" and calls.

Bambos folds pretty sharpish

The players turn over their cards and Manuel with As Kd must have been ecstatic to he was dominating Stan's Ks Qh...

"I CAN'T WATCH" says Manuel and disappears into the bowels of the casino while the cards are dealt.

6c....5s....3h....8s....7s!

No shocks meaning Manuel Palanca returns to greet the departing Stan Essen and scoops up the 160k pot, whilst Stan Essen is our unlucky bubbler, finishing in 10th place.

The players have taken a short break before they will play till there is one more elimination and the eight remaining players will return for the televised final tomorrow.

Final Table Line-Up:

Seat 1: Bambos -- 228.9k
Seat 2: Manuel Palanca -- 252.3k
Seat 3: Mark Stuart -- 79.2k
Seat 4: Rob Akery -- 239.7k
Seat 5: Roland De Wolfe -- 203.7k
Seat 6: Barny Boatman -- 134k
Seat 7: Matt Tyler -- 70.9k
Seat 8: Neil Channing -- 217.1k
Seat 9: Joe Beevers -- 74.4k

I'm told that whoever gets knocked out tonight, the seat plan will remain the same tomorrow.

There was no saver for 10th AFAIK.

And it's first blood to Roland, as Neil Channing raises to 17.5k from utg in the last hand before the blinds go to 4k/8k with an 800 ante. Roland calls from the button.

Flop:

Th 7h Jc

Just as I'm savouring this flop, it goes check check. Bah.

Turn:

8s

Check check again.

River:

Ahrt

Neil checks, Roland bets 18k which Neil quick calls, but passes when Roland shows he turned a set with 8h 8s.

Roland raises to 22k, Matt moves all-in over the top, Roland asks for a count then passes two black Sevens. Matt flashes Ace King.

Still cagey with few flops, Manuel Palanca steals Roland's blind. Then Rob Akery raises Barny's blind, the Mobster replies by moving all-in and getting a quick fold. Back around to Matt (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274) Tyler (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274)'s blind, it's folded to Roland on the button and Matt passes with a sigh.

"Do not show me an Ace, Do NOT show me an Ace."

Roland shows the 3c.

Then the Ac.

Neil Channing just had Mark Stuart allin preflop, so we anticipated a knockout as Neil had Mark comfortably outchipped...

However both players tabled A-K and with ne'er a flush in sight, the expected CHOP CHOP occurred with both players marginally increasing their stack sizes.

The cagey play continues, all the players keen to strut their stuff on the telly tomorrow...

Matt raises to 25k preflop, Manuel Palanca calls on the button after some thought.

Flop:

6h Aspades Jd

Check check.

Turn:

8c

Check check.

River:

Qd

Check check. Matt's Kd Kh are good.

Neil Channing said to Matt, "When you checked the flop, I thought you had A-K, when you checked the turn I thought, 'Christ, a set of Jacks,' but when you checked the river I knew you had Kings."

Either way, Matt now has roughly 130k.

Blinds are now 6k/12k/1k. Mark Stuart still looks to be the one most in trouble.

We have an allin!

The short Mark stuart moved in on Rob Akery's big blind.

Rob called with 7c 8d and was slightly miffed to find himself dominated by Mark's Tc 7s...

The flop came an interesting Ts Ad 9s...giving Mark 2nd pair but Rob a straight draw.

The 6s completed Rob's straight but amazingly an 8h on the river gave both players a straight meaning yet another allin pot was chopped and we remain 9 handed.....FOR NOW!

Mark Stuart is OUT in 9th place winning £6,250

He moved for 30.9k from the button with Ahrt 8s, Roland and Barny called. The board came out: Qh 5d 9c 6h Kc and Roland's Qd Jh was good enough to scoop.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4323&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chip counts to come in a sec.

The final begins at 2pm. Join us!

Chip Counts:

Seat 1: Bambos -- 205.5k
Seat 2: Manuel Palanca -- 203.9k
Seat 3: Mark Stuart
Seat 4: Rob Akery -- 146.6k
Seat 5: Roland De Wolfe -- 315.4k
Seat 6: Barny Boatman -- 162.7k
Seat 7: Matt Tyler -- 166.2k
Seat 8: Neil Channing -- 217.1k
Seat 9: Joe Beevers -- 185.8k