blonde poker forum

Welcome to what is a decidely 'old skool' final table, the tech people are just finishing off setting up a series of poles, pylons, wires and cables as we speak. Blinds are going to be rolled right back to 2k/4k which should please all.

With his chip stack, Roland has still got to be the favourite though, but who are you guys rooting for?

Seat 1: Bambos -- 205.5k
Seat 2: Manuel Palanca -- 203.9k
Seat 3: Rob Akery -- 146.6k
Seat 4: Roland (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=384) De Wolfe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=384) -- 315.4k
Seat 5: 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) -- 114.1k
Seat 6: 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) -- 162.7k
Seat 7: Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) -- 166.2k
Seat 8: 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) -- 185.8k

Seat 1: Bambos -- 205.5k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4343&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 2: Manuel Palanca -- 203.9k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4345&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 3: Rob Akery -- 146.6k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4347&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 4: Roland De Wolfe -- 315.4k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4351&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 5: 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) -- 114.1k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4349&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 6: 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) -- 162.7k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4353&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 7: Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) -- 166.2k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4339&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 8: 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) -- 185.8k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4341&g2_serialNumber=1)

Come on Matt - just win it!

several here I hope can win it...strong line up. Hope Neil C goes far....what are the payouts again? Is there a WPT seat for first too?

Still no sign of us starting just yet, but the live feed is going up soon so we expect a 14.30pm start.

Prize Money:

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

What's the clock on the levels please?

C'mon Matt!

One hour clock.

Hi there folks.

Wow, what a line up we have on the final table.

The density of strong players in this competition meant we were always lilkely to see quite a few faces on the final table, but perhaps no one envisaged a line up of this strength.

Matt told us he was really looking forward to the final, seeing as nearly all the players know each other well, the final should be a friendly affair played in a great spirit with plenty of "leg-pulling."

The players have just been called through, so we'll be starting any moment now.

GOOD LUCK ALL!

Neil to Roland, "Why don't you have a helicopter Roland? If you don't have a helicopter, people are going to think you are broke..."

Nice to see the Best of British making the Final table and no big name Yanks (Although I find Phil Laak hilarious so that would have been fun) . Well done everone who made it.
I'm rooting for Barny.

There are additional packages as added incentives for the first five places.

1st place will collect a package to the Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas in December 2007
2nd place will collect a package to the Aussie Millions in Melbourne, Australia
3rd placed finisher collects a package to an EPT 2008 event
4th and 5th placed finishers collects a £500 + £50 main event buy-in to a 2008 GBPT festival of choice

An extra little sweetener for the first 5 spots.

Good luck Matt  ;slavedriver;

Still no start, but at least the players are in the seat, the hour delay seems fairly inexplicable to me.

On the slightly more amusing side, it's seems that all the players are getting a little make-up. Some more than others

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4355&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ok, we've started. The reason for the long delay is down to a technical problem the crew had with their 'graphic analyser'. Or something.

A couple of early blinds for Rob Akery, then a little hint of action with Matt Tyler re-raising Roland's 11k raise to 36k, which the EPT and WPT champion passes too.

Rob Akery, Manuel Palanca and Bambos see our first flop:

Kd 8h Td

Rob and Manuel check, Bambos bets 10k but only Rob calls. The turn and river get checked down and Rob's A-T wins the pot as Bambos mucks.

That is one TOUGH final table DAMN.

It's a relatively quiet start so far. Not too many pots have been contested and preflop raises that have been made so far have been tending to get through.

It seems as though the players are trying to feel each other out at this early stage.

Yeah, I agree! Should be a good final.

It's passed to Joe Beevers on the button who raises to 12k. Bambos folds his small blind and Manuel Palanca calls from the big blind.

The flop comes down 8c Td 2d.

Manuel checks and Joe also checks.

The turn is the Tc.

Manuel now bets out 15k, which after a short period of contemplation, Joe decides he can't call and folds, leaving Manuel to pick up the pot...

Manuel raises to 12k, Matt calls from the big blind but folds to a 21k bet on a 7h 9d 9h board.

Joe Beevers raises and takes Barny's big blind. "Same village!" cries Matt Tyler.

Manuel limps for 4k, Barny raises to 15k, saying, "I'm raising to find out where I am...". Manuel just calls, and you seriously suspect that one (or both) of these guys is slowplaying a monster hand here.

Flop:

2c Th Kd

Check check.

Turn:

Ad

Check check. And all my pre-conceived notions of a possible monster clash, go up in smoke at this point.

River:

4h

Manuel bets 15k. Barny muses, "We might have the same hand..." throwing out a little stack of yellow 1k chips.

"I rivered you," says Manuel as he shows a set of Fours. Barny says he had Ace King, "I took a chance, I was trapping."

Rob Akery just raised to 14k and was met by a reraise from Roland De Wolfe to 40k.

This didn't deter Rob, who almost instantly announced allin when everyone passed back to him, and Roland's fold was almost as instantaneous...

Strike one in the Akery-Wolfe war goes to Akery, refusing to back down in the face of Roland's aggression.

A moment ago Bambos raised to 14k which was flat called by Roland.

Barny, perhaps sensed this was a good time to pull a squeeze play and moved allin. Bambos and Roland both passed so Barny's instincts were obviously spot on there.

Well played sir!

Go the spherical headed Festus!  ;cheerleader;

I heard it was the flux capacitor that was playing up.

Great Scot!!!

Hi Floppy/JC - please pass on best regards to Matt and Manuel - an M 'n' M one two would be very nice!

Neil makes it 11,500 from the cut off, Joe quickly repops to 30,500 from the button.

Bambos and Manuel get out of the way.

Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) sits there slouched in his chair, finger resting in the corner of his mouth, looking like he is suppressing a giggle. He cuts a contrasting figure to the impassive Joe, whose remains perfectly still, his sunglassed eyes fixated on one particular spot on the felt.

Neil eventually picks his cards up and throws them away and Joe picks up the chips.

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

Several players who have played him this week have commented on Joe's table presence. His demeanor looks absolutely impenetrable and I doubt if even Joe's close friends and relatives could pick up even a scrap of information out of him at a poker table when he is involved in a hand.

Go Matt

Here are the chip counts at the end of the 2k 4k - 400 level.

Bambos           -- 207,500
Manuel Palanca -- 246,700
Rob Akery        -- 197,400
Roland De Wolfe -- 300,700
Barny Boatman   -- 84,200
Matt Tyler         -- 140,900
Neil Channing     -- 147,100
Joe Beevers      -- 175,500

The next level has jsut started. The blinds are 3k 6k, with a running 600 ante....

In the last hand of the level, big TK is still announcing the action:

"Neil pass, Joe pass, Bambos pass, Manuel pass, Rob pass..."

Matt interjects from the big blind, "Roland pass...Roland pass...Roland pass."

Roland raises to 11k. Barny gets out a stack of yellow chips and begins to play with them, which for some reason, causes Neil Channing to giggle like a twelve-year-old schoolboy. Barny elects to call and Matt passes.

Flop:

8s Ad Ac

Check check.

Turn:

Ts

Check check again. Some serious trapping going on, or two very cautious players.

River:

4h

Barny checks, Roland tries 20k and Barny calls. Roland flips over Ahrt 8d. When you're golden...

(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2289358/2/istockphoto_2289358_gold_bars.jpg)

Rob Akery, who has certainly not frozen in front  of the TV lights raises to 16k from middle position on Joe Beever's big blind. Everyone passes and he is rewarded by picking up the 13,800 in the pot.

---

On Manuel's big blind, this time it's Neil Channing who raises making it  17,500 from the cut off. As Manuel eyes him up suspiciously, Neil sips away nonchanlantly at his cup of tea, or other similar beverage, before Manuel eventually passes...

---

Matt raises the next hand, with a borg-like stare at anyone who reaches for chips that seems to say "resistance is futile." Fearing assimilation, all his opponent's pass and Matt adds to his stack.

---

The game of "who steals the blinds next..." continues with Rob Akery again raising to 17,500 from the button and picking up the blinds uncontested.

The serious money that these guys are playing for has been completely punctured by the generally jovial atmosphere. For the last couple of minutes they've been basically playing the 'next line' game from Nevermind the Buzzcocks, which Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) seems the king at, although he knows far too many Alanis Morrisette lyrics than I would consider healthy. Roland is also occasionally singing, so far in this tournament, I've heard Elvis and the Smiths, he's just added Rod Stewart to his repertoire.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4357&g2_serialNumber=1)

And here's the golden trophy that everyone wants to...errr...keep a large amount of semi-unimportant papers under.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4359&g2_serialNumber=1)

Great updates snoops....good luck to manuel and matt t, show those freerollers what for!!

Barny picks up the next pot...after raisiing the limping Roland De Wolfe and being called, his bet of 22k on a 9c 5h 5s flop proved sufficient to dissuade Roland from making any moves on the pot and he picked it  the  35k or so pot...

---

An exciting hand jsut played out here.

After Joe raised to 16k from the cut-off, Bambos reriased to 46k from the button. It was passed back to Joe, who decided the time was right to reraise which he did by moving allin!

The banter at the table died down as the players realised the gravity of this hand. Should Bambos call, they'd be playing the biggest pot of the tournament so far...you could cut the atmosphere with a knife as the entire crowded room of players, supporters, staff, bloggers Thomas Kremser et al all fixed their eyes on Bambos whilst he twiddled with chips and faced the piercing stare of Joe Beevers...

Eventually.....

......he passed though, allowing Joe to pick up the pot uncontested as yet one more hand didn't go to showdown.

Bambos, Barny and Matt (the latter two in the blinds) see a Jc Ts 4c flop. Barny and Matt check, Bambos fires out 4 pink chips worth 5k each. Barny thinks for a moment, a slight unsure expression on his face which then evaporates when he moves all-in for around 80k more. Matt gets out of the way and Bambos begins to think. There's a lot of draws out there that Barny could be making a move with, and if Bambos was on a draw he'd have surely taken the free card. Bambos relents though and gives up his small pair/complete bluff. Barny has slowly recovered his stack a bit from the trouble he was in a little earlier. He's probably just back over 20 BB's now. Not wonderful, but not dire either.

GOOD LUCK MATT

Bambos raises to 16k from UTG.

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) on the button has a little chat with him, asking "have you got aces?" to which Bambos replies "maybe YOU have the aces!"

Matt eventually calls and Neil and Joe fold from the blinds.

The flop comes 8c 6c Ahrt.

Bambos quickly moves ALLIN, and Matt equally quickly folds, enabling Bambos to pick up the 45,800 pot.

"ahhh so Bambos had THREE aces then..." says Neil to a few chuckles.

---

Rob Akery who has been one of the most common preflop raisers, picks up the blinds once more with a preflop raise...

---

Thanks, squire. Just doing my job.  ;hattip;

Go Manuel!

(http://www.circusentertainers.co.uk/Images/Look-a-Likes/Basil&Manuel-JP.jpg)

We are on a short break as a result of an elimination!

Floppy is busy beavering away typing up all the details of the hand, so expect exciting news shortly...

Roland open-limps in in 2nd position, which seems incredibly out of place. Neil limps behind him. Bambos makes up the small blind and Manuel checks.

Flop:

5s 5h 8s

Bambos bets 16k, Manuel folds, Roland flat-calls and Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) moves-in. Bambos announces, "Call." And Roland wants a count from both. Channing has around 100k and Bambos has him covered by 40k or so. Roland mucks with a rueful, "So sick."

Neil:

Js Jd

Bambos:

5c 2s

Turn:

3h

River:

9c

Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) is OUT in 8th place winning £8,000

Neil's reasoning for not raising was that Roland's limp scared him slightly and if he pushed he was only going to win 20k or so, and the risk/reward ratio wasn't good. Though he's now wishing he'd just raised to 22k preflop and then he'd have taken the pot down against just Roland.

Matt, "I would've bet £1,000 that Bambos would have a Five there when he leads out there."

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4361&g2_serialNumber=1)

I managed to grab a quick word with Matt Tyler during the break.

He didn't seem 100% happy with the way things have gone so far. "I've only seen one hand, that was Queens and the flop was Ace high....", alluding to the hand he played with Bambos a short while ago.

Matt's still upbeat though as always. When I spoke to him yesterday, he explained that the banter he uses at the table is a big part of his game. It's really interesting to see the different approaches good players use to play winning poker. There's players like Joe Beevers and Rob Akery who are very quiet and statuesque during hands, preferring not to reveal any information about the strength or weakness of their hands whilst at the other end of the spectrum you have guys like Matt Tyler, who talks almost constantly to his fellow players, hoping to manipulate them slightly and get them to inadvertantly reveal pieces of information that can help him piece together the puzzle of what they hold...

Following Neil Channing's elimination, the blinds are now at 4k 8k with an 800 running ante, and after the short break the players are seated once more, and we are off...

Jungle..if you really want Mat to win, you will do this task for me.  Go up to him, when possible that is, and give him the biggest hug ever possible from me.

By the way
this is maureen on Mr Nuns lappy

OK - we need more information on this turn of events....secret man love before our eyes.....please explain - we won't judge you!  ;D

Ah - explanation received and understood!!! This is how rumours start!

The battey is fkd on my lappy and it is cooking ime of roast beef and yorkshire pud in TheNuns household so I take MrNuns lapy to the kitchen..

I'm not sure my arms will stretch round Matt, or that he won't nut me for trying this(or writing that!) but I'll see what I can manage...

To be honest I would modify your post and just do it Jungle..xx

Matt wins a little pot off a Bambos when the latter limps with threes and Matt's 9-5 was checked down on a Js 9s Qh 8c 4d board. Rob Akery seems, incidentally, the most active of the players, raises more blinds than even Roland.

Akery and De Wolfe butt heads again.

Akery raises to 22k from the cut-off, De Wolfe calls on the button.

Flop:

4h Qs 2c

Check check.

Turn:

5h

Check check.

River:

7h

Rob bets 25k, Roland calls but mucks when Rob shows him Eights.

Good value bet there from the youngster?

Joe just raised from early position to what seemed to be 22k or so. Rob Akery called on the button and the blinds passed...

The flop came 7s 2d 3h.

Joe checked and the aggressive Rob Akery bet out 30k.

Joe stared at Rob through his trademark black sunglasses before quietly saying "I'm allin." His chips were quickly tallied by the dealer, but Rob didn't spend too much time thinking about his decision which was....folding.

This is one of the first times Rob has come unstuck a little today.

He has been the most frequent preflop raiser and has faced little resistance so far, perhaps due to the fact that one of the few times he was re-raised preflop, he moved allin. This time however, Joe ensured that it is not all one way traffic for Rob, and that his relentless aggression won't go unchecked. I'm sure part of the reason Rob gets away with so many preflop raises is he is so quiet, he almost slips by unnoticed on the table. His image seems very tight but his actions are those of quite a laggy player.,,

Roland raises to 22k, Joe Beever's piercing stare informs him to just call on the button. Manuel Palanca, who always takes time to make a decision, counts out his chips, then slowly and methodically, announces raise, "60k more." The action is back on Beevers as Roland has already mucked his cards the split second he heard Manuel speak. Joe, who is probably wearing the best shades of the remaining players, thinks about it, moving his pink chips out to one side, as he's about to push them all-in... Then through the gap he has just created, he throws his cards away.

"Did you want action?" inquires Roland.

"Yes, but not against two players."

Is it just me or does this seem to be moving very slowly, ive been shopping and for lunch and come home to find no movement. Give my best to MATT.

Any chance of a chip count check please.

Here are the stats as they stand...


Players Left: 7
Average Stack:214286
level: 16 - 4000/8000/800
Remaining: 00:14:02


Indeed at the moment the majority of pots consist of raises preflop, followed by folds. It's a tight, cagey affair. The players are like tigers prowling round each other, occasionally giving off the odd snarl or lashing out with a claw, such as when Joe check raised Rob's continuation bet but in general they are all showing each other a lot of respect at the moment.

It may take big hands to knock heads before we see some major action. 

Floppy will be getting some chips counts before too long to give you a picture of how things stand. As it is though there have not been too many major fluctations in stack sizes just yet.....

Dena (stuck on train to Blackpool reading updates but unable to post) says to pass on her best wishes to her godfather, Bambos, plus good luck to Matt, Roland, Joe and generally everyone. If she was there dealing this would all be done and dusted by now with her black widow killing abilities!!

Rough chips counts:

Bambos -- 310k
Manuel Palanca -- 280k
Rob Akery -- 180k
Roland De Wolfe -- 240k
Barny Boatman -- 170k
Matt Tyler -- 120k
Joe Beevers -- 200k

Does she not realise I'm down in here in London... on my own.  ;whistle;

Bambos limps from the cut-off, Rob Akery announces "30k more" from the small blind and Roland immediately moves all-in from the big.

Bambos passes, "Now would've have been a good time to slowplay Aces," Roland says to him. Bambos nods and Roland's seemingly confident mood is enough to convince Rob Akery to fold.

dena is not telling lies-- ask the devil

Roland is finally getting the measure of Rob Akery, he just repopped Rob's 26k raise (Blinds 6k/12k/1k) to 85k, getting all and sundry to fold their cards. Akery is now the shortest stack remaining, and with the blinds now this high, Akery and Matt Tyler are going to have start making some moves.

Is that our Irish gent Liam Flood

She says you ain't been forgiven for cheating with the dtd birds....schoolboy error. How are you doing so much good work in amsterdam and bristol from london?

Floppybok strikes again. Rob Akery raises in the small blind and Roland sets him in with Kh Qc, Rob calls fairly quick, as one would do with Ac Ahrt.

Board:

2s 4h Ks 6s 6d

Roland's stack is halved to around 130k, whilst Akery is given a new lease of life.

Just after that, Matt makes the move Floppy suggested he would have to soon, and mvoes allin UTG on Barny Boatman's big blind...

Everyone passes to Barny and he only needs a swift look at his cards to realise that he too would be passing...

---

Next hand Joe raises to 26k from UTG on Matt's big blind.

Everyone passes and although he doesn't look 100% happy about it, Matt also passes.

---

UTG is the new button folks...

I'm quite happy to be a believer without bumping into the devil tyvm! Dena says hi liam and tx to the updaters (that'll be u snoops) for makin her borigng journey go quicker.

If the poker ever goes tits up at least I now I 'll make someone a great rubbish secretary

Especially 3-handed.

There is no 3rd consecutive raise from UTG, enabling Roland to riase from the cutoff on Joe's big blind and Joe decides to let the grinning Roland have this one...

---

When Matt, on the button, finds the pot unopened as it gets to him, he has no hesitation in moving his relatively short stack allin on Bambos' big blind. Joe and Bambos quickly muck their cards, allowing Matt, who incidentally is looking quite dapper today, to pick up the blinds...

Here's how close we are to the action today. Not having been to Gala Bristol before, I had some minor nightmares - Vic London style - of us having to a 15 minute round walk between cardroom and pressroom. Not here though. Hurrah!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4365&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dapper did one say?..well may we take a sneek?

where you staying in blackpool jaffa ?

Joe raises to 29k from the button, and fixes Manuel in the big blind, with whom he has one or two battles today, with his frosty stare.

As Bambos passes and Manuel has a little pause before also passing, I am slightly concerned that Joe has actually turned into a statue, and that small pigeons are going to start nestling on his head as he remains fixed in his pose for several seconds after he has won the pot. Eventually though, he breaks out of his granite stance and mvoes his hands to collect the chips he has just picked up...

How long since we saw a flop??

Matt Tyler moves all-in UTG, Bambos moves all-in behind him. Everyone else scatters like pigeons.

Matt:

Ac Qd

Bambos:

Ahrt Aspades

Board:

6h 7c 7h 9c 5h

Matt Tyler is OUT in 7th place winning £9,250

WP Matt

Good luck to Manuel

UL matt, wp

Well played throughout Matt...xxxx

Roland now moves in from what is the button on Joe's big blind.

Roland's shove gets through and he picks up a nice set of chunky blinds for his trouble

---

It's still 6k 12k with a 1k ante at the moment. 15 minutes of this level remain before we reach 8k 16k with a 1k ante at which point stacks will REALLY start shortening up and there will doubtless be a host of allins happening...

Floppy captured a lovely picture of my back there by the way...THANKS FLOPS!

Well playted Matt.

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/2007/03/12/sfnhan12.jpg)

Although once the levels reach 8k 16k -1k, the player's options are likely to be limited to shoving for the small stacks and shoving as resteal/ reraises  for the larger stacks, it can't reasonably be said that the structure is crapshooty.

The TD rolled back the blinds in an effort to stimulate an interesting final with lots of play and the players were very deep at the start of the day but the cagey play in the early stages has preciptated this situation now.

Whatever happens the next hour is likely to be VERY exciting!

Rob raises from the button to 30k, Roland passes, Barny makes it a suspiciously low 47k more and Rob passes.

Roland, "Wow, I'm so lucky, I was just going to move in."

"I know you were, I'm cursed..." replied a frustrated Barny.

Very Well Played Matt.. perhaps a quiet beer afterwards.

Gogogogogogo Manuel..take it down...

Roland limps, it's passed to Manuel Palanca in the big blind who checks.

Flop:

9c 5c 5h

Manuel bets 30k, Roland moves in for 166k more. Manuel goes through Roland's range which is conceivably any two cards at this point. Manuel passes and Roland is back over 200k.

That was the last hand of the level and we're now on a:

**********************1 hour dinner break***********************

What gave it away?  ;hide;

wp Matt m8 - great performance!

Snoops I think I had a read on him.  I still think it was a brave call...I'm good me.

Bambos -- 409k
Manuel Palanca -- 225.5k
Rob Akery -- 252.5k
Roland De Wolfe -- 261k
Barny Boatman -- 199k
Joe Beevers -- 153k

Lights are on, players are being called back to the poker room. We should be restarting shortly. Bambos is lamenting not backing himself at 40-1...

Well played Matt, looks like a biggie is gettin closer and closer for you mate.

The players have resumed playing on 8k 16k with a 1.5k ante...

Rob Akery raises the first hand after the dinner break to 40k.

Roland De Wolfe calls and on what sounded like a 5-2-2 flop (I couldn't see it) Rob Akery made a bet in the region of 60k. Roland passed quickly.

---

Rob continues the aggression raising preflop to 40k again but this time Barny Boatman repops the young player to 90k. Rob has a think about it, asks how much Barny has left and......PASSES!
Sorry I couldn't bring you more excitment there.

---

Despite the blind increases, this continues to be a very tight affair, it's become a very odd final table with no-one really trying to steal, players just content to wait it out. Everything is very slow and very deliberate, which does not make very good viewing. Also with the loss of Matt Tyler in 6th, the table is virtually silent which has also made it harder to watch.

Rob Akery has just passed another 40k raise, this time to a Joe Beevers all-in. The next time he raises I believe he'll most likely be committed.

Roland raises to 41k UTG, Joe Beevers moves over the top for 193k. Back round to Roland who agonises whilst counting out his chips, he has Joe covered by around 12k, but you can see the pained look on his face when he realises he has enough to pass, and you half wonder if he'd prefer to have 20k or 30k less and his decision would be so much easier and he'd undoubtedly have called. He asks if Joe has a pair, Joe is in 'Full Statue' mode and like a virtuous lady, isn't giving anything up.

"Alright, I'm giving it up..." Roland wistfully chucks his cards into the muck. Joe, who could be auditioning to be Arnie's double, rakes the pot in with his standard expressionless face. It's push or fold poker, and Joe's image means his pushes tend to count more.

what price a 3 way deal ??

Barny Boatman makes it 42k and no one wants to tangle with the hendon mobster as he picks up the 33k in the pot preflop...

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Now Joe raises to 40k on the button and the blinds fold...

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On Rob Akery's big blind, Roland moves allin for what is a shortish stack given the now extremely big blinds and Rob also folds...

---

It is surely only a matter of time before two hands run into each other here...

Barny limps from UTG+1, passed round to Rob Akery in the big blind who checks.

Kd Qd Kh

Rob check/calls a 16k bet, the turn and river 5c and 9s are checked down. Rob shows Qs 7c, Barny mucks. Personally I can't understand why Barny would want to limp this stage with any cards when he could just come in for a raise and take the pot down preflop, with the blinds and antes as they are, there's no need to limp a weak ace, small pair or suited connectors at this point. Taking down as many pots preflop is surely a must.

Ask me again when there are two left.

Junglecat, "They're going to play til they have one big blind each..."

I run bad.

Ok, so the action may not be utterly riveting at the moment but there's a lot of money at stake and the players are all reluctant to risk making any errors...

Something has to kick off soon surely though...Even the banter has dried up since Matt left.  Come on boys, someone go LOCO - we want action!

They're not all falling asleep, I swear...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4369&g2_serialNumber=1)

And just when all hope was lost... and we'd given up completely...

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) raises to 40k, Manuel Palanca moves all-in for about 220k more, a big proportion of Joe's stack. After about 30 seconds, Joe quietly says, "Call."

Manuel flips the Aspades Ks while Beevers shows the Qh Qs for our standard coinflip 57-43 encounter.

Board:

5c 6d 3c Qd Qc

Quads for Beevers meaning...

Manuel Palanca is OUT in 6th place winning £11,000

Blinds are now 10k/20k with a 2k ante. No respite for the remaining players.

Well played Manuel mate.

At 10k- 20k- 2k, there is now 40k in the pot preflop every hand.

Roland just shoved on the button, and was relieved I would have thought not to have received any action, both the hendon mobsters folding to his push, leading Barny to gently chide his fellow mobster, Joe. "That's the strangest pass I've ever seen!"

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Now Rob Akery raises it up to 50k, and picks up the 40k in blinds and antes...

---

After the healthy pot Joe won by knocking out Manuel, he now has a massive wall of chips whilst the other players seem to be trying to arrange their stacks into impressive walls but lack of materials means they are actually looking more like small lego footstools.

Blinds as they are, the short stacks are now taking their shots.

Roland De Wolfe and Barny Boatman end up all-in from the blinds, Barny having Roland slightly covered.

Roland:

7c 4c

Barny:

Kc 3s

"This is what we've been reduced to..." says Roland, which is a little harsh given they've been playing for nearly 7 hours already.

Board:

Ahrt Aspades 6d 2h 6h

Roland De Wolfe is OUT in 5th place winning £16,000

Joe looks to be far and away the chip leader with about 700k, Bambos, Rob and Barny all have between 200k and 300k.

Taking in turns to push, it's only a matter of time before someone wakes up with a hand...The time is now, and the player is Rob Akery with Bambos the unlucky victim, who turns over 9h Jc whilst Rob shows Jd Js.

Board:

3h 9c Ad Ks 5h

Bambos is OUT in 4th place winning £22,250

So far there's been no suggestion of a deal, not in public anyway. Now that Mark Akery has effectively doubled up when knocking out Bambos, I think he could well open up his game and try to attack as much as possible given that he now has enough chips to do so. Although Barny only really still has one move here, it'll be interesting to see what approach Joe takes against this growing threat to his dominance.

Rob Akery raises to 50k on Joe Beever's blind...after a little thought, Joe calls...

The flop comes 6-5-3 and Joe reaches for chips before betting out 77k. The icy stare of Joe Beevers no doubt carries more weight, given Barny's short stack and Rob's precarious position in 2nd.

A little huffing and puffing from Rob, but he passes and Joe picks up another pot and moves into an even more dominating position...

Joe limps onto Rob's big blind and Rob checks.

A flop of A-7-7 receives a round of checks from both players.

The 7 on the turn is also greeted with all-round checkery.

The 6 on the river produces yet more checks from the two players and as Joe turns over K6, his full house is more than enough and Rob quickly mucks his cards...

---

Next hand Joe folds on the button, prompting Rob to riase to 50k on Barny's big blind. Barny rotates himself round to face Rob, eyeballing him suspiciously. Rob simply readjusts his hole cards for the cameras and looks down at the table without making a move.

Eventually Barny folds....

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We have a few miinutes remaining of the 10k 20k before we move into the lofty regions of 15k 30k with a 3k ante...

Barny and Joe. And Joe's stack, his stack of many colours. How he loves his stack of many colours. It was red and yellow and pink and green and orange and purple and blue and....

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4371&g2_serialNumber=1)

Short break now for 15 minutes. Next it's 15k/30k with a 3k ante.

Can I just take a moment out to say "LEGEND"

Barny, Joe and Rob are slowing walking in. In comes the make-up girl again, and suddenly they're all beautiful!

Aaahhh the magic of cosmetics and cameras!!!!

Many congrats Matt, a very good result. Unlucky not to get any breaks at the final table

i like short shorts

everybody, yeah , rock your body, yeah yeah , everybody rock your body right, backstreets back!alright!

First hand, Barny limps in the small blind. Joe makes it 90k from the big. Barny moves all-in sharpish, Joe adjusts his shades. Then folds.

All the pots are seemingly limped now.

First Joe bets 30k on Js 5c 3s board but folds the turn after Rob calls, then bets 80k on the Kd turn.

It's Barny's turn next betting the 6d 8h 6h board against Rob and the 2h Ts Qs against Joe, taking both down.

Roland's got bored so decided to comandeer my computer and make the previous two posts, although I have to say I agree with the sentiments 100%

He had such a naughty schoolboy face on him when I rumbled him!

The poker continues, although there are no new developments as of yet...The play has become cagey again as the three remaining players refuse to be the next one out.

it was suited ;grr;

Joe button raises to 80k. Rob calls and Barny passes.

Flop:

9s 3s 9c

Rob checks, Joe moves all-in for 331k. Rob asks for a count, then passes.

Barny Boatman is OUT in 3rd place winning £36,500

On a flop of Qh 2d Kd, he gets it all-in with Kc 5h, except that Rob Akery is holding Kh Qs, turn and river are 3s and 7h leaving us heads-up!

Also, for finishing 3rd, Barny gets an entry into a EPT tournament as well.

Chip count for HU:

Rob Akery -- 1.05 million

Joe Beevers -- 450k

Roland is trying it on with some bird and I am gay, my secret lover is meds from badbeat.

No caption necessary.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4373&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sigh, and now Manuel Palanca has stolen JC's laptop too. Time for a lock methinks.

Ok, the greatest thing in the world ever has just happened. Two guys dressed like they guard the Tower of London just walked in alongside a bagpipe player bringing in the cash for first prize.

To say this was possibly the most hilarious thing that has ever happened in the history of the world, would be an understatement.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4377&g2_serialNumber=1)

 :redcard: I heard posting on others and letting others post on your account is a big no no.

Ban plz.

It's like something from the Wicker Man!

Of course, bagpipes are a well-known part of local Bristolian culture.

Do you think that they guy is covering his eyes in case the Scots guy lifts up his kilt to show him a Flop ?

The heads up has started off in the slow fashion that has characterised this final.

The players have exchanged one or two pots with button raises but there have been several folds from the button too, one of Joe's folds was at the same time ROb had A-A...Joe reached into the muck to show Rob what he had, pulling a 2-3 out, explaining why Rob didn't get any action there.

The other pot of note involved Rob limping in from the button and Joe checking his option.

The 5s As Js flop went check check.

The turn 6c was checked by Joe and Rob now bet 30k. Rob blinked through his sunglasses and fiddled with some chips before calling Joe's bet.

The 4h appeared on the river and Joe bet out 30k which Rob called.

Joe showed A-2 for top pair which was good to take the pot.

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Roland (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=384) De Wolfe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=384) just appeared and asked for a chip count. When he heard Joe had very slightly eaten into Rob's chip lead, he leaned over the crowd of people watching the final and yelled "GO ON THE BELLYGANCE."

Joe was too busy concentrating to come out with a witty riposte but he will no doubt be having words with the wolfy one later about his antics...

And I thought Rick had a dodgy barnet....

Turning into a bit of a walkthon over here. (http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:WIUo5q_AVkSI5M:http://www.walkathon.com/walkathon.gif)

The amount of time it takes to setup each hand compared to the simple act of pushing your card a few inches to indicate a muck makes this all the more aggravating.

Joe and Rob have just clashed in a big hand.

The two saw a flop of Ts 5d 9d. Joe bet out 35k and Rob called.

The turn was the 6s.

Joe now bet out 100k and Rob moved in for 474k more.

Joe counted out chips and after thinking about it for a while made the call with Th 5h for two pair. 

Rob showed 8d 2d for an inside straight draw and a flush draw....

The river came...the Td! completing Rob's flush but also giving Joe a winning full house and as Joe had eaten into Rob's lead and now had him covered that meant

Rob Akery is eliminated in 2nd place, winning £53,250 and the added bonus of an Aussie Millions seat whilst...

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) is the WINNER of the Gala Poker Tour Grand Final, winning £87,500 and the Five Diamonds seat at the Bellagio

Congratulations to The Elegance for a fine result!

That's everything then. A great final line-up, but somehow I don't think it honestly delivered a classic tournament. It's odd how many of the names who made it here would be part of some people's dream final, yet it seemed to fizzle out very quickly. But congratulations to 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 Rob Akery (a 10/20 player on iPoker and Stars) for fine performances. We'll leave you with a few pictures now including 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)' breaking into a little smile whilst golden glitter guns are fired around him...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4379&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4381&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4383&g2_serialNumber=1)

;stickaforkinme;

The Blonde Updates will return....In Blackpool, from Thursday...

Good updates, and congrats to Joe, was very impressed by his play on Day 1.

Superb win. I have backed Joe at the bookies a few times of late, think he was waiting for me to not bother. Sigh.  ::)

who is this joe beevers has he won anything before

maybe a candidate for newcomer of the year

congrats anyway joe

I was fortunate enought to play with Joe Beevers in Day1a and Day2 and he showed real class throughout. Congrats on a well deserved win!  ;letsparty;

Well done, Joe.

Great updates guys, just read through it all, just a shame i couldn't go all the way.

It was a very tough final table, but i certainly didn't feel overawed, i was nervous before i arived but felt fine as soon as i sat down.

The blinds where rolled back and there was loads of play so no excuses, i played ok'ish, maybe not my best game, i did struggle for hands a bit and my exit hand with aq is not ideal!!

A great comp and with the added value for the top 5 even better, respect to Gala.

I picked Joe to win when i went out, he played v good indeed :respect: :respect:

Thanks to everyone for all the support, its great to read after playing and it really makes you feel special. ;applause; ;applause; :-* :-*

The added prizes were definitely a bonus, but perhaps they could have been marketed better. Added money is always a big selling point rather than 'Phil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=710) Laak (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=710) will be there' if you ask me.