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Play in this year's Luton Christmas Cracker £750 Main Event commences at 6pm.

This is the At A Glance thread. All posts on this thread will be from updaters only. If you would like to interact with the updates, read a more concise report or view our selection of pictures, then please visit our interactive live update by clicking the link below:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=29469.new#new (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=29469.new#new)


Prize Structure:

1st = £12,870
2nd = £7,350
3rd = £5,510
4th = £4,410
5th = £3,310
6th = £2,200
7th = £1,100

Holy Moly, who needs Ali Mallu when you have a set over set encounter to thin out the field. The unfortunate recipient of this confrontation was Mark Harris, who is now most likely hurtling down the M1 at break-neck speed (yes, even through the roadworks!). On the bright side, however, at least those chips went to a blondeite, Mr UpTheMariners Daniel Rudd being the player to start off today's festivities in fine fettle. All-in with Jacks v Sixes on an 8-J-6 Flop, all Daniel had to do was dodge that case 6, of which failed to emerge as the Turn and River brought blanks.

Good start for Daniel, but chagrin for Mark who could probably join Red-Dog at another venue if he so wished.

Our Runners Today:

Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=946) Alterman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=946)
Jeffery Buffenbarger
Alistair Carins
David Courtney
Bill Davies
Dany Dborin
John Earle
Paul Ephremsen
Lee French
Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390)
Robert Garfield
Andreas Georgiou
Mohammed Ghani
Harpit (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=163) Gurnam (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=163)
Mark Harris
Graham Hiew
Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804) Holden (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804)
Derek Lawless
Martin Lawton
Nathan Lee
Karim Louis
Ali (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) Mallu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23)
Terry Mason
James McBride
Mick McCool
Jim McShane
Mike Moore
Soner Osman
Craig Owen
Dervis Ozkarapinar
Jim (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=599) Reid (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=599)
Tony (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235) Ringe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235)
Richard Robinson
Jeffrey Rogers
Daniel Rudd
Mark Segal
D Shearer
Yilfer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783) Shevket (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783)
Allan Shields
Darren Smith
Rumit (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=389) Somaiya (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=389)
Tracey Troy
Ben (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=46) Turnstill (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=46)
Graham Wheldon
David Young
Arco Zuyderduyn

Graham Wheldon is down to just a couple of thousand after his Kings were out-flopped by Jeff Rogers Flopped set of Eights.

BREAKING NEWS!

47 runners.

Mike Moore is on maybe twice his starting stack after a couple of very exciting hands. His Ad Kc proved good against whatever Craig Owen (who in my mind is a curious hybrid of Daniel Craig and Clive Owen and thus the Ultimate James Bond, but is in reality nothing of the sort) mucked on the J-5-A-6-K, three-hearts board, bumping up Moore's stack and leaving Mr Owen down to 4 or 5k. Next hand he found himself involved with the delightfully named Terry Mason and also Mr Karim Louis, and was again triumphant with his 9s- Js on a Td Jd 9h 2d 2s board.

Jeff (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=593) Buffenbarger (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=593)'s A-J is no good against his neighbour's A-K on an x-Q-x-T-x board. "Couldn't you have put that one down?" he whines, stealing his neighbour's King and trying to put it in place of the raggy river. Dealer seems unamused.

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

Rookie is currently on 12k. As reported earlier, he was up to 14k early doors. This came about from two hands. Firstly, he managed to hit trips with A-4 versus Q-Q on an A-A-x Flop, before making up the small blind with Td 2d and being treated to a 7d 8d Tc Flop. By the time they reached the 2s Turn, Rookie was re-raising an 800 bet to 2,100 to take the pot down uncontested. Apparently, his opponent showed Jacks, which had limped pre-flop. "He was thinking of raising pre-flop," commented Rookie, "so I was worried that he might have Sevens or Eights. Thought I'd stick in 2.1k to find out."

Rumit is OUT. Here is the story as related to me from the next table where  he is now munching on some kind of tuna fish salad.

 Finding himself with Aces, as you do, he has delighted when Tracey Troy raised to 300. A bunch of people called around and so he made it 900. As you do. With your Aces. Tracey folds but there are other callers.

The flop comes Q-2-2 and it checks around to Jeff Rogers who bets 1k. Rumit makes it 3k and Jeff promptly goes all in. After some umm-ing and ahh-ing, Rumit calls. Jeff triumphantly turns over 7-2. "Oh well," sighs Rumit, "it makes a change from Kings beating my Aces."

One table has plenty of familiar faces on it, mainly from the Luton area:

Daniel Rudd -- 22,100
D Shearer -- 17,500
Tony (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235) Ringe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235) -- 12,300
Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804) Holden (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804) -- 9,400
Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=946) Alterman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=946) -- 9,200
Jeff (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=593) Buffenbarger (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=593) -- 6,350
Allan Shields -- 9,350
Dave Courtney -- 9,350
Driton (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=133) Haxhiaj (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=133) -- 10,850

Jim '77dave' McShane is OUT.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Jim Reid," he replied abruptly.

There was a slight pause where I wasn't sure if that was the end of the informative tale, but after a brief poke he coughed up.

"I limped under-the-gun with A-K, and so did he in 4th spot with K-4. K-3-5 Flop. I bet, he called. Seven on the Turn, I moved all-in, he called and hit the straight with a Six on the River."

"He called an all-in with K-4?" I asked bemused.

"Well, I only had 1,500 at the time," he replied honestly.

"How did you lose the rest of your stack?"

"Tens into Jacks, Jacks into Aces, and Queens into Kings."

Say no more.

Is that Mr Jeff Buffenbarger you're after? Because if so, then BOK!

He's out. Not sure what happened to do all the damage beforehand, but he shoved for his last 2k or so, only for the limper in seat 8 (sorry, don't know his name, I'll try to get a photo when the beagle gets back with the camera) to re-raise all in. "Oh no, he trapped me!" cried Jeff, and indeed his Kh 7c was no match for the dominating Ad Ks that Seat-Eightyboy was holding, and the Jd Td 5d Qd Kc board ment that Jeff was still very definitely losing at the end of the hand. No hard feelings though, handshakes all round before he wandered off to join the terrifying Saturday Night Gambling Party currently happening on the main casino floor.

A very large pot indeed, like so:

Mr D Shearer raised to 650 from the cutoff, only for Tony (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235) Ringe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235) on the button to make it 2650, only for Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804) Holden (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804) on the small blind to re-raise all in for another 4850. I know it was another 4850 because Tony (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235) Ringe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1235) got as far as asking for a count before he folded. Holden showed Kings.

---------

Ben (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=46) Turnstill (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=46) is now on 24,500 after eliminating Tracey Troy with A-K on a Q-J-T Flop. In triumph, Rookie jumped onto the felt screaming "Yeehaa" whilst swinging his trousers around his head in celebration. Okay, I made that up, he took it quietly.

--------

Another player gone is pseudo Welshman Harpit Gurnam.

"I was short at the time," he mused. "I got in with a flush draw against a flopped straight but didn't hit."

Double-up for Ali (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) Mallu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23):

I believe he open-shoved for 6225 on a 2s 4c Kd flop and was called by Lee French (he of the pink shirt in seat 9). Mallu is holding Kh Jh and French is holding -arrrghhh!!! - a superior King (I think it was A-K). But a rivered Jack for two pair and Mr Mallu stays in.

Crikey O'Reilly, they're dropping like Lemmings on a greased up tightrope here, Dave Lloyd the latest to join Jim Mcshane and Jeff (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=593) Buffenbarger (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=593) at the cash tables.

----------

Allan Shields is on 17,000 after knocking out who he described as "the guy with the Birmingham accent three seats to my right." Now, I'm no Mrs Marple, but considering that Stephen Holden has a broad Brummie accent, is no longer in the tournament, and was sitting on that table, I'd say he's our man.

Anyhow, it was a pretty simple hand, Stephen raising, Allan re-raising, Stephen pushing and Allan calling... all before the Flop. Big Slick versus Cowboys, no change, and that's all she wrote.

Mohammed 'Duracel' Ghani has run out of batteries, his Qc Tc no match for his neighbour's Ahrt Qd all-in on a board of Qh Js 8h 3h. A Kh River sealed the deal.

--------

Mick McCool, who was down to 2,200 at one point, is now flying high with several thousand. The horse's mouth informed me that it was an all-in jobby under-the-gun with 9s 7s. A call from behind with A-Q, but the T-8-6 Flop soon put a stop to that. Not spades though. "That would have been freakish," said Slick Kid.

Mr Danny D'Borin moves in on a 2h 7s 2s flop. The rather glum-faced pink-shirted gent below dwells up for a very long time before folding. Another victory for the mighty 2-7! Maybe. Probably that's not what D'Borin had. I just made it up.

Driton Haxhiaj -- 25,000
Daniel Rudd -- 7,900
Ali Mallu -- 11,925
Dave Courtney -- 12,525
D Shearer -- 25,900
Tony Ringe -- 12,300
Craig Owen -- 9,525
Lee French -- 13,000
Jeff Rogers -- 31,000
Martin Lawton -- 10,000
Allan Shields -- 18,000
Ben Turnstill -- 23,125
Graham Hiew -- 15,725
Jim Reid -- 11,675
Dervis Ozkarapinar -- 10,250
Danny D'Borin -- 10,750
David Young -- 16,200
Rob Garfield -- 7,775

Paul Alterman is OUT to the gent in the white jumper trying not to look at him as he leaves. I believe Paul's K-J fell victim to White Jumper Gent's T-7 that must have hit at some point, although I don't know when the chips went in.

A really astounding hand between Rob (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) Garfield (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) and Pink Shirtyboy.

Rob raises to 1200 preflop. Pink Shirtyboy calls.

Flop - 5s 6s 3s - Pink Shirtyboy checks. So Rob puts him all in. As you do with your pocket Queens. Now here's the astounding bit: Pink Shirtyboy calls!

Rob (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) Garfield (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) - Qh Qd

Pink Shirtyboy - wait for it wait for it - 3h 4d

Turn - Js

River - 4c obviously, doubling up Pink Shirtyboy. "I can't believe he made that call," fumes Rob to me a few minutes later, "For his tournament. For his tournament!"

[EDIT - Pink Shirt Man is in fact Lee French. Apologies.]

Ben Turnstill has taken a major hit of courtesy of Dervis Ozkarapiner. With a 6h 4h Ts Flop lying patiently on the felt, Rookie raised Dervis' initial 2.5k bet to 10k. Dervis had less than 10k in front of him at the time, so the decision was for his tournament life. With Rookie's stonecold glaze plastered across his face, Dervis tried to breakdown his foe by asking, "So, you have a flush draw?" Feeling obliged to respond, Turnstill temporarily side-stepped his silence by replying, "I have better than that".

Following a momentary huff and puff, Dervis chucked in his chips and flipped over Jc Jh. At this point, and I think I knew exactly what is in Rookie's hand due to his answer to the prior question, the youngster showed 8h 7h for the monster draw. any heart, any nine and five - in fact, he probably didn't mind the call, especially as he had chips behind.

However, come the decisive Js and 4d Turn and River, Rookie could do nothing but tap the table and congratulate his victorious opponent on a nice hand.

Mike Moore is on 29k, one of two relative big stacks on his table.

Craig Owen has doubled up with Aces v Jacks.

--------

Jim Reid has been spotted in the cash game, which means he's either multi-tasking or is out. I'm leaning towards the latter.

Although Daniel Rudd was down to 7k, he is now back up to the dizzy nosebleed inducing heights of 24k. He dropped down to 10k after his T-9s (which was raised from the button and called in two positions) hit a T-9-7 Flop but was beaten by A-Q which hit top pair after making what Daniel believed was a somewhat suspect call to his bet on the Flop.

But fear not, because out plucky hero's column was soon sprouting chips again as he flopped a straight with T-9 on a Q-J-8 Flop. Initial raiser Dave Courtney continue bet (or is it betted?) the Flop, Daniel smooth-called and another player pushed all-in. Funnily enough, after Courtney had stepped out the way, Daniel decided to call, finding that he was in pretty good shape against his opponent's A-Q which failed to escape the Mariner grasp.

Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) and his all mighty nipples are flying high now, the former GUKPT finalist having knocked out Martin Lawton with Ad Ahrt versus Td 8d, 2c 9h 6s 5s 5c board.

Pow Pow!  ;snoopy'sguns;

Terry Mason, whose name is amusing to apparently no-one but me, is OUT. Q-8 on a Queen-high flop was no good against Rob Garfield's A-Q and he's gone, apparently putting his trousers on to leave, like he wasn't wearing any under the table all that time. Is that what people usually do at these events?

"What a fold," says the nippletastic Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390).

"Who by?" I ask.

"Me," he replies.

"What happened?" I request enthralled.

"I raised it up with 8-5 under the gun?"

"Under the gun?" I said, convinced I'd made a mishear.

"Yep, and that guy [Yilfer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783) Shevket (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783)] called. The flop came Ahrt 8s 5c, I bet out and he went all-in. I managed to find a fold, and he had A-5."

"Did he show?"

"Yep,"...  ;carlocitrone;

"So how did you fold."

"Well, it took me a while."

"But you must have had a reason."

"I got a read on him. I worked it out. Raising under the gun, he'd expect me to call with a hand."

Dave Shearer and Mike Moore check down a raggy board. Mike turns over Q-9. Dave makes a noise like "WAAAAaaAAAAaAAAaHHh! and turns over Q-T to take it. Much hilarity.

Golly gosh, where's the camera when you need it? When there's no hand, there it is, dangling around my neck like a Tom Jones' medallion, but now I see a three way all-in (yes, THREE WAY!), it's nowhere to be seen. The action that warranted a snap involved early pace setter Jeff Rogers, Irish Open casher Danny D'Borin and the lesser known (well, a new face to me anyhow) Darren Smith.

With all the chips flying in at the speed of light on a 3c 8d 9c Flop, it was on their backs time, with Darren the shortest stack, and Jeff the biggest.

Jeff Rogers = Kc 7c

Danny D'Borin = Ac 9d

Darren Smith = 8s 8c

An ineffective 3d Turn and 4s River gave the main pot to Smith, and the chunky side pot to D'Borin, but, miraculously, no one was eliminated.

The resulting chip counts are as such:

Danny D'Borin -- 32,250
Darren Smith -- 21,875
Jeff Rogers -- 14,100

"I wasn't sure what I was going to do," added Smith, "whether I was going to be the flop or what. Luckily, they did all the work for me."

It sure is easy this game.

Allan Shields seems to have somehow slipped down to about 6.5k. Doesn't seem too miffed though. Similarly Rookie seems to be on around 7k currently.

As I snuck out of the cardroom toilets (why I was snucking, I'm not sure), I was graced with the presence of a major hand taking place on the nearest table. With the distant sound of the mega powerful hand driers (seriously, they nearly blew my pants off) still whirring away in the background, Driton (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=133) Haxhiaj (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=133) was in full re-raising mode, sticking it to Allan Shields' initial 3.5k bet on a 9h 2h 8c board with an extra 5k to play.

Expecting the action to fold back round to Shields, it suddenly stopped at Daniel Rudd who unexpectedly fell into a pit of pensiveness. With eyes darting back and forth, and even Rookie blowing out his cheeks to me as if to say "blimey, son, what a pot", Rudders meekly slid his single columned stack across the line for an extra 13,325 more.

With Shields quickly stepping out of the way like Superman dodging a speeding bullet, Haxhiaj dipped into the mindfield of his brain and, as Chili would say, took a trip to think tank town. After the odd twitch of an eyebrow, Scrabble Man eventually made the call and turned over Th Td. However, although I'm sure he had his man on the flush draw, he could only weep in dismay as Rudd proudly revealed 2d 2s for a set of ducks, leaving Scrabble Man requiring a bingo and a miracle 2 outer.

Turn = 9d

River = 4h

... and it looks like Mr Rudd is your new chip leader with... er.... lots.

The gent on the right, who I now believe to be one Paul Ephremsen, is OUT, Kh Qh against Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) D'Borin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986)'s Aspades Qc.

Board - 4d 3d 9h 6d 3h is useless to him and he has gone to join the Saturday Night Throng baying for blood at the blackjack tables. Or something. Probably he's gone home.

Rob (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) Garfield (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) -- 34,725
Darren Smith -- 33,250
Daniel Rudd -- 51,100
David Young -- 11,100
Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) D'Borin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) -- 43,875
Dervis Ozkarapinar -- 42,400
Andreas Georgiou -- 19,275
Mike Moore -- 29,375
Driton (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=133) Haxhiaj (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=133) -- 9,200
Dave (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) Courtney (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) -- 15,850
Ben (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=46) Turnstill (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=46) -- 9,150
D Shearer -- 7,000
Sunny Osman -- 6,250
Mark Segal -- 7,625
Alistair Carins -- 20,425
Graham Hiew -- 40,775
Ali (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) Mallu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) -- all-in as I write
Yilfer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783) Shevket (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783) -- 5,125
Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) -- 36,375

Rookie Ben Turnstill is OUT. All in I believe preflop with Js Kd against Dave Shearer's Ad 5h, it was looking pretty good on the flop, worse on the turn and dreadful come the river.

Board - Kc Th Td Ac Ahrt

He hovers for a moment while the chips are counted, but he's covered and gone.

After Mateyboy had made it 1,200 to play and Ryan Fronda had smooth called, Mark Segal saw his opportunity to pounce and pushed in his short stack with Pocket Sevens. Whilst Fronda sipped on his tea and generally looked disinterested, Mateyboy counted his chips and called with J-T off suit. A Ten on the Turn and it was home time for Segal ,whose raised arms of disgust on the Turn spoke volumes. However, he still shook hands with his assassin as he left, although I suspect the motorway will be taking the inevitable hammering.

Wondering who our mystery sniper was, I politely tapped him on the shoulder like a praying vulture and made a request for his name. Oddly, he was hesitant at first, and for a moment, I actually thought he'd forgotten his name. Eventually, he conceded his forename as being Arco, but cringed when he moved onto his surname before asking, "Do you need my surname?" "Nah, should be able to work it out from your first name," I replied. On returning to the pressroom and, subsequently, the player list, I suddenly realised why he'd acted so reluctantly.

With 33 points, we have a new challenger to the Scrabble Man throne with...

Arco Zuyderduyn

"I'm Dutch, you see," he later confessed.

"Oh, so you travelled all the way from Holland to play at the Luton festival," I joked, fully expecting him to say that he lived in these parts.

"Yes," he replied sternly. "I did."

"Oh."

As I watch Alistair Carins survive an all-in on a 9-8-T Flop (Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) folded) and Dervis Ozkarapinar re-raise Mike Moore off a hand pre-flop before showing the American Airlines, D Shearer chooses now to double up, courtesy of neighbour Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) D'Borin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986). I joined the action as the board was being dealt out, but chances are that it was all-in on the Flop.

D'Borin = Aspades Jc

Shearer = 4c 4h

Flop = 4d Jh Qc

Turn = Js

River = 2h

Table 1:

Seat 1: Darren Smith -- 22,200
Seat 2: Andreas Gerogiou -- 17,700
Seat 3: D Shearer -- 37,200
Seat 4: Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) D'Borin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) -- 50,100
Seat 5: Mike Moore -- 22,700
Seat 6: Dervis Ozkarapinar -- 45,400
Seat 7: Derek Lawless -- 35,100
Seat 8: Richard Robinson -- 12,000
Seat 9: Daniel Rudd -- 39,300

Table 2:

Seat 1: David Young -- 10,300
Seat 2: Graham Hiew -- 37,900
Seat 3: Ali (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) Mallu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) -- 22,000
Seat 4: Alistair Carins -- 16,700
Seat 5: Yilfer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783) Shevket (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783) -- 9,300
Seat 6: Dave (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) Courtney (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) -- 19,700
Seat 7: Rob (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) Garfield (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) -- 31,900
Seat 8 Arco Zuyderduyn -- 26,900
Seat 9: Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) -- 18,400

Meatloaf impersonator David Young is OUT. He raised preflop and was called by Arco Z (i'm not even going to try). He shoved on the 2c Tc 8c flop, which must have delighted Arco as he insta-called with his two pair.

David Young - Js Qh

Arco Z - 8s Ts

Turn - 3h

River - Aspades

"First preflop raise I've made all day, and he calls me with T-8," complained a disappointed David, fleeing the cardroom like, um, a bat out of hell.

Alistair Carins has been eliminated from the tournament.

----------

Frustrating times for Rob Garfield as a battle of the blinds encounters with Arco Zuyderduyn ends in misery. I assume there was pre-flop action, but with Rob in the small blind, his 4k bet on a Tc 9s 7d Flop was called by his nemesis before both players opted to check a Kc Turn. An Aspades on the River seemed to kick everyone into gear, Rob betting out 5.5k before folding quicker than the production credits of a porn film as Arco announced all-in.

With Rob holding Ahrt Qh, it was a good fold in the end as Arco happily revealed his superior Ac 7c. Garfield down to 20.7k.

Crazy man Yilfer "James Bond" Shevket is OUT. He shoved with Ad 2d and got himself called by Ryan Fronda holding Ahrt Th.

Board - Jd 6c 8d 6h 5c

I was hoping he'd pull out a gun from his jacket or something, but he merely wandered off.

Arco Zuyderduyn -- 65.0k
Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) D'Borin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) -- 52.8k
Derek Lawless -- 48.4k
Daniel Rudd -- 40.3k
Dervis Ozkarapinar -- 36.7k
Ali (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) Mallu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) -- 36.5k
Graham Hiew -- 36.3k
D Shearer -- 33.2k
Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) -- 23.7k
Andreas Georgiou -- 22.9k
Mike Moore -- 21.4k
Dave (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) Courtney (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) -- 19.2k
Darren Smith -- 15.1k
Rob (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) Garfield (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=381) -- 11.0k

Also OUT is Richard Robinson - a microstack for much of the day, he finally found Jacks and shoved for his last 2k and change. He found a caller in Dervis Ozkarapinar holding Ks Js which looked pretty promising, but oh woe:

Board - Qd 2h 8d 5d Kh

Down to 13 now, and it's Darren Smith who is the latest to feel the wrath of the daring Dutchman, Arco Zuyderduyn (please don't make me write that name again). All-in with Ahrt 2h on an Aspades 6h 9h Flop, Darren probably would have welcomed a call from most, but with Arco staring you down at the other end of the table, you know you could be taking the walk of shame in a few seconds time. And that's exactly what happened, Arco making a good call with Ad 8d and pipping his opponent following a Kd and 4c Turn and River, that crucial Eight just about making the difference.

Rob Garfield is OUT in 13th. He found himself all-in with A-T versus Arco Zuyderduyn's K-9, before a 7-K-8-2-K sent him packing. I won't repeat his expletives as he left the table.

Double-up for D Shearer.

Dervis Ozkarapinar raises to 2850 utg. Derek Lawless to his immediate left calls, but Shearer goes all in from the button for around 15k total. Dervis gets out of the way, leaving the decision to call with Lawless (someone please insert funny Lawless joke here), which he eventually does.

Lawless - 7h 7d

Shearer - 8h 8d

(At this point one of the cardroom guys comes over to ask whether anyone minds if they turn the volume up for the fight. Everyone sort of grunts assent.)

Board - 3d 9s 6c Ac Ahrt

"Nice hand, mate," sighs Lawless.

After a lengthy discussion, it has been agreed that play shall end for the day with 12 players remaining.

Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) was very eager to carry on playing, one of many not keen on returning for Day 2 without a guaranteed pay.

"I think everyone was happy to give 8th and 9th 750 quid, Snoops," commented Ryan. "I reckon we could have got rid of another three with one more level, especially with this guy [pointing at Arco's stack], he's being calling with all sorts."

However, Carmel was adamant in her decision, saying that she was stopping the tournament because of the upcoming noise from the crowd watching the boxing. "It's not going to be a good atmosphere for poker," she admitted. "I'm making this decision because it's for the good of the tournament."

And on that note, the decision was made.


End of day chip counts:

Arco Zuyderduyn -- 82,375
Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) D'Borin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) -- 62,050
Derek Lawless -- 60,250
Ali (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) Mallu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=23) -- 57,825
Daniel Rudd -- 44,750
Graham Hiew -- 31,375
Dervis Ozkarapinar -- 29,775
Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) Fronda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=390) -- 26,950
Dave (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) Courtney (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=96) -- 26,425
Mike Moore -- 23,750
Andreas Georgiou -- 21,450
D Shearer -- 20,000