blonde poker forum

:hello: there and welcome from myself and Jen to DTD as we await the start of the Norwegian Poker Championships Main Event.

The dubious legal position of poker in Norway has resulted in the organisers of Norway's national poker event relocating to the more poker friendly environ of DTD in good ol' blighty.  Here the players can play without fear of police raids in the inviting, poker-friendly haven that was built by the determined hands and unshakeable vision of Rob Yong.

Apparently all week DTD has been rocking and a rollling to the sounds of excited Norwegians, creating quite a buzz with their sometimes unorthodox poker styles and Norwegian chatter. During the EPTs I have covered, players from Norway have proved to be a very interesting group, capable of some excellent poker and replete with entertaining characters.

As both Jen and I are only familiar with the bigger Norwegian names (eg WSOPE bracelet-winning Annette Obrestad and the  borderline insane but highly capable Johnny Lodden) we may struggle at first to identify players, but we will do our best to get names for you as soon as we can. (Over/under on 10% of the field being called Jan?)

To that end I have been fiercely brushing up my Norwegian to better communicate with the players and in that vein let me say "Ha det godt!" to all the players! (which hopefully means "good luck!", not "I laugh at your spiky hair and trendy t-shirt, prepare for battle my friend!")

I feel this will make covering this event extremely fun and I urge you to join us as we count down to the 3 o' clock start.

3.....................2........................1.......................

It's heaving here at DTD, with a whole tent type thing outside adding to the space which is being mainly filled by Norwegians.  The queue at the front desk was approaching the chaotic, but the staff are gamely accommodating everyone and the tournament, somehow, kicked off on time.

Sellout?  YES for British players; NO for Norwegians.  It's only fair, they've travelled a little further...

Cash tables going to be totally full by 7pm?  Definitely.

Wifi going to reach to the buffet tent where we're currently perched?  Possibly not.

Ok!

Short hiatus whilst I got my malfunctioning equipment to work (cue obvious joke!) over, let me bring you some shots of the action.

As Jen related, it is HEAVING out there, the sumptuous DTD surroundings awash with a sea of largely unfamiliar Norwegian visages. Peppered amongst these faces though, are some players more familiar to myself and it is these guys who have attracted my attention at this early juncture.

First off, there is fellow updater, local player and pretty lady Maria Demetriou, who told me she had been enjoying the juicy cash games this week. "Get a picture of Gunnar Obrestad please!" she requested of me, before swooning in dramatic fashion. He's obviously walked past her wearing Lynx today.

Here she is pre-swoon, still on 10k or so...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16583&g2_serialNumber=1)

Muscleman of the Uk circuit Des Jonas has hauled his rippling frame to DTD to join in the festivities and action.

Here he is early doors, looking watchful whilst his scandinavian neighbour regards me with a mixture of suspicion and interest...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16585&g2_serialNumber=1)

Looking for an EPT and double GUKPT winner? Here's one for thew...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16587&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dave Smith, poker player and renowned hat wearer, has turned up ina  menacing black ensemble today, with matching hat. Clearly designed to strike fear and terror into his opponent's hearts, the effect is somewhat diminished by the presence of a small yellow squirty-water style flower on his lapel. Scary!

Behold the behatted Dave, terrorising his fellow players with his acidic stare and tiny flower...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16589&g2_serialNumber=1)

Barry Neville won a big pot on level one, check raising a T hi board and betting big on blank turn, causing his fellow pot players, Spets Age and Kristoffese Bjorn Petter to give it up.

"I 'ad Jacks" Barry boomed in his deep Yorkshire brogue,  informing not only his table but all nearby tables within a 300 metre radius.

"I do not beleive you" countered Spets jovially in more hushed, reserved scandinavian tones...

"Beleive what you want kiddo, I ad em!" blasted Barry forcefully, shaking tables and cracking glasses, as geologists up to 3 miles away registered a tremor measuring 3 on the richter scale.

Here is the uncompromising but always entertaining character Barry Neville, enjoying himself early on with 18k or so...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16595&g2_serialNumber=1)

And his disbeleiving table neighbour Spets, looking a tad shell shocked as Barry eats into his stack like a Yorkshire pudding smothered with onion gravy...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16591&g2_serialNumber=1)

Look who it is!  Blogger turned Gummy Bear Guerrilla turned Player turned all-round Norwegian poker ambassador BA Kildalen...

In his own words:  "There's this English gaffer on my table [imagine this in a unique accent somewhere between Norwegian and Cockney and Australian] and he has A-K.  I have pocket Sevens... [it appears the flop came J-high, two clubs...] followed by a Seven on the turn so now I know I am nice and ahead.  He calls the 1,500 on the turn and the river is a Queen.  Now the English gaffer thinks that the best thing to do is to push all in!  I think in an EPT I might have to fold there...but it's the Norwegian Championships...against and English guy...so I call and he instamucks!"

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16607&g2_serialNumber=1)

BA:  16,000 and several cards short of a deck

This guy, Lasse 'awesomeness' Lien, I believe, is challenging tablemate Julian Thew in the running good stakes.  He's even got the confidence to prove it/preempt it.  This young chatterbox just knocked the more experienced, and no less golden Mr. Thew back to a dangerous(ish) <4k stack like so:

He'd moved all in preflop and when I arrived at listening-in distance, was in the process of full-steam-ahead call-inducing.  After urging an unknown third party folder to pass saying, "Come on, Sir, don't make a bad call," he was telling Julian, "You don't even have a hand.  I don't want to play this stack - let's just flop it!  I have a small pair."
"You have a small pair?" queried Julian...
"Yes.  I must warn you, I do run good.  When I'm all in, and can't play any more." 
"I'm going to be very upset if you're lying..."

Julian called showing Ks Qc
Lasse Lien showed Jc Jh

"Not exactly a small pair," nitpicked Julian... as the board came down 6h 2h 8c Ts 7d.

"AWESOMENESS!" rejoiced Lien.  "I live another day!"

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16615&g2_serialNumber=1)

So he does.

Meanwhile Julian prepares to grind with his new shorter stack...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16617&g2_serialNumber=1)

Nick Gibson is sitting pretty on 15k or so at the moment...

...As I watch his table, his ipod makes a beeping sound. "Bluff alert!" he tells the table to some laughter.

...As you would expect with this being a primarily scandinavian event, there are a variety of interesting garments being paraded today.

This man, who Jen tells me is english, is sporting a snazzy tri-colour tracksuit top...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16609&g2_serialNumber=1)

This for me is the archetype of a scandinavian player. Young, blonde, square-jawed, incredibly spikey hair, bright electric blue shirt open at the collar with more subdued jacket in attendance.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16611&g2_serialNumber=1)

I intended this photo to illustrate the man in the red top wearing imo "Slicked back hair of the day." Hoody of the day has however become a much sought after accolade and a spanner was thrown in the works of my photographic machinations by THIS man who though probably not a contender for hoody of the day is nonetheless wearing a pleasing on the eye grey number , adorned with shamrocks.

Very impressive sir, but please do not interrupt "Slicked back hair of the day" next time :)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16613&g2_serialNumber=1)

I realise that it's traditional to report hands in a linear manner through time, but I just deciphered my own writing concerning the hand prior to this all-in-pre one... again it was Lien and Thew in the hand, this time joined by Geir Lian and Jonas Helness.  It had been raised to 425 pre and picked up these gents along the way before dropping them at the foot of the Ks 9s 3d flop.  Four checks.
Turn: Ad  Now Lien bets out 700 into all the others, picking up one caller in the form of Geir Lian (I know this is confusing, but I think I have the names in the right order...).
River:  6h  He now throws in 1,050 and picks up a quick call.  Opting to shy away from showdown, his opponent's Ac Qd picked up the pot.
"I just figured Jack high wasn't good..." he explained in a sprightly, unconcerned fashion. 

He kind of reminds me of a Scandinavian James Atkin who's had one too many red bulls and left his ipod at home.  Although it looks like he's just started drinking beer.  God help his table.

Just heard over the intercom...

"Could the valets please report to table one, the Norwegians here aren't drunk enough yet!"  ;tightend; ;tightend;

---

Right, my ramblings so far may have led you to beleive this is as much a fashion show as a poker tournament so let me bring the focus sharply back onto the subject of poker. Although I didn't witness much of this hand, a combination of Barry Neville (circa 17k) and Jen Mason (0k - well she's not playing!) filled me in to the extent that I feel like I was there.

Joining the flop of a re-raised pot preflop of 4h 3h 6c, a player in seat 7, who may not be named, but has an affinity with tractors, dogs and potatoes bet out 1.5k, which Bjorn Erik Suhr raised to 3k, only to find the aforementioned potato-phile shoving for 11k more...

There was a long pause whilst Suhr considered his options...eventually tablemate Barry Neville called the clock after 4 minutes or so. Suhr instantly passed, leaving our potato-fixated friend to mick the pot. Suhr showed he had passed Q-Q and was rewarded as he was shown K-K by his opponent, who murmured his appreciation... "good pass..." as he dreamed of purchasing that shiny new combine harvester he's had his eye on.

Barry's Bust-out Brunch Baguette Brings Book Blogwards

Barry:  AQ.  Ace on the flop.  vs. AK.  That's all she wrote.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16619&g2_serialNumber=1)

The one good thing to come out of this is my new Norwegian phrasebook!!! 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16621&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hvorfor ler du?      Oh, it's Barry in the background...

Sadly yes! She was a relatively early casualty. I assumed she had merely moved but no.

She was undone by the work of fellow blondite Daniel "UpTheMariners" Rudd, who flopped a straight versus her two pair  to deplete her to 6k and the rest of her chips disappeared as she turned a 9 high flush with 8h 9h versus the bigger flush of Ah Qh of her opponent. Nasty coolers for Maria there...

...She is not too dismayed though for several reasons.

1) she is playing the cash games and has already almost made her buyin back...
2) they are serving some juicy slices of cake at the buffet, and Maria could barely contain her enthusiasm at the prospect of some cake...

It's now the (split) dinner break, incidentally, and so some recappage courtesy of the wonderful DTD player positioning and tracking service:

Players who are Busted:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16623&g2_serialNumber=1)

209   Ingar Melby
210   Ismail Yusuf
211   Fredrik Stenrud
212   Eirik Kolaas
213   Barry Carter
214   Parham Alavi
215   Mohammed Khalid
216   Ben Callinan
217   Joakim Svindland Reistad
218   Arnt Ola Viken
219   Espen Uhlen
220   Jan Magnus Brevik
221   Arshad Hussain
222   Erling Hartviksen
223   Michael Jones
224   Steve Watkin
225   Spencer Lawrence
226   Arne Aarskog
227   Gunnar Øverberg
228   Jan Erik Iversen
229   Knut Arne Frøyen
230   Knut Rysstad
231   Andreas Bergh
232   Dag Martin Mikkelsen
233   Lucienne Rokach
234   Maria Demetriou
235   Andrew Andreou
236   Reyaaz Mulla
237   Paul King
238   Kjell Hanssen
239   Hans Thomas Karlsen
240   Kent Richard Bratvold
241   Joakim Prine Frogner
242   Kim Daniel Granneman
243   Fred- Bore Johannesen
244   Jan Svendsen
245   Farhad Amirzahiri
246   Jakob Brekken
247   David Johnson

I am learning the names of hitherto unknown Norwegian players with the speed of one of those clever squid which learn mazes faster than human children (don't pretend you haven't ever watched a squid maze before).  Sooooo how about some CHIP COUNTS:

Daniel Steine -- 15,000
Mazhar Latif -- 36,300
Angelika Szlufarska -- 12,500
Andreas Hagen -- 7,800
Knut Petter Ryan -- 8,000
Fredrik Helness -- 11,000
Kjetil Kemi -- 6,100
Frode Lyhold-ronning -- 3,075
Lars Heldal Bakkevig -- 4,900
BA Kildalen -- 14,800
Acid Nilsen -- 9,800
Alf Brathen -- 4,700
Nick Gibson -- 21,000
Jorund Berstad -- 25,000
Jon Somby -- 7,000
Stephen Best -- 5,100
Knut Oddvar Silseth -- 8,350
Daniel Gulaker -- 11,000
Jan-Erik Sorensen -- 18,900
Askild Sjoeng Hansen -- 4,500
Kristoffer Ustad -- 12,375
William Bugodt -- 8,400
Per Erik Loff -- 8,500
Des Jonas -- 7,650
Karl Inge Skogholt -- 21,300

Mick Jones is OUT - I got the lowdown from Nick Gibson, who is quite comfortably heading past the 20k mark and as chirpy as ever... He had K-Q, apparently, all in on a 9s Tc Js board.  Yep - the temporary nuts - taken down by Matey's Qs Js which found another spade to bust him (he was already down to c. 5k, however).  "I want to be in the story," insists Nick.  "I had Ac Jc.  But I folded on the flop.  Want any more stories where I limp-fold?"

I politely declined, and left him to accumulate more chips.

Ok, now someone way back when was asking for a closer view of the blonde dealers and to this end I bring you...

Blonde dealer one (+ bonus shot of back of gwibbo head - intentional obv)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16628&g2_serialNumber=1)

Or perhaps you were making reference to blonde dealer two?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16632&g2_serialNumber=1)

here we have Michael Greco, insisting his tablemates refer to him as Beppe (that's what Jen told me anyway...)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16630&g2_serialNumber=1)

Finally, during my time as an updater, one of my trademark skills, which I beleive to be a unique abillity amongst the rest of the updaters is my propensity to take random pictures of objects as the camera takes a shot whilst tilted at a random angle.

(yes my equipment regularly goes off in my hand Kev)

Here is today's offering. I give you "Accidental shot of the day"

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16634&g2_serialNumber=1)

Extra English person!

Daniel Ward!  Here he is, next to that popular lady.  He seemed reluctant to be fussed over, but that's probably because he's only got 5.025.  I'll go back when he's quadrupled up and he'll probably be happier to be updated on.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16638&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sharing his table is this other lady, whom I think is Hanna Nilson -- 11,200, here demonstrating the finger positions for playing Streetfighter 2 when you don't know any of the moves (as taught to me by my brother).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16642&g2_serialNumber=1)

Des Jonas is OUT.

I saw him participating in one of the many, many cash games underway and he told me glumly his exit hand was T-T v 9-9.

"9 on the river" muttered Des sadly. Average bicep width of the tournament player's just dropped 2 inches, I thought whilst shaking my head in sympathy.

"Baby Doll" just sidled by the media zone and we had a quick chat...

She was delighted we had put a picture of her up, but once again my amateur photographic skills proved to be my undoing as she was saddened by the fact her eyes were closed in the snap.

Eager to make amends I snapped her again, this time without eyes wide shut.

Other than the lovely baby doll in the foreground though, was the exciting discovery of what appears to be an illicit affair occurring in the background.

"He's onto us! S**! I'm going to pretend to clean the table!"

It takes more than a spray and dirty cloth to pull the wool over Junglecat's eyes I'm afraid...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16636&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.fellcountrywear.com/images/trilby.jpg)
Dave Smith Update...

He had previously made it up to the dizzy heights of 40k or thereabouts, and a Norwegian informer on his table told me how he'd headed there...

Early:  He raised to 275 in Level One with J-J, flopped a 5s 4s 4h flop, bet pot, called by Matey.  The turn brought an offsuit Q... check from the behatted one, call of Matey's 2k.  River:  2 (or similar) - and again, a check call of 4k won him a tidy early pot.

Mid:  A Mick-Fletcher-y Flopped Nuts Matey (T-J on a 9-Q-K board) bet out into Smith's Q-9, received a small raise, threebet it and received a call.  A Nine on the turn saw the straight FNM betting again, and then getting moved all-in on.  It wasn't too much more, and the call and stack went to Smith.

Later:  A board of Ks 5h 6c saw AK 56 and K5 (Smith's) get involved, as one might expect.  The Ace-King was the only hand to pass as top'n'bottom pair stacked bottom-two for another rise in chip towers.

SO another meteoric start for the local - will he keep hold of it through the next four days? 

CHIP COUNTS from the break which has just ended... tyvm dtd...

Barlien Sondre   23   8   54000
Mazhar Latif   34   2   47150
Martin Gudvangen   24   1   47050
Kim-ove Hagerup   35   6   43050
Geir Lian   68   4   39700
Waheed Ashraf   23   9   37500
Lasse Lien   68   9   35900
Richard Larsen   33   9   34450
Platten Daniel   48   3   32500
Edvard Hatle   25   6   32300
William Bugodt   31   4   29300
Bjørnar Koss   66   4   29125
Frode Hoel   31   3   29025
Jørund Berstad   37   5   29025
James Keys   66   3   28975
Ivar Borthen   66   5   28075
Daniel Rudd   47   4   27975
Paul Gourlay   47   2   27225
Kim Rud Pedersen   24   9   25875
Erik Kindlien   47   7   25750
Billy Ngo   36   4   25525
Kenneth Strandli   33   7   25500
Acid Nilsen   37   2   24400
Paul Newman   25   7   24375
Fredrik Helness   34   6   24000
Brede Sandkjernan   48   4   23850
Kristoffer Ustad   36   5   23600
Tage Skare   58   4   22500
Andreas Forshaug   33   1   22325
Therse Andersen   48   2   21750
Alf- Eirik Klinge   31   2   21650
Bjørn Andre Hovden   21   6   21500
Anders Pettersen   48   9   20725
Neil Henshaw   24   4   20225
Ken-vidar Sara   47   5   19475
Daniel Steine   34   1   19100
Jarle Utne   26   7   18675
Mads Aamot   37   3   18400
Stian Bruheim   34   5   18000
Daniel Gulaker   37   9   17950
Jon Somby   37   6   17600
Fredrik Alexander Skalmeraas   21   3   17500
Lars Gaustad   31   1   16800
Cato Vonheim   58   3   16800
Glenn Anders Karlsen   33   5   16750
Bjørnar Thomassen   37   1   16600
Carsten Syvertsen   33   3   16350
Sven Hugo Vian   66   1   16125
Michael Greco   26   5   15750
Anders Arntzen   24   2   15525
Pål Knudsen   58   8   15250
Helge Stjernvang   58   6   15000
Vegar Mandal   66   9   14925
Erik Borkvik   36   8   14275
Chriss Jonassen   24   6   14175
Erik Johansen   47   9   14150
Liaquat Javed   26   9   14150
Chin Chai Koh   26   2   14125
Kai N. Andersen   47   3   14075
Trond-arild Elvan   31   6   13975
Ole Morten Melby   35   4   13925
Lars Sverre Wik   58   5   13575
Anders Brenden   36   7   13400
Kristian Walle   58   7   13325
Christoffer Nilsen   23   4   13275
Kristian Heimstad   48   5   12900
Hanna Nilsson   21   1   12100
Andre Hansen   34   3   11800
Daniel Nilsen   36   6   11675
Runar Pedersen   25   1   11600
Nick Gibson   37   4   11125
Frank Wikne   58   9   11050
Alexander Hagen   23   6   10825
Kai Danilo Paulsen   26   3   10800
Yngvi Bjarnason   24   5   10775
Kjetil Skau   33   4   10500
Erling Marthinsen   35   7   10350
Knut Nystedt   66   8   10150
Gary Christopher   58   1   9900
Håvard Holder   24   7   9875
Lars Farstad   25   5   9875
Ivar Kleive Voll   33   6   9725
Barte Ervall   35   9   9675
Pal Kristiansen   24   8   9600
Backe Catheine   48   1   9500
Karl Inge Skogholt   23   2   9400
Asbjørn Lunde   66   7   9175
Julian Thew   68   5   9050
Germund Volden   25   3   9025
Ole Christian Andersen   68   6   8700
Janne Helen Overaa   24   3   8525
Holger Pedersen   26   1   8150
Mads Erland   26   8   8125
Richard Holtet   21   5   7800
Christoffer Heien   48   7   7775
Andreas Prytz   31   9   7600
Paul Valle   26   4   7275
Andre Alvarez Brobakken   58   2   7175
Kristian Aksnes   31   7   7150
Borge Sandsgaard   47   1   7050
John Stanley   31   5   6650
Johansen Christer   37   8   6500
Linda Kristin Suhr   36   3   6475
Daniel Molund   25   9   6450
Erling Voje   48   6   6425
Andreas Hagen   34   4   6250
Jørn Eriksrud Bye   47   6   6250
Arild Blålid   25   2   6075
Christian Berland   21   2   6000
Efraimsen Oyvind   21   4   6000
Håvar Olsen   68   7   5950
Frank Porturas   48   8   5775
Alf Johannes Jacobsen   23   1   5700
Eirik Svanes   23   7   5625
Eirik Staddeland   66   6   5375
Askild Sjoeng Hansen   25   8   5350
Jon Eirik Einarsveen   66   2   5250
Geir Andersen   33   8   5225
Kai-are Hauge   36   9   5100
Fredrik Kjeldsen   26   6   5000
Andreas Pettersen   35   1   4900
Kjell Roger Muldbakken   33   2   4575
Stephen Best   37   7   4500
Egil Olsen   36   1   4200
Lasse Aastad Kjøs   36   2   4200
Jan Roger Larsen   35   5   4175
Keith Johnson   35   8   3875
Kristian Sæthre   21   8   2800
Kjetil Kemi   34   7   2750
Karl Bullock   34   8   2500
Bjorn August Lindback   21   7   2200
Lars Heldal Bakkevig   34   9   2000
Age Spets   68   3   1900
Finn Arne Langeland   68   1   1850
Peter Lars Micael Lindstrom   68   8   1300
Shaun Cook   35   2   1050
Geir Ståle Plassen   25   4   1000

He's still rolling, if not as strongly as before... "I just lost 17k with Tens twice."  I presume it was 17k in total lost, which actually took him right down to 4,500 at his lowest ebb, before he bounced back to 10,500 now.  The first loss occurred on a Nine-high flop (his opponent had flopped a set of Fours), and the second was against Jacks. 

Here he is pictured like he might be about to eat his young Scandie rivals whole like some kind of Northern Terminator.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16649&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ok, one for the football fans here.

Who remembers when Norway unceremoniously dumped England out of qualification for the world cup by defeating them comprehensively in Norway? I do!

And the villain of the piece, at least to the partisan eyes of the england fans, was the Norwegian coach Egil Olsen. Egil has had a chequered, though largely successful career. Other than his celebrated stewardship of the Norwegian national team, he managed premiership club Wimbledon briefly and less successfully, before joining expekt.com and even managing to fit in managing the Iraqi football team for a soirt while.

His association with expekt.com has led him to be playing today, and though he currently has a short stack, Egil, who was always regarded as a deep tactical football manager, will be harbouring hopes of showing excellence in another forum as he makes his assault on the Norwegian Championships today.

Good luck to the man I say! Here he is...


(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16647&g2_serialNumber=1)

Anthony Nicholls surprised us in the dinner break, drawing our attention to the fact that he is (a) playing and (b) fairly chipped up.  We are always sad to have missed people we know in the throng of new faces we are trying to familiarise ourselves with so here I present: 

Anthony Nicholls - This Is Your Update...

You started the day with 10k.  You now have over 33k. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16657&g2_serialNumber=1)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

And having sounded so optimistic about Mr. Neville, I now have to report some worse news.  From the man himself:  "I made a squeeze play."  Uh-oh, I think, this didn't end well, considering as you're now standing up by the side of the table with no visible stack.

"There was a raise to 600, a flat call, then a raise to 2,500.  I'm in the big blind with Fives.  I push all in for 10k.  The first guy passes but the second one dwells up for like two minutes with Jacks!"  There was even a glimmer of postflop hope: "The flop was 4-6-7 - I'm anything..." he trails off wistfully as he relives his draw missing, but doesn't seem to despondent overall.

Paul Gourlay just tangled with the archetype scandinavian, who unfortunately I have yet to learn the correct name of...

I joined the action on  the river of an As 3h Jh 2c Kd board and our spikey haired new friend had just bet out 3k...Paul thought for a while before reluctantly calling, only to be shown A-2 for 2 pair, which was good...

"Did you have K-J?" enquired the man wearing the blonde porcupine...

"I 'ad a better ehs than that!" countered Paul a tad sulkily, admitting a worse hand than that which was inferred by the human version of Sonic the Hedgehog, who cooly swept up his chips into his stack without ruffling his neatly ironed blue shirt,

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16659&g2_serialNumber=1)

BA Kildalen and Alan Stearn have been in a couple of confrontations in a row just now.  Neither of them are even heading towards short stacked, and there could have been fireworks potentially on either of these... but instead... oh you'll see. 

HAND 1:

Small blind Stearn raises big blind Kildalen +900 (at the tail end of the 150/300/25 blind level).  Call.
Flop:  Ts 4d 5h  Stearn bets out 1,500, and finds a pretty immediate raise to 4,500.  He thinks for a good while before passing - and is shown Js Jh for his inner torment.

HAND 2:

Button Stearn limps, small blind BA limps and there's no raise.  The flop comes:  8h 4d Tc  Check to Stearn who bets 1,400 and picks up BA as a caller (just can't shake him).  The turn is a double-checked 7d.  The river brings the 5d, and a 2,075 bet out from the behatted Norwegian.  Another wearyish pass, but again he's rewarded by a glimpse of the 6h in BA's hand.  So much showing of the cards...and they've been pretty good...now when he raises with 6-2 utg he might get some undeserved respect... :)

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/172744389_66a692ec32.jpg)

Anthony Nicholls:  Your Story Continues, in what is actually a series of the most dramatic hands seen tonight (by us, anyway):

M*** Mc**** raises to 1,200 pre.  Anthony Nicholls re-raises to 4,200.  Call.
Flop:  6-2-3  Nicholls bet 2k... and found McC. moving all-in for around 25,000!  Call.
Nicholls shows:  Kc Kd
McC shows:  A-5
Turn....2 river....   .....     .....        .........  4.    Down to just 600 chips, and it all looked a little bleak.  THEN

Two hands later, and he's all in against two players.  He's standing up, looking at a flop of Qs 7c 2s and despairing as the side action kicks off.  Vidar Sabbasen has bet out 2,025, and Andreas Berge (the spiky haired one, we reckon) has raised to 6,525.  A long think...then Sabbasen moves in.  The think now belongs to Berge, who gets very animated, saying "In a cash game I instacall.  Instacall."  He calls, but not insta.

On their backs!

Anthony Nicholls (despairing):  Ks 8d
Vidar Sabbasen (anxious):  2d 2h
Andreas Berge (also anxious, and covered, just):  7s 9s

Turn:  5s
River:  Ts

Giving Anthony Nicholls the side pot of just over 2k, and knocking one of the Norwegians to the felt.

P.S. Literally seconds ago, Nicholls busted, called blind by 9-2 when he held T-J.  "At least I got to play one hand on the feature table...."

Way to bok Egil by me. Shortly after that mini bio I wrote, he lost his short stack...

What was quite touching was as he lost the remainder of his chips, there was a round of applause from the rest of the table, marking the occasion of his exit. This wasn't unique to Egil simply because he is a Norwegian personality though. Most of the players' exits have been treated in this respectful fashion by the Norwegian players, which I think is a great little tradition that we would do well to introduce into our game over here, but probably never will!

Here is Egil leaving...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16663&g2_serialNumber=1)

CLIMBER OF THE DAY

Although we're just about to have our Level Seven break here, and there are still two long hours of hard-fought poker to get through before this award can be confirmed - I would like to suggest Julian Thew for our climber of the day. 

Early in the day it did look bad for him, but once again, he has turned some into many - approximately 45,000 (full counts coming after the break).  He's featured, actually, so those of you watching the feed will be able to watch him in action - no - wait, he's just been moved off somewhere.  Dave Smith appears to have filled in the gap on the TV table.  You know that the Norwegians vote on which table they want to cycle through the TV table next... maybe they voted Julian off like on Big Brother....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16673&g2_serialNumber=1)

Here is the spiky Andreas, leaning over anxiously to see if Vidar has a set or not, after calling with his flush draw...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16667&g2_serialNumber=1)

Er, you're about to be disappointed BUT...

...NOT as disappointed as Vidar as you hit your flush.

How is this picture for a stark delineation of emotion between pain and glory! guess who hit their flush and who had their set busted....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16669&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chip Counts:

Joachim Lundgård Thorkildsen   22   6   97325
Bjørnar Koss   34   8   73100
Lasse Lien   23   3   70075
Barlien Sondre   23   8   56525
Geir Lian   22   9   55650
Kim Rud Pedersen   24   9   52650
Andreas Berge   21   9   51725
Bjørn Andre Kildalen   32   8   50950
Julian Thew   23   5   44875
Platten Daniel   35   7   41125
Kim-ove Hagerup   35   6   40575
Jan Roger Larsen   35   5   40175
Michael Greco   26   5   38250
Martin Gudvangen   24   1   37900
Arne Kristian Falkenhaug   22   7   37825
Bjørn Andre Hovden   21   6   36975
Kristoffer Ustad   36   5   35825
Michael Mccool   26   2   35650
Waheed Ashraf   23   9   34825
Erik Borkvik   36   8   34275
Ivar Borthen   22   3   34225
Liaquat Javed   26   9   34100
Edvard Hatle   25   6   32725
Brede Sandkjernan   33   2   32600
Daniel Steine   34   1   32550
Daniel Rudd   22   8   32550
Therse Andersen   37   4   32200
Marius Grotan   26   1   32075
Eirik Svanes   23   7   31675
Pål Knudsen   34   7   31075
Andre Hansen   34   3   30150
Paul Gourlay   33   8   30050
Peter Lars Micael Lindstrom   36   6   28250
Acid Nilsen   37   2   28000
David Smith   32   3   27925
Yngvi Bjarnason   24   5   27450
Kenneth Strandli   33   7   27400
John Stanley   25   1   26875
Daniel Gulaker   37   9   25900
Frode Hoel   35   9   25750
James Keys   32   2   25700
Paul Valle   36   2   25525
Jarle Utne   26   7   25325
Richard Larsen   33   9   25200
Mads Aamot   37   3   25000
Christian Berland   21   2   24925
Erik Kindlien   26   6   24550
Bjorn August Lindback   21   7   24500
Glenn Anders Karlsen   33   5   23600
Lars Heldal Bakkevig   34   9   22325
Ken-vidar Sara   35   3   22000
Kristian Heimstad   34   6   21950
Carsten Syvertsen   33   3   20950
Paul Newman   25   7   19800
Jon Somby   37   6   19600
Lars Gaustad   23   6   18775
Martin Rasch   22   4   18725
Kai Danilo Paulsen   26   3   18525
Alf- Eirik Klinge   22   1   18525
Jørund Berstad   37   5   18400
Daniel Molund   25   9   18250
Tage Skare   35   1   17650
Mazhar Latif   34   2   16950
Peter Conduit   32   9   16800
Lars Sverre Wik   25   8   16600
Chriss Jonassen   24   6   15600
Ivar Kleive Voll   33   6   14775
Andreas Forshaug   33   1   14150
William Bugodt   21   1   14075
Borge Sandsgaard   36   1   14050
Kjetil Skau   33   4   13800
Asbjørn Lunde   22   5   13650
Sven Hugo Vian   24   2   12725
Gary Christopher   35   8   12550
Lars Farstad   25   5   12175
Håvard Holder   24   7   12100
Stian Bruheim   34   5   12100
Bjørnar Thomassen   37   1   11850
Magnus Skumsnes   32   4   10800
Jarle Haug   32   6   10750
Anders Brenden   36   7   10600
Alan Stearn   32   7   9700
Geir Ståle Plassen   25   4   9650
Karl Inge Skogholt   23   2   9600
Ole Morten Melby   35   4   9350
Andre Alvarez Brobakken   21   8   9275
Trond-arild Elvan   32   5   8925
Fredrik Alexander Skalmeraas   21   3   8750
Germund Volden   25   3   8650
Frank Porturas   22   2   8150
Stephen Best   37   7   7575
Pal Kristiansen   24   8   7250
Per Erik Løff   21   5   7225
Erling Voje   24   3   7100
Age Spets   32   1   6200
Billy Ngo   36   4   6125
Kai N. Andersen   35   2   6075
Linda Kristin Suhr   36   3   5650
Arild Blålid   25   2   5450
Neil Henshaw   24   4   5325
Efraimsen Oyvind   21   4   5100
Andreas Hagen   34   4   4425
Jørn Eriksrud Bye   36   9   3350

here is an object lesson on the importance of using flash at the tables...

As Andreas the Hedgehog was making his important decision with a pair and flush draw, he moved his head rapidly, fidgeting about as he picked his cards and stack up repeatedly and weighed up the pros and cons of calling.

Whilst I wanted to capture his discomforture, I was keen not to distract him at this critical juncture, so turned off the flash and snapped him. His relentless movement however rendered taking a clean picture of his tortured visage to be an impossible goal and instead I was left with a photo of something resembling a reject from jacob's ladder. The effect is so marked that it looks as though he has actually become transparent! Wierd...


(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16665&g2_serialNumber=1)

LEADERWATCH

I think it's probably time to introduce some Norwegians to you whose chipstacks mean that they will quite probably be returning for Day Two and beyond... (notice how I hedge as to whether or not they will actually do so ;)    )

Bjørnar Koss

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16675&g2_serialNumber=1)

Lasse Lien

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16677&g2_serialNumber=1)

Joachim Lundgård Thorkildsen (cl)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16681&g2_serialNumber=1)

Eirik Svanes and Barlien Sondre

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16679&g2_serialNumber=1)

And, yes, Julian Thew.  Even he looks a little sheepish to be up there at the leaderish heights once again.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16683&g2_serialNumber=1)

As the day is gently approaching its conclusion, here are the provisional final tbale payout spots for those who can survive today, Day 2 ( on saturday), Day 3 and reach Day 4 without going busto.

1 £80,925
2) £45,816
3) £28,635
4) £19,920
5) £16,185
6) £11,205
7) £8,715
8) £6,225
9) £4,980

As you can see the prize money is approaching that of a GUKPT which has double the buy-in. This is a testament to the enthusiasm of so many Norwegians in travelling to another country to play their national championships.

I have to say that thusfar the Norwegians have made a great impression on myself and everyone I've spoken to.

"We're just here to have fun" has been the oft repeated catch phrase of many of the participants and they have been true to their word, a genuine pleasure to watch play and update on, even if we don't have a clue who most of them are!

Chip leader Joachim Lundgård Thorkildsen doesn't seem to have taken a knock at all during the latter part of the day.  Maybe I just think that because he stacks in those impressive one row deep tall towers like a kind of fortress wall in front of him and I can't accurately gauge his chip count.  But Here's One He Won Earlier:

Bear in mind that this was during the last level...and a 3,650 preflop raise wasn't peanuts... but somehow a fourway flop was seen and a big pot potentially heading towards getting bigger:  4d 3d 8s.  Without missing a beat, or even blinking, or breathing for all I know, Thorkildsen promptly bet 13k.  Each player in turn frowned a bit, thought about it (one even counted out what looked like it could be about to become a raise) and then passed.  He showed the Qd 8d and calmly built his gravity-defying towers a little higher.

The action has become a little quiet recently. The generous structure afforded to the players means they can happily retreat for periods before getting involved if they so wish and with 20 minutes remaining in the day, it seems quite a few of them have decided to take this option and ensure their survival through to Day 2...

Nonetheless the attrition rate given the generous structure has been relatively high. We expected aggressive poker and on the whole we haven't been disappointed. As it stands 71 players of the original 249 are currently remaining with 8 minutes play left.

With an excellent structure and plenty of days to use it to its fullest, the Norwegian Championships must be setting a new standard in field shrinkage.  It looks like the number of runners making it through from Day 1A is going to number in the high 60s - pretty good going considering there were 249 starters.  And it's not slowing down in the closing minutes either - this white hoodied Matey (next to Dublin finalist Kai Paulsen) just busted another one with AA vs KK, spiking an Ace for good measure.  You'd think that this particular instance of hand vs. hand would have occurred a phenomenal amount here in DTD, but it hasn't.  The word used most often by the staff (who have been entirely helpful and accommodating, spoiling blonde rotten for pretty much every other event, tbh) is "Bonkers."

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16689&g2_serialNumber=1)

And that folks is it!

70 players remain from the initial 249.

We will return tomorrow as a new slew of players arrive to cross swords but for now, we're pretty much wrapping things up as we retire back to out hotel for a good night's sleep.

Thanks for following, we'll see you all tomorrow for the 3pm start but for now...

 ;stickaforkinme;

BYEEE!!!!

No sooner do i fork the update than I am forced to withdraw the fork as Julian arrived with some interesting information...

He has finished the day on 120k!!!! - an amazing achievement given his poor start and a stack which will put him well up with chip leaders, if not top of the tree.

"I put a bit of a sick beat on someone in the last hand...he had re-raised me a while ago and once again after I raised with eights he re-raised me. 'Will you show if I fold' I asked him and when he said no, I thought 'right' and set him all in. He called with Queens but then I flopped an eight!" [at this point Julian pulled that classic face that seems almost unique to poker players where they are describing a hand where they sucked out on somone - you know the one i mean, corners of the mouth pulled back, eyes looking upwards]

Julian looked understandably happy with his day's work, wished us the best for tomorrow and departed ready to return on the Saturday...

As soon as we have a final account of the remaining players and their chip counts we'll post them up, but for now, and THIS time, let me do the honours and re-insert the three pronged item of cutlery into myself.

 ;stickaforkinme;

Just to bring the day up to speed, here were the final chip counts at the end of the day.  Amongst the slew of Norwegians remaining, a familiar face is at the top of the tree. You might think I'm lying, but no it's Thew!!!!

Julian Thew   23   5   120500
Kim Rud Pedersen   33   1   100600
Barlien Sondre   23   8   97600
Erik Borkvik   36   8   94100
Edvard Hatle   25   6   82600
Geir Lian   22   9   81700
Mazhar Latif   34   2   63100
Arne Kristian Falkenhaug   22   7   62800
Martin Gudvangen   25   8   62600
Joachim Lundgård Thorkildsen   22   6   61600
Waheed Ashraf   23   9   59900
Tage Skare   36   2   52900
Paul Gourlay   33   8   52700
Bjørn Andre Kildalen   32   8   50900
Michael Mccool   26   2   49800
Marius Grotan   26   1   45800
Peter Conduit   32   9   44300
Frank Porturas   22   2   41800
Bjørnar Koss   34   8   41700
Pål Knudsen   34   7   41400
Erik Kindlien   26   6   40400
Platten Daniel   23   3   38700
Martin Rasch   22   4   37700
Jon Somby   33   9   37300
Billy Ngo   36   4   35900
Håvard Holder   23   1   34900
Daniel Rudd   22   8   34700
David Smith   32   3   34700
Frode Hoel   23   6   34100
Paul Newman   25   7   33900
Kim-ove Hagerup   25   5   32800
Kai Danilo Paulsen   26   3   32700
Peter Lars Micael Lindstrom   36   6   32200
Jan Roger Larsen   36   7   31800
Mads Aamot   26   4   31500
Therse Andersen   25   3   30300
Magnus Skumsnes   32   4   30000
Kristoffer Ustad   36   5   29900
Glenn Anders Karlsen   33   5   28600
Neil Henshaw   26   8   28400
Andre Hansen   34   3   27300
Daniel Steine   34   1   27200
Ken-vidar Sara   32   5   26500
Bjørn Andre Hovden   36   1   25200
Brede Sandkjernan   33   2   24300
Stian Bruheim   34   5   23500
Pal Kristiansen   32   1   21800
Lars Heldal Bakkevig   34   9   21700
Gary Christopher   22   3   20200
Kjetil Skau   33   4   20000
Alan Stearn   32   7   19900
Bjorn August Lindback   25   4   19900
Alf- Eirik Klinge   22   1   18600
Stephen Best   36   9   18200
Jarle Utne   26   7   18100
James Keys   32   2   17500
Efraimsen Oyvind   25   9   17400
Ole Morten Melby   34   4   17300
Carsten Syvertsen   33   3   16700
Michael Greco   26   5   16100
Kristian Heimstad   34   6   15900
Sven Hugo Vian   22   5   14100
Karl Inge Skogholt   23   2   13900
Bjørnar Thomassen   25   1   11600
Ivar Kleive Voll   33   6   10000
Linda Kristin Suhr   36   3   9200
Andreas Berge   32   6   6000
Erling Voje   25   2   5200