blonde poker forum

Welcome to Plymouth y'all. In a casino very reminiscent of the Brighton Grosvenor, we are here for the very latest Blue Square/Grosvenor event. Despite being tucked away in the corner of the UK, a fair number of top players have made it here. Oh and Flushy is here too.

Play starts at 4pm.

Hi all

I've been invited back to report on behalf of blonde and I'm very glad to be here. The journey to plymouth is long( 8.5 hrs door to door) but will be worth it for the fine display of poker we are about to see I imagine.

The press room is ever so slightly cramped today, although the fridgeful of butter that is taking up half the space means we are very unlikely to be short of supplies of toast and butter should we get hungry. Except for the toast.

We're 40 mins away from kick off, so i'm off to the fridgeful of butter to filll my boots (they are chafing slightly)....

Chips are clicking, cards are being dealt, all the anticipation is over and we are underway!

Still surveying the lay of the land, but I can tell you that John Hewston, James Dempsey and Barry Neville are occupying the same felt. There's likely to be a bit of chip movement, not to mention banter, on that table I imagine...

Jon Raab suggested there were 90 or so runners today, which is likely to be whittled down to 30 by the end of the day. It's hard to say whether this will be a quick or slow process. I would say on the surface of things this looks like a slightly weaker field than in Luton so the cat's forecast for early casualties is "Medium to heavy."

Noflops is out prowling like an animal, looking for a prime vantage point to snap some vintage shots for you so I'll join him and see if we can find ourselves some action....

With the change in gaming laws, players now don't have to be in their seat for the first hand, and alternates can join up to the end of the second level. So with that, you can now tell who were the kids who were always late for class in school, examples 1 and 2 being Praz and Karl, swanning in late...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=858&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=861&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes, the back window glare is annoying, hopefully they'll shut that soon.

Not masses to report on so far, only 45 minutes in i guess!

Paul Parker is sharing the felt with Praz, and not suprisingly was found to be happy, smiling and chatty when I arrived, well I never!

Praz seems relaxed and prepared for the long haul, still with his starting stack as yet unaltered....

Des Jonas, whose arms are only slightly smaller than Flushy's mouth, was reportedly unhappy early on when he bet and an opponent threw in a 1k chip announcing call. Des apparently didn't hear the call and assumed it was a raise. It got a bit hairy for a few moments with Des "nearly swinging for the guy" apparently.

Click on the link through to some pictures of him from blondepedia and you'll see why this COULD have been a slight problem for his opponent! Luckily the language of diplomacy held sway, although there could be fireworks on this table later.....

I disagree.

On a completely unrelated matter, here are Karl Mahrenholz's and Iwan Jones' tables.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=863&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=865&g2_serialNumber=1)

Over on table 3, Rod Langton limps under the gun, Andreas Kallis min-raises, five people, including Langton call.

The flop comes Qd Jc Tc. Check to Kallis who bets er...50. Ben Vinson makes it 250, Langton calls, Kallis and everyone else fold. Both players check the 9s turn before Vinson takes it down with a 750 bet on the river.

Don't ask me what Kallis was doing, I just work here.

Simon Leseelleur (more E's than at a rave) raises the button, Iwan Jones calls in the big blind for 100 more.

The board comes Kc Jc Qh 9d 7d and is checked down til a 300 bet from Iwan takes it on the river.

Here's the player list with layout. There may be a name or two missing, but I'll update as soon as I can...

Ok, should be ok, but you do need excel i think to run it, so I'll post up a jpeg of the image for those who haven't invested in the full microsoft office suite - shame on you!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=870&g2_serialNumber=1)

5s 9h 4d Jc board

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=875&g2_serialNumber=1)

Douglas Champie, checks, Barry Neville bets 3.3k, Champie moves all-in for around 3k more. Neville calls.

Champie:

5h 5c

Neville:

8c 8d

And here's a picture of their chip stacks, (along with Martyn Cavanagh) after the river came

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=877&g2_serialNumber=1)

As Rolf Harris use to say, "Can you guess what it is yet?"

Meanwhile tucked away in the corner, is the other table which couldn't fit in the cardroom. Jeff Kimber and Peter Evans are on here.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=873&g2_serialNumber=1)

2h Js 7c Kc Qc

Ben Vinson bets 1,725, Andreas Kallis calls after a long dwell, longer than you'd think considering he had Qd Qh, which easily won when Ben mucked.

Jules Adamson is down to around 3k after, in his own words, he played a hand "f**king terribly."

He'd gone for a ciggy after winning the pot. His big stack and the lack of stack of his opponent (and his opponent not being there at all) was the evidence.

Neil Channing is OUT, lost half his stack then tried to squeeze out a Paul Jackson raise with Threes, Actionjack had the boots though, and said he, "Somehow found the call."

Jules Adamson has doubled back up to 6k, not looking so grumpy now.

Flushy's stack has taken a dent and he is down to about 8k.

"I knew he had Jacks, so I fired the KQ flop, and fired the turn but checked the river and sure enough he called me down with Jacks."

Flushy obviously left his third bullet at home....

Only slightly upset, Flushy offers some advice to Paul Parker, whose stack is also under 8k.  "Get in a pot with Praz, and call him on every street. You'll be alright..."

"Behave Flushy, I've hardly played a hand", says Praz, whose stack appears to have grown suspiciously, despite not having played a hand. Hmmmmm.....

Yotesh Shah is OUT,

He got his stack in with Ad 2h on an Ac 4d Kc board against Darren Blackaby's Aspades 4c

Turn:

2s

River:

Qs

Shah stood there thinking his two pair had won until it was pointed out that Blackaby already had the higher two pair.

I'm going to have to use my "Don't ask me, I just work here" line again.

Courtesy of those illustrious folk at blue square, here are the end of level 2 chip counts.....

Neville, Barry   32425
Paez, Raul   28275
Sarmias, Minos   23400
Hunter, Jim   21300
Langton, Rod   20900
Goodman, Gary   18525
Bansi, Praz   17800
Baker, Scott   17225
Fullarton, Paul   16075
Wilkinson, Adam   15950
Dborin, Danny   15875
O'Reilly, Scott   15825
Dao, Mike   15500
Rowne, Matthew   15150
Hewston, Jonny   14925
White, Carl   14750
Bathe, Michelle   14250
Wilson, Des   14250
Evan, Peter   14050
Kallis, Andreas   13975
Jackson, Paul   13225
Marenholz, Karl   12975
Jonas, Des   12800
Jones, Iwan   12775
Spyrou, Andros   12725
Penly, Dave   11675
Leseelleur, Simon   11500
Moore, Chris   11375
Merry, Damion   11225
McBeath, Martin   11175
Peascoe, Joe   11000
Fuller, Darren   10975
Tabatabai, John   10850
Davies, Alan   10700
Moore, William   10650
Morris, Keith   10625
Sambrook, Tom   10500
Wyre, Ray   10200
Liffey, Rory   10025
Whyman, Piers   10025
Bathe, Stacey   9775
Palanca, Manuel   9575
Macnamara, Paul   9000
Szeremeta, Nic   8975
Wycherley, Mark   8850
Cohen, P   8750
Blackaby, Darren   8575
Mayall, Dave   8350
Chattha, Sunny   8300
Code, Daniel   8300
Cambianica, C   8250
Jones, F   8250
Stoneham, Adam   8225
Dempsey, James   8075
Traynor, Paul   8000
Singleton, Peter   7900
Sellitto, L   7875
Parker, Paul   7850
Vinnicombe, Alan   7500
Knox, Kevin   7275
Chapman, Tony   7175
Vinson, Ben   7150
Holden, Steve   6600
Grech, Joseph   6575
Parsonage, Daniel   6575
Patten, Luke   6500
Xanthos, Bambos   6275
Priestley, Gavin   6000
Patel, Arif   5675
Macnamara, Jane   5300
Dawson, Carl   5025
Bolt, Jody   4400
Cavanagh, Martyn   4225
Mitchell, Will   3925
Dunwoodie, Thomas   3900
Tomblin, Mark   3575
Hall, Craig   3000
Kimber, Jeff   1550

Here's how Adam Stoneham likes his chips

(http://bccb.lis.uiuc.edu/gb2/gift.gif)

5s 6s Js board.

Adam gets it all-in with Aspades 2s against the Ks Jc of Darren Blackaby which holds for a 16k pot for the Stars Million Chopper.

Praz Bansi takes one down with a 1.5k bet on a 3c 4d Kc Th 4c board.

Paul Fullarton bets 600 on a 7d 6h 2c board, Arif Patel calls. Shaun Ward c/raises to 3k and both players pass with sighs and frowns.

71 players remaining from the original 85.

Jules Adamson just grabbed my pad, wrote down an imaginary Flushy exit involving him raising with 42o betting a J-T-9 with two hearts, and then min-check/raising all-in on the Queen turn. He wanted to see if anyone wouldn't actually believe that could happen.

Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=897) Vinnicombe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=897) limps for 150, Praz makes it 550, both check down the 6d 9s 7s 6h 2d board where Alan's 3c 3s is good versus Praz's Ad Kd, the latter obviously hating the texture of the flop.

Johnny Hewston has just been blessed, when a player with the nut flush bet around 3k into a 600 pot, a third player passed and then the nut-flusher threw his cards into the middle not having seen Hewston still had cards, which gave the latter the pot.

Paul Parker is seen looking somewhat bored, but holding a stack that seems somewhat bigger than he had not so long ago...

As they announce an omaha cash game opening up, James Dempsey's head snaps round as if magnetically attracted to the valoooo. His interest in the cash game is obviously closely correlated to the diminishing size of his stack...

On his table, Barry's raise is reraised by Paul Mcnamara on the button.

"'Ow mooch yoo got left" Barry asks before getting a swift reply and passing...

Meanwhile whilst Paul had been sitting quietly, I turn round to find him involved in a raised pot. With 1600 or so in there, the flop of Jc 8d 6h iis checked by himself and Thomas Dunwoodie.

On the turn of Jh, Paul bets 900, which gets called.

The river comes the 9s, at which point Paul ponders, before betting just under his remaining stack, 7 or 8k ....

...after a long pause, he receives a pass, before showing the Ah....

"I thought Paul never bluffs!" observes Praz.

Blinds now up to 100 200. 70 combatants remain.

An argument develops on Barry Neville's table. Flushy raises preflop which is called in two spots before Luke Patten moves  in for 4400.

"Let's race" he announces.

Flushy sits there acting up and squirming. "You've got a small pocket pair haven't you"

Luke "Yep I've got a small pocket pair"

Bambos, one of the callers, is not happy about this. "You can't declare your hand. It's against the rules!"

Luke is equally upset though and argues his corner before a ruling is sought. The ruling being, "As long as he doesn't say his exact hand, it's fine"

Bambos "In vegas your hand would be dead"

Luke "Well we're not in **** vegas are we!"

Can't argue with that.

Meanwhile, on the same table, Barry Neville's stack has taken a big hit. Holding 55 on a 5 7 Q board, Barry was destined to lose a fair amount of chips to Mike Dao's QQ as the money flew in on the flop. Roughly 10k or so of Barry's chips have been rehoused in Mike's stack...

Flushy is down to the felt after running K-Q into Luke Patten's A-Q.

Two people limp, Praz raises to 1,100. Gary Goodman makes it 2,200 from the big blind. Praz calls, the rest fold.

Flop:

2h 4d 3d.

Gary bets 4,500 with about 5,200 behind. Praz eventually passes what he says are Tens. With the way the preflop action was, I was a little surprised how long he thought. Gary showed Queens incidentally.

Rod Langton scoops a big pot when his Kc Kd holds against the 9s 6s of Darren Blackaby on a 5-7-4-9-2 board.

Sunny Chattha just knocked out Nic Szeremeta with Kd 7d against Tc 8c on a Ks Jh 9c 8h 6c board, all the money on the flop.

Flushy is OUT.

He shoves his dust like stack into the middle and is auto called by the big blind. Suprisingly Flushy has a hand but his 99 is not match for J8 when a J hits the flop.

I'm sure this event was completely unrelated to all the omaha cash game players simultaneously rubbing their hands together and topping up their stacks....
 

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

Adam (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=10) Stoneham (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=10) was just involved in a big pot on table 5. I joined on the river as the board read   7d 4d Ahrt Qs 5c

With one player already allin, Adam moved his 6.6k stack over the line on the river. The other active player, who I sincerely hope is Mark Tomblin, ummed and ahhed a while, as is standard, before finally passing. Adam showed a rather juicy QQ for 2nd set and eliminated the allin player, whose A6 was NO GOOD. Double up for Adam (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=10) Stoneham (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=10).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=889&g2_serialNumber=1)

Praz was seen betting 600 into a 900 pot on a T 8 x K 9 river and picking up the pot as the limper and sb both folded.

Bambos is OUT. He called a Barry Neville raise of 1,100 (blinds are 150/300) with Ac 3c in the big blind. He then check-called the Kd 6c 3h flop before check-calling all-in on the 9c turn. Bazza held Kc Qd which stayed good on the 5d river.

Questionable play from Bambos imo.

Adam Stoneham loses a chunk when his 1,500 on the river of a 9h Qh Ts 5h 4s is raised to 4,000 by Mark Tomblin who shows Kh 4h when Adam calls.

Incidentally, look at how much room the stacks of seats 1, 2, 9 and 10 get compared to the middle seats.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=881&g2_serialNumber=1)

Bizzare, huh?

Top new reporter Praz Bansi grabs my attention to point out Thomas Dunwoodie moving all-in against Matthew Rowne's bet on Ks Qs 9c, Rowne passes, Dunwoodie shows them bullets. Ad Ahrt.

I suppose if Praz fails in his choice of career, he might make it as a reporter, depends if he grafts enough, I think.

Chip Countage thanks to those evil geniuses at Blue Square:

Langton, Rod 49300
Paez, Raul 40825
Dao, Mike 30225
Sarmias, Minos 28125
Neville, Barry 26600
Bathe, Michael 23975
Baker, Scott 22300
Bathe, Stacey 19850
Whyman, Piers 18725
Liffey, Rory 18700
Morris, Keith 18075
Hewston, Jonny 17975
Tomblin, Mark 17150
McBeath, Martin 17050
Chattha, Sunny 16000
Goodman, Gary 15900
Parsonage, Daniel 15200
Stoneham, Adam 15075
Wycherley, Mark 14925
Hall, Craig 14325
Vinnicombe, Alan 14300
Fuller, Darren 13950
Wilkinson, Adam 13725
Wyre, Ray 13200
Jackson, Paul 13150
Leseelleur, Simon 13000
Merry, Damion 12850
Rowne, Matthew 12850
Jones, Iwan 12150
Peascoe, Joe 11600
Bansi, Praz 11350
Moore, William 11100
Davies, Alan 11050
Cohen, P 11025
Penly, Dave 10800
Marenholz, Karl 9975
Parker, Paul 9875
Kallis, Andreas 9400
Mitchell, Will 9375
Knox, Kevin 9125
Wilson, Des 9100
Dawson, Carl 8650
Jonas, Des 8500
Moore, Chris 8475
White, Carl 8250
Bolt, Jody 8150
Code, Daniel 8100
Singleton, Peter 8050
Patel, Arif 7850
O’Reilly, Scott 7675
Macnamara, Paul 7650
Vinson, Ben 7600
Patten, Luke 7200
Chapman, Tony 7200
Sellitto, L 7100
Priestley, Gavin 6875
Jones, F 6775
Palanca, Manuel 6525
Mayall, Dave 6125
Macnamara, Jane 6100
Traynor, Paul 5850
Sarmias, Minos 5600
Sambrook, Tom 4775
Cavanagh, Martyn 3950
Grech, Joseph 3800
Xanthos, Bambos OUT
Dunwoodie, Thomas 3350

Errrr, the good news is I got a picture of Martin Mcbeath.

The bad news is as I took the photos he busted out in two hands.

First he had Ks Kh on a Ts 8d 6s against Luke Patten's 6h 6d just as Barry Neville says, "Ere, I had nine seven this 'and, was gonna play it 'n' all, there's five grand int' pot already."

Turn:

8s

River:

4d

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=885&g2_serialNumber=1)

Very next hand he pushes Ad 7d on the button, Barry Neville calls. With 6c 6h of course.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=887&g2_serialNumber=1)

Board:

6d (!) 3d Qd (!) Th 6s (!!!)

And he's gone, I'm sorry. I guess King Bokker has returned.

With that, blinds are now 150/300 with a 25 ante. The running antes are kicking in. Bonus prize to anyone who can find a better picture of running aunties kicking something!

Raul Paez looks to be close to chip leader with around 50k.

Minos Sarmias just had the clocked called on after Barry Neville bet 2,300 on the turn of the 8h Aspades Jd Tc board and then 5,200 on the Ac river. Sarmias didn't ever look like calling to be frank, but it took til the end of the clock for him to be forced to fold.

Luke Patten who incidentally was the one to call the clock, was knocked out by Sarmias the very next hand when the latter flopped a set of Eights to take him out.

Pete Evans is also OUT.

Scott O'Reilly takes out Ray Wyre with Tens versus Sevens.

Barry Neville bets just over the pot, (or just t'over pot in Barry-speak) on the river of a 4s Qh Ac 3s Th board, L Sellito declines the call.

On the river of a Ts Qh 6s 3h Ad board. Rod Lang ton bets 5,000. Praz dwells and makes the call with Jh Th. It's good as Langton is forced to show Kd 7c.

Karl Mahrenholz is out, crippled with Nines against Ace Queen, he then lost with Jacks vs A-T and K-T.

Ok, here's a hand for you.

8c 5d Kd 7d 6s board.

Damion Merry checks. L Sellito bets 4k into the 3,075 pot.

Merry dwells and eventually passes Td 9c. Sellito doesn't show but says he had the flush.

Rest of the table can't believe the pass.

Which is worse though, the bet (if he had the flush) or the pass?

Praz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=353) Bansi (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=353) -- 38k

Quite a sick hand just occurred on table 6.

Alan Viiddicombe pushed for 12k, he was then called by Gavin Priestley for his last 3k and Gary Goodman called Alan's push leaving himself 4k back.

The hands? Have a guess....

Alan Viddicombe AA
Gavin Priestly      AQ
Gary Goodman    KK.

Gavin Priestley had booked his ticket to a world of hurt but was rescued from oblivion by a Q 8 9 7 Q (!) flop.

Alan Viddicombe's dismay at losing the 9K main pot was no doubt softened slightly by picking up the more crucial 18k side pot, giving him some chirping chips and leaving Gary Goodman crippled on 4k life support.

What's this.....?

(http://www.cottagecurtainsandblinds.co.uk/library/022.JPG)

BLINDS UP

200 400 now with a 50 ante...

Sunny Chattha was briefly telling me about his midbreak exploits, he lost a 45k pot with Aces to Jacks all-in preflop. Was down to 5k, but now back up to 15k.

And then I go back out to see how he's doing after the break, he calls Pete Singleton's all-in with Ac 9c against Td 7d only for Pete to hit a Ten on the turn.

Sunny "Yo-yo" Chattha will have to be his new name.

Gary Goodman doubles up his meagre stack with Kh Td against William Moore's Ad Qd.

Board:

Jh Jd 9h Qh 7d

Chip Counts at the start of this level thanks to krazy katz at Blue Square:

Paez, Raul 58525
Neville, Barry 49700
Langton, Rod 46025
Bansi, Praz 40075
Sarmias, Minos 34575
Davies, Alan 34075
Kallis, Andreas 33800
Wycherley, Mark 28425
Dawson, Carl 27800
Bathe, Michael 27700
Baker, Scott 24500
Hewston, Jonny 24100
Jackson, Paul 24075
Chapman, Tony 21600
Morris, Keith 20625
Dao, Mike 19650
Dao, Mike 19650
Mitchell, Will 19325
Vinnicombe, Alan 17675
Wilkinson, Adam 17525
O’Reilly, Scott 16600
Bathe, Stacey 16225
Macnamara, Paul 15474
Fuller, Darren 15225
Sellitto, L 14700
Whyman, Piers 12900
Leseelleur, Simon 12525
Moore, William 11450
Priestley, Gavin 11125
Wilson, Des 11025
Peascoe, Joe 10650
Sambrook, Tom 10475
Parsonage, Daniel 10225
Chattha, Sunny 10125
Bolt, Jody 10025
White, Carl 9200
Parker, Paul 9150
Stoneham, Adam 8825
Palanca, Manuel 8325
Moore, Chris 8200
Jones, F 8100
Merry, Damion 7850
Jonas, Des 7775
Knox, Kevin 6150
Jones, Iwan 5900
Macnamara, Jane 5325
Rowne, Matthew 4975
Singleton, Peter 4000
Dunwoodie, Thomas 3450
Goodman, Gary 1575

Johnny Hewston looks like he has a decent stack of 25k or so at this point. This is the man behind the myth....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=893&g2_serialNumber=2)

As I pulled away, Barry insisted I take a picture of his stack.

 He's second in chips and flying high at the moment, despite the earlier set vs set hand that cost him almost 20k in chips....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=896&g2_serialNumber=2)

Apologies for the lack of quality of this picture. I was being buffeted on all sides by an assortment of departing players, well proportioned masseurs and waitresses carrying trays of hot drinks.

Adam Stoneham is OUT, losing his chips with KJ on a J 8 3 flop, in a preflop reraised pot. His opponent, Simon Lesseleur having hit a set with his 33 sends Adam bar-ward in need of a stiff drink...

Des (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=129) Jonas (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=129) gets all-in with Ks Qd against Bazza's Kc Aspades.

"Nice hand Barry," he offers and gets out his chair ready to go, so that the Queen will hit.

Board:

6h 3c Qh 2s 8h


Meanwhile every time Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=897) Vinnicombe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=897) limps, Praz raises behind him, forcing him out of the pot most of the time. Just now he got his fingers caught as Gary Goodman pushed behind him with Ac Jc, way ahead of Praz's Aspades 5h, and it stayed that way on a fairly dull board.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=897&g2_serialNumber=1)

A quick chat with Barry Neville as he nipped out for a cigarette was typically illuminating.

"I cahn't get past bloody 50k" says Barry, somewhat unreasonably apparently looking for sympathy.

"You'll be alright Barry" is the maximum amount of reassurance I can muster...

"That Italian lad's winding me right oop too. Four times ina  row e's rehsed me big blind in position. I told him, I told him, I'll stick it oop yer in a minute. I'll drop yer pants and stick it riight bloody up ya"

I can only hope the man in question, L Sellito's english skills aren't too developed, otherwise he may be having some rather unfortunate nightmares later....

Carl White limps UTG for 400, Actionjack raises to 1,225 in 3rd position. Manuel Palanca re-raises to 4,000 on the button. White and Actionjack call. Curiouser and curiouser.

Flop:

Aspades 5d 3h

White and Actionjack check. Palanca moves all-in. White folds, Actionjack flashes Queens and folds. Palanca shows Ts Td. White says he passes Kings. :o


A bizarre hand from start to finish.

Thoughts? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Blinds have just risen to 300 600. Casualties will no doubt start to rise now as the blind pressure and pressure to accumulate a worthy stack to return with force an increase in aggression levels.

Expect nothing less than carnage....

Two biggies are caught going at it, Barry Neville and Des Jonas. Only Barry has a big stack though...

I arrived after the conclusion of this hand, which was currently being "discussed"

Apparently Des had raised Barry's big blind with K3d and Barry had called with J7d. When the flop brought two diamonds, the two got their chips in, and somehow both players ended up splitting the pot presumably after some sort of straight/ full house appeared on the board by the river.

"'Ow could ya call!"cries Barry.

"I didn't call, I pushed in!" Des defends himself.

"Aye, well it's the sem thing" counters Barry slightly weakly.

"How did you get outta that one anyway" says Des, sensing weakness and moving onto the offensive.

"I 'ad a floosh draw!"

"Yeah, a jack high flush draw, mine was King high!"

"Aye, boot 'ow was I supposed to knoo that"

Meanwhile, Mike Dao limps from the small blind but folds as his shorter stacked opponent shoves from the big...

I check on John Hewston who has a massed wall of chips. He kindly does a quick chip count and is looking happy with his current stack of roughly 29k...

Strike that, the tournament clock has been changed to 41 remaining. Hewston just picked up about 6k with a button 3-bet, raising, being re-raised by the big blind and moving in. He showed the 8s. He's closer to 35k/40k now.

Paul McNamara doubles through Daniel Parsons, crippling him in the progress when his Tens hold against Ace King.

Poor old Sunny Chattha, he just can't get a break. He gets L Sellito all-in with Ac 9c against the Spaniard's Ad 8d.

Board.

Diamond, Club, Diamond, Club, Diamond.

Iwan Jones doubles up a short stack with K-Q against A-Q. A couple of hands later, Johnny Hewston raises to 4k (blinds 300/600/75) Iwan Jones pushes for around 8k more. Hewston calls with A-Q, Iwan has A-K. Queen first card out.

A-A vs A-K in Luton and now A-K vs A-Q, it appears the Welshman just can't get a break...

30 or so looks to be best guesstimate....

Edit :Ignore me reporting hands floppy has already reported more accurately earlier...

Raul Parez, the chip leader. We think we will dub him 'The Spanish Trawler' as he seems to like fishing in British waters. ::)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=899&g2_serialNumber=1)

Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=326) Jackson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=326), err...looking at the size of his opponent's stack I guess...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=901&g2_serialNumber=1)

Short break now before the last level.

Actionjack on Raul, "The deck has hit him in the face a couple of times but he's not making any mistakes."

F Jones just moved in against him holding the nut-flush, shame Raul already had Quads.

Alan Vinnicombe was eliminated just prior to the end of the last level. A-J vs 5-5 on a A-5-8-K-K board, all-in on the flop.

A short bio on our slightly unknown spanish chip leader....

"The Spanish Trawler", as he has been christened by Noflops, Raul Paez, is quite the seasoned professional with close to $750k's worth of cashes on his CV, his biggest being a 3rd place in the 2006 Gold Strike World Poker Open, Tunica for just shy of $300k.

Definitely a force to be reckoned with in this tournament as he sits on 108,000 with the next biggest stack on less than 50k.

The next level beckons, they'll be some crazy stuff going on next door, so hold on tight, it'll be a bumpy ride....

Loads of limpers on table Hewston/Actionjack.

Flop:

3d 3h Tc

Checked to Johnny, who bets 2k, Paul McNamara moves all-in for 12k total. Over to Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=326) Jackson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=326) in the small blind, who goes in the tank when...

"Paul! Paul!" shouts Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=334) Parker (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=334) from the next table.

"Hang on, he's actually in a hand this time," says Johnny Hewston.

"It's ok, I can multi-task," answers Actionjack.

"Oh, I was actually talking to another Paul on that table..." finishes Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=334) Parker (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=334) to much laughter.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=903&g2_serialNumber=1)

Actionjack passes. Hewston makes the call with Ahrt Td, far ahead of McNamara's Q-T and stays that way. The walls of Hewston are very tall now. Actionjack actually passed K-T.

Barry Neville is very short now.

After raising from the hijack to 3600, the button, Tom Sambrook, pushed for jsut over 10k. After a sigh and a short think, Barry, eventually called the extra 6500.

Barry showed Qs9s and Tom AhKd.

The Q 34 flop looked good, but the K on the turn and T on the river, left Tom doubled up and Barry on life support looking rather glum.

Another hand from this table, Minos Sarmias raises from the hijack to 2300. The big blind calls the extra 1500. The J98 flop is checked by both players but on the Q turn, the BB's check is followed up by a bet of 2500 by minos who takes down the 5k and change pot.

"Just like that," as Tommy Cooper said. Bazza doubles up with Fives against Ace Jack.

Chip counts from end of level 8:

Paez, Raul 108375
Hewston, Jonny 49575
Davies, Alan 42425
Sarmias, Minos 39950
Bansi, Praz 35575
Chattha, Sunny 34875
Langton, Rod 32725
Wilkinson, Adam 28650
Macnamara, Paul 27650
Moore, Chris 25900
Dao, Mike 25675
Jackson, Paul 25175
Chapman, Tony 23300
Merry, Damion 21350
Whyman, Piers 21150
Fuller, Darren 20975
Bathe, Michael 20005
Goodman, Gary 19825
White, Carl 19775
Baker, Scott 18650
Rowne, Matthew 18475
Jonas, Des 18050
Palanca, Manuel 17600
Wycherley, Mark 17125
Bathe, Stacey 16000
O’Reilly, Scott 15325
Kallis, Andreas 13950
Mitchell, Will 13625
Dawson, Carl 13500
Leseelleur, Simon 10550
Neville, Barry 9250
Sellitto, L 8900
Moore, William 8700
Parker, Paul 8600
Sambrook, Tom 6425
Macnamara, Jane 4875

Sonny Chattha raises to 2.2k UTG, Barry Neville calls. The flop comes Ts Js Kh and Sonny's 4.4k follow up bet is insta folded by Barry.

Tony Chapman moves in from the button for just short of 10k, Sonny passes his Big blind.

Next hand passed round to Tony Chapman and he pushes once again to no resistance, this time showing AQ....

Barry's turn to push from UTG "Time to mek a beeg bet" he says as he pushes his chips over the line.

All passed to Minos in the big blind who counts out his chips, seemingly contemplating his call while looking at Barry for a reaction.

"Well i can't do eny moer damage, I've shooved em allin" offers Barry sagely.

Minos eventually passes...

In other news, Darren Fuller has just been knocked out I've been informed. RIP.

Scott O'Reilly doubles up on the last hand of the night against Rod Langton with Kd Ks against Td Th.

We're all done for the night. Final chip counts to come later.

See you all tomorrow at 4pm.

 ;stickaforkinme;

Chip counts courtesy of those impish knaves at blue square

Paez, Raul    111525
Hewston, Jonny    70550
Bansi, Praz    61975
Davies, Alan    55325
Sarmias, Minos    42675
O’Reilly, Scott    41625
Wilkinson, Adam    41525
Chattha, Sunny    39550
Dawson, Carl    36875
Moore, William    26750
Chapman, Tony    26450
Goodman, Gary    23125
Kallis, Andreas    22800
Langton, Rod    21300
Jackson, Paul    21000
Sambrook, Tom    17975
Neville, Barry    17825
Bathe, Michael    17550
Moore, Chris    17250
Whyman, Piers    15500
Bathe, Stacey    14675
Jonas, Des    14400
White, Carl    13250
Wycherley, Mark    12275
Dao, Mike    10775
Sellitto, L    10625
Rowne, Matthew    8500
Macnamara, Jane    8075
Merry, Damion    7475
Baker, Scott    6300
Mitchell, Will    4650