blonde poker forum

Welcome to the coverage of the Bluesquare.com GUKPT London's final table...

The final Nine need to go through the lengthy process of pre-final interviewing and repeatedly walking on and taking their seats to rapturous applause, so we expect the action to commence somewhere between 2pm and 3pm.

Kam, Leo    1,085,500
Gibson, Nick    998,500
Buskirk, Carl    512,500
Cox, Ian    465,500
Kabbaj, John    296,500
Selin, Patrik    266,500
Boon, Robert    257,500
Gilbert, Brian    211,500
Bale, Michael    129,000

who many blondes on that final ?

i think its 2 but i could be wrong

i am going for

1st  ian cox
2nd nick gibson
3rd john kabbaj
4th patrik selin
5th carl buskirk
6th robert boon
7th leo kam
8th micheal bale
9th brian gilbert



anyone want to lay me a price above 10,000-1 for that before 13:55

This is going to be great!! Just read the updates form last night - is it me or did the play seem to get quicker and more eliminations once the rugby had started?

Good luck to Ian and Nick  ;popcorn;

I'm not gonna Jinx Gwibbo and Coxy by sending goodluck messages. Instead I'm choosing to abuse them to a 1st and 2nd. The useless fish B'stards. Tell em they can drink their sorrows away together before the football starts. Thats if they didn't drink like girls. Shandy supping wusses.

FISH!!!!!!!!!!

Well the 'shandy supping wusses' are about to maybe go towards the TV table along with the other finalists, in about 15-20 minutes' time.  Their seating order (gallery to follow):

Seat 1. Patric Selin
Seat 2. Michael Bale
Seat 3. Leo Kam
Seat 4. Robert Boon
Seat 5. John Kabbaj
Seat 6. Ian Cox
Seat 7. Brian Gilbert
Seat 8. Nick Gibson
Seat 9. Carl Buskirk

Seat 1. Patrik Selin -- 266,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2423&g2_serialNumber=1)

nobody willing to lay me odds on my prediction of finishing order

surely someone out there like a gamble

Seat 2. Michael Bale -- 129,000

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2425&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 3. Leo Kam -- 1,085,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2417&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 4. Robert Boon -- 257,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2427&g2_serialNumber=1)

Tactically what you reckon, hold out for AK and fear a caller with JJ?

Seat 5. John Kabbaj -- 296,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2407&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 6. Ian Cox -- 465,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2429&g2_serialNumber=1)

COME ON GWIBBO MY SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON, GL ALSO TO ME NEW ROOM MATE IAN COX

Seat 7. Brian Gilbert -- 211,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2433&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 8. Nick Gibson -- 998,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2213&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 9. Carl Buskirk -- 512,500

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2431&g2_serialNumber=1)

Today promises to be a great day of poker. The players have grafted away for 3 long grueling days of poker to reach this stage. Outrageous bluffs have been made, crucial coin flips been won and now the players are one little STT away from the cash, trophies, glory and all the other rewards that come with winning a prestigious GUKPT title.

There are some aggressive players with big stacks meeting up for the final and lots of questions will be answered...

Will Kam continue to go for the throat wth the menacing stacks of Nick Gibson and Carl Buskirk waiting to catch him out?

Can Ian continue his excellent form and turn his medium stack into a threat to the others? Can any of the smaller stacks come through to challenge for the title?

We'll find the answer to all these questions shortly.


Here is the payout structure for today's final.

1st: £119,590 + £10,000 added + fab watch + Grand Final seat
2nd: £64,950
3rd: £43,300
4th: £34,640
5th: £25,980
6th: £21,650
7th: £17,320
8th: £12,990
9th: £10,820

never heard of fab watches are they better than rollexs?

It's like a fob watch but bling.

A couple of chip counts, after the first major action of the tournament sees Bale double through off Leo Kam:

Michael Bale's A-J rivered Leo Kam's A-Q to bring him up into fifth place in the chip standings, while Kam is now on 846,000.

Some other counts:

Nick Gibson -- 995k
Robert Boon -- 571k
Ian Cox -- 446k
John Kabbaj -- 269k
Patrik Selin -- 223k
Brian Gilbert -- 208k

Blinds at the moment are 8k 16k with a 1k ante...

Nick Gibson raises in 1st position and everyone folds. He chews on his vics inhaler/ nicotine dispensing device and shows A-A.

John Kabbaj raises to 50k on Nick's blind and picks up the blinds for his troubles.

 ;tightend;

Leo Kam raises to 40k from Middle position and is reraised by Ian Cox to 120k, all pass to Leo who studies Ian carefully...

...and passes, earning Ian a pattering of applause.

Please wish Ian "Crapper" Cox good luck for me.

Ian Cox continues the aggression and raises to 45k, passed round to Michael Bale who quickly announces re-raise to 120k.

Ian looks pensively at Michael who is chewing gum ferociously...

"Got a big one there" says Ian without bursting into laughter and Michael confirms he "had a hand" but doesn't show his cards. This time it's Michael who gets the applause.

Very good luck to Nick and also Cabbage and crapper

looks like a cracking final!
gibson,
cox,
& cabbage,
perhaps even in that order!!

A flop of Ac 7c Js is seen by Michael Bale and Leo Kam.

Michael bets 16k and is called.

Turn: Ad.

Michael bets 22k, called by Kam.

River: 8h

Michael bets out 33k and is raised 100k on the river by Kam. He calls and shows trip aces, but Kam's rivered straight with 9T is good and he rakes in a large pot...

Ian Cox calls the 16k big blind... Button Bale raises and is called by Cox.

Flop:  7c 4h 3h  Ian checks, Michael bets 50k... and Cox comes back with a raise of 65k on top.  "Got a pair then?" asks Bale, before promptly passing.
_________________________________________

John takes a pot early with a 26k raise...and shows Ac Kc.

Folded round to Ian and Brian in the blinds, Ian quietly completes..

The flop comes.....

3d 5d Kd

Ian checks and Brian....ANNOUNCES ALLIN!

Ian shakes his head, checks his cards a few times and .....passes.

Good luck to Ian and thank you to everyone who wished me well this week.

'The time has come' Jungle Cat said,

To talk of many things

Of Ian Cox and Buskirk

Of cabbages and kings

(Apologies to Lewis Carol  ;marks;)

John Kabbaj raises to 50k from the cutoff.

Ian ribs John for stealing his button all the time but passes. Nick Gibson CALLS from the Big Blind.

5d 2c 9s

Nick studies the flop and bets 65k. John thinks about it...and RAISES ALLIN!

Nick quickly passes...and John wins the pot showing A-A!

"You waited 2 days to pick on me" says John with a laugh, gently mocking Nick's unlucky timing.

Limp for small blind Nick Gibson - and Carl Buskirk checks his option.
Flop: 4s 2s Kc  Nick checks, Carl bets 40k and Nick calls.
Turn:  8s  Nick checks again, Carl bets 100k and Nick calls (a little more slowly than on the flop).
River: 4h  Nick checks and gets a check behind immediately...

Nick shows Qs 7s vs. Carl Buskirk's two pair (Kd 8d) and takes the pot.

Ian Cox, Carl Buskirk and Patrick Selin see an unraised flop.

The flop comes.....7h 4h 3c....

Carl announces ALLIN and Ian gets a count.

It's 139k to Ian, he speculates as to what Carl might have before saying "Well I can't call it anyway, good bet" and passes.

****Break****

Just prior to this first break, Michael Bale passed while distracted by what looked like removing some chewing gum from his mouth and putting it in his pocket.  While we were debating whether this move was a good move in terms of hygiene, he said, "I can't call the raise, my filling's just fallen out."

You'll have to wait a couple of months to catch this classic moment on TV.

The blinds have moved up to 10k 20k with a running 1500 ante...


Leo Kam's big blind and Nick decides to raise to 60k.

Applause is requested by the announcer and the watching crowd oblige as Nick takes down the blinds.

The next hand Patrick raises to 40k, a tempting min raise but Boon in the big blind, who has been very quiet so far, doesn't want a part of it and folds.

any norkage picks today? to help us through the slow parts

Threeway to a flop of Ts Qd 7s...  John Kabbaj checks, Nick Gibson checks, and Patrik Selin takes the pot with a 75k flop bet.  Patrik shows him Kh Qh, as requested just before Gibson folded.

_____________________________________

Nick raises in early position to 60k.  He finds Carl Buskirk shoving over the top (for the second time today).  Leo Kam on the button asks for a count...it's just 189,500 - a drop from the 600k he was destroying Day Two with.  Kam passes, as do the blinds.  "I feel I'm obliged to call you, so I will," says Nick.

Gibson shows:  4d 4s
Buskirk Qs Qh

Flop:  Tc 5s Jc
Turn: Js
River: 2s

Double through for Carl Buskirk off ex-leader Nick Gibson.

Brian Gilbert announces ALLIN and is quickly called by Kam...

Brian shows Ad Tc, Kam shows 6s 6d...and we are flipping ladies and gentlemen.

The flop comes
7c 9c 3h
the turn comes the
7h
and the river
Qs

is no help to Brian, so we have our first elimination, meaning....

Brian Gilbert is OUT, eliminated in 9th place for £10,820

Well played Brian, and with that pot Leo Kam regains his status as chip leader...

A set of blinds is taken by Robert Boon, then John Kabbaj raises to 60k, called by Carl Buskirk.

Flop: 6d 2h 9c  Buskirk bets out 100k, and there follows a pause before Kabbaj folds and the American player takes another pot.

Here are the current chip standings....

Leo Kam       1,197,000
Nick Gibson    964,000
Boon             558,000
Ian Cox          487,000
Carl Buskirk     419,000
Robert Boon   397,000
Patrick Selin     291,000
Michael Bale     151,000

Michael Bale moves in preflop under the gun which takes the much needed 10k/20k/ante 1.5k blinds pot.  Blinds are looking pretty big unless you're Leo Kam right now.

_______________________________________

Fold to Carl on the button who raises to 60k... Patrik Selin then moves in on the small blind, and Carl says, "I call," as he's said before so often to such devastating effect.

Carl shows Qs Qc
Patrik shows Ks Jc

Flop:  6s 4h 4d
Turn: 3h
River: 9c

Meaning Patrik Selin exits in 8th place, winning £12,990 

Carl Buskirk yet again challenging the top spot having only relinquished it for a matter of hours anyway...

1 down 8 to go

damm he was meant to be 4th

Robert Boon has RAISED!!!!!!!!!

He makes it 65k total and it's passed round to the blinds who unsurprisingly insta-fold as Robert has yet to play a hand...

Well done Robert.

John Kabbaj raises to 60k....

....and Nick Gibson announces reraises to a total of 165,000.

Everyone else at the table runs and hides (metaphorically speaking) and it's back to John.

John folds and Nick takes down the pot and neatly stacks up the chips in his usual calm, placid manner.

I'm just about to go to the TV area and get some actual photos of the players, but for now (and later, probably - it's been a long week) I have some taken from the screen.  Grainy, but in better focus than mine are likely to be; the No Flash rule is in effect and I am scared of the production team from Sunset and Vine.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2439&g2_serialNumber=1)

Robert Boon and John Kabbaj see an unraised flop after Carl checks.

The board comes....

Ks 3s Th....

Robert checks, John checks and Carl fires 60k into the pot like a bullet.

Robert folds, John spends a long time arranging and rearranging stacks of chips in his hands relentlessly before realising that he is not calling and Carl takes the pot down with aplomb.

Mike Bale announces all-in, and proceeds to sit very still, face in hands like he might be praying or developing a migraine, but no one's interested in calling.
__________________________________________

Next hand, Robert Boon makes it 65k to go, and John Kabbaj quickly announces all-in, with one of those dismissive hand waves over his chip stack which symbolise them crossing the line. 

Then... Nick Gibson re-raises all-in - showing Kc Ks
Kabbaj:  Ad Ts

Flop: Qd 4s Ac
Turn: 8h


River: Kd  Even the experienced John Kabbaj can't stop an expression of surprise/consternation at the river, but calmly wishes his opponents luck and heads to the rail, finishing 7th for £17,320

New chip leader - Nick Gibson -- 1,344,000, while the short stack is Mike Bale on 191,000.

Pictured - John Kabbaj and Ian Cox

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2441&g2_serialNumber=1)

can somepone tell john he was supposed to finish 3rd


well atleast i have 1 right so far

20 minutes of this level 10k,20k-1.5k remain...

Ian (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=171) Cox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=171), says "I hope I find a genuine hand to raise with", before checking his cards and raising to 60k...

Carl calls..... "I knew you'd give me a spin!" says Ian. "You can always rely on Carl..."

FLOP: Ahrt 4c Jc

Ian bets 100k, Carl passes and Ian collects the pot "good pass, good pass" says Ian, but whether that was because Carl was well behind or Ian was at-it and wanted a fold remains unanswered...

Ian Cox raised preflop to 60k, finding Mike Bale pushing, again, this time for just under 200k.  Cox doesn't look delighted, and runs through some standard table chat - "Got a pocket pair, Mike?" before calling.

Ian Cox shows:  Kh Jc
Mike shows:  7h 7c

Flop:  9s Kd 9h
Turn: Ad
River: Th

"And give a round of applause for Michael Bale.."  He finishes in 6th place, winning £21,650

Robert Boon raises to 75k

Carl does his job and says "CALL" and everyone passes to leave them heads up.

The flop comes...

3d 8h Qs

Robert chews some gum, reaches for his chips and bets 120k.

Carl thinks about it and quickly passes....cue smattering of applause.

Go Coxy!

Leo Kam raises to 40k preflop and Robert Boon calls.

The flop comes...

5h 6c 9h

...and Kam bets 100k to which Robert announces ALLIN!

Chips are counted and Kam shuffles and clicks his own chips before making a pass and enabling Robert to pick up what is a very nice pot.

Nick raises to 65k, Robert and Ian both call in the blinds.


The flop comes 5h 9s Ah and Nick bets 120k...

Robert quickly passes and Ian, who has perhaps been the chattiest of all the players tells Nick "I won't make you sweat, I'm sure you've got a very strong hand there" and passes quickly.

The next hand, Ian and Nick are in the blinds and have some banter over what Nick will do if Ian raises... "I might set you allin" warns Nick!

Ian just calls :)

Qh 4h Js flops and Ian checks, then Nick checks.

The turn is the Ahrt

"I'm going to bet it " says Nick and is good to his word as he bets 35k. Ian however sneakily announces raise and raises to 100k which Nick calls immediately.

The river comes....

Qc.

Ian bets out 150k confidently...Nick says "I've probably trapped myself"....and calls!

Ian shows 7h 6c for a  bluff, Nick shows Aspades Tc and takes down a very big pot off Ian.

The players are now on a short break...

I catch up with Ian having a quick cigarette and he tells me "oops caught with my hands in the till there!"

The players are seated after their mini-break and we resume with the blinds at 12k - 24k with a  2k ante...

Leo Kam raises to 50k, all pass to the blinds.

Nick passes and Carl CALLS the 26k raise.

5h 5s 8h.

Carl checks, Kam bets 100k and Carl folds instantly...

Ian raises from the cutoff to 70k, passed to Kam in the big blind...who calls the 56k extra

3s 7s 7h

Leo Checks and Ian bets 150k in stacks of yellow chips.

Leo calls!

The turn comes 3c and Kam moves allin!

Ian looks very uncomfortable and passes.  A big pot for Ian to lose there, he is in a bit of trouble now...

Ian, his stack severely damaged after that last hand, moves all in under the gun.  Leo Kam in the small blind asks for a countdown - 162,000 to call.  He considers whether he can deliver a fatal 1-2 to Cox, and decides in the end to call.

Ian Cox, all in, shows:  Ac 9h
Leo Kam shows: Ad 9c

Flop: 7h 2h Js
Turn: 2s
River: Qs.   

;kc;

Nick Gibson under the gun makes it 75k - it's Cox's big blind, and they have a bit of a chat before he peeks at his cards.  "You're my best hope at the moment," he says - but nothing happens except him passing and handing the 24k big blind to Gwibbo.

_____________________________________________

Carl Buskirk under the gun (this looks like the raising position du jour) makes it 50k to go.  Leo Kam raises to 150k.  Small blind Ian Cox dwells a little bit, but again, thinks better of the situation and it passes back to Buskirk.   Who passes.  That hand took about five minutes.

Ian is on the button and gives it his standard "I hope I find a hand" before checking his cards, and moving ALLIN!

Nick and Carl both pass from the blinds, Ian says "Oh come on Carl you always give me a spin!" before showing KJ offsuit and picking up the blinds for his troubles.

Leo Kam and Robert Boon see a flop together in the blinds.

The flop comes...

5c 8c 4c

Leo checks, Robert bets 24k and Leo calls.

The turn is the

Qd

Leo now bets out 80k which Robert calls.

River:

3s

Leo pulls out a big stack of purple chips and bets 200k......Robert chews his gum more slowly before finally....CALLING!

Leo shows the 6c 4d and Robert made a very fine call with the Jc 5s!

Great call made by the quiet Robert Boon in a very big pot and that hand and call has dented Kam's stack severely ...

Ian Cox and Leo Kam (again) see a flop of: Qs Th 9s without anyone being all in.  Then Ian Cox moves all in.  Call.

Ian Cox: 8c 3d
Leo Kam: 7h Td

Turn:  Qd
River:  Kh

So, after a valiant effort to double up or go home, the latter happens, and we lose Ian Cox in 5th place - he wins £25,980

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

Unlucy Ian.....come on Nick!

WP Ian  :)up

gg crapper....now gibbo hurry up and win it ffs....goooooooo nick

jaffa have you got a % it may help your credit rating if you bank it, and you will be able to get a new broadband card for your lappie..

no, i don't need to be paid to cheer my mates on. If I do get hard up tho I'll join u in signing on, see you down the DSS

lol go on jeff

Blinds are still at 12k/24k after the dinner break.  There are a number of excellent places hereabouts for charcoal grilled things on sticks.  I think we got the better deal out of the dinner break nipping out of the casino for an hour.

_____________________________________

Nick Gibson gets a walk.  Then Leo Kam nicks some blinds.  Then Nick takes the blinds from the button showing Kc Qh.  End transmission of no-flop hands.

Kam raises to 64k....Robert Boon calls from the small blind.

Nick in the big blind now pulls out a stack of blue 10k chips and makes it 230k to play!

SQ---UUU---EEEE---ZZZZ--EEEE!

Leo passes and Robert Boon CALLS!

The flop comes Ts 6s Js.

Robert Boon moves ALLIN for 776k!

Nick dwells up, fires a few questions at Robert "Did you even look at the flop before you moved in" but ultimately looks a little baffled and passes...

Next hand, it passes to small blind Nick Gibson who calls, only to instapass when Carl Buskirk, big blind, raises.
_______________________________

Nick Gibson on the button raises to 72k.  Small blind Carl Buskirk calls.
Flop: Kc 2s 8s  There is an instant all-in-from-Carl-pass-from-Nick.

good luck nick...

rooting for ya son..!!

Kam limps on Boon's big blind.

Robert Boon isn't  having any of that and raises another 76k to 100k, Leo thinks about it but ultimately passes...

Next hand it's Leo Kam on the button in an unopened pot...what happens do you think? Yes it's raised to 74,000 and Nick CALLS the extra 50k from the BB.

5d 8h Jh.

Nick checks, Kam bets 50k...

Nick eventually folds to what is a relatively small bet into the pot and Leo takes it down...

Next hand it's Nick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305) Gibson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305)'s turn to raise and pick up the blinds uncontested...

Robert now raises to 65k and Nick calls his raise, Carl also calls from the small blind but Leo passes and we have our first multiway pot since it's gone to 4 handed...

Flop comes

2d Jh Qd

Check check Check

9s

Now Carl moves ALLIN! and Nick CALLS!

cards on their back, Nick has T-J for 2nd pair and an open ended straight draw whilst Carl has semi-bluffed at the wrong time, his 7-8 gutshot drawing to a slim 3 outs....

The miracle T fails to materialise on the river and that means......

Carl Buskirk is OUT, eliminated in 4th place for £34,640!

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2447&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2445&g2_serialNumber=1)

Leo riases to 84k, Robert calls..

FLOP: Js 8s 4h

Leo bets 100k and Robert calls.

TURN: 2c

Leo twitches his eyes, reaches for a huge wobbly stack of yellows and bets 200k.

Robert....CALLS.

RIVER: 5c

Leo now bets 200k...

Robert looks at Kam and asks "you got trips?" Leo remains uninterested and stares fixedly across the room through his large shades before finally Robert passes...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2449&g2_serialNumber=1)

Nick in the small blind, riases to 74k on Kam's big blind. Leo passes....

5 MINUTES REMAIN OF THE 12k 24k LEVEL

Nick on the button, makes it 66k to play...and Robert CALLS for 42k extra.

The flop comes...9c 8c 4c

Robert: CHECK
Nick: " I was expecting an allin, it's a three flush board!"
Robert: "You do it then!"
Nick : CHECK

The turn is the 3s

Robert checks and a 100k bet from Nick takes the pot down...

Right now Nick has just over 2 million, Kam around 1 million and Robert about 700k...

Robert Boon vs. Nick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305) Gibson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305) (small vs. big blind), Boon raises preflop and Gibson calls the 87k.
Flop: Aspades Tc 8s  Robert bets out 100k - call.
Turn: 6h   Again, Robert comes out with the same bet of 100k and again Nick calls.
River: 7d  Robert instashoves, and Nick asks for a countdown.  It's 492k to call.  He stares at his opponent intently, looks at his own stack and asks, "You want a call?"  "I don't mind, win or lose."  "Call."

Robert has Qd Qh
Nick has Ts Js  (I don't actually know the suits, it's just for visual effect), and doubles his opponent up to a dangerous stack.  As he stacks his new chips, I hear the voice of Gibson saying, "Are we taking a break now?"

The new level is about to start and it is now 15k and 30k with a 2k ante

This will take its toll on the 5k chips sitting in the player's stacks much more than the 10k 20k level where they could almost forget about them, jsut adding the odd one to their blind steals to make them look slightly more impressive and colourful.


Here are the current counts....there's a rizla paper between the two chip leaders, and Nick is only a few more packets of rizla away from that.

Robert Boon - 1,564,000
Leo Kam     -  1,560,000
Nick Gibson  - 1,255,000

Folded to Nick in the small blind, he completes on Leo's blind.

Leo checks from the BB.

FLOP : 7c Kh 2h

Nick checks, Leo also checks.

TURN: Qh

Nick bets 60,000 all in 5k denomination chips. Careful Nick you'll be needing those later!

But he knows better than me and Kam folds and Nick gets his precious 5k chips back along with the rest of the 66k pot...

Leo now limps on Robert's big blind.

FLOP: 9c Th 7c...

Leo bets 60k, Robert passes.

That's it for that hand folks....

top class updates guys

Button Leo Kam raises to 100k, which is good enough to take the blinds.

Then:

Robert Boon raises 70k on the button, and big blind Leo Kam raises 200k on top.  Robert calls it.
Flop:  6d Td Ts  Leo Kam bets out 400k... and Robert passes, winning a tidy pot.

It's Leo Kam's button, and unexpectedly, he passes.  Robert makes up the small blind and Nick Gibson checks.

Flop: Jd Ad Ac  Check to Nick who bets just 30k - call.
Turn: 2s  Check to Nick who lowers his min bet to nothing at all.
River: 9h  Robert checks again and Nick checks - Td 4d for Robert Boon,  but Nick's King high wins it. 

Robert folds preflop, the shiny Nick completes from the small blind and Leo "I never check" Kam checks.

The flop is a pretty one... 4c 4h 2s

Checkage is the order of the day.

The turn is a frightening 2h.

Nick has had enough and fires 30k at the pot, in a motion that just oozes venom...

...Kam senses the danger and after consulting with the gods of chance decides he will pass...

Robert Boon makes it 75k to go preflop... Nick Gibson calls him.

"Here come them cards," as the announcer says around 90% of the time as the flop is dealt.

Flop: Jh Ahrt 9h  Robert checks, Nick checks.
Turn: 2s  Robert checks, Nick doesn't, to the tune of 140k.  It's good.

Nick and Leo have become embroiled in an interesting pot, filled with tension
...
Nick raised to 90k preflop and Kam called...

FLOP: 6h 7d Kd

Nick led out with a BIG 160k bet, Kam eventually folded.

Nick showed a big pair, in fact A-A, in a belated attempt to convince Kam he only raises with premium hands. Kam knows that this is a LIE but I feel that he forgives him.

Robert Boon makes up the small blind and Nick Gibson checks it.
Flop: 7s 3s 8h  Check-check
Turn: Qh  Check, 40k bet from Nick, who really doesn't seem to like checking the turn a lot.  Robert springs out a check-raise to 120k, which prompts another quizzical yet intense stare from Nick.  That's good enough to take it. (Robert's bet, not Nick's stare).
____________________________________

"I'd better find Aces again Leo," says Nick Gibson as he flat calls Kam's big blind.  Check.
Flop:  9h Ahrt Jd  check-check
Turn: Jc check to Leo who bets 30k, and that's the end of that hand.
____________________________________

"This is where the money is big, and serious."  MC Quote of the Hour.

On the button,

Nick Gibson opens the betting with a raise to 85k, Leo Kam stares at him before passing, and Robert insta-passes.

One more set of blinds and antes heads towards Nick Gibson.

Leo Kam raises to 120k on the button, Robert says "NO" or passes and Nick Gibson rests his fist in his mouth before CALLING the raise....

Nick checks in the dark.

FLOP: Jd 7s Jh

Nick: DARK CHECK

Leo: Bets 80k

NICK: Calls...

TURN: Ad

LEO bets 200k

NICK calls 200K.

RIVER: 9c

Nick bets 300k...and Leo passes after a while.

Nick picks up a big pot...

New threeway chip standings:

Nick Gibson -- 1,898,000
Leo Kam -- 1,480,000
Robert Boon -- 1,001,000

Robert raises on the button and is rewarded by a pass from Nick and Leo...

Nick passes on the button and this opens the door for Kam to raise Robert's big blind to 90k, good enough to convince Robert to pass...

Leo's turn on the button but will he raise???????

OMG, he passes!!!

Robert also passes and Nick announces "ALLIN!". I sense he was aware that the hand was already over though and was toying with us...

goooooo onnnnn Nick   good  luck mate

Kam raises to 100k on the button, no passing this time boys, and both the blinds lay down in the face of the feisty canadian's aggression.

Robert passes from the button, Nick calls from the small blind and Kam, RAISES 70k more and Nick CALLS.

FLOP: Kh 8c 2s

Nick checks and Leo amazingly bets 100k. Nick says "call"

TURN: 3s

Nick checks and Kam checks.

RIVER: 2c

Nick checks, Kam bets 200k...

Nick CALLS, showing Q8 for 2 pair which is a good call to take the pot from Kam's bluff with TJ...

Perhaps, for once, Kam's aggression worked against him there, he was going to get looked up a lot on the river there, not such a great spot to bluff probably.

go on nick take it down

Next case:

Button Nick lets the blinds off a raise, Leo calls on the s.b. but passes to the 70k raise which came straight away.
_________________________________

Blinds UP - 20k/40k/3k ante

Come on gwibbo, we're rooting for you.  ;mexicanwave;

New counts show that Gwibbo has a pretty commanding chip lead:

Nick Gibson -- 2,290,000
Leo Kam -- 1,078,000
Robert Boon -- 999,000 

Nick calls the small blind - check from Leo.
Qs Jc Js Nick bets out 50k - it's his.
___________________________________

Now on the button, Nick passes, leaving it to Leo to call on the s.b., check from Robert Boon. 
Th 8d 4c is the uninspiring flop - but Leo is inspired to bet out 120k... although when Robert raises to 260k Leo just flat calls.
Turn: 7d   Leo, now short (comparatively) moves all in.  Robert stares at something in the middle distance which is probably the flop on the big plasma screen over the table.  He clearly doesn't like what he sees as he passes eventually, dropping even further down the chip ladder:

Nick Gibson -- 2,300,000
Leo Kam -- 1,306,000
Robert Boon -- 773,000

Leo passes on the button, Robert limps in, Nick applies a limper's tax consisting of a raise to 140k and Robert refuses to pay his tax, takes his medicine and passes his cards...

Next hand, Robert passes, Nick calls and Leo checks...

FLOP: 7s Jh Kh

Nick checks, Leo checks

TURN: 3c

Nick checks, Leo bets 40k, Nick now raises to 120k and Leo CALLS.

RIVER: Qd

Nick checks, Leo now also checks and shows J5, Nick shows J8 and his slim kicker advantage is enough to take down the pot, bolstering Nick's ever burgeoning chip stack...

Nick declines to play his button again, leaving Leo to take the blinds with his raise to 140k, and then raise his button next hand to 140k for good measure.  This time, however, Robert Boon re-raises out of the small blind to 320k, and Leo calls.
Flop:  Ahrt 3c 7h  Robert, who'd put around half his stack in pre, shoves, and takes a needed boost in chips as Leo folds.

Nick calls from the small blind, Leo announces allin and Nick passes quickly...

Leo calls the 20k from the small blind and Robert checks in the BB

FLOP: As 8c Ts

CHECK CHECK

TURN: 5h

CHECK CHECK

RIVER: Qd

Leo checks, Robert checks and Leo shows 7-5, his pair of 5s sufficient to take the pot down...

Robert raises to 90k from the small blind and Nick calls the 50k raise in the big blind...

FLOP: 5s Ks Aspades

Robert bets 100k, Nick folds and Robert takes down the pot...

Robert, perhaps feeling flusher than earlier, now makes it 120k from the button and continues his chip climb to the tune of 1xblind steal. 

Then Nick, on the button, makes it 130k, only to find Robert re-raising... This time Nick moves all in and receives an insta call he was pretty happy with as it turned out:

Robert Boon  Ks Qs
Nick Gibson  Kc Aspades

Flop: 8d Qd Jh
Turn: 4d
River: 7d

Double through for Robert Boon.

Leo Kam offers a rare word (we didn't know he was Canadian until it was announced as they made their way to the final earlier today):  "Ace-King isn't holding today at all."

come on nick chin up

what are chip counts now Jen ?

There are a few technical difficulties in the TV Room, meaning we are on a small hiatus at the moment whilst they tighten bolts, screw nuts, plug in cables and set traps for the evil gremlins that have caused the troubles...

BE BACK SOON!

After a technical-hitch-inspired break of a few minutes, it's Nick Gibson who gets all in preflop - he's now actually covered by his caller Robert Boon.

Robert has 8d 8s
Nick has Aspades Kc

Flop: 5h Qh Ad
Turn: 8c  "Get in there!" is heard over the feed...
River: 4h

And there you have it - how quickly a chip leader can bust at the end of a NLHE tourney.  That quickly.  So close, but not quite.

Nick Gibson finishes 3rd winning £43,300

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2453&g2_serialNumber=1)

Very unlucky nick but glad to see you're back, good result, well played.

Robert Boon -- 3,500,000 (ish)
Leo Kam -- 873,000

very unlucky to have to hands AK v QK then AK v 88 and lose both in such critical spots.

Well played Nick you deserved better m8

delighted and gutted for you nick m8, great result but I know you only had 1st place on your mind - def be others though

We are now HEADS UP to decide who will be the London GUKPT Champion!

Leo limps from the small blind and Robert checks his big blind.

FLOP: Ad 5c 8s

CHECK CHECK

TURN: 2d

Robert checks, Leo bets 100k and picks up the first pot in their heads up matchup.

is Boon the one that was playing very weak and not playing many hands so when he raised everyone insta folded

Robert calls from the smlal blind, leo checks

FLOP: 5c 7h 9s

Leo bets out 100k to play, Robert raises allin and Leo calls!

Leo shows 6-9 for top pair and a gutshot straight draw, Robert 9-2 for top pair, no kicker and isn't in good shape...

However the turn is ....the Tc and the river the Ac, meaning the pot is split, despite a small amount of confusion about kickers occurring in the studio...

Leo Kam just shoves on the button...no call this time...nor any action next hand as Robert Boon just gives his short-stacked opponent a walk.
______________________________________

Then the button's back with Leo and he limps; raise to 160k from big blind Robert Boon - Leo makes the call.
Flop: 6d 3c Jd  Robert, first to act, checks, and Leo bets 400k in a precarious double stack - All in from Robert, call from committed Kam....

Leo shows:  8d Td
Robert shows:  Aspades 8c

Turn:  6h
River: Qd

Double up for Leo Kam.

No he was the guy who called a 1/3 of his stack preflop to my 2nd position rr with KJ then got me knocked out with his misplayed AK, Not that I am bitter :-)

Very well played Nick pwnage unrewarded!

WP all finalists

Thats the one!!

Robert limps onto Kam's big blind and Kam checks...

Flop 9c 6s 8s

Leo bets 150k, Robert raises to 400k, Kam calls the extra chips...

TURN: 4h
Check check

RIVER: Kd
Check, check

Leo's pair of 9s is sufficient to take down the pot and make him the new chip leader!

Leo flat calls preflop, and Robert checks.
Flop: Aspades 4h 7h  Check from Robert, Leo bets 150k...call.
Turn: 2s  Check from Robert, Leo bets 300k... Robert moves in after the briefest of dwells, compulsively chewing what could be the same gum he's had since the beginning of the tournament... Leo passes to the all-in bet, letting that near half mil of his chips slide over to Robert Boon's stack.


Counts:

Robert Boon -- 2,350,000
Leo Kam -- 1,960,000

LOL donkaments!!

Robert Boon raises to 225k preflop (blinds now 25k/50k/4k), Leo Kam calls.

Flop: 5c Qd 8h  Leo checks, Robert makes it 400k, Leo instantly moves all in.  "Call," he says flatly.

Leo shows:  Kh Qs
Robert shows:  Aspades Th

Turn:  9s
River: Kc

And with that huge double through Leo Kam has taken the largest chip lead seen so far this final table and the sea of chips in front of Boon has dried up to a puddle.

That pot has made Leo Kam a super chip leader and this is unlikely to last long...

Leo in the small blind passes and Robert's big blind is returned to him with interest...

Leo now has 3,891,000
and Robert has 465,000...

Kam raises to 150,000....and Robert passes...Leo takes down the blinds.

Robert calls from the small blind...Leo checks.

FLOP: Td 8h 8s

Check, check

TURN: 9c

Leo checks, Robert bets 100k, Kam......passes!

Leo now calls from the small blind, robert raises to 150k to play and Leo........CALLS the 100k extra...

FLOP: 8h 8c Qs

Robert moves allin, Leo calls INSTANTLY.....

CARDS ON THEIR BACK AND Robert has 6h 6c, whilst Leo has Qd 6s for top pair and is miles in front...

No surprises on the Jd Kh turn and river and that means Leo wins the pot and....

Robert Boon is OUT, eliminated in 2nd place, winning £64,950!......

AND

Leo Kam WINS the LONDON GUKPT, winning £119,590 + the additional £10,000, plus the FAB watch, plus the seat to the grand final.

Well done both and congratulations to the Champion Leo Kam, whose aggressive poker has seen him come out victorious...

Pictures of the presentation, first a chat with runner up Robert Boon, and then the handing over of the blue, square trophy...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2457&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2459&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2461&g2_serialNumber=1)

Kam, incidentally, is over here on a one-year work visa, and this win of over £100k (a silly number of Canadian dollars, no doubt) will make that year a whole bunch more fun.  He said he'd be playing more poker in the UK, and I reckon we'll see him again on the circuit soon.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2463&g2_serialNumber=1)

And that about wraps up this exciting leg of the Bluesquare.com GUKPT - they were on their third take of the Winners' interviews when someone climbing over the barrier stood on me and I beat a hasty retreat.  It's been a long tournament but a very fast-paced one, pretty entertaining all round.  Congrats finalists, players, crew, honoured members of the press room and JungleCat, in that order.

Taxi!

;stickaforkinme;

Great updates a susual Jen, thanks all.

thanks Jen, Jungle & Co - Snooperb

What he said, with bells on.

thank you guys, excellent entertaining update

 vul Nick, was rooting for you there,