blonde poker forum

Morning! We are all refreshed after like 2 hours' sleep and virtually no coffee, and ready for today's marathon 12-hour session.

Neil Kelly has got full chip counts, I believe in a copy-and-pastable format, so they will be up momentarily as soon as I can find him. I do for the moment know for absolutely certain that out chip leader this morning is none other than Jennifer Mason. Go Jen! In a completely unbiased and impartial sort of way. Play should be resuming in about 10 minutes; please stand by.

Well, what a great day of poker it was yesterday. 

It makes it more enjoyable to update tournaments when there are familiar names to follow and the sight of Jen Mason tearing up through the leaderboard rankings kept us on the edge of our seat all the way through.

Also it should be noted AndrewT had an excellent final few hours yesterday after hovering around his starting stack all day, he changed gears as the blinds rose and ended up a very well placed 5th. All the other blondites have enough of a stack to make a challenge.

Full chip counts have been provided by the ever helpful Neil Kelly, and these will follow shortly.


Myself and Dana are feeling fresh and ready after the 4 o clock finish yesterday and 4 hours sleep. We are in no way looking like these fellows...

(http://www.waytoblue.com/media/image/Shaun_of_the_Dead_Zombies.gif)

The action is already hotting up, here are the chip counts at teh start of the day...

1   Jennifer Mason   83725
2   Albert Kenny   75900
3   T24 S2   70350
4   Mike Apollonio   63225
5   Andrew Treacy   60450
6   Eoghan Lyons   58675
7   Barry Carter   58425
8   N Muldoon   53550
9   Hon Man chin   52725
10   Anthony Lynch   52100
11   J Walsh   50325
12   R Lawlor   49525
13   Gavin Hickey   46375
14   Ian Whitty   45850
15   Bobby Brennan   44125
16   Mem Tam   43625
17   Joe McAvoy   43275
18   John Heley   42975
19   Donal Mullally   42825
20   M McGuinness   42650
21   David Tyrell   42575
22   Ken Powell   42300
23   George Alexopolous   41300
24   R Ronayne   41175
25   T24 S5   39200
26   Mark Ffrench   38700
27   Collin Quarry   38525
28   Jim Ringland   38350
29   Ben Dooly   38350
30   Wayne Brennan   38275
31   Maurice S   38050
32   Colette Murphy   37700
33   Tony Baitson   37575
34   T24 S7   37100
35   Anna Colley   36975
36   Peter Lee   36700
37   T24 S6   36375
38   Pat Storan   35275
39   Oskar Nylin   35200
40   Rob Taylor   35175
41   Nicky Power   33250
42   Allexi McLean   33175
43   Craig Stokes   33025
44   Chris Frisby   32575
45   Ciaran Taggart   32100
46   Ger Dooley   32075
47   Lorcan Dooley   32000
48   Enda Kendrick   31975
49   Iggy Dunphy   31925
50   Eamonn Connolly   31800
51   Wes Farrell   31575
52   John Weush   31225
53   Paddy Dooley   30575
54   Declan Daly   30200
55   Keith Maguire   29550
56   Gemma Walsh   29525
57   T24 S8   29175
58   T22 S1   29000
59   T3 S9   28925
60   Keith Lawlor   28500
61   J Kenny   28350
62   Gary Whelan   28275
63   J Byrne   28000
64   Dylan Keogh   27950
65   Darren Smyth   27850
66   Vinny Longlad   27775
67   David Curtis   27150
68   James Walsh   26700
69   Tom Drohan   25750
70   Declan McCarthy   25050
71   Stephen Murphy   24650
72   David Cohen   24625
73   Brendan Foley   24475
74   B Hartnett   24350
75   Mike Ryan   23950
76   Chris Cooke   23775
77   John Ward   23700
78   Tony Herdman   23675

129   Andrew Grimson   14300
130   Niall McWara   14175
131   Nick Wright   14150
132   Oliver Boyce   13650
133   John Swarbrigg   13125
134   Noel Mannion   12900
135   Mick Doran   12725
136   Henrik Lindstrom   12500
137   Barry Hand   12475
138   John McGil   12275
139   John Quinn   12100
140   Percy Kingston   11675
141   P Higgins   11650
142   Mark Rayburn   11500
143   T5 S6   10275
144   Ronan Maguire   10150
145   Steve Meehan   9850
146   Pat O Callaghan   9350
147   Sean Geraghty   9275
148   Caroline Meaghan   9250
149   T5 S5   9250
150   P Garnham   9150
151   S McLean   9025
152   Colin  Fardey   8975
153   P Jacob   8525
154   M Sheridan   8250
155   Brian Coady   7725
156   Keith Hoggart   6825

can you wish sebastian saffari the best of luck from dom please and an update on his will be wonderfull, dom

Anna Colley, who was the chip leader in the early stages yesterday has had her stack decimated at the start here. Brendan Hartnet (blonde's own Ericstoner) was also involved in the pot...

Holding 8c 8s on a 6s 7s 2c, her chips flew in after an allin bet from Paul Fitzpatrick. Brendan, acting behind, thought long and hard before folding his 8-5. As Paul was allin, the cards were turned over and he was holding Ks 9s for a flush draw and 2 overs.

The turn was the Qd but the river Ts completed Paul's flush, doubling him up and reducing Anna to a mere handful of chips.

The expected craziness of play is already in evidence and awkwardly preventing me from nipping off to the bar for a coffee and some breakfast. :(  We've apparently lost 17 players already this morning, of which exits Junglecat caught only a few and I caught absolutely none except the ones that helpful blondeites have come over and informed me of themselves - unlucky, guys. There is a vague and probably unrealistic plan to try to get down to final table today, but it looks like it'll be more like three tables by the end of the night, some 12 hours hence. I'm going to have to get that coffee eventually...

Reportedly a hand jsut played out which involved K-K moving in preflop, only to get CALLED by 8-2 off suit for an absolutely stonking 70k pot.

There was only ever going to be one winner of course. 8-2 made the flush naturally...we haven't got  details of the heroic figure who made this imaginative play but we'll see if we can rustle up some more info shortly...

As Dana reported, players seem to be dropping like flies. Although the excellent structure means that the players have plenty of play in their stacks, clearly there has been a group decision by many of the shorter stacks to come along today and either build up a good stack or get knocked out so they can spend the rest of their saturday sleeping/ drinking or whatever pastime they deem most enjoyable.

Mateyboy is OUT at the hands of Nicky (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1228) Power (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1228) - I hope the money went in before the flop, because the OUT gentleman was holding A-To and Nicky was holding Th Jh for a flopped flush.

The craziness continues - we're down to 131 already.

Blinds are 400/800 with a 75 ante. Average chips 31,488.

I joined Snoopy's table to see he had increased his stack.

"Well done dog face. How did you do that then?"

"Had A-K v Jacks. Spiked an ace on the river" replied the languid Snoopy, "he only had about 10k but it was a nice start"

Snoopy points out AndrewT has increased his stack somewhat too. "He's been mixing it up" says Snoopy and he and Andrew share what looks like a conspiritorial grin and I realising this is code for "The naughty little vagabond's been at-it!."

As we chat away, Dave Callaghan knocks out one of the short stacks. Holding As Js, Dave was dominating the shortstacks allin preflop with Ac 6c.

The interesting flop of Ad 2c 5c complicated matters somewhat though, but the blank 9h and 7s on the turn and river meant there was no outdraw and Dave increased his stack nicely...

Blimey -


How the merry hell is he multi tabling in Waterford and Blackpool ?

Jen update:

She's lost about 8k so far today "by playing badly". Doesn't seem to mind though. She's sharing a table with Irish poker legend Colette Murphy, and they look to be having a lovely time. Colette's on around 45k, Jen's on around 75k.

Amidst all the wanton gambling occurring here, I just want to take a moment out to gauge the blonde general concensus on an important topic.

Is this man, Gary Clarke, who we have dubbed McLovin', the identical twin of the lovable geek from the film Superbad?

We think so, and although he begs to differ, surely this says it all...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4824&g2_serialNumber=1) 


(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4843&g2_serialNumber=1)

Double up for a delighted Laxie (still in, despite me missing her off the Remaining Blondes line-up on page 1). Sitting around all day on something between 12 and 18k, she moved in with pocket Nines and got called by pocket Fives. She's up to 40k now - perfectly adequate with the very excellent structure...

Mick, or it may be Nick or even Mike Rossiter is currently the chip leader with over 140k.

The largest chunk of this came in a 3 way coup where his opponents held A-A and 9-9 to his Q-Q. The 120k, by far the largest of the tournament was won in fittingly dominant fashion as the Queens of Mick hit a Q-T-5-Q-3 flop for quads.

Aces, which have fared badly this tournament, cracked once again!

Since then Nick has also knocked out another short stack, his A-Q holding versus K-8 on a Q-J-6-5-2 board.

Players are now on a 10 minute break. Just prior to that though, M3Boy doubled up.

Jen also won 50k last hand, and is up to 95k.

We currently have 111 players left. It's the 500-1000 level with a running 100 ante. The average stack is 37k and it's safe to say this level will bring about some action...

Blonde's own Laxie has just been involved in a big pot.

Holding Ks Kh she was no doubt delighted to get her chips in preflop and looking forward to the prospect of doubling up. Unfortunately, she had run into Matey O'Boy's Ad Ah. It was a big pot but with Laxie needing to spike a king, the unhelpful flop came 7h Qc 4c 7c Qs, eliminating Laxie to the rail. The way A-A has run versus K-K this tournament, this can almost be classed as a bad beat!

Well played nonetheless Laxie. Next time...

Tikay has just played out his biggest pot of the tournament. The chips went in preflop, unsuprisingly, since Tikay held Q-Q and his opponent A-K.

The flop of J-Q-5 provided a helpful  set for Tikay and the 3-3 turn and river, simultaneously filled and doubled him up. One handshake later and a happy Tikay was stacking chips up merrily...

Whilst I was returning to write up that hand, table one had 3 allins, the players tabling 5-5, K-K and Q-Q. When the dust had settled, the cowboys had held to give Ben Dooley a big pot and knock out two players at once.

He actually just doubled up courtesy of the below gent, Richard "Fish N Chips" Lawler (it is indeed he, for whoever asked) - please see Junglecat's post above. I don't think I've ever seen him this happy. But then, he's never had this many chips before.  ;hide;

A superbad-large hand for McLovin:

Three-way all-in, I'm guessing Brenda Foley pushed first for not much and then some shoving action from Brian O'Keeffe and McLovin.

Brenda Foley -  Aspades 5h
Gary "McLovin" Clarke - Js Jc
Brian O'Keeffe -  Ahrt Kd

Board - Qd 8c 4d 4h 3s

Brenda is OUT, Brian is demoralised and McLovin is looking sweeeet.

We currently have 111 players left. It's the 500-1000 level with a running 100 ante. The average stack is 37k and it's safe to say this level will bring about some action...

Blonde's own Laxie has just been involved in a big pot.

Holding Ks Kh she was no doubt delighted to get her chips in preflop and looking forward to the prospect of doubling up. Unfortunately, she had run into Matey O'Boy's Ad Ah. It was a big pot but with Laxie needing to spike a king, the unhelpful flop came 7h Qc 4c 7c Qs, eliminating Laxie to the rail. The way A-A has run versus K-K this tournament, this can almost be classed as a bad beat!

Well played nonetheless Laxie. Next time...

Tikay has just played out his biggest pot of the tournament. The chips went in preflop, unsuprisingly, since Tikay held Q-Q and his opponent A-K.

The flop of J-Q-5 provided a helpful  set for Tikay and the 3-3 turn and river, simultaneously filled and doubled him up. One handshake later and a happy Tikay was stacking chips up merrily...

Whilst I was returning to write up that hand, table one had 3 allins, the players tabling 5-5, K-K and Q-Q. When the dust had settled, the cowboys had held to give Ben Dooley a big pot and knock out two players at once.

Snatiramas has had a quiet time of it today..."Haven't seen a hand for about 5 levels now..." Apparently all the creative play has been "crushed out of me" by his derth of quality hands... He's still smiling though!


M3Boy hasn't played many hands since his double up not long ago and is hanging around with about 10k or so...

A sick hand was witnessed on his table. 2 players got their chips in on a T-J-Q flop, understandably as their hands were J-Q for top two and A-K for the nut straight.

A jack popped out on the turn though filling Matey O'Boy 1 up and an unnecessary, but fairly amusing subsequent J on the river, gave him quads much to Matey O' Boy 2's dismay.


Anna Colley, who had made a semi recovery of sorts just lost out in a J-J v A-K race. "Hooks never win for me, but I can't pass them..." she elaborated on this hand.

Oh yeahhhh. He's still in, looks to be just below the 40k average, with about 35k.

One of the unfortunate exitees was ericstoner - he was holding the Queens, and even though the other two had gone all in before him, with only 16k left he didn't feel he could fold, thinking they were probably both holding an Ace of some sort.

He was actually all in with Queens at the exact same time as tikay was all in with Queens - this is where tikay's Dark Pacts really come into their own...

 ;goodvevil;

Had a chat with AndrewT during the break - he's dropped a good few chips and is down to I think just under average. With the blinds at 600/1200/100, he still has a bit of room to maneuver though.

Snoopy's fortunes have improved.

Finding a hand in K-K, he picked up action from Mick Rossiter who called his raise.

The flop came 2-4-5 and the chips went in, Mick holding A-5 for TPTK and a gutshot, but he missed his outs and Snoopy received a welcome double up to the lofty heights of 75k. Well done that dog.

Here is the happy man himself...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4914&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes yes, he's doing absolutely fine on around 60k - average is about 46k.

Here are some chip counts taken as I stalked the tables searching (unsuccessfully) for action a few moments ago

Mick Rossiter - 85k ish
Tikay           - 37k ish
AndrewT     - 33k ish
Snoopy        - 70k ish
Mike Lacey   - 11k ish



He seemed to be more in the region of 30k when I passed by him a few moments ago, so he may have had a small accident...or have been hiding chips from my view which is just plain wrong.

---

As I didn't find any interesting shots of players on my travels, here are the very impressive trophies that await the lucky winner and runners up of this event...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4928&g2_serialNumber=1)

Snoops has doubled up Mike Lacey. The Jd 2h he was holding when I caught the hand is not as shameful as it sounds - AndrewT tells me that Mike was on the big blind and there were four or five limps before him so he checked it, and all the chips went in on the Qs Jh 2d flop - Snoopy was holding Kd Qd. The 5s turn and 7c river changed nothing, and Snoopy is down a bit and Mike has probably a playable stack now...  ;hide;

Another exit -

These two gentlemen were on their backs, as it were, when I strolled by.

Mateyboy walking off below - Kc Qd

Mateyboy not walking off below - Ad Qc

Did I give it away there? Board - 8d 7s 3s 7d Ac and an unsurprising more-or-less double-up for Still-Seated Mateyboy.

Neil just announced Alan Mclean and M Sheridan just butted heads in a big pot...chipwise obviously, no nuttage was involved.

Well no nuttage unless you count the fact they were both holding A-A preflop...

No worries, it will be a chop and the dealer seemed keen to chop the pot preflop but was soon set straight.

The flop came down with 2 diamonds, opening a small window for a bad beat opportunity. The turned diamond opened the window yet further and the final river diamond jammed it right open with a crowbar, allowing Sheridan's aces to jump delightedly through whilst the diamond-less Mclean was left with that empty, dejected feeling big bad beats cause.

I would guess he was feeling something like this...

(http://thegardensgift.blogspot.com/sick.jpg)

...one sick puppy..

Another bad beat, although probably not depressing on the scale of going out with Aces to the rest of the Aces, has befallen Mr Eamonn Connolly. All in with KK up against the apologetic handshakey gent with him below, handshakey man spiked a third Six for the devil's own hand. Funny how often that happens.

(http://www.atozantique.com/ProdImages/devilcard1.jpg)

Jen's table has just witnessed a very long hand.

There was a raise preflop and Matey O'Boy 1 was seen betting 7.5k out on a Qs Jc 9h board before being greeted with an allin push for around 30k or so by Matey O'Boy 2.

Next began a long pause that seemed to span millennia...

Jen loves a (http://www.foundationtv.co.uk/brilliantcreatures/ser5/show1item3_21.jpg) in the middle of a hand and can be seen showing great interest in proceedings during Matey O'Boy's mental deliberations...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4940&g2_serialNumber=1)

I'm afraid he's OUT - I found him lurking by the tables, trying to steal a chair from which to observe proceedings. He button-raised 3600 with Kc Tc and the lady on the big blind called and then checked the T-6-3 flop to her. He bet out 9k and she moved in for 25k - he called, and was smacked in the face by her Aces.

Just for the record in that previous hand, the hand climaxed excitingly WITH...............................................

.....a fold from Matey O' Boy.

A triple-up for the below gentleman. Somehow finding himself up against the pocket Deuces of Blazing Aces owner Dermot Jacobs and the pocket Tens of another player, his mighty, um,  Aspades 8h took the pot when the board came down  Ad 3d 5c 3s 3h.

I think at least two of them were really short.

10 minutes remain of the 800 - 1500 - 100 level before the players will be breaking for 30 minutes or so to grab some munchies and rest their weary brains.

74 of them remain, the average is 55,743 and Jen and Snoops remain well stacked as the tournament goes into its final stages. AndrewT and Tikay are also still in, as is Snatiramas. We'll see if we can get some interesting tales from them shortly.

After the players resume from the break we will move to the 1k-2k-200 level.

Barry "DaveShoelace" Carter is OUT. He won't tell me how it happened ("oh, you don't want to hear about that"), but I have a very sad photo of him crying to his friend the Rail. I would say hard luck, Barry, but he won't tell me how he went out so possibly it wasn't particularly hard luck... Sorry anyway, man.

Wormster is OUT and he's very depressed.

Only kidding! I mean, he is out, but he doesn't seem to upset. He said he only had about 25k and he raised utg with K-T suited. It folded around to the small blind who went all in. Apparently he'd been doing that a lot, and Wormster didn't feel he had enough to fold, but this time the small blind had Jacks and knocked him out. He's really enjoyed it though, and is proud of an impressive comeback after slipping down to 6k early on yesterday. He feels like a champion!

McLovin is OUT. All in before the flop, his  Ahrt Jh up against Brian O'Keeffe's Ac Kd.

Board - 6s 7c 8c 2h Kh

Brian O'Keeffe is looking good, but it's bad for the no-longer-playing McLovin. It's really bad. In fact it's superbad.

A HUUUUGE vastalicious hand has just catapulted Jen back into the chip lead, although she sadly had to take out AndrewT to do it. I think she's on about 190k now. Junglecat has details...

As Dana told you,  Jen has just played out a huge hand with AndrewT...

With the blinds on 1k 2k , Jen raised to 6k on the button and Andrew called with 8s 9s from the blinds.

The flop came out Js 9d 2s.

Andrew led for 8k and Jen called.

The turn came a 3d.

Andrew checked and Jen bet 14k. Andrew sensed he could push her off here and check raised allin to 42k in a brave move.

Jen had a tough decision here but she made the call for the additional 28k, partially no doubt as she had very good chips, with Ad 9h.

It held to leave Jen massively chipped up, and the clear chip leader with 190k, and Andrew joining us on the rail supping a pint. He was philosophical about his exit "I feel I played well over the 2 days and was pretty happy with how I played the hand against Jen but she made a great call."

Well done Jen, and bad luck Andrew.

The hand above is an excellent one in my view, played very well by both players. Jen quickly joined Andrew on the rail and told him "I called because you're not a donk..." which was some comfort no doubt!

This gentleman

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4997&g2_serialNumber=1)

has just been eliminated by THIS gentleman

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4999&g2_serialNumber=1)

His Ah Qd couldn't hit versus the Js Jh of his opponent on a K-7-8-8-k board, consigning yet one more victim to the rail...

We have 8 minutes left of the 1k 2k level before we are catapulted into the dangerous waters of the 1.5k 3k -200 level...

There are currently 57 players left, the average stack is 71,120 and Jen continues to pwn everyone who takes her on. She's one dangerous lady...

Richie Lawler is OUT as well - A-Q v A-K.

I thought tikay was making an obscene gesture at me, but he was merely trying to indicate that he has 70k.

Meanwhile Snoops seems to have slipped down to 25 or 30k. Come on Snoops! Quadruple up! In the most unbiased way possible.

Tikay has just claimed to have 690k so he seems to be the chip leader.

There hasn't been official confirmation of this yet although his earlier claim that he's looking forward to his upcoming 27th birthday may cast a shadow of suspicion over the veracity of this claim...

Rob Taylor was just allin, although he won a decent pot uncontested as his opponent folded, Rob showing Q-Q.

Here he is, having survived that confrontation, but whether he can he survive the possibly deadly attack from the man behind him about to stab him with his fingers is another question...Is this Monica Seles all over again!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5008&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ken Corkery, who is vying with the jen-meister for the chip lead has just played out a big pot with Paul Higgins.

His Jc Js was involved in a preflop race with Paul Higgins Ac Kc and when Paul failed to improve on the board, Ken was left to sweep up all his opponent's chips, possibly overtaking Jen for the chip lead and sending Paul to the rail...

Snoopy was just allin!

When we joined his table he was very short with about 7k or so after posting his 1.5k from the small blind.

There was a raise from Matey O' Boy, who I should know the name of, but don't, to 9k...

Snoopy thought he had to move with Ad Js and it proved a good call as his opponent tabled the dominated Ah 9d...

Sadly a 9 on the turn was the only improvement for both players, meaning Snoopy is OUT around the 50th mark. Bad luck Beagle, but well played  ;applause; ;applause; ;applause;

You are gone but not forgotten...

Nicky Power is OUT. Not sure what happened, but there was a huge amount of shouting accompanying his exit, and what seemed to be football-stylee chanting.

Ken Corkery is cutting through the field like a knife through butter and yet again he takes a player out, his AsQs holding versus his opponent's Ad 2d on a Q-K-7-T-8 flop...

We are left with 47 left and Ken is likely to be the outright chip leader as we stand with 215k, whilst Jen has been going well in 2nd at the moment...

---

We are on the last hand of the 1.5k 3k 200 level before the players will be taking a short break. After that we will move onto the 2k 4k 300 level. I beleive 30 are paid so the shorter stacks may start to tighten up in view of the money now, which means the more aggressive big stacks will no doubt start to plunder like the chipped up bandits they are.

I'm sure this lady won't be too quiet...

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/125000/images/_128138_caroline_aherne_in_character_as_mrs_merton_1998_elvis_300.jpg)

Ok, the players have returned to their seats for the critical period as the bubble approaches...

The blinds are now 2k 4k with a running 300 ante.

This will eat heavily into the medium stacks if they stay still whilst the short stacks will have to find spots very soon so I anticipate a fair bit of action over this level.

I'm going to mingle with gladiators to see what happens...

Mr Hou Man Chin - who shouted to me, "I saw your Photoshop work!" how very embarrassing - is on around 105k.

Jen just raised preflop to 12k and was called by the small blind.

The flop popped out Th 3d Ts.

Check......check by Jen.

The turn was the 7c. Checked again by the small blind, Jen now bet 16k quickly and the small blind passed, enabling Jen to pick up a nice pot...

---

The play seems to have really tightened up, there's not much action at the moment, as we approach the bubble...

---

Just as I write that , Mr Lyons seems to have been busted, his K-K running into a flopped set of 5s on a Q-8-5 flop...

Bad time for that to happen....

45 left, 30 paid, 20 minutes of 2k-4k-300 remain. The tension grows palpable and the players are sweating over every decision...

Jen still looks very relaxed though, her eyes darting around craftily as she soaks up information on her table like a sponge

Keith Cummins doubles up off The Fox his Ac Kc holding versus Fox's Th Jh.

---

and NOW Keith gets his chips in yet again for a big 140k-ish pot.

Holding J-J versus the shorter stacked John Kelly's T-T, a board of ....

5-6-2-2-5

ensued, meaning Keith's Jacks held for a 2nd double up in 5 minutes whilst Kelly is knocked out around 42nd place...

Now's the time to be getting those sort of situations...

A huge and excessively shouty three-way all in on Table Jen.

Somehow shortstack Rocky Ronayne and somewhat less shortstacked Colette Murphyand the brown-jacketed gent we have mentioned before found themselves all in preflop.

Rocky Ronayne - Js Qs

Colette Murphy - 8d 8h

Henry - Ad Qc

Board - 6h 6c 9c Ks Tc

And it takes everyone a moment to realise that it is not Colette who has won the main pot but underdog Ronayne. "I'll take the side pot, I'll take the side pot!" she cries with delight. It's nice to see someone so happy with the not-totally-winning hand. I believe Henry is now OUT, failing to make a recovery after a series of shoves following that.

The action is fast and furious now...

Rob Taylor gets it in preflop versus the extremely well stacked Ken Corkery.

Rob shows 7-7, Ken shows A-K, meaning the two find themselves in a 140k (again!) .....

(http://www.codefun.com/Images/Genetic/coin_flip1.gif)

The first card out is a 7 to wild enthusiastic cheers of support for the popular Rob...

The board now comes 3-4-5 though to give Ken a gutshot for victory...

...BUT thankfully for Rob the river bricks out in the form of an 8, propelling him to a good stack of 140k...

Tikay has just picked up a few chips, he seems to have won them off Jen, although not sure of the details.

He is up to 55k ish after that and appears happy, although a little hot like many of the players...It's amazing, it's absolutely freezing and wet and windy outside but like an oven inside!

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The blinds have now been an attritional 2.5k - 5k - 400 for 20 minutes now..

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Thomas Nolan's Q-Q just held versus an allin player's A-T, meaning we are now down to 40 players...

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I just spoke to the well lubricated Mike Lacey, who is smiling an laughing as usual, especially as he tells me that 10 of the remaining 40 players are Green Joker Poker players.

"Watch out for the bomber!" he told me, referring to Thomas Nolan. "He's a real danger man!"

Oh, I will, as no doubt, will Jen who is on his table and watching closely...

40. Average chips just over 100k, blinds 2.5k/5k with a 400 ante. They're taking an unscheduled 15 minute break to rail off the tables - currently as soon as someone's all in a crowd three or four deep rushes over to watch...

CORRECTION:

I thought Nicky Power was out, but it turns out he's still in, with chips, being really aggressive to Jen's left on her new table. Apologies.

These are the juicy prizes that await the players who make the last 31 spots...Yes 31 will be paid so 32 is the evil bubble spot

1        €37,000
2        €23,000
3        €13,000
4        €9,500
5        €8,500
6        €7,200
7        €6,000
8        €4,500
9        €3,000
10      €2,200
11-13  €1,700
14-16  €1,500
17-20  €1,100
21-30  €950

Colette Murphy has doubled up with A-J, hitting both of those for two pair.

Anna Colley has also doubled up, somehow. Yay, ladies! Also still in is Jen. As Neill Kelly put it:

"Ladies still in are Colette Murphy, from Ireland; Jen Mason, from England; Anna Colley, from Mars..."

Yes yes, here he is. No sooner had I picked up the camera, he was all in - Ac Kh versus the purple stripy gent's  Aspades Ks. A harmless 9c 8s 8c Td Jc board later, and they chop. You're right, that's quite some 'do...

We have an ALLIN.

Tony (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=4) Kendall (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=4) moved all his chips in preflop with Tc Td but mistimed the move as he ran into Ac Ad...

The board proved largely irrelevant and Tikay's Tens didn't improve, meaning he was heart-breakingly out on the cusp of the bubble. Mike (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=670) Lacey (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=670), who has taken over some of the microphone duties fromm Neill, gave Tikay a fitting sending off...

"Say goodbye to Mr Blondepoker, Mr Apat, Mr Skypoker, Mr EVERYTHING, TIKAYYYYYY"

Here is Tikay in his final moments in the tournament..

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5078&g2_serialNumber=1)

And here he is receiving the first of many offers of handshakes....Yes Tikay LOOKS like he is refusing the handshake but trust me, that's jsut bad timing due to my amateur photographic abilities. Tikay took his defeat in good grace, and he will tell you on his blog how much he enjoyed this tournament and passed the fun he had on to all around him.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5080&g2_serialNumber=1)

All I can say to Tikay is gg nh wp ul.

Andrew Grimmason (Chub to his friends, says Gary McLovin Clarke) is OUT.

Chub was holding, ummm, Q-4. His opponent - Aces. Oops.

Ollie Boise, or Kelly as he seems to be down on list as though he swears his name is Boise, is OUT. All in on a 4c 5c 8h flop, his  Ahrt Kd was looking pretty comfortable against his opponent's Ks Th until, obviously the Tc turn. The Jh river did nothing for him and he's gone.

Also OUT is a gent whom I believe he is Seamus Aldridge.

Brian O'Keeffe is OUT, all in with 9-T against Paddy Tobin's pocket Aces. There was a Ten on the flop, but there was an Ace too, and with no miracle improvement for O'Keeffe, he's gone.

Ok, jsut to clarify how the bubble situation worked...30 players were officially paid, not the 31 I claimed earlier. Slight communication breakdown. Apparently some people don't speak fluent cat.

Anyway, with 30 paid, 31 was the bubble spot but once the last 2 eliminations occurred and we were down to 31 players, the players amongst themselves agreed upon lopping 900 euros off the top prize to give to 31, meaning the bubble was effectively no more and
;mc; was over in record time!

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In other news, Rob Taylor just double in what seemed to be a 300k or so pot KK v TT.  A king on the flop secured it for him at an early stage and he is now sitting on a very useful stack.

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Jen remains on about 140k...They have split the tables into 3 now.

The official line is that they will be playing down to 2 tables tonight, although this will depend I think on how quickly players are eliminated.

Let's see what happens....

Double up for Anna Colley - 7d 7h against Pat Storne's  Aspades Jh. No improvement on the 8-K-T-2-5 board. "SHIP IT!!!!"

Also COlin Quarry is OUT in 29th.

Quick update - they will be playing down to final table tonight. Should be out of here in about half an hour at this rate. The exits are happening faster than we can report them...

Those payouts once again (with slight revision):

1        €36,100
2        €23,000
3        €13,000
4        €9,500
5        €8,500
6        €7,200
7        €6,000
8        €4,500
9        €3,000
10      €2,200
11-13  €1,700
14-16  €1,500
17-20  €1,100
21-30  €950
31      €900

Prizepool €137,000 total. Yay money!

Laxie has been buying us all drinks. Thanks Laxie! As you can see, we're all having a lovely time.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5102&g2_serialNumber=1)

Colette Murphy doubles up through a gentleman known only as Smurf - pocket Eights v A-Q, no improvement.

Jen Mason has taken out two players in a single blow.

Mike Apollonio moved in, and Mick ROssiter re-raised himself all in. Jen called.

Mike Apollonio -  Ahrt Kd

Mick Rossiter - Ac Tc

Jen Mason - Kh Kc

Board - Ts 7d 5c Jh 2c

Unlucky, Messrs Apollonio and Rossiter. Can someone else please say Yay Jen so I can maintain my totally unbiased journalistic eye?

Thomas "bomber" Nolan just got his chips allin versus ...er Mr. I'm not sure as he had jsut moved to the table. If anyone can help me out, that would be purrrfect...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5123&g2_serialNumber=1)

Thomas has quite a few chips and in fact had Mr. [you know] well covered.

Bomberman showed 3-3 and the unknown warrior had the mighty K-K...

The flop came a largely uninteresting Td 7h 6d...

...But then disaster struck for our mystery player as he was bombed by a 3 hitting the turn, completing the bomberman's set...

He was preparing to leave but a quite fantabulous [for him] KING arrived on the river in the nick of time to give him a higher set...

Here is Bomberman shrugging off defeat with a wave to Blonde's Laxie...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5125&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hou Man just moved allin and was called by Jimmy Kiernan.

Jimmy held AK and Hou was making a move with 8-6

The flop came out x -x -x (x being completely irrelevant cards) but a SIX on the turn put Hou Man into the lead, greeted with Jimmy throwing his hands up into the air.

He was rescued by an ACE on the river though! meaning Hou Man was eliminated and Jimmy picks up what could prove to be a crucial pot.

Here are our protagonists in their moments of despair and glory...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5140&g2_serialNumber=1)

215,000, slightly above the 170k or so average with 24 left.

Large-ish stacks seem to include Paddy Tobin, Tony Baitson and Jimmy Kiernan.

Sorry about the vagueness, but the stacks are so large as to make my attempts at counting them pretty meaningless - added to which, they're just flying around so fast that by the time I've counted, I'm out of date. I only know Jen's because she told me. Sorry.

Mick French is OUT -  Ad Th up against Connie O'Sullivan's  Ahrt Aspades with no miracle improvement for French. C'est la vie.

Thanks ;) We need some help tonight I must say. It's brilliant that there is so much action, but you can scarcely catch your breath sometimes so all assistance is appreciated!

I have to give special credit to blonde's Laxie, who has made it her personal mission to get us drunk tonight. She has made the updates even more of a laugh than they would have been so fair play Laxie. Here's one on us...

(http://www.nozzlescakecraft.co.uk/cakes/novelty/Guiness.JPG)

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Thomas "Bomber" Nolan has just claimed another victim in an interesting pot...

Seeing a flop of Q-Q-2 with Paddy Tobin, both players checked the flop.

The turn was a 5 and Nolan now pushed allin and was called fairly quickly by Paddy.

Thomas showed 3-3 and was no doubt a bit dismayed at the speed of his opponent's call. Dismayed, until Paddy turned over A-J that is!

The river 7 was a blank, meaning Thomas' stack was up to 520k and Paddy left the tournament with hsi tail firmly tucked between his legs...

Tony Baitson doubles up Anthony Lynch with 7d 7h v Lynch's Ad Th.

Board - Jd 3s 2c 3h Ts

A few hands later, though, Tony finds himself in a tricky spot, all in with pocket Tens against Anna COlley's pocket Jacks. The board comes 5-7-A-A - and we know she's hit before Neill announces it from the "WOOOARRRRR!!!" coming from the crowd - Ten. Anna Colley is OUT. SHIP IT! To Baitson.

Bomber Nolan is just going nuts. At one point a little while ago (it was maybe half an hour back, but ancient history in terms of shifting of chips) I saw him move all in for just under 200k on a Qh 8d Js flop. Michael Trimby really, really thought about it - and folded.

Bomber showed Ks 6c.

Colette Murphy doubled up Keith Cummins - not sure when the chips went in but Keith was holding Jd Kc and Colette Jc Qh. Actually I think it may have gone in on the flop... Either way, the board read 2h Qs 8d Ks 7s by the end of it...

Smurf Collette Murphy Has just doubled courtesy of Nicky Powers.

Nicky had her covered and got his chips in marginally in front with A-7 against Collette's K-Q...

A flop of K-T-3-6-6 was enough for Collette to double through though...

Jen has just played out a big pot with Enda Kendrick.

At 5k - 10k - 500, when Jen found 9-9, she decided to get her chips in preflop versus Enda, who sadly had Jen dominated with his T-T...

The flop came 5s 8s 3s and Jen looked fairly resignedly glum...

The turn was the 6c, giving Jen a few more outs but the river came the ..........

9!

Yes Jen spiked her 6 outer on the river to gift her a huge pot. In fact it was the last pot of the tournament tonight and we are breaking with 20 left, 2 tables returning tomorrow.

Although we don't have the official chip counts at the moment, Jen has over 300k and will return tomorrow in good shape.

Dana has some pictures ready to post so here they are but till tomorrow when we will return to follow Jen(and the other player)'s fortunes,

 ;stickaforkinme;