blonde poker forum

Welcome to the final GUKPT event of the year, the Grand Final at the Victoria Casino in London. This one is the biggy so for that reason, and also the sheer distance from the pressroom to the cardroom, there will be three of us covering this event. (Well the beagle will be getting the final day off).

By now, you're probably wondering what that item at the top of the page is. Well, now I'll tell you, it's the brand new Blonde clock that Bongo and I came up with a couple of months ago and have managed to implement into the updates. Basically, it works like any other tournament clock you're likely to see in a casino and will run in real time, and the updaters will manually keep it up to date during a tournament. So, no more needing to ask about the number of runners left, the blinds or indeed how much time left in this level. Yes, less work for everyone, hurrah! It's also exclusive to the Blonde updates, (Until the other sites all nick it off us).

With the buy-in starting at £3,000, this should weedle out all but the best players, and hopefully set us up with a high class field and some top quality play.

I think Flushy is playing too.

Play will start at the ungodly time of 1.30pm. Come and join us!

Or for a more indepth update, please head over to the 'Interactive' thread, where pictures and the ability to interact with the updating team and ask them for specific chip counts or news is available: http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=29257.0

(http://www.boyruageek.com/photos/rocket/ignition.jpg)

We have lift-off...Play is underway.

(Note: If the clock isn't working on your computer, i.e not properly counting down, try pressing crtl and f5 at the same time to refresh)

101   Jason Shellum
102   Fowzi Baroukh
103   Brian Gilbert
104   Huseyin Yilmaz
105   Chris Moore
106   Zafar Aslam
107   James Moult
108   Ben Grundy
201   Josh Gould
202   Trevor Pearson
203   Ali Zihni
204   Hongi Liu
205   Eughan Odea
206   Gary Wilson
207   Priyam Demel
208   Mickey Wernick
301   Arshad Hussain
302   Haran Paheerathan
303   Jeff Buffenbarger
304   G Garcia
305   Les Kerrigan
306   Martin Vallo
307   Jim Reid
308   Michael Denton
309   Jeff Duvall
401   David Smith
402   G Shaw
403   William Martin
404   Carlos Walker
405   Craig Owen
406   Jonothon Butters
407   Mazhar Nawab
408   Danny Dborin
409   Robbo Karoly
501   Sam George
502   Chris Sokrati
503   Barry Earnshaw
504   Horace Harvey
505   Panicos Ellinas
506   Pawan Nayyar
507   Robert Boon
508   Lalit Khajuria
509   Surinder Sunar
601   Kyle Macpherson
602   Daniel Smith
603   Michael Trimby
604   Dan Carter
605   Dan Samson
606   Dave Colclough
607   Anthony Hardy
608   Mark Forrester
609   Roberto Romanello
701   Dave Mayall
702   Patrick Slusarek
703   Maria Maceiras
704   Ketu Nathwani
705   Paul Leckey
706   David Gross
707   F Lopez
801   Ian Frazer
802   Marc Goodwin
803   John Duthie
804   Ian Nelson
805   Talal Shakerchi
806   Richard Herbert
807   Neil Channing
901   Barney Boatman
902   F Secola
903   Ben Akiva
904   Sami Yusuf
905   Jeff Rogers
906   Antony Phillips
907   John Murphy
1001   Ray Wyre
1002   Alan Dean
1003   Davood Mehrmand
1004   Dave Gregory
1005   Manuel Palanca
1006   Jon Heath
1007   Ken Wong
1101   Robin Keston
1102   Bambos Xanthos
1103   John Kabbaj
1104   Carl Buskirk
1105   Jan Brevik
1106   Ashley Alterman
1107   Alan Vinson
1201   David La Ronde
1202   Victoria Coren
1203   Scott Chaudhry
1204   Patrik Selin
1205   Nathan Lee
1206   Jeff Burke
1207   Stuart Fox

Robin Keston bets 5k into what seems to be an 1,800 pot on a Ad 8d Js board. Perhaps trying to get a push from a smaller set? :dontask:

Vicky Coren bets 600 on the river of an A-2-4-T-J board, her opponent mucks an Ace, she shows 5-3.

Manuel Palanca looks to be the early chipleader after Dave Gregory played his aces very strong on a 3c 2c 6d 8h 8s board, looking to include a 6k river bet. Manuel had flopped a set of threes and called him all the way.

Dan Carter is extolling to me the virtues of Guitar Hero 3 for the XBox/PS2 whilst limping UTG. He says the only disadvantage from playing it so often is the crippling arthritis you get from the mini guitar you get with the game... Anyway, the button raises and Dan is the only caller.

Both check the 7h Jh Js flop, Dan bets 250 on the 8d turn and then 500 on the 6d river, both times he's called, but his Td Th is good.

Whether you have 15k or 10k, it doesn't take long for those chips to go hurtling into the pot, and young Ketu Nathwani was all-in within the first 20 minutes. His opponent was a voluptuous and exotic Maria Maceiras, one of several Spanish players making the trip over to sunny Edgware Road today.

The Flop read 6s Ts 7d and Maria's 1.3k bet had been raised to 3.1k by Ketu. With a pained expression, and a dwell that would turn Carlo (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=60) Citrone (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=60) green with envy, Maria made the call before checking in the dark, which, in my experience, is often a sign that they want their opponent to check behind them.

However, with the Turn bringing a Qd, a check was the last thing on the mind of Ketu, who bet out 2.7k. Grimacing in equal measure, Maria once again called.

The River was a 2s, which triggered a bizarre 1.8k bet from Maria. With his eyes darting around like nervous jelly, Ketu paused before announcing all-in in that funny quick push Hellmuth motion.

After a long long loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong dwell, Maria folded Ks Kd face-up.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5806&g2_serialNumber=1)

Two players are OUT. One being Carl Buskira who had two pair against Robin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=379) Keston (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=379)'s set. The other player is unknown so far since he's an alternative who held 8-4 vs 2-2 on an 8-4-2-K-5 board.

Stuart (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) Fox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419), Jim Moult and Ben (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=45) Grundy (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=45) are all sitting together, though it looks like Grundy has already lost half his stack, and Fox, a third.

Ben just took a 2k+ pot from Foxy though, betting 500 on the turn and river of a 7s 6s Tc 4c 2d board with Kh Th and getting paid off.

P.S Don't tell Foxy the players that there are free cheeky vimtos at the bar!

The tinternet connection here at the Vic, is, as usual incredibly stupidly slow meaning it takes an age to get photos.

Just a message for all the guests who haven't signed up to blonde yet. :)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5649&g2_serialNumber=1)

Short-stacked Dave Gregory is out courtesy of Davood Merhmand A-K into Aces.

Other exits are Jeff Duvall who slowplayed Kings against Roberto Romanello, but allowed Ash Hussain to come into the pot with 3c 2c and flop two pair on a Q-2-3 board.

It's not all smiles for Travolta Hussain though, as Zafar Aslam is OUT, holding Ad Ac versus Chris Moore's flopped flush on a Kd Qd 7d board.

We're on a break. Oh but you already know that because of the clock...::)

Meanwhile the players have been told about a wrap awards ceremony taking place on Monday night, which includes a player of the year, best/worst move, bad beat of the year and a best dressed player of the year and a worst dressed player of the year.

I'm backing Paul Parker for the last two awards.

Ben Grundy is no longer on tilt, he's back over his original stack just having been paid off for 3,600 by Huseyin Yilmaz on a 9h 3d Tc 7c Aspades board. Grundy showing the 8h 6h.

Michael Trimby raises from the cutoff, Dan Carter calls from the button.

Flop:

3c 4c 6h

Trimby bets 850, Carter makes it 2k, Trimby decides that's not enough and bumps it up to 4.8k. Dan Carter now moves in for 10.1k and Trimby ends up passing.

The Poker Gods are a cruel bunch. Most of the time they keep relatively quiet, perhaps deep in sleep or watching something on the box, but now and then, they awake from their slumber or daily dose of reality TV to strike down a lightening bolt of misfortune on the table, if only for their own amusement. The victim this time around was a battered and bruised Chris Moore, his dejected, yet composed face taking one on the chin and forcing him to simply shrug in that 'what can you do' way.

The hand itself actually caught my attention when the dealer abruptly called out for a ruling. I, along with the TD that I virtually pushed out the way, raced over to the table to see what all the fuss was about. When we arrived, all eager eyed, the situation was that Fowzi Baroukhi had limp-called a 1,150 raise from Huseyin Yilmaz only to be told that Chris Moore had made it 6,125 from the small blind.

Slightly panicky that he might have to stick in half his stack, Fowzi was relieved to learn that he could fold and sacrifice the extra 850 that he'd put into the pot. And indeed, he did fold, leaving Huseyin to push all his chips in behind him. Chris made the obligatory call, but would have done so whatever the price was. What was most surprising, however, was that his Ad Ahrt was up against a rather paltry Ac 5c (!).

"That's what happens when you're on tilt," reveals tablemate Ben Grundy. "Big tilt," adds neighbour Jim Moult.

But tilt or no tilt, it's a funny old game as Jimmy Greaves once said, and as the dealer popped out a Jc 2d 7c Flop, I think we all knew what was coming, even when the Turn brought an innocent 8d.

River = 9c

Ouch! 1-0 to the Poker Gods.

You want action? Well, we'll give you action. In fact, one moment, let me just dig out the action shot we have...

;as;

There you go! Kaboom!

It was a simple affair really, some pre-flop action and a Qc 8h 7h Flop triggering a 6k bet from Tony Phillips, followed by a brisk all-in from Selin before a final call from Tony.

The 2007 Gutshot Series of Poker Champion, Tony, seemed a little reluctant even as he called, but felt that he couldn't fold. He was right to be fearful in the end, as his Ac Ahrt were in deep doggy doo against Selin's Qs Qh.

Turn = 8s

River = Ts

Cruel blow for Phillips and his Pocket Rockets, but elation for Selin who takes a commanding chip lead in this GUKPT Grand Final.

Alan Vinson -- 6k and looking a bit glum

Dan Samson has doubled up thanks to Sam George who called his all-in push with Kc 7d on a Kd 6h 9d board only to find himself up against Kh 9c and in trouble, the Tc offered that glimmer of hope that so often comes...but was equally quickly dashed by the 9h river.

Ray Wyre, one of only 7 players to have played every GUKPT event this year, (Thewy and Channing being amongst the others) is out.

News of the exits of Craig Owen & Jonathan Butters.  Not in the same hand but no other details.

Maria Maceiras, the sometime spanish-updater, is OUT with Eights against Paul Leckey's Fives on a 9-7-3-9-5 board.

The dinner break is 30 minutes long at the end of this level. But the players have all already been served food, (which didn't seem too popular, the food that is, not the being served at the table). So we're all off to rush to McDonalds for some healthy food.

Marc Goodwin is OUT

All I know is on a board of

 Kc Qs Th  4d  Js

They were on their backs with Marc holding  Tc Jh but his oppo already flopped the hand with  Ad Jd.

Zafar Aslam (one of the 8 Aslam brothers who play poker) is now OUT after clashing with Kevin Moore. After he ran into a spot of misfortune and kick-in-the-balls-ament earlier, it was Kevin's turn to bust the Bullets this time, calling a raise with 7d 5d and then a re-raise from Zafar before hitting a rather splendid all diamond Flop. Zafar had the Ad, but his hopes were fruitless as the Turn and River brought blanks.

Talal Shakerchi (yes, I promise that is a real name) has just been eliminated by Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) equipped with a cool, subtle performance that could earn him a Oscar nomination. I expect there was some pre-flop action, but when I joined the action, the board read Qs 4c 8d 9d and Neil had bet out 2,600 following a check from Talal.

Talal then doubled the bet to 5,600 and sat back in his chair, consequently provoking Neil to pensively exude a "hmm" sound as if perplexed by the move. He then paused for a moment, before flicking in all of his chips in with Qd Qh for 11,100 more, perhaps hoping that his bet looked like a flush draw of some kind.

In the end, it was all rather academic as Talal had 8c 8s for a nasty set over set encounter that sees him go hurtling towards the rail in disgruntlement.

The following players were sent packing just before the break or very recently:

Sam George
Barry Earnshaw
Panicos Ellinas
Robert Boon
Martin Vallo
Ashley Alterman

Chip from the start of level 5:

1   1   101   Jason Shellum   13600
1   2   102   Fowzi Baroukh   7975
1   3   103   Brian Gilbert   19625
1   4   1005   Manuel Palanca   38500
1   5   105   Chris Moore   22125
1   6   1107   Alan Vinson   11150
1   7   107   James Moult   30750
1   8   108   Ben Grundy   23125
1   9   1207   Stuart Fox   14300
2   1   201   Josh Gould   8900
2   2   202   Trevor Pearson   6900
2   3   203   Ali Zihni   22675
2   4   1102   Bambos Xanthos   30200
2   5   206   Gary Wilson   12850
2   6   205   Eughan Odea   18250
2   7   207   Priyam Demel   27825
2   8   208   Mickey Wernick   12825
2   9   1203   Scott Chaudhry   6650
3   1   301   Arshad Hussain   31700
3   2   302   Haran Paheerathan   26700
3   3   303   Jeff Buffenbarger   15675
3   4   304   G Garcia   17450
3   5   305   Les Kerrigan   6250
3   6   1006   Jon Heath   15225
3   7   609   Roberto Romanello   14250
3   8   308   Michael Denton   16250
3   9   1206   Jeff Burke   13400
4   1   704   Ketul Nathwani   21925
4   2   402   G Shaw   16650
4   3   403   William Martin   10500
4   4   404   Carlos Walker   14250
4   5   1105   Jan Brevik   14100
4   7   407   Mazhar Nawab   30225
4   8   408   Danny Dborin   19475
4   9   409   Robbo Karoly   24950
5   1   1007   Ken Wong   49150
5   2   502   Chris Sokrati   17975
5   6   506   Pawan Nayyar   13400
5   7   307   Jim Reid   16000
5   8   508   Lalit Khajuria   17500
5   9   509   Surinder Sunar   8900
6   1   601   Kyle Macpherson   7225
6   3   1205   Nathan Lee   30500
6   4   604   Dan Carter   29650
6   5   605   Dan Samson   19725
6   6   606   Dave Colclough   34575
6   7   607   Anthony Hardy   17300
6   8   608   Mark Forrester   19000
7   1   701   Dave Mayall   12600
7   2   702   Patrick Slusarek   53175
7   4   1002   Alan Dean   23150
7   5   705   Paul Leckey   2900
7   6   706   David Gross   7925
7   7   707   F Lopez   23825
7   8   204   Hongi Liu   21200
7   9   1101   Robin Keston   25425
8   1   801   Ian Frazer   21575
8   3   803   John Duthie   14950
8   4   401   David Smith   6525
8   5   901   Barney Boatman   13900
8   6   806   Richard Herbert   19325
8   7   807   Neil Channing   36475
8   8   1202   Victoria Coren   16350
8   9   1103   John Kabbaj   24625
9   1   504   Horace Harvey   20350
9   3   903   Ben Akiva   14075
9   4   904   Sami Yusuf   12250
9   5   905   Jeff Rogers   15500
9   6   804   Ian Nelson   11100
9   7   907   John Murphy   19025
9   8   1204   Patrik Selin   44225
9   9   1003   Davood Mehrmand   20125

Barney Boatman is OUT. John Kabbaj limped UTG, Ian Fraser raised behind him in UTG+1, Barney called in mid-position with Tc 7c and Kabbaj called as well.

The flop came out A-J-4 with two clubs, Kabbaj lead out for 3,000. Fraser got out of the way and Barney raised to I think 9,000 commiting himself. Kabbaj was holding trip fours though and the mobster missed his flush draw and has now departed the building.

Dan Carter has whirlwinded himself up to over 40k. A hand before the break he limped in with Aspades Ts, saw a T-6-3 flop with two hearts, bet 600 and called a raise to 1,700 from the button. The turn was an offsuit 7, Dan checked, and was faced with a 4,400 bet which seemed excessively large for someone holding a set, he set his opponent in and was rewarded with being shown Kh 8h which missed the river. A couple of hands later he just knocked out another player with A-Q vs A-J AIPF, El Blondie indicated of the A-J man, "I think he was just bored..."

Surindar Sunar has knocked out Pawan Nayyar with Aces vs Jacks.

Paul Leckey did the traditional 'I'll put my coat on while I got my money in behind so that I'll certainly hit one of my three cards' dance, he was all-in with Jc Ts against David Mayall's Aspades Js, he turned away from the table as he put his coat on and...

(http://www.tuxpaint.org/gallery/antonis/BOOM.png)

Th was the first card to propel back him up to 5k.

Finally, Prian De Mel (not in one of those godawful jumpers for once) moves in on a Qd 8d 7h against Bambos' bet causing the clock to be called and Bambos mucking claiming Kings. Prian equally not showing claimed Sevens.

Funny you should mention the luckmeister and more of it to Jamie Moult because he just knocked out Ben Grundy.  Jim raised it up with  Ad 4h and was called by Ben with  Kc 2c, they see this flop

 3c 3d Ac

Jim bet 2k and Ben smooth called to see the turn

 4d

Jim again bet out 6k and Ben moved in for another 5k which of course Jim called, a nothing 2 on the river and Jim picks up a healthy 15k pot and Grundy is no more.

Paul 'Lucky' Leckey (if that isn't his nickname, then it should be, just for the alliteration) has just doubled up courtesy of EPT Barcelona finalist Robin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=379) Keston (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=379). Leckey was actually standing at the time, the 4-T-2-3 board with A-J versus K-T looking like it was going to send the Irishman packing until the Five River handed him the wheel.

Keston didn't look too chuffed, as you can imagine, but he still has 20k and could afford to take the hit.

-----------

Bad news for Dave Smith fans, your leader has now departed at the hands of Richard Herbert, Pocket Twos versus 8-9 suited all-in pre-flop. Something tells me Dave was short at the time.

Foxy up to around 26k having knocked out Jason Shellum with Ac 4d vs Kh Jh on a 7c 2s Td 8c Qs board, all-in preflop.

Ian Nelson has doubled through Dan Sampson in one of those Aces vs Kings battles.

Jeff Buffenbarger is OUT. He mucked on the river when his opponent showed K-Q on a 2-T-3-K-6 board.

I think I've worked out Patrik Selin's battle plan, and it's some what of the Ali Mallu ilk in that those chips go hurtling in quicker than a hiccup.The most recent example was against Irishman Paul Leckey in which I had to double check the pot, as there only appeared to be about a thousand in the middle. Anyhow, the board read 4c 2d 3d, and a no mess Selin put Leckey all-in for around circa 14k. Initially rather hesitant, an animated Leckey gently prodded his single column across the line in three motions and was relieved to see that his Qh Qs was in front against Selin's 5d 4h.

A 'fair enough' nod from Leckey and out came the Turn, a harmless Tc. Leckey waved his arms as if to say, "Okay, one down, just another bullet to dodge" before pointing gratefully at the dealer as the River brought a Kd.

Breaking News!!!

Ok everyone, which is more shocking. The fact that Vicky Coren is reading the Daily Mail, or perhaps worse, she's managed to muck up the 1-star difficulty (out of 5) Sudoku on the puzzle page.

Perhaps not as clever as her excellent Guardian columns have always suggested?

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5902&g2_serialNumber=1)

Watching the table with Dave Colclough on a hand develops between Danny Samson and Dave which on a board of:

 Qh Th Kd

it went check check then they see

 Jh Danny bet out 1,600 and Dave just called

River  8d  Danny bet 3,200 Dave called and showed  Ahrt  Kc and Danny mucked.


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


The very next hand I was beckoned to another table for a question about the £3k bonus for being end of day chip leader (which is true btw), which resulted in me again missing the start of the hand that had Danny Samson all in for his tourny life. The board was

 5d 4s 8d

the middle of the table was sprinkled in various coloured chips and mateyboy (I miss matey due to the number system that GUKPT's use- his was missing) was on a massive dwell that would have left him very short if he called Danny and lost.  In the end, a shrug of the shoulders is silently declared and his chips crossed the line and we saw  Js Jh

but Danny lovingly turned over  6c 7c for the flopped straight, made hands are all I have found today!!  A jack on the river did nothing to help Matey and Danny pole vaults to about 30k.

Patrik Selin and Paul Leckey have been locking horns like two water buffaloes where one has just found out that the other has been sleeping with his buffalo wife. The latest encounter swung in the favour of Selin, whose elated yelp spoke volumes. All the chips flew in on a Kd 4s 7d 7h board, both players holding a 7, but Selin with the superior Ace kicker. No miracle 6 (or 4 or King, for that matter) on the River and it was all over for Leckey... but wait, he's still in with a massive 150, which I have to confess lured out an undeniable chuckle from the rail (no names!).

But oh how we jest, the very next hand it was Leckey who was laughing at us, all-in on the small blind (David Gross was fooled by the all-in and put 300 in for the big instead of 400), protection was offered by Selin who raised it up to 1,300 in late position, but it went three handed when Gross called from the big.

Both inevitably checked down the 5s 7s Jd Flop, before Gross pushed his man off the 2s Turn with a 1,800 bet. A Kc 6c reveal from Gross raised a few eyebrows, and it was behind to Leckey's 5h 4d which survived the Qd River. "Why did he bet that with Leckey all-in?" inquired the rail, but I didn't see anything too wrong with the bet personally, the side pot was worth taking if he thought his man was weak. Not too sure about the pre-flop call though with K-6 suited, seems unnecessarily adventurous.

We have lost Davood Merhmand & John Murphys chips have been shipped to Robin (Alexis) Keston.



Jeff Rogers goes all in after raising to 2,100 and Michael Denton passes to put Jeff upto 10,400

Chip counts at the start of this level (7).  Play will end after level 9 tonight...

1   1   1103   John Kabbaj   37200
1   2   102   Fowzi Baroukh   2550
1   3   103   Brian Gilbert   19150
1   4   1005   Manuel Palanca   39175
1   5   105   Chris Moore   19300
1   6   1107   Alan Vinson   21325
1   7   107   James Moult   56025
1   9   1207   Stuart Fox   25250
2   1   201   Josh Gould   9800
2   3   203   Ali Zihni   20550
2   4   1102   Bambos Xanthos   41025
2   5   206   Gary Wilson   19600
2   6   205   Eughan Odea   17050
2   7   207   Priyam Demel   33050
2   8   208   Mickey Wernick   9825
2   9   701   Dave Mayall   10850
3   1   301   Arshad Hussain   24925
3   2   302   Haran Paheerathan   24625
3   3   1202   Victoria Coren   6800
3   4   905   Jeff Rogers   11175
3   6   1006   Jon Heath   22150
3   7   609   Roberto Romanello   46875
3   8   308   Michael Denton   44475
3   9   403   William Martin   15250
4   1   704   Ketul Nathwani   47775
4   2   402   G Shaw   10375
4   3   1101   Robin Keston   17300
4   4   404   Carlos Walker   13800
4   6   907   John Murphy   11775
4   7   407   Mazhar Nawab   38450
4   8   408   Danny Dborin   25425
4   9   409   Robbo Karoly   25600
5   1   1007   Ken Wong   44900
5   2   502   Chris Sokrati   21450
5   3   504   Horace Harvey   17400
5   4   904   Sami Yusuf   15350
5   5   1003   Davood Mehrmand   5900
5   6   807   Neil Channing   49775
5   7   307   Jim Reid   5400
5   8   508   Lalit Khajuria   16750
5   9   509   Surinder Sunar   42725
6   1   801   Ian Frazer   16050
6   2   804   Ian Nelson   5750
6   3   1205   Nathan Lee   48550
6   4   604   Dan Carter   34850
6   5   605   Dan Samson   36925
6   6   606   Dave Colclough   32975
6   7   607   Anthony Hardy   9150
6   8   608   Mark Forrester   16950
7   1   806   Richard Herbert   45500
7   2   702   Patrick Slusarek   52525
7   3   1204   Patrik Selin   47500
7   4   1002   Alan Dean   18700
7   5   705   Paul Leckey   550
7   6   706   David Gross   18650
7   7   707   F Lopez   18300
7   8   204   Hongi Liu   16575

Jeff (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=196) Rogers (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=196) is out, calling a pre-flop raise with A-Q before pushing a on a King high flop. Roberto (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=376) Romanello (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=376) called with Aces.

Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) D'Borin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=986) is also biting dust, raising all-in with Jh Js, but being called by Robin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=379) Keston (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=379)'s Ahrt Qd. 7d 4s Qh 4c Td board.

Les Kerrigan is also OUT.

Picture the scene:

There's roughly 30k in the pot and Sami Yusuf puts Lalit Khajuria all-in for his last 1800 on the turn of a 9c 7c 2s 5c board.

Lalit passes.

Neil Channing and Soxy look bemused. A little like this:

(http://wcse.typepad.com/wcse/images/2007/03/28/huh.jpg)

Qd 9s 7s board, Stuart Fox checks, Mickey Wernick bets 2k, Manuel Palanca calls. Foxy makes it 7k, Mickey passes, Manuel calls. Both check the Qc turn, then Foxy leads out for 8k on the Ad river. Manuel passes, Foxy shows Jc Ts.

(http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5016/cheekymonkey0wg.jpg)

John Murphy, Paul Leckey and Josh Gould are all out.

You don't need cards to accrue chips, as ducker and diver Stuart (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) Fox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) is currently proving. His latest mugging was against Bambos Xanthos, the Cyprian hotelier check-calling Foxy's 5k bet on a 6h 5c 2h Flop before betting out 10k on the 3h Turn. A quick glance down and riffle through his chips later, and Foxy was announcing all-in, thus leaving Bambos slightly flummoxed. After a long dwell, and although he had a large portion of his stack committed, Bambos opted for the fold, but was cheekily shown Kh Ts by a cool cucumbery Foxy.

Vicky Coren down to a lowly 6k went all in blind from the cut off, she was gladly called by Roberto Romanello with 99 & the button with K 9.  Vicky's shock at seeing the Jacks was increased by trebling up too.  Great timing!


Alan Vinson is on 15k and "hiding 30k in back pocket" he wishes.

Vicky had Jh Jc and the board came 2h Ahrt 6h 4d Qh giving her a cheeky flush. Keep the eye candy in I say!

Priyan De Mel is OUT. He limped utg the gun with Qc Js, Maz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=277) Nawab (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=277) limped behind him and they saw a flop along with the blinds of Ad Ks 2h. De Mel bet out convinced he could take the pot down with the strength of his UTG limp, Maz called and the blinds folded. The turn was a 4d, and Prian was still convinced he could take Maz off any sort of ace, with a move in and so he pushed, but Maz had the one hand that could call, a flopped set of deuces which took the pot after no Ten appeared on the river.

Ken (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=232) Wong (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=232), who has been rather inactive of late, has just doubled up off Surinder (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=422) Sunar (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=422) with K-9 against Tens and made two pair.

Meryeysider (I hope, I get confused between them and the Geordies) Gary Shaw is running hot, first doubling up with Jacks versus Carlos Walker's A-K, before pushing all-in over the top of Ketu Nathwani and forcing him to fold. Unfortunately, he's still got under 20k... but at least he's back in the game.

Maz Nawab and Roberto Romanello look to be our chip leaders with around 80k each.

**  FOXY SOXY REPORT  **

Stuart Fox - 55,000 (even after doing 15,000 "being stupid")
Chris Sokrati - 18,200


Don't know how Dan Carter lost some chips but with about 12k is raising and reraising frequently (Ian Frazer 2 hands in a row) picking up those much needed blinds and antes.

Yes, he let a rather inappropriate loud shout of "Yes!" as the river card failded to help Surindar.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5914&g2_serialNumber=1)

Note Maria "I look like a boy" Demetriou in the background.

Here are Geordie for future reference.

(http://hometown.aol.co.uk/glamrockbear2/images/geordie%20cover.jpg)

So just to as I went to add a Soxy picture to his count I see him double up through Surinder Sunar who is doing a marvelous effort in spreading the wealth on his table. 

Chris Sokrati raised to 2,200 preflop and had a donator in Surinder.  On a 3 3 8 flop Soxy carried on the bet this time 3k, again Surinder called.  A 10 on the turn brought a check from both players then a queen on the river induced a 4k bet this time from Chris, leaving himself about 9k behind.  Surinder picked up a tall stack to effectively put Soxy all in, he makes the call but now not 100% sure he has the best hand. 

He needn't had worried because his  Kh Ks brought about an insta muck for Sunar.  I think Surinder just had it in his head Chris was "at it" and was a little skewif this time.   

Soxy - 39,000

blondeite Mark Forrester is a gonna, and an unlucky gonna to boot after his Pocket Queens were outdrawn by Dan Carter's A-5 suited, Carter spiking the Ace on the Turn.

Spaniard F Lopez, part of the visiting poker troupe from Spain... Seriously what should I call a group of poker players? A bad beat of players? A flop of players? A deck of players? A flush of players?

Anyway he just doubled up moving in on a 3d 7c 5h board with Ahrt Qc but got a call from Patrick Slusarek, who at least has dibs on the coolest surname today, with Ts Th, the turn paired the 5c before the river Qs gave the Rod Paradise lookalike the pot. (Photo to come later)

Surindar Sunar has just doubled up through Neil (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302) Channing (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=302), 6d Js 8s board, Channing set him with 7s 7h and Sunar duly called with Ahrt Jh.

Dan Carter knocked out Liverpool's and double GUKPT finalist Ian Nelson, it wasn't a big pot though - just the scrappy 25's & 100's which makes Carter's stack look like the table thief...


Vicky Coren is low again and ordering a glass a champagne to be brought sharpish incase SHE goes out sharpish.


Dave Colclough doubles up through a matey, on a board of

 3c 9d 6d 7d  Dave pushed with Kd 8c and was called by Js 7c.  Dave hit a diamond on the river to go up to about 45K.

"This is the level that'll sort the men out from the boys," suggested an astute Floppy, and I think he might be right, as it's gone double up crazy in here as we near the end of day.

Ash Hussain was one of the unfortunate victims, an A-J versus A-Q battle of the blinds confrontation with neighbour Haran Paheerathan seeing him drop to the paltry sum of 1,275. As Ash's change was returned to him following the ineffective 7-9-9-6-4 rainbow board, he fanned out his chips dejectedly in that familiar way that shortstackers do when they've just lost a big pot.

Another double up involved Ken Wong, his chips heading in the direction of Surinder Sunar whose A-J rivered an Ace against Wong's 9-9 on an 8-K-4-T-A board. Wong still has around the 30k mark.

Bluesquare have kindly offered the chip leader of each day a free seat in next year's final, and so with no one truly running away with it, several players will be keeping a keen eye on that Brucie bonus as the day draws to a close. One of those is 'naughty' Maz Nawab, who just took a nice pot of Ketu Nathwani. With Ketu calmly check-raising (4,025 to 15,000) on a Td 2s 5c Flop, Maz mulled up his options before making it 40k to play. Ketu tapped the table and quickly mucked his hand leaving Maz with a great chance of grabbing that 3.5k seat.

Sorry to say Alan has biten the bullet at the last hurdle and is OUT.

0.

Sami Yusuf moved all-in from the small blind and Alan took his chance with Aspades 2d against the big stack only to find himself in trouble versus Ac Kc.

Foxy has joined the Roberto Romanello/Maz Nawab fight for the free seat for next year. All three have around 110k with around 15 minutes left. Foxy, seen here racking up the chips after calling a 13k river bet with Ahrt Td on a 8s 7h 3h 9s Jh, his opponent can only show Ad Ks.

Here he is:

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5928&g2_serialNumber=1)

Maz Nawab is the chip leader at the end of the day winning the £3,000 seat for next year. He has around 127k, pipping Stuart Fox who had 123k, literally a blind steals difference.

Anyway we're off to sleep. Play restarts at 1.30pm. See you there.

;stickaforkinme;

Chip Counts:

Mazhar Nawab   127,000
Stuart Fox   126,350
Roberto Romanello   99,825
Patrik Selin   80,675
Neil Channing   67,525
Sami Yusuf   65,300
Nathan Lee   51,725
Ali Zihni   50,750
Chris Moore   46,750
Robin Keston   43,925
Richard Herbert   42,550
James Moult   42,100
David Colclough   41,400
John Kabbaj   37,875
Carlos Walker   36,500
Eughan Odea   33,100
Mickey Wernick   32,950
Jon Heath   31,175
Ken Wong   30,875
Dan Carter   28,175
Manuel Palanca   26,450
Horace Harvey   25,575
Dan Samson   25,250
Chris Sokrati   23,675
Surinder Sunar   23,525
Ketul Nathwani   21,325
Anthony Hardy   20,975
Victoria Coren   18,875
Michael Denton   18,150
Haran Paheerathan   17,450
Alan Dean   16,800
William Martin   13,950
Gary Wilson   12,375
Ian Frazer   11,950
G Shaw   1,375