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Er, we've actually just finished Day 1 and are still at DTD, but seeing as they're starting again in 10 hours, it seems thoroughly appropriate to start the threads.

Hello! Welcome back to lovely DTD, where 173 players started on Day 1 and a mere 42 have made it through to Day 2. These are they, barring illegibility of names on the chip count forms, etc:

Table 11:

Toni Le -- 30,800
Ben Dons -- 21,200
James Moult -- 25,800
Terry Arnord -- 53,300
Phil Hughes -- 15,000
Nigel Hill -- 26,500
Sam Saville-Barton -- 43,600
Steven Mills -- 18,300
Neil Henshaw -- 13,600

Table 12:

Chin Koh -- 40,300
John Cann -- 29,400
Kevin Lund -- 81,900
Chung Hoang -- 34,000
Ouday Hikary -- 119,600
Petter Haere -- 85,500
Daniel Platter -- 32,700
Zhenru Xie -- 78,700

Table 14:

Lam Trinh -- 44,300
George Kennedy -- 24,000
Goasdowe Erwan -- 27,100
Rob Woodcock -- 21,600
Lucy Rokach -- 51,000
Gareth Melson -- 41,400
Daniel Byrom -- 64,500
David Stratton -- 23,000

Table 23:

Richard Hawes -- 24,100
John Simons -- 19,200
Matt Tyler -- 42,800
Karl Bullock -- 37,800
Rob Allen -- 11,100
Joe Stevenson -- 35,200
Chris Bruce -- 31,100
Anthony Nicholls -- 6,100
Dave Smith -- 31,200

Table 25:

Maz Charalambous -- 35,400
Pete Linton -- 144,200
Garinder Purewal -- 129,600
John Burke -- 26,800
Alan Stearn -- 81,900
Nick Whiten -- 18,800
Ramazanali Abbassi -- 27,400

See you at 3pm! I hope we get Sunday lunch, but it might be another DTD burger for me and Snoops...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14060&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sorry, all you bokkers, Mr Richard Hawes is OUT, running some sort of not-as-good-as-Aces hand into the Aces of Mr Dave Smith. He is currently in the bar with a cup of coffee.

Mr Chin Koh makes it 4.8k, and the gentleman in seat 2, whom we believe is John Cann, makes it All In, or 26k total. Mr Koh, who reminds us a bit of Hiro Nakamura from popular television drama "Heroes" when he speaks, says, "Are we still friends if I call?" He folds though. Mr Cann shows A-Q offsuit.

The first player out today was in fact Tony Nicholls, who was so short that he felt obliged to call all-in blind from the big blind after Alan Stearn raised his button.

Alan Stearn = Kh Qs

Tony Nicholls = 9d 2c

Board = Kd 3h 4c 4h 2d

"He played it well," joked Nick Whiten as Tony departed, with a sporting smile I might add.

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

Also joining the early afternoon queue at the bar is Gareth Nelson, the youngster perhaps messing with the unmessable as he clashed with the mighty Lucy Rokach. I joined the action just in time to see Lucy (small blind) bet out on a Qh 4h 6c 5h only to be re-raised by Gareth in the big. In what felt like a machine gun smattering of action, Lucy announced all-in and Gareth called.

Lucy = 5c 4c

Gareth = Kh 4d

Gareth ran through the cards he required, but they failed to emerge as the River came a harmless Td.

Also doubling up - Mr Neil Henshaw, holding Aces against a less good hand belonging to Mr Terry Arnold.

Not quite doubling up, but grinding his way to victory: Mr Chris Bruce. Matt "Cromwell" Tyler makes it 4.5k and Chris makes it All In for not a huge amount more. Matt shakes his head, smiles and passes A-Q offsuit.

We joked earlier about the yoyo-ability of Pete Linton, but I've come to realise that it's far from an understatement. Not since my first experience of an adult movie have I witnessed such rapid up and down motions, Pete Linton's stack possessing the boingability of a kanagaroo on a trampoline. After losing a chunk of his stack with A-K versus Sixes (a set on the River apparently), Pete then made a move with (ahem) J-6, pushing over the top of Alan Stearn on an Ace high Flop. Unfortunately, Stearn had an Ace, and bizarrely didn't respect Pete's play, and called quicker than a jet propelled whippet.

After that hand, Maz Charalambous waltzed over to me, grabbed my pad and wrote down the words 'Linton on full tilt'. Something tells me that he wasn't referring to the online cardroom and suggesting that Pete was simultaneously attacking the virtual felt with a lappie on his lap, but that perhaps Pete's demise was nigh. However, those predictions are yet to see the light of day, Pete in fact doubling up just moments ago with Aces on a raggy board.

As a result, Pete is now back over the 50k mark, but we'll keep a firm eye fixed on his current table as there are sure to be more fireworks than a decade of November 5ths.

The young emo-stylee-barnetted gent in this photo, presumed to be one Phil Hughes, is OUT. I'm assuming that the chips went in on the flop or turn, as there were two clubs on said flop and another on the turn - Mr Hughes was holding 5c Jc and Mr Dave Smith was holding Ac 9c. Ouch.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14137&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Chung Hoang is also OUT after a good call from Mr Kevin Lund. Mr Lund made it 3k on a Tc Ts 6c flop and Mr Hoang made it All In for 28k. Eventually Lund called.

Kevin Lund - 9s 9d
Chung Hoang - 8c 8h

Turn - 3d (not an Eight)
River - Kc (also not an Eight)

Mr Chris Bruce, Grinder Of The Tournament, is still in!!! with just over 30k, I reckon. Furthermore, he is multi-tasking most impressively, apparently both reading this update and playing the tournament at the same time. Hello, chrisbruce!

Caught in "I'll get my coat" motion, there has been further exitage in the form of George Kennedy. All-in with Aspades Ks versus the 6d 6c of Daniel Byrom, the board, and George's inner thoughts, came out as such...

8d = good card

9c = good card

9s = sweaty palm card

5h = good card, one more of those please...

Ad = Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That's a bad card in case anyone didn't realise what the Argh! meant)

Full chip counts courtesy of, well... us. Yay us!

Pete Linton -- 85k
Erwan Goasdowe -- 46.5k
Alan Stearn -- 131k
Lucy Rokach -- 43k
Karl Bullock -- 28.5k
Daniel Byrom -- 116.5k
David Stratton -- 56k
John Burke -- 21k

Chin Koh -- 51.5k
Garinder Purewal -- 177k
Kevin Lund -- 125k
Ouday Hikary -- 133k
Joe Stevenson -- 42k
Petter Haere -- 51k
Daniel Platten -- 28.5k
Xia Zhenru -- 71.5k

Matt Tyler -- 31k
Jim Moult -- 40k
Maz Charalambous -- 65.5k
Nick Whiten -- 25.5k
Steven Mills -- 31.5k
Sam Saville-Barton -- 65.5k
Dave Smith -- 96.5k
Chris Bruce -- 83.5k

Grinder Of Like, Forever, Mr Chris Bruce - currently on around 80k! That's above average!

Pete Linton's chip count is a bit misleading, it makes it seem like he's just been sort of average or something, which is not the case. As I wandered over to his table, he was pretty short on 40k or so  - big surprise, he'd lost a massive hand just moments earlier - and he was now all in, called by Lucy Rokach. And he's ahead!

Pete Linton - Th Td
Lucy Rokach - 8h 8s

Board - and Eightless  Aspades 3s Qc 9c 6h

It takes almost forever to count up Pete's two massive stacks of low-denomination chips:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14163&g2_serialNumber=1)


Lucy is very unhappy about all of this, and coughs up the 42k entirely in the 100 chips. This is what Pete's stack looks like now:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14169&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14166&g2_serialNumber=1)

DTD Owner Of The Day Mr Nick Whiten is OUT, running his Ac Jc into the Qs Qd of No Longer Grinder Of The Day, Mr Chris Bruce.

Board - an eye-popping Jd Qh Jh 8s 4c and he's gone. May or may not be whistling to himself. Also please admire the unusual light fixtures.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14194&g2_serialNumber=1)

Incredibly, start of day chip leader Pete Linton is OUT. Earlier confessing that his grinding days were long gone, Pete Linton lived up to those words by pushing over the top of Daniel Byrom's pre-flop raise with A-5 from the small blind. Unfortunately for Pete, Daniel made the call with A-K suited, and although the 3-4-6 rainbow Flop lifted Pete's hopes, it wasn't to be as the Turn and River came blanks. A relieved Byrom scooped in a nice welcome pot as neighbour John Burke commented, "I could see all the blood rising in your face as that Flop came down." Pete meanwhile heads straight to the door and makes a sharp exit, clearly fuming and ready to kick the nearest car bumper.  Crap, my poor Fiesta!!!

With Steven Mills keeping his stack on the felt, I thought he was all-in and we had three way action, but alas it was just Sam Saville-Barton and Jim Moult who were locking horns, the latter making the final push on a 9s-6c-3d Flop and leaving Sam with what appeared to be an easy decision for very few chips. But as Sam sat back, sighed and shook his head disappointedly, it became obvious that he had nothing and that Jim was in good shape, whatever he had. His stack nearing the felt already, Sam felt he couldn't fold for the extra few thousand and made the call with Ks-8s, but was in worse shape that he may have feared as Jim flipped over Pocket Kings. A Jh on the Turn tied things up and allowed Jim to pull in a near 100k pot, but left Sam with just 15 or so k. "He won't play another hand now," added Kevin Lund on the neighbouring table. "He's a good player though."

Garinder Purewal -- 180k
Petter Haere -- 81k
Erwan Goasdowe -- 29.5k
Alan Stearn - 149k
Lucy Rokach -- 69k
Ouday Hikary -- 87.5k
Daniel Byrom -- 197k
David Stratton -- 109.5k
Kevin Lund -- 108.5k

Xia Zhenru -- 122.5k
Matt Tyler -- 26.5k
Jim Moult -- 130.5k
Maz Charalambous -- 49.5k
Chin Koh -- 43.5k
Steven Mills -- 9k
Daniel Platten -- 25.5k
Dave Smith -- 145k
Chris Bruce -- 86.5k

Chris Bruce is most unhappy - apparently bescarved Mr Sam Savile-Barton shoved for 22k utg a little while back and Chris called him with A-K- Sam turned over J-9, which obviously hit.

However, as I'm listening to Chris rant about this while Sam Savile-Barton ignores it and Matt Tyler is telling me at the same time how Chris is totally over it which is of course a lie, Jim Moult makes it 12k and Mr Savile-Barton makes it All In. Chris Bruce, on the big blind, giggles and announces that he has a hand too. He looks Sam up and down, but passes. Jim Moult, after a little squirming, calls.

Sam Savile-Barton -  Aspades Qc
Jim Moult - Ad Kc

Board - Th 2h 4s Ts Kh

And the Scarf Man is OUT.

And while Jim Moult is wondering whether to call Sam Savile-Barton's all-in, there is shouting from the next table because two players, Joe Stevenson and Petter Haere, are already all in, and Xia Zhenru is considering the call as well. He dwells up long enough for me to catch the conclusion of the Savile-Barton/Moult hand, but then folds. Apparently he was holding Jacks.

So no no three-way all in, but instead just the regular two-way.

Joe Stevenson - shoved with 8h 7s
Petter Haere - went over the top with Ad Ks

Board - Ac 6h 4c 2c 3s

And Mr Stevenson is OUT.

PAYOUT

1) £17,127
2) £9,601
3) £5,968
4) £4,359
5) £3,373
6) £2,335
7) £1,816
8 ) £1,297
9) £1,038
10-13) £726
14-17) £520
18) Our bubbler will receive this gentleman and his dusty bin:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14213&g2_serialNumber=1)

Steven Mills has doubled up courtesy of neighbour Chin Koh. Mills was virtually all-in on the big bind, and I think both players were playing blind.

Steven = Kh 6c

Koh = Jc 8h

Board = 9d 9s 9h Qc 4d

"The hand plays itself," adds Koh trying to ensure that everyone knows why he was playing a showdown with J-8o. "If I fold, I'm saying that I know him and we're good friends."

And the bubble has burst!

Mr Steve Mills, who about an hour ago said to me, "Steve Mills will be out on the bubble," shoved for his last 12.5k. Daniel Platten to his left on the button called, leaving himself 5.5k behind. Dave Smith on the small blind went all in, and Daniel called, obviously.

Steve Mills - Jd Qd
Daniel Platten - 9s 9c
Dave Smith - Kd Kh

Board - 5d 6d 6c 3d 6h

And it takes everyone a moment to realise that Dave Smith takes the lot, what with all those diamonds on board too, but that is exactly what he does. Daniel Platten had Steve Mills covered, and so it is Mr Mills who gets to take Simon Trumper and his dustbin home tonight. Or something. Unlucky, Mr Mills.

Out in 16th is Erwan Goasdowe. He found himself all-in with A-2 versus the K-Q, but failed to survive as the board came Q-8-T-4-K.

---------

Matt Tyler has doubled up. He pushed with Tens, was called by Garinder Purewal's Nines, and survived an A-A-K-5-7. He banged the table upon victory, but apologised straight after.

Like the now departed Pete Linton, Lucy Rokach can either be down to the felt or possess half the chips in play in the space of a few hands, but unfortunately for her, she is currently enduring the former after losing a mammoth pot to local player Kevin Lund. With a 5c-8d-Kd Flop laying patiently on the felt, Lucy raised Kevin's leading bet of 8k to 22k, only for Kevin to counteract with an all-in. Lucy sighed under her breath before counting out her remaining chips and calculating her odds. After multiple puffs and scratches of the head, she reluctantly made the call and turned over 8c-7h. Kevin revealed Js-Jh. A 2s Turn and River Kc was no good for Lucy who's now seem her once formidable stack now transfer into near dust. Looks like she'll be the next to hit the deck.

"Wow," added Kevin. "That was a big call, Lucy."

"I thought there was a chance you were flushing," replies Lucy.

"No, no, I wouldn't my chips in there with a flush draw."

Ms Lucy Rokach is OUT.

It all went a bit fast so the details of this may be a bit hazy - what seems to have happened is that Kevin Lund limped, and Lucy made it 12k. Big blind Ouday Hikari called, and Kevin made it 24k or thereabouts - they both called.

Check around the 5c 7d Js flop, and then a bet from Ouday on the Jh turn, at which point Kevin passed and Lucy somehow found herself all in against Ouday.

Ouday - 7s 8s
Lucy - Ahrt Qs

River - Not An Ace Or A Queen

And back out of the tournament comfort zone, Matt Tyler has doubled up Maz Charalambous.

Matt made it 14.5k from the cutoff and Maz shoved for an almost min-raising 28.8k total from the small blind. "Unfortunately," says Matt, "I've got to call."

He is in fact in excellent shape with 9h 9c against Maz's 5d 5s.

Flop - Qh 4d 8h - Maz is looking resigned
Turn - Kc - "Nice one," says Maz, or words to that effect, and stands up to leave
River - 5h - "Oooh no hang on," or something similar says Maz and sits back down

Chin Koh -- 38k
Petter Haere -- 100.5k
Alan Stearn - 164.5k
Ouday Hikary -- 180k
Daniel Byrom -- 190k
David Stratton -- 105k
Kevin Lund -- 145k

Xia Zhenru -- 38k
Matt Tyler -- 88.5k
Jim Moult -- 111k
Maz Charalambous -- 61k
Garinder Purewal -- 123k
Dave Smith -- 177.5k
Chris Bruce -- 113.5k

As i arrive, there's over 30k in the pot already and Ouday Hikary is betting 22k on a 3d 2d 3c flop. David Stratton two to his left promptly moves all in for another 68k or so. There is some umming, there is some ahh-ing, and eventually Ouday calls.

"Nice call," says David as he turns over Td Qd for a flush draw; Ouday has 9d 9h.

Turn - Aspades
River - the flushtastic Ad

Chin Koh is shouting concerning the sickness of this particular hand (I understand he was holding A-3), David Stratton is so excited he's run across the room to tell some guys in the cash game, and Ouday looks like he's going to throw up as his former chips are raked towards David's empty seat and Alan Stearn appears to be making a sad face on his behalf.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14234&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Local favourite Chin 'Frankie' Koh is OUT in 15th after moving in from the big blind over the top of Daniel Byrom's late position raise. Byrom squirmed in his seat a little, even though it wasn't too much to call, but did eventually shove the chips in with Kd Qs. Koh showed 8c 8h.

Board = 6s Kc 2h 5h 5c

Down to 13.

These Welsh boys sure like to talk, Ouday Hikary being the latest to follow in the chatterbox steps of Roberto Romanello. Announcing all-in from the button for what looked to be about 60k, it folded round to Kevin Lund is the big blind who started counting his chips. At this point, Ouday leapt from his chair and said, "A-6, you've got A-6, I can beat that." "You can talk all you want, if I'm calling, I'm calling," replied Kevin. Before Ouday had time to respond, Kevin was indeed calling, his Kd Js showing that he wasn't prepared to let people snap up his blind, and that perhaps he simply didn't believe Ouday had anything but rags. However, on this occasion, Kevin was very much in the wrong, as Ouday proudly flipped a pocket pair of Queens. Still not overly-confident, Ouday chanted repeatedly for a Queen, amid comments to his fellow Swansean beside him that he was going to lose the hand. But it didn't happen, and an 8-3-7-9-3 rainbow board later and the Welshman is back in business.

Xia Zhenru raises to 30k from the cutoff. Matt Tyler on the button makes it All In - another 34k. Given that this is essentially a minimum raise, Xia dwells for a really impressive amount of time (although bear in mind that the average stack is now around 16 big blinds). He chews gum, sits back in his chair and looks generally totally impassive. "You might get lucky," says Matt. "I know," deadpans Xia. He chews his gum some more. Then he makes a huffing noise and calls.

Xia - Ac Th (which I am gloatingly and pointlessly going to report is the exact hand I put him on)
Matt - Kc Kh (which I should for the sake of journalistic balance report is not the hand I put him on)

Board - 5c 2h 6s 8h 7c

And Mr Tyler has doubled up again, to around average or thereabouts.

Disaster for Dave Smith. After re-raising Garinder Purewal off the previous pot, there was clear history between the two players when they locked horns once again the very next hand. Sometimes the stacks are so big, and the action so fast, that no chips even cross the line, and that was precisely the case here as Garinder's pre-flop late position push was Insta-called (notice the captial 'I') by Dave.

On their backs, and Garinder was in big trouble, his fingers feeling the full weight of the Smith frame as the GUKPT winner leapt onto the cookie jar with a thud.

Dave = Ac Kd

Garinder = 8d 3d

As each card on the Flop comes down, Garinder chants the same word with the excitement of a virgin in Amsterdam.

"Diamond!"

First card = 6d

"Diamond!"

Second card = 7d

"Diamond!"

Third card = Qd

"Yes!" exclaims Garinder as he punches the air, perhaps as shocked as I was that his demands had been met.

At this point, Garinder suddenly realises that Dave has the Kd, and thus changes his plea to...

"No diamond!"

Turn = 6s

"No diamond!"

"Come on, be fair" begs a tense Dave as he prays for a diamond.

River = 7s

And Garinder survives to stack up what appears to be a meaty 220k. A bemused Dave Smith, meanwhile, is left with just 55k.

Blind on blind action -

Maz Charalambous makes it 18k, and big blind Garinder (which I accidentally typed "Grinder" and it briefly amused me) calls.

Flop - 5h 3d 6c and Maz announces all in. A slightly confused look from Garinder, who calls.

Maz - 4c Kd
Garinder - the magical never-misses Full Wilson 4s 7h

Turn - Jc
River - Ad

And Maz is left to collect his 13th-place money from the cash desk, while Garinder rakes in his chips and the pregnant lady who has pacing the cardroom all evening sneaks into my photo.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14262&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14259&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Petter Haere is crippled, somehow getting it in against Kevin Lund, who was holding 7-7, the board reading 7-9-6-K-9. Not sure what Petter had, I'm afraid. He's down to around 40k, I believe.

Petter Haere -- 28.5k
Alan Stearn - 159.5k
Ouday Hikary -- 183k
Daniel Byrom -- 184k
David Stratton -- 160.5k
Kevin Lund -- 200k

Xia Zhenru -- 63k
Matt Tyler -- 114.5k
Jim Moult -- 87.5k
Garinder Purewal -- 315k
Dave Smith -- 63.5k
Chris Bruce -- 107.5k

Petter Haere is now OUT in 12th. Shortstacked, as Dana alluded to, he found himself all-in with A-2s against Daniel Stratton's K-Jo. Nasty King on the River sent the Scandie home.

They're back! Blinds are actually 5k/10k/1k, not the 6k/12k/1k displayed, for some reason...

---------

We lost another in the form of Jim Moult, the bookie's odds looking sour as he pushed in with A-9, only to find Chris Bruce waking with the ladies (which I have done many a time). No help on the board, and Jim exits in 10th.

Er, Jim Moult seems to have exited with the very minimum of fuss (ie without me or Snoopy actually seeing it). Hopefully we'll get the story shortly though...

And ladies and gentlemen, we a re down to our final table!

Legged it over when it looked like someone was all in, so let's for the sake of argument say that the chips went in preflop.

Xia Zhenru - A-T
Chris Bruce - 4-4

Board - 9-K-7-2-4

And with much handshaking, and accompanied by Wandering Pregnant Lady who turns out to be Mrs Zhenru, Xia makes his exit.

Very approximate final table chip counts:

Seat 1: Alan Stearn -- 178k
Seat 2: Kevin Lund -- 196k
Seat 3: Matt Tyler -- 130k
Seat 4: David Stratton -- 175k
Seat 5: Ouday Hikary -- 220k
Seat 6: Daniel Byrom -- 148k
Seat 7: Chris Bruce -- 297k
Seat 8: Garinder Purewal -- 355k
Seat 9: Dave Smith -- 73k

Crippled by Dave Smith a few hands earlier, David Stratton open-shoved from early position two hands in a row, the second time getting himself called by Alan Stearn on the button. Kevin Lund in the big blind considered it for so long he had the clock called on him and was down to about 15 seconds when he decided to pass pocket Nines face up.

Alan Stearn - Ks Kd
David Stratton - in some hot water with Td Js

Board - 3h Ad 8h Ts Qs

And David Stratton is OUT in 9th place winning £1,038. WP Mr Stratton.

Mr Matt "Roundhead" Tyler moves in for his last 70k from the cutoff. Chris Bruce on the big blind enquires, "How much is it?" before calling.

Matt - 7s Ks
Chris - 6c 6h

Board - Kc Ad 4s Kh 5c

Double-up for the roundheaded one, here being stalked by a fellow roundhead. They could start an army! Overthrow the monarchy! Viva la revolucion!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14305&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14308&g2_serialNumber=1)

Garinder Purewal is now the big chip leader. I joined the action with the board reading 6h Th 3s. Garinder bet out 32k and Ouday quickly called. Both players checked the Ts Turn before Ouday bet 80k on the 6d River, leaving just 80k behind. Perhaps with some sort of read on the Welshman, Garinder pushed all-in subsequently forcing Ouday to fold. Garinder showed Qs 2s.

Seat 1: Alan Stearn -- 270k
Seat 2: Kevin Lund -- 245k
Seat 3: Matt Tyler -- 125k
Seat 4: David Stratton -- out
Seat 5: Ouday Hikary -- 80k
Seat 6: Daniel Byrom -- 105k
Seat 7: Chris Bruce -- 255k
Seat 8: Garinder Purewal -- the rest
Seat 9: Dave Smith -- 180k

And Ouday, now pretty short, shoves when it folds around to him on the small blind. Daniel Byrom in the big blind calls instantly. "Well, I didn't have a choice, did I?" sighs Ouday.

Ouday - Qd 4h
Daniel - 6d 6h

Board - Ks Ts 4d 9h Td

So Ouday Hikary is OUT in 8th place winning £1,297. WP WP that Welshman.

It folds around to shortstack Matt Tyler on the button, and he does the decent thing and shoves. Chris Bruce on the big blind does the decent thing and calls.

Matt - 4h 9c
Chris - Ahrt Kd ("Oh no, A-K AGAIN!" says Matt)

Board - Ad 5d 6d 3c 6c

And the Roundhead Soldier hits the rail. WP Mr Tyler!

Indeed Matt Tyler is OUT in 7th place, winning £1,816.

Dave Smith is OUT and becomes the 6th place finisher winning £2,335

All-in pre-flop.

Dave Smith = Ac 9h

Chris Bruce = Kh Kd

Board = 2s 5s 6c 6d 3d

According to Dingdell, Chris Bruce had to ask his neighbour to move down because he now has too many chips.

If Brucie plays his cards right, he can win this one.

Approximate chip counts (DTD seem to like Vegas style big stacks):

Alan Stearn -- 260k
Kevin Lund -- 235k
Daniel Byrom -- 315k
Chris Bruce -- 490k
Garinder Purewal -- 375k

Clash of the enormo-stacks...

Small blind Chris Bruce makes it 40k, and big blind Garinder Purewal calls.

They see an 8c 6s Qc flop and Chris checks - Garinder makes it 50k and Chris calls. They both check the 6d turn, and Chris checks the 7c river too, but Garinder bets out. Chris calls, and announces Ace-high (I think with a Jack). Garinder however takes it with A-7, sneakily hit on the river.

Players are now on a short break.

Action has been a little sloooow on our final table. At the end of one blind-on-blind confrontation (have been quite a few of those), which terminated with Kevin Lund making a bet in position on the turn after he and Chris Bruce checked the flop, Mr Lund commented, "Whoever bets first..." Indeed.

The most exciting moment I witnessed was when Kevin limped utg - it was commented on that may have been the first flat call since they went into the final table... Anyway, it got everyone in the mood, and Chris Bruce also limped from the button, Garinder made up the blind, and big blind Alan Stearn didn't spoil the party by raising or anything and merely checked. The Td Ahrt 5h flop was checked around to Chris, who bet a not-very-big 40k. Garinder and Alan folded. "Do you want me to call?" asked Kevin. "Did you limp in with Aces and hit a set again?" counters Chris. Kevin passes.

Garinder Purewal is OUT and becomes the 5th place finisher winning £3,373

As predicted, Garinder pushed all-in the very next hand, but showed an Ace after Alan Stearn conceded 7-4 from the blind. The following hand, however, Stearn had no intentions of folding, finding A-K with Garinder once again pushing before him. Garinder showed A-7, but a King on the Turn sealed the deal and left a bemused youngster wondering how he failed to better his 5th place showing from last month. Still, like Pete Linton, he's proved to be a real chip getter with plenty of game, so ought to be one to keep a close eye on.

And it's all over!

Alan Stearn is on the button and he tries to check. He is not allowed to do so. There is much hilarity. Meanwhile Kevin is murmuring something about a chop. The hand continues but nobody seems massively interested any more...

...And indeed they do chop it. It's decided that they'll each get 4th place money and the rest will be decided on chip count.

So, in official terms I suppose,

Alan Stearn finished in 4th place with 380,500 chips, winning £8,699,

Kevin Lund finished in 3rd place with 435,500 chips, winning £9,326,

Chris Bruce finished in 2nd place with 451,000 chips, winning £9,503,

and the technical WINNER!!! of this month's DT (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde)D (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde) £300 Main Event is Daniel Byron with 453,000, winning £9,526!!!

And I think £400 or so for the excellent dealers.

We think. Anyway, as you can see, there wasn't much in it, so congrats all, especially Mr Chris Bruce because he's just bought me a large bourbon (impartial reporting, this), many many thanks to the awesome folks at the totally awesome DT (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde)D (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde), and goodnight. Barring photos in a sec...

Shiny prize money

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14337&g2_serialNumber=1)


A-choppin'

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14339&g2_serialNumber=1)


Mr Alan Stearn

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14341&g2_serialNumber=1)


Mr Kevin Lund

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14345&g2_serialNumber=1)


The always photogenic Mr Chris Bruce

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14346&g2_serialNumber=1)


Mr Daniel Byrom

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14348&g2_serialNumber=1)


Wooo all!

 ;stickaforkinme;