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Full end of day chip counts:

Antonio Esfandiari (USA) -- 1,198,000
Robin Keston (UK) -- 916,000
Denes Kalo (Hungary) -- 642,000
Johnny Lodden (Norway) -- 623,000
Maxime Villemure (Canada) -- 600,000
Mostafa Belkhayate (Morocco) -- 523,000
Gerasimos Deres (Sweden) -- 494,500
Henrik Gwinner (Denmark) -- 487,000
David Shade Kruger (USA) -- 486,500
Thomas Boekhoff (Germany) -- 465,000
Rami Boukai (USA) -- 425,000
Eric Liu (USA) -- 398,000
Noah Siegel (USA) -- 388,500
Stig Top Rasmussen (Denmark) -- 373,000
Glen Chorny (Canada) -- 344,000
Oyvind Riisem (Norway) -- 340,000
Pablo Ubierna (Spain) -- 316,000
Peter Traply (Hungary) -- 300,500
Valeriy Ilikyan (Russia) -- 295,000
Claudio Pagano (Italy) -- 291,000
Jonathan Dwek (Canada) -- 282,000
Luca Pagano (Italy) -- 279,500
Amit Makhija (USA) -- 269,500
David Miara (France) -- 249,500
Isaac Baron (USA) -- 236,500
Joe Hachem (Australia) -- 214,500
Michael Martin (USA) -- 141,500
Freddy Deeb (USA) -- 140,500
Alexander Morozov (Russia) -- 133,000
Raymond Rahme  (South Africa) -- 133,000
Walid Bou Habib (Lebanon) -- 127,500
Benjamin Sprengers (USA) -- 127,000
Anders Berg (Norway) -- 124,000
Andrew Luetchford (UK) -- 116,000
Vincent Secher (France) -- 92,500
Anthony Chatelain (Sweden) -- 83,500
Tomas Brolin (Sweden) -- 74,000
Andreas Fluri (Switzerland) -- 61,000
Stefan Geim (Germany) -- 58,000

Play commences at 1pm.

Players Down, Courtesy Of The Pokerstars Fairies:

40 Stephen Kjaerstad Norway 38,000
41 Michel Carvin France 33,700
42 Pierre Hall Canada PokerStars cash qualifier 33,700
43 Haward Speer Germany PokerStars cash qualifier 33,700
44 Simon Faure France 33,700
45 Csaba Toth Hungary 33,700
46 Martin Rask Denmark 33,700
47 Borge Dypvik Norway 33,700
48 Andreas Hagen Norway 33,700
49 Mark Keightley UK PokerStars cash qualifier (DS) 29,400
50 Benjamino Speroni Italy 29,400
51 Gordon Vayo USA 29,400
52 Woody Deck Lithuania 29,400
53 Ricardo Sousa Portugal 29,400
54 Domenico Tinnirello Italy 29,400
55 Sorel Mizzi Canada PokerStars cash qualifier 29,400
56 Kari Somer Finland PokerStars cash qualifier 29,400
57 Sami Ovaskainen Finland 25,200
58 Massou Cohen France 25,200
59 Matthew Kurtz USA PokerStars cash qualifier 25,200
60 Cyril Bensoussan France 25,200
61 Brian Green USA 25,200
62 Rahal Kalil France 25,200
63 Clayton Maguire USA 25,200
64 Nikolaus Panopoulus Greece 21,000
65 James Campbell USA PokerStars cash qualifier (DS) 21,000
66 Giovanni Nervo Italy 21,000
67 Jan Heitmann Germany Sponsored 21,000
68 George Lind USA 21,000
69 Tom Stig Ahlberg Finland 21,000
70 Ian Prevost USA 21,000
71 Torbjorn Jonsson Sweden 21,000
72 Giovanni Bigoni Italy PokerStars cash qualifier 21,000
73 Morten Lokken Norway 17,000
74 Tommi Horkko Finland 17,000 75 Benjamin Kang Germany Sponsored 17,000
76 William Martin UK 17,000
77 Sean Bruder Canada PokerStars cash qualifier 17,000
78 Felipe Ramos Brazil 17,000
79 Ed De Haas Holland 17,000
80 Trond Erik Eidsvig Norway 17,000

Still to nip play for  ;nipnip;:

1    € 2,020,000
2    € 1,179,000
3    € 715,000
4    € 589,000
5    € 421,000
6    € 337,000
7    € 253,000
8    € 168,000
9+10    € 126,000
11+12    € 101,000
13+14    € 76,000
15+16    € 55,200
17-24    € 46,300
25-32    € 42,100
33-39    € 38,000

First out today was Andreas Fluri, who was closely followed by former International footballer Tomas Brolin. "He's been pushing his shortstack in for three days," observed a Danish blogger on the rail, but this time he was given a spin courtesy of Antonio Esfandiari. On their backs and the magician needed to pull something out of the hat, his Ad Qs in bad shape against Brolin's Ac Kd. However, if you're always the one all-in, it's unlikely you're going to survive them all, the second Lady on the Qd 4h 3c Flop provoking a ripple of disappointed aahs from the crowd. Stoic as always, Tomas sat motionless as the 4d Turn and 5c River sealed his fate. A quick tap of the table and he was gone.

-----------

Just moments before the Brolin exit (I was dodging through the tables like a slalom skier), I witnessed the fiery Joe Hachem double through. On this occasion there was a distinct lack of emotion, his refusal to view the board as it is being dealt and his state of temporary meditation perhaps an effort to  display more composure after yesterday's Wood Deck kafuffle.

Up against Mostafa Belkhayate, the 2005 World Champ had good reason to feel composed, his Queens in cracking shape against the Moroccan's Pocket Jacks. A rainbow 9-4-8-2-9 and the Hach was bag, a slight clench of the fist his only show of emotion in what was a crucial hand at a crucial time.

We've got more exits here than a jumbo jet!

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/492199743_eae2b2dc01.jpg)


And indeed it must feel a bit like this for Mr Benjamin Sprengers right now:

(http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n41/dt67821/EmergencyExitAircraft.jpg)


He shoved with Ad Qh and got himself called by Stig Rusmussen with a dominated Ahrt Ts. Nevertheless Sprengers immediately announced, "Right, great game, guys. You know what's coming." Indeed - 9s Th 3s Js 3d

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15743&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15745&g2_serialNumber=1)

Joe Hachem gets in to the zone (or stabs self in eye) as the button is drawn in seat five (fascinating detail, eh?).  He raises first hand to 18k only for Valeriy Ilikyan (bottom) to re-raise to 45k.  He passes.  Going well, otherwise.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15723&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15725&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Radar up and Maxime Villemure spotted.  But not first hand.  On which he was big blind and AWOL.  Never mind, what's 6k when you have those nice stacks of 5ks eh?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15727&g2_serialNumber=1)

Also OUT is Russian gentleman Mr Alexander Morozov - somehow finding himself all in with Ahrt Kd against the Ac Ad of Raymond Rahme. No miracle on the 3d 7h Qc 4d 6d board, and Mr Morozov has hit the rail, and also shortstacked Mr Rahme enjoys a virtual double-up.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15747&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15751&g2_serialNumber=1)

Whilst Michael Martin pushes all-in uncontested on the feature table (Freddy Deeb took an age over his decision before eventually folding), Robin Keston is getting involved early doors. He called a 20k bet from Oyvind Riise on an A-6-4-2-J before checking down the River and showing a Six. Unfortunately, Oyvind revealed Pocket Queens to take the pot.

What I have seen thus far is that the structure is displaying a great deal of generosity, the players enjoying ample room to see some flops and play the streets. Of course the shorter stacks are still looking for opportunities to raise all-in pre-flop, but when two giant stacks lock horns, you can be treated to a number of interesting, and less formulaic battles.

Stig Top Rasmussen makes it a double (pretty much)...

On the small blind, the green'n'yellow sporting Rasmussen, on a roll with the calling (why stop when you're on to a good thing?) just knocked young David Shade Kruger down to the felt. 

I caught the action from when Rasmussen was standing up and thinking about whether to call all-in on a flop of 3c 5d 9d.  He had c. 300k behind and the pressure was on him after button Kruger had made the push.  "Wow," he said, bringing the audience in on his thinking process, "Wow. Wow wow wow."

Then, having finished the process, "I call."
Stig Top Rasmussen:  7c 7d
David Shade Kruger: Qd Td

Turn:  6s
River: 8c

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS!!!" screams Rasmussen.  "YES YES YES!" for emphasis.  He punches the air and turns to talk to the rail in Danish (what is it about the Danes - they produce the only expressive winners/losers amongst the Scandinavians ;)   )

Kruger moves almost his entire stack in the direction of Rasmussen, who now must be on over 800,000.  Pictured:  David, who said not a word while watching his dream of EPT victory recede into the really-not-likely distance.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15455&g2_serialNumber=1)

Don't forget that you can watch the live action from the feature table right here on blonde. To view the live feed, please click one of the threads listed below:

(High Quality) http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32581.0
 (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32581.0)
(Low Quality) http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32582.0 (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32582.0)

Valeriy Ilikyan raises utg to 22k, called by The Great Kalo.

Flop - 4s 5h Ks - Valeriy bets 25k, and The Great Kalo calls.

Turn - Kh - now Valeriy checks. The Great Kalo also checks.

River - Qd - and neither of them feels like betting any more, they just check.

Showdown!

Valeriy - Ad 5d (interesting utg raising there, imo)
The Great Kalo - Jc Js

The Great Kalo is victorious!

(http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9738/khalics6.jpg)

I thought it was a lab coat.

Btw that's Vincent Secher, right? (You guys watching the live feed probably know more about what's happening on the tv table than we do.) Mr Secher, and this might be a lie, is allegedly currently staying in a tent in Nice owing to having no money, or general eccentricity, or something. Most odd.

At this stage in the tournament, you simply have to win your coinflips, but unfortunately for Swedish player Gerasimos Deres, his coin was buttered the wrong side. Re-raised all-in by Frenchman David Miara, Gerasimos made a reluctant call with A-J, but was elated to find that he wasn't dominated, Miara and his Pocket Fives needing to avoid a Bullet and a Knave to survive. And with the board coming 9-4-7-K-2, that's exactly what happened.

Moments later Deres was OUT, Miara finding Queens after Deres had pushed with Sixes.

And now for something completely different - some Names and Numbers.  Facts.  Cold, solid, facts.  All right, chip approximations by me...

Table 1

Glen Chorny -- 322k
Noah Siegel -- 490k
Amit Makhija -- 220k
Anthony Chatelain -- 85k
Walid Bou Habib -- 105k
David Miara -- 290k
Raymond Rahme -- 325k
Johnny Lodden -- 630k

Table 2

Eric Liu -- 380k
Isaac Baron -- 465k
Maxime Villemure -- 390k
Claudio Pagano -- 470k
Rami Boukai -- 430k
Andrew Luetchford -- 120k
Stig Top Rasmussen -- 820k
Antonio Esfandiari -- at least 1 mil but possibly more

Table 3

Oyvind Riisem -- 600k-800k dependent on whether the stacks behind the visible stacks were brown or blue
Robin Keston -- c. 1 million
Denes Kalo -- 670k
Stefan Geim -- 290k
Henrik Gwinner -- 340k
Peter Traply  -- 350k
Valeriy Ilikyan -- 290k

For anyone having trouble with their links/who doesn't like moving images and prefers words:  Freddy Deeb has busted out over on the TV table.  A-T (?) vs. JJ which hit a set for good measure.

An interesting hand on Table 3...

Robin Keston raises utg. Peter Traply calls him. Have to say Robin looks a bit nervous to me. Read into that what you will.

Flop - 8d 2c Ts and Keston bets 30k. Traply considers, and calls.

Turn - Qs - and now they both check.

River - and Mr Keston fires out 45k. Mr Traply considers for a while, and passes. Mr Keston's hands seem to be shaking a bit as he rakes in the chips. Massive bluff? Excitement from actually having an awesome hand? Rheumatism? We will never know.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15802&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yep, Maxime Villemure indeed busted someone (Dana has all the details coming).  But seeing as he seems to be getting involved a bunch - here's another hand he just won:

He raised in the cutoff and found Stig Top Rasmussen playing back at him from the big blind.  It looked like a re-raise of 26k, which was either a min-raise or close to it.  Action back to Villemure, who slowly and deliberately raised again, a further 68k.  Suddenly it looked like two deep stacks were going to go to war...

Tank for Rasmussen, and an evenutal pass.  Villemure showed the Js 2d. 

"I KNEW it!" exclaims Rasmussen, against all the evidence.

Almost Last Brit Standing Mr Andrew Luetchford, armed with 9c 9h, shoves his shortstack into the place where shortstacks go when they shove - that is, the middle, or, as it turns out, into a world of pain, as Maxime Villeneuve calls him with Kc Kh.

Board - 3h 2h Qd Tc 7s

Almost Last Brit Standing = not standing any more. I mean, he is, but only for purposes of leaving:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15798&g2_serialNumber=1)

Lame Blind-On-Blind Limp/Checkage Turns Into Quite Big And Aggressively Played Pot Shocker

I think people take my posts more seriously if I put tabloid-style headings on them.

Anyway, Stig Rasmussen limps from the small blind and Antonio Esfandiari checks the big blind.

Flop - Td 5c Kh - and Rasmussen bets 10k. Antonio calls.

Turn - Ad and now Rasmussen bets a WHOPPING (I said a WHOPPING) 60k. Antonio calls.

River - 5s - Rasmussen sort of gives up and checks. Antonio bets an UNBELIEVABLE!!! 150k or so. Mr Rasmussen half-laughs in a way that suggests that if he doesn't, he might cry. "I can't call," says he. And instead he does the other thing you're allowed to do, the one that isn't calling, but rather is folding.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15792&g2_serialNumber=1)


Antonio Esfandiari has the freedom!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15784&g2_serialNumber=1)


...The freedom not to wear shoes in a public place!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15786&g2_serialNumber=1)


He only brought slippers with him anyway.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15788&g2_serialNumber=1)

;bp;

I caught this pot from where it wildly escalated (in a way reminiscent of Danafish's last post)...

Threeway on the turn, the board:  6h 3h Jc...9h  Looks like Mr. Liu might have started this all off after Stig Top Rasmussen checked in the big blind.  But Isaac Baron (pictured) ran with it, raising to 125k.  Back to Rasmussen, who did the second part of the checkraise to the tune of a further 160k.  Liu (if he was in this at all, which I  think he was but can't be sure - lots of tall people in my way) left it, but when it got back to Baron, he thought for a little while, and then moved all in!  A ripple of excitement went through his railers, and everyone, it appeared, except Isaac, who remained totally impassive.

Rasmussen, on the other hand (having rollercoastered today a little bit, and currently on the down part) stood up, crouched behind his chair, stood up again, ran a tortured hand across his face and dwelled until he had the clock called on him.

[Amusing Esfandiari/Frazer aside:  TD Steve Frazer talked him through his one-minute-to-decide in a very clear, firm way, at which Antonio goes, "Very professional."  He replies, just as seriously, "Thank you.  I practice in front of a mirror."]

Back to Rasmussen who has 160k to call, and has around 350 behind.  Whispers behind me indicated the general impression that folding wasn't an option, but it was, and he took it. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15815&g2_serialNumber=1)

Pablo Ubierna is OUT. He made a move with 7-2 on a J-T-J Flop on the TV table, but was swiftly looked up by Luca Pagano who had J-9.

-----------

Just for a change, I decide just to keep track of one table and see how the action panned out. After watching a few hands, one thing that I noticed was that no one received a walk, and rarely would a raise go by without another player re-raising behind. The first hand I witnessed involved Johnny Lodden and David Miara, the combination of which had created a 150k pot. With the board reading 2h-5h-2s, David took it down with a suspicious 80k bet.

Believing that most of hands I was about witness would follow a similar pattern, the very next hand we were treated to a double through. With big stacker Noel Siegal raising it up to 22k from the button, an inevitable move considering the lesser stacks of the blinds, Amit Makhija passed and Walid Bou Habib called. On the Tc-5s-6c Flop, it all kicked of, Walid check-calling an all-in from Seigal who had nonchalantly made the gesture with a mere wave of his hand.

After Siegal revealed a vulnerable Pocket Twos, Walid punched the air and showed 8c-5c. "Yes!" he exclaimed, if a little premature. However, the Poker Gods didn't spit in his face, the Ace of Clubs on the Turn sealing the deal and making the River academic. In victory, Walid leapt over to the rail to shake the hand of a fan in the crowd before returning to his seat jubilant. Siegal, meanwhile, remained calm, simply asking "how much?" and handing over the wonga. Still on 800k, Siegal remains in great shape, but will still be disheartened to have doubled Walid up to 265k and made him more of a threat than he previously was.

Mr Raymond Rahme was getting bullied. He bet out 24k on a Jd 9s 6h Kh board, but passed when Johnny Lodden made it another 50k.

I lost interest in that table, and moved over to where there was a Qh Ac Ad 2d board out, and Stig Rasmussen was betting 40k. Eric Liu was calling him. The river came the 3d and they checked it - Stig showed Kh Ks, and Eric Liu nodded impassively and mucked. Then Stig went a bit crazy. "Oh my God!!! Why can't a Queen come high? Why can't a Queen come high? I don't believe it!!!"

Obviously I am busy scribbling down this outburst, so I don't notice that across the way, Mr Raymond Rahme is all in, and, indeed, busted out, courtesy of Mr Frenchie David Miara (who I've been accidentally calling Midori in my notes like the melon liqueur; sorry Miara fans). Like I said, I was distracted - shame on me! - but I believe it may have been the ol' Kings v Aces. Either way, Mr Raymond Rahme is OUT, like so:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15824&g2_serialNumber=1)

Peter Traply finishes in 26th.... We thought it was safe to leave and write about stuff in the press room with 1 min to go until the break.  But it wasn't, so we don't have any hand details.  Sorry.  He gets € 42,100, though. 

2    8    Antonio Esfandiari                1,640,000
3    2    Robin Keston                   900,000
2    2    Isaac Baron                   815,000
2    3    Maxime Villemure                   790,000
3    3    Denes Kalo                   680,000
3    1    Oyvind Riisem                   650,000
1    6    David Miria                   645,000
5    7    Joe Hachem                   633,000
3    6    Henrik Gwinner                   600,000
5    1    Luca Pagano                   554,000
5    3    Thomas Boekhoff                   533,000
1    1    Glen Chorny                   520,000
2    7    Stig Top-Rasmussen                   460,000
1    8    Johnny Lodden                   420,000
1    2    Noah Siegel                   410,000
2    4    Claudio Pagano                   370,000
2    1    Eric Liu                   324,000
5    6    Vincent Secher                   312,000
1    3    Amit Makhija                   278,000
5    8    Mostafa Belkhayate                   232,000
3    8    Valeriy Ilikyan                   202,000
5    5    Michael Martin                   195,000
3    5    Stefan Geim                   180,000
2    5    Rami Boukai                   150,000
1    5    Walid Bou Habib                   145,000

Whilst my eyes were unavoidably distracted by the consecutive bare-feet in Seats 7 and 8 (is this a first in EPTs?), the second of the shoe-rebellers, Stig Rasmussen, suddenly jumped up from his seat like a kangaroo on a trampoline and paced around the table, in a fashion that we have become more than accustomed with. The reason for his latest bout of fidgetitus was an all-in with Rami Boukai, the latter in steaming hot water with Ac 9c versus Jh Jd and in desperate need of an Ace.

"No Ace! No Ace!" commanding the booming voice of Rasmussen.

Board = Kh Qd 6s Th Ks

"Yes!" he bellowed as he raced to the rail.

Meanwhile, Rami shook the hands of his opponents and quietly left stage left as an ever-excitable Rasmussen continued to celebrate.

REDRAW - with approx counts...

David Miara -- 660k
stefan Geim -- 235k
Vincent Secher -- 318k
Thomas Boekhoff -- 540k
Joe Hachem -- 630k
Isaac Baron -- 740kish
Robin Keston -- 970k  (Started the day dropping 150k, then "decided to stop haemorrhaging.")
Noah Siegel -- 255k

Glen Chorny -- 568k
Mustafa Belkhayate -- 105k
Amit Makhija -- 270k
Michael Martin -- 342k   (Pictured because he offered his chip count.  Always appreciated.)
Johnny Lodden -- 444k  (Not pictured because he broke the rail rope and then blamed it on me.)
Claudio Pagano -- 360k
Denes Kalo -- 705k
Luca Pagano -- 480k

TV table:  everyone else

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15838&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes, literally facing each other across the table are Claudio Pagano and Luca Pagano – father and son.  I don’t want to have to have dinner at their house if one knocks the other out.  Actually, on second thoughts, looking at them, they both look unbelievably cheerful – guaranteed a payout of € 46,300 each. 

Wonder if they swapped a percentage?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15844&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15846&g2_serialNumber=1)

There's a lot of luck in poker, and none more so when it comes to winning the coinflips at those vital times. Yesterday, Robin won a couple of races that put him in great stead, and today the Poker Gods have continued to smile upon him. Unwitting to what was about to occur behind him, Isaac Baron's pre-flop raise of 57k triggered a domino effect that led to, first, a re-raise to 102k from Robin Keston and, second, an all-in for around 230k from Noah Siedel. Knowing that Noah had to have a big hand to make such a move, but simultaneously acknowledging that he'd already invested 100k into the pot, Robin made the correct call with Pocket Queens, surely delighted to see Robin reveal A-K. A 6-6-8-7-4 board was good enough for the Ladies to survive, leading to Noah exiting stage left to a nice round of applause. Robin, meanwhile, glanced over at me and released a big sigh of relief, clearly relieved to have won the race.

Playing well and winning those crucial 50/50s, Robin Keston is looking increasingly likely of making that final table.

We are down one rainbow stripey shirt in this Grand Final - it is that of Mostafa Belkhayate, and it is one Johnny Lodden who is now in possession of Mostafa's chips. Shirt remains with Mr Belkhayate.

Mr Lodden makes it 30k, and Mr Belkhayate makes it All In for 82k more from the small blind. A reasonable amount of dwellage from Lodden, and then just the right amount of call-age to have 'em on their backs, as it were.

Mostafa Belkhayate - Ac Kc
Johnny Lodden - 3s 3c

Board - 3h 9c 4d Kh 6d

And with a massive "WOOOAAAARRRR!!!!!" from the Betsson railers as the Three hits the felt, Mr Belkhayate is OUT.

Johnny ponders whether to call the all-in as Mostafa awaits his fate, probably not helped any by the gentleman blowing raspberries at him behind his back:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15875&g2_serialNumber=1)


A-leaving, with Steve Frezer looking sort of creepy, like he can see into my soul.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15878&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just before the exit of Mr Belkhayate, total Pagano Jr bullification of table.

Mr Amit Makhija made it 26k from mid-position and Johnny Lodden called from the cutoff. Luca on the big blind spotted an opportunity, or found a hand, or just for the sheer hell of it, went all in. Both Amit and Johnny passed.

Johnny then turned to his neighbour Pagano Sr and made an odd gesture like he was swatting flies. Not sure what that was about. Perhaps he was asking Mr Pagano to give his son a slap from him later. Perhaps not.

A

(http://www.bybb.com/images/products/ag146.jpg)

betwee Isaac Baron and Joe Hachem. I caught it on the river of the 6d 9d Aspades 9h Js board. With around 200k in the pot, Isaac bets a WHOPPING!!! 155k. After much extended dwellage, Hachem folds. As the chips are pushed towards him, Isaac, who has apparently been holding his breath the entire time, lets out one massive sigh.

Double-up for Eric Liu on the TV table just now, as all you live feed junkies will already know. He pushed with 9d Th and got himself called by 7s 7d (must confess, was only watching it with one eye while I used the other to look at what I has typing - so I can only 60% confirm that the dude with Sevens was Oyvind Riisem).

Board - Ts Jd Qs 2h 5c

Sadly, it looks like we're going to have to wait until next year before witnessing our first ever father and son final table as Pagano senior has just been eliminated. I was unable to fully battle through the assortment of onlookers, but I did manage to see that Denes Kalo was the assassin with A-Q all-in on the Turn of a 6-Q-K-A board. I believe Claudio had a weaker Ace, but I can't be sure. Either way, he's gone, and we're down to 21.

Amit Makhija DOUBLES UP... to the delight of his very supportive (and critical of anyone whom they aren't railing sotto voce, but I can hear, most amusing) railers:

Henrik Gwinner raises to something like 30k preflop, called by big blind short stack Amit.  Actually, he overpaid by 5k, and Gwinner kindly pointed this out to the dealer, who returned the excess chip.

"Thank you," said Amit, before check-raising all in on a Jh 5s 3h flop (from 25k to just over 100k).

After a bit of a think Henrik sighed and called, with Ad 5c.  He was only up against some value-maxing Ahrt Aspades, though and the turn and the river bricked and gave him a new lease of life.

Amit Makhija - Are You Looking At Him?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15887&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chop chop... although it almost wasn't. All-in with Ahrt Qh, Stefan Geim almost toppled Isaac Baron's Ad Qc, the Jc Tc Th 4h and, in particular, 5d River leading to a rye smile and "oooooooh" from the German amateur.

Over on the feature table, there was a mammoth hand between Antonio Esfandiari and Stig Top-Rasmussen of Denmark. On their backs, the Magician was in great shape with Pocket Queens against Rasmussen's inferior A-T of hearts. Stig looked resigned on the 7-3-4 Flop, but the Ace on the Turn was greeted by a gasp from the crowd and a gentle punch of the air in front of him from Stig. A Jack on the River would have made his heart flutter a tad, but he ultimately survived to take a huge dent out of Antonio's stack.

Mr Stefan Geim of Germany shoves from the cut-off for around 50 or 60k - Mr David Miari of France, who must have limped in/slightly raised before him, calls.

Mr Geim - Aspades 8s
Mr Miara - Ac Th

Board - Tc 7c 5c Kh (Geim still looking hopefully at board even though he's drawing dead) 7s

Don't feel too bad for Mr Geim, though - Kristen from Pokernews tells me that he got in on a genuine, honest-to-God freeroll, and he's just made himself €46,300 out of nothing. :)

Joe Hachem makes it 30k from the cutoff, and Isaac Baron calls from the button. Robin Keston, on the small blind, goes and spoils the party - he makes it another 100k. Both Hachem and Baron fold. Slightly disturbingly, Hachem says, "One day, kid - I'll find you one day..." as he folds.

 ;hide;

Action on the feature table as Valeriy Ilikyan and Wallid Bou Habib find themselves coinflipping, Lebanon's Bou Habib making the final call with two red Eights, 8d 8h. Valeriy, meanwhile, flips over Ac Kh and quietly whispers sweet nothings into the ears of the Poker Gods. With announcer Lee Jones leaning over the shoulder of the dealer, Bou Habib rises from his chair in anticipation and is soon joined by Ilikyan who quickly follows suit.

The board itself is a rollercoaster, the Ahrt 3d 2d Flop placing the Russian in the lead, but the 5d Turn giving his opponent an extra nine outs. However, although some members of the pressroom were chanting diamond as if replicating the mind-numbingly annoying insurance advert, it was the straight that appeared, the 4c River resulting in a chop chop and an understandable gesture of frustration from Ilikyan.

--------

Moments later, Ilikyan doubled through with K-Q versus Eric Liu's A-T, Q-Q-5--5K board.

Latest chip counts from the last break courtesy of Mad Harper of PokerStars.com:

Stig Top-Rasmussen    Denmark     1,427,000    1    2
Robin Keston    UK      1,390,000    2    7
Isaac Baron    USA    Cash                   1,112,000    2    6
Denes Kalo    Hungary       1,040,000    3    6
Oyvind Riisem    Norway       993,000    1    6
Antonio Esfandiari    USA      975,000    1    4
Maxime Villemure    Canada    671,000    1    7
David Miria    France      660,000    2    1
Glen Chorny    Canada    Cash                     635,000    2    8
Joe Hachem    Australia    Team PokerStars Pro                     554,000    2    5
Luca Pagano    Italy    Team PokerStars Pro                     553,000    3    7
Michael Martin    USA       512,000    3    3
Thomas Boekhoff    Germany     448,000    2    4
Johnny Lodden    Norway    390,000    3    4
Amit Makhija    USA    Cash                     340,000    3    2
Henrik Gwinner    Denmark    340,000    3    5
Vincent Secher    France    Cash                     290,000    2    3
Eric Liu    USA  255,000    1    5
Walid Bou Habib    Lebanon     177,000    1    1
Valeriy Ilikyan    Russia      154,000    1    8

EXIT – this time it is Amit Makhija, who falls in 20th spot, winning € 46,300…

It was a bit of a strange one.  Denes Kalo raised under the gun to what looked like 32k.  Over to Glen Chorny, who flat called.  Button Amit now put in a re-raise, making it an even 100k.  Back to the original raiser, who freezes in place and stares, before deciding he’s better off out of this one.*  But Chorny pretty much instantly moves all in – Amit is covered so he makes the call all in, and faster than we would have expected:

Glen Chorny shows:  Qh Qd
Amit Makhija shows:  Tc Th

They stand, as is traditional, and pictured below.  The board comes out all rags with the Ahrt on the river and thus busts Makhija.

*Thus would have won Denes Kalo, who passed, quite correctly, A-J.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15893&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dinner break - 1hr 15 mins

Approximate chip counts:

David Miara -- 260,000
Vincent Secher -- 410,000
Thomas Boekhoff -- 215,000
Joseph Hachem -- 910,000
Isaac Baron -- 1,030,000
Robin Keston -- 1,535,000

Glen Chorny -- 935,000
Michael Martin -- 400,000
Johnny Lodden -- 430,000
Henrik Gwinner -- 340,000
Denes Kalo -- 815,000
Luca Pagano -- 830,000

Double through for Thomas Boekhoff - much needed - with A-Q vs. K-Q (that of Isaac Baron) all in pre.
________________________________________

Innnnteresting 4-way flop News Now:

Glen Chorny raises to 32k in the cutoff, called by button Michael Martin and both small blind (Lodden) and big blind (Gwinner).
Flop:  Th Tc 2h   Slow, deliberate check to Martin, who bet 80k.  As one might expect...no one was interested past this point, however, and he picked it up right there.

What do you reckon Michael had on the button there... this little bird told me...

(http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/housemartin_300_tcm9-139927.jpg)

There's about 200 or 300k in the pot by the river - the board is exactly Qs 6h Kc 8h Jh and Isaac Baron bets 215k - almost half his remaining stack. Robin Keston deliberates. There is some huffing. He stands up. He puts one foot up on the chair (how come players are allowed to put their feet on the chairs when updaters get in trouble for standing on them to see what's going on? Oh, could be something to do with all the lovely money the players are about to win :) ).

Disappointingly, he passes. :(

Play has either slowed down a bit all round, or I run bad at this updating lark. Most of the action I caught on my last circuit of the Inner Rail Press Area involved nicking of blinds, and the occasional nicking attempt foiled by a re-raise. Loosen up, say I, like this unusual monkey thing! (http://blog.creativethink.com/weblog/images/loosen_up.gif) Have you no amazing Monte Carlo Bay suites to go to?

Watching Joe Hachem's table, I did notice that Thomas Boekhoff won four consecutive pots, and would surely have been tempted to go for that monumental fifth. The first one was simple; Ace King under the gun, raised, won. The second hand he found Sevens on the blind and pushed small blinder Vincent Secher off the pot with a bet of 77k. Then, after winning a battle of the blinds confrontation with Joe Hachem with a small bet on the River of a checked board, he went on to raise the button and nick the blinds, the big blind being Isaac Baron who folded without much hesitation. Incredibly, I think I was the only one who noticed this little succession of victories, no one commenting on his four hands in a row achievement. He is kinda quiet though.

David Miara -- 405,000
Vincent Secher -- 325,000
Thomas Boekhoff -- 370,000
Joseph Hachem -- 875,000
Isaac Baron -- 970,000
Robin Keston -- 1,500,000

Glen Chorny -- 1,100,000
Michael Martin -- 640,000
Johnny Lodden -- ?
Henrik Gwinner -- ?
Denes Kalo -- 820,000
Luca Pagano -- 770,000

Johnny Lodden is the player whose stack has changed most dramatically during the start of Level 22 (just think about that for a moment - this is the 22nd 90 min level of this tournament!), but not in an upwards direction.  For a start he raised with Jc Jh, found Henrik Gwinner moving in behind with Kc Qd, called, and lost.  That Qc on the flop cost him dearly - now down to 245k. 
_________________________________________________________

But elsewhere, moments later - Jh Jd won a pot for Boekhoff off Joe Hachem, who doesn't appear to be taking the downswings in luck with the same calm as some of them.  He is getting a massage, though, which surely must be a soothing thing.  Although he didn't seem delighted to see v. short stack Vincent Secher get it all in with Kh Kd vs. Ac Tc - his shout of 'one time!' getting my attention as the bathrobe-wearing superqualifier doubled to just over 400k.  Pictured, pre and post double up.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15907&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15909&g2_serialNumber=1)

Disaster!

Isaac Baron makes it 44k one off utg, which is all fine, until David Miara on the button makes it another 120k, leaving himself around 220k behind. Isaac dwells up for a bit, and we poor updaters are sort of resigned to the fold, when suddenly Baron announces all in! And Miara calls!

Isaac Baron - Ahrt Js - expression very stern
David Miara  - Td Ts - expression absolutely impassive

Board - 7s 5c 7c 9c - wait for it - Jh

Miara's head actually drops to the felt. He looks like he's going to cry. :'( All this to the accompaniment of some unbelievably rowdy cheering etc from Baron's railers."RAAAARRRRR!!!" is what it sounded like. Baron-railer expressions - all a bit like this:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15911&g2_serialNumber=1)


Isaac Baron now on around 1.4 million, we reckon.

Johnny Lodden is OUT. Plenty of Norwegian railers blocked my view somewhat, so I was unable to catch the full hand, but when managing to peek a look through some random girl's legs, I was able to witness Johnny Lodden calling the all-in of Henrik Gwinner for what looked to be about 225k. As he slid in the individual columns, Johnny kept his eyes peeled on his opponent, awaiting him to reveal his hand. In doing so, each column toppled forward and a domino effect of chips slid into the pot.

To the relief of Lodden, although ideally he would have liked to have seen a small pair, Gwinner showed Ac Jh, meaning he was racing against Johnny's 8c 8h. "Surely he can't win another race," commented a fellow Norwegian from the crowd, clearly hinting that Johnny's luck in those crucial coinflips hadn't been favourable. And it wasn't this time, the board coming 5h Ks Ahrt Qd 3d to give Henrik the pot and Johnny the door. A calm, composed player at all times, Johnny uncharacteristically expressed how disappointed he was, his whole body sagging dejectedly as the Ace hit the Flop. But that's poker, as they say, and Johnny's out in 17th. Henrik, meanwhile, is the Gwinner and it'll be hard to wipe the Gwin off his face.

Mr Eric Liu OUT on the TV table; announcers saying that we're definitely playing down to eight tonight.

Have to say, worst case scenario, as far as your weary updaters are concerned, would be not playing down to eight tonight and having to come back early tomorrow. The thought of an extra two hours' lie in tomorrow is all that's keeping me going. That and the endless tea.

Exit!  That of Eric Liu, in 16th place, winning him € 55,200.  Like this.

Valeriy Ilikyan, who seems to get involved (although fairly slowly) quite often – not sure about how he played on the feature table, but as soon as he hit the off-camera one it was the case – limped in mid-position, and Eric Liu raised on the button (+34k).  Ilikyan thought for a while, then called.
Flop:  Th Ahrt Ac.  Ilikyan checked, Liu bet 70k, and received a swiftish check-raise of another 75k.  Ilikyan had not-so-much behind after this, but Liu had slightly less, and when he eventually came back over the top for his whole stack, and was instacalled, he can’t have been too happy to be covered.

Liu showed:  Qd Jd
Ilikyan showed:  Ad 5d

The turn and the river:  Qh 2h and a round of applause sprang up for the American as he hit the rail, while Valeriy leapt out of his seat like it had just been electrified and started some high-speed Russian-sounding talking-to-self-in-joy.

Thank you lovely Mad Harper and lovely Pokerstars for these chip counts from the middle of level 22.


T    S    Name     Chips
1    6    Robin Keston               1,470,000
1    1    Isaac Baron               1,370,000
2    7    Stig Top-Rasmussen               1,304,000
1    3    Antonio Esfandiari               1,080,000
1    5    Glen Chorny               1,015,000
1    2    Oyvind Riisem                   920,000
1    8    Joe Hachem                   900,000
2    8    Denes Kalo                   820,000
2    5    Luca Pagano                   715,000
1    4    Maxime Villemure                   702,000
2    4    Michael Martin                   635,000
2    3    Henrik Gwinner                   576,000
1    7    Thomas Boekhoff                   320,000
2    1    Eric Liu                   316,000
2    2    Vincent Secher                   300,000
2    6    Valeriy Ilikyan                   270,000

Just before the break, Jen also reported that Michael Martin was getting bullied.

(http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/images/set1/_40831531_schoolbody.jpg)


Not by small children as my illustration might suggest, but by a variety of people at his table. Twice in a row he raised in late position only to be re-raised off the pots.

Very Rough Chip Estimates of the Non-TV Table:

Vincent Secher – 240k
Henrik Gwinner – 455k
Michael Martin – 680k
Luca Pagano – 800k
Valeriy Ilikyan – 440k
Stig Top Rasmussen – 1.52 mil
Denes Kalo – 700k

Isaac Baron seems to have taken a big hit somewhere along the line - down to about half his peak stack we reckon.

Yay!!! We have an exit!

I mean in the sense of course that it's getting late and your humble updates would love nothing more than to go back to their bedsit and go to sleep.

On the TV table, Thomas Boekhoff is all in with pocket Sevens against Antonio Esfandiari's A-J.

Board - an Aceful and Sevenless 8-A-8-2-9, and the German is AUT.

Oh NOOOO!

Vincent Secher is gone. Imagine if he'd won it! Winner's photos with him in a bathrobe! :(

From The Virtual Pen Of Mad Harper Who Does Not Use Capital Letters So I Must Use More To Compensate:



dear all

chips at end L22

 
T    S    Name     Chips
2    2    Vincent Secher                   194,000
2    3    Henrik Gwinner                   595,000
2    4    Michael Martin                   783,000
2    5    Luca Pagano                   900,000
2    6    Valeriy Ilikyan                   502,000
2    7    Stig Top-Rasmussen               1,610,200
2    8    Denes Kalo                   580,000
1    1    Isaac Baron               1,490,000
1    3    Antonio Esfandiari               1,538,000
1    4    Maxime Villemure                   845,000
1    5    Glen Chorny               2,156,000
1    6    Robin Keston                   703,000
1    7    Thomas Boekhoff                   222,000
1    8    Joe Hachem                   819,000


This email has been sent to you by Mad Harper

Yes, yes, it's true, the Hugh Hefner of poker is forced to return to the Playboy Tent, Vincent Secher pushing all-in over the top of Denes Kolo's 52k pre-flop raise for just 120k more. It actually took Denes quite a while to call, but when he did, he meekly revealed a sure-to-be-behind A-8o, inevitably dominated by the A-Ko of Vincent.

However, as we all well know, anything can happen in this game, and the cruel 8-3-3 Flop was proof of that. The Ten Turn and Five River was no good, and Vincent was gone. Denes celebrated loudly, whilst a graceful Vincent shook the hands of his opponents and left the playing area 70k richer.

Michael Martin’s tournament hung in the balance just now (no knowing which way it would have been swinging, though)…

Michael raised to 50k preflop, found big blind Stig Top Rasmussen re-raising a stack of pink 10k chips.  It was about 185k… Michael then moved in.  The rail (now three deep including a layer standing on chairs) held their breath as Stig requested the full countdown.  It was another 371k to call.  I sort of anticipated the tortured dwell that would follow, complete with crouching in front of his chair, staring at Michael, standing up arms behind head, nudging of a stack equalling the call towards the line, then nudging his hand there instead.  He started to mutter numbers:  “I need 30%.  I have 20%.  You give me 50/50?  2, 3, 5,7,11,13,17…”*

Eventually he passed, handing a considerable pot to the young American, no showdown.


*last bit not true

As you might already know, Michael Martin :) :) :) has just doubled up off of Stig Top Rasmussen.

Henrik Gwinner made it 55k utg and Michael called. Stig on the small blind asked for a count on Gwinner – it’s around 360k. Stig re-raises 180k. Gwinner gets out of the way, but Michael flat calls. Interesting…

Flop – 2s 9c Jc – and it goes superfastMichaelcheckStigallinMichaelcall

Stig – 7h 7s
Michael – Ahrt Aspades

“I knew it! I knew he had that!” Stig is saying, which rather begs the question why did he do that, but no matter.

Turn – Js
River – Kd

Robin Keston is OUT on the TV table, a mere matter of I believe re-raising Isaac Baron all in with 6c 6h and getting himself called by Baron's Js Jh.

Board - Kh Ahrt 8s 7d Jd

And with that, the UK's last hope is headed for the rail. :( Er, go America! (http://knowledgenews.net/moxie/moxiepix/a1177.jpg)

Mr Joe Hachem is OUT on the TV table, must admit I wasn't paying a massive amount of attention - possibly all in on the flop?

Aaanyways, Joe Hachem - Td 6s
Isaac Baron - Jd Ts

Board - 4c Tc 3s 5s Ac

Tee hee, Snoops just went out there to get some more hands from the non-TV table but it's just gone on break. He runs so bad.

Oooh, we're done! Still 10 people left in, but they've decided to call it a night. Please Mr Kremser don't make us come back at 1pm...  ;pokergods;

Isaac Baron (USA) -- 2,365,000
Luca Pagano (Italy) -- 705,000    
Antonio Esfandiari (USA) -- 735,000
Maxime Villemure (Canada) -- 1,220,000
Glen Chorny (Canada) -- 3,370,000
Henrik Gwinner (Denmark) -- 466,000
Michael Martin (USA) -- 1,579,000
Valeriy Ilikyan (Russia) -- 650,000
Stig Top-Rasmussen (Denmark) -- 590,000
Denes Kalo (Hungary) -- 957,000