blonde poker forum

Well, it's the end.  The beginning of the end.  Ten players remain.  They are:

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

The occasion of the crowning of the Champion of EPT Monte Carlo deserves a certain solemnity.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15968&g2_serialNumber=1)

(Slightly) larger view here - http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15968&g2_serialNumber=1

"Now when the event was come, he sat down with the ten. And as they did play, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall re-raise me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Mr Ferguson, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the pot, the same shall re-raise me. The Ferguson goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Ferguson is re-raised! it had been good for that man if he had not been born."  ;pokergods;

That took me about an hour.  Really sad it doesn't go bigger.  But gl all!  See you tomorrow...

Michael Martin and Valeriy Ilikyan are doing jazz hands.

whaouuu nice Job jen...  ;applause;

(http://www.odllr.be/system/smilies/1%20(26).gif)

What time are they starting today?

Play is scheduled for 1pm, but there is no sign of a start just yet. Also, there is discussion about starting with just one table of ten, but I'm not sure everyone will agree to that. We'll have to wait and see.

yesterday they said something about they will play off camera down to 9.... hope they pick up soon anyways, can't wait!

Is this kind of last-minute decision making common in large tournies?

And they're off, surprisingly not as late as expected.

Go horsies, go!  ;slavedriver;

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14357&g2_serialNumber=1)

Before we are pulled into the thick of the action, I must tell you about Dana's juices. "It's a bit thick and sickly," comments Jen upon tasting Dana's juice and I think I'd agree. Here's a quick snap of me trying out Dana's juice. Yum.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15981&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15980&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just to confirm.

We're on level 24 with blinds of 12,000 and 24,000 with a running ante of 3,000. there are just 10 of 842 players remaining and the average stack is 1,263,000. The total prize pool is €8,420,000 with a first prize of €2,020,000.

Let's get it on as they say on Celebrity Deathmatch, or that Marvin Gaye song - whichever takes your fancy.

woooohooo!...something to do for the afternoon!

P.S. amazing photoshopping skills there Jen.

Bonjourno guys, was just wondering what you made of Boris Beckers arrival at the felt for this tourny. Is it purely a gravy train operation or serious on his part?

The guy is signed up to Poker Stars! lol

http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2007/11/advantage-poker-boris-becker-joins.html

So I guess he kinda had to be there.

Yer of course he had to be there due to pokerstars. I really meant its his first really big step into poker and whether people were going to take him seriously as a poker player or is it just a flash in the pan. Tkae the plaudits and run kinda thing.

They often say that mistakes are made at the end of the day when eyes are weary and bodies fatigued, but for Danish player Stig Top-Rasmussen, that error occured this morning within the very first level, and what a monumental error it was too.

After conceding to an all-in over the top re-raise from Henrik Gwinner, Stig Top-Rasmussen found Michael Martin button raising his big blind the very next hand. Briefly re-checking his cards and glancing up at his opponent, Stig quickly announced all-in, much to the surprise of Valeriy Ilikyan in the small blind who had yet to play.

Tournament director Steve Frezer was called over and the decision was made that verbal goes, and that if Valeriy were to play his hand, then Stig's all-in would stand. On most occasions, the small blind would simply fold his raggy hand, Stig would push in his chips and play would continue, but in this instance, Valeriy looked deadly serious.

"I couldn't see his cards," pleaded Stig to the rail. But his complaints were in vain, as Valeriy announced call and rose from his seat. Turning over his Pocket Tens whilst simultaneously praying to the Gods, Stig was dismayed to see that he was dominated, an elated Valeriy revealing Pocket Knaves and glancing over at his fellow Russian on the rail in quiet celebration.

Stig appeared resigned to his fate, and seemed to sense that this mistake would be his last. And he wasn't wrong, the 3c Kd Qs 3h 4c board providing no aid. Clearly jubilant in victory, Valeriy seemed to experience a minor epileptic fit before he suddenly composed himself enough to shake the hand of his fallen victim. In one giant yelp, Stig released all the tension of a week of poker and left the table whilst a jubilant Valeriy metaphorically patted himself on the back.

And then there were 9.

And on that note, we have arrive at our long awaited bubble.

But looks who's walked into the room...

STOP. BUBBLE TIME!

;mc;

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40954000/jpg/_40954150_hammer_ap.jpg)

I think it's a simple case of good marketing. Boris is mega famous in Europe, hugely popular in his homeland where there are plenty of potential players, and someone who is going to make the news and attract the lure of the cameras in whatever comp he plays. He should also attract a certain crowd that may previously never have been interested in poker before. Do you think the tabloids were interested when PokerStars signed up a trio of World Champions? I bet they were when Boris jumped aboard.

From Boris' perspective, it's equally simple. Fancy being paid into a load of events, playing some poker and experiencing something new? Er... yeah, ok.

Come on, guys, you've been quiet today. Who are you supporting? Who's gonna win?

Baron vs. Martin HU would be cool - good for online poker anyways.

EXIT!!!

Mr Henrik Gwinner is our Final Table Bubbler.

Details to follow from the Snoopmeister.

FYP

Michael Martin FTW for me. Seems a nice guy plus don't want to annoy the Reader (afraid of mum's me  :) ) ;goodluck;

Would like to see the magician take this 1 down, was very impressed with his play after the QQ hand yesterday where he never tilted or panicked.

And like an spotty teenager squeezing on a blackhead, the bubble has burst. Details to follow...

 ;iagree; :goodpost: except for that bad call when Chorny had the boat - but that has put a fire in his belly to go on and take this i feel

Well, this is a very exciting day for me and my family as well.  We'll be following all of your fabulous Blonde coverage all day.  All I can say is good luck Michael.  Bring this one home!!!!! ;cheerleader;

TR23

In the end, the bubble exit was a relatively simple affair, Henrik Gwinner pushing from the button and being looked up by Isaab Baron in the big blind.

Henrik Gwinner = Ad 9s

Isaac Baron = Aspades Td

Flop = Ks Js Ac

Turn = 8s

River = 5h

Henrik Gwinner shook the hand of all his opponents and did all those things gracious losers do before being escorted out of the playing are.

gg, nh, wp etc.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16031&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16025&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16029&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16023&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yep I'm backing your son,  ;goodluck; hope he can make it heads up against Antonio.

I actually feel a bit sorry for him. I suspect he thought that everyone would be impressed by him because he's famous, but in fact the general reaction from the press/other players has been fun-poking and contempt.

By the way he came 7th in the €500 rebuy side event.

Somehow.  ;flushy;

:)

Has the live feed started yet? its not working here  :(

Not for me - eptlive says 3pm local time (so 2pm London time or 9am EST).

cheers rdmr

Being Canadian I would like nothing better than two Canucks heads up with Chorny vs. Villemure.

Snoopy had never heard this expression before. He thought it was rhyming slang. :D

opps, just remembered I need to pick the kids up from school today,... back later

Ahaha....so i guess he's not a Vancouver fan then?
(http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/8/8a/Vancouver_Canucks_1978.gif)

Not even close to getting the Final Table underway.  It's a big operation, the end of the final of the EPT season...  An impressive stage is where the lightscameraaction part of the tournament happens, and the whole thing is filmed with an impressive lot of equipment.  Currently before the lens - a totally glamorous Kara Scott, in Three Distances!

Their demure poses had to be held for the best part of 20 minutes, as well as the smiling into the middle distance.  It looked a bit weird, but I am sure the end of the TV show will ooze the requisite glamour.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16057&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16059&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16061&g2_serialNumber=1)

What's the remaining cash prizes on offer?

Sorry, posting payouts is boring. Look what I've been doing instead! Go Team America!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16065&g2_serialNumber=1)

But seeing as it's you...

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

 ;nipnip; ;nipnip; ;nipnip;

Second from the right. I think I dated her.

I think I shagged Abe Lincoln.

Perhaps if you photoshopped the T6 ladies and changed the title to Team T6 you might get a few more interested viewers  ;)

Bloody Americans, coming over here stealing our blinds.

Seat 1: Denes Kalo (Hungary) -- 1,119,000
Seat 2: Michael Martin (USA) -- 1,326,000
Seat 3: Luca Pagano (Italy) -- 688,000
Seat 4: Valeriy Ilikyan (Russia) -- 1,396,000
Seat 5: Antonio Esfandiari (USA) -- 501,000
Seat 6: Maxime Villemure (Canada) -- 1,206,000
Seat 7: Glen Chorny (Canada) -- 3,613,000
Seat 8: Isaac Baron (USA) -- 853,000

Seat 1: Denes Kalo (Hungary) -- 1,119,000

Dénes Kaló was born and lives in Budapest, Hungary. He works as the sales manager of a broker company and has been playing poker for three years with increasingly good results. He came second in the 2006 EPM Vienna for €50,440 and then came 2nd at EPT Baden last October for €375,000. Outside of poker, Denes is a sailing enthusiast. His wife Melinda was here at the weekend but has had to go back to work – she’s a model. He said: “Sshe’s been watching EPTLive and supporting me from home.”

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15987&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 2: Michael Martin (USA) -- 1,326,000

Michael has been playing poker for four years and turned pro in January 2007 after graduating in English from Penn State. Originally an athlete – he played college hockey for 2 years – he took up poker at the end of a hockey season and never look back. He said: “I got into it like everyone else – watching Chris Moneymaker at the WSOP. I started playing on Christmas Day and from then on, combined poker with my studies. His biggest result so far was coming 2nd to Trond Erik Eidsvig at the Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam in November. Although cash games are Michael’s bread-and-butter, he is now getting more into live tournaments. “My parents had different opinions about it all. My dad wasn’t keen on me turning pro at all but my Mum was an enabler. She lent me my first $100 to play online with and when i made my first $1,000, I asked her if i should cash out and she said no!” Michael was virtual bubble boy at last year’s EPT Grand Final – 66th place, just two off the money.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15994&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 3: Luca Pagano (Italy) -- 688,000

Pagano was a computer programming student before taking up poker and didn’t have much of a bankroll – so he started with play money on PokerStars.com. One day, the man with a mind for computers and stock market trading decided he had honed his skills well enough to play with real money. In the few years that have passed since that fateful decision, Pagano has done what some people can only dream. While the exact number is not one he's willing to disclose, Pagano has amassed online poker winnings that can be described in two words: "A lot."

Pagano is also a perfect picture of how online poker success can translate to brick and mortar poker abilities. Since starting to play live poker tournaments, Pagano has put together thousands upon thousands of dollars in winnings. Among his many achievements in the past few years, Pagano has cashed in nine European Poker Tour events (a record), and made two final table appearances. It’s the second event in a row with an Italian Team PokerStars Pro at the final table after Dario Minieri came 3rd in san Remo two weeks  ago.


(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16016&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 4: Valeriy Ilikyan (Russia) -- 1,396,000

Valery has been playing poker for nearly ten years and turned pro around three years ago. The former interior designer is already looking at his biggest result to date. He bought himself into last year’s EPT Grand Final but with little success. He mainly plays cash games, and also some of the big online Sunday tournaments including the Sunday Million. He started today as the one of the short-stacks but got up to $1.1 million when he busted Stig Top-Rasmussen. He said: “I can win this – with a bit of luck, and some skill. It happens lots of times that a small stack wins.“ Valery’s wife Alena couldn’t make it to Monte Carlo but is watching Valery on EPTlive.com along with the couple’s three children.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15998&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 5: Antonio Esfandiari (USA) -- 501,000

Originally from Tehran, Iran, Esfandiari moved to the US States in 1988. He grew up in the San Jose area but left home at 17. It was while working as a waiter that he took up magic - throwing tricks into his waitering work until eventually he dropped waitering altogether.  At that time, Esfandiari also took up poker and has often said how the two professions complement each other. As a magician, he learned to gauge human behaviour and could use that skill when he moved on to cards.

In 2002, Esfandiari made a name for himself at the WPT 49'er Gold Rush Bonanza by placing third for $44,000. A year later he made the final table of the $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em tournament at the 2003 WSOP. And in 2004 he beat out 382 to win the massive $1.4 million first-place prize at the L.A. Poker Classic, the youngest player at the time to win a WPT. A few months later, Esfandiari triumphed in the $2,000 Pot-Limit Event to win a bracelet and $184,860.

Esfandiari now lives in Las Vegas where he plays, writes books and appears in video games. He also competes on High Stakes Poker and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Esfandiari, along with his friend Phil Laak, also starred in the reality show I Bet on You.

He is  supported here in Monte carlo by his “true love” Victoria. This is only his 2nd EPT but he plans to come to a lot more. He said his best moment so far as when he had QQ and the BB moved all-in with AT. “I ’m not talking about what happened next, but that was my best moment of the tournament,” he said.


(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16004&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 6: Maxime Villemure (Canada) -- 1,206,000

Despite suffering a fever for the last few days, Max has been forging ahead at the EPT Grand Final – encouraged by the knowledge that Gavin Griffin won last year despite having a really bad cold. Max took up poker just over a year ago after watching the WSOP on television. Home games with his friends turned into online play and within a short time he was doing so well, he gave up his law studies to play full-time. This is Max’s third EPT – he busted out of the PCA on Day 2, and San Remo on Day 1. It’s also his first time in Europe. He said: “It’s great – but rather expensive.” He is being supported here in Monte Carlo by his friends Jason Mercier (who won EPT San Remo two weeks ago) and Sam Chartier.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16013&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 7: Glen Chorny (Canada) -- 3,613,000

Glen hails from Timmins, north Ontario but is currently studying business and history at Wilfred Laurier in Waterloo, Ontario  - the same city that Mike “Timex” McDonald lives in. He has been a full-time pro since January but reckons he has been playing at pro “levels” for the last 18 months. He mainly plays online cash games and big live tournaments. This is Glen’s second EPT - he came 13th at the PCA for $80k. Straight after PCA he won the Tunica World Poker Open in January 2008 PLO $5k. He took up poker after watching it on TV. He said: “I played live home games, really small; with like $50 buy ins. I had a bankroll before I started playing online so I started playing really big on the Internet because I thought I had the skills already.”

Glen says he’s had to play a lot tighter at the EPT than his usual style but has “managed to hang on and run really good.” He qualified online with PokerStars in the Steps satellites for $700.


(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16007&g2_serialNumber=1)

Seat 8: Isaac Baron (USA) -- 853,000

Isaac began playing online poker aged 18 and two years later has established himself among peers as one of the best players in the world. He was Cardplayer’s Online Player of the Year for 2007 and, with 40 players left on day 4 of the Grand Final, Brandon Schaefer said Isaac was the best player left in the tournament, something few would dispute. “It’s definitely flattering” said Isaac. “But there are so many good players.”

A journalism student at the University of Oregon, Isaac hails from northern California. He dropped out of college to play poker full-time and see where that took him, and while he intends one day to get his degree, that poker journey has seen him cash six times in live events across North America and the Caribbean, as well as cement a much feared online reputation.

A former Sunday million winner netting $255K, Isaac, known as ‘westmenloAA’ on PokerStars, has won multiple tournaments online. Also a noted cash player, he plays at stakes anywhere between $25-$50 and $50-$100.

His first EPT was here at the Grand Final last year but he busted out early on Day 1. His first live cash came at the PCA 2006 and more have followed, with his first EPT cash coming in San Remo a few weeks ago where he finished in 11th spot, narrowly missing the final table. The EPT Grand Final will be his biggest cash to date.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16010&g2_serialNumber=1)

hey guys,
i was just about to post...this is back to back ept finals for denes, as he hasn't played since baden.
i thought he played really well on day 3 & in the final - perhaps froze a little heads-up.
be nice to see luca go deep as well

To squash any rumours, it was Michael Martin who broke into Lee Jones' car, apparantly...

And on the very first hand we witness action accompanied with more banter than an episode of Have I Got News For You. With Valeriy Ilikyan making a standard pre-flop raise, Antonio Esfandiari re-raises, thus virtually committing himself to the pot. As Valeriy dips into the tank that he has become so accustomed with, Antonio rises from his seat and shakes the hands of each of the remaining players, as if the American had already been eliminated. At this point, a flurry of amusing comments ensues:

"It's a looooooong journey home, a long journey"
"There's no shame in folding"
"If you call I'll show the nuts, if you fold, I'll show you the bluff"
"I might fold for the rest"
"Make sure you do the right thing whatever you do"

After a further pause, Valeriy releases his hand. As a result of this brief encounter, Valeriy drops to 1,320,000 whilst Antonio jumps to 631,000.

While we wait for action interesting enough to transpose from the Live Feed to Written Perpetuity (or until our server goes down again), please enjoy these photos of Maxime Villemure.

1)  Maxime au naturel

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16066&g2_serialNumber=1)

2)  Maxime after being asked to smile by another photographer

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16068&g2_serialNumber=1)

So errr, 25/50 and 50/100 then?

Contrary to what the dude on the live feed just said, each of those lovely purple 25k chips is not worth two and a half buy-ins - they started with 15k, so each one represents one and two thirds buy-ins.  ;topofclass;

Ummm, we copied and pasted off of the official Pokerstars profiles. I'm blaming Mad Harper.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15976&g2_serialNumber=1)

Lee Jones is watching the same feed as me and he still gets the players in the pot wrong.

Man how does he keep his job. Mr Duthie im not dense I could do it ;topofclass;

Very suprised he didnt bet the river there with AK

I agree but I understand his point of view wanting to see the guys hand. Info for later I guess.

Glen Chorny raises for the third time (the announcer can't say that, but I can  :)) and is re-raised by Valeriy. After a momentary dwell, Chorny calls.

Both players check a Jd 3d Ad Flop only for Glen to bet 225,000 on the 3s Turn. Valeriy instacalls.

The River is the Ks and again, both players check, although Valeriy seemed tempted.

Although Glen has top pair with A-Q, Valeriy reveals A-K to take the pot.

In the aftermath, Lee Jones criticises Glen's check on the River, suggesting that Antonio, Isaac and Michael would all have made an extra half a million from the hand.

Personally, I think it's pretty academic. With that board and facing a pre-flop re-raiser, I don't think there are too many hands Glen would be beating. In that sense, I think he would have folded.

Luca preflop raises to 70k.  Maxime Villemure opts for the re-raise:  to 225k.  Is it push/fold for the consistently cashing EPT-playing Italian (this is his third final table!)...?  Possibly, but it's fold.  Incidentally, Claudio Pagano, Luca's dad, is now railing having busted yesterday.
________________________________________

Unperturbed, Luca raises to 75k the next hand.  It seems like every time this happens, his tablemates ask how much he's playing...can't be a nice feeling, that...
Isaac Baron re-raises him this time (in the bb) - to 240k.  Luca makes the call this time. 
Flop:  Jc 3s 4d  All in insta, with a reciprocal instacall...

Luca Pagano shows: Jd Kd
Isaac Baron shows:  Ac Kc

Turn: Qd
River: 3d

DOUBLE UP FOR LUCA  (His Dad unexpectedly hi-fives someone on the rail).....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16070&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chip counts after that Pagano double-up...

Glen Chorny - 3,233,000
Isaac Baron - 2.125,000
Valeriy Ilikyan - 1,896,000
Maxime Villemure - 1,276,000
Michael Martin - 1,260,000
Denes Kalo - 1,251,000
Luca Pagano - 1,152,000
Antonio Esfandiari - 574,000

I like Glen Chornys in hand style he puts a lot of pressure on you

Incidentally, I think we should take an in-depth look at Mr Glen Chorny's choice of outfits in recent EPTs.

Yesterday:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15805&g2_serialNumber=1)


The Other Day:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15033&g2_serialNumber=1)


EPT Bahamas last year:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=7450&g2_serialNumber=2)


Yikes.

So I have to say, it's nice to see him in a suit today, thus:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16007&g2_serialNumber=2)


Not quite learned how to iron his shirt yet though:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16035&g2_serialNumber=1)

Antonio Esfandiari re-raises all in over the top of Luca Pagano's button raise from the big blind.
"I'm going to call," calmly states Luca, in spite of the ongoing countdown (480k).  I think this is actually pretty nice - if you know you're going to call, might as well put the poor all-in-shover out of their misery by letting them know, rather than letting them sweat through the countdown...

Antonio:   Ad 8s

Luca:  Aspades Jc

Flop: Kd Th Qs  Well, that's pretty conclusive.  Only a Jack for a split can save the Magician now.
Turn: 5h
River: 3d

And the "impeccably turned-out" (according to Barry Martin) Italian, shows briefly his delight at his hand holding, and leaps to fourth in chips...

Antonio Esfandiari finishes in 8th place, winning € 168,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16072&g2_serialNumber=1)

ok so hes not beautiful but does that matter in poker. Works for him Who wants that amusingly dressed man staring you down?

Dana... It seems there are no after effects from eating the raw burger. You must have a cast iron stomach!

No, we were actually drunkenly discussing this last night, and decided that we love the fact that poker is a great leveller in that sense.

But come on, man, that Bahamas outfit, I mean, wow. :o

Yes! Have to say, I feel pretty perky, considering. Definitely no food poisoning, although I understand certain parasites etc take a while to make their presence known. If I start fitting or something, the team will definitely let you know...

The man in the overalls at the PCA was better.

That's a gun show I did not need to see....a hairy, hairy gun show

Dude... You know you're going to have to produce photographic evidence now...

Ok, one sec.

It gets worse than that. Whilst I was stolling along the Monte Carlo beach, look who I spotted soaking up the sun...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16076&g2_)

Isaac Baron re-raises Valeriy Ilikyan (called already by Maxime Villemure) and waits to see the reaction of the initial raiser.  Nope, no interest.

Successful (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/SqueezeSponge.jpg/225px-SqueezeSponge.jpg)

photographic evidence of Dana's "perkiness"  required

Aye he looks smelly there -nothing worse than sitting next to a stinker!

Justin Phillips in all his erm, glory...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=7508&g2_serialNumber=1)

WOW-age on the live feed - Denes Kalo raises, only for Michael Martin to re-raise, only for Luca Pagano to go all in! Kalo folds so fast, and so does Michael, with an expression like Luca has just walked into his living room and started re-arranging the furniture. Luca now on over 2 MILLION!!!

Isaac Baron has just won a nice pot off Valeriy Ilikyan, his bet on the River of a 3h 8s 7c 7s 2s board quickly called by Valeriy. Isaac took it down with 9s 6s.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16078&g2_serialNumber=1)

Are you suffering some sort of synasthesia?  Do you feel sounds and smell voices too?  I think Mr. Chorny seems to be a perfectly nice bloke, have noticed nothing abnormal about him here in MC, including that Bahamas shirt, which was probably left in the Bahamas...  He can clearly play too.  Go Mr. C!

No I think he plays great - very aggressive. Just putting the heat of bahamas and that outfit together it looks like a bad combo. He may smell like roses all the time as I have never been so fortunate to sniff the man. I will never assume again honest

:) I tend not to sniff players either.  It's against the Pokerstars.com media guidelines.

If Lee Jones can commentate you should be allowed to sniff

This pic is to a photoshopper what bullets are to a sniper.

*Spits on both palms, rubs hands together and clicks mouse*

Current chip counts, end of level 24:

Glen Chorny - 3,158,000
Isaac Baron - 2,830,000
Luca Pagano - 2,028,000
Maxime Villemure - 1,390,000
Valeriy Ilikyan - 1,257,000
Denes Kalo - 1,123,000
Michael Martin - 981,000


Ahh ha ha TheReader, you're on the live feed! Stop embarrassing Michael with stories!

Do you have any baby photos to share?  ;angel;

lmao @Thereader mentioning that Micheals front tooth is a fake..and taking away an possibility of a cool story by saying that "it wasn't in a hockey match but I won't tell you how it happened".

You can tell your Blonde friends though..honest...come on..we won't tell anyone.

"That was excellent play," compliments Chad Brown as Valeriy Ilikyan takes down the first pot. Making a small raise, Maxime Villemure makes the calls and both players see a Qs Kd Qd Flop. Valeriy bets 50k and Maxime calls. The Turn is the 6s, Valeriy checks, Maxime bets 150k and Valeriy calls. 6c River, both check, Valeriy wins with Kh 2h.

Ahh ha ha TheReader, you're on the live feed! Stop embarrassing Michael with stories!

Do you have any baby photos to share?  ;angel;
[/quote]

Ha ha......I draw the line at the baby photos because he would absolutely kill me.  But I will say he was beyond cute.  lol

As far as the tooth, earlier they were talking about him playing ice hockey in school and Lee Jones mentioned that he looked like a hockey player but his teeth were too nice.  That's why I responded thusly.  lol

TR23

Ha ha.....I don't know if across the pond you know what a "sucker punch" is but, if you do, that's part of the story.

TR23

Glen Chorny Wins Pot Off Maxime Villemure:

They see a flop of Ts Th 3c, and both check.  The turn brings the 9c.  Maxime checks, Glen bets 81k; call.  River: 2s  Check again to Glen, who bets 225k, eventually called by Maxime, who mucks upon seeing his 8h 8d. 

Speculation is rife as to the range Maxime Villemure would call with on the river - Ace high suggested by commentators.  What do you think?

*********Note**********

I have to say I am somewhat relieved at the speed at which these players make decisions.  There is nothing more annoying to watch (or, after a while, to play against) than a player who continually takes minutes to make decisions, all decisions, not just big or marginal ones...

One of the idiosyncrasies of playing online is that multitabling gets one used to making rapid calculatiions/decisions.  This seems to translate to a very relieving no-drama no-nonsense style of live play from a lot of the young players, which is great, IMO.  Downside:  attention span problems with the live game...

Current chip counts, right now, 10 mins into level 25:

Glen Chorny - 3,541,000
Isaac Baron - 2,791,000
Luca Pagano - 2,085,000
Valeriy Ilikyan - 1,529,000
Denes Kalo - 1,114,000
Michael Martin - 972,000
Maxime Villemure - 735,000

WOW @ Valeriy giving the boy grief during the hand he wasn't even involved in..did he actually complain about the time he took to make the call?

lol..oh please tell me it was a little girl that hit him! :)

Could that be why he called with the 9's for a coin-flip???

Our resident Russian Valeriy makes it 87k, and shortstacked "Canuck" Maxime makes it All In (see counts above). Some dwellage; some call-age.

Maxime - Ad Kd
Valeriy - 9d 9h

Board - 6c Ac Ts Aspades 2c

Double-up for the Canadian ("Canuck", ah ha ha), and their stack sizes have been virtually reversed, Maxime now on roughly 1.5 million and Valeriy down to 800k or so.

Are you sure, Reader? I heard that he had a secret obsession for toffee apples. In fact, here is now pinching a giant one. He sure looks happy.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16080&g2_serialNumber=1)

Michael Martin raises on the button, called by big blind Valeriy... 

6s 7d 3d the flop...  Check to Michael, call.
Turn:  2d  Quick check again.  Michael checks behind.
River:  Td  Valeriy bets out 100k... called.

Michael shows 4d 4c but the Jd alone in Valeriy Ilikyan's hand is good enough to take it with the flush on the river.  Clearly not delighted that (a) he'd been called so speculatively twice by Valeriy  and (b) that he paid off the final bet with the four-flush so visible to everyone else.
_______________________________________

He wins the next pot, though.

Pictured when not kicking self:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16082&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16084&g2_serialNumber=1)

Real or fake?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3mrX5j27rU

lol..oh please tell me it was a little girl that hit him! :)
[/quote]

That it wasn't.....but I will say that the other guy went to jail!!!!

TR23

OMG. :o And Michael seemed like such a nice boy!

fake as discussed in the O.M.G thread.

and SHIP the nice pot to Michael!

Double up for the toffee-eater (!), Micihael Martin calling a huge re-raise from Valeriy Ilikyan to find he has his man dominated with Ahrt Qd versus Ac 4d. "Bring on the Russian," I believe I heard Michael say as the cards were brought to the centre. A 6s Aspades Qs 5h 2h board was a clinical one and Michael survives.

Real! Real! Real!

 ;popcorn; ;popcorn; ;popcorn;

 ;grr;

it does seem a bit of a shocker, eh?...that Michael fella must be trouble. ;) ...just ask the Russians.

Oh come on!..it's soooooooooo fake..Daniel doesn't lose his cool...EVER! (OK he has very little cool..but what he does have he doesn't lose!).

Isaac vs. Luca (orig. raiser)...

Flop:  6s 7h Ts  Double check
Turn: 6d  Isaac bets out now - and takes it down.  Here he is!  A fearsome avatar, translated into 3D, human form!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16086&g2_serialNumber=1)

Reader must be happy now...even doing a little jig maybe?

Valeriy Ilikyan is OUT and becomes the 7th placed finisher winning €253,000

I was daydreaming at the time, my brain still thinking we were watching the clip highlighting the famous names playing this week, but in a flash of lightening we had an all-in.

Valeriy Ilikyan = Ac Qc

Michael Martin = Ad Kd

Flop = 6d 7d 8s

Turn = Aspades

River = 2h

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16088&g2_serialNumber=1)

I'm going to tell you the truth.....I don't know if I'm going to make it.  I'm a wreck!!!!!

TR23

(http://www.joeventures.com/images/whiterussian.jpg)

Getting old Floppy?..it took you bloody ages to come up with that!

Yes, the ice will have melted by now. :(

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16090&g2_serialNumber=1)

lmao..your photoshopping skills are unrivalled, Jen.

Is it my imagination or does John Duthie always think everyone has A-Q?

Suffering a little here from not-paying-attention-itis today, I'm afraid. Did anyone see that last hand? Can someone who is paying attention confirm whether Denes raised first? Either way, Glen (re)raises and Denes moves all in. Glen asks how much, but passes, allowing Denes to pick up a 1.119 million pot.

yeah..everyone has AQ maybe AJ...and then finally when they insta call the had has upgraded to ..2 pair..probably Ace 10.

Um, I admit that took a little less time than my Masterpiece (see p1).  But honestly.  I have to watch TV, drink tea, occasionally run into the other room to take photos AND play with photoshop at the same time.  Like a wise man once said, "It's not about talent.  It's about heart."  You gave me the courage to carry on.

It's difficult to follow the live feed at times due to the hustle and bustle of the press room, but Maxime just took a nice pot off Glen Chonry with a 225k bet on the River. There was a bet, raise and call on the Qd Kh 8h Flop with Maxime making the final call before both players opted to check the 8s Turn. Chorny then called a 225k bet on the 3c River only to be shown what I believe was 8-7 for trips. Chorny mucks.

Ha ha, you're unbelievable......Now please name the boat The Bella and it will be perfect.

TR23

hey ive stood beside that thats on frazer island in oz!

Did you take a photo of TheReader?

Current Chip Counts:

Glen Chorny -- 3,512,000
Isaac Baron -- 3,124,000
Luca Pagano -- 1,914,000
Maxime Villemure -- 1,907,000
Michael Martin -- 1,572,000
Denes Kalo -- 715,000

Glen raises, Michael re-raises and Glen folds.

Michael now on 1,703,000.

Heads up flop of 3h 6d Jc…
Michael bets 110k, when it’s checked to him.  Isaac Baron flat calls.
Turn: 4d  Check to Michael, who riffles two chips (if that oneontop-otherontop thing can be called a chip trick in the true sense of the word) and checks behind.
River: Ac  Michael, when it’s checked to him a third time, bets 200k.  The big rivercard, lack of noteiceable draws coming in and the big bet, all combine to make Baron press the Fold button.

Things That Appeared On The Screen That I Thought Were Chip Counts So I Took A Photo To Crib Off Of -

EPT rankings:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16092&g2_serialNumber=1)


Actual chipcounts:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16094&g2_serialNumber=1)

This time Michael raises 80k, Glen re-raises over 200k, and Michael folds.

1800-I-LIIIIIKE

I'd like to take a moment here to comment on the total awesomeness of this structure. Going into this new, WHOPPING 20k/40k/4k level, the average stack is still over 60 big blinds. We could be here all night...

Is this what you guys looked like this morning???

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16096&g2_serialNumber=1)

Denes Kalo has avoided the big showdowns thus far, but perhaps that's because he's skilled in finding his opportunities to push. Not for the first time, Denes re-raised all-in and got his opponent to fold, the victim this time being Isaac Baron after a 100k pre-flop raise.

Chip counts, start of level 26 -

Glen Chorny -- 3,647,000
Isaac Baron -- 3,271,000
Luca Pagano -- 1,811,000
Maxime Villemure -- 1,698,000
Michael Martin -- 1,349,000
Denes Kalo -- 856,000

Jen - "I'm much bigger in real life" - she's not, you know.

Maxime raises pre, and Glen calls.

Yay, flop! It is 7d 2d Js - again, Maxime bets and Glen calls.

Turn - 2s - and now they both check.

River - Ahrt - that's a scary card - John Duthie has put Maxime on A-Q - either way, he bets 225k, which is enough to make Glen fold.

Again, Denes Kalo picks up a pot uncontested. After Isaac Baron made what the commentator referred to as a "standard raise" of 100k, Denes' reraise to 316k was enough to take it down.

HUUUUUGE pot -

(http://www.vittoe.com/0205a/p5304735.jpg)


Luca raises, for the first time in a good long while. Glen calls from the button; Isaac makes an interesting call from the small blind.

Flop - 9d 4d 2h - Isaac checks, and Luca bets 210k. Glen calls. Isaac clearly hasn't hit, as he gets out of the way (I put him on A-Q  ::))

Turn - 4s - and now Luca bets a very large 500k into the already 800k pot. Glen considers, and flat calls, bringing the pot size up to an ENORMOUS 1.8 millio.

River - Qh - and Luca bets a surprisingly small 400k. Glen calls, and is most upset to see that his pocket Sixes that were good on the turn have indeed been outdrawn by Luca's flopped-flush-drawing Kd Qd.

Luca Pagano now chip leader on 3.3 million.

Glen should shove or fold turn imo.

Ahem.  From the rather slow beginning of level I have retreated into statistical analysis mode.  Let's start with a cheap shot:

DUTHIE PUTS YOU ON....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16104&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yeah - I'm pretty new to poker, but by flat calling the turn, what did he expect to see on the river that would help him (or not worry him)?

Chip counts after the HUUUGE Pagano v Chorny pot -

Luca Pagano -- 3,251,000
Isaac Baron -- 2,797,000
Glen Chorny -- 2,510,000
Maxime Villemure -- 1,875,000
Michael Martin -- 1,167,000
Denes Kalo -- 1,032,000

After keeping quiet over recent hands, Michael Martin bursts into life with an all-in after a raise and a re-raise before him. The initial aggressor quickly folded, as did Isaac Baron.

Hurrah for the excellent Brandon Schaefer on commentary.

I especially love it since he's one of Michael's best friends.

TR23

Oh, it appears that a few of Luca Pagano's chips were just on loan...as he just doubled up young Maxime Villemure as follows:

Raising on the button, he found the online whizkid re-raising out of the small blind.  He fairly quickly placed enough stacks of purple 25k chips to put his opponent all in in front of him.  A bit of a think...and call all in!

Luca shows:  Jh Jd
Maxime shows:  Ahrt Kc

Flop:  Qc Ac 4d... turn 5c (not good for Luca)...river er...a brick of some sort

So a grim looking Pagano relinquishes the chip lead and drops right down to 5th.

Good Lord! Chip counts are all over the place. It's like they're taking turns being chip leader.

Maxime Villemure -- 3,454,000
Isaac Baron -- 2,481,000
Glen Chorny -- 2,429,000
Michael Martin -- 1,607,000
Luca Pagano -- 1,520,000
Denes Kalo -- 1,141,000

Good by updaters, have to go...

Thanks for your job !

i said from the beginning, our boy max is winning it.

 ;nipnip; ;nipnip; ;nipnip; :D

Cheerio, Mr P. Thank you for your support.

you're welcome...

I go play a live 30players freeroll Sit & Go for training  ;topofclass;

Fold to the small blind (Glen Chorny) who makes it up.  Raise from bb Isaac Baron (+100k), call.
Flop:  Jd 7s Kd  Check-check
Turn: 4h  Glen checks, Isaac bets 155k, call, eventually.
River: 8h  Glen checks, Isaac thinks and bets 230k.   Dwell...call.

Isaac Baron shows Jh Td which is good enough for the pot... Schaefer, incidentally, spot on in analysis of both players on river [obv Chorny's mucked hand unknown]
_________________________________

Next to hands are raise-fold type things.  Another pie chart may be forthcoming?

GO CANADA!!!
(http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/img/c/CaptainCanuck.jpg)

Isaac makes it 110k, only for Denes Kalo to perk up and make it 345k from the button. After a bit of looking Kalo up and down, Isaac folds.

-------

Next hand, Isaac raises again. This time he folds to a re-raise from the super-tight Luca.

That it wasn't.....but I will say that the other guy went to jail!!!!

TR23
[/quote]

(http://www.virginmedia.com/images/tyson-police-400.jpg)  :)

Good Luck to Michael

Denes Kalo raises, but Michael Martin re-raises him, looking most comfortable about it, I must say. Kalo considers it, Brandon Schaefer puts him on A-Q, and he folds.

Brandon Schaefer leaving commentary way too early. :(

A tough break for Isaac Baran as he clashes in a mammoth pot with Glen Chorny. With Glen limping on the button, Isaac made up the small blind and Denes Kalo checked the big. On a 7c Ac 6c Flop, all three players checked, only for Isaac to lead out on the 7s Turn. Denes smooth called, but Glen surprised many by coming over the top for 300k. Isaac called saying "I think I'm ahead but I'm going to just call" and Denes ducked out of the way before the two remaining players saw an 8s River. Isaac checked, Chorny bet 300k (about half the pot) and Chorny called. Kc 9c versus Jc Tc and Chorny takes the pot.

"I need to extend the parking on my yacht," says John Duthie. 

This reminds me of this excellent poster - full size board by side of road - advertising "Yacht Insurance."  Well, you wouldn't want to be lounging on the Riviera in an uninsured yacht, now, would you?

(http://www.find-yachts.com/super_yacht_fos1.jpg)

Maxime Villemure remains your current chip daddy with 3,524,000.

Someone take that mic of Lee Jones he just talks pish!

Pie chart! Pie chart! We need more pie charts!

 ;grr; ;grr; ;grr;

Kalo (cutoff) limp-calls a button raise from Michael Martin.  They check allll the way down until the board reads:  2s 2d 5c Ks 8s, at which point it becomes apparent that Michael's Aspades Jh beats Denes' Ahrt Th.
__________________________________

Luca Pagano raises to 120k; big blind Denes Kalo calls.
Flop: 9s Kd Js  Luca bets 160k, when it checks to him - very quickly called... alarms go off as Kalo only has 700k behind...
Turn:  3d  Denes moves all in.  Luca lets it go.
___________________________________

Tc Jh 6d  Flop.  Kalo who seems to have suddenly perked up as this level draws to a close, is back in it...
Turn: 5s Isaac bets and Denes Kalo calls...
River: Kh  check to Isaac one more time, and he bets.  Call!  Isaac's Kd 2d had hit the river and his bet turned out to be a value one at the last minute...

Chip counts near the end of level 26 -

Maxime Villemure -- 3,546,000
Glen Chorny -- 2,884,000
Isaac Baron -- 2,155,000
Michael Martin -- 1,899,000
Luca Pagano -- 1,254,000
Denes Kalo -- 914,000

(http://www.seriouseats.com/required_eating/images/threadless-piechart.gif)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16105&g2_serialNumber=1)

************************DINNER BREAK - 1hr**************************

While we twiddle our collective thumbs, does anyone know how to directly upload to a gallery like blonde's an .xls file or Works file?  It would be way more handy for me - at the moment taking screen shots of my pie charts and uploading them as .jpg via GIMP...

Jokes loosely relating to John Duthie's Ace-Queen obsession.

I'm hearing he's been looking at the deserts on offer at the dinner break, he can't quite see what they are but it looks like Ice Cweam (you have to say it with a lisp or it's doesn't sound like Ace-Queen)

Rumours abound his working relationship with Kara Scott isn't particularly healthy, he's not sure what her probably is but thinks she may be a bit of an Ice-Queen

Two or three minutes ago he was asked randomly what he thought of Elton John, "he's a brilliant musician" was John's answer

(http://www.popgadget.net/images/skains_taxi.jpg)

This was harder than it looks.  Man, how long until the restart?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16107&g2_serialNumber=1)

http://www.technacular.com/2007/06/04/excel-2007-how-to-save-excel-chart-as-image/

Basically right click the edge of the chart then copy and paste into paint or whatever and save.

Sandy

We're back and not much has changed, Denes Kalo continuing his strategy of moving over his opponents' initial raisers and forcing them to fold. The latest to feel the wrath of the Hungarian push was Glen Chorny, his 125k being re-popped by Denes for just over a million.

Strange shove from Pagano!!!

Luca Pagano is OUT and becomes the 6th place finisher winning €337,000

I think Luca was searching for a spot to push, and with A-Jo he found a hand that he deemed worthy of the gamble. However, with Denes Kalo calling the  all-in re-raise in double quick time, Luca knew that he was in trouble.

Luca Pagano = Ahrt Js

Denes Kalo = Qs Qh

Flop = 7d Kd 7h

Turn = Th

River = Jh

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16109&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16111&g2_serialNumber=1)

I think he's gonna be gutted..Tax must be a b8tch in Monte Carlo ;)

Lots of blind-stealing from the button here. Ho hum.

Also some attempted stealing from the small blind. Maxime tries it on with Glen (as it were). Glen calls, and they make it as far as the turn of 9s 4s 3d Jc before Glen folds to a chunky bet from Maxime, who rakes in a 1.2 million pot.

GG Michael Martin. :(

WP Michael, you made your Mom very proud

OMG 6 handed to 4 handed in literally minutes of exciting action which leaves your weary updaters suddenly re-exhilarated...

Now it's Glen Chorny vs. Michael Martin...  Glen raises preflop to 125k, called by Mike in the blinds. 
Flop:  6h 7c Th   Check to Glen, who bets 225k.  Back to Michael who puts in a raise to 675k... the kind of "I'm not going anywhere" sort of bet.  So when Glen moves in, it's a quick shove/call combo and they're on their backs!

Glen Chorny:  Jd Js
Michael Martin:  Qc Tc 

Turn:  Ad
River: 2h

And with that, there exits a very supported young American, Michael Martin in 5th place, winning € 421,000 (that's a lot of dollars).

Glen Chorny -- 4,550,000
Maxime Villemure -- 3,735,000
Denes Kalo -- 2,435,000
Isaac Baron -- 2,110,000

I know that they are using the brown and pink coloured chips, but what colour are the 25000 chips (if they are using them)?

Well played Mike, v well deserved.

A very nice purple!

purple

421,000.00 EUR
   
=
   
668,537.42 USD   ;D

Man, another big hand (it's like the poker gods don't want to see any pie charts)!!

Denes Kalo calls a Glen Chorny button raise, seeing a flop of 8s 4s Ad.  Denes checks, Glen bets 175k (I think) but gets pretty quickly ch-raised to 500k. 
"All in."
"Call."
All very brisk and business like.

Denes Kalo:  Ac Qc
Glen Chorny: Aspades 3s

"ONE TIME!" from Glen - and if it were to be one time, it would make a hell of a lot of difference if it were here, on the EPT Final Final...
Turn: Kd
River:  Jc

So a huge double through catapults the only remaining European into the chip lead...

Glen Chorny -- 2,740,000
Maxime Villemure -- 3,240,000
Denes Kalo -- 4,390,000
Isaac Baron -- 2,460,000

I am delighted to inform you all that the pie chart bandwagon is being well and truly leapt upon.  I was going to wait for a lull in the action to present you with these, but I just can't keep them from you:  I present - the pie chart representations of stats from the Pokerstars welcome suite...

Fig A:
Drinks consumed in suite

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16121&g2_serialNumber=1)

Fig B:
Games played in suite

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16119&g2_serialNumber=1)

Fig C:
Nibbles consumed in suite

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16117&g2_serialNumber=1)

Fig D:
Meant to read 'bottle opening inability'

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16115&g2_serialNumber=1)

Fig E:
The amateur statisticians and Friends of Blonde Pip and Bea

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16113&g2_serialNumber=1)

The best photo I could get of Michael Martin, sorry:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16133&g2_serialNumber=1)


The best photo I could get of Luca Pagano, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and apparently branded his hand with the Pokerstars logo:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16125&g2_serialNumber=1)


Denes, all in:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16126&g2_serialNumber=1)


Denes Kalo tries to leave:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16136&g2_serialNumber=1)


Denes sits back down:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16141&g2_serialNumber=1)


The rest of 'em, while Denes sneaks in on the screen:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16137&g2_serialNumber=1)


Junglecat-stylee accidental shot of the day:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16130&g2_serialNumber=1)

Very well done to Michael..Top result and you can buy your mom a new car now, or a new set of nerves :)

Dem counts -

Denes Kalo - 4,165,000
Glen Chorny - 3,615,000
Isaac Baron - 2,790,000
Maxime Villemure - 2,260,000

Glen Chorny takes down a pretty chunky pot in interesting circumstances – A-J being the hand he confidently called on a Kc 5d Jh flop out of position, before betting the 4d turn.  His opponent Maxime Villemure stubbornly resisted until the river (don’t know what his hand is, so the commentators’ postulating he’d floated the flop is interesting).  A final diamond on the river – 6d – and a double check, shipping the large pot to Chorny in the end. 

Or her own "special trophy"

(http://nicnacshelf.com/ostore/images/ILoveMomPlaque.jpg)

Where are the gummi bears?

As we await the restart, may I take this chance to commend the structure. Of course, part of me would like this to be a crapshoot so we can hit the bar pronto, but the other part of me is content that the remaining players can still boast ample room to play. Looking back at the two and a half hour funfest of San Remo, the 90 minute clock and 15k starting stack have made this final table a real battle, which, in my opinion, not only adds credibility to the European Poker Tour, but also to the game of poker as a whole. So often people highlight the amount of luck involved, and although you still need to get lucky to win this event, skill has been given the utmost chance to prevail. Rob Hollink, Jeff Williams and last year's Gavin Griffin are all considered worthy winners, and the same will be said for today. I really do think that this is one of the few events where the cream almost always rises to the top. Well done PokerStars.

Glen raises pre-flop, Isaac calls. Isaac takes it down with a bet on the 3-3-3 Flop.

Little action since the break.

 ;iagree; :goodpost:

No press freebies here except endless tea. :'(

Mad Harper just bought us Cokes though. :)

What's the pressroom consensus? Is Isaac the man to beat now?

;bp;

The two chip leaders go to war.  For a while.

Isaac Baron raises preflpp called by Glen Chorny. 
Flop:  3h 9c 7d  Glen checks, Isaac bets 250k.  Glen now raises --465.  And refusing to back down, Isaac pops in a re-raise - enough to signify that this could go from a big pot to a tournament-dominating pot...
...but Glen folds, cementing Isaac's place in front of the last four.

Countin' countin' countin', keep them chippies countin', countin' countin' countin', rawhiiiiiiiide!

(http://www.sci.fi/~ivanoff/rawhide.jpg)

Isaac Baron - 4,025,000
Denes Kalo - 2,955,000
Glen Chorny - 2,930,000
Maxime VIllemure - 2,700,000

A rare four way pot in which all remaining players see a Jh-Ks-3d Flop. Glen Chorny bets out and Denes calls, only for both players to check the Ace of Clubs Turn. Glen then check calls 275k on the Jack of Diamonds River with, I believe a King, but lost out to J-T. Glen shakes his head in disappointment.

Battle of the preflop action, once again involving Isaac Baron, but now it was he raising on the button and finding resistance in the form of a +410k re-raise from Maxime Villemure... Calmly, inexpressively, Isaac announces, "All in."  Probably now revelling (seeing as he wasn't instacalled) in that peace of mind you only get when you've put serious pressure on someone and they aren't enjoying it at all.  Maxime passes to an appreciative round of applause from the Isaac-followers. 

The blinds are still 'only' 30k/60k.  With the chip positions pretty even (except for a slightly shorter Villemure) it's anybody's game.  And anybody's big glass trophy and nice suitcase full of cash:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16142&g2_serialNumber=1)

Isaac raises and Glen calls. They see a flop, which is exactly 2c 8d Td - they both check.

Turn - Aspades - and isaac bets out 225k. Glen calls,

River - 9c and Isaac just basically gives up - Glen wins it with, I believe A-7.


Have to say, although the quality of the poker is very high here, I'm starting to miss some of the eccentricity we often see in these things. I'm even beginning in a really sick sort of way to think fondly of Copenhagen - at least Soren Jensen and Tim Vance were good value as far as talking into their hats, kissing men at the rail, etc was concerned. Purely in terms of entertainment, this is not the funnest I've seen. There aren't even any funny hats/hoodies left. :(

I'm going to post these two again, just to add some colour:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15903&g2_serialNumber=1)

Denes Kalo raises pre to 190k... Big blind Isaac Baron calls.
Flop:  Ts 6s 8h  Double-check
Turn:  Td  Isaac bets out 235k, and is immediately called by Denes.
River:  2h  Back to double-check, and Denes shows doen the Ahrt 6d to take the pot.

Glen button raises to 175k pre-flop, Isaac and Denes both call from the blinds. The 8h-9s-5h-5c-Qd board is checked down to the River where Isaac takes it down with a 375k bet.

Denes Kalo raises pre to 190k... Big blind Isaac Baron calls.
Flop:  Ts 6s 8h  Double-check
Turn:  Td  Isaac bets out 235k, and is immediately called by Denes.
River:  2h  Back to double-check, and Denes shows doen the Ahrt 6d to take the pot.
___________________________________________

EPTlive describe this game as 'stalemate.'  Which would be a good analogy if this were a game which you could just make the same move eternally in attack/defense and keep it going infinitely.  But it's poker, and no one just wants to cycle the blinds round forever - they want to win the huge 1st prize and get the glory and the fireworks and the huge 1st prize and the magazine covers and the fame and the respect and the trophy and the huge 1st prize....

Going to post this pic anyway as it describes how we feel, at least...

(http://www.chessclub.com/resources/rules/images/Stalemate1.gif)

To be perfectly honest, after 6 x 14-hour days and with no end/comedy hats in sight, this is how I feel:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16144&g2_serialNumber=1)

It's been a long week.

(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/flashpoints/theater/images/clockwork_big.jpg?mii=1)

At least I've got the nuts though!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16146&g2_serialNumber=1)


Players are on a 15 minute break.

M&S?! How much are they paying you guys?! :p

I think we should add that we're not criticising the players, and certainly not the EPT, for this long final. In fact, both should be praised in my opinion. The excellent structure has successfully avoided a crapshoot and the standard of play and lack of rush-of-blood-to-the-headedness have led to this being a hard fought out battle in which the eventual winner will have fully earned the title of EPT Grand Final Champion.

They're meant to last us the rest of the year.

Guys been out in colchester had a few beers a meal and I thought it would be over. Dare is say the word deal take a million each and fook off? woudl that be so stooopid

Spelling awful. I apologise.

Sounds like more than a few beers there... ;)

After such a lengthy spell without a showdown, I have to pinch myself to make sure that I'm not sleeping when Lee Jones announces a showdown. Like the rest of the pressroom, I suddenly jump into life and reach out for my notepad in preparation for the board. All-in with Qc Qh, it is Maxime who has his tournament life on the line, but he's in good shape against Isaac's 8h 8c and looking confident of a double through. With players remaining as stoic as ever, the dealer pops out a 3s 3h Ad 2s 6d onto the felt to give Maxime a huge 4 million pot. As a result, Isaac has now sunk down to 1.5 million.

Yep far too many. Hehe Lee Jones still acting like its exciting - I appreciate that. So is everyone else asleep around the press room or is there a perky person running around like a hamster?

Isaac Baron - 1,105,000
Denes Kalo - 2,20,000
Glen Chorny - 2,860,000
Maxime VIllemure - 3,930,000

It's an unusual atmosphere - largely weary, but not full of raging anger like, say, Copenhagen, because the standard of poker has been consistently incredibly high for the past few hours. I think everyone appreciates that, albeit a bit grudgingly what with the whole we-can't-go-home-yet thing and all.

be careful Snoops. best before date is 17th June. don't want you coming down with nut poisoning at xmas

Isaac, suddenly in trouble, has now got to deal with the different pressures than those of the chip leader.  But he has probably been in this situation many many times, and probably isn't going to be too despondent.

And he takes his shot!
He moves in.  Denes Kalo calls.

Isaac: Qs 3s
Denes: Ahrt Tc

FLop:  Js 2s 2h
Turn:  6d
River: Qd

There it is!  A foot back in the door and a playable stack once again.  He honestly didn't look bothered as the board came out - like he was waiting for a bus rather than waiting for a multi-hundred-thousand-euro card...

Hi Updaters...

Wow... they are STILL 4 players ???? ;gobsmacked;

Do you have the actual chipcount please ?

if you're boring, you could still bet on what time they will end... 2pm ? 3pm ? 4pm ?  ;D

A few shots from our still-four-handed final table...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16150&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16153&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16151&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16157&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr C can never call the clock again. Great play. I bet that man smells like roses

Glen Chorrny on the small blind calls Isaac Baron's preflop raise.
Flop: 6s 2c 7s  Glen bets out 335k... but Isaac slowly cuts his stacks of 25k in an "I'm not passing" kind of way.  Glen calls the clock. 
Isaac's response to this=  All In.
Glen's response to this= Instacall!

Isaac shows: Aspades Qh
Glen shows:  Ahrt Ad

Turn: 9s
River:  Kc

That makes Isaac Baron (the media room's pick to win, btw) our 4th place finisher, winning € 589,000

We're never boring! And I really hope it doesn't go into the pm, I don't think I could handle another 15 hours of this... ;)

Maxime raises pre-flop and Denes calls. Maxime takes it down with a 325k on the 7-8-2 rainbow Flop.

oh yes... I would have liked to say AM... ::)

Chipcounts, trey-way:

Glen Chorny - 6,240,000
Maxime Villemure - 3,540,000
Denes Kalo - 2,845,000

Great play by Mr C! He can never call the clock again in his career, super play. I bet that man smells of roses.

Im off guys. Great updates. Hope it doesn't go on too long!

Anybody else thing there was a bit of angle shooting in the hand between Glen and Westmenola with Glen calling the clock so quickly?  2nd time thats been done the night and I found it pretty distatsteful it was hardly like he had tanked for a good while.

Ahem.  Been quiet for a while.  This is why.  He can take it - he's threeway in the EPT Grand Final...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16158&g2_serialNumber=1)

how quick did he call it?

Another very intriguing, but disappointingly not-resulting-in-us-being-any-closer-to-going-home, hand...

Maxime makes it 255k in position, and Denes calls.

Flop - 8h 7s 5s and they both check it.

Turn - 3h - Denes checks and Maxime bets around 300k - Denes calls.

River - a most interesting Qh - and now Denes bets out, a most interesting 200k or so into the 1.3 million pot. Maxime dwells, and then folds. Most interesting...

Kalo now on around 3 million.

Hmmm...

(http://www.fergaliciousfotos.com/Images/hmm_david.jpg)

Omg this is so horrible. I can't believe I just quoted it.

That is just beautiful - see the blush in the cheeks just pure talent in photoshop. I had to stay up with Nick taking the wee out out of lee. I am such a poet

Still three-way, sigh:

Glen Chorny - 7,145,000
Denes Kalo - 2,870,000
Maxime Villemure - 2,610,000

Called clock after about 90 seconds!

really? far, far too quick at this stage of this comp.

I hope big TK would've ruled he couldn't call it if it hadn't been for the immediate push

If he had Aces there was no need for him to call the clock ever.  He's called the clock to make his hand look weak which is quite weasly really.  I don't think there's any justification for calling the clock on anyone with blind levels as long as they are in this structure and as deep as they are now with €2m at stake. 

By the way the blinds are now 60k/120k/10k, but our clock doesn't have that level.

I was just having a cigarette in the ladies' when I heard an almighty uproar. Oh my God it's over! - think I. I leg it out of the toilets to discover that the commotion is coming from the bar, where a bunch of people are on the ground. A fight! - think I. But no - it turns out that it was a prop bet between Antonio Esfandiari and Sorel Mizzi - Sorel bet that Antonio couldn't get 10 people to lie on the ground, without telling them to lie down. It looked like 10 to me, but they're apparently arguing over a technicality atm. Bizarre! - think I.

Denes and Maxime chop one up, A-7 v A-5 on a J-8-8-A-4 board. Denes bet 250k, I believe, on the River and Maxime called.

I must confess that the live feed has lost the attention of the pressroom, most of the media more interested in the bet between Antonio and Sorel as to whether or not Sorel can get ten people to lie down on the floor without telling them to lie down. However, amid the jovial banter there was an all-in and a call on the big screen, Maxime in need of dodging a Jack in order to survive. All-in with Kd Qh on a Th Qh 3d, the Canadian was in tip top shape against the dominated Qs Jc of Denes Kalo, and even more so when the 6h arrived on the Turn. A Kh on the River and it was done and dusted; a double through for Maxime and play continues.

New, getting evener, chip counts:

Glen Chorny:  5,350,000
Maxime Villemure:  4,035,000
Denes Kalo:  3,240,000

Denes Kalo, having not been as noticeably active through much of the day as his online star tablemates, is nevertheless a real contender for the top spot.  He just called a very large river bluff by Maxime on a board of Td 6s Ac Kc 4c - he instantly mucked when Kalo's call came over the line, and the sole remaining European in the tournament moved into a comfy second place in chips having shown down the winning Kh 8d.

Blind on blind, Maxime and Glen see a 5s Ahrt Ts flop. Small blind Maxime bets out and takes it, just like that.

well, I'm done in. My set of 3s, just got me into profit for the night, so i'd better call it quits. Thank you guys for some superb updating  ;hattip;

Once again, it's wonderful that this has at no point become crapshooty, etc, excellent tournament, blah blah blah, and indeed I will be very interested to see this later in the year when we get to see the hole cards and so on, but for the past few hours this has been incredibly dry.

(http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth_science/images/dry_ground_1.jpg)


There isn't even any banter to report. No-one is saying anything. They are all absolutely expressionless and silent, and nobody seems in any danger of doing anything stupid/rash/amusing, even though we understand a deal has been done. :(

You're most welcome, sir. ;hattip;

We might still be here tomorrow morning when you wake up, do check in with us then.

what deal has been made?

Some Kind. Sorry, no more information than that.

veeery intresting, hopefully find out after, or? :-)

Glen Chorny - 8.42 million and it's all over!!!
























No, I lied, these are the real chip counts -

Glen Chorny - 7,872,000
Maxime Villemure - 2,698,000
Denes Kalo - 2,055,000

DRAMA!!!

It was always going to take a supertricksy play/cold deck to get one of these guys out (or a bit of a brain freeze - it's been a long day) - and that's exactly what was delivered.  The inescapable river...

Maxime Villemure had bet the turn with the board reading Th Ad 4s Js... and hit what he thought, fairly reasonably, might be a perfect card - the 9d on the river against Glen Chorny.  But it couldn't have been worse - while Maxime held Q-8 for the second nut straight, Glen flipped the K-Q for the only hand to beat it..

Making Maxime Villemure our 3rd place finisher, winning € 715,000

Yay, heads up! And we have deep-fried stuff!

Glen Chorny - 11,360,000
Denes Kalo - 1,265,000

843 down (840 runners and 3 KNACKERED updaters) and we're Heads Up.

Before it gets going... THANKS to for the stonking updates over the last few days, I've really been enjoying watching the live feed and reading your comments.

P.S. How's the prop bet going????

Denis Kalo is OUT and becomes the 2nd place finisher winning €1,179,000

GLEN CHORNY IS THE POKERSTARS.COM EPT GRAND FINAL CHAMPION WINNING €2,020,000

And just like that, it's all over. All-in on the very first hand of heads up...

Glen Chorny = Ahrt 5h

Denes Kalo = Kh Qd

Flop = Aspades Qs 6s

Turn = 6d

River = Td

thanks alot for some great updates during these few days, now go get the winners to buy you guys some drinks, you deserve that  :cheers:

:)

cheers guys

Thanks for all your work guys, you were awesome.

Yayyyy, we will very shortly be heading back to the bedsit for the very last time, to get a few hours' sleep before we head back to sunny Luton airport in the morning. Even Kara's packed and ready to go:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16022&g2_serialNumber=2)


Actual photos of the actual finish etc being uploaded any minute; in the meantime, here's an artist's impression of our glorious winner:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16160&g2_serialNumber=1)

Now there's a haunting image.  Dana is officially too tired to be allowed to reopen photoshop tonight. 

Cheering is coming from somewhere - I think Snoopy has to go and interview people, but I have been on powersave mode for a good long time and am heading back to the flat to drink wine (in moderation) and sleep (in moderation, sadly).  It's been emotional ;)

;stickaforkinme;

Dive right in!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16162&g2_serialNumber=1)


Doesn't the trophy look like one of those comedy yard-of-ale glasses?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16164&g2_serialNumber=1)


Or a hat:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16166&g2_serialNumber=1)


Pyrotechnics a bit half-assed, imo, WWE is better:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16170&g2_serialNumber=1)


Kara, Glen, Mr Kremser, John Duthie:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16173&g2_serialNumber=1)


WINNER!!!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16177&g2_serialNumber=1)


Why are both of Glen's parents blonde and he is brunette?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16178&g2_serialNumber=1)


Snoopy wanted me to post this:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16180&g2_serialNumber=1)


...And with that, we are going to click our heels and magically we'll be back in London.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=16171&g2_serialNumber=1)


Thank you, and goodnight.

 ;stickaforkinme;

(http://www.awesomebackgrounds.com/templates/ppt-2007-10-awesome.JPG)

(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/PAULANEALMOONEY/updates.gif)

(http://www.harrisburgmagazine.com/wp-content/themes/new/images/STB.jpg)

(http://www.wondercliparts.com/thanks/graphics/thanks_graphics_02.gif)

Fantastic updates guys.

Just gotta say that once again the Blonde updating team have risen the bar..................where next?

Thanks for a great week of updating.

Top quality reportage guys with some fantastic humour, photoshopping, hamburger analysis et al.

Thanks a lot see y'all at DTD soon.

give him a little earring and the resemblance is frightening

nothing more to say. i will come back.

 :)up :)up :)up   Thx for a superb week of updating.