Print Page - Pokerstars.com Barcelona EPT - Day 3

Welcome back for Day Three of EPT Barcelona from myself and Jen here in Barcelona.

We witnessed a firecracker of a day yesterday. Sebastian (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=739) Ruthenberg (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=739), the young German who picked up a stud hi lo bracelet at this summer's WSOP, began the day chip leader and maintained a healthy stack all the way through to the latter stages of the day.

Can he pick up his second big tournament in just a few months?

Also going well is Belgium Winamax player Davidi (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1255) Kitai (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1255). Like Sebastian, he also won a bracelet at the World Series and is clearly another man in form who the field will be hard pressed to stop.

English hopes seem to lie with Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1501) Chidwick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1501), who is well in contention, especially after he de-railed Maz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=277) Nawab (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=277)'s tournament in dramatic fashion late on in the day yesterday.

Other young guns in the mix include Dane Jonas Klausen, who has looked in good shape throughout and the confident Swede Ramzi (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=714) Jelassi (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=714), who has had some dire fortune in EPTs previously but will have gone to bed with the mantra "ONE TIME" ringing in his ears.

Today should prove to be incredibly exciting and we await the start like eager little beavers!

Here is the list of remaining players in order of chip count.

One player I didn't mention in the intro is Jason Mercier, who won EPT San Remo, and the young American is a hair's breadth behind our own Stephen Chidwick here. Definitely a threat to take this down...

Davidi Kitai    544500
Dren Ukella    374500
Daniele Mazzia    374000
Stephen Chidwick    355000
Jason Mercier    345000
Steven Weusten    332000
Sebastian Ruthemberg    326000
Chad Brown    259500
Michael Keiner    293000
Jonas Klausen    237000
Joseph George Pelton    226000
Voitto Rintala    171500
Fintan Gavin    164000
Mikael Lundell    155000
Malte Strothmann    138500
Cornelis Alblas    133000
Ramzi Jelassi    133000
Pierpaolo Ruscalla    123500
Helfried Bernhardt    123500
Claudio Cecchi    120500
Mark Randal Flowers    119000
Jonas Molander    113000
Joel Nordkvist    109000
Salavatore Pengue    105500
Alessandro Longobardi    102000
Samuel Chartier    95500
Martin Nielsen    95000
Alexander Grishchuk    93000
Henri Juho Kristian Koivisto    81500
Alessandro Lusso    70500
Jose Vazquez Ortega    68500
Marko Tapio Vainio    68000
Mauro Corsetti    64500
Ronny Johansen    62500
Benianmino Speroni    59000
Andrey Chesnokov    17500

Exit already! Within three hands of the action finally kicking off, we lose shortest stacked Andrey Chesnokov. With under 20k, those chips were always going in right off the bat, and they did, with the surprisingly great holding of Aspades Ks. He was called by Salvatore Pengue with Kh Ts.
Flop: 2h Jh 5h
Turn: Th
River: 9h

And any dreams he may have had of shortstack comebacks hit the road. Still, €17,300 should make it better.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21286&g2_serialNumber=1)

We may be getting more photos like this today, sadly, as for reasonable reasons there is no flash and we're not allowed among the tightly packed tables. Fair's fair on the players. We have been promised a Media Rail, but so far it's only been running ten minutes and the rail is ten deep and shouting, elbowing and generally making life difficult. I remember covering the final stages of Barcelona last year and I have never received so many shoves, minor bruises, elbows etc. from players railing friends or just gawkers who don't really know what's going on but there's a crowd so it must be good... you get the idea. Deep breath.

Another non-featured elimination! It was German Helfried Bernhardt who'd previously given up a chunk of his stack to a preflop reraise all in from Henri Koivisto. This time button Jonas Klausen raised, and Bernhardt moved in over the top from the small blind holding Qs Kd. He was up against Klausen's Ac Qd and with the board giving them both a pair of Queens, the Ace kicker sent another to the rail and necessitated a table break.

With his bulging biceps, lantern jaw and flawless white teeth, Chad Brown has been described as "The GI Joe" of poker, but even this action hero of the felt can't win every flip.

He raced his pocket Jacks against the K-Q of the well chipped up Italian Daniele Mazzia and a Qh 8s 3d 9c 4s board meant Mazzia's solitary pair of Queens gave him a decisive edge against the American that sent him to the rail and back to his usual activities of fighting wars single handed.

If it's any consolation to the burly American, Snoopy told me he was impressed with his guns, and coming from the man with the original pair of smoking Smith & Wessons, that is some statement.

Snoopy did add however, "if it came to it and I was forced to, I would unleash the pythons on him."

Make of that what you will...

Some photos of Chad just after his elimination to follow...

And a shot of the recent eliminated German Helfried Bernhardt, the pony tailed man in the background, not the guy making the rude gesture in the foreground.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21294&g2_serialNumber=1)

It's a lightning quick start today, and we've seen ANOTHER elimination, Italian Mauro Corsetti hitting the rail.

The Italian had let himself get very short and got his chips in, but his doublr through attempt failed and the silvery haired player is eliminated.

He did just squeeze into the next payout bracket however though, finishing up in 32nd spot for €19,800.

Triple Double Up:

First it was Henri Koivisto who moved all in preflop over the top of a Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1099) Keiner (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1099) raise - and not for peanuts either, the pot topped 250k as the cards went on their backs:
Koivisto: Ahrt Qh
Keiner: Tc Ts

Board: 2c 4d 7s....8h.....Ac And the relief of the young Finn was obvious as he clapped his hands (just the once, mind) and said, "WOO!" which typified the relief of someone smacking the river when they Thought It Was Over... Ramzi can't resist a little dig at the now stacked up Koivisto, whose hat was suddenly at a rakish angle (pictures coming - our battery recharging)... "Is that how you play in Finland? All in with A-Q?" They both smiled, though.

then

Mark (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2142) Flowers (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2142) doubled through Beniamino Speroni (ambiguous that, sometimes, doubled through, or was doubled through? - In this case it means Speroni won) - It folded to Flowers in the small blind and he quickly put enough chips in to cover his short stacked opponent. Speroni looked at his cards, shrugged, and popped in the rest of his chips.
Speroni: Ahrt 6h
Flowers: 8s 5c

Flop: 4c 8h 5h
Turn: 6d
River: 4h And the flush kept the Italian in the game, knocking a chunk out of Flowers.

then

Flowers got his chips back, and a little more, getting it in with Qc Qs vs. Ks Th. The flop of Ac Tc 3c was looking fairly safe for him, and the rest of it blanked giving him some breathing space. Here he is, in Barcelona shirt, and therefore mistaken for a local by lots of people standing behind me on the rail ;D

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21296&g2_serialNumber=1)

Pierpaolo Ruscalla, I beleive, is the latest player to be thrust out of proceedings, racing his K-Q against pocket Jacks but a board of 8c Aspades Ts 6c 9h was of no use to him, so he exits in 30th place...

Ruscalla was one of the last of the older contingent still vying for the title and his exit leaves veteran German Michael Kiener fighting a lone battle against the hordes of aggressive young players.

I had a quick chat with Mark Flowers as he sat at the table.

He leaned over and told me he'd had "a swingy day."

He was up to 180k early before losing a button vs BB race with A-K against pocket threes to knock him down. He then doubled through versus Jonas Molander with A-J v A-T.

A few more swings later, he reached some kind of equilibrium on his current stack of 120k or so...

He's clearly enjoying the local culture though, decked out today in a Barca football shirt with Messi across the back. That's bound to make him a bit of a favourite amongst the locals, but he'll need to find some spots to get more chips if he is to mount a serious challenge to the title at this point...

In 29th place falls Joel Nordkvist, winning €19,800. Enough for a flight to London, buyin to the WSOPE ME and a sandwich. Damaged earlier and making a move pre with J-3, he found Q-Q behind him. A Queen on the flop and he was already out of his seat before I could get an Action Shot:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21300&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sorry Nordkvist fans - I tried.

(http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/tvradio/slideshow/kids_tv/img_5.jpg)

Alessandro Longobardi, taking the old wise children's programme's advice to Paint the Whole World With a Rainbow, just doubled through courtesy of a pretty unlucky Jonas (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=613) Molander (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=613). Jonas raised to 20k preflop, and Longobardi pushed all in. Call. Simple as that.
Molander: Ks Kh
Longobardi: Qd Qs

Flop: Qh smallheart smallheart giving some new thought-I-might-not-need-those outs for Jonas
Turn and river: bricks.

When the river was out and there was no danger of the Italian hitting the rail right there, he went a bit mental, leaping up, hi-fiving his two railers who combined sound and take up the space of ten normal ones, and clearly delighted to have escaped the jaws of defeat. You can tell what Jonas thought of that from his expression (the guy in the black shirt with long hair on the left).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21302&g2_serialNumber=1)

Quote from: Djinn on September 13, 2008, 04:24:18 PM

(http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/tvradio/slideshow/kids_tv/img_5.jpg)

Alessandro Longobardi, taking the old wise children's programme's advice to Paint the Whole World With a Rainbow, just doubled through courtesy of a pretty unlucky Jonas (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=613) Molander (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=613). Jonas raised to 20k preflop, and Longobardi pushed all in. Call. Simple as that.
Molander: Ks Kh
Longobardi: Qd Qs

Flop: Qh smallheart smallheart giving some new thought-I-might-not-need-those outs for Jonas
Turn and river: bricks.

When the river was out and there was no danger of the Italian hitting the rail right there, he went a bit mental, leaping up, hi-fiving his two railers who combined sound and take up the space of ten normal ones, and clearly delighted to have escaped the jaws of defeat. You can tell what Jonas thought of that from his expression (the guy in the black shirt with long hair on the left).

(http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/tvradio/slideshow/kids_tv/img_5.jpg)

Ooops Jen, I think you (http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39078000/jpg/_39078889_bungle270.jpg)
'd that post a bit!

Anyway, on with the poker.

Samuel Chartier started the day as a short stack but battled patiently for a spot, which he found, getting it in preflop with Kd Kc versus the As Qc of tablemate Martin Nielsen.

The flop fell Th 2s Js Qd 8s, Chartier's Kings holding and enabling him to double through to 170k or so whilst Nielsen is put on the backfoot, knocked down to sub 100k...

Big Action on Last Hand before Break!

Knocked to hovering around 100k, Jonas Molander has been moving all in preflop here and there, like a sort of terrier nipping at the heels of his tablemates, but able to do some serious damage to at least three of them should they fight back and lose...

Anyway, just as the rail (which is now wedged between some metal barriers and some heavy empty tables, and looks like it may result in a fatality before the end of the day, such is the press of random people squeezing past the big sign that says PRESS ONLY - SOLA PRENSA) reached its height to date, Jonas moved in one more time, and this time Sebastian Ruthenberg took him on. There was a pause while small blind Alesandro Longobardi kneeled up on his chair and did some melodramatic staring at both players, but they ended up heads up in the closing seconds.

Here's what I saw:
Ruthenberg: Ad Aspades
Molander: Ahrt ?

Flop: Th 9c 4d Jonas looks resigned, ready to get his virtual coat.
Turn: Jc His mate Ramzi comes over to watch
River: Qc Ramzi gives him that knuckles-up thing, which is odd as it looks like that was the last gasp for him... but no, the pot is getting shipped to Molle..

He actually held Ahrt 8d which rivered a straight with help from only four board cards! A large bit of luck back for him, and a double through from Sebastian.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21310&g2_serialNumber=1)

Davidi Kitai retains the chip lead at this point with roughly 550,000.

Here is a shot of Kitai's table...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21304&g2_serialNumber=1)

And one of those hot on the Belgium's heels is German Sebastian Ruthemberg.

Here is his table...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21306&g2_serialNumber=1)

And here they are:

Daniele Mazzia   Italy   716,000
Dren Ukella   Germany   543,000
Davidi Kitai   Belgium   516,000
Jonas Klausen   Qualifier   Denmark   490,000
Jason Mercier   USA   481,000
Martin Nielsen   Denmark   322,000
Samuel Chartier   Canada   308,000
Mikael Lundell   Sweden   292,000
Cornelis Alblas   PokerStars player   Holland   227,000
Jose Vazquez Ortega   Spain   208,000
Jonas Molander   Sweden   200,000
Stephen Chidwick   Qualifier   UK   183,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg   Germany   180,000
Malte Strothmann   Germany   157,000
Fintan Gavin   Ireland   156,000
Mark Randal Flowers   USA   150,000
Henri Koivisto   Finland   143,000
Steven Weusten    Holland   136,000
Michael Keiner   Germany   122,000
Benianmino Speroni   Italy   120,000
Ronny Johansen   Norway   120,000
Salavatore Pengue   Italy   112,000
Voitto Rintala   Finland   102,000
Alessandro Longobardi   Italy   96,000
Claudio Cecchi   Italy   87,000
Ramzi Jelassi   Sweden   75,000

Well I was aiming for the best shot I could get of Fintan Gavin, but it just so happens that the big hand I saw involved his neighbour Randal Flowers...
Ramzi Jelassi, finding himself the short stack after a bad couple of levels, took one of his spots to move in for 75k preflop with Qd Td - unfortunately he found Flowers with Ac Kh who was happy to get it heads up and in the middle.

Flop: 4h 8s 8h
Turn: 9h
River: Qs And quite a number of Swedes and others on the rail celebrated as their guy hit one of his two live ones at the last minute to stay alive, and reverse the position of short and almost-OK with Mark Flowers.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21314&g2_serialNumber=1)

Here's Ramzi, just in front of Michael Keiner before it all went wrong. Earlier one of his supportive supporters went to get him a drink, offering first "Vodkaredbull?" "No." "White Russian." "No." Very restrained, going for just the caffeine. A long day potentially ahead of him :)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21312&g2_serialNumber=1)

At this crucial juncture of the tournament, it's a horrible time to be running bad, but that is exactly what is happening to Sebastian Ruthemberg at the moment.

After having his Aces cracked by A-8 for a 200k+ pot, he now called a shortstacked push from Salvatore Pengue with A-8 in the big blind.

It proved to be a good call, as Salvatore could only table K-J.

It hasn't been the young German's day so far and this continued as the Italian spiked a King on a Kh 9h 9c 4s 3d board to leave the once dominant chip monster Ruthemberg now very short and looking for a required double through sooner rather than later...

His prone position, head bowed, speaks volumes about how his day has gone so far...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21318&g2_serialNumber=1)

It's all gone bananas - a player out every five minutes in the latter half of this level meaning we are just 18 left here at the EPT Barcelona...

Michael Keiner busted first (sorry no details) followed by Ramzi Jelassi, pictured wishing Jonas Molander luck (probably) and heading to cash in his €24,700. "I hope I make at least €20k, he said earlier, so I can go straight on and play the next one." I think a flight to London might be being booked as I type. Another close call, but the cigar still eludes him.

Tougher still that this time he got it in ahead ;) with Q-Q vs. A-T. No good.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21320&g2_serialNumber=1)

Then short stacked Ronny Johansen - the dangerously blonde dude pictured shaking hands with his table as a threeway all-in pot sends him to the rail in 19th place winning €24,700...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21322&g2_serialNumber=1)

He was short, the guy in the foreground paying no attention to the departing Johansen - Salvatore Pengue - was short, and Sebastian Ruthenberg, somehow, still wasn't, and called them both as they got their stacks in preflop with these cards:

Ruthenberg: 6c 6h
Pengue: Ad Tc
Johansen: er... I am going to level with you and admit I don't know. It was in the process of being mucked as I surfaced at the front.

The board was lying there A-Q-3-8-8 and the Italians on the rail supporting Pengue were going mental.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21324&g2_serialNumber=1)

Pengue wins a couple of other awards:

(http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:pVp6zpRC4P6qKM:http://www.blogcadre.com/files/images/evangeline_lilly_trophy.preview.jpg)

Largest Number of times being told off by a dealer for talking in Italian on the table and to the rail
Most heads turned when winning a big pot
Sunglasses which most resemble Paul Gourlay's

18th and 17th places have just been awarded - to Voitto Rintala and Steven Weusten - €17,400 to them both...
Pictured earlier next to Fintan Gavin - the creepiest contact lens award goes to Rintala, who seems although somewhat unapproachable at first, a nice guy. Who needs irises to make friends, eh?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21326&g2_serialNumber=1)

Plus this was Weusten:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21182&g2_serialNumber=1)

A moment of silence as 50% of the turquoise hoodies leave the tournament. Here's a photo for you to recollect what it was like when they even shared a table (must have been like looking in a weird mirror)...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21328&g2_serialNumber=1)

With 16 players left, here are the chip counts from the two tables at the re-start.

Samuel Chartier    418000

Benianmino Speroni    383000

Salavatore Pengue    149000

Stephen Chidwick    230000

Jonas Molander    181000

Claudio Cecchi    172000

Gavin Fintan    240000

Sebastian Ruthenberg    142000




Mark Randall    63000

Davidi Kitai    662000

Martin Nielsen    473000

Jason Mercier    510000

Dren Ukella    830000

Daniele Mazzia    602000

Jonas Klausen    614000

Mikael Lundell    620300

Good news for Mark (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2142) Flowers (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2142) fans. Though very short, he jsut shipped his stack into the middle with A-J and was called by K-5.

A flop of 7-6-T-T-3 meant his A high was the best hand and he doubles through to 144k. He hasn't shown too much emotion at the table so far but he allowed himself a big smile at this win...

Michael Lundell has been battling it out with Martin Nielsen.

First Nielsen moved all-in on a T-T-6 flop with 450k in the pot for 300k or so.

Lundell was strained at this and sat there sweating and fiddling with his chips and glasses as he clearly had a very tough decision to make.

After a few minutes in the tank he eventually made the call, creating the game's first 1,000,000 pot.

Nielsen looked upset at this and tapped the table as if in defeat, showing A-K and appearing to mouth "One Time."

He needn't have worried though, as Lundell flipped over the same hand in A-K and the two chopped the pot.

Next up Lundell called a raise in position versus Nielsen. The flop fell Ts 2c 8c and Nielsen folded to a big bet from Lundell.

Lundell triumphantly flipped overr Jc 6c, the aggressive and unpredictable Swede giving his table a really hard time at the moment!

Been watching the non-TV table on the rail for half a level nonstop, and eventually some cards saw the light of day face-up. But to build up to the climactic near-felting of the perma-stacked (up til now) Sebastian Ruthenberg - here's EVERYTHING that happened leading up to it:

1. Stephen Chidwick moves all-in for around 180k pre. No call.
2. Sebastian Ruthenberg moves all-in for around 160k pre. No call.
3. Salvatore Pengue moves all-in for around 120k pre. No call.
4. Chidwick makes it 51k to go - no call.
5. Finton Gavin moves all in for what looks like 230k pre (possibly over a raise?) - no call.
6. Chidwick makes it 51k to go again - no call.
7. Chidwick gets a walk.
8. Button Sebastian Ruthenberg moves in. No call.
9. Cut-off Ruthenberg moves in again - No call. No, wait, CALL.

Had to happen eventually! Ruthenberg tabled Ac Jd while small blind Pengue had found Qh Qs. They both watch the board come down, somthing physically impossible for us at this moment, sadly, but at the end Ruthenberg gave all but 60k of his stack to Pengue, while he shouted, "Yes!" and then again, "Si! SI!" Just in case one of his monolingual fans had missed his double through to over 300k.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21338&g2_serialNumber=1)

Some shots of the action...

First up here is Stephen Chidwick getting miked up ready for the feature table.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21330&g2_serialNumber=1)

Next we have Fintan Gavin, slightly blurred from my bustly vantage point but ready for action.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21332&g2_serialNumber=1)

Martin Nielsen has been smacked about a bit recently on the feature table, primarily by Mikael Lundell, and now it seems Davidi Kitai thought he would have a go at the Dane.

They saw a flop og 8s Ts Qc and Nielsen called Davidi's bet of 60k or so.

The turn fell the 5h and Davidi now upped the ante betting over 100k. Nielsen thought about it...before moving the rest of his stack in...

A disgusted looking Davidi folded and wandered off from the table, despite Nielsen desperately trying to show him his hand before he left.

Here are the current chip counts from the feature table as the players take a well earned dinner break.

Mark Flowers 173k
Davidi Kitai 404k
Martin Nielsen 588k
Jason Mercier 513k
Dren Ukella 771k
Daniele Mazzia 569k
Jonas Klausen 614k
Mikael Lundell 675k

German Dren Ukella raises it up to 32k, but gets a call from both Jonas Klausen and Mikael Lundell.

A flop of Td 3c Jc is met by a just under pot size bet of 95k from Lundell and neither Ukella nor Klausen felt like taking him on so they threw away their hands and the big Swede takes down the pot uncontested...

Dren wasn't ready to slow down though, raising up the next hand, only for Klausen to re-raise him...Dren took little time to move all-in and Klausen looked like he had a tough decision on his hands.

After deliberating for some time...he made the call!!!

The Dane showed Ad Kc and Dren showed pocket sevens. A massive 1,100,000 pot was about to be played out!

The flop looked good fro Dren coming..3s 8c 4h

The tun was the 3c...still no Ace or King to rescue the Dane...

The river was.....the 9d ! Sick coin flip to win at this stage for the German, and that pot has left Klausen, who has looked in good shape throughout, now short and looking in trouble...

Fintan Gavin - here he is getting re-raised off preflop by Sebastian Ruthenberg, who shoved over his raise to 33k. He said something like, "You'd call if you've got a hand," and then something like, "I wanted to be squeezed," - it really is impossible to catch anything they're saying and the cards are a good seven feet away. Either way after a good long think he gave it up.

He got one back about five hands later betting 40k on a flop - the first one seen in 20 mins. So no chip change really for the Irishman.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21340&g2_serialNumber=1)

Another big pot for Salvatore Pengue - this time with no (compulsory) showdown: I saw him wave his hands in the international sign of all-in preflop, having raised 20k, been re-raised by the button Samuel Chartier(?probably).

He moved in almost instantly, prompting a long dwell from his opponent, and a tense silence from the expectant crowd. Eventually he passed, the pot headed to Pengue, and he showed the mighty 5c 7d to a roar of "Salva-TO-RE!" from his supporters.

And....action!

Swede Jonas Molander faced the small blind to short stacked player Claudio Cecchi's BB and when he found K-2, he set the Italian in.

He may have been beating the Italian's range, but he wasn't actually beating his hand as the Italian made a quick call with A-T and was looking at a double through.

Molander has run very well in this tournament though, winning big flips and A-8 against Aces and the dealer was about to do him another favour as he peeled off a flop of 3-9-2 to give Jonas a pair.

The turn was a 9 and left Claudio sweating on an Ace, Ten or Three on the river which was...

...a FOUR!

A blank on the river consigned the Italian to 16th place, worth a meaty €29,700 but short of the big prizes at the top.

Stephen Chidwick eliminated in 15th place, winning €29,700

Re-raising all in preflop with Kc Td, Samuel Chartier was only too happy to get his stack in with Ac Aspades. The board came Ts 4c 9s 8h Ahrt busting the internet prodigy but introducing him to the EPT in style. Here he is doing the Brief Loiter of Shame.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21346&g2_serialNumber=1)

Funnily enough, moments earlier Jason Mercier had popped over to have a quick chat with the grey-hoodied Canadian - maybe he was whispering, "Right, Aces - that's the way forward." To be fair, Chartier had moved all in a couple of hands before with no call, so maybe it was more along the lines of, "Play a hand!"

Jason Mercier nipping over from the TV table. "Who, me?"

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21348&g2_serialNumber=1)

Apologies for not showing your face, Mr. Chartier, but you know how it is stuck in a small gap between tables behind you.

Jonas Molander eliminated in 14th place for €37,200

He calls another Sebastian Ruthenberg shove preflop with 9d 9s - Sebastian has 8s 8d this time and it isn't looking good for him...The flop brings no excitement, but without being able to see the table Sebastian's face says all that needs to be said about the turn - an 8c. A 5 on the river makes a chip count necessary as their stacks are very close, but it turns out that the German covers his Swedish opponent, and we're down to 13 and he's up to over half a mil in chips.

Ruthenberg - chips once more

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21350&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.moiramcpartlin.com/images/dead%20flowers.JPG)

Mark Randal Flowers finishes in 13th place for €37,200

The shortest stack on a table which randomly drew ALL the biggest stacks today, he moved with 6s 7s, and got Davidi Kitai giving him a spin with Ahrt 8h.
Not in terrible shape, especially considering the 4d 8d 9d flop.
Turn: Aspades
River: 2c and a slightly disappointed but even-tempered Flowers just misses out on the final table.

Sebastian Ruthenberg just raised it up to 45k from UTG, only to face an all-in re-raise by Italian Benianmino Speroni
for 100k more or so.

With A-K it was an easy call for Sebastian, though had he seen his opponent's cards, he may have laid it down as Speroni had stumbled into a very favourable situation, showing down bullets.

Sebastian shrugged as if to say "Whatcha gonna do?" and once Thomas Kremser was summoned over to announce the action, the dealer gave us a flop.

It popped out Js 2c 9s Qd, opening a small window of opportunity for Sebastian to crack the bullets but a Queen on the river shut that window with a bang, as the Italian doubled up to 350k, whilst Sebastian's stack was reduced to roughly the same...

Benianmino Speroni finishes in 12th place winning €49,600

On Table Of Short Stacks a threeway pot brews between all in Speroni, re-raiser Sebastian Ruthenberg and Mikael Lundell... on their backs!

Speroni: Th Jh
Lundell: A-K
Ruthenberg: A-K

A very decisive board came out of K-A-T-7-A - the two who aren't Speroni tap knuckles, split the pot, and play continues apace. Pictured, the eliminated Italian, before the consoling rail welcomes him.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21352&g2_serialNumber=1)

And no sooner than the dust had settled on Speroni's exit than Klausen is all-in also.

He took a shot to double up his 220k stack against the man who earlier took all his chips German Dren Ukella. He pushed over the top of Dren's late position raise but Ukella quickly called him.

The Dane was in bad shape, his A-4 needing a lot of help to outrun the German's pocket Jacks.

The flop fell Td Qh 2d...the turn was the 2h and needing an Ace on the river to stay alive in the tournament, the dealer dealt out the Jh!

A full house for the German sends Jonas Klausen crashing out in 11th spot, winning €49,600 and we continue 10 handed as the final table rapidly approaches.

;bp;

Davidi Kitai and Jason Mercier tangle, in a multi-raise battle preflop... Davidi raising, Jason re-raising (150k), Davidi adding 207k...and then facing an all-in from Jason! Over 600k each - this could be the biggest pot of the day. Having committed so many of his chips, it looked like Davidi was going to agonise for a bit and then put in the rest. But no! He actually folded, with an expression of mortification, after a dwell which looked like lemon juice being squeezed in his eye. 1 mil for Mercier.

Neither player has spent any time today off the Feature Table, so our photos are from far away. JC doesn't have the steadiest of hands, so it looked like a good idea to steal closeups from the flatscreens Pokerstars is showing us the footage from EPTLive on.

Kitai
(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21356&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mercier
(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21354&g2_serialNumber=1)

A quick picture of Irishman Fintan Gavin, taken shortly after Jonas Molander busted Italian Cecci with K-2. He gently chided the Swede, telling him "K-2? That'll work on him but not on me!" warning him off stealing his big blind.

Good to see the players are still able to have fun at the tables, despite the high prizes at stake...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21344&g2_serialNumber=1)

Exiting in 10th place - Salvatore Pengue (€74,400)

Moving in preflop, a count was being issued when I approached the approach to the table... covering Pengue, Samuel Chartier thought about it for a good while, then announced call, precipitating the usual swarm of cameras and Thomas Kremser - for which we were delighted as he then announced exactly what was going on:
Pengue held Tc Th, Chartier Aspades Jd.
Flop: Ks 3d 7d
Turn: Js
River: Qc

Here are both players, the one in the permahood about to eliminate the one with the glasses:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21360&g2_serialNumber=1)

And a more subdued Salvatore than we've become accustomed to took his leave, causing the final table break of the EPT Barcelona, which is still ongoing.

Added Bonus Photo: Chartier with face visible to rail. Crikey, wouldn't want to accidentally spill a drink on him. Woe betide potential muggers - it's not worth the €74,400 he's guaranteed at worst.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21358&g2_serialNumber=1)

Understandably cagey now, an odd hand developed between Dren Ukalla and Samuel Chartier... Chartier made it 48k to go, and then called a weird re-raise to just 100k out of the blinds. Flop: 6c 9c Ad. Dren checks, Samuel checks.
Turn: 7c Dren bets out 50k. A brief think; call.
River: Jh Dren immediately puts in a bet of 75k. A brief think, and he gives up the pot.

It has just been announced that the blinds are going to be reduced to 12k/24k ante 3k. Give them a bit of a break. To be fair, tomorrow may have been faster than necessary if it kept progressing at this rate.

Slow slow slow. A few interesting pots threaten, but sort of fizzle, like:

When Samuel Chartier re-raised neighbour Jason Mercier to 140k preflop, and Mercier was having none of it, although the small blind had a serious dwell.

or

When it folds to Fintan Gavin in the small blind and he says, "I tell you what I'm gonna do - I'm gonna be nice to you," and limps. Big blind Sebastian Ruthenberg thought for a second and put him all in. "I have to..." he began, practically out of his chair, before it became clear that what he had to do was pass.

The poker continues somewhat cagily although there is a sudden burst of activity as Lundell and Chartier go to war preflop.

Ther's an inevitablity about this situation as both players are likely to showdown hands, and indeed that proves to be the case as Lundell showsdown pocket Queens but he has run into a bit of a cooler as Chartier shows Kings.

No surprises on the flop mean the aggressive Swede's stack is decimated and Chartier doubles through to over a million chips...Lundell is now the shortstack.

Will he be the player to fall first?

Gavin is now starting to move and shake, the big Irishman first calling a raise from Mazzia before shoving a Jd 8d 4c flop. "I'm tired" he says before walking around, possibly trying to elicit a call.

Mazzia tanks....but folds, leaving the smiling Irishman to sweep up the 500k pot.

He continues the aggression, shoving on the button. No resistance again though and the Irishman sweeps up the pot, his stack growing nicely at this point...

Sick big pot plays out!

Ruthemberg gets his stack in preflop, and Jason (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2136) Mercier (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2136) shakes his head...but feels he can't fold....so calls!

Jason shows Ahrt Qd and Ruthenberg...pocket 9s!

1,000,000 chip coinflip...

The flop comes Ad 5c 9c!

For the second time Mercier flops TPTK against a set of nines.

He knows he is in deep trouble and begins counting out chips to give to Ruthenberg and when the turn comes th Js and the river the 4s, he hands them over. Bad luck for Mercier but great news for the German who now has over a million, whilst Mercier is now down to just over 500k.

It was revealed that Nielsen, who originally raised in that hand before passing to all the action laid down Jacks which would have won the pot with a set on the turn!

He may well come to regret that pass...

And we have an all-in!

Davidi Kitai shoves all-in from the button and Mikael Lundell, the shortstacked swede....calls!

Davidi shows Q-7 whilst Lundell shows a brave call with A-4!

Great call from Lundell, and if he can get his hand to hold up, he'll double through.

The flop comes Qc Jh 2h!

THe belgium gets lucky to spike a queen!

The turn is the Tc and the river....The 8h!

The unlucky Swede's bravery is not rewarded and Davidi doubles through, leaving Lundell with just a handful of chips.

Those chips are put in the next hand and his hand is isolated by Sebastian Ruthenberg.

Lundell can only show T-9 but he is in better shape than you'd think, coinflipping versus Ruthenberg's pocket eights.

Needing a T or 9 , a flop of Jh 2c 6c Ad 4d brings none of these, meaning finally, after a long gruelling session for the players, we are down to our final eight as Mikael Lundell is OUT, eliminated in 9th spot, winning €74,400.

So, an amazing day of poker was ended at last with that cruel beat, but that is the game we all know and love. We hope you've enjoyed our coverage of what has been a fiery day's poker.

Here are the final eight who will return tomorrow to battle it out for the title. There's no question that all these players have some great poker in them so we anticipate another fantastic EPT final table.

Martin Nielsen
Davidi Kitai
Dren Ukalla
Jason Mercier
Samuel Chartier
Daniele Mazzia
Fintan Gavin
Sebastian Ruthenberg

We beleive the start time wil be 4pm, so we hope you can join us then as we play down to the champion. Chip counts will follow when they are received but for now...

;stickaforkinme;

That fork may have been slightly premature... the chip counts have arrived, and here they are in what we reckon is seat order:

Martin Nielsen   Denmark   1229000
Sebastian Ruthenberg   PS Player   Germany   1204000
Samuel Chartier   Qualifier   Canada   879000
Dren Ukella   Germany   734000
Davidi Kitai   Belgium   600000
Jason Mercier   PS Player   USA   526000
Gavin Fintan   Qualifier   Ireland   701000
Daniele Mazzia   Italy   359000

That's all, folks.

blonde poker forum

Poker Forums => Live Tournament Updates => Topic started by: JungleCat03 on September 13, 2008, 01:54:41 PM