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So welcome to our last EPT final table for this year.

Seat 1: Eric Liu -- 1,308,000
Seat 2: Johannes Strassmann -- 434,000
Seat 3: Phillipe Dauteuil -- 478,000
Seat 4: Antony Lellouche -- 1,021,0000
Seat 5: Michael Tuerniec -- 1,333,000
Seat 6: Alan Smurfit -- 396,000
Seat 7: Marcin Horecki -- 309,000
Seat 8: Michael Martin -- 728,000

Blinds finished last night at 15k/30k/3k but I reckon they'll roll them back to 10k/20k/2k otherwise half the table is basically forced to just push preflop.

Sometimes they roll back the blinds to increase the amount of play but today they haven't!

With many people in short stack 10BB territory this will encourage a fast final so we expect carnage today.

And carnage is what we get!

From the very start, a big pot is played out immediately, Anthony Lellouche and Phillipe D'Auteuil going to war preflop....

with all of Phillippe's stack in the middle...and half of Lellouche's a 900k+ pot was in the offing and here were the cards.

Aspades Kc for Phillipe, 4d 4c for Anthony and as Benjo, the world renowned NLHE poker analyst would observe so astutely, "It's a race!"

(http://www.trackcyclingsa.co.za/Portals/5/Disciplines%20-%20team%20sprint.JPG)

The flop fell 8d 5c 2c...a good flop for Lellouche's pocket fours...would we see an insta elimination?

TURN: Jc...this card was met with ooohs by the audience, the Canadian D'Auteuil picking up a flush draw to go with his overcards.

RIVER: 3c ! D'Auteuil  punches the air as he wins this critical race, making a king high flush on the river.

(http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CC612_bolt_8_20080820142406.jpg)

Lellouche looked a tad deflated but still has enough of a stack to challenge...

We expected early carnage and we are getting it!

Bios from Pokerstars.

Seat 1: Eric Liu -- 1,308,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21880&g2_serialNumber=1)

Eric Liu cashed at the PCA in January in his first live tournament, then followed up with 17th at the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo. But he still wasn't happy with his game so went to Vegas in the summer to play a lot of the smaller buy-in tournaments and the main event, hoping to bring his live game up to the standards he reaches online, where he plays high-stakes cash. "Players like Daniel Negreanu can read a lot off me, so I'm trying to get some more experience playing live," he said. He picked up a couple of cashes in Vegas and is thinking of moving there soon, from his most recent base in San Francisco. Eric took up poker after watching a televised poker tournament and, after just a few months, turned a $200 deposit into $34,000. A former Starcraft and Counterstrike player, Eric is also an instructor at CardRunners.com.

Seat 2: Johannes Strassmann -- 434,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21892&g2_serialNumber=1)

Johannes, one of the PokerStars.de ShootingStars team of sponsored players, had an extremely precarious Day 3 – he was close to busting several times and very nearly bubbled the final table – which would have been the third time he had gone out of an EPT in 9th place. He has had four EPT cashes so far – his biggest win being €152,000 for 6th place at EPT4 Dortmund. Now living in Berlin, Johannes mainly plays heads-up cash games but also plays Fixed Limit and NL Hold´em or PLO. As well as poker, he also enjoys basketball, running and strength training (gym). He has been playing poker since 2006.

Seat 3: Phillipe Dauteuil -- 478,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21888&g2_serialNumber=1)

Philippe is playing in only his second live event but is an experienced online player who specialises in high stakes cash games. His other live event was EPT Barcelona in Season 4 but he busted on Day 1. He took up poker four years ago after watching the game on TV. He studied statistics at college but dropped out after two years to devote himself to poker. Asked who he thinks the best players at the final table are, he replied: “Eric Liu – and me.” If he wins, he plans to use some of the money to bail out a friend who is in prison in Canada.

Seat 4: Antony Lellouche -- 1,021,0000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21890&g2_serialNumber=1)

This is professional French player Antony Lellouche’s third EPT final table in a year. At EPT London last year he came 6th for €140,081 and was runner-up at EPT4 San Remo for €505,000. Based in Paris, Antony mainly plays live poker in high stakes cash games around the world. He is both well-liked by his peers and mentors, including the "godfathers" of French poker Claude Cohen and Jan Boubli. Antony turned pro nine years ago, honing his skills at the smallest limit games at the Aviation Club. Fearless and intuitive, Antony has also made two WSOP final tables and gone deep in two EPT Grand Finals - 12th in 2005 and 21st in 2007.

Seat 5: Michael Tuerniec -- 1,333,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21886&g2_serialNumber=1)

Michael has played four EPTs so far but busted early in all of them before EPT London. Aside from military service, Michael has only had one job in his life – working as a supermarket cashier – a job he abandoned to become a professional poker player some four years ago. His best live results to date have been 400th in the WSOP main event in 2007, 2nd in a £500 NLHE side event in London last year and 3rd in the SKr 5,000 No Limit Hold'em in 2008 Nordic Masters of Poker in March. He won his seat to EPT London in the $800 Last Chance qualifier on PokerStars - only three days before the tournament started.

Seat 6: Alan Smurfit -- 396,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21884&g2_serialNumber=1)

A regular on the EPT circuit, Alan has cashed twice including 16th at EPT4 London for $32,641 but this is his first EPT final table. Smurfit retired from work five years ago after selling the family business, the Smurfit Group - which at the time was the second biggest packaging company in the world. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Alan has been based in the States for some 20 years and is now about to move to Las Vegas. He says he plays poker for a hobby but has had a string of great results in recent years including winning the World Series PLO Rebuy event for over $450,000 in 2007. His all-time poker earnings amount to $ 1,088,219 and he is ranked sixth on the all time money list from Ireland.

Seat 7: Marcin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1909) Horecki (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1909) -- 309,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21882&g2_serialNumber=1)

Born in Poland, Marcin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1909) Horecki (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1909) is a former member of the national alpine skiing team but was forced to quit the sport because of injury. Marcin studied for BA and MA degrees and then worked in corporate finance. In 2006, he came close to making the final table of the €1,000 NLHE event at the Barcelona Open and this gave him the confidence he needed to turn pro. In January 2007, he cashed at EPT3 Copenhagen and three months later, he final tabled at the Asian Poker Classic in Goa for $29,000 and later in the year took down the €500 NLHE Rebuy event for $28,637 in the Austrian Masters in Vienna. Already one of the highest earning Polish poker players of all time, Marcin joined Team PokerStars Pro during the WSOP in July.

Seat 8: Michael Martin -- 728,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21894&g2_serialNumber=1)

Michael has been playing poker for five years and turned pro in January 2007 after graduating in English from Penn State. Originally an athlete – he played college hockey for two years – he took up poker at the end of a hockey season and never looked back. Between November 2007 and April 2008 he won over $1,000,000 – after coming 2nd at the Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam in November 2007 and then making 5th place at the EPT4 Grand Final in Monte Carlo. Michael’s mother has flown over specially to rail her son at today’s final table and has always supported his decision to become a poker pro. Michael said: “When I started, my dad wasn’t keen 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’s girlfriend Jen is also flying in to London to give her support.

Lellouche is refusing to give up after that early setback though, popping it up to 86k.

All fold to Michael Martin and we expect him to give up too, but NO, he calls!

The flop comes 8c 5s 6h.

Check from Michael, checked behind from Anthony...

TURN: Js

Again it went check check.

RIVER: 3c

Martin resignedly checks and Lellouche counts out a bet, shuffles the chips, but then just checks behind also.

Both players show Ace high, but Lellouch's A-K high is good for the pot!

Nice comeback from the Frenchman there...

---

And immediately Lellouoche is back in action!

With Johannes  Strassmann raising it up, Lellouche moves over the top all-in!

Everyone else passes, but Strassmann...CALLS!

Another 900K+ pot in the offing!

Lellouche shows 7c 7h, trying to put pressure on the German with his preflop re-raise, but his timing proves horrible as Johannes flips Aces!

A board of 5s 2c 8d 4c briefly threatens an outdraw, Lellouche's eyes lighting up at picking up a gutshot on the turn, but the river blanks in the form of the Ks, and Strassmann doubles to over 900k whilst Lellouche is in a lot of danger now!

The superfast structure is encouraging aggressive play from the players.

It seems unlikely that today will last long, and there is a pervading feeling amongst the press that we are on the cusp of an elimination anytime now...the excitement is palpable!

Horecki proves how much of the post flop play has been removed from the game by the state of the blind to stack ratios and Marcin Horecki proves this by shoving preflop.

All fold and the follically challenged Pole flashes the Ad...

So without the benefits of going back to 10k/20k half the table are just playing push/fold poker, bad news for the players. Great for the press who wouldn't mind this finishing early. Eric Liu, the chip leader only has 20 rounds, which puts it all in perspective.

Glittering Cash Prizes:

1st - £1,000,000
2nd - £525,314
3rd - £303,439
4th - £234,920
5th - £195,766
6th - £153,351
7th - £120,723
8th - £81,569

Lellouche came into the final well placed in 3rd with over a million chips, but he has had a torrid time so far.

Again though, the Frenchman goes for it, moving over the top of a Strassmann raise to 80k, shoving for 180k...

Strassmann is forced to call and does so, showing up with Ks Js.

Lellouche has a marginal lead with Ad 9h! Can he win this crucial race with his tournament life on the line.

FLOP: Kh 6c Ts! Horrible flop for Antony. Strassmann hits top pair and is in the driving seat.

The turn is the 7s...Lellouche picks up a gutshot again on the turn, but this time he is up against Strassmann's flush draw as well now. His outs getting crushed, he watches the river blank in the form of a Th and that is it for Lellouche!

How quickly his fortunes turned round. From 3rd spot in the rankings to our first elimination in the space of less than 30 minutes, Anthony Lellouche is OUT, eliminated in 8th place, winning £81,569.

---

What a start...so exciting!

Michael Turniec scythed through the field yesterday from shortstack to chip leader, and he was just involved in another big pot!

A hand can't go by at the moment without an allin...

The latest saw Turniec pop it up on the button, only for Alan Smurfit to sigh, saying "I guess this is it..." before moving ALLIN!

With 412k in the pot and 209k to call, the chipped up Turniec can't really fold, getting 2-1 with Ks Td and after some thought he does call!

Smurfit shows Ad Kd and the Swede grimaces as he realises he's dominated.

His grimace melts into a cheeky grin though as the flop comes 5c Qs Jc to give him extra outs in the form of an open ended straight draw...

The turn is the Qh...Smurfit's Ace high still good...and the river is the 2c!

No outdraw, Alan Smurfit gets it all-in ahead and it holds, propelling the Irishman to 620k. WP sir...

Strassmann raises to 80,000. Horecki reraises all-in for 315,000. Strassmann has to call 235,000 to win 461,000 then says, "Ok, I might give you a bad beat."

Horecki: Ahrt Qh

Strassmann: Ad 7d

3s Kd 2h

"Four five or diamonds" says the German

3d

Suddenly Strassmann is drawing very live as even an Ace is a chop now.

5s

No dice, Horecki doubles up and Strassmann is back down.

There's not loads of room for manouevre but there is a little, as was shown just a moment ago when Michael Martin raised it up to 75,000, only to see Strassmann repop him to 220k...

Martin folded and the aggressive German steals the pot.

(http://bp2.blogger.com/_31XanX5xiDQ/RpjuSg2u1VI/AAAAAAAAAP8/hCH0vfact0E/s320/burgler.jpg)

Michael Martin seemingly hasn't found a hand just yet and with around 400k left, he's going to have to get a double up soon. Having not played many hands though, any move he makes will be respected now.

Tureniec raises it up to 75k, Liu watches him carefully before re-raising to 210k...

Once again, the re-steal works nicely and Liu, one of the chip leaders pads his stack...

---

Smurfit raises it up to 80k... Liu makes the call.

5d 5h 6s.

Smurfit checks...Liu bets out 100k. Alan looks disappointed, his hands shake a little but the Irishman throws his hand away and Liu now has a big chip lead with 1.72 million in chips.

Chip Counts:

Eric Liu -- 1.79 million
Johannes Strassmann -- 976k
Michael Tureniec -- 877k
Phillipe Dauteuil -- 827k
Marcin Horecki -- 618k
Alan Smurfit -- 528k
Michael Martin -- 390k

Blinds are now 20k/40k/4k, no-one has more than 20 rounds except Eric Liu.

Dautetuil raises the button to 70k...the Swede Michael Tureniec re-raises to 200k and forces a fold from the Canadian.

---

It's re-steal city here at the moment!

Although the structure has in part encouraged aggressive play, it is testament to the players' skills that they are staging such a super aggressive final so far. The quality of the tournament in general has been very high, as usual for the EPT, and nearly all of these players have a very good idea of how to play power poker, and apply maximum pressure to each other and this is making this final great fun to watch.

Thanks guys!

Michael Martin's frustrating day continues, the machine that is Eric Liu popping up his blind to 100k, and Michael looking ruefully at his bag of spanners in the hole, before throwing it away.

With his shortstack, Michael will be moving all-in very soon we feel here.

Dauteuil raises to 90k and Eric Liu calls from the big blind.

Th 9d 9h

Liu checks, Dauteuil bets 130k. Liu folds. Pretty nondescript.

A cool story about Brandon Schaefer tearing himself away from Oktoberfest to rail his friend Martin, while we spot his mum 'TheReader23' who has also flown over for support. (Apparently owning the $162 on Stars herself too...)

Horecki raises it up to 96k....

Eric Liu FLATS from the small blind...

Strassman in the BB is getting a good price 56k into a 250k pot...and he calls too.

Interesting play from Liu to flat call here...

FLOP: Tc 9s 4d

Eric Liu bets out 140k into the 300k pot.

Strassmann folds and Marcin Horecki ALSO folds.

Liu is running over the table right now. It's hard for anyone to take him on without playing for their stack, making his raises and bets carry extra weight and boy is he making it count.

(http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1555/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1555R-59047.jpg)

Dauteuil has been pretty busy preflop with differing levels of success.

Earlier on, one of his raises was met by a re-raise from Michael Tureniec and a moment ago, after Dauteuil raised it up to 100k on the button, AGAIN the Swede pushed over the top and the Canadian instantly laid it down...

The Swede is winning out in their own separate personal battle so far but like this picture...

(http://uktv.co.uk/images/standarditem/L1/513577_L1.jpg)

Philippe will be looking to mash that Swede pretty soon!

---

Next up Johannes pops it up to 100k UTG and Phillippe now moves all-in for 692k!

All fold back to Johannes, who also folds, and the Canadians boisterous supporters, who are drinking Guiness on the rail, make odd whooping/ gorilla noises in support of their hero.

They're obviously an odd bunch but the  are adding to the atmosphere...

Here's one of his friends kindly posing for the camera.

(http://www.karmicbutterfly.com/images/halloween/masks/gorilla.GIF)

Michael Martin raises to 300k from the button only a few thousand behind, perhaps because he just wants to play with a few chips.

Strassmann announces call and flips Ks Jc, we don't see Michael 's hand just yet because he still has chips back

Tc 2s 8d

Michael calls all-in with Ad Qc

Kd

It looks like it's all over for Martin, he needs an Ace or a Jack to survive.

Js

A rivered nut straight wins the pot for the American and Strassmann rolls his eyes in disbelief.

Chip Counts:

Eric Liu -- 1,897,000
Michael Turenic -- 1,163,000
Phillipe Dauteuil -- 832,000
Michael Martin -- 666,000
Alan Smurfit -- 541,000
Johannes Strassmann -- 466,000
Marcin Horecki -- 439,000

Remember guys, the live feed is available on blonde here: High quality, http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32581.0 and here, low quality http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32582.0

Eric (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2403) Liu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2403) raises to 100k getting the blinds. It's difficult to see anyone defeating him at the moment, especially as he now has 1/3 of the chips in play.

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

Yes a HUGE pot just played out.

With Tureniec raising it up as the 2nd chip leader, he found chip leader Liu moving ALL-IN on him!

His tournament life would be on the line if he called...and HE DID!

Sick almost 2.5 million chip pot in the offing, but both players flipped up AK to remove the tension from the air slightly.

Tureniec held Ac Kc whilst Liu had A-K off, and the tension was ratcheted back up as the first two cards came Jc 3c...then 3s!

Flush draw for Tureniec meant he was freerolling in this giant pot and a nervous Eric watched the cards in the middle like a hawk, with the potential for a huge blow to be dealt to his chances...

The turn and river bricked though, leaving a relieved Eric to

(http://www.filtsai.com/cooking/pidan_zhou/chop_chicken.jpg)

the pot with Michael, muttering "Lee Jones! You just took years off my life Lee Jones!"

Eric Liu makes it 100k, Strassmann shoves for 270k more, Eric calls!

Td Ts for Johannes, Ac Qs for Eric!

We asked our expert poker analyst, French EPT Live commentator, Benjo what he thought about this...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21906&g2_serialNumber=1)

Thanks Benjo. What would we do without you!

Flop Th Jh 4s 8h Ad and Johannes trips are good for the pot, the German moving up to 600k...

Short break.

Eric Liu -- 1,667,000
Michael Tureniec -- 1,051,000
Philippe Dauteuil -- 1,015,000
Johannes Strassmann -- 748,000
Alan Smurfit -- 601,000
Michael Martin -- 578,000
Marcin Horecki -- 344,000

We've just restarted, Marcin Horecki shoving the first hand to take the blinds.

It's hard to believe there's still seven players in this, we're bound to lose one soon.

Stat watch:

Number of times Marcin Horecki has moved in since the break: 2
Number of players out of the seven whose only move is push/fold: 3
Number of polystyrene cups it took Marc Convey and me to reach the ceiling with from the kitchen surface: c. 116
Numberr of custard creams Dr Pauly has eaten: 11

So peeps watching, who is going to win? Can anyone see past Eric Liu? Could someone else surprise him? Will anyone respond to all these questions?

Eric Liu pops it up again...no one wants to take on the young American big stack and they all fold, only for him to show pocket Kings. He had it this time!

Liu really has this tournament by the scruff of the neck right now.

The fact that players can't re-steal off him and have little fold equity if they fo re-raise him means they really have to wait for a hand before they can take him on, which is letting him pick up the blinds and antes with great regularity.

He now has over 2 million chips. With only 6 million chips in play, he'll be hard to stop...

The crunch time will come when we lose a couple more stacks, if other players take them out as opposed to Liu, then the final table might be come more competitive. Until then though, Liu's constant accumulation will continue as the other players avoid him, for now.

Marcin Horecki raises all-in...Strassmann calls!

Strassmann has A-T, Horecki J-Q!

Strassmann is ahead but it is close...Horecki's life hangs in the balance...

The flop comes 8d 6h 7c 2h... and Strassman is on the verge of winning what could be a crucial pot, but then... the Jc appears on the river!

Horrible timing as Strassmann loses this crucial pot and the Pole Horecki survives to double through...

Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) and Johannes (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1492) Strassmann (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1492) end up all-in preflop the very next hand

Martin: Kd Qh

Johannes Strassman: Js Jh

5s Qd 9h 5d 6s

More agony for Johannes (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1492) Strassmann (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1492) who just can't win a pot. He goes out in 7th place at winning £120,723.

Eric shows the danger he poses at the table.

With Marcin Horecki popping it up to 100k or so, Liu shoves his stack all-in!

Even if he is called and loses, Liu will still be a dominant chip leader.

As it is though, Marcin is forced to lay down his hand as he can't play for his stack with it and Liu gets MORE chips with his aggressive play...

---

Marcin raises preflop and Phillippe Dauteuil shoves on him. Insta-call from Marcin. Big pot!

Ac 9h Dauteuil
Ad Kd Marcin

The flop comes: Ts 6c 7c 5d 6d and Marcin doubles up to 1.3 million, the Canadian's supporters are stunned into silence as their hero is reduced to just a few big blinds...

As we've seen so far though, it can all change VERY quickly!

Chip Counts:

Eric Liu -- 2,245,000
Marcin Horecki -- 1,335,000
Michael Tureniec -- 965,000
Michael Martin -- 905,000
Alan Smurfit -- 320,000
Phillipe Dauteuil -- 265,000

Now they both have chips, Marcin Horecki and Michael Martin can see a flop.

2s Kc Jc

Marcin bets 65k, Michael calls.

Ac

Now the Pole bets 150k, and Michael folds.

Dauteuil moves in preflop and Liu calls him!

A-9 for Dauteuil, A-9 for Liu as well.

I've tried to think of a way to add some spice to the hand, but in reality any tension dissolves when the players see they have the same hand. They shake hands, the Canadian in particular looking very releived and when neither player makes a long shot four flush, they
 
(http://lh4.google.com/katie.bashford/RyUnEokczjI/AAAAAAAAAvM/Ltbuno2o05Y/Anniversary%20Wild%20Boar%20Chop.jpg)


the pot.

Dauteuil is being forced to ramp up the aggression as his stack is so short, and again he shoves.

This time Swede Michael Tureniec calls...

Dauteuil 7d 8d
Tureniec Jd Ks

Js 4d Kd : Amazing flop! Top two for the Swede, flush draw for the Canadian, Philippe Dauteuil!

TURN: 3c A blank on the turn with his supporters shouting "ONE TIME! ONE TIME!"

RIVER: 3d! It's happened for him! The Canadian hits his flush and shouts of "Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!" echo throughout the cardroom as his drunk supporters give their man some great vocal support and he fist punches his celebrations, doubling through to 800k or so, whilst Tureniec is knocked back to 600k...

With the blinds at 25k 50k remember, this doesn't give either of these players too many options but at least now Dauteuil has a little more breathing space.

Phillipe Dauteuil gets walk in the big blind to cheers and moose noises from his fanclub. I think they're just a couple of pints away from shouting, "The moose! The moose! The moose is on fire!"

Alan Smurfit has just 215k left with blinds 25k/50k.

(http://mdvdm.net/media/Death_Watch_(_30_).jpg)

Alan Smurfit is all-in for his last few chips with Aspades 4h against Michael Martin's Jd Jh

3d Jc Kd 5c 5h

Alan Smurfit goes out in 6th place winning £153,351

Horecki makes it 140k and Liu calls from the small blind...

8d 9d Ts

Check, check...

T: Kc

Eric bets 200k...Horecki...makes the call. Big pot brewing between two big stacks here...

R: Qc...AN interesting card. Eric checks, Marcin checks.

Liu shows 8-9 for bottom two pair...and it's good!

Eric allows himself a little smile as he collects the pot to move even further ahead...

This is how they stand right now...

Eric Liu : 2,897k
Michael Martin: 1,020k
Marcin Horecki: 955k
Michael Tureniec: 592k
Philippe Dauteuil: 571k

This is a classic tournament situation where you have one player in charge of the tournament with lots of chips and a lot of other players bunched together in chips.

At this point, players will often stand by and let the chip leader bully, as thoughts of laddering up to the higher payout spots enter their mind. It puts Liu into an enviable position where even his min raises carry more weight than usual, and he is playing the role of big stack bully with aplomb.

It's an excellent performance by the American, utilising the leverage his strong chip position gives him to pressurise everyone else...

Michael Martin raises to 130k, Eric Liu gives him the big staredown but folds, Dauteuil and Tureniec quickly fold behind and Martin adds another vital to his stack.

Someone asks Liu, "Sevens?"

"No I had an Ace."

Martin raises the next pot too and gets the blinds once more again.

Back to Horecki who shoves on Martin once more, Martin folds, chalk another one to the Pole.

Phillipe Dauteuil moves all-in for 455k. Marcin Horecki moves in behind him

Phillipe: 8c 8s

Marcin: Kd Kh

Ac 7s 7h 4h 5h

The French-Canadians go silent as Phillipe Dauteuil goes out in 5th place winning £195,766.

Philippe Dauteuil could have spent his post match interview talking about hands, but instead he decided to improve Canadian relations with foreign countries.

When asked by Kara Scott in his post game interview, "Who do you think will win?", he handled the situation with the utmost diplomacy and tact, answering "I think the little Chinese guy will win, chinese, japanese, I don't know where he's from!" [referring to the American Eric Liu]

His interview went down particularly well amongst Oriental viewers.

(http://www.fofg.org/news/images/china_japan_protest.jpg)

The live feed was swiftly cut before he induced the Japanese and Chinese nations to form an allied assault force, ready to attack Canada.

Horecki raises to 140k in the first hand of four-handed play. The Swede Tureniec pushes all-in for 672,000 total and the Pole has to make a decision for about half his stack, but he folds.

Tureniec raises to 150k next hand in the small blind against Horecki, another long dwell from Horecki and he folds once more.

Chip Counts:

Eric Liu -- 2.892 million
Marcin Horecki -- 1.311 million
Michael Martin -- 895k
Michael Tureniec -- 827k

1st - £1,000,000
2nd - £525,314
3rd - £303,439
4th - £234,920

Marcin Horecki raises to 125k or so from the button, Michael Martin shoves all-in...800k more for Horecki to call...but he lays it down, showing pocket fours face up...

---

Marcin raises it up again, and this time Michael Tureniec shoves all-in!

He can't get his raises through at the moment and after a period of tanking...Horecki lays it down.

He's getting pushed about by the two shorter stacks at the moment...

how come the sound has gone off the live feed???

Another raise from Horecki and Tureniec shoves over the top again putting to Horecki to the test. Horecki has lost a lot of chips passing to those all-in shoves. He might even be the short stack now.

Eric Liu min-raises from the button, because he gets away with it against the shorter stacks who are more concerned about laddering up the money. But Horecki gets called, perhaps he's sick of being pushed around.

8s Aspades 3h

Check by Horecki, 150k from Liu, Horecki who dwells seemingly forever with each hand, eventually folds.

Because your speakers are bust? Everything is fine here. Try refreshing/reloading the feed.

my speakers working fine, i will retry soon once i have eaten

Marcin has been bullied for long enough, and turns the tables round, shoving over the top of a Michael Tureniec raise.

He gets it past the Swede and moves over a million chips again.

Horecki and Liu see a flop.

Kc 7d 8h

Check, check

Qh

Horecki checks, Liu bets 200k and Horecki moves all-in. Liu makes the call eventually.

Liu: Ahrt Th

Horecki: Kc Td

5c

Horecki doubles up. What are everyone's thought on Horecki checking the king twice and Liu betting the turn? Benjamin Kang seemed to really hate the check twice with a king.

Who cares about EPTs and big buy-in events these days? It's the £300 monthly freezeout at DT (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/)D (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/) that everyone's talking about. Come check out what's going down in sunny Nottingham. In fact, if you come now, I'll guarantee you some breasts.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=37352.new#new (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=37352.new#new)

Taking the Michael

Michael Martin raises to 130k, Michael Tureniec reraises all-in for around 570k more. The Swedish Michael wins this battle, before taking the blinds in the next hand also.

Tureniec raises to 130k, Horecki who acts very slowly as though his duracell batteries are nearing the end of their life, thinks again. He and Martin both fold.

he wants him to catch up , and with inducing the bet he can get it all in good vs the other player therefore winning him more chips, he is deep enough to check raise all in and the A high flush draw is 1 of only hands which would eventually call anyhow so he's favourite on turn. i like it as lui is aggressive player

He obviously had a pre-designed plan to let the aggressive Liu make a play at some point, and then check raise him all-in.

I think there's little doubt that Liu would have bet the turn with a pretty wide range, and possibly call with worse (as he did) if Horecki check raised him. It worked out well and against Liu, it's probably a good play as he will fire the turn so often with such a wide range...

*****************Dinner break for one hour***************

See you at 7.30pm folks, Eric Liu has been the big boy so far, but the Pole Horecki is coming after him fast! It will be very interesting to see how it all pans out after the break.

See you then!

are there any players over 35 left plz?

Horecki's the old man of the lot, we think just a shade under 35. Still younger than Floppy's jokes!

It's the internet kids FTW though. We think Liu has played great this final and probably deserves to win. Marcin has played a good tactical game with his stack though the final though.

At the moment those two look headed for the Heads Up game based just on stacks, and if that happens, Marcin will have to increase his aggression to match up against Liu who will likely steamroller him if he doesn't.

To be honest, it's a bit of a shame from a poker purist point of view that they started the final with such shallow stacks, although there is no doubt that this has made for a super entertaining contest with big pot after big pot being played out.

Play restarting shortly.

Results of Rod and my 12-card PLO game.

1st hand.

Aspades 3d 5s flop, I have 4-2 with bottom set and an 8 high flush draw against Rod's A-A-Qs-9s-6-4. I hold ;D

2nd hand.

K-4-2, Rod flops bottom set with an A-3-5 wrap, I flop top pair and A-3-5-6. Turn is Td, I now have the nut flush draw with A-J-T for a double wrap as well, river is T. We chop with both holding K-T.

3rd hand.

Qh 8c 7c, I flop QQQ with J-T-9 as well, Rod flops bottom set and a flush draw and a gutshot, turn is the 3h giving me the nut flush draw. River is the 6c Rod wins with a Q-high flush.

4th hand.

Kc 9c 8d 7d 9s. Rod wins with J-T, had both flush draws covered and had jacks. I couldn't make better that A-K. Sho shick.

Back from dinner, we resume 4 handed.

---

Gl all, here we go...

Massive bok from me on Eric Liu.

Straight after the break, Tureniec opens for 170,000 and Liu shoves over the top of him with Ac 6c.

He gets called by Tureniec who has the nuts, A-A!

Bad timing for Liu and with the board bringing no surprises he is knocked down to 600k by this hand, while Tureniec, the Swede, moves into the chip lead with 2.5 million chips!

Great timing.

Michael Martin pushes with 2s 2d, Eric Liu calls all-in behind him with Aspades Td

Jd Ks Qh Kh 7c

A flopped broadway for Liu with danger only hinted at on the turn. Liu is back up to 1.3 million Michael Martin has just 100k left.

Liu folds and Tureniec limps the button and Horecki calls. Both call Michael Martin's shove for 15k more.

Kd 6d 2s

Check check.

Ks

Check check.

4h

Michael Martin has pocket 8's and trebles up to 305k against the A-7 and Q-3 of his Swedish and Polish opponents.

Photos of the last four, impossible to get any closer.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21944&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21946&g2_serialNumber=1)

looks like its rigged towards the pokerstars pro tonight  ;nana; ;nemesis;

Tureniec raises to 240k, Martin picks up his stacks and moves all-in for another 60k!

Eric Liu...folds and Michael Martin makes the call with 9s 9c while the other Michael tables Ks 7c...the shortstack's ahead!

The flop falls 7d Jc K. Martin looks sick as he is outdrawn by the Swede.

The turn is the 7s...WOW! Full house for Tureniec. Martin looks like he's going out...

RIVER: 9h! Incredible! He hits a two out on the river for a bigger boat!

A huge smile of relief breaks out across Martin's face! He's back in it with 700k...

Martin is all-in from the button next hand too, It's going to cost half of Tureniec's stack but he calls!

Qs Jh for Tureniec, but Ad Ac for for Martin! Incredible, Eights, Nines then Aces and after a 2-3-4-5-9 board is rolled off. He's gone from 100k up to 1.45 million in the space of a couple of hands.

Great stuff guys, most enjoyable, thank you

Eric shoves and is CALLED by Martin!

Michael shows Ac 9s and he's ahead!

Eric was making a move for the blinds with Js Th!

FLOP:  Ad Kc 5h

Martin's miraculous comeback means he now has Eric covered and it's looking like he's going to eliminate the American, if he can fade a Queen.

TURN: Aspades...trips now for Michael, can he dodge a queen?

RIVER: 7s! Yes he can!

Eric Liu is OUT , eliminated in 4th, winning £303,439

---

Post-match, Eric admitted to a few mistakes today due to not having much live experience, but he also felt he played well. Most people seem to think he has perhaps been the most impressive player, but he ran straight into Michael Martin in the midst of what has been an incredible rush!

Thanks taxi. ;)

Martin raises to 170k, Marcin takes his customary time, before makes the call.

Qh Kc Th

Joe Hachem calls this, "Undoubtedly an action flop." Both players check.

9d

"That card kills the action," says the WSOP Champion of 2005. Check check.

7c

Check check. Martin shows 9-6 and it's enough for the 300k pot.

Martin has about 2.84 million and the other two players have about equally 1.6 million.

After that flurry of incredible pots, the next few hands involve Horecki raising up Martin's BB from the SB. (he's been doing that a lot all day)

Again though, Martin doesn't find a hand he feels comfortable playing so folds...

Next up it's Martin laying the pressure on, shoving on Tureniec's big blind. The Swede threw his hand away quickly and the American picks up his blind.

---

The stacks are so short compared to the blinds that any confrontation is now guaranteed to be a pre-flop one. It's anyone's game but Martin's larger stack means he has the edge at this stage...

Martin shoves again from the small blind, again the Swede can't call and as he passes Martin flashes him an ace.

No messing at this stage. An Ace means all-in...

I think both Tureniec and Horecki are looking a little punch-drunk at the moment, they've not seen Martin with chips all day and he was playing very tight early on and only showing good hands. Now suddenly and literally from nowhere, Martin has the chip lead and both the Swede and the Pole are going have to spend a little time adjusting their strategy of how to combat the new chip leader's play. For the moment, Martin has the advantage in both chip stack and image.

Tureniec limps in from the small blind on Horecki's BB and bets out 115k on the 4d 5h 7d.

The Pole's not interested in getting involved though and throws his hand away...

---

This time Horecki limps in from the small blind to Martin's BB.

FLOP: 3h Ac Th

TURN: 8c

Marcin bets 130k, Martin curiously calls....

RIVER: Ts

Marcin checks, Martin...bets 260k and Marcin thinks about it...before calling.

Michael Martin flips up T-2 which the Pole reluctantly acknowledges is the best hand and passes over a big stack of chips to the American.

Michael now shoves on the Swede's big blind. The Swede folds and Michael shows blackjack!

Michael Martin has been absolutely smacked by the deck at a crucial stage of the tournament. With nearly 3.5 million in chips now, it's looking more and more likely the American will take it down...

Michael Martin -- 3,690,000
Michael Tureniec -- 1,390,000
Marcin Horecki -- 945,000

Horecki limps.

The board comes 7s Js 6d

TURN: 4s
Check from Horecki, 100k fom Martin and he wins another pot!

The American really looks unstoppable here, his lead is massive...

---

He limps on Tureniec's blind and they see a flop of 3d Ts 9d.

Martin bets 100k and Tureniec CALLS!

TURN: 2s

Martin bets 180,000. Tureniec stares at the flop intently through his shades before throwing his hand away. Martin continues to bulldozer, picking up another pot...

Bizarre comedic moment, seeing Eric Liu on camera having already sat down in the cash games...

Michael Tureniec sees Martin shove his big blind AGAIN!

He has to pass again, and Martin shows the Ad!

Tureniec will feel like Martin is blessed, picking up so many aces in the small blind to his big blind.

At this point, the poker is all about timing preflop shoves and finding hands.

With Martin finding so many, and with all the chips, the other two players have their hands bound to a certain extent....

---

Michael is now over 4 million...

Horecki moves all-in from the button for 670k. Martin moves all-in behind. Tureniec

Horecki: Kd 8h
Martin : Ks Jh

Qs 3c 6s 8h...Js!

At this point, Michael Martin will be choosing Crosscourtbh's 1,300 lines for our lottery syndicate next week.

Marcin Horecki is out in 3rd place win £303,439.

Can Martin be stopped?

Heads up, it doesn't take long to get it in!

Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) shows 7-7 and Michael Tureniec A-J.

The press and spectators all look confused for a moment.

What does this mean!! Worried looks are exchanged across the press room....

A quick call to the French EPT Live team though, and we are all re-assured by that doyen of poker analysis, Benjo.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21914&g2_serialNumber=1)

Phew! We'd be in so  much trouble without that guy, I tell you!

The flop comes out Ahrt 2c Ad Kc 3s!

Trips for the Swede and he avoids the chopping block and is now not too far off Martin with that double up...

He smiles in relieved fashion as he scoops up the chips and stacks them.

Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) raises to 220k, Tureniec reraises to 625k. Martin gives it up. Could this story yet have another twist in it's tail?

It's 3.3 mil to 2.8 mil in favour of the American though.

Tureniec now has 2.7 million to Martin's 3.3 million...

Martin limps in and Tureniec checks in the big blind.

The flop comes 9h 4s Td.

Tureniec checks to Martin who bets out 120k...The Swede passes and the American takes down the pot.

The turn of a 5c 4c Td 7s board, and Michael Martin bets 260k into a 560k pot. It's a small bet, but it's enough. The one-man railing machine that is Brandon Schaefer offering some applause.

Next hand is limped. But Tureniec claims he's seen one of Martin's cards, Martin limps anyway.

Jc Kc 2h

Tureniec bets 125k, it's enough.

Tureniec is catching up, he's now on 2.9 million to Martin's 3.1 million. Tureniec passes and Martin has Kings in the big blind. Early he got a walk with Aces...

The commentators are declaring we should flip a coin.

Poor Chris.

Campaigning since the dawn of time to get on EPT Live...he just managed it!

The EPT Live team asked viewers to email in their answer to the question "Who was the last Swedish EPT winner?" Chris, being the knowledgable little scamp that he is, knew the answer so e-mailed in the name of Magnus Petersson.

A few moments later Nick Wetherall read out Chris' name as the winner on the commentary and Chris held his arms aloft as they announced he had got the question right!

It was an ecstatic moment for the blonde updater- perhaps the highlight of Floppy's ENTIRE life!

Sadly, his joy was short-lived, as Chris' hopes and dreams were immediately crushed as he was disqualified from the competition for being in the press.

His face fell, his arms dropped to his sides and with the laughter of the entire press room echoing in his ear, Chris was forced to sit down red-faced and shamed.

Life's so unfair sometimes :(

(http://cornerstork.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/crying_baby.jpg)

On a 4s Qc 7c 2h board, Martin bets 300k into a 460k pot. Tureniec thinks before taking some chips out of his makeshift Swedish flag and calls.

The river is the 9h which doesn't seem to help either player, Tureniec checks a third time. Martin bets 655k on the river. Tureniec thinks for ages, before calling and Martin flips Q-2.

;bp;

Martin now has a 4.3 mil to 1.6 mil lead again, I meanwhile am getting rubdowns from Nick Weathall on EPT Live.

A raise to 210k from Martin, Tureniec calls.

Th Jd Qs

Check to the American, who checks behind.

Kd

Tureniec bets 220k into a 440k pot. Martin flat-calls.

6s

Tureniec checks. Martin checks behind with a nine, which is lucky as Tureniec has the Ad 3c which wins.

Michael raised preflop, Tureniec called...

They checked a Th Jd Qs flop before seeing a

Kd turn.

Tureniec bet 220k on the turn before Martin...called!

The river is a low blank. Tureniec checked and Martin...also checked!

The tricky Tureniec showed an Ace for the nuts while Martin showed he had been very disciplined in checking behind with the nine for the lower straight...

WOW!

This is ok i presume as its after the watershed  ;)

French commentator, Benjo, was asked to give his opinion on Chris plight.

Always helpful, he was happy to wade in with his response...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21972&g2_serialNumber=1)

Michael the Swede may be shortstacked now compared to Michael the American but he re-raised Martin's raise to 220k there to 700k and took down the pot.

He's battling well and with 2.7 millilon to 3.4 million is keeping within touch of Martin.

It's still anyone's game!

At the moment, the Swede is starting to get on top of Martin.

He is raising EVERY button and Martin is yawning and throwing his hand away every time.

Can his patience hold? Will he be blinded away while the Swede takes blind after blind off him?

Although Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) has won that big pot earlier with Q-2, the Swede seems to be holding the edge, he's just taken the chip lead having edged back from 1.6 mill. Martin raises, and Tureniec makes the call

6h Kd Ahrt

Check, 250k from Martin and a fold. The American takes the chip lead as we go on a break.

:hello: updaters!  Good job and top notch analysis from the Frenchman as usual.

And we're just about to restart.

My pleasure, fellows.

Martin raises to 250k from the button, Tureniec CALLS!

The two players see a Jh Ts 6h flop.

Tureniec checks...Martin...checks also.

TURN: 3s...Tureniec, under the watchful eye of Martin, bets out 380k...

Martin...calls!

Huge pot developing here...

RIVER: Jd

Michael Tureniec bets out 680k! Big bet for Martin to call...his girlfriend can barely look...

Martin...CALLS!

He shows K-T to the Swede's Q-4! He picks off the bluff with 2nd pair!

The pendulum has swung Martin's way with that huge pot.

He now has about a 4.4 million to 1.5 million lead...

Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) pushes, Tureniec takes his glasses off and counts out his chips. And then says, "Call!"

Kh 9c for Tuerniec. 4d 4c for Martin.

Quick check with our esteemed colleague Benjo. What's going on!!!!!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21990&g2_serialNumber=1)

Wow, great read! Thanks Benjo!

The dealer deals out the cards 2d 3s 6h 4d...2s!!!!

Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) wins the race with his full house!

Incredible scenes as he hugs his supporters, girlfriend, family and friends! This means...

Michael Tureniec is OUT, eliminated in 2nd place, winning £525,314...

...but Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) is the WINNER of the London EPT, winning a massive £1,000,000 for an incredible performance in a tough field.

---

Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937)'s recovery from the felt will rank as one of the great comebacks in EPT history. Reduced to 100k, just over one big blind, Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) went on an incredible rush, blitzing through his opponents with a series of great hands and smart plays.

He was almost unstoppable today, once he recovered from absolute dust.

Congratulations Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937)!

 ;djinn; ;djinn; :cheers: :cheers: ;charmaine; ;charmaine; ;charmaine; ;letsparty; ;letsparty; ;letsparty; ;charmaine; ;charmaine; :birthday: :cheers: :cheers: ;djinn; ;djinn;

---

Heads up, it was always going to be hard work for the Swede, Michael Tureniec, with a massive chip deficit and facing Martin, who seemed to have a direct hotline to God as he hit card after card. They played out a closely run heads up game though and Tureniec threatened many times to take control at times. Ultimately though Martin picked off a big bluff then won a crucial race to take the title.

Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) played some great poker, which was enough to take down the crown. The final table was well played all round with lots of aggressive poker.

It's been really enjoyable to watch the carnage going on!

---

Floppy is ready with some photos of the heads up and final action which he'll be posting up shortly.

(http://www.regards.com/images/Thankyou/thanks_cl_T.gif)

And the winner is............Kim the Photographer!!!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=22002&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=22004&g2_serialNumber=1)

No I'm kidding, it's this gentleman and the newest EPT Champion, Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937) Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=937).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21994&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21998&g2_serialNumber=1)

Supported by a cheering rail.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21992&g2_serialNumber=1)

So congratulations to Michael Martin, with possibly one of the greatest comebacks in EPT history, though a lot of respect has to be paid to Michael Tureniec, who played very well throughout and looked as though he might well have won through when heads-up. It's interesting to add, that these two players were the only finalists who had a beer AND a sandwich last night at the Mariott Hotel, they then finish 1st and 2nd. Coincidence? I think not.

Proof that late night sandwiches guarantee top spots in poker tournaments. If this doesn't inspire you in your late night sandwich making, then nothing will.

This was our last EPT of the year, and it's really been a cracker. Hopefully we'll be able to cover them again from next year, they do always tend to provide compelling viewing, no matter who the participants.

;stickaforkinme;

Congrats to Michael Martin, he seems a decent guy.  ;applause; ;applause; ;applause;

Cheers Floppy & JC, I always enjoy the updates, & top notch again  ;hattip;

+ another

SOUNDED LIKE A CRAPSHOOT, DTD £300 FTW.

Official press release:

http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/21929 (http://blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/21929)

Well done Michael, really pleased for you.  I bet Nancy was beside herself lol.  Real shame I wasn't there to meet her and cheer you on to glory!