EPT Dortmund: Final Day - At A Glance

[NoflopsHomer]

Christoph Stiehler pushed with and was called by Sebastian Ruthenberg's

Board:





As soon as we get the seat redraw we'll put up chip counts and pictures of all 8 remaining players.

[Djinn]

i had thomas down for 2nd but as mcticklish busted he has been promoted to 1st

I'm sure he'll be delighted to know he's top of your list.  He looks very happy to be finalliing, in any case.

Levi's housemate and girlfriend here, he's deifnitely top of our list

best of luck to your man

He's in good spirits and says that if the blinds are rolled back (which they will be) then "If there's proper play, I fancy my chances."  There has to be a decrease in blinds because otherwise the commentators (like our friend George Danzer, non-stop on the German one as the other commentators are ill or absent) will have nothing to say except "All-in.  Pass.  All-in.  Pass.  All-in.  Call."

Finalists are taking their seats.

Seat 3: Nicolas Levi, 24, from France
Originally from Paris, Nicolas now lives in London and is an online pro - known as “Croque Monsieur” as well as being a familiar figure in the card rooms. He studied computer sciences at Norwich University before turning pro. Although he went deep in a number of tournaments in 2006, including 7th in the Caribbean Classic $6,000 event, he has yet to trouble the cashiers at an EPT. He writes up his poker performances on his blog: teamrobusto.com

[Djinn]

The blinds have been more than halved - 8,000/16,000 now.  What a jump back - the players are probably loving this, and we are getting ready for a long evening.  Perhaps a sensible middle ground might have been 10k/20k, but we're not complaining.  Just get comfortable.

[Djinn]

The Lineup:

Seat 1: Andreas Hoivold -- 750,000
Seat 2: Erick Lindberg -- 617,000
Seat 3: Nicolas Levi -- 467,000
Seat 4: Jacob Rasmussen - 265,000
Seat 5: Sebastian Ruthenberg -- 717,000
Seat 6: Cristiano Blanco -- 1,258,000
Seat 7: Thomas Fourgeron -- 286,000
Seat 8: Gunnar Rabe -- 668,000

[NoflopsHomer]

Nicolas raises it up to 41k, Cristiano makes it 151k and Nicolas passes.

[Djinn]

Preflop Raiser                              Result
Christiano Blanco 75k                      gets the blinds
Thomas Fougeron, tapis                  gets the binds

Erik Lindberg, to 45k                      Nicolas calls, Jacob Rasmussen calls. 
Flop:    Erik Checks, Nicolas bets 65k, it's his.

It's a bit slow.  All about the re-raise preflop, pretty much.  (Christiano Blanco has won several through this method).

[NoflopsHomer]

Next hand, Cristiano raises to 58k in the sb and Thomas Fourgeron passes.

Next hand Cristiano raises to 55k from the button Gunnar Rabe calls from the big blind.

Flop:



Gunnar Rabe check/calls Cristiano's 110k bet.

Turn:



Check check

River:



Gunnar bets a very suspicious 60k on the river into a 440k+ bet, Cristiano calls.

Gunnar:



Cristiano:

[NoflopsHomer]

Seat 6: Christano Blanco, 26, from Rome, Italy
TV football journalist Christiano has only been playing a couple of years - mainly online and in home games with friends. This is the biggest tournament he’s been in and he’s delighted to have made the final table. Although mad about football – he says he will travel anywhere for an AC Roma match – he reckons it’s poker that’s going to make him rich. He said: “In poker, I’m a marathon runner, rather than a sprinter. It’s the person who folds well that’s the best.”

[Djinn]

flop seen by Jacob Rasmussen and Gunnar Rabe.  They check.
Turn:    Jacob checks (much more quickly than on the flop) and Gunnar bets 60k.  Lengthy think; call.
River:    Jacob bets 16k(!)  Gunnar announces, "Raise," then asks how much Jacob is playing... raises 80k, about half of Jacob's stack.  Dwell again, to the point where the clock gets called as he's one of the shorter stacks whose tournament might be in question if he gets it wrong.

"Call." 

Gunnar shows 
Jacob shows to take down a large pot.

[Djinn]

For the second time, Nicolas Levi raises (to 45k) and gets Christiano Blanco reraising - makes it 136k.  Will they play a flop?  Nope.  Nicolas lets it go, saying, "You can have the small ones."  Very generous of him. 

We were just treated to a shot of Barry Martin and Lee Jones miked up in the commentary booth - I can think of many people who might falter in the chat over 7 hours, but they aren't among them.

[NoflopsHomer]

Blinds are now once again 10k/20k/2k.

Seat 4: Jacob Rasmussen, 23, from Denmark
This is Jacob’s second big tournament and he’s doing even better than in his last one – January’s EPT in Copenhagen where he won €7,424 after coming 27th. Known as “Sasuke” in the poker community, he’s been playing around three years, fitting in his online cash games while studying Economy &  Law at Odense University. He is being supported here in Dortmund by his girlfriend Jagge.

[NoflopsHomer]

Thomas Fougeron is the short stack now. He's just pushed with Q8 and got no callers.

Seat 7: Thomas Fougeron, 32 from Lille, France
Thomas is a well-known figure on the European poker circuit but still holds down a day job as the manager of a computer services company. His biggest tournament wins recently were two cashes in last season’s EPTs in Deauville and Barcelona. Thomas travels the EPT circuit with his great friend, poker champion Pascal Perrault. He is an “ultra” supporter of the Olympique Marseille, Tony Cascarino’s old team.

[NoflopsHomer]

Gunnar Rabe, (my choice in the media sweepstakes organised by Rolf) gets it all-in, Andreas Hoivold makes the call because of pot odds.

Gunnar:



Andreas:



is the board. And Gunnar isn't shooting blanks there.

[NoflopsHomer]

Seat 8: Gunnar Rabe, 53, from Vasteras, Sweden
PokerStars qualifier Gunnar runs an engineering company in his home town and this is only his second ever live tournament. The first was last July’s WSOP when he qualified online with PokerStars and came 287th for around $39,000.  He’s wearing the same PS cap now to bring him luck. He’s been playing about three years, almost exclusively in online tournaments. He’s married with two children.

[Djinn]

Photos (including these ones of the finalists) over on the Interactive thread.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=21275.msg431304#msg431304