blonde poker forum
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 06:52:10 PM

Login with username, password and session length
Search:     Advanced search
2272476 Posts in 66752 Topics by 16945 Members
Latest Member: Zula
* Home Help Arcade Search Calendar Guidelines Login Register
+  blonde poker forum
|-+  Poker Forums
| |-+  Live Tournament Updates
| | |-+  Pokerstars.com EPT Barcelona - FINAL TABLE
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. « previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 Go Down Print
Author Topic: Pokerstars.com EPT Barcelona - FINAL TABLE  (Read 33423 times)
Djinn
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 13541


I'm much bigger in real life


View Profile
« on: September 14, 2008, 02:49:55 PM »

This is it - the culmination of four days' play, including a marathon last night where the final Nine hung on by their nails for a spot on the televised final, which will be coming to you over the net in the form of EPTLive.  We're here to make sure you don't miss anything, or if your connection sucks, and sometimes we hear some interesting things backstage which the TV doesn't get.  Or you can dip into the action later, if you're having a nap while they play for the €€€€€€:

1 - €1,361,000
2 - €792,000
3 - €455,000
4 - €351,000
5 - €292,000
6 - €227,000
7 - €178,000
8 - €119,000

The players (we're just about to get their photos and bios - TY Pokerstars - up):

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





« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 03:00:50 PM by Djinn » Logged

JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2008, 03:01:32 PM »

Here are the players along with their seating, chip counts, photos and profiles, courtesy of Pokerstars own crazy but lovable Mad Harper.

Seat 1: Martin Nielsen, 34, Jutland, Denmark -- 1,229,000 chips



They don't come much more relaxed than Martin Nielsen, the former merchant banker now competing at his second major final table this summer. After earning $120k at the Bellagio in July, Martin resigned from his job of five years, figuring that there was more to life than battling the rat race in London. "I bought a ticket to Indonesia for the autumn," he said. "That's my only plan for this year. But that plan might have to change now." He admits that he's much less experienced at poker than most of the other finalists but has been using some instinctive mathematical knowledge to make solid decisions based purely on odds. It has served him well. He's never appeared flustered and has eased to the final table with a chip-leader's stack of more than a million. "I may have found another job now," he said.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 03:04:41 PM by JungleCat03 » Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2008, 03:04:08 PM »

Seat 2: Davidi Kitai, 28, Brussels, Belgium  - 600,000 chips



Poker pro Davidi made his first impression at EPTs when he made the TV stages of EPT Barcelona last year, eventually finishing 11th for his biggest ever live win: €46,000. His reputation then shifted from ‘solid’ to ‘spectacular’ when he went on to win the $2,000 Pot Limit Hold’em event at  the World Series,  the first Belgian ever to win a coveted WSOP bracelet. He reached his 2nd WSOP final table only a week later.  Davidi perfected his poker skills during a trip to Los Angeles in 2003. He had gone to the States to learn English, but it was Texas Hold’em that he mastered. In 2006 he also took down the Euro Finals of Poker in Paris.
Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2008, 03:12:03 PM »

Seat 3:  Dren Ukella, 36, Cologne, Germany  - 734,000

Dren Ukella has been playing poker “forever” and first kicked off with five card draw. A brick builder by trade, Dren was born in Germany but grew up in Kosovo until his family returned to Germany when he was 14. Married with three children, Dren’s biggest cash to date was winning €37,000 in a NLHE tournament in Belgium. Although he has studied the game and read various poker books, he says “I know the other guys are better than me”. If he wins, he plans to take some time off and go on a two-three month vacation with his family.

« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 03:19:27 PM by Djinn » Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2008, 03:12:45 PM »

Seat 4: Jason Mercier, 21, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, PokerStars player - 526,000 chips

Jason first came to attention at the PokerStars.com EPT Season 4 event in San Remo in April. It was his only second live event and he’d qualified online with PokerStars but – facing one of the toughest final tables in EPT history - he secured a stunning victory worth €869,000. His opposition included Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri, William Thorson and Eric Koskas. He followed up the San Remo triumph with three WSOP cashes in the summer, adding another $50,000 or so to his bank roll – and now seems set to be a dominant force at poker tournaments across the globe. Outside of poker, Jason – who had studied to be a maths teacher before discovering online poker - is a huge basketball fan and coaches the team from his former high school.

« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 03:19:53 PM by Djinn » Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2008, 03:13:11 PM »

Seat 5: Sam Chartier, 22, Montreal, Canada – PokerStars qualifier  - 879,000 chips

French Canadian Sam has been playing poker for five years and turned pro three years ago. He is great friends with Jason Mercier after meeting him on the first day of EPT San Remo. All Sam’s friends had gone on a trip to Italy so Sam and Jason ended up sharing a room. He said: “I played a side event in San Remo which I won, with Jason railing me all the way. Then I railed him in the main event.” While in San Remo, Sam qualified online for the Season 4 Monte Carlo Grand Final but busted on Day 2. His biggest cash before today was 80th place at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in January for $16,000.

« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 03:20:22 PM by Djinn » Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2008, 03:13:57 PM »

Seat 6: Daniele Mazzia, 33, Imperia, Italy - 359,000 chips

Daniele Mazzia has been playing poker professionally for the last two years and, as a regular competitor in tournaments all over Europe, has a string of notable results to his name.  In July 2007, he took down the Velden Masters event for over €70k and since then has cashed in a further seven events, including first place in the Italian Championship’s $500 NLHE event in October. Daniele is great friends with Italian-speaking pros Claudio Rinaldi and Alessio Isaia – the three travel to events together - but his biggest supporter is girlfriend Carla Solinas, also a highly successful poker player.

« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 03:53:31 PM by Djinn » Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2008, 03:14:33 PM »

Seat 7: Fintan Gavin,40 , Galway, Ireland – PokerStars qualifier – 701,000 chips



Although one of the less well-known faces at today’s final table, Fintan Gavin is no poker novice and works in the industry – as the card room manager at the Eglinto Casino in Galway.  Thanks to his casino duties, Fintan says he doesn’t get  to play as much as he’d like but, having played poker for 30 years and NLHE for six years, he has a wealth of experience to draw on. This is his first EPT but he’s so impressed with the way PokerStars run things that he’s planning to try and qualify for many more. This is his best result to date although he cashed in the Aussie Millions main event last year for AS$ 20,000.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 03:57:09 PM by Djinn » Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2008, 03:15:44 PM »

Seat 8: Sebastian Ruthenberg, 24, Hamburg, Germany – PokerStars sponsored player - 1,204,000 chips



Sebastian took up poker while studying IT at college. Six months later, after he graduated, he turned pro and swiftly climbed the levels from 50/$1 to $3/6 Limit, later changing to SNGs and No Limit cash games.  In 2006, he won the German Open in 2006 and was runner-up last year at a WCOOP event as well as coming 3rd in EPT3 Dortmund. This summer he crowned his achievement by winning a WSOP bracelet – in the Seven Card Stud Hi-low event. He is one of seven pros who make up the PokerStars.de ShootingStars team – alongside top players such as Benjamin Kang, Jan Heitmann, Johannes Strassman and George Danzer. He starts today as chip leader.
Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
b4matt
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1874



View Profile
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2008, 03:49:10 PM »

Finton Gavin used to run(poss still does) Irish poker events and they held a regular annual comp at city west in Dublin for a few years getting huge numbers- 200+ for there big buy in games. He's a very accomplished player and a top fella too. Please pass on my regards and wish him luck.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2008, 05:10:31 PM by b4matt » Logged
JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2008, 04:10:57 PM »

The first interesting hand of the final has played out, and it's a funny one!

Jason Mercier raises it up, only to find Fintan Gavin, the jovial Irishman re-raising him.

Mercier, who doesn't have masses of chips to play with, sighs and goes into think mode. He shakes his head and asks Finton "Will you show?"

Finton is clearly in comical mood and retorts "If you show me yours, I'll consider showing you mine!"

Mercier: "How about I show you mine, you show me yours"

Ultimately, The Irishman agrees to do this and Mercier passes showing . Fintan however shows he has pulled a cheeky steal re-raise, flipping over !!!

There is a ripple of laughter as he clearly got by far the better of the American in this hand!

Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
Djinn
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 13541


I'm much bigger in real life


View Profile
« Reply #11 on: September 14, 2008, 04:19:02 PM »

Ukalla called in odd hand...

In a pot which eventually hit 823k, Dren Ukalla started it all off with an under the gun raise, called by Sam Chartier and Sebastian Ruthenberg.
Flop:   Ukalla continued the trend of looking strong by betting out on the flop immediately.  Only Chartier made the call.
Turn:    Again, Ukalla bets - but it's 106k into a pot which is now pushing half a million - this too gets a call from Chartier.
River:  two spades  Ukalla fires a third time, but it's just 72k, an amount which is called, albeit with a frown, by the young Canadian.

Dren Ukalla's hand probably surprised his opponent as much as the commentators who seemed to be happy to give him credit all the way (having played pretty tight) for a hand surpassing the Q-K he showed - to win the pot.
Logged

JungleCat03
Insidious underminer
Learning Centre Group
Hero Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 4270



View Profile WWW
« Reply #12 on: September 14, 2008, 04:24:46 PM »

Mazzia moves all-in for 290k...

As Daniel Negreanu in the commentary booth said, "When someone makes this move the poker's over and it's all about finding a hand."

And Mercier in the big blind looks at his hand and...CALLS!

Cards on their backs:

Mazzia   :  two hearts
Mercier : 

Flop: three diamonds .......

So though Mazzia has missed thus far he picks up a flush draw on the turn...any heart or Ace means he stays in.

And the river is...the !

Sick river means Mazzia is up to 634k, whilst Mercier is now VERY short.

Jason Mercier has had some very bad luck, with just a little rub of the green he would be by far the chip leader, but poker is replete with random fluctuations of luck, and right now Mazzia is the one getting lucky whilst Mercier is the one not getting kicked in the proverbials.
Logged

"In darker days Jason Robinson found God. But that was after God found Jason Robinson."
Djinn
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 13541


I'm much bigger in real life


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2008, 04:26:44 PM »

Separated at Birth?

Timmy Mallet





Daniele Mazzia

Logged

Djinn
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 13541


I'm much bigger in real life


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: September 14, 2008, 04:39:37 PM »

Fintan Gavin calls a Dren Ukalla raise in the big blind, and they see a flop of two hearts .  Check-check.
Turn:    Fintan brings forward a couple of stacks of yellow 1k chips, then brushes a single chip off a stack and bets it - 95k.  He's quickly called.
River:  They both give up on the whole betting thing and Fintan's Q-9 is apparently good for that pot.  He's gone from dangerously short(est) stack yesterday, to very comfortable today, while the earlier leaders are having a much tougher time of it today.

Next hand, Fintan gives up a small pot to Sebastian Ruthenberg, saying something along the lines of "You're too lucky..."  Smiley
Logged

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 Go Up Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
Page created in 0.256 seconds with 21 queries.