Online Poker Directory

Posts Tagged ‘blinds’

10.35pm: How Go the Stacks?

At this moment with 29 players remaining, it looks like it is Yoshitaka Okawa who has the chip lead with 645,000. Some of the notable names that are travelling along nicely, or are at least alive in the tournament, include Jay Tan (470,000 in chips), Team PokerStars Pro Vivian Im (395,000), Michael Marvanek (375,000), Shashank Rathi (360,000), Yvo Molin (210,000), Vyacheslav Kuzmin (140,000) and Lim Wai Cheung (140,000).

10.20pm: Enrico The Latest Busto

Enrico Chong is the latest player to hit the rail, with his [kc][qs] unable to improve against the [9s][9d] of his opponent. Chong was all-in for 99,000 preflop on his last hand, but found no luck on the [7d][6s][4s][2h][7s] board. Following Chong’s elimination, just 29 players remain and we are a just a couple of bust-outs away from moving to the final three tables.

10.10pm: Back for More

The 31 remaining players are back from their break and ready to keep making their way to the final nine. It is still unclear exactly how much longer we will be playing this evening, but at the very least we will make it down to just two tables of nine.

Level Up, Blinds 5,000-10,000, Ante 1,000

Who will be the king (or queen) of PokerStars Macau this weekend?

4.25pm: Jussi Häkkänen doubles through Alex Jobling

Jussi Häkkänen three-bet all-in for 202,000 with [Ks][10d] and Alex Jobling made the call with [Ad][Qh]. A [2h][Jc][Kd][6s]Qh] board kept the Finn in. — NW

4.22pm: Reed bust; more chips for Sambrook

Jack Sambrook.is up to around 850,000 after eliminating over night chip leader David Reed in a 600,000 pot. It all went in pre-flop with Reed holding [A][K] to Sambrook’s [A][J], however a jack on the river sent the pot Sambrook’s way and Reed is out in 22nd.

Willian Chung has been eliminated in 21st place, no details I’m afraid. — NW

4.20pm: Not the real McCoy

All Gary McCoy could do to survive at the end was get his chips in good. He managed to do that but was still eliminated by Jack Sambrook.

The aggressive Sambrook opened to 22,000 from the button and called when McCoy moved all in for 88,000 from the small blind.

McCoy: [ad][5d]

Sambrook: [qd][th]

The board ran [js][qh][8h][3s][6d] to pair Sambrook’s queen. McCoy took his defeat like a sportsman and wished everyone luck before departing. — MC

4.15pm: Final three tables

Below is the seat draw for the final three tables.

Table One:

Seat One: David Reed

Seat Two: Barry McMahon

Seat Three: Dan Hemingway

Seat Four: Saulius Tumosa

Seat Five: Ben Senior

Seat Six: Akshay Reddy

Seat Seven: Jack Sambrook

Seat Eight: Gary McCoy

Table Two:

Seat One: Anthony Shields

Seat Two: Matthias Mordhorst

Seat Three: Chris Ferguson

Seat Four: Sam Holden

Seat Five: Ewan Brown

Seat Six: Kevin Killeen

Seat Seven: Ashfaaq Taus

Seat Eight: Brett Angell

Table three:

Seat One: Willian Cheung

Seat Two: Alex Jobling

Seat Three: Jason Cockburn

Seat Four: David Knight

Seat Five: Empty

Seat Six: Jussi Häkkänen

Seat Seven: Kevin Monroe

Seat Eight: Ian Burdon
4.10pm: Knight turns into day for David

David Knight thought he was out of the door after he three-bet all in with [ad][8s] over the top of Alex Jobling’s raise was called. The latter tabled [qh][qs] but couldn’t stay ahead of his opponent on a [tc][7s][9h][6d][ah] board.

Knight is up to 115,000 chips after making a straight. — MC

4pm: Jude Ainsworth eliminated in 24th place (£2,400)

No sooner had they re-drawn to three tables then the last remaining Team PokerStars Pro – Jude Ainsworth – was eliminated.

The Irishman told me: “There had been a raise and a call before the button (Jason Cockburn) re-raised. I’m in the big blind and find [Ad][Kd], so move all-in for 16 big blinds and he called with queens and that was the end of my Newcastle UKIPT.

Seat draw of the final three tables is on its way. — NW
3.55pm: Another huge pot from table one busts Chung

Most of the biggest pots today have come from table one, and another just occurred. We wrote a hand earlier that involved Timothy Chung and Chris Ferguson, which might go along way to explain the former’s exit.

We missed the action but were informed that Chung raised and called when Ferguson three-bet from the small blind. The flop came queen high and there was a c-bet and call before the rest of the chips went in on a blank turn.

Chung opened pocket jacks but was behind to Ferguson’s ace-queen. Ferguson is up to 1,150,000 chips as a result.

The tournament is down to 24 players remaining and a full redraw is in progress. We’ll post that draw shortly. — MC

3.45pm: Re-draw at 24

We’ve been informed that they’ll be a complete re-draw at 24 players, this is a new rule in all live PokerStars tournaments. According to Tournament Director Toby Stone this is to ‘mix up the luck,’ late in tournaments. 27 players remain right now, these are the players to bust in the last hour:
28th. Anders Sanchez, £1,960

29th. Lee Dixon, United Kingdom, £1,960

30th. Lee Atherton, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,960

31st. Giannis Drousiotis, Cyprus, £1,960

32nd. Jakub Kyrian, Czech Republic, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,960

33rd. Michael Huber, Austria, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,960

Atherton – made another deep run in a UKIPT
3.35pm: Ainsworth eliminates a man

Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth is back up to around 160,000. He eliminated a shortstacked Steffen Gjelseth to get back in it. Ainsworth had pocket fives, Gjelseth [K][J] and Ainsworth flopped a set of fives to eliminate the Norwegian.

And soon after he open shoved and got no callers to pick up more valuable chips. – NW

3.30pm: Ainsworth crippled

Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth dropped down to 63,000 chips after his [kc][kh] was beaten by Timothy Chung’s [as][ts].

There was a lot of raises pre flop that saw them both all in. The board ran out [jc][jh][ad][5c][3d] to make Chung a full house. Chung up to 450,000 chips. — MC

3.20pm: Holden flushed with chips

It’s an ominous sign for the rest of the field that Sam Holden is working his way up through the chip counts (around 500k).

He opened from the cut-off and Barry McMahon defended his big blind and went on to check-call 18,000, 40,000 and 90,000. The final board read [qs][qc][9s][5s][7d] and Holden opened [js][2s] for a flush. McMahon mucked and dropped own to 136,000. — MC

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 5,000-10,000 ante 1,000

 

3.10pm: Real McCoy

Gary McCoy just won a flip with [10s][10c] against Andres Sanchez who held [Qd][Jh], a eight high board reduced Sanchez to less than one big blind, which went in blind from the big blind next hand.

Sam Holden three-bet pre to 36,000 with pocket kings, which were way ahead of Sanchez’s [Qs][2h]. The board ran out [Jh][Ah][Js][3h][4s] to send Sanchez crashing out. — NW

3pm: Ainsworth chugging along

Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth is still chugging along, he has 320,000 which is right about average. He’s not got the kindest of table draws though. To his direct right is Timothy Chung (300,000) a player Jesse May described as an, ‘absolute animal’ after playing with him on Day 1.

To Ainsworth’s direct left is David Reed (400,000) and one seat further to the left is Chris Ferguson, who sits second in chips on 920,000. — NW

Timothy Chung
2.55pm: Wide range for Ferguson

Chris Ferguson is up to 920,000 chips after taking a big pot off Timothy Chung with a weak holding that hit big.

Around 90,000 had made it into the middle before both players checked the [4d][2c][5h] flop. The turn and river came [2s][js] and Chung check-called both streets, the last bet being 80,000.

Before Chung called on the river he asked Ferguson if he had king-two suited or aces. He wasn’t far off as Ferguson opened [ks][2d] for trips and the pot as Chung mucked. — MC

2.45pm: Today’s exits

The first two levels saw 28 players bust out, here’s whose finished where so far today:

34th. Neil Walker, United Kingdom , PokerStars Qualifier, £1,960

35th. Miles McKenzie, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player, £1,960

36th. Andrew Robson, United Kingdom,PokerStars Player, £1,960

37th. Keith Hawkins, Untied Kingdom, £1,740

38th. Shane Gregory, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,740

39th. Stuart Atkinson, United Kingdom, £1,740

40th. Gary Oakes, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player, £1,740

41st. Cathal Shine, Ireland, PokerStars Player, £1,740

42nd. Cormac O’Dea, Ireland, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,740

43rd.Viktor Leonov, Lithuania, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,740

44th.Roland Wilkinson, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player, £1,740

45th.Andrew Grayson, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player, £1,740

46th. Mark Buckley, Ireland, PokerStars Player, £1,520

47th. Vassilis Korkas, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,520

48th. Paul Jenkinson, United Kingdom, £1,520

49th. Stephen Odysseas, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,520

50th. Nathan Watson, United Kingdom, £1,520

51st. Steve Warburton, United Kingdom, £1,520

52nd. Matthew Dougal, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,520

53rd. Alan Tinlin, United Kingdom, £1,520

54th. Emma Jones, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,520

55th. Sharapov Oleksandr, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,300

56th. Chris Mcnicholls, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,300

57th. Thomas Ward, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player, £1,300

58th. Dylan Roberts, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,300

59th. Paul Delaney, Ireland, PokerStars Qualifier

60th. Guido Braye, Netherlands, PokerStars Qualifier, £1,300

61st. Alfie Adam, United Kingdom, £1,300

62nd. Paulius Anilionis, Lithuania, PokerStars Player, £,1300

To see the full payouts page click

Hawkins – bust in 37th
2.35pm: Kyrian busts in battle of the short stacks

Jakub Kyrian was down to 37,000 chips and shoved into the big blind of the second shortest stack at his table – Akshay Reddy.

The play seemed a good one, especially as he held [ac][5c]. What he didn’t probably count on was Reddy calling off a large chunk of his stack with [jd][9d]. The board ran a Reddy friendly [qd][qc][jh][4h][qh] to eliminate Kyrian in 33rd place. Redd up to 145,000 chips. — MC

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 4,000-8,000, 1,000

 

2.05pm: Break

That’s two levels of absolute carnage in the book, we’ll be getting chip counts and an update on who’s finished where so far during the 20 minute break. — NW

2.03pm: Cockburn doubles through Monroe

Kevin Monroe’s rollercoaster of a day continues and this times he’s a bit unfortunate to have lost his latest all-in.

He had [Kd][9d] whilst Jason Cockburn held [Ad][Qd], the [6h][Kc][Js][6h][Ah] board giving, then taking away from Monroe in a pot worth around 175,000. — NW

2pm: A bad beat story worth hearing

Honestly it is! Lee Dixon is absolutely raging and to be fair with good reason. On the [5c][7s][Qh] flop Giannis Drousiotis donk-led for 12,000, Dixon made it 40,000, Neil Walker was then all-in (this could’ve happened pre-flop but regardless he was all-in).

Now this is where it got interesting, before Drousiotis took action the dealer burned and revealed the turn card – the [5s] – this is important for later in the hand. But because action hadn’t been completed this turn card wouldn’t stand and would have to be shuffled back into the deck along with the burn cards. After this issue had been resolved, Drousiotis folded [Qc][Jh] face-up. The other two players now revealed their cards:

Dixon: [Qd][5d] – two pair and he would have had a full house

Walker: [As][Qs] – top pair

Turn: [3d] – so far so good for Dixon

River: [Ac] – ouch a brutal out draw and one that Dixon rightly felt aggrieved over. He got up left the table and when he returned he was still shaking his head and banging a stack of chips into the felt, to help ease the frustration. — NW
1.55pm: Jobling rockets clear after monster pot

By far the biggest pot of the tournament just played out between Alex Jobling and Mark Buckley resulting in the former rocketing clear at the top.

Jobling opened to 14,000 and Buckley called to see the [tc][8d][7d] flop where he raised a 14,000 c-bet up to 54,000. Call.

The turn came [as] and Jobling checked to face a 60,000 bet. He treated it to a check-raise to 150,000. Buckley called leaving himself 208,000 behind as the action headed to the [js] river. Jobling set Buckley all in for the last of his chips and he called whilst saying, “I have to call, I have a set of eights” and opened [8c][8s].

It was no good though as Jobling rivered a straight with [ts][9s]. He raked in the huge amount of chips and now has a massive 950,000. — MC

1.45pm: Camel curtailed

We’ve just lost Keith ‘The Camel’ Hawkins in 37th place. It folded to him on the button and he moved all-in for 83,000 with [Jc][10c], from the small blind Willian Cheung tank called and showed [Ad][6d].

The [7s][8d][Kh] flop gave Hawkins more outs, but he missed them all on the [3d] turn and [Kd] river. — NW

1.32pm: Good Job

Alex Jobling is now one of the chip leaders after making a good river call to boost his stack to around 500,000.

I only saw the river action but with approximately 185,000 in the pot Shane Gregory (under-the-gun) fired out a bet of 83,000 and Jobling (mid-position) went into the tank. He had roughly 240,000 back and he cut out the requisite calling chips to see what he’d have left after the call.

After a couple of minutes thinking over his decision he announced call and slid his chips over the line. It was Gregory who was first to show, opening [6s][5s], Jobling then revealed [Ac][Qs] to claim the pot. — NW

Alex Jobling (left) is up to 500,000
1.25pm: Cry me a river

Kevin Monroe causing more river -card pain for Andrew Robson. The board read [qc][qd][3c][8d][ac] and Monroe bet 28,500 from under the gun. Robson released his hand once more.

Brett Angell’s lead has disappeared after he made a hero-looking call on the river of a [7d][8h][5s][kc][3d] board. He was battling in the blinds with Alex Jobling and checked to face a 70,000 bet. He called and mucked upon seeing Jobling’s [ks][tc]. He’s down to 385,000 as Jobling rose to 335,000.

En route back to the press room we saw Monroe not get his own way for once today. He three-bet folded to Sam Holden’s four-bet to drop back to 405,000. Holden is back up to 215,000. — MC

1.10pm: Three more bite the dust

Three more exits to tell you about…

• Miles Mckenzie took out Andrew Grayson, pocket jacks against [Ah][Qs]. The latter was all-in for 90,000, a [Jd][6d][3c] flop pretty decisive, the [Kc] turn opened up the possibility of a unlikely outdraw, but the [4h] river was a blank.

• Overnight chip leader David Reed found aces at the same time as Ronald Wilkinson picked up [Ah][Kd]. These two premium hands created a 280,000 chip pot that went to Reed on a [8h][2d][8s][3c][2h] board. He’s up to 470,000.

• Viktor Leonov was all-in on the turn of a [Jd][6c][7s][Ac] board with [9s][7h] and was up against Anthony Shileds who had [As][6d]. The [Qd] completed the board to send Leonov out in 43rd place. — NW

 

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 3,000-6,000, 500

 

1pm: Monroe causing all sorts of problems

There’s no doubt who the table captain at table number five is. Keith Hawkins, Sam Holden and Jude Ainsworth all started there, but it’s Kevin Monroe ruling the roost.

The Team PokerStars pro has position on the hyper-aggressive Monroe, it’s not helping one bit at the moment though.

We caught up with a hand between the two on the turn of a [5d][2c][kh][3s] board. Ainsworth led for 55,000 from the small blind but had to admit defeat when Monroe shoved on him.

A couple of hands later Ainsworth was the only caller when Monroe raised pre flop. Monroe continued on a [5c][3d][qd] flop and Ainsworth folded. It seems as if Ainsworth is smelling the blood of his prey but doesn’t quite have the right tools to slay the aggro-beast right now.

Monroe – 405,000

Ainsworth – 125,000

–MC

Monroe – causing mayhem
12.45pm: Semi-calm restored

After the crazy opening spell, calm has been restored somewhat. There are still 51 players remaining but we don’t that figure to last very long.

• Gary Oakes has become one of the short stacks after he tank-called Lee Dixon’s squeeze all in with [9h][9d]. Dixon opened [ac][qs] and just got there on the [2d][th][3s][td][qh] board.

 

• David Reed and Brett Angell are now sat at the same table and it didn’t take too long for the two players to clash. The former opened from under the gun and was three-bet by the latter in late position. Reed was having none of it and four-bet him back to force a fold.

 

• Kevin Monroe put Andrew Robson under all sorts of pressure in a hand. He defended his big blind and called flop and turn bets before shoving the river. The final board read [qc][5c][3s][ad][7s] and Robson had 110,000 back by the river. He looked in real pain as he came to the decision to relinquish his hand. -MC

 

12.44pm: Carousel ends for Dougal

Matthew Dougal must’ve been pretty happy when his all-in with pocket jacks found a call from Benjamin Senior’s [Qc][10c]. The [2c][9h][9c] flop gave Senior a flush draw, which completed on the [3c] turn, the [8c] river was a bit of overkill. Dougal out in 52nd.– NW

12.42pm: Empty Tin-lin

Alan Tinlin is another of the early casualties on Day 3. He was all-in for 60,000 with pocket sixes, Paul Jenkinson with the overcards – [Ad][Qs] – this time the overcards won the day, the board coming [7c][4c][7h][Qc][5h] to send Tinlin out in 53rd. — NW

12.40pm: Men only at the table please

And the last remaining female in the field is out. Emma Jones came back today with less than one big blind so that she managed to hold on to finish 54th is a miracle in itself. Her shrapnel went in with pocket eights pre-flop and she got two callers.

On the [kh][6c][3d] flop Alex Jobling bet out and his opponent got out the way, Jobling showed [3h][3c] for a flopped set and the turn and river bricked out to send her to the rail. — NW

12.35pm: Taus takes one out

Ashfaaq Taus is up to around 350,000 after eliminating Sharapov Oleksandr in a blind on blind battle. Taus raised to 11,500 from the small, Oleksandr shipped for 89,500 from the big and Taus called the extra.

Taus: [Ah][9s]

Oleksandr: [8d][5s]

The [9h][Qs][5h][3s][2d] board ruling decisively in the Dutchman’s favour. — NW

Shifaaz Taus
12.30pm: Angell takes out two

Brett Angell is the chip leader having eliminated two men early on today. I missed the first but Angell told me he held [A][K] and flopped a king to outflop Guido Braye’s pocket fives, the latter all-in for 40,000.

Then he won a much bigger pot. Christopher Mcnicholls jammed for 105,000 with [Ac][Js], Angell making the call with [Ad][Kd] and holding on a [Qd][8s][Js][9d][7d] board, rivering the nut flush just for good measure. He’s up to around 500,000 now. — NW

Angell – has soared to the chip lead
12.27pm: More for McMahon

At start of play Barry McMahon was second in chips and he just padded his stack by eliminating a shortstacked Dylan Roberts. The latter was all-in for around 30,000 with [9d][8d], McMahon called with [Ad][10s]. The board running out [9s][Qd][Ah][10d][2s] to eliminate Roberts. — NW

12.25pm: Ward won’t be winning

One of the short stacks coming back today was UKIPT2 Edinburgh 4th place finisher Tom Ward. Two quick hands saw his demise though. In the first he called Akshay Reddy’s shove, Ward had pocket nines, Reddy [Js]10s]. A board of [4h][8s][10c][Ks][4d] reducing Ward to less than two big blinds.

That went in soon after with [Kd][9s], Cormac O’Dea the would be executioner with [As][4s], a board of [Ac][10d][Ks][10s][10c] ended Ward’s day. — NW

12.20pm: Carangel

Eleven players have been eliminated in the opening 15 minutes. We caught most of them, details on the ones we did coming right up. — NW

12.05pm: Shuffle-up and deal

Play is under way here in the Aspers casino. We expect today to last around nine levels. give or take a level. — MC

11.50am: Solid Reed leads the way

Welcome back to Newcastle and Day 3 of UKIPT3 Newcastle. Today the plan is simple, make the final and be in with a shot of winning the £105,900 first prize tomorrow. To make those eight very happy, 54 players are going to be left with a sense of what might have been.

Play will begin in a little under 10 minutes and David Reed will start as chip leader. The 22-year-old student from Bradford, who’s playing in his first major live tournament bagged up 363,500 at the end of play yesterday, after more than doubling up on the final hand.

He’s got a score of seasoned UKIPT veterans in the chasing pack, Barry McMahon (4th UKIPT3 Nottingham) and Brett Angell (2nd UKIPT2 Nottingham) are less than 10 big blinds behind.

Also lurking are Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth (237,500), Sam Holden (207,000) and Keith Hawkins (119,500). This one is still anyone’s tournament and we’re set for an exciting days play. Some rudimentary maths tells the PokerStars blog that we think it’ll take around nine levels to play from 62 (10 players busted in a crazy final 10 minutes last night) to the final eight. Stay right here for all the coverage. — NW

Ainsworth – 11th of 62 at the start of play

3.40pm: Wealthall not as wealthy as before

One way or another Nick Wealthall will be at the final table this Monday. He’s the host of the UKIPT, but is also playing in this event. However, it looks like it’ll be purely MC duties he has to perform come Monday as he’s down to 10,500 at the moment.

I just saw him three-bet to 2,100, but fold to four-bet of 4,600 from Oleksandr Sharappv, no tanking though, just a fast fold. — NW

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 100-200

3.35pm: Gavin it back

Fintan Gavin’s great start has been clipped back by Rene Xie. He opened to 325 from under the gun and was only called by Xie in the next seat en route to a [jh][jc][7c] flop.

Gavin continued for 600 and called when raised up to 1,600. He also called a 2,100 bet on the [5h] turn after he checked to Xie. The river came down [qs] and Xie bet 4,000 (with 4,125 behind) when she was checked to again. Gavin took his time before making the call.

Xie opened [ks][kc] and took the pot as Gavin mucked whilst saying, “Well played, you got the maximum there. I had pocket nines.” — MC

3.20pm: Cutting it fine

British poker stars, Jake Cody, Matt Perrins and James Mitchell have turned up with seconds to spare before registration closed. Pretty standard behaviour for those high rollers. — MC

3.10pm: Irish update

This update is sponsored by the Emerald Isle: Team PokerStars Pro James Ainsworth is grinding away on 16,000, David Lappin is off to a good start, he’s up to 27,000. Chris ‘Had plenty of deep runs in UKIPTs’ Dowling is on 11,700 and Fergal ‘wins a bunch of seats to every UKIPT’ Nealon has dropped to 10,000. — NW

Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth
3pm: Abou Risk and Williams out

Two high profile bust outs to tell you about as Nick Abou Risk and Kevin Williams are both out.

Abou Risk told me about his exit: “I was down to 3,500. There was an open from early position to 375 and three callers in front of me. I look down at [6h][5h] and decide to call. The flop was [A][Q][4] with two hearts, it checks to the guy who’s last to act and he bets 850. I moved all-in for 3,200, he called with [A][4] and I didn’t hit.”

Williams (@Kevish47) tweeted his exit: “Ran pretty bad to bust #UKIPTNewcastle early. A boring AKPokerStarsBlog.com

12:40am: Yabuuchi busts to bring Day 2 to a close

Nobuhiro Yabuuchi has missed out on reaching the final day of play here at the MPC Red Dragon after his elimination in 19th place to bring our day to an end.

Yabuuchi moved all in preflop for around 100,000 with [qs][qc] as Abhishek Goindi made the call with [ad][kh].

The board of [as][8c][6c][8s][9h] paired up Goindi’s ace to eliminate Yabuuchi from the tournament. With that, the players are now bagging, tagging and heading home for some much-needed rest. It’s likely that Jay Tan will be our chip leader with over 1.5 million, but we’ll have confirmation of chips for you shortly.

12:30am: Jay passive with Big Slick

With so many chips in front of her, Jay Tan would be feeling a little frustrated right now for not being more aggressive with her [as][kh]. When facing a raise to 46,000 from Dong Woo Kang, Tan decided to flat call on the button to see a [qh][3s][jd] flop. Kang open-shoved for 185,000 and Tan was forced to make a reluctant open-fold of her hand, but Kang flashed the same hand – [ac][kc]!

12:20am: From red to white hot

“Quads! Quads! Quads!” squealed Jay Tan after eliminating yet another opponent. She has gone from red hot to white hot as Tong Seng Lew has felt the brunt of her form.

Lew moved all in preflop for his last chips with [ac][kh] and thought he was racing with Tan’s [ts][td], but the way this girl has been running, this was a race she was never going to lose. Not only did she win, but she did it in style, making quads as the board ran out [tc][6h][kd][th][3d].

Lew is out with Tan now up to 1.55 million.

12:10am: Darian doubles up

Darian Tan was one of the short stacks in the room but a desperate double up has kept his title hopes alive. Tan moved all in for 80,000 from middle position and play folded around to Ke Chen who called in the big blind with [ac][5d] as Tan would need help with his [jh][9h].

Tan had to wait until the river but he finally got there with the [2h][5h][6s][4d][7h] board delivering a flush for the double up. He moves up to 180,000.

12:05am: Down to 18

We’ve just received word that we’ll be playing down to the final two tables this evening before we wrap things up. That means four more eliminations before we’re outta here!

12:00am: Red hot Tan

Following the break, Jay Tan has gone on one hell of a heater as she has steamrolled her way to the tournament chip lead.

After winning a big pot with pocket aces against Denny Yu, Lee then proceeded to take out previous MPC champion Patrick Lee.

Lee raised to 38,000 from early position with Tan calling on the button to see a [4s][td][7d] flop fall. Lee tossed out 50,000 before Tan moved all in. Lee called off his last chips quickly but didn’t like what he saw. Lee opened [kh][kc] for an overpair but Tan tabled [4h][4c] for a flopped set!

“Wow,” sighed Lee, as the [5d] turn and [ac] river completed the board. A great run by the previous MPC champ as he is eliminated from the tournament.

“Am I dreaming?” laughed Tan as she moved up to a massive 1.4 million. Seated to her direct right is Ke Chan who holds 1.2 million as the top two stacks in the room. Expect fireworks!

11:45pm: Play resumes

The final 23 players are back with likely one to two more levels to play before we call it an evening.

Ke Chen remains a clear chip leader with around 1.15 million in chips.

7.20pm: Richard Sinclair is the UKIPT Champion of Champions

Richard Sinclair today won the UKIPT Champion of Champions event at Dusk Till Dawn and the prize of buy-ins and hotel to all regular UKIPT Season 3 stops.

The Scotsman had won his seat to this star-studded sit-and-go by winning UKIPT Newcastle back in June. The online tournament specialist told PokerStars blog back then that he didn’t travel to that many events because of the overheads involved. That’s something he won’t have to worry about now.

Richard Sinclair with his spoils
“This means I’m freerolling Season 3 of the UKIPT which is great,” he said. “Cutting down on expenses and hotel costs is huge, I’m really looking forward to defending my title in Newcastle and coming back to Dusk Till Dawn.”

Two time UKIPT Champion Nick Abou Risk
With just two players remaining it looked as if Season 2 was going to end as it started – with a Nick Abou Risk victory. After winning a huge three-way all-in with just three players left he took a 100,000 to 20,000 chip advantage into heads-up play but couldn’t claim another title. “Richard played really well heads-up,” he graciously conceded.

McDerra dominated the first half of the final table
It was very much a final table of two halves, for the first half it was Matthew McDerra who dominated. With six players left he was well in command and eliminating Chris O’Donnell (6th) and Joeri Zandvliet (5th) only strengthened his position. But then his and Sinclair’s fortunes intertwined as he doubled up the Scotsman twice in quick succession. Despite re-claiming the chip lead after eliminating Sam Razavi in fourth, he then lost another big pot to Sinclair as the Scotsman took control. He exited in third soon after.

The eight finalists
In a quick fire final table that lasted a little over four hours players were always going to need a combination of cards and luck, something which deserted Fintan Gavin (8th) and Gareth Walker (7th).

With Season 2 now in the books, attention turns to Season 3 of the UKIPT and the first stop in Galway between Feb 16th-20th. Qualifiers are running now on PokerStars. Richard Sinclair will be there, will you?

Richard Sinclair – UKIPT Champion of Champions Season 2
6.10pm: Richard Sinclair wins UKIPT Champion of Champions

And it’s all over.

Richard Sinclair raised to 5,100 from the button with [As][9s], Nick Abou Risk moved all-in for around 40,000 holding [Kc][6d] and Sinclair made the call.

The flop was [4c][Jh][Jc] and when the [Ad] hit the turn Abou Risk was drawing dead, meaning a meaningless [6d] completed the board.

A full wrap of today’s Champion of Champions will follow shortly.

Abou Risk couldn’t quite get over the line
6.10pm: Richard Sinclair doubles through Nick Abou Risk

With a second double through, the chip counts have now flip-flopped and Sinclair holds the lead.

He raised to 5,100 from the button, Risk set him in for 38,300 total and Sinclair called. On their backs:

Abou Risk: [Qh][8s]

Sinclair: [Ks][Qs]

The board of [6s][Kh][Jd][2s][3h] ensured Sinclair’s hand held and he now has 76,600 to Abou Risk’s 43,400.

6.05pm: Back from the break

Cards are back in the air and with just 50 big blinds in play now, I’d expect the winner to be determined in the next level or the one after.

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 1,200-2,400

 

5.55pm: Break

That’s the end of level 12 and Richard Sinclair and Nick Abou Risk are on a 10 minute break. Stacks are 75,000 for Abou Risk and 55,000 for Sinclair.

5.50pm: Richard Sinclair doubles through Nick Abou Risk

And the comeback is on!

About seven hands into heads-up play Richard Sinclair found pocket queens and moved in for his last 19,800 after eyeing up Sinclair’s stack Abou Risk made the call with [Qd][7s].

“Surely not even you can get there this time,” said Sinclair.

The board ran [4s][2h][2d][6s][2c] stacks now around 80,000 – 40,000 in Abou Risk’s favour.

5.40pm: Three-way cooler leaves us heads-up

Nick Abou Risk had continued to move in frequently pre-flop and got up to second in chips when the following happened.

From the button Matthew McDerra moved all-in for around 30,000 with [Qd][10d], next to act Richard Sinclair moved all-in over the top with pocket sixes and then Abou Risk overcalled with pocket kings! If Sinclair could catch a six or make a straight he would win it right here.

Flop: [Qc][Jh][10d]

Turn: [4h]

River: [4d]

So McDerra exited in third, and Abou Risk now has a 100,000 to 20,000 advantage going into heads-up play.

McDerra out in third 

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 1,000-2,000 ante 200

 

5.30pm: Sinclair wins big pot, takes chip lead

From the button Richard Sinclair opened to 3,400, Matthew McDerra three-bet to 9,600 from the big blind and Sinclair called.

It was the first flop for a while and McDerra led for 9,000 on a board of [10h[Kc][7s], call from Sinclair.The turn was the [8d] and McDerra checked to Sinclair who bet 9,800 (about half his stack), with a shake of the head McDerra near insta-mucked. After that hand Sinclair climbs to around 60,000, whilst McDerra drops to 40,000.

5.25pm: Risky business

Nick Abou Risk certainly isn’t going to get blinded away here in Nottingham. In the last five hands he’s shoved all-in three times and moved all-in over the top of an opening raise once.

As it stands chip counts are roughly: Abou Risk (25,000), Richard Sinclair (40,000) and Matthew McDerra (55,000).
5.20pm: Short handed, plus winner takes all, equals aggressive play

The ratio of three-bets is soaring right now. First Matthew McDerra three-bet to 8,000 over a 3,200 open from Richard Sinclair, the latter folded and McDerra showed [Ad][Kh].

The very next hand roles were reversed, the outcome the same with the three-bettor winning, Sinclair showing pocket threes as he took the pot.

5.15pm: Sam Razavi eliminated in fourth place

First to act, Matthew McDerra opened to 3,400, Sam Razavi then moved in for 18,100 and after getting a count McDerra made the call. On their backs:

McDerra: [Ks][Qs]

Razavi: [As][Js]

The board ran [5h][4s][9d][3c][Kh] and McDerra spiked the river to eliminate yet another player.

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 800-1,600 ante 200

 

5.05pm: Chip counts

After that flurry of action here are the approximate chip counts:

Seat One: Richard Sinclair, 39,500

Seat Three: Nick Abou Risk, 20,300

Seat Five: Matthew McDerra, 40,100

Seat Seven: Sam Razavi, 18,500

Sinclair is second in chips
5pm: Three double ups and a exit

And it’s yet again Matthew McDerra who’s at the centre of all the action. First he doubled up Richard Sinclair, with pocket sixes against pocket tens. Then shortly afterward he eliminated Joeri Zandvliet. The Dutchaman shoved [Q][4] but ran into McDerra’s [A][K] blind on blind.

And he has just now doubled up Richard SInclair again the latter holding [Qd][8h] and all the money going in by the river of a [3h][Qs][Qc][3s][9d] board.

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 600-1,200 ante 100

 

4.50pm: Nick Abou Risk doubles through Joeri Zandvliet

Perhaps taking part in James Bond style skits for the UKIPT show helps you win flips, either way Nick Abou Risk just escaped from a sticky situation in a manner befitting of 007.

Joeri Zandvliet had opened to 1,600 from under-the-gun, it folded to Abou Risk in the big blind who moved all-in for 9,700, swift call from Zandvliet.

Abou Risk: [Ah][Jh]

Zandvliet: [9d][9s]

The flop was [10h][Qs][4c], giving Abou Risk more outs, the [2c] missed him, but the [Ad] didn’t after that hand Zandvliet is down to about 11,000.

4.40pm: Chris O’Donnell eliminated in sixth place

We’re down to five here in Nottigham, Chris O’Donnell shoved with for 15 big blinds with [A][2] over the top of a Matthew McDerra raise, the latter called with [A][K]. Despite a paired flop bringing the possibility of a chop, McDerra held firm to extend his chip lead.

4.30pm: Back in their seats

The six remaining players are back in their seats, below are the chip counts of the half dozen who are still in a chance with winning entry and hotel to all Season 3 stops of the UKIPT (except EPT London)

Seat One: Richard Sinclair, 7,400

Seat Two: Chris O’Donnell, 12,200

Seat Three: Nick Abou Risk, 11,600

Seat Four: Joeri Zandvliet, 23,800

Seat Five: Matthew McDerra, 39,100

Seat Seven: Sam Razavi, 25,900

McDerra holds the chip lead

10.30pm: Chinese aces lucky for Adeniya

Martins Adeniya would love the chance to have another crack at an EPT final table after busting 7th in London, despite entering as chip leader. His chances have improved after he got lucky to double versus Joseph Cheong.

The Brit raised to 1,200 from early position and was called in one spot before Cheong three-bet from the big blind. Adeniya’s response was to shove for 19,675 and he was called by the American after the third party folded.

Adeniya: [8s][8d]

Cheong: [qc][qd]

The board ran [3s][6s][3h][4d][8c] to make Adeniya a full house on the river. Cheong was left with just 8,000 chips. — MC

10.20pm: Anti Ante

Dario Minieri plays on into level 7, although his stack looked better at the start of the day, now down to 11,000. He bumped that up a little when a pre-flop all-in shove which found no takers, good for the blinds and antes.

A few tables along Victoria Coren just won a hand by sheer might alone.

With an opening bet of 1,200 from Taylor Paur, Coren then called from middle position and the action reached the big blind, where one player was having trouble understand why he was still being asked to provide an ante for the pot. This was a debate that had started before the cards were dealt and had somehow continued to now. With several players asking him to cough up, and several more begging him to, he finally paid up, not entirely sure why he was doing so.

The flop came [3c][9c][tc] which Paur checked. Coren, fired up as one of those that had pleaded for play to get a move on, bet 2,000, which was called.

The turn came [9s]. Coren put her glasses on, waited for Paur to check and then bet another 4,200. Paur called.

Now the [td] river. Again Paur checked. Glasses back on Coren looked at the board, then at Paur.

“Ah, come on, let’s chop it,” she said, turning over [as]. Paur showed nothing. “No?” said Coren, turning over [jh]. Paur mucked.

Coren up to 37,000. – SB

10.10pm: Wigg gets three streets of value

Talking of former champions, Anton Wigg is up to 65,000 after getting three streets of value versus Alessandro Chiarato. He raised from early position and was only called by the Italian in late position.

Wigg went on to lead for 1,850, 4,150 and 8,625 on each street. The final board read [4s][9h][2s][9s][jh] and Chiarato called pretty quickly on each street.

Wigg tabled [ad][9c] and shrugged his shoulders whilst smiling. — MC

9.58pm: One less champion as Cody takes a tumble

The fields have combined for these last two levels. News has reached us that there’s one less candidate for the first EPT double, Jake Cody has taken a fall. Here are his twitter updates, which we’ve taken the liberty of tidying up into a single consumable post:

“San Remo dream is over again. It’s the third time I’ve busted Day 1 of this tournament, starting on dream tables each time. I couldn’t win a pot for the first few levels then an Italian huge stack opens the cut-off to 1,575 at 200/400, American with lots of chips flats and I make it 5,225 playing 17k with AJ. The Italian folds, the American ships with KJ and I can’t hold. Sigh.”

Cody may be gone but plenty of others former EPT champs are still in including Liv Boeree and Salvatore Bonavena. Let’s get going. — RD

EPT champ Salvatore Bonavena
PokerStars Blog reporting team in San Remo (in order of lanyards worn): Stephen Bartley (two; one for casino card, one for press pass) and Marc Convey (one: utilising a double-sided sticky tape approach to his credentials) and Rick Dacey (zero; embarrassingly broke his lanyard in a mad rush to get to the buffet). Photos by Neil Stoddart.

1:06pm: Level 22 begins (blinds 10000-20000, ante 3000, 26 players remain)

1:03pm: Rodriguez takes bite out of McDonald; Pardo triples

Marta Rodriguez is one of the few players who has been very active to start Day 3. On Table 2, we found her involved in a sizable pot with the start-of-day chip leader, Stuart McDonald. With well more than 300,000 already in the pot, Rodriguez bet 145,000 on a board of [6c][qd][5c][7h][2c]. McDonald tanked long enough for a clock to be called, then folded. Rodriguez showed [qc][8c] for a flush as she climbed to about 700,000.

On Table 3, Rafael Pardo open-shoved pre-flop for 106,000 and was called by Francisco Corvalan and Julian Menendez. They both checked all the way down on a board of [3s][5h][ah][6h][4d]. Menendez took the empty side pot with [10s][10c], but Corvalan took the main pot, and a triple up, with [as][9c], a pair of aces.

12:54pm: Players continue to avoid clashes

In three separate hands across five minutes, players avoided clashing for stacks. First, Gilberto Castillo opened pre-flop to 35,000, then folded to a three-bet shove from big blind Rafael Velandia. At Table 2, Marta Rodriguez opened for 50,000, then shoved over the top of a three-bet from Stuart McDonald, who snap-folded. And at Table 3, Simon Campo once again folded to a check-raise after betting 44,000 on a flop of [5d][4s][js].

Grab some coffee, folks.

12:42pm: Bertoli can’t win second race against Jairo

Tullio Bertoli has been eliminated in 27th place. For the second time in 15 minutes, he found himself in a race against Jhon Jairo with a pair against Jairo’s overcards. This time around Bertoli had the black sixes and Jairo had [ah][qs]. Bertoli got a great flop for his hand, [4c][5c][7s], but the turn [qc] paired Jairo and left Bertoli drawing on the river. The [4d] was not one of his outs. He is retired to the rail.

Now that the dam has burst with the eliminations of Azer and Bertoli, while the rest of the field start flinging the chips around more aggressively?

12:31pm: Azer finally shows, doubles, then busts

Roxana Azer was the last of our 28 players to take her seat — a full thirty minutes late. She wasted no time getting her tiny stack of 33,000 into the middle. Action passed to Gilberto Castillo in the big blind, who called without looking. Azer tabled [ad][qh], a two-to-one favorite over Castillo’s [8d][6s]. Castillo failed to connect with a [js][2c][10h][qs][4d] board, allowing Azer’s pair of queens to collect the pot for a double-up to about 80,000.

While we were writing up the double-up, Azer stood up and walked away from Table 4. A pot was being pushed in Castillo’s direction, so we assume that he took her out.

12:21pm: Parade of double-ups

Tournament staff thought that it would be fewer than 4 hands to find the first elimination of the day. Here we are 20 minutes later and we’re still playing with 28 players. Tullio Bertoli just doubled up on a flip, all in for 125,000 pre-flop with pocket nines. Jhon Jairo tried to take him out with [as][kd], but Bertoli’s nines held as his rail shouted for a nine on every street of [8c][2s][7s][8d][5c].

On Table 3, Miguel Solano led a [2s][9h][10d] flop. Simon Campo raised him to 100,000, which drew a three-bet shove for 193,000 total from Solano. With almost 400,000 in the pot, and needing to call only 93,000 more, Campo mucked his hand after about a minute of thought.

12:05pm Level 21 begins (blinds 8000-16000, ante 2000, 28 players remain)

Cards are in the air for the third and final day of the 2011 LAPT Colombian National Poker Championship.

12:21pm: Sussing out who’s here

I never thought there would be a day when I walked into a room of 330 players and had trouble identifying any of them. Clearly, I need to spend more time in South America. But I did spot a few on my own and thankfully, my LatAm colleagues were able to help me point out several players I didn’t recognize. So, in no particular order, give a warm “Bienvenido!” to Team PokerStars Pros Andre Akkari and Leo Fernandez; LAPT Sao Paulo final table player Leandro Csome; current LAPT Player of the Year leader and Colombian Pablo Gonzalez; Luis Yepez, also in the race for Player of the Year; Kiwi James Honeybone, a recent transplant to Colombia; Oded Mirond, a player with a few LAPT final tables to his credit; Charlie Giron, and Gaston Catzman.

12:05pm: Level 1 begins (blinds 50-100, 330 players remain)

Shuffle up and deal! Play is underway on Day 1b of the 2011 LAPT Colombian National Poker Championships. Live updates throughout the day will be brought to you by Dave “F-Train” Behr (written), Carlos Monti (visual) and several cups of Juan Valdez coffee (caffeinated, delicious).

Jack Drake wins ANZPT Darwin Main Event

After four days of intense poker action in the “Top End” it was Queenslander Jack Drake who handled the heat the best in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Darwin Main Event. Drake led the field for the past two days and carried that advantage all the way to a tremendous win this evening.

It wasn’t all roses for Drake, especially after entering heads up play with a big chip lead, only to see it washed away within minutes. However Drake steadied the ship and stuck some flops when it mattered to claim victory. He wins $ 36,480 in prize money, a shiny, brand new trophy and the title of ANZPT Darwin champion!

That wraps up our live coverage of the Main Event, but we’ll have a complete wrap of today’s action for you shortly.

9:20pm: Brett Dannevig eliminated in 2nd place; Jack Drake wins!

The ANZPT Darwin Main Event has been run and won with Queensland’s Jack Drake crowned champion!

The final moments came when Brett Dannevig opened with a raise to 32,000. Drake moved all in over the top and Dannevig committed his final chips to make the call.

Dannevig: [kh][9h]

Drake: [ad][4d]

With the boisterous Drake fan club cheering for “The Dragon” and for his ace to hold, the dealer ran the board out [qc][qh][2c][5d][5c]. Drake is victorious as Dannevig heads home with $ 24,960 for his 2nd place finish after a tremendous performance in Darwin.

Brett Dannevig eliminated in 2nd place

9:15pm: Jack fights back

Jack Drake opened with a raise to 35,000 with Brett Dannevig making the call in the big blind to see a flop of [2c][5d][td].

Dannevig decided to lead out with a bet of 54,000 which was met with a raise to 115,000 from Drake. Dannevig rocked back in his chair for a few moments before declaring himself all in. Drake nodded and made the call.

Drake showed [kd][tc] for top pair as Dannevig gave a clenched smile as he tabled [ah][5c] for middle pair. The turn was the [6d] and river the [9d] as a huge swing of chips heads back to Drake. He’s close to the million mark again with Dannevig down to under 200,000.

9:00pm: The trophy slips through Jack’s fingers

With the trophy on the line and only one card to come, Jack Drake has just watched as the dealer landed a cruel river blow to give Brett Dannevig a remarkable double up to keep this contest alive.

Drake opened the button to 35,000 and Dannevig made the call to see a flop of [7d][7c][tc]. Dannevig checked to Drake who bet 38,000. Dannevig check-raised to 85,000 before Drake moved all in. Dannevig called off his last 281,000 and the cards were once again on their backs!

Dannevig showed [td][8d] for top pair but Drake had him outkicked with his [js][ts]. The turn was the [5c] and while there were chop possibilities, another baby card and the trophy was going home to the Gold Coast. However the only card Drake didn’t want to see was the [8c] that appeared to give Dannevig the three-outer to double up!

Dannevig is now into the chip lead with 750,000 as Drake slips to 450,000.

So close for Jack Drake…

8:55pm: Three pair no good

Jack Drake opened the button to 35,000 and Brett Dannevig made the call in the big blind. The flop came down [ks][kh][4c] and Dannevig checked to Drake who bet 37,000. Dannevig made the call and the turn brought the [3s].

Dannevig checked and Drake moved all in with Dannevig snap-calling his last 110,000 with [kd][9s] for trips as Drake’s [4d][3c] for three pair were no good. The river was the [2h] and Dannevig doubles to 300,000 with Drake back down to around 900,000.

8:50pm: Level up, blinds 8,000-16,000, ante 2,000

8:40pm: We’re heads up for the title!

The trophy and the cash is on the line as Jack Drake takes a commanding lead into heads-up play against Brett Dannevig.

Approximate chip counts:

Jack Drake – 1,080,000

Brett Dannevig – 160,000

After a brief pause, the cards are back in the air!

8:35pm: Fotios Manolakos eliminated in 3rd place

Catching the action on a flop of [6h][jh][5s], Fotios Manolakos fired out a bet of 25,000, only for Jack Drake to announce a raise to 100,000. Manolakos thought for a moment before announcing himself all in, but Drake beat him into the pot.

Drake: [ks][jc]

Manolakos: [8d][7d]

It was top pair versus an open-ended straight draw, but Manolakos couldn’t connect on the [5d] turn or [6c] river. Manolakos is eliminated in 3rd place and he’ll take home a very tidy $ 16,640 in prize money.

Fotios Manolakos eliminated in 3rd place

8:30pm: Mark Taylor eliminated in 4th place

It was a remarkable run by Mark Taylor today. He entered as one of our short stacks but managed to double up on numerous occasions to keep his ANZPT Darwin dream alive. However he has ultimately fallen in 4th place after losing a preflop race against Jack Drake.

The action started with Fotios Manolakos opening with a raise to 35,000 on the button. Drake three-bet to 100,000 from the small blind before Taylor moved all in for another 90,000 or so from the big blind. Manolakos got out of the way as Drake made the call.

Drake: [qs][js]

Taylor: [6h][6s]

The board ran out [tc][jc][5d][8d][7h] to pair the jack for Drake to eliminate Taylor in 4th place for $ 12,800 in prize money.

Mark Taylor eliminated in 4th place

8:15pm: Dannevig turns up the heat

Brett Dannevig opened with a raise from under the gun and Mark Taylor made the call in the big blind. The flop landed [6d][as][8h] and Taylor led out for 40,000. Dannevig made the call and the turn brought the [td]. Check, check and the river was the [jd].

Taylor checked it over to Dannevig who bet 60,000 which was enough to take it down.

One orbit later and we had the same situation as the two took a flop of [8d][9d][3h]. Taylor again tried to lead out for 40,000 from the big blind but Dannevig announced a raise of another 100,000. Taylor again gave it up. He slips to 160,000 with Dannevig up to 320,000.

7:55pm: Fotios swims on the river

Fotios Manolakos has found a huge double up with a fortunate river card keeping him afloat in this tournament.

Mark Taylor opened with a raise to 40,000 before Manolakos moved all in from the small blind for another 137,000 on top. Taylor thought for a moment before making the call.

Manolakos showed first and opened [kc][9s] but stood from his chair in resignation when Taylor opened [ks][qd].

The flop was a dry [ac][4c][7h] and the [jd] turn changed nothing, but the [9c] river gave

Manolakos the three-outer to stay alive. He doubles up to 360,000 with Taylor dropping to 170,000.

Fotios Manolakos finds a huge double up with a lucky nine on the river

7:50pm: A little dessert for Drake

With the blinds at 6,000-12,000 and a 2,000 ante, Brett Dannevig opened to 52,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Jack Drake in the big blind who moved all in for roughly another 190,000 more.

It was a big opening raise from Dannevig but he laid it down as Drake is off to a great start post-dinner.

7:45pm: Play resumes

The players are back with stomachs satisfied as we are ready to find the ANZPT Darwin champion!

PokerStarsBlog.com

1.15pm: My set is bigger than yours

Fatima Moreira de Melo is over 40,000 chips already after flopping a bigger set than Charlie Combes.

The action was four-way to [2c][8d][3c] flop and the action was checked to a player on the button who bet 400. Only the Team PokerStars SportsStar and Combes called to see the [as] turn. Combes took up the betting mantle with a 1,125 bet that De Melo raised up to 2,800. The button folded but Combes called.

The river came [ts] and Combes check-called a 5,600 bet with pocket three only to be shown pocket eights by the Dutch lady. –MC

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 75-150

 

1pm: Still standing

As has now become common knowledge, American legend Doyle Brunson is playing his first ever EPT at the age of 78. It’s not the only first. It’s likely the first time a cowboy hat of such size has been seen in these parts since Elton John played Wembley Arena.

Brunson just took on a youngster in the big blind from his spot on the button. Brunson bet 700 on the [8h][9s][9d] flop before both checked the [ks] turn. Brunson then folded on the [jh] river, to a bet of 1,600.

A slow start but the man knows how to be patient, unlike the rest of us who are struggling with a troublesome internet connection. — SB

12.55pm: Applying pressure

Back in the day on the EPT, play used to be very tight in the first few levels as players were deep and the thought process was that there was no need to gamble so early. That is not the case (thankfully) with modern day poker as players now see the early levels as an opportunity to apply pressure as that is when they have the most chips to successfully pull off such moves.

James Akenhead and newly appointed PokerStars Team Online member Mickey Petersen are two players who like apply such pressure.

Akenhead had made it to the turn in a heads-up pot. He was in position over his opponent and bet a pot-sized 2,600 when checked to him. His opponent called to see the river of a now completed [jd][2c][8d][7c][6d] board. Akenhead faced a check once more and fired 7,300 into the middle. It was too much for his opponent who folded.

Moments later on a nearby table Petersen raised to 300 from the small blind when the action folded to him, and the big blind called quickly to go to a [3c][8d][9d] flop. Petersen bet 400 and he was called to the [6d] turn where his 650 bet got through. — MC

12.40pm: Woe update

I’m going to disclose this up front: I’m English, born and bred in London. Therefore I might, just maybe, have a bias towards this event – not least of all that I didn’t have to board a plane to get here.

Now that admission is out of the way – showing that I’m all too willing to just see the good side of this event – you should understand that the following statement is hard to admit: we are seeing “Oops! Google Chrome” more than “PokerStars Blog” on the tabs on our laptop browsers. London internet providers, why are you failing us at this early juncture?

While coverage is not exactly the most fluid at the moment we have been assured that it’s being sorted. In the meantime do sign up to follow @PokerStarsBlog on Twitter which we can access. Hold tight, people. — RD

12.30pm: Internet woes

We are experiencing serious internet issues. Updates will begin as soon as we have connection!

12.20pm: This one’s on us, Doyle

Doyle Brunson is apparently playing his first ever EPT today and he’s very welcome. He’s sat with WCOOP High-Roller Champion Ash Mason and just showed he can still mix it up with these “kids”.

Mason raised to 300 from under-the-gun and was called by a player in the cut-off before Brunson stamped his seniority with a three-bet to 1,300 from the small blind. Mason passed with a smile but the third party called to see a [9s][ad][qh] flop.

There was no stopping Brunson as he led for 2,000 chips which was too much for his opponent to call. It would have been best if the American legend of the game tabled three-high here but second best was [as][ac], and that’s what he had. — MC

11.55am: London Pride

Welcome to EPT London, a unique event of the world poker stage. If the casinos of Monte Carlo, Paris and Vienna represent Europe’s gaming aristocracy, London is Europe’s plucky working class cousin, never shy in doffing a reverent cap, while at the same time providing the tour with a certain degree of backbone upon which to depend.

Since the European Poker Tour began, the London leg has been ever-present on the tour, from the old days at the Grosvenor Vic – that comforting cup-of-tea-and-fried-egg-sandwich hideaway – to the present-day opulence of the Hilton Metropole which once again becomes official Grosvenor turf for the duration of the EPT London Festival, which starts today.

‘Opulence’ is perhaps too strong a word; more ‘practical’. But what the King’s Ballroom lacks in majesty, it makes up in spirit; a place where poker players, spanning several generations, once more, in the home of Savile Row, Noel Coward, James Sherwood, Fortnum & Mason and the Duchess of Cambridge, dress in flip flops, vests, cheap hats and comfort-fit trousers, and remove the “fragile” labels from their egos. They then swagger into the tournament room to be humiliated by some 21-year-old foreigner with infinite talent, who got lucky, obviously.

The Houses of Parliament, and a red bus

That said, London has proved a happy hunting ground for numerous Brits. John Shipley, Mark Teltscher, Vicky Coren and David Vamplew each tasted victory here, and their appetite for repeat success remains strong.

London doesn’t rely on extravagance to attract the several hundred players who will arrive today and tomorrow, nor does it rely on location, with Edgware Road providing a gritty picture of the capital. But it is still technically the EPT’s home, the place where staff and bloggers alike, hang their hats; or thereabouts.

So with such frivolity in our hearts, it’s time to start day one. Play will be under way at 12 noon. It’s good to be home.