Sunday, August 31, 2014

Eureka4 Rozvadov: Biggest ever standalone event



With the general number in as 493, this makes Eureka Rozvadov the largest ever standalone Eureka Poker Tour event. Eureka Prague and Eureka Vienna both attracted over one thousand runners with 1,315 and 1,432 respectively but both were a part of lengthy European Poker Tour festivals and never the point of interest for plenty of players. What's also impressive is the reality this event is being held on the end of May when many players have already gone off to Las Vegas for the sector Series of Poker or are saving themselves for the UKIPT in sunny Marbella next week.

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Grigore Boroica

Rozvadov also held the former standalone record of 421 when Bart Lybaert picked up €115,000 winning Eureka3 Rozvadov last March. Interestingly, despite featuring prominently at the Eureka tour and producing a healthy percentage of the players, no Czech player has ever won a Eureka Poker Tour Main Event, could this transformation on Tuesday? In the case of numbers, Germany has probably the most with 191 while Poland has 58 and the Czech Republic sent 56 players.

There might be 71 places paid at least €1,840 with the Eureka4 Rozvadov winner receiving a whopping €93,600 (and do not forget the prize pool features a €7,000 overlay). AN ENTIRE list of the prizes will appear shortly at the widget to the suitable of this page.

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Muharem Hoti

Meanwhile within the tournament, Grigore Boroica is the present chip leader with 170,000, no-one looks with regards to the green-shirted Romanian, the closest stack being Muharem Hoti who has about 110,000.

Tournament Update

- 132 players remain out of 301- Players are playing level 9 (500/1,000/100) - Recent eliminations include Frank Broderdorf, Giorgos Chrysanthou, Ramon Bartsch, Andreas Papageorgiu, Athanasios Fergiatakis, Oliver Frey, Thorsten Weiss, Michael Coufal and Tobias Wagner


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Regulated Online Poker in France Continues Steady Decline



france french 2Poker News – Is it doom and gloom in France? Some might say so, since regulated online poker was steadily declining in France since new regulations began in 2010.

According to the primary quarter report released by France’s online gaming regulator ARJEL in regards to the country’s online poker regulated market, the selection of regulated cash game players is shrinking significantly.

Cash game traffic dropped by 19 percent year over year, and even perhaps more alarming was the 28percent decline in comparison to two years ago. ARJEL also shared its concerns about trends within the French market by implying poker operators “are experiencing considerable losses for another quarter,” with turnover declining from €72 million (2013 – Q1) to €65 million (2014-Q1) representing a lack of 10 percent.

Cash game traffic has also declined by 26 percent, according to a seven-day moving average of concurrent cash game seats filled, since temporarily peaking at first of March consistent with a PokerFuse report. This decline will also be partially attributed to seasonality with less players playing throughout the warm months of the summer.

FULL STORY

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ANZPT Canberra Day 3: Levels 21 & 22 (blinds 10,000-20,000, ante 2,000)



Congratulations Sammy Huang - ANZPT Canberra Main Event champion!

It's great to look an area shine through as Sammy Huang has survived the interstate invasion and steamrolled his way during the final table to say a memorable victory.

Huang qualified for this event through one of the most online $22+R 3xTurbo satellites on PokerStars for the investment of just $42. He's now turned that into an out of this world $73,700 in prize money! Congratulations to Sammy on a ravishing achievement which has created an actual buzz inside the Casino Canberra.

That wraps up our live coverage from the tournament floor, but we'll have an entire wrap of the day's action for you very shortly.

sammy huang ft2 anzpt canberra.jpg

ANZPT Canberra champion Sammy Huang

7:25pm: James Broom eliminated in 2nd place; Sammy Huang wins!

The players were deep-stacked but you had a sense that fireworks could explode at any moment with these two competitive, aggressive players. And so it happened.

James Broom started with a raise to 40,000 the small blind and Sammy Huang flat-called within the big blind (button). The flop landed J♥9♦Q♥ and Broom checked it over to Huang who bet 100,000. Broom made the call.

The turn was the 7♦ and Broom checked again to Huang who overbet the pot by moving all in! Broom had about 900,000 behind and Huang had him well covered as Broom spent a while within the tank contemplating his decision.

Broom quietly uttered "call" and tabled Q♦5♦ for prime pair with a flush draw, but incredibly Huang again held A♠A♥.

Broom was left needing a queen, five or diamond to stick alive however the river bricked the 7♠. The courageous run of James Broom leads to 2nd place for $46,900 as our Sammy Huang is crowned the ANZPT Canberra champion!

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James Broom eliminated in 2nd place

7:20pm: First blood to Broom

James Broom raised to 40,000 from the small blind before Sammy Huang re-raised to 140,000 within the big blind (button). Broom declared himself all in for around 900,000 and Huang made a reluctant fold.

7:15pm: We're just a little backwards in Canberra

James Broom has just made us conscious about a singular rule here in Canberra, and he isn't too thrilled about it. In Canberra, when heads up, the button is the large blind - basically the reverse of ways heads-up poker is played almost everywhere else within the world.

It signifies that the button has an enormous advantage, and it might be correct for the small unaware of play more tight that usual. The small blind acts first preflop, but is then out of position for the remainder of the hand.

7:10pm: We're heads up for the title!

This is it! The trophy and $73,700 is at the line as our two players have taken their seats and are able to opt for glory. Listed below are the chip counts as heads-up play gets underway.

Sammy Huang - 1,745,000
James Broom - 940,000

The cards are back within the air!

7:00pm: Tony Kambouroglou eliminated in 3rd place

James Broom opened with a raise to 40,000 at the button and Sammy Huang called within the small blind. Action was with Tony Kambouroglou within the big blind and he moved all in. Broom instantly called as Huang got out of the way.

Kambouroglou: 5♦4♣
Broom: A♦8♦

Great read and phone by Broom as he knew that Toothpick was at the squeeze and he was rewarded because the board ran out 9♦T♦K♠J♥T♣. Toothpick is eliminated in 3rd place and he'll take home $27,470 in prize money.

There will now be a short lived pause as we arrange the general table for heads-up play.

toothpick tony ft anzpt canberra.jpg

"Toothpick" Tony Kambouroglou eliminated in 3rd place

6:40pm: Khiem Nguyen eliminated in 4th place

The blinds had kicked up and something needed to give to wreck the stalemate. It was Khiem Nguyen who was the unlucky soul to be far from this quartet as Sammy Huang continues on his merry way.

James Broom opened to 45,000 before Nguyen moved all in for 217,000 from the button. After soliciting for a count, Huang called from the small blind because the other players stepped aside.

Nguyen: 4♠4♦
Huang: A♠A♣

Once again Huang had found the rockets and there have been no surprises at the board of 7♥9♣T♠6♠6♣. Nguyen departs in 4th place after an implausible tournament, collecting $22,780 in prize money. Meanwhile Huang now has well over half the chips in play with over 1.7 million chips.

khiem nguyen ft anzpt canberra.jpg

Khiem Nguyen eliminated in 4th place

6:35pm: Level up, blinds 10,000-20,000, ante 2,000

6:30pm: Success with a bluff

James Broom opened to 35,000 from the cutoff and Toothpick Tony made the decision within the big blind. The flop landed 3♠8♥2♠ and Toothpick check-called for 45,000 because the 4♣ hit the turn. Toothpick checked it over to Broom who released a second barrel worth 75,000.

Toothpick when into the tank for a long time - an excellent three or four minutes - before finally folding. It was the inaccurate decision as Broom showed 9♦T♦ for the air ball! Broom is back to 450,000.

6:25pm: Broom gets busy

The action has ground to a halt, with a couple of shoves by the quick stack going uncalled as they battle valiantly to survive.

James Broom's rollercoaster ride continues after losing a pot to chip leader Sammy Huang. Broom was pretty active but it's one step forwards, two steps back on the moment.

Broom opened to 35,000 and Huang called within the big ignorant of see a A♥6♠4♦ flop. Huang decided to steer out for 54,000 and Bloom floated a choice but was forced to fold when Huang open-shoved at the T♥ turn.

6:05pm: Toothpick wins with ace-high

It's been slow going recently with Toothpick Tony just collecting the one notable pot. James Broom had opened to 35,000 and Toothpick called within the big unaware of see a 7♣9♠6♠ flop.

Both players checked and a repeat 6♦ hit the turn. Toothpick checked and Broom took a stab of 50,000. Toothpick looked him up before both players checked the 3♣ river. Toothpick opened A♥4♦ for just ace-high but it surely was enough to take it down. Toothpick is back to 550,000 with Broom at 430,000.

5:45pm: Double double!

James Broom has done it again! Another double up and again he needed to come from behind. Broom open-shoved for 228,000 from the cutoff and Khiem Nguyen made the decision at the button.

Broom opened K♥Q♦ for live cards against Nguyen's A♣9♣. However Broom just doesn't appear to miss in these all-in clashes and again he connected with the board of 3♥Q♥J♦6♠T♠. Broom is now back to 460,000 with Nguyen backpedal to 400,000.

james broom ft3 anzpt canberra.jpg

James Broom is back in business!

5:40pm: Broom doubles within the dark

First hand back from the break, and James Broom open-shoved for 107,000 from the button. Once Sammy Huang made the decision within the big blind, Broom admitted he hadn't checked out his cards!

Broom opened Q♥5♠ and located himself with one overcard to Huang's J♣J♠. But that's all he needed, because the board was spread A♠8♥Q♣8♣T♣. Broom doubles to 225,000 with Huang back to 1.25 million.

5:35pm: Play resumes

The four remaining players are back to battle it out. Listed below are the approximate chip counts on the break:

Sammy Huang - 1,360,000
Khiem Nguyen - 650,000
Tony Kambouroglou - 560,000
James Broom - 110,000

The cards are again back within the air!

bob hawke anzpt canberra.jpg

It's been a protracted day for ex-Prime Minister Bob Hawke







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LV SuperBook updated Championship Game odds



The LV SuperBook released its updated odds Monday regarding which school will walk away the victor of the inaugural 2015 College Football Championship Game. Does your favorite team have an opportunity? Have a look:

FLORIDA ST 3/1OREGON 7/1ALABAMA 5/1AUBURN 12/1LSU 20/1OKLAHOMA 8/1UCLA 10/1OHIO ST 12/1BAYLOR 25/1MICHIGAN ST 25/1WISCONSIN 35/1STANFORD 50/1ARIZONA ST 100/1MISSOURI 100/1SOUTH CAROLINA 30/1OKLAHOMA ST 200/1OLE MISS 50/1GEORGIA 18/1WASHINGTON 75/1USC 30/1IOWA 100/1TEXAS A&M 100/1NOTRE DAME 75/1CLEMSON 75/1ARIZONA 200/1KANSAS ST 100/1TEXAS 100/1BYU 300/1UTAH ST 500/1FLORIDA 60/1BOISE ST 500/1MISSISSIPPI ST 100/1TENNESSEE 200/1MIAMI FL 200/1NORTH CAROLINA 100/1NEBRASKA 100/1VIRGINIA TECH 200/1MICHIGAN 75/1GEORGIA TECH 500/1OREGON ST 500/1TCU 100/1TEXAS TECH 300/1PITTSBURGH 1000/1WASHINGTON ST 1000/1UTAH 1000/1DUKE 1000/1LOUISVILLE 300/1NORTHWESTERN 200/1VANDERBILT 1000/1FIELD 75/1


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Coming soon: ESPT Valencia



The Estrellas Poker Tour's second Season 5 stop is coming soon, and are available hungry, because there's paella!

Beginning April 1 and running through April 6, the ESPT and Casino Valencia will host a 12-event festival capped off with the €1,100 Main Event. Greater than 100 players have already qualified, and plenty of more have already said they're coming whether they qualify upfront.

estrellas valencia season 5.jpg

And, hey, come for the poker, but stay for the paella! If you are there, there'll be an overly cool cooking competition which you can participate in.

Want to qualify? Satellites are running now on PokerStars. Just head on over to Events > More > Estrellas.

For a whole festival schedule, details about the cocktail party, and the paella competition details, visit the Estrellas Poker Tour Valencia website.

Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging


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LAPT7 Panama: Haber hits rail in third; Ortiz results in start heads-up



They're taking a break now. But our heads are all still spinning.

Speaking of heads, the LAPT Panama Main Event is now already all the way down to heads-up within not up to two hours after the general table began, and Fabian Ortiz enjoys an enormous chip advantage as he continues his quest for a second LAPT title.

Immediately after the knockout of Nick Russo in fourth place, the Jamaican Alexander Haber open-raised all in from the button for 780,000 (almost eight big blinds) and was up against Ortiz playing from the blinds.

Haber had Q♣9♣ and was in dire straits as Ortiz had picked up one more monster with Q♦Q♥. However the board came 8♠2♠3♠T♠... J♠! Both played the flush on board, and Haber had continued tourney life.

But alas for Haber, it was just for a moment.

Soon Haber had the button again and pushed his last 655,000 with A♥7♠, but there has been Ortiz within the big ignorant of greet him once more, this time holding A♣J♥. The board came a decidedly less dramatic T♣A♦2♣6♦8♥, and Haber finished third for a $71,280 cash.

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Alexander Haber

With Level 30 (50,000/100,000/10,000) only having just begun, the last two players are taking a break. Once they return, Ortiz could be sitting behind a stack of 8,735,000, greater than four times Guillermo Olvera's 2,100,000.

Let's enjoy this quiet moment, we could? Because once they return the action is bound to ramp up in earnest again right away.

Photography from LAPT7 Panama by Carlos Monti. Click here for live updates in Spanish, and here for live updates in Portuguese. Also take a look at the start-to-finish live streaming coverage (in both Spanish and Portuguese) at PokerStars.tv.

Martin Harris is Freelance Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.


TreasureIslandJackpots
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LAPT7 Panama: Ortiz at the rise; 25 remain



For a number of the first two hours of Day 3, the overall rule was to not get entangled with chip leader Derek Ecenarro, dug in behind his massive stack at the feature table and usually holding sway because the day started to unfold.

After the eliminations of Carter Gill (31st), Gino Guidi Moreno (30th), and Osvaldo Rene Lewis (29th) -- the latter seeing his J♠T♠ fail him against Guillermo Musik's A♠K♦ -- Brian England got himself right into a difficult situation after losing most of his stack to Ecenarro. Soon after England was flipping for his tourney life, and the cards falling the opposite direction he, too, was out in 28th.

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Brian England

Rodrigo Quezada of Chile would next fall in 27th after his A♠Q♠ failed him against Ariel Scarparro's A♣T♣ when a 10 came a number of the community cards, followed by Joaquin Matias Ruiz of Argentina in 26th.

But then Fabian Ortiz -- the LAPT2 Chile champion and 17th-place finisher within the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event -- decided to move against that rule and tangle with Ecenarro.

It was a three-way pot near the tip of Level 20, and with the board showing Q♦8♣K♦7♥ Ortiz checked from the large blind, Ecenarro fired a half-pot bet of 115,000 from the cutoff, and after the button folded Ortiz took a half-minute before calling.

The river then brought the K♥ to pair the board, and Ortiz quickly checked. Ecenarro unhesitatingly carved out 230,000 this time, and once the bet was announced Ortiz called with alarming quickness.

Also alarming was the sight of Ecenarro firing his cards into the muck only a beat after Ortiz's call, conceding the pot and making it unnecessary for the Argentinian to show his hand.

The tables now turned, Ortiz has grabbed the chip lead with greater than 1.13 million while Ecenarro slips to only under 950,000.

LAPT -PANA-7S-2445.jpgFabian Ortiz

With 25 left to start out Level 21, Ortiz eyes the potential of joining his fellow countryman Team PokerStars Pro Nacho Barbero as a two-time LAPT champ.

We'll see how Ortiz handles the chip lead going forward, and the way Ecenarro handles his rule suddenly being challenged.

Photography from LAPT7 Panama by Carlos Monti. Click here for live updates in Spanish, and here for live updates in Portuguese. Also take a look at the start-to-finish live streaming coverage (in both Spanish and Portuguese) at PokerStars.tv.

Martin Harris is Freelance Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.


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UKIPT4 Marbella2: Level 25-29 updates (50,000/100,000 ante 10,000)



5:55pm: Pokerstars Qualifier Rodrigo Espinosa wins the PokerStars Marbella Festival Main Event and €136,000Rodrigo Espinosa became the second one champion of this amazing joint festival hosted by UKIPT and ESPT tours. Last year, Ludovic Geilich took the title home to the united kingdom but this year the title will stay on Spanish soil.

UKIPT4 Marbella2 WINNER Rodrigo Espinosa.jpg

Rodrigo Espinosa within the champion!

Congratulations to all of the final table players, especially your champion Rodrigo Espinosa!

A full wrap of the day's play can be up on your reading pleasure shortly. -- MC

5:50pm: Christian Bauer eliminated in 2nd place (€82,900)Heads up play lasted five hands before Christian Bauer was eliminated in second place.

Rodrigo Espinosa raised to 225,000 from the button and Bauer defended his big unaware of see a 9♠K♠6♥ flop appear.

Espinosa continued for 255,000 and was check-raised to 825,000 by Bauer. The German was playing 2,450,000 and was asked a matter for it all as Espinosa shoved. Call!

Bauer: K♣3♣ for high pair.Espinosa: 9♥7♠ for second pair.

The board ran out 7♣2♦ to look Espinosa suck out and make two pair, good for all 15 millions chips in play.

Bauer played a very great game where he never appeared to be in trouble, the deck just wouldn't work with him on the end. -- MC

UKIPT4 Marbella2 Rodrigo Espinosa & Christian Bauer.jpg

Bauer defeated after quick heads up battle

5:40pm: First two pots to EspinosaRodrigo Espinosa moved as much as 12.3 million chips after he won the primary two pots of heads up play.

The first pot was won with a pre flop three-bet however the second made it to the turn. Espinosa raised to 250,000 and Christian Bauer peeled to a J♥K♠6♣ flop where he check-called 325,000. Call. The turn was the K♦ and the Spaniard fired 550,000. Bauer folded. -- MC

5:30pm: Heads up play commencesTournament director Toby Stone announced the 2 heads up players to the room and cards are back within the air. Spain versus Germany, with home advantage for Rodrigo Espinosa. -- MC

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Heads up play gets under way

5:20pm: Break before heads upThe two remaining players are on a brief break before heads up play commences. Here's how the 2 players stand:

Rodrigo Espinosa, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 11,525,000 (115 bbs)Christian Bauer, Germany, 3,360,000 (33 bbs)-- MC

5:15pm: Katja Svendsen eliminated in 3rd place (€58,700)Katja Svendsen's run has come to an end after she gambled on a flush draw and missed.

She was sat within the big blind with 6♦8♦ and called a raise from Rodrigo Espinosa at the button with K♦K♥. The flop fell 9♦T♠3♦ and Espinosa continued for 250,000 before the Norwegian check-raised to 500,000.

Espinosa came back with a three-bet to 1,000,000 after which announced all in a second after Svendsen said raise. She hadn't announced how much she was going to lift though and the ground was called. Toby Stone ruled that Svendsen needed to raise but only minimum if she wanted. That is what she did and Espinosa still shoved and Svendsen called all in for 4,860,000.

The board ran out J♥J♣ and the UKIPT/ESPT watch for a feminine champion will continue. -- MC

UKIPT4 Marbella2 Katja Svendsen.jpg

Katja Svendsen - 3rd place

5:05pm: Espinosa continues to leak chipsKatja Svendsen just made a pleasant play and got Rodrigo Espinosa to fold the most efficient hand. Pre-flop she raised to 225,000 from the small blind with 9♥7♥ after which called when Espinosa three-bet to 525,000 with Q♦J♥. The flop fell A♠Q♠4♣ Svendsen elected to steer and her bet of 625,000 was enough to make Espinosa fold the most productive hand. -- NW

5pm: Svendsen reassertion continuesKatja Svendsen moved as much as 3.8million after an extraordinary three-way raised pot.

Rodrigo Espinosa raised with K♦J♠ and Christian Bauer (7♥7♣) and Svendsen (Q♦6♠) both called to a 2♠Q♠5♥ flop from the blinds.

Espinosa continued for 320,000 and was called by the German before Svendsen check-raised to 800,000. Both opponents folded and he or she scooped. -- MC

4:55pm: Bauer barrelsRodrigo Espinosa has proved himself to be a sticky player and it took a few barrels from Christian Bauer to get the Spaniard off a one pair hand. Bauer opened the button to 200,000 with J♠3♠ and Espinosa defended from the large blind with K♦5♠.

The 8♠5♥2♦ flop connected only with Espinosa, nonetheless Bauer bet 225,000 and Espinosa smooth called. The A♣ fell at the turn, after Espinosa checked Bauer decided to continue to sell the tale that he had it and bet 425,000. Espinosa obviously believed him as he elected to fold his hand, Bauer is as much as 4,300,000 because of this. Could we be seeing a shift in momentum at this final table?

4:50pm: Ups and downs for SvendsenThere's a trend devolving today with Katja Svendsen. She's lost ground a couple of times today before reasserting herself.

She lost a pot to Christian Bauer after she three-bet him pre flop and won one the very next hand versus Javier Espinosa.

She completed from the small blind and called after the Spaniard raised to 300,000 from the massive blind. The flop fanned Q♣7♠8♠ and she or he checked to stand a 360,000 c-bet that she check-raised to 720,000.

Her K♣7♣ was prior to his 9♣3♦ and he correctly folded. Her stack rose to twenty-eight. million. -- MC

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 50,000-100,000, ante 10,000

4:35pm: Chips still being passed aroundThere's been little change within the chip stacks within the last 30 minutes, but Katja Svendsen and Christian Bauer have traded places because the German is now in second place.

Rodrigo Espinosa, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 8,295,000Christian Bauer, Germany, 3,455,000Katja Svendsen, Norway, PokerStars Qualifier, 3,155,000

4:30pm: Chips being passed aroundThe players are staying aggressive and we're seeing some three-bets and bluffs, just no hands are matching as much as create any big pots. Watch this space though as action is sure to be across the corner. -- MC

4:17pm: Chip countsRodrigo Espinosa continues to be within the lead and he now has 54,5% of the chips in play.

Rodrigo Espinosa, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 8,175,000Katja Svendsen, Norway, PokerStars Qualifier, 3,415,000Christian Bauer, Germany, 3,295,000

4:15pm: Final table poker faceRoll up, roll up for a game of ultimate table poker face. We particular like Jake Cody's little nod. It's as though he's saying, "I know, another final table!".

4:10pm: Svendsen four-bets to a winKatja Svendsen stopped the small slide she was experiencing by four-betting her technique to victory against Rodrigo Espinosa.

She was within the small blind with A♦T♣ and min raised to 160,000. Espinosa was within the big blind and three-bet to 360,000 with A♠4♠. The Norwegian wasn't going to be pushed around though and compelled a fold from the Spaniard by four-betting to 800,000. That got her back as much as 3.1 million. -- MC

3:55pm: Javier Elorza eliminated in fourth place (€44,450)And identical to that we're right down to three...During this final table Christian Bauer has shoved on Javier Elorza a couple of times when it had folded to him within the small blind. On one occasion Elorza folded a weak king when Bauer had Q♦8♦.

When Bauer did it again Elorza decided to name all-in for 760,000 with K♣7♥ but picked the incorrect time to make a stand as Bauer held A♦K♦. The board ran 8♣8♠Q♥3♠4♣ and Elorza is out in fourth place. Bauer is as much as 3,400,000 and is second in chips. -- NW

ukipt4 marbella day4 javier elorza.jpg

Elorza has scored his biggest ever live cash here in Marbella

3:45pm: Gareth Hamilton eliminated in 5th place (€35,150)Gareth Hamilton's eventful Main Event has come to an end and he was unlucky to bust in his last hand.

Javier Elorza was within the cut-off and tanked before folding ace-deuce. No such tanking for Hamilton though who shoved from the small blind and was called by Rodrigo Espinosa within the big blind.

Hamilton: K♦K♣Espinosa: A♦8♦

The board ran 4♠9♥T♦J♦6♦ to make the chips leader a flush. Hamilton shook his hand and was all smiles in defeat. Espinosa rose to 8.5 million chips, greater than 1/2 those in play. -- MC

ukipt4 marbella day4 gareth hamilton.jpg

Hamilton - was the quick stack coming in but finished fifth

3:25pm: Gareth Hamilton doubles through Katja SvendsenGareth Hamliton has got the double up he was looking for, but he's still short stacked...

He three-bet shoved for 470,000 with pocket tens and Katja Svendsen, who already had 160,000 invested within the pot, called the additional with A♣J♥. The 7♦K♥8♣K♠Q♦ board kept Hamilton in front and he's as much as 1,010,000 consequently. -- NW

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 40,000/80,000, 10,000

3:20pm: Don't fail to spot the FlipoutAttention players in Marbella! If you've qualified for the PokerStars Flipout Freeroll, or wish to see for those who have, then you definitely wish to head to the welcome desk within the hotel lobby to assemble your token. Upon getting token in hand then at 5pm head to the 'La Cassata' card room where the Flipouts can be run on a primary come, first serve basis between 5pm and 6pm. -- NW

3:15pm: Official break time counts The first 20-minute break of the day for the players.

UKIPT4 Marbella2 final Table.jpg

Final table

Katja Svendsen, Norway, PokerStars Qualifier, 3,120,000Gareth Hamilton, Ireland, 480,000Rodrigo Espinosa, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 7,895,000Christian Bauer, Germany, 2,430,000Javier Elorza, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 960,000

3:10pm: Javier Elorza doubles through Gareth HamiltonAfter a short lived lull within the action the table was woken from its slumber by an all-in and get in touch with. It was Javier Elorza doing the shoving - all-in for 490,000 with A♥3♥ - and Gareth Hamilton doing the calling with A♦J♠.

However, a 9♠5♦3♠6♦A♣ board gave Elorza the winning hand, he's as much as 1,090,000 whilst Hamilton is all the way down to 440,000. -- NW

3pm: Espinosa turning the screwRodrigo Espinosa's great begin to the day has shown no signs of slowing down. He won two pots off Christian Bauer to transport as much as 6.7 million.

In the primary hand he opened with A♦T♣ and was only called by Bauer who held A♥K♣. Both checked the flop before Bauer barrelled 155,000 and 350,000 at the turn and river. The general board read 2♣7♠2♦Q♥J♠ and Bauer gave up at the river.

A couple of hands later Espinosa raised with 4♦5♦ and Bauer called with 7♥5♥. The Spaniard flopped a wheel on a A♣2♣3♠ flop but did not get any action. -- MC

2:45pm: Espinosa extends his leadWhen you are the chip leader and looking out to increase your lead taking chips from the player in second is flat out how to do it, that is exactly what Rodrigo Espinosa just did.

UKIPT4 Marbella2 Rodrigo Espinosa M3DM9640.jpg

Espinosa is the person to catch

After Katja Svendsen raised to 120,000 from the bring to an end with 9♣7♣ he defended from the small blind with Q♦T♦. The 7♦6♥4♠ flop gave Svendsen the lead which was all of the impetus she had to continue for 130,000, it wasn't the tip of the hand though as Espinosa stuck around.

The T♠ fell at the turn he checked, then she checked and the 2♦ completed the board. First to behave Espinosa threw out a chance of 205,000 and Svendsen thought for some time before calling, Espinosa showed the winner and Svendsen mucked. -- NW

2:40pm: Chip count updateKatja Svendsen, Norway, PokerStars Qualifier, 4,0700,000Gareth Hamilton, Ireland, 1,220,000Rodrigo Espinosa, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 5,570,000Christian Bauer, Germany, 3,245,000Javier Elorza, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 780,000

2:35pm: Daniel Rodriguez eliminated in sixth place (€26,550)From under-the-gun Christian Bauer raised to 120,000, it passed to Daniel Rodriguez within the big blind and he moved all-in for 940,000 with 8♠8♦. There then followed a snap call from Bauer with Q♣Q♦ and the board ran 4♠J♦5♠K♦2♦ meaning we lose Rodriguez in sixth place.

After that hand Bauer is as much as 3,155,000. -- NW

ukipt4 marbella day4 daniel rodriguez.jpg

Rodriguez's race is run

2:25pm: Espinosa, the five million chip manRodrigo Espinosa escaped a dominating position in a hand versus Katja Svendsen to re-take the lead from her.

He was within the big blind and called a raise to 125,000 from Svendsen. Both players checked the 3♠J♣9♠ flop before Espinosa check-raised Svendsen's 150,000 bet as much as 360,000 at the Q♥ turn. Svendsen made a fast call but took so much longer to name 500,000 at the 5♠ river.

Espinosa opened A♠J♠ for a flush and rose to 5,070,000. Svendsen's A♦Q♣ was no good and he or she dropped to 4,200,000. -- MC

Blinds up: 30,000/60,000, ante 10,000

2:15pm: Big ace vs big aceIn the time it took to move from 18 players right down to eight Christian Bauer and Katja Svendsen played various pots along side the Norwegian popping out on top most of the time and she or he just repeated the trick because the two of them just clashed in a pot.

From the button Bauer raised to 100,000 with A♥T♥, Svendsen three-bet to 240,000 from the massive blind with A♠K♠ and Bauer smooth called. The 7♠T♠Q♦ flop gave Bauer the lead but Svendsen a large combo draw. She bet 150,000, Bauer made the decision and the K♣ fell at the turn. Despite taking the lead Svendsen checked, but Bauer didn't fall for it as he checked behind. The K♥ completed the board and Svendsen bet big, firing out 500,000 into the pot, although Bauer dwelled for a little while he ultimately elected to fold. -- NW

2:05pm: Chip count updateKatja Svendsen, Norway, PokerStars Qualifier, 4,390,000Gareth Hamilton, Ireland, 1,500,000Marcin Barwinski, Poland, PokerStars Player, 7th placeRodrigo Espinosa, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 4,495,000Jake Cody, United Kingdom, Team PokerStars Pro, 8th placeDaniel Rodriguez, Spain, PokerStars Player, 860,000Christian Bauer, Germany, 2,525,000Javier Elorza, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 1,050,000

2pm: Marcin Barwinski eliminated in 7th place (€19,050)Gareth Hamilton came back and finished the job off he started on Marcin Barwinski.

The action folded to him at the small blind and he set Barwinski all within the. PokerStars qualifier called all in from the massive blind.

Hamilton: A♠J♥Barwinski: Q♣J♦

The board ran 8♣K♣2♣K♦4♠ and Hamilton cheered at his progress. -- MC

UKIPT4 Marbella2 Hamilton Barwinski.jpg

Hamilton and Barwinski battle

1:55pm: Jake Cody eliminated in eighth place (€13,030)We've lost the primary player on the final table and the opposite seven players may be breathing a sigh of relief as its Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody who's been eliminated. Rodrigo Espinosa opened to 105,000 from under-the-gun+1 with pocket aces, next to behave Cody moved all-in for 1,180,000 with pocket nines and when it folded back to Espinosa he snap called.

Cody was on his feet because the K♣4♠6♦8♦Q♦ board was dealt or even that little trick couldn't persuade the Poker Gods to position a 3rd nine amongst the community cards. Cody shook hands together with his opponent's and it's back to Vegas tomorrow for Cody. -- NW

ukipt4 marbella day4 jake cody.jpg

Cody - nothing he could do about his exit hand

1:50pm: Hamilton doubles through BarwinskiGareth Hamilton a great deal needed a double up and he found it.

Down to 490,000, he moved all in from early position with A♦K♠ and located a customer in Marcin Barwinski who held A♥J♠. The board ran 8♠7♣2♣7♠T♠.

Barwinski was left with 540,000 after the loss. -- MC

1.35pm: Rodriguez shovesAfter Jake Cody opened to 100,000 with A♥8♦ Daniel Rodriguez moved all-in for 605,000 with pocket aces. It folded back to Cody and besides the fact that children he was getting a good price to name the 12 big blind shove, he did a handy guide a rough count of his stack, decided it was an excessive amount of to name and folded his hand. -- NW

1:30pm: Svendsen flush with chipsKatja Svendsen moved as much as 4.7 million chips after creating a flush versus Marcin Barwinski.

She raised from early position with A♣3♣ and went directly to bet every street of a 6♣7♦2♣5♣9♦ board including all in at the river. Barwinski called all of the approach to the river with A♠Q♦ but folded the river and dropped all the way down to 1.1 million. -- MC

1:25pm: Svendsen three-bet gets it doneThe chip leader just added more to her stack but she was a marginally unlucky to not add more for the reason that Jake Cody and Christian Bauer both made disciplined folds. It was Bauer who got the action started, raising to 100,000 with K♠J♦, Svendsen then three-bet to 225,000 from the cut-off with A♥K♣ and it folded to Jake Cody within the big blind. He looked down at A♠Q♣ and thought for a minute or so before folding and Bauer swiftly followed suit. -- NW

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 25,000/50,000 ante 5,000

1:20pm: Barwinski semi bluffs with the most productive handMarcin Barwinski negated a positional disadvantage to oust Rodrigo Espinosa off a hand.

The latter raised with K♦Q♦ from under the gun and the Pole peeled from the large blind with A♥J♥. The flp came 4♥T♣7♦ and Barwinski check-called a 105,000 bet before he led for 125,000 at the 9♥ turn. Espinosa folded. -- MC

1:10pm: First blood to BarwinskiWe had a showdown at the first actual hand...

Marcin Barwinski opened to 80,000 and Rodrigo Espinosa made the decision. At the 4♥3♠9♣ flop Barwinski c-bet and Espinosa stuck around. Both players checked the K♠ turn and the Q♦ landed at the river. Barwinski decided to stab again, he bet 80,000 and maybe somewhat surprisingly Espinosa decided to appear him up. Pot to Barwinski. -- NW

1:05pm: Shuffle up and deal!There are eight minutes left in level 25 and cards are within the air. -- MC

12:50pm: Final table about to commenceIt's final table day on the PokerStars Marbella Festival and 8 players are still in with the risk of succeeding last year's champion, Ludovic Geilich, and claiming the highest prize of €136,000.

ukipt4 marbella day3 jake cody3.jpg

Cody still in contention

Katja Svendsen leads the way in which with greater than 3.9 million. A LARGE NUMBER OF those chips came from eliminating British pro Sam Grafton in ninth place last night. Grafton had nearly a fifth of the chips in play with 15 left but a dramatic downswing saw him leave because the final table bubble boy.

One British hero can have busted but another one continues to be greatly alive. Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody flew in especially from Las Vegas where he's competing on the WSOP and he's justified his decision by making the general act.

Here's how the overall eight line up today:

Katja Svendsen, Norway, PokerStars Qualifier, 3,910,000Gareth Hamilton, Ireland, 590,000Marcin Barwinski, Poland, PokerStars Player, 1,055,000Rodrigo Espinosa, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 3,705,000Jake Cody, United Kingdom, Team PokerStars Pro, 1,600,000Daniel Rodriguez, Spain, PokerStars Player, 720,000Christian Bauer, Germany, 2,425,000Javier Elorza, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, 880,000

UKIPT4 Marbella2 final table.jpg

The final eight

Play got underway at 12:15pm CET but because the action is being streamed on Pokertars.tv with hole cards face up, we're abiding by a 45-minute security delay and can update alongside the stream that's as a result of start at 1pm.

To discover a bit more in regards to the finalists, click here to read through their profiles.

PokerStars Blog reporting team at PokerStars UKIPT4 Marbella2: Marc Convey and Nick Wright. Photos by Danny Maxwell and Rene Velli.


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ANZPT6 Sydney: The overall table awaits



The stage have been set for an exciting finale because the ANZPT Sydney Main Event reaches a conclusion this afternoon. Three days ago 458 players walked into The Star with dreams of turning into Australia's next poker champion, and today, only one of our remaining nine will achieve that very feat.

Entering the general table it's Jazz Mathers who holds a healthy chip lead, and it is a position that Mathers has enjoyed for many of this tournament.

jazz mathers anzpt sydney day3.jpg

After being right down to only a few thousand in chips on day one, Mathers kick-started his tournament with a large call down with ace-high against his old nemesis Billy "The Croc" Argyros. From there, Mathers steamrolled his strategy to the lead and not looked back.

Mathers can be keen to enhance on his ninth place from the APPT Melbourne event, but he shouldn't have it easy with a couple of experienced players lurking in this final table.

Peco Stojanovski has an APPT Sydney final table to his credit, while our lone international player, Steven Zhou, has some strong ends up in both Australia and Macau. Milan Gurung has a powerful record over a lot of years while Oliver "The Blowfly" Gill is a web based gun who may be buzzing concerning the table on the lookout for his first major live tournament win.

Here's how they'll line up this afternoon:

Seat 1: Peco Stojanovski - 1,167,000Seat 2: Nathan Sawyers - 1,318,000Seat 3: Joshua Redhouse - 994,000Seat 4: Milan Gurung - 283,000Seat 5: Jazz Mathers - 1,837,000Seat 6: Steven Zhou - 1,117,000Seat 7: Rory Young - 1,124,000Seat 8: Oliver Gill - 536,000Seat 9: Brent Taunton - 637,000

If you need to be informed more about our final tablists, then take a look at our final table player profiles.

anzpt6 sydney final table.jpg

Three years ago Michael Kanaan steam-rolled the overall table to win this title in under four hours. We were on the pub having a parma by 6:30pm. But the last two years have produced long final days when play started with no less than two tables remaining. What's going to now we have in store for us today?

The best place to follow coverage is true here at the PokerStars Blog where we'll have feature stories in addition to live hand updates courtesy of PokerNews.

Play gets underway at 2:00pm local time that is only some minutes from now. Stay tuned!

Heath "TassieDevil" Chick is a contract Contributor for the PokerStars Blog.


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EPT11 Barcelona: Vojtech Ruzicka with big lead over big field as Day 2 ends



Amid fears that tournament staff would really find sufficient room to seat them, some 906 players made their as far back as Casino Barcelona today, the survivors of what have been a record setting EPT Main Event field.

the day 2 field ept11barce me d2w.jpgWall to wall: the Day 2 field

While the registration desk staff may never full recover, it marks a celebratory highpoint for the tour, which was capable of release details of a prize pool powerful enough to make everyone day-dream for only a moment: €7,255,600 in total, with €1,261,000 to the winner. As Edgar Stuchly put it, that is life changing money.

But first things first. Many here bagging up chips may have their first target in sight a while tomorrow--a min-cash worth €8,050 to the highest 239 players when the bubble bursts. But then that would not apply to everyone, by no means the chip leader tonight Vojtech Ruzicka, who closed on a stack worth 617,100.

Vojtech Ruzicka ept11barce me d2.jpgVojtech Ruzicka bagged up the lead tonight

As he bagged up chips Vojtech, a former EPT High Roller winner in Deauville, said his day had involved knocking out Bryn Kenney within the second level, then Dominik Nitsche in a while. Then he got set over set against an "old guy" who came to the table with 200,000. Vojtech busted him just after he had sat down. The result, a large lead going into Day 3.

He was among a suite of players who vied for the lead tonight, including the likes of Tobias Rohe, Martin Finger and at one stage no less than Michael Mizrachi, who bludgeoned instead of grinded his way up the chip counts, building on his chip lead from Day 1A, before building it down again, closing with a brief stack.

michael mizrachi ept11barce me d2w.jpgPound, bludgeon or wallop, whatever works for The Grinder Michael Mizrachi
martin finger ept11barce me d2w.jpgAmong the contenders today: Martin Finger

No one player had it for terribly long, instead they leap-frogged one another throughout six levels, with the leading group made of some familiar and never so familiar players. The list of notables from a surviving field of roughly 310 returning tomorrow seems like this.

Vojtech Ruzicka - 617,100Nima Ahrary - 519,600Martin Finger - 502,000Berthold Wimz - 443,000Tobias Rohe - 435,000Oliver Price - 352,900Andres Jeckeln - 352,400Ramin Hajiyev - 351,700Alexander Kuzmin - 325,900Pavel Plesuv - 325,100Hossein Ensan - 324,900Josh Prager - 320,700Marko Neumann - 316,100Mikhail Korotkikh - 315,600Daniele Scatragli - 304,300Max Pescatori - 294,000Zoltan Szabo - 294,000Daniel Dvoress - 292,500Rumen Nanev - 286,200Raymond Baker - 285,900Pedro Marques - 271,800Hugo Pingray - 268,700Mark Randal Flowers - 268,000Grzegorz Mikielewicz - 264,900Dimitar Danchev - 263,300Fedor Holz - 260,600Sylvain Loosli - 256,200Julian Panchyrz - 253,300Kent Lundmark - 237,700Scott Seiver - 216,400Emil Patel - 212,000Cheng-Wei Yin - 206,700Michael Dwyer - 206,000Jan Heitmann - 203,000Mikalai Pobal - 196,300Dan Shak - 188,400Konstantin Puchkov - 175,000Sam Greenwood - 159,900Philippe D'Auteuil - 153,000Timo Pfutzenreuter - 141,600Dominik Panka - 139,500Mike McDonald - 130,200Andoni Larrabe - 125,600Ole Schemion - 82,400Martin Jacobson - 72,300Robin Ylitalo - 65,400Andre Akkari - 55,500Michael Mizrachi - 41,900

The list of the vanquished was an extended one today. Fears that an additional level could be required tonight proved unfounded, largely for the reason that rate of attrition was so high.

Anton Wigg, David Vamplew, Dan Smith, Eugene Kathalov, Theo Jorgensen, Marcin Horecki, Leo Margets, Liv Boeree, Dermot Blain, Ivan Demidov, Daniel Negreanu (who talked earlier today about his own clip at the EPTs best moment ballot, that you could find here), Matthias De Meulder, Ronnie Bardah, who shared a couple of musical tips with us earlier, Jake Cody, Alex Kravchenko and Johnny Lodden, all among those working their solution to the rail, while others speculated on what made EPT Barcelona so successful.

daniel negreanu ept11barce me d2.jpgDaniel Negreanu can be back tomorrow

You can look back available for hand coverage on our dedicated page, while catching up at the stories of the day, from a player perspective on tips on how to handle a previously unknown player arriving with three hands left at the day, to George Danzer's bugbears and plans for the WSOP Player of the Year leader board. We also learned slightly more concerning the game from Alec Torelli.

George Danzer ept11Barce me d2 2w.jpgOut of the primary Event but with plenty to play for: George Danzer

We continue tomorrow with coverage from 12 noon. We'll have more from the tournament floor as we approach and burst the bubble. See then you definately.

Stephen Bartley is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.


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