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1:50am: We're officially done for the day
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
Chips are bagged and counted and the players are heading out to do... whatever it is they do when they've locked up at least €65,170.
For a full breakdown of today's events, plus chip counts and more, head over to today's wrap. --JS
1:40am: That's it! We're down to 8!
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
It's been a long day but we're down to 8 in the High Roller.
Martin Jacobson had been short for a while, and was down to 480,000 when decided to open shove. He was called by Ivan Luca in the big blind who held [ad][qs] - way ahead of Jacobson's [ac][2h].
The former world champ had kicker issues and needed to hit a deuce to stay in this thing, but it wasn't to be. The board ran out [ks][7d][3s][ah][9c] and we lost Martin Jacobson in 9th for €49,730.
So, our TV table is set for tomorrow! We'll be back with a full wrap of today's action plus end-of-day chip counts very shortly. Don't go anywhere. --JS
1:16am: Break time
The final nine are taking a 15-minute break before starting the next level. After they return, they'll be continuing until there is one more elimination.
1:15am: More for Mustapha
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
In the last hand of Level 18, leader Mustapha Kanit raised to 110,000 from middle position, Charlie Carrel called from a seat over, and it folded around to Anton Bertilsson in the big blind who called as well.
The flop came [Jc][3h][6s], and when checked to Kanit continued for 150,000. Only Carrel called. The turn was the [7d], and Kanit fired again -- 360,000 this time -- and Carrel called once more.
The river brought the [5s] and another bet of 850,000 from Kanit. "I have... theoretically... the worst hand I could have," said Carrel in response, and the pair engaged in further discussion before Carrel finally decided to give his hand up.
Kanit is way up over 4.5 million going to the break while Carrel has about 2.4 million. --MH
1:04am: Bertilsson too much for Kornuth
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
After Chance Kornuth min-opened on the button to 100,000, Anton Bertilsson made it 300,000 to go from the big blind. Unperturbed, Kornuth counted out a raise to 730,000. Seconds later Bertilsson shoved, and in less than a second Kornuth folded. He's down to 1.5 million now, while Bertilsson is up to 3.5 million. --JS
12:49am: Seat draw - final 9
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
Here's how the players are sat now we're down to one table, plus their counts:
Seat 1: Nick Petrangelo -- 620,000
Seat 2: Jeff Rossiter -- 1,425,000
Seat 3: Chance Kornuth -- 1,525,000
Seat 4: Martin Jacobson -- 550,000
Seat 5: Anton Bertilsson -- 3,500,000
Seat 6: Keith Johnson -- 1,250,000
Seat 7: Mustapha Kanit -- 4,400,000
Seat 8: Ivan Luca -- 950,000
Seat 9: Charlie Carrel -- 3,000,000
12:25am: Sammartino bubbles -- they're in the money!
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
On the first hand after hand-for-hand play began on the bubble, Anton Bertilsson opened for 100,000 from the button, Ivan Luca called from the small blind, and Dario Sammartino called from the big blind. The flop came [7c][2s][9d], and Luca led with a bet of 130,000, called by both Sammartino and Bertilsson. The turn then brought the [As] and it checked around to Bertilsson who bet 325,000. Luca quickly folded, but after a lengthy pause Sammartino check-raised all in for his last 900,000.
Bertilsson tanked for several minutes, then finally found a call, turning over [Js][8s] for a spade flush draw plus a gutshot. Meanwhile Sammartino had [Ac][7s] for two pair.
Then came the river... the [Th]! A straight for Bertilsson, and Sammartino finishes one spot shy of the cash!
Bertilsson is up to 2.9 million now, in second behind leader Kanit. They're redrawing to position the final nine around a single table. Back with more in a few! --MH
12:12am: Chartier out in 11th; they're on the bubble
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
Samuel Chartier has been knocked out, his elimination requiring us to describe a few hands to paint the full picture.
The first one was the last of Level 17, actually, beginning with an Ivan Luca raise to 80,000 from the button, called both by Mustapha Kanit (small blind) and Chartier (big blind). All checked the [4d][Js][Ah] flop, then on the [Td] turn Kanit led for 110,000, Chartier called, and Luca folded.
The river was the [5s], and Kanit bet 250,000. Chartier only had 400,000 left behind, and after much thought he decided to call. Kanit turned over [Jh][Th] for two pair, and Chartier mucked.
They moved on to Level 18, and Chartier would double-up once with his short stack through Jeffrey Rossiter. But then he was all in again for his last 250,000 with [Ts][8s] and up against Luca's [Kh][Kd], and a [8c][5d][3h][6h][6c] runout meant Chartier was out in 10th.
They'll start hand-for-hand play now while on the bubble at the two five-handed tables. --MH
12:03am: Level 18 begins; 11 remain
Level 18 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
They move into the next level without a break, and with 11 players left that means they are just two eliminations away from the money.
12:02am: Kanit can't call it
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Turns out we didn't have to wait long an all-in, but the call is still missing in action.
Ivan Luca made it 80,000 to go but was 3-bet by Mustapha Kanit to 240,000. After a few minutes thinking-time Luca shoved for 850,000.
"Hmmmm I have a pair..." said Kanit, having a giggle to himself. He decided against making the call though, and for a moment it looked like Luca was going to show his hand. The players pounced on this potential, with Charlie Carrel shouting from the other table: "Go on! Show one!"
Luca obliged, turning over the [ts]. We'll never know what the other one was, but we're guessing nobody wants to know more than Kanit. Luca now has 955,000. --JS
11:55pm: There's action, just not enough
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
As we approach the bubble, it almost feels like the players begin to toy with us feeble bloggers. They start to get what could potentially be a big hand brewing, and then end it abruptly.
It's happening on both tables. Anton Bertilsson opens to 60,000, Kanit calls on the button and we see a flop of [2s][5s][4d]. An all-round monster action flop, right? Well, Bertilsson continued for 100,000 and Kanit called again. Then the [td] came on the turn, and Bertilsson bet again - 240,000. Kanit called once more and the river was the [tc]. How much would the bet be this time? 500,000? 600,000? No. Both checked, and Kanit won it with a pair of fives ([ah][5h]).
Then, on the other table, Martin Jacobson opens on the button to 105,000 and Chance Kornuth calls in the big blind. The flop's the [qs][as][2d], and Kornuth check-calls 100,000. Then the turn's the [ts] - bringing flush and straight draws. Maybe both players have something big? Well, they both check. The river's the [9s], which kills the action a little. Kornuth checks and Jacobson snap checks, making Kornuth looks visibly frustrated. He turned over the [ks][9h] for the nut flush, saying: "Huh. Good check."
How long will we have to wait before we get an all-in and a call? --JS
11:47pm: Jacobson shoves, Johnson folds
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
With the board showing [8c][Ac][7d][Qc][Ks] and about 600,000 in the middle, Martin Jacobson shoved all in for 730,000 and his lone opponent, Keith Johnson, went deep into the tank.
Johnson counted out the calling chips, then pointed at the [Qc] while indicating to Jacobson he felt as though that card had helped him. Finally after a couple of minutes Johnson let his hand go, and Jacobson is now back to about 1.3 million. That's just shy of what Johnson preserved by folding, as he has about 1.35 million. --MH
11:39pm: Wittendorff outdrawn by Bertilsson, out in 12th
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Kim Wittendorff opened for 90,000 from under the gun, and the table folded around to Anton Bertilsson in the big blind who after taking some time to think decided to shove all in. Wittendorff called in a snap, putting the just over 700,000 he had left at risk with [Ad][Kc], and he appeared in okay shape against the [Kh][Qd] of Bertilsson.
But the [2d][5h][Qh] flop gave Bertilsson a pair and the lead, with the [Kh] turn keeping him in front. The river was the [Td] and that was it for Wittendorff, once a check of the stacks confirmed Bertilsson had him covered.
Bertilsson is up to 1.75 million now with 11 players left. --MH
11:31pm: Kitai cut down; 12 left
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Davidi Kitai open-raised all in for his last 275,000 and got a call from Nick Petrangelo sitting in the big blind. Kitai had [Jd][6h] and a couple of live cards versus Petrangelo's [Ad][7h], but the [8d][Ah][5c][Td][7d] had Kitai drawing dead by the turn, and they are now down to just 12 players.
Petrangelo bumps up to 1,650,000 after that hand. --MH
11:25pm: Yu is eliminated
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Well, that's one of the 6 players that will be exiting this event tonight gone - Winfred Yu in 14th.
Yu shoved for 670,000 and was called by Jeff Rossiter who had 850,000. It was [as][ks] for Yu which needed to hit against Rossiter's [kh][kd]. A king in the window made it hard to do - the flop was [kc][jd][7d]. Yu's fate was sealed on the [4s] turn and again on the [6s] river, and he made his way out. Rossiter now has around 1,480,000. --JS
11:15pm: The plan
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Okay, so here's the plan... it's not too complicated.
As we've been saying, they'll be playing two more one-hour levels tonight, unless they manage to get down to six players before that point in which case play would stop then.
However, if after two one-hour levels they aren't down to eight players yet, they'll continue on until they do get to eight. Also worth keeping in mind -- the money bubble comes before that point, as only the top nine players will cash.
Got it? Good. --MH
11:04pm: Level 17 begins; 14 remain
Level 17 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Players are back and cards are in the air again. The plan remains to play two more one-hour levels or down to six players -- whichever of those milestones is reached first -- although an audible could be called.
Meanwhile, here are how the stacks look to start the new level:
Mustapha Kanit - 3,625,000
Keith Johnson - 1,950,000
Ivan Luca - 1,700,000
Chance Kornuth - 1,600,000
Charlie Carrel - 1,375,000
Martin Jacobson - 1,285,000
Nick Petrangelo - 1,265,000
Dario Sammartino - 1,080,000
Kim Wittendorff - 845,000
Jeffrey Rossiter - 810,000
Winfred Yu - 775,000
Anton Bertilsson - 710,000
Sam Chartier - 570,000
Davidi Kitai - 375,000
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10:44pm: Break time
The remaining 14 players are now taking a 20-minute break. --MH
10:40pm: Jacobson doubles through Kitai
Level 16 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
With just a couple of minutes left in the level, Davidi Kitai opened for 75,000, then watched Martin Jacobson shove all in for 559,000 total and Kitai called. It was [Ah][Kd] for Kitai and [Ac][7h] for Jacobson, but the [7h][3d][3c] flop suddenly put the latter in front. The turn was the [5h] and river the [2h], and Jacobson survived.
Jacobson is up to about 1.2 million now while Kitai falls to 390,000. --MH
10:36pm: Short stacks hanging on
Level 16 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
It has been a relatively quiet last 20 minutes or so, save the occasional shoves by the short stacks that aren't getting called.
Ivan Luca has seen both Anton Bertilsson and Winfred Yu push all in over his opening raises over the last few minutes, and Luca folded in both cases. Bertilsson has about 680,000 right now while Yu is just under 800,000. --MH
10:19pm: Tough break for Timothy Adams; out in 15th
Level 16 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Both Timothy Adams and Anton Bertilsson had short stacks, so when the two clashed you knew it was going to be all over for one player.
Well, almost all over. When Bertilsson shoved over Adam's open for 338,000, Adams called leaving himself just 42,000 behind. He was ahead with his pocket kings against [as][jh] - that is until the flop came [jc][ac][3s], and the turn and river the [qc] and [4s]. Bertilsson doubled.
But the next hand, Adams moved his 38,000 into the middle under-the-gun. Mustapha Kanit raised to 70,000, attempting to isolate perhaps? It didn't work though, as Ivan Luca called from the big blind. The flop was the [qd][3h][2h] and Kanit was consistent - another 70,000 bet. Luca glanced over at the clock and players left, and gave it up.
Adams was ahead at that point with the [ad][th], but Kanit had a flush draw. He hit it on the [8h] turn, and the [4c] river meant nothing. Kanit is now up to around 3.4 million, while Adams is out in 15th. --JS
10:03pm: Kanit grabs chip lead after huge one versus Bertilsson
Level 16 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Big news to report here at the start of Level 16.
After Anton Bertilsson opened for 60,000 from middle position and Ivan Luca called from the button, it appeared at first as though it would be just another innocuous hand.
But then Mustapha Kanit made it 215,000 to go from the big blind, and not too much time passed before suddenly Bertilsson was reraise-shoving all in. Luca quickly folded, and Kanit tanked for some time. He had about 1.3 million behind -- less than Bertilsson -- and so to call and lose would mean elimination. Kanit looked over at the clock, thought a little more, then called the shove.
Kanit: [Qs][Qd]
Bertilsson: [8s][8h]
Kanit was way ahead, and five cards later -- [7h][Kc][9c][9h][9d] -- he was ahead in the chip counts, too, now way up to 3.2 million and leading the final 15. Bertilsson meanwhile has slipped all of the way down to 335,000. --MH
9:52pm: Level 16 begins
Level 16 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
With 15 players left, the blinds and antes have increased as they move on to a new level without a break. --MH
9:51pm: Now it's Vogelsang's turn
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
Yet another elimination! Christoph Vogelsang is outta here in 16th.
Anton Bertilsson opened to 60,000 and Vogelsang shoved for 482,000 which was called. It was [ah][ts] for Bertilsson against Vogelsang's [kd][jh], so the German would need a little help. It was sort of close to coming on the flop - the [9d][qs][7s] flop meant he needed a ten, king or jack. But the board was completed with the [2s] and the [6h], and it was all over for Vogelsang. Bertilsson is up to 1.9 million. --JS
9:51pm: Seating assignments for final two tables.
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
With the elimination of Daniel Dvoress, they are down to 16 players and have redrawn to sit around the final two tables. Here's how they are presently arranged:
Table 1
Seat 1: Christoph Vogelsang
Seat 2: Kim Wittendorff
Seat 3: Ivan Luca
Seat 4: Timothy Adams
Seat 5: Mustapha Kanit
Seat 6: Samuel Chartier
Seat 7: Jeffrey Rossiter
Seat 8: Anton Bertilsson
Table 2
Seat 1: Winfred Yu
Seat 2: Nick Petrangelo
Seat 3: Martin Jacobson
Seat 4: Keith Johnson
Seat 5: Chance Kornuth
Seat 6: Charlie Carrel
Seat 7: Dario Sammartino
Seat 8: Davidi Kitai
9:50pm: Dvoress is gone
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
The bustouts are coming thick and fast now. Daniel Dvoress was just eliminated in 17th after shoving for 310,000 with [jc][9c] over Jeff Rossiter's 55,000 button raise. Rossiter called with an ace and an eight, and the board gave no help to Dvoress. --JS
9:45pm: Kitai busts Heath; Carrel needles Heath
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
We've just lost Ben Heath from this High Roller - but not without some gentle ribbing from his good buddy Charlie Carrel.
Heath was low in chips, down to 339,000, which he moved all-in and found a caller in Davidi Kitai. Heath was behind and in trouble with [ac][9c] against [as][kc].
"Good luck mate!" said Carrel. Then the flop came [3h][kd][3d].
"You're out mate! Get outta here!" said Carrel, jokingly. Heath smiled and wished everyone good luck, and as he made his way out of the tournament area Chance Kornuth said to Carrel: "I was 100% sure you were going to needle him!"
Kitai is up to 1,160,000, and we're down to 17. --JS
9:32pm: Good time for aces for Yu
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
A short-stacked Winfred Yu watched Anton Bertilsson open-shove from the small blind, and had to be delighted to look down to see he'd been dealt [Ad][Ac] in the big blind. He called, natch, Bertilsson showed [Js][9c], and after a [4s][8s][8d][6h][7c] runout, Yu doubled to about 725,000. Bertilsson is now at 1.28 million. --MH
9:24pm: MacPhee busts to Kornuth
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
Kevin MacPhee just lost the last of his stack to Chance Kornuth. We arrived only to see the aftermath, which from the looks of things suggested the possiblity of an all-in-on-the-flop scenario. That's because Kornuth had [Ah][Jc] and MacPhee [Qd][Th], and the [Kd][Qc][Tc] flop added up to a straight for Kornuth and two pair for MacPhee. The turn and river were a trey and deuce, respectively, and MacPhee is out.
Kornuth has more than 1.6 million now. There are just 18 players left -- nine will cash, nine will not. --MH
9:22pm: Johnson collects from Adams, surges into lead
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
Keith Johnson opened from middle position and Timothy Adams called from the big blind, then Adams check-called a c-bet of 60,000 from Johnson following a [Ac][9s][Qc] flop. Adams would check-call again after the [7s] -- this time for 175,000 -- and after the [7d] river Adams checked once more, Johnson bet again (300,000), and Adams called one last time.
Johnson flipped over [9s][9c] for a full house and Adams mucked, and that means we have a new chip leader as Johnson is now up around 2.35 million. Adams meanwhile slips to 380,000. --MH
9:20pm: Jacobson doubles through Heath
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
Martin Jacobson open-shoved for 290,000 and Ben Heath made the call, covering him. Jacobson was ahead with his [as][6c] against Heath's [ad][2h], and the board changed nothing meaning the kicker played. Heath is down to 345,000, while Jacobson is slightly more comfortable now with about 580,000. --JS
9:15pm: Luca on the rise
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
Ivan Luca is having a bit of a hot spell. Having just knocked out Paul Newey, he was tangling with chip leader Nick Petrangelo and Dario Sammartino. Petrangelo had opened to 60,000, before Sammartino made it 150,000 to play. Luca just called, as did Petrangelo.
The three saw a flop of [js][6h][qh], and all of them checked. The turn was the [qc], Petrangelo and Sammartino checked, allowing Luca to put out 83,000. It got both players to fold and sent Luca's stack up to around 1.7 million. --JS
9:06pm: Huge double for Kornuth; Jacobson crippled
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
There was a ton of action pre-flop in this hand, resulting in a ton of chips in the middle.
It started with an open by Martin Jacobson to 55,000, which was met by a 3-bet from Chance Kornuth to 127,000. Not content with that, Jacobson bumped it up to 225,000, and Kornuth opted to shove for 764,000. Jacobson snapped and turned over the ladies - [qc][qh] - while it was [ac][jh] for Kornuth.
The board ran out [ts][ad][td], meaning Jacobson needed either a queen or running straight cards to win. The turn was the [jc] - one of his sought-after cards. But the river was the [ah], giving Kornuth a full house and a full double up to around 1.52 million. Jacobson is left with just 252,000. --JS
9:02pm: Newey out in 20th
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
The action has been thick and fast since we've been back, and that means we've now lost another player - Paul Newey.
Newey shoved in the small blind WITH [AH][8C] for 194,000 and was called by Ivan Luca in the big, who held [ad][js]. The flop came [7d][kh][jd] - bad news for Newey. The turn was the [7c] and that sealed Newey's fate. The two players shook hands before the [qs] river was even dealt, and Newey is outta here. Meanwhile, Ivan Luca now has 1.46 million in front of him. --JS
8:58pm: Kanit collects chips, creates mystery
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
Chance Kornuth opened for 52,000 from middle position, Mustapha Kanit called from the button, and Martin Jacobson came along as well from the big blind. The flop came [Qc][9s][Ad]. It checked to Kanit who bet 65,000, and only Jacobson called. The turn then brought the [4d] and another check from Jacobson. Kanit bet 165,000 this time, and after some thought Jacobson called again.
The river was the [Jd]. Jacobson checked, and Kanit promptly pushed all in for his last 696,000. Jacobson went deep into the tank, thinking long enough to have the clock called on him before he finally let his hand go.
Kanit silently pushed his cards dealerward and began collecting the pot. "One for the fans...? No?" said Kornuth, trying to get Kanit to show his hand, but Kanit only responded with his typical Cheshire cat grin.
Kanit is now up around 1.3 million while Jacobson has 960,000. --MH
8:50pm: No dessert for Watson
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
Just a couple of hands back from the dinner break and we've had an elimination. A final table appearance would have been sweet for Mike Watson, who won the PCA Main Event in January, but there's no icing on his EPT Dublin High Roller cake.
Dario Sammartino opened to 55,000 and it folded around to Watson in the big blind. He called, and the two saw the [kh][3h][7s] flop. Watson checked and Sammartino put out a small bet of 33,000 - little over one big blind. Watson must have smelt weakness as he opted to shove for 151,000, and Sammartino snap-called, turning over [ad][kc]. Watson needed help with his [5d][6d] gutshot, but the [7d] turn and [ac] river were the opposite. He's out in 21st place.
Dario Sammartino now has 815,000. --JS
8:45pm: Level 15 begins
Level 15 - Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000 ante)
The 21 remaining players are back in their seats and cards are in the air once more. The plan remains either to play four more one-hour levels or to stop with six players left, whichever comes first. Like all things in poker, however, of those plans we might say "it depends" as things can always change. Stay tuned! --MH
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7:40pm: Dinner break
The remaining players are now on a 75 minute dinner break. Read through the coverage so far below. Click here for updated chip counts.
7:40pm: Big pot postponed
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino and Nick Petrangelo are neighbours and Sammartino said earlier that the two of them are due to play a big pot against one another. Petrangelo jibed Sammartino about it not long ago, when he raised the button and Sammartino folded his small blind--"I thought we were going to play a big pot?" he said.
The passive-aggressive threats were still in the air when the two definitely did get a few steps along that path. Petrangelo opened from the button, making it 35,000 to play. Sammartino three-bet his small blind to 115,000 and then Petrangelo cut out a four-bet to 288,000.
This was Sammartino's chance to play that huge pot, but after a three-minute tank, he folded. Everyone slipped away for dinner. Full chip counts to come. -- HS
7:38pm: Kanit yet again
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
He plays a lot of hands, this Mustapha Kanit chap. Immediately after his double up against Chartier, Kanit opened again, making it 45,000 from the button. Martin Jacobson defended his big blind in that, "Might as well" fashion and they saw a flop of [2s][5c][5d].
Jacobson checked. Kanit bet 40,000. Jacobson called. They both checked the [ks] turn and then Jacobson's bet of 125,000 on the [kh] river was good. -- HS
7:35pm: Kanit finds his voice again
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
He wasn't quiet for long.
Mustapha Kanit has chips again, and is chirping once more--even if he was forced to admit, coyly, "Playing bad, getting lucky."
Chance Kornuth opened this one, making it 40,000 to play. Kanit, a few seats along in the small blind, moved all in. He had 477,000 in total. Kornuth didn't need to know but Samuel Chartier, in the big blind did. He moved all in over the top.
Kornuth folded and that meant it was Kanit at risk, with [ad][6h], against Chartier, who had [kh][kd].
The flop brought a wince from Chartier. It fell [3c][9c][as]. The [6c] turned the screw and the [7s] ended all hope. Kanit rose back to about a million, while Chartier has approximately half that.
"You were folding, right?" Kanit said to Chartier. "I saw one of your cards. You had a five, bro."
"I would have stacked you," Kornuth said. "I had pocket nines."
I'm not sure any of this is true. -- HS
7:30pm: McDonald eliminated by Bertilsson
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Charlie Carrel opened with a min-raise to 40,000 from the cutoff seat, then Anton Bertilsson three-bet to 120,000 from the button. Next to act in the small blind, Mike McDonald eyed his hand, thought a moment about the preceding action, then announced he was pushing all in with his last 270,000 or so.
It folded back to Carrel who quickly pitched his hand, but Bertilsson was there with a fast call, turning over [Ts][Tc] while McDonald had [Ad][Jd].
The board ran out [Qs][5s][5c][2c][4h], meaning Bertilsson's tens had held and McDonald was out. With 21 left, Bertilsson now has 1.805 million and has retaken the chip lead, while Carrel has 1.25 million. --MH
7:25pm: Kanit shoves, Vogelsang tries to sneak a peak
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Yet another hand involving the entertaining Mustapha Kanit. He opened to 49,000 and it folded to Chance Kornuth in the big blind. He 3-bet to 104,000 - a relatively small raise at just over double the open. It didn't matter to Kanit, though, who shoved and got a fold. Kanit went to check his cards once more before handing them to the dealer, and Christoph Vogelsang, who was standing behind him, bent down to try and sneak a look. Unlucky Christoph, better luck next time. Kanit now has 582,000. --JS
7:20pm: McDonald keeps schtum
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
After opening to 44,000, Mike McDonald watched as every player folded around to Charlie Carrel, who was in the big blind. "Do you know how much you started with?" he asked McDonald, who held his stoic, made-of-stone expression and didn't say a word. Carrel didn't get the info he wanted, but he must have seen something as he opted to fold after much consideration. --JS
7:15pm: Sometimes Yu double up
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
When you're short and in shove-or-fold mode, often you know you're going to be racing. Winfred Yu was in that spot and got into a race with Kim Wittendorff when he shoved for 213,000 with [4d][4c], up against [ah][kd]. The dealer burned and turned the five cards we needed to see, and it came out [th][qd][6s][4s][6c]. The turn left Wittendorff drawing dead, and gave Yu's stack a needed boost. He now has 477,000. --JS
7:10pm: Kanit reduced to silence
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Here's a collector's item, but an unfortunate one for fans of Mustapha Kanit. As you have maybe noticed, reports of any hand played at Kanit's table--whether he is involved or not--ends with some kind of quip. We write the words "Kanit said" almost by routine at the end of about 65 percent of our posts.
But here's a hand that played out at Kanit's table. And it's a hand that included Kanit himself. And yet he was left silent at its conclusion, watching most of his stack slid over to Davidi Kitai.
Kanit started the pot, raising to 45,000 from the hijack and picking up only Kitai, in the big blind, as a caller. The two saw a flop of [5c][ts][8s]. Kitai checked, Kanit bet 45,000 again, and now it came back to Kitai.
He asked for the all in triangle, pushing his stack of 246,000 more over the line. Kanit got the correct amount and then called.
Kitai showed his [kh][th] for top pair. Kanit had [ah][8d] for middle pair. The [5s] turn and [js] river altered nothing.
Kitai moved up to around 600,000, while Kanit is now among the shorties with about 340,000.
" ," Kanit said. -- HS
7:03pm: Celestino sunk; 22 remain
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
After being crippled in a hand earlier versus Charlie Carrel, Ariel Celestino has been eliminated to carve the field down to 22 players.
The hand began with Celestino open-raising from early position for 58,000, leaving himself just 18,000 behind. Both Timothy Adams (hijack) and Winfred Yu (big blind) called, with Yu checking the [5s][7h][4c] flop. Celestino then committed those last chips, and both Adams and Yu stuck around.
The turn was the [3h], prompting Yu to lead into the dry side pot fo 60,000, and Adams called. The pair then checked the [Jc] river.
Celestino turned over his [Qh][8s] and soon saw Adams's [5h][5d] for a set of fives had him beat. Yu quickly flashed a hand containing the [Kh] before his cards were mucked, and Adams claimed the pot.
Yu is now down to just 230,000 while Adams is up to 1.27 million. --MH
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7:05pm: Silver stacked by Rossiter
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
With just 131,000 left, Max Silver open-pushed from under the gun and got one caller in Jeff Rossiter on the button. Silver had [Ac][8s] while Rossiter had [Ah][Kc], and five cards later -- [6s][Qh][6d][Tc][4s] -- Silver was out.
Rossiter is now up to 730,000. --MH
7:00pm: Carrel leaves Ariel bent
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Ben Heath secured a double up not so long ago, and now it's the turn of his flatmate Charlie Carrel. Carrel's was big too. He now has slightly more than 1.2 million chips.
Ariel Celestino was Carrel's benefactor. He opened the pot from the cutoff, making it 50,000 to play. Timothy Adams called from the small blind and the action moved to Carrel in the big.
Carrel took his time, counted his stack and then announced that he was all in. Celestino immediately made it clear that he was tempted. He asked for a full count -- learning it was 607,000 -- and eventually re-shoved, covering Carrel by about 80,000.
Adams quickly folded, leaving Carrel to spin over [ad][qs] and Celestino to look peeved with [ac][js].
What started badly soon got worse for Celestino. The flop was emphatic: [kh][jc][td]. Celestino could only chop now, and the [5s] turn and [9d] river didn't help those endeavours.
Celestino is now on fumes. He has fewer than five big blinds. Carrel, meanwhile, is stacked to tangle with the other leaders on that table. Anton Bertilsson is one seat to his left, with 1.41 million and Keith Johnson on the other side of the table, with 1.5 million. -- HS
6:55pm: Adams baffles Carrel
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Charlie Carrel seems to opening every pot right now. He made it his standard 50,000, and got one caller - Timothy Adams out of the big blind. The first 3 community cards were the [7s][9c][3h], and Adams checked. Carrel made it 65,000 and Adams matched it, so we saw the [3d] on the turn. As so often happens, both players checked it, so we went to the [6d] river. Now Adams counted out a big bet - 147,000.
Carrel seemed confused. He seemed pained. He stared and stared, but seemed to find nothing.
In the middle of a thoughtful lean on his hand, Carrel said; "I'm gonna need about a minute." But about 30 seconds later he let it go.
Charlie Carrel 580,000
Timothy Adams 1,200,000 --JS
6:50pm: What's going on?
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Here are a few snippets of the action in the last five minutes:
Charlie Carrel has been very active. In one hand he opened to 50,000 but faced a 3-bet from Ariel Celestino to 130,000. Carrel gave up the hand, preferring to chat with Celestino rather than play against him.
Meanwhile, on one of the other two tables, Martin Jacobson continues to not be scared of shoving. He'd opened to 45,000 and was 3-bet by Christoph Vogelsang to 128,000. A quick all-in announcement was all it took to get the German to lay it down.
The next hand saw Davidi Kitai open shove for 189,000. He got it through, but with less than ten bigs, he was probably looking for action. --JS
6:35pm: Sammartino limps into trouble
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino continues to use his unconventional pre-flop limping strategy, and it just got him in a spot of bother against Daniel Dvoress. It wasn't terminal or anything, but he lost a small pot.
Sammartino limped from UTG+2 and that allowed Mike Watson, in the small blind, to complete and Dvoress to see a flop for no further investment. It came [3h][kc][ah].
Watson and Dvoress checked and here now was the bet. Sammartino pushed 22,000 forward. Watson folded, but Dvoress called and they went to a turn of [8s]. Check, check.
The [7d] came on the river, Dvoress bet 68,000 and Sammartino let it go. -- HS
6:35pm: Wittendorff back in action
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Details are scarce (read: non-existent) but Kim Wittendorff just doubled through Mike McDonald.
Wittendorff had [ad][kd] with the full board reading as follows: [as][8d][7h][6c][6h]. The dealer counted out his stack and told McDonald he'd need to find about 400,000 total to pay him off. (McDonald's hand was mucked by this point.)
Wittendorff now has about 850,000 while McDonald is down to about 350,000. -- HS
6:31pm: Heath wins heaps, cuts down Kitai's stack
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
A blind-versus-blind battle between Ben Heath and Davidi Kitai began quietly but by the turn erupted into an all-in situation just now.
The pair had built a small pot by the [4c][8c][Ad], after which Heath checked, Kitai bet, Heath check-raised and Kitai called, pushing the pot up close to 300,000. The turn then brought the [Qs] and an all-in push from Heath for 381,000 that Kitai eventually called. Kitai had [Ac][5c] for aces, but was behind Heath's [Ah][9s] for the same pair with a better kicker.
The river was the [7d], and Heath is now up to about 940,000 while Kitai is in the danger zone with 145,000. --MH
6:30pm: Johnson on the verge of 1.5 million
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
What a tournament Keith Johnson is having. He won entry to this event in a live satellite last night, and the accomplished pro couldn't have wished for a better day so far.
In a hand with Charlie Carrel, a big old pot had been scraped into the middle and the board showed [td][4h][3h][8c]. Johnson was first to act and bet 130,000, and Carrel called, taking us to the [tc] river. Both players checked and Johnson announced he had pocket queens. Carrel folded.
Keith Johnson 1,460,000
Charlie Carrel 550,000 --JS
6:25pm: Level 14 begins
Level 14 - Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
The blinds and antes have increased for the 24 remaining players. Those making it through the next hour will be taking a 75-minute dinner break. --MH
6:25pm: Silver stumbles, Sammartino scoops
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
With the board reading [3d][ks][th][6d], and a heckuva lot of chips in the middle, Max Silver checked over to his sole opponent in the hand, Dario Sammartino, who bet 82,000. Silver made the call, and the dealer dealt the [5s] on the river. There was another check from Silver, and a big bet from Sammartino - 190,000. After plenty of consideration Silver made the call, but mucked when he saw Sammartino's [kd][td] for two pair. Sammartino is up to 850,000 while Silver is in the danger zone with 295,000. --JS
Max Silver6:20pm: Jacobson gets busy
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Christoph Vogelsang opened for 36,000 and Martin Jacobson called from middle position. It folded around to Chance Kornuth in the big blind who reached for chips, counting out a 3-bet to 120,000. Vogelsang couldn't have folded quicker, and it didn't take much longer for Martin Jacobson to announce he was all-in. Kornuth snap-folded, so it was a speedy hand overall - rare in these tournaments. That pot brought Jacobson up to 690,000. --JS
6:12pm: Aces help Ariel chip up through Charlie
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Ariel Celestino opened for 35,000 from middle position, then it folded to Charlie Carrel in the cutoff who called. Winfred Yu came along as well from the big blind, and the trio watched the flop come [Qd][8d][5h].
It checked around to Carrel who bet 35,000, and Yu quickly tossed his hand. Celestino paused, however, and after a moment check-raised to 97,000. Carrel studied the situation a bit, then announced he was reraising all in and Celestino called in a flash, committing 328,000 total.
Carrel had [Kc][Qc] for top pair of queens, but Celestino had [Ah][Ac]. The turn was the [8h] and river the [8s], and Celestino now has just over 800,000. Carrel meanwhile slips to about 930,000. --MH
6:05pm: Table draw with 24 players remaining
Table 1
1. Davidi Kitai
2. Chance Kornuth
3. Kevin MacPhee
4. Christoph Vogelsang
5. Mustapha Kanit
6. Sam Chartier
7. Martin Jacobson
8. Ben Heath
Table 2
1. Max Silver
2. Nick Petrangelo
3. Dario Sammartino
4. Paul Newey
5. Ivan Luca
6. Jeff Rossiter
7. Mike Watson
8. Daniel Dvoress
Table 3
1. Ariel Celestino
2. Kim Wittendorff
3. Tim Adams
4. Charlie Carrel
5. Anton Bertilsson
6. Mike McDonald
7. Winfred Yu
8. Keith Johnson
6:00pm: Sammartino anguished right before re-draw
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
While all other players were standing and awaiting to find out their new table draw, one hand was still going on between Keith Johnson and Dario Sammartino.
Johnson made it 40,000 on the button but Sammartino three-bet to 115,000 from the small blind. Jeff Rossiter gave up his big blind and the two saw the [7c][5c][3c] flop.
Both players checked, but the turn brought some action. It was the [tc] and Sammartino led for 125,000, which was called. He checked the [5s] river though, letting Johnson take control with a 160,000 bet.
Sammartino had 440,000 behind, and was in the tank for over five minutes. The crowds gathered hoping to see their hands, but it wasn't to be as Sammartino folded. Johnson now has 900,000. --JS
5:50pm: Palumbo tumbles to Petrangelo
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Down to his last 260,000, Rocco Palumbo open-pushed all in from the button and earned a ready call from chip leader Nick Petrangelo playing from the big blind. Palumbo turned over [Ah][9d], but would need improvement in order to survive versus Petrangelo's [Ac][Qs].
The board ran out [Jd][8d][7s][Qd][6s], and Palumbo wished his tablemates luck before heading railward. Petrangelo meanwhile increases his lead even further and now has about 1.45 million.
They're down to 24 players, meaning there will be a short pause as they redraw for seats around the final three tables. Remember, only the top nine make the cash. --MH
5:45pm: Turn saves Vogelsang
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
With about 200,000 already in the middle and the board showing [Jc][Ad][4c], Christoph Vogelsang pushed all in with his last 200,000 or so and Davidi Kitai called.
Vogelsang turned over [Ac][9c] for aces but was in dire straits versus Kitai's [As][Qc]. But the turn brought the [9h] to pair Vogelsang's kicker, and after the [2h] he survived. Vogelsang now has 625,000, while Kitai has about 840,000. --MH
Editor's note: That is at least the second time today Vogelsang has doubled with a dominated ace. Head to BetStars to lump on; he's surely now a lock for this.
5:40pm: Seven and jack for Dario and Max
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
If there are any players out there reading this who feel their live game suffers because they only wait for good hands before they get involved, let me introduce you to Max Silver and Dario Sammartino.
It wasn't the biggest pot, or even one with plenty of action (there was very little), but it just goes to show you can play old any junk sometimes, and at least chop the pot.
It was folded around to Silver on the button who made it 38,000, and Sammartino called in the big blind. The flop was [5c][kh][kc], the turn was the [8c], and the river was the [2d]. Both players checked it the whole way, and then both flipped over a jack and seven.
Diddly squat for both of them. Nothing but a shared pair of kings. A case of whoever bets, wins, but instead it was a friendly chop. --JS
5:31pm: Palumbo, Yu hanging on
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
We've seen the two shortest stacks -- Rocco Palumbo and Winfred Yu -- both all in on two occasions each so far this level (both before and after the flop), but neither were called and both continue to grind away as part of the final field of 25 players.
In one instance Mustapha Kanit opened for 35,000 from early position and Yu defended his big blind with a call. The flop then came [3h][6d][4s], and Yu pushed his chips all in. Kanit folded quickly, and with a wide grin said "Let me bet at least, then all in!"
"Then I'll have to fold," Yu responded, and the table laughed.
Yu has about 245,000 (about what Palumbo has at present), while Kanit is sitting on 575,000. --MH
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5:30pm: Kanit. Can he?
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
While others have made their way to the rail, Mustapha Kanit is still working the coal face, and now has around 600,000 after his stack earlier had been as little as 130,000.
For a man with relatively few chips he's been playing a lot of hands, including the latest, which was already to the river when I caught up with it. The board showed [qd][4c][7h][as][qh].
By this point there was some 300,000 in the middle and a bet of 160,000 from Kanit. Michael Watson was the player he was up against, who tanked for some time before folding. - SB
5:25pm: No more bluffing? Not a Chance
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
We're not sure of what happened in the hand before we arrived, but as the dealer was busy shuffling Chance Kornuth said to the table: "No more bluffing guys - unless there's a lot of money in the pot."
So we had to stick around and see what happened next. Well, Keith Johnson opened to 36,000, and it folded around to Kornuth in the big blind. "You're playing about a million right?" he asked Johnson. "Hmmm about 750,000," Johnson told him. Kornuth called.
The flop was the [jd][kh][4h], and Kornuth checked, letting Johnson bet 40,000, which was called. That took us to the [qd] on the turn, and both opted to tap the table. The [6c] landed on the river and now Kornuth put out 90,000. Johnson was quick to call, and as Kornuth was about to reveal his hand, but first asked if Johnson had a king. He didn't - he showed the [qh][jh] and Kornuth decided to muck.
Was Kornuth breaking his own rule and bluffing or did he think he was ahead? We don't know. If we did, we'd probably be playing this event ourselves.
Chance Kornuth 820,000
Keith Johnson 920,000 --JS
5pm: Break time
Level 13 - Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Players are heading to the second break of the day. There are 25 remaining and Nick Petrangelo has taken over at the top.
4:52pm: Nice for Newey
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Just before the players go on break, Paul Newey has just picked up a welcome pot. It started with an open from Christoph Vogelsang to 27,000, and then a three-bet to 75,000 from Mike McDonald.
Newey stared down both players, and started counting his chips. He must have decided he had the right amount to shove, and moved all his green chips into the middle. Vogelsang threw his hand away instantly, but it wasn't such an easy decision for McDonald. He counted Newey's chips in his head and thought for a minute or so, before making a reluctant fold.
That pot brought Newey's stack to around 580,000, while McDonald has 480,000. --JS
4:50pm: Kitai sends MacPhee down the river
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Picking up the action on the turn, Kevin MacPhee and Davidi Kitai were involved in a handsome looking pot. The board showed the [6s][3s][5d] flop and [as] turn, and MacPhee had a bet of 84,000 in front of him. It was on Kitai, who made the call.
The river brought the [8c] and now the bet from MacPhee was seven green chips - good for 175,000. Kitai snap-called and flipped over the [9s][8d] for a rivered set, meaning MacPhee's [5h][6h] for a flopped two-pair were no good.
MacPhee is down to 530,000 while Kitai is up to 925,000. --JS
4:40pm: All-in and a call and a chuckle
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
There's a certain sound players make following an all-in and a call--a variety of laughter--that is unmistakable in its meaning. One doesn't even have to see the cards to know what it signifies, that exhaled, wordless expression of relief that at once makes it clear that the preceding tension has been dissolved in an instant.
It's the sound players make when they realize they each have the same hand.
We heard it just now standing by the table of Mike McDonald and Christoph Vogelsang. The board read [Qc][Kc][Kc][Td], and after a leading bet from McDonald and a long, suspense-filled pause by Vogelsang, the latter raised all in. McDonald only thought a few seconds longer before calling, and the players showed their hands -- [Jc][9s] for McDonald, and [Jh][9d] for Vogelsang.
The sound was heard, the inconsequential river was dealt, and the pot was chopped. McDonald has about 570,000 right now, while Vogelsang has 465,000. --MH
4:30pm: Farrell activates Plan B
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Earlier today Niall Farrell talked about his usual Plan B, a trip to the pub to unwind and watch the rugby. Mustapha Kanit had picked up on this.
"Lord of Scotland," Kanit said. "We're going to send you to the pub soon."
Kanit was only slightly wrong. Farrell actually stuck around for a while, but has now finally departed, sent to the rail by Charlie Carrel.
Farrell opened to 26,000 from under the gun before Carrell, in the seat next to him, announced he was all-in for something like 330,000, which had him covered. With the action folded back to him Farrell called.
Farrell: [ts][tc]
Carrel: [as][kh]
The board got scary, but ultimately went Carrel's way, landing [9s][ad][6s][8s][5h].
Farrell made his way to the rail, make that the pub, while Carrel stacked up around 650,000.
"It's not funny to play against the British players," said Kanit. "They win every hand." -- SB
4:35pm: Kurganov busts to Farrell - Kanit is not happy
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
With just 111,000 left, Igor Kurganov shoved under-the-gun and it was folded around to Niall Farrell. "1-1-1?" he asked, to which Igor replied: "Yep. Good luck." We're not sure he meant it, but Farrell decided to shove over the top anyhow.
It was then folded around to Ben Heath in the big blind, who asked Farrell how much more he had. "About 125,000 more," was the answer, which was too much for Heath who let it go. So, the cards were on their backs:
Igor Kurganov [9h][th]
Niall Farrell [as][kd]
The flop was good for Kurganov - [7c][7d][9d]. He'd gone out in front with his pair, and even hit two pair on the [tc] turn. However, the two sevens on board meant that Farrell only needed to pair his ace or king to take the lead with a bigger two pair.
Boom! The Barry Greenstein - i.e. an ace on the river - hit, and Kurganov was eliminated. As he was getting up, he wished everyone on the table good luck, and every player was no doubt happy to see such a tricky opponent gone.
Not Mustapha Kanit though. "Now am I big blind!" he jokingly moaned, as Kurganov's elimination meant the next blind moved over to him. "What the f***!"
Niall Farrell now has 254,000. --JS
4:25pm: Wittendorff eliminates Mercier
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Jason Mercier opened for 26,000 from middle position, then watched Kim Wittendorff three-bet to 61,000 from the button. The blinds stepped aside, and after a pause the Team PokerStars Pro called the reraise.
The flop came [Qd][2d][4s], and Mercier checked. Wittendorff sat in contemplation for a half-minute, then fired 65,000. Mercier called. The turn brought the [2s] and another check from Mercier. This time Wittendorff waited closer to a minute, then announced he was all in.
The bet covered the 220,000 or so Mercier had behind, and he went through various stages of thinking about the problem, counting his remaining chips and checking the tournament clock as he did. Finally he called, tabling [Ts][Th], and discovered the bad news as Wittendorff had [Kh][Ks].
The river was the [Js], and Mercier was eliminated. Wittendorff meanwhile now has a bit more than 1 million. --MH
4:20pm: Johnson takes one from Sammartino
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
After Dario Sammartino opened to 26,000 from the under-the-gun, he found three callers: Jeff Rossiter, Chance Kornuth, and Keith Johnson from the big blind. The four saw a flop of [9s][ah][ks], Johnson checked, and Sammartino continued for 36,000.
That got Rossiter and Kornuth out the way, but Johnson didn't budge. The turn was the [8c] and, as it so often does on the turn, the action slowed right down. Both checked and we went to the [jh] river.
It looked like both players considered betting, but it was to be checked again and Johnson scooped it with [ac][qs]. Sammartino mucked.
Dario Sammartino 470,000
Keith Johnson 680,000 --JS
4:15pm: Pret a Pratyush
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Pratyush Buddiga is out. He shoved with [ah][kc] which Ben Heath called with [7c][7d]. The board ran [8c][qh][2h][jc][4d] to send Buddiga to the rail, and leave Heath with roughly 1.1 million. - SB
4:10pm: Dvoress up to 600,000
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Daniel Dvoress opened for 28,000 under the gun and the action was folded to Tim Adams in the big blind. Adams reached for his chips and called.
The flop came [as][4h][6d]. Adams checked once, then called Dvoress's bet of 14,000. Then on the [9h] turn card he checked again, then called Dvoress's bet of 47,000. Then on the [7c] river card he checked once last time. But Dvoress's bet of 113,000 took the pot.
Dvoress up to 600,000. - SB
4.05pm: Rossiter pushes out Johnson
Level 12 - Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Keith Johnson opened from the cutoff, making it what looked like 30,000 to play. (They're into Level 12 now, with blinds at 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante). Dario Sammartino called from the button but Jeff Rossiter bumped it up, making it 110,000 to go.
Johnson called; Sammartino did not.
The flop came [3c][8s][tc] and both checked. The turn was [2d] and both checked. The river was [ts] and no matter how much Johnson wanted to call Rossiter's bet of 135,000 (and he seemed very tempted), he didn't. He folded.
Counts from that table:
Jeff Rossiter 840,000
Anton Bertilsson 1.35 million
Martin Jacobson 200,000
Chance Kornuth 900,000
Max Silver 1.1 million
Dario Sammartino 700,000
And why not another table too?
Winfred Yu 510,000
Ben Heath 410,000
Pratyush Buddiga 290,000
Mustapha Kanit 155,000
Mike Watson 420,000
Niall Farrell 530,000
Charlie Carrel 350,000
Nick Petrangelo is pretty much neck-and-neck with Bertilsson at the top of the counts. -- HS
4:00pm: Chartier reaches million mark
Level 11 - Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Sam Chartier opened for 24,000 in the cut off. Rocco Palumbo was on the button next to him and raised to 65,000. Chartier called for a [qs][kc][9h] flop. Chartier checked and Palumbo made it 65,000 to play. Chartier called for the [jh] turn card.
Now Chartier bet out, making it 110,000. Palumbo paused a while, but opted not to continue. He drops slightly to 470,000. Chartier meanwhile is up to around 1 million. - SB
3:50pm: Pair, set, straight flush
Level 11 - Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Every once in a while the board deliverers nothing but good news for a player. A few minutes ago it was Mike McDonald's turn, when he made a straight flush on the river, having made a set on the turn.
The board ran [9d][7s][8d][7c][6d]. McDonald held [7d][td], which made whatever Davidi Kitai called with on the river, look irrelevant. - SB
3:45pm: Johnson snares Drinan
Level 11 - Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Connor Drinan is out, having wandered headlong into a trap set by Keith Johnson.
Drinan opened from early position, making it 23,000, and after action folded to Johnson in the big blind, he opted only to call. I say "only" because he had [ah][ac]. But Drinan was not to know.
The flop came [6d][4c][7d] and Johnson checked. Drinan bet 20,000 and now Johnson sprang his trap, announcing that he was all in, covering the 200,000 stack, approximately, of Drinan.
Drinan called and turned over his [9s][9h]. The [as] on the turn ended this as a contest. -- HS
3:30pm: Scraps
Level 11 - Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Here's a deeply unsatisfying update that tells us almost nothing. Poker is a game of incomplete information, after all.
The flop was out -- [th][7d][jd] -- and Samuel Chartier, who would have been in the hijack pre-flop, must have bet. We can deduce that because Kim Wittendorff, who would have been on the button, had 65,000 in front of him, but Chartier had 175,000 there.
The decision, therefore, was on Wittendorff. And after a long while, he called.
The [5d] came on the turn and Chartier announced that he was all in. It was about 360,000. Wittendorff had about 600,000 in his stack and went into the tank for a long, long time.
But then he folded. So we know nothing at all about what that hand was about. You're welcome. -- HS
3:10pm: Four strikes and you're out
Level 11 - Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
David Peters had moved in three times already before he found pocket nines and made it four.
Chance Kornuth had opened in early position before Peters shoved. An easy call for Kornuth with pocket jacks.
The flop was kind to Peters: [tc][9h][8c], and the [5d] turn was a blank. But not the [7s] river card, which gave Kornuth the straight, and the remainder of Peters's chips. Kornuth's stack now up to close to a million. - SB
3pm: Full counts
Level 11 - Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
They're now into Level 11, with blinds and antes as above. We've updated the chip-count page with counts at this stage, so click over there to take a look.
Sneak preview: Anton Bertilsson (1.4 million) is ahead. Quelle surprise. But Nick Petrangelo is close behind him (1.275 million).
2:45pm: Break time
Players are now on a 20 minutes break.
2:40pm: Fine flop for McDonald
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Just before the break at the end of Level 10, Mike McDonald managed an all-but double up through a frustrated Kim Wittendorff. Here's what happened.
McDonald opened from the hijack, making it 18,000 to play, and Wittendorff called on the button. They went to a flop of [as][7d][7c]. McDonald bet 20,000 and Wittendorff called, buying them the [qh] on the turn.
McDonald kept betting, this time 45,000, and Wittendorff kept calling. That meant a river of [qd]. McDonald only had about 200,000 in his stack at this point, but tickled a bet of 125,000 out there.
Wittendorff, from a far more sizeable stack, called but was quickly shown some bad news. McDonald flipped [7h][9h]. "You're kidding," Wittendorff said and mucked. -- HS
2:25pm: Elementary for Watson
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
More from Mustapha Kanit, who is hanging on. After a bet of 16,000 pre-flop from Igor Kurganov Kanit announced he was all-in for 149,000.
"You put 150 you get one change!" he said to Mike Watson next to him, who elected, like Kurganov, to pass.
Watson was in action shortly after, this time against Charlie Carrel.
Watson opened from the button for 16,000. Carrel called from the big blind.
The flop came [qh][ts][3c]. Carrel check-called Watson's bet of 20,000.
On the turn card [kd] both players checked for a [3h]. This time Carrel led the betting, making it 75,000 to play. Watson paused for several minutes before calling, turning over [qc][8d] to take the pot against Carrel's [ac][4s]. -- SB
Carrel - 450,000
Watson - 800,000
2:10pm: Vogelsang doubles
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
A useful double-up for Christoph Vogelsang here, although Ariel Celestino is going to be furious. His chances of getting anything from this tournament have taken a huge hit.
Celestino opened the hijack, making it 18,000 to play. Vogelsang, who has been playing a lot of pots recently, three bet from the cutoff, making it 55,000. Action folded back to Celestino and he moved all in.
Vogelsang was the effective stack, and he called off for his last 247,000 total, tabling [ah][qh] as he did. Celestino was in good shape with his [ac][kh] but the balance of power shifted on a flop of [3d][js][qd].
Celestino still had outs, but missed on the turn of [4h] and the river [4c]. Vogelsang takes his stack beyond 500,000. Celestino is cut down to about 200,000.
Other counts from that table:
Davidi Kitai 980,000
Bryn Kenney 190,000
Paul Newey 450,000
Kevin MacPhee 690,000
Ivan Luca 270,000 -- HS
2:05pm: Adams closing on a million
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Timothy Adams opened for 17,000 from the cut off. Daniel Dvoress called from the button, as did Jason Mercier from the big blind.
Adams was betting again on the [ac][jd][3d] flop. 31,000 this time, called by Dvoress, before Mercier passed.
Timothy AdamsThat brough the turn card [9s]. Another 82,000 from Adams this time. Dvoress called for the [5c] on the river. Both players checked.
"Pair," said Adams, but Dvoress motioned for him to turn his cards over. He did, showing [kc][3c].
That was enough to take the pot and move up to 950,000. Dvoress, sho didn't show, down to 320,000. - SB
2:00pm: Winter getting warmer
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Sean Winter just doubled up, having moved all in for 190,000 with [as][qs]. He'd been in the small blind, with Jason Mercier, calling from the big, with [5c][5d].
The board ran [ad][7h][3h][9d][8h]. There was enough red on the board to give Winter some doubts, but he was eventually convinced. - SB
1:50pm: Kornuth up
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
A big bet on the river by Chance Kornuth was enough to win a pot against David Peters.
The board read [9c][qc][8h][as][3s] with about 100,000 in the middle. Kornuth, playing from middle position, bet 186,000, sending Peters into the tank. He came out to pass.
Peters down to 475,000 while Kornuth moves up to 630,000. - SB
1:45pm: Half a million
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
The prize-pool information is now with us. Here are the all important details:
Players: 58
Re-entries: 12
Prize pool: €1,715,000
1 - €501,640
2 - €360,150
3 - €234,100
4 - €176,640
5 - €137,200
6 - €106,330
7 - €84,040
8 - €65,170
9 - €49,730
To restate: we're playing ten levels today, or to a final table of eight, whichever comes soonest. The bubble will likely be played on two five-handed tables, before they'll go nine handed when they're in the money. -- HS
1:35pm: New patterns
Level 10 - Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
They're through the first level of Day 2 and 36 players remain. Winfred Yu won small pots either side of the level-up announcement, building his stack to about 390,000.
Yu opened to 14,000 from UTG+1 (this is when blinds were 3,000-6,000 still) and picked up two callers: Mustapha Kanit, in the cutoff, and Charlie Carrel, in the big blind.
The flop fell [7h][qh][2s] and Carrel checked. Yu bet 26,000 and both Kanit and Carrel called. That meant a turn card: [3s]. Carrel checked, Yu bet 85,000, and both his opponents folded.
On the next hand, with blinds now at 4,000-8,000, Yu opened to 18,000 from under the gun and again picked up two callers: Mike Watson in the cutoff and Pratyush Buddiga in the big blind.
The flop this time delivered the [7s][2h][9s] and after Buddiga checked, Yu's bet of 30,000 was enough to persuade the other two out.
Carrel now has around 560,000; Kanit about 140,000. -- HS
1:30pm: Attention on Kanit
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
Right now the fun table belongs to Mustapha Kanit. He may not have many chips, but he's getting some attention.
Igor Kurganov (left) and Mustapha KanitHaving taken chips from Igor Kurganov earlier ("I like my chips," he'd said, before turning to Kurganov. "I like your chips too.") he took another small pot from him a short while ago, forcing a fold from Kurganov on a board of [5c][ac][6d][qd].
Kurganov took one of Kanit's cards in jest, and pretended to look.
"You can see if you want," said Kanit. "After I call the floor. One round penalteeeeeee!"
As before this last bit was sung, rather than spoken. -- SB
1:15pm: New patterns
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
If you watch a lot of poker hands, you notice some very familiar patterns. Pre-flop, it's very common to write: open, three-bet, call (everyone else folds) and post-flop you usually get a check, c-bet, call. The turn very often goes check, check. The river is anyone's guess.
When you add a further tonal dimension, of bet-sizing, that things can vary, and there's definitely been a shift in high roller events recently towards slightly bigger pre-flop three-bets, followed by smaller c-bets post flop. The sample size isn't enormous, but that's what seems to be happening.
Here's an example. Timothy Adams opened from early position, making it 14,000 (a "min-plus" open). Samuel Chartier three-bet from the small blind, to 47,000 (slightly bigger than a "standard" three-bet).
Adams called. The flop came [ah][qh][as] and Chartier bet 21,000 -- about one fifth of the pot. Adams called. The [ts] came on the turn and now Chartier bet 50,000 (a break from the usual check-check). Adams folded.
Over on the neighbouring table, Jeff Rossiter and Andrew Lichtenberger were playing it a bit more according to establish patterns. Rossiter opened to 16,000 from the button and Lichtenberger called in the big blind.
The two saw a flop of [tc][6h][js] and Lichtenberger checked. Rossiter bet 19,000 and Lichtenberger called. Then they both checked the [8h] turn. On the [4c] river, Lichtenberger's bet of 45,000 was enough to get it done. Rossiter folded. -- HS
1:05pm: Chipsmmmmmm
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
Sam Greenwood is out. He turned a straight with [8c][7h] against Igor Kurganov whose [kh][qh] made a flush on the river.
That put Kurganov up to 450,000, or at least it did temporarily. A short while later he called Mustapha Kanit's all-in. The Italian had pocket nines to Kurganov's ace-ten. There was some good natured banter as the board was dealt, with Kanit getting the upper hand.
You have to imagine what came next spoken in a kind of half-sung taunt toward Kurganov.
"Igor, I never lie... I take all the money... Igor, I told you before, are you stupid or whaaaaat?"
That got everyone laughing, even Kurganov, who drops down to 300,000, which is roughly what Kanit now has. - SB
Another of Kanit's all-ins1pm: Rossiter finds timely double
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
Rainer Kempe is the short stack at Anton Bertilsson's table, and sitting two seats to his left. It's going to be tough to get much traction from there.
Kempe tried it, however, on a recent hand and, in the process, contributed to a double up for Jeff Rossiter, the man sitting between Kempe and Bertilsson.
Kempe opened to 12,000 from the button and Rossiter three-bet to 42,000 from the small blind. Bertilsson never saw a three-bet that he didn't want to four-bet and did indeed move 500,000 over the line, which would cover both of his opponents if they combined their stacks, let alone went it alone.
Kempe folded, preserving his 100,000 or so left. Rossiter snap called, however, and turned over [ad][kc]. Bertilsson was behind with [ah][js].
The flop came [8d][kd][5d] and Rossiter prepared for a double. The [qd] turn sealed it. He had 230,000 in his stack, so resultantly now has double that.-- HS
12:55pm: Thorel thawed by Bertilsson
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
Jean-Noel Thorel has become the first victim of Anton Bertilsson today, running his pocket eights into Bertilsson's queens and finding no help on the board. Bertilsson moved beyond 1.6 million. -- HS
12:45pm: Welcome to the game
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
Jeff Rossiter is in the unenviable position of having Anton Bertilsson immediately to his left, and he can expect a long day of three-betting, one suspects. And if he thought it was only one person he would need to get past, he was wrong--at least if this early hand is anything to go by.
It was folded to Rossiter in the cutoff and he raised to 14,000. Bertilsson, as you might expect, counted down a re-raise from the button, making it 35,000 to play. But then Chance Kornuth, in the big blind, seized his opportunity to test the real strength of his opponents' hands. He four-bet to 91,000.
Rossiter folded. Bertilsson folded.
Prior to that, Philip Sternheimer became the first man to be knocked out. He played precisely one hand today. -- HS
12:40pm: Who's in: the clarification
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
Righto, we have our final list of players. Contrary to what is written below, there were only two winners of the live satellite last night: Kyle Frey and Keith Johnson. Frey is playing his second bullet, Johnson his first.
Francesco Del Foco bought in for the first time today. Pratyush Buddiga bought in for the second time.
So that's two new players (Del Foco and Johnson) and two re-entries Buddiga and Frey. Final numbers, which need to be confirmed 100 percent with the powers that be, will be with us shortly. -- HS
12:35pm: Place your bets... just not here
There's a man standing outside the tournament room who cannot stop people throwing money at him.
I know what you're thinking, what a great problem to have. But Aiden is manning the BetStars desk, and showing the odds of every High Roller player on a big screen.
It's caused some inadvertent problems. Not only do players like seeing their names on the screen, they also can't help wanting five euros on themselves to win at 100 to 1.
But this is BetStars, the new betting wing of PokerStars, which is online for a reason. You can use your account, but rolling up and laying down cash on the table is not exactly how it works. Not that it's stopping anyone. I saw it myself.
The BetStars deskStill, it's fascinating to look at, and an exciting part of the BetStars brand worth checking out. So far the favourite is Anton Bertilsson, the only player with more than a million chips. No surprises there.
Anyway, if you're curious check out the BetStars website. Just don't come here and throw cash at Aiden. - SB
12:30pm: Away they go
Level 9 - Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)
That's it. They're off. We'll have details of any last-minute registrants as and when they're known. It's common at the start of Day 2 of these events to see Dzmitry Urbanovich turning up to play, but no confirmed sighting of him just yet. He is in Dublin, though, and finished second last night in the chess/poker hybrid event. -- HS
12:15pm: Another way in
The chip lead last night was held by Anton Bertilsson and Nick Petrangelo, who also share in common their method of entry to this €25,000 High Roller event. They both won a seat in a live satellite.
Perhaps with similar domination of their own in mind, a decent smattering played a live satellite last night in the attempt to get in for Day 2. Today we welcome to the stage Keith Johnson, Francesco Delfoco and Kyle Frey, who were successful. (It's actually a welcome back to Frey. He lost his first buy in yesterday, but is back for more today.)
They are starting action today in Level 9, with blinds at 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante). That means a 250,000 starting stack is 42 big blinds. -- HS
12:00pm: To re-enter or not to re-enter
As mentioned below, this is a single re-entry event, allowing eliminated players the chance to get back in the action for the first eight levels of play. Yesterday, these ten did just that:
Andrew Lichtenberger
Connor Drinan
Daniel Dvoress
Chance Kornuth
Ivan Luca
Max Silver
Mike McDonald
Sam Greenwood
Scott Margereson
Steve O'Dwyer
Of those, both O'Dwyer and Margereson were eliminated twice and so will not be back today. Any of the following, who were knocked out yesterday but did not re-enter, have the chance to get involved again today:
Andre Akkari, Anthony Zinno, Dietrich Fast, Jaroslaw Sikora, Jason Wheeler, Joao Simai, Joao Vieira, Kyle Frey, Luuk Gieles, Piotr Franczak, Rafael Moraes. It's also possible for any totally new players to register as well. -- HS
11:45am: Eyes on the prize
Good morning everybody and welcome back to Ireland for Day 2 of the €25,000 High Roller event at EPT Dublin. Here are the important things to look out for today.
* At the end of play last night, Anton Bertilsson led the field of 42 players, all of whose counts are on the chip-count page.
* Registration closes shortly before the start of play today, at which point we'll have a seat draw and know the total number of entries.
* This is a single re-entry event, meaning anyone knocked out yesterday, who did not re-enter, can try again today.
* After 12:15pm, however, it's a freezeout.
* Prize pool information will be published some time today.
* They will play ten one-hour levels, or until a final table of eight is reached, whichever comes soonest.
* There's a dinner break at the end of Level 16.
Play will start at 12:30pm.
Take a look at the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for the rest of the season.
Also all the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team on the EPT12 Dublin Main Event: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris, Jack Stanton and Howard Swains. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog.
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