Sebastian Malec is a piece of art.
He sits under an everlasting case of bed-head. His glasses frame his lightly-stubbled face in some way that means Harry Potter after an all-night Barcelona bender. He is usually a wizard, and we wouldn't be in any respect surprised. He munches on chocolate chip cookies, absentmindedly loses his sunglasses, and does involuntary spinning happy dances when he sees something that amuses him. His decisions involve no fewer than ten exaggerated hand gestures that suggest a person who's calculating pi to the 1000th decibel while explaining to a cranky deli customer why the soup is cold. He's part wizard, part lovable comic book villain, part mad scientist.
He may be a PokerStars qualifier and the chip leader of the EPT Barcelona Main Event.
Malec has spent the day wowing his opponents, his dealers, the reporters, or even the poker Fates themselves. Tonight, with 24 players remaining, Malec has 5,690,000. It's good for the chip lead and a fair foundation for an afternoon 5 by which shall we see him morph something out X-Men.
Here's the entire list of the general 24 and their chip counts.
| Sebastian Malec | Poland | 5,690,000 |
| Uri Reichenstein | Germany | 3,870,000 |
| Stephen Malone | Ireland | 1,000,000 |
| Simon Lofberg | Sweden | 1,930,000 |
| Andreas Chalkiadakis | Greece | 3,140,000 |
| Andrea Cortellazzi | Italy | 2,925,000 |
| Jean-Jacques Zeitoun | France | 2,300,000 |
| Thomas De Rooij | Netherlands | 1,905,000 |
| Morten Mortensen | Denmark | 2,075,000 |
| Pavel Plesuv | Moldova | 745,000 |
| Olli Autiö | Finland | 1,495,000 |
| Nuno Capucho | Portugal | 2,150,000 |
| Pavel Veksler | Israel | 2,435,000 |
| Harcharan Dogra Dogra | Spain | 2,225,000 |
| Michael Addamo | Australia | 3,245,000 |
| Adam Owen | UK | 2,045,000 |
| Mikhail Molchanov | Russia | 1,310,000 |
| Zorlu Er | Turkey | 1,225,000 |
| Alexandru Baron | Canada | 3,666,000 |
| Alisan Holozlu | Germany | 1,615,000 |
| Anthony Chimkovitch | Belgium | 1,075,000 |
| Stefan Vogt | Germany | 1,100,000 |
| Konstantin Puchkov | Russia | 2,360,000 |
| Vojtech Ruzicka | Czech Republic | 2,135,000 |
Day 5 began with 98 players. After a 12-hour day, it ends with just three tables and the promise of constructing a last table by the tip of tomorrow. Of the process the afternoon and evening, we saw some giants fall, including Jason Mercier, Jason Koon, Vojtech Ruziack, Erik Friberg, Mikhail Shalamov, Brian Yoon, Eugene Katchalov, Kent Lundmark, Brynn Kenney, and Ronny Kaiser. To peer a whole list of the payouts for the event, see the EPT Barcelona winners page.
If you continue to need some action tonight, you'll scroll right down to the entire live updates below to look how we got so far today. Also, take a look at out coverage of the large €10,000 High Roller so as to be occurring for one more hour or so.
After that, join us back here on Saturday for the primary Event final table hunt and to look what magic Sebastian Malec has up his hoodie sleeve.
Until then, goodnight from Barcelona.
11:50pm: Play ends. Malec leadsLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
Play has stopped at 24 players. Details of the day will follow shortly, but Sebastian Malec is the clear chip leader tonight with 5,690,000. -- SB
11:45pm: Right down to three tablesLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
We hit 24 players before the top of the extent play has ended for the day. The person out in 25th place was Damien Luis, who was hit badly within the hand earlier against Baron.
Actually it was Baron who would finally deal his fate. Luis shoved from the button for 320,000 which Baron called. He had A♠T♦ to Luis's Q♠T♥. The board came 6♥5♥K♦J♣5♦ to finish Luis's tournament, and produce play to a detailed on Day 4. - SB
11:40pm: Big hand for BaronLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
Damien Luis opened for 100,000 within the small blind. Alexandru Baron was within the big blind and made it 300,000. Luis then fired back, four betting to 650,000. Baron wasn't done, and five bet all-in for just over 1,000,000. Luis called.
Luis: A♦Q♥Baron K♦K♥
Baron was covered but needed only to vanish an ace (or various other combinations).
The board came 9♠T♣6♥ 7♣4♣
A massive hand that provides Baron 3.25 million chips. Meanwhile Luis is right down to 320,000. - SB
11:20pm: Malec unstoppable?Level 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
Aram Sargsyan was next to Malec when the chip leader opened for 90,000. He was short and pushed all in. He'd found Q♦Q♠ so it was the easiest opportunity. With the action back on Malec the young Belgian started speaking to himself and at last persuaded himself to name. He did, and turned up A♦Q♥.
The way I run the ace comes at the river," he said. But even supposing everyone heard him they were unlikely to believe him. They'd be wrong.
Amid constant chatter (to himself) Malec watched the flop come 6♠3♣8♥, after which the turn 7♦. It seemed like a double up. But by his own admission Malec is running good. There has been the A♥ at the river.
Eyebrows went up everywhere. Malec's almost left his face. All except Sargsyan who looked dejected. Hardly surprising. Malec is began to appear unstoppable. His stack now mor than 5.5 million. - SB
11:08pm: Amazing hand, better danceLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
This was a hand Alisan Holozlu might be talking about for some time. In a battle of the blinds, Aram Sargsyan raised from the small, and Holozlu re-raised from the massive. At the Q♦Q♥8♣ flop, Sargsyan checked, let Holozlu bet 90,000, then raised to 200,000. Holozlu called. The turn was the 5♣. Sargsyan checked after which called the 125,000 bet. The A♣ at the river made Sargsyan check again. Now, Holozlu moved all-in for around 350,000. Sargsyan thought for a minute but ultimately mucked.
Holozlu couldn't resist. He turned up the every-barrel bluff: T♣6♣. There has been a little bit gasp across the table, however it was overshadowed by something else.
Chip leader Sebastian Malec was standing nearby munching on a cookie. When he saw the bluff, he set free an involuntary, high-pitched giggle. He couldn't contain himself. As though embarrassed by the giggle, he covered his cookie-munching mouth together with his hoodie. Still, the bluff had entertained him at some primal level, and his feet began dancing. Malec start to spin in fast circles in what could only be described as a cheerful dance. He spun and spun until he was in the midst of the television stage. At that point, he gave the impression to realize he had drifted too removed from his game and hurried back to his seat. It was beautiful within the weirdest real way. --BW
Sebastian Malec, chip leader, giggle box, involuntary dancer
10:45pm: Grafton outLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
It's the tip of the principle Event for Sam Grafton, one of the most last high profile players in tournament.
Grafton open shoved for rather less than 600,000 from early position. With play folded to Anthony Chimkovitch he too announced all-in, for a shade over 600,000. He had Q♦Q♣ to Grafton's A♦3♦.
"You're in big trouble," joked Grafton. "Massive trouble."
He was almost right. The flop came 5♠J♦4♣ which no less than gave Grafton a straight draw. Nevertheless it did not materialise on either the 9♠ turn or T♥ river. A REALLY PERFECT performance from Grafton, but one who leads to 31st place. Chimkovitch as much as 1.35 million. - SB
10:44pm: Chip leader loses...Level 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
Sebastian Malec, he of the large chip lead, has suffered a loss, but it surely won't affect his standing at the leaderboard. A COUPLE OF MINUTES ago, he looked into his bag and yelped aloud. He dug in the course of the bag, threw a package of cookies aside, grabbed for a case, shook it, and grumbled.
Malec says he's lost his sunglasses: rectangular lens, black frames, yellow at the earpieces. If found, please return to the person with the mountain of chips. --BW
10:30pm: Make that 31Level 25 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
Byron Kaverman crashes out, shortly after Miroslav Forman was eliminated by Sebastian Malec.Kaverman opened from under the gun which was raised by Andreas Chalkiadakis to 285,000 before Kaverman moved all in for 855,000. Chalkiadakis tanked called with J♠J♥, to look Kaverman turn over A♠6♠.
The board ran out A♦J♦T♣8♣Q♥ to send Kaverman out. We're right down to 31 players. - SB
10:32pm: Right down to 33Level 24 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
That's all she wrote for Didier Mazairac. He got his last 385,000 in with 4♦4♣ but bumped into Konstantin Puchkov's pocket jacks. The run out of 5♥7♠8♠K♠K♣ was no help, and Mazairac left in 34th place. --BW
| 25 | 20,000 | 40,000 | 5,000 |
10:01pm: Malec running away with itLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
With only a minute to head until the break, Sebastian Malec is solely crushing it with 4,875,000 in his stack. --BW
10pm: Markus Durnegger eliminatedLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
We missed the main points of the hand, but in line with his position on the payout table, Markus Durnegger have been eliminated in 35th place. --BW
9:55pm: Addamo vs GraftonLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
There were already various mint chips (25,000 each) within the pot when the flop was dealt J♣4♣6♠. Michael Addamo within the small blind and Sam Grafton under the gun were contesting it.
Addamo bet 225,000, which Grafton called for the 4♦ turn card. More betting from Addamo, 275,000 this time, which Grafton called after a couple of minutes. At the T♠ river though both players checked. Addamo turned over J♠6♦. Grafton checked out it for a moment or two before folding.
A hit for Grafton, who drops right down to 850,000. Addamo meanwhile has 3.6 million. - SB
9:50pm: Chimkovitch misses with kill shotLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
Shortly after that massive pot with Koukouris, Chimkovitch tried to place his man out of his misery. In a battle of the blinds, they got it all-in for 575,000 with Koukouris's pocket deuces up against Chimkovitch's A♠7♥. Chimkovitch missed, and the deuces were good to get Koukouris back over a million.--BW
9:45pm: Chimkovitch recovers with monster potLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
After sliding down below the only million mark, overnight chip leader, Anthony Chimkovitch,is back in great shape after a monster pot that developed largely on his periphery.
Spyridon Koukouris came in for a raise to 70,000, and Chimkovitch re-raised to 180,000 from the button. Stephen Malone was within the small blind and compelled the action much more for what gave the impression of a around 400,000. Koukouris, who had around 1.5 million in front of him announced he was all-in.
With barely any consideration, Chimkovitch announced he, too, was all-in for almost 900,000. Malone (who later said he had ace-queen), despite having some huge cash invested, mucked his cards and let the opposite two visit war.
Koukouris: 9♦9♣Chimkovitch: A♠K♥
With an ace dead, Chimkovitch had fewer outs than he would have liked, but he hit a king at the flop, and that was good enough.
Koukouris was reduced to around 600,000 while Chimkovitch moved as much as around 2.3 million. .--BW
9:35pm: Jacks twice destroy BerentLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
Another elimination. This time it's Norbert Berent who's heading out of the primary Event, losing two pots to Konstantin Puchkov in quick succession.
On the first, Jean-Jacques Zeitoun opened from mid-position and Puchkov shoved from the button. Berent, within the small blind, called and immediately tabled his cards, revealing J♦J♣. He didn't appear to keep in mind that Zeitoun still had cards, but they were soon within the muck after gaining the additional information.
So it was Puchkov versus Berent for the former's tournament life. Puchkov was in peril with 9♠9♥ against Berent's jacks, but a nine came at the turn to attain a large double up for Puchkov.
Not long after, Puchkov got the remaining. After Pavel Plesuv opened for 65,000 in early position Puchkov called. Berent moved all-in for his last 225,000, a move that forced out Plesuv but which Puchkov called.
J♦J♠ for BerentA♣K♥ for Puchkov.
Berent's misery was confirmed presently. At the flop of A♥3♣9♥ Berent through his arms up within the air. Twice his jacks were beaten.
On the 6♠ turn he got up and figured he might to boot put his shoes back on. By the 9♦ river card he was shaking hands with everyone at his table. He's out. Puchkov as much as 1.6 million. - SB
9:24pm: Lucky double for BerentLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
Down to 410,000, Norbert Berent decided Pavel Plesuv's button raise to 65,000 was worth shoving back over. Berent moved in, Plesuv snap-called with A♠Q♠. Berent only held K♣9♦, but it surely looked much better after the K♦9♥5♦ flop. The two-pair held, and Berent moved as much as just about 900,000. Meanwhile, Plesuv was left with around 1.1 million.--BW
9:20pm: Win one, lose oneLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
This isn't in accordance with science or anything, more a general feeling, but if a player tanks for a very long time they either fold, or they call and lose. It's never an excellent ending for them. So when Morten Mortensen tanked for what felt like ten minutes in a hand against Yordan Petrov the writing was at the wall.
It had started several minutes earlier when Mortensen opened for 75,000 within the small blind. Petrov raised to 215,000 from the large blind and Mortensen called for the flop of 3♥Q♥T♣.
After checking that they got the 5♥ turn card. Mortensen check called Petrov's bet of 180,000 for the river card 2♥, that's where everything slowed down.
Mortensen had checked again and Petrov, after slightly thinking time, bet 375,000.
Mortensen had a few million behind but would spend a protracted period fascinated about it. See you later actually that another player at over again was all out and in before Mortensen did anything.
That player was Alexey Romanov, who three-bet shoved with A♥J♣ and was called by Pavel Veksler with K♣K♠. Romanov got a jack at the flop but nothing more, while Vexler moved as much as 2.5 million.
That brought attention back on Mortensen. Like I said, in these cases you work it's bad news for the tanker. But Mortensen called. Petrov showed 5♦4♠ but Mortensen, much to his own delight, had K♣Q♣ to take the pot. AN EVEN call.
Petrov drops to twelve. million, but Mortensen, who was busy because the start today, is as much as around 2.25 million. - SB
9:10pm: Belluccia can't find yet one more outdrawLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
Not for the primary time today, Alejandro Belluccia was all-in pre-flop and in real trouble against Mikhail Molchanov. Belluccia had K♦J♣ but Molchanov had A♣K♥ and Belluccia would have to come from behind again to survive.
Not this time, Alejandro.
The board ran 9♦3♥5♣Q♦4♦ and Belluccia's stack of 415,000 was slid to Molchanov, putting him within the neighbourhood of 1.6 million. Belluccia is out in 38th and gets €21,300. -- HS
8:45pm: Chimkovitch takes a hitLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
Anthony Chimkovitch is right down to 725,000 after a hand against Stephen Malone. Chimkovitch opened from the bring to an end for 65,000, which Malone raised to 195,000 from the button. Chimkovitch called and so they saw a flop.
A♥K♠9♣
Chimkovitch check-called Malone's bet of 165,000 for the 7♣ turn card. Chimkovitch checked again, but this time folded when Malone bet another 375,000.
Another big pot for Malone who now has greater than 3.2 million. - SB
Stephen Malone
8:35pm: And they are back!Level 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)
The 38 players have returned from dinner and they're going to now play two more levels until wrapping for the night. The whole counts at this stage are over there at the chip-count page, and it's Poland's Sebastian Malec out front. -- HS
Your leader: Sebastian Malec
7:15pm: Dinner breakLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
That's the tip of Level 23 and the rest 38 players are occurring an 80-minute dinner break. We'll have the entire chip counts from the sector once the tournament officials get them to us. -- HS
7:04pm: Malec at the makeLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Sebastian Malec is by far probably the most active player at his table, and has by far the largest stack too. In what's quickly becoming a type of typical hand, Malec opened his button, making it 50,000 to go, and Aram Sargsyan and Alisan Holozlu both came along from the blinds.
Those two both checked the 2♦Q♠J♦ and only Holozlu called after Malec bet 45,000. Both remaining players then checked the T♠ turn, bringing the 5♥ at the river. Holozlu's check allowed Malec to bet 132,000 and pick it up. -- HS
7:02pm: Owen cuts down KoonLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
After nursing his short stack for some time, Jason Koon finally found a hand and while eating a salad announced he was all-in for his last 160,000 from early position. Adam Owen reraised to 315,000 from a few seats over, and the table stepped aside.
"I have an effective hand for seven big blinds," said Koon between bites as he tabled A♠Q♠. But Owen had a greater one with A♦K♥, and after the 7♠5♠5♥5♣2♦ runout Koon missed his flush and is out in 40th.
Koon wished the table well as he left, and Owen stacks up 1.08 mllion. --MH
6:45pm: Game faced GraftonLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
When Sam Grafton pouts it is a mistake to think about it anything rather then his game face. And presently he's pouting a lot.
He opened for 51,000 in middle position which Jose Quintas raised from the cut off, making it 135,000 to play. The action reached Grafton again who called for a flop of A♣4♣8♦.
Grafton checked, leaving it to Quintas to bet another 115,000. That was enough to get the interest of a TV camera which came visiting to have a look. Again, Grafton called.
On the T♠ turn Grafton checked once more, as before placing his hand flat at the table along with his fingers outstretched, pressing down at the felt. Quintas also checked and the river card came 9♦.
No checking this time. Grafton went to his stack, picked up 200,000 after which announced "Three-ten". Numbers this big have an impressive effect, therefore prompting Quintas to take away an ear piece to ensure he heard it right.He had no real response rather than to stare intently on the board for a couple of moments. It was a stare that will have said "I've missed what I USED TO BE hoping for. Is there the rest available in the market that will help me out of a decent spot?"
The answer in such cases can be no, because it was here. Quintas folded, sending a large pot to Grafton. Quintas all the way down to 700,000 while Grafton, game face still firmly fixed, is as much as 1.3 million. - SB
Sam Grafton
6:58pm: Cortellazzi at the upLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Here's a slow-burner of a hand that ended up earning Andrea Cortellazzi greater than 600,000 chips and left Markus Durnegger with only 275,000 with which to play on.
It started with Cortellazzi raising to 60,000 from under the gun and Durnegger calling from the button. They were heads as much as the flop of 4♥A♦8♥ and Cortellazzi continued for 71,000. Durnegger called.
The turn brought the T♦ and the established pattern continued. Cortellazzi bet 155,000 and Durnegger called.
The river was the Q♦ and on they went: Cortellazzi bet 405,000 this time, which was a hefty chunk by anyone's estimations. Durnegger pondered his decision for a while, but then called. Cortellazzi turned over T♣T♠ for a turned set.
Durnegger mucked and now has some distance back. -- HS
6:36pm: Kaverman calls down Petrov, collectsLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
A blind-vs.-blind battle to share involving Yordan Petrov (small) and Byron Kaverman (big).
Petrov limped, Kaverman checked, and at the 8♦2♠K♠ flop Petrov bet 32,000 and Kaverman called. The Q♥ turn brought a 75,000 bet from Petrov, again called by Kaverman.
The river was the T♥. This time Petrov pushed out 120,000, and Kaverman didn't wait too long before calling a 3rd time.
Petrov turned over 9♦7♠, revealing all those small barrels were with air, while Kaverman had K♥6♦ for kings to win the pot.
Kaverman has 950,000 now, while Petrov is on 1.51 million. --MH
6:37pm: Crunch time for Friberg tooLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
At the similar table as Koon is Erik Friberg, who's also drifting towards the incorrect end of the chip counts. The Swede is all the way down to 400,000 after losing chips to Alexandru Baron.
Friberg opened for 60,000 in middle position. The action reached Baron within the blinds who asked Friberg how much he was playing. Friberg moved his arm just a little but said nothing. Baron removed his sunglasses to get a greater look, after which called.
The flop came 2♠T♠2♦ which Baron checked. Friberg bet another 65,000 which was called for a 5♣ turn card. That was checked for the 8♥ at the river. Baron took the lead this time, betting 125,000. Friberg inhaled, then exhaled, and knew he couldn't call. He didn't. Baron continues to climb, as much as 1.5 million now. - SB
Erik Friberg
6:31pm: Today's dispatch from PunxsutawneyLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
After nine straight days observing poker players, anyone might fear for his or her own sanity, that maybe they were in a Groundhog Day more or less loop. However, players at table 12 confirmed with their chuckles that the appropriate same hand did indeed play out twice.
Yordan Petrov opened to 52,000 and action folded to Thomas De Rooij within the small blind. He raised to 160,000 and it came back to Petrov, who tank-folded. Then Yordan Petrov opened to 52,000, and action folded to Thomas De Rooij at the button. He raised to 160,000 and it came back to Petrov, who tank-folded. -- HS
6:27pm: Crunch time for KoonLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)Jason Koon is facing elimination after losing chips to Damien Luis. With a board of 4♣8♦3♣2♥9♠ Luis had shown 6♣5♣ which beat the cards Koon chose to fold. It leaves the yankee with around 260,000 and wanting help fast. Luis meanwhile has a more well-off 1.1 million. - SB
Jason Koon
6:22pm: Ruzicka wins monster off chip leaderLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Give it to Vojtech Ruzicka. The person has guts.
After calling a raise to 53 within the blind blind from Nuno Capucho, he saw a flkop of Q♣5♥T♠. Ruzicka checked, and Capucho continued for 61,000. That was when Ruzicka decided check-raise to 196,000. At the A♠ turn, Ruzicka came out for 211 and Capucho called. The K♥ at the river lengthened the hand by another five minutes. Ruzicka pushed all-in for 575,000. Capucho thought for 5 minutes before Sam Grafton called the clock. After thinking for many of his allotted time, Capucho made the decision with a suite of queens...only to peer Ruzicka's J♥7♥. Yeah, read back over that hand and notice if it doesn't turn your stomach just a little. --BW
Vojtech Ruzicka
6:21pm: Lofberg busts CazaLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Marco Caza opened from middle position and got two callers in Simon Lofberg behind him and Mikhail Molchanov within the small blind.
Flop: 6♦7♦T♥. Check, check, and check.
Turn: 7♥. With some deliberation, Molchanov led with of venture of 85,000. Taking less time, Caza reraised all-in for roughly 560,000 total. Then acting much more quickly, Lofberg reraise-shoved. Molchanov's fold was the quickest of the entire moves.
When Lofberg pushed, Caza exhaled wearily, almost vocalizing an "oohhh" as he knew it wasn't good for him. Indeed, he showed his K♣T♥ for 2 pair, but Lofberg had turned trips with A♣7♠.
River: A♠. Full house for Lofberg, and Caza is out.
Lofberg's stacks are all different heights on the moment, with numerous uncollected chips scattered across the columns. Eyeball estimate: 1.8 million. --MH
6:20pm: Shalamov goneLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Team PokerStars Pro Online's Mikhail Shalamov have been eliminated after losing with pocket fours vs. ace-queen. --BW
Mikhail Shalamov
6:17pm: A proposal he couldn't refuseLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Marc Trijaud is the most recent player eliminated. He shoved from the massive blind with A♠2♠. Andreas Chalkiadis was within the small blind (we aren't certain whether he limped or bet) but he called with A♥K♥.
The board came 4♥7♥5♦9♠Q♠. That was no good for Trijaud who have been all in for around 300,000.
"I would has been so mad if I'd lost the pot," said Chaliadis with a smile. The person has a tattoo of Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone on his right bicep. One wonders how mad. Regardless, he's as much as greater than 1.8 million. - SB
6:15pm: Muscle menLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
There's some good strong-arming happening available in the market on the moment, with both Uri Reichenstein and Sebastian Malec wielding their big stacks confidently.
After Byron Kaverman opened his button to 75,000, Markus Durnegger may need hoped his raise to 250,000 from the small blind would get the job done. But he hadn't reckoned on a chilly four-bet shove, with a covering stack, from Reichenstein within the big blind. Both Kaverman and Durnegger folded.
Byron Kaverman
As that one was playing out, Malec had played an enormous pot against Alexey Romanov that was on the river. It is a shame we do not have the main points of the betting to this point, but if I first looked over there has been heaps within the middle and a board of 5♦9♦6♥9♥9♣ exposed.
Malec shoved with a stack that covered Romanov's 640,000. Romanov opted to maintain them. -- HS
6:10pm: One out, one still inLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
A double up for Adem Marjanovic who not just got his chips in with A♥A♠ but in addition got a choice from Markus Durnegger, who had T♣T♠. The board came K♦3♦Q♥Q♠5♠ to maintain Marjanovic within the game, as much as 680,000. Durnegger meanwhile has somewhat greater than one million chips.
Adem Marjanovic
On the following table Albert Puigsech was gathering his things and making his approach to the rail. The one thing is he passed the rail and was half solution to the door before a floorman caught up with him to remind him there has been the small matter of his payout to prepare. "Oh yeah," he said, and drifted back. - SB
5:50pm: Double, double, doubleLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
A handy double here for Spyridon Koukouris, who's now as much as about 950,000 chips. Marco Caza opened to 48,000 and Koukouris shoved for roughly 430,000. Caza called, but was dominated. Caza had A♥Q♣ to Koukouris's A♠K♣.
All five cards at the board were less than a ten and Koukouris's king was decisive.
Not long after, Caza also doubled the fast stack of Zorlu Er so it has been a nasty orbit for Caza.
(On the topic of doubles, Mikhail Shalamov also got one shortly after the break.) -- HS
5:56pm: Zorlu caught in shove-Er-fold modeLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
During the last level there came a hand through which Zorlu Er, all the way down to a brief stack, watched a player raise his big blind, and he spent a while considering even if to name or reraise back.
At one point the player from Turkey looked up on the dealer and opened his mouth, but no sound came out. It searched for the entire world like he was about to make that all-in decision, but he resisted.
Here in the beginning of Level 23, Er finds himself starting the extent 42nd out of 47 remaining players. Today he did choose to push all-in -- as an open-raise -- but everyone else stepped aside.
Er sits with about 270,000 right now, keeping alert for the following shoving spot. --MH
5:55pm: Vogt doublesLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Out at the feature table, Stefan Vogt managed to double as much as around 25 big blinds after getting9♠9♣ all-in versus chip leader Nuno Capucho's Q♦J♦. Capucho whiffed on every street and kept Vogt alive. --BW
5:44pm: Updated chip counts; 47 remainLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)
Just 47 left now, with Uri Reichenstein again the chip leader to begin the brand new level after he pushed past Nuno Capucho again on the top of the counts. Here's the present top 10, and make sure to check the chip count page for an entire update of everyone's counts.
| Uri Reichenstein | Germany | 3700000 | |
| Nuno Capucho | Portugal | Live satellite winner | 3060000 |
| Sebastian Malec | Poland | PokerStars qualifier | 2620000 |
| Norbert Berent | Poland | Live satellite winner | 2270000 |
| Alisan Holozlu | Germany | PokerStars player | 2200000 |
| Stephen Malone | Ireland | PokerStars player | 2100000 |
| Alexandru Baron | Canada | 1670000 | |
| Andreas Chalkiadakis | Greece | PokerStars qualifier | 1500000 |
| Pavel Plesuv | Moldova | PokerStars qualifier | 1500000 |
| Jean-Jacques Zeitoun | France | Live satellite winner | 1480000 |
They'll be playing yet another 90-minute level, then leave for the dinner break before returning to play two more levels after that. --MH
| 23 | 12,000 | 24,000 | 4,000 |
5:20pm: Break time
Reaching the tip of the level, players are off again on another 20-minute break. --MH
5:16pm: Goodbye SousaLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Stephen Malone is as much as 2,150,000 after sending Ruis Sousa to the rail. I arrived to peer Sousa looking drained and Malone, well, more than pleased. It took him another two hands to get his new chips stacked up after his pocket queens held against Sousa's ace-queen on a board of 4♠6♦6♠9♥2♣. - SB
5:15pm: Big-chip battle between Berent and ChimkovitchLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Under his yellow hoodie, start-of-day chip leader Anthony Chimkovitch is wearing a black t-shirt with an image of Popeye, the Sailor Man. At present Chimkovitch found himself fascinated about a tussle of a hand, with Norbert Berent playing the Bluto role on this fight.
After Berent opened from late position for 45,000, Chimkovitch called from the large blind and checked the 9♠6♠J♦ flop. Berent continued for 50,000, then Chimkovitch check-raised to 127,000 and after a pause Berent called.
Anthony Chimkovitch
The 2♠ fell at the turn to position a 3rd spade at the board, and Chimkovitch led this time with a gamble of 240,000. His repeated bets were representing strength, as if he were saying over and and again "I'M what I am."
Berent again called.
The river was the 6♦, pairing the board. Chimkovitch gathered chips and pushed forward of venture of 450,000 this time. After only a few seconds, Berent got all of his together and slid them ahead as a reraise to around 800,000.
We have no idea if he ate his spinach, but would Chimkovitch be strong to the finich?
He didn't act immediately, but after exhaling Chimkovitch folded relatively quickly -- within 10 seconds. Berent then tabled his hand -- A♠3♥! What a bluff!
Chimkovitch sat motionless for a second, not unlike Popeye upon getting punched within the nose by Bluto. He shook it off, though, and calling "nice hand" around the table continued the battle.
Berent is as much as 2.15 million now, while Chimkovitch still has around 1.38 million. --MH
5:10pm: The upward push and brilliant fall, and continued fall, of Taichi YoneyaLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Taichi Yoneya could be out of the primary Event, but no person can say his departure wasn't memorable, despite the fact that it was played out over the process about an hour.
As we mentioned earlier, Yoneya is ultra-short, none of which put him off a noble "to the last chip" poker strategy, aiming to squeeze as much out of his Main Event experience as possible.
We followed the closing stages of his tournament, ante by ante (which at the moment is 3,000).
31,000 chips28,000 chips25,000 chips
At this point Yoneya asked Konstantin Puchkov next to him for change. This did nothing to extend the worth of his stack, but did wonders for its size.
Looking over on the tournament clock, Yoneya asked for confirmation that the number "55" within the top corner represented the players remaining. Correct.
22,000 chips
Yoneya folds and goes back to texting on his phone.
Incidentally this isn't the primary time a player has hung seemingly for the pleasure of hanging on. Back at EPT Deauville several seasons ago an identical strategy was adopted, although if so the player involved was looking to reach the cash (he did).
19,000 chips
A player raises in early position. It kind of feels unlikely that Yoneya would call all-in and true to form he folds. He goes back to texting. Someone available in the market is receiving these messages and living all of this with him.
16,000 chips
With 55 players left there are still 15 players to move before the following pay jump. It kind of feels unlikely he'll make it.
13,000
Technically he now has five more hands to play, although the blinds gets to him before then.
THEN IT HAPPENS!
On the following hand he moves all in for 13,000 decisively. Immediately he's wished good luck by players around him, one in every of whom folds saying "It was too fast, sorry", relating to Yoneya's shove, to much laughter.
Now it's on Alexandru Baron who bets 80,000, a raffle which casts a shadow over Yoneya's stack. All of us inched forward for the show down. Baron showed first, A♥J♦. Then Yoneya. A♣K♦.
More laughter. Yoneya was ahead.
"I must have known better," said Baron, grinning. Yoneya was loving it.
The flop of 8♥7♦9♠ got a couple of oooohs. So did the 7♥. Then the river card, a nearly cruel T♣ to offer Baron the straight.
Yoneya's no surrender rear guard was ended with a nasty beat. He wished everyone good luck, and the compliment was returned. A SUPER if unconventional performance from Yoneya, out in 54th place. -- SB
5:05pm: Vogt doublesLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Stefan Vogt was right down to his last 119,000 and got all of them in with Q♦J♥. Vojtech Ruzicka again took the responsibility on himself and called along with his J♣T♣.
Vojtech Ruzicka
The flop came 5♣7♥Q♠, which kept Vogt ahead. Then the 2♣ came at the turn to provide Vogt a sweat, however the 3♥ bricked the river. That's a double for Vogt. -- HS
5pm: Mercier's luck runs outLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
"Am I free to move"? Jason Mercier said, pondering out loud whether he was now required to perform a little interviews, having just been eliminated in 52nd.
Mercier shoved his last 240,000 from the button but found a choice from Vojtech Ruzicka. Mercier had to come from behind when he showed his 9♥8♠ against Ruzicka's J♦J♠. And although there have been outs for him after the 6♦A♥T♥ flop, the 4♣ and 9♣ turn and river didn't help.
He was the last Team PokerStars Pro within the field, but Team Online's Mikhail Shalamov flies the Red Spade still. -- HS
4:50pm: Double for BellucciaLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Alejandro Belluccia open shoved for 388,000 from early position and Chebli Chebli re-shoved for 915,000 from the button. The blinds got out the way in which and so it was only the 2 of them to run a classic race. Belluccia had Q♠Q♥ and Chebli A♣K♠.
Chebli took the lead at the 5♣K♣T♦ flop, but Belluccia went back ahead at the Q♣ turn. Chebli had re-re-draw outs, however the 5♦ was no significantly club-shaped. Belluccia doubles. -- HS
4:46pm: Erase Chalkidis from the boardLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Vasileios Chalkidis is out after committing his last 330,000 with J♠J♥ but having the misfortune of running into Alisan Holozlu's Q♣Q♦.
The A♠5♣T♣4♦2♦ board kept the most efficient pair in front, and while Chalkidis finishes 55th Holozlu is now up around 2.5 million. --MH
4:40pm: Too many outs for MercierLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Jason Mercier has only 12 big blinds left after he couldn't hit any of his mountain of outs in a pot against Chebli Chebli.
They got it in at the following flop: 5♦4♥6♣, when Mercier had 7♣7♠ and Chebli 5♥6♥. Mercier had 13 outs at the flop and he picked up another three at the T♣ turn. "Alright, all outs are clean," Mercier said. Chebli was the person at risk, but he was still the favorite at this point, despite Mercier's outs.
The K♣ came at the river and that doubled Chebli as much as 500,000 and sliced Mercier right down to 250,000. -- HS
4:31pm: Yoneya at the ultra-short stackLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Alexandru Baron raised from middle position to 45,000, and it folded to Taichi Yoneya within the big blind.
After posting, Yoneya had but 69,000 left behind, and after taking a look at his cards he craned his neck to take a look at to peer a tournament clock, clearly interested to look what number of knockouts they're from the following pay-jump. (With 55 players left, it is not until they get right down to 39 that it's going to go from €17,920 as much as €21,300.)
Yoneya thought another minute or so, then called the raise, leaving himself 44,000.
"You have aces, sir?" cracked Baron, and the table chuckled.
The flop then came 9♣6♠9♠, and after Yoneya checked, Baron said he was all-in and Yoneya folded.
The next hand Yoneya was at the small blind, and after posting that and the ante he had but 31,000. Baron raised again and it folded to Yoneya, and after counting the collection of players on the table -- getting an concept what number of 3,000-chip antes he had left -- Yoneya folded. --MH
4:15pm: Yoon busts to CapuchoLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Brian Yoon, the two-time bracelet winner, will not visit his first EPT final table. He got his micro-stack of 65,000 within the middle with J♥7♣ and Nuno Capucho re-shoved his chip-leading stack to isolate.
Yoon: J♥7♣Capucho: K♣J♣
The board gave a flop of hope when it contained the 7♥. Nevertheless it also had the K♦ alongside the A♣. The turn of 4♣ and the river of K♥ kept Capucho ahead. Yoon wandered away. -- HS
4:12pm: Value for Van PuttenLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
With the board showing A♥9♣9♥6♠K♣ and nearly 300,000 within the middle, Jasper Meijer van Putten fired 220,000 and after a little bit a wait Thomas De Rooij called the bet. Quickly Van Putten tabled A♦K♠ for prime two pair, and De Rooij mucked his hand.
That puts van Putten at 1.3 million or so, while De Rooij is on 220,000 now. --MH
4:10pm: Joentausta outLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Aku Joentausta is out after a large hand versus Alisan Holozlu. There has been so much already within the middle after we reached this one, with the board dealt to the turn 5♣T♦J♣A♥.Holozlu bet 178,000 which Joentausta called for the 2♠ at the river. At this point Holozlu moved all in. Joentausta reflected in this for some time after which called. However the two pair he'd made with A♣J♦ was beaten by Holozlu's T♥T♣.
The stacks were almost even at the river so Joentausta was forced to hang out while things were counted. Joentausta knew he was out and got able to leave. The dealer said he owed 504,000. This he could afford and say backtrack again. Until the dealer corrected himself.
"Six-hundred, sorry."
So, Joentausta got up again. For good this time.
A few people checked out Holozlu's new stack, after which at him.
"I don't have any idea," he said with a grin, anticipating a coarse guess as to how much he now has. The solution though is nineteen. million. - SB
4:06pm: Yoon keeping head above water...barelyLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
After getting crushed within the last level, Brian Yoon has managed a double up. With barely greater than two bigs in his stack, Yoon managed to select up pocket nines and lead them to hold for a double. Needless to say, he still has numerous work sooner than him.--BW
4pm: Belluccia thanks his lucky queensLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
Alejandro Belluccia played the hand of the day at the feature table yesterday, but has suffered the slings and arrows since then and was right down to his last 395,000 when he returned beneath studio lights. However, he has just doubled up beyond 800,000, spiking a four outer at the river to overcome Harcharan Dogra Dogra.
They got all of it in pre-flop. Belluccia had K♥J♠ and was dominated by Dogra Dogra's A♥K♣. The flop changed nothing. It came 3♦5♥T♦. The turn seemed good for Dogra Dogra. It was the A♣.
But that opened the window for a gutshot suckout, which duly arrived when the Q♥ popped out at the river.
Dogra Dogra will now need to rebuild from his stack of about 600,000. -- HS
3:52pm: Updated chip counts; 58 remainLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)
It's a brand new level, and the chip count page have been freshly updated top-to-bottom for the 58 remaining players.
Nuno Capucho leads with greater than 3.3 mllion now, with Uri Reichenstein the closest challenger with 2.65 million and no person else above 2 million. The present top 10:
| Nuno Capucho | Portugal | Live satellite winner | 3363000 |
| Uri Reichenstein | Germany | 2650000 | |
| Markus Durnegger | Austria | PokerStars qualifier | 1789000 |
| Norbert Berent | Poland | Live satellite winner | 1702000 |
| Anthony Chimkovitch | Belgium | 1625000 | |
| Simon Lofberg | Sweden | 1530000 | |
| Andrea Cortellazzi | Italy | 1522000 | |
| Sebastian Malec | Poland | PokerStars qualifier | 1424000 |
| Andreas Chalkiadakis | Greece | PokerStars qualifier | 1385000 |
| Jason Koon | USA | PokerStars player | 1370000 |
Meanwhile, Sam Grafton has an above average stack, while Adam Owen, Vojtech Ruzicka, Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier, and Erik Friberg are all still battle just a little below the common. --MH
| 22 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 3,000 |
3:36pm: Koon ends level on a highLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
A big hand involving Jason Koon to finish the extent. Damien Luis opened for 35,000 which Koon, two seats along, three bet to 85,000. Diego Zeiter was at the button and called before Luis did the same.
They saw a flop: 9♣9♦3♥
Luis checked, so did Koon. Zeiter though went to his stack and bet 90,000. Luis passed but Koon raised, making it 240,000 total. Zeiter, perhaps a little bit surprised, asked for confirmation of the amount, nevertheless it was right there in his face, as clear as anything. So he called for the 7♦ turn.
This time Koon came out betting, 180,000 more. Zeiter thought for some time but finally folded his hand, leaving Koon with a stack just shy of 1.4 million.
"I didn't think you were folding, honestly," he said to Zeiter because the break began. "I ASSUMED we were playing for stacks." - SB
3:35pm: Another champ downLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Ronny Kaiser was a number of the early departures today and now he have been joined at the rail by Nicolas Chouity because the former champions continue to fall.
Nicolas Chouity
Chouity got his chips in--about 600,000--with 7♥7♦ but was in an international of hurt against Jose Quintas's A♥A♣. The board ran J♣J♠6♦K♠K♦ and Chouity headed out the door. -- HS
3:30pm: Pleuv doubles, Yoon nearly goneLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
After a gap raise to 32,000, Moldova's Pavel Plesuv three-bet to 105,000 at the button. The small blind got out of the way, but Brian Yoon jammed out of the massive blind. It came back around to Plesuv who called with J♦J♥. Yoon had A♥K♣. After a 2♦7♦9♦2♣8♠ run-out, Plesuv, who had 436,000 in front of him, scored the double. Meanwhile, Yoon have been hobbled and went to wreck with 60,000.--BW
3:25pm: Capucho captures another, nears 3 millionLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
With the board showing J♥6♣7♦2♣8♦ and around 300,000 within the middle, Christian Jeppsson checked over to Nuno Capucho who bet all-in, and after a lengthy tank Jeppsson called to commit his last 385,000 or so.
Capucho tabled 6♦6♥ for a suite of sixes, and Jeppsson's hand was briefly shown -- J♦T♠ -- before he headed out.
Capucho catapults up just shy of three million with that pot. --MH
3:15pm: Two double upsLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
All-in with aces for Diogo Veiga. He doubled up his 540,000 stack against Marc Trijaud. Two tables along there has been another double up, albeit smaller. Taichi Yonega was celebrating after his K♦J♦ did very well on a board of Q♦9♦T♣8♠5♦. His opponent Ryan Mcgarry was less happy, suggesting that Yonega, who doubled as much as a still meagre looking 150,000, slow-rolled a bit, although unintentionally. McGarry all the way down to 450,000. - SB
3:07pm: Sousa pips Koon for doubleLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Jason Koon had are available for a raise to 36,000 under the gun. Rui Sousa, seated immediately to Koon's left, jammed for 304,000. Play folded back around to Koon who dwelled at the decision for a minute or so before finally electing to make the call.
Koon: 8♦8♥Sousa: 9♠9♥.
Koon's chances improved quite a lot after an all-diamond flop, but he missed the remainder of the way in which. Sousa moved his stack up over 600,000. Meanwhile, Koon is all the way down to about 900,000. --BW
3:06pm: River ace saves FormanLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Miroslav Forman raised for the minimum from late position, and it folded to Olli Autiö within the big blind who asked Forman what he had behind. "I'VE three," was the response, indicating about 300,000. Autiö then re-raised all-in. Forman called. Autiö showed 8♣8♥ while Forman had A♥8♦.
Miroslav Forman shoots for the stars
The board came T♠K♥6♦, then 6♠, then... A♦! Forman slapped the felt rapidly thrice on the sight of the river ace, because it had saved his tournament life.
The three slaps faintly echoed the 3"" he'd said throughout the hand, but a count of his chips showed Forman actually had in the direction of 400,000 behind, meaning he'd doubled to around 820,000. Autiö has 1.25 million. --MH
3pm: Another eliminationLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Sergei Chantcev is out. He shoved with K♠2♦ for just wanting 200,000. Marc Trijaud was next to behave and called with 5♦5♣.
The board came 3♠8♣A♥9♦5♠ to send Chantcev to the rail. Trijaud now has around 880,000. - SB
2:58pm: Jacks good three waysLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
With 391,000 left, Konstantin Puchkov was very happy to look a raise, all-in, and re-shove before he even got to behave together with his jacks. He, too, was all-in, and here is what he was up against.
Konstantin Puchkov: J♦J♠Vasileios Chalkidis: A♣K♠Andreas Freund: A♦Q♣
Puchkov had Freund covered but was in danger against Chalkidis. It became largely academic after the flop when a jack appeared and gave Puchkov a suite. There has been a straight re-draw out there, nevertheless it didn't come in.
Puchkov has now moved above a million, Freund went bust, and Calkidis was left with 300,000. --BW
2:48pm: Andriamahefa busts to BerentLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Down to 64 commonly Event with the departure of Kevin Andriamahefa who was all in with fives against the tens of Norbert Berent. The board came 6♠7♥A♦9♣8♣ to send Andriamahefa to the rail. Berent now has 1.6 million. -- SB
2:41pm: Red spades square offLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
The two remaining red spades are on the same table -- Team PokerStars Pro's Jason Mercier and Mikhail Shalamov of Team PokerStars Pro Online -- and at present the pair got excited by a hand with each other that saw a bit a chip shift as a result.
Mikhail Shalamov: Team Online
Following a button open from Shalamov and speak to from Mercier, the flop came 5♣A♣7♠. Mercier checked, Shalamov bet 40,000, and Mercier called. The turn was the Q♥. Again Mercier checked, and when Shalamov bet 81,000, Mercier called once more.
The river was the 5♦, and Mercier was checking yet another time. Shalamov pushed out 170,000, and after thinking a short time Mercier called, then saw Shalamov table A♠K♠ for aces and fives. Mercier mucked, and now he's at about 530,000 while Shalamov presently sits with a slightly over 1 million. --MH
2:30pm: Five bet shoveLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Sam Grafton showed a six, and as he said only because he was on TV. It came after he won a hand with a five-bet shove against Norbert Berent.
Mortensen opened the pot under the gun plus one, for 36,000. Grafton then three bet to 91,000 which Berent four bet from the button, to 225,000. Mortensen folded but Grafton waited, pouting for a while before announcing he was all-in. Berent folded his cards, watching as Grafton showed him the six. - SB
2:29pm: Eight-eight equals double for Chebli ChebliLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Lebanon's Chebli Chebli pushed all-in together with his last 240,000 from under the gun, appropriately with a pocket pair -- 8♣8♦. It folded to Vojtech Ruzicka who called him with A♠K♠, and after a 2♥5♠J♥J♦6♣ board Chebli had doubled (after which some) to 530,000. Ruzicka still has 895,000. --MH
2:24pm: Another heading for the railLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Another elimination so as to add to the list: Eugene Katchalov now out. -- SB
2:22pm: Recent eliminationsLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Here are one of the most up-to-date eliminations:
71. Xixiang Luo72. Michael Eiler73. Georgios Zisimopoulos74. Kent Lundmark75. Alin Grasu76. Brynn Kenney77. Thomas Miller
For an entire list of payouts, visit our EPT Barcelona Main Event results page. --BW
2:17pm: Capacho knockes out two, takes over leadLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
Nuno Capacho was edging up toward Uri Reichenstein's chip lead on the end of the primary level today, and with a large double-knockout to start out the brand new one it looks as if he's edged ahead into first position.
The hand began with an early position all-in from Kent Lundmark who open-pushed his last 250,000 from early position. Capacho called the shove from the following seat over, and it folded around to the blinds where there has been another call all-in from Alin -- Alin Grasu, that is.
Lundmark: A♠Q♣Capacho: J♦J♣Grasu: 6♥6♣
"Three-way all-in" said Andreas Chalkiadakis, standing up from his seat on the neighboring table, reporting back to Reichenstein, in fact, what the location was. "Jacks, sixes, ace-queen."
"Who can we wish to win?" asked Reichenstein. "Jacks," said Chalkiadakis.
The flop came 5♠K♣K♥ and switch 5♣. "Holding," reported Chalkiadakis. The river was the 3♦. "Jacks won," came the last report.
Both Lundmark and Grasu are out, and while everyone could be glad the sphere have been reduced by two players, Reichenstein won't realize Capacho has grabbed the lead clear of him, having chipped up now to 2.65 million. --MH
2:05pm: Big Mo for MortensenLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
If you're following EPT Live now Morten Mortensen just graduated to the feature table with around 1.3 million. The last 250,000 (roughly) of that came from Jason Mercier.
They just played a huge hand which as much as the turn, on a board of T♠5♥5♦J♥, and with greater than 400,000 within the middle, Mortensen bet another 196,000. Mercier tanked for a while, but ultimately folded. Mortensen has the large Mo at this time. - SB
2:02pm: Updated chip counts; 76 remainLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)
With the beginning of the brand new level, now we have a whole update of the present chip counts for the 76 remaining players. Uri Reichenstein fell back a bit of to simply over 2.6 million to finish last level, continues to be the chip leader prior to the charging Nuno Capucho. Here's the highest 10:
| Uri Reichenstein | Germany | 2605000 | |
| Nuno Capucho | Portugal | Live satellite winner | 2158000 |
| Thomas De Rooij | Netherlands | PokerStars qualifier | 2000000 |
| Anthony Chimkovitch | Belgium | 1733000 | |
| Simon Lofberg | Sweden | 1380000 | |
| Norbert Berent | Poland | Live satellite winner | 1305000 |
| Marco Caza | Canada | 1235000 | |
| Sebastian Malec | Poland | PokerStars qualifier | 1180000 |
| Morten Mortensen | Denmark | PokerStars qualifier | 1067000 |
| Olli Autiö | Finland | 1060000 |
Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier is solely outside of the highest 10 at this time with 980,000. --MH
| 21 | 8,000 | 16,000 | 2,000 |
1:40pm: Break time
The remaining 78 players at the moment are on their first 20-minute break of the day.
1:35pm: Ruzicka and Veksler recouping losses while Tang bustsLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
Ping Liu just busted against Vojtech Ruzicka. All in for a modest sum Liu had J♠Q♣ against Ruzicka's A♦J♥ with a board that came 8♦5♣T♥6♣K♥. While Liu heads for the rail Ruzicka climbs to around 600,000.
Then Danny Tang was making his strategy to the rail. First he was mugged by a shove from Morten Mortensen in a prior hand that cost him a piece of chips. Then he looked down at pocket sevens and shoved for 250,000. Pavel Veksler had found pocket tens and called.
The board was dealt Q♦8♠K♦8♦6♠ which sent Tang to the rail in 81st. Veksler, who lost that gigantic hand against Mortensen earlier, starts the rebuilding process, back u pto 600,000. - SB
1:30pm: Kenney doubles, gives it backLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
After five-bet shoving from the button with A♣K♠, Brynn Kenney managed to hit a king versus Michael Eiler's pocket sixes within the small blind. Kenney had around 600,000 at that time. But minute later, he got K♠J♠ in versus Eiler's T♥T♦ and doubled Eiler up. --BW
1:30pm: Counting up new leader Reichenstein's stackLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
"What are you playing there, about three?"
The question was posted to Uri Reichenstein, the German player who just won an immense queens-versus-jacks pot to catapult into the chip lead.
"I honestly don't know," he said, beginning to tally the various columns before him. He guessed somewhat not up to the three million his tablemate had suggested, but wasn't so sure.
"You may well be right. I'm pretty bad at counting," he cracked.
More calculations made by both Reichenstein and others helped pinpoint things further for Reichenstein -- he has about 2.9 million. --MH
1:26pm: Former champ departsLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
Ronny Kaiser is gone. Sitting at the featured table, he had 189,000 left. He shoved it and immediatley knew he was in trouble when Michael Howard shoved excessive. Nobody else got involved, so Kaiser showed his A♠7♠. It was well behind Howard's K♣K♠, and it didn't catch up. --BW
Ronny Kaiser
1:20pm: Sgorrano goneLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
After the initial rush of eliminations, the pace has bogged down slightly because the day's first level nears its end. Following the hot knockout of Jerome Sgorrano, now 86 players remain. --MH
1:18pm: Red on blackLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
As the primary hour of play today concluded, Jason Koon stood up from the table to stretch after folding a hand. A FEW flashes of red jumped out at the black floor -- his shoes.
Koon's sporting some very comfortable looking sneakers which can be the deepest shade of red imaginable. For movie buffs they could thoughts of The Wizard of Oz (whose protagonist benefited greatly from her footwear) or the The Red Shoes (whose protagonist benefited besides from red shoes, though finally they proved a curse).
Jason Koon: Dorothy?
As some of the 86 runners still remaining on this event, Koon has pretty much as good a possibility as anyone along with his current stack of just over 1 million to make the long walk to Sunday's final table. --MH
1:18pm: Innerpsy doublesLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
The loud clap you will have just heard was Team Online's Mikhail Shalamov doubling up with A♠J♦. The clap was because, all in for his last 330,000, it gave the impression of his tournament was over until the river as he was up against the pocket threes of Peyman Luth. The board explains Shalamov's excitement.
5♠9♣9♠8♦8♣
The river card eight brought Shalamov's ace into play. He was delighted, and now has 690,000. - SB
1:05pm: Pivotal handLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
Morten Mortensen is having an excellent day. He started with a double up through Vojtech Ruzicka (see time stamp 12:42pm) and now just won a huge pot against Pavel Veksler.Admittedly I DID NOT see anything before the river, however the amount of chips within the middle suggested things were very exciting.
With a board reading 5♦8♦T♣A♠J♣ Mortensen was all in for his last 378,000 behind a gamble of 170,000 from Veksler, who was now spending several minutes quietly thinking what he should do next. He had 540,000 behind. Without reference to what happened this was a pivotal hand for both.
Almost without anyone noticing Veksler called. Mortensen turned over Q♦9♦ for the straight. Veksler checked out his cards again and mucked, his expression never changing. It was Jason Mercier who mentioned the ruling though, that called all-ins require both hands to be shown. The dealer showed Veksler's J♠8♠.
"I don't care to peer it," said Mercier, almost apologetically. "But you have to be consistent. No person ever desires to show."
Mortensen now has 1.1 million, while Veksler is at the danger list with 365,000. Mortensen is having an excellent day. - SB
12:59pm: Veksler raise vexes MercierLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
With about 80,000 within the middle and the board reading J♥Q♠3♦, Pavel Veksler led with a bet, Jason Mercier raised to 139,000, then Veksler pushed all-in for 665,000 total.
Mercier considered a half-minute or so, then decided to pitch his hand, keeping his stack of about 1.15 million. Vecksler jumps to 840,000. --MH
12:56pm: More outsLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
Neculai Macovei -- winner of that gigantic bubble hand back on the end of Day 2 -- returned today to a brief stack and was just ousted in 94th. Wael Sarkis (93rd), Padraig O'Neill (92nd), Michael Kane (91st) and Robert Lipkin (90th) then followed him to the rail. --MH
12:50pm: Speedy and never so speedy eliminationsLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
Two eliminations on tables side by side. Within the first it appeared that Markus Durnegger had doubled through with pocket queens against Alexander Greenblatt. But on closer inspection, and a precise count, Greenblatt was covered and on his technique to the payout desk.
On the following table it was somewhat more obvious. Tomas Macnamara was all in with K♦7♣ for about 150,000 which Sebastian Malec called with A♠K♥. The flop came A♣4♥Q♣ which just about put things in Malec's favour. The turn card 9♠ made that certain, and the dealer cried "seat open" before delivering the now irrelevant T♠ river. - SB
12:42pm: Set over setLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
A double up for Morten Mortensen who moved in for 233,000 after finding pocket kings. Vojtech Ruzicka found sixes and called, and in other hands would have done well out of the set he made at the flop. However the king was sitting right there alongside it to send the chips to Mortensen. Ruzicka still has greater than 900,000. - SB
12:37pm: Wince and a callLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
It's a typical look in no-limit hold'em tournaments, especially once they reach the latter stages. The wince, an expression often found at the faces of these contemplating all-in calls.
Vojtech Ruzicka was the most recent to sport the wince. He delivered it after opening for 28,000 from the hijack seat, watching Ping Liu reraise all-in to 194,000 from the cutoff, then seeing everyone else fold back to hiim.
Do I call? Do I fold? Ruzicka did finally call, and turned over a typically wince-y hand -- A♥T♠. And the look continued when he saw Liu table A♦K♦.
The better hand held, and Ruzicka slips to 710,000 while Liu bounces as much as 415,000. --MH
12:30pm: Ladies and gentlemen, Jason MercierLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
12:21pm: Sointula, Tran, Revenas outLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
Following the knockout of Luiz Orrico in 98th, Jani Sointula (97th) and Van Hiep Tran (96th) soon followed.
Just after that, Tobias Revenas was all-in with ace-queen versus Markus Durnegger's pocket sevens, and when the flop brought Durnegger a seven and two deuces to make an entire house, Revenas was soon on his method to the cashier's table because the 95th-place finisher. --MH
12:11pm: Looking good on the startLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
I'm undecided whether it is the sunshine, the Barcelona climate, or the possibility of a €1.1 million first prize, however the 98 players returning today seemed remarkably fresh for a bunch of people that has been playing poker for therefore long. They're also in good spirits. Even the dealers were smiling previous to play starting, with their decks displayed of their own signature patter (these can also be neat lines, echelons, swoops, etc.).
Several players needed to go from table to table in search of the best seat. This will likely or will not be a deliberate tactic by the television crew, to create ambiguity within the table order, so that you could film enough footage of players looking thoughtful for the slow motion montage on the end of EPT Live tonight. - SB
12:10pm: MacNamara survivesLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
One of the day's first hands saw Tomas MacNamara open-raising all-in for 69,000 from under the gun with A♦9♠ and getting a single caller in Olli Autiö who picked up K♠J♦ at the button.
The A♥4♥T♦ flop gave MacNamara couple, but Autiö still had a gutshot to Broadway, then the K♥ turn card gave the latter a pair to boot. The T♠ river was safe for MacNamara, however, and he remains in his seat with about 160,000 now. Autiö has 510,000. --MH
12:08pm: Roovers knocks out OrricoLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)
Luiz Orrico was probably the most several short stacks to start out today, and he's become one of the vital first eliminations after committing his last chips with K♠J♣ versus Mark Roovers who held A♣8♠.
A runout of 5♦5♠A♥6♦7♦ spelled the top for Orrico, while Roovers now has about 450,000. --MH
12:01pm: Schedule change!
Well, there were changes. Once scheduled to play five levels and not using a dinner break, the day will now be an extended. Tournament officials have added a dinner break and an additional level. So, now we're scheduled to play six levels with a dinner break. We now expect to be finished for the day in about 12 and half hours. Settle folks. We are going to be here some time. --BW
11:48am: Final 98 shooting for Day 5
Day 4 is ready to begin, and from this point forward, nearly every hand goes to matter. By the tip of today, there'll only be two or three tables left. There are five former EPT champions left within the field, they all in search of what will be the second (and doubtless last ever) repeat EPT champion.
As we commence play today Belgian Anthony Chimkovitch holds the chip lead. His 1,825,000 can be up against 6,000/12,000/2,000 blinds and antes. He and the remainder of the sphere are scheduled to play five levels today and end around 9pm.
We could have full coverage beginning momentarily. Persist with us.--BW
Anthony Chimkovitch
Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for EPT13 Barcelona and the remainder of the season.
Also the entire schedule information is at the EPT App, that's available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT13 Barcelona Main Event: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris, and Brad Willis. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog
The view over Barcelona from Montjuic
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