At an hour like this, it's hard to wrap up 13 hours of play, and it's pointless to even try.
At one point, we had imagined the tale tonight to be all about Adam Owen holding a large lead going into the general table, to be able to be seven handed when play reconvenes at 1pm tomorrow for 2pm live cards up coverage. But a hand minutes from the top changed that.
So then we imagined the tale would Thomas De Rooij snatching the lead from Owen with a type of ace-high hero calls that proves aesthetics has a component to play in poker. That alone would was some of the stories of the day, although arguably the horrific bad beats suffered by Morten Mortensen and Stephen Malone earlier trumped that.
But none of this gives tonight's headline. That instead belongs to Uri Reichenstein, who snatched the lead on the bell tonight by about one big blind.
Here's how things stand with seven left:
Uri Reichenstein - 11,325,000Thomas De Rooij - 11,175,000Andreas Chalkiadakis - 5,050,000Zorlu Er - 7,075,000Harcharan Dogra Dogra - 1,760,000Adam Owen - 9,800,000Sebastian Malec - 7,325,000
When play began at 12 noon, there have been 21 nations represented within the last 24, and no American players at all.
Vojtech Ruzicka was the primary to go away; Pavel Plesuv will be the last. In between we'd seen promising performances from previously unknown players, among them Anthony Chimkovitch, Andrea Cortellazzi, Alexandru Baron, and naturally Mortensen and Malone, who may find sleep a bit of difficult tonight.
If you are not quite able to call it an afternoon our live updates from the €10K High Roller continue into the early hours. Follow those by clicking here. Meanwhile you will see the consequences thus far and pay-outs still to come back mainly Event by clicking here. For action from today, including all of the gut-wrenching moments from the day, simply scroll down for all Day 5 updates.
12:50am: Day ends with Dogra Dogra within the tankLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Harcharan Dogra Dogra had only 16 big blinds in his stack and raised to 360,000 from under the gun. In most circumstances, that spells a monster, but Uri Reichenstein wasn't scared. He three-bet the cutoff to 825,000 (with 9.3 million back) and Dogra Dogra pondered his options.
After spinning a chip around between thumb and middle finger, Dogra Dogra called. He then checked the T♥3♠7♣ flop. Reichenstein bet again, this time a tiny tickle of 325,000.
Dogra Dogra let the extent run all of the way down, which took them to the tip of the day. "Tomorrow!" he said, as he folded. -- HS
12:40am: De Rooij hero call earns the chip leadLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Thomas De Rooij and Adam Owen just played a pot that was bigger than Harcharan Dogra Dogra's total stack. The short-stack will need to have been delighted to look them go at it, but not as delighted as De Rooij, who won it and takes the chip lead.
Owen opened the cutoff and De Rooij called within the big blind. This had happened before. De Rooij checked the Q♦Q♥4♥, but Owen bet. De Rooij called. Then Owen followed De Rooij's second consult a chance of 770,000 on the 3♣ turn. De Rooij called. Then Owen bet the 6♦ river, this time 1.15 million, and after a little while to ponder, De Rooij called yet again.
Owen tabled his K♥T♦ but De Rooij were right to hero-call along with his A♠8♠ and was paid off with the chip lead.
De Rooij now has 11.3 million, while Owen has 10.19 million. -- HS
12:25am: Magic man Malec wakes with a boatLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Sebastian Malec just woke from his reverie (he seems absolutely exhausted and looks as regards to sleep on the table) to take a pot from Harcharan Dogra Dogra.
Dogra Dogra raised his button and Malec defended his big blind. That much was standard. The 9♠7♦7♣ flopped and Malec bet 345,000. Dogra Dogra called.
Both players checked the 9♥ turn and that brought the T♦ at the river. Malec bet 750,000 at it and Dogra Dogra called quickly. But Malec showed his 7♠T♠ for a turned boat, which got bigger at the river, and Dogra Dogra mucked.
Sebastian Malec
12:20am: De Rooij up againLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Thomas De Rooij is back into second place after taking a small pot from Zorlu Er and Andreas Chalkiadakis. De Rooij opened to 350,000 from the hijack and both Chalkiadakis, within the cutoff, and Er, at the button, called.
The flop came 4♠J♣T♦ and De Rooij bet 600,000. After a couple of minutes combined of deliberation, both Chalkiadakis and Er folded. -- HS
12:10am: Nine minute nothingLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
We have seen some slow downs at the EPT, but things have gotten a bit out of hand during seven-handed play. Both Zorlu Er and Andreas Chalkiadakis are taking an eternity over every decision--and they fairly often fold in spite of everything the delay.
In this latest hand, Er raised to 350,000 from under the gun and Harcharan Dogra Dogra called from one seat along. Uri Reichenstein three-bet to 1,075 from the button and it then got very, very silly.
Chalkiadakis, within the small blind, tanked for four minutes, counting out 2 million in chips and suggesting he could be raising, but he eventually folded. Then despite having had those four minutes to think about his decision, Er asked how much was the bet, then waited about three minutes before also folding. (Dogra Dogra also folded quickly.)
The hand took nine and a half minutes to play and so they didn't see a flop. -- HS
11:55pm: Latest chip counts in seat orderLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Seat 1. Uri Reichenstein, 7,480,000Seat 2. Thomas De Rooij, 7,260,000Seat 3. Andreas Chalkiadakis, 7,510,000Seat 4. Zorlu Er, 7,380,000Seat 5. Hacharan Dogra Dogra, 4,720,000Seat 6. Adam Owen, 13,150,000Seat 7. Sebastian Malec, 5,945,000
11:55pm: Owen does what chip-leaders should doLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Folded to Adam Owen at the button, he raised to 360,000. Uri Reichenstein called within the big blind after which checked the flop of 9♣J♥Q♣. Owen bet 400,000 and won the pot.
Folded to Adam Owen within the cutoff, he raised to 360,000. Thomas De Rooij called within the big blind after which checked the flop of 4♣Q♣Q♦. Owen bet 300,000 and won the pot.
It's what a chip leader can do, should do and can do. -- HS
11:45pm: Dogra Dogra boosts his stack (again)Level 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Thomas De Rooij opened for 350,000 within the highjack which Harcharan Dogra Dogra called in small blind, as did Adam Owen from the big.
The flop came K♦5♦Q♥ which was checked all round. So was the 9♦ turn for a 7♠ river. It was checked to De Rooij who bet 475,000. Dogra Dogra called (Owen passed) showing J♦Q♠ which beat De Rooij's A♦8♦. Dogra Dogra as much as 4.78 million. - SB
11:35pm: Back againLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Don't forget, the plan for the day now's that we play to the tip of this level or until the following elimination, whichever is soonest. In accordance with the virtually total inaction from the primary 20 minutes of the level, the previous resolution is the favorite. -- HS
11:15pm: Back againLevel 31 - Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)
Everyone ready for Level 31? Good, then we'll begin.
| 31 | 80,000 | 160,000 | 20,000 |
11pm: Break timeLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
That's the top of Level 30 and the last seven players are warding off for a break. We've got some structure to the day with the scoop that play will end on the end of the following level if seven players are still involved, or on the next elimination, whichever comes soonest.
Here are the stacks on the moment:
Adam Owen - 12,865,000Thomas De Rooij - 9,115,000Uri Reichenstein - 8,235,000Zorlu Er - 7,200,000Andreas Chalkiadakis - 6,450,000Sebastian Malec - 6,265,000Harcharan Dogra Dogra - 3,315,000
10:55pm: Three pair no goodLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
Sebastian Malec just took a pleasing pot from Uri Reichenstein when the latter turned three pair, that is useless in poker, especially when his opponent had a greater two pair.
Malec raised the hijack, making it 270,000 to play. Reichenstein called within the cutoff they usually took a 2♠J♥J♦ flop.
Malec checked, Reichenstein bet 120,000 and Malec called. Then the A♠ came at the turn and both players checked.
The 5♠ came at the river and Malec check-called Reichenstein's bet of 440,000.
Reichenstein showed A♥2♥, which was aces and jacks with a five. Malec had A♣Q♠ which was aces and jacks with a queen. The queen played; the pair of deuces that Reichenstein had was irrelevant. -- HS
10:45pm: De Rooij moves as much as secondLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
Thomas De Rooij just took at the chip leader Adam Owen, and he managed to pick out up a few streets of value as Owen bluffed away.
Thomas De Rooij goes bluff picking
Owen opened the cutoff, making it 275,000 to play, and De Rooij called from the large blind. They saw a flop of J♥3♦K♣ and here's where the bluff picking started.
First up, De Rooij check-called a 300,000 bet. They both checked the Q♠ turn but then Owen had another go on the T♣ river, betting 475,000. De Rooij picked it off, forcing Owen to turn his 7♦2♦.
De Rooij had K♠8♣ and the pot put him second at the leader board. -- HS
10:35pm: Two, three, four betLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
Andreas Chalkiadakis and Adam Owen just renewed their acquaintance. Chalkiadakis opened to 255 from UTG+1 and Owen, at the button, said very clearly, "600 and eighty thousand." He then put the chips over the line.
Chalkiadakis, whose decisions take about so long as I take to bear in mind the best way to spell his name, then surprised many with a four-bet to 1,075,000. All of us thought he was about to fold.
Now, with the action back on Owen, the chip-leader folded. -- HS
10:20pm: Chalkiadakis takes a nibble from OwenLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
Andreas Chalkiadakis just took some chips from Adam Owen after the chip leader got lairy with six high pre-flop.
Owen opened to 270,000 from under the gun and Chalkiadakis called at the button. Zorlu Ur also called, from the small blind, and the 3 of them saw a flop of 7♣3♥5♦.
Er checked, but Owen continued, betting 350,000. Chalkiadakis called and Er folded.
The 7♥ came at the turn and Owen now bogged down. He checked, with Chalkiadakis checking behind, taking them to the A♥ at the river.
Both players checked again, and Owen showed 6♦3♦. But Chalkiadakis tabled J♥J♠ and that took it. -- HS
10:15pm: Rubber-neckingLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
These is probably not household names, but persons are bending the ropes to observe this event here in Barcelona:
10pm: Dogra Dogra boosts his stackLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
Dogra Dogra just did his prospects some good winning what became an invaluable sized pot against Chalkiadakis. On a flop of K♥3♥Q♠ Chalkiadakis bet 280,000 which was called after which checked the 4♣ turn, as did Dogra Dogra. At the 8♣ river it appeared like the betting could be over. But with the action checked to Dogra Dogra he bet 325,000, which Chalkiadakis called. Dogra Dogra turned over A♥Q♣ which was enough to win the pot, and boost his stack to greater than 3 million. - SB
Harcharan Dogra Dogra
9:40pm: Another cooler, Pavel Plesuv bustsLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
This tournament has suddenly turned ice cold with Pavel Plesuv taking the long walk once you have an overpair beaten by a flopped set of eights.
Uri Reichenberg's stack
Plesuv opened to 225,000 from the hijack and Reichenberg called at the button, with Andreas Chalkiadakis also coming for the ride from the massive blind. Two players checked the flop of T♠8♦9♦, but Plesuv bet 560,000.
After Chalkiadakis folded, Reichenberg then shoved, a check-raise all-in. Plesuv called, but his pocket jacks were now behind Uri Reichenberg's eights, which had found another one quickly at the board. Plesuv had a straight draw too, but Reichenberg faded it and rancid went Plesuv in eighth, winning €165,950.
Plesuv also won €134,100 for sixth within the €10,000 event initially of this festival. -- HS
Pavel Plesuv
9:35pm: Er snags Malone in latest coolerLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
Zorlu Er and Stephen Malone can't leave each other alone, and their latest skirmish, immediately at the back of the former hand, has vaulted Er as much as 8.27 million and sent Stephen Malone out in ninth. This was an enormous cooler and it went within the favour of Er.
Malone opened to 275,000 from under the gun and Er three-bet to 975,000 from a few seats around. Malone then four-bet shoved and Er called instantly. (This was the very first thing Er had done quickly all day.)
Here's the reason:
Er: A♥K♦Malone: K♠K♣
This was looking just like the end of Er--he would has been left with 300,000--especially after the 8♦ turn followed the 4♦4♥2♥ flop. However the A♦ came at the river and it was Malone who span away in despair.
He marched out the door, devastated. And then, after he was called back in order that they could double check whether he was indeed covered, he got to march out the door again. He's now standing within the corridor not removed from the media room, inconsolable.-- HS
9:30pm: Malone gets a boostLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
The intriguing pots come early within the new level. Stephen Malone opened for 255,000 in early position which was called by Zorlu Er within the hijack, and Sebastian Malec within the big blind. The flop came 5♣T♦Q♦ which was checked to Malone who bet another 475,000. Er called while Malec left them to it. The turn came 6♥ and Malone bet another 800,000, about 1/2 what he had left. Er thought for a while, but folded. Malone as much as 3.8 million. - SB
9:20pm: Playing for moreLevel 30 - Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)
They got a grand total of 3 hands in on the last level before the blinds did indeed go up. Thomas De Rooij raised and took it. Stephen Malone raised and took it, then Uri Reichenstein did it again. -- HS
| 30 | 60,000 | 120,000 | 20,000 |
9:20pm: Postprandial actionLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
They are back from dinner and can play four more minutes at this blind level, before blinds will go up for Level 30. -- HS
8:05pm: Chips!Level 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Here's the general redraw of this tournament, with stacks on the dinner break too:
Seat 1 - Uri Reichenstein, 4.58 millionSeat 2 - Stephen Malone, 2.37 millionSeat 3 - Thomas De Rooij, 7.865 millionSeat 4 - Andreas Chalkiadakis, 6.55 millionSeat 5 - Zorlu Er, 4.995 millionSeat 6 - Harcharan Dogra Dogra, 3.195 millionSeat 7 - Adam Owen, 14.985 millionSeat 8 - Pavel Plesuv, 2.9 millionSeat 9 - Sebastian Malec, 6.035 million
7:55pm: DinnerLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
With only four minutes left at the clock, the remainder nine players are happening a dinner break. We're getting the single-table re-draw, and the chip counts, now. So hang on a minute before you boil a kettle for the Pot Noodle. -- HS
7:50pm: Huge suck-out; Mortensen busts!Level 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
We've just had a huge hand at the feature table that has taken us all the way down to the overall nine and sent Morten Mortensen to the rail in an absolute stinker. Adam Owen now has greater than 15 million chips and is actually crushing.
Mortensen will feel sick, but that is how this game works sometimes.
Owen opened from the hijack to 230,000 and Pavel Plesuv called from the cutoff. Mortensen three-bet the small blind, making it 775,000.
Action made it back to Owen who bombed it. With the most important stack within the room he can do this. Plesuv folded, but Mortensen had A♣K♦ and called. This was an enormous pot.
Owen had A♦T♦, so was way behind, however the poker gods are shining on him today.
The flop was dry. It came 2♠Q♥7♦ however the turn was the T♥. That catapulted him into the lead and, after the 5♣ came at the river, Mortensen's doom was confirmed. -- HS
7:45pm: He's an excellent kidLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Iliodoros Kamatakis just popped over on his dinner break from the €10k to talk to his friend, Andreas Chalkiadakis. When the ground asked him kindly to stay a definite distance from the television table, Kamatakis didn't mind at all, leaving some kind words about his friend:
"My Greek friend there," he said. "He's tattooed, but he's a gentleman. AN EXCELLENT player, and a fair kid."
Chalkiadakis has just been moved back to the outer table to balance things out. --JS
7:40pm: Owen continues his masterclassLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Adam Owen is the tournament chip leader, and he's dominating the feature table--albeit in near silence.
In his latest big hand, he opened to 225,000 from the cutoff and Morten Mortensen, who were on his own roll recently, called from the large blind.
The flop came 7♥J♦J♣ and Mortensen checked. Owen bet 200,000 and Mortensen called.
Adam Owen: Bossing
The turn was the 3♥ and Mortensen checked again. Owen bet 450,000 and Mortensen called again.
That took them to the river of 3♣ and Mortensen checked for a 3rd time. Owen emptied the clip. He bet 1.4 million, which put Mortensen into the tank for greater than three minutes.
Mortensen folded eventually, and Owen increased his stack as much as 9.6 million. -- HS
7:35pm: Baron out in 11th placeLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
We're right down to 10 often Event after the departure of Alexandru Baron. Thomas De Rooij opened from the bring to a halt for 225,000 before Baron shoved at the button for 1.3 million. De Rooij called showing A♠8♥ to Baron's 5♥5♣.
The board came 6♠4♦J♥A♥6♣ to send Baron out, while leaving De Rooij on 7.6 million. - SB
Alexandru Baron: The smile is now gone
7:20pm: Andrea Cortellazzi out in 12th (€81,700)Level 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
The curse have been broken, but it's at Andrea Cortellazzi's expense, I'm afraid.
He moved all-in from under the gun for 1.005 million and was called by the person to his left, Zorlu Er. Everyone else got out of the way, and the cards were flipped.
Cortellazzi: 6♦6♣Er: J♠J♣
The Italian would wish either a six, diamonds, or straight cards to fall for him to survive, but finally the T♣4♥2♠T♦8♦ was no good. He's off to gather his €81,700, and Er is busy stacking up just shy of 5 million in chips. --JS
Andrea Cortellazzi: The sport is up
7:10pm: Pot to MaloneLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Harcharan Dogra Dogra opened for 230,000 in late position. Zorlu Er called from the small blind and Stephen Malone did the similar from the massive. The flop came 2♦2♥6♦, which was checked to Dogra Dogra, who bet 125,000. Er called, as did Malone for the 5♠ turn card. All of them checked that, for the 6♥ river.
This time Er bet 500,000, which Malone called before Dogra Dogra folded. Er showed K♣7♣ but Malone's A♥2♣ was easily ahead. He's as much as 2.5 million. Er meanwhile has around 3.75 million. - SB
Stephen Malone
7:10pm: Mortensen moving upLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Morten Mortensen has just moved up a few spots at the leader board after he got maximum value when he rivered a straight. Mortensen raised from early position with J♠7♠ and he was up against only Uri Reichenstein by the point they were on the river on a board of T♠2♥9♣Q♦K♦.
Moretensen bet 575,000 and a dispirited Reichenstein called but mucked. -- HS
7:05pm: All deepLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
The smallest stack on the feature table sits in front of Morten Mortensen. But all things are relative. His stack of 4.355 million continues to be 43 big blinds.
The random table draw has actually landed the six biggest stacks within the tournament under the EPT Live lights. Everyone at the outer table has fewer than Mortensen.
Here's how they line up at the feature table on the moment:
Adam Owen: 8.39 millionAndreas Chalkiadakis: 7.98 millionSebastian Malec: 5.355 millionUri Reichenstein: 4.645 millionPavel Plesuv: 4.545 millionMorten Mortensen: 4.335 million
7pm: Do not fret guys, you're all safeLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
I'm beginning to think that I TRULY am cursed. Earlier Stephen Bartley said whenever I'm hovering by the outer table, nobody busts. A FEW hours later and...that's still true.
Stephen Malone open-jammed for 1.315 million and it folded around to Andrea Cortellazzi within the small blind. He called all-in for 1.015 million, and the cards were flipped after Zorlu Er gave up his big blind.
Cortellazzi: A♣Q♠Malone: A♥7♥
OK, so the at-risk player did have the most productive hand, but whomever lost this one would either be out or left with only three big blinds (and within the big blind next, in Malone's case).
But do not fret guys, I'm here! The flop came the 9♥8♦8♠, the turn the 6♠, and the river the 6♦ to make it a chop. Twelve still remain, but I'D not remain at the PokerStars Blog team if I keep this up. [He's right to be worried--Ed.] --JS
6:50pm: Cortellazzi shoves twiceLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Andrea Cortellazzi had only 525,000 - five big blinds - and moved all-in. Nobody called.
A couple of hands later he did it again, this time under the gun, and this time for 715,000. Again, nobody called, and Cortellazzi showed the A♠. --JS
6:40pm: Dogra Dogra King KingLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
It appeared like a hand that will fizzle out. Harcharan Dogra Dogra raised to 200,000 from the small blind. Would Andrea Cortellazzi let his big blind go? No. He moved all-in with A♥T♣ just for Dogra Dogra to name with K♦K♣.
Harcharan Dogra Dogra, left, and Andrea Cortellazzi
There wasn't much drama at the board, which came K♥5♥4♣9♣A♠ to send the chips to Dogra Dogra, who now has 4 million, while leaving Cortellazzi with 650,000, or little greater than six big blinds. - SB
6:35pm: Four bet for MortensenLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Morten Mortensen has broken out the four-bet early on after the resumption of play. He opened to 225,000 from the button, watched Andreas Chalkiadakis three-bet to 550,000 from the small blind, then four-bet 1.225 million.
Chalkiadakis folded. -- HS
Morten Mortensen: Four-bettor
6:25pm: Easy calculationsLevel 29 - Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Off they go in Level 29, where blinds are 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante) and eventually it is easy to calculate what number of BBs players have of their stack. Enjoy it for the following 90 minutes. -- HS
| 29 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 10,000 |
6:05pm: Another break
The level ends with Adam Owen leading at the feature table.
Adam Owen -- 7,950,000Andreas Chalkiadakis -- 7,600,000Uri Reichenstein -- 5,645,000Pavel Plesuv -- 5,400,000Sebastian Malec -- 5,150,000Morten Mortensen -- 3,565,000
Full counts of the last 12 players arising shortly. When play restarts blinds can be 50,000/100,000 with a 15,000 ante. -- SB
6:02pm: More moves from De RooijLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Thomas De Rooij made it 180,000 to play under the gun and got callers from the blinds Zorlu Er and Stephen Malone. The latter asked De Rooij how much he had behind, and the solution was around 3.4 million.
They all went to the 4♥7♦7♣ flop and it checked to the raiser. De Rooij continued for 210,000 and only Er stuck across the. turn was the A♣ and both checked, taking us to the K♠ river. Er checked, De Rooij made one last bet of 525,000, and that might give him the win. --JS
6pm: A slip for MalecLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
A pot between Chalkiadakis and Malec leaves the latter in fourth place. Chalkiadakis were calling the entire way because the board filled out 3♥9♠3♠5♥A♣. The ace at the river will have ruined things for Malec. Both players checked the river, with Chalkiadakis showing a winning A♠K♠ to take a sizeable pot and move as much as 7.6 million. - SB
5:50pm: Puchkov's run leads to 13thLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Konstantin Puchkov is out, but somehow managed to play just a bit part in his own elimination. This searched for all of the world like being an enormous pot between Zorlu Er and Thomas De Rooij, but ended with Puchkov pretty limply departing the tournament room.
Er opened the pot, making it 185,000 to play, and Puchkov, one seat to his left, called from a stack of not up to 900,000.
The next decision landed on the feet of De Rooij and he squeezed to 500,000.
The action came back to Er, where it quickly became inaction. Er checked out his cards a pair more times, then he asked the dealer what number of chips De Rooij was playing. The dealer told Er that she wasn't allowed to count them, so Er asked De Rooij how much he was playing.
"About one-point-seven," De Rooij said.
Er nodded in apparent comprehension, then said, "About two million" suggesting maybe he hadn't heard. No mind, he checked out his cards again, then very deliberately counted out what gave the look of being a raise. He put 2.5 million chips in a pile, stared some more at De Rooij, then shocked everyone by saying, "Fold."
Only then did anyone seem to realise that Puchkov still had cards, and he then also started counting out his chips. The last World Series bracelet winner within the field called, leaving himself 250,000 behind.
So they did see a flop in the end. It was 3♥9♦2♠ and Puchkov pushed his last chips over the road. De Rooij called instantly and Puchkov's K♥Q♠ had always been in trouble against De Rooij's A♣K♠ whatever way they played it.
The 3♠ turned and the 5♠ rivered and that sent Puchkov to the rail.
Er remains to be the table captain with on the subject of 5 million. Not goodbye ago he was stalling for pay jumps and now he's the tournament leader.-- HS
5:35pm: De Rooij picks one upLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Thomas De Rooij opened to 180,000 and Zorlu Er - who's definitely probably the most active player at the moment - called, before checking at the hours of darkness. The flop came down 7♦2♦3♠ and De Rooij continued for a similar amount, 180,000. Er asked for De Rooij to transport his hand so he could get a fair have a look at his stack, which sat 1.98 million strong. Er folded. --JS
5:30pm: It is a cruel gameLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
If you're watching EPT Live you will have seen the brutal nature of Mikhail Molchanov out in 14th place.
He was all in with K♥K♦ and got called by Pavel Plesuv with 9♠9♦. And things looked pretty good for him at the K♠T♥2♠ flop. Then the Q♣ turn, and the J♦ at the river. A straight for Plesuv and a harsh departure for Molchanov, out in 14th to gather €69,170. - SB
5:26pm: Holozlu busts next handLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Having lost that majority of his stack to Harcharan Dogra Dogra at the last hand, Alisan Holozlu has handed the remaining to Zorlu Er.
Er opened this pot, making it 165,000 from the hijack. Holozlu moved all in from the small blind for 980,000 total.
Er took a couple of moments, then called.
Er: A♠6♠Holozlu: A♠6♠
The flop left Holozlu drawing thin. It came A♣3♠4♦. The turn gave him a glimmer of hope: Q♣. However the 2♥ river was terminal. Holozlu departs in 15th and wins €69,170. - HS
5:23pm: Big hand no cardsLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Adam Owen three bet to 800,000 from the small blind, Uri Reichenstein four bet to 1,175,000 from under the gun plus one before Owen five bet shoved, forcing the fold from Reichenstein. No cards shown, but that hand leaves Owen with 8.4 million chips. Reichenstein drops to 4.5 million. - SB
5:20pm: Dogra style!Level 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Harcharan Dogra Dogra just picked off an enormous river bluff from Alisan Holozlu, leaving Holozlu extremely short and doubling his own stack. Dogra Dogra had top two pair, so it wasn't a hero call or anything, however the unheralded Spanish player is now a large mover. He doubled. That's Dogra Dogra Dogra Dogra!
Dogra Dogra opened to 180,000 and Holozlu called from the large blind. They both checked the flop of 9♦5♥7♠ but then Holozlu bet 200,000 on the Q♠ turn. Dogra Dogra called.
The K♠ came at the river and Holozlu shoved, covering Dogra Dogra. Dogra Dogra instantly called, and Holozlu turned over T♣8♠. He had a gutshot draw at the flop, but pure air at the end.
Dogra Dogra had about 1 million chips in his stack on the end, so he now has abour 2.3 million. Meanwhile Holozlu is in trouble. -- HS
5:18pm: From Twitter last nightLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
5:15pm: AnothEr winnEr for ErLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Not much has happened at the outer table since play re-started, but there has been a quasi-interesting hand to report. Alexandru Baron kicked it off with an open to 175,000, and only Zorlu Er would call.
The pair went to the 2♥4♣Q♠ flop and Er check-called the similar bet, 175,000. Then both decided to test the 8♠ turn. Finally the 5♦ landed at the river and Er put four fingers within the air, also announcing "four." He tossed within the 400k in four black chips and Baron didn't take too long to name. He'd muck though when Er showed him the Q♣T♥. --JS
The journey to becoming an EPT champion starts on PokerStars. Click here to get an account.5:10pm: Zeitoun goneLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Jean-Jacque Zeitoun goes out in 16th place. He shoved under the gun for 495,000 with A♣K♣. Sebastian Malec was within the small blind, found K♠K♥ and called.
Zeitoun asked Malec whether he desires to be beaten by an ace or a flush (he chose flush) and at the flop of 5♦J♣8♣ it looked a definite possibility. However the turn came 7♥ and the river 8♦ to send him to the rail. - SB
4:55pm: Redraw detailsLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
They have now done the redraw for the overall two tables. Here's how the last 16 line-up.
Feature table:
Seat 1 - Adam OwenSeat 2 - Mikhail MolchanovSeat 3 - Pavel PlesuvSeat 4 - Uri ReichensteinSeat 5 - Morten MortensenSeat 6 - Jean-Jacques ZeitounSeat 7 - Andreas ChalkiadakisSeat 8 - Sebastian Malec
Outer table:
Seat 1 - Alisan HolozluSeat 2 - Thomas De RooijSeat 3 - Alexandru BaronSeat 4 - Harcharan Dogra DograSeat 5 - Andrea CortellazziSeat 6 - Zorlu ErSeat 7 - Konstantin PuchkovSeat 8 - Stephen Malone
They will now play right down to nine, at which point they'll reassemble at a final"" table. Then they'll attempt to get to eight, for the general"" table. Then they'll attempt to get to six, for the "who knows what that is called" table. -- HS
4:50pm: One more double for CortellazziaLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
"You're bad luck Jack," Stephen Bartley told me. "EACH TIME you cover an all-in hand the player doubles up in place of busting."
Best to disregard this one then.
Andrea Cortellazzia has doubled up once again, moving all-in for 1.08 million and getting called by his nemesis at this table Andreas Chalkiadakis. The Italian had the Q♣T♠ and would have to hit against the Greek's 9♦9♥.
And hit he did - twice. Once at the T♥6♠7♦ flop, and again at the K♠Q♦ turn and river. Cortellazzia is as much as 2.34 million now, while Chalkiadakis drops to 4.93 million. --JS
4:40pm: All the way down to 16Level 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Down to 16 after Nuno Capucho gets unlucky, all in with A♦3♦ against the A♣3♣ of Thomas De Rooij. If we've not telegraphed what happens next enough, the board ran 2♣6♥6♣2♦7♣ to send Capucho out and the last 16 right into a redraw. - SB
Nuno Capucho: Out with the similar hand
4:30pm: Er finds no explanation for hesitation (again)Level 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
In a tournament from which just about all familiar names have now been eliminated, Pavel Plesuv is approaching star billing. He made a last table initially of this festival, within the first €10,000 event, and so is practically a household name compared with a lot of his present adversaries.
He just lost this pot, however, handing just shy of 400,000 of his chips to Morten Mortensen.
Plesuv raised to 175,000 from the hijack and Mortensen was the one caller within the big blind. After the flop fell 4♥2♥7♦, Mortensen check-called Plesuv's bet of 200,000.
They both checked the 5♥ turn after which the 6♠ came at the river. Mortensen bet 275,000 and Plesuv folded. -- HS
4:20pm: Er finds no cause of hesitationLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Despite a reputation that implies hesitation, Zorlu Er is not any longer essentially the most ponderous at his table--although it is a close-run thing. All of Er, Jean-Jacques Zeitoun and Stephen Malone are taking a very long time over every decision, keeping one eye at the pay-jumps, and it's slow-going on Table 2.
Er just slipped into aggressive gear, however, and that i don't mean he just placed on a bear-suit. After Alexandru Baron opened to 175,000 from under the gun, Er called to his left and Zeitoun called within the small blind.
The J♦A♥9♥ came at the flop and after two checks, Er bared his teeth with a chance of 425,000. His two opponents folded.
That's about as exciting because it have been on that exact outer table for the reason that most up-to-date tournament break. -- HS
4:15pm: Chips initially of the levelLevel 28 - Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
| Sebastian Malec | Poland | 7735000 |
| Andreas Chalkiadakis | Greece | 6150000 |
| Uri Reichenstein | Germany | 5940000 |
| Adam Owen | UK | 5525000 |
| Zorlu Er | Turkey | 4060000 |
| Morten Mortensen | Denmark | 4000000 |
| Alisan Holozlu | Germany | 3275000 |
| Alexandru Baron | Canada | 3100000 |
| Pavel Plesuv | Moldova | 2450000 |
| Harcharan Dogra Dogra | Spain | 2050000 |
| Mikhail Molchanov | Russia | 1985000 |
| Konstantin Puchkov | Russia | 1650000 |
| Thomas De Rooij | Netherlands | 1400000 |
| Stephen Malone | Ireland | 1010000 |
| Andrea Cortellazzi | Italy | 980000 |
| Jean-Jacques Zeitoun | France | 980000 |
| Nuno Capucho | Portugal | 920000 |
| 28 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 10,000 |
3:57pm: 20 minutes break
It's break time more often than not Event. There are 17 players remaining and they will be a redraw at 16. -- SB
3:56pm: Now it's Plesuv's turn to get luckyLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Wow, two double ups from behind in quick succession. This one was more stomach-turning though.
Morten Mortensen opened to 140,000 and Simon Lofberg made the decision. Pavel Plesuv then shoved for 1.12 million and it folded back to Lofberg who snap-called, showing the K♠K♦. Plesuv could only muster the 3♠3♣.
The 5♣A♣9♠ flop was bad for the at-risk player. So was the Q♦ turn.
But the 3♥ river was the miracle Plesuv hoped for. He doubled up after which some, while Lofberg dropped to 1.65 million. --JS
3:55pm: Cortellazzi gets a doubleLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Andrea Cortellazzi handed just about all of his chips to Andreas Chalkiadakis not too long ago, so it;s only fair that the Greek give a bit of back, right?
Cortellazzi shoved for 450,000 under the gun with the 6♦9♠ and Chalkiadakis called with the A♠8♥. Not even the eight at the turn could beat Cortellazzi's flopped pair of nines, and the Italian doubled to 1.05 million. --JS
3:50pm: Turning wellLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Presumably Andreas Chalkiadakis has seen enough of Konstantin Puchkov's play this week to understand that he doesn't always tell the reality. Even if Puchkov is outright admitting that he has a large hand, Chalkiadakis wasn't having it.
The two of them saw a flop, turn and river after Chalkiadakis raised his button and Puchkov called from the massive blind. The board read 6♥5♦4♣8♦3♠ and Puchkov bet 475,000.
"The turn was superb for me," Puchkov said as Chalkiadakis pondered the decision. He even pointed on the 8♦ but way of confirmation that that was the cardboard he was talking about.
Then Chalkiadakis called and Puchkov tabled his J♦7♦. The turn was excellent for him. Chalkiadakis mucked. -- HS
3:45pm: Malec back in frontLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Chalkiadis held the chip lead for approximately five minutes. It's now safely back in Malec's hands after he won a pot against Molchanov, showing K♥8♦ on a 8♣8♥Q♥4♥K♦ board to take his stack as much as 7,795,000. -- SB
The journey to becoming an EPT champion starts on PokerStars. Click here to get an account.3:40pm: Huge pot gives Chalkiadakis the chip leadLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Well that got out of hand fast. Andreas Chalkiadakis' 130,000 open was called by Simon Lofberg and Pavel Plesuv, and the action was on Andrea Cortellazzi. He checked out what was already a healthy pot and decided he'd give it an even squeeze, making it 500,000 to move out of the massive blind.
Back to Chalkiadakis then. He wasn't done with this one, four-betting to 1,025,000, and getting Lofberg and Plesuv to fold. It was back on Cortellazzi, and also you know what happens next.
He jams.
It was an enormous five-bet shove which just had Chalkiadakis covered, and the Greek went into the tank. "I've never folded kings at this stage of a tournament," he said, probably not to anyone, but along with his eyes firmly put on Cortellazzi.
Then, suddenly, he slammed down a choice. He did indeed have the K♠K♣, and that was beating the Italian's T♥T♠.
The 5♦8♣4♥ flop didn't bring a sweat. Neither did the 5♣ turn. Only two cards could do it, however the 5♥ river meant the kings were still in front and secured Chalkiadakis the massive double up.
He's as much as 6.54 million that is the chip lead right now, while Cortellazzi is crippled, left with jusT 375,000. --JS
3:25pm: Er... wait. He... what?Level 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
I'll be honest. I ASSUMED Zorlu Er was going to fold after Michael Addamo moved all-in for 900,000. He went through his usual routine. Check one card. Check the opposite. Spin them round. Check them both together. Lookup. Think for a couple of seconds. Fold.
But he only went and called.
The thing is there has been no showdown at this point. Because Addamo had decided to maintain 10,000 back, which confused Er and some others before we noticed. The flop came T♥A♣6♣. No pause this time from Er who bet 10,000. Then followed a moment to lift the eyebrows.
Addamo didn't do anything. It gave the look of a formality, toss within the last 10,000 and hope for the most efficient. But no. Addamo stared on the board for greater than a minute before Adam Owen decided sanity should prevail and called the clock. Half way through Addamo had decided that perhaps he should call, and gave up his last two chips, joking that he had top set, but turning over 2♥2♦. Er showed J♣J♠.
The turn and river came 5♠5♥ to position the hand out of its misery and send Addamo to the rail. - SB
3:20pm: New chip leader. JustLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Uri Reichenstein has taken the chip lead on this tournament, cold four-betting big at the feature table to edge him above Sebastian Malec.
Thomas De Rooij opened to 130,000. Alisan Holozlu three bet to 295,000 from the button and Reichenstein cut out 850,000 from the small blind and both opponents folded. -- HS
3:10pm: Dogra Dogra pays off ChalkiadakisLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Picking up the action on a Q♦7♦2♥ flop, Harcharan Dogra Dogra check-called of venture of 155,000 from Andreas Chalkiadakis to peer a 9♠ turn, which both checked.
When the 2♣ river hit the felt Dogra Dogra checked once more, after which faced a large bet of 500,000. After just a little pondering Dogra Dogra made the call, but mucked when the Greek player showed the A♠A♦ for pocket rockets. Dogra dropped to 810,000, while Chalkiadakis moved as much as 3.6 million. --JS
3:05pm: You don't want anymore luckLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Olli Autiö is out in 19th, slamming his A♠Q♣ into Uri Reichenstein's A♦A♣. He had 1.44 million behind within the cutoff, but Reichenstein awoke with the bullets within the small blind.
The board bricked. It came 2♣T♦8♥2♦4♣ and Autiö departed. He started to offer his good luck across the table, but then stopped in need of offering it to either Sebastian Malec or Reichenstein, who're now the 2 biggest stacks.
"You don't want to any extent further luck," Autiö said.
2:55pm: Er? ChopLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Zorlu Er was all-in again. He's now getting some cards and getting his chips within the middle. But his ace-king was matched by an ace-king in Michael Addamo's hand and it was a chop. -- HS
2:45pm: Unconventional Autiö confounds nanonokoLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Olli Autiö just picked up a tight pot after playing K♥Q♠ in a tough fashion despite a brief stack.
Uri Reichenstein opened from the cutoff, making it 135,000 to play. With only about 1.3 million behind, Autiö called at the button and Thomas De Rooij called within the big blind.
In the EPT Live commentary booth, Randy "nanonoko" Liu was surprised. He thought Autiö could only shove or fold, but then guesses that perhaps he was sitting with either aces or ace-ten.
If that have been true, Autiö can have loved the T♥2♣A♦ flop. And he's going to have liked Reichenstein's bet of 150,000 too. Autiö called and the plot thickened. (De Rooij folded.)
The Q♦ came at the turn and both players checked it. Then the 3♣ came at the river and both players checked again. That's when Autiö showed his K♥Q♠ and it was good. -- HS
2:35pm: Chimkovitch out in 20thLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Anthony Chimkovitch's tournament has come to an end. He shoved at the button for an excessively clearly stated 590,000. Morten Mortensen was within the big blind and called immediately showing A♦K♦. Chimkovitch turned over J♥9♥.
The flop was of the interesting sort T♣9♥Q♠
The turn came A♥ to position Mortensen back in front, albeit while Chimkovitch had options. However the river card T♦ sealed his fate. He departs in 20th place while Mortensen moves as much as 4,075,000. - SB
The journey to becoming an EPT champion starts on PokerStars. Click here to get an account.2:27pm: Malone gets early doubleLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Stephen Malone was nursing a brief stack for all the last level and it was only 690,000 when this one started.
He got it all-in very early, with J♠9♠, and located a decision from Mikhail Molchanov, who had A♦Q♠.
It looked bleak for Malone when flop and switch came 5♦2♣6♣3♠ but a nine popped out at the river to avoid wasting him. -- HS
2:25pm: Big anteLevel 27 - Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Off they go in Level 27, posting blinds of 30,000/60,000 and a monstrous 10,000 ante. -- HS
| 27 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 10,000 |
2:05pm: Owen takes more, eating into the breakLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
There are numerous things that poker tournament staff and media dislike. We're a miserable bunch usually. Near the highest of that list one can find "Hands That Go On Into The Break" and it really does often feel as if it is a conspiracy to rob us of that precious 20-minute down time.
Of course, you have to argue that whinging about it for 5 minutes isn't going to make things better, and you would be right. But there you go, I've written it now.
This hand played out into the break between Zorlu Er and Adam Owen, with Owen taking it right down to add to his superb end of level. This was the hand directly after Owen doubled up and it earned him another 750,000 chips.
Er started it, opening to 130,000 from the hijack. Owen called within the hijack and Jean-Jacques Zeitoun called within the big blind too.
Zorlu Er and Adam Owen play out a large one
The flop came Q♥6♠K♦ and Zeitoun checked. Er bet 220,000 and Owen raised to 575,000. That was too rich for Zeitoun (although he didn't seem entirely pleased to be forced out) but Er called.
The 9♦ came at the turn. Er checked, then Owen bombed it. He moved all in, covering Er's 1.25 million by some distance.
Er eventually folded, showing Owen the K♣. Owen didn't wait long to pile up his chips. He scooted away for what was left of his break.
Full chip counts to follow shortly. -- HS
2pm: Hectic play as level concludesLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
A busy spell on the end of the extent. First Zorlu Er doubled. After Mikhail Molchanov opened for 110,000, with calls from Alexandru Baron and Pavel Veklser, Er jammed for 830,000. Molchanov would call with K♣Q♣ against Er's A♥5♥. The board ran 6♥2♠Q♥A♠J♥, the turn rescuing Er who doubled to two million.
Zorlu Er
Moments later Simon Lofberg was shoving again (the fourth time in about QUARTER-HOUR.) He was in for 585,000 which Andrea Cortellazzi called.
Lofberg A♣T♣Cortellazzi 3♥3♠
The board ran 2♦Q♣7♥5♥7♣
Lofberg sensed his tournament was over at the flop and stood able to leave. He was right. He's out in 22nd place while Cortellazi now has within the region of 4.5 million.
Shortly after Veksler would join him at the rail.
He opened for 110,000 which Adam Owen raised to 375,000. When Veksler then shoved, Owen called turning over K♣K♥. For Veksler Q♠A♦.
T♥2♦6♦ 6♠4♣
Nothing to assist Veksler who, after a count to make sure (he was all in for 2.2 million), was declared out in 21st place. Owen meanwhile has on the subject of 5 million. - SB
1:45pm: Vogt won'tLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Stefan Vogt was knocked out from the feature table about half an hour ago. He turned two pair together with his K♣T♣ on a board of T♥9♥8♦K♥ but was already behind Uri Reichenstein's Q♦J♣. Vogt didn't hit any of his outs at the river, and he perished in 23rd for €41,220. -- HS
Stefan Vogt: Out in 23rd
1:40pm: No callers for LofbergLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Simon Lofberg has shoved his short stack a minimum of twice within the previous orbit and got folds all of the way around on both occasions. It was about 365,000 the primary time and slightly more afterwards.
Simon Lofberg: Battling to stick afloat
1:35pm: 100K value-betLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Michael Addamo opened to 125,000 from the cutoff and Jean-Jacques Zeitoun called from the button, as did Alexandru Baron from the massive blind.
The three of them took a glance on the K♦2♥T♠ at the flop and both Baron and Addamo checked. That allowed Zeitoun to bet 135,000 and only Addamo was taken with carrying on.
Both remaining players checked the J♦ turn they usually then saw the 3♣ come at the river. Addamo was first to talk and he put out the smallest bet of the hand: 100,000. Zeitoun couldn't resist and called.
Addamo showed his Q♣Q♦ and Zeitoun mucked. -- HS
The journey to becoming an EPT champion starts on PokerStars. Click here to get an account.1:25pm: Plesuv's good start continuesLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Plesuv has doubled up, continuing his solid begin to the day. He and Simon Lofberg got their chips in, Plesuv calling for his tournament life with A♦Q♣ against Lofberg's K♣Q♠.
The board ran 3♥A♣9♣3♦5♣ to double up the Moldovan, who now has 2.7 million. Lofberg drops to a dangerous looking 450,000. - SB
1:20pm: Molchanov shovesLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
On a flop of Q♥7♥2♠ a major pot was building between Michael Addamo and Mikhail Molchanov. With the action checked to the 6♠ turn Molchanov, playing out of the massive blind, bet 275,000 which Addam (button) called for the K♦ at the river. Molchanov checked, Addamo bet, after which Molchanov moved all-in.
Cue some thinking time, followed by a call.
K♥T♠ for AddamoK♠Q♣ for Molchanov
Addamo, who not way back had greater than 4 million chips, now drops to 1.7 million. Molchanov meanwhile is back as much as 3.5 million. - SB
1:10pm: Keeping it slowLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
There was a small chance that the sphere today could find the collective accelerator pedal and that we'd shed 10 or so players fairly quickly. But that may be removed from the case, and possibly the other is right. This was an overly slow opening hour of play.
Indeed, Zorlu Er just found himself at the wrong side of a player revolt at his table. It seemed a few of his opponents considered that he was taking too long to make pre-flop decisions, which typically resulted in him folding his cards. The tournament officials asked him to show a hand he tank-folded. When that turned out to be 3♠2♣, the suspicions were someway confirmed.
Er didn't receive a penalty and i am not even sure whether he got an official warning, but one hopes the information that suspicion is now on him will hasten things.
It could be wrong to single out Er, however. With among the last 23 deep in a tournament of this nature for the primary time, they're ensuring they take so long as is critical to ponder all aspects in their decision-making.
It's also become the case that a three-bet pre-flop often ends the hand. On one table, Adam Owen opened to 110,000 from the cutoff after which folded when Michael Addamo three-bet the massive unaware of 385,000. At the other table, Andreas Chalkiadakis opened the cutoff to 110,000 and Morten Mortensen three-bet the button to 280,000 and Chalkiadakis folded.
One hand did make it to the river. Mikhail Molchanov opened to 110,000 from under the gun and Addamo called from the small blind.
They both checked the A♥6♣5♠ flop after which Addamo check-called Molchanov's bet of 110,000 at the A♣ turn. After the 5♥ river and another check from Addamo, Molchanov's bet of 230,000 took it down. -- HS
1pm: More ammo for AddamoLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Michael Addamo just won a sizeable pot against Alexandru Baron. Addamo opened for 120,000 in middle position which Baron raised to 325,000 from the button. Addamo then called for a 7♦T♥6♥ flop which was checked both ways. At the Q♣ turn Addamo bet 450,000 to force Baron to fold. Addamo moves as much as 4.1 million while Baron has 2.3 million - SB
12:45pm: Ruzicka railedLevel 26 - Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Despite the confrontation with Andrea Cortellazzi that cost him numerous his chips, Vojtech Ruzicka remained busy on probably the most outer tables. However it didn't help. He's now out.
Ruzicka won a small pot in a battle of the blinds against Cortellazzi when he bet an ace-high flop and, galvanised, he open-raised his button at the next hand, making it 110,000 to play. Cortellazzi again seemed interested, asking Harcharan Dogra Dogra, who was within the big blind, how much he was playing before committing anything to the pot.
Dogra Dogra said that he had a million, but Cortellazzi was sceptical. There has been clearly much more than that during his stack. They established that it was a bit of greater than 1.3 million and Cortellazzi folded.
Dogra Dogra, however, called and so they took a flop of 6♣5♠7♣. Dogra Dogra checked, Ruzicka bet 120,000 after which Dogra Dogra sprung some more or less trap. He raised to 320,000.
Ruzicka counted down his own chips a few times, establishing that he had another 750,000 behind, or 870,000 in total. He shoved.
Dogra Dogra now wanted a count but, having got it, called pretty quickly and showed a flopped straight along with his 3♦4♠. Ruzika wasn't dead yet, though. He had outs along with his 6♦8♦.
Vojtech Ruzicka: Rotten flop
But he whiffed turn. That was the T♦. And he whiffed river. That was the A♦. Ruzicka becomes the primary man out today, finishing in 24th, and will now focus again at the WSOP Main Event final table, where he's due towards the tip of October.
The consolation is that he now doesn't must play a cards-up final at the eve of the largest day of his life, a fate that may have befallen him had he survived today. -- HS
| 26 | 25,000 | 50,000 | 5,000 |
12:25pm: Great start for Owen, takes two in a rowLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
The UK's Adam Owen is definitely probably the most accomplished players left within the field. A mixed-game specialist with multiple deep runs at this year's World Series Of Poker, in addition to several wins in UKIPT side events, he's hit the bottom running today (although going by the pace of play, it's more a slow jog).
In the primary hand he played, Alexandru Baron opened to 90,000 and got a choice from Zorlu Er within the small blind. Action was on Owen within the big and squeezed to 325,000, which shook off Baron but got a decision from Er. The flop came down 5♥4♠5♥ and Er checked. Owen took an excellent have a look at Er's short stack (850,000 behind) and announced all in. Er folded.
The very next hand Owen limped from the small blind after it folded to him and Stephen Malone checked his option. They saw a 4♣6♠3♥ flop and Owen led for 45,000 which was called, so the dealer burned and turned the T♣. That went check-check and a J♦ river fell. It wouldn't inspire to any extent further betting, and after both checked Owen showed the K♦3♦ and the pair of threes were good.
Owen is as much as 2.7 million, while both Er and Malone are on 850,000. --JS
The journey to becoming an EPT champion starts on PokerStars. Click here to get an account.12:20pm: Flying startLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
With a flop of K♥9♣6♣ at the table, Vojtech Ruzicka and Andrea Cortellazzi got the day without work to a flying start.
Pavel Plesuv played a supporting role. He checked to Ruzicka who bet 180,000, the primary of 3 bets, each of which was delivered with conviction. Cortellazzi was within the seat next to him and was next to behave. He took his time though, occasionally looking up at Ruzicka to peer him gazing him, as though looking forward to a solution to his question. For the primary time on this hand Cortellazzi tank called. Plesuv's part within the story was over.
The turn came 9♥.
Ruzicka went to his stack again, 365,000 this time. Cortellazzi checked out his cards again. He sniffs from time to time, breathing through his mouth. It gives him a glance of virtually complete exhaustion, mental if not physical. His hair looks as if it's been pulled at, his face rubbed so much. You'd think the poker table was the last place this guy must be. Still, he called.
The river card: A♣.
Ruzicka looked fierce greater than anything. Again, he wasted no time going to his stack, betting 430,000, this time with brute force.
The dealer turned to Cortellazzi and told him the scale of the bet, like an act of compassion. Cortellazzi leaned back to move through his ritual think, looking up, down, always exhausted, as though the hand itself had taken every ounce of his strength. He lined up the chips it might take to call, leave himself 1.8 million behind. After goodbye with no decision you are expecting a fold, but despite all of the fidgeting, the rechecking, the breathing, he called, tossing a single chip into the middle.
Ruzicka 9♦T♦
Cortellazzi 6♠6♦
Ruzicka had managed a smile before the call, but by now he wasn't smiling. The dealer pushed the pot to Cortellazzi whose expression didn't change as he stacked up what would amount to 4.1 million.
What did Ruzicka appear to be? He'd just lost one million chips. How would you look? - SB
12:25pm: Puchkov folds kingsLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
An interesting hand here at the feature table, where Konstantin Puchkov opened to 85,000 from under the gun and collected calls from both Nuno Capucho within the cutoff and Olli Autiö within the big blind.
Everyone checked the flop of J♦A♠7♠ after which Autiö led for 140,000 at the 3♥ turn. Puchkov called, but Capucho folded.
The 8♣ completed the board and Autiö bet again, this time 260,000. An agonised Puchkov sigh-folded pocket kings face up. -- HS
12pm: Startling diversityLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
Play is now under way on Day 5. Robin Scherr, our cousin from the German wing of PokerStars Blog, took a couple of moments clear of drinking pilsner and managing his time efficiently to share this startling fact with us this morning: there are 21 different nationalities represented some of the 24 players remaining on this tournament. None of them are from the us. That may be a pretty remarkable stat and I'd be amazed if such diversity was represented before by the overall three tables of any poker tournament. -- HS
11.45am: Three tables to oneLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)
Table 1, which features the chip-leader Sebastian Malec, goes to be the feature table for the primary a part of today. You'll watch along on EPT Live. The most productive place for all of the outer table action is true here with us.
Don't forget, the bare minimum we have to happen today is that we reach a last table of eight players and the clear target is that only six are left. Who knows what time to be able to be.
They might be resuming this afternoon in Level 25, with only about 20 minutes at the clock, but will quickly move into Level 26, where blinds are 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)-- HS
10:30am: Loooooong day ahead
Good morning all and welcome back to Barcelona for Day 5 of the €5,000 EPT Main Event. As you're unquestionably weary of hearing, that is a huge poker tournament, meaning huge stacks and many play. Tournament organisers added an additional level to play yesterday in a bid to get us down with reference to a manageable number coming back for the penultimate day, and we reconvene this afternoon with 24. Review the way it all played out.
The idea is to get all the way down to six players, but I THINK they'd accept eight. There probably won't be a set finish time announced until they know exactly what the possibility is of finishing with few enough to take a seat around a final.
The chip counts at this stage are as follows (the seat draw is at the seat-draw page):
| 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 |
You can see the dominant young Polish player, Sebastian Malec, on the top of the tree. He was unstoppable yesterday, but today is another day.
Sebastian Malec: Leading the last 24
Play begins at noon. And as for the €10,000 High Roller, that's another matter entirely. You're thinking that the principle Event is huge? You would like to see that one.
All eyes at the last 24
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 is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT13 Barcelona Main Event: Stephen Bartley, Jack Stanton and Howard Swains. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog
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