David Yan: Leading into final day
The two big buy-in tournaments originally of this EPT13 Malta festival have had bubble periods that average out at 90 minutes apiece. After I remind you that there wasn't actually a bubble period within the €10,000 curtain-raiser (we lost two player simultaneously), you will get an idea about what was the dominant feature of today's penultimate day within the €25,000 High Roller event.
Although we fairly flew right down to our last 10 players, from a starting field of 46 (plus 19 re-entries), the sight of a €46,180 bubble put the frighteners on everybody--including those meddlesome gods who sometimes dish out coolers from time to time like these.
All of Adrian Mateos, Davidi Kitai, Max Silver and Mikita Badziakouski were all-in, called after which doubled up when just one more elimination would take us into the money. The similar actually applied to Allain Sannier no less than once, but after three hours of this torture, Sannier was the person to go away one spot shy of the money.
He flopped two pair together Oleksii Khoroshenin flopped a larger two pair. That was the tip of the street for Sannier, and everybody breathed a collective sigh of relief after 180 minutes they'll never get back.
Mateos, Patrick Leonard and Kitai then perished briefly order once the bubble had burst, leaving David Yan, whose aces accounted for Kitai at the final hand of the day, on the top of the counts. The general six line up tomorrow as follows:
| David Yan | New Zealand | 887,000 |
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 858,000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | 438,000 |
| Max Silver | UK | 412,000 |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 388,000 |
| Ole Schemion | Germany | 267,000 |
They will play to a winner at Casino Portomaso tomorrow--a winner who will take €465,800 for first. The opposite five will share the prizes detailed at the prizewinners page.
The list of these who perished is studded with stars and glitter, but you're only nearly as good as your last tournament, so apologies Messrs O'Dwyer, Petrangelo, Carrel, Chidwick, Seiver, et al. Better luck frequently Event (which starts tomorrow, incidentally).
But with the likes of Ole Schemion and Silver joining Ramin Hajiyev (also at his second final table already this week), there's still various shimmer to take us in the course of the final stages tomorrow.
Join us from 2pm CET when we'll be publishing according to the one-hour security delay bearing in mind cards up EPT Live broadcast. Goodnight for now.
11:15pm: Kitai busts in seventh; final table setLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Davidi Kitai is out in seventh, setting our final table for this event. That is the second one cash already for Kitai this week, but he couldn't get ace-queen to overcome David Yan's aces on the crucial moment late on and was sent in search of €78,050.
We'll have full chip counts of the last six very soon, then a wrap of the day. -- HS
11pm: Right down to 7Level 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Patrick Leonard's long short-stack vigil is over. But for some time it seemed like he may pull off a triple as much as get right back in it.
Oleksii Khoroshenin opened to 23,000 from the hijack and Ole Schemion called from one seat to his left. Leonard, at the button, tanked for some time as he pondered his options after which he moved his last 89,000 over the line.
Khoroshenin took a couple of moments but then called. Schemion took a couple of moments but then called besides. It meant there has been as regards to 300,000 frequently pot and betting at the side.
That, at least, was the idea. But there has been actually not more betting through a flop of 9♦2♠4♠, a turn of 3♥ and a river of 7♣. Khoroshenin showed his A♥J♦. Schemion showed his K♠J♠ and Leonard said, "It's good" as he turned over A♣T♠.
"You must have jammed the flop, Ole," Leonard said.
Leonard gets nothing for coming second on this three-handed coup, but he does get €60,500 for eighth on this tournament. -- HS
10:55pm: All the way down to 8Level 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Adrian Mateos has busted just minutes after the restart.
The Spaniard moved all in for 164,000 after an early position raise by Ramin Hajiyev, who called when the action was folded back to him.
Hajiyev K♣K♠Mateos T♣T♠
The board ran 7♣3♦3♠6♣2♠ to send Mateos out in ninth place for €46,180. - SB
10:52pm: Is ninth place enough?Level 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
For info David Yan is the one player within the last nine who used two bullets. -- SB
10:50pm: Short stacksLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
As you'll see, the extended bubble period has left us with four players with stacks of not up to 20 big blinds. When three more players are out, we'll have our official six-handed final table. -- HS
10:45pm: Break before the finalLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
The remaining nine players, all of whom are actually within the money, have taken a 15-minute break to permit tournament staff to transport them to a brand new table and to count their chips.
Here's how they are going to line up in chip order. Seat order is below.
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 708000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | 702000 |
| Max Silver | UK | 417000 |
| David Yan | New Zealand | 411000 |
| Ole Schemion | Germany | 352000 |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 197000 |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | 187000 |
| Adrian Mateos | Spain | 167000 |
| Patrick Leonard | UK | 109000 |
Seat 1 - Patrick LeonardSeat 2 - Ramin HajiyevSeat 3 - David YanSeat 4 - Davidi KitaiSeat 5 - Adrian MateosSeat 6 - Max SilverSeat 7 - Mikita BadziakouskiSeat 8 - Oleksii KhorosheninSeat 9 - Ole Schemion
10:35pm: Bubble finally burstsLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
It was a bubble a very long time in coming nevertheless it has finally burst. Allain Sannier departs empty handed.
It started innocuously enough, with Oleksii Khoroshenin limping form the small blind, then calling when Sannier bumped things as much as 18,000.
The flop came Q♠T♦8♣ that's when the fireworks went off.
With action checked to him Sannier bet 10,000 before Khoroshenin moved all-in. Sannier called quickly and with reason. He showed T♠8♦ for 2 pair. His problem was that Khoroshenin also had two pair: Q♣T♥.
With the hand on the other table complete there has been no delay within the remainder of the hand playing out with the cards turned up. Sannier needed help. Neither the 4♥ turn or the 9♠ river card did him any good. He stood and shook hands, out at the bubble.
We're into the cash within the High Roller event, three hours and 45 minutes after Philipp Gruissem busted in tenth. Players at the moment are on a brief break before returning to minimize to 6. - SB
10:10pm: Leonard senses his chance, foldsLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Patrick Leonard have been a brief stack for a very long time now but he hasn't ever managed to get any of his shoves called (unlike Adrian Mateos, Max Silver, Davidi Kitai or Mikita Badziakouski to call but four). However, he did have a super chance to roll the dice when action folded to Badziakouski within the small blind and he shoved, with Leonard behind him.
Leonard took a very long time over this decision and gave various speech to Badziakouski. "ARE YOU ABLE TO tell me your range?" he said. And then, "THAT YOU MUST tell me what you're thinking that I should call with."
Badziakouski gave somewhat banter back, before Ole Schemion called for time and the tournament supervisor gave them a friendly chatting with about their chatter. She also advised that Leonard wasn't actually at the clock per se because they've frozen the tournament countdown while the bubble plays out.
Leonard folded eventually, and we now play on 10-handed in a potentially never-ending Level 17. -- HS
10:00pm: Mateos all-in againLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
We play on after the newest all-in became a double up.
Adrian Mateos made the primary move, shoving from the small blind. Next along was Davidi Kitai within the big blind who has played a brief stack for seemingly hours now. He called, showing A♥Q♦ to Mateos's A♠T♥.
The board came 8♥A♦7♦3♦2♥
On that last card the voice of Kitai's girlfriend rang out: "A deux!!!" her joy uncontainable. Kitai himself seemed pretty pleased too. He's as much as 250,000 now while Mateos drops to 150,000. - SB
9:50pm: Sannier's turn to shoveLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Allain Sannier bought on this morning, rose to the highest of the counts not long ago, but now had few enough chips that he was shoving pre-flop. He got it through, mind you.
Max Silver opened to 26,000 at the button. Oleksii Khoroshenin called from the small blind after which Sannier moved in for 125,000 from the large blind. The squeeze worked. -- HS
9:45pm: Silver v Khoroshenin againLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
The sub-plot between Max Silver and Oleksii Khoroshenin rumbles on, with another small pot going into the Ukrainian player's stack. This time, Silver raised to 24,000 from the small blind and Khoroshenin called the big.
Silver followed up with a gamble of 20,000 at the 4♦A♣9♥ flop, which Khoroshenin called. Then they both checked the 2♥ turn. Silver also checked the 8♦ river and Khoroshenin bet 45,000. Silver showed the 3♣ as he folded with a flourish. -- HS
Max Silver folding with a flourish
9:35pm: "Did you have got it, bro?"Level 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Max Silver channelled his hidden Mustapha Kanit as he pleaded with Oleksii Khoroshenin to let him know he'd made a fair fold. "Did you've it, bro?" Silver said. "You had it, bro? Tell me you had it." Khoroshenin nodded, but poker players was known to lie.
It was a battle of the blinds that got frisky at the river. Silver completed from the small blind, then they both checked the 7♣5♥3♥ flop. Silver check-called Khoroshenin's bet of 16,000 at the 6♣ turn. But then after the 4♣ came at the river, Silver led for 50,000.
Khoroshenin tanked then shoved for roughly 260,000. Silver intimated shortly that he thought he needed to fold, but then took a while to weigh it up. "YOU DO NOT bluff here, right?" he said. "YOU WILL HAVE it. You must have it."
Silver folded, before inquiring for confirmation that his fold was right, bro. -- HS
9:30pm: Mateos all-inLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
An all-in gets everyone out in their seats. Allan Sannier opened for 18,000 at the button before Adrian Mateos moved all-in for 168,000 from the small blind. Sannier called.
Mateos: T♣J♣Sannier: A♥T♠
Allain Sannier doubles Adrian Mateos, with a somewhat exasperated rail of different players
You'll notice that Sannier was ahead, but that's been proven irrelevant in this extended bubble period, because the flop demonstrated.
7♠J♠7♥3♥Q♣
Mateos allowed himself a quiet fist pump as he doubled to around 350,000. Sannier meanwhile drops all the way down to 145,000. - SB
9:25pm: Elephants or somethingLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Most of the postprandial action, including that giant double for optimum Silver, have been happening on Table 2. That has meant a few of the chat have been happening on Table 1, as they look forward to the cards to be dealt.
Players there have been discussing what that they had for dinner. "What did you may have"? David Yan asked Mikita Badziakouski.
"Chicken," was the fairly tame reply.
Ramin Hajiyev was more bombastic. "He's gone from the fast stack to the favorite to win the tournament," Hajiyev said. "He had the most productive dinner. Elephants or something. Raw meat. Blood. He's a vampire."
Badziakouski denied that was true. Elephant remains to be scarce in Malta. But he was certainly looking chipper as he groomed his towers of chips. -- HS
9:20pm: Silver's kings catapult him to topLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Every single poker player--of any standard--knows that you are purported to be delighted to get your stack in pre-flop with pocket kings. Sometimes you'll run into aces, and infrequently you will be out-drawn by filth, but everybody knows that you are just purported to get it in.
That's exactly what happened to Max Silver on perhaps the third hand back from the dinner break. But there has been a glance of absolute sickness on his face when he called it off on a €50,000 bubble with kings. Nobody really desires to be on this spot; even the second-best hand in poker seems so vulnerable when such a lot is at the line.
The hand started with Silver raising to 18,000 within the cutoff. Oleksii Khoroshenin called within the small blind after which Allain Sannier three-bet to 56,000 from the small blind. Silver four-bet to 98,000, which got Khoroshenin out of the way, but then Sannier shoved, covering Silver.
Silver looked very ill indeed as he made what he knew was a mandatory--but still pretty gross--call. His K♥K♣ were up against Sannier's A♦K♠ and everybody on the two remaining tables, and at the rail, were specializing in that over-card.
Mercifully for Silver, another ace didn't appear. The board ran 6♣3♣J♦3♥5♦ and Silver's stack was calculated to be 265,000. He now surges beyond half one million and is cooking.
Breathe again, Max. Breathe again. -- HS
9:05pm: Back to itLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Our high rollers are back within the room. We need to lose another until they're within the money after which three more to finish the day. -- HS
7:45pm: Dinner break chipsLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Mikita Badziakouski is your new overlord. All-in one minute, leading the following. That's poker!
| Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | 523000 |
| Allain Sannier | France | 482000 |
| David Yan | New Zealand | 455000 |
| Ole Schemion | Germany | 370000 |
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 313000 |
| Max Silver | UK | 267000 |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 245000 |
| Adrian Mateos | Spain | 241000 |
| Patrick Leonard | UK | 178000 |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | 176000 |
Allain Sannier
7:40pm: Badziakouski looking forwards to a pleasing dinner nowLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Mikita Badziakouski said he was waiting for a pleasing dinner now after a pot win with aces took him past 500,000.
He opened to 15,000 from the cutoff and Ole Schemion defended his big blind. Both players checked the 3♣3♥2♦ flop and Schemiat then led for 20,000 on the Q♥ turn. Badziakouski called after which bet 60,000 himself after Schemion checked over the 8♣ river. Call. Badziakouski opened A♣A♥ and his opponent said nice hand, dropping to 370,000. --MC
7:35pm: Badziakouski resurgentLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Ever since that double up through Ramin Hajiyev, Mikita Badziakouski have been resurgent. He won two consecutive pots and now has 380,000 to play with.
On the first, he raised to 12,000 from under the gun and both David Yan (button) and Hajiyev (big blind) gave him action.
The flop brought the 8♥4♠4♣ and Hajiyev checked. Badziakouski bet 12,000 and both Yan and Hajiyev called.
All three of them checked the J♦ turn and the 6♣ river and Badziakouski's T♣T♥ were clearly good after both opponents mucked.
A resurgent Mikita Badziakouski
Next up, Yan raised to 14,000 from the hijack and again this quickly became multi-way. Ole Schemion called from the cutoff, Hajiyev called within the small blind and Badziakouski called within the big.
There were three checks after the Q♣9♣3♦ flop but then just one call when Schemion bet 30,000. It was Badziakouski.
The K♠ came at the turn and Badziakouski checked, allowing Schemion to have another stab. He bet 58,000. Badziakouski called.
The A♣ came at the end and so they both checked. Badziakouski's Q♦K♣ beat whatever Schemion tossed into the muck. -- HS
7:25pm: Kitai all-inLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
An anxious short time for Davidi Kitai, all in, called by Adrian Mateos, and looking forward to the opposite table to finish their hand before showdown.
Well, maybe not that anxious.
Kitai, all in for 87,500, turned over A♠A♦. Mateos, 8♥8♦.
With the waiting over the board was dealt, with requires "ass, ass, ass, ass!" (French for "ace") coming form the Kitai corner. They needn't have worried.
4♦6♣4♠9♣9♠.
A vital double up for Kitai as we approach the following break. -- SB
Davidi Kitai gets a double up kiss
7:25pm: Badziakouski doubles through HajiyevLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
You could hear the mild collective groans from the opposite short stacks as Mikita Badziakouski flopped a suite when all-in. to be fair, he was prior to his opponent - Ramin Hajiyev - all of the way.
Badziakouski opened to 15,000 from the cutoff before Hajiyev raised 60,000 of his 89,500 stack. Hajiyev set him in for the remainder and he made the predicted call all-in.
Hajiyev: 5♠5♥Badziakouski: T♣T♠
The board ran T♥Q♠A♥J♥Q♦ to make Badziakouski a whole house. --MC
7:15pm: Schemion prays for a shoveLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Ole Schemion opened to 15,000 from the button and Mikita Badziakouski had a choice within the big blind. He had only about 150,000 and obviously thought of moving in, but in any case opted to call.
They both checked the T♦4♦Q♠ flop. Then they checked the J♥ turn and the 2♣ river. Badziakouski had A♠4♠ but Schemion had him beaten with 9♦9♥.
"Ole was praying for a shove," Ramin Hajiyev said. -- HS
7:10pm: Light sparringLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Not much happening on table 2 right now, although Oleksii Khoroshenin and Allan Sannier have placed a few cagey hands against each other.
The most up-to-date was played from the blinds. On a flop of 6♦8♥3♣ Khoroshenin bet 8,000 from the small blind, which Sannier called from the massive for a 5♠ turn card. That was checked to Sannier who bet 18,000, which Khoroshenin called. At the A♣ river card both players checked, Khoroshenin showing 6♥7♠ to win the hand. - SB
7:05pm: Schemion leapfrogs YanLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
David Yan's wings has been clipped by Ole Schemion who went prior to him within the counts as a result.
He raised to 14,000 from under the gun and was only called by Schemion within the next seat. The flop fell 9♥A♥T♠ flop and Yan check-called 22,000. He did the similar for an additional 55,000 at the 8♥ turn before both players checked the A♦ river.
Yan opened K♦J♦ however the pot went to Schemion after he showed T♦8♦. Schemion's as much as 530,000 and Yan's all the way down to 490,000. --MC
6:55pm: Yan straight to bubble business on Table 1Level 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
After knocking out Philipp Gruissem, Allain Sannier's 600,000+ stack is the largest of the last 10 players. However, Table 1 has a miles higher average stack thanks in most cases to David Yan sitting next to Ole Schemion sitting next to Ramin Hajiyev. They've 545,000, 455,000 and 460,000 respectively.
It was Yan who came flying out the blocks after hand-for-hand started, winning the primary three hands on Table 1. At the first, he three-bet to 64,000 after Schemion opened from under the gun to 17,000. Yan showed aces after Schemion mucked.
Then at the next hand, Yan limped from the small blind, Schemion checked his option and so they say the 5♦7♥T♠ flop. Yan bet 11,000 and Schemion called for a 7♦ turn. Yan bet 26,000 and Schemion folded.
On the following hand, Yan opened to 18,000 at the button and Schemion and Hajiyev folded their blinds. -- HS
6:50pm: Bubble time as Gruissem bustsLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Philipp Gruissem said he just missed out at the money on this event last season, and history has repeated itself this time around.
Allain Sannier raised to 15,000 from the button before Gruissem three-bet to 45,000 from the massive blind. Sannier asked his opponent how much he was playing (165k total) after which set him all-in. Call.
Gruissem: J♦J♥Sannier: K♣T♣
The board ran A♣T♣4♣K♠J♣ to make Sannier a flush and he moved over 600k.
So close again for Gruissem
The tournament is now at the direct bubble and hand-for-hand play have been introduced. Davidi Kitai have been moved over (with 110k) to Gruissem's former table so each has five players on it. --MC
6:35pm: Flag day for SchemionLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Ole is wrapped within the flag of Schemion. Almost literally. He wears around his shoulders a type of serong, or is it a flag? The flag of the kind of place a person like Schemion would hail from, Neverneverand perhaps. But he just played the type of hand that may be typical of him, person who now leaves him with greater than 450,000.
It started with a button raise form David Yan. Schemion was within the small bling and raised to 50,000. Things got much more interesting when Yan four bet to 105,000. Schemion called.
On the flop of Q♦5♦7♣ things calmed down somewhat. Both players checked for the 7♥ turn card, which in addition they checked for the Q♣ river card. Schemion bet 69,000 this time and after a period of very intense riffling Yan folded.
Schemion offered to turn Yan one in all his cards, which turned out to be the A♦. Yan drops to 420,000 but put the flags out for Schemion. - SB
6:30pm: Mateos slidesLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Everyone remains to be pretty deep on this event, which accounts for this pre-bubble slowdown. I watched the action on Table 2 for approximately 20 minutes and nothing too dramatic occurred at all.
Max Silver opened to 11,500 from under the gun and Oleksii Khoroshenin three-bet to 27,000 from the cutoff. Allain Sannier then four-bet his button to 83,000 and the powerful move persuaded the opposite two out the way.
Soon after, Adrian Mateos opened to 12,000 from the button and Silver called within the big blind. Mateos asked Silver how much he was playing and Silver said, "Two-thirty."
They took within the splendour of the 3♥2♣8♦ flop and Silver check-called Mateos's bet of 15,000. They both checked the 9♣ turn and the Q♥ river and Silver's 8♠T♥ won it.
Next up, Silver completed from the small blind and Oleksii Khoroshenin saw the flop for not more than his big blind. It came 2♣A♥5♠. Silver bet 5,000. Khoroshenin raised to 13,000 and Silver folded.
Oleksii Khoroshenin
In the following hand, Mateos opened to 11,000 and action folded to Khoroshenin within the small blind. He called. Those two saw the flop of 5♣6♥4♦ and so they both checked. Khoroshenin bet 17,000 on the 3♥ turn and Mateos called. But he folded after Khoroshenin bet 55,000 on the 9♠ at the river.
That left Mateos with about 200,000 and the table short-stack. It's still 40 big blinds--at least for the following five minutes, and then we'll be going into Level 16. -- HS
6:15pm: Another win for Silver, another loss for KhorosheninLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Max Silver won a pot off Allain Sannier to take care of his established order. He raised to 12,000 from the button and Sannier defended his big blind. The flop spread J♣T♠2♣ and both players checked to the 9♣ turn where Sannier led for 14,000. Silver called and both players checked the 3♣ river. Silver opened T♣8♠ for a flush and took the pot.
Oleksii Khoroshenin's dropped back off to 270,000 after he folded at the river to Philipp Gruissem, who really needed the chips. The German opened to 12,000 from under the gun and was called by Khoroshenin at the button. The board ran T♦3♠8♦Q♦9♣ with Gruissem betting 22,000 and 45,000 at the turn and river. Khoroshenin called the primary bet but tank-folded to the second one. Gruissem moved as much as 170,000. --MC
6:10pm: Tank-call from Leonard helps the tortoises catch the haresLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Table 1 is playing slightly faster than Table 2 (the tournament staff are monitoring it closely) and so the speed-freaks were asked to attend for a couple of seconds while the tortoises caught up. However, a hand played out at the speedy table that took a fair five minutes to play to its conclusion, likely allowing their neighbours to catch up and perhaps even move ahead.
It seemed innocuous to begin with. David Yan opened to 11,000 from under the gun and Patrick Leonard was the one caller, within the big blind. They both checked the flop of 4♣5♣7♥ and then, after the 8♦ came at the turn, Leonard bet 20,000. Yan called.
The river was the 9♦ and Leonard checked. Yan bet 44,000 and it put Leonard into the tank for an agonised decision. He loves to mutter aloud when he's deep in thought, but little was audible and nothing changed Yan's impervious demeanour.
David Yan
Eventually Leonard called and Yan showed 6♦5♦--some more suited connectors--and his straight was good. -- HS
6:05pm: Lifeline for SannierLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Another short stack doubles, and this time it's Allan Sannier. After Khoroshenin opened for 13,000 within the cutoff, the Frenchman raised to 31,000 from the button. Khoroshenin then moved all-in, easily covering Sannier who called, turning over A♥K♠. Khoroshenin could only manage T♠Q♦.
Sannier won the hand fairly quickly, the board running A♦2♦9♣3♠A♠ to go away Sannier, whose all-in was for 212,000, with around 450,000. Khoroshenin meanwhile, who has dominated much of the event, drops to 270,000. - SB
6pm: Silver finds his happy placeLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Don't count Max Silver out of this yet. As opposed to get down about his losses, he came back fighting with some aggressive moves, and that is the reason helped him back as much as around about 250,000.
In one pot he opened from the hijack and was called Oleksii Khoroshenin within the next seat. Silver checked over a 7♥J♥6♦ flop and Khoroshenin bet 17,000. Silver raised to 40,000 and Khoroshenin called. The turn was the 7♦ and Silver moved all-in for 85,000. Khoroshenin got a count and folded.
Shortly after, Allain Sannier opened to 12,000 from the cutoff before Philipp Gruissem three-bet to 36,000 from the small blind. Silver count how much he had (just below 200k), stood as much as peek on the stacks at the other table, sat back off and four-bet all-in. Both opponents made quick folds. --MC
5:52pm: Khoroshenin fearlessLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Oleksii Khoroshenin continues to play fearlessness. He opened from the button, making it 15,000 which Adrian Mateos called within the big blind. The flop came 8♥9♦T♥, which was checked for a 3♣ turn card, which was also checked.
On the 9♠ river Mateos bet 17,000. Khoroshenin took his time before raising to 62,000. Mateos squirmed a bit, and perceived to call in some way that suggested his body did so quickly before his head could tell him to not. The ever assured Khoroshenin showed Mateos his 5♣9♣ to win the hand. - SB
5:50pm: Yan picks off Badziakouski's bluffLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
David Yan continues his upward momentum with an even call to win a pot from Mikita Badziakouski.
Yan got the ball rolling with a raise to 11,000 from under the gun and both Ole Schemion, within the hijack to his left, and Badziakouski, at the button, made the call.
Yan continued for 14,000 at the flop of J♣5♦4♠ and only Badziakouski called. Then the 9♥ popped out at the turn they usually both checked.
The river brought the 8♥ and Yan checked. Badziakouski bet 48,000 and Yan took a few beats before calling. Badziakouski showed A♥Q♥ and Yan's T♠9♠ was good.
These high rollers don't raise ace-queen suited at the button, that's just one way during which they set themselves aside from the self-dealt £5 rebuy players who write about them. -- HS
5:45pm: Silver devaluedLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (1,000 ante)
Max Silver is the fast stack at this table, and a hand against Adrian Mateos made things shorter.
The Spaniard opened from under the gun before Silver made it 29,000 from the button, leaving himself about 130,000.
With the action back on Mateos he paused for a while, his brow furrowed and never entirely convinced by Silver. So he moved all-in.
Silver didn't immediately fold but he was agitated, and knew he needed to. Mateos took the pot. Silver not happy at the moment. - SB
5:20pm: Hajiyev leaps aheadLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Players are taking a 20-minute break, but here's how they stack up these days. Ramin Hajiyev and Ole Schemion at the moment are duking it out on the top of the charts.
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 439000 |
| Ole Schemion | Germany | 428000 |
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 415000 |
| Adrian Mateos | Spain | 352000 |
| David Yan | New Zealand | 320500 |
| Patrick Leonard | UK | 298000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | 270000 |
| Philipp Gruissem | Germany | 222000 |
| Allain Sannier | France | 200000 |
| Max Silver | UK | 163000 |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | 129000 |
5:05pm: A number of the short stacksLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
The three shortest stacks left within the tournament belong to Allan Sannier, Davidi Kitai and Max Silver, all of whom have lower than 200,000.
Sannier however did himself some good in a hand against Oleksii Khoroshenin.
On a flop of 6♥T♥4♥ Khoroshenin bet 16,000, which Sannier called. It'd be the last of the betting, with the K♥ turn and 5♣ river checked by both platers. Khoroshenin showed 4♠T♠ while Sannier managed 6♣6♦ to win the pot, albeit a small one.
There are 11 players remaining, with the highest nine finishing within the money. - SB
5pm: Yan, the blind defenderLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Don't attempt to pinch David Yan's blinds. He may play back at you, and it may be costly.
Patrick Leonard just tried it from the small blind, opting to finish when pre-flop action folded to him. Yan raised to 20,000, replacing four yellow chips with four blue chips, and Leonard called.
They both checked the 2♠4♥Q♠ flop. After which Leonard check-called the 2♥ turn when Yan bet 23,000. They checked the 4♠ river and Yan's Q♥9♥ had out-flopped Leonard's A♥9♣.
Davidi Kitai opened the following hand from the cutoff, making it 11,000. Yan three-bet his small blind, making it 32,500, and that was an excessive amount of for Kitai to continue. -- HS
4:45pm: Morten Mortensen mortLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
The end was swift for Morten Mortensen, who was left with only 16,500 after previous skirmishes. He didn't wait, and when Adrian Mateos raised at the button, he called all-in from the small blind, turning over 5♣6♣. Mateos though had Q♥J♠ which proved superb because the board came 2♥K♥T♦A♣A♦.
Morten Mortensen: Mort
Mortensen est mort. All the way down to 11 players. - SB
4:40pm: Sammartino timed outLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Dario Sammartino never makes his decisions especially quickly and that goes double when it's for his tournament life. But this time, after time within the tank and the clock being called, Sammartino opted to name all-in against some aggression from Adrian Mateos. And now Sammartino is out.
Action folded to Mateos within the small blind and he raised to 10,000. Sammartino called within the big blind and so they saw a flop of A♣Q♥6♥. Mateos bet 10,000 and Sammartino called, leaving him 55,000 behind.
The J♠ came at the turn and Mateos moved all-in, putting the question at Sammartino's door. Seeking a visit to a second final table of the week, Sammartino pondered his options at great length.
I think it was Allain Sannier who eventually called the clock, but whoever did the deed, it was not unjustified. Sammartino eventually decided to name and was immediately shot down when Mateos tabled his A♠K♠.
Sammartino had K♥8♣ and was drawing only to a chop. The A♦ at the river didn't help him at all, and he was knocked out. Now only Ramin Hajijev and Davidi Kitai have the danger of a back-to-back final table. --HS
Dario Sammartino: The top of the road
4:30pm: Jensen flipped outLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Frederick Jensen stood clear of the table and crushed an empty water bottle in his left hand. As a show of strength, it wasn't quite up there with ripping a telephone directory in two, and even cracking walnuts, but it surely was a reasonably effective way of portraying frustration at busting a €25,000 on a flip, six spots off the money.
Ramin Hajiyev took Jensen out. Hajiyev opened the button to 9,000. Jensen shoved for 74,100 and Hajiyev called. "Flip," Jensen said when he saw the cards.
Jensen: J♠J♦Hajiyev: Q♣K♥
Jensen moaned slightly on the sight of the flop. It came 2♣Q♠T♥. The 8♠ turn after which the A♠ river ended it. Jensen departs while Hajiyev, aiming for back-to-back final tables here in Malta, stacked up 420,000.
4:25pm: Nick Petrangelo finished off by PhilbortLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Philipp Gruissem has passed the 250k-mark after he spiked an ace at the river to eliminate the short-stacked Nick Petrangelo.
Gruissem opened to 9,500 from middle position after which called after Petrangelo shipped in for 40,000 from the cutoff.
Gruissem: A♦8♣Petrangelo: 6♠6♣
Nick Petrangelo: Out
The board ran J♥9♠K♣T♥A♣ and Petrangelo wandered off slowly. --MC
4:20pm: Petrangelo short, Silver tarnishingLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Nick Petrangelo's stack is now at the critical list. He drops to 42,500 after a hand against Adrian Mateos.
On a flop of K♠8♦2♣ Petrangelo checked to Mateos who made it 6,500 to play. Petrangelo called for the Q♥ turn card which was checked both ways for the 2♥ river card. Petrangelo checked to the Spaniard who bet another 20,000. Petrangelo couldn't call.
Max Silver has about double that of Petrangelo after losing some to Oleksii Khoroshenin.
Silver opened for 9,500 at the button which Khoroshenin called from the massive blind. The flop came 3♠K♣J♣ which was checked to Silver. He bet another 10,000 which was called.
On the 6♦ turn it was checked for a J♥ river card. Khoroshenin checked and Silver did the same, although his face said he knew he was beaten. Khoroshenin showed T♦J♦ to win the hand and move as much as 435,000. - SB
4:10pm: No shifting top pair GruissemLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Adrian Mateos raised to 6,500 from the hijack and Philipp Gruissem called from the small blind. Max Silver came along from the large blind too.
Both Gruissem and Silver checked the 4♠K♥2♣ flop and only Gruissem called when Mateos bet 11,000. The turn was the 7♦ and Gruissem check-called Mateos's bet of 28,000. After which they both checked the 7♠ at the river.
Gruissem turned over K♦Q♦, which allowed Mateos to muck. -- HS
4:05pm: Yaghmai sent to the railLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Two hands, one big and one inevitably small, just took care of Nariman Yaghmai's stack, which now rests within the hands of Ole Schemion.
The first hand was the massive one, and with the board dealt Q♦3♣3♠7♦7♣ there has been already so much within the middle when Schemion shoved for his last 105,000. Yaghmai took a very long time to call, but did. But he was beaten, showing J♠J♣ after Schemion turned over K♣K♥.
That left Yaghmai with lower than 10,000, which he shoved with at the next hand. Schemion, still stacking his new chips, raised to isolate, and turned over A♣K♣ which easily beat Yaghmai's K♠8♥ on a board of 7♣7♥3♣Q♦5♥.Schemion as much as around 400,000 with 15 players remaining. - SB
4pm: Sammartino river bluff failLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
We've seen Dario Sammartino make big river raises before on this tournament without knowing if he had "it". Way to an Allain Sannier call just now, we all know he doesn't always have "it".
The Italian raised from early position and Sannier defended his big blind. Both players checked the 6♠A♣8♣ flop before Sannier check-called 7,200 at the J♦ turn. The river came as 5♠ and Sannier led for 12,200. Sammartino didn't think too long before raising all-in. His French opponent had 49,800 and called them off with A♥7♥. Sammartino looked to the skies and opened Q♠T♠ for a busted straight draw. He dropped to 90,000. --MC
3:45pm: RedrawLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
There are 16 players left on two tables. They're now playing to nine, at which point there'll be another re-draw, after which all the way down to six before we're done for the day. Here's how they line up:
Table 1Seat 1 - Patrick Leonard, 445,000Seat 2 - Nariman Yaghmai, 190,000Seat 3 - David Yan, 235,000Seat 4 - Ole Schemion, 180,000Seat 5 - Ramin Hajiyev, 355,000Seat 6 - Mikita Badziakouski, 285,000Seat 7 - Frederik Jensen, 70,000Seat 8 - Davidi Kitai, 150,000
Table 2
Seat 1 - Oleksii Khoroshenin, 398,000Seat 2 - Allain Sannier, 65,000Seat 3 - Adrian Mateos, 250,000Seat 4 - Dario Sammartino, 135,000Seat 5 - Morten Mortensen, 152,000Seat 6 - Philipp Gruissem, 178,000Seat 7 - Max Silver, 148,000Seat 8 - Nick Petrangelo, 66,000
Patrick Leonard: Still leading
3:40pm: Right down to two tables after Buldygin bustsLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
They'll be no back-to-back final table appearances for Viacheslav Buldygin after he was eliminated by Davidi Kitai.
Kitai opened to 7,200 from the hijack after which called after Buldygin three-bet all-in for 59,500 from the button.
Kitai: A♣Q♦Buldygin: A♠J♦
The board ran 5♣5♠A♦8♦T♠ to look Kitai's hand hold. The remainder 16 player will now be redrawn onto two table, and we'll have that draw for you shortly. --MC
3:30pm: Khoroshenin takes advantageLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
David Yan opened for 6,500 in middle position which Oleksii Khoroshenin called from the bring to a halt. Andras Nemeth was within the bib blind and likewise paid to peer the 7♣8♦9♣ flop.
Andras Nemeth bet 13,000 forcing a fold from Yan, but Khoroshenin called for the Q♦ turn card. That was checked for the T♠ at the river.
Khoroshenin made it 26,000 to play this time which Nemeth didn't appear to like. He paused, then checked out his cards again before folding. He drops to around 65,000 now while Khoroshenin is as much as 335,000. - SB
3:25pm: Deuces sometimes losesLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
If you are looking for poker's most untrue truism, you will not get significantly better than "Deuces never loses". Andras Nemeth is the most recent to ponder the extent of nonsense attendant in this aphorism. He's just shown down deuces and was shown the door.
He open shoved for his last 51,100 from the hijack and Ole Schemion, one seat along, wanted a count. He found out, then re-shoved. Everyone else folded.
Nemeth showed his 2♠2♣. Schemion turned over his A♠A♥. It was a mismatch. But then, after the 4♣ turn followed the 7♣A♦5♣ flop, it was Schmemion left yelping, "Nooooooo!" However, the J♦ was not the fifth club Nemeth had to complete a David v Goliath slaying.
Schemion stacked up 220,000 and Nemeth dropped his catapult to the bottom and skulked away. -- HS
3:15pm: Cooler costs HeathLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Adrian Mateos has gone from short stack all of the way as much as a snug 260,000. The newest chunk he won came courtesy of a cooler versus Ben Heath.
Heath, who re-entered late last night, raised to 7,200 from under the gun. Mateos was within the next seat and three-bet to 20,000. The action folded back to Heath who cut out and slid forward a four-bet worth 51,400. Mateos quickly set Heath all-in for around 125,000 and he called it off.
Heath: Q♠Q♣Mateos: K♠K♣
The board ran T♦T♣K♥4♥J♣ to make the Spaniard a whole house. "Good luck guys," said Heath before making his exit. --MC
2:50pm: Break time chipsLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
That's the primary break of the day, with 19 players still involved. Here's how they stack up before they go into Level 13.
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 337300 |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 270000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | 268000 |
| David Yan | New Zealand | 249000 |
| Max Silver | UK | 213000 |
| Philipp Gruissem | Germany | 182000 |
| Nariman Yaghmai | Iran | 181000 |
| Dario Sammartino | Italy | 158000 |
| Allain Sannier | France | 147000 |
| Adrian Mateos | Spain | 140000 |
| Frederik Jensen | Denmark | 140000 |
| Ben Heath | UK | 123000 |
| Morten Mortensen | Denmark | 120000 |
| Ole Schemion | Germany | 92000 |
| Andras Nemeth | Hungary | 91000 |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | 70000 |
| Nick Petrangelo | USA | 44600 |
| Viacheslav Buldygin | Russia | 39000 |
2:40pm: Jensen interceptorLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Frederik Jensen just kept his hopes alive. After Mariman Yaghmai opened for 6,000 and Patrick Leonard raised to 18,000 within the hijack, Jensen moved all-in for a bit of greater than 104,000. That forced out Yaghmai but Leonard needed to take into accounts things for some time before folding. - SB
2:35pm: Kitai at the doubleLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Allain Sannier bought in before play today and had enjoyed a fruitful morning, until just now, when he doubled up Davidi Kitai.
Kitai, who cashed within the €10k single re-entry earlier within the week, opened to 6,200 from the hijack. Sannier was within the next seat and three-bet 16,700. Kitai's response was to jam for 46,700 and he was called.
Kitai: K♠K♦Sannier: A♣Q♦
The board ran 6♥J♥3♦Q♥K♣ to make Kitai top set. He nodded slowly and Sannier was left with 115,000 after he paid his dues. --MC
2:30pm: Yaghmain raises lightLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
They're seven-handed on Table 1 and the conversation is divided into four groups. Frederik Jensen and Morten Mortensen are yukking it up in Scandi; Mikita Badziakouski and Patrick Leonard are talking in English; Scott Seiver is reading something on his phone; and Philipp Gruissem and Mariman Yaghmai played a pot.
Gruissem raised to 6,000 from the cutoff and Yaghmai called at the button. They checked the 2♣6♥T♥ flop after which Gruissem bet 11,000 at the 5♥ turn. Yaghmai raised to 25,500 but Gruissem wouldn't be shaken. He called.
The 4♠ came at the river and both players checked. Gruissem turned over his T♦K♠, showing the 10 first, and Yaghmai reluctantly mucked. He couldn't beat top pair. -- HS
Difficult to shake Philipp Gruissem
2:20pm: Three eliminationsLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Two busts out within the space of some hands, all while David Yan was winning a large pot against Frederik Jensen.
On a board of 4♦6♣3♦8♦8♣ Yan bet 66,000. Jensen, playing out of the large blind, checked, and took a while before calling, only to muck when Yan showed 4♠4♥. Yan is as much as 240,000 now. Jensen right down to 85,000.
While that was happening Behzad Ahadpour was eliminated by Oleksii Khoroshenin, his ace-eight undone by Khoroshenin's pocket fives.
Then Sam Greenwood joined him at the rail. He was all in for 44,6000 with A♠K♣ with a choice from Allan Sannier. The board came T♦2♥2♠9♠A♦ to send Greenwood out.
A twinkling of an eye later Orpen Kisacikoglu was also out, four betting all in with ace-queen and getting a choice from Andras Nemeth with A♠5♠. He needed to wait until the river to get a five.
Down to 21 within the High Roller event, the similar number that remain within the IPT. You'll be able to follow that too if you would like. - SB
2:10pm: Silver and Buldygin battle blindLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Max Silver got the simpler of Viacheslav Buldygin in a battle of the blinds. The pot might have been so much larger seeing as they both held pairs.
Buldygin completed after which called after Silver raised to 7,500. The flop fanned A♠2♠8♠ and Buldygin check-called 4,400 before both players checked the 6♦ turn. The 8♦ came at the river and Buldygin led for 6,500. The players were sat both sides of the dealer and Silver asked the dealer to chill so he could check out this opponent.
"Hi Max!" Buldygin said with a large smile upon his face."Hi buddy," replied a giggling Silver.
Buldygin maintained his stare and smile as Silver studied him, then opened 7♥7♠ when called. Silver had that beat with T♠T♣ and moved as much as round 230,000. Buldygin fell to 80,000. --MC
2:00pm: Seat draw at 24Level 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Table 1
Seat 1. Philipp GruissemSeat 2. Mariman YaghmaiSeat 3. David YanSeat 4. Mikita BadziakouskiSeat 5. Patrick LeonardSeat 6. Scott SeiverSeat 7. Morten MortensenSeat 8. Frederik Jensen
Table 2
Seat 1. Max SilverSeat 2. Nick PetrangeloSeat 3. Sam GreenwoodSeat 4. Ramin HajiyevSeat 5. Alexandros KoloniasSeat 6. Davidi KitaiSeat 7. Allan SannierSeat 8. Viacheslav Buldygin
Table 3
Seat 1. Ole SchemionSeat 2. Orpen KisacikogluSeat 3. Oleksii KhorosheninSeat 4. Behzad AhadpourSeat 5. Dario SammartinoSeat 6. Ben HeathSeat 7. Adrian MateosSeat 8. Andras Nemeth
1:50pm: The top for ChidwickLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Stephen Chidwick made a valiant comeback yesterday after entering the last phase of play because the short stack; he was unable to copy the feat today though.
He was all the way down to 25,600 when he made his move from under the gun. Mikita Badziakouski gave him custom from the small blind and the cards were flipped up.
Badziakouski: 8♥8♦Chidwick: K♠T♦
The board ran J♥6♠2♠3♣2♣ handy the pot and the scalp to Badziakouski.
That was the elimination to take us right down to 24 and a re-draw. Details are imminent. --MC
1:50pm: Right down to 24, redrawLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
We have a few other hand reports to come, with a view to be with you shortly. They're all the way down to 24 and re-drawing for the last three tables. -- HS
1:45pm: Double for MateosLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Former EPT Grand Final champion Adrian Mateos has got his tournament back not off course with a double up. He three-bet all-in for 30,300 after Behzad Ahadpour had opened to 5,000. Call.
Ahadpour: A♠K♦Mateos: A♣A♥
Adrian Mateos: Double!
The board ran 8♣2♠6♦6♠3♣ and the aces held. Ahadpour dropped to 38,000. --MC
1:40pm: Two double ups for AhadpourLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Just whilst you thought Behzad Ahadpour was out, he pulls himself back in again. This time with two hands so one can keep him and his stack around for no less than a short time longer.
In the primary he was all-in with pocket sevens against the Kings of Philip Gruissem. If it gave the look of Ahadpour was at the way out it didn't look that way for long, with another seven the primary card at the board. As Scott Seiver quipped: "That was a gruesome seven for Gruissem."
Two hands later and Ahadpour was all-in again, for around 30,000. The action was folded to Seiver within the big blind.
"Just me and also you"? Ahadpour asked, before saying, "Just fold."
Seiver didn't call. Cautiously, he now called with pocket sevens, against A♣8♥. But this time it was the sevens that were undone, with the board running Q♠J♣8♣5♥9♥.Ahadpour back again. - SB
1:35pm: Big stacks visit warLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
There was a cigarette paper between the overnight counts of Patrick Leonard and Oleksii Khoroshenin. The highest two at the leader board were drawn on the same table today and tangled in a pre-flop raising war that was won by Leonard.
The Brit opened to 4,500 from early position before Ole Schemion three-bet to 14,500 from two seats along. Khoroshenin was within the cutoff and came in with a chilly four-bet to 30,500. Leonard went into the tank and when he came out of it he five-bet to 86,500. Both opponents folded.
It's hard to inform exactly how much Leonard has got because of the way he stacks but he have to be approaching 300,000. Schemion dropped to 78,000 and Khoroshenin to 265,000. --MC
1:30pm: Numbers crunchedLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Registration closed this afternoon and the whole details of the prize structure is now with us. There have been 65 entries to the event--60 entries on Day 1, five more straight in to Day 2. In all, the tournament attracted 46 unique players, with 19 re-entries.
The €1,592,500 prize pool might be shared by the highest nine finishers with the winner taking €465,800. The min-cash is worth €46,180.
The full payout structure is at the payouts page, and below.
| 1 | €465,800 | |||
| 2 | €334,400 | |||
| 3 | €217,400 | |||
| 4 | €164,030 | |||
| 5 | €127,400 | |||
| 6 | €98,740 | |||
| 7 | €78,050 | |||
| 8 | €60,500 | |||
| 9 | €46,180 |
1:25pm: Buldygin buildingLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Another double up for Viacheslav Buldygin, this time through Behzad Ahadpour.
Initially it was Ahadpour who had moved all-in. The hand began with a gap bet by Adrian Mateos before Buldygin raised to 14,550. Then Ahadpour moved in for a bit greater than 60,000. Mateos backed out but Ahadpour called all-in for 53,000.
He showed A♣K♠ while Ahadpour tossed his cards in, the effect being that they cartwheeled in every single place. He had T♣T♥.
The board ran 3♦9♥8♠A♦8♣ to maintain Buldygin alive. "Nice hand," said Ahadpour who after buying in again this morning is now all the way down to around 10,000. Buldygin meanwhile moves as much as around 120,000. - SB
1:20pm: Shak shaftedLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000-2,000 (300 ante)
Dan Shak is out and the record will show that Ramin Hajiyev did the deed. But, in truth, Shak was obliterated before Hajiyev picked up the bounty: he had only 1,100 to get in on his last hand.
Here is that record: Hajiyev opened from early position, making it 4,500 to head. Shak committed his last two chips--one yellow, worth 1,000, and one brown, worth 100--from the button and Andras Nemeth called the 4,500 from the small blind.
The flop came 9♠7♣2♦ and Nemeth checked. Hajiyev made a continuation bet and Nemeth folded.
I have no idea if Shak had even checked out his cards, but if he turned them over he could have been happy to have flopped top pair along with his 9♣5♣. However, he saw no reason to forestall packing his things away in his rucksack, even before Hajiyev turned over his dominant A♣9♥. The Q♠ and the 8♦ completed the board and Shak was out. -- HS
1:20pm: Satty winner can't win with top setLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Alex DiFelice wont the hyper satellite to assert his seat within the High Roller here today. He may need had dreams about running up a large stack; winning life-changing money. Then he comes and flops top set. Good for a double up? Good for a bust out more like.
Alex DiFelice: Couldn't run it up
Nariman Yaghmai took him out after the 2 got the chips in at the turn of a K♥9♣A♠4♠Q♠ board. DiFelice held A♥A♣ for high set and his opponent had K♠9♠ for flopped top two, and turned flush draw that came in at the river. --MC
1:15pm: Not BadziakouskiLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Two hands in a row go the best way of Mikita Badziakouski, check raising Ramin Hajiyev in a single of them. His stack is as much as around 340,000 now. - SB
1:10pm: Buldygin bouncingLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000-2,000 (300 ante)
Viacheslav Buldygin is having the time of his life in Malta this week. He was as excited as a child at a theme park when he went all of the technique to second place within the €10,000 event earlier on, and he seems thrilled to be back in action within the €25,000 too.
Viacheslav Buldygin: Are we able to go at the log flume next?
And here's something else to fill him with warmth: a double up early on Day 2. He got his last 27,800 in with K♠J♠ and was up against Adrian Mateos's 5♠5♥. The flop was all low -- 4♠7♥9♦ -- however the J♦ turn was just the tonic for Buldygin, washed down with a secure 3♠ river.
Buldygin now has a workable stack while Mateos is all the way down to 33,000. -- HS
1pm: The hunt to construct a brand new stackLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000-2,000 (300 ante)
Buying in today got you 50,000 chips, that is precisely 25 big blinds. It is a short stack by anyone's estimation and the purpose is to run it up quickly, risking going broke within the process.
As described below, Paul Newey was eliminated at the first hand he played. But it's interesting to look how one of the vital others fared.
Behzad Ahadpour is firing his second bullet, and he was very with regards to following Newey out the door. He opened to 6,000 from under the gun and Charlie Carrel, one seat to his right and likewise a brief stack, moved all-in.
Ahadpour called and was behind together with his A♦J♣ to Carrel's A♦Q♠. However the board ran 8♠8♥2♠A♥K♦ and that was a chop. (Carrel actually only had 40,000, so Ahadpour would have survived.)
Alex DiFelice won a satellite last night and he's been seeking to get stuff going today. He raised to 4,500 from the cutoff, but needed to fold when Nariman Yaghmai shoved on him, with a stack of about 41,000.
Back at the other table, Viacheslav Buldygin opened to 4,500 and Ahadpour again moved his stack in. Buldygin, who was second to Dietrich Fast within the €10,000 event, folded.
Then back to DiFelice. He opened to 4,500 within the hijack and Frederik Jensen three-bet to 12,500 from the large blind and DiFelice folded.
They are all trying, but none has succeeded to construct a stack as yet.
Update: But a minimum of they don't seem to be Vladimir Troyanovskiy. He bought in for his second bullet today but was recently seen heading back out of the door, the second one man out today. -- HS
12:55pm: Leonard loses the leadLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Patrick Leonard, who came into the day with the chip lead, opened for 4,500 which Oleksii Khoroshenin, who almost had the chip lead last night, called from the button. Max Silver was within the big blind and in addition called, seeing the flop land T♠8♦A♥.
Leonard played on, betting another 10,000 this time which Khoroshenin called. Silver got out in their way.
On the 5♥ turn Leonard bet 24,000. Khoroshenin called again for the J♦ at the river. This time Leonard eased off, checking the action to Khoroshenin. He paused, taking 70,000 chips from his stack. He didn't bet it immediately. Instead he took the highest chip away and replaced it for 2 1K chips, then pushed it forward - 67,000 to play.
Leonard asked how much, then took several large pulls at the straw of his drink. Fully juiced he opted to fold, talking it through in a whisper with Ben Heath and Max Silver after wards, all a part of the healing process.
Khoroshenin now as much as 330,000. - SB
12:50pm: Seiver within the chat and poker actionLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000-2,000 (300 ante)
Scott Seiver is filled with beans today and holding court at his table. We've came upon that he thinks tablemate Morten Mortensen has the most efficient name in poker. He's obviously never played against Runar Runarsson.
Seiver then went on speak about how one's opening raise sizes, and the way they randomly get bigger when you past 30. Then he opened to a lovely standard 2.5 times the large blind from early position. It was into Adrian Mateos' big blind. He defended and check-called a 4,000 at the 6♥5♠K♦ flop.
"Just fold!" said Seiver.
The board ran out K♣8♠ and Mateos A-Q lost to Seiver's 7♠7♥.
Seiver opened the following hand but folded when Viacheslav Buldygin (hero from the 10k re-entry) moved all-in for around 35,000. --MC
12:45pm: Newey in, and out just as quickLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000-2,000 (300 ante)
Just the €25,000 per her hand played for Paul Newey this morning.
The British businessman had his jacks cracked by Scott Seiver's A-6 at the last hand of the night last night, and - as we already wrote - re-entered this morning. He was spotted walking out of the tournament room and conformed to the blog that he was indeed out again. He said he had A♣K♣ and three-bet all-in after David Yan had opened with queens. The board was 9-5-4-2-2. --MC
Brief stay for Paul Newey
12:35pm: NewcomersLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000-2,000 (300 ante)
There has been five additional entries this morning, bringing the whole bums in seats as we get under way again to 32. Paul Newey, Vladimir Troyanovskiy and Behzad Ahadpour exercised their option for a re-entry, while Allain Sannier ponied up €25,000 for his first entry. Alex DiFelice is in at the cheap. He won a hyper-turbo satellite last night to earn his 25 big blinds.
Play has now restarted. -- HS
12pm: Heading right down to the overall table
Good morning everybody and welcome back to Malta. Today is the penultimate day of the EPT13 Malta €25,000 High Roller event, and we'll get ourselves right down to a last. Most likely, we'll play right down to six and that can involve a dinner break along the way, but with only 27 players still involved on the end of last night's action, it will even be rapid.
Registration is open until the beginning of play today, and anybody desirous to stump up €25,000 gets 25 big blinds. This can be a single re-entry event, so some individuals who has been eliminated already might choose to leap back in. We will be able to soon find out.
Patrick Leonard leads the way, sooner than Oleksii Khoroshenin and Dario Sammartino. The great omen for Leonard is that Dietrich Fast led on the end of Day 1 within the €10,000 event and ending up winning. Could we have now another wire-to-wire champion.
Patrick Leonard: Leading the way
All the action can be right here, so keep on with us. -- HS
Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for EPT13 Malta 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 €25,000 High Roller: Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey and Howard Swains. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: European Poker Tour]
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