Chip leader Dietrich Fast
A tremendously entertaining day of poker ended shortly before midnight at Casino Portomaso, Malta, with Dietrich Fast leading the last six players of the €10,000 single-re-entry curtain raising tournament to the EPT Malta festival. There have been 60 entries, including 12 re-entries.
It really felt like we had all of it. Registration wasn't even closed once they started the ball rolling at 12:30pm, and we had a re-entry period, a freezeout period, speed ups and slow downs after which even enough play on the final table to chop eight all the way down to six.
What we very specifically did not have was a bubble. Although only eight players were as a result of be paid, we lost the boys in tenth and ninth simultaneously on neighbouring tables, taking us effortlessly into the money.
Dan Shak: Officially the bubble boy
Oleksii Khoreshenin and Dan Shak, the lads to fall, don't have appreciated it very much, however it allowed the remainder eight, headed by Fast, to get on with the business of divvying up the €582,000 prize-pool. There's €174,600 available for first. (Full details are at the payouts page.)
Ready to embark by yourself poker adventure? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.As it's possible you'll expect for a tournament of this buy-in, there's some real talent still involved--and much more who took part but went home for an early bath. Here's how they stacked up on the end of the day.
| Dietrich Fast | Germany | 900000 |
| Dario Sammartino | Italy | 654000 |
| Pratyush Buddiga | USA | 479000 |
| Viacheslav Buldygin | Russia | 328000 |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 324000 |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | 315000 |
Fast led on the end of Day 1, and he was never anything worse than a top-five stack as they went through another ten levels today. What's more, he was wise-cracking just about non-stop, bouncing off Rumin Hajiyev, Ben Heath, Patrick Leonard and Charlie Carrel, among others, at the same time as he was taking most in their chips.
Fast finished tenth within the €25,000 High Roller this time last year in Malta and was on a roll since then. He's now in pole position to take his first high buy-in title at the EPT, so as to add to his victories within the WSOP and the WPT.
We'll have full coverage of tomorrow's final from 12:30pm. Within the meantime, read through everything below to look the way it played out today. It was genuinely entertaining, which isn't something you'll be able to always say.
Goodnight!
12:05am: Play concludes after Vladimir Troyanovskiy goes in seventh for €29,680Level 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Vladimir Troyanovskiy never managed to recover his situation and he fell to Dario Sammartino.
He opened with 5♥6♥ and was called by Sammartino. The flop came J-8-5 however the chips went in at the 4 turn whren the Russian had a straight draw to compliment his par. Unfortunately for him Sammartino had two black kings and the river bricked.
Full chips counts and a wrap of the day's play could be up at the blog shortly. -- MC
11:55pm: Just the quads for BuddigaLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Pratyush Buddiga has passed 500,000 mark after flopping quads in a three-way pot.
Viacheslav Buldygin opened to 22,000 from the cutoff and was called by Davidi Kitai (button) and Buddiga (big blind). The flop fell 3♥Q♥3♦ and the action checked to Kitai who bet 35,000. Only Buddiga called before both players checked the K♥ turn. The board completed with the 2♦ and Buddiga led for 35,000. Kitai called and heard his opponent say, "Just quads!" before he opened 3♣3♠. Kitai mucked. --MC
11:45pm: Troyanovskiy tripped upLevel 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
It'd be a brave man that'd annoy Vladimir Troyanovskiy. What if he annoyed himself though -- should he be frightened of himself?
It looked as though he was annoyed at himself a minimum of after he dropped to 72,000 by paying off Dietrich Fast in a battle of the blinds. He check-called bets of 22,000 and 73,000 at the turn and river of a 2♥7♥3♣Q♦3♠ board. Fast opened J♥3♥ for a flush draw that was trip threes by the river. Troyanovskiy mucked and clenched a fist. --MC
11:38pm: Orpen Kisacikoglu first out within the money for €23,280Level 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Eighth place belongs to Orpen Kisacikoglu after he unluckily busted to Dario Sammartino.
The action folded to him within the cutoff where he moved all-in for 125,000. Sammartino was within the small blind and moved all-in as well.
Kisacikoglu: A♥K♦Sammartino: A♣J♦
The board ran a tricolored 6♥9♣J♣6♠9♥ to make Sammartino two pair. He moved past the 650,000 mark. --MC
11:30pm: Into the short laneLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Most of the day, the chip leader on the time has had no less than one player for company. That is not the case anymore as Dietrich Fast has stretched clear of the sphere with 790,000. That's partly because of a pot he won off Ramin Hajiyev.
Hajiyev raised from the hijack and Fast called from the massive blind. Hajiyev continued for 22,000 on an 8♦Q♥6h] board and Fast check-called. The 5♣ turn was checked through after which Fast led for 80,000 at the 2♦ river. Hajiyev tank called but mucked upon seeing Fast's 6♠5♥ for 2 pair. Hajiyev dropped to 340,000. --MC
11:15pm: Double for BuldyginLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Viacheslav Buldygin is the quick stack on the final, and could also be the least experienced player. That is only his sixth live tournament--but not quite his "first live tournament" as Dietrich Fast keeps suggesting, to general amusement.
And Buldygin goes to stay around because he has just doubled up at the first hand of final-table play. Dario Sammartino opened from the button and Buldygin shoved the small blind. Davidi Kitai then re-shoved the massive blind and Buldygin said, "I BELIEVE I'VE problems."
He showed 6♦6♠ and Kitai showed A♦J♦. "YOU HAVEN'T ANY problems," Vladimir Troyanovskiy said.
The flop came K♦T♠4♦. "Now you may have problem," Troyanovskiy added. But then everyone agreed that a lot of the issues were eased by the 6♥ at the turn. The K♣ river ended it within the first-timer (or sixth-timer)'s favour. -- HS
11:10pm: Final eightLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
They are actually all seated across the final table, with the next approximate stacks:
Seat 1 - Vladimir Troyanovskiy, 135,000Seat 2 - Orpen Kisacikoglu, 180,000Seat 3 - Dietrich Fast, 680,000Seat 4 - Dario Sammartino, 490,000Seat 5 - Viacheslav Buldygin, 130,000Seat 6 - Davidi Kitai, 650,000Seat 7 - Ramin Hajiyev, 360,000Seat 8 - Pratyush Buddiga, 360,000
11:05pm: No bubble, Shak out at same time as LeonardLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
All of a sudden, people are within the money. On the exact time that Patrick Leonard was being knocked out by Pratyush Buddiga, Dan Shak ran his jacks into the pocket aces of Davidi Kitai and the aces held. That meant there has been no time to redraw directly to one nine-handed table, and no sweating over the cash bubble either.
With Shak packing his things before heading out, they did an eight-handed redraw within the knowledge that they're all guaranteed a minimum of €23,280. Details of latest seating assignments to follow.
11pm: Leonard falls to Pratyush BuddigaLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
"Oh well," said a philosophical Patrick Leonard after he did not hit in a race versus Pratyush Buddiga.
The Brit moved all-in for 88,000 from the button and Buddiga did likewise from the small blind. Dietrich Fast flashed the A♥ and folded from the massive blind.
Leonard: Q♠T♥Buddiga: 8♠8♦
The flop came 3♦2♥J♠ and Leonard said, "That's a foul one."
On the 9♣ turn he continued, "Too many outs!" He was proven right because the river was the J♦.
The final nine players are actually at the bubble and can be redrawn onto one table. --MC
10:55pm: Fast the destroyerLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Something needed to give on Table 1 and it turned out to be the EPT Vienna champion Oleksii Khoroshenin. He was the massive stack about three hours ago, but now he's at the rail in 11th, the newest victim of Dietrich Fast.
Everyone was shoving on that table. In back-to-back-to-back hands, Viacheslav Buldygin, Patrick Leonard and Khoroshenin moved their short stacks all-in, but none got any callers. Then Ramin Hajiyev moved all-in too from the small blind, pressuring Buldygin into folding his big blind.
But then the highest blew. Fast opened to 22,000 from the cutoff and Khoroshenin called from the large blind. They saw the flop of 3♠T♥2♣ and Khoroshenin checked. Fast bet 16,000 and after a brief moment of deliberation, Khoroshenin said that he was all-in.
Glum times for Oleksii Khoreshenin
Fast couldn't call quickly enough. He turned over T♦T♣ having flopped top set. Khoroshenin wasn't dead along with his A♠5♣, however the 7♠ at the turn was a blank, as was the K♠ at the river.
Fast now has about 700,000 and is running away with it. -- HS
Dietrich Fast: Running away
10:45pm: Sammartino at it again to bust CarrelLevel 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
There was no outdraw from Dario Sammartino this time. He was always ahead, and stayed that technique to bust Charlie Carrel.
Carrel moved all-in for around 70,000 from the cutoff and there have been folds until the action reached the Italian within the big blind. He squeezed one card and checked out Carrel while saying, "It's good!"
"How good? Just tell me!" responded Carrel."I can't until I see the opposite one," said Sammartino. He checked out the opposite one and the look on his face changed, and he said, "Nuts" and called with K♥K♠.
"Wow, you really looked sorry for me," commented Carrel as he opened his 9♣9♥. The board ran A♥8♦3♣2♠J♠ and Carrel went off and pretended to cry right into a friend's embrace. --MC
10:35pm: Into Level 17Level 17 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Off they go into Level 17. Here's how they stack up on the moment:
| Dietrich Fast | Germany | 476000 | |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 470000 |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 400000 | |
| Dario Sammartino | Italy | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 371000 |
| Vladimir Troyanovskiy | Russia | 236000 | |
| Pratyush Buddiga | USA | Entered on Day 2 | 229000 |
| Orpen Kisacikoglu | UK | Re-Entered on Day 1 | 172000 |
| Patrick Leonard | UK | 153000 | |
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 151000 | |
| Dan Shak | USA | 143000 | |
| Viacheslav Buldygin | Russia | 126000 | |
| Charlie Carrel | UK | 82000 |
10:25pm: Break time
They're taking a 15-minute break and colouring off the five hundred chips. We'll have full chip counts soon.
10:23pm: Ung outLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
On the general hand before the break, Senh Ung shoved his tiny stack in from the small blind and Pratyush Buddiga called from the large. Buddiga's A♥J♥ beat Ung's king-seven off-suit and we're all the way down to 12. -- HS
10:20pm: Zinno outdrawn, bustsLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Anthony Zinno is the newest man to perish, getting his short stack in ahead, but getting outdrawn.
He shoved under the gun and got that every one the best way through, but he would see just one more hand. Action folded to Dario Sammartino within the small blind, and he moved all-in.
Zinno, with 81,000, snap-called but his Q♦K♠ lost to Sammartino's J♥T♦ on a board of 4♣3♠J♠T♥8♥. -- HS
10:15pm: Shak shoves on CarrelLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
"Hmm, why do you usually need to put me within the close ones?" asked Charlie Carrel to Dan Shak.
Shak had his headphones on and slipped one ear off to listen to Carrel continue, "You look pretty comfortable."
Shak didn't reply and put his headphones back in place.
"Not worth replying? I MUST choose my sentences better next time," smiled Carrel.
The hand had started with an under-the-gun raise to 17,000 from Shak and a large blind defend from Shak. The flop fanned 5♦J♥8♣ and Carrel check-called 20,000. The turn was the 8♥ and Shak shoved for 74,500 when he was checked to again. Carrel ultimelty folded to drop to around 150,000. --MC
10pm: Making Troyanovskiy smileLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
vladimir Troyanovskiy opened to 14,000 and Dario Sammartino called one seat along. Then Davidi Kitai called at the button, and action got to Charlie Carrel within the big blind. He started chuckling to himself, and Dan Shak wondered why. Carrel said he was facing three of the scariest looking players on the planet. None of them ever smiled, he said.
"I've seen Vlad smile," Shak said. Then paused a beat, before adding, "WHENEVER he busts me." That won a textbook Troyanovskiy smirk. Shak then pointed at Kitai and said, "Him, I HAVE NEVER seen smile such a lot". Kitai didn't crack.
Carrel folded, so there have been three of them to a flop of 2♥A♠3♥. Troyanovskiy bet 26,000 and only Sammartino called. The 3♦ came at the turn and Troyanovskiy bet 45,000. This time Sammartino let it go too.
Vladimir Troyanovskiy: Is that a smile?
9:55pm: Heath coolered by HajijevLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Ben Heath is out. This was a chilly deck, leaving no room for subtlety, especially with a stack of about 20 big blinds.
Heath three-bet shoved his stack of 124,000 over Oleksii Khoreshenin's open and with good reason. He had Q♥Q♠. However, Ramin Hajiyev snap-re-shoved from the small blind and he had good reason too. He had K♠K♥. Khoreshenin folded.
The board ran 6♣A♣T♦6♠3♥ and it was clear enough that Hajiyev had the larger stack. Heath's 124,000 goes over to the Azerbaijani player's pile, swelling it to about 330,000. --HS
Ramin Hajiyev
9:45pm: Carell remixes his stack and a songLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Charlie Carrel and Anthony Zinno played out a captivating hand and likewise had a fascinating conversation, partly in the course of the hand and a little bit after its conclusion.
Carrel was wearing headphones and allow them to drop around his neck. "Are you taking note of The Verve, Bitter Sweet Symphony?" asked Zinno.
"Yes! Are you able to hear it?" responded Carrel."No, you were singing it!" came the reply.
Carrel looked embarrassed but there has been no time to speak much because the two had the most important hand to play out.
Zinno opened to 13,000 from the cutoff and Carrel peeled from the massive ignorant of see a 4♠2♥3♣ flop appear. Zinno continued for 18,000 and Carrel check-called before both players checked the 7♠ turn. The river was the K♠ and Carrel checked to stand a 45,000 bet. The British starlet only had around 80,000 back and into the center they went. Zimmo made an excessively quick fold and dropped to around 95,000.
It took a short time but they picked up the conversation again.
"Could you actually hear me?" asked Carrel."Yes, nevertheless it appeared like a remix; just like a Metallica remix.""I'm so sorry," said a red-faced Carrel. --MC
9:25pm: Fast v Buddiga within the blindsLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
It was an unraised pot, with Pratyush Buddiga calling from the small blind and Dietrich Fast checking his option. They saw the 3♠2♠J♥ fall at the flop and Buddiga bet 5,500. Fast raised to 16,000 and Buddiga called.
After the 4♠ came at the turn, Buddiga checked after which gave it up when Fast bet 32,000.
9:20pm: Double for BuldyginLevel 16 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Patrick Leonard, with a stack boosted from that hand against Martin Kozlov, opened from under the gun after which called Viacheslav Buldygin's shove of 58,000 from the small blind. They were racing. Leonard had 7♣7♠ and Buldygin had A♣J♣.
The flop was all red. It came 2♦8♦4♥ and Buldygin prepared to go away. But his preparations were premature since the J♦ came at the turn and the J♥ at the river, which kept him alive.
Leonard is right down to about 170,000 now. Buldygin has about 120,000. Blinds have just gone up. -- HS
9:15pm: Leonard makes great call to eliminate KoslovLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
"You called me?" asked a surprised/confused Martin Koslov to Patrick Leonard.
Leonard were tanking at the river for a few minutes after which made an overly understated call - placing a 500 value chip just over the road to indicate the decision. The decision was good and the Australian broke the long spell of zero eliminations.
The hand had started with a min raise from Koslov off the button and a large blind defend from the diminutive Brit. The flop spread 2♦5♣6♣ and Leonard check-called a 15,000 c-bet before both players went directly to check the 6♦ turn. The river was the 4♦ and Koslov moved all-in for 73,500.
Leonard had an obviously difficult decision, and that was a fact as he scratched his head. When he came out of the tank and called, Koslov showed him A♦Q♠ which was no good against K♣2♠ for 2 pair. -- MC
No joy for Kozlov
8:55pm: Hajiyev continues upwardLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
Ramin Hajiyev and Oleksii Khoreshenin were having a talk that looked to be about some more or less private game they were playing. It seemed like one in every of them were 350K up, but that the opposite one had recently got 100K back, and so felt like he was losing. I DO NOT know to any extent further specifics, but that is the roughly thing they typically speak about at these tables. Until they play a pot, after which silence descends.
That's exactly what happened to halt this actual chinwag. Hajiyev opened to 12,000 from under the gun and Khoreshenin called. They saw the flop of K♥Q♠K♠ and Hajiyev bet 16,000. Khoreshenin raised to 41,000 and Hajijev called.
They then both went into checking mode, after the 6♦ turn and the J♣ river. Hajiyev's A♠K♣ was good. Khoreshenin mucked.
Although the 2 of them were silent, Dietrich Fast led another conversation, with input from Patrick Leonard and Ben Heath. At the recent World Series broadcasts, through which Fast got some decent air-time as he made a deep run, he was consistently known as being born in Russia and living in Austria, often overlooking the truth that he's actually German.
This has apparently resulted in people assuming that Fast speaks Russian, which he doesn't. Fast then tried to give an explanation for that simply because he was born in Russia, it does not imply that he was Russian, and hoped to make use of a German idiom that explained it. "What's a 'hutch'?" he said. "WHAT IS THE name for a spot that a pig lives?" He was pecking away at Google translate on his phone.
It seems that the German phrase Fast was citing asks a rhetorical question along the lines of: "If a cow is born in a pig sty, is it a cow or a pig?" Fast was trying to say that simply because he was born in Russia didn't mean he was Russian, but it surely was a load of poker players, who've paid €10,000 each to sit down on this game, shouting out apparently random words from a farmyard.
"Isn't a hutch for a rabbit?" Leonard said."A pen?" Heath said."If a cow is born in a pen, is it a cow?" Fast said."What the f*** is that this conversation?" Charlie Carrel said, turning round from the neighbouring table. "I HAVE BEEN looking to follow it but I WILL NOT keep up."
Fast eventually gave it up, during which point Hajiyev was out of the hand described above. "I never even said I BELIEVED you were Russian," Hajiyev said. "It's just that it explains why people think you speak Russian."
Who said table-talk was dead?
8:45pm: Carrel's no fat lady singingLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
The all-ins continued and one among them needed to be called. Charlie Carrel was the person called and he got lucky to double up.
He was all the way down to just 51,500 when he made his move from the hijack and was called by Dario Sammartino within the big blind.
Sammartino: K♦Q♦Carrel: Q♣T♦
The board ran 2♠T♣2♣6♠4♣ and Sammartino dropped right down to 188,000. --MC
8:35pm: Hanging at the telephoneLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
Just before all of the all-ins, a hand played out between Ramin Hajiyev and Patrick Leonard that was intriguing primarily for its metagame aspects. I DO NOT know if we actually learnt anything, nevertheless it was fun to watch.
It was actually the first actual hand after the break and Hajiyev was late to reach to the table. He got there just as his cards were being dealt, so his hand was live and he peeked at it while still standing up. It seemed that he was about to raise, still while standing up, but eventually sat down and pushed out a 12,000-chip raise.
"If you'd have still been standing, you possibly can has been strong," Leonard said. It also happened that Hajiyev's phone started ringing just as he sat down, and he silenced it to play his hand.
"His girlfriend is calling," Dietrich Fast said, suggesting there has been further evidence that Hajiyev had a tight hand.
"Come on, man!" Hajiyev said.
It didn't lose him a customer, though. Leonard called, saying, "I'll attempt to catch up." The 2 of them saw a flop of K♦7♠9♣ and Leonard check-called Hajijev's bet of 15,000.
The 7♦ came at the turn and so they both checked. Then the Q♦ came at the river. Leonard checked and Hajiyev bet 29,000. After which Leonard's phone started vibrating, meaning he was getting a choice. "It's my girlfriend," he said, although he hadn't actually checked the screen yet.
Leonard then started a monologue. "I will need to have stayed within the restaurant," he said. "THAT IS expensive. I MAY have had dessert."
Leonard then folded with a flourish and Fast said he saw the king of hearts. Leonard denied he had the king of hearts but admitted it was a king of another suit. "King-nine," he said.
"I will need to have bet at the turn," Hajiyev said. "I MIGHT have gotten more."
We won't ever know.
8:30pm: A flurryLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
There was a flurry of all-ins just after the dinner break, but at time of writing all 16 players still remain.
Charlie Carrel, the tournament short stack, open-shoved the hijack and collected blinds and antes. Then he open-shoved the hijack with the similar result.
On the neighbouring table, Ben Heath three-bet shoved for his last 100,000 from the massive blind after Dietrich Fast opened to 11,500. Fast pump-fake folded.
Encouraged by what he had seen from table-mates, Viacheslav Buldygin open-shoved the following hand and got it through too.--HS
8:25pm: Play resumesLevel 15 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
The remaining players are back of their seats for the last four levels of the night. Play will only be stopped before that if six players remain. Here's their official counts:
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 385,000 | |
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 350,000 |
| Vladimir Troyanovskiy | Russia | 310,000 | |
| Dietrich Fast | Germany | 250,000 | |
| Dario Sammartino | Italy | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 216,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | USA | 200,000 | |
| Pratyush Buddiga | USA | Entered on Day 2 | 200,000 |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 185,000 | |
| Patrick Leonard | UK | 160,000 | |
| Orpen Kisacikoglu | UK | Re-Entered on Day 1 | 155,000 |
| Dan Shak | USA | 134,000 | |
| Martin Kozlov | Australia | 120,000 | |
| Senh Ung | UK | 118,000 | |
| Ben Heath | UK | 110,000 | |
| Viacheslav Buldygin | Russia | 55,500 | |
| Charlie Carrel | UK | 43,000 |
6:50pm: Dinner break
The players are on a 90-minute dinner break. We'll have the official counts of all 16 remaining players by the point we get back. --MC
6:40pm: Two table redraw with rough chip countsLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
| 1 | 1 | Anthony Zinno | USA | 225,000 | |
| 1 | 2 | Davidi Kitai | Belgium | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 265,000 |
| 1 | 3 | Orpen Kisacikoglu | UK | Re-Entered on Day 1 | 148,000 |
| 1 | 4 | Charlie Carrel | UK | 62,000 | |
| 1 | 5 | Senh Ung | UK | 130,000 | |
| 1 | 6 | Dan Shak | USA | 135,000 | |
| 1 | 7 | Vladimir Troyanovskiy | Russia | 330,000 | |
| 1 | 8 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 265,000 |
| 2 | 1 | Ben Heath | UK | 130,000 | |
| 2 | 2 | Pratyush Buddiga | USA | 210,000 | |
| 2 | 3 | Dietrich Fast | Germany | 240,000 | |
| 2 | 4 | Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 200,000 | |
| 2 | 5 | Martin Kozlov | Australia | 88,000 | |
| 2 | 6 | Viacheslav Buldygin | Russia | 94,000 | |
| 2 | 7 | Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 390,000 | |
| 2 | 8 | Patrick Leonard | UK | 137,000 |
6:35pm: Heath forces lay-down from LeonardLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Just as Ole Schemion was being eliminated, Ben Heath was also all-in on a neighbouring table. He had shoved for 65,900 at the turn, taking a look at a board of Q♦T♣5♦T♦.
Patrick Leonard agonised over his decision, but then folded and showed Q♠9♣. Heath tucked his cards safely into the muck.
6:35pm: Schemion busts, two-table re-drawLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Ole Schemion is out in 17th, bringing us all the way down to our last two tables. They're doing a re-draw and, with 12 minutes still at the clock on this level, I FEEL they'll probably send them off to dinner once they've decided where they'll all be sitting.
Schemion had 56,800 and he three-bet shoved after Oleksii Khoreshenin opened. Khoreshenin called with K♠J♥ and Schemion's T♠8♠ didn't catch up through a board of 9♥3♥2♣4♥5♣.
Khoreshenin now has about 420,000. -- HS
6:30pm: Extended dinner breakLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Let's be honest here for a minute: Malta is a gorgeous place to come back for lots of reasons, but getting served quickly at a cafe isn't one in all them.
Patrick Leonard loves his game theory and was applying it to the 75-minute break. The math didn't add up, and on behalf of the players, he asked for it to be extended to 90 minutes. His (their) wish was granted so the dinner break can be QUARTER-HOUR longer than originally intended. --MC
6:25pm: A silent exit for Paul ByrneLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
There were no cries of all-in or call, only a silent exchange of chips that led to Paul Byrne being shown the door, and Vladimir Troyanovskiy taking up the chip lead with around 350,000. The chips went in preflop with Byrne well covered.
Troyanovskiy: A♦Q♦Bryrne: 8♣8♦
The board ran J♦T♥7♠K♥K♦ to make Vladimir Troyanovskiy a straight. --MC
6:10pm: Hajiyev tames SchemionLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Ole Schemion has slipped into the 20 big blind danger zone after trying, but failing, to get Ramin Hajiyev to fold top pair.
Hajiyev started the ball rolling with a raise to 9,000 from under the gun. Schemion called at the button and Paul Byrne called within the big blind.
Three of them took within the flop: J♦T♥7♦. Byrne checked and Hajiyev bet 17,000. Schemion was the one one to stay around.
The 4♥ came at the turn and both players checked, after which Hajiyev also checked the 9♦ at the river. Schemion cut out of venture of 37,500 and Hajiyev didn't appear to like it.
He took a couple of deep breaths and a meticulous counting of his stack before finding the call, and can has been elated to look Schemion's A♥7♥. Hajiyev had A♣J♥ and won.
Schemion now nurses about 83,000. You'll be able to add 100,000 to that for Hajiyev's stack. -- HS
6pm: A pattern emergesLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
A couple of pages back in my notebook is an unpublished hand from the last level. It was pretty basic--Davidi Kitai opened to 7,700 from under the gun, then folded when Patrick Leonard three-bet to 22,500 from the cutoff.
It is probably growing slightly more relevant as it just played out again, albeit with slightly more chips reflecting the increased level.
This time, Kitai opened to 9,500 from the cutoff and Leonard three-bet to 31,500 from the small blind. Kitai folded.
Kitai fairly often opens if action is folded to him, and one suspects Leonard has noticed it. Either that or the 2 of them keep getting big hands concurrently one another.
5:55pm: Quads for FastLevel 14 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
After taking a slight hit previously HALF-HOUR or so, Dietrich Fast is back up as regards to 300,000. He just took a pot from Dan Shak, who looked as if it would mis-read something in regards to the hand.
Fast opened from the button, making it 9,000 to play. (Blinds had just gone up once they entered Level 14.) Shak called within the big blind and only those two were invested within the 4♣6♠A♣ flop. They both checked.
The 6♥ came at the turn and Shak check-called Fast's bet of 11,000. The 6♦ then came at the river and Shak checked again. Fast bet 25,000 and Shak called.
Fast showed the 6♣9♣ for quads. Shak showed his A♠8♣ and muttered, "One-outer" in complaint.
He quickly realised the mistake of his ways and admitted he has mis-read the placement. Fast cheerily spelled it out for him anyway. "I had a flush draw at the flop, trips at the turn and quads at the river," Fast said. "I had outs."
Shak chuckled away and apologised again. -- HS
5:45pm: No cookies before dinner time, Ole!Level 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Ole Schemion has dropped right down to 212,000 after he got caught bluffing by Oleksii Khoroshenin, who has become the primary player to hit 300,000.
The two players were heads as much as the turn where a Q♣8♠4♠K♥ was on show. Khoroshenin checked from under the gun and called after Schemion bet 26,500 from the cutoff. The board completed with the 3♦ and Khoroshenin checked to stand a 68,000 bet. He called again and Schemion slammed J♦T♦ down at the table like he had the nuts, but he didn't. Khoroshenin opened K♠2♠ and scooped within the big pot. --MC
Naughty boy, Ole
5:35pm: Ung gets his doubleLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Senh Ung did not want to tangle with Charlie Carrel earlier, but he was happy to get his last 46,400 in against Dietrich Fast on a board of T♦T♣J♦. Fast had top pair together with his A♥J♣. But Ung had better along with his A♦A♠.
Ung, who was under the gun, raised pre-flop and Fast defended his big blind. After which that flop meant a bet, a shove and a call.
The 7♣ turn and Q♥ river changed nothing. -- HS
5:25pm: Carrel channels KassoufLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
"What do you've gotten"? Charlie Carrel said. "What hand do you've gotten? I NEED to understand if I NEED a decision or not."
This was slightly a needle aimed towards Senh Ung, who was pondering a decision for his tournament life. Carrel opened to 7,000 from under the gun and Ung raised to 15,000 from the cutoff.
Carrel then said that he was all-in, covering Ung's 50,000 approximate stack. That's when the verbals started, which in many ways emulated the infamous table chatter of William Kassouf.
Ung allowed himself a wry smile on the Carrel chit-chat. After which he folded. -- HS
5:20pm: One shove too many for ThorelLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Jean-Noel Thorel is not any more. Do not fret; he's alive and well, just with no stack is all.
Thorel (right) was ent on his way
Oleksii Khoroshenin opened to 6,000 from first to behave and was called by Thorel within the next seat, in conjunction with Vladimir Troyanovskiy (button) and Ramin Hajiyev (big blind). The flop fell 4♣2♣K♦ and it was Thorel who bet, for 10,000. Troyanovskiy raised to 25,000 and was only called Thorel, who then moved all-in for 46,000 at the 6♠ turn. Call.
Thorel opened K♠7♠ but was behind to Troyanovskiy's K♥J♥. The river was the 2♠ and Thorel left without saying a word. --MC
5:15pm: Short-stack Heath pressures KitaiLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Ben Heath, some of the big stacks overnight, is now clinging directly to his tournament life--but he's not at all giving up. He just pushed Davidi Kitai out of a pot with a shove at the river.
Kitai opened to 7,700 from early position and Heath alone called at the big blind. The board brought the J♦7♣7♥ and Heath checked. Kitai bet 5,000 and Heath check-raised to 16,800. Kitai called.
The 5♥ came at the turn and both players checked. Then when the 5♣ came at the river, Heath moved in for his last 30,000. Kitai didn't tarry too long and folded.
5:05pm: Thorel shovingLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Jean-Noel Thorel has long since proved himself content to tangle with the best, and he just bullied Dario Sammartino and Vladimir Troyanovskiy out of a pot. Thorel opened to 8,000 from UTG+1 and Sammartino called from a seat along. Troyanovskiy often known as at the button and the 3 of them saw a flop of 7♥K♣9♦. Thorel checked and Sammartino bet 9,000. That was enough to do away with Troyanovskiy, but Thorel shoved for roughly 100,000 more and that was enough to eliminate Sammartino.
5pm: Slow train? Fast you meanLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
After the slowdown described below, Dietrich Fast decided to quicken things up a bit, knocking out Yang Zhang to bring us right down to 19 players. It also took Fast's stack on the subject of 300,000.
Zhang's elimination was pretty standard, however the two players were going at it a bit before then too.
In one pot, Zhang opened to 7,000 from the cutoff and Fast three-bet to 18,000 from the button. Zhang then shoved all-in for approximately 100,000 and Fast quickly folded.
A couple of minutes later, Zhang found himself within the small blind and action folded to him again. He raised to 8,000. Fast, within the big blind, three-bet to 22,500 and Zhang shoved again. But this time Fast called instantly and so they both had legitimate hands.
Zhang: T♠T♥Fast: A♠K♥
The flop fell and Zhang stood up. It had the K♠ within the window. Although there have been still two tens within the deck, neither appeared and Zhang was out the door. Fast now has about 295,000. -- HS
4:55pm: Slow trainLevel 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
The rate of eliminations have been very steady today, even after the redraw at 24. That was until 20 players remained. There is a lot of folding going on, especially for the reason that players have get back from break. A COUPLE OF players have taken wraps back to their seats to eat, so it have to be a carb thing.
One such fold came from Jean-Noel Thorel.
He was battling against his neighbour Oleksii Khoroshenin. They were heads as much as a 4♥6♦7♣ flop and Khoroshenin (cutoff) check-called a 20,000 bet from Thorel (button). He called another 25,000 at the 8♣ turn before it looked as though he surprised Thorel by leading for 45,000 at the 4♦ river.
The French retired businessman had 86,500 back to play with, and cut out the calling chips as he thought. It looked as though he was within the fringe of calling however the only trigger he ended uo pulling was the fold one. --MC
4:40pm: Chips!Level 13 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
There are 20 players left heading into Level 13. Their full chip-counts at the moment are to be seen over there at the chip-count page.
Ah, what the hell. Here they're here in addition. Prevent a click:
| Davidi Kitai | Belgium | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 297000 |
| Ole Schemion | Germany | 230000 | |
| Dario Sammartino | Italy | Re-Entered on Day 2 | 225000 |
| Dietrich Fast | Germany | 210000 | |
| Anthony Zinno | USA | 197000 | |
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | Ukraine | 176000 | |
| Patrick Leonard | UK | 155000 | |
| Dan Shak | USA | 155000 | |
| Vladimir Troyanovskiy | Russia | 150000 | |
| Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | 143000 | |
| Charlie Carrel | UK | 137000 | |
| Jean-Noel Thorel | France | Re-Entered on Day 1 | 130000 |
| Senh Ung | UK | 118000 | |
| Martin Kozlov | Australia | 111000 | |
| Orpen Kisacikoglu | UK | Re-Entered on Day 1 | 109000 |
| Yang Zhang | China | Entered on Day 2 | 91000 |
| Pratyush Buddiga | USA | Entered on Day 2 | 87000 |
| Viacheslav Buldygin | Russia | 68000 | |
| Paul Byrne | UK | 63000 | |
| Ben Heath | UK | 57000 |
4:25pm: Break timeLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
The players are on their second 15-minute break of the day. Another two levels may be played upon their return after which they'll be a 75-minute dinner break.
4:20pm: Neighbourly battlesLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
There were two battles happening mutually on different tables, both containing players from neighbouring countries. Russia and Australia came out directly top.
Vladimir Troyanovskiy (Russia) raised to 5,500 from under the gun and called after Oleksii Khoroshenin (Ukraine) three-bet to 13,000 from the cutoff. The flop fanned J♦A♠K♠ and Khoroshenin continued for 13,000. Troyanovskiy check-called and both players went on to check the 6♥ turn. Troyanovskiy bet 17,500 at the Q♥ river and Khoroshenin folded to drop to 185,000. That win put Troyanovskiy over the 200,000 mark.
Meanwhile, Martin Kozlov (Australia) and David Yan (New Zealand) had made it to the river where a 7♦5♦3♥K♥4♣ board rested. Around 36,000 sat within the middle and Kozlov moved all-in for 35,700 from the massive blind. Yan was within the hijack and tank-called with K-Q but it surely was no good as Kozlov had made a straight at the river with K♣6♦. Yan dropped to 98,000. --MC
4:10pm: Prize pool!Level 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
The prize structure was confirmed for this event. Eight players can be paid, from 60 total entries and a prize-pool of €582,000. First prize is €174,600. Here's the way it breaks down:
| 1 | €174,600 | ||
| 2 | €126,300 | ||
| 3 | €81,480 | ||
| 4 | €61,690 | ||
| 5 | €47,720 | ||
| 6 | €37,250 | ||
| 7 | €29,680 | ||
| 8 | €23,280 |
4:05pm: Last three tablesLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
When they hit 24 players, tournament officials conducted an entire redraw. Here's how the last three tables line up, with very approximate chip-counts.
Table 1
1 - Yang Zhang 110,0002 - Dietrich Fast 190,0003 - Senh Ung 120,0004 - Dan Shak 175,0005 - Pratyush Buddiga 115,0006 - empty7 - Orpen Kisacikoglu 95,0008 - Charlie Carrel 83,000
Table 2
1 - Sylvain Loosli 55,0002 - Paul Byrne 45,0003 - Ramin Hajiyev 140,0004 - Oleksii Khoroshenin 195,0005 - Jean-Noel Thorel 170,0006 - Dario Sammartino 210,0007 - Ole Schemion 175,0008 - Vladimir Troyanovskiy 155,000
Table 3
1 - Patrick Leonard 130,0002 - Viacheslav Buldygin 80,0003 - Ben Heath 105,0004 - Martin Kozlov 47,0005 - Davidi Kitai 220,0006 - Anthony Zinno 190,0007 - Martin Finger - OUT8 - David Yan 150,000
Martin Finger was eliminated by Patrick Leonard just as I USED TO BE writing down everyone's new position, so that they are at 22 now. In case your favourite player's name isn't at the list above, then he's not involved.
4pm: Kisacikoglu races awayLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
The tournament is one elimination clear of a three-table redraw after Ole Schemion took care of Orpen Kisacikoglu in 26th place.
He opened to 5,600 from the cutoff and was called in a single spot before Kisacikoglu squeezed all-in for 38,000 from the button. Schempion back-raised and got the pot heads up.
Schemoion: J♥J♠Kisacikoglu: A♣Q♠
The board ran 2♥7♥3♥9♣3♣ to look the jacks hold. That put Schemion as much as almost 200,000. --MC
3:55pm: Skill game!Level 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
"Skill game!" said Dietrich Fast after he cracked the pocket kings of Alexandros Kolonias to send him to the rail.
The hand was over by the point we reached the table, however the board was ace high and Fast had A-Q out in front of him. Michele (the dealer) informed us that the unfortunate Kolonias held pocket kings. Fast moved back as much as 195,000. -- MC
3:45pm: Finger-tipsLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
If Martin Finger is to win this tournament, will probably be one of the most great comeback stories. He thought he was out and had wandered clear of the table, but Vladimir Troyanovskiy called after him: "Martin! You have got two thousand left."
Troyanovskiy and Finger had played an enormous pot. Reportedly they got all of it in at the flop, with the board showing 3♣K♥T♦. Finger had A♥A♠ and Troyanovskiy K♦Q♦ and the weaker hand came from behind after the 2♦ turn and Q♠ river.
Finger was convinced that was the tip of it, however the dealer and tournament supervisor did some meticulous counting down before establishing that Troyanovskiy was getting about 90,000 total but that Finger still had 2,100.
Martin Finger
That all went in at the next hand and he found callers in Dan Shak and Ben Heath. And he managed to triple up. The flop was 9♥6♣9♣ and the 2 active players checked. The turn was the J♠ and so they checked again. Shak bet on the 3♠ river, and Heath folded, giving Shak the side-pot.
But Finger's 8♥9♦ was better than Shak's K♦Q♣ and he stays alive.
3:40pm: Sammartino flies into upper echelonsLevel 12 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Just like Davidi Kitai, Dario Sammartino is flying too. He played yesterday, and was eliminated, but then re-entered today on the final moment, just because the break before Level 12 was beginning. And now he has knocked out Mikita Badziakouski to take his stack to about 250,000--five times what it was an hour ago.
Dario Sammartino: Up with the leaders
This was a large old flip: Sammartino's A♦K♥ against Badziakouski's J♦J♥. Patrick Leonard had also been involved, but said he folded tens when the opposite two showed a willingness to play for stacks.
Badziakouski had 95,000 nevertheless it was shipped to Sammartino after the board ran A♠4♥7♠9♣4♣. -- HS
3:28pm: Kitai soaringLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Davidi Kitai has probably leapt into the chip lead with 280,000 after a river over-bet with aces worked out well for him. Anthony Zinno has an analogous sized stack, so the lead is between those two.
Around 45-50k had made into the center by the point the board rested as K♥J♣A♠J♦8♣. Kitai was battling heads up versus Orpen Kisacikoglu who checked from the large blind. Kitai bet 58,000 and was tank-called. He opened A♦A♥ for prime full house and Kisacikoglu mucked to drop to 65,000.
There'a been numerous river over-bets witnessed on this tournament to this point. --MC
3:23pm: Aldemir sent to the rail by CarrelLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Koray Aldemir's ride has come to and end. He lost a battle of the blinds versus Charlie Carrel to bust.
The action folded around to Aldemir within the small blind and he limped in off 20 big blinds after which called after Carrel set him in from the massive blind.
Aldemir: A♣8♠Carrel: 2♦2♣
The board ran 3♦5♣7♦T♦4♠ to peer the deuces hold. --MC
Koray Aldemir
3:15pm: Spilling over from the net tablesLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Charlie Carrel piped up from the seven seat on Table 2. "Ole, you slow-rolled me online," he said. "I've just remembered. You tank-called when it was boat-over-boat."
Ole Schemion, for it was he, looked over in apology. "I DO NOT BELIEVE I did it on purpose," he said. "It's happened before."
Carrel clearly said that he assumed it have been accidental, probably the most many perils of multi-tabling, surely. But when there has been any grudge being held, they soon got fascinated by a pot where they'd the risk to air it.
Carrel opened to 4,500 from the cutoff and Senh Ung called from the button. Schemion, with the conversation now over, peered around at his opponents' stacks after which raised to 16,000.
Charlie Carrel
"How much did you begin with?" Carrel asked. Schemion showed that he had about 100,000 total. Carrel had somewhat less, but a horny similar stack.
Carrel called, and Ung also called.
The flop came K♥T♦2♠ and Schemion quickly bet 16,400. There has been no slow-rolling here as Carrel snap-folded, and Ung did the same.
3:05pm: Lucky in love, but not poker todayLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
Stephen Chidwick was lucky so that you could hug his fiancé Marine after he had no luck within the tournament today. Can't have everything on this world!
The British star was right down to 20,000 when he made his move from the cutoff. Dario Sammarinto was within the next seat and successfully isolated with a move all-in for 100,000.
Chidwick: K♥Q♣Sammartino: A♦8♣
The board ran 5♣A♣Q♦4♠4♦ and Chidwick went off for that hug. --MC
2:55pm: Houri doublesLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
Yehoram Houri just doubled his stack to about 55,000 after finding 9♣9♦ within the small blind and an opponent, Jean-Noel Thorel, prepared to get it in with pocket sevens.
There were no dramas at the flop, turn or river and Thorel needed to pay 27,400 for the mis-step.
2:50pm: Newey perishesLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
Paul Newey lost a race and is now heading out of the door. He got his last chips in from the button with T♣T♥ and ended up flipping against Senh Ung's A♦K♦. I AM NOT sure how or when it went in, but I did see the K♣ come at the river and that was that for Newey. --HS
2:45pm: The way in which Fast playsLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
Despite losing the hand to Davidi Kitai, described below, Dietrich Fast continues to use the pressure on anyone prepared to tangle. Most recently, it was Yang Zhang--and Fast ended up adding some more to his stack.
Fast opened to 4,000 from under the gun and Zhang was the one person to call, within the big blind. The flop came 8♦4♠J♦ and Zhang checked. Fast bet 6,000 and Zhang called.
The turn was the K♦ and Zhang checked again. Fast bet 16,500 this time and took it down.
That's not an exciting pot, but it's through hands like that that gigantic stacks are built and tournaments won. -- HS
2:40pm: Kitai's going to KitaiLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
Davidi Kitai confuses opponents, plain and easy. He too can see into your soul, so beware. He battled in three pots at the bounce and had mixed fortunes until the third hand, where he doubled up.
He raised from the cutoff after which four-bet after Dietrich Fast three-bet from the small blind. Fold.
The next hand saw him limp in after which call after Pratyush Buddiga raised from the small blind. The board ran out T♦4♣J♦K♥5♥ with Buddiga betting 8,000, 26,000 and all-in for 70,000 on each street. Kitai stuck around to the river where he folded.
The centre of the action: Davidi Kitai
The third hand was Kitai's double up hand. Over again he limped in and called after Fast raised to 14,000 from the cutoff. Both players checked the A♦K♣5♠ flop before Fast bet 21,500 at the 8♣ turn. Kitai tanked after which check-raised all-in for 61,500. Fast seemed confused and took a great deal of time seeking to figure the poker puzzle out. Eventually he slammed within the call with T♠8♠ but Kitai opened A♥Q♣ and survived the 7♠ river.
Start of Day 2 chip leader Fast dropped to 150,000 that is still plenty at this point. --MC
2:30pm: Sammartino squeezes back inLevel 11 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
Dario Sammartino squeezed back into this tournament just as registration closed. He gets 25 big blinds as they start Level 11. Head to the chip-count page for full updated counts from the new break.
2pm: Break timeLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
The players on on their first break of the day. Registration will close once level 11 begins. We'll bring you all of the final player numbers and an entire chips count soon. --MC
2pm: Finger fends of Heath's clubLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Martin Finger's second (and final) entry is operating better than his first. He found aces and used them to double through Ben Heath, who dropped to 75,000.
Around 19,000 have been amassed by the turn and Heath checked from the large blind. The board read K♣3♦9♠6♣ and Finger moved all-in for 27,500 from the button with A♣A♥. Heath called with the pair and flush drawing 8♣9♣ but bricked at the 6♥ river. -- MC
1:50pm: Buldygin bullies Zinno to stick aliveLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Viacheslav Buldygin opened to 3,500 from under the gun and it started what become an intriguing hand. Patrick Leonard, from a stack of about 120,000, called o the button, and Anthony Zinno, with about 25,000 greater than that, called from the massive blind. Buldygin was a relative short stack, with about 50,000.
The flop came 4♦2♠8♠ and Zinno checked. Buldygin bet 4,900 and both his opponents called.
That took them to the 2♦ at the turn and Zinno now led. (He were within the big blind, remember.) He made it 11,000. Buldygin called after which Leonard also seemed interested. After just a little fidgeting in his seat, and a few counting of his chips, he opted to fold however.
The A♥ came at the river and Zinno now checked. Buldygin moved all in, for approximately 35,000 and Zinno ended up folding without getting an entire count.
That's a beautiful stacked table now. Senh Ung has about 105,000 however the daddy is Ole Schemion, who has 215,000 and is probably going leading the tournament.
1:40pm: More at the railLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Stefan Jedlicka, Connor Drinan and Max Silver are all now out. That was the latter's second bullet, so he can't re-enter. The opposite two have about QUARTER-HOUR to decide.
1:35pm: Newey at the doubleLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Paul Newey found an attractive spot to get his chips in, and greater than doubled up as a result.
The (now) big stacked Ole Schemion opened to 3,200 from the cutoff before Viacheslav Buldygin took his time and three-bet to 27,300 from the small blind. Schemion was staring hard on the Russian however the real danger was Newey within the big blind who four-bet all-in for 27,300. That ousted Schemion but nor Buldygin who shrug-called.
Buldygin: A♣8♣Newey: J♦J♠
The board ran 9♦Q♠T♠T♥3♣ and Buldygin dropped to 45,000. --MC
1:25pm: Blind battle gets uglyLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Davidi Kitai is the newest player to be seen wandering aimlessly across the tournament room, having lost nearly all of his chips in a skirmish with Nick Petrangelo.
It begun in friendly enough fashion, with action folding to Petrangelo's small blind. Petrangelo raised to 5,000 and Kitai, within the big blind, called.
The went to a flop of T♣J♦4♦ and Petrangelo continued for 8,200. Kitai never does anything too quickly, but tends to behave aggressively when he's made up his mind. This was no exception. He shoved for what seemed like about 51,000.
Petrangelo didn't desire a count. He called instantly and showed that he wasn't stealing with air. He had K♥K♠. Kitai's A♦2♦ had a lot of equity, but it surely was snuffed out at the 3♣ turn and 8♥ river.
Petrangelo's total was measured at just wanting 40,000. Kitai had him covered, but lost the remainder of his shrapnel very soon afterwards. He has HALF-HOUR to choose whether to re-enter.
1:15pm: News in briefLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
- Dietrich Fast's stack has grown to around 190,000. A few of those chips came courtesy of Orpen Kisacikoglu and Pierre Neuville. The 3 players had made it to the river of a 5♠7♦2♣T♦8♥ board. After the turn were checked around, Fast bet a near pot-sized 15,000 from the massive ignorant of force folds from both opponents.- Martin Finger and Adrian Mateos both busted their first bullets, the latter's being taken by Ole Schemion. The previous bought straight back in and Mateos joined him soon after. Steve O'Dywer busted yesterday but has re-entered today, collectively Yang Zhang was entering for the primary time.
Adrian Mateos and Ole Schemion
- The tournament has ticked over into Level 10 and we're as much as 56 total entries including eight re-entries. --MC
1:10pm: Drinan pushes out HouriLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
It's surely no coincidence that play has got an excellent degree more aggressive because the close in registration approaches. Players are either widening ranges or making it seem as though they are, just another a kind of small complexities of tournament poker.
On the last hand of Level 9, Connor Drinan opened from early position to 3,300 and Jean-Noel Thorel, one seat to his left, called. Then Yehoram Houri three-bet to 8,200 from the button and action gone through the blinds back to Drinan.
As Drinan thought what to do next, Thorel began examining his chips like someone who has found some foreign currencies of their change after nipping to shop for a newspaper. He looked very confused. But he folded quickly enough after Drinan shoved, for 34,100.
Houri took a whole lot longer over his decision, soliciting for an exact count after which measuring his own stack. He had about 45,000 in total, including the bet already available in the market. He decided that that was enough with which to continue and folded, allowing Drinan to chip up beyond his starting stack.
1:05pm: Kitai unafraidLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Somehow or other Davidi Kitai (cutoff), Oleksii Khoroshenin (small blind) and Stephen Chidwick (big blind) got 12,000 into the pot pre-flop after which saw 9♦2♦2♣ come off.
Khoroshenin bet 4,500 and Chidwick called, putting the verdict back on Kitai. He took his time over it, and needed to deal with the pressure of 2 of poker's most rigid starers boring holes into his skull from the opposite end of the table, but then announced that he was all-in for roughly 28,000.
Stephen Chidwick
Starer 1 (Khoroshenin) folded quickly. Starer 2 (Chidwick) did likewise. -- HS
1pm: Two in, two outLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
There was two new arrivals up to now today: Pratyush Buddiga, as mentioned earlier, and Mikita Badziakouski, another High Roller regular.
It's been a unprecedented start from Buddiga too and he has nearly tripled his 50,000 starting stack throughout the first level of play. It sort of feels highly likely that he knocked out Xixiang Luo, who started a couple of seats along from Buddiga today, and had a stack of 82,300. But he has nothing now and was the primary of 2 early eliminations.
Pratyush Buddiga
The other player to leave was Martin Finger. Don't forget, re-entries are still possible. -- HS
12:50pm: Early folding on Table 2Level 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
You'll find it hard to find a very simple table here on Day 2, and Table 2 is proof of that. Ole Schemion, Anthony Zinno, Patrick Leonard and Adrian Mateos have won a couple of Euros between them and Koray Aldemir has had a breakout year, or perhaps a breakout summer where he won over $2.5 million.
Winning that much won't help when Leonard is pressuring you in position. He was within the cutoff and playing a heads up pot with Leonard who had the privilege of getting the dealer button in front of him. The board read 4♥J♦K♦J♠ and Aldemir check-called 10,000. The 9♥ completed the board and Aldemir check-tank-folded to Leonard's 24,000 bet. That dropped him right down to around 35,000.
Two hands later, and on the same table, Schemion and Zinno went to war within the blinds. We aren't sure if there has been a raise before Schemion made it 9,000 to head from the small blind, but we all know that Zinno raised on top of that, to 24,000 from the large blind. Then the (not so young anymore) German moved all-in for around 167,000, covering his opponent's 140,000. Zinno went deep into the tank before resurfacing to fold. --MC
12:40pm: Gabrieli moves in on HeathLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Ben Heath opened to 2,800 from under the gun and only Ivan Gabrieli, to his immediate left, called. That took them to a flop of 6♥3♠2♣ and Heath continued for 2,600. Gabrieli called.
The 3♥ came at the turn and Heath bogged down. He checked, but then called when Gabrieli bet 6,400.
After the T♥ came at the river, Heath checked again. And he wasn't prepared to name when Gabrieli shoved for around 25,000. That one went to the Italian.
12:35pm: No flies on SchemionLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Despite just a limited appearance on the World Series, and skipping EPT Barcelona entirely, Ole Schemion doesn't seem to be off form. Indeed, he won the second one Super Tuesday title of his career on PokerStars not goodbye ago, and he's doing really well back on the live felt this week.
We reported him losing a large pot towards the top of play yesterday evening, flopping two pair but doubling up Koray Aldemir when the latter turned a straight, but he still managed to bag greater than 100,000. And he just made a proper call with King-high to take some from Adrian Mateos.
Schemion opened from under the gun, making it 2,800, and Mateos was the one man to call, within the big blind. The flop came A♠9♦7♥ and Mateos checked. Schemion bet 3,000. Mateos called.
They both checked the 2♠ turn and then, after the 3♥ came at the river, Mateos tried to shop for this pot. He bet 8,200 but Schemion was a disbeliever. After Schemion called, Mateos turned over J♥T♣. Schemion's K♣Q♦ was a winner. -- HS
12:32pm: Buddiga arrivesLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Although the official tournament board isn't yet indicating that any additional players bought in overnight, there is a certain Pratyush Buddiga in a seat this afternoon, with chips, and i am sure he wasn't here yesterday. No sign yet of Mike McDonald, who has a gorgeous consistent appearance record with regards to these high buy-in events.
12:30pm: Shuffle up and dealLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Cards are within the air for Day 2. Only a reminder that registration will close in the beginning of level 10. Then the degrees can be increased to 60 minutes each from there on in. --MC
12pm: Fast out in front
At least 37 players will return to Portomaso Casino today to play Day 2 of the €10,000 Don't Call This A High Roller event. There'll probably be more. They played through eight 45-minute levels yesterday and registration remains open until they've also played Levels 9 and 10 today. I expect some folk may have flown into Malta late yesterday and can join the fray today.
There's also the choice of a single re-entry, and with 14 players sitting with not up to 50,000 in chips at this stage, they are tempted to punt and take a re-entry. What's €10,000, huh?
Despite some shoddy reporting confusion on the end of yesterday, when it appeared that Ben Heath had taken the lead, it's actually Dietrich Fast out in front at this stage. He bagged 147,300, that is 3 times the starting stack, and is flying.
The full list of overnight chip stacks are over at the chip-count page.
Ready to embark by yourself poker adventure? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.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 is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the €10,000 single re-entry: Marc Convey and Howard Swains. Photography by Jules Pochy. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog
Still time to shop for in!
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