| Buy-In: | $8,050 + $514 |
|---|---|
| Prize Pool: | $1,714,327 |
| Entrants: | 203 |
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
There’s been a regular pattern to the end of each day at EPT Warsaw. Each night a new chip leader has bagged up their chips, usually with an overspill into a second bag, with a colossal lead, a mere dot on the horizon to the second placed player. Well today was no different. The new chip leader going into tomorrow’s final is the Ukrainian Oleksandr Vaserfirer who tonight has 1,854,000, almost double his nearest challenger, after a day full of twists and the odd bit of drama.
When play began it seemed only right to forecast Jeff Sarwer to be top of the pile. The unfailingly polite Canadian brought close to a million chips to the table this afternoon but had his tournament reshaped by the biggest hand so far when pre-flop his pocket eights ran into Vaserfirer’s ace-king which paired on the flop. That pivotal hand catapulted Vaserfirer into the lead with what was once half of Sarwer’s stack.
But while Sarwer never appeared the type to rue a bad hand, and despite a gradual comeback, the one time chess prodigy busted late in the day. His back to back ace-kings lost first to Alexander Debus kings then to Vasifirer’s queens. A performance most thought worthy of one last day ended in tenth place.
Here’s how the final table will line-up:
Luca Pagano, Italy, Team PokerStars Pro — 984,000
Anatoly Gurtovoy, Russia — 332,000
Oleksandr Vaserfirer, Ukraine — 1,854,000
Alexander Klimashin, Russia — 266,000
Clayton Mozdzen, Canada, PokerStars qualifier — 978,000
Ruslan Prydyk, Ukraine — 658,000
Alfio Battisti, Italy, PokerStars player — 552,000
Christophe Benzimra, France — 465,000
One name on that line-up stands out, that of Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano who yesterday captured a record 12th EPT cash and tonight set the record for a fifth EPT final table. A finish in sixth place or better tomorrow will put the Italian back at the top of the tournament leader board ahead of ElkY. He has 984,000 chips with which to do just that. But even rankings are irrelevant alongside Pagano’s pursuit of an elusive first EPT trophy.
Familiar faces dotted the landscape this afternoon. But they could not all keep their seats a day longer.
PokerStars Player Shaun Deeb departed in 22nd. He was followed by the French duo of Michel Abecassis and Antony Lellouche. Vitaly Lunkin’s tournament ended today, as did the magical mystery tour of Peter Hedlund, while Finland’s Jani Sointula departed in 13th place. Check out the payout page for a full list of day four results.
The last eight will return tomorrow at the slightly later start time of 1pm local time to do battle for one last day until a new EPT Warsaw champion lifts aloft the winners trophy. So pick your favourite, cancel Sunday and tune in to the PokerStars Blog to follow all the action.
In the meantime refresh your general knowledge of the day at the links below:
Introduction: The last 24
Level 17 updates
Level 18 updates
Level 19 updates
Level 20 updates
Level 21 updates
If that doesn’t fill the gap then you could spend the next 19 hours or so figuring what the German and Polish blogs are on about, breaking that up with the occasional video blog over at PokerStars.tv. And if pictures say a thousand words Neil Stoddart’s photography saved us a lot of typing today.
Till tomorrow then. Dobranoc!
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
Live updates from day four, level 20 of the EPT Warsaw Main Event event brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Howard Swains and Simon Young.
Click refresh to see the latest updates below. Click through to the chip count page for selected notable chip counts, updated regularly throughout the day.
Blinds: 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Full wrap is available on the, errr, on the full wrap page.
Those final table chip counts are also on the chip counts page.
See you for the final table tomorrow. Meanwhile, here’s a look in moving pictures at how Debus went out…
6.35pm: Debus done, day four done
Alexander Debus moved all-in for 180,000. Next in line was Luca Pagano who also moved all-in, keeping this one a two player affair. He showed [qc][qd] to Debus’s [as][6s]. The board ran: [5h][6c][5c][8h][4c], ending the day right there. Debus is eliminated in ninth place. A full report on the day, as well as the official chip counts are on the way.
6.15pm: Debus on the ropes, Battisti survives
Alfio Battisti was all in against Alexander Debus, who had him covered, but only just.
Debus: [qc][qh]
Battisti: [ac][ks]
Battisti needed to catch – and that he did on the flop of [3h][kc][9h]. But the [6h] turn gave him a sweat as Debus now had a flush draw. The [8d] river put an end to that, however, and Debus is down to 170,000. Battisti is up to 535,000.
6pm: Sarwer slaughtered by Vaserfirer
Jeff Sarwer is out in tenth, the victim of ace-king. Twice. First up, he and Debus went to war, as described below, but shortly after it was even more ugly as he tussled with Oleksandr Vaserfirer. It was the last hand he played.
Sarwer raised to 38,000 under-the-gun (five-handed, remember) and Vaserfirer made it a straight 100,000 from the small blind. The big blind Debus got out the way, and Sarwer shoved for his last 260,000-odd. Vaserfirer called instantly, and the emotions went on the roller coaster.
“I need to win this flip,” Sarwer said, and probably thought he had when the flop came [ah][6s][10d]. The [10s] was also all right, but the [qh] was a sickener for Sarwer but a delight for Vaserfirer. He continues to plunder everything this afternoon.
With nine players we’re down to our final table that isn’t a final table. One more until we reach the eight for the big bucks.
Sarwer recounted his woes to our video blog team…
5.50pm: Debus at the double
Alexander Debus, a PokerStars qualifier, doubled up through Jeff Sarwer. Debus only had around 250,000, and had pushed several times with no takers. But this time, Sarwer moved all-in behind him, forcing the rest of the table to get out of the way.
Debus: [kc][kh]
Sarwer: [ac][ks]
Sarwer needed to catch an ace, but the board came [kd][2c][9s][8d][8s] for Debus’ full house.
We move on.
5.40pm: It’s that time again
Two of our reporting team are relaying up and down the stairs with the latest from the tournament floor but have yet to return. Either the drama is on hold or the longest hand in tournament poker’s history is taking place. Stand by.
5.25pm: Back
Just like that, they’re back. This lot:
Oleksandr Vaserfirer, Ukraine, 1,401,000
Clayton Mozdzen, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 925,000
Luca Pagano, Italy, Team PokerStars PRO, 764,000
Jeffrey Sarwer, Canada, 648,000
Ruslan Prydryk, Ukraine, 611,000
Christophe Benzimra, France, 520,000
Alfio Battisti, Italy, 425,000
Anatoly Gurtovoy, Russia, 324,000
Alexander Debus, Germany, PokerStars qualifier, 304,000
Alexander Klimashin, Russia, 285,000
Don’t forget:
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
Live updates from day four, level 20 of the EPT Warsaw Main Event event brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Howard Swains and Simon Young.
Click refresh to see the latest updates below. Click through to the chip count page for selected notable chip counts, updated regularly throughout the day.
Blinds: 6,000-12,000 (1,000 ante)
5.10pm: And with that, level 20 is done
Shall I add anything to that headline? Nope. See you in level 21.
5.05pm: Pagano head of the family
Luca Pagano, Alexandre Debus and Jeff Sarwer get to a three-way flop, with Sarwer under the gun, Pagano one to his left and Debus in the big blind. (They’re playing five handed, by the way.) The flop comes [ks][10d][6c] and Debus checks, Sarwer bets 56,000 and Pagano calls. Debus is persuaded along too. The turn is [2h] and Debus checks, as does Sarwer, but Pagano bets 120,000. Debus folds as Sarwer announces: “OK, critical hand here.” He gets zero information from Pagano though, and eventually folds.
4.50pm: Vaserfirer shows what he’s made of
Oleksandr Vaserfirer had just made a hero call with jack high, and it was good. In fairness, it wasn’t a huge pot but it’s worth noting that he’s not just a wanton aggressor. Vaserfirer raises to 30,000 under-the-gun, and Alexandre Debus and Jeff Sarwer call, Sarwer on the button. All three check a flop of [6c][8d][qs] and the turn is [2h]. Vaserfirer and Debus check, Sarwer bets 25,000 and Vaserfirer is the only called. The river is [qc] and after Vaserfirer checks, Sarwer bets 45,000. That’s when Vaserfirer calls, shows [jd][10d] and Sarwer mucks.
4.40pm: Aleksey Yuzikov heads for the exit – out in 11th
I don’t know if it was just me, but I sensed there was a bit of needle between Jeff Sarwer and Aleksey Yuzikov. They’d been involved in many pots today already, including two successive hands where Yuzikov failed to bluff Sarwer twice with 10-4 offsuit.
If this was a car crash waiting to happen, it just did. And Yuzikov was the victim.
Sarwer made it 30,000 on the button, Luca Pagano folded from the small blind, and Yuzikov announced all-in. Sarwer called instantly with [ad][ah], and Yuzikov let out a yelp of disgust as he turned over [ac][8h].
The [5d][3c][8d] offered hope of an unlikely outdraw, but the [jh][ turn and [2h] river was not what he needed.
“I don’t know what it is,” Sarwer said, “but every time I get aces I get paid off.”
Must be nice.
4.30pm: Jani the Sointula next to go
On a flop of [ts][3c][4s] Alfio Battisti made it 50,000 from the small blind with around 60,000 in the pot already. Jani Sointula in the big blind moved all-in, 130,000 or so more. Battisti thinks for several minutes before calling. Sointula shows [qs][js] for a flush draw while Battisti showed no fear turning over [td][9d]. The [9d] turn card was good for Battisti but Sointula still had outs. None came, a [9c] on the river to send him out in 12th place.
4.20pm: Marcin in moving pictures
Here’s Team PokerStars Pro: Poland player Marcin Horecki – here supporting his Jeff Sarwer and Luca Pagano as they head for a final table spot…
4.15pm: Pagano doubles
After an uncomfortably long period of raising and then folding to a three-bet, Luca Pagano has found the double up he was looking for. Alexandre Debus raised from the button to 28,000 and Pagano moved all in from the big blind. It was another 161,000 and after due deliberation, Debus called. Pagano had [kc][ks] against Debus’ [as][8h] and although an eight flopped, it was not enough. Pagano is now back in this one.
4.10pm: Mozdzen most definitely
Alfio Battisti opened for 31,000 from under the gun. It was folded to Clayton Mozdzen in the big blind who called for a [8s][ks][3s] flop. Both checked for a [6d] turn. Mozdzen made it 42,000 now, called by Battisti for a [5s] river card. Another 92,000 from Mozdzen, enough to chase Battisti out of the hand. Mozdzen showed [7c][7d].
4.05pm: Are they back from the break yet?
Yes! They’re back. Level 20 begins. Get the latest scores on the chip count page. Our tournament leader right now is Oleksandr Vaserfirer with more than 1.5 million.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
Live updates from day four, level 19 of the EPT Warsaw Main Event event brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Howard Swains and Simon Young.
Click refresh to see the latest updates below. Click through to the chip count page for selected notable chip counts, updated regularly throughout the day.
Blinds: 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
3.40pm: Nikolay Tsanev eliminated in 13th
On the last hand of this level, Nikolay Tsanev thought he was on for double up but ran into a straight.
He made it 24,000 and was called by Ruslan Prydryk. The flop came [6s][qc][8d], Prydryk checked and Tsanev made it 31,000. Call. On the [10d] river Prydryk again checked, and now Tsanev moved all-in for around 140,000 – insta-call, and here’s why:
Tsanev: [qh][10c]
Prydryk: [7s][9s]
Prydryk had the straight, and the [kc] river was not enough for Tsanev to overtake with a full house.
3.37pm: Here’s JC Alvarado
And if the Team PokerStars Pro looks a little tired in the video below, it’s because he’s just been playing a 22-hour long cash game!
3.35pm: A lull
There have been hands, but few get close to a showdown. One does. Ruslan Prydryk made it 35,000 on a flop of [jc][8h][th] which Clayton Mozdzen check-called. The both checked the [2s] turn but on the [3s] river Mozdzen made it 40,000. Prydryk called pretty fast showing [js][5s], taking the pot when Mozdzen showed [qd][td].
3.18pm: Maurice Schulmann eliminated in 14th
It was inevitable that after the hand below, Schulmann would put his remaining chips in the middle on the next hand. That’s exactly what happened.
Oleksandr Vaserfirer made it 22,000 under the gun – exactly what Schulmann had left after he paid his 1,000 ante – Schulmann called all-in, as did Anatoly Gurtovoy in the big blind. With action on the side, no hands were shown as the other two checked down the [9d][ks][7h][5c][6h] board. All on their backs:
Schulmann: [jh][2h] for nothing
Vaserfirer: [10h][jd] for nothing
Gurtovoy: [5c][7d] for a winning two pair.
3.15pm: Schulmann crippled
Maurice Schulmann is down to the felt with just over two big blinds after the following clash:
Alexander Debus made it 25,000 pre-flop, and Luca Pagano called from the button. But Schulmann dwelled a little in the small blind before raising it up to 110,000. Debus moved all in for around 240,000 more, and after Pagano got out of the way, Schulmann called:
Schulmann: [jc][jd]
Debus: [ah][ks]
Debus was all-in and needed to catch. He was happy enough to see the board run [4d][10d][8d][kc][4h] and moved up to over 500,000.
Schulmann was left with 23,000.
3.10pm: Double bust; down to 14
Almost immediately after the consolidation of the tables, a player was all in on each. Both of them were short stacks – Dani Vargas and Tome Cardoso Moreira – and both were up against the big stacks of Oleksandr Vaserfirer and Jani Sointula, respectively.
Vargas first. He raised to 25,000 from mid position and Vaserfirer made it 55,000 from the button. It was folded back to the Spanish player and he dwelled before moving all in, for his last 150,000-odd.
Vaserfirer called and they were racing. Vargas had [ah][qd] and Vaserfirer [8c][8d]. The board ran out [5d][3d][6s][5s][5c] and that was that for the vanquished Vargas.
As that was happening, so was this: Jani Sointula raised from the button and Tome Cardoso Moreira shoved all in, for about 100,000, from the small blind. Sointula called. These two also went to the races: Sointula had [js][kd] against Moreira’s [3h][3c].
This time the pocket pair was no good, however, as the board came [8d][as][ks]. A three never appeared and those two depart, each earning €10,314 (42,940 PLN).
3pm: It’s that man again
Star of the video blogs Luca Pagano helps introduce the start of day four.
Watch EPT 6 Warsaw Day 4: Run for the final table on PokerStars.tv
2.50pm: Two tables
A bet of 20,000 from Clayton Mozdzen before Julian Mogensen moved all-in. Mozdzen called, covering Mogensen and showing [ac][jd]. Mogensen had [kd][kc]. The board ran [td][qh][8s][qd][ah] Mogensen had been good until the river but now becomes the 17th place finisher. That means we’re down to two tables.
2.40pm: Don’t try this at home, folks
Jeff Sarwer has added nicely to his stack – another 130,000 or so – thanks to these successive hands against Russia’s Aleksey Yuzikov.
Hand 1:
Sarwer makes it 23,000, Yuzikov re-pops to 56,000. Sarwer moves all-in, and Yuzikov folds, revealing a rather poor 10-4.
Hand 2:
Sarwer makes it 23,000, Yuzikov re-pops to 56,000. Sarwer moves all-in, and Yuzikov folds, revealing a rather poor 10-4.
That’s not some writing mistake – the hands really were identical with excatly the same action.
“You’re giving me a lot of freebies,” said Sarwer. “I appreciate it.”
Yuzikov is now down to 150,000 or so, and needs to stop re-raising with 10-4 offsuit!
2.35pm: Mozdzen chipping up
Clayton Mozdzen’s table is the one featuring only five players – and he’s making the most of it, seemingly raising most hands and picking up the blinds and antes. As a result, he’s up to over half a million now.
2.33pm: Michelle Orpe’s tears
EPT TV presenter Michelle Orpe went out on Day 2 after some bloke with J-Q hit a straight on the river. By the looks of this video, she’s none too pleased…
2.30pm: A gentle reminder
2.25pm: Play resumes
Refreshed stale coffee and fresh cigarettes, players are back in their seats for level 19. Check out the latest chip counts.
Live updates from day four, level 18 of the EPT Warsaw Main Event event brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Howard Swains and Simon Young.
Click refresh to see the latest updates below. Click through to the chip count page for selected notable chip counts, updated regularly throughout the day.
Blinds: 4,000-8,000 (500 ante)
2.10pm: Level end
There’s a lot of folding the three tables at the moment – after the flurry of eliminations. We gently drifted to the first break of the day 17-handed.
The full chip counts are coming and they will be on the chip count page.
2pm: Bully
Oleksandr Vaserfirer is now in what seems to be complete command of his table, although Jeff Sarwer is intent on not letting him have it his own way. The two of them, in the blinds, had got about 120,000 in the pot by the time the turn was out: [qd][3s][6s][8d]. Vaserfirer bet 76,000 at that and after a long, long time Sarwer folded. Vaserfirer showed [kh][4c] and got an appreciative rap on the table from Sarwer, who added: “Better than me!” The Canadian then asked Vaserfirer if he’d have called a push with king high. He got no reply but Sarwer said: “He would call my draw with king high to knock me out.” Sarwer has about 295,000 now.
1.50pm: The calm after the storm
Peter Hedlund moved all-in on the button, again. He’d tried before with no takers but this time Alfio Battisti called in the big blind. “Sh*t,” said Hedlund. Battisti showed [kd][qc] but Hedlund was slightly ahead with [ac][7h]. The board came: [5d][7s][8s][qh][qd]. Hedlund had found hope on the flop but elimination on the turn and river.
1.40pm: Lellouche hits the rail
Moments after Vitaly Lunkin’s departure, there was another all in on the neighbouring table and it was Antony Lellouche under threat. It was a battle of the blinds against Nikolay Tsanev, who had raised from the small blind, only to see Lellouche shove for about 120,000 from the big.
Tsanev picked this one off though, instantly calling with [8s][8h]. Lellouche was at it with [7d][5h] and the flop was pretty, but not very helpful: [kh][qd][jd]. The turn was [js] and the river [2h].
Lellouche was sent packing, alongside Deeb, Abecassis and Lunkin in a day that is hardly favouring the established “names”.
1.35pm: Lunkin latest to depart
Oleksandr Vaserfirer opened to 20,500 on the button and Vitaly Lunkin, from the small blind, moved all in. So far, so ordinary: Vaserfirer has been opening all the time with his monstrous stack and Lunkin, relatively short, has had to stick them in.
But the twist this time was that Jeff Sarwer in the big blind called, which was enough to get Vaserfirer out the way as they went to a flop for Lunkin’s tournament life.
Lunkin was ahead with [ah][2h], up against Sarwer’s [kc][js]. The flop and turn were blank but the river was [jc] and Lunkin’s day is done in 20th place.
1.35pm: Where did Deeb go?
Keep track of all the results during the day on the payout page.
1.30pm: Michel Abecassis eliminated in 21st place
Schulmann and Abecassis moved in again with no takers either time. It’s not long before Abecassis has his chips in the middle though. After a bet of 20,000 by Julian Mogensen on the button Abecassis moved all in on the big blind for 72,000. Mogensen called showing [4d][4s] to the Frenchman’s [ah][8d]. The board came: [6s][3c][3h][qh][kd]. Abecassis becomes the 21st place finisher.
1.25pm: Lellouche with a whoosh
Lellouche opened for 21,000 and was raised by Christophe Benzimra to 56,000. Lellouche then moved all-in for 160,000 more, covering Benzimra who folds. Lellouche still waiting for that first full cigarette.
1.20pm: Schulmann shoves
Maurice Schulmann shoved in with [ah][ad] and was called by Anatoly Gurtovoy with [as][ks]. He was already disappointed but after a board of [qc][9d][ts][kd][6c] he looked even worse. Schulmann doubles up.
1.18pm: Abecassis still alive
Michel Abecassis shoved all-in with [8s][5s] and was called by Ruslan Prydryk with [td][kd]. The board comes: [8c][jh][5c][qd][ks] giving Abecassis two pairs and more chips.
1.15pm: Biggest pot of the tournament
And it doesn’t make good reading for overnight runaway leader Jeff Sarwer. He’s just lost the lead – and a good deal of his chips to Oleksandr Vaserfirer, who is now the chip daddy with more than 1.2 million.
Vaserfirer, from Ukraine, made it 25,000 and Sarwer re-raised to 58,000. Vaserfirer then put a mountain of yellow 5,000 chips – more than 150,000 – to which Sarwer responded: “All-in.” Insta call from Vaserfirer:
Vaserfirer: [as][kh]
Sarwer: [8h][8s]
A classic race, and the most expensive we’ve seen all week. The board was a hammer-blow for Sarwer, coming [2c][ah][7d][10s][7c].
“What can I do?” said the Canadian, as tournament staff counted Vaserfirer’s 623,000 chips.
From such a commanding position, Sarwer is now down to around 380,000.
1.10pm: Hedlund ups
Swede Peter Hedlund has been unusually quiet this morning. Maybe the rather large quantity of refreshment he had yesterday has caught up with him. But expect him to become rowdy once more after this hand…
Hedlund got his 100,000 all-in with [kd][10h] but was called by Michel Abecassis with [ad][qd]. The flop was kind for the Swede – [9s][10c][4c], and the turn was a gift coming [10d]. The [qc] river simply rubbed Abecassis’ nose in it. He’s down to 35,000.
The new level is under way, and this was the first pressing (and for many depressing) news item:
1.05pm: Deeb done
The Shaun Deeb live adventure is over for another event. He shoved from the small blind, after it was folded around, but his [jh][3s] was looked up by Jani Sointula’s [as][9s]. The flop came [ah][8h][8c] and none of the miracles appeared on either turn or river. Deeb is our 22nd placed finisher.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
Live updates from day four, level 17 of the EPT Warsaw Main Event event brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Howard Swains and Simon Young.
Click refresh to see the latest updates below. Click through to the chip count page for selected notable chip counts, updated regularly throughout the day.
Blinds: 3,000-6,000 (500 ante)
1.05pm: Deeb done
The Shaun Deeb live adventure is over for another event. He shoved from the small blind, after it was folded around, but his [jh][3s] was looked up by Jani Sointula’s [as][9s]. The flop came [ah][8h][8c] and none of the miracles appeared on either turn or river. Deeb is our 22nd placed finisher.
12.57pm: Blinds up
That’s the level. No break, just straight into level 18
12.56pm: All quiet on the Hedlund front
Peter Hedlund, a little quieter than last night, moved all-in. He got no takers but showed [ah][jh].
12.55pm: Lellouche calling again
Alexander Klimashin is next to shove. He’s called, again it’s Antony Lellouche doing the calling, this time with [8d][8h]. Klimashin showed [th][ts]. The board ran: [9h][5h][7d][qd][3s] doubling up Klimashin.
12.50pm: Deeb doubles
Shaun Deeb moved all-in behind a pre-flop bet of 16,000 from Antony Lellouche. It was 41,000 more to the Frenchman who called, showing [ah][9h]. Deeb had him pipped with [ad][th]. The board ran: [8d][5c][2d][ac][td] and Deeb doubled up. Over on the cash table JC Alvarado and Jim Callopy gave Deeb some ironic cheers. World is Callopy is still on his Friday night and hasn’t slept yet.
12.45pm: Pagano doubles up
Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano, having already bagged his 12th EPT cash – thus stretching his own record – has doubled up against Shaun Deeb. Pagano had [as][kd], Deeb [ah][qs] and the board blanked [3c][5h][3d][9d][6s].
Pagano soared to 240,000, leaving Deeb down on around 80,000. But the very next hand the online whiz from the US doubled up again, courtesy of Frenchman Antony Lellouche.
12.40pm: Polak poleaxed
PokerStars player Wojciech Polak, from Poland has had a short day 4 – he was just busted by Jeff Sarwer. Polak only had around 40,000 left, and got it all in with [9h][10h], a hand with many possibilities, even if it was up against Sarwer’s [ac][kd].
But the board was emphatic for Canada right from the off, despite a magical [10c] being seen first, the rest was [as][4h][3d][ah].
Polak leaves with €6,874 Euro – Sarwer adds more to his stack.
12.35pm: One down – Puchkov shoved by Vaserfirer
Konstantin Puchkov couldn’t have had a worse start to the day. No more than about five hands in and the Russian is out, despite having a stack of 300,000 to play with overnight.
He had ace-king against Oleksander Vaserfirer’s pocket queens and they got it all in. A queen on the flop and a fading of the backdoor flush options gave a huge pot to Vaserfirer, who rockets something close to 600,000.
Puchkov had little choice but to get his tiny stack in the middle next hand, and his [kc][9h] was called by Vaserfirer with [4s][2d]. Puchkov should have known what was coming: a flop of [4h][js][4d] and a meaningless turn and river.
Puchkov is out 24th placed finisher. See his name, and all the others who go out today, on the prizewinners page.
12.30pm: Seat draw
The chip counts are on the chip count page, sorted by chip count. That makes sense. But here are the runners by table order:
Table one
1 – Jani Sointula, Finland, 182,500
2 – Alexander Klimashin, Russia, 39,000
3 – Luca Pagano, Italy, 112,500
4 – Christophe Benzimra, France, 211,500
5 – Alexander Debus, Germany, 479,500
6 – Nikolay Tsanev, Bulgaria, 183,000
7 – Antony Lellouche, France, 332,500
8 – Shaun Deeb, USA, 192,500
Table two
1 – Konstantin Puchkov, Russia, 300,000
2 – Maurice Schulmann, France, 53,500
3 – Aleksey Yuzikov, Russia, 322,000
4 – Dani Vargas, Spain, 256,000
5 – Anatoly Gurtovoy, Russia, 425,000
6 – Oleksandr Vaserfirer, Ukraine, 285,500
7 – Wojciech Polak, Poland, 30,500
8 – Jeff Sarwer, Canada, 956,500
Table three
1 – Tome Cardoso Moreira, Portugal, 127,000
2 – Michel Abecassis, France, 149,000
3 – Ruslan Prydryk, Ukraine, 325,500
4 – Vitaly Lunkin, Russia, 198,500
5 – Peter Hedlund, Sweden, 87,500
6 – Clayton Mozdzen, Canada, 574,000
7 – Alfio Battisti, Italy, 140,000
8 – Julian Hoffmann Mogensen, Denmark, 128,500
12.30pm: New day, old level
The bubble burst in the middle of level 17, so they will start this morning and play the remainder of that, with blinds at 3,000-6,000 (500 ante). We’re not yet sure if the tournament officials will wind the clock back to made amends for the long time spent bursting the bubble. But it’ll be OK with us either way.
8pm: That’s it!
The bursting of the bubble ceremony means play has finished for the day. The 24 remaining players – all now safely in the money – are busy bagging and tagging their chips before heading off for some well-earnt rest. Or in Peter Hedlund’s case, another drink.
We’ll have a full wrap of today’s events up very shortly. In the meantime see the bubble burst for yourself…
Watch Ept6_WarsawDay3_Bubble on PokerStars.tv
Cheerio.
7.59pm: Bubble boy!
After a long and torturous bubble period, Domantas Klimciauskas is the unfortunate last man to go home without a cent for his efforts here at EPT Warsaw. After being floored a little earlier, he managed one double up, then added some more, but his day – and tournament – came to end on the following hand…
Klimciauskas made it 40,000, called by Oleksandr Vaserfirer. The flop came [jc][9h][8c] and Klimciauskas bet 12,000. Vaserfirer moved all-in – call!
Klimciauskas: [as][js]
Vaserfirer: [8s][8h]
Klimciauskas needed a minor miracle to overtake Vaserfirer’s set of eights – but the [4h][4s] river ensured that did not happen.
Spare a thought for the Lithuanian – he had to sit next to a very noisy and well-oiled Peter Hedlund all day… and now he leaves with nothing.
7.55pm: From the last half an hour
More all-ins going unchallenged. Alexander Klimashin tried it, Sarwer called (“Simple enough I guess”) but couldn’t end things then and there with his [qd][6h] against [kc][7d]. Then Wojciech Polak shoved but found no takers for his pocket jacks. Julian Hoffmann Mogensen was next, one of three micro stacks on the same table. Then Paul Schulmann. No, nothing.
7.50pm: Is that the time?
It’s just ticked past 7.50pm and still no one has returned to the press room from the tournament floor. That means we’re still seeking our unfortunate bubble boy. Any minute now. Any. Minute. Now.
7.30pm: Pettersson out
Thomas Pettersson exited in 26th place – very unluckily as turned out. Vitaly Lunkin made it 17,000 pre-flop and Pettersson re-raised to 53,000. Lunkin wasted no time going all-in – and Pettersson was quicker in calling. Guess the hands?
Lunkin: [kc][ks]
Pettersson: [as][ah]
All good for Pettersson, who was covered by Lunkin. But hang on…. the flop dealt an instant dagger to his heart, coming [kh][6s][2d]. He now needed one of two aces to stay alive, but the [3d] turn was not one, nor was the [4h] river. Unlucky.
7.25pm: Closing in on the bubble
Updates are infrequent at the moment as our crack reporting staff is camped out on the tournament floor (down four flights of stairs from here) as they await the elimination of the final two players of the day. That will take us through the bubble and into the money.
Word is that one of the short-stacks, Peter Hedlund, has doubled up, leaving the pressure firmly on the likes of Maurice Schulmann, Alexander Klimashin and Wojciech Polak. The big stacks are doubtless loving every agonising moment.
7.15pm: Chips
The full official counts are in for the final 26 players. You know by now where they are:
Sneak preview: these are the top three.
Jeffrey Sarwer, Canada, 900,000
Alexander Debus, Germany, 500,000
Clayton Mozdzen, Canada, 425,000
7.10pm: Play resumes
Play has restarted in level 17. We play down to 24 players tonight meaning the day will come to an end after two more players are eliminated.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
The last 24 players are in the money and now and today we discover who gets what sized share. Freed from the threat of poverty, if that was ever an issue for these guys in the five stars Hyatt Regency, they’ll be no more hanging on, no more excruciating white knuckle bubble play, just free-styling poker the way we like it. They’ll be eliminations, double ups, swings and new heroes rewarded for their days work with a seat at the final table.
Most notable among these is Jeff Sarwer. The Canadian chess prodigy, now turning his hand to poker, played an almost flawless game yesterday, amassing a stack just short of seven figures, a good way ahead of nearest rival Clayton Mozdzen, another Canadian, with 574,000.
A glance through the field, which you can do yourself on the chip count page, and you’ll notice a few names familiar to EPT regulars, including the likes of Antony Lellouche, Shaun Deeb, Vitaly Lunkin, Jani Sointula, Michel Abecassis and Peter Hedlund, not to mention the Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano, extending the record for EPT cashes, one he already holds, to 12.
We’ll play down to eight today, 75 minute levels until we’re done. Take a look at the tournament structure to put things in perspective and to recap on the story so far check out the links below:
Carter Phllips dominates day 1a
Antony Lellouche leads the day 1b field
Mozdzen with the most on day two
Jeff Sarwer plays game of his life to lead on day three
Play set to begin shortly.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
The denouement of the chess-based film Searching for Bobby Fischer features a match played between a couple of pre-pubescent prodigies, one named Josh Waitzkin and the other Jonathan Poe. Waitzkin was a real-life player, whose father wrote the book on which the movie is based, but fewer people know that his opponent, Poe, was also based on a actual, real-life guy, a young Canadian named Jeff Sarwer.
Sarwer was tipped by many to follow the eponymous Fischer to the very top of the game, but instead disappeared apparently without trace, never to be seen as an adult around the chequered board. But chess’s loss is poker’s gain. Sarwer has been seen at a few EPT events in recent years, but never so visibly as today. He was in irresistible form on his charge to the summit of the overnight leaderboard, heading into tomorrow’s penultimate day of season six in Warsaw.
This may soon become the defining game of Sarwer’s career. He is the dominant leader, with 956,500 at this stage, about 400,000 more than his closest challenger. As the ever-exuberant Peter Hedlund observed late on, “Jeff is a Hoover. He’ll Hoover all your chips.” Of all the many words that pour from Hedlund’s mouth, these were among the most astute.
Sarwer got involved in a huge pot against Sorel Mizzi, knocking out the dangerous Imper1um with aces against king-queen. Then aces again accounted for today’s early chip leader, Piotr Kilinski. The Polish player’s ace-king was crushed, and he fell short of the money.
Carter Phillips knows all about that. Another monster stack before play began, he says he lost 11 coin-flips en route from 299,800 chips overnight to the rail before day was done, taking with him the hopes of becoming the first two-time EPT champion. That particular hex endures.
It was no day to be a World Champion either. Peter Eastgate busted within the first couple of levels, by which point his Team PokerStars Pro colleague Thierry van den Berg had already been out for more than an hour.
That left the startling Luca Pagano to fly the flag alone for the Team. This is now his 12th career EPT cash, extending his record as the most consistent in-the-money finisher in the tour’s history.
Pagano will have his work cut out to make it all the way to the final table, though. Top-notch players such as Clayton Mozdzen (574,000), Shaun Deeb (192,500), Antony Lellouche (332,500), Jani Sointula (182,500) and Vitaly Lunkin still remain in this field. It was a small one, but the quality has never been in any doubt.
Their full, official counts are on the chip count page, where you won’t see the name of Domantas Klimciauskas. He was our unfortunate bubble boy, busting to the cruelest of fanfares at about 8pm. Klimciauskas’s ace-jack hit top pair, but Oleksandr Vaserfirer had flopped a set of eights. Ouch.
All the rest are in the money, aiming for the kind of cash you’ll find on the payout structure page.
You can relive today’s action with any of the following links:
Introduction: The race to the money
Level 14 updates
Level 15 updates
Level 16 updates
Level 17 updates
And the same kind of thing, only more foreign, is available in Polish and German. There are some fine videos over at PokerStars.tv.
All the photos today came, as ever, from Neil Stoddart, with the exception of this cheeky chap.
This comes from the website of Jeff Sarwer, then a chess prodigy, now a poker player. Come back tomorrow to see if he can book a spot on the final table.
Checkmate.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
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