It doesn’t take much of a stretch these days to present poker as the new theatre, and on the Italian Riviera today, tournament organisers went the whole hog and deposited the last three tables of EPT San Remo on a stage.

As we culled 24 runners to a final eight, players, supporters, media and staff trod the boards in an eerie silence and an atmosphere of absurdity worthy of Beckett. Sixteen were certain to perish and all we needed to know was their identities. Born astride of a grave, their last yelp echoed with a chill around an empty auditorium.

But enough of the dramatics. What about the game? OK, OK, here’s how the day ended and the names of our final eight:

Jakob Carlsson, Sweden, 13,525,000

Toni Pettersson, Finland, 5,035,000

Michael Piper, UK, 4,600,000

Claudio Piceci, Italy, 4,460,000

Liv Boeree, UK, 3,440,000

Atanas Georgiev, Bulgaria, 2,520,000

Alexey Rybin, Russia, 1,890,000

Giuseppe Diep, Italy, 1,830,000

That list is most notable firstly for the name at its summit, secondly for one about half way down and lastly for one who is missing. Jakob Carlsson (formerly known as “Karlsson”) was the chip leader at the end of day three but has endured more highs and lows since then than even the most tortured tragic hero.

He was all in during the first level and survived, then he built his stack back up to monstrous proportions. Then he had queens cracked by Alexey Rybin’s [3h][4h] when a flush rivered and was back among the pack once more.

Carlsson hung in there and continued the fight until he entered another massive pot against Rybin with pocket queens. This time he had flopped a set, but Rybin had flopped a straight with [jc][9c]. But the last laugh went to Carlsson as he rivered a full house and became the first player into eight figures. He leads the way with 13,525,000 tomorrow.

In the chasing pack is Liv Boeree. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a character named Olivia begins in mourning for her brother, rebuffs the advances of a duke, falls in love with a woman dressed as a man and then accidentally marries “his” brother, ending happily ever after.

For her namesake, better known by the diminutive “Liv”, it was a little more straightforward, but no less of a thrill ride. Ms Boeree, from the United Kingdom, fell particularly in love with two kings and got most of her sizeable stack in the middle behind them, slaying the young knave Per Linde from Sweden and his pocket jacks.

That was the biggest pot Boeree played today, although she hardly retired to the footlights. She remained active throughout and has already turned in the most profitable performance of her fledgling career. She is now well set to make a charge at the citadel occupied only by the Team PokerStars Pro duo of Vicky Coren and Sandra Naujoks. Women champions on the EPT are few, but they are good company.

To continue a Shakespearean theme: at the beginning of the day, the centre of attention was a young fellow from Copenhagen. In Austria a fortnight ago, Allan Baekke had become the crown prince of the EPT with a win at the inaugural Snowfest. Coming into the penultimate day of this tournament, Baekke was again atop a golden throne. He led day four and was in search of an elusive double. No one has ever won two EPT main events before, let alone consecutive tournaments, yet here was the man with the perfect name for the Baekke-to-Baekke accomplishment sitting in pole position.

As it happened, he perished like that other young prince from Copenhagen. Betrayed not by a fatal flaw nor by a jealous family, he instead was abandoned by the deck. Baekke was characteristically forthright in his game, typically impeccable in his manners. But card dead is card dead and Baekke went out in 12th. Alas, we knew him well.

Baekke finds his name on the list of prizewinners so far, alongside, incidentally, all other players who started today in the top six, and eight of the overnight top ten. They all missed out on the final.

See how they perished, hack-by-hack, stab-by-stab, with our level-by-level (almost) hand-by-hand coverage at the following links:

Introduction and level 25 live updates

Level 26 live updates

Levels 27 & 28 live updates

Level 29 live updates

Tomorrow, we will have a cast featuring a handful of good Shakespearean names (a Claudio, a Toni and a Guiseppe), an Olde English moustache (on the face of Michael Piper) and an Atanas (difficult to work with). Join us to see what dreadful analogy we can spin out of that lot.

It’s even worse over at our German, Dutch, Swedish and Italian blogs, although some semblance of sanity can be found at PokerStars.tv

, which is a haven of video blogs.

All photographs are ©Neil Stoddart.

Exeunt, pursued by a bear.

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.

10.46pm: Break

We’re now on a short break while we regroup to one table. Not the final table of course, but we’re damn close. — SY

10.45pm: Monster, monster

Jakob Carlsson wins the biggest pot of the tournament – around 11million – to take a massive chip lead and send Alexey Rybin down to less than 2million.

Rybin had raised from the button, Carlsson re-raised to 620,000 and Rybin called. The flop was [kc][10c][qh] and Carlsson bet 560,000 – only for Rybin to bet a hefty 2million. Carlsson then moved all in for around 4,700,000 more – call!

Carlsson: [qc][qs] for the set

Rybin: [9c][jc] for the straight and for the flush draw

Carlson needed to pair the board for the full house or pull the last remaining queen out of the bag to stay alive. The turn was [8c] to improve Rybin to a flush – but then the river came [kd] to pair the board and shoot Carlsson in to the lead with the winning boat. — SY

10.43pm: Stelmak pays the Piper

Dmitry Stelmak heads for the rail, sent there by Michael Piper. Stelmak moved all-in behind a Piper bet of 210,000. The all-in was for 1,600,000 and Piper insta-called. It was a good one. Stelmak showed [as][5c] but Piper had better with [ac][jh].

The board came [8h][2c][qh][7c][7h]. Piper now has more than 4,000,000 and we’re down to nine players. — SB.

10.40pm: Double take

Jakob Carlsson makes it 225,000 and Claudio Piceci re-raises all in to take the pot. Very next hand Carlsson makes it 225,000 and Claudio Piceci re-raises all in to take the pot. — SY

10.35pm: Pressure mounts for Stelmak

Dmitry Stelmak is having a tough time of it right now. His stack is down to 1.5 million after Toni Pettersson forced him off a hand. Stelmak raised to 250,000 from the button and was called by the Finn to go to a [7c][tc][8d] flop. Stelmak made a continuation bet of 270,000 when it was checked to him but folded to a 900,000 raise from his opponent. —MC

10.25pm: Rinaldi won’t pay the Piper

Michael Piper opened for 200,000 on the button. On his right Claudio Rinaldi moved all-in from the small blind. Dmitry Stelmak sat quietly for a while in the big blind, thinking about what to do. After a while he folded, sending the action back around to Piper. Head up, chest out, looking down his nose at Rinaldi’s stack, Piper folded. “Show one card?” he asked, as he has done every time he’s folded to a raise this week. Rinaldi said nothing. — SB.

10.22pm: Down to the last ten

Ramon Cserei from Romania is out in 11th place for €50,000. He shoved his last 370,000 and was called by Jakob Carlsson and Claudio Piceci. Both the callers checked the [jh][kd][5c] flop, but on the [9s] turn Carlsson bet 185,000 and got a call from Piceci. On the [7s] river Carlsson bet 470,000 and Piceci gave up.

Carlsson turned over Q-10 for the nut straight, and Cserei left to seek out the cash desk. We’re now down to two tables of five players. To more two lose and we’re done for the day. — SY

10.15pm: Small blind moves

Three hands in a row on the outer table have been folded around to the small blind before any action took place. Firstly Michael Piper moved all-in from the small blind and forced a fold from Claudio Rinaldi in the big blind. The next hand it was Rinaldi’s turn to move all-in and he got the same result; a fold from the big blinded Dmitry Stelmak. Stelmak himself wanted in on some of this action when it was folded to him in the next hand. He chose not to move all-in, though, and raised to 250,000. The move didn’t work out too well for him as Giuseppe Diep snap moved all-in and the Russian had to give it up. —MC

10.10pm: Nothing to see here

None of the dramatics of earlier on the outer table. Michael Piper moved all-in, an open shove for 2,700,000 and Stelmak asked how much. But he passed, as did Diep, who went through a little show, taking a while, checking his cards again, staring intently at Piper, before doing so. — SB.

10pm: Early all in

Claudio Piceci and Jakob Carlsson quaffed a big bottle of action juice in the last break and came back and instantly moved all in. There was raising and re-raising before Piceci shoved and Carlsson called:

Piceci: [ad][2h]

Carlsson: [as][jd]

Carlsson, with 2,055,000, was covered by the bigger-stacked Piceci but he would soon be doubling up. The board ran [5c][3s][kh][9c][qs] and that gives the Swede close to 4.4 million. — HS

9.55pm: We’re back

That was a quick 15 minutes. The chip count page has been updated – why not click this chip count page link to see it. If you do, you’ll be rewarded with the info that Alexey Rybin leads this EPT with 11 players left.

Coming in second right now is British player Liv Boeree (pictured below, by strange coincidence). The yellow and black 100,000 chips have now been brought in to play, and we need to get down to eight players from our surviving 11 players tonight, and then it’s off for late-night coffee and pasta in preparation for tomorrow’s final table.

PokerStars Blog reporting team in order of likely ways to get out at cricket: Howard Swains (caught), Marc Convey (stumped), Simon Young (clean bowled), Stephen Bartley (retired hurt).

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.

PokerStars is pleased to confirm that the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo has not been canceled following the chaos caused by the Icelandic volcano. The event will run from April 25-May 1 as scheduled.

Under normal circumstances, seats won by PokerStars qualifiers to PokerStars live events are not refundable or exchangeable. However, owing to the changeable travel situation in Northern Europe, PokerStars is providing ‘EPT credits’ for future events to players able to prove they cannot reach Monte Carlo by April 26. PokerStars is also allowing players who have won or bought a full package to Monte Carlo (including hotel) to give their hotel room to another player.

a) All players who wish to de-register MUST email by midnight on April 24 (CET). No requests will be considered after this time. Qualifiers will not be refunded with T$ or $ as PokerStars is not cancelling the event. For Direct Buy Ins or wire transfers, funds will be transferred back to their PokerStars accounts or bank account as applicable.

b) A player letting another player use their room must email us the new guest’s name and contact details by midnight April 24 (CET). There are no refunds.

c) All requests for EPT credits will be considered case-by-case and the player must prove that they could not travel to the event. A copy of flight details must be provided.

d) PokerStars will not refund travel costs as each player is responsible for their travel arrangements. All players whose travel plans may be disrupted are encouraged to consider all other possible means of travel before deregistering. Players in mainland Europe can reach Monte Carlo by train, bus or car and this will be taken into consideration when considering requests for credits.

e) PokerStars decision regarding requests for credits will be final.

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.

9.40pm: Break

That’s the end of the level. There will now be a 15-minute break for the players. Not for us, though, we’re seeking out the chip counts. — SY

9.34pm: Carlsson doubles

Jakob Carlsson doubled up to more than 2million after open-shoving and getting called by Ramon Ceserei. Carlsson had pocket threes and was racing against Cserei’s [ad][qh]. The board ran [2s][jd][5s][ks][kd] and that was good for the double through. — SY

9.25pm: No third bullet

Liv Boeree has added even more chips to her stack and they’ve come from the stack of Dmitry Stelmak. He raised to 180,000 from the hijack and Boeree called from the button to go to the [5s][5h][2d] flop. Stelmak continued the aggressive line with a 270,000 bet that Boeree called. The turn came [qd] and Stelmak fired again for 450,000. Call. The river came [th] and after a long tank Stelmak couldn’t find another bet and checked. Boeree checked behind and took the healthy pot with [8c][8h] as the Russian could only produce [ac][9c]. — MC

9.18pm: Baekke out

Allan Baekke is out. After being crippled by Claudio Piceci a short while ago, the fatal blow was dealt by Alexey Rybin. Baekke shoved for his last 240,000 and was called by Rybin and Ramon Cserei. Rybin bet at the [4c][qc][2s] flop, Cseira folded, leaving a showdown:

Rybin: [2d][2h] for a set

Baekke: [qd][8h] for top pair

Baekke need a lot of help, but the turn was [9c] and river [5s]. Baekke leaves with €50,000, and the double EPT winner curse remains. — SY

9.15pm: Boeree bouncing, up to more than five million

The Boeree momentum continues tonight. She opened from under-the-gun for 180,000. Per Linde looked at his cards and announced “all-in”. The action reached Giuseppe Diep. “All-in?” he asked, seeming interested. But he folded and the action moved back to Boeree.

Boeree had her headphones on and perhaps didn’t realise she was shouting when she said “call”, flipping over her [kc][ks]. Linde turned over [jh][jc] and Boeree could only do her best to hold back a grin.

The flop was harmless, coming [7d][6h][6c]. The turn came [qd] which Boeree later said nearly gave her a heart attack. But even if it had been a jack the river would have rescued her. Boeree closed her eyes and waited for Fifth Street – [kd].

When she opened her eyes Linde was out, while she had a stack of more than

5,200,000. – SB.

9.10pm: Big queen, little queen

Claudio Rinaldi raised to 185,000 from early position and Toni Petterssen called from the small blind. They were alone to a flop of [7s][kh][2h], which they both checked. The turn was [qc] and Petterssen bet 160,000, which Rinaldi called, taking them to a [3c] river.

Petterssen checked and although Rinaldi postured as if to bet, he eventually checked behind and showed [ah][qs]. Pettersson showed his beaten [qd][10d] and Rinaldi scooped a small-ish pot. — HS

9.07pm: Baekke crippled

Allan Baekke will need to perform a minor miracle to win this event and achieve EPT history as our first double champion, let alone back-to-back winner. He has just lost most of his stack in a flip with Claudio Piceci from Italy. Baekke had opened for 175,000, Piceci re-raised to 450,000 and Baekke quickly moved all in for 1,620,000.

Baekke: [5s][5d]

Piceci: [ac][kd]

The flop was quick and painful for the Dane, coming [jc][9c][as]. The turn was [10c] leaving Baekke with just one out, but the [3d] river was not it. Baekke down to 400,000, Piceci up to 3million. — SY

9.05pm: Want to play for stacks?

Claudio Rinaldi raised to 180,000 from the cut-off and then faced a re-raise to 600,000 from Dmitry Stelmak in the small blind. It was a hefty re-raise from the Russian and proportionally larger than he normally raises. He may well have been sending a message to his Swiss opponent that he was willing to play for stacks if necessary. Whatever the message Rinaldi didn’t want to continue and let it go. —MC

9pm: Wham, bam, thank you Tamm

Wham! As reported earlier Erik Tamm lost a monster pot to Alexey Rybin on the river. Bam! It’s happened again, but this time Claudio Piceci’s rivered pair did fatal damage to Tamm’s stack – he’s out.

Piceci had opened from the small blind for 190,000, then Tamm pushed for 735,000. Piceci called. Piceci had [js][9s] and Tamm was ahead with [kh][qs]. Tamm was the man at risk, and he looked safe on the [3s][ad][6c] flop, and also on the [7h] flop. But then disaster struck on the river again when the [jh] landed to shoot Piceci into the lead.

Tamm leaves in 14th place for €40,000.— SY

8.55pm: Battle of Diep

Again Giuseppe Diep moves all in for 1,090,000. Players think about it but no one calls and Diep takes his chips back. — SB.

8.50pm: Stop the Russian

Claudio Piceci opened with a 185,000 bet and Alexey Rybin said: “OK, let’s see a flop.” He called and the flop was [jd][2h][kh]. Rybin checked and then Ciceci moved all in for 1,185,000 – that was way too much for even the chip-monster Russian to call. — SY

8.45pm: Chopping

There was momentary excitement on the outer table involving the table newcomer Per Linde, moved from under the television lights after Dermot Blain’s elimination. But then it fizzled out.

Toni Petterssen raised to 215,000 from the cut off and Linde shoved all in from the big blind. He had something like 2.1 million. Petterssen barely blinked and called – in fact the whole thing took less than about 10 seconds.

However this one wasn’t much to write home about. (Or even to write here about.) Linde had [ah][kc] against Pettersson’s [ac][kh] and although the flop of [2c][5c][5d] gave a backdoor flush draw to Pettersson, it did not come. The turn of [2s] made the [qd] river irrelevant. — HS

8.40pm: Dermot dusted

After doubling-up Claudio Rinaldi a while ago Dermot Blain needed to get some chips from somewhere and the only way he was going do that was to risk some of his stack. He decided to risk all of it with an all-in push from early position. Dmitry Stelmak made a

quick call from the next seat and everyone else folded. Showdown:

Blain: [6c][6d]

Stelmak: [ac][qh]

The board ran [qs][2s][3h][kd][9d]. A queen on the flop was enough to end it for the last

remaining Irishman. He takes home €35,000 for finishing 15th. —MC

8.36pm: Tamm shoving…

… and getting no callers. — SY

8.35pm: Pettersson bettersson

Liv Boeree bet pre-flop and was raised by Toni Pettersson to 165,000. Boeree called for a flop of [ac][ah][6d]. Boeree checked to Pettersson who bet out, enough to force a fold from Boeree. — SB.

8.26pm: Two shoves

Per Albin Linde open shoves two hands in a row and gets no callers. He’s on around 1.6million now. — SY

8.23pm: Level up

We’re now in to level 28, with blinds of 40,000-80,000 and a 5,000 ante. — SY

8.22pm: Rinaldi on the rise

Claudio Rinaldi opened two pots out of three. He was three-bet out of one of them, but doubled up on the second. On the first occasion, Rinaldi raised to 140,000 and Giuseppe Diep, in the small blind, made it 475,000. Rinaldi folded. But a couple of hands later, Rinaldi opened to 140,000 from under-the-gun and Dermot Blain, one seat to his left, re-raised to 375,000.

Michael Piper asked for a count of Blain’s chips. “Two-point-one million at the start of the hand, give or take,” said Blain. Piper folded.

Rinaldi did not fold. He moved all in for about 900,000 total. Blain snap called. Rinaldi had [ah][ks] and Blain, covering his opponent, had [8s][8d]. Rinaldi wasn’t done yet, though. The flop came [as][5c][qh] and the ace vaulted him into the lead. The turn [6c] and river [7d] did not change anything and Blain began the arduous task of counting out the double up.

He is down to slightly more than a million; Rinaldi moves to more than two million. — HS

8.20pm: Double up for Georgiev

Anatas Georgiev doubled up to 2.2 million after catching another helpful card for an at-risk player on the feature table. He had shoved for 1,105,000 and was called by Per Linde. Lind was ahead with [jd][jc], up against Georgiev’s [ah][10c]. But the flop was a helpful [ac][kh][3c] and the [6h] turn and [7h] river kept Georgiev in front. — SY

8.12pm: Piceci folds (again)

Not for the first time Claudio Piceci open raises then folds when faced with an all-in shove – this time from Anatas Georgiev. — SY

8.10pm: Three-bet does the job

Liv Boeree was just forced off a pot by the short stack at the table Giuseppe Diep. Boeree opened to 130,000 from under-the-gun before Diep made it 325,000 to go. The raise represented about third of his stack and made his move looked very strong. It was too strong for the Brit and she folded. — MC

8.06pm: Sick river sends Rybin to chip summit

Alexey Rybin takes a massive chip lead after a cruel river that sent Erik Tamm to short-stack territory. The two big stacks on the feature table clashed when Allan Baekke made it 135,000 and Tamm re-raised to 375,000. Unexpectedly, Rybin announced he was all in for 3,170,000.

Baekke quickly folded, but Tamm made the call:

Tamm: [qs][qc]

Rybin: [ah][qh]

The board ran [10d][2d][7h][10s] meaning Rybin needed an ace, and only an ace on the river to save him from elimination. Sure enough the river was [as] and that sent the Russian up to a hefty 6,545,000. He celebrated by ordering a large brandy. I think Tamm needs one more. — SY

8.05pm: Nothing to report

A quiet spell on the outer table except for Giueseppe Diep’s all-in for a little more than 500,000 which found not takers. – SB.

8pm: More shoving

As the blinds eat in to the shorter stacks, shoving is becoming more common. Allan Baekke just did it with no takers, and then Claudio Piceci moved all in for 1,120,000 after Atanas Georgiev opened for 140,000. Georgiev folded. — SY

7.57pm: Allan Baekke

The great Dane talked to our video team a short while ago…

7.55pm: Blain squeezes out Piper and Stelmak

You don’t get much for free when you get to this stage of a tournament, not even a flop from the button. Dmitry Stelmak raised to 145,000 from under-the-gun and Michael Piper called on the button. Dermot Blain, in the big blind, sensed a squeeze opportunity and moved all in for about 1,500,000. Stelmak was again forced to back down, and Piper didn’t much like it either. He folded and Blain stacked a quick 300,000. — HS

7.54pm: Anti-climax

The last fifteen minutes of the outer table has been all raise and take but we did just have a three-bet all-in and a call. It was an anti-climax though as both players had ace-jack and the pot was chopped. Dermot Blain opened the pot with an early position raise to 150,000 before Giuseppe Diep re-raised all-in for another 520,000.

The Irishman has made a lot of lay downs to three-bets throughout the day but he wasn’t going to let that continue forever and he made the call. Both players smiled when they saw each other’s hands and they chopped the blinds and antes between them. -MC

7.46pm: Piceci folds

Allan Baekke raised to 135,000 and Claudio Piceci woke up with a re-raise to 350,000. But when Baekke responded with a shove of more than 2million, Pecici let it go. — SY

7.44pm: Pot to Stelmak

Toni Pettersson opened for 165,000 and was called by Dmitry Stelmak on the big blind. The flop came [ah][6s][kh]. Stelmak checked and then called Pettersson’s bet of 140,000. On the turn card [7c] Stelmak checked again and then called Petterson’s bet of 260,000. Then on the [8c] river both players checked, Stelmak turning over [ac][4c] to win the pot. – SB.

7.40pm: Double up for Georgiev

Atanas Georgiev moved all in with [ad][4s] and was called by Ramon Demon Cserei with [ah][qs]. Georgiev was at risk, but the board of [7c][5s][6s][10h][8d] made him an unlikely straight, doubling him up to 1.1million — SY

7.32pm: Tamm takes some

Erik Tamm takes some of Alexey Rybin’s recent ill-gotten gains. He and Rybin saw a [10c][5c][jc] flop. Tamm checked, Rybin bet 250,000 and Tamm check-raised to 600,000 – call. Both checked the [4h] turn, and on the [10h] river Tamm bet 800,000 and that was good enough for the pot. — SY

7.30pm: Boeree comes out firing

On the first hand back from the break on the outer table, Liv Boeree made a raise from the cut off and was three-bet out of it by Toni Pettersson on the button. However, Boeree was undeterred and got it all back, with interest, after her own three bet on the next hand.

Dmitry Stelmak raised from under-the-gun, making it 150,000. Boeree re-raised to 400,000 and it was folded back to the deliberate Russian, who took a moment before calling.

The flop came [8d][5c][qd] and Stelmak checked. Boeree didn’t; she bet 500,000. Stelmak again took his time but let it go. — HS

7.20pm: Drama straight away

A major hand to kick things off after dinner. Alexey Rybin open raised and Jakob Carlsson re-raised to 310,000. It was folded back to Rybin who wasted no time in moving all in – and Carlsson called quick as a flash. Rybin’s holding took everyone by surprise:

Carlsson: [qs][qh]

Rybin: [3h][4h]

But the flop brought instant drama, coming [ac][10h][5h], giving loads of outs for the Russian – any two for the straight or any heart for the flush. The [8c] turn was a brick, but the [6h] river made him the flush and an unlikely double up to 3.6million. Carlsson drops to 1.2million. Easy game. — SY

7.16pm: Off again

And now we are off again.

7.15pm: Premature

Well that was a bit premature. Some of the TV crew are still eating or something, so we haven’t yet started again. It shouldn’t be too long. — HS

7.05pm: Action resumes

Players have retaken their seats and we’re ready to go again. We’re down to the last 15 and seven more will leave before we set our final table.

Owing to the dinner break, we’re a little off schedule with blind levels. We’ve actually played about 15 minutes already of level 27 (blinds 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante) but we return at that same level for the next hour or so. As ever, follow all the action right here.

The full and accurate chip count for this level can be seen on the chip count page, where you’ll notice that the fearsome play of the Finn Toni Pettersson has taken him to the top of the leaderboard.

PokerStars Blog reporting team (in order of money won backing Dave the Horse in his debut victory in Brighton): Stephen Bartley (£15 approx); Howard Swains, Marc Convey, Simon Young (equal: zilch).

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.

6.05pm: Dinner

And with that, they leave for a dinner break. We’re chip counting at the moment, and the accurate stacks will appear on the chip count page. Join us again in one hour. — HS

6pm: Super call

Toni Pettersson had raised two hands in a row to 155,000 and got no takers. He tried for the third time, but this time Michael Piper had had enough – he raised to 340,000. Pettersson called. Both checked the [9s][3d][js] flop. On the [jc] turn Pattersson checked, Piper bet 285,000 – and Pettersson check-raised to 570,000 (he actually made it 460,000 but had to increase it to the correct amount).

Piper thought for a moment or two before announcing he was all in – more than covering Pettersson. But the Finn made a quick and brilliant call:

Piper: [kh][10s]

Pettersson: [4s][4d]

The pocket fours were good, but he had to dodge a king, a ten or a queen, which would fill Piper’s straight. The river was [ad] and Pettersson doubled up to 4.5 million. Piper dropped to 3 million.

Toni Pettersson

“Very good call,” said Piper. Indeed it was. — SY

5.58pm: Weird one on the featured table

Ramon Cserei’s pre-flop raise was called by both Jakob Carlsson and Allan Baekke, taking them to a flop of [3h][ad][5d]. Cserei bet 225,000 and only Carlsson called, taking them to a [4s] turn. Cserei bet 435,000 at that, but again Carlsson was a non-believer and called. They both checked the [5c] river and went to showdown. Against many commentator’s expectations, Carlsson’s A-J was better than Cserei’s K-J – a bluff in other words. — HS

5.55pm: Five betting

Allan Baekke opened to 135,000 but Erik Tamm socked it right back at him, with a three-bet to 325,000. Baekke wasn’t done, making it 585,000, but Tamm didn’t believe that ether, shoving all in for his dominant stack. Baekke backed away sheepishly. That doesn’t happen very often. — HS

5.50pm: Keeping the pressure on

Michael Piper is using his chip leading stack very well to extend his advantage. Giuseppe Diep opened the pot with a raise to 135,000 that was called by Toni Pettersson before Piper re-popped it to 400,000. It was enough to scare both players off the pot. Piper up to 5.5 million now. —MC

Michael Piper

5.45pm: Don’t blink

Liv Boeree opened for 115,000 from the small blind with no action before her. Toni Pettersson was in the big blind and called for a [9c][ks][qc] flop.

Boeree then made it 130,000 which Pettersson called for a [4s] turn. Boeree check-raised Pettersson, making it 385,000 after the Finn’s initial bet of 145,000. Then she started staring at him with determined eyes, big, blinking, scary eyes.

Liv Boeree

Toni Pettersson

Pettersson sat still, possibly with his eyes closed, and eventually passed, leaving the pot to Boeree who now has around 3,600,000. Pettersson drops down slightly to 2,300,000. – SB.

5.40pm: More for Stelmak

Dmitry Stelmak is not one to let the button pass by. On this occasion he made it 115,000 and Guiseppe Diep called from the small blind on his left. The flop was [qh][7h][as], Diep bet 170,000 and Stelmak called. On the [8d] turn Diep checked. Stelmak wanted to know how much he had behind – it was around 900,000. With that, the Russian bet 230,000 and Diep folded after a little agonising. — SY

5.35pm: Cserei assumes featured table lead

Ramon Cserei has just taken a pot of about 2.5 million, principally from Erik Tamm. It puts Cserei into the chip lead on the featured table, and pegs back the Swede. Four players went to a flop of [8c][6c][9c] and they all checked – in order: Tamm, Cserei, Alexey Rybin and Jakob Carlsson. The turn was [8s] and Tamm bet 250,000 at it, which Cserei and Rybin called. The river was [2s] and Tamm now bet 550,000. With Rybin still to act, Cserei called. Rybin now got out the way.

Cserei had flopped a flush with [kc][3c], while Tamm had flopped two pair with 9-6. It wasn’t good enough. — HS

5.25pm: Five million dollar man

Mohsen Tayfeh has been eliminated by Michael Piper after a pre-flop all-in show down. Tayfeh opened the pot with a raise to 115,000 from second position to face a re-raise from Piper on the button. It was to 265,000 and Tayfeh quickly moved all-in for 1.3 million when the action got back to him. Call. Showdown:

Tayfeh: [9c][9s]

Piper: [jc][jh]

The board ran [7h][kc][7s][8c][kd] to send the German home in 16th place netting him €35,000. Piper now the clear chip leader on 5.1 million. —MC

5.20pm: Off we go then

After another “10 minute break” that took about half an hour, we return. Erik Tamm is back on the featured table (which you can watch on EPT Live) and he was straight back in the action. Tamm raised to 120,000 from the hijack, Ramon Cserei called from the cut off and the flop came [4c][10d][8d]. Tamm bet 175,000 at it and that was enough. — HS

5.15pm: Counts

The full chip counts for the last 16 players have recently been updated. The British duo of Michael Piper and Liv Boeree lead the way, with Erik Tamm the only other player with more than three million.

5.05pm: And another: Slowly moving up

Players are still on a break as the tables are consolidated. But this is another slice of action from shortly before:

Atanas Gueorguiev has seen his 500,000 stack increase to 815,000 without showing down a hand. Being the short stack at the table he only had one move and that was all-in. Three times in one orbit his chips went over the line and three times he managed to take the blinds and antes. If he keeps going like this he’ll be back in this in no time. —MC

5pm: One from before the break: Pettersson getting involved

Toni Pettersson is starting to open up a bit more than usual. First he opened for 135,000, but was then forced to fold when Guiseppe Diep moved all in from the small blind.

Next hand Dermot Blain made it 125,000 under the gun, and only Pettersson called from the big blind. On the [2c][qh][js] flop Pettersson check-called Blain’s 180,000 bet. Both then checked the [8d] turn, and on the [jc] river it was Pettersson who applied the pressure, betting 225,000. Blain quickly folded. – SY

4.55pm: Breaking a table

We’ve lost eight players, leaving us with 16. They’re breaking a table and we go down to two. That will take about 10 minutes. Full chip counts and line-ups will be on their way. — HS

4.50pm: Berende busts

Ramon Cserei has become executioner in chief here this afternoon and he has now sent Paul Berende to the rail. Berende, short stacked, moved all in from the button with [ah][2d]. Cserei didn’t take long to call the 425,000 with [as][7h] and although there were a lot of split pot outs on the [qh][9h][qh] flop, the [4s] was not good for Berende, and if he thought that was bad the [7d] river was terminal. Berende departs in the same manner he has played the whole week: with a smile. — HS

4.48pm: Video

Here’s the video intro of the day…

4.45pm: Boeree blazing

Liv Boeree just moved up to around 3,800,000 after a pot against Giuseppe Diep. Diep had opned fro 115,000 from under the gun which Boeree raised to 275,000. Diep then insta-called for a flop of [kc][jc][7s].

Liv Boeree

Boeree then bet 265,000 when Diep checked. No insta-call this time. Instead, Diep stared intently at Boeree for a few minutes, ultimately passing. – SB.

4.40pm: All in Nguyen. Out.
Ramon Cserei raised to 125,000 and Thang Duc Nguyen shoved his short stack all in – a raise of 425,000. Cserei took a while but called and was ahead with [ad][6h] against Nguyen’s [kh][qs].

The flop was bad news for Nguyen: [as][9d][9h] and he was drawing dead by the [6s] turn. Nyugen, one of two former EPT winners still alive at the start of the day, will not be making it two. That leaves Allan Baekke as the only man capable of reaching that landmark. — HS

4.38pm: Tamm settles at new table

Erik Tamm has moved from the feature table to one of the two outer tables – and he’s quickly putting his big stack to work. Claudio Piceci raised to 110,000 and it was folded around to Tamm in the small blind, who raised it up to 290,000. Call.

On the [2s][5d][ac] flop Tamm bet 275,000, sending Piceci into the tank. He looked disgusted with life… and mucked. — SY

4.36pm: Pettersson makes a stand

Toni Pettersson made it 135,000 before Dmitry Stelmak re-raised to 275,000 from the button. It was folded back to Pettersson who was having none of it… raising it up again to 535,000 total. Stelmak looked interested, asking for a count of Pettersson’s remaining stack, but upon discovering it was 1.7 million he decided to muck. — SY

4.35pm: Rybin raises the river stakes

Alexey Rybin, our day 1a chip leader, is still battling hard here in San Remo – and he’s got some game. This one seemed innocuous until it all went nuts on the river. The board was [kc][5c][10d][4d][ad] and there was only 310,000 in the pot. Rybin checked and Thang Duc Nguyen bet 140,000. Rybin didn’t much believe that and moved all in for 1,905,000 – a check-raise all in on the river. Phew.

Nguyen took a long while about this decision, during which time Rybin smiled, wriggled, sat back, sat forward, and then showed a [2d] once Nguyen folded. Who knows. — HS

4.30pm: The Stelmak stare

Dmitry Stelmak opened from the cut off for 115,000 and Liv Boeree called from the big blind. The flop came [9h][ac][2s]. Boeree checked and Stelmak bet 125,000 which Boeree then called. The turn came [6d] which both players checked for a [3h]. Boeree now bet 225,000 sending Stelmak into the tank.

He stared at Boeree while fiddling with the chips he’d arranged for the call. When he did call Boeree showed [3s][3. Stelmak pulled a face and Boeree pulled in his chips. – SB.

4.25pm: The tune of the chip leader

Michael Piper has taken over the chip lead with 3.8 million in chips after eliminating Kadir Karabulut. Piper raised to 110,000 and then called the 700,000 all-in re-raise from Karabulut in the big blind.

Piper tabled [ah][ad] to Karabulut’s [kc][qs] and the board ran [6c][js][3c][9h][kh]. Piper survived a sweat on the river and continued his fine day five form. —MC

4.20pm: Two for Tayfeh

Mohsen Tayfeh is almost solely responsible for all the action on his table with little getting beyond one of his pre-flop all-ins. First Giuseppe Diep opened for 120,000 from under the gun before Tayfeh moved all in on the big blind for 850,000, getting no takers.

Then, following a bet 125,000 from Liv Boeree and a Toni Pettersson call Tayfeh moved in again for a little more than a million, again from the big blind. Boeree asked for a count but folded, as did Pettersson. – SB.

4.15pm: Berende bounces back

Paul Berende has all but tripled up, coming from slightly behind to get his stack back to around 400,000. Erik Tamm raised to 125,000 and Berende moved all in, for only 20,000 more. It would have been a mandatory call for Tamm had he had the chance to make it, but Ramon Cserei re-raised to about 300,000 to isolate. Tamm got out the way and it was Berende versus Cserei.

Berende: [kd][qd]

Cserei: [ac][10s]

The flop offered no help to Berende: [9s][5h][3h] and he got up to leave. But he was sitting back down after the turn and river came [kh][qc] and he survives. — HS

4pm: Off we go again

Tournament staff have coloured up the red 1,000 chips and we’re off again with blinds at 25,000-50,000 and a 5,000 ante.

Jacob Carlsson flew out the blocks, raising to 115,000 from early position, but facing a three-bet to 270,000 from Allan Baekke. Carlsson four-bet shoved and Baekke quickly folded. — HS

3.52pm: Details of the king’s demise

Toni Pettersson finished the job against Ronny Kaiser – going to a flop slightly behind, but hitting the right card at the right time to take it down.

Pettersson made it 100,000 pre-flop from the cut off and Kaiser three-bet to 210,000 from the button. It was just the two of them to a flop of [10c][7d][5h] and after Pettersson checked, Kaiser moved all in. Pettersson called.

Pettersson had A-10 and had spiked top pair. It was better now than Kaiser’s A-Q and the turn and river bricked. Kaiser departs while the Finn is flying. — HS

4.50pm: Break’s over

Players are returning from the first break of the day. Just 19 players remain.

PokerStars Blog reporting team in San Remo (in football formation):Simon Young (sweeper), Howard Swains (midfield playmaker), Marc Convey (flamboyant winger) and Stephen Bartley (unused sub).

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