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Buy-In: $6,835 + $410
Prize Pool: $5,180,930
Entrants: 758

EPT Barcelona Main Event

  • Nov 22, '10 - Nov 27, '10
  •  

 
 

Updates on Final Table (Nov 27, 10)

 
 

Lundmark's landmark win at EPT Barcelona

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A great first act, a slow, more reflective act two, followed by a dynamite finale. The main character to this televised drama? A quiet, unassuming Swede named Kent Lundmark, with a knack of picking his moments and who can now call himself a European Poker Tour champion.

Lundmark, 22, from Stockholm, dispatched Jesus Cortes Lizano heads-up after what at one point had looked a likely walkover, a choreographed ball staged to make Lundmark look invincible.

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Kent Lundmark, winner of EPT Barcelona


The reality was slightly different. Neither chipped up nor a short stack at the off, Lundmark sat out the two early parries, then shifted up a gear, seeing off five of the last six players with well-timed flourishes, the type that had he been Spanish would have been met by Olés by the partisan crowd.

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Heads up


But even in defeat Cortes Lizano’s result marks a high point for Spanish poker players on the EPT, beating the record set by Santiago Terrazas who finished third here in season six.

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Jesus Cortes Lizano


The day had begun in chaotic style, a first act featuring two players busting within a hand of each other. First, Italian Francesco Notaro moved with ace-king against Jesus Cortes Lizano’s ace-queen. All looked good for Notaro until a rivered queen sent him to the rail. Then on the next hand Georgios Skotadis joined him, his tens flattened by Thor Stang’s pocket jacks. Down to six.

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Georgios Skotadis


For all Stang’s efforts he would be next to depart, the first sign of what would be Lundmark’s sudden turn of foot, making up the bulk of act two. But while the first two eliminations hinted at a speedy last day, the action soon reverted to type. Long periods of inactivity, peppered with key highlights, such as the gradual and Quixotic demise of Giuseppe Pantaleo.

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Thor Stang


After Stang’s last stand failed, and his king-queen was bettered by Lundmark’s pocket fives, Pantaleo was in the firing line almost immediately, his tournament simply peaking too soon.

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Giuseppe Pantaleo


Chip leader coming into the day, Pantaleo suffered as his stack was worn away, and he may in some part have himself to blame.

In what proved a cautious hand, Jesus Cortes Lizano called Pantaleo’s river raise with what would turn out to be jack high, but crucially Pantaleo had already mucked without showing, an act he would soon come to regret. The suggestion was that he folded the winning hand. Pantaleo’s misery would soon be complete, sent home by Lundmark, whose pocket queens held firm against the German’s ace-jack.

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That left four, only not for long. Shander De Vries, who certainly had his gib cut like that of a champion, would instead have to settle for fourth place as Lundmark’s rampage continued.

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Shander De Vries


Then the tables turned. In a massive hand against Cortes Lizano, Lundberg suddenly knew what it meant to be behind. Four-betting with ace-deuce against the Spaniard’s pocket queens the Swede was now the short stack, and Cortes Lizano, buoyed by a jubilant crowd cheering his every play, looked set to become the first ever Spanish EPT winner.

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But EPT finals never proceed as expected, and the script is so often torn up. Step forward Konstantin Puchkov, the hero maker in this case, who allowed Lundmark back into the game by slow playing his pocket kings. When he called Lundmark’s all-in he was ahead. But Lundmark had a spade draw and the king on the river just happened to be one of them.

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Konstantin Puchkov


It flung Lundmark and Cortes Lizano into a head-to-head matchup that most predicted would be a short sharp shock. Instead it lasted an hour and 20 minutes; Lundmark plugging away, against the tide of Spanish euphoria, to complete a third act, his last ace-queen holding up against the local hero’s king-jack, bringing this EPT production to an end.

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Lundmark (right) and Cortes Lizano meet heads up


Congratulations to Kent Lundmark, the sixth Swedish EPT winner and the new Champion of EPT Barcelona.

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A happy Kent Lundmark, with friends


Find it all too improbable to believe? It’s all recorded in the links below.

Level 27 & 28 updates


Level 29, 30 & 31 updates

Those links mark the end of our EPT Barcelona coverage. A final reminder of who won what can be found on our prize winners’ page.

Our thanks one last time to our foreign bloggers, no doubt much better than us, who write in German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Greek and Swedish. As is customary, photography today was brought to you by Neil Stoddart.

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The magic fountain


That’s it. Thanks for following our coverage of EPT Barcelona. Next up for us will be EPT Prague starting in a little more than two weeks. It’s where the “cold outside, scorching in the tournament room,” cliché was born and is also where we’ve had some memorable finals. Just ask Arnaud Mattern, Salvatore Bonavena and Jan Skampa. It will be excellent.

Until Prague then, it’s good night from Barcelona.



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: The final table



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: Final table, level 29 updates (50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante)

ept-thumb-promo.jpg3.55pm: Rollercoaster hand for Pantaleo


This was a hand to make the blood pressure go haywire for Giuseppe Pantaleo. Shander De Vries had raised to 200,000 and Pantaleo shoved for 1,130,000 – call!

Pantaleo: ADiamond Suit[10h]


De Vries: ASpade Suit4Spade Suit

Pantaleo was looking in fine shape for a double up, but the flop came a devastating 4Diamond SuitKDiamond Suit7Heart Suit, sending the Dutchman into an unlikely lead. Pantaleo’s tournament was now hanging by a thread, and the KHeart Suit turn did not help a great deal, although it offered some chop possibilities, and win with a ten and now also with an ace.

Boom! The river was AClub Suit, and Pantaleo went from ahead, to behind to ahead again right at the death. He moves up to 2,200,000 while De Vries slips to 1,200,000. — SY

3.50pm: Stang all-in (again)


Thor Stang is the next to move all-in, for 1,595,000. Giuseppe Pantaleo looked down at JClub Suit10Club Suit and thought about it, but eventually folded face up. — SB

3.45pm: Pantaleo looks furious


Giuseppe Pantaleo does not look a happy man. He raised to 210,000 from the hijack and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the big blind. Puchkov check-called 260,000 on the 3Diamond SuitQDiamond Suit10Spade Suit flop before both players checked the 2Club Suit river. Puchkov then made a large 750,000 bet on the river for around 40% of Pantaleo’s stack, which the German took some time calling. Puchkov’s showed ace-five for the wheel and Pantaleo looked absolutely sick about the backdoor draw getting there. He’s down to 1.2 million. — RD

3.35pm: Stang all-in


Thor Stang moved all-in for 1.45 million from the small blind and Cortes Lizano passed. Stang adds 160,000 to his stack. — RD

3.30pm: Action


After a gentle start tot he new level Jesus Cortes Lizano opened for 215,000 which Kent Lundmark called before Shander De Vries moved all-in for 1,905,000. Cortes Lizano thought for some time before folding. Lundmark didn’t think very long at all before passing. – SB

3.18pm: Don’t forget


Remember you can find profiles of the players in the previous post, as well as chip counts and payouts on the appropriate pages. You can also watch the final table live on EPTLive, where Messrs Hartigan and Wealthall will keep you company. You may even learn something, even if that is just the password to the free roll.

3.16pm: Play restarts


Players are back in their seats and we’re ready to play. Blinds in level 29 will be 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante. — SB

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The crowds watching the final table


PokerStars Blog reporting team in Barcelona (in order of musical proficiency):Simon Young (can play piano (iPad) a bit), Stephen Bartley (once plucked a violin) and Rick Dacey (Guitar Hero beginner level)



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: Final table, level 29 & 30 updates (60,000-120,000, 15,000 ante)

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5.50pm: Lundmark back on the march


Events have taken a turn for the worse for Kent Lundmark who not long ago doubled up Jesus Cortes Lizano, so this pot against Konstantion Puchkov will have boosted his spirits. Lundmark opened for 250,000 from the button and was called by Puchkov in the small blind. Puchkov led into the 7Heart SuitKHeart SuitJClub Suit8Heart Suit turn and Lundmark called. Puchkov then bet 420,000 into the 9Spade Suit river and was called.

Lundmark: QHeart Suit10Diamond Suit for the straight


Puchkov: JSpade SuitKClub Suit for top two pair

The Swede looks to be back into his rhythm. — RD

5.42pm: Great comeback for Jesus


This makes things a little more interesting. Local hero and PokerStars player Jesus Cortes Lizano has doubled through chip leader Kent Lundmark. The Swede opened with a raise to 240,000 before Cortes Lizano bumped it up to 685,000. Lundmark then moved all-in but the Spaniard called instantly.

Cortes Lizano: QDiamond SuitQHeart Suit


Lundmark: ADiamond Suit2Spade Suit

Cortes Lizano was in a great spot, and the board of 2Diamond Suit9Club SuitJSpade Suit4Spade Suit4Club Suit confirmed his massive pot. That means Lundmark is now the smallest stack:

Konstantin Puchkov, 9.5million


Jesus Cortes Lizano, 8.8million


Kent Lundmark, 4.4million

Things could move swiftly now. — SY

5.35pm: Tank call from Puchkov


Kent Lundmark raised from the small blind and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the big blind. Play checked to the QClub Suit10Diamond Suit6Club Suit2Heart Suit turn, which was check-called by Lundmark. An ace on the river was enough for Lundmark to lead 825,000 into. Puchkov tank called with [a][t] which was miles ahead of the Swede’s nine-high. If it takes Puchkov that long to call three-handed with a hand that strong it looks like it was a good bluff from Lundmark. — RD

5.25pm: Lundmark wins the first hand back


We’re back and Kent Lundmark uses the button to win the first pot. A delayed c-bet on the 7Spade Suit9Diamond Suit5Heart Suit5Club Suit flop was enough to beat Konstantin Puchkov off the hand. — RD

5.20pm: Off again


After a slightly longer break than expected, we’re under way again. Current chips are:


Kent Lundmark, 10,070,000


Konstantin Puchkov, 8,285,000


Jesus Cortes Lazino, 4,545,000.

4.46pm: Break time


That’s the end of another level. Players are on a 25 minute break.

4.45pm: Puchkov power


On a flop of 7Heart SuitAClub Suit4Club Suit Kent Lundmark checked in the small blind while Konstantin Puchkov did the same in the big. Jesus Cortes Lizano then raised to 465,000 which Puchkov called for a 4Spade Suit turn. Puchkov checked first leaving Cortes Lizano to bet 1,135,000. But then Puchkov pounced, raising to 2.5 million, enough to take the pot and move up to 6.6 million. – SB

4.40pm: Lundmark gets a chunk back


Lundmark has just clawed a chunk back after flopping a strong combo-draw that got there on the river. The Swede had defended his big blind against Konstantin Puchkov’s button raise with 6Spade Suit7Spade Suit and hit a great 4Spade SuitQSpade Suit7Diamond Suit flop. Puchkov c-bvet the flop and Lundmark called. Both players checked the KHeart Suit turn before Lundmark led 825,000 into the 3Spade Suit river that had given him the flush and got paid off. — RD

4.35pm: Two in a row for Puchkov


Konstantin Puchkov and Kent Lundmark have been at each other’s throats in successive hands. First they checked a KSpade Suit[10d]3Spade Suit flop, and on the 8Diamond Suit turn Puchkov bet 350,000 and Lundmark called. Finally on the QClub Suit river Lundmark checked then folded to the Russian’s 1 million bet.

Next hand, Lundmark made it 200,000 and Puchkov called. On the 9Club Suit7Diamond Suit2Heart Suit flop Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 225,000. Both then checked the 3Club Suit turn, and on the 6Club Suit river Puchkov made it 530,000 and that was good for another pot. — SY

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Kent Lundmark, left, and Konstantin Puchkov

4.30pm: Lundmark calls down


Puchkov raised the button and Lundmark defended his big blind. Both players checked the 9Heart SuitQClub SuitQSpade Suit flop. Puchkov took Lundmark’s second check as weakness and bet 275,000 at the QDiamond Suit turn. The Russina tried one final stab of 375,000 at the 3Club Suit river. Call. Lundmark showed an ace which was enough to beat Puchkov’s 67. — RD

4.25pm: One for Cortes Lizano


Konstantin Puchkov called from the small blind, then called again when Jesus Cortes Lizano made it 310,000 from the big blind. On the 4Club Suit7Club Suit6Spade Suit flop, Puchkov checked then folded when Cortes Lizano continued the aggression with a bet of 515,000. — SY

4.20pm: Puchkov takes a nibble from Lundmark’s stack


Kent Lundmark bet 200,000 and Konstantin Puchkov and Jesus Cortes Lizano called. On the 5Diamond Suit4Spade Suit[10s] flop, Puchkov and Cortes Lizano checked, Lundmark bet 280,000 and only Puchkov called. On the 3Spade Suit turn Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 425,000, then both checked the 6Club Suit river.

Puchkov’s QDiamond Suit[10d] was well ahead of Lundmark’s 6Diamond Suit9Diamond Suit. — SY

4.13pm: Out kicked


A pot to Jesus Cortes Lizano in a hand against Konstantin Puchkov. On a board of 5Heart Suit3Diamond Suit10Club Suit6Heart Suit6Spade Suit and a lot of checking, Cortes Lizano out-kicked the Russian, 10Spade SuitJDiamond Suit to 10Heart Suit3Spade Suit. — SB

4.10pm: De Vries out in fourth place (€222,000)


Kent Lundmark is on an absolute tear at the moment and Shander de Vries has been busted in the process. De Vries moved all-in for 122,000 and was called by Lundmark. The look on the Dutchman’s face was not good.

Lundmark: AClub SuitQSpade Suit


De Vries: QDiamond Suit8Spade Suit

The 7Heart Suit6Diamond Suit10Club Suit flop gave some hope but no eight or nine dropped on the turn or river. De Vries is out in fourth. — RD

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Shander De Vries

4.02pm: Trouble in pairs, Pantaleo out


If there’s a pattern to this final table it is that the eliminations are coming in pairs. Not long after Thor Stang departed, Giuseppe Pantaleo followed him to the door when he shoved for 3,095,000. Ominously Kent Lundmark snap-called with QClub SuitQHeart Suit and the board didn’t help either, running 2Diamond Suit5Club SuitJSpade Suit10Spade Suit3Diamond Suit. Pantaleo, who held the chip lead for the last two days, is out in fifth place earning €170,000. – SB

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Giuseppe Pantaleo

3.58pm: Puchkov bullying


Konstantin Puchkov limped the small blind and led 200,000 into the 3Diamond SuitAClub SuitJHeart Suit flop forcing short stack Shander de Vries to fold. — RD

3.56pm: Stang gone in sixth


Thor Stang moved all-in again for 1,625,000 with KDiamond SuitQClub Suit on the button and Kent Lundmark called from the big blind, turning over 5Spade Suit5Diamond Suit.

The board ran 6Diamond Suit7Club Suit3Spade Suit10Club SuitJClub Suit sending the pot to Lundmark and Stang to the rail in sixth place, earning €130,000. — SB

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Thor Stang

3.55pm: Rollercoaster hand for Pantaleo


This was a hand to make the blood pressure go haywire for Giuseppe Pantaleo. Shander De Vries had raised to 200,000 and Pantaleo shoved for 1,130,000 – call!

Pantaleo: ADiamond Suit[10h]


De Vries: ASpade Suit4Spade Suit

Pantaleo was looking in fine shape for a double up, but the flop came a devastating 4Diamond SuitKDiamond Suit7Heart Suit, sending the Dutchman into an unlikely lead. Pantaleo’s tournament was now hanging by a thread, and the KHeart Suit turn did not help a great deal, although it offered some chop possibilities, and win with a ten and now also with an ace.

Boom! The river was AClub Suit, and Pantaleo went from ahead, to behind to ahead again right at the death. He moves up to 2,200,000 while De Vries slips to 1,200,000. — SY

3.50pm: Stang all-in (again)


Thor Stang is the next to move all-in, for 1,595,000. Giuseppe Pantaleo looked down at JClub Suit10Club Suit and thought about it, but eventually folded face up. — SB

3.45pm: Pantaleo looks furious


Giuseppe Pantaleo does not look a happy man. He raised to 210,000 from the hijack and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the big blind. Puchkov check-called 260,000 on the 3Diamond SuitQDiamond Suit10Spade Suit flop before both players checked the 2Club Suit river. Puchkov then made a large 750,000 bet on the river for around 40% of Pantaleo’s stack, which the German took some time calling. Puchkov’s showed ace-five for the wheel and Pantaleo looked absolutely sick about the backdoor draw getting there. He’s down to 1.2 million. — RD

3.35pm: Stang all-in


Thor Stang moved all-in for 1.45 million from the small blind and Cortes Lizano passed. Stang adds 160,000 to his stack. — RD

3.30pm: Action


After a gentle start tot he new level Jesus Cortes Lizano opened for 215,000 which Kent Lundmark called before Shander De Vries moved all-in for 1,905,000. Cortes Lizano thought for some time before folding. Lundmark didn’t think very long at all before passing. – SB

3.18pm: Don’t forget


Remember you can find profiles of the players in the previous post, as well as chip counts and payouts on the appropriate pages. You can also watch the final table live on EPTLive, where Messrs Hartigan and Wealthall will keep you company. You may even learn something, even if that is just the password to the free roll.

3.16pm: Play restarts


Players are back in their seats and we’re ready to play. Blinds in level 29 will be 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante. — SB

crowds_final.jpg


The crowds watching the final table


PokerStars Blog reporting team in Barcelona (in order of musical proficiency):Simon Young (can play piano (iPad) a bit), Stephen Bartley (once plucked a violin) and Rick Dacey (Guitar Hero beginner level)



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: Final table, level 29 & 30 updates (60,000-120,000)

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6.50pm: Lundmark reclaims the chip lead


Kent Lundmark has swung the lead back after calling a three-bet from the button. Lundmark has opened for 245,000 and was three-bet from the button to 705,000. Call. Play checked all the way through to the JDiamond Suit3Heart Suit10Heart SuitKSpade SuitKClub Suit river which Lundmark bet for 925,000. Jesus Cortes Lizano made the call. Lundmark showed JSpade SuitQSpade Suit to claim a 12.7 million to 10 million lead. — RD

6.40pm: Back and forward


A succession of three-bets pre-flop takes down three hands – two for Kent Lundmark and one for Jesus Cortes Lizano. — SY

6.30pm: First flop


Kent Lundmark raised from the button to 245,000 and Jesus Cortes Lizano called on the button. Lundmark bet 260,000 into the 3Club Suit4Heart SuitQClub SuitAClub Suit after the flop had been checked and Cortes Lizano made the call. Both players checked the 5Diamond Suit river. Lundmark showed down nine-high and Cortes Lizano tabled [a]4. Lizano takes a small 12 million to 10 million lead. — RD

6.15pm: Trappy Puchkov out in third place (€300,000)


Kent Lundmark opened for 245,000 from the button and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the small blind. Lundmark c-bet 245,000 and was check-raised to 700,000 on the 3Spade Suit7Club SuitJSpade Suit flop. Lundmark clamly announced that he was all-in. Puchkov stood up, drank some RedBull, stuck his toothpick in his mouth and pushed his chips forward.

Lundmark: 6Spade Suit7Spade Suit for middle pair and flush draw


Puchkov: KDiamond SuitKHeart Suit for over pair

It was a huge flip and the 10Diamond Suit saw the chip see-saw tip towards the Russian before a brutal KSpade Suit dropped on the river giving Puchkov top set and Lundmark the flush. We’re taking a small break before the heads up, where Lundmark and Jesus Cortes Lizano will both have 12 million chips apiece. — RD

6.05pm: Cortes Lizano takes chip lead


Jesus Cortes Lizano has taken the chip lead with 10.3million after winning a chunky pot against Konstantin Puchkov. The Russian had open-raised to 260,000 and for the second time in a row, Cortes Lizano re-raised him to 725,000. Call. On the 8Spade Suit5Spade Suit8Club Suit flop, Puchkov called a massive 1.2million bet from Cortes Lizano. Then, on the 5Club Suit turn, Cortes Lizano moves all-in for 6.4million and got a fold. — SY

6pm: Check-raise for Puchkov


Konstantin Puchkov has just check-raised Jesus Cortes Lizano off a 10Heart Suit9Club SuitAClub Suit flop to swing 665,000 off the Spaniard’s stack into his own. — RD

5.55pm: Quiet man comes to life


Jesus Cortes Lizano is by far the quietest of the three remaining players. After Lundmark took three hands in a row, it was Konstantin Puchkov who came in for a raise to 265,000, only for Cortes Lizano to three-bet to 735,000 to take the pot. — SY

5.50pm: Lundmark back on the march


Events have taken a turn for the worse for Kent Lundmark who not long ago doubled up Jesus Cortes Lizano, so this pot against Konstantion Puchkov will have boosted his spirits. Lundmark opened for 250,000 from the button and was called by Puchkov in the small blind. Puchkov led into the 7Heart SuitKHeart SuitJClub Suit8Heart Suit turn and Lundmark called. Puchkov then bet 420,000 into the 9Spade Suit river and was called.

Lundmark: QHeart Suit10Diamond Suit for the straight


Puchkov: JSpade SuitKClub Suit for top two pair

The Swede looks to be back into his rhythm. — RD

5.42pm: Great comeback for Jesus


This makes things a little more interesting. Local hero and PokerStars player Jesus Cortes Lizano has doubled through chip leader Kent Lundmark. The Swede opened with a raise to 240,000 before Cortes Lizano bumped it up to 685,000. Lundmark then moved all-in but the Spaniard called instantly.

Cortes Lizano: QDiamond SuitQHeart Suit


Lundmark: ADiamond Suit2Spade Suit

Cortes Lizano was in a great spot, and the board of 2Diamond Suit9Club SuitJSpade Suit4Spade Suit4Club Suit confirmed his massive pot. That means Lundmark is now the smallest stack:

Konstantin Puchkov, 9.5million


Jesus Cortes Lizano, 8.8million


Kent Lundmark, 4.4million

Things could move swiftly now. — SY

5.35pm: Tank call from Puchkov


Kent Lundmark raised from the small blind and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the big blind. Play checked to the QClub Suit10Diamond Suit6Club Suit2Heart Suit turn, which was check-called by Lundmark. An ace on the river was enough for Lundmark to lead 825,000 into. Puchkov tank called with [a][t] which was miles ahead of the Swede’s nine-high. If it takes Puchkov that long to call three-handed with a hand that strong it looks like it was a good bluff from Lundmark. — RD

5.25pm: Lundmark wins the first hand back


We’re back and Kent Lundmark uses the button to win the first pot. A delayed c-bet on the 7Spade Suit9Diamond Suit5Heart Suit5Club Suit flop was enough to beat Konstantin Puchkov off the hand. — RD

5.20pm: Off again


After a slightly longer break than expected, we’re under way again. Current chips are:


Kent Lundmark, 10,070,000


Konstantin Puchkov, 8,285,000


Jesus Cortes Lizano, 4,545,000.

4.46pm: Break time


That’s the end of another level. Players are on a 25 minute break.

4.45pm: Puchkov power


On a flop of 7Heart SuitAClub Suit4Club Suit Kent Lundmark checked in the small blind while Konstantin Puchkov did the same in the big. Jesus Cortes Lizano then raised to 465,000 which Puchkov called for a 4Spade Suit turn. Puchkov checked first leaving Cortes Lizano to bet 1,135,000. But then Puchkov pounced, raising to 2.5 million, enough to take the pot and move up to 6.6 million. – SB

4.40pm: Lundmark gets a chunk back


Lundmark has just clawed a chunk back after flopping a strong combo-draw that got there on the river. The Swede had defended his big blind against Konstantin Puchkov’s button raise with 6Spade Suit7Spade Suit and hit a great 4Spade SuitQSpade Suit7Diamond Suit flop. Puchkov c-bvet the flop and Lundmark called. Both players checked the KHeart Suit turn before Lundmark led 825,000 into the 3Spade Suit river that had given him the flush and got paid off. — RD

4.35pm: Two in a row for Puchkov


Konstantin Puchkov and Kent Lundmark have been at each other’s throats in successive hands. First they checked a KSpade Suit[10d]3Spade Suit flop, and on the 8Diamond Suit turn Puchkov bet 350,000 and Lundmark called. Finally on the QClub Suit river Lundmark checked then folded to the Russian’s 1 million bet.

Next hand, Lundmark made it 200,000 and Puchkov called. On the 9Club Suit7Diamond Suit2Heart Suit flop Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 225,000. Both then checked the 3Club Suit turn, and on the 6Club Suit river Puchkov made it 530,000 and that was good for another pot. — SY

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Kent Lundmark, left, and Konstantin Puchkov

4.30pm: Lundmark calls down


Puchkov raised the button and Lundmark defended his big blind. Both players checked the 9Heart SuitQClub SuitQSpade Suit flop. Puchkov took Lundmark’s second check as weakness and bet 275,000 at the QDiamond Suit turn. The Russina tried one final stab of 375,000 at the 3Club Suit river. Call. Lundmark showed an ace which was enough to beat Puchkov’s 67. — RD

4.25pm: One for Cortes Lizano


Konstantin Puchkov called from the small blind, then called again when Jesus Cortes Lizano made it 310,000 from the big blind. On the 4Club Suit7Club Suit6Spade Suit flop, Puchkov checked then folded when Cortes Lizano continued the aggression with a bet of 515,000. — SY

4.20pm: Puchkov takes a nibble from Lundmark’s stack


Kent Lundmark bet 200,000 and Konstantin Puchkov and Jesus Cortes Lizano called. On the 5Diamond Suit4Spade Suit[10s] flop, Puchkov and Cortes Lizano checked, Lundmark bet 280,000 and only Puchkov called. On the 3Spade Suit turn Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 425,000, then both checked the 6Club Suit river.

Puchkov’s QDiamond Suit[10d] was well ahead of Lundmark’s 6Diamond Suit9Diamond Suit. — SY

4.13pm: Out kicked


A pot to Jesus Cortes Lizano in a hand against Konstantin Puchkov. On a board of 5Heart Suit3Diamond Suit10Club Suit6Heart Suit6Spade Suit and a lot of checking, Cortes Lizano out-kicked the Russian, 10Spade SuitJDiamond Suit to 10Heart Suit3Spade Suit. — SB

4.10pm: De Vries out in fourth place (€222,000)


Kent Lundmark is on an absolute tear at the moment and Shander de Vries has been busted in the process. De Vries moved all-in for 122,000 and was called by Lundmark. The look on the Dutchman’s face was not good.

Lundmark: AClub SuitQSpade Suit


De Vries: QDiamond Suit8Spade Suit

The 7Heart Suit6Diamond Suit10Club Suit flop gave some hope but no eight or nine dropped on the turn or river. De Vries is out in fourth. — RD

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Shander De Vries

4.02pm: Trouble in pairs, Pantaleo out


If there’s a pattern to this final table it is that the eliminations are coming in pairs. Not long after Thor Stang departed, Giuseppe Pantaleo followed him to the door when he shoved for 3,095,000. Ominously Kent Lundmark snap-called with QClub SuitQHeart Suit and the board didn’t help either, running 2Diamond Suit5Club SuitJSpade Suit10Spade Suit3Diamond Suit. Pantaleo, who held the chip lead for the last two days, is out in fifth place earning €170,000. – SB

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Giuseppe Pantaleo

3.58pm: Puchkov bullying


Konstantin Puchkov limped the small blind and led 200,000 into the 3Diamond SuitAClub SuitJHeart Suit flop forcing short stack Shander de Vries to fold. — RD

3.56pm: Stang gone in sixth


Thor Stang moved all-in again for 1,625,000 with KDiamond SuitQClub Suit on the button and Kent Lundmark called from the big blind, turning over 5Spade Suit5Diamond Suit.

The board ran 6Diamond Suit7Club Suit3Spade Suit10Club SuitJClub Suit sending the pot to Lundmark and Stang to the rail in sixth place, earning €130,000. — SB

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Thor Stang

3.55pm: Rollercoaster hand for Pantaleo


This was a hand to make the blood pressure go haywire for Giuseppe Pantaleo. Shander De Vries had raised to 200,000 and Pantaleo shoved for 1,130,000 – call!

Pantaleo: ADiamond Suit[10h]


De Vries: ASpade Suit4Spade Suit

Pantaleo was looking in fine shape for a double up, but the flop came a devastating 4Diamond SuitKDiamond Suit7Heart Suit, sending the Dutchman into an unlikely lead. Pantaleo’s tournament was now hanging by a thread, and the KHeart Suit turn did not help a great deal, although it offered some chop possibilities, and win with a ten and now also with an ace.

Boom! The river was AClub Suit, and Pantaleo went from ahead, to behind to ahead again right at the death. He moves up to 2,200,000 while De Vries slips to 1,200,000. — SY

3.50pm: Stang all-in (again)


Thor Stang is the next to move all-in, for 1,595,000. Giuseppe Pantaleo looked down at JClub Suit10Club Suit and thought about it, but eventually folded face up. — SB

3.45pm: Pantaleo looks furious


Giuseppe Pantaleo does not look a happy man. He raised to 210,000 from the hijack and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the big blind. Puchkov check-called 260,000 on the 3Diamond SuitQDiamond Suit10Spade Suit flop before both players checked the 2Club Suit river. Puchkov then made a large 750,000 bet on the river for around 40% of Pantaleo’s stack, which the German took some time calling. Puchkov’s showed ace-five for the wheel and Pantaleo looked absolutely sick about the backdoor draw getting there. He’s down to 1.2 million. — RD

3.35pm: Stang all-in


Thor Stang moved all-in for 1.45 million from the small blind and Cortes Lizano passed. Stang adds 160,000 to his stack. — RD

3.30pm: Action


After a gentle start tot he new level Jesus Cortes Lizano opened for 215,000 which Kent Lundmark called before Shander De Vries moved all-in for 1,905,000. Cortes Lizano thought for some time before folding. Lundmark didn’t think very long at all before passing. – SB

3.18pm: Don’t forget


Remember you can find profiles of the players in the previous post, as well as chip counts and payouts on the appropriate pages. You can also watch the final table live on EPTLive, where Messrs Hartigan and Wealthall will keep you company. You may even learn something, even if that is just the password to the free roll.

3.16pm: Play restarts


Players are back in their seats and we’re ready to play. Blinds in level 29 will be 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante. — SB

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The crowds watching the final table


PokerStars Blog reporting team in Barcelona (in order of musical proficiency):Simon Young (can play piano (iPad) a bit), Stephen Bartley (once plucked a violin) and Rick Dacey (Guitar Hero beginner level)



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: Final table, level 29, 30 & 31 updates (80,000-160,000)

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7.50pm: Kent Lundmark is the EPT Barcelona champion


Kent Lundmark opened the button for 325,000 and was three-bet to 880,000 by Jesus Cortes Lizano. Lundmark instantly looked interested and opted to move all-in. Lizano made the call. The house erupted.

Lundmark: AHeart SuitQHeart Suit


Cortes Lizano: KDiamond SuitJSpade Suit

Lundmark was ahead but Cortes Lizano was far from dead and buried. The 9Diamond Suit9Club Suit7Spade Suit flop left the Spaniard far behind, a 5Spade Suit on the turn meant he was drawing thin and an ASpade Suit meant he was out in second for €525,000. Lundmark had beaten a tough 758-player field to claim victory, an EPT title and a €825,000 winner’s purse. Well played, sir.

Full wrap of the day and how Lundmark knocked out five of the final table on his way to the top will be on this blog shortly. — RD




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Kent Lundmark scores another EPT victory for Sweden




7.35pm: Lundmark stepping up


Kent Lundmark is applying added pressure to Jesus Cortes Lizano. He’s three-betting him, then pushing him off flops when the Spaniard does call to see a flop. The net result is that Lundmark has opened up a 16.2million vs. 6.7million chip lead. — SY

7.25pm: Lundmark staking his claim


Kent Lundmark has just taken a two-to-one chip lead in this heads up. Lundmark had position and the key action took place on the turn of the 3Heart SuitJClub Suit10Heart Suit4Club Suit board with the Swede betting 825,000 and Jesus Cortes Lizano check-raising to 2,425,000. Lundmark slowly made the call. The KDiamond Suit river was checked down by both players.

Lundmark: ADiamond SuitJSpade Suit


Cortes Liazno: 3Club Suit9Club Suit

Looking at the hands at showdown the check-raise and ensuing call made perfect sense. Lundmark has over 15 million now and Cortes Lizano is going to have to make some moves to get back into this. — RD




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Kent Lundmark has taken a solid lead in this heads up




7.20pm: Helloooooo Djibouti!


We have a global audience here, and a quick look at the stats for PokerStars Blog reveals we’ve been getting a single reader this week from the small country of Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden.

“My dad fought a war there,” proclaimed Sgt Major Stephen Bartley. — SY

7.12pm: Lundmark back


A hand just went the way of Kent Lundmark. He opened from the button for 350,000 which Jesus Cortes Lizano called for a flop of 4Heart SuitQDiamond SuitQSpade Suit. Cortes Lizano checked before Lundmark bet 350,000; called by the Spaniard. Both checked the 10Diamond Suit turn for a 5Club Suit river card. A check from Cortes Lizano and a bet of 950,000 from Lundmark. Cortes Lizano wasted no time calling but lost the hand when the Swede showed 10Club Suit9Spade Suit. – SB

7.10pm: Four-bet


A quick burst of three-bets pre-flop to takes pots has been broken by a four bet. Jesus Cortes Lizano made it 360,000, Kent Lundmark made it 960,000 before the Spaniard re-popped again to 1,920,000. That forced a fold from Lundmark, much to the delight of the local crowd watching this on a big screen in the tournament room. — SY

7.07pm: Chips


Kent Lundmark has 12.25 million chips to Jesus Cortes Lizano’s 10.7 million. Last few hands have been small pots with a couple of three-bets pre-flop finishing the action. — RD

7pm: Up we go


A burst of raise and takes pre-flop is punctuated only by the orchestral sound of a level jump. We’re now in level 31, with blinds at 80,000-160,000. There are no antes during heads-up play. — SY

6.50pm: Lundmark reclaims the chip lead


Kent Lundmark has swung the lead back after calling a three-bet from the button. Lundmark has opened for 245,000 and was three-bet from the button to 705,000. Call. Play checked all the way through to the JDiamond Suit3Heart Suit10Heart SuitKSpade SuitKClub Suit river which Lundmark bet for 925,000. Jesus Cortes Lizano made the call. Lundmark showed JSpade SuitQSpade Suit to claim a 12.7 million to 10 million lead. — RD




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Cortes Lizano: ‘Ooooo, that’s not what I wanted to see’




6.40pm: Back and forward


A succession of three-bets pre-flop takes down three hands – two for Kent Lundmark and one for Jesus Cortes Lizano. — SY

6.30pm: First flop


Kent Lundmark raised from the button to 245,000 and Jesus Cortes Lizano called on the button. Lundmark bet 260,000 into the 3Club Suit4Heart SuitQClub SuitAClub Suit after the flop had been checked and Cortes Lizano made the call. Both players checked the 5Diamond Suit river. Lundmark showed down nine-high and Cortes Lizano tabled [a]4. Lizano takes a small 12 million to 10 million lead. — RD




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Heads up at EPT Barcelona




6.15pm: Trappy Puchkov out in third place (€300,000)


Kent Lundmark opened for 245,000 from the button and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the small blind. Lundmark c-bet 245,000 and was check-raised to 700,000 on the 3Spade Suit7Club SuitJSpade Suit flop. Lundmark clamly announced that he was all-in. Puchkov stood up, drank some RedBull, stuck his toothpick in his mouth and pushed his chips forward.

Lundmark: 6Spade Suit7Spade Suit for middle pair and flush draw


Puchkov: KDiamond SuitKHeart Suit for over pair

It was a huge flip and the 10Diamond Suit saw the chip see-saw tip towards the Russian before a brutal KSpade Suit dropped on the river giving Puchkov top set and Lundmark the flush. We’re taking a small break before the heads up, where Lundmark and Jesus Cortes Lizano will both have 12 million chips apiece. — RD




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6.05pm: Cortes Lizano takes chip lead


Jesus Cortes Lizano has taken the chip lead with 10.3million after winning a chunky pot against Konstantin Puchkov. The Russian had open-raised to 260,000 and for the second time in a row, Cortes Lizano re-raised him to 725,000. Call. On the 8Spade Suit5Spade Suit8Club Suit flop, Puchkov called a massive 1.2million bet from Cortes Lizano. Then, on the 5Club Suit turn, Cortes Lizano moves all-in for 6.4million and got a fold. — SY

6pm: Check-raise for Puchkov


Konstantin Puchkov has just check-raised Jesus Cortes Lizano off a 10Heart Suit9Club SuitAClub Suit flop to swing 665,000 off the Spaniard’s stack into his own. — RD

5.55pm: Quiet man comes to life


Jesus Cortes Lizano is by far the quietest of the three remaining players. After Lundmark took three hands in a row, it was Konstantin Puchkov who came in for a raise to 265,000, only for Cortes Lizano to three-bet to 735,000 to take the pot. — SY

5.50pm: Lundmark back on the march


Events have taken a turn for the worse for Kent Lundmark who not long ago doubled up Jesus Cortes Lizano, so this pot against Konstantion Puchkov will have boosted his spirits. Lundmark opened for 250,000 from the button and was called by Puchkov in the small blind. Puchkov led into the 7Heart SuitKHeart SuitJClub Suit8Heart Suit turn and Lundmark called. Puchkov then bet 420,000 into the 9Spade Suit river and was called.

Lundmark: QHeart Suit10Diamond Suit for the straight


Puchkov: JSpade SuitKClub Suit for top two pair

The Swede looks to be back into his rhythm. — RD

5.42pm: Great comeback for Jesus


This makes things a little more interesting. Local hero and PokerStars player Jesus Cortes Lizano has doubled through chip leader Kent Lundmark. The Swede opened with a raise to 240,000 before Cortes Lizano bumped it up to 685,000. Lundmark then moved all-in but the Spaniard called instantly.

Cortes Lizano: QDiamond SuitQHeart Suit


Lundmark: ADiamond Suit2Spade Suit

Cortes Lizano was in a great spot, and the board of 2Diamond Suit9Club SuitJSpade Suit4Spade Suit4Club Suit confirmed his massive pot. That means Lundmark is now the smallest stack:

Konstantin Puchkov, 9.5million


Jesus Cortes Lizano, 8.8million


Kent Lundmark, 4.4million

Things could move swiftly now. — SY

5.35pm: Tank call from Puchkov


Kent Lundmark raised from the small blind and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the big blind. Play checked to the QClub Suit10Diamond Suit6Club Suit2Heart Suit turn, which was check-called by Lundmark. An ace on the river was enough for Lundmark to lead 825,000 into. Puchkov tank called with [a][t] which was miles ahead of the Swede’s nine-high. If it takes Puchkov that long to call three-handed with a hand that strong it looks like it was a good bluff from Lundmark. — RD

5.25pm: Lundmark wins the first hand back


We’re back and Kent Lundmark uses the button to win the first pot. A delayed c-bet on the 7Spade Suit9Diamond Suit5Heart Suit5Club Suit flop was enough to beat Konstantin Puchkov off the hand. — RD

5.20pm: Off again


After a slightly longer break than expected, we’re under way again. Current chips are:


Kent Lundmark, 10,070,000


Konstantin Puchkov, 8,285,000


Jesus Cortes Lizano, 4,545,000.

4.46pm: Break time


That’s the end of another level. Players are on a 25 minute break.

4.45pm: Puchkov power


On a flop of 7Heart SuitAClub Suit4Club Suit Kent Lundmark checked in the small blind while Konstantin Puchkov did the same in the big. Jesus Cortes Lizano then raised to 465,000 which Puchkov called for a 4Spade Suit turn. Puchkov checked first leaving Cortes Lizano to bet 1,135,000. But then Puchkov pounced, raising to 2.5 million, enough to take the pot and move up to 6.6 million. – SB

4.40pm: Lundmark gets a chunk back


Lundmark has just clawed a chunk back after flopping a strong combo-draw that got there on the river. The Swede had defended his big blind against Konstantin Puchkov’s button raise with 6Spade Suit7Spade Suit and hit a great 4Spade SuitQSpade Suit7Diamond Suit flop. Puchkov c-bvet the flop and Lundmark called. Both players checked the KHeart Suit turn before Lundmark led 825,000 into the 3Spade Suit river that had given him the flush and got paid off. — RD

4.35pm: Two in a row for Puchkov


Konstantin Puchkov and Kent Lundmark have been at each other’s throats in successive hands. First they checked a KSpade Suit[10d]3Spade Suit flop, and on the 8Diamond Suit turn Puchkov bet 350,000 and Lundmark called. Finally on the QClub Suit river Lundmark checked then folded to the Russian’s 1 million bet.

Next hand, Lundmark made it 200,000 and Puchkov called. On the 9Club Suit7Diamond Suit2Heart Suit flop Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 225,000. Both then checked the 3Club Suit turn, and on the 6Club Suit river Puchkov made it 530,000 and that was good for another pot. — SY

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Kent Lundmark, left, and Konstantin Puchkov

4.30pm: Lundmark calls down


Puchkov raised the button and Lundmark defended his big blind. Both players checked the 9Heart SuitQClub SuitQSpade Suit flop. Puchkov took Lundmark’s second check as weakness and bet 275,000 at the QDiamond Suit turn. The Russina tried one final stab of 375,000 at the 3Club Suit river. Call. Lundmark showed an ace which was enough to beat Puchkov’s 67. — RD

4.25pm: One for Cortes Lizano


Konstantin Puchkov called from the small blind, then called again when Jesus Cortes Lizano made it 310,000 from the big blind. On the 4Club Suit7Club Suit6Spade Suit flop, Puchkov checked then folded when Cortes Lizano continued the aggression with a bet of 515,000. — SY

4.20pm: Puchkov takes a nibble from Lundmark’s stack


Kent Lundmark bet 200,000 and Konstantin Puchkov and Jesus Cortes Lizano called. On the 5Diamond Suit4Spade Suit[10s] flop, Puchkov and Cortes Lizano checked, Lundmark bet 280,000 and only Puchkov called. On the 3Spade Suit turn Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 425,000, then both checked the 6Club Suit river.

Puchkov’s QDiamond Suit[10d] was well ahead of Lundmark’s 6Diamond Suit9Diamond Suit. — SY

4.13pm: Out kicked


A pot to Jesus Cortes Lizano in a hand against Konstantin Puchkov. On a board of 5Heart Suit3Diamond Suit10Club Suit6Heart Suit6Spade Suit and a lot of checking, Cortes Lizano out-kicked the Russian, 10Spade SuitJDiamond Suit to 10Heart Suit3Spade Suit. — SB

4.12pm: Here’s Pantaleo

4.10pm: De Vries out in fourth place (€222,000)


Kent Lundmark is on an absolute tear at the moment and Shander de Vries has been busted in the process. De Vries moved all-in for 122,000 and was called by Lundmark. The look on the Dutchman’s face was not good.

Lundmark: AClub SuitQSpade Suit


De Vries: QDiamond Suit8Spade Suit

The 7Heart Suit6Diamond Suit10Club Suit flop gave some hope but no eight or nine dropped on the turn or river. De Vries is out in fourth. — RD

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Shander De Vries

4.02pm: Trouble in pairs, Pantaleo out


If there’s a pattern to this final table it is that the eliminations are coming in pairs. Not long after Thor Stang departed, Giuseppe Pantaleo followed him to the door when he shoved for 3,095,000. Ominously Kent Lundmark snap-called with QClub SuitQHeart Suit and the board didn’t help either, running 2Diamond Suit5Club SuitJSpade Suit10Spade Suit3Diamond Suit. Pantaleo, who held the chip lead for the last two days, is out in fifth place earning €170,000. – SB

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Giuseppe Pantaleo

3.58pm: Puchkov bullying


Konstantin Puchkov limped the small blind and led 200,000 into the 3Diamond SuitAClub SuitJHeart Suit flop forcing short stack Shander de Vries to fold. — RD

3.56pm: Stang gone in sixth


Thor Stang moved all-in again for 1,625,000 with KDiamond SuitQClub Suit on the button and Kent Lundmark called from the big blind, turning over 5Spade Suit5Diamond Suit.

The board ran 6Diamond Suit7Club Suit3Spade Suit10Club SuitJClub Suit sending the pot to Lundmark and Stang to the rail in sixth place, earning €130,000. — SB

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Thor Stang

3.55pm: Rollercoaster hand for Pantaleo


This was a hand to make the blood pressure go haywire for Giuseppe Pantaleo. Shander De Vries had raised to 200,000 and Pantaleo shoved for 1,130,000 – call!

Pantaleo: ADiamond Suit[10h]


De Vries: ASpade Suit4Spade Suit

Pantaleo was looking in fine shape for a double up, but the flop came a devastating 4Diamond SuitKDiamond Suit7Heart Suit, sending the Dutchman into an unlikely lead. Pantaleo’s tournament was now hanging by a thread, and the KHeart Suit turn did not help a great deal, although it offered some chop possibilities, and win with a ten and now also with an ace.

Boom! The river was AClub Suit, and Pantaleo went from ahead, to behind to ahead again right at the death. He moves up to 2,200,000 while De Vries slips to 1,200,000. — SY

3.50pm: Stang all-in (again)


Thor Stang is the next to move all-in, for 1,595,000. Giuseppe Pantaleo looked down at JClub Suit10Club Suit and thought about it, but eventually folded face up. — SB

3.45pm: Pantaleo looks furious


Giuseppe Pantaleo does not look a happy man. He raised to 210,000 from the hijack and was called by Konstantin Puchkov in the big blind. Puchkov check-called 260,000 on the 3Diamond SuitQDiamond Suit10Spade Suit flop before both players checked the 2Club Suit river. Puchkov then made a large 750,000 bet on the river for around 40% of Pantaleo’s stack, which the German took some time calling. Puchkov’s showed ace-five for the wheel and Pantaleo looked absolutely sick about the backdoor draw getting there. He’s down to 1.2 million. — RD

3.35pm: Stang all-in


Thor Stang moved all-in for 1.45 million from the small blind and Cortes Lizano passed. Stang adds 160,000 to his stack. — RD

3.30pm: Action


After a gentle start tot he new level Jesus Cortes Lizano opened for 215,000 which Kent Lundmark called before Shander De Vries moved all-in for 1,905,000. Cortes Lizano thought for some time before folding. Lundmark didn’t think very long at all before passing. – SB

3.18pm: Don’t forget


Remember you can find profiles of the players in the previous post, as well as chip counts and payouts on the appropriate pages. You can also watch the final table live on EPTLive, where Messrs Hartigan and Wealthall will keep you company. You may even learn something, even if that is just the password to the free roll.

3.16pm: Play restarts


Players are back in their seats and we’re ready to play. Blinds in level 29 will be 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante. — SB

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The crowds watching the final table


PokerStars Blog reporting team in Barcelona (in order of musical proficiency):Simon Young (can play piano (iPad) a bit), Stephen Bartley (once plucked a violin) and Rick Dacey (Guitar Hero beginner level)



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: Final table, level 27 (30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante)

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12.50pm: Show me the money


While we stand around shuffling our feet with our hands in our pockets, why not remind yourself of what we’re playing for today on the pay out page.

12.45pm: What’s at stake


We’re roughly 15 minutes to the off at EPT Barcelona and for some people here a prompt start is absolutely imperative. The PokerStars Party begins at 9pm at Catwalk, a bar next door to the Casino. A lengthy final could endager any chance of free food, free drinks and DJs Xavi Beat and Nico Hamuy, who we’re reliably told are terrific. — SB

12.10pm: Technocolor


You’ll now notice pictures included in the player profiles below…

11.55am: Change of plan


We’re now heard that the start of play will be at 1pm, and not 12 noon as previously stated. Plenty of time to read through yesterday’s coverage, detailed here.

11.30am: Welcome to final table day


It’s final table day at EPT Barcelona. Eight players remain, of the 758 who began, and while each of them is guaranteed €70,000, at stake is a first prize of €825,000.

Play is due to start at 12noon, give or take a few technical hitches, with all the events that unfold logged meticulously tright here on the PokerStars Blog. IF seeing is believing then you can also follow the action on EPT Live, coverage there beginning before the start of play. May we recommend both?

So who are the final eight? Funny you should ask and if you can’t wait for the matchless James Hartigan to pinch our hard work and read it out aloud, here are the details in print:




Seat 1: Jesus Cortes Lizano, 22, Zaragoza, Spain – 3,800,000 chips


Lizano is a full-time poker pro from Zaragoza. He started playing poker when he was 18 and now divides his time between playing online and live, usually cash games. He only came to EPT Barcelona to play the cash games, but entered the live satellite on a whim, and now is on course for his best live result.

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He gained many plaudits for his sense of fair play when a mix-up on Day 4 awarded him 500,000 chips too many, chips that rightfully belonged to Shander De Vries. He alerted tournament staff who corrected the error and both players reached the final.

Lizano is being railed in Barcelona by two friends from home but more plan to come for the final.

Seat 2: Kent Lundmark, 22, Stockholm, Sweden – 3,025,000


Lundmark is an EPT regular and also a regular player in the Krukan cardroom. One of his first EPTs was the PCA last season where he was the longest-lasting Swede – finishing in 29th place. This is his third EPT cash and his biggest result to date, although he has reached final tables in Sweden and Estonia.

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Lundmark started playing poker four years ago after finishing high school. He is also a keen footballer and plays for a team in Sweden’s Fourth Division although he admits that poker takes the most of his time.

Seat 3: Konstantin Puchkov, 58, Moscow, Russia – 4,160,000


As amateurs go Konstantion Puchkov has a pretty impressive record. The Russian has notched up $771,606 in tournament winnings including a second place finish in the €5,000 six-max side event at the 2009 EPT Grand Final, and a bracelet-winning performance in this year’s $1,500 World Series H.O.R.S..E. event. By brilliant coincidence Puchkov lists his profession as a horse breeder and trainer.





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Puchkov has been playing poker since 1999 and while he prefers tournaments, he isn’t afraid of a bit of $10/$25 action in the side games.

Puchkov has been an active player throughout the tournament and enters the final table second in chips. ‘Today was the hardest day because I was all-in with aces and was drawing to seven outs,’ recalled Puchkov on Day 4, who had Ah Ad against Luis Rufas’ Js 8c on a Jc-flop. Rufas caught an eight on the turn before Puchkov rivered an ace. ’It was the first time that I was really at risk all tournament.

Seat 4: Shander De Vries, 26, Groningen, Netherlands – PokerStars player – 3,120,000 chips


De Vries began playing poker four years ago and has since built his bankroll playing the $4.40 180-player Sit & Gos on PokerStars. He later began to specialise in multi-table tournaments, achieving good results.

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Making the EPT Barcelona final is by far his best result although he has previously cashed at both the 2008 World Series and at EPT Prague in season five. After graduating in economics in December, De Vries plans to travel and, if he wins the EPT, buy himself a nice apartment.

De Vries is being cheered on in Barcelona by his girlfriend.

Seat 5: Giuseppe Pantaleo, 22, Bielefeld, Germany, PokerStars qualifier – 5,655,000 chips


Pantaleo has been playing poker for three years, usually playing tournaments. In July he finished fourth in the PokerStars Sunday Warm-up then won it a month later.

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EPT Barcelona is his third EPT cash after last season’s events in Berlin (142nd) and San Remo (37th). Pantaleo, an international trade specialist, admits to playing cash, “but actually I’m bad in cash games!”

While he was born and raised in Germany but both of Pantaleo’s parents, and his siblings, were born in Italy, and as he says “my heart is Italian.”

Seat 6: Francesco “cecho1977” Notaro, 33, Galatina, Italy, PokerStars qualifier – 745,000


Notaro began playing poker 15 years ago and now plays regularly on PokerStars.it. He started competing in live events in 2006 in tournaments organized by Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano at Casino Sanremo.

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Francesco is the owner of a betting agency and formerly a poker club before Italian law changed. Notaro enjoys live tournaments even though his best results are online. In 2009 he was runner-up the Sunday Special. His nickname is “cecho1977” on PokerStars.it.

Seat 7: Thor Stang, 27, Bergen, Norway – 1,290,000 chips


Stang, a student, has been playing poker for four years, mainly in cash games. He said “I don’t really like tournaments that much. In cash games, you can reload if you get short but here I’ve been short-stacked all day! I came into Day 4 third in chips but then ran queens into Kings and since then I’ve never had more than 25 big blinds all day. It’s very frustrating but on the other hand, tournaments are exciting.”

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This is Stang’s best live result to date.

Seat 8: Georgios “NickDandolos” Skotadis, 35, Greece – PokerStars qualifier – 1,105,000 chips


Although he was born and raised in Dusseldorf, Germany, sports bar owner Skotadis considers himself to be Greek first.

At EPT Barcelona, Skotadis is not only playing his first EPT, but also his first major live event, while online he won the Sunday Million three weeks ago for $195,000.

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Skotadis started playing poker two years ago in local poker rooms, playing both tournaments and cash games. Skotadis, who is engaged to an Irish girl, Aisling, said: “I’m living the month of my life – and it’s not over yet!”

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The winner’s trophy


PokerStars Blog reporting team in Barcelona (in order of final table attire): Simon Young (ceremonial uniform of an honourary Brigadier of the Royal Green Jackets), Stephen Bartley (ceremonial uniform of a sergeant-at-arms of the Royal Tweed Jackets) and Rick Dacey (the working uniform of a deck hand on HMS Pinafore).



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: Final table, level 27 & 28 (40,000-80,000, 5,000 ante)

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3.05pm: End of the level


That’s the end of the level. Players are now on a 15 minute break. — SB

3pm: Stang shrinking


It’s a big hit for Thor Stang. The Norweigian had raised to 165,000 and flat called Kent Lundmark’s button 335,000 three-bet. The board was checked down to the QSpade Suit2Spade SuitKSpade Suit5Heart Suit9Club Suit river which Stang led for 500,000. Lundmark called with ace-queen beating Stang’s king-jack. — RD

2.57pm: Lundmark hand


Jesus Cortes Lizano opened on the button to 175,000 and got calls from Kent Lundmark in the small blind and Konstantin Puchkov in the big. All three checked the AHeart Suit4Spade Suit2Heart Suit flop, but on the ASpade Suit turn Lundmark fired out 235,000 and the other two gave it up. — SY

2.40pm: One for Stang, one for Cortes Lizano


First Shander De Vries opened for 160,000 and got a call from Thor Stang. Both checked the KClub Suit[10s]9Spade Suit flop, but on the 6Club Suit turn Stang made it 185,000 and took the pot.

Next hand Jesus Cortes Lizano bet 185,000 and was called by Kent Lundmark. Lundmark folded quickly when Cortes Lizano bet out 265,000 on the 5Spade Suit5Club Suit8Spade Suit flop. — SY

2.36pm: Five to the flop


Five way to a flop after a minimum raise by Kent Lundmark. Konstantin Puchkov called in the cut off, as did Shander De Vries on the button, as well as Giuseppe Pantaleo and Thor Stang in the blinds.

The flop came ASpade Suit2Diamond Suit5Diamond Suit

Pantaleo bet 235,000 at this, chasing out everyone but Lundmark for a turn card 6Club Suit. Both checked that and the 8Club Suit river. Pantaleo showed pocket fours but Lundmark took it down showing ace-jack. – SB

2.32pm: Small one for Stang


Thor Stang has just taken a small pot from Shander de Vries on a KClub Suit10Spade Suit9Spade Suit6Club Suit board. I would say more about it but, well, that’s pretty much it. — RD

2.25pm: Puchkov cranks it up


Konstantin Puchkov limped from the small blind and Shander de Vries checked his option. Both players checked the 2Spade SuitASpade SuitKHeart Suit flop but Puchkov led 80,000 into the 9Club Suit turn. Call. Puchkov then fired a large 350,000 into the QHeart Suit river. De Vries raised his eyebrows and passed. — RD

2.20pm: Four-way flop


When Kent Lundmark open-raised to 160,000 he probably did not want calls from Giuseppe Pantaleo, Thor Stang and Jesus Cortes Lizano. But that’s what he got. The flop came QDiamond SuitQSpade Suit2Heart Suit and everyone checked around to Pantaleo, who made it 190,000. Only Lundmark called. That was enough to scare both of them, and they checked down the JSpade Suit turn and the 4Heart Suit river.

Lundmark turned over pocket tens, and they bested Pantaleo’s pocket sixes. — SY

2.10pm: Folding the winner?


A hand that may haunt Pantaleo for some time yet that resulted in Jesus Lizano scooping a pot worth 2million, and the German enduring a TV camera close up.

On a flop of 2Club SuitQSpade Suit6Club Suit Lizano checked the big blind as did Pantaleo on the button. On the QClub Suit turn Lizano bet 230,000 which Pantaleo called for a 2Heart Suit river card. Now Lizano bet another 330,000. Pantaleo took his time, carefull assembled not a call, but a raise, 790,000 in total.

Now Lizano tanked for a moment, finally calling. Pantaleo immediately mucked his cards, a crucial detail, before Lizano showed jack high to win the hand. But it was written on the face of Pantaleo that he may well have just mucked the winning hand. – SB

2.05pm: Cagey kings for Puchkov


Konstantin Puchkov, who I have just picked in the final table sweepstake so he is bound not to win, just picked up a pot from Kent Lundmark. But it was all a little restrained.

Lundmark had raised to 160,000 and Puchkov called to see a 8Club Suit7Heart Suit5Spade Suit flop. Both of them checked that, and on the 4Spade Suit turn Lundmark check-called Puchkov’s 200,000. Both then checked the [10h] river, and Puchkov turned over pocket kings to take the pot. — SY

2pm: One for Lundmark


Kent Lundmark opened for 160,000 from the button and was called by Shander de Vries in the big blind. Lundmark’s delaayed three-bet on the 9Diamond Suit10Heart Suit3Diamond Suit7Diamond Suit board caused De Vries to insta-muck his hand. — RD

1.53pm: Level up


That’s the end of the level. Blinds are now up to 40,000-80,000 with a 5,000 ante.

1.52pm: De Vries and Pantaleo on the turn


Giuseppe Pantaleo opened for 125,000 from under-the-gun which was called by Konstantin Puchkov and Shander De Vries in the blinds for a flop of 7Diamond Suit3Diamond Suit9Heart Suit.


Puchkov and De Vries checked to Pantaleo who bet another 190,000. Puchkov folded but De Vries raised to 525,000 which Pantaleo called for a 2Spade Suit turn.

At this point Shander De Vries moved all-in for 1,740,000. Pantaleo asked for a count but this was merely a formality. He passed, leaving the pot to De Vries. – SB

1.48pm: Puchkov wins another


Shander De Vries opened with a raise to 125,000 and got a call from Konstantin Puchkov. On the 3Club Suit4Club Suit4Diamond Suit flop, Puchkov checked then called De Vries’ 125,000. On the 4Spade Suit turn, Puchkov check-called De Vries’ 225,000. Both checked the 5Heart Suit river.

Puchkov took the pot, but we cannot tell you what he had as it did not show on the TV screen! — SY

1.40pm: Puchkov pushes Lizano


Jesus Lizano opened for 135,000 from the hijack and Konstantin Puchkov three-bet from the button to 290,000. Lizano flatted. Neither player bet the 10Spade Suit7Heart SuitQClub Suit flop but Puchkov’s 350,000 wager on the 8Diamond Suit turn was sufficient to win the pot. — RD

1.35pm: Stang stings Skotadis, out in seventh


Hot on the heels of Francesco Notaro, Georgios Skotadis is the next player eliminated a hand later. He moved all-in for 1,230,000 with 10Diamond Suit10Spade Suit and Thor Stang immediately said he called, showing JClub SuitJDiamond Suit.

The board ran 2Diamond Suit9Diamond SuitQSpade SuitQHeart Suit7Spade Suit to eliminate the Greek in seventh place for €90,000. – SB

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Georgios Skotadis


1.30pm: Jesus miracle card: Fancesco Notaro out in eighth


Francesco Notaro has played big pot poker throughout this tournament and he wasn’t about to change his style at this final table. The plucky Italian opened the pot to 200,000 (over three big blinds) and was three-bet to 570,000 by Jesus Lizano. Notaro moved all-in for 1,370,000 and was called by Lizano, albeit a little reluctantly.

Notaro: ASpade SuitKDiamond Suit


Lizano: AClub SuitQSpade Suit

While Lizano was a dog in the hand it was Notaro who was at risk. The board ran out 10Club Suit5Spade Suit2Club Suit6Heart Suit leaving just three outs for Lizano to scoop a giant pot and knock out the Italian. Call in variance, call it divine intervention but the QDiamond Suit fell upon the river and Lizano’s supporters on the rail and watching a giant TV screen roared. Heady stuff. Notaro is out in 8th and Lizano takes the chip lead. — RD




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Francesco Notaro celebrating yesterday




1.20pm: Notaro not out


The first all-in of the day to be called. Giuseppe Pantaleo opened for 125,000 which Francesco Notaro moved-all in behind for 625,000. Pantaleo called with 6Club Suit6Heart Suit to Notaro’s KDiamond SuitQHeart Suit.

The board ran KHeart Suit4Heart Suit5Heart Suit5Club SuitADiamond Suit to double up the Italian. — SB

1.15pm: Pantaleo the bully


Giuseppe Pantaleo was sitting in the small blind, and when it was folded around to him he open-shoved for 5.5million. Only short-stacked Francesco Notaro stood in his way in the big blind, and he wasted no time in folding. — SY

1.13pm: All-in


The first drama of the day. Georgios Skotadis moved all-in for 1,095,000 but got no callers. — SB

1.10pm: And…


We’re off! — SB

1.07pm: Players seated


All eight players are in their seats and play is due to start shortly. — RD

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Georgios Skotadis (front and centre) is out in seventh for €90,000

12.55pm: Going live


The EPTLive teams just burst into life behind a curtain next to the media room meaning we’re moments away from the start. You can follow all the action live for yourself, on EPTLive. Hurry, because your commentators James Hartigan and Nick Wealthall are currently talking to themselves… — SB

12.50pm: Show me the money


While we stand around shuffling our feet with our hands in our pockets, why not remind yourself of what we’re playing for today on the pay out page.

12.45pm: What’s at stake


We’re roughly 15 minutes to the off at EPT Barcelona and for some people here a prompt start is absolutely imperative. The PokerStars Party begins at 9pm at Catwalk, a bar next door to the Casino. A lengthy final could endager any chance of free food, free drinks and DJs Xavi Beat and Nico Hamuy, who we’re reliably told are terrific. — SB

12.10pm: Technocolor


You’ll now notice pictures included in the player profiles below…

11.55am: Change of plan


We’re now heard that the start of play will be at 1pm, and not 12 noon as previously stated. Plenty of time to read through yesterday’s coverage, detailed here.

11.30am: Welcome to final table day


It’s final table day at EPT Barcelona. Eight players remain, of the 758 who began, and while each of them is guaranteed €70,000, at stake is a first prize of €825,000.

Play is due to start at 12noon, give or take a few technical hitches, with all the events that unfold logged meticulously tright here on the PokerStars Blog. IF seeing is believing then you can also follow the action on EPT Live, coverage there beginning before the start of play. May we recommend both?

So who are the final eight? Funny you should ask and if you can’t wait for the matchless James Hartigan to pinch our hard work and read it out aloud, here are the details in print:




Seat 1: Jesus Cortes Lizano, 22, Zaragoza, Spain – 3,800,000 chips


Lizano is a full-time poker pro from Zaragoza. He started playing poker when he was 18 and now divides his time between playing online and live, usually cash games. He only came to EPT Barcelona to play the cash games, but entered the live satellite on a whim, and now is on course for his best live result.

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He gained many plaudits for his sense of fair play when a mix-up on Day 4 awarded him 500,000 chips too many, chips that rightfully belonged to Shander De Vries. He alerted tournament staff who corrected the error and both players reached the final.

Lizano is being railed in Barcelona by two friends from home but more plan to come for the final.

Seat 2: Kent Lundmark, 22, Stockholm, Sweden – 3,025,000


Lundmark is an EPT regular and also a regular player in the Krukan cardroom. One of his first EPTs was the PCA last season where he was the longest-lasting Swede – finishing in 29th place. This is his third EPT cash and his biggest result to date, although he has reached final tables in Sweden and Estonia.

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Lundmark started playing poker four years ago after finishing high school. He is also a keen footballer and plays for a team in Sweden’s Fourth Division although he admits that poker takes the most of his time.

Seat 3: Konstantin Puchkov, 58, Moscow, Russia – 4,160,000


As amateurs go Konstantion Puchkov has a pretty impressive record. The Russian has notched up $771,606 in tournament winnings including a second place finish in the €5,000 six-max side event at the 2009 EPT Grand Final, and a bracelet-winning performance in this year’s $1,500 World Series H.O.R.S..E. event. By brilliant coincidence Puchkov lists his profession as a horse breeder and trainer.





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Puchkov has been playing poker since 1999 and while he prefers tournaments, he isn’t afraid of a bit of $10/$25 action in the side games.

Puchkov has been an active player throughout the tournament and enters the final table second in chips. ‘Today was the hardest day because I was all-in with aces and was drawing to seven outs,’ recalled Puchkov on Day 4, who had Ah Ad against Luis Rufas’ Js 8c on a Jc-flop. Rufas caught an eight on the turn before Puchkov rivered an ace. ’It was the first time that I was really at risk all tournament.

Seat 4: Shander De Vries, 26, Groningen, Netherlands – PokerStars player – 3,120,000 chips


De Vries began playing poker four years ago and has since built his bankroll playing the $4.40 180-player Sit & Gos on PokerStars. He later began to specialise in multi-table tournaments, achieving good results.

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Making the EPT Barcelona final is by far his best result although he has previously cashed at both the 2008 World Series and at EPT Prague in season five. After graduating in economics in December, De Vries plans to travel and, if he wins the EPT, buy himself a nice apartment.

De Vries is being cheered on in Barcelona by his girlfriend.

Seat 5: Giuseppe Pantaleo, 22, Bielefeld, Germany, PokerStars qualifier – 5,655,000 chips


Pantaleo has been playing poker for three years, usually playing tournaments. In July he finished fourth in the PokerStars Sunday Warm-up then won it a month later.

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EPT Barcelona is his third EPT cash after last season’s events in Berlin (142nd) and San Remo (37th). Pantaleo, an international trade specialist, admits to playing cash, “but actually I’m bad in cash games!”

While he was born and raised in Germany but both of Pantaleo’s parents, and his siblings, were born in Italy, and as he says “my heart is Italian.”

Seat 6: Francesco “cecho1977” Notaro, 33, Galatina, Italy, PokerStars qualifier – 745,000


Notaro began playing poker 15 years ago and now plays regularly on PokerStars.it. He started competing in live events in 2006 in tournaments organized by Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano at Casino Sanremo.

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Francesco is the owner of a betting agency and formerly a poker club before Italian law changed. Notaro enjoys live tournaments even though his best results are online. In 2009 he was runner-up the Sunday Special. His nickname is “cecho1977” on PokerStars.it.

Seat 7: Thor Stang, 27, Bergen, Norway – 1,290,000 chips


Stang, a student, has been playing poker for four years, mainly in cash games. He said “I don’t really like tournaments that much. In cash games, you can reload if you get short but here I’ve been short-stacked all day! I came into Day 4 third in chips but then ran queens into Kings and since then I’ve never had more than 25 big blinds all day. It’s very frustrating but on the other hand, tournaments are exciting.”

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This is Stang’s best live result to date.

Seat 8: Georgios “NickDandolos” Skotadis, 35, Greece – PokerStars qualifier – 1,105,000 chips


Although he was born and raised in Dusseldorf, Germany, sports bar owner Skotadis considers himself to be Greek first.

At EPT Barcelona, Skotadis is not only playing his first EPT, but also his first major live event, while online he won the Sunday Million three weeks ago for $195,000.

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Skotadis started playing poker two years ago in local poker rooms, playing both tournaments and cash games. Skotadis, who is engaged to an Irish girl, Aisling, said: “I’m living the month of my life – and it’s not over yet!”

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The winner’s trophy


PokerStars Blog reporting team in Barcelona (in order of final table attire): Simon Young (ceremonial uniform of an honourary Brigadier of the Royal Green Jackets), Stephen Bartley (ceremonial uniform of a sergeant-at-arms of the Royal Tweed Jackets) and Rick Dacey (the working uniform of a deck hand on HMS Pinafore).



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: The business end



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.

 

EPT Barcelona: Day 4, level 25, 26 & 27 updates (blinds 30,000-60,000, ante 5,000)

ept-thumb-promo.jpg8pm: Heard the one about Jesus and the three kings?


Jesus Lizano has just busted Candido Gonçalves in ninth place with pocket kings, rivering a set for good measure. Gonçalves opened for 125,000 from the cut-off and Lizano raised to 275,000 from the button. It was then shipped in by the Frenchman who held JHeart Suit9Heart Suit and called by Lizano.

The board ran out 8Club Suit7Club Suit9Spade SuitQClub SuitKDiamond Suit giving Lizano a good sweat before he scooped a huge pot going into the final table. Gonçalves leaves with €50,000.

That’s it for today. A full wrap of how we got from 24 players down to eight will be with you shortly. Head over to the chip count page for chips, while the prizes and payout page will tell you all you need to know about who has won what. — RD

7.55pm: Shake that Stang


De Vries opened for 125,000 and Stang moved all-in. Fold. — RD

7.50pm: Puchkov takes this one


Kent Lundmark raised to 135,000 and Konstantin Puchkov re-raised to 300,000. Call. Lundmark checked the 3Heart Suit9Spade Suit9Diamond Suit flop, then folded when Puchkov made it 500,000. — SY

7.40pm: So close yet so far?


It all seemed so close to a finish an hour ago yet it almost semes as if we’re never going to lose that player in ninth place that will hearld the end of Day 4. Play is very cagey now that Notaro is short. — RD

7.30pm: AK, no action


Puchkov opened the button for 150,000 and picked up one call from Pantaleo before both players checked the board down. — RD

7.20pm: Pass from Pantaleo


Giuseppe Pantaleo opened to 110,000 and was shoved on by Francesco Notaro. Pantaleo passed. — RD

7.15pm: Hope for Notaro


Italian Francesco Notaro doubled up with AHeart SuitQDiamond Suit against Georgios Skotadis’ KClub SuitQSpade Suit, although the 7Club Suit8Club Suit[10h]9Club Suit3Heart Suit board gave him a bit of a sweat. He’s up to 690,000 now. — SY

7.10pm: All-in and call


Shander de Vries opened for 120,000 from the cut-off and Francesco Notaro moved all-in for 2 million from the small blind. De Vries made the call.

De Vries: QHeart SuitQSpade Suit


Notaro: AClub SuitJSpade Suit

The board blanked out to boost De Vries towards the chip lead with over 3 million. Notaro has just 400,000 left, which is around ten big blinds. — RD

7pm: First two hands of the final nine


Konstantin Puchkov was involved in the first two pots of nine-handed play. In the first hand he called a Jesus Cortes Lizano cut-off raise whilst sat in the small blind and managed to manoeuvre his opponent off his hand post flop.

The next hand he was the player forced off a pot. He raised from the button but folded when chip leader, Giuseppe Pantaleo, re-raised from the big blind. — MC

6.50pm: The final nine


The redraw has taken place and play has restarted.

Seat 1. Candido Gonçalves, France – 1,405,000


Seat 2. Jesus Cortes Lizano, Spain – 2,290,000


Seat 3. Kent Lundmark, Sweden – 3,360,000


Seat 4. Konstantin Puchkov, Russia – 4,005,000


Seat 5. Shander De Vries, Netherlands, PokerStars player – 1,695,000


Seat 6. Giuseppe Pantaleo, Germany, PokerStars qualifier – 4,890,000


Seat 7. Francesco Notaro, Italy, PokerStars qualifier – 2,020,000


Seat 8. Thor Stang, Norway – 1,590,000


Seat 9. Georgios Skotadis, Greece, PokerStars qualifier – 1,754,000

Just one player left before play comes to an end for the day setting up the EPT Barcelona final table (which begins at midday tomorrow). — RD

6.20pm: Down to nine


On a flop of JClub Suit3Club Suit4Club Suit Konstantin Puchkov bet 200,000 which Luis Rufus raised to 570,000. When Puchkov shoved all-in with AHeart SuitADiamond Suit Rufus called with JSpade Suit8Club Suit, top pair and a flush draw.

Rufas’s fortunes got better on the 8Heart Suit turn card but a remarkable rivered ASpade Suit swung everything back in favour of Puchkov, leaving Rufus with just two antes.

On the next had he threw it in with six-three off-suit which Pantaleo brushed aside with pocket nines. The nine on the flop confirmed Rufas’s departure in tenth place. – SB

6.18pm: Jesus smites Gonçalves


Candido Gonçalves might be kicking himself about this one later. Jesus Lizano opened for 115,000 from the cut-off and Gonçalves called on the button. The Spainiard then checked the dangerous looking AHeart SuitQClub Suit10Diamond Suit flop over to Gonçalves who bet 200,000. Lizano waited a short moment then announced that he was all-in for 950,000. Gonçalves made the call.

Gonçalves: ADiamond Suit6Diamond Suit


Lizano: AClub Suit8Spade Suit

Lizano was very much ahead but Gonçalves had plenty of backdoor outs to the chop and outright win. The JSpade Suit hit the turn and the 9Heart Suit rivered the straight for Lizano who is up to over 2.2 million. Gonçalves is down to 1.4 million. — RD

6.15pm: Nut flush versus straight flush?


The details of this hand are a bit hazy as it took place on the TV table but we’ll recount as best we can.

Luis Rufas, Georgios Skotadis and Giuseppe Pantaleo all saw and checked a 9Spade Suit10Spade SuitJSpade Suit flop to see the KSpade Suit turn. Rufas led out and Skotadis called before Panteleo raised to 360,000. Rufas made the call but Skotadis folded. The river came 6Club Suit and Pantaleo led for 880,000. Call.

The one card we could see of Pantaleo was the one that mattered – QSpade Suit – for a straight flush. Rufas mucked saying he held the ASpade Suit for the nut flush. Pantaleo extends his already large chip lead. — MC

6.05pm: De Vries gets some back


Following the large bluff shove from Candido Gonçalves just a few minutes ago Sanders de Vries has got some chips back. Gonçalves opened under-the-gun and was called by De Vries. Both players checked the 3Spade Suit5Diamond SuitJHeart Suit flop and Gonçalves led 105,000 into the AClub Suit turn. De Vries quickly called and took the pot down with a 150,000 bet on the 7Heart Suit river. — RD

5.55pm: Hard to take Candi from Gonçalves


Candido Gonçalves is a stubborn player and I mean that in a good way. He’s very hard to manoeuvre off a hand as this following hand will show.

The action folded around to the Frenchman in the small blind who raised up to 105,000. Shander de Vries was in the big blind and three-bet to 265,000. Goncalves thought for a minute and called to see the 5Club Suit9Club Suit7Diamond Suit flop. He check-called a 250,000 c-bet from the Dutchman before both players checked the 4Diamond Suit turn. The river came 9Spade Suit and Goncalves instantly moved all-in for 1.9 million. De Vries shot a shocked look to his right before sliding his cards into the muck. — MC

5.45pm: Rufas the aggressor


Luis Rufas raised to 110,000 and got calls from Georgios Skotadis and Guiseppe Pantaleo. On the [10d]9Diamond Suit2Spade Suit flop, Skotadis and Pantaleo checked before Rufas made it 170,000. That sparked Skotadis into life, and he re-raised to 400,000. Pantaleo ran for the hills, but Rufas, after establishing that Skotadis had around 1.8million behind, announced he was all-in. Skotadis folded. Disgusted.

Next hand Rufas open raised again, but this time Skotadis moved all-in, forcing a fold from Rufas. Now it was his turn to be… disgusted. — SY

5.35pm: Players are back


There have been no knockouts as of yet but Luis Rufas has pushed Georgios Skotadis off a hand with a big all-in shove. — RD

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 25,000-50,000, ANTE 5,000


5.15pm: Sekularac out in huge race (sort of)


Francesco Notaro opened to 200,000 for a large five times the big blind raise from the cut-off and Serbian Ognjen Sekularac three-bet from the small blind to 509,000. Notaro made the call putting well over a million chips into the pot pre-flop. On a 7Club Suit2Club SuitQDiamond Suit flop Sekularac moved all-in for 772,000 and Notaro called.

Notaro: JClub SuitJDiamond Suit


Sekularac: AHeart SuitKHeart Suit

Sekularac was left with six outs and a backdoor straight draw. The 9Heart Suit dropped on the turn and little Notaro clenched his fists and begged, ‘Five.’ The river card was indeed the 5Club Suit and Notaro screamed out ‘Five!’ jubilantly. The Italian is up to 2.5 million now. That’s quite some stack. Sekularac was left very short and busted the next hand in 11th.

That’s the end of the level and the players have 15 minutes in which to prepare themselves for five-handed combat. — RD

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FIIIIIIVVVVEEEEEEE!’

5.05pm: Some flops…yay


The outer table has been through a period where no flops were seen. It was all raise and take or three-bet all-in to force a fold. Candido Gonçalves changed that for us though by flatting raises from Ognjen Sekularac and then from Thor Stang in consecutive hands.

The first hand brought a 3Club SuitKHeart SuitAHeart Suit flop and Gonçalves treated Sekularac’s c-bet to an all-in manoeuvre. Sekularac folded showing a KClub Suit and Goncalves showed JHeart Suit10Heart Suit for a gutshot royal flush draw.

The next hand he called a Stang bet but check-folded on the 5Spade Suit2Spade SuitQSpade Suit flop. — MC

5pm: Skotadis and the hairy blogger

4.55pm: One for Puchkov


Things have slowed down a lot. Not surprising really, with the money getting big and the final table in sight.

Konstantin Puchkov just took a pot from Kent Lundmark. The Swede had raised to 85,000 and the Russian called to see a QDiamond Suit2Diamond SuitJClub Suit flop. Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 95,000 bet and then both checked the 9Club Suit turn. But on the KHeart Suit river. Puchkov check-called Lundmark’s 260,000 bet to take the pot with a paired queen. — SY

4.42pm: Gonçalves considers a big bluff


Candido Gonçalves almost got himself in a lot of trouble, claimed Sanders de Vries. Gonçalves opened for 86,000 from the button and was three-bet to 300,000 by De Vries. Gonçalves made the call.

De Vries slid out 250,000 into the 7Spade Suit4Diamond Suit4Club Suit flop and Gonçalves thought long and hard about moving in. In fact he asked De Vries whether he would call if he moved in. After Gonçalves passed De Vries told him he would have snapped his hand off to get his chips in. Maybe. — RD

4.35pm: Jorge Lores out in 12th


Spain on Spain action here, with Jorge Lores getting all-in pre-flop against Luis Rufas. It didn’t look good for Lores:

Lores: QSpade SuitQHeart Suit


Rufas: KClub SuitKHeart Suit

If things looked bleak then, it got a whole lot worse on the 3Diamond Suit3Heart Suit2Heart Suit[10d]3Spade Suit board. Lores got up, shook everyone by the hand, and toddled off to the cash desk to pick up €36,000. — SY

4.30pm: After some time…


After a period of sustained inactivity the first flop in some time sends a pot Ognjen Sekularac’s way. Francesco Notaro opened for 120,000 under-the-gun which Sekularac called in the cut off for a 4Spade SuitQHeart SuitQDiamond Suit flop. Notaro bet 100,000 which Sekularac raised to 218,000, enough to persuade Notaro to fold, Sekularac showing AClub SuitKSpade Suit. – SB

4.25pm: Take him to the Greek


PokerStars qualifier Georgios Skotadis has doubled up to just under 2.5 million through Zachary Korik before the latter busted the next hand. Zorik raised and four-bet shoved over the top of Skotadis’ three-bet. Skotadis tanked for a while before calling all-in.

Skotadis: AClub SuitQDiamond Suit


Korik: JHeart Suit10Heart Suit

The board ran QClub SuitQHeart Suit8Club Suit4Diamond Suit3Diamond Suit to send the big pot to Greece. Korik was left with just 75,000 after the hand.

These last 75,000 went in the very next hand with king-jack. Jorge Lores made the call from the big blind with ace-eight and as neither player improved on the board we have our 13th place finisher. The American takes home €28,000 for his efforts. — MC

4.15pm: Rasinen railed


Jani Kristian Rasinen has been eliminated in 14th place by popular local player Luis Rufas. Rufas made it 100,000 to go from under-the-gun and was only called by the Finn to go to a 4Heart Suit6Club Suit5Heart Suit flop. Rufas checked to face a 148,000 bet that he raised all-in, putting his Finnish opponent to the test for his tournament life.

Rasinen looked at the tournament clock, looked at how many chips he had left (around 700,000) and made the call with 8Heart Suit8Club Suit. The were roars from the rail as Rufas tabled 9Diamond Suit9Heart Suit. The turn came QClub Suit and river QSpade Suit avoiding all eights and sevens. — MC

4.05pm: Seat draw


Here’s the seat draw on the final two tables.





TV table


1. Konstantin Puchkov


2. Alessandro Longobardi, now busted


3. Jorge Lores


4. Marco Bognanni, now busted


5. Zachary Korik


6. Georgios Skotadis


7. Giuseppe Pantaleo


8. Kent Lundmark

Outer table


1. Ognjen Sekularac


2. Candido Gonçalves


3. Shander de Vries


4. Jani Kristian Rasinen, now busted (see above)


5. Thor Stang


6. Francesco Notaro


7. Jesus Cortes Lizano


8. Luis Rufas

A couple of players have since taken a tumble. — RD

4.02pm: Bognanni out in 15th place for €23,000


Just like that, we’ve lost another player. This time it was Marco Bognanni to go, shoving for 300,000 with KDiamond Suit5Diamond Suit and getting looked up by Giuseppe Pantaleo with ADiamond Suit6Club Suit. The board ran 2Club Suit7Spade Suit4Club Suit[10h]JClub Suit and we’re down to 14. — SY

4pm: Stang and deliver


Thor Stang opened for 62,000 which Luis Rufas called on the button and Ognjen Sekularac called from the small blind. The flop came JClub Suit8Diamond Suit9Heart Suit which all three players checked for a QDiamond Suit turn. Sekularac bet 106,000 before Stang moved all-in for 600,000. Rufas folded while Sekularac tanked for a few moment. But no, not this time. He passed, leaving himself with a million, and Stang with a million. – SB

3.55pm: So long, Longobardi


Alessandro Longobardi moved all-in with ADiamond SuitKDiamond Suit for 931,000 and was called by Kent Lundmark with pocket sevens. The man from Sweden had Longobardi covered, but the 6-Q-A flop sent the Italian ahead. Not for long, though… out came the 7Diamond Suit on the turn to make Lundmark’s straight.

Longobardi is out in 16th. — SY

3.50pm: Karma police


With the karma allocated play resumes. — SB

3.42pm: What a palaver


There’s been a slight delay in play due to chip confusion and kudos to Jesus Cortes Lizano who admitted that he had too many chips. At around the same point Shander de Vries realised his stack was lacking and Thomas Kremser and his team had a head scratching session then set to work. Play has since resumed. — RD

3.30pm: Level up


Play is now up to the heaving 20,000-40,000 level and with just 16 left the big money is in sight. Half of the remaining players will make it through to tomorrow’s final table. — RD

ept barcelona_day 4_the floor.jpg

Down to the final 16




PokerStars Blog reporting team (in order of the characters they would be in The Adventures of Tintin): Simon Young (Captain Haddock), Stephen Bartley (Professor Cuthbert Calculus), Marc Convey (Snowy) and Rick Dacey (Tintin… okay, one of the Thompson twins)



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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