| Buy-In: | $6,805 + $408 |
|---|---|
| Prize Pool: | $5,820,914 |
| Entrants: | 891 |
When it comes to big buy-in poker sometimes the script is torn up and simply thrown out of the window. Other times the script is just too weird to take seriously. Today we got both, one that involved an underdog winner, a giant plastic rat and a new French hero.
Tonight Lucien Cohen can call himself an EPT champion, the sixth from France, having driven home an unlikely two-to-one chip advantage against Sweden’s Martin Jacobson. Jacobson was forced to accept his second runner-up finish of the season to allow Cohen the limelight in what was a spirited home turf display.
Cohen triumphed after an unpredictable final table in which the likely lads became unlikely losers and the underdogs barked and bit for all they were worth.
Chief among them was Cohen. Using a toy plastic rat as a card protector, the mascot of the pest control company he owns in Paris, he would produce an even bigger version from a rucksack by his feet when involved in a big hand. It annoyed and amused in equal measure among the populous local rail, although his victorious hollering may not have gone down too well with the players paying him off with chips. Over-achievement perhaps, but Cohen finished having done what all champions must do – win every chip in play.
In terms of pests at least three players might have wished Cohen had been able to rid the table of Latvian Kaspars Renga. Ruslan Prydryk, Anthony Hnatow and Kenny Hallaert must all feel that they busted prematurely today. Renga, who runs a hunting magazine when not playing poker, arrived at the final table as the short stack yet nursed his handful of chips into an unlikely fifth place, eliminated about four hours after everyone expected him to be gone.
Sometimes you just have to sit tight and wait for the nuts. Renga did, and got them three times, including a royal flush, for a hard-fought fifth place cheque worth €200,000.
Prydryk had gone first within minutes of the start, earning €66,800, while shortly after Jacobson had his first setback, a three-way pot with the indefatigable Renga and Wice which resulted in Jacobson reduced to 2,000,000 while Renga and Wice split the main pot, the Canadian taking the lead with more than 10,000,000 chips.
Jacobson fought back while the likes of Anthony Hnatow and Kenny Hallaert departed in seventh (€110,000) and sixth place (€155,000) respectively, not before Cohen had doubled through Wice with a turned full house, a critical moment.
Following Renga in fifth place was Julien Claudepierre, whose solid performance was worthy of a hat tip and €260,000. Suddenly the field had been reduced from six to three in just 20 minutes, while Claudepierre’s elimination sent Wice back past the 10,000,000 mark and put him on a collision course with Jacobson and Cohen.
The young Canadian had dominated all through the week, never being far from the leaders, and the pre-match predictions that he and Jacobson would meet heads-up almost came to fruition.
But there was Cohen again. The image of him screaming and that blasted giant rat on the table may haunt Wice for weeks. The pair clashed for what would be the last time when after receiving a walk with aces Wice found ace-queen and raised from the small blind, only for Cohen to find pocket queens and raise from the big blind. Soon enough the money was in the middle and the blank board sent Wice out in third for €330,000. A superb performance obliterated in a wall of noise.
Cohen’s two-to-one heads-up lead soon became five-to-one. Jacobson had to act and shoved for 6
7 with 1,500,000 chips. Cohen called with A
K
and he, his rat, and the bundle of vocal supporters standing a few feet away braced themselves for one last hand. The board missed everything the Swede was looking for and Cohen erupted.
For Jacobson it’s his second near miss this year following Vilamoura, to go with the third place finish he secured in Budapest back in season five. The €560,000 Jacobson takes away tonight will be some consolation, but somehow you sense this will not be the last we see of him.
Congratulations to Lucien Cohen, the newest champion on the European Poker Tour. Night time Deauville better brace itself.
To find all the intimate details of today’s final table click through the links below. You can also find a complete list of all of those who finished in the money at EPT Deauville on the official payout page.
Final table profiles
Level 26 cont., 27 & 28 updates
Level 29 & 30 updates
That brings to a close our coverage from EPT Deauville. Thanks to our photographer Neil Stoddart for his work today, especially in dodging the security guards to get close to the action. Thanks also to our foreign blogging friends, working in Dutch, German and French, the latter of whom graciously endured our efforts at speaking French this week.
We now turn our back on Northern France and head for an even colder place. EPT Copenhagen is just three weeks away, starting on 21 February at the Casino Copenhagen, complete with a foot of snow, service station hot dogs and several hundred players; the sort of players who infuriate and fascinate in equal measure. It’s an event that never fails to provide a final table with a twist. Join us then for our live coverage from Denmark.
Until then thanks for reading and good night from Deauville.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
4.52pm: Wice folds, Cohen dances
Alex Wice opened to 200,00 from the button and Lucien Cohen three-bet to 450,000 from the small blind. Wice made the call. The action checked to the 9KA4
J river where Wice folded to a 300,000 lead from Cohen. The Frenchman started dancing, like an embarrassing uncle at a wedding, by way of celebration. – RD
4.45pm: Keep off my lawn!
After Lucien Cohen folded his button, Martin Jacobson put in a teasing 220,000 from the small blind. Alex Wice, who is on turbo-time decision making, fired back with 650,000 instantly.
Jacobson realised this could be dodgy, and got out of the way. – SY
4.40pm: Julien Claudepierre eliminated in 3rd place (€260,000)
Julien Claudepierre is out third place after falling to Alex Wice. Wice raised to 200,000 from the button before Claudepierre three-bet all-in for 2,150,000 from the big blind. Wice asked for a count and then seemed to figure out the math by pretending to write on the table. He stopped writing and made the call.
Claudepierre: A5
Wice: QJ
The board ran 68J44 to make two pair for the Canadian. Wice up to over 10,000,000 million chips again. — MC
4.35pm: Renga’s impressive laddering comes to an end, out in fifth (€200,000)
Kaspars Renga has earned himself at least €100,000 more than anyone expected at the beginning of the day. Renga started the day very short, just 470,000, but managed to find aces twice, a rivered Broadway straight once and a royal flush another time. The Latvian’s laddering ways have just come to an end though.
The action folded to Martin Jacobson in the small blind and he set Renga’s 800,000 stack all-in. Renga made a grudging call.
Jacobson: 85
Renga: A7
Jacobson hit a pair on the Q35 flop and Renga failed to catch up on the J turn or 9 river. Down to four players. – RD
4.30pm: Wice keeps Claudepierre in check
Alex Wice made it 200,000 from the button and Julien Claudepierre called from the big blind. Both checked the 2A[10c] flop and also the 2 turn. But on the 6 river Claudepierre took a stab with a bet of 280,000, which Wice called.
The Frenchman showed J6 but Wice had the ace – A9 – and took the pot. — SY
4.25pm: Wice into his min raising
Alex Wice min-raised to 200,000 from second position and Martin Jacobson defended from the big blind to see the 742 flop. The action went check-check to reveal the Q turn. The Swede led for 250,000 and Wice folded quickly.
The next hand Wice min raised from under-the-gun and took the blinds and antes as all folded including the short stacked Kaspars Renga in the big blind. — MC
4.23pm: Kenny Hallaert busted in sixth (€155,000)
Last hand, as covered by SY, had Kenny Hallaert tank-folding to Alex Wice’s small blind shove. He’s going to be thinking about that pass for some time.
The very next hand Wice opened for 200,000 from the button and Hallaert moved all-in for around 1.5 million. Lucien Cohen quickly folded but Wice did not. Snap call.
Wice: 1010
Hallaert: 44
Hallaert failed to outdraw Wice on the 8JKK10 board and leaves the tournament in a very credible sixth place. Wice now back over 8 million. — RD
4.21pm: Wice asks a question of Hallaert
Alex Wice opened with a big raise to two million from the small blind. It was on Kenny Hallaert in the big blind, and he thought for a good minute or two before mucking. — SY
4.19pm: Pressure on Renga
When it was folded around to Martin Jacobson in the small blind, he plopped in a pile of black 100,000 chips. Knowing Renga would need a premium hand to call, Jacobson watched as the Latvian mucked slowly. — SY
4.17pm: Getting a walk
Martin Jacobson just enjoyed a walk in the big blind. He’s enjoyed several of those in the past few days, perhaps testament to the regard the other players hold him in. — SY
4.15pm: Jacobson takes a small one from Cohen
Martin Jacobson opened for 210,000 from the hijack and was called by Lucien Cohen in the big blind. The board was checked down to the 104Q97 river which Jacobson bet for 300,000. Cohen passed.
Alex Wice took the next hand with a min raise to 200,000. — RD
4.12pm: Wice retakes lead by folding
Alex Wice is back into the chip lead after Lucien Cohen gave around 1,200,000 to Martin Jacobson.
Cohen raised to 260,000 from early position and Jacobson was the only caller to a 295 flop. Cohen gave up the initiative by checking to face a 300,000 bet. Call. The turn came 4 and Cohen check-called a 750,000 bet. The river came A and Cohen checked for a third time.
Jacobson had no intention of slowing down and fired 2,020,000 chips into the pot. Cohen decided that he might actually be behind by now and folded to drop to around 5.9 million whereas Jacobson continued his recovery and is up into second spot with 6.8 million. — MC
4.10pm: A good time to re-steal?
It was folded around to Julien Claudepierre on the button and he made it 210,000. Martin Jacobson was in the small blind and re-raised to 550,000. Why was this a good time to re-steal (if indeed he was thieving)? Kaspars Renga, the tightest man at the table, was sitting patiently in the big blind. He folded, as did Claudepierre. — SY
4.06pm: Jacobson’s pair
Alex Wice, wearing the same purple woolly hat that he’s had on all week, made it 200,000 and Martin Jacobson called from the big blind. The flop was 5Q6 and Jacobson check-called Wice’s 230,000 bet. That slowed them both down to a check on the 2 turn and the 3 river.
Wice had A9, but Jacobson held 67 and the pair sixes was good for the pot. —SY
4.03pm: Hallaert can’t stand the heat
Kenny Hallaert completed the big blind when the action was folded around to him in the small blind. Lucien Cohen checked his option to go to the 6JK flop. Hallaert led for 130,000 but folded when the Frenchman raised to 300,000. — MC
3.59pm: Hallaert still smiling
Kenny Hallaert seems to be an affable type. Despite this final table not exactly going as he intended – he’s sat on 2.2 million – he’s still smiling. The action folded to Alex Wice in the small blind and he set Hallaert all-in, not for the first time. Hallaert passed and was flashed an ace by Wice.
“Always an ace,” said Hallaert.
“What was that?” asked Wice, removing one ear of his headphones.
“You always have an ace,” repeated Hallaert still smiling. He’s got a good attitude, this Hallaert. — RD
3.55pm: Chips at the start of level 29
Lucien Cohen, France, 7,105,000
Alex Wice, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 6,997,000
Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, 5,500,000
Julien Claudepierre, France, 3,478,000
Kenny Hallaert, Belgium, 2,214,000
Kaspars Renga, Latvia, 1,460,000
3.50pm: Play restarts
Players are back and about to resume play. Blinds in level 29 will be 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante. So long green chips.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Deauville (in order of no one really knows):Simon Young (12 kilograms), Stephen Bartley (about a foot and a half), Rick Dacey (three, sometimes two) and Marc Convey (hasn’t seen one for years).
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.
6.50pm: Glorious summary on its way
Stephen Bartley is literally covered in blood, sweat and tears* due to his frantic finishing off of the Season 7 EPT Deauville wrap. That will be with you shortly. In the meantime you can check out the payout and prizes page to see who finished where and how much for. — RD
* He is not literally covered in blood, sweat or tears. That would be odd, and I wouldn’t still be sat next to him typing this. Well, there are a few tears now I come to think of it.
6.44pm: Lucien Cohen wins EPT Deauville for €880,000
PokerStars qualifier Martin Jacobson was down to around 1,500,000 when he open shoved from the button with 67. The 6 had been exposed as the cards were dealt but that didn’t deter Jacobsen who was relying on fold equity more than showdown value. The Swede wasn’t expecting to be called but seeing as his opponent, Lucien Cohen, picked up AK it was a very quick call.
The last and defining board ran out 10933J to knock out Jacobson. Cohen erupted as we suspected he would. Jacobson looked understandably gutted but took the defeat with grace, shaking Cohen’s hand before walking away at a canter. Cohen ran to continue his celebration with his supporters (and rubber rat) on the rail. — MC
6.42pm: Martin Jacobson out in second place (€560,000)
The screams and cheers that have just reached me tell the tale that Martin Jacobson has been knocked out. That also means that we have a homegrown hero in Lucien Cohen. Details to come. — RD
6.40pm: Slow death
Unless he can pull something out of the bag sharpish, Martin Jacobson is going to be in shove-fold territory. He’s down to just under two million – around 15 big blinds – leaving Lucien Cohen with more than 24 million.
As if to emphasise his perilous state, Jacobson has now began to open-limp from button rather than raise. — SY
6.35pm: Always the bridesmaid?
Will this be another nearly moment for Martin Jacobson? He finished as runner-up to Toby Lewis at EPT Vilamoura in 2010 and third place to Will Fry at EPT Budapest a few seasons back.
His chances of taking the title here in Deauville aren’t looking too good at the moment. He’s got a five to one chip deficit against Lucien Cohen, which will require a huge comeback. Is he capable of it? Certainly, but he’ll need to start winning some big pots soon. — RD
6.30pm: Cohen tries new tactic
A lot of the recent pots have been small ones with pre-flop limps and checks through the streets. On two occasions Cohen has put in big over bets to claim the pot.
In one pot the action had been checked to the river with 240,000 in the pot and Cohen bet 1,000,000 to force a fold from Jacobson. Two hands later he bet 500,000 into a 240,000 pot on a jack high flop to take it down. Value bets or bluffs? — MC
6.25pm: Cohen collects more
Jacobson is down to around 4 million after this one, leaving Lucien Cohen with a massive 22.5 million chip stack.
The Swede had made it 260,000, his usual pre-flop raise, and Cohen had called to see a 9[10c]3 flop. Both checked, but on the 5 turn Cohen made it 600,000, called by Jacobson. The river was 5 and again Jacobson called a 600,000 bet. Cohen turned over A9 and that was good. — SY
6.18pm: Cohen given a warning
Lucien Cohen has been given a warning by the floor staff for leaving the table during the all-in from Martin Jacobson. While the Swede’s stack was being counted down Cohen had left the table to mutter a few words to a supporter on the rail. He had returned to the table to fold his hand. He apologised for doing so and play continued as normal – with added warning. — MC
6.10pm: Jacobson all-in!
For the first time in heads-up play, Martin Jacobson put his tournament on the line. Lucien Cohen had raised to 260,000 and Jacobson called to see a 4[10s]2 flop. Jacobson checked and Cohen reached for one million chips, plonking them over the line.
Jacobson thought for a minute, stock still, then announced calmly he was all-in. Cohen asked for a count, but as it became clear it was near four million to call, he folded. — SY
6.05pm: Cohen the aggressor
Lucien Cohen has spent a lot of today playing on the passive side, but since the action turned heads up he’s been showing signs of increased aggression levels.
In one hand he three-bet a 260,000 raise from Martin Jacobson to 720,000, which forced a fold from the Swede. Just two hands later he called a 260,000 button raise from Jacobson to see a 24K flopm which he check-raised the 250,000 c-bet bet up to 650,000. It was enough to take the pot down. — MC
5.55pm: Cohen wins big
Lucien Cohen took a meaty pot off Martin Jacobson in the first hand of heads-up play. He had limped in pre-flop and Jacobson checked in the big blind. The flop was Q[10d]2 and Jacobson check-called Cohen’s 400,000. On the 4 turn Jacobson check-called 1.4million, and finally on the 2 river he check-called a chunky two million.
Cohen slapped down KK on the table and the over pair was good for the pot. That moves Cohen up to more than 20 million while Jacobson slips to 6.5 million. It’s going to be a long climb for Jacobson. — SY
5.45pm: Alex Wice eliminated in third place (€330,000)
PokerStars qualifier Alex Wice thought his luck was bad when he got a walk in the big blind with pocket aces but a lot worse was to come the very next hand. He raised from the small blind and found himself facing a re-raise from Lucien Cohen in the big blind. Then in a flash of action both players were all-in. We’re not quite sure if Wice called or shoved first but the result was the same; showdown.
Wice: AQ
Cohen: QQ
The board ran 74274 to give the huge pot to the Frenchman. We were slightly worried about the structural integrity of the room due to the volume of the partisan roars coming from Cohen’s supporters. — MC
5.40pm: News in brief
1) Martin Jacobson picks up a pot after firing two streets into Alex Wice.
2) Cohen’s playing snug. It may be harsh to say but he seems to be a little outclassed by Jacobson and Alex Wice. He looks like he’s going to fold to the heads up or try to find a set-up. It’s not as disparaging as it sounds; Wice and Jacobson have been playing some excellent poker.
3) There have been a few little battles between Wice and Jacobson with the latter coming out ahead. No major hands yet. — RD
5.30pm: Play resumes
Cards are in the air with blinds at 60,000-120,000 with a 15,000 ante. — SB
5.15pm: Chips at the break
Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, 9,150,000
Alex Wice, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 8,940,000
Lucien Cohen, France, 8,635,000
5.10pm: Break time
That’s the end of the level. Players are now on a 15 minute break. — SB
5.08pm: Cohen clipped by Jacobson
Martin Jacobson opened to 210,000 from the button and Lucien Cohen defended his big blind. Jacobson fired a delayed c-bet of 250,000 into the 94QJ turn and Cohen called. The 1.03 million bet on the river was too much for Cohen to call. — RD
5.07pm: Cohen celebrates
More arm waiving and celebrating from Lucien Cohen. He had opened with a 300,000 bet from the button, called only by Martin Jacobson in the small blind. The flop was 834 and both checked to see a 8 turn. Jacobson took a stab with a bet of 400,000, called by Cohen. Both then slowed again to check the 6 river.
CohenA9
Jacobson: A7
Cohen had the Swede’s kicker out-pipped, and waived his arms in the air as he collected the pot. Both Jacobson and Wice have earphones clasped tight over their ears and are doing their best to ignore the Frenchman’s antics. – SY
5.04pm: Wice folds two pair
Alex Wice opened the pot to 200,000 from the button and called when Lucien Cohen three-bet to 450,000 from the small blind. The flop came 3K5 and Cohen led for 400,000. Call. The turn came 6 and Cohen fired 500,000 this time. Call. On the 4 river Cohen was slow to a check before moving all-in when Wice bet 1,400,000.
Wice folded saying, “I have two pair.”
Cohen celebrated by standing up and waving his rubber rat around his head. —MC
4.58pm: Jacobson takes one from Wice
Jacobson opened to 250,000 from the small blind and Alex Wice made the call from the big. Jacobson c-bet 250,000 into a big AQQ flop and Wice made the call. That didn’t slow Jacobson down on the 9 turn. He led for 650,000 and Wice mucked his hand. — RD
4.52pm: Wice folds, Cohen dances
Alex Wice opened to 200,00 from the button and Lucien Cohen three-bet to 450,000 from the small blind. Wice made the call. The action checked to the 9KA4J river where Wice folded to a 300,000 lead from Cohen. The Frenchman started dancing, like an embarrassing uncle at a wedding, by way of celebration. – RD
4.45pm: Keep off my lawn!
After Lucien Cohen folded his button, Martin Jacobson put in a teasing 220,000 from the small blind. Alex Wice, who is on turbo-time decision making, fired back with 650,000 instantly.
Jacobson realised this could be dodgy, and got out of the way. – SY
4.40pm: Julien Claudepierre eliminated in 3rd place (€260,000)
Julien Claudepierre is out third place after falling to Alex Wice. Wice raised to 200,000 from the button before Claudepierre three-bet all-in for 2,150,000 from the big blind. Wice asked for a count and then seemed to figure out the math by pretending to write on the table. He stopped writing and made the call.
Claudepierre: A5
Wice: QJ
The board ran 68J44 to make two pair for the Canadian. Wice up to over 10,000,000 million chips again. — MC
4.35pm: Renga’s impressive laddering comes to an end, out in fifth (€200,000)
Kaspars Renga has earned himself at least €100,000 more than anyone expected at the beginning of the day. Renga started the day very short, just 470,000, but managed to find aces twice, a rivered Broadway straight once and a royal flush another time. The Latvian’s laddering ways have just come to an end though.
The action folded to Martin Jacobson in the small blind and he set Renga’s 800,000 stack all-in. Renga made a grudging call.
Jacobson: 85
Renga: A7
Jacobson hit a pair on the Q35 flop and Renga failed to catch up on the J turn or 9 river. Down to four players. – RD
4.30pm: Wice keeps Claudepierre in check
Alex Wice made it 200,000 from the button and Julien Claudepierre called from the big blind. Both checked the 2A[10c] flop and also the 2 turn. But on the 6 river Claudepierre took a stab with a bet of 280,000, which Wice called.
The Frenchman showed J6 but Wice had the ace – A9 – and took the pot. — SY
4.25pm: Wice into his min raising
Alex Wice min-raised to 200,000 from second position and Martin Jacobson defended from the big blind to see the 742 flop. The action went check-check to reveal the Q turn. The Swede led for 250,000 and Wice folded quickly.
The next hand Wice min raised from under-the-gun and took the blinds and antes as all folded including the short stacked Kaspars Renga in the big blind. — MC
4.23pm: Kenny Hallaert busted in sixth (€155,000)
Last hand, as covered by SY, had Kenny Hallaert tank-folding to Alex Wice’s small blind shove. He’s going to be thinking about that pass for some time.
The very next hand Wice opened for 200,000 from the button and Hallaert moved all-in for around 1.5 million. Lucien Cohen quickly folded but Wice did not. Snap call.
Wice: 1010
Hallaert: 44
Hallaert failed to outdraw Wice on the 8JKK10 board and leaves the tournament in a very credible sixth place. Wice now back over 8 million. — RD
4.21pm: Wice asks a question of Hallaert
Alex Wice opened with a big raise to two million from the small blind. It was on Kenny Hallaert in the big blind, and he thought for a good minute or two before mucking. — SY
4.19pm: Pressure on Renga
When it was folded around to Martin Jacobson in the small blind, he plopped in a pile of black 100,000 chips. Knowing Renga would need a premium hand to call, Jacobson watched as the Latvian mucked slowly. — SY
4.17pm: Getting a walk
Martin Jacobson just enjoyed a walk in the big blind. He’s enjoyed several of those in the past few days, perhaps testament to the regard the other players hold him in. — SY
4.15pm: Jacobson takes a small one from Cohen
Martin Jacobson opened for 210,000 from the hijack and was called by Lucien Cohen in the big blind. The board was checked down to the 104Q97 river which Jacobson bet for 300,000. Cohen passed.
Alex Wice took the next hand with a min raise to 200,000. — RD
4.12pm: Wice retakes lead by folding
Alex Wice is back into the chip lead after Lucien Cohen gave around 1,200,000 to Martin Jacobson.
Cohen raised to 260,000 from early position and Jacobson was the only caller to a 295 flop. Cohen gave up the initiative by checking to face a 300,000 bet. Call. The turn came 4 and Cohen check-called a 750,000 bet. The river came A and Cohen checked for a third time.
Jacobson had no intention of slowing down and fired 2,020,000 chips into the pot. Cohen decided that he might actually be behind by now and folded to drop to around 5.9 million whereas Jacobson continued his recovery and is up into second spot with 6.8 million. — MC
4.10pm: A good time to re-steal?
It was folded around to Julien Claudepierre on the button and he made it 210,000. Martin Jacobson was in the small blind and re-raised to 550,000. Why was this a good time to re-steal (if indeed he was thieving)? Kaspars Renga, the tightest man at the table, was sitting patiently in the big blind. He folded, as did Claudepierre. — SY
4.06pm: Jacobson’s pair
Alex Wice, wearing the same purple woolly hat that he’s had on all week, made it 200,000 and Martin Jacobson called from the big blind. The flop was 5Q6 and Jacobson check-called Wice’s 230,000 bet. That slowed them both down to a check on the 2 turn and the 3 river.
Wice had A9, but Jacobson held 67 and the pair sixes was good for the pot. —SY
4.03pm: Hallaert can’t stand the heat
Kenny Hallaert completed the big blind when the action was folded around to him in the small blind. Lucien Cohen checked his option to go to the 6JK flop. Hallaert led for 130,000 but folded when the Frenchman raised to 300,000. — MC
3.59pm: Hallaert still smiling
Kenny Hallaert seems to be an affable type. Despite this final table not exactly going as he intended – he’s sat on 2.2 million – he’s still smiling. The action folded to Alex Wice in the small blind and he set Hallaert all-in, not for the first time. Hallaert passed and was flashed an ace by Wice.
“Always an ace,” said Hallaert.
“What was that?” asked Wice, removing one ear of his headphones.
“You always have an ace,” repeated Hallaert still smiling. He’s got a good attitude, this Hallaert. — RD
3.55pm: Chips at the start of level 29
Lucien Cohen, France, 7,105,000
Alex Wice, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 6,997,000
Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, 5,500,000
Julien Claudepierre, France, 3,478,000
Kenny Hallaert, Belgium, 2,214,000
Kaspars Renga, Latvia, 1,460,000
3.50pm: Play restarts
Players are back and about to resume play. Blinds in level 29 will be 50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante. So long green chips.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Deauville (in order of no one really knows):Simon Young (12 kilograms), Stephen Bartley (about a foot and a half), Rick Dacey (three, sometimes two) and Marc Convey (hasn’t seen one for years).
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.
12.45pm: Double for rock-ish Renga
When Kaspars Renga raises the whole world should tremble. He’s been incredibly tight and combined with being short stacked you know he’s going to be packing something serious. Maybe Alex Wice thought he could abuse that tightness, he did make some significant folds yesterday when he was already heavily invested. This was not going to be the same though.
Renga opened to 166,000 from the cut-off, which was around a third of his stack. Wice three-bet to 330,000 from the button forcing Kenny Hallaert and Lucien Cohen out of the hand in the blinds. Renga moved all-in and Wice made the call.
Renga: AA
Wice: QJ
The 66K4Q board held up for Renga to double up to 900,000. — RD
12.35pm: All Wice for now
Every pot has been won by Alex Wice so far. He got a walk in the big blind and the next hand he raised to 130,000 from the small blind. Kenny Hallaert made the call from the big blind to see the K2Q flop. Wice led for 130,000 and Hallaert called to go to the 7 turn. Wice check-called a 230,000 bet before he checked to face a 320,000 bet on the 3 river. He took longer this time but called again. “Ace-high”, said the Belgian. No good here, though, as Wice tabled QJ and took the pot. — MC
12.28pm: Side bet
For a small fee, members of Team PokerStars Blog have written down their predicted order of eliminations. Have you? Do it. Do it. Bacardi Cola. Do it.* — RD
* If you haven’t watched the remake of Starsky and Hutch that last part will make no sense to you
12.27pm: Housekeeping
We have eight minutes remaining in level 26 before the blinds move up. The next player to bust will win €66,680. You can check on all the payouts so far, and also on the latest chip counts.
12.26pm: Video
Settle back and enjoy the video introduction to the day. It’s got moving pictures and everything…
12.25pm: Final begins
After all the usual delays, we’re under way. Here is the pic of our intrepid players. — SY
12.15pm: Waiting
We’re still waiting for the formalities and photos to be completed. The final eight players will then be introduced and we’ll begin. Don’t count on that happening in the next ten minutes. — SY
11.55am: Final table day
A long month comes to a close in northern France for poker players today. After two weeks in the Bahamas for the highly successful PokerStars Caribbean Adventure across the ocean lay waiting the small town of Deauville, Normandy, a town usually asleep at this time of year, but one that opens its doors for the European Poker Tour each year at the ornate Casino Barriere Deauville.
This year a record field of 891 walked through that door, stopping to join several queues to collect various coloured wrist bands, joined another one to get into the tournament room, settled on a Crudite sandwich for breakfast and lunch, and then took a seat. Back on day one they were all competing for a first prize of €880,000. Now 891 has become eight and one of them will be crowned the latest EPT champion by the end of the day.
Leading the final table into Day 6 is Sweden’s Martin Jacobson. He snatched the lead as Day 5 closed yesterday, bagging up 7,280,000 to lead previous leader Alex Wice in second place with 6,248,000. The pair lead the remainder of the field by some way and will sit alongside each other today:
Seat 1 – Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, 7,280,000
Seat 2 – Alex Wice, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 6,248,000
Seat 3 – Kenny Hallaert, Belgium, 3,599,000
Seat 4 – Julien Claudepierre, France, 3,244,000
Seat 5 – Lucien Cohen, France, 3,085,000
Seat 6 – Anthony Hnatow, France, 1,644,000
Seat 7 – Ruslan Prydryk, Ukraine, 1,154,000
Seat 8 – Kaspars Renga, Latvia, 470,000
But let’s be cautious. Before you start putting money on Jacobson to go one better than his second place at Vilamoura earlier this season; or for Wice to nail down the form that this week has kept him around the top of the chip counts, there’s still the chance of an upset. Anthony Hnatow showed urgency in his play yesterday, combining effectively with perfect timing. He will pose a threat, as will the plucky Kenny Hallaert.
Then there’s always the underdog. Kaspars Renga will be in no hurry to leave, while the local heros Lucien Cohen and Julien Claudepierre will not go down without a fight.
Yep, we guarantee even more clichés like that as the day progresses. You can suggest your own in the comments box below.
The stage is set (a stage has actually been set up overnight) for a thrilling finale to EPT Deauville. The players are arriving, as are the spectators who will fill the bank of seating overlooking the final table. Play will be under way shortly. — SB
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Deauville (in order of money won on slot machines last night, with an initial stake of €5):Simon Young (€13.50 on the ‘Fruits and Jewels’ machine), Stephen Bartley (-€1 having decided to save the other €4 on the ‘something to do with pirates’ machine), honourary blogger Alan Rogers from the video team (-€5, ’I’ve no idea what I’m doing’), Rick Dacey (-€15 having reloaded twice on the ‘Guns n’ Vodka machine) and Marc Convey (-€40, elsewhere, playing online)
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.
3.40pm: Continued action
For continued action from the EPT Deauville final table, go to the level 29 updates.
3.36pm: Break
That’s the end of the level. We’re on a 15-minute break. Here are the chips right now…
Lucien Cohen, France, 7,105,000
Alex Wice, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 6,997,000
Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, 5,500,000
Julien Claudepierre, France, 3,478,000
Kenny Hallaert, Belgium, 2,214,000
Kaspars Renga, Latvia, 1,460,000
3.35pm: Big double for Jacobson, bad news for the rest
Martin Jacobson has just doubled up in spectacular fashion against Julien Claudepierre. The Frenchman had opened to 230,000 from the small blind and Jacobson had called on the big blind.
The flop was A3Q and it was of enough interest for Claudepierre to c-bet 240,000 into and for Jacobson to peel another card.
Both players checked the 10 turn before Claudepierre led 420,000 into the A river. Jacobson waited, then pushed. It was another 1.455m to call, which he did before mucking to Jacobson’s Q9 flush. Jacobson is up to 5.5 million, Claudepierre down to 3.5 million. — RD
3.30pm: Course Cohen clobbers Wice
When Vince Lombardi, the legendary US football coach, said: “When you get in the end zone act like you’ve been there before,” he probably didn’t expect Lucien Cohen to pay any attention. Cohen just doubled up through Alex Wice prior to performing vulgar histrionics. Good players tend not to need to perform any classless celebrations. Get it quietly is the order of the day.
Cohen opened for 190,000 from under-the-gun and was raised by Wice to 540,000 when the action was folded to him on the small blind. Cohen called. The flop came 424. Wice bet 510,000 which Cohen called before Wice had even finished putting his chips in. The turn came 9. Wice moved two towers of black chips into the middle, worth 4,000,000. Cohen moved in immediately and Wice called, showing AQ. But Cohen could beat that, showing 99. The river came 7 and the chips were on their way to the Frenchman.
“Pas trop,” he yelled. “Pas trop.” He then dropped his plastic rat in front of Wice, who said nothing. Cohen was still yelling well into the next hand. He’s up to more than 7,000,000. – SB
3.25pm: News in brief
1) Julien Claudepierre opens under-the-gun for 170,000 and Lucien Cohen defends his big blind. A simple 270,000 c-bet on the A107 flop was enough to win the pot.
2) Kenny Hallaert opens the button to 170,000 and takes the pot.
3) Martin Jacobson gets a walk. He’s managed to chip up to around 3 million this level, recovering from the 2 million he had after that had against Alex Wice.
4) Julien Claudepierre opened the button and took the pot. — RD
3.20pm: Royal flush for Renga
Kaspars Renga likes safe bets. We’ve witnessed him blind away to ten big blinds and get it in with aces and now we’ve witnessed him wait until he’s hit a royal flush before betting at the pot. Lucien Cohen raised to 180,000 from the hijack and Renga called from the small blind. Both players checked the flop and turn and by the river the board read KAKQ9. Renga led for 220,000 and Cohen opened folded 88. Renga then stood up and placed his J10 over the K and 9 to show that he had turned a royal flush. You can never be too safe. — MC
3.10pm: Hallaert all-in
More raise and take, including for Alex Wice who moves around like Dervish, a constant graceful flow of movement, collecting and throwing out chips. Poker-yoga. Then Martin Jacobson opened a pot for 160,000 from under-the-gun. The action reached Kenny Hallaert on the button who moved all-in for 1,749.000. Back with Jacobson who removed his headphones and thought for a minute. Then he folded. — SB
3.05pm: Who you calling a rat?
Lucien Cohen has his rat out again. It’s getting old really quickly.
Cohen had opened to 180,000 and Martin Jacobson had moved all-in for 2.555 million from the big blind. Okay, everyone needs a little time to think over a decision like this but how much brain grinding are you really doing by pulling out a plastic rat and moving it around the table?
“Parlez francais?” Cohen asked Jacobson. “What’s your name in English? Rat?”
I’m not sure if rat is slang for a bluffer on the French poker scene or not but Cohen, after having his moment showboating to the partisan crowd, folded his hand using the plastic rat’s nose to muck the cards. Jacobson is up to 2.805 million now.— RD
3pm: Wice making his intentions clear
If Kenny Hallaert thought he had a great seat by being to the left of chip leader, Alex Wice, he can think again. Wice made his intentions perfectly clear by putting him all-in for around two million chips when the action folded to him in the small blind. Hallaert gave a “that’s the way it’s going to be, is it?” smile before folding.
Wice did do him the decency of showing him AJ, though. — MC
2.55pm: Call, check, bet, call, splat
Lucien Cohen just ran splat into Julien Claudepierre. Cohen completed from the small blind only for Claudepierre to raise from the big blind, making it 230,000 to play. Cohen called and saw a flop of 84A. Both players checked for a 3 turn card. At this point Cohen fired out 300,000 which Claudepierre called for a 5 turn card. Another check from Cohen, who watched Caludepierre bet 550,000. Cohen called but didn’t show. Claudepierre had batted him away with AA. Cohen down to 4,000,000. Claudepierre up to around 6,000,000. — SB
2.45pm: Renga’s reverse rollercoaster
Kaspars Renga is riding a reverse rollercoaster at the moment; swift ascents followed by slow, casual declines. He’s just doubled up through Julien Claudepierre with AA to the Frenchman’s A9. The JQ310 turn brought some outs and a few chops for Claudepierre but the 2 river bricked. Regna is up to 1.5 million while Claudpierre drops to around 5 million. — RD
2.40pm: Turbo hand
Alex Wice and Lucien Cohen just played out a turbo hand. Wice raised to 160,000 from the button and Cohen peeled from the big blind to see the 4J3 flop. Cohen checked and Wice quickly bet 200,000. Call. The turn came A and the speed of decisions didn’t slow down as Cohen check-called a 350,000 bet. The river fell K and Wice’s 600,000 bet was called. Wice slammed down J10 like it was the nuts but Cohen tabled A6 for the pot and went on to celebrate loudly with his railing supporters. — MC
2.30pm: Claudepierre takes pot from Cohen
A pot develops between Julien Claudepierre and Lucien Cohen. Claudepierre opened for 180,000 under-the-gun before the action was folded to Cohen in the big blind. He called for a flop of Q5K.
Cohen checked to Claudepierre who bet 240,000. Cohen then raised to 540,000, which Claudepierre called for a A turn card. Both checked that for a 6 river which was also checked. Cohen turned over Q10 while Claudepierre took the pot showing K8. — SB
2.25pm: Wice cracks aces to bust Anthony Hnatow in 7th place (€110,000)
Alex Wice is up to 12 million after a heart breaking, ace-cracking river. On the first hand back after the break Anthony Hnatow opened to 180,000 and Wice, more than happy to assume the big stack role, three-bet to 600,000. The action folded back around to Hnatow who waited a few heartbeats before moving all-in for 1.6 million total. Wice snap called, showing he’s not going to be a player to raise-fold in this spot.
Hnatow: AA
Wice: 86
This was Hnatow’s chance to get back into this final table. The Frenchman had been playing a lot more snug than in the last few days, not a surprise given the big money pressure. The flop conspired against him; 6Q2. Wice had both backdoor and pair draws. The 4 turn pushed Hnatow to his feet. It was not a good card for him. The 2 was even worse. Wice held the flush, took the 3.2 million pot and stretched his consummate lead even further ahead. This is fast turning into a blood bath. They like their meat rare in France. — RD
2.23pm: Bust out!
There’s been an elimination on the first hand back. Details to come, but if you are a supporter of Anthony Hnatow, look away now. — SY
2.20pm: Players back, state of play
The players are returning to their seats to face new blinds of 40,000-80,000 and a 5,000 ante. Here are the current chip stacks. — SY
Alex Wice, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 10,558,000
Julien Claudepierre, France, 5,048,000
Lucien Cohen, France, 4,390,000
Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, 2,215,000
Kenny Hallaert, Belgium, 2,194,000
Anthony Hnatow, France, 1,354,000
Kaspars Renga, Latvia, 865,000
1.54pm: Level ends
That’s the end of level 27. We’re now on a 15-minute break. — SY
1.50pm: Renga survives as Wice storms into the chip lead
Ladies and gentlemen, we have just witnessed one of those tournament-changing pots. There was hush, tension and an annoying bloody Frenchman pushing me in the back who doesn’t realise how close he came to having my elbow smashed into his face.
The action started with an under-the-gun raise to 130,000 from Martin Jacobson which was quickly shoved on by Kaspars Renga for 600,000, also in early position. Alex Wice, just one seat along, made the call. The action folded around to Jacobson who slowly and methodically, as he always acts, made the call. The pot was already 1.8 million.
The 710J flop was checked by both players but the 8 turn was a huge card bringing serious straight and flush draws. Still, it was good enough for Jacobson to fire one million. Wice made the call. This was getting serious. The pot was now 3.8 million. Silence, bar some chattering in the cheap seats, had settled on the table and when the K river card was dealt Jacobson pushed out a huge 2 million stack.
“How much more are you playing?” asked Wice. Tournament director Thomas Kremser intimated that it was a little over two million more. Wice set him in. At once, Jacobson tipped his head back in frustration and Renga – yes, we’d almost forgotten about him, too – put his head in hands assuming that he must be out. Jacobson passed pocket tens for a flopped set that he knew must now be behind.
Wice: AQ
Renga: AQ
Renga, a very tight player as we may have mentioned, was thrilled to chop the pot. He’s now on 900,000. More importantly Jacobson has dropped to 2 million while Wice leaps to 9 million (full chip counts to come). — RD
1.35pm: Cohen corners Jacobson
Martin Jacobson opened for 130,000 in early position which Lucien Cohen called in the small blind. The flop came K7A which Cohen checked. Jacobson made it another 130,000 which Cohen called. On the Q turn Cohen was check-calling again, 250,000 from Jacobson this time. But then on the 6 river, when Cohen checked Jacobson did the same. The Swede was reluctant to show, saying he had pocket fours. For some reason Cohen wanted to see them before showing his own 56 for the flush. — SB
1.30pm: A turn of events
When the 7 appeared on the turn it seemed like a blank card, but not so to Lucien Cohen. The hand started with a Julien Claudepierre raise to 130,000 from second position and a quick call from Cohen in the big blind. The flop came 510K and Cohen checked quickly to face a 180,000 bet. Call. Cohen checked upon seeing the turn and faced a 460,000 bet this time. The increase in bet size stalled him for once and he began fiddling with his chips and rubbing his face. It was too much for him to call and he let his hand go. — MC
1.25pm: Claudepierre and Jacobson tangle
Julien Claudepierre has just taken 460,000 off Martin Jacobson in a battle of the blinds. Anthony Hnatow passed his button (another surprising example of Hantow’s change of pace today) allowing Claudepierre to open the pot with a small blind raise to 170,000. Jacobson came back over from the big blind with a three-bet to 460,000 putting Claudepierre to the test.
The Frenchman reached into his chips and – with a slight shake to his hand perhaps? – four-bet to 1,060,000. Jacobson sat studying the hand long enough for Lucien Cohen to get out of his chair to have a protracted Q&A session with the rail, and Alex Wice to wander away from the table and find himself a can of RedBull. — RD
1.20pm: Wice scoops the blinds
Alex Wice opened to 130,000 from the hijack and took the pot unopposed. Anthony Hantow folded in the big blind. The young Frenchman’s play has been uncharacteristically quiet. Maybe he’s had complete rags or maybe the big money has tightened up his play. — RD
1.15pm: Raise and take
Martin Jacobson raised and took on the button before Anthony Hnatow did the same in early position. Jacobson and Kenny Hallaert saw a flop of 89J on the next hand, one that Jacobson won with a bet of 145,000. Wice took the next hand with a raise and take from the cut-off. — SB
1.10pm: Time to hear from Jacobson
Chip leader Martin Jacobson has played his first real hand of note and it didn’t go too well. Lucien Cohen opened the pot with a 140,000 raise from early position only for the Swede to three-bet him to 380,000 from the small blind. Cohen called quickly to the 527 flop where he faced a 410,000 c-bet from Jacobson. Cohen, who’s not one to dwell, raised it up to 900,000 and took the pot as Jacobson folded. — MC
1.05pm: Jacobson and Hallaert
Martin Jacobson and Kenny Hallaert, who are two of the names that you expect to have a good chance to claim today’s title, have just tangled for the first time. Jacobson had opened from the hijack for 130,000, having done so the previous hand and successfully swiped the blinds, but was three-bet to 370,000 by Hallaert in the small blind. Jacobson leant forward to survey the chip castle in front of Hallaert. Either it was too big or too small for what he was thinking and he passed his hand. One up to Hallaert in this early skirmish.
Wice and Jacobson are still out in front. — RD
12.58pm: Ruslan Prydryk eliminated in 8th for €66,800
Ruslan Prydryk is the first player to be eliminated, busting in eighth place earning €66,800. Following a raise of 130,000 by Julien Claudepierre, Ruslan moved all-in for around a million. The action was folded through the blinds back to Claudepierre who announced “call”.
Claudepierre AQ
Prydryk 66
The board ran A4233 to send the Ukrainian to the rail. — SB
12.55pm: First out
We have our first elimination. Ruslan Prydryk is out – details to come. — SY
12.50pm: Hallaert gives up to Cohen
Kenny Hallaert isn’t the kind of player to throw away chips unnecessarily. After firing a c-bet into Lucien Cohen, who has proved to be fairly trappy from what I’ve seen, he gave up on a 6925 board.
Hallaert had raised from the cut-off to 135,000 and had been called by Cohen. His 160,000 flop bet was called before he check-folded to a 260,000 bet on the turn. Cohen raked in the pot to cries of “Allez!”— RD
12.45pm: Double for rock-ish Renga
When Kaspars Renga raises the whole world should tremble. He’s been incredibly tight and combined with being short stacked you know he’s going to be packing something serious. Maybe Alex Wice thought he could abuse that tightness, he did make some significant folds yesterday when he was already heavily invested. This was not going to be the same though.
Renga opened to 166,000 from the cut-off, which was around a third of his stack. Wice three-bet to 330,000 from the button forcing Kenny Hallaert and Lucien Cohen out of the hand in the blinds. Renga moved all-in and Wice made the call.
Renga: AA
Wice: QJ
The 66K4Q board held up for Renga to double up to 900,000. — RD
12.35pm: All Wice for now
Every pot has been won by Alex Wice so far. He got a walk in the big blind and the next hand he raised to 130,000 from the small blind. Kenny Hallaert made the call from the big blind to see the K2Q flop. Wice led for 130,000 and Hallaert called to go to the 7 turn. Wice check-called a 230,000 bet before he checked to face a 320,000 bet on the 3 river. He took longer this time but called again. “Ace-high”, said the Belgian. No good here, though, as Wice tabled QJ and took the pot. — MC
12.28pm: Side bet
For a small fee, members of Team PokerStars Blog have written down their predicted order of eliminations. Have you? Do it. Do it. Bacardi Cola. Do it.* — RD
* If you haven’t watched the remake of Starsky and Hutch that last part will make no sense to you
12.27pm: Housekeeping
We have eight minutes remaining in level 26 before the blinds move up. The next player to bust will win €66,680. You can check on all the payouts so far, and also on the latest chip counts.
12.26pm: Video
Settle back and enjoy the video introduction to the day. It’s got moving pictures and everything…
12.25pm: Final begins
After all the usual delays, we’re under way. Here is the pic of our intrepid players. — SY
12.15pm: Waiting
We’re still waiting for the formalities and photos to be completed. The final eight players will then be introduced and we’ll begin. Don’t count on that happening in the next ten minutes. — SY
11.55am: Final table day
A long month comes to a close in northern France for poker players today. After two weeks in the Bahamas for the highly successful PokerStars Caribbean Adventure across the ocean lay waiting the small town of Deauville, Normandy, a town usually asleep at this time of year, but one that opens its doors for the European Poker Tour each year at the ornate Casino Barriere Deauville.
This year a record field of 891 walked through that door, stopping to join several queues to collect various coloured wrist bands, joined another one to get into the tournament room, settled on a Crudite sandwich for breakfast and lunch, and then took a seat. Back on day one they were all competing for a first prize of €880,000. Now 891 has become eight and one of them will be crowned the latest EPT champion by the end of the day.
Leading the final table into Day 6 is Sweden’s Martin Jacobson. He snatched the lead as Day 5 closed yesterday, bagging up 7,280,000 to lead previous leader Alex Wice in second place with 6,248,000. The pair lead the remainder of the field by some way and will sit alongside each other today:
Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, 7,280,000
Alex Wice, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 6,248,000
Kenny Hallaert, Belgium, 3,599,000
Julien Claudepierre, France, 3,244,000
Lucien Cohen, France, 3,085,000
Anthony Hnatow, France, 1,644,000
Ruslan Prydryk, Ukraine, 1,154,000
Kaspars Renga, Latvia, 470,000
But let’s be cautious. Before you start putting money on Jacobson to go one better than his second place at Vilamoura earlier this season; or for Wice to nail down the form that this week has kept him around the top of the chip counts, there’s still the chance of an upset. Anthony Hnatow showed urgency in his play yesterday, combining effectively with perfect timing. He will pose a threat, as will the plucky Kenny Hallaert.
Then there’s always the underdog. Kaspars Renga will be in no hurry to leave, while the local heros Lucien Cohen and Julien Claudepierre will not go down without a fight.
Yep, we guarantee even more clichés like that as the day progresses. You can suggest your own in the comments box below.
The stage is set (a stage has actually been set up overnight) for a thrilling finale to EPT Deauville. The players are arriving, as are the spectators who will fill the bank of seating overlooking the final table. Play will be under way shortly. — SB
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Deauville (in order of money won on slot machines last night, with an initial stake of €5):Simon Young (€13.50 on the ‘Fruits and Jewels’ machine), Stephen Bartley (-€1 having decided to save the other €4 on the ‘something to do with pirates’ machine), honourary blogger Alan Rogers from the video team (-€5, ’I’ve no idea what I’m doing’), Rick Dacey (-€15 having reloaded twice on the ‘Guns n’ Vodka machine) and Marc Convey (-€40, elsewhere, playing online)
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.
A field of 891 players arrived in Deauville last Monday and now, six days later, just eight of them remain. At stake today is a first prize of €880,000 and an EPT title that comes with a seat to the season 7 Grand Final. So who are the last eight? We’re glad you asked…
Seat 1: Anthony Hnatow, 22, Ozoir-La-Ferriere, France – 1,644,000 chips
Anthony is a student in Computer Engineering who’s been playing Texas hold’em poker for three years, preferring to perfect this variation before trying others. He prefers playing cash games, mainly online under the nickname “nartoof”, and he recently began playing in Paris cardrooms.
Since the French online gaming market was regulated in June 2010, Anthony has started playing more tournaments because, he explains, the fields on French websites are a bit easier to navigate. He played his first live tournament last December during the Forges-Les-Eaux stop of the PokerStars France Poker Series. That’s when he decided he would play EPT Deauville. If Hnatow wins today, he plans to buy a house and turn it into a night-club, complete with entry fee and all.
Seat 2: Julien Claudepierre, 24, France – 3,244 chips
Claudepierre discovered poker in 2006, watching the movie Rounders. He started by playing micro-stakes cash-games online and then moved up in stakes. He is now a regular at the €5/€10 tables under the username “Garrincho”. He mainly plays no-limit hold’em but recently began playing pot-limit Omaha.
After completing his engineering studies 18 months ago, Claudepierre decided to make the leap towards professional poker. His best results to date are victory in an online €100,000 guaranteed tournament, and an 11th place finish at the Spanish Poker Tour’s final stop in 2010.
During Day 5 of EPT Deauville, Claudepierre knocked out his good friend Fabrice Soulier. Apart from poker, Claudepierre loves football, especially Zinedine Zidane and the French team ‘AS Nancy’.
Seat 3: Martin Jacobson, 25, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier – 7,280,000 chips
PokerStars qualifier Jacobson goes into the final as chip leader today. He already has big results to his name, including his most recent and biggest cash when he finished runner-up at EPT Vilamoura in Portugal last September, earning €297,985.
Other deep runs include third place at EPT Budapest in Season 5 for €197,904, runner-up at WPT Venice last year for €238,840 and a fourth place finish in a World Series $1,500 event last summer for $183,345. His live tournament winnings now amount to more than $1.3 million.
Jacobson won his seat to Deauville via the EPT Steps satellites on New Year’s Day.
Seat 4: Ruslan Prydryk, 38, Lugansk , Ukraine – 1,154 chips
Prydryk has been playing EPTs for several years, first coming to people’s notice when he reached the final of EPT Warsaw in Season 6, where he finished fifth, earning $105,760 – his biggest career cash.
He has also enjoyed some good EPT finishes including a 48th place at EPT Prague just before Christmas, and 91st place at EPT Berlin last season. Prydryk has also won a local event in Yalta, Ukraine, last May, earning €67,000.
Prydryk, a former lawyer, has been playing poker for more than four years now and considers himself a pro. He is being supported in France by his wife Oksana while their 13-year-old daughter Irisa is at home. Prydryk’s biggest poker success was winning the 2009 Gary Bowman Cup, becoming the poker champion of Ukraine. Outside of poker, he enjoys watching and playing football.
Seat 5 : Kaspars Renga, 44, Riga, Latvia – 470,000 chips
Renga doesn’t describe himself as a professional player. He plays a lot but his day job is running a hunting magazine. This is Renga’s fourth EPT cash from only seven tries. The 44-year-old has already made the money twice in Barcelona (Season 6 and 7) and in Prague just a month ago.
In addition Renga has a string of final tables and deep runs in smaller tournaments in Lithuania, Estonia and his native Latvia. His most lucrative cash before now was runner-up in a €1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha side event (“my favorite game”, he says) during EPT Berlin, worth €29,700.
Renga is being supported by his wife and two children who are following his progress from home.
Seat 6: Alex Wice, 22, Toronto, Canada – PokerStars qualifier – 6,248 chips
Wice has been playing poker with friends since before he went to high school and carried on playing part-time while at Waterloo University studying Mathematics. Wice dropped out to play full-time in August 2008, after winning the PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up for $135,000.
Wice is a regular online high stakes tournament player and has also been playing live for the past two years. He cashed at EPT London in season six but his big breakthrough in live events came at last summer’s World Series where he came third for $102,314 in the $2,500 World Championship Mixed Events 8 game.
His focus, since he turned pro, has been on improving his game, spending a lot of time researching and analysing hands on his computer. He credits a lot of his success with deep stack tournament play friends who have been helping him over the past few months.
Seat 7: Kenny “SpaceyFCB” Hallaert, 29, Namur, Belgium – 3,599 chips
Hallaert is a semi-professional player who lives in Namur, and runs tournaments at the local casino. He also does marketing for the casino, catering for non-French speakers. Hallaert has played numerous European Poker tour events, qualifying for most of them.
His biggest live result came in Holland, where he finished sixth at the Master Classics in Amsterdam, in 2009, earning €86,184. Then last season he came 37th at the EPT Grand Final, earning €35,000. He also won the PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up in January 2009 and was top of the PokerStars TLB in the same month.
He is now wants to become the first ever Belgian EPT champion.
Seat 8: Lucien Cohen, 47, Paris, France – 3,085,000 chips
Lucien Cohen is an amateur player who predominantly enjoys playing Pot Limit Omaha cash games. Cohen has been playing poker for 20 years having started, like many in France, with five card draw.
Since this event began, Lucien has been repeatedly seen showing table mates and spectators a plastic rat which he was often “kissed” while all-in. This lucky charm is actually the official mascot of the pest control company Cohen owns in Paris.
Cohen is being supported in Deauville by his wife, younger sister and various friends. He’s very excited about playing an EPT final table and plans to play more live tournaments in the future.
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.
At the end of one of the European Poker Tour’s quickest days, just eight finalists remain in the EPT Deauville Main event, held in the regal Salles des Ambassadeurs at Casino Barriere. It took a little less than four levels to turn three tables into one today, and as players raced the sunset to a dusk finish, it’s Martin Jacobson who takes with him the chip lead into the final, bagging up 7,280,000 at the close.
Day 5 was something of an operatic overture to accompany this entire week in northern France. Packed into a short burst of poker were tournament vignettes, snippets reminding us of earlier stages – the lethargy of day one, the tension of money jumps of Day 3 and the sudden rush of Day 4 that can take hold and wipe out half a table within minutes.
Added to that was an intimate atmosphere; a small corner of the tournament room fenced off to provide an unlikely playing space. In scenes harking back to EPTs staged four seasons ago, the rail was only inches away from the players, while spectators and media alike looked for any nook or cranny from where it was safe to watch.
What they would see was a quick-fire process of assassination, names we’d grown familiar with this last week, departing one after the other.
Emile Petit was the first to depart in 24th place although not until more than an hour of play. If anyone was forecasting a long day they would be mistaken, with four players, Riccardo Giacalone, Zimnan Ziyard, Fabrice Soulier and Andrzej Nowak-Rogozinski chasing each other to the rail within five minutes, followed shortly after by Sebastien Bidinger, taking play to two tables.
At the heart of the destruction were the likes of Jacobson and Alex Wice, obvious talents who knew when to strike and did so with conviction when the opportunity arose. They will be most feared when play restarts tomorrow, although there were flashes of ability from others today.
Frenchman Anthony Hnatow started today obsessed with increasing his stack, a tactic that if deployed tomorrow will likely take him into title contention. It was also a good day for Julien Claudepierre, whose solid play leaves him poised for his best ever tournament result. Then there is Kaspars Renga, the short stack in the closing stages, who used the age old technique of hanging on for dear life to reach the final table. Whatever works.
Gradually two tables became one. Kevin Keosomphet departed in 16th, then Fabian Holling and the last American William Johnson. When Laurent Polito was sent to the rail in ninth by Jacobson the final table was in place. Here’s how it will look:
Seat 1. Anthony Hnatow – 1,644,000
Seat 2. Julien Claudepierre – 3,244,000
Seat 3. Martin Jacobson – 7,280,000
Seat 4. Ruslan Prydryk – 1,154,000
Seat 5. Kaspars Renga – 470,000
Seat 6. Alex Wice – 6,248,000
Seat 7. Kenny Hallaert – 3,599,000
Seat 8. Lucien Cohen – 3,085,000
To find the detail of every elimination today, as well as the double-ups, the bits in between, and details of the latest PokerStars Blog readership news from Fiji, click on the links below. You’ll also find the list of those eliminated on the official prizepool and payouts page.
Level 23 cont.,24 & 25 updates
Level 26 updates
Thanks to our photographer Neil Stoddart for his work today. French gaming law may be tough, but so too is his legal team that he pays to scours the planet for unauthorised use of his copyrighted shots. Thanks also to our foreign blogging friends, working in Dutch, German and French. We put Dutch first because he bought us a drink last night. The door is still open for Germany and France.
That was Day 5 then. We’ll be back with the Main Event final table tomorrow starting at 12 noon. Will Jacobson win this one wire-to-wire, beating his previous best of second place at EPT Vilamoura earlier this season? Or will the likes of the Latvian Renga overturn a serious chip deficit to pull off what would be the surprise of the century. Find out right here tomorrow.
See you then.
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.
6.10pm: Jacobson scoops huge pot, Polito busts in 9th
Martin Jacobson will be the chip leader heading into tomorrow as he busted Laurent Polito in a pot worth around six million. He raised to 110,000 from the button and called when Polito three-bet to 310,000 from the big blind. The flop was 87J and Polito checked to Jacobson who bet 300,000. Now Polito moved all-in for 2.7 million! Jacobson called in a flash and tabled 77 for bottom set. Polito cried out loud and tabled QQ. The A turn and J river changed nothing and our final table of eight is set.
The happiest player in the room is Kaspars Renga who had been folding every hand in an attempt to make this prestigious final table. He cheered to his supporters on the rail and pumped his fist. — MC
6.05pm: All quiet
It’s all raise and takes pre-flop right now with most players taking it in turn to pinch the blinds and antes. Except Kaspars Renga, who appears to be sitting tight. — SY
5.50pm: Jacobson pressed in a Wice-like grip
Martin Jacobson opened from middle position to 120,000 and was called by Alex Wice in the small blind. Wice led for 200,000 into the 2610 flop and Jacobson slowly made the call.
The 2 turn card was dealt. As Wice reached deep into his chip stack Jacobson was literally licking his chips, a sign of nervousness perhaps? Wice bet 610,000 and Jacobson made the call. The river completed the flush draw with the 5 and Wice led out again, this time for a huge 1.1 million.
Jacobson passed and the gap between first and second stretched out again with the Swede falling to around 360,000, Wice moving up over 6 million. — RD
5.45pm: First all-in of nine handed play
Ruslan Prydryk was the first player to risk bubbling the final table after he three-bet all-in for over 900,000 after an opening raise from Julien Claudepierre. It was a good spot to shove as Claudepierre was raising into the big blind of the short stacked Kaspars Renga and so it proved as Claudepierre folded. — MC
5.38pm: Renga v the bubble
Kaspars Renga is the shortest stack at this table, his 600,000 is around two thirds of the next smallest stack. He’s been playing pretty tight and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. The knock-on effect is that the other players don’t really want to bust before he does. Not only is there the fact that he should be all-in before anyone else and that the next bust takes us to the final table, but that there’s a €16,800 pay jump. Ninth place pays €50,000, eighth place €66,800.
He might be able to squeak up another pay spot but if he doesn’t get his chips in soon his chances of going any further than that will be all but dead.
Laurent Polito has taken the blinds with a raise and Lucien Cohen has won a small pot as well. — RD
5.30pm: Tentative stuff
No-one wants to leave as the final table bubble boy, a fate that befell Team PokerStars Pro ElkY here last year. As a result things on this last table are a little slow. That said, it’s cracking poker but without the flops.
Ruslan Prydrk raised to 130,000 then folded when Laurent Polito made it 300,000. Next hand it was folded around to Alex Wice in the small blind who raised to 130,000, only to fold when Kenny Hallaert re-raised to 280,000 from the big blind. — SY
5.22pm: Hnatow loses a chunk
Anthony Hnatow has handed over around a third of his stack to Martin Jacobson after he barrelled all the way to the river. He raised from the cut-off and Hnatow defended from the big blind to see the 1033 flop. Hnatow bet 90,000 here, 250,000 on the K turn and 580,000 on the 5 river. Jacobson check-called all the way. Hnatow cringed when his river bet was called as he only had 76, losing out to Jacobson’s K9. He dropped to just over two million whereas Jacobson is up to over four and-a-half million. — MC
5.15pm: The final nine
We have just one more player to bust before play stops for the day but the following draw will stay true for the final table tomorrow, obviously minus one player. Assuming he gets through this will be Martin Jacobson’s third EPT final table.
1. Anthony Hnatow – 3,000,000
2. Julien Claudepierre – 3,100,000
3. Martin Jacobson – 3,600,000
4. Ruslan Prydryk – 1,500,000
5. Laurent Polito – 3,000,000
6. Kaspars Renga – 650,000
7. Alex Wice – 5,290,000
8. Kenny Hallaert – 3,069,000
9. Lucien Cohen – 3,000,000
Looking at how most of the final nine have played over the last few days this could actually be a fantastic final table. Plenty of aggression, for sure. — RD
5.10pm: Down to one table!
Philip Jacobsen is out in tenth place for €50,000, meaning we are down to our last table. It will be the official final table once we lose one more player.
Julien Claudepierre had raised from the button and Jacobsen shoved for one million, getting an instant call. Not surprising, really…
Jabobsen: A7
Claudepierre: AA
Jacobsen was in all sorts of the trouble and the [10d]65 flop did nothing to help. But the K turn opened up the flush draw. Claudepierre sat still as a rock, as if knowing the last card would not be a club. It wasn’t, coming K instead and that ended Jacobsen’s day.
Claudepierre is up to three million. — SY
5.05pm: Franck Pepe pushed out in 11th (€37,500)
Franck Pepe fell just moments after Kevin Lambert. Pepe opened to 120,000 and Polito moved all-in from the button. Pepe, who started the hand with less than 500,000, called all-in.
Pepe: KJ
Polito: AK
The board ran out 610QQ3 and Polito raked in Pepe’s chips to leave just nine players. — RD
5pm: Time runs out for Swiss man, Lambert out in 12th (€37,500)
Kevin Lambert was eliminated in the first hand back from break and earns €37,500 for his 12th place finish. Martin Jacobson raised and called when Lambert shoved for 665,000.
Lambert: AJ
Jacobson: AK
The board ran 210377. Jacobson moved up to around the 3.6million chip mark and is clear in second position. — MC
4.55pm: Helloooooo Fiji
Just how much excitement can you handle in one day? Well, prepare yourself for our daily Helloooooo slot, featuring today the Pacific nation of Fiji. Our analytics tell us we have a single reader logging on from his/her home on the beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean*.
Fiji is made up of 332 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of circa 18,300 square kilometres. Our sole reader there comes from Suva and enjoyed four pages on PokerStars Blog lasting eight minutes and 14 seconds.
Helloooooo! – SY
*Pure guesswork about the ocean view.
4.51pm: Current chips by table
Kenny Hallaert – 3,069,000
Martin Jacobson – 2,900,000
Lucien Cohen – 3,000,000
Kevin Lambert – 670,000
Ruslan Prydryk – 1,500,000
Kaspars Renga – 650,000
Laurent Polito – 2,500,000
Julien Claude Pierre – 2,056,000
Philip Jacobsen – 1,188,000
Alex Wice – 5,290,000
Franck Pepe – 480,000
Anthony Hnatow – 3,000,000
4.50pm: Back from the break
Players are back in their seats and play resumes with blinds at 25,000-50,000, 5,000 ante. — SB
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Deauville (in order of ambivalance when asked “does anyone have any ideas for an ‘in order of’?”): Stephen Bartley (desperate, this will have to do), Simon Young (“you’ll think of something”), Rick Dacey (“I’m doing the chips”) and Marc Convey (“I’m hungry”)
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
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