| Buy-In: | $6,425 + $413 |
|---|---|
| Prize Pool: | $2,769,554 |
| Entrants: | 449 |
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.
After one of the hardest fought heads-up matches you could wish for on the European Poker Tour, Michael Tureniec, from Sweden, has won the EPT Copenhagen, earning a first prize of DKK 3,700,000 after defeating countryman Per Linde.
For Tureniec it puts to right his previous best on the EPT, when he finished second to Michael Martin back in London in season five. With events going on around the world the poker world crowns a new king almost every week. Whether it’s on the European Poker Tour or its Latin American or Asian equivalent, the aristocracy gets a new dose of fresh blood, players released into the world, their results forever examined for authenticity. In Tureniec’s case that’s a record now unlikely to be challenged.
It came after a heads-up duel lasting more than three and a half hours that was in stark contrast to the early stages of the day, a period that featured the elimination of three players in less than an hour.
Play started at 12 noon with perhaps one of the most unusual of starts. At the beginning of the week we’d forecast that today’s final wouldn’t be an ordinary affair. EPT Copenhagen has a knack for producing the unexpected and as promised today proved no different.
On the first hand of the final, Englishman John Eames doubled-up through Nikolas Liakas with pocket kings. Two hands later he sent Finnish hope Juha Helppi to the rail, again with pocket kings. Soon after, and with a sheepish look of embarrassment on this face, Eames dispatched Andrea Dalle Molle in seventh place. His winning hand? Pocket kings, natch.
By now Eames looked on his way to the title, having cancelled out Per Linde’s chip lead. But that seemed as far as Eames, supported both on the rail and from the bar by several British pros, could depend on his trusted cowboys, which with one later exception, would no longer be used in anger.
After Tureniec saw to it that Mudassar Khan would go no further than sixth place, he then turned to Eames, crushing his stack by doubling-up through the Brit, using the same pocket kings that had propelled Eames into the lead.
Nikolas Liakos went next. Having doubled through American Kevin Iacofano (Ice-o-fanno), Tureniec busted Liakos in fifth place, his pocket sevens winning the race against Liakos’s shove with ace-eight.
Iacofano was left struggling but scored a fortuitous double-up, his pocket fours making a set against Tureniec’s pocket sixes. Then, while Eames was doubling-up again with kings once more through Per Linde, the American crashed out in fourth place, calling Michael Tureniec’s all-in on the river, oblivious to Tureniec’s flopped trip tens. Iacofano was devastated, testimony if any were needed, that it’s not always the money that finalists have their eye on.
Three-handed the chips flew one way and another. Linde doubled through Eames, then Tureniec did the same, to cripple Eames what would be a pivotal hand; queens for Eames, ace-king for Tureniec. The king on the flop slashed Eames’s stack from several million to just several hundred thousand. Eames clawed his way back but he was out little more than half an hour later.
By now the final table had demonstrated what exciting live (and televised) poker is all about. Eames’s performance had demonstrated how a talented player can take advantage of the feckless nature of the poker Gods. Iacofano; how much an event like this and the prestige attached can mean so much to a player. Tureniec and Linde meanwhile, former chips leaders in the early stages of the event, were text book practitioners of a game played by many but mastered by few.
After three hours and 39 minutes of heads-up play, Tureniec finally put an end to an arduous week. Linde had fought admirably, twice doubling up to keep his chances alive. But this final duo was evenly matched. That Linde gave way did nothing to diminish his own remarkable performance. Tureniec finished second in an EPT before winning one. Look no further than Linde for a future candidate to do the same.
“I’m feeling very happy,” said an emotional Tureniec after collecting the trophy and the winner’s bracelet. "It’s been a good day. I’m glad I managed to win against these tough opponents. I’m very proud.
“It feels good to win in Copenhagen. It’s such a tough field here with a lot of Scandinavian players. My plan now is to first get a driver’s license, then get a nice car.”
It started fast, promised a daylight finish, but in the end settled down for a good old scrap to the finish. To read the details of the final table in full click through the links below, while the prize winners are all detailed on the official prize winners page.
Level 24 (cont.) & 25 updates
Level 26, 27 & 28 updates
Level 29 updates
What do we do now? Institutionalised, we now climb back into our box until the next time, reappearing half-way up a mountain at EPT Snowfest, next month. Until then we’ll sate our EPT appetites by reading the foreign blogs. Who knows, it may have been a completely different story in German, Dutch and Swedish.
Gloria Balding talks to the winner of EPT Copenhagen, Michael Tureniec…
That’s it then from EPT Copenhagen for another year. Thanks to Neil Stoddart for the photography this week. Thanks to you for following our live coverage.
See you in the Alps.
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.
8.35pm: Michael Tureniec wins EPT Copenhagen and DKK 3,700,000
It’s all over in the EPT Copenhagen Main Event. Having opened from the button for 375,000 Per Linde upped things to 600,000 before Tureniec shoved all-in. Linde snap called showing 7
7
to Tureniec’s A
J
.
The board ran 235J4 to hand Tureniec the title on the turn. Per Linde, despite more than one spirited comeback, settles for second place, earning DKK 2,450,000.
Congratulations to Michael Tureniec, the new EPT Copenhagen Champion. A full report of the final table will be posted shortly. — SB
8.25pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 10,350,000
Per Linde — 3,045,000
8.20pm: Tureniec extends his lead
On a flop of 61010 Michael Tureniec checked to Per Linde who bet 200,000. Tureniec called for a 3 turn. Again Tureniec check called the 550,000 bet from Linde for a 6 river card. Both checked, Tureniec winning the hand showing A5. — SB
8.10pm: No change
A pot each, won pre-flop with a three-bet. Back to where they were three hands ago. — SB
8.06pm: Linde fights back
Per Linde is back up to around 5,000,000 after getting a fold from Michael Tureniec on the river.
Tureniec raised to 225,000 from the button and Linde peeled to see the J95 flop. Tureniec continued with a 300,000 bet and Linde check-called. The turn was a dangerous looking A and both players checked to the 10 river. Linde led for 600,000 and Tureniec quickly folded. — MC
8.03pm: One for Linde
On a flop of 48A Per Linde bet 250,000 which Michael Tureniec called for a 9 turn. He then checked to Linde who bet 600,000 to take the pot. — SB
8pm: Another for Tureniec
The third hand back from break was similar to the first as Per Linde raised to 200,000 from the button only to face to a Michael Tureniec 525,000 three-bet. This time he called to see the 826 flop but he gave up when Tureniec led for 450,000.- MC
7.56pm: Tureniec starts off aggressive
The first hand back from break and Per Linde raised to 200,000 from the button only to then fold to a Michael Tureniec 525,000 three-bet. — MC
7.50pm: Play continues
A new level, a new post. Play continues in Level 29, with blinds at 50,000-100,000.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Copenhagen (in order of how long we expect this post to be needed): Marc Convey (another 33 minutes) and Stephen Bartley (another 2 hours and 33 minutes)
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.
4.25pm: Take a break
That’s the end of the level. Players are on a 15 minute break.
4.20pm: Eames officially back in the game
John Eames has doubled-up again, to 1,915,000, to be officially declared back in the game. He open shoved from the small blind with A4 and was called by Tureniec in the big blind with K9. The board ran 7A462 to the delight’s of Eames’ supporters on the rail. — MC
4.15pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 7.985,000
Per Linde — 4,400,000
John Eames — 1,010,000
4.12pm: Eames doubled next hand
John Eames wasted no time in getting his short stack in the middle. The very next hand Per Linde raised from the button and called when Eames shoved from the small blind.
Eames: A7
Linde: 109
The board ran 10K646. Eames fell behind on the flop but locked up the hand with a flush on the turn. He’s up to 1,100,000 chips and back in with a chance. — MC
4.10pm: Massive pot hands Tureniec the lead, cripples Eames
In a pivotal hand, that could well define who wins this event, Michael Tureniec doubles up through John Eames, to move up to more than 8,300,000 chips and leave the Englishman with just 525,000.
In what EPT Live commentator Nick Wealthall described as a “Big game of chicken”, Tureniec bet 125,000 from the button which Eames three bet to 280,000 from the big blind. Tureniec then four-bet to 600,000 which Eames five-bet to 1,080,000. Tureniec then moved all-in for 4,145,000 which Eames called, showing QQ to Tureniec’s AK.
The flop came 878, the dealer leaving a suitable pause to build the tension. But then the turn card K changed everything in favour of the Swede. The K river confirmed Tureniec’s double-up. — SB
4.05pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 4,675,000
Per Linde — 4,570,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,150,000
4.02pm: Eames fights back
John Eames has finally got something good going this level and reclaimed the lead as well. He raised from the button and was called by Michael Tureniec from the small blind. Eames led for 150,000 on the 2K5 flop. Call. The turn came 8 and a Eames bet of 330,000 was good as the Swede folded. Eames up to around 4,600,000 and Tureniec fell to 4,100,000. — MC
4pm: Ace high good
On a board with all sorts of possibilities, reading 64897, and with little more than 1,000,000 chips in the middle, both Michael Tureniec and John Eames eached checked, Eames taking the pot when he showed A10. — SB
3.55pm: Lucky Linde doubled
Per Linde has got lucky versus John Eames to double-up to 4,630,000 chips. Michael Tureniec started the pot with a 125,000 button raise that Linde called from the small blind before Eames three-bet to 350,000 from the big blind. Tureniec folded but Linde moved all-in. Call.
Linde: AJ
Eames: AK
The board ran 5J56A to see Linde make the better two-pair. Eames dropped to 3,800,000 chips. — MC
3.51pm: To the flop
On a flop of 752 Michael Tureniec check called a bet of 175,000 from Per Linde. Then on a 10 turn Tureniec check-folded to another Linde bet of 375,000. — SB
3.50pm: Tureniec catching Eames
Michael Tureniec has taken another bunch of chips off John Eames to move to within 600,000 chips of him. Eames raised to 125,000 from the small blind and Tureniec called to see the K6Q flop. Eames c-bet for 140,000 and Tureniec called. The turn came 10 and Eames checked to face a 275,000 bet. Eames didn’t like it and folded to drop to six million in chips. — MC
3.45pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6.565.000
Michael Tureniec — 5,000,000
Per Linde — 1,830,000
3.40pm: Linde and Tureniec chop
Per Linde and Michael Tureniec both made it to showdown at the river. Linde raised to 110,000 from the button and Tureniec called from the big blind to see the 10QK flop. The action was checked to the J turn where Tureniec check-called a 150,00 bet. The river came A and Linde had a 250,000 bet called by his countryman. Both players tabled bad aces and chopped the pot. — MC
3.35pm: A walk with Linde
After Per Linde got a walk in the big blind he opened the next hand for 110,000 from the button, but then passed when Michael Tureniec three-bet to 275,000. — SB
3.30pm: Another one for Tureniec
Michael Tureniec has taken a small pot off John Eames. The hand took a similar line as earlier as Eames completed from the small blind and called when Tureniec raised to 135,000 from the big blind.
The flop was 10QK and both players checked to the J turn. Tureniec bet this time, for 150,000, when checked to him. Eames called but check-folded to a 250,000 bet on the 5 river. — MC
3.22pm: Continued aggression worked for Tureniec
It’s all been Michael Tureniec since we’ve come back from break. He just took down a small pot off Per Linde. He raised from the small blind and Linde peeled from the big blind. The flop came KQK and a c-bet from Tureniec took the pot down. — MC
3.15pm: Pot to Tureniec
Michael Tureniec moves past 4,000,000 chips after a hand against John Eames. Tureniec opened for 105,000 from the button which Eames called for a flop of Q105. Both checked for a 3 turn. Eames bet 125,000 before Tureniec raised to 400,000, enough to make Eames pass. — SB
3.06pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6,835,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,015,000
Per Linde — 2,545,000
3.05pm: Play resumes
Play restarts in Level 26 with blinds at 50,000-100,000 with a 5,000 ante. — SB
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Copenhagen (in order of partisanship): Marc Convey (Come on Eames!) and Stephen Bartley (“May the best man win. Quickly.”)
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.
4.59pm: Heads-up chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 9,510,000
Per Linde — 3,885,000
4.55pm: John Eames falls in third spot
John Eames’ roller-coaster day at this final table has come to an end at the hand of his nemesis Michael Tureniec. Tureniec raised from the button and made the call when Eames shoved from the big blind.
Eames: KJ
Tureniec: AQ
The board ran K95A7. Eames took the lead on the flop but couldn’t stay there and exits in third place with DKK 1,400,000 (€187,778).
We now have an all Swedish heads-up match meaning we’ll crown a Swedish champion for the second year running, following Anton Wigg’s victory last year. — MC
4.50pm: Eames takes pot from Tureniec
John Eames opened for 125,000 from the button which Michael Tureniec called from the small blind for a flop of 2A4.
Tureniec checked to Eames who made it 150,000. Tureniec called for a A turn which both checked. On the Q river Tureniec checked again and passed when Eames bet 460,000. — SB
4.40pm: Play resumes
The players are back for Level 27. Blinds are 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante.
4.25pm: Take a break
That’s the end of the level. Players are on a 15 minute break.
4.20pm: Eames officially back in the game
John Eames has doubled-up again, to 1,915,000, to be officially declared back in the game. He open shoved from the small blind with A4 and was called by Tureniec in the big blind with K9. The board ran 7A462 to the delight’s of Eames’ supporters on the rail. — MC
4.15pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 7.985,000
Per Linde — 4,400,000
John Eames — 1,010,000
4.12pm: Eames doubled next hand
John Eames wasted no time in getting his short stack in the middle. The very next hand Per Linde raised from the button and called when Eames shoved from the small blind.
Eames: A7
Linde: 109
The board ran 10K646. Eames fell behind on the flop but locked up the hand with a flush on the turn. He’s up to 1,100,000 chips and back in with a chance. — MC
4.10pm: Massive pot hands Tureniec the lead, cripples Eames
In a pivotal hand, that could well define who wins this event, Michael Tureniec doubles up through John Eames, to move up to more than 8,300,000 chips and leave the Englishman with just 525,000.
In what EPT Live commentator Nick Wealthall described as a “Big game of chicken”, Tureniec bet 125,000 from the button which Eames three bet to 280,000 from the big blind. Tureniec then four-bet to 600,000 which Eames five-bet to 1,080,000. Tureniec then moved all-in for 4,145,000 which Eames called, showing QQ to Tureniec’s AK.
The flop came 878, the dealer leaving a suitable pause to build the tension. But then the turn card K changed everything in favour of the Swede. The K river confirmed Tureniec’s double-up. — SB
4.05pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 4,675,000
Per Linde — 4,570,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,150,000
4.02pm: Eames fights back
John Eames has finally got something good going this level and reclaimed the lead as well. He raised from the button and was called by Michael Tureniec from the small blind. Eames led for 150,000 on the 2K5 flop. Call. The turn came 8 and a Eames bet of 330,000 was good as the Swede folded. Eames up to around 4,600,000 and Tureniec fell to 4,100,000. — MC
4pm: Ace high good
On a board with all sorts of possibilities, reading 64897, and with little more than 1,000,000 chips in the middle, both Michael Tureniec and John Eames eached checked, Eames taking the pot when he showed A10. — SB
3.55pm: Lucky Linde doubled
Per Linde has got lucky versus John Eames to double-up to 4,630,000 chips. Michael Tureniec started the pot with a 125,000 button raise that Linde called from the small blind before Eames three-bet to 350,000 from the big blind. Tureniec folded but Linde moved all-in. Call.
Linde: AJ
Eames: AK
The board ran 5J56A to see Linde make the better two-pair. Eames dropped to 3,800,000 chips. — MC
3.51pm: To the flop
On a flop of 752 Michael Tureniec check called a bet of 175,000 from Per Linde. Then on a 10 turn Tureniec check-folded to another Linde bet of 375,000. — SB
3.50pm: Tureniec catching Eames
Michael Tureniec has taken another bunch of chips off John Eames to move to within 600,000 chips of him. Eames raised to 125,000 from the small blind and Tureniec called to see the K6Q flop. Eames c-bet for 140,000 and Tureniec called. The turn came 10 and Eames checked to face a 275,000 bet. Eames didn’t like it and folded to drop to six million in chips. — MC
3.45pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6.565.000
Michael Tureniec — 5,000,000
Per Linde — 1,830,000
3.40pm: Linde and Tureniec chop
Per Linde and Michael Tureniec both made it to showdown at the river. Linde raised to 110,000 from the button and Tureniec called from the big blind to see the 10QK flop. The action was checked to the J turn where Tureniec check-called a 150,00 bet. The river came A and Linde had a 250,000 bet called by his countryman. Both players tabled bad aces and chopped the pot. — MC
3.35pm: A walk with Linde
After Per Linde got a walk in the big blind he opened the next hand for 110,000 from the button, but then passed when Michael Tureniec three-bet to 275,000. — SB
3.30pm: Another one for Tureniec
Michael Tureniec has taken a small pot off John Eames. The hand took a similar line as earlier as Eames completed from the small blind and called when Tureniec raised to 135,000 from the big blind.
The flop was 10QK and both players checked to the J turn. Tureniec bet this time, for 150,000, when checked to him. Eames called but check-folded to a 250,000 bet on the 5 river. — MC
3.22pm: Continued aggression worked for Tureniec
It’s all been Michael Tureniec since we’ve come back from break. He just took down a small pot off Per Linde. He raised from the small blind and Linde peeled from the big blind. The flop came KQK and a c-bet from Tureniec took the pot down. — MC
3.15pm: Pot to Tureniec
Michael Tureniec moves past 4,000,000 chips after a hand against John Eames. Tureniec opened for 105,000 from the button which Eames called for a flop of Q105. Both checked for a 3 turn. Eames bet 125,000 before Tureniec raised to 400,000, enough to make Eames pass. — SB
3.06pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6,835,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,015,000
Per Linde — 2,545,000
3.05pm: Play resumes
Play restarts in Level 26 with blinds at 50,000-100,000 with a 5,000 ante. — SB
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Copenhagen (in order of partisanship): Marc Convey (Come on Eames!) and Stephen Bartley (“May the best man win. Quickly.”)
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.
5.50pm: Power poker from Tureniec
Michael Tureniec is up to 9,095,000 chip after five-bet shoving on Per Linde pre-flop. Linde made it 125,000 from the button before Tureniec three-bet to 325,000 from the big blind. Linde four-bet to 725,000 but folded to a Tureniec shove. Linde dropped to 4,300,000. — MC
5.44pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 8,465,000
Per Linde — 4,930,000
5.42pm: One for Linde
Per Linde forced Michael Tureniec off a hand to gain some of the lost ground. He raised from the button and Tureniec called to see the 79A flop. He check-called a 125,000 bet before check-folding to a 425,000 bet on the Q turn. — MC
5.37pm: Tureniec reclaims two-to-one lead
Michael Tureniec took a pot off Per Linde worth just under two million chips. Linde raised to 125,000 from the button and Tureniec peeled to see the 610Q flop. Tureniec checked-raised Linde’s 150,000 c-bet up to 400,000. Call. Both players checked the K turn to see the 3 river. Tureniec led for 475,000 and was called by Linde who went on to muck upon seeing his opponent’s QJ for second pair. — MC
5.28pm: More for Linde
Linde takes a smallish pot. On a flop of 566 Michael Tureniec bet 150,000 which Linde called ahead of a 7 turn. Both checked that for a A river card. More checking, Linde taking the pot showing 33. — SB
5.16pm: Linde clawing back
Linde pulls back further. After he opened for 125,000 in the button/small blind Tureniec three-bet to 325,000 which Linde called for a flop of A410. Tureniec led out for 350,000 which Linde called for a K on the turn. Both checked for a 6 on the river. A check from Tureniec before Linde bet 800,000. Tureniec thought for a moment, then folded. — SB
5.08pm: Linde all-in
Per Linde just got his stack in for the first time in this all Swedish heads-up battle. He raised from the button and Tureniec called from the big blind to see the 589. Linde continued with a 150,000 bet but faced a raise up to 400,000. His answer was to move all-in and that did the job as Tureniec mucked. Linde up to 4,380,000 to Tureniec’s 9.015,000. — MC
4.59pm: Heads-up chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 9,510,000
Per Linde — 3,885,000
4.55pm: John Eames falls in third spot
John Eames’ roller-coaster day at this final table has come to an end at the hand of his nemesis Michael Tureniec. Tureniec raised from the button and made the call when Eames shoved from the big blind.
Eames: KJ
Tureniec: AQ
The board ran K95A7. Eames took the lead on the flop but couldn’t stay there and exits in third place with DKK 1,400,000 (€187,778).
We now have an all Swedish heads-up match meaning we’ll crown a Swedish champion for the second year running, following Anton Wigg’s victory last year. — MC
4.50pm: Eames takes pot from Tureniec
John Eames opened for 125,000 from the button which Michael Tureniec called from the small blind for a flop of 2A4.
Tureniec checked to Eames who made it 150,000. Tureniec called for a A turn which both checked. On the Q river Tureniec checked again and passed when Eames bet 460,000. — SB
4.40pm: Play resumes
The players are back for Level 27. Blinds are 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante.
4.25pm: Take a break
That’s the end of the level. Players are on a 15 minute break.
4.20pm: Eames officially back in the game
John Eames has doubled-up again, to 1,915,000, to be officially declared back in the game. He open shoved from the small blind with A4 and was called by Tureniec in the big blind with K9. The board ran 7A462 to the delight’s of Eames’ supporters on the rail. — MC
4.15pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 7.985,000
Per Linde — 4,400,000
John Eames — 1,010,000
4.12pm: Eames doubled next hand
John Eames wasted no time in getting his short stack in the middle. The very next hand Per Linde raised from the button and called when Eames shoved from the small blind.
Eames: A7
Linde: 109
The board ran 10K646. Eames fell behind on the flop but locked up the hand with a flush on the turn. He’s up to 1,100,000 chips and back in with a chance. — MC
4.10pm: Massive pot hands Tureniec the lead, cripples Eames
In a pivotal hand, that could well define who wins this event, Michael Tureniec doubles up through John Eames, to move up to more than 8,300,000 chips and leave the Englishman with just 525,000.
In what EPT Live commentator Nick Wealthall described as a “Big game of chicken”, Tureniec bet 125,000 from the button which Eames three bet to 280,000 from the big blind. Tureniec then four-bet to 600,000 which Eames five-bet to 1,080,000. Tureniec then moved all-in for 4,145,000 which Eames called, showing QQ to Tureniec’s AK.
The flop came 878, the dealer leaving a suitable pause to build the tension. But then the turn card K changed everything in favour of the Swede. The K river confirmed Tureniec’s double-up. — SB
4.05pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 4,675,000
Per Linde — 4,570,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,150,000
4.02pm: Eames fights back
John Eames has finally got something good going this level and reclaimed the lead as well. He raised from the button and was called by Michael Tureniec from the small blind. Eames led for 150,000 on the 2K5 flop. Call. The turn came 8 and a Eames bet of 330,000 was good as the Swede folded. Eames up to around 4,600,000 and Tureniec fell to 4,100,000. — MC
4pm: Ten good for a straight
On a board with all sorts of possibilities, reading 64897, and with little more than 1,000,000 chips in the middle, both Michael Tureniec and John Eames eached checked, Eames taking the pot when he showed A10. — SB
3.55pm: Lucky Linde doubled
Per Linde has got lucky versus John Eames to double-up to 4,630,000 chips. Michael Tureniec started the pot with a 125,000 button raise that Linde called from the small blind before Eames three-bet to 350,000 from the big blind. Tureniec folded but Linde moved all-in. Call.
Linde: AJ
Eames: AK
The board ran 5J56A to see Linde make the better two-pair. Eames dropped to 3,800,000 chips. — MC
3.51pm: To the flop
On a flop of 752 Michael Tureniec check called a bet of 175,000 from Per Linde. Then on a 10 turn Tureniec check-folded to another Linde bet of 375,000. — SB
3.50pm: Tureniec catching Eames
Michael Tureniec has taken another bunch of chips off John Eames to move to within 600,000 chips of him. Eames raised to 125,000 from the small blind and Tureniec called to see the K6Q flop. Eames c-bet for 140,000 and Tureniec called. The turn came 10 and Eames checked to face a 275,000 bet. Eames didn’t like it and folded to drop to six million in chips. — MC
3.45pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6,565,000
Michael Tureniec — 5,000,000
Per Linde — 1,830,000
3.40pm: Linde and Tureniec chop
Per Linde and Michael Tureniec both made it to showdown at the river. Linde raised to 110,000 from the button and Tureniec called from the big blind to see the 10QK flop. The action was checked to the J turn where Tureniec check-called a 150,000 bet. The river came A and Linde had a 250,000 bet called by his countryman. Both players tabled bad aces and chopped the pot. — MC
3.35pm: A walk with Linde
After Per Linde got a walk in the big blind he opened the next hand for 110,000 from the button, but then passed when Michael Tureniec three-bet to 275,000. — SB
3.30pm: Another one for Tureniec
Michael Tureniec has taken a small pot off John Eames. The hand took a similar line as earlier as Eames completed from the small blind and called when Tureniec raised to 135,000 from the big blind.
The flop was 10QK and both players checked to the J turn. Tureniec bet this time, for 150,000, when checked to him. Eames called but check-folded to a 250,000 bet on the 5 river. — MC
3.22pm: Continued aggression worked for Tureniec
It’s all been Michael Tureniec since we’ve come back from break. He just took down a small pot off Per Linde. He raised from the small blind and Linde peeled from the big blind. The flop came KQK and a c-bet from Tureniec took the pot down. — MC
3.15pm: Pot to Tureniec
Michael Tureniec moves past 4,000,000 chips after a hand against John Eames. Tureniec opened for 105,000 from the button which Eames called for a flop of Q105. Both checked for a 3 turn. Eames bet 125,000 before Tureniec raised to 400,000, enough to make Eames pass. — SB
3.06pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6,835,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,015,000
Per Linde — 2,545,000
3.05pm: Play resumes
Play restarts in Level 26 with blinds at 50,000-100,000 with a 5,000 ante. — SB
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Copenhagen (in order of partisanship): Marc Convey (Come on Eames!) and Stephen Bartley (“May the best man win. Quickly.”)
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.
7.36pm: Break time
Players are on another 15 minute break.
7.35pm: Last hand of the level
The level ends with Per Linde picking up another million-plus. On a board reading J4410A Linde bet 400,000 which Tureniec called, mucking when Linde showed KQ. — SB
7.30pm: Linde doubled again
Per Linde is battling for his tournament life and it just got a whole lot easier with another double-up. All the chips went in pre-flop with both having pairs.
Linde: QQ
Tureniec: 77
The board ran 942JK to take Linde’s stack up to 3,790,000. — MC
7.20pm: Waiting, waiting…
Sensing that this is a calm before the final storm as Tureniec inches ahead. — SB
7.10pm: Decisive hand?
Michael Tureniec has just taken down a very big pot to move up to 11,200,000, nine million ahead of Per Linde. He raised pre-flop and bet every street on the 747Q6 board. The flop bet was 200,000, the turn 500,000 and the river 1,400,000. Linde called all the way only to be shown J7 for trips by Tureniec. — MC
7.05pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 9,000,000
Per Linde — 4,470,000
7.04pm: Linde failed river bluff
The two players made it to the river where the board read 99JJ4. The action leading up to this point included a Tureniec button raise and a Linde call. Linde check-called a 200,000 bet on the flop before both checked the turn. Linde led for 225,000 on the river and Tureniec tank-called. Linde mucked and Tureniec claimed the pot after showing Q5. — MC
7pm: Another to Linde
Per Linde wins another pot. He called Tureniec’s three-bet to 425,000 in the big blind for a flop of 10J10 then bet to take the pot. — SB
6.50pm: Tureniec reopens lead
It didn’t take long for Michael Tureniec to streak ahead again. He raised from the button and Per Linde called on the way to the 5J5 flop. Tureniec c-bet for 200,000 and Linde check-called before both players checked the 6 turn. The river came 6 and Linde led out for 325,000. Tureniec then surprised Linde with a raise up to 950,000. Linde made a reluctant-looking call but mucked upon seeing Tureniec’s K6 full house. Tureniec up to around 9,100,000 and Linde dropped to 4,300,000. — MC
6.43pm: Linde doubles up
Michael Tureniec just came within a river card of winning a first EPT title, until a Q made Per Linde a flush to double him up and keep this final table going.
Linde opened for 160,000 which Tureniec raised to 425,000. Linde then moved all-in for 2,820,000 which Tureniec called, ahead, showing A8 against the A5 of Linde.
The board ran 4KJ6Q, the river card saving Linde, who moved up to 5,630,000. Tureniec slips back to 7,830,000. – SB
6.40pm: Tureniec turning the screw
Michael Tureniec is up to more than 10,600,000 chips now after he four-bet jammed on Per Linde. He raised from the button and then came back over the top, for the lot, after Linde three-bet from the big blind. — MC
6.38pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 10,650,000
Per Linde — 2,820,000
6.35pm: More for Tureniec
Tureniec inches closer to the title, taking another pot to take him beyond 10,000,000 chips. He opened from the button and when Linde called the flop came 4103. Linde checked before Tureniec bet 200,000. Linde called for a K turn and then checked again. Tureniec bet to take the pot.
6.32pm: Last four hands
The last four hands have seen two pots won by each player. They both took the blinds with a button raise and they both took down a pot with c-bets on dry flops. Michael Tureniec currently sits on 9,930,000 and Per Linde has 3,540,000. — MC
6.20pm: Cards in the air
Play restarts in Level 28 with blinds of 40,000-80,000.
6.05pm: Chips at the break
Michael Tureniec — 9,295,000
Per Linde — 4,175,000
6pm: Break time
That’s the end of another level. 15 minute break everybody.
5.55pm: Raise and take
Raise and take, raise and take.
5.50pm: Power poker from Tureniec
Michael Tureniec is up to 9,095,000 chip after five-bet shoving on Per Linde pre-flop. Linde made it 125,000 from the button before Tureniec three-bet to 325,000 from the big blind. Linde four-bet to 725,000 but folded to a Tureniec shove. Linde dropped to 4,300,000. — MC
5.44pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 8,465,000
Per Linde — 4,930,000
5.42pm: One for Linde
Per Linde forced Michael Tureniec off a hand to gain some of the lost ground. He raised from the button and Tureniec called to see the 79A flop. He check-called a 125,000 bet before check-folding to a 425,000 bet on the Q turn. — MC
5.37pm: Tureniec reclaims two-to-one lead
Michael Tureniec took a pot off Per Linde worth just under two million chips. Linde raised to 125,000 from the button and Tureniec peeled to see the 610Q flop. Tureniec checked-raised Linde’s 150,000 c-bet up to 400,000. Call. Both players checked the K turn to see the 3 river. Tureniec led for 475,000 and was called by Linde who went on to muck upon seeing his opponent’s QJ for second pair. — MC
5.28pm: More for Linde
Linde takes a smallish pot. On a flop of 566 Michael Tureniec bet 150,000 which Linde called ahead of a 7 turn. Both checked that for a A river card. More checking, Linde taking the pot showing 33. — SB
5.16pm: Linde clawing back
Linde pulls back further. After he opened for 125,000 in the button/small blind Tureniec three-bet to 325,000 which Linde called for a flop of A410. Tureniec led out for 350,000 which Linde called for a K on the turn. Both checked for a 6 on the river. A check from Tureniec before Linde bet 800,000. Tureniec thought for a moment, then folded. — SB
5.08pm: Linde all-in
Per Linde just got his stack in for the first time in this all Swedish heads-up battle. He raised from the button and Tureniec called from the big blind to see the 589. Linde continued with a 150,000 bet but faced a raise up to 400,000. His answer was to move all-in and that did the job as Tureniec mucked. Linde up to 4,380,000 to Tureniec’s 9.015,000. — MC
4.59pm: Heads-up chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 9,510,000
Per Linde — 3,885,000
4.55pm: John Eames falls in third spot
John Eames’ roller-coaster day at this final table has come to an end at the hand of his nemesis Michael Tureniec. Tureniec raised from the button and made the call when Eames shoved from the big blind.
Eames: KJ
Tureniec: AQ
The board ran K95A7. Eames took the lead on the flop but couldn’t stay there and exits in third place with DKK 1,400,000 (€187,778).
We now have an all Swedish heads-up match meaning we’ll crown a Swedish champion for the second year running, following Anton Wigg’s victory last year. — MC
4.50pm: Eames takes pot from Tureniec
John Eames opened for 125,000 from the button which Michael Tureniec called from the small blind for a flop of 2A4.
Tureniec checked to Eames who made it 150,000. Tureniec called for a A turn which both checked. On the Q river Tureniec checked again and passed when Eames bet 460,000. — SB
4.40pm: Play resumes
The players are back for Level 27. Blinds are 30,000-60,000, 5,000 ante.
4.25pm: Take a break
That’s the end of the level. Players are on a 15 minute break.
4.20pm: Eames officially back in the game
John Eames has doubled-up again, to 1,915,000, to be officially declared back in the game. He open shoved from the small blind with A4 and was called by Tureniec in the big blind with K9. The board ran 7A462 to the delight’s of Eames’ supporters on the rail. — MC
4.15pm: Chip counts
Michael Tureniec — 7.985,000
Per Linde — 4,400,000
John Eames — 1,010,000
4.12pm: Eames doubled next hand
John Eames wasted no time in getting his short stack in the middle. The very next hand Per Linde raised from the button and called when Eames shoved from the small blind.
Eames: A7
Linde: 109
The board ran 10K646. Eames fell behind on the flop but locked up the hand with a flush on the turn. He’s up to 1,100,000 chips and back in with a chance. — MC
4.10pm: Massive pot hands Tureniec the lead, cripples Eames
In a pivotal hand, that could well define who wins this event, Michael Tureniec doubles up through John Eames, to move up to more than 8,300,000 chips and leave the Englishman with just 525,000.
In what EPT Live commentator Nick Wealthall described as a “Big game of chicken”, Tureniec bet 125,000 from the button which Eames three bet to 280,000 from the big blind. Tureniec then four-bet to 600,000 which Eames five-bet to 1,080,000. Tureniec then moved all-in for 4,145,000 which Eames called, showing QQ to Tureniec’s AK.
The flop came 878, the dealer leaving a suitable pause to build the tension. But then the turn card K changed everything in favour of the Swede. The K river confirmed Tureniec’s double-up. — SB
4.05pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 4,675,000
Per Linde — 4,570,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,150,000
4.02pm: Eames fights back
John Eames has finally got something good going this level and reclaimed the lead as well. He raised from the button and was called by Michael Tureniec from the small blind. Eames led for 150,000 on the 2K5 flop. Call. The turn came 8 and a Eames bet of 330,000 was good as the Swede folded. Eames up to around 4,600,000 and Tureniec fell to 4,100,000. — MC
4pm: Ten good for a straight
On a board with all sorts of possibilities, reading 64897, and with little more than 1,000,000 chips in the middle, both Michael Tureniec and John Eames eached checked, Eames taking the pot when he showed A10. — SB
3.55pm: Lucky Linde doubled
Per Linde has got lucky versus John Eames to double-up to 4,630,000 chips. Michael Tureniec started the pot with a 125,000 button raise that Linde called from the small blind before Eames three-bet to 350,000 from the big blind. Tureniec folded but Linde moved all-in. Call.
Linde: AJ
Eames: AK
The board ran 5J56A to see Linde make the better two-pair. Eames dropped to 3,800,000 chips. — MC
3.51pm: To the flop
On a flop of 752 Michael Tureniec check called a bet of 175,000 from Per Linde. Then on a 10 turn Tureniec check-folded to another Linde bet of 375,000. — SB
3.50pm: Tureniec catching Eames
Michael Tureniec has taken another bunch of chips off John Eames to move to within 600,000 chips of him. Eames raised to 125,000 from the small blind and Tureniec called to see the K6Q flop. Eames c-bet for 140,000 and Tureniec called. The turn came 10 and Eames checked to face a 275,000 bet. Eames didn’t like it and folded to drop to six million in chips. — MC
3.45pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6,565,000
Michael Tureniec — 5,000,000
Per Linde — 1,830,000
3.40pm: Linde and Tureniec chop
Per Linde and Michael Tureniec both made it to showdown at the river. Linde raised to 110,000 from the button and Tureniec called from the big blind to see the 10QK flop. The action was checked to the J turn where Tureniec check-called a 150,000 bet. The river came A and Linde had a 250,000 bet called by his countryman. Both players tabled bad aces and chopped the pot. — MC
3.35pm: A walk with Linde
After Per Linde got a walk in the big blind he opened the next hand for 110,000 from the button, but then passed when Michael Tureniec three-bet to 275,000. — SB
3.30pm: Another one for Tureniec
Michael Tureniec has taken a small pot off John Eames. The hand took a similar line as earlier as Eames completed from the small blind and called when Tureniec raised to 135,000 from the big blind.
The flop was 10QK and both players checked to the J turn. Tureniec bet this time, for 150,000, when checked to him. Eames called but check-folded to a 250,000 bet on the 5 river. — MC
3.22pm: Continued aggression worked for Tureniec
It’s all been Michael Tureniec since we’ve come back from break. He just took down a small pot off Per Linde. He raised from the small blind and Linde peeled from the big blind. The flop came KQK and a c-bet from Tureniec took the pot down. — MC
3.15pm: Pot to Tureniec
Michael Tureniec moves past 4,000,000 chips after a hand against John Eames. Tureniec opened for 105,000 from the button which Eames called for a flop of Q105. Both checked for a 3 turn. Eames bet 125,000 before Tureniec raised to 400,000, enough to make Eames pass. — SB
3.06pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6,835,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,015,000
Per Linde — 2,545,000
3.05pm: Play resumes
Play restarts in Level 26 with blinds at 50,000-100,000 with a 5,000 ante. — SB
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Copenhagen (in order of partisanship): Marc Convey (“Come on Eames!”) and Stephen Bartley (“May the best man win. Quickly.”)
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.
1.20pm: Chip counts
Per Linde, Sweden – 6,096,000 chips
John Eames, United Kingdom – 4,349,000 chips
Michael Tureniec, Sweden – 1,593,000
Kevin Iacofano, United States, PokerStars qualifier, 1,145,000
Nikolas Liakos, Sweden – 634,000 chips
1.16pm: Break time
Players are now taking a 15 minute break. — SB
1.15pm: Tureniec on the river
In the hand before the break the board was reading Q939Q when Kevin Iacofano bet 160,000 form the big blind. Michael Tureniec was considering his options, looked to be folding and then called, showing K7 to top Iacofano’s pocket eights that were counterfeited on the river. Tureniec up to 1,500,000 while Iacofano drops to 1,100,000. — SB
1.10pm: Big stacks clash small
John Eames raised to 60,000 from under-the-gun and was called by Per Linde on the button. The flop came down Q92 and Eames checked to face a 80,000 bet from Linde. Eames decided to fold rather than continue to play the hand out of position versus his biggest threat. — MC
1.05pm: Tureniec and Linde go head to head
Michael Tureniec opened for 63,000 from the button which Per Linde called from the small blind for a flop of K2A. Both checked that for a 4 which Linde bet at, 75,000 total. Tureniec called for a Q on the river. Both checked. Tureniec asked Linde is he had a king. He didn’t, but he did have 10Q to win the hand. — SB
1pm: Mudassa Khan eliminated in sixth place
The two of the short stacks just went to war and it resulted in a sixth place exit for Mudassar Khan. Michael Tureniec was his opponent and he acted first by open shoving from early position. Khan was sitting in the small blind and made a quick call to create a pre-flop show down.
Tureniec: 55
Khan: AJ
The board came K910K7. Tureniec managed to fade a ton of outs to take the last remaining Danish scalp and move up to 1,330,000 chips. — MC
12.55pm: Taking on Linde
Kevin Iacofano opened for 70,000 in early position which Michael Tureniec, quite up to now, raised to 160,000. The action reached Per Linde who then four-bet to 2,015,000, effectively putting any caller all-in. Iacofano passed, as did Tureniec. Linde up to 5,339,000. — SB
12.50pm: Bring back the all-ins
Michael Tureneic opened from under-the-gun, making it 63,000, and picks up the blinds. — SB
12.45pm: More all-ins
Nikolas Liakos all in again, but once more gets no takers. — SB
12.36pm: Molle falls in seventh, to John Eames with kings again
Andrea Dalle Molle takes home DKK 450,000 (€60,357) for finishing in seventh place. It was John Eames who did the damage again after he found pocket kings for the third time in 15 hands. Molle open shoved for 483,000 with QJ and Eames called with KK from the big blind.
Eames seemed embarrassed by his riches and Per Linde was laughing. The board came 845J7. EPT Copenhagen is now a 6-max tournament. — MC
12.30pm: Shove over
More open shoves, from Andrea Dalle Molle and then Nikolas Liakos. Neither got any takers. — SB
12.24pm: Liakos all-in
Nikolas Liakos was left short after that John Eames hand and has only one move with the blinds being so high. He just moved all-in two hands in-a-row. Firstly from second position and then from under-the-gun. Both moves got through and he added 123,000 chips or nearly 25% to his stack. — MC
12.15pm: Juha Helppi out in eighth place
As the first hand changed everything the third hand sent Juha Helppi to the rail and again, it’s John Eames doing the damage.
Eames opened for 63,000 from the cut off which Helppi three-bet to 190,000 from the small blind. After pausing for a few moments Eames four-bet, making it 365,000 before Helppi moved all-in. Eames called in a flash showing KK (again), to Helppi’s QQ.
The board put an end to Helppi’s day immediately, running K2J7Q. Helppi out in eighth place, Eames moves from sixth place to second place, up now to 3,700,000. – SB
12.10pm: Eames doubles on the first hand
British player John Eames is up to 2,200,000 after doubling up through Nikolas Liakos. Liakos raised to 60,000 from the hijack and was called Kevin Iacofano on the button before Eames three-bet to 190,000. Liakos must have thought that Emaes was squeezing as he moved all-in. Iacofano folded but Eames snap called.
Eames: KK
Liakos: QJ
The board ran 104QA5. Eames is now the second biggest stack at the table whereas Liakos dropped to less that half a million. — MC
12.01pm: Camera, action…
Gloria Balding welcomes in the final day…
12pm: About to start
Players are taking their seats ready to start. We have one hour of Level 24 left to play. — SB
11.55pm: Final table day
Welcome to the final table of the EPT Copenhagen Main Event, the culmination of a week of play that has reduced a field of 449 players down to just eight.
At the start of this week we promised some degree of originality, in fact EPT Copenhagen’s originality is its only predictable trait. So what looks like an ordinary final table on the surface, will, if past incarnations are anything to go by, no doubt turn into a night long glitch in the matrix that will end sometime in the next 24 hours. Ish.
What we can promise, without any suggestion of hyperbole, is one of the best final tables in recent EPT history. Headed by chip leader Per Linde; the likes of Juha Helppi, Michael Tureniec and John Eames, each have resume’s that sparkle with previous spoils, the type that could make this final table a regular on future highlight reels.
So who else will be playing today? I’m glad you asked…
Seat 1: Andrea Dalle Molle, 27, Rome, Italy – 417,000 chips
Dalle Molle has been playing poker for around six years, turning pro three years ago. Dalle Molle is from Rome and is friends with Team PokerStars Pros Dario Minieri and Salvatore Bonavena, as well as 2010 WSOP finalist Filipo Candio. Dalle Molle’s best live result before now was third place in the Campionato Nazionale Main Event in Nova Gorica, last September, for €19,900.
Dalle Molle said that making the final of the EPT Copenhagen, which will net him at least DKK 296,400 (€39,755), is “the dream of every poker player”. He has played at least nine EPTs but says Copenhagen is the toughest after London. “I’m the short stack,” he said. “But I’m in a push/ fold situation and if I double up, I’m in a good position.”
Seat 2: Per Linde, 22, Motala, Sweden – 4,980,000 chips
Linde made more than $400,000 in live events last year, the bulk of which was thanks to making the final of the €10,000 WPT Paris event. Team PokerStars Pro Theo Jorgensen won that event, with Linde picking up €234,780 for third place.
The Paris result has been the best of his career but Linde has had several EPT cashes before now including 13th place at San Remo last season, where he earned €40,000. He also cashed in Barcelona in November, earning €15,000.
Seat 3: Nikolas Liakos, 24, Sweden – 1,493,000 chips
Liakos has been playing poker for six years and, after some years as a pro, he is now studying maths with the intention of becoming a teacher, and will graduate in about two years. Liakos mainly plays online cash games up to $10/$20 limits (full ring, shorthanded and heads-up) and is also a sports bettor.
In 2007 he finished EPT Prague in 12th place for €27,800 and also had two big scores in 2008, winning the EPT San Remo €2,000 side event worth €176,200 and finishing fourth at the Master Classics Main Event in Amsterdam, for a further €132,600. Having been focusing on his studies lately Liakos hasn’t played any major live events since.
Seat 4: Mudassar Khan, 38, Denmark – 823,000 chips
Khan is the last remaining Danish player and also a home town boy, hailing from Copenhagen. Khan plays for fun as he normally helps run the family restaurant business.
This hasn’t stopped him achieving some great results though; Khan’s biggest result in that seven-year period coming at the Swedish Open Poker Championships, in 2006, where he won the title and $134,539. Khan has one previous EPT cash in Dortmund, in Season 3.
Seat 5: Kevin Iacofano, 25, Chicago, USA – 1,844,000 chips
Cleveland-born Kevin Iacofano qualified for the EPT Copenhagen for just €215 on PokerStars and is now set for the biggest win of his career. Iacofano is an online pro who makes his living grinding tournaments and is also a regular in the $25/$50 mixed cash games over the last six months. No slouch on the live scene either, Iacofano has $197,542 in live tournament cashes and finished third in a WSOP $1,500 PLO event back in 2009 earning $96,128. The only American at the final table, Iacofano had heard that EPT Copenhagen was a hard nut to crack.
“Even the weaker players make it tough for you,” he said. “It would mean a lot to win an EPT title here.”.
Iacofano also pulled off what he described as the “biggest bluff of my life” on day four, against Sweden’s Nikolas Liakos (who has also made the final). Liakos had led into him on a Kh, 3h, 4c, Qh, Ts board and Iacofano had quickly moved all-in for his tournament life with Ah 8s. Liakos tanked, then folded.
Seat 6: John Eames, 22, Southport, UK – 1,060,000 chips
Eames is a well-known British player who many pros predict will be a future winner of a major event. Eames turned pro nearly four years ago and originally played mainly online, although he has now switched his focus almost entirely to live tournaments.
Eames has had a great Season 7 so far – winning the EPT Vienna €2k event in October for €123,500, and chopping the EPT Barcelona €2k event with fellow finalist Michael Tureniec in November, earning €78,300. Despite playing around 13-14 EPTs, however, this is his first Main Event cash. “I was pretty short around the bubble and thought a min-cash was likely but it picked up,” he said. "It’s great to make a final. All I do now is live events… I like the atmosphere and there’s more prestige if you win. "
Seat 7: Michael Tureniec, 25, Stockholm, Sweden – 1,310,000 chips
Michael Tureniec first rose to fame back in 2008 when he finished runner-up at the Season 5 EPT London event, earning £525,314. That finish is still his best ever live result although his total lifetime live tournament winnings now amount to nearly $2 million.
Last November he chopped the EPT Barcelona €2k side event with fellow Copenhagen finalist John Eames, earning €140,000. Michael has only had one job in his life – working as a supermarket cashier – a job he abandoned to become a professional poker player more than six years ago.
Seat 8: Juha Helppi, 33, Helsinki, Finland – 1,470,000 chips
Helppi was originally a poker dealer but made a name for himself when he eliminated several top pros to take a WPT title in Aruba in 2002. He has since made dozens of other final tables, his best performance being runner-up in a 2006 WSOP $1k NLHE tourney for $331,000. Overall Helppi has had five cashes worth more than $200,000 and more than a dozen first place finishes.
This is Helppi’s third EPT cash but he has won the €20,000 EPT Deauville high roller event back in Season 6, for €192,000. He was also runner-up in the EPT Barcelona €10k event in November, for a further €127,500, and winner of a €1k side event in San Remo last season earning €84,000. Helppi’s career winnings already amount to more than $3 million and Helppi is ranked Finland’s #1 on the All Time Money List. Outside of poker, Helppi is a high level paintball player and was captain of the Finnish National Paintball Champions in 1997, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Copenhagen (in order of how we match up against James Hartigan’s when talk turns to films): Marc Convey (“Ingmar Bergman? Wasn’t she in ‘Casablanca’?”) and Stephen Bartley (“I like musicals”).
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.
2.50pm: Break time
That’s the end of the level. Players are now taking a 15 minute break.
2.46pm: Three to the flop
John Eames opened from the button for 85,000 which Michael Tureniec called from the small blind. Per Linde also called from the big blind. The flop came 108K which all three checked. The turn came 10 and Tureniec bet another 150,000. Linde raised to 425,000 which then was good to take the pot. – SB
2.40pm: Chip counts
John Eames — 6,955,000
Michael Tureniec — 4,203,000
Per Linde — 2,157,000
2.30pm: Eames retakes chip lead
John Eames just won a three million pot off Michael Tureniec to jump back into the lead with 6,900,000. He completed from the small blind and called when Tureiec bumped it up from the big blind.
Eames went into check-call mode as Tureniec fired 125,000, 300,000 and 1,000,000 on each street. The final board read J4K98. Tureniec tabled K10 for top pair but he lost out to the Brit’s J9 for two-pair. Tureniec is down to around 4,200,000 chips. — MC
2.25pm: Iacofano out, three left
All of a sudden we’re three handed. Michael Tureniec raised to 85,000 pre-flop which Iacofano called from the big blind for a flop of 10107. Iacofano then began a series of check-calls after Tureniec bet 100,000 on the flop and 200,000 on the 5 turn. On the 2 river Iacafano checked again. Tureniec then shoved for 3,602,000 making it all-in to call. Suddenly Iacofano did call, turning over A7. But Tureniec showed 810 for trips, sending Iacofano out. Tureniec moved up to 5,580,000.
Iacofano was visibly disappointed in his post-match interview. “My gut was telling me to call,” he said. “But we all know heroes die.” — SB
2.18pm: He’s only got kings again
John Eames just found pocket kings for the fourth time this final table to double-up to 5,644,000 and claim the chip lead. He raised to 85,000 from first position before Per Linde three-bet to 250,000 from the small blind. Eames came back at him with a four-bet to 500,000. Linde quickly went all-in for and Eames almost beat him into the pot.
Eames: KK
Linde: A2
The board ran 655JK to make Eames a full house. Linde dropped down to 2,167,000. — MC
2.07pm: Iacofano gets lucky to double
Kevin Iacofano moved all-in for 1,055,000 from the big blind after a Michael Tureniec button opening raise. Tureniec made the call and found he was an 80 percent favourite.
Iacofano: 44
Tureniec: 66
The board ran 1024K8. Iacofano made a set on the flop that held through to the end. He’s up to 2,146,000 and Tureniec is down to 3,512,000. — MC
1.59pm: Liakos out in fifth place
PokerStars player Nikolas Liakos departs in fifth place. Michael Tureniec opened for 85,000 and Per Linde called before Liakos shoved for 1,104,000. Linde passed but Tureniec called showing 77. Liakos showed A8 for a classic race situation.
The board ran 3QK9K to send Liakos to the rail. Tureniec up to 4,567,000. — SB
1.50pm: Liakos doubles-up
Nikolas Liakos is up to 1,160,000 after doubling-up through PokerStars qualifier Kevin Iacofano. He found a really good spot – shoving with AK from the button. Iacofano was in the small blind with KJ and called off a third of his stack.
The board ran 541022 to miss both players. The American dropped to 991,000 after the hand and is now the short stack. — MC
1.45pm: Leaving it to Iacofano
Kevin Iacofano wins a pot, four-bet shoving for 1,185,000 to force out John Eames, who opened, and Per Linde who three-bet. Neither fancied it. — SB
1:40pm: Eames involved with kings again
John Eames has benefitted from pocket kings three times today but he’s just suffered their wrath as Michael Tureniec picked them up to double through. The action folded to Eames in the small blind and he raised to 110,000. Tureniec defended from the big blind to see the 3104 flop. Eames continued for 125,000. Call.
The turn came Q and Eames fired again, for 275,000, only to see the Swede move all-in for 1,340,000. Eames seemed surprised by the move but made the call after some thought.
Tureniec tabled KK, ahead of Eames’ Q6. The river came J and Eames is down to 2,796,000. Tureniec leap-frogged him up to 3,190,000 chips. — MC
1.34pm: Cards in the air
Play restarts in level 25 with blinds of 20,000-40,000 with a 4,000 ante. That’s only the second four-chip ante. — SB
1.25pm: At the break
Gloria Balding reports from the tournament floor at the first break…
1.20pm: Chip counts
Per Linde, Sweden – 5,596,000 chips
John Eames, United Kingdom – 4,349,000 chips
Michael Tureniec, Sweden – 1,593,000
Kevin Iacofano, United States, PokerStars qualifier, 1,145,000
Nikolas Liakos, Sweden – 634,000 chips
1.16pm: Break time
Players are now taking a 15 minute break. — SB
1.15pm: Tureniec on the river
In the hand before the break the board was reading Q939Q when Kevin Iacofano bet 160,000 form the big blind. Michael Tureniec was considering his options, looked to be folding and then called, showing K7 to top Iacofano’s pocket eights that were counterfeited on the river. Tureniec up to 1,500,000 while Iacofano drops to 1,100,000. — SB
1.10pm: Big stacks clash small
John Eames raised to 60,000 from under-the-gun and was called by Per Linde on the button. The flop came down Q92 and Eames checked to face a 80,000 bet from Linde. Eames decided to fold rather than continue to play the hand out of position versus his biggest threat. — MC
1.05pm: Tureniec and Linde go head to head
Michael Tureniec opened for 63,000 from the button which Per Linde called from the small blind for a flop of K2A. Both checked that for a 4 which Linde bet at, 75,000 total. Tureniec called for a Q on the river. Both checked. Tureniec asked Linde is he had a king. He didn’t, but he did have 10Q to win the hand. — SB
1pm: Mudassa Khan eliminated in sixth place
The two of the short stacks just went to war and it resulted in a sixth place exit for Mudassar Khan. Michael Tureniec was his opponent and he acted first by open shoving from early position. Khan was sitting in the small blind and made a quick call to create a pre-flop show down.
Tureniec: 55
Khan: AJ
The board came K910K7. Tureniec managed to fade a ton of outs to take the last remaining Danish scalp and move up to 1,330,000 chips. — MC
12.55pm: Taking on Linde
Kevin Iacofano opened for 70,000 in early position which Michael Tureniec, quite up to now, raised to 160,000. The action reached Per Linde who then four-bet to 2,015,000, effectively putting any caller all-in. Iacofano passed, as did Tureniec. Linde up to 5,339,000. — SB
12.50pm: Bring back the all-ins
Michael Tureneic opened from under-the-gun, making it 63,000, and picks up the blinds. — SB
12.45pm: More all-ins
Nikolas Liakos all in again, but once more gets no takers. — SB
12.36pm: Molle falls in seventh, to John Eames with kings again
Andrea Dalle Molle takes home DKK 450,000 (€60,357) for finishing in seventh place. It was John Eames who did the damage again after he found pocket kings for the third time in 15 hands. Molle open shoved for 483,000 with QJ and Eames called with KK from the big blind.
Eames seemed embarrassed by his riches and Per Linde was laughing. The board came 845J7. EPT Copenhagen is now a 6-max tournament. — MC
12.30pm: Shove over
More open shoves, from Andrea Dalle Molle and then Nikolas Liakos. Neither got any takers. — SB
12.24pm: Liakos all-in
Nikolas Liakos was left short after that John Eames hand and has only one move with the blinds being so high. He just moved all-in two hands in-a-row. Firstly from second position and then from under-the-gun. Both moves got through and he added 123,000 chips or nearly 25% to his stack. — MC
12.15pm: Juha Helppi out in eighth place
As the first hand changed everything the third hand sent Juha Helppi to the rail and again, it’s John Eames doing the damage.
Eames opened for 63,000 from the cut off which Helppi three-bet to 190,000 from the small blind. After pausing for a few moments Eames four-bet, making it 365,000 before Helppi moved all-in. Eames called in a flash showing KK (again), to Helppi’s QQ.
The board put an end to Helppi’s day immediately, running K2J7Q. Helppi out in eighth place, Eames moves from sixth place to second place, up now to 3,700,000. – SB
12.10pm: Eames doubles on the first hand
British player John Eames is up to 2,200,000 after doubling up through Nikolas Liakos. Liakos raised to 60,000 from the hijack and was called Kevin Iacofano on the button before Eames three-bet to 190,000. Liakos must have thought that Emaes was squeezing as he moved all-in. Iacofano folded but Eames snap called.
Eames: KK
Liakos: QJ
The board ran 104QA5. Eames is now the second biggest stack at the table whereas Liakos dropped to less that half a million. — MC
12.01pm: Camera, action…
Gloria Balding welcomes in the final day…
12pm: About to start
Players are taking their seats ready to start. We have one hour of Level 24 left to play. — SB
11.55pm: Final table day
Welcome to the final table of the EPT Copenhagen Main Event, the culmination of a week of play that has reduced a field of 449 players down to just eight.
At the start of this week we promised some degree of originality, in fact EPT Copenhagen’s originality is its only predictable trait. So what looks like an ordinary final table on the surface, will, if past incarnations are anything to go by, no doubt turn into a night long glitch in the matrix that will end sometime in the next 24 hours. Ish.
What we can promise, without any suggestion of hyperbole, is one of the best final tables in recent EPT history. Headed by chip leader Per Linde; the likes of Juha Helppi, Michael Tureniec and John Eames, each have resume’s that sparkle with previous spoils, the type that could make this final table a regular on future highlight reels.
So who else will be playing today? I’m glad you asked…
Seat 1: Andrea Dalle Molle, 27, Rome, Italy – 417,000 chips
Dalle Molle has been playing poker for around six years, turning pro three years ago. Dalle Molle is from Rome and is friends with Team PokerStars Pros Dario Minieri and Salvatore Bonavena, as well as 2010 WSOP finalist Filipo Candio. Dalle Molle’s best live result before now was third place in the Campionato Nazionale Main Event in Nova Gorica, last September, for €19,900.
Dalle Molle said that making the final of the EPT Copenhagen, which will net him at least DKK 296,400 (€39,755), is “the dream of every poker player”. He has played at least nine EPTs but says Copenhagen is the toughest after London. “I’m the short stack,” he said. “But I’m in a push/ fold situation and if I double up, I’m in a good position.”
Seat 2: Per Linde, 22, Motala, Sweden – 4,980,000 chips
Linde made more than $400,000 in live events last year, the bulk of which was thanks to making the final of the €10,000 WPT Paris event. Team PokerStars Pro Theo Jorgensen won that event, with Linde picking up €234,780 for third place.
The Paris result has been the best of his career but Linde has had several EPT cashes before now including 13th place at San Remo last season, where he earned €40,000. He also cashed in Barcelona in November, earning €15,000.
Seat 3: Nikolas Liakos, 24, Sweden – 1,493,000 chips
Liakos has been playing poker for six years and, after some years as a pro, he is now studying maths with the intention of becoming a teacher, and will graduate in about two years. Liakos mainly plays online cash games up to $10/$20 limits (full ring, shorthanded and heads-up) and is also a sports bettor.
In 2007 he finished EPT Prague in 12th place for €27,800 and also had two big scores in 2008, winning the EPT San Remo €2,000 side event worth €176,200 and finishing fourth at the Master Classics Main Event in Amsterdam, for a further €132,600. Having been focusing on his studies lately Liakos hasn’t played any major live events since.
Seat 4: Mudassar Khan, 38, Denmark – 823,000 chips
Khan is the last remaining Danish player and also a home town boy, hailing from Copenhagen. Khan plays for fun as he normally helps run the family restaurant business.
This hasn’t stopped him achieving some great results though; Khan’s biggest result in that seven-year period coming at the Swedish Open Poker Championships, in 2006, where he won the title and $134,539. Khan has one previous EPT cash in Dortmund, in Season 3.
Seat 5: Kevin Iacofano, 25, Chicago, USA – 1,844,000 chips
Cleveland-born Kevin Iacofano qualified for the EPT Copenhagen for just €215 on PokerStars and is now set for the biggest win of his career. Iacofano is an online pro who makes his living grinding tournaments and is also a regular in the $25/$50 mixed cash games over the last six months. No slouch on the live scene either, Iacofano has $197,542 in live tournament cashes and finished third in a WSOP $1,500 PLO event back in 2009 earning $96,128. The only American at the final table, Iacofano had heard that EPT Copenhagen was a hard nut to crack.
“Even the weaker players make it tough for you,” he said. “It would mean a lot to win an EPT title here.”.
Iacofano also pulled off what he described as the “biggest bluff of my life” on day four, against Sweden’s Nikolas Liakos (who has also made the final). Liakos had led into him on a Kh, 3h, 4c, Qh, Ts board and Iacofano had quickly moved all-in for his tournament life with Ah 8s. Liakos tanked, then folded.
Seat 6: John Eames, 22, Southport, UK – 1,060,000 chips
Eames is a well-known British player who many pros predict will be a future winner of a major event. Eames turned pro nearly four years ago and originally played mainly online, although he has now switched his focus almost entirely to live tournaments.
Eames has had a great Season 7 so far – winning the EPT Vienna €2k event in October for €123,500, and chopping the EPT Barcelona €2k event with fellow finalist Michael Tureniec in November, earning €78,300. Despite playing around 13-14 EPTs, however, this is his first Main Event cash. “I was pretty short around the bubble and thought a min-cash was likely but it picked up,” he said. "It’s great to make a final. All I do now is live events… I like the atmosphere and there’s more prestige if you win. "
Seat 7: Michael Tureniec, 25, Stockholm, Sweden – 1,310,000 chips
Michael Tureniec first rose to fame back in 2008 when he finished runner-up at the Season 5 EPT London event, earning £525,314. That finish is still his best ever live result although his total lifetime live tournament winnings now amount to nearly $2 million.
Last November he chopped the EPT Barcelona €2k side event with fellow Copenhagen finalist John Eames, earning €140,000. Michael has only had one job in his life – working as a supermarket cashier – a job he abandoned to become a professional poker player more than six years ago.
Seat 8: Juha Helppi, 33, Helsinki, Finland – 1,470,000 chips
Helppi was originally a poker dealer but made a name for himself when he eliminated several top pros to take a WPT title in Aruba in 2002. He has since made dozens of other final tables, his best performance being runner-up in a 2006 WSOP $1k NLHE tourney for $331,000. Overall Helppi has had five cashes worth more than $200,000 and more than a dozen first place finishes.
This is Helppi’s third EPT cash but he has won the €20,000 EPT Deauville high roller event back in Season 6, for €192,000. He was also runner-up in the EPT Barcelona €10k event in November, for a further €127,500, and winner of a €1k side event in San Remo last season earning €84,000. Helppi’s career winnings already amount to more than $3 million and Helppi is ranked Finland’s #1 on the All Time Money List. Outside of poker, Helppi is a high level paintball player and was captain of the Finnish National Paintball Champions in 1997, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Copenhagen (in order of how we match up against James Hartigan’s when talk turns to films): Marc Convey (“Ingmar Bergman? Wasn’t she in ‘Casablanca’?”) and Stephen Bartley (“I like musicals”).
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 total of 449 players bought in to the EPT Copenhagen Main Event. Now, five days later, just eight remain, competing for a first prize of DKK 3,700,000. Here’s how they’ll line up when the final begins on Saturday at 12noon.
Seat 1: Andrea Dalle Molle, 27, Rome, Italy – 417,000 chips
Dalle Molle has been playing poker for around six years, turning pro three years ago. Dalle Molle is from Rome and is friends with Team PokerStars Pros Dario Minieri and Salvatore Bonavena, as well as 2010 WSOP finalist Filipo Candio. Dalle Molle’s best live result before now was third place in the Campionato Nazionale Main Event in Nova Gorica, last September, for €19,900.
Dalle Molle said that making the final of the EPT Copenhagen, which will net him at least DKK 296,400 (€39,755), is “the dream of every poker player”. He has played at least nine EPTs but says Copenhagen is the toughest after London. “I’m the short stack,” he said. “But I’m in a push/ fold situation and if I double up, I’m in a good position.”
Seat 2: Per Linde, 22, Motala, Sweden – 4,980,000 chips
Linde made more than $400,000 in live events last year, the bulk of which was thanks to making the final of the €10,000 WPT Paris event. Team PokerStars Pro Theo Jorgensen won that event, with Linde picking up €234,780 for third place.
The Paris result has been the best of his career but Linde has had several EPT cashes before now including 13th place at San Remo last season, where he earned €40,000. He also cashed in Barcelona in November, earning €15,000.
Seat 3: Nikolas Liakos, 24, Sweden – 1,493,000 chips
Liakos has been playing poker for six years and, after some years as a pro, he is now studying maths with the intention of becoming a teacher, and will graduate in about two years. Liakos mainly plays online cash games up to $10/$20 limits (full ring, shorthanded and heads-up) and is also a sports bettor.
In 2007 he finished EPT Prague in 12th place for €27,800 and also had two big scores in 2008, winning the EPT San Remo €2,000 side event worth €176,200 and finishing fourth at the Master Classics Main Event in Amsterdam, for a further €132,600. Having been focusing on his studies lately Liakos hasn’t played any major live events since.
Seat 4: Mudassar Khan, 38, Denmark – 823,000 chips
Khan is the last remaining Danish player and also a home town boy, hailing from Copenhagen. Khan plays for fun as he normally helps run the family restaurant business.
This hasn’t stopped him achieving some great results though; Khan’s biggest result in that seven-year period coming at the Swedish Open Poker Championships, in 2006, where he won the title and $134,539. Khan has one previous EPT cash in Dortmund, in Season 3.
Seat 5: Kevin Iacofano, 25, Chicago, USA – 1,844,000 chips
Cleveland-born Kevin Iacofano qualified for the EPT Copenhagen for just €215 on PokerStars and is now set for the biggest win of his career. Iacofano is an online pro who makes his living grinding tournaments and is also a regular in the $25/$50 mixed cash games over the last six months. No slouch on the live scene either, Iacofano has $197,542 in live tournament cashes and finished third in a WSOP $1,500 PLO event back in 2009 earning $96,128. The only American at the final table, Iacofano had heard that EPT Copenhagen was a hard nut to crack.
“Even the weaker players make it tough for you,” he said. “It would mean a lot to win an EPT title here.”.
Iacofano also pulled off what he described as the “biggest bluff of my life” on day four, against Sweden’s Nikolas Liakos (who has also made the final). Liakos had led into him on a Kh, 3h, 4c, Qh, Ts board and Iacofano had quickly moved all-in for his tournament life with Ah 8s. Liakos tanked, then folded.
Seat 6: John Eames, 22, Southport, UK – 1,060,000 chips
Eames is a well-known British player who many pros predict will be a future winner of a major event. Eames turned pro nearly four years ago and originally played mainly online, although he has now switched his focus almost entirely to live tournaments.
Eames has had a great Season 7 so far – winning the EPT Vienna €2k event in October for €123,500, and chopping the EPT Barcelona €2k event with fellow finalist Michael Tureniec in November, earning €78,300. Despite playing around 13-14 EPTs, however, this is his first Main Event cash. “I was pretty short around the bubble and thought a min-cash was likely but it picked up,” he said. "It’s great to make a final. All I do now is live events… I like the atmosphere and there’s more prestige if you win. "
Seat 7: Michael Tureniec, 25, Stockholm, Sweden – 1,310,000 chips
Michael Tureniec first rose to fame back in 2008 when he finished runner-up at the Season 5 EPT London event, earning £525,314. That finish is still his best ever live result although his total lifetime live tournament winnings now amount to nearly $2 million.
Last November he chopped the EPT Barcelona €2k side event with fellow Copenhagen finalist John Eames, earning €140,000. Michael has only had one job in his life – working as a supermarket cashier – a job he abandoned to become a professional poker player more than six years ago.
Seat 8: Juha Helppi, 33, Helsinki, Finland – 1,470,000 chips
Helppi was originally a poker dealer but made a name for himself when he eliminated several top pros to take a WPT title in Aruba in 2002. He has since made dozens of other final tables, his best performance being runner-up in a 2006 WSOP $1k NLHE tourney for $331,000. Overall Helppi has had five cashes worth more than $200,000 and more than a dozen first place finishes.
This is Helppi’s third EPT cash but he has won the €20,000 EPT Deauville high roller event back in Season 6, for €192,000. He was also runner-up in the EPT Barcelona €10k event in November, for a further €127,500, and winner of a €1k side event in San Remo last season earning €84,000. Helppi’s career winnings already amount to more than $3 million and Helppi is ranked Finland’s #1 on the All Time Money List. Outside of poker, Helppi is a high level paintball player and was captain of the Finnish National Paintball Champions in 1997, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
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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