| Buy-In: | $7,111 + $356 |
|---|---|
| Prize Pool: | $5,172,808 |
| Entrants: | 691 |
There were times today when we wondered whether the EPT London High Roller would ever come to life. For long periods the tempo was slow and repetitive, with players seeming to be keener on chatting than getting down to business, like some out of control classroom needing iron discipline and a rigid dress code.
But when it comes to high roller events you sometimes have to allow the natural order of things to develop, allowing time for the talking to turn to action and the blinds to turn action into eliminations.
Looking back over the period of play prior to the dinner break, chip leader Igor Kurganov might well recall that as being the decisive spell.
With 22 players remaining, and the only partly-welcomed dinner break 45 minutes away, the field was reduced to just 12 in short order. Suddenly leads were developed, stacks that had been nursed were now in bloom, and the way made clear for a final eight to emerge.
But Kurganov’s lead tonight is more a leasehold rather than a permanent arrangement, guaranteed for a period of 14 hours and no more, with a final eight each capable of the type of classy performance that crowds high roller champions tomorrow.
Here’s how they’ll line-up.
Seat 1 – Adrian Bussman, 518,000
Seat 2 – Igor Kurganov, 854,000
Seat 3 – Rob Akery, 622,000
Seat 4 – Sam Trickett, 354,000
Seat 5 – Joel Nordkvist, 365,000
Seat 6 – Philipp Gruissem, 311,000
Seat 7 – Olivier Busquet, 471,000
Seat 8 – Michael Tureneic, 268,000
As well as for Kurganov, superlatives were also in order for the account of Rob Akery’s progress. That period before dinner was crucial to Akery who had led before a hand against Kurganov depleted his stack. But by the close of play it had been revived, standing second to the leader.
Olivier Busquet recovered well from a bad hand against Tureniec when he could have been excused allowing the wheels to fall off his campaign. So successful was his rebuilding effort that when play stopped he suggested they play on, failing, however, to find another eager proponent.
He returns, as does Sam Trickett, the English pro who has had a breakout 12 months. Joel Nordkvist and Adrian Bussman make for a trio of Swedish finalists.
Play resumed with 30 players at 12 noon today in the shadow of the television lights, following the action in the main event.
Daniel Smith was first out. Former EPT winner Mike McDonald stretched his short stack into a couple of hours of play before busting. Jonathan Duhamel was also eliminated midway through the day, as was fellow Team PokerStars Pro and former world champion Joe Hachem.
Sorel Mizzi was massaged for most of his time at the tables, but was unable to massage his stack into anything more than elimination.
Eugene Katchalov, who is more dextrous than most with a short stack, did well to build before the foundations were whipped away from under him, sending him out before the break.
Sam Stein, the leader coming into the day, was shown the door by Busquet four places off the final table, ahead of Philip Collins, Byron Kaverman and James Bord, whose departure brought an end to the day.
Apparently there’s a party going on somewhere, but that’s not really our thing. We prefer to re-read the coverage to remove adverbs. You can do the same at the links below…
Level 10-13 updates
Level 14 – 17 updates
Our thanks to photographer Mickey May for all the images from today. The final table begins tomorrow at 12 noon, once more running alongside the bright lights of the main event; coverage of both events can be found right here on the PokerStars Blog.
Until then, it’s goodnight form London.
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.
Martins Adeniya heads to the EPT London party at the exclusive Kensington Roof Gardens looking to start his celebrations a day early. The 26-year-old Brit is well stacked with 4,736,000, some way ahead of his chief rivals Mattias Bergstrom (3,620,000) and Benny Spindler (3,435,000). One player will tomorrow win £750,000.
Adeniya’s lively style of play was always going to see his stack moving up and down but at the end it soared: 1,600,000 up to his chip leading 4,746,000 during the final level of a day.
The final building block came with his ejection of Adria Balaguer, who was knocked out in ninth place for £45,000 to set up our EPT eight-handed final table where a new champion will be crowned (Joao Barbosa, our last remaining double candidate departed in 17th). A flopped full house versus trips with an ace kicker saw the Spaniard sent to the rail wishing he’d just passed pre-flop. Someone had to go, nine too many, eight the magic EPT final table number.
Tomorrow’s final table, which starts at midday, will feature a mix of players, a melange of tournament experience and victories, ranging from Spindler (nine final tables, $1,962,683 live winnings) and O’Dwyer (15 final tables, $1,114,167 live winnings) to Miroslav Benes (one final table, $5,513 live winnings) and Mattias Bergstrom (one final table, $39,740 live winnings).
Seat 1: Miroslav Benes, PokerStars online qualifier, 370,000
Seat 2: Andre Klebanov, 2,30,000
Seat 3: Stephen O’Dwyer, 1,250,000
Seat 4: Juan Manuel Pastor, Team PokerStars Pro, 1,915,000
Seat 5: Benny Spindler, PokerStars player, 3,435,000
Seat 6: Kevin Iacofano, 2,685,000
Seat 7: Martins Adeniya, 4,736,000
Seat 8: Mattias Bergstrom, 3,620,000
Bergstrom may not have tonnes of live experience but he did start the day as chip leader and within minutes he was stretching out further, turning pocket tens into a full house on a K
3
K
102 board against the AK of Basile Yaiche. That all but knocked out the Frenchman and put Bergstrom up to 2,850,000. Two hours later he won another large pot, this time against the languorous American Steve O’Dwyer, pushing the Swede towards four million when his closest rival held just half that.
Then the inevitable slowdown and catch-up, O’Dwyer key in that occurrence after check-raising top trips on the turn and firing the river into the unbelieving Swede. All this happened on the outer table, away from the merry carnage that always seems to weave around Benny Spindler at the feature TV table.
Spindler has featured in every night’s wrap of the action and that’s not down to preferential treatment from our end, the German will barely speak to the press. Spindler’s talents place him at the centre of any tournament in which he amasses a stack, it’s gravitational pull too much for us to ignore. His stack appears denser, its mass like a blackhole, sucking in everything in its path as Hugo Loureiro found out getting A5 in pre-flop against Spindler’s 89, flopping an ace and still losing to straight.
That said, Spindler may count himself lucky that he didn’t have Martins Adeniya on his table until the very end. When the pair met at the final table today the young Brit five-bet shoved on him for a couple of million. Adeniya, you feel, is a player that has his fear switch flicked to the ‘off’ position when at the poker table. Much like Spindler. It should prove to be an interesting match-up tomorrow with Adeniya holding position and percentage over the German.
Okay, you may always want aces but they’re not always going to win and today variance took a downturn on those bullets. Four times we reported them cracked, a terrible three times for Pascal Hartmann who bust in 15th (£22,000) and once for a huge 2,400,000 pot to knock out Anatoly Gurtovoy in 14th (£27,000). Balaguer was the lucky recipient in that later coup, his pocket queens caught a two-outer on the turn, much to the delight of his loud Spanish rail.
A special mention goes out to Juan Manuel Pastor who scored his deepest EPT run, beating his 17th place finish in Warsaw back in Season 5, and as the sole survivor of Team PokerStars Pro he can also add a debut final table to his poker resume. Pastor who has played the role of an Aikido master to beneficial effect, allowing the aggressive young men around him to come charging at him before turning and twisting their energy back on them, most noticeably when flopping bottom set against Andre Klebanov. The young German held A9 for a pair and the nut flush draw on a 54J9 board. Pastor sidestepped the eight clean flush outs to rake in a pot worth well in excess of 2,000,000.
To catch up with all the action from the day click on the links below and if you’d like to see all the bust out positions then click here.
If you wish to dabble with gallant German or sumptuous Swedish then click on their red bits and see what our foreign colleagues were doing all day.
Thanks to Neil Stoddart who has been capturing souls in his flashy-snappy-box all day. Credit his pictures with his name, he owns the copyright.
This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.
9.50pm: The final table is set
After an extended period of cagey play, as eyes turned to James Bord, the short stack, to make an all-or-nothing move, the Englishman finally found a hand he was prepared to stake his tournament life on, moving in for just short of 60,000. Olivier Busquet was last to act and after some thought announced call, turning over 8
9 to Bord’s A3.
A nine hit the flop but no ace to rescue Bord. We’re down to eight and play has ended for the day. — SB
9.40pm: Bord shorts
After a lot of tip-toe play we finally had a hand that made it past the flop with a bet and not a check.
James Bord raised to 21,000 and was only called by Igor Kurganov on the button. The flop came down 437 and Bord continued for 23,000. Call. The turn was A and Bord bet again, for 65,000. Call. The final card fell as Q and there was no slowing down Bord who fired 85,000. Quick call.
Bord winced and tabled KQ, losing out to Kurganov’s AJ. The British high-stakes sports bettor is by far the short stack now on around 100,000. — MC
9.15pm: No one goes home empty handed
As play continues it has been announced that there will be a “saver” of £25,000 to the ninth place finisher. — SB
9.05pm: Final nine
Seat 1 – James Bord, 220,000
Seat 2 – Adrian Bussman, 495,000
Seat 3 – Igor Kurganov, 690,000
Seat 4 – Rob Akery, 710,000
Seat 5 – Sam Trickett, 365,000
Seat 6 – Joel Nordkvist, 357,000
Seat 7 – Philipp Gruissem, 365,000
Seat 8 – Olivier Busquet, 325,000
Seat 9 – Michael Tureneic, 425,000
8.55pm: One table
Byron Kaverman goes out as the blinds go up. He raised to 12,000 from the cut off before Igor Kurganov raised to 34,000 from the small blind. Kaverman then moved all-in for 200,000 which Kurganov snap called, turning over A10 to Kaverman’s 77.
The board ran 425J4 to send Kaverman to the rail in tenth place. We now have nine players left who will now play nine-handed for the first and only time in the event. One more elimination is required before play finishes. — SB
8.40pm: No night in paradise for Collins
Phil Collins is out after shoving when behind in hand for the first time against Igor Kurganov. The flop came out J78 and Collins was under the gun and check-raised a 22,000 bet up to 60,000. His German opponent was in the next seat and called before both players checked the 9 turn.
The river fell as A and Collins shoved for his last 140,000 with QQ. Kurganov called with 89 for the rivered flush. We’re down to 10 players now and getting ever closer to the bubble. — MC
8.30pm: Big hand for Tureniec
A massive double up for Michael Tureniec leaves him with more than 400,000 while at the same time snatching the bulk of Olivier Busquet’s stack, leaving him on just 180,000.
Busquet opened for 12,000 before Tureniec raised to 30,000 in the big blind. Busquet called for a flop of 77A. Tureniec bet 23,500 which Busquet then raised to 51,000 total.
Tureniec, who hardly moved throughout the hand, removed the headphone from his left ear and said something. Busquet had 330,000 behind to Tureniec’s 180,000. Tureniec announced he was all in. Busquet called.
Tureniec: A8
Busquet: A5
Busquet was in trouble and when the turn and river came KK he let out an involuntary groan.
“He won… he won…” said Busquet as the dealer set about working out the solution to the mess he had in front of him.
Busquet down to 180,000, while Tureniec moves up to around 420,000. – SB
8.20pm: Another multi-street bluff from Trickett
If you didn’t know before today, Sam Trickett is capable of pulling big multi-street bluffs, as we saw earlier. A similar hand just played out against Adrian Bussman but we didn’t get to see his cards this time.
The hand started with raise to 12,000 from Rob Akery in the hijack and calls from Bussman, Trickett and Igor Kurganov to see a 8JJ flop.
Bussman bet 23,500 and only Trickett called. The turn came 2 and Bussman checked to face a 30,500 be that he called. The river fell 7 and Trickett moved all-in for 111,700 when it was checked to him again. Bussman took long while but ultimately slid his cards into the muck to drop to around 300,000 chips. Trickett up to around 280,000. — MC
8.05pm: Down to 11
On a flop of AQ9 Sam Stein moved all-in against Olivier Busquet, the American calling immediately in one of the first hands back after the break. Stein had been short for some time and now it was time to take a stand with A10. Busquet called with KQ and didn’t have to wait long for help, the Q landing on the river, making the 6 on the river redundant.
Stein pushed forward the 70,000 he’d moved in with, got up and left. We’re down to 11. – SB
7.55pm: Your final 12 and their counts
Adrian Bussman, Sweden — 511,500
Robert Akery, UK — 457,500
Joel Nordkvist, Sweden — 425,000
Igor Kurganov, Germany — 398,500
Byron Kaverman, USA — 368,500
Olivier Busquet, USA — 333,000
James Bord, UK — 300,000
Philipp Gruissem, Germany — 250,000
Philip Collins, USA — 245,500
Michael Tureniec, Sweden — 210,000
Samuel Trickett, UK — 204,000
Samuel Stein, USA — 86,000
6.40pm: Play resumes at…
7.50pm
6.35pm: Captain Kaverman
There goes another, Michael Watson departing in another three-way all-in.
Byron Kaverman opened on the button for 10,000 which Sam Trickett raised to 160,000, effectively making it all-in to call for Watson on the big blind. He tanked and then did just that, moving in for around 110,000. It was all in for Kaverman to call as well, which he also did.
Kaverman: AK
Trickett: A7
Watson: KQ
The board ran 8464A.
A seven would have sent two the the rail but instead Watson departed, sending a stack of 365,000 back to Kaverman, while Trickett drops to 185,000 as the level ends and players go for a 75 minute dinner break. – SB
6.25pm: So long Talal
Another elimination. This time it’s Talal Shakerchi departing for the rail, moving in with KJ against the 22 of Igor Kurganov. The board ran A47QA to leave 13 players in the High Roller.
At the conclusion of this level players will take a dinner break, which will be either 60 or 75 minutes long, depending on the decision of the players. They will then play three more levels, or until a final table, depending on the decision of the players. – SB
6.20pm: Missing in action
Luke Schwartz is out.
6.15pm: Two down
Suddenly another two players bust in the same hand, Adrian Bussman sending Shane Reihill and Marvin Rettenmaier to the rail when his aces topped their [k]9[ and [a][k] on a board of 8884[q]. A huge hand for Adrian Bussman with just 15 players remaining of the level. – SB
6.10pm: Bondar busto
Andrey Bondar has fallen to Rob Akery. These two and Michael Watson had made it to the turn where the board read 210J9. Bondar led for 17,000 from the small blind and Watson called before Akery raised to 52,000. Bondar snap shoved for 150,000 and Akery called just as quick after Watson moved out of the way.
Bondar tabled A2 for a pair and but flush draw but he was behind to Akery’s KQ for a turned straight. The river came A and Akery is up to 430,000. — MC
6pm: Bondar beached
Andrey Bondar opened for 12,000 which Sam Trickett raised to 28,000 from the cut off. Bondar called for a flop of 294. Bondar made it another 35,000 to play which Trickett called.
On the 8 turn Bondar checked to Trickett who bet 47,000. Bondar, with 170,000 behind, tanked for a while – a long pause. Eventually he passed and Trickett moves up to 330,000, showing JQ. – SB
5.45pm: Busquet returns the favour
After doubling-up at least three times today, it was only fair that Oliver Busquet return the favour. The grateful recipient was Sam Stein who shoved for 48,500 from the button with 77. Busquet called from the small blind with 66 but failed to improve trough the K4289 board. — MC
5.35pm: Ionel out
Anton Ionel is the latest faller, leaving 18 players behind. He was eliminated by Sam Trickett on a board of 69[t]8[j] with Tricket showing [a][q] against Ionel’s [k]9. – SB
5.30pm: Doubling for fun
Oliver Busquet seems to be adjusting to these “live” pros now, or it might be that he just found pocket aces when Joel Nordkvist had ace-king.
The American raised and then four-bet when Nordkvist three-bet him from the small blind. The Swede five-bet all-in and was snapped off.
Busquet: AA
Nordkvist: AK
The board ran K79J4.
Busquet is up to 370,000 and Nordkvist is down to 100,000. — MC
5.25pm: Haxton out, Kurganov in
Isaac Haxton is out in 21st place. The story was aces against ace-king, Michael Tureniec taking his chips.
While Haxton’s tournament was coming to an end Igor Kurganov’s was just coming alive. Rob Akery opened for 8,000 which Kurganov called on the big blind for a flop of 3410. Kurganov then bet 13,000 which Akery called for a J turn. Then he bet another 30,00 which again Akery called for a 2 river. Then Kurganov fired out 70,000. Akery went to his chips and after some re-arranging announced he was all-in. Kurganov called, turning over 65 to Akery’s 44.
Akery winced, the all-in being for 136,000. His lead has now evaporated, down to 140,000, while Kurganov moves up to 390,000. – SB
5.20pm: Bord didn’t Mizzi a value bet
Sorel Mizzi is down to 50,000 after paying off James Bord. Bord bet 23,000 on the turn and 43,000 on the river on a 2657K board. Mizzi took his time on the river before calling and mucking upon seeing JJ. Bord up to 230,000. — MC
5.15pm: Reihill flush with chips
Shane Reihill made a flush on the river versus Philipp Gruissem and managed to get a full double-up.
Gruissem raised to 8,500 from the hijack and Reihill was the only caller from the button to see a K26 flop. Gruissem continued for 8,500 and called when his opponent raised him to 24,000. Both players checked the 8 turn before Reihill moved all-in for his remaining 67,000 on the J. The German check-called and mucked upon seeing A3. He’s down to 190,000 whereas Reihill up to 130,000. — MC
5.05pm: Bussman all-in
Adrian Bussman just moved all-in and was called. It proved a false alarm with both players turning over ace-king with nothing on the board to threaten.
On the table next to them Isaac Haxton opened for 9,000 and was called by Olivier Busquet in the big blinds. Both checked down a board of 82AK7 until Haxton took the pot with a bet of 16,500 on the end.
Shane Reihill also moved in shortly after, behind a bet of 8,000 by Bussman and a call from Philipp Gruissem. Neither wanted to take on the Irishman.
James Bord, looking slightly glazed, is onto his third massage. – SB
5pm: Another double for Busquet
Oliver Busquet is on more than 200,000 after doubling through Michael Tureniec.
He raised to 9,000 from mid-position and then moved all-in when the chip leader three-bet to 20,000 from the cut-off. Tureniec found out it was 102,000 total and made the call.
Busquet: 99
Tureniec: 66
The board ran KAJ5A. Is Tureniec’s dominance over his table in threat now? —MC
4.50pm: Chips, chips
The latest chip counts can now be found on the official chip count page. — SB
4.45pm: Tied for the lead
There are two chip leaders going into the new level. Both Michael Tureniec and Rob Akery have 409,000. — SB
4.40pm: Level up
Play continues into level 14 with blinds now 2,000-4,000 with a 500 ante.
PokerStars Blog High Roller reporting team in London: Marc Convey and Stephen Bartley. Photos by Mickey May.
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.
8.10pm: Adria Balaguer out in 9th (£45,000), final table set
It’s all over for the day, with Adria Balaguer losing out on a final table place. Juan Manuel Pastor, who has been quiet on this last table, put in a raise to 105,000 and got no less than five callers.
The flop was 77[10h] and Miroslav Benes checked, as did Balaguer, Pastor and Martins Adeniya before Mattias Bergstrom tried his luck with a bet of 200,000. Benes folded but then Balaguer moved all-in for around 1.7 million. Adeniya called and Bergstrom got out of the way.
Balaguer: A7
Adeniya: [10c][10d]
Adeniya was a mile ahead with his full house, and he stayed that way on the 2 turn. Someone on the rail called for a “seven from heaven”, but it was the 2 instead to send the Spaniard to the rail with £45,000 in his back pocket.
We’ll have a full wrap for you shortly, and will update the chip count page with full, official counts as soon as we get them. — SY
8pm: One for Bergstrom
Miroslav Benes made it 125,000 and got a call from Mattias Bergstrom on the big blind. Both checked the JJ2 flop, and on the [10s] turn Benes made it 125,000 and Bergstrom called. On the 4 river Bergstrom led out with a bet of 350,000 and Benes folded. — SY
7.51pm: Benes mucks pre-showdown
Miroslav Benes has twice three-bet with pocket kings and got no customers. This time he re-raised Kevin Iafocano and got a call. He continued on the 544 flop with a 225,000 bet that Iafocano called. Both then checked the A turn, and when Iafocano checked the K river, Benes mucked. — SY
7.38pm: Spindler trying
Benny Spindler takes up where he left off before the break – raising. This time he min-raised to 100,000 but was faced with a re-raise to 235,000 by Kevin Iafocano. Spindler folded after a 60-second dwell. — SY
7.30pm: Play resumes
The surviving nine players have returned fresh from their dinner break, and we play until until we lose just one more. Then our final table is set. Blinds are now 25,000-50,000 with a 5,000 ante. — SY
6.55pm: Dinner break chips
Seat 1: Miroslav Benes, 1,220,000
Seat 2: Adria Balaguer, 1,810,000
Seat 3: Andre Klebanov, 2,745,000
Seat 4: Stephen O’Dwyer, 1,385,000
Seat 5: Juan Manuel Pastor, 2,155,000
Seat 6: Benny Spindler, 3,380,000
Seat 7: Kevin Iafocano, 1,425,000
Seat 8: Martins Adeniya, 3,290,000
Seat 9: Mattias Bergstrom, 3,325,000
6.40pm: What? Dinner break?
With just one player needing to bust before tomorrow’s final table is set, we’ve been caught out by the announcement that we are now on a 45-minute dinner break! We’ll have chips soon. — SY
6.15pm: Klebanov doubles
Benny Spindler raised to 80,000 (as he does most hands), and Adria Balaguer called from the small blind before Andre Klebanov moved all-in from the big for 780,000. Spindler got out of the way, but Balaguer called with pocket eights, slightly ahead of Klebanov’s A-J. The board ran 92[10h]J6 and Klebanov got the double up. — SY
6.05pm: Someone stop Spindler! Oh, they have
Benny Spindler has been running over the table since the restart, raising and three-betting his way to multiple pots. But Martins Adeniya put an end to that. Spindler had raised to 80,000 for the umpteenth time from the button before Adeniya re-raised to 210,000. Spindler wasn’t done yet, raising again to 380,000 – but he folded soon enough when Adeniya moved all-in for a couple of million. — SY
5.51pm: All-in, fold
Martins Adeniya made it 85,000 but he folded when Andre Klebanov moved all-in from the big blind for 695,000. — SY
5.45pm: Off we go
Play has restarted.
5.35pm: Final nine
Here’s how the last nine players sit around the table:
Seat 1: Miroslav Benes, 1,545,000
Seat 2: Adria Balaguer, 2,740,000
Seat 3: Andre Klebanov, 705,000
Seat 4: Stephen O’Dwyer, 2,100,000
Seat 5: Juan Manuel Pastor, 2,250,000
Seat 6: Benny Spindler, 3,460,000
Seat 7: Kevin Iafocano, 2,355,000
Seat 8: Martins Adeniya, 2,325,000
Seat 9: Mattias Bergstrom, 3,255,000
Play will be under way shortly. — SY
5.25pm: One table, one break
The remaining nine players will reconvene on the main feature table and play on until one more busts out. Then, and only then, will our final table proper be set for tomorrow. Players are now on a ten-minute break. — SY
5.22pm: And another! Jeremy Kottler out in 10th (£45,000)
They’re falling like flies, with Jeremy Kottler being the third player out in ten minutes. He had shoved with 77 and was called by Benny Spindler with KQ. The board ran J52Q9 to send the loot to Spindler and send Kottler to the rail. — SY
5.18pm: James Mitchell out in 11th (£35,000)
In the second of two quick bust outs, the UK’s James Mitchell is visiting the cash desk. It had been folded around to Kevin Iacofano on the button who raised to 85,000. Mitchell moved all in for 405,000 from the small blind and Iacofano called instantly. He had pocket queens to Mitchell’s pocket threes, and that’s all she wrote. — SY
5.12pm: Loureiro goes in 12th (£35,000)
Benny Spindler has just knocked out Hugo Loureiro at the TV table in 12th place. A short stacked Loureiro picked up A5 and opted to go with it, Spindler with 98 decided to give him a spin.
The flop peeled out 9A7, Spindler rarely doesn’t offer a sweat and that increased on the 6 turn. The river? The 10. Spindler now up to 3,100,000 and bearing down on the chip lead. — RD
5.05pm: The scores on the doors
The final two tables are as follows. Mattias Bergstrom still holds the chip lead but others are fast catching up.
TV table
Andre Klebanov, 715,000
Hugo Loureiro, 395,000
Juan Manuel Pastor, Team PokerStars Pro, 2,260,000
Jeremy Kottler, 435,000
Miroslav Benes, PokerStars qualifier, 1,400,000
Benny Spindler, PokerStars player, 2,755,000
Outer table
Mattias Bergstrom, 3,575,000
Kevin Iacofano, 2,020,000
James Mitchell, 460,000
Martins Adeniya, 1,630,000
Adria Balaguer, 2,515,000
Steve O’Dwyer, 2,575,000
Four more player to go before we break for the final table. Cards are back in the air. — RD
5pm: Party time
Players are being reminded that they can pick up their party wristbands from the PokerStars welcome desk on the ground floor of the Hilton Metropole West Wing between now and 8pm.
The party is taking place at one of London’s most swanky party venues – the Roof Gardens in Kensington tonight. Doors open at 9pm with an open bar through to 12.30, and canapés from 9-11pm.
The party is being sponsored by Skrill, the Official Payment Provider Sponsor for EPT Season 8. All EPT players and media are warmly invited to come along. — SY
4.47pm: Break
That’s enough of level 25. We’re on a 20-minute break before we welcome level 26 with blinds of 20,000-40,000 and a 5,000 ante. — SY
4.46pm: Benjamin Jenkins out in 13th (£27,000)
On the last hand before the 20-minutue break, Benny Spindler knocked out Benjamin Jenkins. Jenkins had shoved with QJ but was up against the German’s JJ. In other words, he was in a bit of a pickle.
No help came on the 8K7K5 board, and the suited Jenkins departed. We’re down to 12 players. — SY
4.43pm: Aces cracked again, Gurtovoy out in 14th (£27,000)
Aces have been cracked again at the outer table, this time with Russian Anatoly Gurtovoy’s aces losing out to the pocket queens of Adria Balageur after getting it all-in for a 2,400,000 pot. Brutal game. Thirteen remain, another all-in is reaching us… — RD
4.35pm: Better late than never
Kevin Iacofano doubled up, but it took a two-outer on the river to keep him in the tournament. He had raised to 65,000 before Martins Adeniya made it 151,000 from the button. Iacofano raised again, to 300,000, Adeniya moved all-in and Iacofano called.
Iacofano: KK
Adeniya: AA
Iacofano was all-in for 976,000 total, easily covered by the Brit. The flop and turn were of no consequence, but it was the K river which saved Iacofano’s bacon. He doubled up to more than 1.9 million, while Adeniya dropped to 1.5 million. — SY
4.28pm: Mitchell brutalised by Adeniya
Martins Adeniya is up over 2,500,000 after firing three streets into James Mitchell.
On a board of Q4J52 Adeniya bet 75,000 into the flop, 160,000 into the turn and 323,000 into the river. Mitchell, not looking thrilled I might add, made the river call. Adenia showed AQ for top pair, top kicker to take the pot.
The outer table is as follows:
Seat one: Mattias Bergstrom, 2,900,000
Seat two: Kevin Iacofano, 1,100,000
Seat three: James Mitchell, 450,000
Seat four: Martins Adeniya, 2,500,000
Seat five: Anatoly Gurtovoy, 1,500,000
Seat six: empty
Seat seven: Adria Balageur, 1,300,000
Seat eight: Steve O’Dwyer, 2,900,000
We have fourteen players remaining, all of whom are now guaranteed a minimum of £27,000. Check the payouts and prizepool page here. — RD
4.12pm: Brutal day for Hartmann, out in 15th (£22,000)
Pascal Hartmann has just been knocked out by Anatoly Gurtovoy after having his aces cracked for a third time today. This time it was AA to A8, all-in pre-flop and hitting a gutshot on the river. A very tough day for the German. — RD
3.55pm: Huge pot for Pastor
Juan Manuel Pastor is up to around 2,300,000 after winning a huge pot with a flopped set in a four-way pot.
We join the action on the turn (the flop may have been checked round) with the board reading 54J9. Pastor checks from the small blind and Jeremy Kottler bet 140,000. Adria Balaguer made the call as did Andre Klebanov in late position. The action was back on Pastor who went through the pained motions of a man with a big decision on his hands. After much hair ruffling, face rubbing and grimace pulling, Pastor announced that he was all-in for around 1,000,000.
The action now folded round to Klebanov who equally didn’t seem to have an easy decision on his hands. He eventually made the call.
Pastor: 44 for bottom set
Klebanov: A9 for a pair and the nut flush draw
The river was a blank 10 and Pastor raked in the huge pot. Klebanov down to 655,000.
Also, short stacked Ioannis Beris busted out leaving 15 players in the main event. The Greek online qualifier takes home £22,000. — RD
3.37pm: New level, same faces
We’ve started a new level and are yet to bust anyone since the final two tables were redrawn (that draw can be found in the last level). Mattias Bergstrom is still our leader here at the Hilton Metropole with Steve O’Dwyer leading the chasing pack. — RD
3.36pm: Pastor in the final 16
The PokerStars video team caught up with Juan Manuel Pastor at the break. This is officially Pastor’s highest main event finish since EPT Warsaw, Season 5 where the Spaniard cashed in 17th. — RD
PokerStars Blog reporting team in London (and their lunchtime baguette filling): Rick Dacey (roast beef, yorkshire pudding and gravy) and Simon Young (also roast beef, yorkshire pudding and gravy – how could you not?). Photos by Neil Stoddart.
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: End of the level
Players are now on a 15 minute break.
4.20pm: Scratch Katchalov
Out in 22nd place goes Eugene Katchalov. He opened on the button for 6,500 which was called by Andrey Bondar in the big blind for a flop of 378. Bondar checked to Katchalov who bet 8,500. Called. On the 6 turn Bondar bet 20,000. Katchalov announced he was all in which Bondar called immediately; Katchalov’s 99 trailing Bondar’s 86. The river came 2. Bondar pumped both fists and Katchalov left for the rail. – SB
4.18pm: A nice mistake to make
Oliver Busquet was saying that he keeps making mistakes and he thought he just made one against Michael Tureniec, but he changed his mind and said he just needs to adjust to “live” players.
He was heads-up with Tureniec and around 40,000 had made it into the middle by the turn where the board read 105AA. Tureniec checked from the small blind to face a 12,000 bet that he treated to an all-in push. Busquet called all-in for 41,200 thinking he must be behind with A3. He wasn’t though as the Swede had a drawing Q7 that missed on the 8 river.
Busquet is up to about 125,000 and Tureniec is still cruising on 480,000. — MC
4.10pm: Quoss two players out
Fabian Quoss is out. He shoved with six big blinds under the gun with king-nine suited and was called by Phil Collins with pocket jacks in the big blinds. Quoss out.
Following him to the rail is reigning World Champion Jonathan Duhamel, sent their by Adrian Bussman. Down to 22. – SB
4pm: An eight is great for Ionel
Life in the high-roller was looking grim for Anton Ionel until he hit his two-outer. He three-bet all-in for 26,400 after Michael Watson had opened from first position. Call.
Watson: KK
Ionel: 88
The board ran J5849 to make him a set on the flop. — MC
3.50pm: Seat draw
With three tables remaining here’s how the players line up:
Philipp Gruissem
Marvin Rettenmaier
Shane Reihill
Joel Nordkvist
Byron Kaverman
Jonathan Duhamel
Talal Shakerchi
Adrian Bussman
Phillip Collins
Fabian Quoss
Sam Stein
Olivier Busquet
James Bord
Michael Tureniec
Isaac Haxton
Sorel Mizzi
Eugene Katchalov
Rob Akery
Andrey Bondar
Sam Trickett
Luke Schwartz
Michael Watson
Igor Kurganov
Anton Ionel
3.45pm: Karr wrecked
Mclean Karr is out, having moved in with AK but was called by Philipp Gruissem who showed JJ. A third jack on the turn sent Karr to the rail in 25th place, leaving three tables remaining. – SB
3.40pm: Quoss in trouble
Fabian Quoss is in trouble with just 25,000 after making a big river call versus Michael Tureniec. The action had reached the river and around 70,000 had made in into the middle. The board read A389K and Tureniec led out for 71,500 from the small blind. The German tank-called but mucked upon seeing the Swede’s K9 for two-pair. — MC
3.25pm: Chop-pity-chop, please don’t stop
James Bord apologised to Oliver Busquet after he four-bet tank-called the American’s five-bet shove.
Fabian Quoss opened to 5,300 from the cut-off before Busquet three-bet to 10,700 from the button and Bord four-bet to 28,500 from the small blind. Quoss folded but Busquet moved all-in for 126,100. Bord took his time and called. Both players tabled ace-king.
Quoss smiled and tapped himself on the back as he said he folded ace-queen. The board ran out blank but a queen appeared on the river and that changed Quoss’ mood.
—MC
3.15pm: These ducks aren’t so mighty
Joe Hachem has been eliminated by Michael Tureniec. The Team PokerStars Pro shoved his short stack in from the hijack with pocket twos and was called by the Swede in the small blind with A6. An ace appeared on the flop and that was all she wrote. — MC
3.10pm: Fish and chips
While Igor Kurganov eats a fish from out of a foil tray and sips carrot juice, on the adjacent table Olivier Busquet was all-in on a flop of 432, showing J5 against Michael Tureniec’s Q8. The turn 4 and river A left Busquet with a straight, and the pot, doubling him up to around 115,000. Tureniec drops down to 280,000. – SB
3pm: One for Bord, one for Quoss
James Bord and Fabian Quoss were involved in two hands in-a-row, and each took one down.
In the first hand the two were heads-up to a 410K flop and Bord checked from under-the-gun and called when Quoss bet 18,000 from the button. The turn came 2 and an 18,000 bet from the German was enough to force Bord to fold. The A was chosen to be shown out of his hole cards.
the next hand saw Isaac Haxton raise from early position and our friends call to see a 478 flop. Bord led for 12,000 and only Quoss called to the A turn where both players checked. The river came J Quoss folded to a 25,000 bet from Bord. The 7 was shown to the table. — MC
2.50pm: McDonald finds a good spot to double-up
Mike McDonald is back above his starting stack after finding AK in a sweet spot. McLean Karr opened to 5,000 from the hijack and was three-bet to 14,600 by Jonathan Duhamel in the cut-off before the Canadian moved all-in for his last 22,900. Karr folded but Duhamel called with K10.
The board ran 6834Q. McDonald still has a lot of work to do to get back in this. — MC
2.40pm: Katchalov pushing 100k
Eugene Katchalov’s fight back continues as he gets to within sight of the six-figure mark.
After Sam Stein opened for 5,200 in the cut off, Katchalov called from the small blind, as did Sorel Mizzi from the big. The flop came KQ5 which was checked through to Stein. He bet 8,200 which Katchalov called before Mizzi got out of the way.
Both checked the 6 turn for a 7 river card. Katchalov took the pot with a bet of 16,000. – SB
2.30pm: Level 12 begins
Here’s the top five counts as a new level begins:
Robert Akery — 359,000
Michael Tureniec — 320,000
McLean Karr — 246,000
Isaac Haxton — 200,000
Samuel Stein — 170,000
Full counts can be found on the chipcount page. —MC
2.10pm: Double elimination as players go on break
We were wondering when our next player was going to bust and then we got two in one hand.
Govert Metaal shoved for 34,600 from the hijack and was called by Rob Akery in the next seat. Yury Esaulov was on the button and meant to call but accidentally put in two many chips, so a min three-bet was declared. That represented more than half his remaining stack and Akery set him in for the rest. Call.
Metaal: Q9
Akery: AK
Esaulov: 1010
The board ran 346KJ to pair Akery’s king. He’s up to around 340,000 now but as it’s break we’ll do a full round of chip counts. — MC
2.05pm: Rettenmaier all-in
After two hours of play and only one elimination, it looked like Marvin Rettenmaier’s days were numbered when he moved all-in for 12,700 and got two callers.
Talal Shakerchi had opened for 5,000 in early position before Philipp Gruissem called in the cut off. Then 4002 pushed in from the button.
Shakerchi and Gruissem checked the 5KQ flop, then the 2 turn and the A river. A delighted Rettenmaier watched as Shakerchi showed 66 and Gruissem turned over A9. Rettenmaier had A10 and tripled up.
“I’m good at this game,” he joked. – SB
2pm: Busquet doubled through Bord
Olivier Busquet needed a double-up and he got one. The action folded to him in the small blind and he completed. James Bord was his big blinded neighbour and raised to 7,000, only for Busquet to raise all-in for 34,000. Bord took a minute and called.
Busquet: KK
Bord: A9
The board ran K697J to make the American a set.
“I was always going to call”, said Bord in explaining his delay. “You might’ve played it the only way where you don’t get the money though”, he now aimed solely as his opponent. Busquet agreed with him. Bord’s still okay on 170,000. — MC
1.50pm: Katchalov shoves
Shane Reihill opened for 5,500 which got the attention of Andrey Bondar on the button. After rubbing his chin he called. Then it was Eugene Katchalov to act from the small blind. He looked down at his cards, then at the general scene, and announced he was all-in. Reihill passed, as did Bondar, who began shaking his head, which seemed involuntary.
1.45pm: Katchalov clawing his way back
On a flop of K79 Sam Stein checked to from the big blind to Eugene Katchalov in early position, who made it 4,500 to play. Stein called for a 3 turn card.
It’s a quiet table. None of the chatter on the Hachem/Haxton table, just serious expressions. Stein checked again before Katchalov bet another 8,500, which Stein called.
On the 3 river Stein checked one last time. Katchalov, economic with movement as well as chips, moved all-in for 17,000. Stein passed. – SB
1.40pm: Trickett master class
Sam Trickett is sitting with a smirk across his face after a successful bluff worked against Yury Esaulov.
The hand started with Michael Watson under-the-gun raise to 5,000. Esaulov called from the button and Trickett from the small blind. The flop came 10J8 and Trickett donk-led for 4,800. Watson called but the Russian raised to 17,500 which scared off Watson but not the Brit who called.
The turn came 7 and once more Trickett led out, for 11,700. Call. The final card was Q and Trickett counted his stack (about 70,000) and slid them all over the line. His opponent thought long and hard before folding. Trickett tabled KQ and looked very happy with himself. — MC
1.25pm: Katchalov hanging on
Andrey Bondar opened for 5,000 in middle position, before Eugene Katchalov raised to 18,500. Bondar, who has one of the few stacks shorter than Katchalov’s, moved all-in, which Katchalov called, turning over JJ to Bondar’s AQ.
Katchalov was all clear on the 1094 flop, and on the 7 turn. But the Q river card sent the chips to Bondar. He now has around 50,000 while Katchalov remains on the critical list. — SB
1.20pm: Pressure poker works, sometimes
Sam Trickett likes to apply pressure to to pick up easy pots where he can. This worked when he set Govert Metaal all-in on the river of a raggy board for twice the pot.
The very next hand he three-bet to 11,200 from the button after Rob Akery had opened to 4,200 from the cut-off. Akery was having none of it though and four-bet to 26,200 to force a fold from his fellow Brit.
Metaal — 47,000
Akery — 240,000
Tricket - 120,000 MC
-
1.10pm: Dealer error
The dealer on table four increased the blinds but forgot to charge the extra 100 chips for the ante and a hand played out. The tournament director said the player who won the hand should get an extra 100 from each player. Phil Collins was then the target of flying T100 chips from each opponent. — MC
1.05pm: Stein takes a hit
Shane Reihill opened for 3,500 which Byron Kaverman called, as did Sam Stein on the button and Eugene Katchalov in the big blind.
The flop came J39 which Reihill checked. Kaverman then bet 7,200, arranging the bet by colour and placing it neatly across the line. Undeterred by such organisation, Stein went to his chips adter pausing for effect, raising to 18,600, a disorganised pile of chips forcing out Katchalov and Reihill.
Kaverman then tanked, moving only slightly to pull back his initial neat bet to replace it with a re-raise totalling 39,800. Stein began to lean over for a better look, asking for a count of Kaverman’s remaining stack, which was just shy of 100,000.
Stein was playing with 240,000. He pulled a few faces and raised his eyebrows a bit. Then he moved all-in. Kaverman called, turning over KQ. He was up against Stein’s set of threes, 33.
The hearts proved crucial though, the turn coming 4 and the river 5. Neither player made any noise, there was no commotion. Just the exchange of chips. Stein down to 140,000 while Kaverman moves up to around 250,000. – SB
12.55pm: More for Haxton
Isaac Haxton’s table has agreed to the “Show one card” rule when a player wins a pot. The only problem is they keep forgetting and are relying on posthumous honesty from the winning player. To solve this they have enlisted the help of the dealer who will choose a random card.
Haxton has added more to his stack after manoeuvring James Bord off his hand. Bord raised to 3,700 from the button and Haxton peeled to see a 957 flop. He went on to check-call a 5,000 c-bet before check-raising on the A turn. Bord had bet 17,000 before tank-folding to a raise to 72,000. Haxton approaching 290,000 chips now. — MC
12.40pm: Alas, Smith has gone
Daniel Smith is the first player eliminated today.
12.35pm: Bord late, Haxton up
James Bord arrived a few minutes late and not for the first time got mildly frustrated by the fact that someone wearing a jacket and tie does not make for a tournament director, or someone who might know where his chips are. He eventually found them and then ordered himself a massage.
Isaac Haxton is off to a good start, picking up a pot to take him to around 250,000. Haxton has undergone something of a transformation. Having once been the long-haired nerdish type, he’s now gone electric and looks like a rock star…
Elsewhere Eugene Katchalov, who looks like a guy who drives a pick-up truck, just moved all-in behind an opening bet of 4,000 by Anton Ionel. The action was folded all the way, keeping Katchalov in the game a little longer at least. — SB
12.25pm: Hachem halved
Joe Hachem has had a bad start to the day with his stack being chopped in half. Michael Tureniec opened to 3,600 from the hijack and was called by Isaac Haxton in the next seat before Hachem three-bet to 12,100 from the big blind. The Swede folded but Haxton called.
The flop fell 42[jd[ and Hachem continued for 13,800. Call. The turn came A and Hachem led again, for 18,100. Call. The river was 10 and Hachem slowed to a check and Haxton checked behind after some thought.
Hachem didn’t want to show and said, “I have nothing”.
This prompted Haxton to table the winning AQ. “I thought the ace was a good card for me”, added the Team PokerStars Pro. He’s down to 38,000 while Haxton climbed to 235,000. — MC
12.10pm: Car key gate
Luke Schwartz just made it on time for the start of play today. The reason? His infant son threw his car keys down the elevator shaft of his apartment building so he had to get a cab in to the Metrolpole. “They’re stuck to the bottom of some haunted place”, was his closing statement on the matter. – MC
12.05pm: Cards in the air
Play begins on Day 2. Chip counts below.
11.45am: Day 2 of the High Roller
Welcome back to Day 2 of the EPT London High Roller event where the abbreviated clothing on display in no way corresponds with the financial reserves of some of its players.
Today 30 players from the original 75 take to the baize once more for a day likely to continue until the final table of eight is in place. It’s a direct race alongside the EPT London main event, taking place a few feet away in the tournament room, or a click away on the PokerStars Blog.
But were this a game of Poker Player Top Trumps, this event would win every time. It’s the Rolling Stones to their Beatles; Shackleton to their Amundsen, black coffee to their skinny frappucino. Take your pick.
That’s just our humble opinion, which tips its hat to an all-star field led last night by chip leader Sam Stein, ahead of Michael Watson.
Here’s how they’ll line up:
Table 1
Sorel Mizzi, Canada, 56,500
Adrian Bussman, Sweden, 158,900
Shane Reihill, Ireland, 93,200
Byron Kaverman, USA, 98,200
Anton Ionel, Romania, 148,600
Samuel Stein, USA, 245,500
Andrey Bondar, Russian, 31,000
Eugene Katchalov, Ukraine, 37,800
Table 2
Philipp Gruissem, Germany, 175,500
Marvin Rettenmaier, Germany, 44,700
Daniel Smith, USA, 28,300
Joel Nordkvist, Sweden, 154,800
McLean Karr, USA, 157,000
Jonathan Duhamel, Canada, 119,900
Talal Shakerchi, UK, 147,000
Mike McDonald, Canada, 30,500
Table 3
Govert Metaal, Netherlands, 47,800
Robert Akery, UK, 118,700
Yury Esaulov, Russia, 132,300
Samuel Trickett, British, 111,000
Luke Schwartz, British, 187,300
Michael Watson, Canada, 225,900
Igor Kurganov, Germany, 126,100
Table 4
Philip Collins, USA, 187,800
Fabian Quoss, Germany, 179,400
Joe Hachem, Australia, 95,800
Olivier Busquet, American, 42,400
James Bord, UK, 200,000
Michael Tureniec, Sweden, 190,000
Isaac Haxton, USA, 199,200
Play is due to get under way at 12 noon. – SB
PokerStars Blog High Roller reporting team: Stephen Bartley and Marc Convey. Photography by Mickey May.
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.
3.36pm: Level up
The level is over and we’re moving on to a brand new post. Join us there. — SY
3.35pm: Hartmann doubles, Beris crippled
Next hand, Martins Adeniya made it 52,000 and Pascal Hartmann moved all-in for 216,000. Ioannis Beris moved all-in from the next seat and Adeniya got out of the way. It was 88 for Hartmann and AQ for Beris. The eights held, Hartmann doubled to 430,000, leaving Beris as the short stack with 150,000. — SY
3.32pm: Hartmann crippled
We picked up the action with the board showing 8JJ7J and, with several hundred thousand in the pot already, Stephen O’Dwyer bet 350,000. Pascal Hartmann looked destined to defeat, even though he called with pocket aces. O’Dwyer showed KJ for the proverbial nuts. That left Hartmann with just 219,000. — SY
3.27pm: Spindler rakes in from Benes
Miroslav Benes opened for 48,000 and was called by Benny Spinder and Ben Jenkins (who was in the blinds).
Benes c-bet 77,000 into the 10Q6 flop and Spindler called, Jenkins did not. Spindler called another 105,000 on the 5 turn before both checked the 8 river. Showdown:
Spindler: [q][j] for top pair
Benes: [a][t] for second pair
Spindler took the blinds and antes the next hand with a pre-flop raise and is back up to a million. — RD
3.23pm: Jenkins punishes Loureiro
Hugo Loureirio had 150,000 in front of him, which we could see on the live TV feed. Ben Jenkins chopped out a raise to 407,000 and Loureiro passed his hand. He didn’t like doing so but with 450,000 back it was all or nothing. He settled on nothing. Jenkins up to 1,200,000. — RD
3.13pm: The final two tables
Here are the final two tables. Some great players still left in, tomorrow’s final table should be a corker.
TV table
Seat one: Adria Balaguer, 1,433,000
Seat two: Ben Jenkins, 1,059,000
Seat three: Andre Klebanov, 1,858,000
Seat four: Hugo Loureiro, 758,000
Seat five: Juan Manuel Pastor, 1,133,000
Seat six: Jeremy Kottler, 949,000
Seat seven: Miroslav Benes, 1,310,000
Seat seven: Benny Spindler, 740,000
Outer table
Seat one: Mattias Bergstrom, 3,535,000
Seat two: Kevin Iacofano, 1,388,000
Seat three: James Mitchell, 1,137,000
Seat four: Martins Adeniya, 1,293,000
Seat five: Anatoly Gurtovoy, 789,000
Seat six: Pascal Hartmann, 812,000
Seat seven: Ioannis Beris, 367,000
Seat eight: Stephen O’Dwyer, 2,140,000
Play has restarted with Greek PokerStars qualifier Ioannis Beris most at risk. — RD
3.10pm: Chips!
Latest chip counts are on the chip count page. They show Mattias Bergrtrom still in the lead with 3,535,000. — SY
2.51pm: Breaking tables
With just 16 players remaining, a table is being broken and we’ll play on with just two. First, however, the players have gone off for a 15-minute break. We’ll have updated counts shortly. — SY
2.50pm: Monkey lives another day
The monkey that chirps away on the backs of former EPT champions lives another day. Once someone wins two of these things, the monkey gets it. But today, the last surviving previous EPT winner has just busted.
Portugal’s Joao Barbosa, who had been open-shoving his short-stack with increasing regularity, is out after pushing with 44 for 236,000 and getting looked up by Stephen O’Dwyer with KJ. The end was swift, with the flop coming J3A, and the 8 turn and 7 river changed nothing. — SY
2.44pm: O’Dwyer gets some back
Bergstrom was pulling away with 4,100,000 but, after a messy tangle in the blinds, he’s been pegged back by Steve O’Dwyer.
O’Dwyer limped in the small blind and Bergstrom checked behind. The action was checked through to the turn of the 4K10K board which Bergstrom bet 35,000 into, O’Dwyer check-raised to 155,000 and Bergstrom made the call. O’Dwyer kept up the aggression and fired 280,000 into the river. Bergstrom ever so slowly made the call and was shown K3 by the American who chips up to 1,800,000, Bergstrom down to 3,365,000. — RD
2.38pm: Klebanov’s pot
Benjamin Jenkins made it 50,000 and got calls from Andre Klebanov on the button and Miroslav Benes on the big blind. The flop was 739 and Benes checked, Jenkins made it 81,000 and both Klebanov and Benes called. The turn was 3 and Benes checked again, only for Jenkins to make it 176,000. Now Klebanov jumped to life and re-raised to 365,000. Benes got out of the way, as did Jenkins… but not before a couple of minutes’ thought. — SY
2.28pm: Man down! Andries Swart out
It was folded around to big-stacked Mattias Bergstrom in the small blind who moved all-in with only short-stacked Swart to act in the big. He called.
Bergstrom: KJ
Swart: A5
Swart had around 350,000 and looked good for a double up, even though the 9[10c]2 opened up more outs for Bergstrom. The 3 was a brick, but the Q river was enough to make Bergstrom a straight and send him up to more than 3.5 million.
Swart was out in 18th place for £19,000. — SY
2.22pm: Jenkins wins a pot, Spindler looks irritated
Ben Jenkins has just won a small pot from Benny Spindler leaving the German looking a little annoyed with himself, perhaps for the call on the river?
Jenkins opened the cut-off for 57,000 (I think, it is the TV table so we can’t follow as easily) and was called by Spindler in the big blind. Spindler led 44,000 into the 692 flop and Jenkins made the call. Both players checked the 3 turn before Jenkins bet 82,000 at the 9 river card. Spindler made the call and mucked when shown Jenkins’ [a]9. Jenkins looks to be well over a million now – I’ll try to eyeball his stack next time it comes on the feed. It could be as much as 1,200,000. — RD
2.15pm: Mitchell upping a gear?
After his all-in a moment or so, James Mitchell has twice three-bet in quick succession to rake in more loot. He’s up to a million or so now. — SY
2.10pm: All-ins and no takers
A succession of all-ins went unchallenged. First Joao Barbosa moved in for 250,000 and picked up the blinds and antes. Then Hugo Loureiro moved for 220,000 from under the gun to win the pot. Then James Mitchell moved for 700,000 and did the same, before Loureiro went all-in again, this time from the small blind for 230,000, but Martins Adeniya folded from the big. — SY
2.04pm: Bergstroming ahead
Mattias Bergstorm is gaining some serious momentum here in London. He’s up to 3,650,000 after winning pots from James Mitchell and Steve O’Dwyer in quick succession. Bergstrom check-called down two streets of aggression from Mitchell on a A59K7 board with A2. Mitchell’s pocket threes were no good as Bergstrom moved up to 3,100,000.
The next hand the Swede lost a small pot after folding to a shove from Andries Swart before winning a tasty pot from O’Dwyer. The American made it 52,000 from the cut-off and was called by Bergstrom on the button. O’Dwyer led 70,000 into the A6J flop, 170,000 into the 6 turn and checked the 4 river.
Bergstrom plucked out 250,000 and pushed it forward. O’Dwyer wasted little time in calling Bergstrom and was shown a flopped two-pair with AJ.
“Argghh,” said O’Dwyer. Well, he less said it than groaned it before adding: “Nice hand.”
Mitchell down to 700,000, O’Dwyer drops to 1,550,000 but still going strong. — RD
1.55pm: Cagey
A slow start to life on the feature table after the break. Juan Manuel Pastor picked up a pot, three betting Adria Balaguer’s raise. Then Miroslav Benes picked up the big blind and antes by raising from the small and forcing a fold from Benny Spindler on the big. — SY
1.48pm: Off we go again
Players are back in their seats. The updated chip counts can be found on the, er, chip count page. — SY
1.34pm: Break
We’re now on the first 15-minute break of the day. Players will stretch their legs, we’ll be fetching a full round of chip counts, which will be with you shortly. — SY
1.32pm: Pastor passes
Juan Manuel Pastor, the only surviving Team PokerStars Pro in the field, raised to 42,000, only for Miroslav Benes, a PokerStars qualifier from the Czech Republic, to raise to 103,000. Pastor thought for a moment or so before passing – and Benes showed pocket kings. —SY
1.30pm: Play slows
After a fast start, in which we went down from 24 players to 18 within an hour, we have been stuck with no more eliminations since. Meanwhile, Benny Spindler continues to dominate the feature table.— SY
1.25pm: Longest tank-fold in ages
Ioannis Beris kicked off a hand that last nearly 15 minutes. He raised it to 52,000 and got calls from Kevin Iacofano and from Anatoly Gurtovoy. On the Q68 flop, Gurtovoy checked, Beris made it 115,000 and both others called. The turn was Q and now it was Gurtovoy who moved first, making it 100,000.
Beris looked a little disheartened and leant back in his chair to weigh up his options. After a few minutes he elected to fold, a decision he was obviously pleased with when Iacofano moved all-in straight away for 500,000. Now it was back on Gurtovoy and we waited on his decision.
And we waited.
And still we waited.
Iacofano sat stock still for what was almost ten minutes as Gurtovoy continued to make up his mind. He looked in genuine distress about whether he should make a call or not, and at one stage reached out to the pot to try and spread it. He got a swift reprimand from the dealer, the only person allowed to do that at a player’s request.
Eventually, Gurtovoy, who had around 600,000 behind, folded. — SY
1.20pm: Ioannis Beris, on video
The Greek PokerStars qualifier speaks to the video team at the start of play today.
1.15pm: Calm Jenkins chipping up
A fellow British pro, who will remain unnamed, last night told me that Ben Jenkins had ‘a certain presence’ at the table. I took that to be a good thing and it’s quite clear to see what he means. Jenkins maintains a calm intensity at the tables which seems to help him force folds. He started the day with around quarter of a million, he’s now into seven figures, the last jump in chips coming from Adria Balaguer.
Andre Klebanov opened under-the-gun for 40,000 and was called by Spindler on the button as well as Balaguer (small) and Jenkins (big) in the blinds. Balaguer led 72,000 into the 4J8 flop and Jenkins slowly chopped out a raise to 197,000. Klebanov passed. Spindler passed. Balaguer passed.
Jenkins is still wearing a suit, the PokerStars Blog still approves. — RD
1pm: Rapid-fire departures
This first hour of play has been brutal with five players getting knocked out early on.
19. Basile Yaiche, France, £19,000
20. Fowzi Baroukh, United Kingdom, £19,000
21. Aadam Daya, Canada, £19,000
22. Justas Semaska, Lithuania, £19,000
23. Per Hildebrand, Sweden, £19,000
24. Sebastian Blom, Sweden, £19,000
Frenchman Yaiche was the last to go when he failed to flip well with pocket sevens to the king-queen of Dutchman Andries Swart. Yaiche had been a big stack for the last few days but a brutal turn that filled up Bergstrom crippled his flopped nut trips hand. Good temperament, solid play, I doubt this is the last we’ll see of Yaiche (whose name I will learn to pronounce correctly at some point). — RD
12.50pm: Not his Daya
Aadam Daya is out, his hopes raised then dashed at the death. He shoved with AJ for 290,000 and was called by Stephen O’Dwyer with AK. The flop was 497, but the turn was J, shooting Daya into the lead. But it’s a cruel game, and the river fell K to send him to the rail instead. Ouch.. — SY
12.45pm: Hugo’s there
Portugal’s Hugo Loureiro shoved for his last 187,000 with 88 and doubled up when Jeremy Kottler called him from the big blind with 33. No dramas followed and we move on.
“Still living,” explained Loureiro. — SY
12.40pm: Double win still possibility
Joao Barbosa is the only remaining previous EPT winner in the field – and he just had the sort of luck that will be needed to see him get that elusive second title.
He made it 40,000 and Pascal Hartmann bumped it up to 101,000. Barbosa wasted no time moving all-in and Hartmann spent even less calling. We could see why when the cards went on their backs:
Hartmann: AA
Barbosa: AK
Barbosa was in terrible shape, all-in for 563,000 and easily covered. The flop came 58K offering him some hope of a suck out. The Q turn reduced those chances, but wouldn’t you know it? The river was K causing a ripple of “ooohs” around the table.
Barbosa, never a man to show much emotion, actually showed none at all. He’s up to more than a million, while Hartmann falls to 1.2million. — SY
12.35pm: Spindler adds Semaska’s stack to his spoils
Benny Spindler has just knocked out Justas Semaska from the TV feature using a serendipitous pair of aces to crush the Lithuanian’s pocket nines, all-in pre-flop of course. Spindler’s stack continues to grow. It looks to be around 1,950,000 now. — RD
12.25pm: Blom goes in three-way
Sebastian Blom is the first player out today. The short stacked brother of Viktor wasn’t wearing his sunglasses today, perhaps a mistake, and waited until he was in the big blind before getting it in. Hugo Loureiro opened for 50,000 and was called by Ioannis Beris on the button before Blom called all-in.
Loureiro decided to check-raise all-in on a K3K flop and was snapped by Beris with KJ. Loureiro showed 77 and failed to suck out, as did Blom with 103. Loureiro down to 200,000, Beris up to 650,000. — RD
12.18pm: Bergstrom cripples Yaiche, huge chip lead
Mattias Bergstrom has extended his chip lead and has crippled one of his major opponents at the table.
Bergstrom opened to 34,000 from middle position and Basile Yaiche three-bet to 112,000 from the big blind. Bergstrom made the call.Yaiche led 85,000 into the K3K flop, Yaiche made the call.
Yaiche refused to slow down on the 10 turn, he fired 190,000 and Bergstrom raised to 380,000. Yaiche, now seemingly on the back foot, made the call.
The 2 was a major blank and Yaiche checked his hand over to Bergstrom who pushed out 400,000. The Frenchman called and was shown 1010 for a turned full house. Yaiche looked shell shocked and showed AK. He’s down to 160,000, Bergstrom up to a massive 2,850,000. — RD
12.05pm: Play starts
And we’re off…
11.15am: Racing to the final
Today is about two things: getting down from 24 players to the required final table of eight, and beating the High Roller event which needs to get from 30 players down to eight. While the first is a necessity, the second is just a bit of private fun so we can rub Sergeant Major Bartley’s nose in it as he wave goodbye and head off to the PokerStars Party in Kensington tonight. Harsh? Yes. Fun? Definitely.
Predicting what time we could get down to eight players is fraught with problems. Yesterday, we thought getting down from 62 players at the start to 24 would be a breeze, but it still took until nearly 8pm. The High Roller, meanwhile, went on until gone 11pm.
Of those looking to build a big stack to take to the main event final table, three players will be fancying their chances more than most. Chip leaders Mattias Bergstrom (1,838,000), Adria Balaguer (1,828,0000) and Pascal Hartmann (1,800,000) will take some stopping, while bottom-placed Sebastian ‘Isildir1.1’ Blom will be looking to work some magic on his tiny stack of 58,000.
We start at noon with blinds where they left off mid-way through level 22 last night – 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante.
Clickety-click here for the seat draw, here for the payouts and here to take a look at the High Roller coverage.
PokerStars Blog reporting team (in order of favourite towers): Rick Dacey (Eiffel – he is an eyeful), Marc Convey (Tower of Babel – destroyed by use of language), Stephen Bartley (Blackpool – he plays poker like a rock), and Simon Young (Tower of London – old and often loses his head).
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.
As the EPT London main event creaked towards a final 24, a new event turned the clock back to level one; the £20,000 buy-in High Roller.
It’s sometimes difficult to work out which event casts a shadow over the other. The main event is, of course, the flagship event of the festival; a Goliath that, like headlights, attract the attention of everyone in the tournament room. But the High Roller serves as a nimble little diversion, packed with the best players in the world (losers in the main event, mind), who dazzle with skill and swagger, against a mixture of fellow pros and wealthy journeymen out to test themselves in poker’s harshest environment,
In the excitement stakes it was the main event all the way in the early stages, the high rollers preferring to fiddle with iPads, phones, anything, to keep their minds occupied as players tentatively tested the water.
But as the surviving 30 players, from a high roller field of 75, bag up their chips tonight, they depart on the eve of what could be a thrilling day’s action, with Sam Stein, from the United States, snatching the lead at the bell to lead the field overnight.
If he were to look over his shoulder the view behind him would be that of the chase pack, which in these parts is made up of Michael Watson, his closest rival, on 225,900, along with Isaac Haxton on 199,200 and Michael Tureniec, with 197,000.
If that wasn’t a strong enough cast then those making up the numbers could equally pose a threat when play resumes tomorrow.
Team PokerStars Pros are among them. Surviving the cut today were the likes of Eugene Katchalov (37,800), Joe Hachem (95,800) and Jonathan Duhamel (119,900). Non-liveried alternatives include James Bord, Phil Collins and Luke Schwartz, all of whom will grace the tables of the Hilton for at least one more day.
That day may well fall under the shadow cast by the television table, both literally and figuratively, but duel coverage on the PokerStars Blog will allow you to judge for yourself which event will be remembered most from what has already been a great festival.
Likewise the preamble to that which can be found in the links below, which should help enlighten you with a recap of the day’s play. Meanwhile, all the official chip counts can be found on the chip count page.
Level 1-4 updates
Level 5-9 updates
That’s all from the High Roller for today. Play will resume tomorrow at 12 noon when it will race the EPT London Main Event towards a final table. Find out which gets there first on the PokerStars Blog.
Our thanks to Mickey May for all the photography from today. There were no foreign language bloggers reporting the high roller today.
Till tomorrow then, it is goodnight from London.
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.
Here is the seat draw for Day 5 of EPT London. There are 24 players left, and we’ll play down to a final table of eight.
1 1 Sebastian Blom Sweden 59,000
1 2 Jeremy Kottler USA 1,693,000
1 3 Anatoly Gurtovoy Russia PokerStars qualifier 873,000
1 4 Hugo Loureiro Portugal 564,000
1 5 Martins Adeniya UK 764,000
1 6 Ioannis Beris Greece PokerStars qualifier 311,000
1 7 Adria Balaguer Spain 1,828,000
1 8 Kevin Iacofano USA 1,112,000
2 1 Mattias Bergstrom Sweden 1,838,000
2 2 Andries Swart Netherlands PokerStars qualifier 254,000
2 3 James Mitchell UK 869,000
2 4 Joao Barbosa Portugal 601,000
2 5 Aadam Daya Canada 372,000
2 6 Pascal Hartmann Germany PokerStars qualifier 1,800,000
2 7 Basile Yaiche France 1,105,000
2 8 Stephen O’Dwyer USA 792,000
3 1 Fowzi Baroukh UK 133,000
3 2 Ben Jenkins UK PokerStars player 760,000
3 3 Andre Klebanov Germany 1,337,000
3 4 Per Hildebrand Sweden 398,000
3 5 Juan Manuel Pastor Spain Team PokerStars Pro 960,000
3 6 Justas Semaska Lithuania 488,000
3 7 Miroslav Benes Czech Republic PokerStars qualifier 377,000
3 8 Benny Spindler Germany PokerStars player 1,421,000
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.
Today was never going to be a long gruelling slog. Tough? Yes. Stressful? Certainly. But just not that long. Only 38 players had to be squeezed out as the field slimmed from 62 players down to 24, all of whom will now be setting their sights on making that final day and bagging the £750,000 first-place prize. Leading the footrace after the day’s four-and-half levels of play was Mattias Bergstrom on 1,838,000, barely an elbow ahead of Adria Balaguer (1,828,000) and Pascal Hartmann (1,800,000).
As highlighted by the tightness at the top, there was no runaway big stack, instead a swathe of contenders, a large chunk from the capital, contesting for pole position. Brits Sam Macdonald, Martins Adeniya and overnight leader James Mitchell all had their turn out in front but inevitably they were pulled back into the pack: Adeniya by Macdonald, Macdonald by Benny Spindler.
German Spindler has been a constant aggressive feature on this tour since his third place finish at the 2009 PCA for $1,100,000. His second place finish in last season’s Grand Final High Roller aside – if you can just ignore €316,000 just like that – a deep run has been long overdue. Here in London he looks centred, refusing to say much, perhaps not wanting to jinx a final table finish with a verbal show of overconfidence, so much so that he told an apologetic TV crew member who was escorting him to the interview that he’d “prefer not be on the feature table.”
Spindler finished on 1,421,000 and will be a massive threat tomorrow. The key moment being when he won a huge 1,300,000 pot shoving a rivered flush into Macdonald who had turned the nut straight. That proved to be a turning point for both players. Macdonald went on to be knocked out by Adeniya, his top pair failing to hold against a flopped combo draw.
Pascal Hartmann did what many others had tried to do over the last few days: slay Sandor Demjan. The Hungarian businessman, who had bubbled the $100,000 Super High Roller at the PCA earlier this year, had torn through his early opponents leaving, among others, Barry Greenstein scratching his head and hypothesising that Demjan wouldn’t make the money. The Hungarian proved them wrong finally busting in 38th when he called all-in with KJ to Hartmannn’s pocket sixes on a J625J board.
We started the day with four Team PokerStars Pros, we ended the day with significantly less. Just one; Juan Manuel Pastor began as he meant to go on, he found a big hand, got it in and won. It started with with AK against James Wilson’s 108 to bump him up to 650,000 and he chose a similar strategy to knock out fellow Team Pro Humberto Brenes, setting the Costa Rican all-in with black aces against big slick. That put him past a million close to where he finished the day on 940,000. Brenes departed, shrugging, in 32nd place for a £16,000 payday. Ana Marquez departed earlier in 42nd (£13,000) while Slavtore Bonavena held on a little longer, rivering a set to stay alive at one point, to finish in 29th (£16,000).
Bonavena’s departure, which followed sometime after Roberto Romanello’s in 37th (£13,000), leaves just Joao Barbosa as our first potential double EPT winner. The player from Portugal faces an uphill struggle tomorrow as he sees how far he can go in this his 12th EPT cash. It’s not a challenge Barbosa is adverse to, he started the day as the second shortest stack with just 46,000. He comes back tomorrow with 601,000. The double is still on, albeit a long shot.
And, of course, a special mention for Sebastian Blom, aka ‘Isildur1.1’ or Brother of Blom. The Swede was three-betting virulently throughout the day but his head of steam dissipated in the dying minutes leaving him with just 58,000. He’ll be first in the line at the double up queue in the morning. Join us there.
Join us tomorrow from 12 noon where we’ll be playing down from 24 to a final table of eight. To catch up on the day’s action click on the links below and click on the red link if you want to see who and where players busted. Do it, see how things panned out. The remaining 24 players’ chips counts can be found here.
If you fancy stretching your linguistic skills try out the German blog or the Swedish blog.
All pictures should be credited to Neil Stoddart, for it is he who owns the copyright of them.
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.
11.25pm: Play finishes
Players are bagging and tagging. We’ll have a full wrap with you shortly, and we await the official chip counts. But it looks like Sam Stein has nipped taken the chip lead from Michael Watson at the death. Stein looks to have around 240,000 while Watson finished with 225,900.
Full counts will be on the chip count page shortly. — SY
11.15pm: Greenstein gone
James Bord opened with a raise to 3,000 and got calls from Isaac Haxton and Barry Greenstein to see a JA9 flop. Greenstein and Bord checked before Haxton made it 7,000. Then Greenstein moved all-in for around 17,000. Only Haxton called.
Greenstein: A5 for top pair
Haxton: Q[10d] for the straight draw
The Bear faded trouble on the [10s] turn, but the river was K to complete Haxton’s straight. That sends Haxton up to 170,000, a stack swollen a little earlier when he busted Vicky Coren.
Just before leaving, Greenstein signed a copy of his book, Ace on the River and handed it to Haxton. — SY
11.13pm: Four more hands
Tournament staff have announced we’ll play four more hands and then the day will close. — SY
11.10pm: Team Pro woes
Vanessa Rousso and Juan Maceiras are missing from their respective seats, and presumed out. Meanwhile, Vicky Coren has lost another chunk and sits with 34,000 having doubled up the short-stacked Barry Greenstein when his A-5 outran her A-Q. — SY
11pm: Elementary, my dear Watson
We’re only a few miles away from Baker Street in London, home of the famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr Watson. Tonight it’s another Watson who is solving the puzzle that is how to reach the chip lead in a high roller.
Michael Watson, from Canada, currently has around 245,000, and that’s some way ahead of his nearest challenger.
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. — SY
10.47pm: And he’s out
Shortly after describing the woes of Guiseppe Pantaleo below, he’s out. And it wasn’t very pleasant – his [10d][10h], all-in pre-flop, was overtaken by an opponent’s A[10s] on the AQJ7J board.
“Every time,” he muttered to himself as he hurried hastily out of the door. — SY
10.40pm: Playing on the seat of his Pantaleo
Guiseppe Pantaleo lives on a knife edge with 45 minutes of play left in the day.
He opened for 2,400, leaving himself 23,000 behind, which Isaac Haxton called from the big blind for a flop of KQK. Haxton, holding his forehead, checked to Pantaleo who bet 1,800. Pausing briefly, Haxton then raised to 4,500, leaving Pantaleo little choice but the fold.
Haxton up to 135,000. – SB
10.30pm: Hachem happy
As players return for the last level of the day, Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem is a happy camper. Just before the break, he reached 100,000 after winning a pot. We’ll let the former WSOP champ give you the story in Twitter speak…
“I just 3bet pre into 4players with JJ, initial raiser calls. Flop q high I bet 12k into 29, he tank shoves I tank call, he has 99,double up. Boo ya, now we have one level to go and I have nearly 100k.” — SY
10.15pm: End of the level
That’s the end of level 8. Players are on a 15 minute break.
10.14pm: Shakerchi on the march
Talal Shakerchi has eased up to 150,000 after winning a nice pot against Govert Metaal. Shakerchi raised from under the gun to 2,600 and Metaal called from the small blind to see a 394 flop. Metaal then check-called Shakerchi’s 5,000 bet, and did the same to the 8,500 bet on the 8 turn. Finally, on the J river, Metaal checked then called when Shakerchi made it 23,000. He’ll wish he hadn’t – the Brit showed JJ for top set.
With that, Metaal, from Holland, falls back to 54,000. — SY
10.13pm: Safe and sound
As the last break of the day arrives Sam Stein still leads. Juan Maceiras almost doubled up, or was eliminated, depending on how you look at it. He got his 25,000 stack in against Vicky Coren, only for both players to turn over pocket nines. Despite wishing to forget dealing a board the formalities were carried out, with a predictable stalemate.
“I folded a nine,” joked Dan Shak. – SB
10pm: Coren up and down again
Vicky Coren, very much on home ground here in London, had worked her way up to 90,000 but has now dropped to 60,000 again after this clash with James Bord. He had raised from under the gun to 2,700 and called when Coren popped it up to 6,200.
The flop came 3AA and both players checked to see a [10h] turn. Now Bord bet 5,000 and Coren called. The river was K and Bord made it 16,000. Coren feared the full house but called – to be shown 33 for the flopped boat. She flashed Q for the nut flush. Bord is up to 95,000 now. — SY
9.40pm: Bear doubles Bord
Barry Greenstein and James Bord were at the turn on a K79[10h] board with around 18,000 in the middle already. Bord then announced he was all-in for 20,000 and Greenstein, head resting on hand much like a man who has had too little sleep, counted out his stack. He had Bord covered and made the call:
Bord: KQ
Greenstein: JJ
Greenstein had outs to a straight, but he did not want to see a jack, which would have made a straight for Bord. In the event, the river was a brick, and Bord shot up to 58,000. Greenstein was left with 45,000. — SY
9.30pm: No more Duthie
John Duthie is out. He ran queens into aces and also pocket nines with the board coming 8A587. Down to 43. – SB
9.15pm: Level up
We’re into level 8, the penultimate of the evening, with nine levels now decided on (as opposed to ten). Blinds are now 500-1,000 with a 100 ante. — SB
9.10pm: Bord in trouble
With 47 players remaining James Bord is looking to rebuild his stack. It didn’t come when he opened for 2,000 from the button. Vicky Coren called for a flop of QJ8 and then promptly lumped in 40,000, forcing Bord for fold. He has less than 20,000. – SB
9pm: Payouts
The eight finalists will each finish in the money. Here’s how it all pays out…
1st – £520,000
2nd – £326,500
3rd – £193,000
4th – £141,000
5th – £104,000
6th – £74,200
7th – £66,900
8th – £59,400
8.55pm: The latest
Elior Sion is out.
8.50pm: Coren calling
A good call by Vicky Coren takes her up towards the 100k mark. With the board showing 84997 Elior Sion bet out 13,000 from the small blind, much to the frustration of Coren.
“You have ten-jack,” she said. Sion listened, his chin resting on the back of his turned around chair. “This is a very difficult hand to fold.”
After further deliberation, fist clenching and irritation, Coren said: “I’m not good enough to fold,” and threw in the call. It was good.
“I think you’ve won,” said Sion.
“You think I’ve won?” asked Coren, showing A9. Sion simply mucked, the 8 flipping over.
Coren up to 95,000 as Sion drops to 50,000. – SB
8.40pm: ElkY to the rail
Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier just tweeted that he’s been eliminated by Jonathan Duhamel which can only mean he’s been eliminated by Duhamel. — SB
8.30pm: Grusome for Gruissem
Sam Stein leads the High Roller going into level 7. He just moved up to 190,000 after a hand against Philipp Gruissem.
Gruissem opened for 2,400 in the small blind which Stein called from the big for a flop of 925. Gruissem bet another 3,200 which again Stein called for a 5 turn. Now 4055 tapped the table with his left middle finger, his left ring finger covered in a big bandage and presumably out of action. Stein picked chips of every colour from his stack and bet, making it 6,700. He then quickly looked at Gruissem to see if he’d noticed. He had and called.
The river came 3. Gruissem checked, less daintily this time. Stein checked too, turning over 97. That was good.
“Why d’you check?” asked Gruissem. – SB
8.15pm: Down to 53
As play restarts Eric Seidel is eliminated, leaving 53 players.
Meanwhile Adolfo Vaeza Was attempting to rebuild his stack. He opened for 2,500 from under the gun which Joe Hachem called after confirming that Vaeza had 25,000 behind.
The flop came A36 and Vaeza bet another 2,500 which again was called by Hachem. On the 3 turn Vaeza took the pot by betting another 3,500, showing a 10. – SB
8pm: Players are returning
Play will restart shortly.
7.30pm: Relevant tweets
Eugene Katchalov
– fb update at the break – Playing the 20k Pound buy-in high roller in London today…on dinner break now w 75k in chips, started w 50k
elkypoker
10.4k at dinner break of High-Roller event here at #EPTlondon ! Time to have back to back double ups!
JonathanDuhamel
57/75 players remaining, I have 101k avg is 65k, last 45 mins were bad but still in good shape, dinner break now #EPTLondon High Roller
Vanessa Rousso
Playing the high roller at #EPTLondon and after 6 levels I’m sitting on 115k (50k startstack)
6.50pm: Break time
That’s the end of the level. Players are now on a 75 minute dinner break. Play resumes in level 7 at around 8.05pm local time. — SB
6.45pm: Pro on Pro
Eugene Katchalov opened for 1,500 which Vanessa Rousso called on the button. The flop came KAJ. Katchalov bet another 3,000 which Rousso raised to 6,000. Katchalov then called for a 9 turn card.
Katchalov checked this time, leaving it to Rousso to bet 10,000. After pausing briefly, Katchalov passed. He’s down to 86,000 while Rousso moves up a little more to 95,000. – SB
6.40pm: Theo Jorgensen out
“Out. Opens with 8,10 in spades and get called by the button. Flop is K,6,4 with two spades. I bet and get called. The same happends on the turn that is a blank 2. The river is another blank 2 and I go all in for 16K with around 22K in the pot. Was convinced he would lay down a weak K. and was wrong. He called with KJoff.”
6.30pm: Duhamel leads
Chip leader right now looks to be Jonathan Duhamel with 135,000. Also on more than 100,000 are Michael Tureniec, Sam Trickett and Juan Maceiras. — SB
6.10pm: Duthie updates
John Duthie is down to less than 10,000.
6pm: Blom gone
Viktor Blom is out. Details are sketchy, to the point of being non-existent, but he was short stacked after the hand against Gerbi. — SB
5.55pm: Level up
We’re into level 6 with blinds now 300-600 with a 75 ante. For the latest chip counts check out the appropriately named “”http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/tournaments/ept/season-8/london-4/high-roller-6/chipcount.html" target="_blank">chip count page".
5.45pm: All change as Haxton makes hero call
Barry Greenstein has now moved to the table featuring Vicky Coren and Isaac Haxton. Haxton just moved up to around 100,000 after a hand against Elior Sion, the type of hand that can make a player look pretty good.
On a board of AQ5108 Sion bet another 18,000 from the button after Haxton had checked to him. But something didn’t ring true for Haxton.
“I don’t have anything,” he said. “But…” And with that he tossed in the call. “I have an ace,” he said.
“You win with an ace,” said Sion.
He slips down to 65,000 as James Bord arrives at the table. – SB
5.30pm: The elimination of Vanessa Selbst
News of Vanessa Selbst’s departure just before the break: Jonathan Duhamel sent her to the rail, flatting her six-bet with 67 off suit. Selbst shoved for her last 35,000 with [a][q] in what was a 165 big blind pot. No help came for Selbst who finished fourth in this event 12 months ago. She was not happy to be out so early. – SB
5.25pm: Folding on the river
On a flop of JJ10 Theo Jorgensen checked to Eugene Katchalov who bet 2,00, which was called by Mclean Karr and Jorgensen for a 3 turn card. Each checked for a 5 river. Jorgensen bet 6,500 forcing the others to fold. He’s up to 35,000. – SB
5.20pm: Bloming marvellous
Viktor Blom is perilously close to elimination, down to around 7,000 after a hand against Raffaele Gerbi. On a flop fo [q][j]5 with two diamonds Blom made it 3,200 which Gerbi called for a 10 turn card. Blom made it another 5,575 and Gerbi snap shoved, his [k]9 good. Very good.
“You win,” said Blom. “I had eight high.” – SB
5.10pm: Play continues
Andrew Pantling now has a glass of wine. Nacho Barbero pops across the rail to get a copy of the tournament schedule, having hoist up his jeans as he does so. Neil Johnson confirms that with one more buy-in registered down the road at The Vic the total field is 75. Someone somewhere says “we can’t all be good, right?” Matt Waxman stands up to eat a plate of pasta. Juan Macieras shouts something in Spanish. Govert Metaal’s giant gold watch sparkles – he’s up to 86,000. Dan Shak walks around the aisles with his laptop, trying to get a signal. – SB
5pm: Chips, chips
Don’t forget you can find updates chip counts for the high roller event on the official high roller chip count page.
4.55pm: You can’t come in
With four levels and a break complete, registration is now closed for the high roller event.
4.50pm: Play continues
We’re into level 5 with blinds of 200-400 with a 50 ante.
PokerStars Blog high roller reporting team: Stephen Bartley and Simon Young. All photography by Mickey May.
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.
| Career Winnings | Titles | Cashes | Final Tables |
| 1 |
Mike McDonald $3,642,657 |
|---|---|
| 2 |
Glen Chorny $3,273,822 |
| 3 |
Dimitar Danchev $3,053,428 |
| 4 |
Pieter De Korver $3,042,468 |
| 5 |
Poorya Nazari $3,000,000 |
| 6 |
Eugene Katchalov $2,747,882 |
| 7 |
Bertrand Grospellier $2,711,206 |
| 8 |
Anthony Gregg $2,676,175 |
| 9 |
Nicolas Chouity $2,619,143 |
| 10 |
Sebastian Ruthenberg $2,440,388 |
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