October 2006 Archives

Editor's note: I did not make it to the European Poker Tour event in Dublin, a fact that was more than a little disappointing. I have several friends in Ireland and even more on the EPT circuit. Missing out on the fun was unfortunate. Late last night, as the sun was about to rise in Ireland, Lee Jones got in touch with me. He was sitting in the poker room in Dublin. The EPT event was long over, but Lee still had to host the final table of the PokerStars Sunday Million. While he waited, he caught sight of another game--this one live in more than one sense of the word--still going on in the poker room. Rather than try to sell the scene myself, I'll offer you Lee's first-hand description. Enjoy.

The Load-Out

by Lee Jones

Now the seats are all empty
Let the roadies take the stage
Pack it up and tear it down
Theyre the first to come and last to leave
Working for that minimum wage
--Jackson Browne



The EPT Dublin event is over. Roland De Wolfe has been crowned king--taking down (essentially) the 550K Euro first prize. The press has bunked off, to reconvene in Copenhagen. The EPT crew is crash-bang disassembling the TV set, and even John Duthie has gone to bed.

Hotel staffers are stacking up the chairs that, just 12 hours ago, were filled with the butts of poker players from all over the world. This is the "Load Out" scene that Jackson Browne sings about. But in one corner of the room, the quiet buzz of chips continues. And in the midst of that buzz sit two world-famous poker players: Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker.



The interviews are over, the overhead lights and video cameras are off. But sometimes, even for world champion poker players, it comes down to 7-8 guys sitting around a table playing pot-limit Omaha. Nobody is asking for autographs; our Team PokerStars guys are just two players at the PLO table competing with everybody else for the money.

His name may have been dizney1984, but he proved he wasn't Mickey Mouse-ing around. In a $1.4 million Sunday Million battle that lasted nearly eleven hours, Denmark's dizney1984 took home more than $180,000 for his first place finish. Final table results are below.

PokerStars Sunday Million Results
(Results based on three-way deal that left $40,000 for first place)

1. dizney1984 (Denmark) $183,116.00
2. beset7 (United States) $141,284.00
3. tomba26 (Germany) $139,859.00
4. KA@tntech (United States) $65,029.75
5. whaassuuppp (United States) $53,611.25
6. html (Norway) $43,167.50
7. Bruski9 (United Kingdom) $34,116.25
8. supernova9 (Canada) $25,065.00
9. AndersFriden (United States) $16,710.00

I'm happy, and it's not just the Guinness. I don't know Roland de Wolfe at all, but I kept bumping into him today, and when I did we'd share brief friendly chats. Every time I met him I'd will him to win a little more. Now he's just brought his winner's bottle of champagne into the Press Room, to give it to us guys, with a bashful comment, "Before I was a half decent poker player, I was a really bad journalist."

A couple of times I ran into Roland today he commented on his luck. And today he put seven of the eight final table players out. So, yes, he hit hands that held up at just the right times. And in one of these hands he was behind and still won... Yet it seems obvious that de Wolfe is a player who deserves to win an event of this kind. I think you have to be more than just a 'lucky player' to be the first ever player to win both EPT and WPT events.

Roland de Wolfe is a very good player, and a very good player who got lucky, maybe... You can give a bad player some luck, and they stand a chance of winning an event like this, but give a good player some luck and they will walk it. It felt like Roland walked away with first prize today. With never a scare, he took a prize of €554,300, with this seeming pure logic, like this is how poker is supposed to be. Well, isn't it a poker 'law' that the best players will always win in the end? Well Roland did. and I'm glad of that. And not least because he's modest about this, not least because he's a guy who thought of those who were working when he did it.

So how did Roland win, and who did he beat..?

We lost Patrick Bueno first, shortstacked at the start of play, forced to make a move before the blinds took him. It was a calculated gamble, re-raising the most agressive player at the table with an all-in bet. Unluckily for him William Thorsten had a little something to call with, plus plenty of chips to gamble with. Patrick held just K7. William, correctly judged that he was ahead with AJ. Before the game Patrick said, "I might not be aggressive enough". Well, the move that sealed his fate was agressive. It didn't pay off for the Frenchman, but I hope he won't re-evaluate his whole poker style based on it.

Next out was Nick Slade. Another player caught making a move at the wrong time. He re-raised Roland de Wolfe, and chose a time when Roland had a hand. AQ for Roland, Nick with just J-9. The best hand won, so Nick exited EPT Dublin, telling all who'd listen, "I thought he had nothing. I really thought he had nothing..."

Rob Yong next to go. He must have that bittersweet feeling of going out on a bad beat. He was all-in with AK, so there'll be no berating himself for bad play, but the poker gods sent Roland de Wolfe with an AJ to beat him. This chatty Brit plans to open a new poker club soon, perhaps he could organise some bad-beat-free poker venue? I expect it would be a hit...

George McKeever next out. A well known Irish player, his best result before today a 7th place finish in WSOP. Funny to think that such a result today would make him a millionaire... In 1999 it made him $125,775. In EPT Dublin he did a little better, made €112,710. Not much action from George on the final table, he started as one of the shortstacks, and never really did more than survive. His pre-flop all-in found Roland de Wolfe with 88. And Roland eliminated his 3rd player of the day.

Gavin Simms is most often found playing winning poker at a private members club game, attended by media types. TV people, and poker players who don't have much clue. Gavin proved he can also play against players who have lots of clues. He held his own in this tough game, before going out 4th in a 50/50 with Roland de Wolfe. Yes, Roland de Wolfe again...

William Thorson is a brat of a player. The kind of player that no one wants at their table. Just in case he's reading, I mean this as a complement... He plays a lot of hands, and the bad thing is he'd play yours when you really don't want him too... He's everyone's worst nightmare at the table, because he wants to win the chips in every hand, he's a poker bully who'll want to club your subtle tight-agressive play to a pulp. He's fearless, yes... But sometimes fearlessness can lead to arrogance, and lack of caution... I think William's a great player, a great player to watch also, that's for sure. He lost almost his whole stack on a bad beat, lets not forget that. Without that we have a heads up match between Roland and William - and that would be some poker battle...

David Tavernier was heads up with Roland instead. This French doctor the 'dark horse' of the final table. He always played confident poker, he made 'moves' at just the right times. Only in the ende he went out with Queen high, against Roland de Wolfe's trip fives. His comment, "Quite a few bluffs worked really well. Until the end..."

I expect Roland de Wolf made quite a few bluffs, they all worked. He told me, "Every time I've been behind I've come out on top. You need to get lucky in a tournament, the lucky ones will always win..." He said that, but I don't believe him. It's refreshing that he's so modest, yet I think he deserved a win in EPT Dublin. Maybe the Poker Gods smiled on him a little? Well I think he earned their favour too... And he earned the favour of the press as well - with a gift of a few bottles of champagne. I'm happy that this nice guy of poker won. This nice guy who's also one of the best players I've seen play. And that's not just a bottle of winners Champagne talking...

Final table payouts:
1st Rolande de Wolfe €554,300
2nd David Tavernier €314,120
3rd William Thorson €184,780
4th Gavin Simms €138,580
5th George McKeever €112,710
6th Rob Yong €88,690
7th Nick Slade €70,210
8th Patrick Bueno €51,740

Roland with the bottle of champagne he gave to the Press Room.

11.39pm -- We have a winner...

The pot is raised pre-flop. David and Roland check a 3 5 A flop. The turn's another 5. Roland bets 70,000. David considers, then he raises to 250,000. Roland calls. The river is a 9. Roland bets 250,000. David moves all-in. Roland quickly calls. David shows QJ, a complete bluff. Roland had 5 4 and trip fives.

The final board

Roland de Wolf wins EPT Dublin. He's presented with the trophy and a bottle of champagne. Surely that should be Guinness..? Final table report will follow soon.


Roland de Wolf with his trophy

11.12pm -- Chipcounts:

David Tavernier 1,340,000
Roland de Wolfe 2,550,000




10.53pm -- William has very few chips left after the hand against David, now he calls on the small blind. Roland makes it 350,000 to play. William calls all-in. He shows AT. Roland has 77. The cards dealt are J 2 9 Q. William is still losing, but has more outs now for a straight... The river is a 6. William Thorson out 3rd. He wins €184,780. It's heads up between Roland de Wolf and David Tavernier.


Roland de Wolf

10.40pm -- Frenchman David Tavernier has just doubled through against William Thorson, winning a monster pot of over 500,000. Chips went in on the flop of 8-10-Q, and a 7 on the turn saw David move all in, facing an instant call from William. The Swede had J-9 for the flopped straight, and David had Q-8 for two pair, needing a miracle to survive. It arrived in the shape another 8, giving him the full house. William is down to 160,000 or so.

10.45pm -- Latest chipcounts:

Roland de Wolfe 1,989,000
William Thorson 1,228,000
David Tavernier 680,000

Blinds are 30,000/60,000 with a running ante of 6,000

10.41pm -- Latest news from the Regency Hotel press room...


Mmmm, Guinness...

10.38pm -- Players back after a short break. In an unraised pot Roland and William see a flop of 10 5 6. William bets, Roland folds... I could report plenty of similar hands, but I'll spare you.

10.25pm -- Play is ultra-cautious, nothing happening here. The only news is that PokerStars has bought everyone in the press room free beer and crisps. And that's good news.


Ah, Guinness...

9.40pm -- Not much action to report, but here are chipcounts from the final 3:

Roland de Wolfe 2,400,000
William Thorson 800,000
David Tavernier 720,000

9.21pm -- Gavin raised pre-flop to 120,000. Roland re-raises another 280,000. Gavin looks kind of shocked, but called all-in. J7 for Gavin, 66 for Roland. A 6 is the first card dealt, a set for Roland, little hope for Gavin. We're down to 3 players now. Gavin 4th for €138,580.


Gavin Simms out in 4th place.

9.17pm -- Roland raises to 120,000. David goes all-in. Roland calls an we see cards. (About time too.) A7 for David, K6 for Roland. The board of 2 Q 5 4 T ensures a double up for the French doctor, he's now on over 700,000.


David Tavernier

9.14pm -- Latest chipcounts:

William Thorson 832,000
Gavin Simms 484,000
Roland De Wolfe 2,213,000
David Tavernier 368,000

8.48pm -- There really is very little to report here, no big showdowns, few chips changing hands. Whilst there's not much going on, should I tell you a half-interesting fact about EPT qualification? David Tavernier was one of 13 players to qualify for EPT Dublin through our 'Last Chance' satellites. PokerStars tournament team now and then run these extra qualifiers, once the last scheduled satellite has run. Don't count on it however - they only ever magic these up if there are plenty of seats left in an event. Anyway, my half-interest fact? Well, of the 13 PokerStars players who qualified in this way, with just a few days to prepare, 4 made the money in Dublin. Yes, 4! (Told you it was half-interesting!)

These players were:

David Tavernier - still playing
Finnur Hrafnsson - 10th 31,410
Marcel Baran - 11th 25,870
Simon Ehne - 18th 11,090

Ok, back to watching George, Roland, David and William fold...

8.15pm -- George McKeever raises all-in. Roland de Wolf asks for a count. It's 27,000 chips to him. He calls. George shows KQ. Roland 88. The board brings nothing for George, who goes out 5th. He chats to Willie Tann beside the table for a while, 2 senior citizens of the poker world, I'm sure they've seen a pair beat overcards countless times before... George wins €112,710.


George McKeever


Our final 5 return to play.

8.00pm -- Players are back now. I saw one of the final table players eating in the break, he looked eager to get back to play, Roland de Wolfed it down...

7.00pm -- Players are on an hour long dinner break now. Hopefully by the time we return the technical problems with Blogger.com will be resolved.

6.51pm -- We've lost another player here. England's Rob Yong all-in with AK, he's called by Roland de Wolf who holds AJ. A horrible river card, a jack, puts Rob out of EPT Dublin.


Our 6th place finisher Rob Yong. He takes home €88,690

6.46pm -- No significant hands for a while now. William just goes all-in, he has a big stack of chips. He mutters, "If I raise you re-raise me." He shows AQ.

6.15pm -- Lee Jones gives the crowd some chipcounts for their pleasure:
Rob Yong (England) 450,000
William Thorson (Sweden) 550,000
George McKeever (Ireland) 450,000
Gavin Simms (England) 450,000
Roland De Wolfe (England) 1,200,000
David Tavernier (France) 650,000


William Thorson

6.10pm -- William has stacked his chips carefully into a tall pyramid design. Roland jokes about throwing something at them and knocking them over. William re-stacks the chips...

6.06pm -- Another hand in which William and Roland tangle, Roland winning a pot from him yet again. I missed the details but the interesting bit was at the end of the hand when William looked peeved and called Roland a 'fish'.

5.48pm -- Another player doubles up. George goes all-in holding AK, Rob Yong calls with QQ. A King on the flop sees George smile at his double up, or 'double through' as Lee Jones announces it.

5.40pm -- Players are on a 10 minute break. When play resumes blinds will be 10,000/20,000 with a 2,000 ante.

Current chip counts...

Rob Yong 560,000
William Thorson 600,000
George McKeever 180,000
Gavin Simms 384,000
Roland De Wolfe 1,146,000
David Tavernier 880,000

5.25pm -- Gavin Simms has just doubled up through Roland de Wolfe. His A-Q held up against Roland's 10-J, a Q on the river confirming it. He is now on more than 300,000.

5.10pm -- A big pot between the busiest players at the table, Roland and William. Three players see a flop - A 2 6 rainbow. It checks to De Wolf who bets 70,000. William calls. The turn is a Queen. William checks. Roland bets again, 140,000 this time. William calls again. The river is a 10. William checks once again. Roland thinks for a while, then bets 350,000. William mucks and Roland takes the 670,000 pot.


Roland de Wolfe

4.49pm -- Nick Slade is out, busted by Roland de Wolfe. Roland raised it up with A-Q, and Nick moved all in over the top with only J-9, thinking Roland was bluffing. A quick call from Roland and we saw the flop Q-A-9, great for Roland and some hope for Nick. But the turn and river did not bring the magical 9 and Nick leaves his seat muttering: "I really thought he had nothing." We are down to six players.


Nick Slade out 7th for €70,210

4.40pm -- Rob Yong doubles up against Roland de Wolfe and now sits on about 450,000. Roland made it 40,000 with Q-Q, Rob re-raised all in with A-K. The flop of J-5-9 was no help for Rob, but a K on the turn and 6 river saw the chips heading his way.

4.25pm -- Roland makes it 40,000, saying he's "not going to pass this one". George moves all in for 143,000 more from the small blind - and Roland passes. George is playing steady and waiting for his spot.

4.14pm -- William raises (again) Patrick Bueno re-raises announcing, "all-in." William immediately says, "I call." Patrick with 71,000 chips. William has A J. Patrick K 7. The board brings a Jack for William, nothing for Patrick. We've lost our first player. Patrick Bueno is out 8th. He says, "Au revoir," as he walks away to collect his €51,740.


Patrick Bueno who was 8th

4.02pm -- Rob Yong raises. William Thorson re-raises all-in. Rob thinks, and folds saying, "I think that's the last time I'm going to pass to him."

3.48pm -- William, Roland and David see a flop. It's 5 9 3 with two diamonds. David bets 50,000 which is re-raised to 100,000 by William. Roland folds before David announces 'all-in'. William mucks also.

3.34pm -- A raise all-in in the second hand. Nick Slade all-in. All fold. Nick showed Ace Queen.

3.29pm -- Tournament Director Thomas Kremser has just announced the players names, to applause from the crowd. The final is now underway.

3:19pm -- We're a little late starting the tournament, but the players have now taken their seats. Unfortunately we're having a few technical issues with our blogging program which means there might be a delay in updates being posted to the web. The technical description for this is 'screwy software.' I've tried all sorts of fixes, the best so far is swearing at my computer. It doesn't help at all, but it makes me feel a little better.

Here are profiles of our final table players, thanks to Mad Harper.

Seat 1. Rob Yong (UK) - 365,000 chips
Rob Yong, 34, used to be a blackjack player but got barred because his "system" was too effective. He took up poker three years and is the founder of the new Dusk Till Dawn poker club, due to open in Nottingham next year. Former recruitment consultant Rob said: "My lack of patience is my weakness, but I can be fearless with necessary." He picked up £23,300 after coming 2nd in the Midlands Meltdown in Wallsall in June.

Seat 2. William Thorson (Sweden) - 773,500 chips
William Thorson, 23, from Gothenburg, started playing at home with his parents. His father Olof, a horse-trainer, is also a highly successful player and has cashed at the WSOP. William is already a well-known and formidable player and one of the most successful online players in the world, playing the highest no limit games available. He came 13th in this year’s World Series of Poker for a $907,128 payout. His main concern today is Roland who describes as "sickly aggressive".

Seat 3. Nick Slade (UK) - 269,000 chips
Nick Slade, 43, a acquisitions broker from Preston, has only been playing poker for ten months but is already enjoying enormous success, making four final tables in four different countries in the last three months. He came 3rd in the Bellagio Cup II in July for a #41,000 payout. A former semi-pro golfer, he had to give up because of family commitments but believes the concentration skills he learned on the fairway are helping in him four-day poker tourneys.

Seat 4. Gavin Simms (UK) - 442,000 chips
Londoner Gavin, 36, learned his poker skills at the PokerStars’s fun Century Club monthly tournaments and, according to tournament director Conrad Brunner, he is by far the most successful graduate of the event. His biggest win to date was $44,000 after coming 59th in the $25,000 WPT Classic in April – a spectacular feat from the London stockbroker who outlasted some of the best players in the world. He said: "I’m either suicidally reckless or overcautious but this week I’ve managed to self-destruct". He may a dark horse for this event; Noah Boeken says "No one ever knows what he has."

Seat 5. David Tavernier (France) - 360,500 chips
PokerStars qualifier David 'Davethebest' Tavernier nearly didn't even make it to Dublin. He missed his first flight by 5 minutes and his second flight was cancelled. He finally sat down at the Regency 90 minutes late. However, the late start doesn’t seem to have harmed his play and the same thing happened to Patrick Antonius who won in Baden last year. Anaesthetist David, 50, has been playing poker for over 30 years - online, in home games and the occasional tournament. Married with four children, he lives in Paris and is a regular on PokerStars.

Seat 6. Patrick Bueno (France) - 140,000 chips
The 40-year-old Parisian has been playing poker for eight years and has made several final tables in both European and the USA. The construction company boss says poker is "not my job, it’s my passion". He is married with three children including eldest son Benjamin who is cheering him on today from the rails. He said: "I can sit and wait for ever for my chance but my weakness is I’m probably not aggressive enough."

Seat 7. George McKeever (Ireland) - 194,000 chips
Friends say Irishman George McKeever looks like Father Christmas - and plays like Scrooge. That may be a bit harsh judging by his results over the years. His highlight was a superb 7th in the World Series of Poker main event in 1999 for $125,775, but it was no fluke as he has a long list of tournament successes behind him. The 72-year-old cashed last month in the London EPT, where he also final tabled in 2004, and is currently 6th in the All Ireland All Time Money List, with $674,334. He has a fearsome reputation in cash games too.

Seat 8. Roland de Wolfe (UK) - 1,352,500 chips
Londoner Roland de Wolfe, 27, had enjoyed several modest cashes before bursting on to the big poker stage by winning the WPT Paris last year, collecting $599,600. More success followed and in April this year he came 3rd in the WPT Five-Star World Poker Classic in Las Vegas for another bumper payout of $1,025,205. Roland, a fanatical Arsenal fan, is also no stranger to the EPT, finishing 20th in Barcelona last month. Before turning pro, he used to work for gambling magazine Inside Edge.

Our final table players. Standing: Roland de Wolfe, Patrick Bueno, George McKeever, William Thorson, Gavin Simms, Nick Slade. Seated: David Tavernier, Rob Yung.

I met Roland De Wolfe as I waited for a taxi yesterday. He wanted to talk poker. "Did you see that hand?" "Did you see it when I hit a ten on the river?" "Not sure I should have called that one..." He reminded me of a schoolboy who'd scored a hat trick and put his school team in the final of the cup. He wanted to relive every kick of the game. Only this was a poker game, so it didn't involve any kicking. I've been to some home games where it is a possibility, but of course the EPT is a respectable kind of poker tournament.

Roland must be the favourite to win today, he has a lot of chips, he's a great player, and he just scored a hat trick for his school team. Ok, the hat trick bit didn't actually happen...

I only met this one final table player, as I waited for my taxi last night, but I'm sure they all must be as focused on their poker as he was. Thinking, breathing, poker, poker, poker, just like Roland. It's the final today, and there's a cup to win too. Am I supposed to pick a team? I must admit I have a soft spot for French doctor, David Tavernier. I've been following him throughout the event. This PokerStars qualifier arrived late when he missed his plane, and thought that could be somehow lucky, as it was for Patrick Antonius. He won in Baden after being blinded away a few levels.

I've also seen a lot of William Thorson, and I liked what I saw. I've seen him dominate his table. With a lot of chips I know he can be a poker bully. However bullies sometimes get their comeuppance, when their victim's decide to fight back...

I guess there's little point in further speculation about who'll win or lose today... Cards and chips will decide it all soon enough. And I'll be watching, and cheering, and maybe even swearing, at each and every kick of this game. Or I would be if there was any kicking. As I said, this is a respectable kind of poker tournament.

Might look better if it were filled with Guinness?

Final table chips:
Roland De Wolfe (UK) - 1,352,500
William Thorson (Sweden) 773,500
Gavin Simms (UK) 442,000
Rob Yong (Ireland) 365,000
David Tavernier (France) 360,500
Nick Slade (UK) 269,000
George McKeever (Ireland) 194,000
Patrick Bueno (France) 140,000


The money shot...
Prizes today:
1st €554,300
2nd €314,120
3rd €184,780
4th €138,580
5th €112,710
6th €88,690
7th €70,210
8th €51,740

Play begins at 3pm. More news from EPT Dublin soon...

We now have our final table of 8. Rob Yong, William Thorson, Nick Slade, Gavin Simms, David Tavernier, Patrick Bueno, George McKeever and Roland De Wolfe will all return tomorrow at 3pm local time. It promises to be an exciting final table, Roland De Wolfe and Wiliam Thorson are aggressive, interesting players to watch. PokerStars qualifier David Tavernier is my outside bet to win, not least because Marketing guy Conrad met a French player who told him, 'He's very good.'

It's been an enjoyable day of poker. A tough one too, with lots to report. I ran into Ara Melikian and his friend Sherwin in the bar earlier, and I know it's been an even tougher day for those two. Every player wants to reach the final table, smart players want to get there to win. Tournament poker is a strange game. I sometimes wonder if the 'high' of winning is worth the disappointment of the many times you'll miss out. I thought of this when I saw Ara and Sherwin in the bar. Were they celebrating a cash finish, or drowning sorrows that this wasn't a bigger prize? I didn't ask.

I'm pretty sure Ara enjoyed his EPT experience, it has to be about the dream. Tournament players have more in their heads than hand odds and reading skills, they have an enthusiastic, optimistic, ambitious, arrogant, strange, kind of brain malfunction, that makes each and every one of them sit down and believe that they will be the one who can beat hundreds to win. And I like that.

And what I like too is watching these tournament-crazy fight it out, until there is one enthusiastic, optimistic, ambitious, arrogant, player who is right about it all -who does win. In a room full of dreams there'll be one who proves this isn't crazy at all. Because we'll look at him or her and want to be them, and part of that tournament brain-malfunction-thing is that we see them and forget the rest, we just want it all the more. I know I do. I'll watch the final table tomorrow and dream about my next tournament, and the important thing with tournament-crazy-brain is that loving that dream is happiness enough.

I hope you'll be back to read more at 3pm tomorrow. If you can't play in the EPT, I hope I'll help you dream of it a little.

Willie Tann goes all-in. There have been many all-ins that have seen 8 players fold, but this one is different. This time the all-in finds a call. Roland De Wolfe is the caller, he shows AK. Willie can only manage AJ.

The board is 9 K 4 8... and Willie's drawing dead.

A lot of people had hoped this wily tournament pro would reach the final table, but it was not to be. We have our final table of 8, and we'll be back at 3pm tomorrow.

It's all gone quiet at our last table. Patrick just went all-in and doubled up with 9 9, taking chips from Roland De Wolf.

Lee Jones is calling the hands in expert style, quickly calculating the odds at the turn of every card.

Lee calls hands

The £500 tournament here is a very tough game, many EPT stars wanting more tournament action entered this friendly freezeout. Marcel Luske has a huge chiplead at the final table. The bar area is busy too, but I won't be heading there until we lose another player...


Marcel Luske at the other final table

We have nine players left, seated at one table, and when we lose one more we'll declare our 'final table'. These eight players will return to play on Sunday at 3pm. Here's the chip counts of the nine players at the quasi-final table...

1 Rob Young 588,000
2 William Thorsen 1,300,000
3 Nick Slade 232,000
4 Gavin Sims 292,000
5 David Tavernier 433,000
6 Patrick Bueno 132,000
7 George McKeever 161,000
8 Willie Tann 168,000
9 Roland De Wolfe 888,000

Down to one table now. Only 9 players left... Iclandic PokerStars qualifier Finnur Hrafnsson was here in his first major tournament, he told me earlier that he was proud to be the first Icelandic player to cash in an EPT event. He might well consider himself lucky to be here, his first PokerStars satellite was a 'Last Chance' game that led him to EPT Dublin.

Finnur was set all-in by William Thorsen's on the small blind. Finnur found 5 5 in the big blind, and needed to make a stand. Thorsen turned over Q 9. A Queen was the first card out. Finnur picked up a flush draw, and a little hope, but no diamond came to save him. Finnur finishes 10th and takes €31,410 home to Iceland. He says he'll spend it on more EPT satellite buy-ins.

Luca Pagano has been busted in 13th place after running his A-J into Willie Tann's K-K. Willie had raised to 45,000, Luca moved all in over the top with his remaining 115,000, and Willie called quick as a flash. Nothing helped Luca on the flop and turn, and a J on the river just rubbed salt into the wounds. On went the Ferrari leather jacket, and Luca was off.

It was a good show by our Team PokerStars player from Italy, who takes home €20,330 for his efforts.

The next shortstack seems to be going all-in quicker than we can type up the last one's demise. Marcel Baren just out with KQ, Rob Young found AT, and with no help on the board, the PokerStars qualifier was out in 11th place for €25,870.

It looks like we're going to reach our final 8 as quick as you'd call an all-in bet when you find AA. Well, perhaps that's exaggerating, but we have lost 3 players in less than half an hour. Paul Telstud was out first. He was all-in pre-flop with 44. Nick Slade called with 88 to put him out.

Vinnie McNamie was gone next. All-in pre-flop with KJ he was beaten by Roland De Wolfe who held A5.

Conor Doyle was then eliminated by Luca Pagano, who called blind, and saw a flop with Willie Tann also in the hand. The flop was 9 8 5. Luca bet out with his 9 6 and Willie folded. Connor held 7 4 and Luca sent the Irish player home with €20,330.

A reminder of players out already:

14 Conor Doyle (Ireland)
15 Vinnie McNamie
16 Paul Telstud (France)
17 Roy Brindley (Ireland)
18 Simon Ehne (Sweden)
19 Jonas Helness (Norway)
20 Pat O'Callaghan (Ireland)
21 Kevin Vreeswijk (Holland)
22 Karin Lundgren (Sweden)
23 Ray Coburn (USA)
24 Kashi Kambiz (Sweden)

Here's Chipcounts from the final 16. On the televised table are:

Gavin Simms 149,000
Nick Slade 308,000
Willie Tann 129,000
Connor Doyle 60,000
Luca Pagano 147,000
William Thorsson 697,000
Paul Telstud 30,000
Finnur Hrafnsson 190,000

The other table:

Patrik Bueno 90,000
Roland de Wolfe 840,000
Rob Young 225,000
George McEever 150,000
David Tavernier 378,000
Christoffer Stahl 185,000
Marcel Baran 675,000
Vinnie McNamar 98,000

Finnur Hrafnsson


Marcel Baran

by Simon Young

Two more of our PokerStars qualifiers are going great guns as just 16 players remain here in Dublin. Icelandic Finnur Hrafnsson and Germany's Marcel Baran have piled on the chips in a frenetic hour or so of poker.

They both took huge pots off Jonas Helness, the chip leader at the start of the day. First Marcel took a sizeable nibble of the Swede's stack, then just a couple of hands later Finnur moved in for the kill. He now sits on about 240,000, with Marcel on about the same.

The PokerStars pair shared the same table, tangling with each other once or twice, but the remaining two tables are now being re-drawn as we head down to the one, final table of eight for tomorrow.


Simon Ehne

Not so lucky was fellow PokerStars qualifier Simon Ehne, from Sweden. He was eliminated in 18th place after tangling fatefully with Roland de Wolfe. It was folded round to Roland, who limped in with 10-10 from the small blind. Simon checked with 6-2 and was delighted to see a flop of 6-4-4. All the chips went in, and nothing changed on the turn or river to keep all Simon's chips from Roland's clutches.

With 16 remaining, PokerStars is well represented, particularly with Luca Pagano looking more assured as the night goes on.

PokerStars Ray Coburn is out in 24th place. He moved in with AQ and Paul Telstud called with 88. An 8 on the flop ended Ray's second Dublin EPT. He's been in the money twice here, but will be disappointed not to improve on last year's 14th place finish.

We've lost another couple of players. Kambiz Kashi out 23rd. Pat O’Callaghan out next. Pat goes all in with KT. Vinny McNamee calls with AQ and puts him out.

David Tavernier, playing on the televised table, has just doubled up. The French doctor flopped quad 4s, and was well ahead of countryman Paul Telstud who held AK.

David Tavernier, on the press room TV

Ara Melikian was shortstacked and needed to make a move. He moved in with 9 3. Roland De Wolf took him on with A 8. Roland's ace was enough to put Ara out. He'll take €7,390 back to New York.

There are now 24 players left and they're re-drawing for seats. Team PokerStars Luca Pagano is still playing, as are Roland De Wolf, Willie Tann and Roy Brindley. Five remaining players are PokerStars qualifiers. Here's their names, and a little bit about them.

Finnur Hrafnsson - Large, Icelandic, grey top.
Ray Coburn - Eats sweets, used to have green hair, 14th in Dublin last year.
Simon Ehne - Swedish, must be a good player, stripy top.
Marcel Baran - Long hair, lot of chips.
David Tavernier - Doctor, got here late, 'Davethebest'.

Here's the players in the money spots so far:

25th Ara Melikian
26th Marc Goodwin
27th Magnus Jakobsson
28th Walter Alecci
29th Rune Nikolaisen
30th Adrian Walshe
31st David Clayton
32nd Johnny Lodden

And a reminder of what the remaining players are in this for:

1st €554,300
2nd €314,120
3rd €184,780
4th €138,580
5th €112,710
6th €88,690
7th €70,210
8th €51,740
9-10th €31,410
11-12th €25,870
13-14th €20,330
15-16th €14,780
17-24th €11,090
25-32nd €7,390

Luca Pagano: leave my pizza alone

by Simon Young

Team PokerStars' Luca Pagano has been making steady, if unspectacular progress all day. He started with a respectable 49,000, and has built gradually without putting himself in a great deal of peril.

Now up to the 72,000 mark he had a great chance to double up, leaving him much more comfortable in his smart PokerStars shirt. He was in the small blind and looked down to find J-J - an appealing sight at this stage of a tournament.

The action folded around to Pat O'Callaghan, from Ireland, on the button, who raised to 40,000. Luca, sensing blood like a Roman gangster whose pizza had been stolen, moved all in for the kill, requiring 32,000 more from O'Callaghan. After a dwell for a moment or two, he called. Luca turned over first - the J-J - and O'Callaghan was not too pleased when he revealed his A-J.

Luca looked good, and the flop of 5-10-7 seemed to present no problems. But the turn of an and 8 and a 9 river made them both the jack high straight. Luca was not happy at having to split the spoils of such a monster pot, but he is a cool enough player to not let him affect him. O'Callaghan knew he had got lucky.

The luck of the Irish, eh? In Pat's case, yes. Not so Roy "The Boy" Brindley - another home favourite - who just won a huge pot, doubling through against Roland de Wolfe, with the best hand. All the money flew in before the flop, Roy with Q-Q and Roland A-K. The flop of A-Q-2 secured the spoils, the K turn made it interesting, but the 7 river was meaningless. Roy is now up to 150,000.

Jonas Helness 140,000
Chrristoffer Stahle 330,000
Roland De Wolfe 380,000
William Thorsson 405,000
Willie Tann 205,000
Luca Pagano 100,000
Ray Coburn 83,000
Ara Melekian 47,000
Roy Brindley 115,000
Karin Lungren 55,000
Nick Slade 330,00
Marc Goodwin 100,00

Willie Tann and William Thorsson

PokerStars qualifiers Ray Corbin and Ara Melikian are shorter stacks now, but both just won significant pots. Ara just doubled up. He was in middle position holding AA. Everyone folds to him, he goes all-in. He gets called by a big stack willing to take a gamble on J 10. The Aces hold up. Ara now on 47,000.

In a hand between Ray Coburn and William Thorsen, Thorsen raises, Ray goes all-in for 25,000 more. William folds. Ray now on 83,000.

30 players are left, blinds now 3000, 6000. I'll bring you chipcounts soon.

Roland De Wolfe with a mountain of chips...


Ray Coburn with a molehill...

There was no cagey play on the bubble of this tournament. Two players went out in quick succession. This left the 32 remaining players cheering as it was announced that they were taking home a bundle of Euros. Or even a shiny EPT suitcase full of Euro notes if they win.

A big hand between Andy Black and William Thorsen. Thorsen limped with 99 under the gun, Andy raised on the small blind with his AK. Thorsen called. The flop was A 8 9. A set for Thorsen. More betting. The turn is another Ace. Hard for Andy to get away from this one... A shout of 'all-in' and on the river there's a chipcount, both players had a lot of chips, but Thorsen had a few more. Andy Black is out in 34th place.

As Andy walks away shaking his head there's a shout of 'all-in' from the televised table. Patrick White is our bubble player, out in 33rd place when his AQ was beaten by Johnny Lodden's KT made a straight.

A few hands later and Johnny Lodden is out. He flopped a full house 3s full of 9s. Johnny held 33 and Nick Slade held 66. The chips went in on a 3 9 9 Flop. Lodden was all-in, and looking good. But the turn was an Ace, the river a cruel 9.

The board that sealed Andy Black's fate.

A few hands after the dinner break and Marcel Baran finds AA in the small blind. Another big hand lurked in the big blind. Dave Clayton was unlucky to find KK. I missed how all the chips went in the middle, but Marcel, from Frankfurt, won a huge pot. He's now on 240,000 chips.

37 players remain now, with Roland De Wolfe our chipleader. Blinds stand at 2,000/4,000 with a 400 ante. We're nearly 'in the money' with 32 players paid.

40 players left now, and they've just gone on an hour dinner break. Before they left we gathered some more fresh chipcounts from the tourney floor.

Roland de Wolfe 375,000
Willie Tan 260,000
Andy Black 198,000
Simon Ehme 150,000
Marcel Baran 125,000
Ray Coburn 39,000
Ara Melikian 55,000
Luca Pagano 47,000
David Tavernier 187,000
Finnur Hrafnsson 40,000

Ade Adebayo is out, and the tournament room will be a little quieter without him, but also a little duller without his lively presence. I didn't see the details of the hand but understand Ade had 99 and was called by a player with KJ who hit two pair. Also missing in action: Neil Channing, Andreas Hagen, Paul Testud, and Pascal Perrault.

Neil Channing: Gone, but not forgotten

On the televised table Andy Black goes all-in. He's quickly called by William Thorsen who turns over his KK. Andy groans, he holds 99. The cards are dealt 10c 5h 2h. Lee Jones, calling the card on the televised table says, "Andy has a 9 of hearts, he needs a 9 or running hearts to stay in.'

The turn, Kh.

William has trip Kings, but Andy needs one more heart.

The river... Ah. Andy Black doubles up.

"Well played Sir," Thorsten says.

"I was sitting there thinking I was playing real bad. So I decided to play worse," was Andy's comment.

"I'm an absolute muppet. Goodness me."

Mark Goodwin 180,000
Roland DeWolfe 270,000
Andy Black 100,000
Roy Brindley 70,000
Jonas Helness 140,000
Luca Pagano 87,000
Johnny Lodden 38,000
Christoffer Stahle 140,000
Nick Slade 97,000
Andy Black 100,000
Willie Tann 85,000
William Thorsen 209,000

Roland De Wolfe

45 player remain. Sadly Gerald Lemke is now out. He stood for a long while at his table, checking his cards as soon as they were dealt, often walking away to chat to his Mother on the rail. He found a hand he wanted to play, this was AQ. He was called by a player with A 10. A 10 on the river ended Gerry's run in this, his first live tournament.

At another table two PokerStars players tangled on a 9 high flop. More chips went in on the turn a 3. Marcel Baran said nothing, Ade Bayo said plenty. "You're hitting everything he claimed," as Marcel re-raised him.

He tossed his cards away with disgust, showing King Queen. Marcel still said nothing, but turned over his King Jack. Ade muttered something I can't repeat.

Marcel Baran

by Simon Young

There's an old saying in poker - with a "chip and a chair" you are still very much in with a chance. I know it's a cliche, and normally the poor owner of said chip is launched the wrong way through a tournament's revolving door within minutes, but today it could be true.

Step forward PokerStars qualifier Gerald Lemke, from the U.S, who is possibly about to engineer the greatest comeback since Bobby Ewing returned from the dead in Dallas. With the room average at 70,000 chips, our man was down to just 400 after losing a 7-7 v Q-Q battle with Britain's Stuart Fox.

Gerald Lemke: the coat is on

He had to put 200 of those on the table next hand for the ante, leaving just two 100 chips as a lifeline. No matter, Gerald threw them in with J-7. He hit two pair, scooping the table's goodies, a total of about 2,400.

Still much to do, but next hand he was on the big blind, and pushed all in again without looking at his hand. He was elated to find 9-9, beating off his Q-2 opponent. Now he was up to 5,400. Not content, Gerald went all in again on the next hand, and flopped an eight to match up his K-8, beating Stuart Fox's A-10. This time his stack soared to 15,000.


Happy again, with chips


So, within the space of four hands, Gerald had gone from about 15,000 down to just 400, then back up to 15,000 again!

That boy should buy a lottery ticket.

It's hard to count chips very accurately now that there are many coloured chip mountains everywhere, also bear in mind that we're not allowed close to the TV Table. Blog helper Sam has done great work getting these estimated figures together for you.

Jonas Helness 145,000
Andy Black 150,000
Finnur Hraffson 150,000
Ray Coburn 31,000
Ade Bayo 45,000
Ari Melikian
Paul Telstud 65,000
Roy Brindley 90,000
Luca Pagano 72,000
Marcel Baran 80,000
Simon Ehne 105,000
Roland De Wolfe 200,000
Gerry Lemke 4,000

David Murray just went out, now 63 players remain. Murray was at the TV table, alongside Andy Black, Willie Tann and William Thorsen who was second in chips at the start of play.

David had only 10,000 chips left and went all-in with 88. Fellow PokerStars qualifier Finnur Hraffnsson called with AQ. Finnur hit, and put Murray out. David looked gutted, but is now watching the action, rooting for his friend Eoin Olin, who he says has a decent stack of chips.

The TV Table. David Murray the player with the beard.

We've lost Noah Boeken, I didn't see him go out, but spotted him playing in a cash game. This isn't online poker, you can't do two tables at once. Apparently Noah was all-in with KQ and ran into an AA.

Unfortunately it looks like I won't be bragging in the press room, the player I picked to reach the final table is out. Ramzi Jelassi another one biting the dust.

David Tavernier just doubled up, he button raised to 4,000 and felt he was committed to put the rest of his chips in when he was re-raised by Roy Brindley. He reluctantly showed his 9 10. Roy held AK, but the good doctor won the hand with a healthy-for-him flop of 8 9 10. That left Roy feeling sick. And me wondering how many bad metaphors I can fit into one post of tournament reporting?

David Tavernier

Katja Thater: Where was the last spade?

by Simon Young

Team PokerStars' Katja Thater stood on her chair and tried to suck the winning card out of the dealer's hands. Any spade would have been enough, or any ace. Sitting on about 30,000, she had got into a raising war with Kevin Vreeswijk of Holland, who already had a menacing 130,000 or so chips.

The flop came 6-7-8, with two spades, giving Katja, holding A-J spades, the nut flush draw. She pushed her remaining chips in the middle and was called by Vreeswijk holding the monster K-K. Katja stood, wished, willed, in fact did everything but beg the dealer to come up with the goods.

Sadly the turn was 4 hearts and the river a harmless 3 diamonds. Katja stood for a few moments more, staring in disbelief, before picking up her bag and leaving. So many outs, so little help. The Dutchman, meanwhile, is now up and away with 160,000 or so in chips.

The blinds are now 800-1,600 with a 200 ante. About 65 of the Day Two starters are left after a casualty rate not seen since The Charge of the Light Brigade.

John Duthie just commented that they're 'dropping like flies'. Last time I looked there were 88 players all hoping to avoid the fly-drop problem and reach the final 8 at the end of the day.

Marcel Luske is sadly one of the early casualties, always good to watch the Dutch player, but he went all-in with KQ and failed to beat the guy who called with 88.

Greek PokerStars qualifier Max Trigas is also out. Max was feeling ill, and played like a man who wanted to go home to bed. He went all-in with 30,000 chips and A4. Willie Tann with KK was happy to call. This left Max with just 4,000 chips. He couldn't seem to get rid of them, doubling up a few times, before finally losing all his chips. I guess the other 88 players wouldn't feel too sympathetic as he goes. I hope he's feeling better soon. Perhaps it was something he 8?

Shut up!: Roland de Wolfe silences Bayo

by Simon Young

Ade Bayo has started today as he left off yesterday - very loudly. Famed for defending his big blind and berating anyone foolish enough to try and raise it, Ade has already been on his feet shouting for the whole room to hear.

This time, a player in the small blind raised Ade's precious 1,200 big blind. Quick as a flash, Ade, from London, announced all in. The small blind folded, to which Ade stood up, waved his monster 6-4 and shouted: "See. No one steals my big blind. I will move on anyone who tries to - see, even with this 6-4. Stop thieving from me." It was quite a commotion, and most of the room stopped to watch the Oscar-winning performance.


Marc Goodwin: takes no blind notice of Ade Bayo

One player sitting at Ade's table is Marc Goodwin, the top British pro, who has made more than a million dollars this year alone (and another $500,000 playing Phil Ivey at golf!). Unfortunately, Ade does not know who Marc is, and this may be his downfall. "So what's your name?" he asks Marc. "Are you a pro? Tell you what, on my next big blind we'll both go all in without looking at our cards?"

We wait breathlessly for a round of the table. With Ade on the big blind again, it's folded around to Marc. He looks at his cards, much to Ade's disgust, and puts in a teasing minimum raise of 2,400. Everyone else sensibly gets out of the way. What does Ade do now? HE has not looked at his cards, but instead of raising he calls. The flop is 6-7-9-Q. Marc checks, Ade (still blind) checks. The turn is a rag and both check again. Marc has nothing - Ade takes the first look at his cards, and screams as he sees 8-10 for the straight all along!

Cue another stand up routine: "I love myself," he says as he kisses his own arm. At this point, Roland de Wolfe, sitting on the next table, wanders over to wrap a scarf around Ade's head to get him to shut up. It worked..... for about ten seconds.

Ade is up to about 70,000, but you sense he and Marc Goodwin, who started the day third with more than 90,000, is just waiting to pounce.

Meanwhile France's Pascal Perrault, who started the day the shortest stack of all with just 5,300, stuck everything in the middle with Q-8 diamonds on the very first hand - and was out of the door when called by A-6. An ace on the flop did the damage.

PokerStars players in action today include Team PokerStars Katja Thater and Luca Pagano. Noah 'Exclusive' Boeken is also representing PokerStars today, by my calculations Noah's made going on for $300,000 from his EPT poker to date with 5 cashes.

Of course we'll be following these well known PokerStars players, but here's a reminder of some of the PokerStars players I've written about who now return to play a second day of poker.

Ara Melikian

Ara's an accountant, here with his buddy Sherwin. He's qualified for 3 of the 4 EPT events so far. He tells me he's gone deeper in each EPT event he's played, I hope it's 3rd time lucky for Ara. One of the 'nice guys' of poker, that's for sure.

JJ Juhl

JJ is a Danish TV presenter, and the younger (by 10 minutes) of twin poker players taking part in EPT Dublin. Jacob didn't get through day 1B yesyerday, but I'm sure he'll be here to support his brother. And as they're identical twins would anyone be able to tell if he played a few of JJ's hands?

Ade Bayo

Ade is the loudest, wildest, poker player in the room. Raise his big blind and you're in trouble. He even has poker business cards printed, defining his 'bigblindism' philosophy. He says it's 'similar to Buddhism but less fun.' Not sure if Andy Black will convert?

Ray Coburn

Ray was in the money in Dublin last year, the candy chewing kid from New Jersey had green hair last time he played. I was hoping this year he might dye it black with a bleach white top - pint of Guinnes style. Perhaps Ray's not so keen to be the centre of attention any more, instead he seems focused on this game.

Ray Coburn

Ramzi Jelassi

Ramzi seems to qualify for every EPT, he went deep in Baden, and now he's here for the cost of a few FPP. An agressive poker player, I like his style, and I've picked him as one of my candidates in the press room '2 for the final table' game.


Ramzi Jelassi

James Reid

James is from Bedford, England, but originally from Ireland so always plays this Dublin event. He was on the final table in EPT Dublin last year, winning €49,600 for his sixth place. He's a regular in Luton cardroom tourneys, and I've been told he has an 'unpredictable style.'

Ches Denison

Ches is just 19, and here with his Mum. He qualified for just 40 FPP. When he's not playing poker he likes wakeboarding. Apparently that's like snowboarding only on rivers. When not playing poker whilst in Dublin, he likes drinking. He says he'd never been in a bar before he came to Europe.

David Tavernier

Doctor David from France, arrived an hour late for this event, lost a few chips as he was blinded away, and he probably won't be late for the start of day 2. He's here with his wife Christiane. With a User Id like 'Davethebest' I'll expect David to be one of the best in Dublin today. Or maybe he's only the best Dave?

Play is now underway. I'll bring you news of these players, and many more soon.

It's going to be a dull day in Dublin today... Of course I'm talking about the cloudy weather! The poker is going to be far from dull. 109 players return to the Regency Hotel today to play down to 8, ready for the final table on Sunday. Chipleader at start of play is Jonas Helness, with William Thorsson and Marc Goodwin not too far behind.

There are some very exciting table draws, looks like the TV people might be focusing on table 2 at first. There are some very good players who'll be hoping for a double-up soon such as Noah Boeken, Pascal Perrault, Marcel Luske and Padraig Parkinson. There are some interesting players with plenty of chips, such as Roy Brindley, Roland De Wolfe, Paul Telstud, and Andy Black. Perhaps the best thing is if I let you see all this for yourself? Here's chipcounts and table draws:

Table 1
Jonathon Kreisner 26,300
Ramzi Jelassi 43,100
Jonas Helness 117,400
Peter Gould 47,200
Finnur Hrafnsson 22,000
Katja Thater 39,500
Andreas Hagen 56,100
Pascal Perrault 5,300

Table 2
Luca Pagano 49,300
Robert Binelli 13,200
Ray Coburn 25,400
William Thorsson 106,700
David Clayton 61,100
Walter Alecci 41,000
Eoin Olin 47,100
Neil Channing 43,600

Table 3
Marc Friedmann 31,800
George Geary 8,700
Oliver Bosch 22,400
Thomas Heining 8,200
Jon Priston 19,100
Rob Hoopman 34,000
Thomas Fougeron 20,800
Anders Berg 25,800

Table 4
Nichlas Saarisilta 28,400
Sean Donaldson 15,100
Marcel Luske 24,000
Vinny Mcnamee 29,100
Steffen Kongelt 47,500
Tore Lagerborg 42,200
Andreas Vilson 24,700
Nadir Benkahla 29,700

Table 5
Ravi Udayakumar 44,600
George Mckeever 23,800
Robert Taylor 22,200
Simon Nowab 26,800
Michael Rabenseifner 21,600
Roland Xavier 22,700
Age Spets 12,800
Joakim Hammar 66,500

Table 6
David Murray 32,800
Daniel Wadman 19,300
David Atrubin 9,800
Azad Pirooti 50,100
Michael O'Sullivan 21,400
Roland De Wolfe 70,700
David Barnes 25,200
Martin Wendt 37,000

Table 7
Ade Bayo 58,900
Anders Losvik 25,600
Jimmy Dahlquist 35,700
Christopher Swanstrom 16,000
Ian Mctavish 12,800
Marc Goodwin 98,200
Daniel Ryan 19,400
Rune Nikolaisen 38,000

Table 8
Adrian Walshe 16,500
Paddy Mccloskey 45,800
Conor Doyle 69,600
Sasha Rosewood 24,400
Niklas Walgren 32,000
Christoffer Sonesson 12,500
Gavin Simms 39,700
Patrick White 31,800

Table 9
Paul Testud 77,100
Jeppe Juhl 32,700
Magnus Jakobsson 31,500
Hans Eskilsson 64,600
Kambiz Kashi 28,200
Kerry-James Kerrigan 57,500
James Reid 37,200
Kevin Vreeswijk 83,900

Table 10
Roman Makowski 16,500
Ches Denison 27,500
Patric Bueno 46,500
Gerald Lemke 22,300
Jonathan Lewis 35,100
Piero Compagnoni 21,000
Nick Slade 52,600
Ghite Anderson 8,400

Table 11
Julian Grosjean 13,200
Markus Deijfen 11,100
Noah Boeken 10,800
Nick Gibson 29,000
Stuart Fox 69,800
Christoffer Stahle 40,900
Marcel Baran 24,200
Fergal Mckeever 49,200

Table 12
Roi Elmaliah 12,000
Andy Black 69,000
Johan Storakers 7,600
Willie Tann 36,400
David O'Callaghan 14,700
Jeffrey Garza 50,000
Maximilianos Trigas 41,800

Table 13
Padraig Parkinson 12,000
Johnny Lodden 44,900
Rob Young 36,700
Reyaaz Mulla 29,100
Philip Peters 46,700
Simon Ehne 61,700
Pat O'Callaghan 33,000

Table 14
Roy Brindley 71,600
Stuart Rutter 24,000
Ara Melikian 54,800
David Tavernier 18,600
David Pomroy 36,400
John Gough 6,600
Karin Lundgren 54,700

Regency Hotel waiter, while we're waiting for Day 2 play to begin.

65 players bagged their chips at the end of day 1B. They'll join the 51 players of day 1A, and come back to play again tomorrow. Amongst the 'name players' with chips at the end of day 1A are: Marcel Luske, Noah Boekan, Luca Pagano, Peter Gould, Andreas Hagen, Nick Gibson, and Neil Channing. They'll all be back for EPT action on Day 2, joining the likes of Andy Black, Jonas Helness, Katja Thater, Paul Testud and Roy Brindley.

Amongst the PokerStars qualifiers I've blogged about we still have Gerry Lemke, Ara Melikman, Conor Pope, Roman Makowski and Ramzi Jelassi. We also have Ade Bayo. He's just invaded the pressroom, loudly debating the way he's been represented on another blog. I do hope he understands my, 'loudmouthed' line. For the record I think he's a very good, loudmouthed, player. He just claimed he's only worried about his blog reports because he's, 'sensitive and insecure.' Awwww....

More news from EPT Dublin, and both it's sensitive, and sensible, players tomorrow. Play resumes at 2pm local time.

Dave Murray bags his chips


Ara Melikian counts his chips

Average chips 27,800, 72 players remain with blinds now 400/800. Here's some chipcounts:

Finnur Hrafasson 28,000
David Murray 38,000
Ramzi Jelassi 41,000
Roland de Wolfe 47,000
Marcel Luske 42,000
Neil Channing 90,000
Noah Boeken 30,000
Ara Melikman 47,000
Luca Pagano 36,000
Gerry Lemke 20,000
Conor Pope 14,000
Roman Makowski 22,000
Marcel Baran 33,000
Ches Denisen 30,000
Willie Tann 41,000
Ade Bayo 40,000


I asked Ade how many chips he had. "Too many," came a comment from another player. "I got lucky," Ade confessed. "And it couldn't happen to a nicer guy!" He said with a grin.

It was an eventful trip around the tables as I collected chipcounts. I saw Noah Boeken double up with 88 vs KQ. I saw Conor Pope's AA beaten by Ches Denisen's KK (he hit a straight.) And I saw a fuss at Neil Channing and Marcel Luske's table.

Apparently Marcel Luske got committed on the turn, with the board 2 9 K 2. It was a 29,000 pot, and 13,000 more when Marcel was re-raised. Marcel said, "I put him on AK, but I could hit a two, or a King, or a ten."

So Marcel called with his KT. The other player turned over AK. Another 2 on the river and a split plot.

Neil Channing's comment, "He's spooky. I don't want to play with this guy. He called the hand, he called the cards, and it came."

Neil Channing and Marcel Luske, as the pot is divided for the 'spooky' hand.

I just saw Luca Pagano double up with JJ vs 88, and having to sort out a huge pile of chips. I thought it was a big pot until I realised they were mainly green 25 chips. It's hard for us bloggers to bring you accurate chipcounts when there are so many small-value chips about. There's a 10 minute break right now and at the end of this they'll colour up the green chips, and I'll bring you chipcounts of the significant players of the 82 remaining.

Luca is all-in with JJ. Just another dull pair vs overpair all-in situation...

I noticed that Ade Bayo goes a little quieter when he's shortstacked. He's sharing a table with Willie Tann and Neal Channing - another player who likes to chat when he's in a hand. A player on next-to-nothing chips goes all-in with AK. Ade on the big blind is bound to call, and has A 5. He doesn't comment as the AK wins and he loses needed-chips to the all-in player. Neal's comment to the AK player, "You play like a man with no food in the cupboard."

I just heard that short-stacked Anthony Holden is out. He's commented that he's had no cards all tournament, and when he finds a hand it doesn't even go his way. He moved all-in with A J. To run into another player with the same hand and split the pot. Then he found JJ and a caller with AK. I don't know about 'no food in cupboards,' I do know Anthony Holden is out.

David Tavernier, the French player with the proud PokerStars User Id 'Davethebest,' nearly didn't make it to Dublin at all. He was 5 minutes late for his flight yesterday. He had another flight arranged for this morning. This was cancelled due to bad weather. He and his wife finally got on a plane and made it to Dublin, but Dave was an hour late. His stack was blinded away for the first level.

I can't help thinking of Patrick Antonius, in a similar set of circumstances he arrived very late for EPT Baden last year. He went on to win the event.

Dave is a Doctor, but poker is an important part of his life. He says he enjoys playing at the Aviation Club de France, and spends around 12 hours a week playing at PokerStars, mainly Omaha and No limit Hold'em cash games at the $5/$10 level. He's also a regular in the Sunday Million. It's almost refreshing to find a player who appears to enjoy poker as just a hobby, with no big dreams of becoming a 'pro'. David's already enjoyed European adventures through his PokerStars play. He qualified for Monte Carlo's EPT Grand Final last year, recently he just missed out on a trip to Baden, finishing 4th in a satellite that awarded 3 seats.

Dave has 3,000 chips at the moment. I'd love to think that 'late means lucky' and that he might 'Do a Patrick Antonius' here at EPT Dublin. Of course I'll let you know...

David Tavernier

107 players remain. It's at that stage of the night where time seems to slow, the tourney's been playing nine hours now, but players won't go home easy. Blinds are now 200 400. When an ante is introduced at the next level I expect things to get lively, at least that's the way it worked on day 1A. Perhaps it's the psychological effects of an ante? A little bit of your stack disappearing every hand might encourage the 'all-in' feeling. Or maybe it's that this time of the night is the Regency Hotel's 'Happy Hour' and a free bar for an hour? Does alcohol loosen the muscles necessary for that crucial all-in manoeuvre?

Tony G's just found his 'all-in' reflex in action. He re-raised on the big blind holding 88. The player on the button thought long and hard, the re-raise was for several thousand chips... He called and showed AJ, to Tony G's disgust.

When an Ace hit the flop Tony got up and started to walk. Other players called him back to the table as the turn was dealt. The board read 2d 7h Ah 3h... So someone pointed wildly at Tony's 8 of hearts. The river was 5d. And Tony G continued his fast-paced journey out of the room.

The player who called with A J felt the need to explain himself. "I don't always play Ace Jack. I might have passed against some other guy..."

Tony G, happy before his exit.

I've just heard Jonas Molander is out. Apparently he was bluffing and ran into a player with 2 pair. Ok.

130 players left now. Here's some chipcounts:

Peter Gould 14,000
Iwan Jones 9,000
Anthony Holden 8,500
Marcel Luske 44,000
Ade Bayo 32,000
Padraig Parkinson 4,500
Willie Tann 15,000
Markus Golser 34,500
Steve Vladar 5,000
Nick Gibson 15,500
Birgitta Johansson 12,500
Ross Boatman 21,800
Patrick Bueno 16,500
Ingemar Backman 22,500
Tony G 14,000
Noah Boeken 6,600
Ramzi Jelassi 50,000
Jan Boubli 4,600
John Magill 11,000
Surinder Sunar 1,000
David Pomroy 27,000
Thomas Fougeron 23,000
Michael Greco 13,000
Roland De Wolfe 26,000
Tony Cascarino 22,000
Luca Pagano 11,000
Anthony Chessa 3,000
Peter Eichhardt 4,000
George McKeever 8,000
Andreas Hagen 21,000
Ara Melikian 38,000
Gerry Lemke 13,000
David Murray 38,000

Dave 'Devilfish Ulliott listed his name as 'Dave Devilfish' on his EPT Dublin registration form. It's a bit confusing. This means I don't know what to call him. I've heard a lot of names used to describe him today.

Devilfish earler accused me of distracting him from his play, apparently he has a strange female-related problem with his blood pressure. I decided it was best to keep well out of his way.

So I could be sure I did nothing to effect his tournament play.

Devilfish was down to 4,000 chips, and moved all-in preflop with 33. John Priston called with A 4. The board of 2 7 5 6 8 gave Priston a straight on the river. Devilfish apparently looked peeved when he went out.

He'd earlier pulled up a chair, suggesting I sit next to him. I declined. I could actually sit in the chair now he's gone. Now I can't do anything to effect his tournament play.

Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliott is out.

You know I debated whether I was Jonas Molander's lucky charm, and decided that this was plainly not so? It made me wonder about why I like him. He's a good player to watch. An agressive player, but I'd call his style 'cautious agressive'. As I watched him play a hand I was reminded of my poker tournament epiphany, the little thing that turned me into a winner in the £10 rebuy tournaments I play.

The hand was between Jonas and Roman Makowski, a German FPP qualifier.

I assume Jonas had raised pre-flop and Roman had called, there were 2500-3000 chips in the middle as I reached the table. The flop was 9 9 T rainbow. Roman fingered his chips as the flop was dealt, Jonas leaned over the table to see past the dealer and study his face. Jonas checked. Roman fingered his chips again, I expected him to bet. He didn't.

The turn was a King. Jonas leaned over the table yet again to look at Roman. A carefully posed blank look from the German... Jonas looked at his chips. I expected him to bet. He didn't. Roman thought for a second and then checked, just as Jonas had done before him.

The river was a third 9. Jonas thought yet again, and then he casually tossed a 500 chip into the middle of the table.

Roman looked at the chip. It was kind of an insulting bet. It was almost saying, 'You've got nothing of that, I know that.' Perhaps it was also a bet placed because Roman was wearing a PokerStars shirt? Because you might expect an unknown inernet qualifier to 'fold easy'..? Plus, it was also only 500, not much to lose if the guy had something, or if he had the guts to call with just a little.

I haven't told you my Poker Tourney Epiphany thing yet, have I? It's not much. Perhaps it's obvious. It was simply the decision to look for a way to win each and every hand I played. Maybe that isn't exactly rocket science. Only I enjoyed my poker much more with a 'no quitting any hand until I'm sure I can't win' attitude. You might think it encourages super-aggressive play? A blushing, 'No comment' from me there. But it's not blindly aggressive play, because sometimes you have to accept that winning means 'folding to fight another hand'.

I've just won a few £10 rebuy tournaments, so I'm no Jonas Molander. What do I really know? I just know I liked Jonas Molander's 500 chip bet. I like Jonas Molander's style.

Roman Makowski thought for a while and then he called. Jonas said, "I have the board." He didn't turn his cards over.

I heard someone mutter, "He paid to see your cards." But perhaps Jonas didn't hear?

Roman showed A Q and took the pot. Jonas nodded and mucked his hand. Jonas lost this hand, yes. I just think he looked for a good way to win. Every hand I see him play, I see him look for a good way to win. Watching him I'm reminded of the most important poker lesson I ever learned.

Roman Makowski


Jonas Molander. Just realised there's another reason I like him. Good hair.

142 players remain, here's the chips of notable players:

Keith "The Camel" Hawkins 4,500
Julian Gardner 7,000
Dave Ulliott 11,000
Ramzi Jelassi 26,000
Peter Gould 11,000
Iwan Jones 8,500
Jan Boubli 5,000
Marcel Luske 23,000
Anthony Chessa 10,300
Harry Demetriou 8,000
Christer Johansson 2,000
Michael Grecco 9,000
Ross Boatman 18,000
Jonas Molander 14,000
Patrick Bueno 5,000
Tony Cascarino 15,000
Roland De Wolfe 33,000
Noah Boeken 11,000
Dave Colclough 5,500
Tony G 18,000
Peter Roche 6,000
Thomas Fougeron 22,000
Willie Tann 15,000
Marcus Golser 26,000
Padraig Parkinson 5,000
Steve Vladar 17,000
Nick Gibson 13,000
Birgitta Johansson 12,000
Juha Helppi 9,500
Andreas Hagen 12,500
Neil Channing 26,000
Luca Pagano 14,000
Joe Beevers 8,000
John Magill 10,500
David Pomroy 13,500
Surinder Sunar 6,000
Ingemar Backman 16,000
Ade Bayo 25,000
Ara Melikian 29,000
Conor Pope 8,650
Ramzi Jelassi 36,000
Anders Berg 25,500
Frederik Nielsen 35,500
Finnur Hraffnsson 15,500
David Murray 21,00
Kenny Rundh 21,000
Gerry Lemke 18,700

Henric Olander and Jacob Johl are now out.

Other news from the tables, Ramzi just asked Devilfish if he's an internet qualifier.

PokerStars qualifier David Murray 21,000 chips


Keith "The Camel" Hawkins, will need to make a move soon he has only 4,500 chips.

After a tedious card-free day, Anthony Holden - who is playing for PokerStars - has just had his first moment of happiness. With pocket Kings, he went all-in against a player to his left with A8. An 8 on the flop brought a moment of anxiety but the Kings held up and the Big Deal author has doubled to 14,000.

Anthony Holden

There's a prize pool of €1,847,750. Here's how it'll pay the lucky winners.

1st €554,300
2nd €314,120
3rd €184,780
4th €138,580
5th €112,710
6th €88,690
7th €70,210
8th €51,740
9-10th €31,410
11-12th €25,870
13-14th €20,330
15-16th €14,780
17-24th €11,090
25-32nd €7,390

162 players remain, it's a staggered dinner break here with half the field playing, the other half eating. I overheard a player checking out the half-empty room and saying, "Looks like we can win now, there's not many players."

Ara Melikian with chips to suggest he's playing well, didn't want to go eat. As the other players deserted his table he said, "The cards have been shuffled!" The dealer insisted there was no need to play another hand. I asked Ara if he was hungry, he said he hadn't eaten all day but just wanted to play. Feeling a trifle motherly I told him he'd play better after a good meal. Hopefully that's true, and he won't fill his face, go out first hand after the break, and blame me...

We've lost a couple of notable players. Barney Boatman lost all his chips to Tony G, betting strongly with second pair and a gutshot straight draw, when Tony G had a good draw and hit his straight on the turn.

Former 'Westlife' singer Brian McFadden is also out. He had KK, and got committed to the hand despite agressive betting by Marcus Golser. Marcus had flopped a straight with 7 9 on a 6 8 T J 7 board.

I'll bring you chipcounts soon. As he headed back to play Ade Bayou just gave me some of his poker cards, insisting every poker player should have these, and that they were the next 'big thing.' Here's a bit of one...

WELCOME 2 "BIGBLINDISM" SIR
Similar to Buddhism but less fun!

No time to type it all up. (And I think this guy may well be nuts)

2 reset ur karma chant these magic words:-.....
"I LUV ADEBAYO! HE'S A LUVLY GUY! I WILL NOT RAISE HIS BIGBLIND WITHOUT A PAIR COS HE'S CRAZY!"xx

Ramzi Jelassi has been busy at his table, and just won a big pot with most of the chips going in on a A 9 3 6 board, with Ramzi claiming, "I've got Jack Ten off" as his opponent deliberated. His opponent called, only to face another big bet my Ramzi when the river brought a ten. It was 6,500 to call, and the clock was called as unknown player thought and thought, and then called. Ramzi flashed a pair of threes, to show his flopped set. "First card I've hit in 4 EPTs," Ramzi joked.

Ramzi cashed in Baden a few weeks ago, but will no doubt be hoping to do better than 25th place this time around. A couple of hands later and Ramzi has KK against Petri Pietiela who was all-in with QQ. Petri went out, and Ramzi's now on over 30,000 chips.

Ramzi Jelassi

Greg Raymer lost most of his chips in a hand where his opponent held the nut flush, Greg mucked, and was left in desperate shape with around 700 chips.

He moved all-in in late position, the small blind and big blind could hardly fold. No cards to be shown preflop, there could be further betting between the blind players... And there was. On a flop of Kc 6c 9d the player on the small bets 2,000, the Irish big blind player grumbles, and re-raises. He shows AQ, not even a pair. "If you check, I check," he grumpily tells the small blind player.

You'd think there'd be some hope for Greg? He turns over Ac Td, so not much hope there. Jc on the turn 4s the river...

Raymer smiles and holds out his Ac, with the ten's suit hidden. "Flush!" he claims optimistically. It doesn't work. Greg heads away from the table, leaving the players debating whether you should check down a hand whenever a player's all-in. Greg doesn't share his views.

Greg Raymer all-in

Ram Vaswami had two big hands against fellow Hendon Mobster Ross Boatman. He held QQ when Ross held KK and lost most of his chips. A few hands later shortstacked Ram went all-in with his remaining chips holding 88, Ross called with KJ. A King on the river sent Ram back to Hendon. If he is from Hendon, I'm just assuming he is? And unless he wants to stick around to cheer on his mobster mates? Or play cash games? Anyway, Ram Vaswami is out.

Simon Trumper has also just been eliminated. He held AA, and tangled with Frederik Nielsen on a 5 8 x flop. Nielsen was semi-bluffing and holding 6 7. A 9 on the turn gave Frederik his straight and Trumper was out. I won't speculate about where he went, or what he did when he left the table.

Ram Vaswami and Simon Trumper out.

(That's the simple version.)

Simon Trumper is out.

I just saw a waitress deliver a burger and chips to a hungry player, the dinner break should be within an hour, but I guess he wanted fries now.

I hope you want some pre-dinner break chips too? Here they are. Enjoy!

Michael O Sullivan 22,000
Roland de Wolfe 29,000
Tony Cascarino 12,000
David Barnes 7,000
Tony G 7,000
Noah Boeken 18,000
Barney Boatman 20,000
Kambiz Kashi 3,000
Anthony Holden 7,500
Kevin O'Connell 11,000
Greg Raymer 11,000
Ade Bayo 20,000
Sverre Sundbo 17,000
Brian McFadden 5,000
Padraig Parkinson 11,000
Willie Tann 17,000
Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliott 9,100
Iwan Jones 13,500
Marcel Luske 8,500
Simon Trumper 7,000
Luca Pagano 12,000
Harry Demetriou 10,500
Surinder Sunar 7,200
Joe Beevers 9,600
William Thorsten 22,500
Ram Vaswami 11,250
Ross Boatman 10,675
Keith 'The Camel' Hawkins 8,800
Willie Tan 13,000
Ara Melikman 16,000
Jonas Molander 12,000
Gerry Lemke 11,500

An Irish player in a PokerStars T-shirt at Jonas Molander's table heard Gerry and Jonas telling me their chipcounts, he said, "Don't you want to know my chips?"

I said I did, but then he looked at his tiny stack and said, "Nah, I don't want to know." Then he got on with eating his sandwich. Maybe he's eating early, suspecting he'll be heading home before the dinner break?

Shortstacked sandwich guy, Irish journalist, Conor Pope

Gerry Lemke is a 20 year old from Connecticut, he won his seat for just $5 and he's enjoying his first ever trip to Europe. It seems the EPT has made him think about his future, and win or lose here in Dublin he says he's decided to quit his job as a security guard. Gerry's sitting next to Jonas Molander, but doesn't look daunted by playing his first big tourney. And he has gold shades, so looks every inch the part of the young poker pro.

Gerry Lemke

Gerry is quiet, he's willing to let his poker do the talking. Ade Bayou is quite the opposite. I hesitate to use the phrase 'loudmouth' because it sounds a bit rude, but I do like the guy, I've played with him a few times at our local 'Gutshot' cardroom, and he has a mouth, and I'm sure that a scientific gadget could confirm by checking decibels or whatever, whether it was quiet or loud. This non-rude sound-measuring gadget would I'm sure give the verdict 'loud' and not 'quiet'. It is hard to ignore Ade when you play against him, he likes to talk, in fact he likes to shout.


Ade Bayou

I headed across the room to see what all the fuss was about when I heard his voice and saw him waving his arms around. It was a good-natured argument about the defence of blinds.

"Tell that pyscopath don't steal my big blind!" He said. "Don't steal my blind, if you do I'm going to gamble!"

As Ade sat down I could see why he seemed so pleased, he was raking in a huge pot.

He proceeded to smile, and chat and gave the player he'd won these chips from a business card. He showed off his wallet of poker cards, he had 'bad beat cards', 'karma cards', 'defence of the blinds' cards. Bizarrely another player put a slice of lemon on his head, as he continued to discuss these cards, and show them off to the watching poker journalists.


Ade with a lemon on his head

Yes, Ade Bayou is a loudmouthed player, who likes to be the center of attention. I also happen to know that this London pro is a very good poker player. It doesn't really matter whether you're loud at the table, or never say a word. All that matters is winning chips. Ade and Gerry are going about that in very different ways, but I wish both PokerStars qualifiers luck. I hope I get to write about them again at Sunday's final.

Vicky Coren was down to 6,000 chips, she lost a big pot holding a set early in the tournament. She held AA and got 5,000 chips in re-raising pre-flop, the rest heading for the centre of the felt was always going to be a formality. Ewan Jones seemed almost embarassed to call the flop bet, holding an inside straight draw with his 67. Vicky got unlucky with Ewan's straight hitting on the river. Vicky's out.

Joe Beevers, Ross Boatman, Barney Boatman, Noah Boeken, Tomas Brolin, Tony Cascarino, Neil Channing, Tony Chessa, Dave Colclough, Victoria Coren, Roland De Wolfe, Harry Demetriou, Dave Devilfish, Peter Eichhardt, Don Fagan, Tony G, Julian Gardner, Michael Grecco, Pete Haslam, Keith Hawkins, Juha Helppi, Anthony Holden, Jacob Juhl, Marcel Luske, Brian McFadden, Jonas Molander, Ade Bayo, Henric Olander, Luca Pagano, Padraig Parkinson, David Pomroy, Conor Pope, Greg Raymer, Surinder Sunar, Willie Tann, Julian Thew, Simon Trumper, Ram Vaswami.

That's the names I recognised from the Day 1B player list, and I probably missed a few... It seems that anyone who's anyone in the European poker circuit is here today. As well as boy band singers... If you're a FPP qualifier in your first live game you might be wishing you'd got a draw for a 1A seat. Unless you're seated next to Brian McFadden at the boy band table?

Marcel Luske regrets he's playing on Day 1B? Or perhaps it's the sandwich?

Play is now underway, 208 players at 21 tables, paying €5,000 for 10,000 chips. And the most important number of all? 1 winner..? Well, of course that's what it's all about, so yes, that's an important number, but it feels like that's far off business for Sunday. Today I just look at those 208 players at 21 tables, toying with 10,000 (or thereabouts) chips, and I think 'Ooh, there are loads and loads of exciting players!' It seems that almost every table holds a well-known poker face. And I do accept that 'loads and loads' isn't actually a proper number, but maths was never my strong point, and I'm excited, and then my head does funny things. There's going to be lots to report on today. Better get back to the poker room...

Ram Vaswami and Ross Boatman at the Hendon Mob table

I thought it was supposed to rain a lot in Ireland? Well it's a sunny day here in Dublin, as it was yesterday, apart from the steady drizzle from the lobby chandelier. Hotel water problems didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of any of the players who took their seats for Day 1A yesterday, now the second half of the tournament field will begin play soon.

Here's some brief introductions to a few of the players we'll be following today.

Vicky Coren: Vicky's the London based poker player and journalist who won the London EPT in September, a result that felt about as 'fairy-tale' as poker ever gets. Nothing gets much better than winning the big event at your local casino. Following it up with a good result in Dublin would prove there was an even happier ever after in the poker world for Vicky.

Vicky Coren, as play was about to begin.

Luca Pagano: The stylish Italian player has made the money in many EPT events, and I wouldn't be surprised if this one saw him hit the big money spots. Whatever happens Luca will be dressed like a winner, when it seems half the room are wearing lucky jeans, complete with pizza stains. Luca deserves to win, and he'd sure look good in the photos.


Luca Pagano

Greg Raymer: If I have to introduce this player, you're probably reading the wrong blog. Did you do a Google search for 'Guinness' and inadvertently stumble on this website?

Jonas Molander: Jonas is my 'one to watch'. I'm not superstious, but I do feels like I might be this player's lucky charm. He's made good money at every EPT event I've attended. He was 9th in EPT Dublin last year, 12th in EPT London. Although maybe it's nothing to do with me at all, he was 7th in EPT Baden a few weeks ago - when I wasn't there. This suggests he's simply a very good player. And as his best result was when I was nowhere near him, perhaps he'd prefer it if I kept out of his way today?

Ara Melikian: I like to report on a range of players, not just Team PokerStars players, or poker pros with a good track record. Ara is a kind of 'ordinary' New Yorker, with a great winning record in PokerStars EPT satellites. This is his third EPT seat this season, and perhaps his last for a while, he tells me he has a new job starting in a couple of weeks. It's a nice thought, and maybe I'm a bit of a dreamer, but would it be great if his EPT experience, and poker skills, meant he won big here in Dublin and he became one of those players that would be an automatic name to note in this kind of introduction.

There'll be many more interesting players to write about too, players will be taking their seats soon, and I'm looking forward to bringing you the news as soon as play gets underway.

Here are the official chips from the end of yesterday's day 1A. Jonas Helness ended the day as chipleader on 117,400.

Marc Goodwin 98,200
David Clayton 61,100
Adrian Walshe 16,500
Kevin Breesey 83,900
Christopher Stalie 40,900
Testud Paul 77,100
Pascal Perrault 5,300
Martin Kenor 37,000
Eoin Olim 47,100
Johnny Lodden 44,900
Joakim Hammar 66,500
George Geary 8,700
Bosch Oliver 22,400
Jim Reid 37,200
Jimmy Dahlavist 35,700
Heining Thomas 8,200
G Andason 8,400
Azod Pirooti 50,100
Jonas Helness 117,400
Jim Kerrigan 57,500
Roue Nilolaisen 38,000
Stuart Fox 69,800
Christopher Sanesson 12,500
Katja Thather 39,500
Roy Brindley 71,600
Andy Black 69,000
Nick Slade 52,600
Jonathan Lewis 35,100
Niklas Wallgren 32,000
David Atrabin 9,800
Ray Coburn 25,400
Michael Rabensrifner 21,600
Daniel Wadman 19,300
John Storakers 7,600
Ian Mctavish 12,800
Andreas Vilson 30,700
Nadiybrikalja 29,700
Ravi Udayakumar 44,600
Danny Ryan 19,400
Marc Friedmann 31,800
Robert Taylor 22,200
Roi Elmaliah 12,000
Sasma Rosewood 24,400
Reyaaz Mulla 29,100
Trigas Maximilianus 41,800
Fergal Mckeever 49,200
Jeppe Juml 32,700
Jeff Galza 50,000
Marcus Deifgen 11,100

A little surprisingly only 51 players remain of the 198 who started play on the first day of EPT Dublin. I'll bring you official chipcounts in the morning, but players likely to sleep easy tonight are Andy Black and Jonas Helness, who Katja Thater tells me has been bullying her table. Paul Testud and Roy Brindley are also unlikely to be dreaming of needing a hand soon. Of the 6 PokerStars player's remaining Max Trigas and Katja Thater have the most chips.

It promises to be an exciting day tomorrow, 208 players are already registered to play, with more seats still available to latecomers. We expect the Hendon Mob to play, as well as Marcel Luske, and from the PokerStars camp Greg Raymer, Vicky Coren, Anthony Holden, Noah Boeken and Luca Pagano. I'll be blogging again at 2pm tomorrow.

It's been a long day, but I'm not quite done yet...

James Blundell qualified for EPT Dublin by spinning a 40 FPP satellite buy-in into this €5,000 seat. James from Coventry, England, is most often found playing at PokerStars $0.25/$0.50 NL tables, today found hiself sitting next to Andy Black. When I found him still playing in the last 60, I hoped he'd be returning to play on Saturday, but with just 15,000 chips he didn't have much room for manouevre.

In a battle of the blinds he went all in on a Jack high flop, and was called by Andy Black. James had a pair with his K5, but Black had a better pair with his KJ. James shook hands with Andy as the cards were turned over, as if he knew no miracle card would come. He was right, but it's a minor miracle that he made it this far for just 40FPP. I hope he'll spin some more FPP into a chance of EPT glory soon.

James Blundell goes out at the close of Day 1A

Liam Flood is now out, he held KQ and his all-in bet was called by Jonas Helness with AQ.

Other recent casualties, Jeff Kimber, Scott Taylor, Torstein Iversen, Rory Liffey, Philip Hilm.

68 players remain. Here's some chipcounts:

Max Trigas 30,000
Katja Thater 31,000
Pascal Perrault 37,000
Andy Black 27,000
Ray Coburn 27,000

Jonas Helness, 80,000


Daniel David Ryan, 28,000


Wesley Wyvill with 5,600 chips, his cap and shirt demonstrating a regard for my two favourite things. I wish him luck!

Identical twins, JJ (Jeppe) and Jacob Juhl are playing in this EPT tournament. JJ plays today in Day 1A, his brother plays tomorrow's Day 1B. The Danish pair are TV-hosts, and involved in producing many TV shows. Jeppe has been executive producer for "Survivor" in Scandinavia for 9 years. He's survived to the last 70 players today, and is currently holding 40,000 chips.

JJ Juhl


Jacob Juhl and JJ Juhl

Unfortunately our blogging software has been offline for 90 minutes. I just wanted to explain why quite a few posts have appeared all of a sudden. Strangely this downtime coincided with the Regency Hotel's Happy Hour free bar. You might well have expected the alcohol-free tournament room to empty when free alcohol was availble elsewhere, but no. Some things are more important than Guinness. Even free Guinness.

Yes, poker. And blogging. I worked instead of drinking.

Don't worry I'll make up for lost time later.

Free drinks for an hour? Might as well order a few for later... (I hope they save me one.)

Andy Black raises preflop, a player in a coat and stripy jumper goes all-in for around 5,000 chips. Another player dumps yet more chips in the middle. These are counted, his re-raise 7,875 more to Black. Andy thinks. 'You're two sick men,' he says. Finally he makes a pained noise, and folds, bending close to the table to see the other player's cards.

AJ for Mr.All-in-with-the-stripey-jumper, pocket tens for the other 'sick man'.

'King Jack I had,' says Andy Black.

The tens hold up, there are just low cards on the board, and we're another player down.

Andy Black counts out 7,875 chips and pushes these towards the player who held tens. 'You nearly had all this.'

He stands up, and throws his bronze card protector from hand to hand.

Andy Black with a tough decision (and a bronze... er, thingummy)

ElkY was down to just under 4000 chips, and only had one move left. He wen't all-in with pocket 3s, and didn't need to run into a big pair, only a bigger pair. He found a player with 88, and I saw him studying an EPT promotional postcard, perhaps contemplating his next EPT game already? The postcard said Copenhagen January 17-20, 2007.

PerhapS BetteR LucK in CopenhageN for TeamPokerStarS ElkY?

89 players left, and they're on a short break. I took the opportunity to admire their lucky chip protectors and do-sits.

Ray Coburn's shell and sweeties


A lucky conker


A big buddha


Andy Black's um, er... fancy bronze thing.

Joe Rafferty is out, with few chips left he went all in with AJ the player on the big blind found JJ.

Last year my job was to escort the final table players to the venue where the final table was to be filmed, and Joe refused to get in the player coach. I was under strict instructions to make all the players use the coach. No one wanted any final table players lost on the streets of Dublin. Joe said, 'I'm not getting in the coach. I can drive. I live here. I'm not going to get lost.' He didn't get lost, and he drove his way to a 4th place finish last year. This year he's driving home early.

Dario Minieri, who made the final table in Baden earlier this month, is also out. He went all-in on a flop of 8 J 7. ElkY held 77, and Dario's AA was beaten.

Other players out. 1999 WSOP Champ, Noel Furlong, Praz Bansi, Thang Duc Ngyen and Ashad Hussein.

Current Chipcounts:

Jim Kerrigan 70,000
Maximillianos Trigos 15,000
Ville Wahlbeck 12,000
Andy Black 19,000
Richard Herbert 19,000
Johnny Lodden 11,000
Philip Hilm 58,000
Paul Testud 9,000
Martin Wendt 23,000
Ashley Alterman 8,500
Scott Gray 7,500
Marc Goodwin 28,000
David Bergren 13,000
Liam Flood 11,000
Ian Frazer 34,000
Johann Storakers 22,000
Roy Brindley 64,000
Rory Liffey 5,500
Katja Thater 28,000
Jonas Hellness 25,000
ElkY 8,000
Charlie Harvey 8,000

There are 108 players left, here's chipcounts of some of the remaining PokerStars qualifiers.

Jordan Scott 11,900
Russell L Rosen 9,000
Wesley M Wyvill 14,000
Simon Lewis 26,500
Seth Cohen 10,400
Michel Palmieri 6,100
Ray Coburn 8,100
James Blundell 16,100
David L.Atrubin 7,600

Jordan Scott


Russell L.Rosen


Simon Lewis


Wesley M Wyvill


Michel Palmieri

Chris Moneymaker, shortstacked goes all-in on the small blind. The big blind says, 'sorry,' as he calls. Moneymaker has 8h 9h. The big blind has AA. Two aces on the flop, and Moneymaker is well and truly out.

Katja Thater meanwhile has just doubled up with 77. She's on 14,000 now.

So every cloud has a silver lining? Moneymaker probably doesn't see it that way.

Team PokerStars players Katja Thater and Chris Moneymaker both have very few chips.

Katja just lost a big pot. She bet 3,500 on a Td 7c Jc board. The turn is Ts - both players check. The river 3s, Katja's opponent checks and Katja bets 3,000. The other player goes all-in. Katja folds, she's down to 7,000.

My blog-assistant Sam stands beside Katja's table, whilst I keep an eye on Chris Moneymaker, who has around 5,000 chips.

As I watch Chris raises to 1,000 preflop, he's re-raised by another player. He thinks, shrugs, folds, then shows AQ.

On the button I see him looking at his cards, hoping for a chance to steal the blinds? The player on his right gets there first with a raise. He looks at his cards with disgust, then folds.

Moneymaker calls in late position next hand for 300. Just one other player and the blinds see a flop. The flop comes Kd Ad Ks. The blinds check, the player to Moneymaker's right bets. Moneymaker shrugs, folds. He's on just 3,700 chips now, with the blinds 150/300. He catches my eye...

It only means one thing to have a blogger hovering by your table like this... Sam and I are on 'Deathwatch' standing beside these shortstacked players waiting for them to do or die. Moneymaker knows I'll only leave his side to write up his news, once he goes out, or else doubles up. It's as if we're watching and sharing his pain, or his relief... Well, not really, as I have 118 other players I can write about.

So, here I am, leaving Moneymaker's side to write about him. So did he go all-in and go out, or else double up?

It's a 10 minute break. I'll be back on Blogger Deathwatch in a minute.

The Regency Hotel has had a few problems with their plumbing today, many players found their showers didn't work this morning. I also noticed water pouring from the chandeliers. But all is good now, the Regency Hotel has turned water (or the lack of it) into wine (or perhaps Guinness?) The hotel has just announced there'll be a free bar tonight to make up for this. Unwashed players can now drown their sorrows. The rest of have sorrows to drown also. We can smell them.

Katja Thater has just doubled up, she was re-raised all-in on a flop of 5h 9c 7h. Katja held KK and her opponent Ah 2h for a flush draw. Katja doubles up to around 15,000 chips. Max Trigas has doubled up too, he's now on 10,000.

It seems Roy Brindley is currently chipleader on 54,000.

The other half of the tournament room is empty now, as the second group of players take their dinner break. The non-stop play means no break for us bloggers. 144 players now remain. Average chips are 12,700 and blinds are now 100/200. Here's a few estimated chip counts from the busy side of the room.

Scott Gray 10,000


Ray 'Green hair at EPT Dublin last year' Coburn 7,000


Marc Goodwin 13,500


PokerStars qualifier Jordan Scott, 11,500. Jordan's a 22 year old social working student from Ohio. He was earlier up to 20,000 'I bluffed a big pot with 7 high.'


Torsten Iversen 7,000


Joe Rafferty, 4th place finisher in EPT Dublin 2005. 7,000


Pascal Perrault 11,000



Torsten Iversen 7,000



Team PokerStars Katja Thater 7,000



The second dinner break is about to end, and all the player will be in action again. If any player hasn't had a pudding they'd better eat it quick.

153 players remain of the 195 who started on Day 1A. Half the players are taking a dinner break, the rest play on and will take their dinner when they return.

Here's selected chipcounts of players in action right now.

Chris Moneymaker 9,000


Andy Black 15,000


Arshad Hussein 13,000


Thang Duc Nyugen 7,000


Rory Liffey. "Same as I started with. No, 200 on the day" 10,200


Max Trigas 4,500, ElkY 22,000 Johnny Lodden 23,000


Thierry Cazals' chair...


Thierry Cazals not out, just a table change. 15,000


Liam Flood. Well could you count chips that are stacked like that?

Thierry Cazals is one of those players who seems busy at the tables, every time I wander near his seat he seems to be involved in a hand. Perhaps this agressive style is the reason why he's won so many EPT seats at his favourite site? Thierry is a management consultant from Toulouse in France, and has an impressive record in recent tournaments. Thierry was the 5th place finisher in the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo, which won him €168,000. He said, 'PokerStars should sponser me soon'. A win here in Dublin might see this dapper Frenchman playing in a PokerStars shirt...

Thierry Cazals

I'm not sure what it has to do with old Arthur Guinness and his pints, but I just heard some important news regarding another variety of Guinness. The 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records has just been published, and page 136 lists PokerStars as a record breaking site.

PokerStars gets the record for: 'The most players to simultaneously take part in a poker game online at the same Internet poker room is 100,000 at PokerStars.com in February, 2006.' The book points out, 'To date, PokerStars has dealt nearly 5 billion hands, run more than 20 million poker tournaments and made payouts of over $4 billion in prize money.'

It's 6 billion now.

PokerStars is good for you also.

Max Trigas is a Greek nightclub entrepeneur, who's been playing poker for little more than six months. In his short time in the game he's been having a lot of fun with EPT satellites, claiming it's 'easy to qualify' at PokerStars.

Max was involved in a less 'easy' decision in a recent hand.

Dario Minieri and Max see a flop of Jd 3d 9s.

Max raises. Dario re-raises. Max re-raises again. Dario declares, 'all-in.'

It's 6,500 more to Max. As Max thinks, Dario gets up, 'gg' he says. Perhaps forgetting he wasn't playing online?

Max thinks some more. Dario gets up, he takes his iPod headphones out, he takes his jacket off, he chats to a friend.

Max thinks. Max folds.

Dario sits down, he puts his iPod headphones in, he puts his jacket on. He shows J 3.

'gg' to Dario...

Maximilianos Trigas

Chris Moneymaker is studying a flop of 9d 4d Qh. Player-whose-name-I-don't-know bets. Chris declares, 'All-in' He pushes 7,000 chips into the middle. 'I need to catch,' Moneymaker says. 'I have a flush draw.'

He has a little better than a flush draw, he turns over QJ of diamonds, for top pair too. His opponent shows AA, so Moneymaker needs to hit.

An Ace of diamonds on the turn gives Moneymaker a flush, but full-house outs for player-whose-name-I-don't-know. An insignificant two on the river, and Moneymaker doubles up.

Moneymaker's fate is dealt...

Things are progressing slowly, as usual in these early stages. We've lost 5 of the 195 players. Ben Grundy was the second player to exit EPT Dublin. He held AK with a King on the flop, his opponent held a straight. He claimed matter-of-factly, 'I didn't think I had enough chips to fold. Well, I did, but I couldn't bring myself to.'

I got into trouble for saying, 'It's too early to give chipcounts' last time. So I'll tell you now that Chris Moneymaker has 9,750, and Katje Thater has 10,750. And players started with 10,000 chips.

Team PokerStars ElkY is at an interesting table with Johnny Lodden and Dario Minieri. ElkY just lost a 12,000 chips to Lodden, betting with bottom set. Lodden held the up-and-down straight draw, his straight hit on the river. ElkY's on just 5,000 chips now, but with blinds only 50, 100 he's in no real danger.

Lodden also won a 10,000 pot off Dario Minieri. Dario held A5, Lodden held A8. The flop was AA2. Lodden's 8 kicker played and won him the hand.

ElkY's down to 5,000 (Ok, it isn't too early for chipcounts..)


Dario Minieri. Don't worry, he is old enough to play.


Johnny Lodden. Now on 30,000 chips. (Yes, yes, I will give you the chipcounts...)

EPT Dublin has now begun, starting around an hour late with just under 200 players.

Notable players I've spotted so far, Andy Black, Mickey Wernick, Johnny Loddin, Mel Judah, Willie Tann, Ben Grundy, Liam Flood, Dario Minieri, Donnacha O'Dea, Roy Brindley. PokerStars players we'll be watching out for, include Chris Moneymaker, Johann Storakers, Katja Thater, ElkY, and Baden winner Thang Nguyen. Thang and his wife shared my cab this morning, and even though Thang won €487,397 two weeks ago I turned down his offer to pay the driver. (Maybe he can buy me a Guinness later as a thankyou?)

The player list on the big screen


The player's take their seats. Even World Champions need to do the paperwork.


Thomas Kremser announces, 'Shuffle up and deal.'


Ray Coburn, without green hair, and busy working on his puzzle book and 'leave me alone' stare.

Dublin's Regency Hotel hosts this EPT event which is due to begin at 2pm local time. It's a grand old hotel with plenty of old oak and chandeliers. It reminds me of some Irish Great Aunt who's feeling 'splendid' after a few after dinner sherries...

Pretty in pink - The Regency Hotel


A nice staircase, but no one wants to climb these for an early night tonight...


The tournament room, play begins soon.

But enough of that - I'm sure you want the latest EPT news? Well, the talk of the Regency this morning is that the hotel showers didn't work... There may be some smelly players at the end of day 1A. There may even be some already...

Ok, latest poker news? 46 PokerStars players will play today. Chris Moneymaker, Katja Thater and ElkY, represent Team PokerStars. Other PokerStars players I'll be watching out for are Surindar Sunar, who's well known to our UK readers. Carl Olson, King of PokerStars EPT satellites. Carl has qualified for every EPT event so far, going a little deeper each time. Maybe this one will be his big pay-day?

I'll also be watching out for Ray Coburn... If it's the same Ray Coburn I think it is, he was a notable player at EPT Dublin last year. Ray finished 14th, which may not be all that much to write home about. But let me tell you, Ray stood out from the crowd...


Ray Coburn at EPT Dublin 2005... (And an appropriate sign?)

More news from Dublin soon.

You have to admire a place that claims an alcoholic beverage as its unofficial city mascot. Dublin is proud to have created Guinness, the celebrated pint with it's black body and creamy head. The city hosts a museum dedicated to this famous stout, a museum that is Ireland's number one visitor attraction. There you can learn about Arthur Guinness who began brewing Guinness in 1759 when he came into an inheritance. Of course I'm interested in this eighteenth century brewer and his museum, yet almost every Dublin street-corner hosts a 'living museum' dedicated to this drink. Everywhere there are friendly pubs where it's possible to enjoy good Guinness. The living museums are so good I'll probably be up too late to make it to the official museum...

Of course there is more to Dublin than just the Guinness. It's a city with history (so I hear) sights to see (if you get out of bed) and EPT poker - and that's the best bit! (Especially as you can blog about it with a pint of Guinness in your hand.)

Dublin is a city noted for its history, culture and beauty.

My first ever EPT experience was in Dublin, 2005. I was helping the EPT team, and had to show players around, hand out player bags, and give out free drinks. PokerStars, typically generous, provided a free bar to everyone who visited the RDS to watch the final table. As spectators arrived I was to hand each some poker chips which they could exchange for drinks. Lots of locals turned up to see Mats Gavison's victory, so I gave out lots of chips, especially to gap-toothed Dubliners in green checked shirts. As I stood by the front door handing out 'drinking chips' I saw lots of gap-toothed Dubliners in green checked shirts... Are green checked shirts a Dublin fashion? Do Dubliners have poor dental health? I now realise it was the same green-checked bloke going out the back door and returning to get more chips.

No such underhand methods of obtaining chips will be possible in this EPT tournament. With 450 players expected to pay the €5000 buy-in if you have a big stack of the chips at the end of this tournament, you'll exchange them for a lot of drinks. (Make mine a Guinness!)


The Guinness Storehouse.

Nearly 100 PokerStars players will play in EPT Dublin this year. Last night they enjoyed a Welcome Party at the Gravity Bar. This 360 degree panoramic bar is on the top floor of the Guinness Storehouse museum. The former Guinness Fermentation plant has been modeled into the shape of a giant pint of Guinness - with the Gravity bar the 7th floor head of the pint. I hear rumours that chips for the Dublin EPT will be in a new colour scheme, players requested to stack black 500s in piles, with their white 1000 chips on top.


PokerStars players enjoying the Welcome Party.

I used to be a regular Guinness drinker, but I was too impatient to persevere with this. If you've seen a Guinness poured you'll know that for every pint of Guinness pulled, the glass must be full to three quarters, then there's a wait while the bubbles settle. Only then can the rest of the pint be pulled. It's a slow drink to order, and I used to get fed up of waiting for my pint while friends were already heading to bar stools for a drink and a chat. It's not like EPT poker, where last man standing is a good thing, and where heading early to a bar stool with a drink, is not the aim for any player.

In the poker room of the Regency hotel where EPT Dublin begins at 2pm today, no drinks are allowed (nope, not even Guinness.) I'll soon bring you news of who's playing, who's in the bar, and chip counts too. If you want me to count Guinness drunk by this blogger, it might be harder to keep track...

Aston Martin Racing finished first and fourth at the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Laguna Seca on Saturday 21 October. Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin taking the final victory of the 2006 American Le Mans Series in their Aston Martin DBR9, the team's fifth win this year.

Aston Martin Racing finished second in the teams and manufacturers championships and Stephane Sarrazin also finished second in the drivers championship.

Seconds after the two-hour point Stephane Sarrazin was forced to take evasive action as a prototype crashed just in front of him. Sarrazin went to the left of the accident across the gravel, narrowly missing a large piece of the prototype's bodywork. The 009 car did not sustain any damage and continued to race.

The safety car picked up the race leader and Sarrazin received a wave by, pitting on lap 88 for fuel and tyres and rejoining in fourth position. The safety car was deployed for 14 laps to enable track officials to clear debris and oil from the track.

A fourth safety car period on lap 101 allowed Sarrazin to pit for fuel without loosing track position.

At the three-hour point the 007 DBR9 lead the race and the 009 DBR9 was in second place. Enge in the 007 DBR9 suffered a left front puncture on lap 119 and was forced to pit for tyres and fuel rejoining in fourth place.

Sarrazin took the lead following Enge's pit stop and began a titanic battle with the one of the Corvettes who was just a fraction of a second behind.

Sarrazin lost the battle for first place to the Corvette with 30 minutes of the race remaining, but he regained the class lead moments later as the pair reached the corner at the end of the straight.

The battle for first place continued right until the end of the race with Sarrazin coming out on top.

George Howard-Chappell, Team Principal, Aston Martin Racing said, "A fantastic drive and an amazing manoeuvre from Stephane when it looked like we were going to loose the lead. Clearly we didn't have the fastest car but the race strategy from both camps won us the race."

The PokerStars Sunday Million continues to get bigger every week. Once again, players saw the biggest Sunday Million of all all time--6,413 players! The final three players all won more than $100,000 after cutting a deal at the final table. Final table results are below.

PokerStars Sunday Million Results
(Based on finishing order and a three-way deal that left $30,000 for the winner)

1. osten87 (Sweden) $103,318.00
2. Halkeye (Canada) $124,397.00
3. Iteopepe88 (Hungary) $104,735.00
4. lexx0170 (United States) $45,917.08
5. jmikekennedy (United States) $36,810.62
6. hartwith (United Kingdom) $29,756.32
7. Jmaxime (Canada) $23,086.80
8. win532 (United States) $16,673.80
9. mikem1181 (United States) $11,030.36

I have to smile when I think back to a day nearly two years ago when I set down in Nassau. Blogging had been around for quite a while and poker blogs were starting to take hold in the blogging community. Even the concept of live-blogging a tournament wasn't a new one. John Vorhaus, who I have since come to know, had translated his book writing skills to the ether. Still, with a background in journalism, I thought there was room to cover a poker tournament like NBC covers the Olympics. It's a sporting event and cultural phenomenon wrapped into a Bahamian package. In short, I thought, if given the chance, I could do something really cool. PokerStars gave me that chance. Of course, if we're being honest, I was scared senseless when the 2005 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure kicked off.

Your humble blogger (right) looking much younger than he does now, with Isabelle Mercier and some of the top bloggerati at the 2005 PCA

Regardless, that moment was actually the genesis of this blog. Since then, I have been joined by a large group of talented people who have helped me keep things fresh here. Back then, it was just me. And that's why the PokerStars Caribbean Adveture holds a little nostalgia for me. And that's why I'm really excited that the 2007 PCA is on its way. I'm not exactly sure why I get excited about 18-hour work-days and not really seeing the sun for seven days. I guess because it's a homegrown poker players convention like you will see in very few other places.

For instance, last year, a guy named Jay Newnum introduced himself to me. At the time, he was managing Card Player's forum and had won his way to the PCA on PokerStars. Turned out, he was really nice guy and we hit it off famously. The next day, I got sort of a kick out of the fact Newnum got seated right beside Isabelle Mercier. Mercifully, he was on her left (I've been on her right and it's not a fun place to be).


Isabelle Mercier and Jay Newnum

Since then, Jay has done very well in the world of poker. Not only has he gone really deep in major events, but he took on a much larger role in CardPlayer's coverage of the WSOP. I hope to see him in the Bahamas next year.

Then there's Curzdog. About a year and a half ago, I met him in Monte Carlo as a friend of a friend. We ate together several times and I held myself personally responible for him busting out of the event (note: there is a well-documented relationship between eating with me at a dinner break and going busto shortly thereafter). Since then, I've seen Curz just about everywhere, including playing cash games with Joe Hachem at the WSOP and at the PCA.


Curzdog with DoubleAs at the 2006 PCA


Curzdog with BBJ at the 2006 PCA

Like I said, it's more than a tournament. It's a convention of like-minded folks. It's everybody's chance, including mine, to see a bunch of people they really like and play poker. At last year's pre-party, I ran into Brandon Scahefer, Carl Olson, and Michael Goodman. I realized that I had seen these guys all over the world. I'd seen Schaefer and Olson go first and second at an EPT event. I'd seen Goodman go exceptionally deep in the previous year's PCA. This year at the WSOP, I spent a lot of time chatting with all three guys as they rocked through the events (including a televised final table appearance for Goodman).


Brandon Scahefer, Carl Olson and Michael Goodman

So, that's a long way of saying, I'm excited to announce that PokerStars has at long last kicked off the satellites for the 2007 PCA. You'll find all the information you need by clicking the link in the box at the top of the page.

So, get on the stick and start qualifying. I need some more people to test my dinner break busto theory.

It was an amazing day for the PokerStars Sunday Million. More than 6,150 people signed up to play in the world's biggest weekly poker tournament--and the largest ever Sunday Million in history. It took nearly ten hours to finish, but all the work paid off for the winner. Hacken took away more than $176,000! The final table results are below.

PokerStars Sunday Million Results

1. Hacken (Sweden) $176,090.20
2. rockdown (United States) $87,798.82
3. UGOTPZD (Canada) $55,289.86
4. WSODice (United States) $44,084.12
5. cookiedough1 (United Kingdom) $35,341.18
6. dazzy2004 (Denmark) $28,568.48
7. jere1997 (United States) $22,165.20
8. herschelw (United States) $16,008.20
9. nobbyhayes (Ireland) $10,590.04

Thang Duc Nguyen

by Simon Young

After four days filled with poker's joy, drama, disappointment, disbelief and the ridiculous, a gaggle of 331 players whittled down slowly but surely to just one. The lucky last man standing was Thang Duc Nguyen, a German chef who owns his own restaurant in Hamburg.

He had sailed along peacefully, almost unnoticed throughout, before making the final day. Even then, when he got onto the final table of eight, he kept quiet, staying steady in chips while those around him embarked on a rollercoaster ride, swinging high, then low, and then out through the exit.

The more astute observers identified Nguyen early as the likely winner. And they were proved right. He collected €487,397 to go with a shiny trophy presented by the excellent staff here at the Casino Baden in Austria.

Ben Johnson, the runner up, from Brooklyn, New York, won €251,560 and many plaudits for his clever game. He is a pro player online at, like Nguyen, PokerStars. He was only here because his friend had won a seat in a cash satellite at the last minute, and he decided to come and keep him company.

The final table was packed with action, with first Italian Dario Minieri, then Belgian Daniel Dodet - both PokerStars players - taking the chip lead. Here is how the action unfolded:


Peter Eirchhardt

8th Peter Eirchhardt, Sweden, €47,167:
Having finished Day 2 as chip leader, Eirchhardt was fancied to take this all the way. But a few misunderstandings left him the short-stack as they all sat down at the televised final table. After sticking around for a while, he decided to make a stand with his K-Q spades. He faced a call from Dario Minieri with 8-8 and the flop of A-8-10 sealed the Swede's fate. Okay, he had a gutshot straight draw, and the turn of 5 spades also gave him a flush draw, but you sensed he was destined to walk, and the river of 4 hearts confirmed it.


Jonas Molander

7th Jonas Molander, Sweden, €62,890:
Another Swede, PokerStars cash qualifier Molander was next to pick up his coat. He cashed in London last month, and is no stranger to the EPT circuit, but was unable to secure his first EPT title to go with the Helsinki Freezout he won last December. The problem was he picked a bad time to push from the button with Q-8 hearts for his 155,000 chips. Ben Johnson was waiting in the big blind and called with A-J. The board of K-K-3-5-10 gave Jonas no support.


Rodion Cherednichenko

6th Rodion Cherednichenko, Russia, €78,612:
Cherednichenko was the massive chip leader after Day 1A, having more than twice as many as his nearest rival. Some thought he would blow it, but instead he showed great poise in making it this far. It all came to an end, though, when he got into a pot with Daniel Dodet. The flop was 10-3-8 all hearts. Dodet moved all in with 9-9, one of them a heart. Cherednichenko called with 10-J for top pair, but the Q of hearts on the river broke his heart.


Sasa Biorac

5th Sasa Biorac, Germany, €94,355:
He looked like he would struggle early on the final table, but Biorac, who runs an import business, kept going while others failed. Well, until this hand... Dario Minieri raised under the gun with 6-6, it was folded around to Sasa who thought this was the time to move all in with his A-2. He was short on chips and maybe he could catch Minieri out. Unfortunately for him, the flop came 6-3-8 giving the Italian the set.


Daniel Dodet

4th Daniel Dodet, Belgium, €110,057:
After flirting with the chip lead on the final table, Dodet got bogged down in several raise-re-reraise-fold battles, and lost a couple of key pots. Eventually he got involved in a huge pot with Thang Duc Nguyen, was left crippled and departed on the next hand. They tussled pre-flop and settled on seeing it - 6-5-4 with two hearts. Dodet had the A-2 hearts for the nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. But Nguyen had already made his straight with 7-8. The turn and river brought no salvation, and Dodet was left with just 4,000 chips. Next hand he threw them in with A-9 but unluckily met Ben Johnson holding A-K. He was off.


Dario Minieri

3rd Dario Minieri, Italy, €125,780:
This young Italian played a hyper aggressive game - the sort that has made him so successful online at PokerStars - and although it gave him the chip lead at times, it also cost him his tournament. After getting up to over one million chips, he found himself down to the low hundreds of thousands and pushed all in with A-J. Sadly, he came up against Thang Duc Nguyen holding A-Q. The board of A-8-5-9-2 failed to bring the magical jack.


Ben Johnson

2nd Ben Johnson, U.S.A, €251,560:
Johnson, a pro player who enjoys live success as well as a prolific cash run on PokerStars, was only here because his pal had qualified at the last minute and he came to keep him company. It was worth the effort. Johnson had the chip lead for much of the final table and ended heads up against Thang Duc Nguyen with half as many chips. They jostled for a while, but there was only going to be one winner. And it wasn't Johnson. The end came when he re-raised Nguyen all-in when holding only K-3. The German had 4-4, and although a 3 came on the flop to offer some hope, a 4 came on the turn to make Nguyen's set. Johnson could still make a backdoor flush, but the river fell harmless.

So Nguyen, a likeable man, won the EPT here at the Casino Baden. The event was managed superbly, and the casino itself is now recognised as one of the best places to come and play.

We've had many moments of high drama and sensational poker. So, in the words of that famous Austrian Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I'll be back."


Arnie

Thang Duc Nguyen punches the air after winning the title

German chef Thang Duc Nguyen has won the EPT Baden, beating New Yorker Ben Johnson to win the crown and €487,397.

He went into the heads up battle with a two to one chip lead, and Johnson never really looked like clawing it back. The killer hand was painfully conclusive for Johnson, but he has a €251,560 consolation prize to help him get over it. With blinds at 20,000-40,000, he limped pre-flop with K-3. Nguyen re-raised to 130,000 with 4-4, and faced an all-in re-re-raise.

Cue a three-minute dwell from the chef, a regular and successful online player with PokerStars. Eventually he called, the audience rose to their feet, and the players revealed their cards. Nguyen's pair of fours were way ahead, only a king, it would seem, could save dejected Johnson.

The flop offered some hope when it hit the felt as A-3-Q, giving Johnson a pair of threes, but still behind to Nguyen's fours. The turn, however, was a four, making the German's set. Johnson, though, could save himself with a backdoor flush on the river, but instead it was a 9 of clubs.


Katja Thater translates for Nguyen

Nguyen leapt into the air with a shriek. A popular winner here, and to be honest, he deserved it. He waited and waited, then pounced when the time was right. A quick interview for the cameras, with Team PokerStars' Katja Thater doing the translation, and Nguyen went off to phone home and give his wife the good news. Will he now give up the day job? "No, but I am going to have a nice holiday," he said.


Ben Johnson leaves dejected

This man Thang Duc Nguyen is looking unstoppable. No sooner had he dumped Daniel Dodet out of the EPT Baden, than he sent Italian Dario Minieri out of the door in third place. Nguyen now has two million chips, nearly twice those of Ben Johnson as we now play heads up.

Minieri and Nguyen got all in pre-flop. Minieri had A-J and was aghast when Nguyen turned over A-Q. The board came A-8-5-9-2 and Minieri departed with €125,780. That will help him pay for petrol guzzled by the new Porsche Caymen he got with his PokerStars Frequent Player Points.

Thang Duc Nguyen

He has been waiting patiently for his spot, like a lion hiding in the long grass for an innocent gazelle to wander past. Now Thang Duc Nguyen has pounced on Daniel Dodet and, to put it bluntly, devoured him.

Nguyen, who reached two final tables in the recent PokerStars WCOOP events with the screen name Evelyn, cashing $35,000 in the process, has now soared to about 1,000,000 chips. This hand left poor Dodet, the insurance man from Belgium, with just 4,000 chips, not even enough to riffle.

The killer hand came with the blinds up to 15,000-30,000 and 3,000 ante. Dodet raised to 90,000 pre-flop and Nguyen called. The flop came 6-5-4 with two hearts, Daniel moved all with an A-2 of hearts for the nut flush draw and gutshot straight draw. But Nguyen had the nut straight - 7-8 - and called in a flash. A heart would save Dodet, but instead he watched crestfallen as the Q diamonds and 4 spades hit the felt next.

Next hand, with only his 4,000 to play with, Dodet had to move all in. With A-9 he had a chance to at least double up, but his caller, Ben Johnson, had the A-K. No help for Dodet, and he finished in fourth place, collecting €110,057 for his efforts.

Ben Johnson: hungry for chips

The remaining four players have gone on a dinner break. Ben Johnson, the pro player from Brooklyn, New York, will be enjoying his sandwiches more than the rest, as he has taken the chip lead with 1,210,000.

Italian Dario Minieri, who had himself been in the Number 1 spot for a while, has been pegged back to 720,000. Daniel Dodet from Belgium has 680,000, while Thang Duc Nguyen has 600,000. Nguyen, a chef from Germany who plays online at PokerStars, has never threatened to take over, but has managed to stay untroubled all the same.

The chips have been passing around the table, and it is going to be a big mistake, or big hands going head to head that will cause the next player to fall.

Minieri: "I'm so crazy"

Dario Minieri has taken the chip lead by eliminating German Sacha Biorac in 5th place. With the blinds at 10,000-20,000 and a 2,000 ante, Minieri raised to 80,000 with 6-6. The action folded to Biorac, who thought long and hard before pushing all in, about 220,000 more, with A-2.

Minieri was well ahead, and as if he needed any more help the flop came 6-3-8 giving him a set. The turn was a 9 and Biorac was drawing dead. He heads back home to Germany with €94,355.

EPT supremo John Duthie is currently calling the action at the final table, which is being watched by a good-sized crowd of locals.

Soon after, Minieri showed why he is dominating this table. Thang Duc Nguyen raised to 45,000, Daniel Dodet re-raised to 165,000 - and Minieri re-re-raised to 390,000! Nguyen folded immediately, but Dodet gave it a dwell. Minieri goaded him: "I'm so crazy, I don't care about money, I am playing for fun."

Dodet folded, and Minieri showed the table his monster hand - er, A-5 offsuit. The Young Italian is now over the million chip mark.

Rodion Cherednichenko is out in sixth place after PokerStars' Daniel Dodet outdrew him with a flush. All the chips went in after the 10-3-8 flop, all three hearts. Daniel had 9-9, one of them a heart, and Rodion 10-J for the top pair. The turn changed nothing, but Q of hearts on the river sent the chips to the insurance broker from Belgium, who has only been playing for a year.

Cherednichenko, who was massive chip leader after the end of Day 1A, leaves with €78,612 to take back to Russia, where he works as a computer game software developer.

A short while earlier, German chef Thang Duc Nguyen doubled through against Ben Johnson. It was a battle of the blinds - Johnson, in the small blind raised to 50,000, called by Nguyen, and the flop came 9-6-10. Johnson checked-called another 50,000. The turn was a 2. Johnson checked, Nguyen bet 120,000, Johnson moved all in over the top and Nguyen call in a flash. He held 7-8 for the straight, knocking Johnson's A-9 out of sight.

PokerStars qualifier Jonas Molander has been busted in 7th place. He had been nursing a short stack for some time, and with the blinds just up to 8,000-16,000, with a running ante of 2,000, he decided enough was enough. Perhaps any hand would do, but in the end Jonas pushed from the button with Q-8 hearts for his last 155,000.

Waiting in the big blind was Ben Johnson, another PokerStars player. He asked for a count, dwelled, dwelled a little more, then called, showing A-J spades. He was ahead, and the flop of K-K-3 rainbow, followed by a 5 and a 10 sent Jonas home with €62,890 in his back poket.

Johnson has regained chip power now, along with Daniel Dodet of Belgium.

The final table contenders

Sweden's Peter Eichhardt is our first faller at the EPT Baden final table. With the blinds at 6,000-12,000, and only 88,000 behind him, Eichhardt pushed all in after finding K-Q spades. Dario Minieri called instantly with 8-8, and it was a classic match-up.

The flop came A-8-10, giving Dario the set, but Eichhardt the gutshot straight draw. The 5 spades turn added a flush draw to that, but the river, a harmless 4 hearts, saw him leaving with €47,167.

Minieri continues to climb and try to catch up with chip leader Ben Johnson, of the U.S.

Ben Johnson: clear chip leader

New Yorker Ben Johnson has just won a huge pot to eliminate Andrea Balla in ninth place - and take himself into a commanding chip lead.

The manner of his exit was brutal for Balla, from Italy. Johnson raised to 60,000 with A-10, and Balla moved all in for a total of 220,000 with A-Q. Johnson called, and Balla was clear favourite - until the flop came A-10-J. No help emerged for the Italian, and he exits with €31,445.

The final table will start soon. Players and chip counts are:

1 Ben Johnson 828,000
2 Dario Minieri 652,000
3 Thang Duc Nguyen 506,000
4 Daniel Dodet 452,000
5 Jonas Molander 358,000
6 Rodion Cherednichenko 238,000
7 Sasa Biorac 194,000
8 Peter Eichhardt 91,000

For short profiles of each of the players, click here.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what they are playing for, a cool €487,397...


Who will get their hands on this lot?

Three players are scrapping over the chip lead right now, and all of them are PokerStars players. Ben Johnson just has the edge with 605,000, but moving up menacingly is Daniel Dodet, of Belgium, with 600,000, who won a huge pot against Peter Eichhardt in a K-K v Q-Q battle. Just behind with 595,000 is Dario Minieri.

Eichhardt was crippled by that pot, and sits on less than 97,000. We are still stuck with nine players. But things are loosening up.

Dario is mobbed by friends after knocking out Argyris Argyrou

To the collective sigh of many females in the room, we have lost jolly Cypriot Argyris Argyrou. As had been his style in the last two days, he was playing a lot of pots, and this was one too many.

Under the gun, and five-handed, he moved all in with A-7 of diamonds. It was folded around to Dario Minieri in the big blind with A-J, who called. The flop was Q-9-7 - joy for Argyris, but all three cards were hearts and Dario's ace was a heart. The turn was 10 of hearts, giving Dario the nut flush. The river, a ten, did not mean a thing.

Dario's rail supporters leapt with joy. He's now up to over 500,000.

So Argyris leaves us in tenth place, and takes €18,867 back to Cyprus, where he starts back at work at his recycling plant tomorrow afternoon.

"I have had a good deal of fun here," he said. "But today was a cold day. I ran three times into monsters, but that's poker. I was hoping to win, but would not have played any hands differently."

Farewell, then, Argyris. You've been fun to have around.


Argyris Argyrou: heading home

We are now down to a single table of nine players. When one more is knocked out, we will start the final table proper.

We have moved into the next level, with blinds now up to 8,000-16,000 with a 1,500 running ante. PokerStars player Ben Johnson, who had been pushed around in the early squabbles, has just taken a huge pot of Peter Eichhardt.

They pushed chips into the middle before the flop, and Johnson moved all in when it came 3-J-6. Eichhardt thought long and hard before calling and turning over A-10. Ben was in the lead with K-J and a 9 on the turn and 4 on the river kept him going. The New Yorker is now up to 450,000.

Meanwhile, spotted in the crowd at the last two tables, just who do you think would where a jacket like this?....

Clue... maybe Italian?

... and wearing shoes like this...


Clue... style-conscious?

Of course, it's....


Italian Team PokerStars member Luca Pagano

The cards have been in the air for little more than 30 minutes, and already we have lost two players. With blinds starting at 6,000-12,000 some of the shorter stacks had to make a move, and for Peter Gould and Marcus Golser it did not work out.

Gould, who works as a venture capitalist in London, was first to get his coat. Peter Eichhardt made it 40,000 to go from the button, Gould moved over the top all in for his 170,000 or so chips.

Eichhardt called with A-9, and Gould had no monster to take him on with. Instead he showed Q-10, although it gave him just over a 40% chance of hitting and doubling up. The board - 6-4-6-2-J - failed to deliver, however, and Gould leaves with €18,867.

A few moments later, Austria's Marcus Golser was also walking forlornly out of the door. He moved all in from the button with 10-10 and was called by Thang Duc Nguyen's A-J. The ace slapped down on the flop, leaving the local boy to make the short journey home, also with €18,867.

Ben Johnson, a pro player from New York, is a cash game specialist, but proved he is no tournament mug to get this far. He was big in chips at the start of today, but has met with resistance each time he made a move so far. In quick succession he raised with three hands, only for Peter Eichhardt, Thang Duc Nguyen and Daniel Dodet to come over the top, forcing a fold.

And Argyris Argyrou was also forced to lay down to Jonas Molander. He made it 40,000 on the button, and Molander re-raised to 100,000. Argyris called and the flop came Q-T-7. Molander moved all in and Argyris went into the tank. "Do you want me to call?" he asked, not really expecting a reply. He then folded, showing A-10. "I really think I folded the best hand," he added. "I wanted to call instantly." But it was too expensive to find out.

Just two more exits and we are down to the final table.

Your 12 players who have made the final day here in Baden are:

Peter Eichhardt, Sweden


Argyris Argyrou, Cyprus


Ben Johnson, U.S


Dario Minieri, Italy


Thang Duc Nguyen, Germany


Andrea Balla, Italy


Jonas Molander, Sweden


Sacha Biorac, Germany


Rodion Cherednichenko, Russia


Peter Gould, UK


Daniel Dodet, Belgium


Marcus Golser, Austria

For overnight chip counts, look here

Ever wondered what it takes to set up a televised poker final table? It's a logistical minefield, best left to the experts. But here is your easy, cut-out-and-keep guide should you ever need to set up an international poker event yourself.

Cooking instructions:

First, take a normal road map to find out where it is you are supposed to be going. Keep it on simmer for a while until you work out which way up the map goes....

All roads lead to Baden

Next, take a very large lorry. Throw in some lights, cables, cameras, stage set and a poker table. Be careful not to spill the contents...


A very big lorry

Then, put your dish in the sealed container and transport it carefully to where you intend to serve it up....


Casino Baden: Feast of poker

Once safely there, carefully unpack your contents and begin to prepare them, ready for the enjoyment of your guests...


Final preparations

Nearly there, but don't go off the boil. Instead, you must use your imagination to make your dish attractive and inviting...


Mmm, that looks better

Finally, add a sprinkling of poker players, et voila, serve up your dish to the viewers....


Bon appetit!

Casino Baden: Theatre of Dreams

So here we are for the climax of the season three EPT Baden. More than 330 players entered, building a prize pool of €1,572,250, including a handsome €487,397 first prize for the winner.

Twelve hopefuls are left - five of them PokerStars players - and they must negotiate their way down to eight before we begin the final table. Chip leader is Sweden's Peter Eichhardt on 439,500, followed next by PokerStars qualifier Argyris Argyrou, a fun Cypriot who manages a recycling business, on 392,000.

All players, spectators and members of the press agree this is one of the best venues on the circuit. Staff at Casino Baden have bent over backwards to cater for our every whim. Throw in fine food, drink and even a resident pianist, and everyone is happy.

Play begins at noon local time here in Austria, where again the sun is shining. Time, then, to reflect on some local oddities.

First, I reported yesterday that this town is eerily quiet. There was no traffic in what should have been a Monday morning rush hour. Today, I witnessed what can only be described as a horrendous Baden traffic jam: yes, two cars were waiting patiently at a red light. Had there been anymore, I am sure the local police would have been out in force to sort the mess out.


Helloooo... anybody there?

Secondly, they like their art here. Beautiful paintings adorn ceilings and walls, sculptures and statues await around every corner. Performing artists are in abundance, including the odd site of scantily-clad ladies on stilts welcoming us in the casino. One, however, forget herself, and got stuck trying to get in the elevator.


Going down? Nope, going nowhere

Thirdly, and most strangely of all, we have seen - TWICE - poker supremo Thomas Kremser playing poker. Normally, he rules tournaments with a rod of iron, but calmly and efficiently. He is, to put it simply, one of the best tournament directors in the world. Normally he in charge of the EPT events, but here he has been able to take a back seat thanks to the presence Edgar Stuchly. Up until now, no one has actually seen Thomas play the game himself. Can he actually play at all? Well, yes. And pictured below is the proof. I just hope no one dared call the floor on him.


Turning the tables on Thomas Kremser

Goodnight from Casino Baden

Play has finished for the night, with 12 players surviving to come back for tomorrow's final day. Just before the end, Germany's Thorsten Schuler became our 13th place finisher.

He had 9-9 and faced Peter Eichhardt's A-K. The flop was K-Q-5, and the turn added a flush draw for Eichhardt, meaning Schuler had the grim reality of just one out on the river. It did not arrive, and he left with €15,722.

With the average chip count now over 350,000, PokerStars is well represented at the last two tables.

I am happy to report Argyris Argyrou, the jovial Cypriot who has amused us with his table banter, is currently second with 392,000 in chips and presents a real danger. Also running well are Pokerstars players Ben Johnson, an internet cash game specialist from New York, Italy's online whizzkid Dario Minieri, Sweden's Jonas Molander and Daniel Dodet, of Belgium.

Here are the official chip counts for the end of the day:

1 Peter Eichhardt (SWE) 439,500
2 Argyris Argyrou (CYP) 392,000
3 Ben Johnson (U.S) 352,000
4 Dario Minieri (IT) 339,000
5 Thang Nguyen (GER) 308,000
6 Andrea Balla (IT) 287,000
7 Jonas Molander (SWE) 272,500
8 Sasa Biorac (GER) 228,000
9 Rodion Cherednichenko (RUSS) 218,000
10 Peter Gould (UK) 190,000
11 Daniel Dodet (BEL) 167,000
12 Marcus Golser (AUS) 125,000

To see some of those who have cashed so far, click here.

Make sure you come back tomorrow for the last day's action. It will be fast, furious and fun. Don't miss it!

Andy Black

Ireland's Andy Black is our 15th place finisher, picking up €15,722 for his efforts.

It was a curious hand. Black, relatively short-stacked, moved all in under the gun with 10-J. He was called by both Hungary's Csaba Kuremszki with A-J and Ben Johnson of the U.S. holding A-K. The flop came K-7-7, Johnson checked but Kuremszki chose to move all in. Johnson called and took a huge pot.

It left Kuremszki wounded, but still alive. He soon expired though, when his A-3 could not improve against the A-10 of Thang Nguyen from Germany. The Hungarian also pockets €15,722.

We are now down to the last 13. Tournament organisers have announced that play will finish at the end of this level, with the remaining players coming back tomorrow to fight for the eight final table places.

Team PokerStars' ElkY (Bertrand Grospellier from France) has been eliminated in 16th place by Sweden's Peter Eichhardt. Just one hand earlier Eicchardt had raised, everyone folded and he showed A-K. This time, ElkY had the Big Slick, raised - and walked straight into Eichhardt's K-K.

Christian Togsverd

There are now just 16 runners left of the EPT Baden after another two fallers. First Birgitta Johansson from Sweden was busted by PokerStars' Argyris Argyrou when his A-Q overtook her Q-Q. Then Christian Togsverd, who had been chip leaders earlier in the day, crashed out to PokerStars' Jonas Molander. Both had an ace, but the young Swede caught a second pair too to take the pot.

ElkY claims Danish scalp

Dane Martin Wendt has been busted in 19th place by Team PokerStars' ElkY, who now moves on to over 150,000 chips. Wendt moved all in with his 53,000 for the second hand running, this time holding K-Q suited. ElkY dwelled for a minute and then called with his A-J. The flop of 7-A-5 was enough to send Wendt home with €9,433.

His departure followed a frantic 30 minutes, when six players left the floor. Ramzi Jelassi, from Sweden, Norway's Age Spets, Denmark's Nicolai Vivet, Mel Judah, and Sweden's Tomas Martinsson and Johan Storakers.

Argyrou: trash talk

When a poker table is full of quiet, reserved players it can get a bit dull. But often a character sits down and livens it up a bit. Sometimes one arrives and livens it up a lot. Step forward rubbish recycling manager Argyris Argyrou (I don't mean he's rubbish at recycling - he recycles rubbish), who has fast become a crowd favourite with his constant chatter and jokes.

The Cypriot, who qualified for this tournament on PokerStars, is a bit like a comedy character from a film. He goads his opponents, makes a curious chuckling noise when he wins a pot, and is generally good value all round.

Try telling that to poor Martin Wendt, though. The Dane, who is having a good run here, had been the target of Argyris' banter for about ten minutes. And when Wendt raised, and Argyris (screen name polpolpol) moved all in over the top, you sensed Wendt thought: "Enough is enough." He had Argyris covered, was sitting on 9-9, and called.

Argyris turned over an A-J. A J hit the flop, leaving Wendt to utter aloud: "Give me some love for once. Please." No one listened, and Argyris doubled through and now has about 80,000 chips.

And that will ensure he keeps talking at the table for a good while yet.


Martin Wendt: "Give me some love"

Dario Minieri on a charge

PokerStars young gun Dario Minieri is on a charge, having just knocked out two players within ten minutes. The Italian now sits behind more than 200,000 and is in a commanding position.

It was not without some good fortune, though. First he kicked Britain's Marc Goodwin out the door. Some raising before the flop saw all the chips going in the middle. Dario had Marc's 70,000 covered.

Goodwin had 7-7, Dario A-Q, and he hit an ace on the turn. Goodwin was not happy. he said: "How could he stick all those chips in with A-Q and think he was ahead?"

Just a few hands later, and Dario called Azad Pirooti's all in. This time there was about 80,000 to be won, and this time Dario had the better hand, with A-Q again against Pirooti's K-J. Nothing on the board saved the Swede, and he departs as our 26th place finisher, collecting €9,433.

Blinds are 3,000-6,000 with a 500 ante. Play will continue until 24 players are left, and we will then have a 45-minute break.

The action is split on two floors at the moment. Three tables are downstairs, including the televised feature table, and just one remains upstairs in Casino Baden.

It's making for a puffed-out blogger.

Matthias Stieger

Matthias Stieger, a PokerStars player from Germany, has been busted in 32nd place. He pushed for his few remaining chips - about 12,000 - with J-8 and was called by Day 1A chipleader Rodion Cherednichenko's A-3.

The flop of A-J-7 was cruel, the turn, an A, was crueller still, and an 8 on the river just rubbed salt into the wounds.

Cherednichenko is chugging along nicely, though not making quite the impression he did at the end of his first day. He now has a small religious figure next to his chips to keep him company (below).


Look after my chips

Elsewhere, PokerStars qualifier Jonas Molander, from Sweden, is moving along solidly on 85,000. He sits next to fellow qualifier Daniel Dodet, who has rocketed up to 215,000. ElkY, meanwhile, has moved tables again (at least he will keep fit) and is now up to 125,000.


Jonas Molander

Bubble boy: Anders Osterstrom

Well, they took their time, wary of being the unfortunate player to bust on the bubble. But someone had to give - and that was Anders Osterstrom from Sweden, who was dismissed by Thang Nguyen from Germany.

No sooner had word spread of the unfortunate Anders' exit, than play on the remaining tables loosened up. Those pleased to have made the cash, which starts at €6,289, are willing to push now.

ElkY running strong

After falling like flies, play has tightened up as we approach the bubble. Just 38 players are left, and once two more trip over we are in the money. First, though, the players are enjoying a well-deserved break for 50 minutes.

With blinds now at 1,500-3,000, Team PokerStars' ElkY is up to 101,000 and looking stronger as the day progresses. But he has been moved to a tough table, with Denmark's Christian Togsverd (135,000), PokerStars qualifers Daniel Dodet (132,000) from Belgium, Jonas Molander (67,000) from Sweden.

On the feature table, Ireland's Andy Black us running things and has soared to more than 130,000 chips. Elsewhere, PokerStars qualifier Argyris Argyrou from Cyprus is holding on with less than 25,000.


Andy Black

Sven Polarski


We have an emerging chip leader in the shape of Denmark's Christan Togsverd, up to more than 220,000. A chunk of that came from PokerStars qualifier Sven Polarski, from Holland.

Our man had worked his way up to 60,000 after starting the day with just 14,000. But his luck ran out when he lost two key pots, the last one being fatal against Togsverd. Sven had J-J, Togsverd A-Q and the Dane flopped a Q.

Sven used to run an internet company, but now plays full time online, mostly 100-200 limit. "I now have a much better life playing poker," he said. Not this week, unfortunately.

Also out is PokerStars qualifier Mika Paasonen from Finland. He lost two key hands, both with A-10 against a 2-2 and then a J-J.

Italy's Dario Minieri is licking his wounds after losing half his stack in a three-way battle. He had A-K, Argyris Argyrou had A-Q and Marc Goodwin from Britain had A-A. Dario is now down to 50,000, Goodwin is up to 60,000.

Daniel Dodet, the luckiest man in Baden

PokerStars qualifier Daniel Dodet is still in shock after an astonishing outdraw, the type that you see only once in a blue moon.

I'll let Daniel, who works in the insurance industry in Belgium, take up the story. "I had A-9 suited and faced his raise of 5,000. I thought I would scare him with a big re-raise, hoping he would fold. But he called. The flop was K-K-10 and he checked. I did not think he had a K, so I put him all in, leaving me with 10,000 behind.

"I was amazed when he called and turned over 10-10 for a full house, and cross because I was going to lose all my chips. But then the turn was an A, giving me a very small chance of catching up. Would you believe the river was an A as well, giving me the bigger full house?

"I was amazed. It was certainly the luckiest hand of my life!"

Lucky? That's an understatement! Daniel is now on 110,000 and looking in very good shape.

We have just started level 12. The blinds are 1,200-2,400 with a running 300 ante. Just three hours into today's play we are down to 50 players from 83 starters.

Sadly the last of those to go was PokerStars player Vicky Coren, who won the London EPT last month. She had experienced a rollercoaster day. Starting with 14,000 chips, she tripled up with aces, then soared again to about 65,000 chips.

She couldn't hold on to them, though. She lost a big chuck with her A-4 on a K-4-2 flop when she was up against 5-5. Another bundle went soon after and then, on the last hand before the end of level 11, she lost her final 3,000 or so.

Vicky, from London, England, pushed with K-9, got called by A-Q and the board of 6-5-8-6-3 was no help.

Poker has its ups and downs. In a month, Vicky has gone from this....


London winner and £500,000

...to this...


Baden exit and nothing

Carl Olson

Carl Olson, the PokerStars player who has a habit of qualifying for these EPTs, is out after running a bluff at the wrong time. Carl, from the U.S., had A-K, and when he was re-raised before the flop he pushed in half his stack - about 20,000 chips. His opponent smooth called.

The flop came J-9-5 and Carl moved all in for his remaining chips, with nothing but ace high. He met an instant call, and J-J. Ace high against top set is never good news, and the turn and river changed nothing.

Holland's Rob Hollink, who won the EPT grand final in Monte Carlo last year, has just doubled through against Britain's Arshad Hussain. Poker can be a cruel game, and Arshad just got hit by the worst of it. All the money flew in when an ace hit the flop. Arshad had Hollink outkicked, but an eight on the river gave the Dutchman two pair. That sent Arshad down to 13,000 chips, and Hollink soaring over 40,000.

Andy Black, who has been quiet here by his standards, just doubled through against Denmark's Martin Vallo. The Irishman pushed with his J-J, was called by Vallo's A-10 suited, and held up.


Wade Woelfel

Meanwhile PokerStars qualifier Wade Woelfel, from the U.S, continues his slow progress, despite losing a pot of 10,000 when his K-Q failed to improve against an all-in A-10. He's on about 35,000 now.

Unfortunately, though, we have lost qualifier Boris Shostak, whose Q-Q bumped into K-K. Boris, a mettalurgist from the U.S who originally came from the Ukraine, had played solid poker and can count himself unlucky.


Boris Shostack: out

Vicky Coren: aces joy

Play has been under way here in Baden for little more than 30 minutes, and already we have had fireworks. PokerStars' Vicky Coren has tripled up, qualifier Chris Roth is out, Daniel Dodet of Belgium has just used up a day's worth of luck, and Britain's Phil Shaw has doubled through.

Where to start? Well, our Vicky sat down with less than 15,000 in chips and needed to get to work quickly to have something to play with. Not a problem. Just minutes after the start she looked down to find A-A. She had two interested parties, and after some raising and re-raising all her chips went in the middle pre flop.

Two callers. The flop - a dream for Vicky - was A-J-J, and the turn and river irrelevant. Her two opponents had A-K and Q-Q and got stung for 15,000 or so each. Vicky is now up and away with 45,000.

PokerStars qualifier Daniel Dodet from Belgium had some outrageous luck just a few moments later. On a flop of K-K-10 he pushed with A-9, a badly-timed bluff as his opponent flipped over 10-10.

But guess what the turn and river were? An iced bun to those of you who reasoned A-A, giving Daniel the full house! His unlucky opponent's reaction can not be recorded on a family blog!

Bad news, however, from our qualifier Chris Roth (croth8) from the U.S. He went all in for his 25,700 with A-K against Italy's Dario Minieri (another PokerStars player), who held 10-10. The board did not save Chris, but he has enjoyed his trip to Baden. He said: "It's okay, these things happen in poker, it's just the way it goes." Well said, and he can be proud to have got so far.


Chris Roth loses his coin flip

Meanwhile, Phil Shaw from the UK, who started today worryingly close to the felt, built up a few thousand chips, then doubled through against Mika Paasonen, a fellow PokerStars qualifier. Phil pushed with 2-2, Mika went into the tank for a minute or so and called with A-10. In this case, the pair of ducks quacked happily and gave Phil the pot. He's now up to about 26,000.

Day break in Baden

Monday morning in most towns is a chaotic affair. The streets are clogged with cars carrying folk to work; pavements are lined with commuters and kids scurrying to school.

Not here in Baden, Austria. My walk from the hotel to the Casino this morning was one of solitude. Where is everyone? Apart from one chap in a digger, there was not one vehicle, and only a slightly frail old lady and her dumpy dog shared my path.

It says a lot about this town, about 40 miles from the capital Vienna. It is peace personified, and I guess the most exciting thing to happen here is the reason for our presence - the European Poker Tour.

We are preparing for Day 2, with 83 players joining forces from Days 1A and 1B to fight for places on tomorrow's final table. We will pay down to 36th place, so there is a good deal of room for disappointment.

Top of the pile today is Russian Rodion Cherednichenko. You may remember him from Day 1A when he seemed to have some chip management problems. Rather than neat towers, he preferred to keep them (and there were 218,000 of them) in a disorganised pile in front of him. I caught this picture AFTER he had been told by the floor to tidy them up!


Rodion: it's my mess and I'm keeping it

Untidy he may be, but Rodion has a commanding lead, more than double that of his nearest challenger, Nicolai Vivet from Denmark with 107,300. Then comes Britain's Peter Gould (below) with 97,800.


Good as Gould

PokerStars is well represented out on the floor. Team PokerStars' ElkY (Bertrand Grospellier from France) is sitting pretty on 50,900, and we have a host of qualifiers still going strong.

Jonas Molander from Sweden leads their charge with 81,000, along with Britain's David Tighe on 53,400 and recycling mananger Argyris Argyrou from Cyprus (below) on 44,700. Carl Olson, our regular EPT qualifer from the U.S, mettalurgist Boris Shostack and accountant Ara Melikian, both also from the U.S, are through as well.


Argyris Argyrou, recycling other people's chips

Britain's Vicky Coren, who won the EPT in London last month, is also here with PokerStars, and has made it through to today. But she has 14,800 and will need to make a move soon.

Full list of PokerStars players today

1. Jonas Molander (SWE) 81,000
2. David Tighe (UK) 53,400
3. Bertrand Grospellier - ElkY - (FRA) 50,900
4. Argyris Argyrou (CYP) 44,700
5. Carl Olson (U.S.A) 40,200
6. Mika Paasonen (FIN) 39,700
7. Ara Melikian (U.S.A) 39,200
8. Daniel Dodet (BEL) 37,800
9. Wade Woelfel (U.S.A) 37,200.
10. Boris Shostack (U.S.A) 30,500
11. Chris Roth (U.S.A) 25,300
12. Yakov Hirsch (U.S.A) 20,200
13. Marco Liesy (GER) 18,800
14. Vicky Coren (U.K) 14,800
15. Phil Shaw (U.K) 8,000

After an amazing World Championship of Online Poker, the PokerStars Sunday Million came back in full force. More than 5,500 players signed up to play in the biggest weekly poker tournament around. The battle raged all the way to the very end. Players never cut a deal and when it was over, Norway's Fenster walked away with more than $160,000! Final table results are below.

PokerStars Sunday Million Results

1. Fenster (Norway) $162,279.50
2. zach5500 (United States) $88,126.02
3. Mr Neverquit (United States) $55,010.00
4. eisert3 (United States) $42,907.80
5. 98club (Norway) $34,106.20
6. JRGBone (United States) $27,505.00
7. LeonPK (United States) $20,903.80
8. zaratusa (United States) $15,402.80
9. Schecky (United States) $11,002.00

Goodnight, Vienna

Play has finished and 45 players are through to Day 2 to join the 38 who made it yesterday. The survivors are busy counting up their chips and signing them off before making their way into the Baden night.

It's been quite a day here in Austria, with the lead chopping and changing throughout. Chip counts will be with you in the morning, along with the combined leaderboard.

Don't miss tomorrow's action. We'll bring to you here as it happens.

Carl Olson

EPT uber-qualifier Carl Olson is a man on the move. The PokerStars player, who has qualified for all three EPT events this season already, and who is also heading for Dublin, has more or less doubled through by knocking out Britain's Julian Thew.

Thew raised from under the gun with 9-9, and Olson (colson10 on PokerStars) re-raised from the small blind with A-A. Thew pushed all in, our man called and took down the 25,000 pot. He is now sitting on 52,000 and looking good for Day 2. Thew headed out of the casino and muttered: "I'm off to call the missus."

While Olson, who now has the pleasure of sitting next to Vicky Coren, is heading the right way, we have lost Jorryt van Hoof. A chip leader earlier in the day, his stack disappeared faster that an Aston Martin down the highway. In the end, he bowed out when his club flush was rumbled by Frode Fragerli's ace-high flush. Jorryt - TheCleaner11 on PokerStars - was philosophical: "It's okay. It happens," he said.

We have also lost Johan Kretz, Vesa Pitsinki and David Potts. But qualifier Erwin Fasching, who runs a cafe here in Austria, is still holding on, and Ara Melikian still runs strong on 35,000.

Two big chips stacks sit next to each other but are keeping their distance. Marcus Golser and Per Umming both have approaching 50,000.


Golser and Ummer keeping their distance

The chip leader right now, as we climb into the last level of the night with blinds at 600-1,200, is Azad Pivooti on about 60,000. Fifty five players remain.


Azad Pivooti looks a bit shocked at his stack

Vicky Coren is smiling again

Vicky Coren must be thinking someone above is looking after her right now. Weeks ago she won the EPT in London, and now she has used up a wedge of luck to not only survive here in Baden, but double up in the process.

Surely this monster hand was not all luck? Er, yes. An opponent raised to 1,800 with, it transpired, K-K. Our Vicky, who is here with PokerStars, clearly thought he had nothing and re-raised all in with her remaining 9,000 or so chips.

Uh Oh! The poor chap, rubbing his hands with glee, called instantly, turning over the K-K. Vicky's mega bluff looked doomed as she reluctantly flipped the rather feeble 7-4 off suit. This is where her "friend" upstairs stepped in. The flop delivered three clubs, and another on the turn brought her flush. She's now up and running again on 25,000!


Ara Melikian

Another man with reason to look to the heavens is PokerStars qualifier Ara (melikman) Melikian. He's been playing a good game here, but must have thought that game was up when he picked up Q-Q and all the chips went in pre-flop against K-K. No problem, though, when a Q came on the flop, shunting him up to the 35,000 mark.

The accountant said: "This guy lost a big pot a few hands earlier and I thought he could easily be pushing with something like J-J. I want to go deep so I called his 16,000 all-in re-raise with my Q-Q. It worked out nicely!"

We are down to 68 players, with the blinds on 400-800. Players on the move upwards include Sweden's Per Ummer (46,150), Henrik Olander (43,000) and Juha Helppi (19,000). Those heading the wrong way include PokerStars qualifier Jorryt van Hoof (16,000), Christoph Haller (18,000) and Martin Wendt (15,600).

The prize money has been announced. Players will be paid down to 36th place....

1. €487,397.50
2. €251,560
3. €125,780
4. €110,057.50
5. €94,335
6. €78,612.50
7. €62,890
8. €47,670.50
9. €31,445
10-12. €18,887
13-15. €15,722.50
16-18. €12,578
19-27. €9,433.50
28-36. €6,289

Frode Fragerli: chip leader

Norwegian Frode Fragerli was the nearly man in Monte Carlo when he bubbled in the EPT Grand Final event in March. His luck improved, though, when PokerStars stepped in to give him a package to the EPT here in Baden.

It looks as though he is putting that gift to good use. With the previous chip leaders - Jorryt van Hoof (TheCleaner11) and Christoph Haller - both taking big hits to their stacks, Frode, a professional player, has eased quitely into the chip lead with 56,000.

The remainder of the 85 players are evenly balanced. A mover could come late in the day, as happened last night with Russian Cherednichenko Rodion, who made a late charge up to more than 200,000 chips.

Several big scalps have been taken in the past hour. Team PokerStars' Katja Thater, from Germany, had been nursing a stack of about 8,000 for hours before being busted. Marcel Luske and PokerStars qualifier Richard Gryko are also standing on the wrong side of the rail, as are Hendon Mobster Ross Boatman and Mats Iremark, who won the EPT in Deauville in February.


Katja Thater

The 97 remaining players are on their dinner break. Chance, then, to take a sideways look at chip management. Here are some of the many different ways poker players leave their stacks. What does it tell you about the owners?:

The Tall and Proud: don't mess with me


The Look at Me: pretty lines all in a row


The Hide and Seek: the ultimate chip protector


The Hide and Seek again


The Casual: tumbling stacks


The Counter: An easy way to keep count


The Pancake: feeling a little flat


The Precarious: about to fall over


The beyond help: too small for anything

Jorryt van Hoof

PokerStars player Jorryt van Hoof, who plays under the name of TheCleaner11, is sweeping up everything at his table - and has taken the chip lead in Baden.

Jorryt was helped on his way by a strange hand when he rivered a set of eights to beat his opponenet, who had a set of fours on the flop. Both were a bit cagey with four spades on the board, and a possible straight flush, but despite neither having a spade the pot still topped 10,000.

Germany's Christoph Haller is pushing Jorryt for the lead, and sits on just a thousand or so behind him.

Meanwhile our qualifier Voodoo - now on about 15,000 - has had his star-studded table split up. He came through despite the likes of Marcel Luske, Edgar Skjervold, Noah Boeken and Mats Iremark sitting with him. Marcel is growing steadily and now sits atop 22,000.

With about 106 players left, London EPT winner Vicky Coren, here with PokerStars, had been struggling, down to as low as 6,000, but has regrouped to 14,500. Andy Black, from Ireland, is on her table and also sits on about 14,000. But with the average stack now 15,000, he's still looking healthy.


Vicky Coren regroups

Let me introduce you to Mika Paasonen - siina on PokerStars - who has worked his way up to approaching 30,000 chips. From Finland, he won through to Baden in a $475 cash satellite.


Mika Paasonen

Voodoo holding firm

Johan Kretz, Voodoo on PokerStars, had what looked like the table from hell when he first sat down. Noak Boeken, Edgar Skjervold, Mats Iremark AND Marcel Luske arrived to keep him company.

But our man from Sweden has not only kept a cool head - he has doubled up after knocking out Holland's Noah in a cracking hand. Noah had A-K and raised, Voodoo - holding J-J - reraised to 1,700. The flop was a dream, K-J-8, giving Voodoo the set.

Noah thought he was ahead and checked, got an 1,800 bet from Voodoo and then re-raised all in. The call was not want Noah expected, and he left feeling as flat as his homeland.


Noah Boeken

While Skjervold is building nicely, Voodoo seems to be keeping everyone else at the table in check, including Marcel Luske, who is hovering around his 10,000 starting stack still. A gentleman as ever, he kindly counts his chips for me when I walk past.

Elsewhere on the floor, we have a chip leader. Germany's Christoph Haller is up to 40,500.

Most PokerStars qualifiers continue to hold their own. Although we lost Der Springer early (Patrick Grothuesmann), Vesa "vesap" Pitsinki from Finland is sitting comfortably on about 11,000 chips.


Vesa Pitsinki: staying afloat

Although he plays online a lot, this is his first EPT, and he's looking at home. And as a civil engineer, he should be good at building a nice stack.

Across the room is Erwin Fasching, from Austria. He owns a cafe in Vienna, where his wife is now running things while he plays down the road in Baden. "When I make the final table, maybe she will come then," he joked.

Maybe not a joke. He is veteran of live games at the Concore casino in Vienna, and has played stud here in Baden for ten years. He clearly has the game, although he has got some work to do to recover the half of his stack that disappeared in the early levels.


Erwin Fasching

Ara Melikian is making a great recovery after a poor start. The accountant from Seattle has recovered all of his lost chips after falling perilously close to the felt. His saviour was finding A-Q two hands in a row. First he pushed all in, got a caller and his hand held. Then, under the gun he called with the same hand, and doubled up again against a 10-10 when a Q hit the turn.

Meanwhile, PokerStars qualifier PolPolPol - Argyris Argyrou from Cyprus - is enjoying life on about 14,000. He runs a recycling business at home, but there's nothing rubbish about his play.


Argyris Argyrou: Not rubbish

Richard Gryko

Richard Gryko, Raconteur on PokerStars, was an unlucky man at the London EPT last month. He turned up late, thanks to the city's notorious traffic, and under a peculiar British law, was not allowed to take part. If you are not at your seat when the first cards hit the table, you are disqualified. Harsh, but there you go.

Furious, he hit the PokerStars tables and took out his anger there. Within hours he had won a cash satellite for this Baden event, where players are fighting for a prize pool of €1,572,250. The Brit is one to watch, too. He went very deep in the WSOP main event this summer, cashing $165,000 for his 50th place. We are into Level 3 and he's comfortable at the moment.

Another PokerStars qualifier is Carl Olson - screen name colson10. Carl, from Seattle, Washington, is developing a reputation as a satellite whizzkid. He has already qualified for the first three EPTs this season, and will be heading to Dublin, too, for event number four.


Carl Olson, out of this world satellite player

He finished second in the first Deauville event in 2005, but has not managed to cash since, but his online play is, we are told, "freaky good". A colleague who watched the qualifier for Dublin, said he was short-stacked heading towards the seat-winning places, but changed gears smartly and finished comfortably with chips to spare.

We are only on Level 2, but already some big names have gone to the rail. Barny Boatman is out after running his K-K into A-A, and Ben "Milkybarkid" Grundy, who came eigth for $119,000 in the PokerStars WCOOP main event, is also out.

Ben Grundy: Out

Two PokerStars qualifiers share the same table and are finding life tough, but are enjoying themselves nonetheless. Patrick Grothuesmann (DerSpringer)drove for nine hours to get here from his home in Dorsten, Germany. His uncle kept him company and read the map.


DerSpringer finding it tough going

Patrick qualified in a $475 cash satellite. He's just finished school and is undecided about what to do next. He said: "I don't know what to do next - hopefully win the EPT and keep playing poker!" Unfortunately he is already down to the felt in Baden.

Sitting next to him is Ara Melikian (melikman), from the U.S. He only finished his accountancy degree in May, and will be starting his first job one week after the EPT in Dublin, which he has also qualified. Ara has also played the London EPT, but busted after six hours. He said: "I played too conservative. I had tough cards and tough opponents." One of whom, was eventual winner Vicky Coren.


Accountant Ara Melikian: His chips don't add up to much

He added: "I've got a good feeling about today. I know what to expect now... a good start always helps." Sadly it has not materialised, and he's down to a few thousand chips from his 10,000 starting stack.

Play is under way at Day 1B of the Baden European Poker Tour. Another 167 players have sat down to fight their way through - they hope - to Day 2, where 38 runners from yesterday are ready and waiting.

We have a host of top names, and a whole bunch of PokerStars qualifiers mixing it up with them.

No magic table for Voodoo

Spare a thought for Voodoo - Johan Kretz from Sweden - who has found himself on an early table of death. He sat down at the start and was soon joined by no less than Holland's Noah "Exclusive" Boeken, Deauville EPT winner Mats Iremark and Edgar Skjervold from Norway, a regular on EPT final tables.

There was still one empty seat as well, but surely it would not be another tough player for Johan, a political journalist? Oh dear, who should turn up a few minutes late to sit down?


Marcel Luske

That's right, none other than Holland's Marcel Luske, one of the biggest names in poker! Poor Voodoo must be cursing his luck, but he has played EPTs in Copenhagen and Barcelona before, as well as cashing in the WSOP, so he is no mug himself.

He is taking a year off from his local newspaper job to try his luck at the game. He said: "I wanted a year off. I love poker and thought I was good enough, but I'm not sure I can give up my job for good."


Boris Shostak: Man of steel

Another PokerStars qualifier has found himself with tough neighbours. Boris Shostak will hope he will not be Boris ShortStack, but he faces two of Britain's finest - Ben Grundy and Julian Thew.

Boris, who plays as Allabob, lives in Illinois but originally hails from the Ukraine. He's played in Vegas but this is his first EPT after becoming a cash qualifier.

He's a mettalurgist, which I am told is something to do with metal. He'll need a lot of mettle to last the course here.

A quick look at room finds some faces you may recognise:


Ross Boatman


His big brother, Barny


Mads Andersen, EPT Copenhagen winner


Team PokerStars' Katja Thater

Rodion, tidy profit but messy stack

Our mystery Russian, he with the massive chip lead at the end of Day 1A, has been revealed as Cherednichenko Rodion. You'll remember he was reluctant to give anyone his name last night, but had he done so, I doubt any of us would have spelt it right anyway.

He sits on 218,000 chips, more than double that of his nearest challenger, English businessman Peter Gould. Only Swedish double act Ramzi Jelassi and Jonas Molander come close with 84,700 and 81,000.

A full list of Day 1A finishers and their chips can be found here.

Some 38 players survived yesterday's Day 1A, and more than 170 are expected to take their seats today for Day 1B. Among them are Team PokerStars' Katja Thater, from Germany, and England's Vicky Coren, who did so well to win the EPT in London last month.


Queen Victoria: Vicky Coren plays today


Team PokerStars' Katja Thater

Here, too, are the Boatman brothers - Ross and Barny - Ireland's Andy Black, Juha Heppi from Finland, Ireland's Andy Black, Noah Boeken from Holland, and previous EPT winners Mats Iremark (Deauville), from Sweden, and Mads Andersen (Copenhagen), from Denmark.

And, of course, we have a healthy selection of PokerStars qualifiers, whose stories and pictures we will bring to you as the day progresses.

Play is due to begin again at noon local time, and already the players are beginning to arrive at Casino Baden to complete registration in good time for the off.

The atmosphere is relaxed, soon aided, no doubt, by our resident pianist. I hope he has changed his playlist - Blue Moon, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life and Tom Jones numbers are not my cup of tea.

The power of the written word, eh? No sooner have I typed this paragraph, than the gentleman in question has sat down, straightened his bow tie, and begun tickling the ivories, not that I recognise his first ditty.


I am the music man, I come from down your way

I'm off to see who is around and how they are feeling. Forget Sunday lunch, stick right here with us today and keep up as the inevitable drama unfolds.

Peace at last

Play has just finished, with 38 of the 164 starters surviving. Tomorrow we start again with Day 1B.

We'll have the official chip counts in the morning, but one thing is certain, our Mystery Russian, "Rodion", has raced into a huge lead, with 200,000 chips. At least they will be stacked nicely for a change at the start of Day 2.

Also finishing well were Peter Gould from Britain and Sweden's Ramzi Jelassi. Team PokerStars' ElkY has got himself right back into contention, with about 50,000, after sitting quietly and unnoticed for much of the day, and PokerStars qualifiers Sigi Stockinger, from Austria, and Britain's Phil Shaw are also through. The average stack is 45,000.

So tomorrow will bring another crowd of players eager to hit the ground running, including London EPT winner Vicky Coren, Hendon Mobster brothers Ross and Barny Boatman and, well, about 170 others.

You can catch all the action again right here. Don't miss it!

Mystery Russian and his messy pile

A secretive Russian, who will only tell us his name is Rodion, has marched into the lead with about 138,000 chips.

Though how anyone can be precise about it is an equal mystery - just look at his chips. The mess he has made may look bad, but that was after he was asked by the floor to tidy them up!

We are down to 45 players, and the blinds are 600-1,200 with a running 100 ante, and England's Peter Gould is continuing to build nicely at 70,000, although he nudged 100,000 at one point. Also still in contention is Sweden's Ramzi Jelassi, with Steve Vlader, also from England, coming along not far behind.


Peter Gould, sitting pretty


Ramzi Jelassi and Steve Vlader would rather listen to music than each other

Special mention, though to PokerStars qualifier Chris Roth (croth), who is still being watched every step of the way by his girlfriend Nikki (whom he met at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure).

Sitting quietly for hours on about 14,000, he has suddenly shot up, thanks to a triple up that knocked out two big names in David Colclough and Jeff Lissandro.


Croth knocked out two in one hand

Chris had A-A, and after a bit of pre-flop raising, all their chips went in. The A-A in this case held up, beating Lissandro's 10-10 and Colclough's A-7. So Colclough, who had been the survivor of the day, bows to Chris, who himself has been proving difficult to budge.

Meanwhile, ElkY is a man on the move, up to almost 50,000 thanks to a double up when his A-A dominated an A-K caller. Then he doubled again when his turned flush also made a set for his opponent.

PokerStars player Polarsky, sitting uncomfortably with just 3,000, went all-in with A-2 and prayed for the best. Two callers came, as did a 2 on the turn, and that was enough to treble him up.

Mel Judah, an early chip leader before falling behind the pace, has also just doubled up to 60,000 against Peter Gould.


Sigi Stardust

Local boy and PokerStars qualifier Sigi Stockinger is up to about 30,000 after sitting patiently with little to work with for most of the day. But their was no good news for fellow qualifier and Austrian Peter (eleint) Provaznik. His push short-stacked with a medium hand was not enough. "It was a tough table," he said, and it was Goodnight Vienna to him.

We'll see if we can find out a little more about our Russian Mystery Man, Rodion.

Vivi Sathern hates the eights

If you are going to bust out of a major tournament with K-K it had better be to a good hand, and not a lucky one. So it was for Norway's Vivi Sathern. Sitting on just 2,500 she looked down and was no doubt delighted to see the cowboys.

She moved all in and was chuffed to get a caller holding 8-8. Great! Oops, hang on a minute, the flop of 8-8-10 was not really what Vivi wanted to see. Quads for her opponent, nothing but a walk back to the hotel for her.

Come on, who wants it

These are the gleaming trophies our remaining 80 Day 1A players are squabbling over. Two of them, England's Peter Gould, a property venture capitalist, and Sweden's Ramzi Jelassi are vying for the chip lead, both with around 60,000 chips.


Ramzi Jelassi


Peter Gould

Ramzi just added to his stack by taking a big pot from under the nose of PokerStars' Dario Minieri. They raised and called before the flop, which came 4,5,6. Ramzi bet 1,500 and Dario called. The turn came a J. Ramzi bet 3,000 and Dario was in bullish mood and re-raised to 11,000. Ramzi took a long look at his cards and moved all-in. It was too much for Dario, who folded.

We have lost PokerStars qualifier Jan Heitmann (erdnase) after eight hours. The German was unlucky. Soon after losing half his stack when his A-Q was rumbled by A-K, he looked down to find Q-Q, one of which was a diamond.

With the blinds at 200-400 and a running 25 ante, he bet 1,200. His opponent re-raised to 3,500, which Jan called.

The flop was jack high and all diamonds. Jan checked, his opponent bet 3,500, and Jan decided to make a stand with his over pair and flush draw. His opponent turned over J-J for the set, and the turn and river failed to bring any of Jan's many outs.

But our man was philosophical. "He played it really well," he said. "If I had pushed pre-flop he probably would have folded."


Erdnase: out with the ladies

Players are on a dinner break here in Baden. Mind you, most have been eating very well, thank you, as the food here is both excellent and plentiful.

Time, then, to talk football. I mentioned earlier that Thomas Brolin, the former Swedish striker, was enjoying a good run here in Baden. But was that really him in the picture? Here it is again...

Brolin: chip happy

Yes, sir. And if you still don't believe me, here is is after scoring another cracker for Sweden...


Brolin: Goal happy

Another ex footballer now plying his trade on the poker circuit is Tony Cascarino, the former Marseilles, Chelsea and Millwall man, who also played for the Republic of Ireland.

Here he is in goalscoring form...


Tony Cascarino

ElkY back up to 12,000

We have lost Team PokerStars' Luca Pagano. Finding himself short of chips, the Italian made a stand with his A-J. Sadly, he found a caller with 10-10 and the board brought no help.

His table was broken soon after - we are now down to 90 players at then end of level 6 - and ElkY, who was also short on chips but had earlier grabbed some of Luca's, was moved to face new opponents. There are signs of life now, though, as he has clawed his way back to 13,000.

Perhaps the best comeback of the day belongs to Britain's Dave "El Blondie" Colclough. He was fighting to keep hold of his dwindling chips for hours. At one point down to 1,300, he has now soared to 23,000 thanks to a treble up and a double up.


Dave Colclough: Recovery position

On the same table, Ram Vaswani and Jeff Lissandra continue to present a real danger, though neither has pushed on to build a substantial stack.... yet.


Ram Vaswani, thinking or asleep?

Our PokerStars qualifiers are having a mixed day. We have lost Norwegian HeppHepp (Per Marki) after a good fight. This was his first tournament outside of Norway, where his son also plays. A call from Marki Jnr. before the start wished him well, but it was not enough.

HeppHepp imports garage doors from China for a living, and now must go back to the day job. But, as they say, as one door closes, another one opens.


Door shuts on HeppHepp's chances

Gone too is DanHartman from Michigan. You will remember he was the unfortunate soul who was so jet-lagged he almost slept through the start of the tournament. He woke up enough to fight for five hours before busting.

Better news for three PokerStars players. Whizzkid Dario Minieri from Italy is up to over 32,000, while Taktloss47 (Sebastian Ruthenberg from Germany) and Erdnase (Jan Heitmann from Germany) are battling on the same table. taktloss47 has the best of it at the moment with more than 30,000, while Erdnase is a more modest, but healthy, 14,000.


Super Dario: Minieri building fast


Sebastian "taktloss47" Ruthenberg


Jan "Erdnase" Heitmann

Eleint, the Viennese whirl

They like their music here, and after every level a burst of The Entertainer greets us over the PA system. That's music to the ears of local boy and PokerStars qualifier Peter "eleint" Provaznik from Vienna.

He is a serious classical piano player and helps run the family financial advice business. In between all that he finds time to play poker - and very successfully, too. He plays live (poker, not piano) in Vienna, while on PokerStars he plays 30/60 limit, and dabbles too in no limit, pot limit omaha and stud. Phew!

This is his first EPT (he qualified in a $475 satellite) and he plans to play abroad more and is shooting for a place in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.

But first he has more pressing matters at hand, winning his home EPT here in Baden. He's on a tough table, though, and sitting immediately to his left is fellow Austrian and PokerStars cash qualifier Sigi Stockinger. Let us hope they remain the best of neighbours.


Sigi Stockinger

Meanwhile, out on the floor we are down to about 140 players from the 164 starters. We have just finished level five, and the blinds will now increase to 150-300. Team PokerStars Luca Pagano and Elky have both taken hits. Come on, boys!

For you keen sports fans, here's former footballer Thomas Brolin, who starred for his country, Sweden, as well as for clubs in England and Italy. Now he is cropping up on the EPT circuit. Looking sinister in dark clothing and massive shades, he's on about 19,000 so far.


Thomas Brolin: Having a ball

As a footnote, those women on stilts have thankfully disappeared. They were making my neck ache.

Hartman: Wake me up, before you go go

PokerStars qualifier Daniel Hartman (DanHartman) from Michigan, was so tired after a 26-hour journey to Austria that he needed a little nap to regain his strength. That quick shut-eye turned into something approaching hibernation, and he woke up with a start just 20 minutes before the tournament began!

A quick dash around his hotel room, no doubt tripping up with one leg stuck in his trousers, saw him arrive at the casino, somewhat out of breath, just in time to sit down.

His sleep seems to have done him the world of good, though, because he is holding his own with his original 10,000 chips as we move into Level 2.

By day, Dan is a criminal defence lawyer, handling up to 40 cases a year, a perfect background for spotting folk trying to steal his blinds. He qualified here after winning big in a $13 rebuy, and using his cash to enter five satellites while Mrs Hartman was out for the day.

After losing to the usual bad beats, he finally sucked out himself in the fifth game, rivering a flush to win his seat.

Used to courtroom drama, this is one man who will not be fazed by the pressure of an EPT event.

Elsewhere on the floor, Luca Pagano - occasionally donning a very Italian Ferrari jacket - and Elky have been busy, both building up their stacks nicely. Luca is up to 15,000 and Elky sits behind a similar stash. As long as they keep out of each other's way, there is every chance their momentum will continue.

Jeff Lissandro, the Italian who final tabled in Barcelona, has found himself on a tricky table, sitting alongside Britain's Ram Vaswani, one quarter of The Hendon Mob. There's a healthy respect between the two, and Jeff got out of the way when Ram went to war with a young fellow across the table.

With blinds up to 50-100, the kid on the button raised to 500. Ram made it 1,700 and it was called. On a K-K-3 flop, Ram check-called a 2,000 bet. The turn was an ace and was checked to the river, a 2.

Ram made it 3,000 and met a call before proudly flipping over A-A for the full house. The youngster declined to show his offering and sat quietly licking his wounds. Vaswani is up to about 19,000.

Some 164 players started today, and a total of 333 are so far registered for the tournament. If you can get here by early tomorrow morning there is still time to buy-in.

Just don't oversleep like our Dan.

The pianist has gone for a coffee break, just as well because the players have settled down in their seats. Tournament director Edgar Stuchly has announced "Shuffle Up and Deal", and the EPT Baden is under way.

A quick tour of the room sees several interesting clashes, not least table 11, which has two of Team PokerStars' finest - Luca Pagano of Italy and Elky (Bertrand Grospellier) of France - facing each other across the felt. They are all smiles now (well, Luca is, Elky is busy fiddling with his iPod), and let us hope no tears are spilt before tea time.

Luca looks happy...


... and Elky looks busy

Elky says he has been playing well of late, but admits he has had a disappointing EPT season so far. "I have been waiting to get my money in with the best of it, but it has not been happening for me," he said. Watch out Luca!

The players begin with 10,000 chips and the levels are, as usual at the EPT, a luxurious length. Click here for the tournament structure.

We have some interesting qualifiers in Baden, and I am delighted to say we have unearthed a PokerStars love story. Yes, Chris Roth (croth) from Wisconsin is here with his girlfriend Nikki, whom he met at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas.

She was there to support a friend who had won a seat, and met Chris at the PokerStars welcome dinner. They got on famously, and after a five-month online courtship, they became an item.

Chris plays full-time online on the 30/60 limit cash tables. This is his first trip to Europe, thanks to qualifying in a FPP satellite, and he is determined to make his mark.

Certainly Nikki, a student who also plays on PokerStars as br&_nevv, will stick around to support her man to victory from the rail. "This place is amazing," she said. Yes, you are not wrong there.


Chris (croth) Roth...


... and girlfriend Nikki

Casino Baden

I pity those who travelled to Austria laden with jumpers and coats, expecting chilly weather. After all, this country is famous for skiing. But instead the sun is shining and it feels like high summer. Your blogger was one of those caught out, much as I was in Copenhagen last January when I was the only man in snow-covered Denmark without a coat.

No matter. There could be hurricanes or hail storms outside for all the players here in Baden care. They have one thing only on their minds, and that is poker.

We are expecting more than 330 runners here in Baden, each parting with the required €5,000 buy-in, except, of course, the 60 or so PokerStars qualifiers who battled online to win through to Austria.

We'll bring you some of their stories and pictures as the drama of this tournament, which kicks off at noon local time, unfolds.

For now, the casino reception area is slowly filling with players completing their final registration.


Pianist strikes a chord with the players

The casino here in Baden has put on a splendid show. We have a pianist performing energetically, and three woman walking on stilts - a colourful addition to the proceedings.


Walking tall...


... but maybe the elavator was not a good idea

For an hour at least, the spacious card room here remains empty, each chair awaiting the backside of one of the 160 or so players who will play Day 1A. We have Day 1B tomorrow, then Day 2 and the final table on Tuesday.

It's going to be a roller-coaster ride, and you can take a front row seat right here.


Quiet before the storm

The casino in Baden

Not too many miles beyond the mountainous ranges that tower menacingly over the Casino Baden, Julie Andrews sang that the hills are alive with the sound of music. No more. Instead, this area of Austria is buzzing with the poker elite of Europe gathering like a swarm of bees for a momentous battle.

Yes, folks, we are here for another epic European Poker Tour event, the third of season three, and the prospect of forceful raise, bluff, and fold is mouth-watering. Tomorrow (Sat) at noon, the cards will be in the air, and one of more than 300 runners will be a wealthy man or woman by the time the TV lights are turned off over the final table on Tuesday.

Woman? Yes, Brit journalist and broadcaster Vicky Coren won the last EPT in London, collecting a handy £500,000, and she is here again, with PokerStars, to try and make it a remarkable double.

So too are a host of PokerStars online qualifiers, ready to test their mettle against some of the finest poker aficionados Europe has to offer. I would not say it was scientific, but I have a funny feeling in my bones that one of them is going to go very deep here.

One man who knows all about success in Baden is Finn Patrik Antonius, who won this event last year despite turning up hours late for the start on Day 1. His flight was delayed, but no matter. He sat down, regrouped his chips (blinded away by half), straightened his collar and got to work. The rest went down in EPT folklore.

So what will our players find when they wake up and head for the casino in Baden? A poker paradise, that's what.

The town, about 40 miles from Vienna, is a little gem, steeped in tradition with historic town houses towering over quaint streets lined with open-air cafes, boutiques and musicians.

The casino itself is luxurious inside, and from the outside it nestles seamlessly among the tradition that surrounds it. Little old ladies walking their dogs on the outside, brash young folk playing high stakes poker on the inside. A strange mix, but that is poker.

This tournament is a 5,000 Euro-entry No Limit event. We have a Day 1A, Day 1B on Sunday, Day 2 on Monday and the final table on Tuesday.

But you need not miss a moment of the action. From noon tomorrow (Sat) we will bring you the news, stories, secrets and chip counts from the biggest show in town. And as for my feeling of a PokerStars victory - join me over the next four days to find out.

Until tomorrow, sleep easy. But before you go to bed, your enterprising blogger has been hard at work changing the Sound of Music's Do-Re-Mi for your enjoyment. Here goes....

Doh! A pair, what do I do?
Raise? But I might get out-flopped,
Me, afraid to make a stand,
Far, a long way to go home,
So, why not go for it,
Blah! He went and made the trips,
Eeeh, he has nicked all my chips,
That will bring me back to doh, doh, doh, doh!


Looks like he wrote my song

Aston Martin Racing came first and second at the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans on Saturday 30 September. Tomas Enge and Darren Turner taking the top GT1 honours in their 007 Aston Martin DBR9.

The team, drivers and cars performed faultlessly to give British manufacturer Aston Martin the top two positions in the GT1 category.

Eight hours in to the race Lamy reported a right rear puncture in the 009 DBR9 and pitted, the team changed the tyres and fuelled the car to the end of the race. Lamy stayed in the car, rejoining the race in second place.

The seventh safety car of the race was deployed after an LMP1 prototype spun. The 007 DBR9 was waved-by and then pitted for tyres, fuel to the end of the race and a driver change, Enge getting behind the wheel for the final few laps of the 1,000-mile race.

The safety car remained out for 11 laps while marshals cleared debris from turn 12. When racing resumed the 007 DBR9 was leading the race, the 009 DBR9 just behind in second. The positions remained the same until the chequered flag with Pedro Lamy crossing the finish line in the 009 DBR9 one lap down.

The elated Aston Martin team will be celebrating long into the night.

Event #1 Report

Event #2 Report

Event #3 Report

Event #4 Report

Event #5 Report

Event #6 Report

Event #7 Report

Event #8 Report

Event #9 Report

Event #10 Report

Event #11 Report

Event #12 Report

Event #13 Report

Event #14 Report

Event #15 Report

Event #16 Report

Event #17 Report

Main Event Report

A lot of organizations and event organizers like to toss around the phrase "world championship." From competitive hotdog eating to pugilism, promoters just love to talk about their world champions. At PokerStars, however, the concept of a true world championship is not lost.

For the fifth consecutive year, PokerStars hosted its World Championship of Online Poker. It's an event that has grown beyond anyone's expectations. This year, the series boasted 18 events, including the first-time addition of Razz and HORSE tournaments. As for calling it a "world championship," PokerStars isn't just blowing smoke. Over the course of the 18 events, players from 89 different countries played poker in search of a WCOOP title. From Bangladesh to Belize, from the Faroe Islands to Finland, from Macedonia to Malaysia, players built prize pools that grew in excess of $18.5 million.

It's quite a rare thing to find a major poker tournament, especially one with a relatively small buy-in of $2,600, with a $3 million guarantee. What you've never seen online, until the WCOOP main event, is a tournament that boasts a prize pool of $6,275,000 and a monster first prize of $1,157,737.50. In short, what we saw in the 2006 World Championship of Online Poker was the type of thing people will someday look back on and see as a watershed moment in poker.

Players from across the globe settled in on Sunday to fight for what has become one of the most coveted titles in poker, the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker gold bracelet. Over the course of the next twelve hours, players battled through one of the best tournament structures in poker. The final nine players faced the reality that they would earn, at the very least, $79,000. What's more, they had a shot at $1,157,737.50.

Click image for full version

Seat 1: area23JC (4010937 in chips)
Seat 2: GODFATHER 72 (1375712 in chips)
Seat 3: Numie2 (1067104 in chips)
Seat 4: Annette_15 (2915940 in chips)
Seat 5: DEEZZZ_NUTS (773441 in chips)
Seat 6: hannibalrex (5719465 in chips)
Seat 7: serb2127 (2026074 in chips)
Seat 8: milkybarkid (2702967 in chips)
Seat 9: Lefort (4508360 in chips)

Despite the huge money on the line, the players were not scared to get in action. In the opening moments of final table play, GODFATHER 72 put his entire stack on the line pre-flop against Lefort's AK. GODFATHER 72 won the race and doubled up early. Just a minute later, serb2127 lost nearly half his stack when he took AQ to battle with Numie2's pair of aces. In another early race, Annette_15 lost more than half a million chips with pocket fives versus DEEZZZ_NUTS' big slick.

The early action must have been contagious, because soon, experienced player Serb2127 refused to slow down. After losing the big hand against Numie2, Serb2127 started moving in pre-flop to pick up the blinds and antes. His first two attempts were successful. The third time, he moved in for $1.5 million with AJ. Numie2 would prove to be Serb2127's nemesis. Numie2 held AK, made the call, and watched the best hand hold up. The hand crippled Serb2127. He was out just a couple minutes later when his AT couldn't hold up against hannibalrex's 2-4. Serb2137 finished in ninth place and won $79,065.00.

Serb2127's departure didn't end the pre-flop poker. Just a few minutes after Serb2127 left, DEEZZZ_NUTS came over the top of a Numie2 raise all-in. Milkybarkid, in the big blind, called with AK. Numie2 folded and DEEZZZ_NUTS showed Milkybarkid a pair of kings. The cowboys held up and put a hurting on Milkybarkid's one-time big stack. Two hands later, Milkybarkid, facing a raise from hannibalrex, moved all in from the button with pocket tens. Milkybarkid's timing was off. Hannibalrex turned over pocket queens and sent Milkybarkid out in eighth place and a $119,225.00 payday.

Like many of the hands before, Numie2's next double-up came by virtue of a coin flip. All-in with pocket-eights versus hannibalrex's AK, Numie2's pocket pair held up and he found himself with nearly four million chips. On the very next hand, hannibalrex discovered being the chip king can be a short-lived honor after chasing a flush draw against GODFATHER 72's set of queens. GODFATHER 72 rubbed it in by making quads on the turn and taking 3.2 million chips off the onetime king.

Most-of the big pre-flop hands thus far had been races or contests where the best hand held up. After several big hands, the players finally saw the worst beat of the final table. Annette_15 came in for a raise and Lefort decided to make a move on her. He pushed with 5-6. Annette_15 made the call with pocket nines. The flop was a very ugly 7h-4h-3h, giving Lefort the nut straight. Annette_15 exited in seventh place for $163,150.00.

With so much money left on the table, the players decided that a locked-up payday was better than shooting for the one million. After a few minutes of discussion, they decided to split up the money based on chip count. With insanely big paydays for all of them, the players went to work for the $50,000 they left on the table and the championship bracelet.

DEEZZZ_NUTS, who had already locked in a $353,164.00 prize, ultimately decided to play some more pre-flop poker. Holding a pair of sixes, he came in for a raise under the gun. When GODFATHER 72 re-raised, DEEZZZ_NUTS moved all in. GODFATHER 72 called and showed pocket queens. DEEZZZ_NUTS finished in sixth place.

After a lot of action, well-known professional poker player J.C. Tran (area23JC) started to pick apart the competition. Holding pocket nines, Tran called a raise from Numie2. When the flop came down KT9, Tran check-raised Numie2. Numie2 responded by moving all-in. Tran called with his set to see Numie2's AK. Tran made quads on the turn, and Numie2 left in fifth place, after the deal earning $600,042.00.

That's when the chips started to fly. Lefort doubled through GODFATHER 72 with AQ versus A5 on an ace-high flop. Then hannibalrex doubled though Lefort with 9T against AJ on a nine-high flop. A few hands later, Lefort crushed GODFATHER_72 after flopping a set. GODFATHER 72 finished in fourth place and cashed for $540,793.00.

While Lefort would soon take over the chip lead from Tran, it would be a short-lived stay at the top. Lefort came in for a raise with a pair of jacks and Tran called. They saw a flop of T28. Lefort bet his over pair and Tran smooth-called. The turn was a three. Lefort again bet out. This time, Tran raised. Lefort, still with an over pair, called. The river was another eight. Lefort checked and Tran bet enough to put Lefort all-in. Lefort called and Tran showed him pocket deuces, for a flopped set and a rivered full-house. A few hands later, Lefort was out when his A7 couldn't outrun hannibalrex's pocket fives. Lefort finished in third place for $400,581.00.

Heads-up play began with Tran holding around 18 million in chips to hannibalrex's six million. The rest of the game would last less than 30 seconds. Hannibalrex came in for a raise with A4 and Tran called. The flop came 2c-5d-Ks. Tran check-called hannibalrex's bet. The turn was a four, giving hannibalrex a pair to go along with his gutshot straight draw. He bet out and Tran moved all-in. Hannibalrex called to see Tran's K9. The river blanked and hannibalrex was out in second place, earning $400,581.00.

Then, with a flash on the screen, the two weeks of the 2006 World Championship of Online Poker was over. Eighteen events and $18 million worth of prize money had made the series the biggest in online poker history and cemented WCOOP as one of the biggest poker events--live or online--in the world. J.C. Tran, the smiling, well-known poker pro took his spot in the limelight, a championship bracelet-holder in the biggest-ever online poker tournament.

You can find a list of everyone who cashed at the PokerStars WCOOP Main Event results page. Final table results are below.

PokerStars WCOOP Main Event Results
Results based on finishing order and six-way deal that left $50,000 for first place

1. J.C. Tran -- aka area23JC (United States) $670,194.00
2. hannibalrex (United States) $400,581.00
3. Lefort (Canada) $417,734.00
4. GODFATHER 72 (United Kingdom) $540,793.00
5. Numie2 (United States) $600,042.00
6. DEEZZZ_NUTS (United States) $353,164.00
7. Annette_15 (Norway) $163,150.00
8. milkybarkid (United Kingdom) $119,225.00
9. serb2127 (Canada) $79,065.00

Special thanks to all the members of the PokeStars staff and Team PokerStars that worked and played tirelessly to make WCOOP a piece of poker history.

The PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker Main Event was bigger than almost anybody expected. More than 2,500 players put up $2,600 apiece to build a record-breaking $6,275,000 prize pool, the biggest in online poker history. First prize guaranteed more than $1 million to the winner. The final six players at the table cut a deal that made sure they all had monster paydays. The top three earned more than half a million bucks apiece. The eventual winner was none other than pro player J.C. Tran, aka area23JC. You can find a list of everyone who cashed at the PokerStars WCOOP Main Event results page. Final table results are below. A full final table report will be later.

PokerStars WCOOP Main Event Results
Results based on finishing order and six-way deal that left $50,000 for first place

1. J.C. Tran -- aka area23JC (United States) $670,194.00
2. hannibalrex (United States) $400,581.00
3. Lefort (Canada) $417,734.00
4. GODFATHER 72 (United Kingdom) $540,793.00
5. Numie2 (United States) $600,042.00
6. DEEZZZ_NUTS (United States) $353,164.00
7. Annette_15 (Norway) $163,150.00
8. milkybarkid (United Kingdom) $119,225.00
9. serb2127 (Canada) $79,065.00

If no-limit hold'em is a schoolyard brawl of unbridled aggression and fog-of-war cunning, limit hold'em is the battle of wits and math skills that takes place inside the schoolhouse. Inside, you're not going to win by bashing in your opponent's skull and scaring him out of his pants. Inside, you're going to have to patient, smart, and aware of every possible probability.

The penultimate 2006 World Championship of Online Poker event pitted 695 limit hold'em players against each other in a battle to be the $1,000 Limit Hold'em champion. Among them were well-known pros and the author of an upcoming book on the math skills it takes to win at poker.

Here's how the players stacked up.

Click image for full version

Seat 1: Marcus85 (79456 in chips)
Seat 2: birdguts (467495 in chips)
Seat 3: SchockoLinz (239766 in chips)
Seat 4: amichaiKK (621031 in chips)
Seat 5: LazySunday (286328 in chips)
Seat 6: laurentia (742570 in chips)
Seat 7: Pike528 (239361 in chips)
Seat 8: davmcg (161138 in chips)
Seat 9: jerrod (637855 in chips)

Marcus85 started the final table with the fewest chips and, at the 16,000/32,000 level, knew he had to make a move soon. Facing a raise from, jerrod, Marcus85 put in the rest of his chips with KdJc. Jerrod held KQ, made a queen on the flop and knocked Marcus85 out in ninth place for $10,772.50.

The level continued for another ten minutes when davmcg came in for a raise with pocket fours. Jerrod called and they saw a flop of Jh7s6d. Davmcg bet out and jerrod, once again, called. The turn was another six. Again, davmcg bet out, but this time, jerrod raised and put davmcg all-in. Davmcg called to see jerrod's pocket eights. The river was a blank and davmcg exited in eighth place, earning $16,332.50.

Pocket eights served to knock out davmcg. SchockoLinz soon found the same hand and decided to try to make it work for him. When Pike528 came in for a raise, SchockoLinz re-raised with his eights and then got all in on a TT6 flop. He was fine for all of one second. A queen fell on the turn to match Pike528's AQ. SchockoLinz couldn't find an eight on the river. His seventh place finish grossed him $22,935.00.

The first ugly beat of the final table came at the expense of math whiz, jerrod. Holding pocket aces, he came in for a raise and got a call from laurentia. The flop was all hearts. With no ace of hearts, jerrod went to war with laurentia, doing his best to get the opponent off the hand before another heart fell. The turn was a blank and jerrod ended up running out of chips to bet. Nonetheless, a heart fell on the river matching the jack of hearts in laurentia's J4. Laurentia won a 354,796 chip pot and jerrod was out in sixth place for $29,885.00.

Birdguts, who at one point looked to make a run for the bracelet, eventually lost a series of pots that put him in very bad chip position. With 90,000 in chips, he got into a raising war with Pike258. They capped the betting and got birdguts all in with AT vesus Pike258's K3 suited in diamonds. Pike258 made a king on the flop and a flush on the river. Birdguts took fifth place and won $36,835.00.

It was about that time the railbirds got a look at how laurentia was going to run over the table.

LazySunday came in for a raise with A8 and laurentia called with KJ. Two jacks on the flop didn't deter LazySunday. He was all-in and drawing dead on the turn. Laurentia knocked LazySunday out in fourth place for $44,480.00.

Five minutes later, short on chips, Pike528 decided to go with 7hTh. This time, laurentia had pocket fours. All-in preflop Piker528 never improved and was out in third place for $62,758.50.

Heads-up, laurentia and amichaiKK cut a quick deal to lock up their profits. Two hands later, it was over. AmichaiKK got in with Jc2s versus laurentia's suited A8. AmichaiKK couldn't run down the better hand and finished in second place for $105,215. Laurentia, a poker player from Hungary, walked away with the bracelet and more than $145,000.

You find a list of all the money winners on the PokerStars WCOOP Event #17 results page. Final table results are below.

PokerStars WCOOP Event #17 Final Table Results
Results based on two-way deal that left $10,000 for first place

1. laurentia (Hungary) $145,200.00
2. amichaiKK (Israel) $105,215.00
3. Pike528 (United States) $62,758.50
4. LazySunday (United States) $44,480.00
5. birdguts (Canada) $36,835.00
6. jerrod (United States) $29,885.00
7. SchockoLinz (Austria) $22,935.00
8. davmcg (United Kingdom) $16,332.50
9. Marcus85 (Sweden) $10,772.50

"HORSE is the new hold'em."
--Instant message from fellow Team Blog member and poker blogger, CJ, during Event #16

The guaranteed prize pool was $100,000, the kind of money that is nothing at which to sneeze, but also, not the kind of thing that gets up the masses' dander. In fact, while Event #16 was the biggest buy-in of any of the eighteen WCOOP events, it had the smallest guaranteed prize pool.

PokerStars seemed to know from the outset that the guaranteed prize pool was not going to be the draw for this event. The attraction would be two-fold. First, the buy-in was an unprecedented $5,000. Second, the game was HORSE, a game the top pros have started using to seperate the single-game players from the best all-around players.

By the time the event kicked off, first prize money was more than two times as big as the original guaranteed prize pool for the whole event. Event #16, $5,000 HORSE, drew many of the top professionals in the game. The opportunity to play a major event--and have a chance of capturing the pride of winning a mixed-game tournament--brought a lot of big names out of the brick and mortar cardrooms. When players reach the final table, the table was stacked with some very well-known players. The two I could safely identify were Isabelle "No Mercy" Mercier and Chad "stelladora" Brown.

Mercier, as a longtime Team PokerStars member, spends a good amount of time playing online. Brown, however, is a major tournament player. It's rare to find him online. In fact's it's rare to find him in a game that doesn't involve tons and tons of money.

"I don't normally play online, but, because of this event, you got me," he said. "I play in only $5,000 and higher tourneys."

It's served him well. He currently sits at the top of the Bluff Magazine tournament leaderboard for 2006.

As for PokerStars, Brown said, "It was HORSE that really made me interested."

His interest paid off, as he and seven other top players made it to the final table. It was an atmosphere that was irresistible for poker fans. Dan Goldman, Barry Greenstein, and Bill Chen called the action on Bluff Radio (all the while, Chen was playing and eventually winning the second chance HORSE tournament). The poker forums were going nuts with speculation about the identities of the players. Simply put, it was like being able to sit in the stands of a major poker event and watch world class play, but being able to do it from your couch.

Here's what the final table looked like when the top-eight assembled:

Click image for full version

Seat 1: youbet (42632 in chips)
Seat 2: DCJ311 (195122 in chips)
Seat 3: NoMercy (77110 in chips)
Seat 4: Sam Grizzle (76142 in chips)
Seat 5: ILuvKittens (136650 in chips)
Seat 6: MyRabbiFoo (276601 in chips)
Seat 7: stelladora (412835 in chips)
Seat 8: Hold_emNL (532908 in chips)

The seven-card stud round would be the scene of the first elimination. Sam Grizzle, who had led most of the way through the middle stages of the tournament, finally found himself very low on chips. Forced to bring it in with 6d6c/3h, went ahead and put in a full bet. After getting raised by Hold_emNL, Sam Grizzle called all in. By sixth street, Hold_emNL had made a pair of queens, but Sam Grizzle never improved. An eighth place finish grossed Sam Grizzle $22,312.50.

Player, youbet, was on the ropes when Sam Grizzle exited and over the course of the next ten minutes, dwindled down to around 10,000 in chips. With only 8,000 after the ante, youbet put in the rest of his chips with 6hQh/Kd. Chad Brown called with Kc3c/Ks. Both players ended up with kings up, but Brown's kings and jacks bested youbet's kings and eights. You bet finished in seventh, pocketing $31,500.00.

Youbet's elimination heralded the beginning of the seven-card stud eight-or-better round. Fan favorite Isabelle "No Mercy" Mercier had been running very well and playing exceptionally tough in the previous twelve hours. However, as the stud-8 round began, Mercier was down to around 80,000 in chips. Mercier brought it in with a Ad7d/2c and then called a raise from Brown. After pulling a four on fourth street, Mercier bet out with a very good low draw. Brown called. Both players picked up a king on fifth street. This time, Mercier bet out and Brown played back, raising Mercier all in. With AK high and needing one card to a low, Mercier called. With all the money in, Mercier was ahead for both the high and low. Then, Brown paired a five on sixth street. Mercier bricked twice, missed her low, couldn't make a pair, and exited in fifth place for $41,125.00.

DCJ311 finished in fifth place after getting all his chips in versus both Brown and Hold_emNL. While played against each other, DCJ311 had to sit back and watched his chances at a higher place disappear. He mucked his hand at the river and went away with his fifth place finish and $55,125.00.

Well-known player, MyRabbiFoo was the next to go. Dealt Ad6h/6c, MyRabbiFoo went to war with Hold_emNL and got all-in. By the river, MyRabbiFoo had not improved, but Hold_emNL had made a set of aces. Fourth place paid MyRabbiFoo $70,875.00.

The next big pot would define the rest of the event. ILuvKittens decided he would go to war with 4d5d/8h. Holdem_NL, showing an eight, and Brown, showing, a six, decided to fight the battle. The betting was capped on third street and by fourth street ILuvKittens was all in. Brown and Hold_emNL continued to fight. By the river, the pot was worth more than half a million chips, and Brown had scooped the entire thing with a jack-high flush. ILuvKittens pocketed a monster $102,812.50 for third place.

It was around this time that Chad Brown text messaged Barry Greenstein and gave Barry permission to use Brown's real name on the radio. It was then that the viewing and listening audience discovered they were watching one of the best brick and mortar players battle against a very well-know high-limit online player (who, by the way, I happen to have met and respect).

In the end, the heads-up battle did not last long enough for Hold_emNL to get a great foothold. Brown went on the attack during the Hold'em round, and, over the course of ten minutes, sent Hold_emNL out in second place. In the final hand, Brown's Q4 rivered Hold_emNL's QT when a four fell. Hold_emNL earned $152,425.00 for his effort.

Brown, a relative online neophyte, proved that brick and mortar skill can translate to online play. "I thought the software was really good, as was the structure of the tourney," Brown said.

Brown, the first event $5,000 WCOOP HORSE bracelet winner says he has found something he enjoys in PokerStars.

"I think PokerStars will get a lot of new players that don't normally play online with these type of buy-ins," he said. "[I'm] looking forward to playing more online here."

A full list of money winners can be found on the PokerStars WCOOP Event #16 results page. Final table results are below.

PokerStars WCOOP Event #16 Final Table Results

1. Chad "stelladora" Brown (United States) $223,125.00
2. Hold_emNL (United States) $152,425.00
3. ILuvKittens (United States) $102,812.50
4. MyRabbiFoo (United States) $70,875.00
5. DCJ311 (United States) $55,125.00
6. NoMercy (Canada) $41,125.00
7. youbet (United States) $31,500.00
8. Sam Grizzle (United States) $22,312.50

In the big Event #17 $1,000 Limit Hold'em contest, Hungary's laurentia rocked the final table for a brilliant $145,000 win and the Event #17 gold bracelet. The final table showed why the event is called the World Championship of Online Poker, featuring players from the United States, Canada, Austria, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Israel, and Hungary. You find a list of all the money winners on the PokerStars WCOOP Event #17 results page. Final table results are below. A full final table report will be out later on Sunday.

PokerStars WCOOP Event #17 Final Table Results
Results based on two-way deal that left $10,000 for first place

1. laurentia (Hungary) $145,200.00
2. amichaiKK (Israel) $105,215.00
3. Pike528 (United States) $62,758.50
4. LazySunday (United States) $44,480.00
5. birdguts (Canada) $36,835.00
6. jerrod (United States) $29,885.00
7. SchockoLinz (Austria) $22,935.00
8. davmcg (United Kingdom) $16,332.50
9. Marcus85 (Sweden) $10,772.50

In one of the most star-studded tables of the 2006 World Championship of Online poker, well-known professional player Chad "stelladora" Brown won the first-ever online $5,000 HORSE tournament. One hundred seventy-five players put up $5,200 apiece to fight for one of the most coveted titles in online poker. Brown won nearly a quarter-million dollars and the $5,000 HORSE WCOOP bracelet. A full list of money winners can be found on the PokerStars WCOOP Event #16 results page. Final table results are below. A full final table report will be out later on Sunday.

PokerStars WCOOP Event #16 Final Table Results

1. Chad "stelladora" Brown (United States) $223,125.00
2. Hold_emNL (United States) $152,425.00
3. ILuvKittens (United States) $102,812.50
4. MyRabbiFoo (United States) $70,875.00
5. DCJ311 (United States) $55,125.00
6. NoMercy (Canada) $41,125.00
7. youbet (United States) $31,500.00
8. Sam Grizzle (United States) $22,312.50