March 2008 Archives

The name may already be familiar to you –a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York; a town in New South Wales, Australia; a former Las Vegas hotel or even as a fictional Caribbean Island in the TV series Airwolf - but this here is the real San Remo, the seaside town at the tip of north western Italy which, for this week only see’s something different altogether put its name in the headlines – the European Poker Tour has found its way onto Italian soil for the first time.

Players have been arriving all day for what is tournament eve, off the freeway that runs parallel to the horizon in the sky, down through the hair pin turns that bottle neck around houses and into San Remo itself.

It’s a town not unused to large sporting events. San Remo stages a motor rally and also marks the finish line for the prestigious Milan-San Remo classic cycling race. Away from sport San Remo has hosted film festivals and is home to the Italian Song Contest, used to select Italy’s entry into the Eurovision song contest.

That’s the third time this season the Eurovision Song Contest has had a mention on the blog – check out EPT Dublin, where the Royal Dublin Society was a former venue for the show, and EPT Warsaw where singer Michel Wisniewski formerly represented Poland. This San Remo reference should be the last of the season.

First stop for most in San Remo, including Team PokerStars Pros and PokerStars qualifiers is the Royal Hotel which harks back to the last century – with gilt statuettes, ornamental interiors and those real room keys rather than swipe cards. Even the rotating door at the entrance is manually operated rather than automatic, for a glimpse of how things used to be. Also the windows open all the way, even on the fifth floor - a small courtesy from our hosts that assumes you didn’t come here to jump.

From here, from anywhere, the view is the same. Large beautiful houses – the type you’d expect Hemingway or the governor of American Samoa to call home, are stacked up on the hillside, each with shutters on the windows, palm trees in the garden, a walled fence and ornate gates keeping the Vespas at bay.

The main route through the town is a rat-run of urgent traffic, lined each side by palm trees and others of varieties a northern European is never likely to know. There’s also one of the most welcoming April climates in Europe, with light cloud and t-shirt weather forecasted.

The only thing to disturb this idyll is the rough burp of old motor-scooters and the toned hum of new ones, motoring up narrow roads – about the width of a Ferrari – towards suburbs built into the side of 80 degree cliffs; the terracotta, pink and yellow painted buildings being home to the courageous locals who must abseil to work each morning.

That’s an exaggeration of course, but at least the other direction – the way down – conveniently leads towards the Victory Morgana Bay club on the beach front, across from large yachts bobbing expensively up and down in the harbour. The club hosted tonight’s EPT San Remo welcome party– a wall-to-wall night spot packed with this many of this week’s players - half of which could be found at the circular bar at any one time.

Team PokerStars pro Luca Pagano, who has played an integral part in organising EPT San Remo, addressed the crowds, thanking them for making their way to the Riviera on the eve of the biggest poker tournament Italy has likely ever seen.

Meanwhile, with success at the bar, there was chance to dig in at the buffet, mingle with old friends and new, chat a while with one of the Team PokerStars Pros playing this week, and then watch the circus act.

The what?

Three hoops suspended from the ceiling had been visible all evening, raising a few heads and eyebrows. I’d been tipped off, but to anyone else the arrival of three girls about to bend in adventurous ways - as well as a big bare-chested guy with a pitch-fork ablaze and wearing a devil costume - this was the last thing they expected to see from their side of the pasta salad.

Fifteen feet above our heads the girls twirled and twisted whilst we watched, trusting in their evident expertise and us doubting our chances of catching them should they fall. The former prevailed though with a nervy crescendo of manoeuvres in the rafters before the show wound down, giving way to the thumping beats of youth which automatically shimmy people towards the dance floor.

A bar, buffet, acrobats and pyrotechnics – not a bad way to welcome an EPT.

But we’ll leave that for tomorrow when the field, bursting at the seams, will sit down for what many predict will be a long day at the Casino San Remo. As usual we’ll be bringing you updates from play on the PokerStars blog, as well as photos, chip counts and video blogs as play goes on.

Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Tom McEvoy, Vanessa Rousso, Raymond Rahme, Lee Nelson, Dario Minieri, Luca Pagano and Katja Thater will make up just part of the field. At 3pm tomorrow afternoon we’ll find out who else has come to find success in the sun.

The final days of March lived up to their lion-like reputation. The quarterly $1,050 Sunday Million went off with 1,869 players and offered a potential $366,000 prize. Instead, the top three players in this week's Sunday Million cut a deal and earned more than $200,000 apiece!

All the final table results are below. Congratulations to this week's winners.

PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up Final Table Results
Based on finishing order and four-way deal

1. Karoly_NL (Netherlands) $63,059.91
2. Slick_Shik (Netherlands) $76,579.12
3. Kikken (Norway) $70,000.00
4. XXTickerXX (United Kingdom) $477,41.77
5. ralex555 (France) $26,969.60
6. dvash9 (Israel) $19,952.00
7. Kid Blaast (United Kingdom) $14,448.00
8. Pghfan987 (United States) $9,081.60
9. IDOLLS (Greece) $5,366.40

PokerStars Sunday Hundred Grand Final Table Results
Based on finishing order and three-way deal

1. ahsert (United States) $15,543.28
2. messerone (United States) $13,335.25
3. mankonspank (Germany) $9,011.47
4. jkillntime (United States) $5,085.00
5. derrickhand (Canada) $3,060.00
6. Adea (Germany) $2,047.50
7. $upremacy (United States) $1,642.50
8. Henle22 (United States) $1,327.50
9. dcooke666 (United Kingdom) $1,012.50

PokerStars $5,200 Freezeout Results

1. steamraise (United States) $100,000.00

PokerStars Sunday Million Final Table Results
Based on finishing order and three-way deal

1. UH Big Tex (United States) $245,736.57
2. Governator (United States) $237,199.67
3. BrokenTPot (United States) $200,370.16
4. dannyred99 (United States) $106,533.00
5. playmeandpay (Canada) $83,544.30
6. driverseati (United States) $62,985.30
7. quadducks (United States) $44,295.30
8. Eeedz (Bermuda) $27,474.30
9. mendieta19 (Sweden) $16,447.20

Note: Last Sunday, Team PokerStars Pro Hevad Khan took down the Sunday Warm-Up for nearly $100,000. Brazilian PokerStars blogger Maria took the opportunity to chat up RaiNKhAN and get his take on the win and everything that's happened to him since the 2007 World Series. For the original version of this story, visit the PokerStars Brazilian Blog. A translated version of her story and interview is here.

Don’t be surprised if you are shocked when you meet Hevad Khan, better known online as RaiNKhAN. This is not a metaphor -- you may literally feel an electric shock when you shake his hand, because this 23-year-old player from Poughkeepsie, NY, may just be the most energetic person that the poker world has ever seen.

But don’t be fooled by his enthusiastic celebrations at the 2007 WSOP, where he went on to make the final table and take a brilliant sixth place with a good sense of humor and charisma. Hevad is a machine when it comes to poker. His insane ability to play several tables at the same time at one time led to suspicion that it could not be a human playing, but a bot. This poker bulldozer, who has been an elite member of the PokerStars Team Pro since August 2007, took down one of the most coveted Sunday tournaments held on PokerStars, the Sunday Warm-Up. He won a bit more than $97,000 and was kind enough to share some words with us while he took it “slow” and only played 12 tables.

Maria: Hi Hevad, how are you?
HEVAD: Fine, taking it easy, only got 12 tables up now.

Maria: Hehe, I can imagine that must very boring. Well, since multi tabling is one of your many talents, why don’t we start off with you telling us a little bit about this knack you have for playing a ton of tables at the same time, and how you were once accused of being a bot.

HEVAD: Ever since I started playing online poker during fall semester at school [University of Albany, where he majored in pre-med, then accounting then math, but then dropped out to become a poker professional--something which did not thrill his father, a doctor, at all] it was 8 tables at once. I busted my bankroll about 15 times before I finally got into a groove. I would love to have one of those stories you often hear of people who deposit like 5 bucks and never look back, but that was far from my case. I think I am privileged that my family is well off so I never had to worry much about the money, but also that may have hindered me in the beginning. Learning how to bankroll manage is just about the most important lesson a newbie can and must have.

But anyway, I’ve always played many tables at once, like 30-36 tables, 20 being a minimum. So at this time the other players, who would see me on all these tables at once, started reporting me to PokerStars, saying I was a bot, and that it was not possible for one person to play this many tables. So PokerStars, who takes their security very seriously, closed my account in order to investigate what was going on. But they did this on a Sunday, the most +EV day for any professional player, so obviously I went nuts because I wanted to play. I mean, I understand they are looking out for their player’s safety, but I hadn’t done anything wrong. So I decided to solve the problem right then and there, and my roommate took his camcorder we did a little intro video for Stars, and then he filmed me playing 26 tables and we sent it to PokerStars. They were impressed with what they saw, even sent me an email saying “Congratulations” and immediately unblocked my account so I could play on Sunday. I am sure that this initiative is the reason for the amount of tables that sites allow players to open at once nowadays (24 tables).

Maria: So how did you start building your bankroll online?
HEVAD Well, after I busted like 15 times, I started really dominating the $16.00 sitngos, up until a point where I had a 7% ROI in the course of 7,000 sitngos played. This may not seem like an impressive ROI, but if you do the math, you’ll see that it’s plenty of money for 7,000 sngs.

Maria: 7,000 sitngos?
HEVAD: That is nothing. I have now played over 27,000 sitngos, 2,000 tournaments, and 150,000 hands in cash games, all meticulously accounted. And that’s just online, not counting live, of course.

Maria: Thump (noise of me falling of my chair)
HEVAD: That’s part of who I am, as a player and as a person. Playing many tables always came natural to me, and I can’t say that playing this many tables has made me win more money, because it certainly hasn’t, but it has made me a better player. Honestly, I think I have seen every situation possible in poker -- and taken every possible bad beat -- and I’m still learning. And playing many tables is what keeps me focused, because I always have to be “on” making several tough decisions on different levels, so for me it works.

Maria: I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of sitngos because it’s so mechanical and so difficult (maybe I’m just a bad sitngo player,), but I really admire people who make a living out of it and still enjoy it. What is it about SNGs that appeals so much to you?
HEVAD: What I like the most about sitngos, which, by the way, I rarely play at the moment, since I am so focused on tournaments and cash games, is the “game of chicken” involved. Like, who loses their head first. It’s a game of all-ins, and knowing when to call and when to fold at the right moment, correct decisions based on math, but within these correct decisions (which should pay off in the long run) there is a lot of short term gamble, and I enjoy the gamble involved in sitngos. The important thing for a sitngo player is to try and reduce the gamble factor by constantly improving and trying to make the “most” correct decisions, but once the chips go in, it’s out of your hands, even if you are a favorite in the hand.

Maria: So, getting back to your bankroll, how did it finally start growing?
HEVAD: With this volume of sitngos, which of course I would not be playing if I were not profiting, I also took down the 5+Rebuys on Stars, and that upped my bankroll, and from then I never looked back. At the moment, I am very focused on the tournament circuit, and I am playing a lot of cash games. I feel very comfortable at cash game tables because it is so deep stacked and I feel like people mostly play their hands instead of their opponent’s hands. I am making a nice profit in cash games, live and online.

Maria: And how did you start entering the live tournament circuit?
HEVAD: In 2006 I won a seat for the WSOP Main Event on PokerStars. When I won it I started to scream in my room, my dad came running thinking I was injured or something, and got angry when he realized the screaming was because of poker. At that time, playing the WSOP main event was huge for me and my 5K bankroll.

Maria: But with only 5K in your bankroll, you still decided to play a 10K tournament?
HEVAD: At the time you couldn’t unregister if you won the seat, but even if you could, I would’ve played it anyway. I wouldn’t trade that experience and opportunity for anything. That was my chance to live the dream and make things happen. I was never a person who sits back and waits around for things to happen at the “right moment”. Maybe that’s not so good in some aspects of my life, but generally, if I want something, I go for it. Get it while it’s hot. But 2006 was just a build up of all that was going to come in 2007, and an important experience to allow it all to happen.

In 2007 I won 5 packages for the WSOP main event on PokerStars, and when I arrived in Vegas I still won another 6 or 7 seats in the live satellites (I don’t remember exactly how many, it was around that number). I made like 50K in equity just from playing these satellites (taking out travel and other expenses) and they allowed me to play all the other tournaments I wanted to during the Series, including the two $1500 Events that I went deep in (one was the one that Hellmuth won) and also a 6th place in a Bellagio $1,000 tourney. But the Main Event was still to come, and we all know how that turned out!

Maria: Yes, congratulations, that is a huge achievement for any poker player. What was the most memorable moments of your 2007 WSOP?
HEVAD: Well, other then the final table, of course, Day 3 was pretty sick, because I had the sickest possible table you can think of. Of the ten chip leaders, three were at the same table, and they were tough players. I had Gus Hansen to my immediate left, and Sorel Mizzi (Zangbezan24) across the table from me. We were all stacked and nobody was willing to back down from a pot. Once I made it through that table, and chipped up to about 600K, I knew I was going deep.

When the final table formed, I couldn’t have been more thrilled with my seat. I had the very good players to my right, and the shorter stacks to my left, but I lost some very decisive coin flips that could’ve made all the difference, and when my AQs did not improve against Jerry Yang’s Jacks, I had to be happy with my 6th place and US$956K in prize, which of course is the big score that every poker player chases after. And then came the offer to join Team PokerStars Pro, which was another victory within the victory, so it was all reason to celebrate and enjoy.

Maria: Congrats! And how has your life been since the WSOP?
HEVAD: Well, right after I took a much needed 2 month break from poker, and then returned full force to the live circuit. I started off at EPT London, then EPT Baden, then Foxwoods, the APPT Macau (by winning a seat in a $3.30 satellite on PokerStars), then 5 Diamond Bellagio, then PCA, then Borgata, then LAPC, and now I am relaxing a bit getting ready Foxwoods next week, then heading straight to 5 Diamond at the Bellagio, and then two months in Vegas for the WSOP. I have big goals for myself in 2008.

Maria: And in the middle of all of this you still find time to win one of the biggest events online, the Sunday Warm Up.
HEVAD: Yeah, that was fantastic. I really wanted that big online win, because I have been running terrible in online tournaments. I have been going deep in many of them, but in the end I have been losing those decisive pots that take you to the finish line, but this Sunday it was a different story.

When we started the final table, I was 4th in chips, but I had absolutely nothing to play with for a few orbits, and my stack whittled down, and when we were six-handed I was in 6th place and having to pick a spot to make a move. This is where so many sitngos come in to play, because of course at a final table you have more reads on your opponents and the table dynamics, but overall, it comes down to math when you have like 12 big blinds and need to go for the win. Finally the table folded around and I had Qd8d on the button, and pushed my 12 BBs all in, the big blind woke up with Jacks, but I sucked out on him, making a straight on his set, and after that I came back with new life to the tournament and did not let up anymore until I took 1st place.

When I won it, I started to yelling and running around the house in my boxer shorts wanting to celebrate, and my brother, who was on the couch playing Halo 3 barely looked at me, so yeah, winning online has it’s disadvantages when it comes to the celebration. But hey, I’m not complaining, if I always have to celebrate winning $97,000 this way, I’m fine with that!

Maria: Well, congratulations Hevad, it seems like you have more then earned your success and I hope it keeps coming your way, because you certainly have the right energy and outlook to be a constant winner at poker and at life. Any last words for your fans, which are many?
HEVAD: For anyone who plays this game, no matter how old you are, you have to have the passion. You can’t just grind it out if you don’t love the game. And also, have a lot of determination and put in the effort and work, because it is very VERY hard work. Look at the people you most admire in the game, they have a lot of love and respect for the game and for the other players, and the way they carry themselves shows that love and respect. I think the key is to take it seriously, even if the ride is fun as hell!

In the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona sits a man who holds a unique distinction. George Lind III, also known as jorj95, can claim something no one else can: he is officially the first PokerStars VIP Club Supernova Elite of 2008.

Supernova Elite is the highest rung of the ladder in the VIP Club. Players have to earn one million VIP Player Points to earn the distinction. Last year, only 39 players managed the achievement (Team PokerStars Pro, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier was the first of that year).

In April of last year, a friend told Jorj95 about the Supernova Elite program. " I thought it would be a fairly easy thing for me to accomplish while making some money along the way," he said. "Then I earned over 500,000 VPP in just the month of May and pretty much coasted the rest of the year to make it to Elite."

He makes it sound pretty easy, no? Well, that was last year. Consider this. He has been married for less than a year and he's already made it to the Elite level...twice.

Taking a look back at jorj95's poker history, it's hard to imagine him failing at anything. In 1998, he started playing low limit games recreationally in casinos. In early 2000, he took a shot at 20/40 hold'em.

"Within about six months I was playing as high as 400/800 mix games," he said.

He played big bet seven card stud games and made enough money that, by April 2001, he had quit his computer programming job and started playing cards fulltime. It seemed he had found his calling. Or maybe not.

"In early 2004, I pretty much quit playing poker because I got bored with it and I got into sports betting," he said. "I did this for a few years, but a lot of the opportunities with sports betting have dried up."

What's fairly amazing is that jorj95 didn't start playing cards again until he learned about the Supernova Elite program this time last year. So, he got married, made Supernova Elite, and set his sites on 2008.

As 2008 began, jorg95 didn't log on to play. He relaxed for a few days, went to the Bahamas for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, and didn't worry about the Supernova Elite program for nearly two weeks. He didn't play a single hand online until January 13.

Two months and five days later, on March 18, jorj95 became the first Supernova Elite of 2008.

As for what he's going to do now, that's still up in the air. Whatever he decides, there is certainly more poker to be played this year. By virtue of making Supernova Elite, he gets free entry into the World Championship of Online Poker main event, as well as two big buy-in live events...all for less than three months work.

Congratulations to jorj95 for the achievement.

As the Two Plus Two Pokercast got better and better, we knew it was only a matter of time before it started pulling in some of the best players in the business. Enter Daniel Negreanu. This week's podcast features and interview with Team PokerStars Pro's Kid Poker.

As always, the Two Plus Two Pokercast Team brings you a great interview. This week, they actually offer two great coonversations. In addition to the one with Negreanu, Pokercast also interviews the nosebleed stake cash player Brian Townsend.

For all the news, forum recaps, and interviews, visit the Two Plus Two Pokercast page.

Among many a parent, the idea of introducing their children to horses is among the best and worst ideas they will ever conceive. Introduction to the equine world provides a sense of responsibility, discipline, and enjoyment that is unparelleled in an age of video games and televised pablum. At the same time, horses aren't the cheapest forms of entertainment. It's one thing to buy your kid an expensive gift. It's another thing entirely to have to feed that gift every day.

These are all things that PokerStars player blego151 had to have thought when his teenage daughter came home from summer camp. There, she had been riding a horse all summer.

"She just loved him to death," he said.

Of course, it was easy at first. The horse belonged to somebody else. Blego151 simply couldn't buy it for his daughter. Then things changed.

"When he came up for sale," he said, "she just had to have him."

Money what it is today, blego151 was having a hard time justifying the expense of actually buying a giant animal for his daughter. And then he happened upon an idea: the PokerStars VIP Concierge Service.

A few e-mails later and belego's daughter had her beloved horse. "They go to jumping lessons once a week and are getting ready for the local shows in the summertime," he said.

In just the past several months, PokerStars players have used their Frequent Player Points for a safari, plane tickets, homes, and cars. This marks this first time in history someone has traded a collection of FPP credits for an animal.

Oh, and for what it's worth, the gift horse's honest to goodness registered name?

Midnight Gambler.

The Easter Sunday holiday didn't put much of a dent in the crowds at PokerStars tournament tables, nor did it slow down one member of Team PokerStars Pro. Hevad "RaiNKhAN" Khan took down this week's Sunday Warm-Up for nearly $100,000. In other Sunday news, well-known player pbdrunks pulled a double-shot that had the rail screaming. Pbdrunks made the final table of the Sunday Million and the Second Chance event at the same time.

Also of note this weekend, PokerStars increased the cap on the Sunday Hundred Grand to 22,500 players, making it the biggest poker tournament anywhere, at any time.

The final table results for all the big ones are below. Congratulations to all the winners.

PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up Final Table Results

1. RaiNKhAN (United States) $97,856.32
2. ubon1 (Switzerland) $49,579.20
3. M® FE®G (Canada) $33,002.72
4. Qcity1 (United States) $26,542.40
5. sami31 (United Kingdom) $21,033.60
6. hAAj_fkp (Sweden) $15,975.52
7. gambler2k4 (United States) $11,468.32
8. THDNB (United States) $7,211.52
9. ShowM4n (Germany) $4,206.72

PokerStars $5,200 Freezout Results
Based on finishing order and two-way deal

1 ADZ124 (Canada) $46,000.00
2 bigegypt (United States) $54,000.00

PokerStars Sunday Hundred Grand Final Table Results

1. bubbaloo2 (United Kingdom) $20,520.00
2. Aila.dk Kolding Denmark $10,260.00
3. bignoyes london United Kingdom $7,110.00
4. concept.c Gau-Odernheim Germany $5,085.00
5. raionegros nova lima Brazil $3,060.00
6. Schlönske Wolfen Germany $2,047.50
7. just_go_in (Canada) $1,642.50
8. otschn27 (Austria) $1,327.50
9. pridefc.com (Denmark) $1,012.50

PokerStars Sunday Million Final Table Results
Based on finishing order and three-way deal

1. Tsipor (Canada) $147,561.06
2. Maluko0 (Portugal) $122,670.00
3. Djemps (Netherlands) $119,886.94
4. Big_Col11 (United Kingdom) $59,560.00
5. soren2006 (United States) $44,670.00
6. mayer zs (Hungary) $32,758.00 1,162.99
7. jaywks (United States) $23,079.50
8. blanconegro (United States) $13,401.00
9. pbdrunks (United States) $8,785.10 .

There have been many good poker books written in the past few decades, but arguably the best series to come out in the past few years is the collection of Dan Harrington's writings. The Harrington on Hold'em series came at just the right time and helped many a tournament player get his head on straight. Harrington has just released the cash game editions of his series. Now he is appearing on this week's Two Plus Two Pokercast.

You can catch that interview and much more on this week's podcast. Click over to our Two Plus Two Pokercast page to listen now.

This Sunday of tournaments was one in which people wanted everything they earned at the tables. For the first time in a while, each one of the big Sunday contests finished without a chop. As a result, the people who won this weeekend...won big. C00LHandNuke took down the Sunday Million for more than $200,000. Neblogas bested the field in the Sunday Warm-Up for a $100,000 finish.

Congratulations to all of this week's winners. Final table results for all the Sunday tournaments are below.

PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up Final Table Results

1. neblogas (Lithuania) $100,997.88
2. busto_soon (Netherlands) $51,350.20
3. leoro santos (Brazil) $33,995.48
4. IFiNishfish (Finland) $28,009.20
5. PURPLEPILS99 (Canada) $22,517.20
6. d0nKKKKKKKKK (United States) $17,025.20
7. VILLASC-LAG (Sweden) $11,972.56
8. g00by (France) $7,578.96
9. admonsali (United States) $4,393.60

PokerStars Sunday Hundred Grand Final Table Results

1. seba0001 (Brazil) $20,000.00
2. -0-tjqkas-0- (Germany) $10,000.00
3. Maizeruba (Sweden) $7,000.00
4. The_N_V_T_S (United States) $5,000.00
5. #61's Van (United States) $3,000.00
6. GGarcia222 (Switzerland) $2,000.00
7. jaymomoney (United States) $1,600.00
8. Prof Of Pain (United States) $1,300.00
9. _^_TTMF_^_ (United States) $1,000.00

PokerStars High Stakes Showdown Results

1. supernova9 (Canada) $25,000.00
2. philivey2694 (United States) $15,000.00

PokerStars $5,200 Freezeout Results

1. Sir_winalot9 (Norway) $100,000.00

PokerStars Sunday Million Final Table Results

1. C00LHandNuke (United States) $208,510.80
2. Shark'Le (United States) $104,994.80
3. RaSZi (Netherlands) $73,940.00
4. Vorcirion (Finland) $59,152.00
5. LennyL (United States) $44,364.00
6. idlehours (United Kingdom) $32,533.60
7. pusteblume (Germany) $22,921.40
8. FrgzAnonymus (United States) $13,309.20
9. debrisfish (Italy) $8,724.92

It was not the late night epic of the EPT Copenhagen two weeks ago but the final of the EPT Warsaw had all the tension, the drama, and notably the long hours you’d expect from one of the major tournaments of the world. As the hour struck well past midnight German businessman Michael Schulze successfully over came Ricardo Sousa heads-up and was crowned EPT Warsaw Champion, picking up a cheque for PLN 2,154,000 or € 609,782.

After a final table that lasted over ten hours the 40-year-old held up his A-6 hand for the cameras, the hand that had overcome pocket sevens after a heads-up that had seen his initial chip lead escape him, and the momentum swing to the Portuguese.

To say that Michael had no prior expectation of winning in Warsaw is classic understatement. So confident was he that he would not make it to day two, or day three, or the final for that matter, Michael re-booked his flight each day, his room each day and even his dinner voucher each day. How’s that for optimism.

But he did arrive here today as chip leader, and his tight and considered style would always leave him as a favourite as the hours grew longer. “I only play for fun, the money doesn’t really matter to me.” He’d said earlier today. But regardless of that the title of EPT Warsaw champion cannot be bought.

As play began he was up against some formidable opposition...

Seat 1 -- Trond Erik Eidsvig – Norway – 220,000
Seat 2 -- Christian Öman – Sweden – 110,000
Seat 3 -- Mehdi Ouakhir – France – PokerStars qualifier – 360,000
Seat 4 -- Niclas Svensson – Sweden – 174,000
Seat 5 -- Dan Woolson – USA – PokerStars qualifier – 164,000
Seat 6 -- Juan Maceiras – Spain – PokerStars qualifier – 437,000
Seat 7 -- Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,162,000
Seat 8 -- Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 756,000
Seat 9 -- Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 229,000

One name immediately stood out, that of Trond Erik Eidsvig. The Norwegian was making his third final table appearance in season four alone, fresh from EPT Copenhagen where he cashed and also won Rookie of the Year at the Scandinavian Poker Awards. It also featured Ricardo Sousa aiming to become the first winner from his home country of Portugal. His play the day before had secured him a solid stack, second only to chip leader Schulze. A word should also be said for the four PokerStars qualifiers who had made it this far. None of whom looked out of place in these latter stages.

To the final, where the absence of television cameras allowed the old fashioned close rail environment last seen when Arnaud Mattern won in Prague. The table was surrounded by a press rail and that by a spectator rail, consisting mostly of people standing on seats for a two-tiered coliseum effect.

It took just ten minutes for the first player to fall, that being PokerStars qualifier Dan Woolson. He bet out on a Q-3-5 flop only to find fellow PokerStars qualifier Mehdi Ouakhir moving all-in. Dan did the same and incredibly so did another PokerStars qualifier Mathias Viberg in seat nine. Woolson must have felt confident turning over aces but Mehdi turned over K-Q of clubs for a flush draw and Mathias pocket fives for a set – a set that held, sending Dan out in ninth place for PLN 122,060.

An hour later it was Rookie of the Year Trond Eidsvig sent to the rail. He moved in with A-T and was ahead when Juan Maceiras called with A-9. But a nine on the river left Trond pondering how long it will be before he takes down an EPT crown; out in eighth place for PLN 201,040.

Niclas Svensson went in seventh moving in with pocket fours and called by Mehdi with Q-T. The flop came 5-8-5 and the turn was a deuce. The river though, an eight, made a second pair on the board, neutralising Niclas’s pair, sending him home with PLN 272,840.

After a series of all-ins that had both the crowd and Juan himself jumping up and down with joy, Juan Maceiras went next. The young Spaniard, who had held the chip lead earlier in the week, couldn’t hang on forever and pushed with pocket deuces, getting called by Mathias Viberg with A-K. The flop was fine but the ace on the turn quashed hopes of advancement for Juan, out in sixth place with PLN 344,640.

At the dinner break it was still Michael Schulze way ahead, with Frenchman Mehdi Ouakhir in pursuit.

Christian Öman – Sweden – 228,000
Mehdi Ouakhir – France – PokerStars qualifier – 747,000
Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,526,000
Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 510,000
Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 581,000

Over three and a half hours later and young Swede Christian Oman, who had survived a six hour day two spell to the right of Andy Black, was out in fifth place. He called an initial raise by Michael and checked to the turn – a board by now reading K-Q-7-9. Whilst Christian checked Michael moved all-in leaving Christian to call for his last 250k and showing K-5. Michael had A-9 with the river bringing another to match the one on the turn, sending Christian out to face the cameras with PLN 437,980.

Mehdi Ouakhir had played an aggressive game all day, at some points surging ahead, at other points struggling to keep up. By now he had become the short stack and pushed from the small blind with Q-3 – Michael Schulze calling with pocket tens. The tens held and now just three players remained with Mehdi out with PLN 538,500.

Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,750,000
Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 800,000
Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 940,000

The three final players had each shown themselves to be capable of winning the event, regardless of chip count. No sign of impatience, no zealous over-ractions either, just careful play. But someone had to go next.

Mathias had found himself unlucky before his elimination. Just moments before he’d called Ricardo’s all-in with pocket jacks to Ricardo’s J-T. But the Portuguese had found himself a straight draw on the flop, and flush draw on the turn which he made on the river. Mathias was left with shock and just 100k to deal with, which he pushed in a few hands later. A ‘gamble’ he’d said, showing 6-2 to Michael’s pocket fours. The flop gave him miracle straight draws but his day was at an end. Third place for the PokerStars qualifier, and PLN 718,000.

That was a full two hours before the heads-up reached its final hand. Thoughts of a quick heads-up had faded away long ago with neither player, to their credit, prepared to let go of any momentum they’d gained. Ultimately it would come to two hands, within the space of five minutes.

First Michael made it 150k to go, which Ricardo called. On a 3c-4c-7s flop Ricardo checked, Michael made it 200k and Ricardo re-raised, 400k in total. When Michael moved in the crowd got to their feet, regardless of how tired they were feeling after a long day. Ricardo thought for a while, spinning his card protector around as Michael sat waiting. But the longer he waited the more he seemed less likely to call. He couldn’t go on and mucked his cards.

Now the momentum was back with the German...

Ricardo -- 1,400,000
Michael -- 2,200,000

Five minutes later Ricardo led out, 150k from the small blind. Michael then re-raised, a massive 500k which seemed out of step with the previous betting. Things kicked off further when Ricardo announced he was all-in. Michael was never going to do anything else than call and when he did he shook the hand of his opponent before turning over A-6 of spades. For Ricardo pocket sevens.

The flop came 4d-2c-5h, leaving Ricardo ahead but with Michael needing either an ace or a three. Ricardo’s luck had evidently run out with an ace hitting the turn. Now left looking for a seven the deuce on the river was no good for Ricardo. No jumping up and down, no fist punching, just a job well done by Michael Schulze who shook hands once more with Ricardo before thanking the crowd.

Naturally Ricardo’s face was the picture of disappointment but he had played a great tournament, chalking up his best results at an EPT for himself and for his country. It was especially impressive when you consider he only began playing poker six months ago - PLN 1,220,600 is not bad for a rookie.

Michael stood patiently for pictures, allowing himself a glance or two at the suitcase full of money that adds up to PLN 2,154,000. The money may not always matter but the reputation as a winner has got to feel good. He’s already booked in at San Remo next month and as an EPT winner has his seat at the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo in the bag.

We’ll see him there.

Final table result at EPT Warsaw -

1st -- Michael Schulze -- Germany -- PLN 2,154,000
2nd -- Ricardo Sousa -- Portugal -- PLN 1,1220,600
3rd -- Mathias Viberg -- Sweden -- PokerStars qualifier -- PLN 718,000
4th -- Mehdi Ouakhir -- France -- PokerStars qualifier -- PLN 538,500
5th -- Christian Oman -- Sweden -- -- PLN 437,980
6th -- Juan Maceiras -- Spain -- PokerStars qualifier -- PLN 344,640
7th -- Niclas Svensson -- Sweden -- PLN 272,840
8th -- Trond Eidsvig -- Norway -- PLN 201,040
9th -- Daniel Woolson USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- PLN 122,060

Photos © Neil Stoddart

12.40pm -- Ricardo Sousa from Portugal, eliminated in second place for PLN 1,1220,600
Ricardo makes it 150k from the small blind and Michael quickly re-raises, 500k in total. Ricardo announces all-in with Michael is ready to call, showing As-6s to Ricardo's black pocket sevens. Both players are on their feet and after a handshake watch the flop - 4d-2c-5h. Ricardo is ahead but Michael could win with an ace or three. The turn card is that very ace, flipping the fortunes of the hand in his favour, with Ricardo needing a seven that would ultimately not come. A deuce on the river and the EPT has a new champion in Michael Schulze.

12.35am -- Michael bets 150k pre-flop and Ricardo calls. The flop comes 3c-4c-7s and Ricardo checks. Michael makes it 200k and all of a sudden Ricardo re-raises, up to 400k, Michael moves all-in and the crowd get to their feet. Ricardo thinks for a while, spinning his card protector and asking questions of Michael that he'll never answer. He mucks.

Chip counts...

Ricardo -- 1,400,000
Michael -- 2,200,000

12.30am -- More tentative play. Ricardo wins a small pot showing an eight for a pair.

12.20am -- Play resumes with blinds now at 30k/60k.

There may be a break in the poker but there's no let up in the action from the bar...

12.05am -- The level ends and players take a 15 minute break. The latest chip counts...

Ricardo -- 1,990,000
Michael -- 1,600,000

11.50pm -- Ricardo makes it 125k and is called. The flop comes 2c-7d-3c and Ricardo makes it 200k. Michael folds.

11.35pm -- The same pattern re-emerges. Bets or reraises are good enough to take down the pot.

11.20pm -- Ricardo bets 120k pre-flop and Michael makes it 100k more. Ricardo calls for a flop 4c-8s-3c. Both players check. The turn is a five of diamonds. Ricardo makes it 120k now and Michael calls. The river is a ten of clubs and Michael moves all-in. Ricardo looks at his cards again and then thinks things over for a while. "You have the ace of clubs?" he asks. Michael says nothing and Ricardo mucks.

11.10pm -- A lot of hands now involve nothing more than a bet and a fold.

11pm -- Blinds go up to 25k/30k.

10.50pm -- The heads-up chip counts...

Ricardo Sousa -- 2,200,000
Michael Schulze -- 1,400,000

10.35pm -- Mathias Viberg, PokerStars qualifier from Sweden, eliminated in third place for PLN 718,000
After a quck double up Mathias says "let's gamble" and turns over 6-2, moving all-in behind a bet from Michael of 120k. He shows pocket fours and makes a set on the 8-5-4 flop. It also gives Mathias a double gutshot straight draw. The turn is a jack, the river a queen. Nothing more for Mathias and the EPT Warsaw is heads-up.

10.25pm -- Mathias makes it 110k pre-flop and Ricardo calls to see a flop of 8d-9s-3d. Ricardo checks but Mathias makes it 170k as Ricardo was busy re-checking his hand. Ricardo then points at the pot, saying 'all-in'. He shows J-T of diamonds to Mathias' pocket jacks. A set against open-ended straight draw. The turn promptly delivers a queen of diamonds for Ricardo, the river the ace of diamonds giving Ricardo the flush, a pot of 742k total and leaving Mathias with just over 100k.

10.05pm -- Players take another short break.

Approximate chip counts...

Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,750,000
Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 800,000
Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 940,000

10pm -- Michael is on the button and makes it 130k to go pre-flop. Ricardo moves all-in and Mathias folds. It's 456k in total but he gets no takers.

9.45pm -- Play resumes with Ricardo moving all-in but with no callers.

9.25pm -- Players are now on a 15 minute break. The latest chip counts are below...

Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,952,000
Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 458,000
Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 1.070,000

9.20pm -- Now it's Mathias moving all-in, his A-K against the call of Ricardo with A-4. Nothing on the board to stop Mathias doubling up.

9.15pm -- Mehdi Ouakhir, PokerStars qualifier from France, eliminated in fourth place for PLN 538,500
Mehdi, now the short stack, pushed all in from the small blind with Q-3 and found Michael calling with pocket tens. There was no help on the board for the Frenchman and the tens held. We're down to just three players.

9.10pm -- Mehdi raises pre-flop and Ricardo moves all-in for around 420k more. Mehdi calls with Q-J of hearts which Ricardo shows pocket nines. No cavalry on the board for Mehdi and Ricardo gets a big boost to his stack.

8.55pm -- Few hands are getting to a showdown. Mathias moves all-in over a bet from Ricardo of 85k. It's 350k to Ricardo who folds.

8.30pm -- Christian Oman from Sweden, eliminated in fifth place for PLN 437,980
Michael led out, betting 80k pre-flop which Christian called in the big blind. The flop came K-Q-7 which both players checked before the turn card nine. Christian checked and Michael moved all-in. Christian thought about it and called for his last 250k, showing K-5. For Michael, A-9 but the river saved him, was another nine, sending the pot Michael's way and sending Christian to the rail.

8.20pm -- Blinds are up once more to 15k/30k with a 3k ante.

8.10pm -- Ricardo's blessed life continues, this time againt Michael. He'd raised 80k pre-flop and again Ricardo moved in. Michael called showing Ac-Jc. Ricardo was behind again but could count on a Q-Q-T flop. Not even a king would help Schultz who was resigned to watching Ricardo celebrate.

8.05pm -- Mathias bets 70k pre-flop. It's folded around to Ricardo who announces all-in. Mathias looks at his cards again and asks for a count. It's 177k in total. After Mathias counts his stack several times Ricardo calls the clock on him. A few seconds later Mathias calls, showing A-9. Ricardo is behind with A-2. The flop comes A-7-T. The turn is another ten, pairing the board making a split pot likely. A queen on the river and Ricardo dodges elimination,

7.55pm -- On a board reading K-5-A-9 Michael makes it 50k which Ricardo calls. The river is a three and Michael this time makes it 100k. Again Ricardo calls, showing A-7. But the German has A-5 for wo pair. Ricardo looks annoyed, whilst Michael keeps adding to his stack.

7.50pm -- Christian doubles up with A-9 against the pocket fives of Mehdi. The board helped out the Swede, coming 7-8-T-6-J to keep his tournament alive.

7.30pm -- Ricardo makes it 56k pre-flop which Mathias calls. On a flop of 9c-Qh-Ac Ricardo checks. Whilst Mathias counts out some pink chips a friend of Christian's on the rail lobs him some lip balm. Already leaning back on his chair Christian topples over as he lunges for the hail mary pass, landing on the table behind him. Helped back up by Lee Jones the hand continues. Mathias bets 75k. Ricardo pats him on the arm and folds his 2-2.

7.25pm -- Christian Oman moves all-in twice without getting any takers.

7.20pm -- Play resumes with blinds now at 10k/20k with a 2k ante and Lee Jones on the mike.

Kara Scott has the latest at the level 22 break...

6.20pm – Play stops for a one hour dinner break. The latest chip counts are below...

Christian Öman – Sweden – 228,000
Mehdi Ouakhir – France – PokerStars qualifier – 747,000
Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,526,000
Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 510,000
Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 581,000

6.05pm -- On a flop of Ac-8d-8s there’s a bet of 22k from Christian. Mehdi re-raises, 52k total before Christian tops that with a re-re-raise of 100k more. Mehdi calls. The turn is 8c, which gets an “oooh” from the rail. Both check for a king on the river. Christian checks and Mehdi makes it 200k. He’s been playing with aggression and it pays. He takes the pot.

5.55pm -- Ricardo makes it 41k pre-flop and it's folded ot Mehdi who asks 'how much?' Ricardo has over 300k left. He calls. The flop comes A-4-T. Mehdi checks, Ricardo makes it 55k and before Kara Scott has finished saying "fifty-five thousand" Mehdi thumped a stack of pink chips in. Lightening fast and Ricardo gets the message. He folds.

5.45pm -- Mathias makes it 45k pre-flop form the button. Christian calls in the small blind, so doe Mehdi in the big. the see a flop of 6h-4s-5h which all three check. The turn is an ace. Christian makes it 70k, chasing out the others for the pot. He showed K-Qd

5.27pm – Another pre-flop bet by Ricardo, this time of 41k. Mathias Viberg sitting next to him re-raises, making it 150k in total and it’s folded back to Ricardo. The Portuguese checks his cards again but folds.

5.20pm – Blinds are now increased to 8k/16k with a 2k ante.

5.15pm – Christian gets his chips all-in again against Michael, with the board showing 2-3-4-8-5. Both players have A-6 though, splitting the pot.

5.10pm – Christian Oman moves all-in, 253k to call, but gets no takers.

4.50pm – Juan Maceiras of Spain, eliminated in sixth place for PLN 344,640
It couldn’t last forever. Juan pushed again with pocket deuces and was called by Mathias with A-K. The flop was safe enough but the turn brought the ace to end Juan’s joy ride. We’re down to five.

4.41pm – “Alright” says Juan, all in a fourth time. The applause is louder now and he initiates some call and response. It’s 97k to whomever wants to call. Mathias does so with pocket tens. A-T of spades for Juan who gets an ace first card on the board. “Hey!!!” he cries and the rail join in. “I’m back in the game guys” he says.

4.38pm – Juan all-in a third time. More applause and this time Juan joins in with it. He’s on the ropes but he may as well enjoy himself. This time he hasn’t looked at his cards. His chips are counted at 109k, a bit more than he’d expected. Ricardo folds with a smile and the action works its way to Mehdi who thinks but folds A-7.

4.36pm – Juan moves all-in again. More cheers from the rail which now has a heavy Spanish flavour. Christian Oman thinks about it this time be folds, sending more blinds to the Spaniard.
4.35pm – Juan Marceiras moves all-in with a battle cry of “llegando!” which gets the crowd on his side. It’s folded to Mathias who folds, showing 3-4. “3-4 of diamonds?” asks Mehdi. “That’s an insta-call.”

4.30pm – Niclas Svensson from Sweden, eliminated in seventh place for PLN 272,840
Niclas moved all-in with pocket fours, called by Mehdi with Q-T. The flop comes 5-8-5, the turn is a deuce but the river, an eight, puts a second pair on the board, eliminating the Swede.

4.25pm – EPT Presenter Kara Scott takes over the mike from Lee Jones. Blinds are now 6k/12k with a 1k ante.

4.10pm – Players are on a fifteen minute break. The latest chip counts are as follows...

Christian Öman – Sweden – 261,000
Mehdi Ouakhir – France – PokerStars qualifier – 404,000
Niclas Svensson – Sweden – 128,000
Juan Maceiras – Spain – PokerStars qualifier – 87,000
Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,315,000
Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 648,000
Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 749,000

Kara Scott has the update at the break...

4.05pm – On a flop of 7s-Ks-2d Ricardo bets 100k which Michael calls. The turn is a nine which both players check for an ace on the river. It’s checked again and Ricardo tentatively shows a king. Michael has A-4 for the pot.

4pm -- Niclas Svensson doubles up, pushing in from the cut off with K-3 of clubs and called by Juan Maceiras with pocket jacks. A king hits the flop, saving Niclas.

3.55pm – A three way pot develops for a flop of 6c-9c-6h. Niclas, Juan and Mehdi all check for a turn card 3c. Niclas and Juan check again but Mehdi makes it 25k. Niclas folds but Juan calls and they see a river card – 4h. 35k from Juan, called fast by Mehdi who shows a jack high flush. For Juan 7h-Ts for ten high.

3.40pm – A series of hands follow where a bet pre-flop is good enough to win the pot. First one for Ricardo then another Michael Schulze, who has been quiet up to now.

3.20pm – Trond Eidsvig of Norway, eliminated in eighth place for PLN 201,040
An EPT title eludes Trond once more. He moved in over a raise of 27k pre flop from Juan – for 59k more. Juan called with A-9; Trond was ahead with A-T. An ace hit the flop and the crucial nine came on the river. Trond out of his third EPT final this year.

3.15pm – Christian Oman makes it 28k pre-flop and Juan re-raises 72k more making it 100k in total. It’s folded back to Christian who moves all-in. It’s 112k more to Juan but after a few minutes in the tank he folds. “What d’you have?” he asks. “2-3 off of course...”

3.10pm – Niclas Svensson now moves all-in, 57k in total. Ricardo thinks about calling for a few minutes but passes. Niclas tries the same thing again a few hands later with the same result.

3.08pm – The blinds are now up to 5k/10k with a 1k ante.

3.05pm – Mehdi moves all-in but gets no takers. He shows aces. On the next hand Michael Schulze makes it 25k from under-the-gun. Mehdi calls as does Juan. The flop comes J-7-9. Juan and Michael check but Mehdi moves in once more. Again its good enough to take the pot.

2.55pm – After the quick elimination early on things have slowed somewhat.

2.40pm – Christian Oman moves all in for 93k and is called by Juan Maceiras. Pocket fours for Oman, Q-T for Maceiras. The board misses both of them and the fours hold, doubling Christian up.

2.20pm -- Daniel Woolson, a PokerStars qualifier from the United States, eliminated in ninth place for 122,060
Four players saw the flop of Qs-3h-5c. Daniel Woolson made it 65k, Ricardo Sousa passed, Mathias Viberg called before Mehdi Ouakhir moved all-in. Woolson then did the same, as did Mathias, getting a huge 'whoa' from the packed rail. Woolson turned over aces, but Mathias showed pocket fives and Mehdi K-Q of clubs. The turn, six of clubs, gave the Frenchman a flush draw but the king of hearts on the river tripled-up Mathias, sending Woolson to the rail with his busted aces.

2.10pm – A short delay before play begins with blinds at 4k/8k with a 1k ante. The first pot goes to Mehdi Ouakhir. On a flop of 7-5-5 Niclas Svensson raised to 32k only for Mehdi to re-raise, 100k in total.

Seat 1: Trond Erik Eidsvig, 23, Aalesund, Norway – 220,000 chips
Trond is truly a poker phenomenon. The young Norwegian is on his third final table in one season of the EPT – a record. He won €250,800 for 5th place in Barcelona at the start of EPT Season 4 and €127,630 for 4th place in Dublin. In November, he won the Master Classics in Amsterdam for a further $896,912. Trond hails from the tiny village of Ǻlesund on the west coast of Norway and only turned professional two years ago. He also cashed at EPT Copenhagen (37th place for €8,491) just a few days after winning the Rookie of the Year Award at the PokerStars Scandinavian Poker Awards.

Seat 2: Christian Öman, 27, Sweden- 110,000 chips
Christian lives in Stockholm where he is a well-known poker club regular. The 27-year-old has played poker full-time for a few years now after taking up the game five years ago. His biggest live win so far has been €6,000 in a local club’s monthly final. This is Christian’s third EPT and so far he has never survived Day 1. He said: “I’m really looking forward to winning today (!) as my shopping trip to Milan has taken a big part of my bankroll.” Before any tournament starts, Christian practices yoga. He considers himself a good “folder” - and we don't disagree after seeing him survive as a short-stack for so many hours in Warsaw.

Seat 3: Mehdi Ouakhir, 22, Montpellier, France - PokerStars qualifier – 330,000 chips
Business school student Mehdi is having the best tournament of his career so far. He mainly plays tournaments and Sit and Goes online, but the most he’s won so far is $10k. Yesterday was sweet revenge for the former chess player – he busted Sebastian Ruthenberg , payback for when Sebastian busted him at EPT Dortmund in January. Although a French national, Medhi now lives and studies in Agadir, Morocco.

Seat 4: Niclas Svensson, 30, Gothenburg, Sweden - 174,000 chips
Niclas is a full-time poker player and has been for a few years now. He first took up poker five years ago and only plays Texas Hold'em, mainly cash games. This is his second EPT; the last time was London where he was actually bubble boy. He bought himself into both events. When not playing poker, he spends hour after hour watching The Sopranos. Niclas’s biggest win so far was online where he won a tournament for $30k. Niclas lives in Gotheburg with his six-year-old daughter.

Seat 5: Dan Woolson, 22, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA – PokerStars qualifier - 164,000 chips
Dan has had a roller-coaster tournament so far. On Day 1, he quickly amassed 30k, but then bluffed off nearly all his stack and ended the day on 18k. At that point, he was pretty dejected and expecting to bust. But Day 2 he doubled up early with Aces, and then later beat Kenneth Hicks Jr’s AA with 99. Soon after he busted Tyler Netter, again with 99 v AA and ended the Day in 6th place with 188k. In the quick-fire Day 3, he was doubled up Trond Eidsvig but then got some back from Trond with AQ 77. Dan turned pro after graduating from UMAS university a year ago. This is his biggest result so far but he won a PokerStars nightly $100k tourney for $30k last summer. This is his second EPT and he plans to play at the Monte Carlo Grand Final; he busted out of the PCA on Day 1.

Seat 6: Juan Maceiras, 23, La Coruna, Spain - PokerStars qualifier - 437,000 chips
Juan Maceiras narrowly missed the final table at EPT Barcelona (went out in 9th). He comes from La Coruna in Galicia but is currently studying international business in St Louis, Missouri after getting his law degree in Spain. He is now seriously considering turning pro much like his sister Maria - the Spanish poker champion - and his father Juan Antonio “Vietcong01” Barros who won the PokerStars Sunday Million last July, and a week later the PokerStars Warm-up. What is truly remarkable is that the whole family only took up poker two years ago.

At present, Juan mainly plays live games in casinos in St Charles. About his prospects today, he said: “I was really disappointed at EPT Barcelona. I made a big mistake there, but I’ve learned from that and aim to win today.” Juan is being supported in Warsaw by his girlfriend Beatriz.

Seat 7: Michael Schulze, 40, Schleswig , Germany – 1,162,000 chips
Chip leader Michael bought in direct to EPT Warsaw having already played in Copenhagen and Dortmund without much success. He only took up poker four years ago and is strictly a recreational player. He sid: “I only play for fun, the money doesn’t really matter to me. Even if I win first prize today, it won’t affect me too much on the financial side of things.” Asked about his play so far, Michael replied: “I got lucky and get good cards, and they help up.” Whatever happens today, Michael is already planning to play in San Remo as well.

Seat 8: Ricardo Sousa, 30, Oporto, Portugal –756,000 chips
Ricardo has attended almost all this season’s EPTs but this is his first cash and the best tournament result of his career so far. The former financial risk management consultant only turned pro in September 2007 and normally only plays high-stakes cash games. He said: “Because I usually play cash, wining just a few thousand isn’t what I came here for. All I’ve been thinking about is making the final table.” Ricardo’s wife Florbella and two-year-old son Gonçalo are supporting him from home in Oporto. He said: “I feel pretty confident about today, but these are really good players and anything could happen. The skill level is very high – I’ll need some luck as well.”

Seat 9: Mathias Viberg , 23, Sweden - PokerStars qualifier- 229,000 chips
Mathias is 23 years old and lives in Boden in the centre of Sweden. He has been playing poker for four years and qualified through PokerStars to EPT Warsaw – his first EPT. He has lived on his poker skills for the last two years and mostly plays cash games. His biggest win so far was $35,000 in an online tournament. When not playing poker, he spends a lot of time with his friends and his girlfriend.

Happy faces everywhere. Sure, they’re in the bar but the EPT Warsaw is cocooned by the sense that it’s been one of the most enjoyable on the tour so far. Excellent service, welcoming staff and the casino officials breaking tables to allow room for press and spectators alike.

The short day yesterday, which confused everyone at first, gave people normally used to late casino nights some free time to venture outside for the first time in several days. A short taxi ride from the Hyatt Regency hotel is the centre of Warsaw , sprawling around the Palace of Science and Culture that marks downtown, an ornamental ‘Proof of Friendship’ gift from the former Soviet Union back in the fifties.

Modernisation spread throughout the entire city, now a landscape of neon and skyscrapers not unlike those you’d see in London or New York. Contrast that with the ‘old town’ of Warsaw, postcard streets, colourful houses, bars and restaurants, built over several decades to replace sections of town destroyed after the uprising in 1944. The last part of the Royal Castle in Plac Zamkowy was completed in 1971.

That was all yesterday, and on this the fourth day there is still a champion to find form the last nine, four of whom are PokerStars qualifiers...

Seat 1 -- Trond Erik Eidsvig – Norway – 220,000
Seat 2 -- Christian Öman – Sweden – 110,000
Seat 3 -- Mehdi Ouakhir – France – PokerStars qualifier – 360,000
Seat 4 -- Niclas Svensson – Sweden – 174,000
Seat 5 -- Daniel Woolson – USA – PokerStars qualifier – 164,000
Seat 6 -- Juan Maceiras – Spain – PokerStars qualifier – 437,000
Seat 7 -- Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,162,000
Seat 8 -- Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 756,000
Seat 9 -- Mathias Viberg – Sweden – PokerStars qualifier -- 229,000

Back on day one 359 players started, each having paid PLN 21,000 (€5,750 approx) for the privilege. Yesterday 26 were left with nine surviving a day lasting just two hours six minutes, 54 second.

PokerStars qualifier Juan Maceiras had made it there as chip leader with 388k, a natural favourite to make it into the last night. The same could have been said for second place man Claus Nielsen but last night he may have had the worst night’s sleep of his life after he exited on the final table bubble; his early departure helped in part by a huge hand against Ricardo Sousa, on a blazing run of cards, that left Nielsen short stacked and with little option than to pick a hand and shove all-in.

Amidst the blur Andy Black was eliminated, so too PokerStars qualifiers Ken Hicks Jr, Craig Hopkins and Willian Johnson. And PokerStars sponsored player Sebastian Ruthenberg narrowly missed a second final table appearance, busted in 13th place by Mehdi Ouakhir who as Sebastian left the room had chance to mention that it was the German who eliminated him in Dortmund.

That brings us to today.

Among the last nine is Norwegian Trond Eidsvig making his third final table appearance in season four alone (an EPT record incidentally), having recently won the Scandinavian Poker Award for Rookie of the Year. He’s already helping his campaign for the sophomore of the year, although he starts today as one of the shorter stacks.

German player Michael Schulze, who sent a few players to the rail yesterday, boosting his stack, starts as chip leader and the only player with over a million - he has 1,162,000. Behind him is Portuguese player Ricardo Sousa on 756,000 and at the back, in ninth spot, is Christian Oman on 110,000. He can take some heart though from the fact he has been a short stack all week.

A reminder of payouts...

1st – PLN 2,154,000 or €609,782
2nd – PLN 1,220,600 or €345,543
3rd – PLN 718,000 or €203,261
4th – PLN 538,500 or €152,445
5th – PLN 437,980 or €123,989
6th – PLN 344,640 or €97,565
7th – PLN 272,840 or €77,239
8th – PLN 201,040 or €56,913
9th – PLN 122,060 or €34,554

Play gets underway at 2pm local time.

Photos © Neil Stoddart

There may not be an official record book but I think it’s correct to say that this was the shortest day of play in EPT history. From Raul Paez’s elimination in 26th all the way to Claus Nielsen’s departure in tenth took just two hours 40 minutes – including breaks. It’s still daylight outside.

So when the smoke clears here’s how the final table will look tomorrow...

Seat 1 -- Trond Erik Eidsvig – Norway – 220,000
Seat 2 -- Christian Öman – Sweden – 110,000
Seat 3 -- Mehdi Ouakhir – France – PokerStars qualifier – 360,000
Seat 4 -- Niclas Svensson – Sweden – 174,000
Seat 5 -- Daniel Woolson – USA – PokerStars qualifier – 164,000
Seat 6 -- Juan Maceiras – Spain – PokerStars qualifier – 437,000
Seat 7 -- Michael Schulze – Germany – 1,162,000
Seat 8 -- Ricardo Sousa – Portugal – 756,000
Seat 9 -- Mathias Viberg – Sweden – 229,000

It ended with Claus Nielsen, whose prospects at the start of play were certainly more rosy than in the last ten minutes. His miserable day was concluded by German Michael Schulze holding red pocket jacks. Claus had A-K but was left helpless as he watched the flop bring three diamonds, the turn bring a fourth and then a jack appear on the river. It was as if the gods were giving Claus a message in no uncertain terms that this was not to be his day.

For the other nine it’s a last day of work tomorrow starting at 2pm. In the meantime you can catch up on the action from today by checking the links below...

Just three tables for day three

Flying the flag for PokerStars

The first half hour

Confusion reigns – down to 15

Players take a break

Action continues into the break

Finally, a wrap up of the day from Kara Scott and the video blog team...

At this stage there’s a tendency for pots of note to be those that include either an elimination or a double up. But Ricardo Sousa and Claus Nielsen – two of the big stacks on table one – tangled in a hand that would have serious ramifications down the line.

Claus started it all with a bet of 28,500 on a Jd-3s-5c flop, which Ricardo called. The turn brought a ten of diamonds, with Claus making it 56k this time. Ricardo called after a short spell in the tank. The river, a deuce, put three diamonds on the board. This time Claus checked leaving to Ricardo to bet out, a menacing tower of brown chips worth 100k.

Attention was now with Claus who had taken to rubbing his head and pulling a series of faces linked to hellish discomfort. He looked in pain, squirming in his seat.

“King-jack?” asked Ricardo. “You’re thinking so much... queen-jack?”

Claus was having none of it, distracted already by his own inner turmoil, the cost of having gone from second place to this point here – potential disaster at the outcome of this hand. Ricardo calls time. Claus slams down his fist, a loud noise accompanying his fold. A huge hit for the Dutchman despite being a good fold – Ricardo had made the nut flush on the river.

As that hand had gone others players had been eliminated, including PokerStars Sponsored player Sebastian Ruthenberg. There was confusion in the hand as to which player was all-in, Sebastian or his opponent Mehdi Ouakhir. The German learned his fate after a few minutes of counting. Out in 13th place. As Mehdi pointed out, Sebastian had knocked him out back in Dortmund.

Italian player Antonio Battisti followed him in 12th place and Jean-Claude Perrot, the man with the broken hand, finally departed in 11th...

Players now take a 15 minute break...

Michael Schulze – Germany -- 930,000
Ricardo Sousa – Portugal -- 830,000
Juan Maceiras – Spain – PokerStars qualifier -- 492,000
Mehdi Ouakhir – France – PokerStars qualifier -- 325,000
Mathias Viberg – Sweden -- 245,000
Claus Nielsen – Holland -- 237,000
Trond Erik Eidsvig – Norway -- 210,000
Daniel Woolson – USA – PokerStars qualifier -- 173,000
Christian Öman – Sweden -- 122,000
Niclas Svensson – Sweden -- 90,000

Whilst players take a 15 minute break here are the latest chip counts...

Ricardo Sousa -- Portugal -- 850,000
Niclas Svensson -- Sweden -- 90,000
Mathias Viberg -- Sweden -- 220,000
Claus Nielsen -- Denmark -- 325,000
Christian Öman -- Sweden -- 105,000
Jean Claude Perrot -- France -- 100,000
Trond Erik Eidsvig -- Norway -- 205,000
Michael Schulze -- Germany -- 360,000
Mehdi Ouakhir -- France -- PokerStars qualifier -- 160,000
Jari-Pekka Juhola -- Finland -- 70,000
Antonio Battisti -- Italy -- 360,000
Daniel Woolson -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 180,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg -- Germany -- PokerStars sponsored player -- 170,000
Juan Maceiras -- Spain -- PokerStars qualifier -- 390,000

No one is quite sure what happened, but in the space of twenty minutes nine players were eliminated, reducing the tournament from three tables to two in quick time.

Dan Pedersen finished next in 23rd place ahead of Henrik Gwinner and Italian Piergiorgio D’ancona. PokerStars qualifier Ken Hicks Jr. went next, capping off a great performance by him for his second cash in season four - he moved with A-K but ran into Ricardo Sousa in the midst of a tear, holding pocket queens. Craig Hopkins, the PokerStars qualifier form the UK, followed him soon after, out in 18th place.

Ricardo Sousa is getting everyone’s attention with a run of cards that even he is having trouble coping with, joking with the rail that he favours cash games more than a tournaments. He was responsible for PokerStars qualifier William Johnson’s exit, pocket fours against William’s K-Q. A queen and a four on the flop kept William’s hopes alive, but standing up and seeing a hoard of cameras pointed towards him, he waved and said “See y’all” before leaving the tournament.

The results so far...

15th -- William Johnson -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- Zl57,440
16th -- Seppo Parkkinen -- Finland -- Zl57,440
17th -- Christoffer Sonesson -- Sweden -- Zl43,080
18th -- Craig Hopkins -- UK -- PokerStars qualifier -- Zl43,080
19th -- Janusz Petlic -- Poland -- Zl43,080
20th -- Kenneth Hicks Jr -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- Zl43,080
21th -- Piergiorgio D'ancona -- Italy -- 43,080
22nd -- Henrik Gwinner -- Denmark -- Zl43,080
23rd -- Dan Pedersen -- Denmark -- Zl43,080
24th -- Andy Black -- Ireland -- Zl43,080
25th -- Andreas Hagen -- Norway -- Zl28,720
26th -- Raul Paez -- Spain -- Zl28,720

There’s a five minute delay at the start as the dealer stacks Juan Mercieras’ chips which, with him still en route, are tipped out in a big mess on the table. That took five minutes - the first elimination took another five - an unsurprising one in Raul Paez Corral who started the day on just 28k.

Raul spoke to the video blog team shortly after...

More all-ins would follow but not all were taken. Trond Eidsvig tried once and tried twice before keeping his hopes alive with a double up. In between those Norwegian Andreas Hagen exited in 25th place when his A-Q move was stopped dead by A-K.

PokerStars qualifier Ken Hicks Jr. was in a few pots early on, helping Christoffer Sonesson to
double up when he called Sonesson’s pocket jacks with A-T. But it was a different story for Andy Black. His story ends in 24th place in a hand against PokerStars qualifier Criag Hopkins – Q-J for Andy, A-5 for Craig. Aces on the flop and turn left Andy drawing dead.

The video blog team caught up two PokerStars qualifiers before the start of play. First chip leader Juan Macieras from Spain, and Craig Hopkins of the UK...

Just 26 players return for day three of the EPT Warsaw where our final table will be decided. Spain’s Juan Lapido Maceiras leads into today, the PokerStars qualifier finishing on 388k last night, a full 43k ahead of second place Claus Nielsen, a press room blogger in a previous life, who starts today on 345k. They are the only two players with over 300k and will start as favourites to make it through to the last nine.

A few places back is another of the five PokerStars qualifiers still in the running, 20-year-old Ken Hicks Jr who, as we pointed out on the blog yesterday, has a name that often features on an EPT player list. He cashed in Dublin and is looking to improve on his 13th place there. Then there’s Daniel Woolson, another PokerStars qualifier, making his first EPT cash finish whilst local representation comes in the form of Poland's Janusz Petlic, hoping to win on home soil from a position of 50k today.

One of the big stories of yesterday was the progress of Andy Black. The Irishman plays with what some would call a rock and roll style; a speed freak one minute, a pensive and reflective soul at others. His early progress yesterday that had taken him to over 100k was cut short by a bad spell, triggered by an aces mugging. He was all set to exit before making the money but flipped his fortunes in the later levels, turning it around, and finishing the day on 85k.

PokerStars sponsored player Sebastian Ruthenberg is set for his best result since his tenth place finish in Baden a few months ago – he starts today with just under 100k, whilst the last Englishman Craig Hopkins, who made the final table at the PCA in January, flies the union flag on 69k. A tall order for him to challenge the likes of Maceiras and Nielsen but incredible things can happen at this stage – a reassuring thought for Raul Paez Corral of Spain, last on the chip count list with just 28k.

A full list of chips at the start of day three...

Juan Maceiras -- Spain -- PokerStars qualifier -- 388,000
Claus Nielsen -- Denmark -- 345,500
Mathias Viberg -- Sweden -- 284,000
Ricardo Sousa -- Portugal -- 239,000
Kenneth Hicks Jr. -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 225,000
Daniel Woolson -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 188,500
Dan B. Pedersen -- Denmark -- 178,000
Henrik Gwinner -- Denmark -- 165,000
Willian Johnson -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 158,000
Christian Oman -- Sweden -- 147,500
Piergiorgio D'ancona -- Italy -- 138,000
Antonio Battisti -- Italy -- 105,500
Mehdi Ouakhir -- France -- PokerStars qualifier -- 95,000
Michael Schulze -- Germany -- 95,000
Jari-Pekka Juhola -- Finland -- 95,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg -- Germany -- PokerStars sponsored player -- 93,500
Niclas Svensson -- Sweden -- 89,500
Andy Black -- Ireland -- 85,000
Trond Erik Eidsvig Norway -- 79,500
Christoffer Sonesson -- Sweden -- 76,000
Craig Hopkins -- UK -- PokerStars qualifier -- 69,000
Seppo Parkkinen -- Finland -- 64,500
Jean Claude Perrot -- France -- 62,500
Janusz Petlic -- Poland -- 50,000
Andreas Hagen -- Norway -- 48,000
Raul Paez Corral -- Spain -- 28,000

The first two players to leave today will each receive €8,130 before the payouts start to increase...

1st -- Zl2,154,000 or €609,782
2nd -- Zl1,220,600 or €345,543
3rd -- Zl718,000 or €203,261
4th -- Zl538,500 or €152,445
5th -- Zl437,980 or €123,989
6th -- Zl344,640 or €97,565
7th -- Zl272,840 or €77,239
8th -- Zl201,040 or €56,913
9th and 10th -- Zl122,060 or €34,554
11th and 12th -- Zl100,520 or €28,456
13th and 14th -- Zl78,980 or €22,359
15th and 16th -- Zl57,440 or €16,261
17th to 24th -- Zl43,080 or €12,196
25th to 32nd -- Zl28,720 or €8,130

When Andy Black started today his stack of just over 40k was about average. Pretty soon he’d be climbing high at close to 100k and whilst he never really got above that, his role at the EPT Warsaw was never in doubt - part jester, part adrenalized bully, part tournament favourite expected to not only make it through the day but to still be here come Saturday when the final nine battled it out to find a new champion.

Eight hours later that might still be the plan, but it came not without a rough journey of close calls and calamity, that saw the Irishman at one point down to just 15k, all-in a few times, and then bouncing back to threaten once again.

In today’s eight levels 130 players were reduced to just 26. After a tense bubble play finish and a short period of free-for-all, play ended leaving the survivors to bag up chips in preparation for the business end of an EPT tomorrow afternoon.

Chip leader going into that day will be Spaniard and PokerStars qualifier Juan Maceiras ahead of Claus Nielsen. Maceiras excelled whilst Nielsen manoeuvred his way through one of the more difficult tables today, surviving where Thierry van der Berg, Theo Jorgensen and PokerStars qualifier James Honeybone couldn’t. PokerStars Sponsored Player Sebastian Ruthenberg kept his seat, finishing the day on 93,500. Also in the fray are Henrik Gwinner and Trond Eidsvig as well as Christoffer Sonesson and Andreas Hagen.

Performances by other PokerStars qualifiers stood out, notably that from Ken Hicks Jr., who kicked off our reports today, and put in a well crafted day at the office to keep him at the head of the pack and out of the limelight. He finished the day on 225,000 having also been responsible for sending Italian Cristiano Blanco out of the competition on the bubble. PCA final table finisher Craig Hopkins, another PokerStars qualifier, finished on 69k.

But the big story was undoubtedly Andy Black’s rise and fall, and rise again, ending day two on 85,000. The flip side of that coin was the elimination of several big names. Former EPT winners Julian Thew, Mads Andersen and Magnus Petersson were all sent packing, as well as Liz Lieu, Woody Deck, Johnny Lodden and Danny Ryan.

Along the way we put a face to the name of Ken Hicks Jr., reinforced the fact that Joseph Serock is not Joseph Sebock, and followed Mel Judah in his first EPT day two in eight attempts. We also played witness to a new record being set by two players; each becoming the first to record four cashes in one EPT season. They would be Thierry van den Berg (Baden, Dublin, PCA and Warsaw) and Trond Eidsvig (Barcelona, Dublin, Copenhagen and Warsaw) who will both finish in the money.

So to tomorrow - another 2pm start where we shall play down from 26 to nine. Here’s a reminder of the payouts...

1st -- Zl2,154,000 or €609,782
2nd -- Zl1,220,600 or €345,543
3rd -- Zl718,000 or €203,261
4th -- Zl538,500 or €152,445
5th -- Zl437,980 or €123,989
6th -- Zl344,640 or €97,565
7th -- Zl272,840 or €77,239
8th -- Zl201,040 or €56,913
9th and 10th -- Zl122,060 or €34,554
11th and 12th -- Zl100,520 or €28,456
13th and 14th -- Zl78,980 or €22,359
15th and 16th -- Zl57,440 or €16,261
17th to 24th -- Zl43,080 or €12,196
25th to 32nd -- Zl28,720 or €8,130

For anyone looking to catch up on the posts from today, click on the links below. You can also get an up to date list of chip counts by clicking here or on the link at the top of the page.

Day 2 about to begin

The Silver Fox returns...

Faces to names

He’s Joe Serock and you’re not

Robinson aiming to pick up where he left off

The unofficial feature table

The situation at the dinner break

Bad Beats and Bad Breaks

The Black Death Watch

The Art of Riffling

Play reaches the bubble

And finally, the video blog team have a wrap up of the days action...

Railbirds on one side, press on the other. The last thing you wanted to do was move all-in because people already standing close to you found ways to get closer.

That must have been what Italian Cristiano Blanco thought as he was eliminated in 33rd place by PokerStars qualifier Ken Hicks Jr. – pocket Queens for Blanco, A-K for Hicks Jr who caught his ace on the turn.

With Cristiano gone the railbirds disappeared along with the hefty caution a lot of players have been relying on as they navigated their way to a cash finish. First Giuseppe Caciolo shoved, his A-Q against pocket nines – out for €8,130.

Then Andy Black moved in, dispelling the myth that only short stacks make such a move. His A-T went very nicely with a board reading 9-T-T-3-8; sweeter still when you consider it was against Christoffer Sonesson, the man who’d caused Black all that grief earlier.

Hecham El Sayed went out next and then a few more. The queue was clear at the cashier, relax your grip, push in, make or break.

A new record has been set at EPT Warsaw - cashing four times in the same EPT season. The record goes to two players – Dutchman Thierry van der Berg and Norwegian Trond Eidsvig who won Rookie of the Year at the Scandinavian Poker Awards last month.

Play continues until just 24 players remain. Elimination up to that point guarantees €8,130. It shouldn’t take long.

Photos © Neil Stoddart