Blinds: 12,000-24,000 (2,000 ante)

1.33pm: Clock fold
The action was folded around to Michel Abecassis on the button who raised to 60,000, called by Pierre Neuville in the small blind to see a [3h][3s][kh] flop. Both players checked before Neuville led out for 65,000 after the [2h] came down on the turn. Call. Neuville bet 125,000 on the [2c] river and after a long dwell Abecassis folded, but only after the clock had been called.

1.25pm: Massive pot, no information
Don't get your hopes up: this hand is the poker equivalent of a detective novel with the last page ripped out. Ryan Franklin opened from under-the-gun to 55,000. It was the second successive pot he had done so. Although he got it through the first time, Antonio Matias was lying in wait on the second occasion and called the raise. The flop came [3s][3c][kd] and Franklin bet 105,000 at it, but Matias raised to 250,000. Franklin wasn't done: he made it 405,000 more and Matias called. All of this took place in a deathly hush, and things didn't change on the turn of [3h]. Franklin silently checked, Matias announced all in and Franklin instantly folded, shipping about half his stack to the chip leader.

1.23pm: Raise and takes
First Joao Silva takes the blinds and antes with pre-flop bet of 60,000. Then Pierre Neuville repeats the trick with a 62,000 pre-flop bet on the next hand.

1.20pm: Sarwer aggression
After winning the blinds and antes on the previous hand, Pierre Neuville again bets 62,000 but gets a call from Jeff Sarwer on the button. The flop comes [10d][2d][7c] and Neuville bets 95,000, only for Sarwer to hit back with 215,000. At this point two of your PokerStars Blog team members discussed possibilities. "Neuville has kings," said one. "No, he has [ad][3d]," said the other. Neuville folds and quite clearly your two bloggers need a lesson in hand analysis.

1.15pm: No further than the flop
Jeff Sarwer started proceedings with a raise to 65,000 from under-the-gun and was called by Pierre Neuville on the button and Jan Skampa in the big blind. Neither of them hung around though after a 135,000 bet from Sarwer after the [7d][6c][5d] flop.

1.10pm: Neuville firing
João Silva raised to 60,000 from the cut-off but folded to a re-raise to 150,000 from Pierre Neuville in the small blind.

1.05pm: Four-bet
Jan Skampa, who has been the most active player despite the two big stacks to his left, opened again from early position. This time he was made to regret it though. Skampa raised to 56,000; Jeff Sarwer re-raised to 135,000; and Antonio Matias, re-re-raised to 500,000. Skampa quickly scarpered, Sarwer thought a while longer but let it go, and Matias showed [qs][qd].

On the next hand, Matias opened to 48,000 and Michel Abecassis shoved for around 300,000. Matias folded.

1pm: Andrei Vlasenko, eliminated in eighth place for €31,234
Andrei Vlasenko is the first player eliminated today. The action started with a 55,000 raise from Ryan Franklin that was called by Antonio Matias in the small blind before Andrei Vlasenko moved all in from the big blind. Franklin then moved all in behind, forcing the chip leader to fold. Vlasenko showed [9d][9c] was behind Franklin's [ts][th]. The board ran [qh][ad][3d][js][6h] sending Vlasenko home in 8th place for € 31,234.

12.50pm: Skampa going nowhere
Antonio Matias raised to 56,000 from early position and Jan Skampa called in the big blind. The flop was [5d][ks][kc] and Skampa check-called Matias' bet of 56,000. The [9h] turn brought a repeat: Skampa checked, Matias bet 56,000, Skampa called. The river was [ac] and they both checked. Matias was first to show: [qh][10h] and Skampa's [js][jc] took it.

12.47pm: Early action
The action is folded around to Michel Abecassis who completes and Pierre Neuville checks his option from the big blind. After the flop came down [ks][2h][6d] Abecassis check-folded to a 40,000 bet.

On the next hand Jeff Sarwer raised it up to 52,000 from early position and was called by Ryan Franklin in the big blind for a [7d][tc][ks] flop. Franklin then check-folded to a 55,000 bet from Sarwer.

12.40pm: Portuguese men of war
After a straightforward first hand - Jan Skampa raising to 41,000 from the cut off and taking it - the second hand of the final table was more complicated, and more costly for Joao Silva. Antonio Matias raised to 42,000 from the button and Silva called in the big blind. The flop came [5d][kd][ac] and after Silva checked, Matias bet 58,000, which Silva called. The turn was [kh] and Silva bet 75,000 (three of the new gold 25,000 chips). Matias was unimpressed, depositing a raise to 250,000 in the middle. Silva folded.

12.35pm: Cards in the air
After introductions to each player, applause and more applause the final table is now underway.

12.20pm: Hang in there
Finishing touches being made. The start can't be too far away now.

12pm: Pick your winner

The line up for today. You can find their profiles here.

Antonio Matias, Portugal, 3,003,000
Jeff Sarwer, Canada, 1,983,000
Ryan Franklin, United States, 1,047,000
Pierre Neuville, Belgium, 1,027,000
Jan Skampa, Czech Republic, 926,000
Joao Silva, Portugal, 780,000
Michel Abecassis, France, 488,000
Andrei Vlasenko, Russia, 371,000

11.50pm: Ready for the start
We're nearly ready for the start of the EPT Vilamoura final table, we're just short a few players. Eight to be exact. We assume they're off somewhere having their picture taken or perhaps suggesting which of their features they'd like exagerated/toned down on any future MS Paint portrait.

In the meantime some housekeeping. There's nine minutes remaining on the current level 22, with blinds still pegged at 10,000/ 20,000 with a 2,000 ante. Then things will revert to the blind levels detailed above for 75 minute levels until we have a winner some time tonight.

For a full list of prizewinners to date, see the prizewinners page. There's also a full prize structure there.

Stay tuned to PokerStars Blog throughout the day for all the latest updates.

Final table player profiles:

Seat 1: Ryan Franklin, 18, Lake Tahoe, USA - 1,047,000 chips

Despite living in the one of the best casino destinations in the world, Franklin, 18, is too young to play in his home town so instead made his way to Portugal for his first live tournament. Having just graduated from high school Franklin is now taking a year odd to focus on poker before going to university next year. He has already had some big results online including individual wins of $94,000 and $71,000 in separate tournaments. The switch to live poker doesn't seem to have fazed him, being "super-excited" to have made a final table on his debut in the live environment.

Seat 2: Jan Skampa, 23, Prague, Czech Republic - 926,000 chips



Jan Skampa is an economics student at Charles's University in his home town of Prague but spends most of his time as a poker player. The 23-year-old has been playing poker for five years, having learned the game from friends, but he's been playing seriously for three years, scoring his first big result in August at the WPT in Slovakia, $24,508 for eighth place. He followed that with a win a month later, $24,881 at a WPT side event in Cyprus. His progress this week hasn't always been straightforward. He finished well on day one but ended day two as one of the short stacks. But on day three he was able to turn things around with some good cards and good situations, and by making the final table in Vilamoura he's already guaranteed the biggest pay-day of his career.

Seat 3; Jeff Sarwer, 31, Kingston, Ontario, Canada - 1,983,000 chips



This is the second EPT event in a row in which Sarwer has gone deep. Disappointed to have busted in tenth place in Warsaw earlier this month, a result worth approximately €30,705, Sarwer arrived in Portugal determined not to let the same thing happen again and has been either first or second in chips since day two. Sarwer has a background in chess, emerging as a young phenomenon having learned the game at four. His chess career as a young boy became the inspiration for memorable scenes from the film Searching for Bobby Fischer before he quit the game. Now living in Gdansk, Poland, Sarwer switched his attentions to poker a year ago, cashing in Prague last season.

Seat 4: Antonio Matias, 54, Setubal, Portugal - 3,003,000 chips



António Matias couldn't have hoped for a better experience at his very first EPT event. The 54-year-old businessman usually plays cash games but didn't want to miss the first EPT in his home country. He said: "I'm an economist and the general director of a travel agency. Poker is really just a hobby for me as my work means I spend a lot of time abroad - in Luanda, Angola - or I'm at home in Setúbal with my wife and two daughters. No limit hold 'em is my beach." Matias also likes watching football in his free time and is a keen supporter of Benfica, one of the top three teams in Portugal.

Seat 5: Andrei Vlasenko, 45, Moscow, Russia - 371,000 chips



Vlasenko has only been playing poker for a year and says this is by far his best result so far. The 45-year-old businessman originally hails from Moscow but has been living in Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol for the past 11 years where he works in real estate. He said he is thrilled to have made the EPT Vilamoura final table but says his wife Olga will be even more excited than him. "She taught me everything I know," he said. Olga has been supporting her husband at the tournament and also caring for the couple's two-year-old daughter, Daria.

Seat 6: João Silva, 27, Lagos, Portugal - 780,000 chips



Even though there is another Portuguese player at the final, only João Silva can really say he is playing at home. The 27-year-old pro came to his first EPT event from Lagos, a small city in the Algarve region around half an hour from Vilamoura. He quit his job as an IT consultant 14 months ago to dedicate himself 100% to poker. He says he prefers playing cash but he has already made more than €32,000 in four live tournaments since August this year, including three final tables and a first place in Casino Estoril. When he is not playing poker, he loves to go to the Algarve's beaches and kite surf. Even though he is far away from the chip lead, he assures that he has only one goal in EPT Vilamoura: "To win it!"

Seat 7: Michel Abecassis, 57, Paris, France - 488,000 chips



Before becoming one of the best-known faces of French poker, Michel Abécassis embraced many different careers. He originally studied to become a doctor but, despite qualifying, he quickly set aside his stethoscope to become one of the best bridge players in the world. After 13 French Champion titles and two European titles, Abécassis decided he had to find more lucrative employment. He became a journalist at the French magazine Elle where he swiftly became chief editor. In 1997, Abécassis discovered poker and thus began another career. He has five titles in French tournaments, and has made two World Series final tables and won a pot-limit Omaha tournament at the 2002 WCOOP. Despite playing many EPT events, this is Abécassis' first final table on the tour. He came tenth in London in 2006 and 21st in Warsaw last month.

Seat 8: Pierre Neuville, 67, Knokke, Belgium - PokerStars player - 1,027,000 chips



Neuville started playing poker 50 years ago at university when he and his fellow students used to play every day. He then took 25 years off while working at Hasbro games where he eventually became vice president. After he retired two years ago, he decided to follow his dream of playing poker around the world. He took his wife to the PCA in the Bahamas in 2008 and finished in 18th place, laying to rest his wife's doubts that he could compete against world-class players. The following season he did even better and, although hugely disappointed to bubble the final table, he took ninth place in San Remo on season five winning €78,800. He believes making the final here in Portugal has a lot to do with being better prepared. Up against younger players, Neuville tries to give himself an edge by making sure that he is fit and also by planning scenarios ahead of time. Neuville has had tons of support from the Belgian poker community and woke up this morning to a barrage of emails from fans. He feels he is proving that 'older' players can handle the modern game against young aggressive players.

Just ask Antony Lellouche.

The massive overnight leader, and seasoned EPT veteran, was one of the first fallers on a day of huge hands and shocking bust-outs. At the end of it, the Portuguese player Antonio Matias is the leader going to the final table. He held most of the monsters and was behind most of those bust-outs, with the full result of all this carnage a final table line-up that looks like this:

Antonio Matias, Portugal, 3,003,000
Jeff Sarwer, Canada, 1,983,000
Ryan Franklin, United States, 1,047,000
Pierre Neuville, Belgium, 1,027,000
Jan Skampa, Czech Republic, 926,000
Joao Silva, Portugal, 780,000
Michel Abecassis, France, 488,000
Andrei Vlasenko, Russia, 371,000

Matias's charge into the lead really gathered steam when he knocked out Lellouche in two huge pots. On the second of those, Lellouche bluff-shoved all in with a busted draw that Matias snapped off with trip twos.

Matias sat with more than 1.5 million at that point, it grew beyond 2 million as the day progressed, and with 3,003,000 at day's close he is going to be a huge threat at tomorrow's final table.

The same applies to Jeff Sarwer. "Make me the villain," Sarwer quipped last night, when we joked that we were getting tired of writing about him on PokerStars Blog and had now run out of things to say. But it's tough to make a villain out of a player who is rapidly becoming the story of season six.

He's been chip-leader or thereabouts on at least five days we've had to write these wrap-up reports. A relatively recent convert to poker from chess, he's clearly doing something very right indeed - and now he is second in chips going to his first final table. The ride continues.

Of course to get to those eight, we had to lose 16 others. Among them were the PokerStars qualifier - and official Friend of PokerStars Blog - Matt Johns, who ran kings into aces and then sevens into more aces, all within the first orbit. That's no way to end what had been a terrific first appearance on the EPT from Johns. As a self-professed impoverished student, the €10,151 is going to help, but he'll probably be ruing what might have been. Next time, Matt.

He was joined on the rail by the likes of Jim "Mr_BigQueso" Collopy and another online phenom, Ruben Visser, whose big overnight stack followed the example set by Lellouche's (ie, it vanished).

Visser's Team PokerStars Pro colleague Jude Ainsworth deserves special mention too. Although he went out in 13th, that's a cash on his EPT debut since joining the Team. Plenty more are sure to follow.

The full list of prizewinners so far is on the prizewinners page, where you'll also see the target for all those remaining eight, namely the €404,793 first prize.

As we drift off into the Algarve night, there's still plenty for you to keep you entertained. The LAPT Playa Conchal is under way, so check out all the updates from Costa Rica. You can watch all kinds of televisual entertainment over on PokerStars.tv. When you've done all that - and not before - you can check out all the action from today with our level-by-level updates:

Level 18 updates
Level 19 updates
Level 20 updates
Level 21 updates
Level 22 updates

Join us tomorrow for this showdown. There's the online phenomenon in Ryan "HITTHEPANDA" Franklin, there's the chess prodigy Jeff Sarwer. There's the EPT veterans Pierre Neuville and Michel Abecassis and there's the eastern European dark horses Jan Skampa and Andrei Vlasenko. Then there's the home hopes Joao Silva and our leader, Antonio Matias.

It should be fun. Until then, goodnight.

Blinds: 10,000-20,000 (2,000 ante)

8pm: Over
On the stroke of 8pm, this day is done. The short-stacked Claudio Coelho moved all in from the hijack seat - about 120,000 or so - and Jeff Sarwer re-raised from the small blind, convincing Antonio Matias to get out the way.

Sarwer was already ahead pre-flop with [ah][7h] against Coelho's [ac][6h] but the flop sealed it emphatically. It came [kh][2h][4h] giving him the nut flush. Coelho is out in ninth and our final table is set.

A full chip count is imminent, but these are the players (in seat order):

Ryan Franklin, United States
Jan Skampa, Czech Republic
Jeff Sarwer, Canada
Antonio Matias, Portugal
Andrei Vlasenko, Russia
Joao Silva, Portugal
Michel Abecassis, France
Pierre Neuville, Belgium

7.55pm: Skampa-in about
Jeff Sarwer opened for 45,000. It's called by Jan Skampa when the action reached him in the big blind. The flop comes [qh][tc][qc] which Skampa checks and Sarwer bet another 47,000. Skampa paused and then re-raised, 145,000 in total. Sarwer stared at Skampa, at his chips and then sat still. Both of them hardly moved. Sarwer passed. "Nice hand," he said quietly .

7.50pm: Flush anyone?
Jan Skampa opened with a raise to 50,000 and was called by Jeff Sarwer and Pierre Neuville to see a [8d][7c][5c] flop. It was checked to Sarwer and he bet 104,000 only to be called by Neuville from the small blind. The turn came [jc] and this time Neuville check-called a 225,000 bet leaving himself only 209,000 behind. When the river came [5d] Neuville moved in for the last of his chips and Sarwer folded saying "Thanks for that, you obviously have a big hand." Neuville flashed [9c] and raked in the big pot.

7.45pm: Silva golden
Joao Silva made it 50,000 from the button and Pierre Neuville called from the small blind for a flop of [6c][4c][2h]. Both checked for a [7d] on the turn. Now Neuville made it 60,000 which Silva called  for an [8c] on the river. Both checked that. Neuville turned over [as][qh] but Silva had him beaten with [ad][2d].

7.30pm: Silva survives
The first all-in didn't take long. Joao Silva moved all-in with [ac][8s] for a little more than 300,000. Claudio Coelho called with [kh][ks]. Silva needed an ace to survive and got it on the flop: [jd][3s][as]. Coelho was out of his chair holding his head. The turn and river came [6d][9c] and Silva raised his arms in the air. Coelho looked devastated, refusing to shake Antonio Matias's hand as an act of sympathy. Instead he's left with 150,000.

7.25pm: Chips
After a short delay to arrange the pseudo final table, here are the all important chip counts (in seat order):
1 - Claudio Coelho, Portugal, 448,000
2 - Ryan Franklin, United States, 1,219,000
3 - Jan Skampa, Czech Republic, 682,000
4 - Jeff Sarwer, Canada, 2,353,000
5 - Antonio Matias, Portugal, 2,986,000
6 - Andrei Vlasenko, Russia, 379,000
7 - Joao Silva, Portugal, 303,000
8 - Michel Abecassis, France, 544,000
9 - Pierre Neuville, Belgium, 705,000

7.05pm: Terrazas departs
Ryan Franklin opened for 48,000 and Santiago Terrazas re-raised another 97,000 more. Franklin then re-raised all-in and Terrazas called. He didn't like what he saw. His [9s][9h] was out-gunned by Franklin's [kh][kc]. The board ran: [3s][6d][7c][6h][qs]. No change for Terrazas who is eliminated in tenth place.

The remaining nine players are now gathering around the pseudo final table. One more to depart before we reach the final eight who will return tomorrow. Full chips of those nine are on their way.

7pm: This is poker
Action folded around to Jan Skampa who raised to 46,000 and was called Antonio Matias in the big blind. The flop was [5s][2d][qd]. Skampa continued his aggression with a 52,000 bet that Matias min-raised to 104,000. Skampa responded with another raise, up to 220,000 before Matias fought back again with what looked like another min raise. Skampa decided to bail and and folded only to be shown [td][js] by his opponent to cheers from his supporters on the rail.

6.55pm: Double-quick eliminations
Two players have just hit the rail in very quick succession. First up, Gino Gabriel raised from under-the-gun to 50,000 before Ryan Franklin moved all in for around 400,000 and Gabriel snap called all in with a similar sized stack. Franklin tabled [tc][td] and was in a very strong position against Gabriel's [ad][th]. The board ran [2d][kd][5h][kh][jh] to eliminate the final British player in 12th place.

About two hands later, and on the same table, this happened:

Jeff Sarwer opened for 45,000 from the cut off and Tome Moreira raised 75,000 more from the button. Sarwer tanked for a while, Moreira standing up. Sarwer then turned to him and announced all in. Moreira stood, lifting his cards off the table to stare at them before calling. Sarwer immediately said: "Good call". [as][th] for Moreira, [kc][9h] for Sarwer. Then the flop: [js][3h][9d]. Sarwer was now ahead, leaving Moreira in need of a ten or an ace. When the [3d] landed on the turn he gathered his things ready to leave. When the [ks] landed on the river he did just that, shaking hands with Sarwer to a round of applause.

"I'm surprised he had it in him," said Sarwer. Remember the ace-jack fold? I was surprised."

Moreira and Gabriel now find themselves on the prizewinners page, where you can see who has won what so far. The down-side is that they're no longer on the chip-counts page, which is still the best place to find information of those remaining.

6.50pm: No takers
First hand back after the break and Andrei Vlasenko shoved, getting no takers. Second hand back from the break Vlasenko shoved again, still no takers. Joao Silva was trying the same on the other table and you guessed it, no takers.

6.45pm: All in action
The action started with an under-the-gun 48,000 raise from Ryan Franklin before Gino Gabriel three-bet to 170,000 and Santiago Terrazas moved all in. Franklin folded but Gabriel called with [js][jh]. Terrazas opened [ks][kc] and the board ran [ah][5h][3h][5c][3s] to more than double-up the Spanish player.

6.40pm: Hidden talents
With Jude Ainsworth's elimination in the last level, Team PokerStars Pro took their leave of EPT Vilamoura. That gives them more time to work on their hidden talents, showcased in this video blog:

6.35pm: We're back
Play has resumed in Vilamoura. Just 12 players remain and we play on until that figure is down to eight. Check out the latest scores on the now updated chip count page. Missing someone? You might find them here on the prize winners and payout page.

Pierre Neuville

Blinds: 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)

6.15pm: Another break
That's the end of another level. The remaining 12 players are taking a 15 minute break.

6.10pm: Skampa in no hurry
Claudio Coelho limped and Jan Skampa made up the small blind. Antonio Matias checked his option for a flop of [7h][5d][8h]. Skampa made it 42,000 before Matias folded. At this point Pierre Neuville stepped away from the table. "Dah, I missed my plane..." Neuville had been a short stack coming in today and was on the 7pm flight home. Not now. Coelho called for a [3h]. Skampa, a serious and clean looking young man, made it another 90,000. Coelho folded [6s][6c] face up.

6.05pm: Time to play back
Jeff Sarwer, as you would expect, if dominating his table with just over min bet raises that are getting through most of the time. At some point an opponent was bound to play back and that someone was Gino Gabriel. Sarwer did his usual 35,000 raise before Gabriel re-raised to 100,000 from the big blind. Sarwer called and they went to a [ad][ac][5s] flop where both players checked. When the turn came [9c] Gabriel moved all in for 425,000. Sarwer asked for a count, thought about it for a while then smiled and said "Nice hand" as he slid his cards in to the muck.

5.50pm: The Matias show continues
Jan Skampa raised to 42,000 in the cut off and Antonio Matias called on the button. The two of them saw a flop of [7s][4s][qd] and Skampa bet 66,000, which Matias called. The turn was [8c] and the procedure was repeated: Skampa bet 132,000 and Matias called. The river was [2s] and now Skampa slowed down. He checked, as did Matias, who tabled [ts][9s] for the rivered ten-high flush. Skampa mucked and Matias added even more to his huge stack.

5.42pm: Three-way all in
This crazy little pot started with Irish Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth raising to 38,000 from first position and he was called by Antonio Matias in the small blind and Michel Abecassis in the big blind. The flop came down [kc][th][9s] before Matias led out for 60,000 and was cold called by Abecassis before Ainsworth moved all in for 278,000. Matias looked like he was trying to figure out where he was in the hand and then announced a call. He soon knew where he was when Abecassis moved all in behind for a total of 428,000. It wasn't much more to call now though and he did just that.

Ainsworth: [kh][kd]
Matias: [ks][jd]
Abecassis: [qh][jh]

The turn came [qc] to to help Matias hit his gutshot to catch up with Abecassis and the river came [3c] failing to pair the board. This means Ainsworth is eliminated in 13th place and the other two players chopped the pot.

5.35pm: Skampa skooling
Jan Skampa might have only the second biggest stack on table three, but he's assumed the table captain's mantle. He pushed Jude Ainsworth off a pot with a judicious re-raise pre-flop and he just took some chips from Claudio Coelho with ace high. Coehlo opened to 32,000, Skampa called in the small blind and the flop came [3d][7h][4d] which both players checked. The turn was [9c] and Skampa check-called Coehlo's 32,000 bet. The river, [5h], was checked by both. Skampa's [ah][8h] was better than Coehlo's [kh][qc].

5.30pm: No Victory for Visser
One of two remaining Team PokerStars Pros Ruben Visser has been eliminated. He pushed his short stack in from early position with [qh][th] but ran into Jeff Sarwer's [ad][ks] in the big blind. The board came [5s][7h][7d][7c][8d] offering no help for the young Dutch maestro who leaves to generous applause.

5.25pm: Long awaited elimination
Coelho is back in action, this time seeing off 102. Crippled by the hand against Jude Ainsworth, 102 shoved with [8s][8c] getting called by Coelho with [jh][th]. The board came: [tc][5d][7d][ks][2s] to bust him in 15th place.

5.20pm: Coelho the clown
Claudio Coelho limped under the gun and Jude Ainsworth and Pierre Neuville called from the blinds. The flop came [6c][qh][5d]. Ainsworth and Neuville checked before Coelho made it 33,000. Ainsworth folded but Neuville called for a [qd] on the turn. Neuville checked that and Coelho moved in a tower worth 75,000, grinning at Neuville. Neuville was having none of it though and re-raised Coelho, 200,000 total. Coelho stopped grinning and began rubbing his cards on the table while bouncing in his chair.

He began staring at Neuville again but the Belgian had a get-on-with-it expression. Then, after a minute of waiting, Neuville mimed playing a violin in faux sympathy for Coelho who folded his [7s][7d] face up. Neuville grinned, looked like he would show but instead mucked his cards, laughing and giving Coelho a pat on the back.

5.15pm: Lifelines
An open shove by Aurelien Guiglini in the small blind, called by Jude Ainsworth in the big. The Team PokerStars Pro was covered but only just. He showed [ad][jc] to Guiglini's [td][ts]. Ainsworth got nothing from the flop but a jack on the turn. He did a quiet fist pump while Claudio Coelho waved goodbye to him. A blank river and Guiglini was left with less than 50,000. Ainsworth gets a lifeline.

5.10pm: Bad timing
The action folded around to Hugo Felix on the button who open shoved with his last 176,000. Ryan Franklin was in the next seat and asked for a count all the while looking as if he had a difficult decision to make. The count was done and he announced "call" to give us a show down when Gino Gabriel in the big blind folded. Felix tabled [jd][7c] against Franklin's [as][ad]. Gabriel had evaded the trap. The board ran [2h][qd][4h][3c][td] busting Felix.

5.05pm: Matias still going strong
Pierre Neuville raised to 42,000 from early position and Antonio Matias was the only caller from the button. The flop came [js][3s][kc] and Neuville check-called Matias's 60,000 bet. The turn was [2h] and they both checked. The river was [9s] and they both checked that too. Matias' [ad][jd] was good.

5pm: New level
After the first level of the tournament during which no one was eliminated, 16 players return for the start of level 21. Their chips, as ever, are on the chip count page and you'll doubtless notice a few short stacks there. The pressure is on Ruben Visser and Ryan Franklin, among others.

In much safer waters are Antonio Matias, Jeff Sarwer and this man, Jan Skampa:

Blinds: 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)

4.45pm: To the break
A few scrappy looking pots have taken place on table two. Pierre Neuville has raised pre-flop a couple of times, but ended the hand down after re-raises from Andrei Vlasenko and Jan Skampa. He took some back though pushing Jude Ainsworth off a pre-flop raise.

Just before the break Skampa made it 27,000 from under-the-gun. Aurelien Guiglini called in the cut off, as did Claudio Coelho in the small blind. The flop came [5s][2d][th] and Coelho had a pop at it, betting 25,000. Skampa was having none of it and raised to 80,000. That got Guiglini out of the way and ultimately Coelho who showed [ad][js]

That's the end of the level - the first today that has ended without a player being eliminated. The last 16 are now on a 15 minute break.

4.35pm: Short stack battle
Dutch Team PokerStars Pro Ruben Vissser moved all in from the hijack for 277,000 when folded around to him before Ryan Franklin called all in for 132,000 from the button. It was a case of small pairs for the small stacks as Visser opened [4c][4d] to Franklin's [6s][6h]. The board ran [9c][3s][tc][6d][jh] putting Visser right back in the deep troble he was just climbing out of.

4.25pm: Double up for Visser
It's folded around to Tome Moreira in the small blind, who announces he's all. Ruben Visser, the short-stack at the table, instantly calls all in from the big blind.
Moreira: [as][7c]
Visser: [ad][8d]
The flop came [5s][kc][3c], and the [8h] turn sealed the deal. The [4h] river was of no consequence, and Visser doubled up to 280,000, leaving Moreira on around 350,000.

4.20pm: Small pot
There's not a huge amount happening at the moment, but here's a small pot to report. Claudio Coelho limped from under-the-gun and it was folded to the blinds, Jude Ainsworth in the small and Pierre Neuville in the big. They came along. The flop was [qc][9c][3d] and all three of them checked. The turn was [qs] and Ainsworth fired 12,000. Neuville raised to 32,000 and that was that. Fold, fold.

4.15pm: Visser on the point of evisceration
It's been a tough day for Ruben Visser and he is now down to his last 80,000 or so. Visser open shoved from the button and got that through, but on the next hand raised to 27,000 from the cut off. Gino Gabriel called in the big blind and they saw a [10s][9h][ah] flop. Gabriel checked, Visser bet 24,000 and Gabriel called. The turn was [7c], which they both checked, and the river was [ac]. Gabriel bet 45,000 and Visser, priced in, called. Gabriel showed [as][3s] and Visser's jacks were cracked.

4.10pm: Sarwer means business
Jeff Sarwer opened under the gun for 27,000, and it's folded around to Ruben Visser in mid position. He has a look down at his chips, then picks up a chunk and lobs them in the middle for a re-raise of 45,000.

Sarwer asked how much Visser had behind - it was significantly less than his stack - and re-popped for 250,000. Visser wasted no time in mucking his cards

4.05pm: Song and dance
On a flop of [9h][8d][4d] Michel Abecassis in early position checked to Claudio Coelho on the button who made it 30,000. Abecassis called for a [8c] turn. Coelho can't seem to sit still and dances in his seat. He made it 25,000 which Abecassis raised to 71,000. Coelho called, still dancing, for a [2s] on the river. Coelho immediately flicked out 20,000.

Abecassis asked how much he had behind. It's several hundred. It's hard to tell because Coelho has his chips all over the place, not stacked in 20s. Abecassis raises another 150,000. Coelho called instantly and without looking at the board, or Abecassis, turned over his [5h][5c]. Abecassis insta-mucked. "Whooooooo," sand Coelho, "Whooooooo," he continued, doing the dance at the same time. It's a routine that might not win him many friends.

3.55pm: No fun time for Franklin
Ryan Franklin opened with a 27,000 raise from the hijack and then called the 202,000 all in push from Joao Silva in the small blind. Franklin had [td][tc] and saw he was in good shape against Silva's [jd][9h]. That all changed though when the board came [jh][7s][9d][6s][6d]. Franklin down to 100,000 now.

3.50pm: No takers
A flurry of all ins on Jeff Sarwer's table, although nothing came from them. Sarwer made it 30,000 from the button before Ruben Visser moved all-in. Sarwer folded an ace, Visser said he had some of those too.

Then Ryan Franklin got stuck in, moving all-in behind a bet of 31,000 from Visser. No takers, but they wanted to see.

"Let me pick one!" said Visser but Franklin wasn't playing.
"You could have called to see both."
"Pay per view, right?" added Sarwer.

Franklin did the same on the next hand, again no takers. He's been the short stack for some time now but he doesn't look under threat.

3.45pm: Hey Jude, don't be afraid
"I don't like making hero calls," said Jude Ainsworth, staring down Antonio Matias and his huge stack, 71,000 of which had been bet on the river. The hand played out like this: Matias raised to 25,000 from the cut off and Ainsworth was the only caller from the big blind. The flop came [2c][js][kd] and both players checked. The turn was [5s] and Ainsworth check-called Matias' 25,000 bet. The river was [4c] and Ainsworth checked again, which prompted that 71,000 bet from Matias. "Did that four help you?" Ainsworth asked. "I think I was ahead before that." Ainsworth's read was spot on, but he called anyway, showing [7s][5h]. Matias showed [as][3s].

3.40pm: Neuville doubles
Pierre Neuville doubles up to 675,000 through Jan Skampa. Neuville bet 32,000 from mid position, and Skampa re-raised to 86,000 from the small blind. A little look at his opponent's stack - Skampa had him well covered - and Neuville moved all in for 298,000 more. Call.

Skampa: [js][jd]
Neuville: [kd][kh]

The flop came [qc][qs][9s] and the [6s] turn added a flush draw to Skampa's outs, making the man from Belgium sweat a little, but the [9d] was enough to keep him ahead.

3.42pm: Tome for a double-up
Tome Moreira has just doubled through Santiago Terrazas. Moreira raised to 31,000 from under-the-gun and was only called by the Spaniard to see a [2s][4s][3s] flop. Moreira bet 60,000 when checked to him before he was put all in by Terrazas. Moreira had 155,000 back and made the call with [th][td] and saw he was up against [8s][8c]. The turn came [6c] and river [kc] to see the chips heading the way of the Portuguese. The Spaniard down to 460,000.

3.35pm: Blind on blind
Pierre Neuville made it 30,000 from the small blind and Claudio Coelho called from the big. The flop came [ah][9d][9h] and Neuville led for 47,000. Coelho took a long time over his decision but folded, showing [10h][jc].

3.30pm: And we're back after break
Play resumes. 16 players remain and their chip counts are now available on the chip count page.

Ruben Visser

Blinds: 4,000-8,000 (500 ante)

3.15pm: Franklin picks his spot
Ryan Franklin reraised all in from late position after Tome Moreira had opened to 28,000. Franklin's all in was 161,000 more. The tournament clock ticked down towards the end of the level as Moreira sunk into the tank. He passed almost on the stroke of the end of the level, giving everyone their full 15-minute break. Including us.

3.10pm: Neuville nipped
Pierre Neuville is trying to get something going, but is not getting it his own way. He raised to 28,000 from the cut off, then Jan Skampa made it 51,000 from the big blind. Neuvill folded. A couple of hands later, Neuville raised to 25,000 from mid position and Claudio Coelho called to his left. The flop came [4d][2c][ah] and after Neuville checked, Coelho bet 50,000 and Neuville folded. Coelho showed [2s][3d].

3.05pm: Tome-much to call
Santiago Terrazas opened for 27,000 under the gun, called by Tome Moreira for a [3s][as][9c] flop. Terrazas made it another 39,000 which again Moreira called. Again on the [ac] turn, Santiago made it 85,000 which Moreira called for a [4c] turn. As the last card hit the board Terrazas announced "all-in", shoving 220,000 into the middle. Moreira went into an elaborate thought process, picking up his cards which everyone behind him could see: [ah][jd]. It looked like he was exposing his cards but he kept putting them back again. But he would fold, showing his ace-jack. Terrazas looked relieved and showed an [ad].

3pm: Online player
Ruben Visser moved his cards forward as if to pass, under-the-gun. The only problem was that he wasn't under-the-gun; he was in the big blind and just hadn't posted it. There was moderate hilarity at that, but when it was folded to Jeff Sarwer on the button, they were laughing again. Sarwer raised, and Visser said: "I always fold jacks under the gun. But I'll play them from the big blind." That wasn't strictly true. He folded.

2.55pm: Ainsworth less
Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth has slipped down to 270,000. He bet 20,000 on the button and was called by Claudio Coelho in the big blind. Coelho bet 30,000 on the [jh][10h][9c] flop - call. On the [6s] turn Coelho made it 40,000 - call. Finally, on the [5d] river Coelho bet 45,000 and again Ainsworth called. Coelho showed [js][8h], and that was good.

Coelho is now on around 600,000.

2.50pm: More for Matias
When you're hot, you're hot and Antonio Matias cannot miss at the moment. Michel Abecassis made it 24,000 under-the-gun, Jude Ainsworth called from middle position and Matias called from the big blind. The flop came [9s][qd][2c] and after Matias and Abecassis both checked, Ainsworth bet 35,000. Matias called, Abecassis folded. The turn was [5h] and both checked. They also both checked the [ac] river. Ainsworth showed black eights, but Matias had [ah][10h] and his rivered pair of aces took it.

2.47pm: El Classico
Gino Gabriel raised to 26,000 from early position and was called by Jeff Sarwer before Ruben Visser three-bet to 88,000. Gabriel then went all in for 260,000 and was called by Visser with [ac][kc] after Sarwer had passed. Gabriel tabled [qc][qd] and he was the happier player after the board ran [9c][qh][5h][3s][jd]. Visser down to 430,000 now.

2.45pm: One here one there
Jan Skampa opened for 24,000. Michel Abecassis was on the button and raised 42,000 more. Back to Skampa and he re-raised another 88,000 on top of that. Abecassis folded, patting the table. Over on the other table Ruben Visser opened for 23,000 from under the gun. Joao Silva called in the cut off. The flop came [2d][ac][2s] and Visser put his hood up, betting 31,000 which Silva called. On the turn [5h] Visser added another 79,000, enough for Silva to pass

2.40pm: Good call, sir
Ryan Franklin opened for 24,000 in mid position, called by Santiago Terrezas in the small blind and Jeff Sarwer in the big. All three checked the [js][8d][7c] flop. On the [8s] turn Terrezaz checked, Sarwer bet 36,000 and Franklin re-raised to 85,000. Only Sarwer called. Both checked the [2c] river.

Sarwer: [ad][9h]
Franklin: [as][4s]

Sarwer raked in the 235,000 pot.

2.35pm: Double up
Ryan Franklin raised from the button and then called the 190,000 all in push from Joao Silva. The race was on as Silva held [5d][5s] to Franklin's [ah][kh] and the board ran [8h][qd][2s][jc][9h]. Cries of "Vamos!" came from the Portuguese rail as one of their own survives for now.

2.35pm: The enigma revealed
The man crushing day four in Vilamoura is the Portuguese player Antonio Matias. Our photographer Neil Stoddart ploughed through his mountain of chips to get Matias to pose in front of the camera in the most recent break. Here's your chip leader:

2.30pm: Cheerio Garcia
On a flop of [6s][2c][9c] Javier Garcia moved in with [qc][jc], called by Michel Abecassis with [jd][9d]. A [jh] on the turn and [7s] on the river. That's that for Garcia, out in 17th place.

We're now down to two tables.

2.25pm: Another man down
The man in question is Ricardo Sousa and he fell at the hands of the Irish Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth. It was a standard shove-call pre-flop and Ainsworth tabled [td][tc] to Sousa's [ac][4s]. The board ran [kh][4h][7s][8s][3h].

2.15pm: The rich get richer
Jude Ainsworth is the latest player to suffer at the hands of Antonio Matias. Matias raised to 30,000 from the cut off and Ainsworth called from the small blind. The flop came [js][3h][jc] and Ainsworth check-called Matias' 60,000 bet. The turn was [10h], which both players checked, and the river came [10s], which is where it got interesting Ainsworth led for 100,000 and Matias made it 300,000. Ainsworth reluctantly folded, but Matias nodded in appreciation and showed the [jh]. He later said he had quads - you can believe that if you like.

2.10pm: Nothing to see here?
On a flop of [9h][kc][9c] Jeff Sarwer on the small blind and Ryan Franklin were playing out a now familiar hand. Both checked for a [6d] on the turn where Franklin bet 40,000 and Sarwer passed. "That wasn't very interesting, was it?" said Sarwer looking over. Not on its own perhaps, but these two are providing day four with their own intriguing sub-plot.

2.05pm: Joao Bar-busta
The action folded around to Joao Barbosa in the small blind who open shoved for around 180,000, getting snap called by Pierre Neuville in the big blind with [ah][ks]. Barbosa was live with [jd][9d] but he got no help on the [7c][qd][2h][kh][8h] board. Barbosa leaves in 19th spot.

2pm: Short stack surges continue
The latest shortie to double through is Hugo Felix who moved all in for 145,000 when the action was folded to him on the button. Gino Gabriel took a quick peek at his cards from the big blind and called with [9d][9c]. Felix tabled [ah][qs] and the board ran [kd][js][3c][jc][td], making a straight on the river for Felix.

1.55pm: All ins
Two players are all in on neighbouring tables. The short story goes like this: Gino Gabriel raises to 26,000 from early position and Joao Silva moves all in for about 220,000. Fold.

The slightly longer story occurred on table one, where Joao Barbosa raised from the hijack, making it 20,000 and Ruben Visser re-raised from the button, asking for 46,000 to go. Andrei Vlasenko, from the small blind, then moved all in for about 185,000. Barbosa folded, leaving himself with about 160,000, but Visser called, tabling [10h][10d]. Vlasenko's [jh][jd] were ahead and stayed there through a dry board.

After a flurry of early eliminations, the short stacks have started to double up.

1.50pm: Sarwer the exception
Every player who has had to move tables this morning has busted from the tournament - with one exception. Jeff Sarwer has more than a million in chips and is still well in the hunt here.

1.50pm: Video
Here's the introductory video to day four.

1.50pm: Back to the tables
The players have returned and we've been busy counting chips. Antonio Matias is well ahead at the moment. Head over to the chip-count page for full details.

CLICK HERE FOR CHIP COUNTS

Blinds: 4,000-8,000 (500 ante)

1.45pm: That's the break
Another level ends and players take a 15 minute break.

1.40pm: Return of the Jeff
Jeff Sarwer made it 20,000 from the button. Ryan Franklin re-raised from the big blind, making it 76,000. Sarwer fired back with another raise, taking two towers of yellows from his stack. He hadn't even pushed them forward before Franklin folded.

But Franklin would turn the tables soon after. After Sarwer opened for 20,000 from middle position Franklin re-raised to 51,000 from the button. The blinds folded and it was back with Sarwer.

"The empire strikes back, huh?" said Sarwer, before humming the first bars of Darth Vader's signature tune. This one went to Franklin.

1.38pm: Checking with the nuts
Joao Barbosa raised from the hijack and was called by Claudio Coelho in the big blind. Both players checked to the river where the board read [td][ad][5d][6d][jd]. At this point Silva bet 80,000. Barbosa called with [7d][7c] but was shown [kd][2d] by Coelho who had the nuts all the way.

1.37pm: Fold, really?
There was a raise and a call before Santiago Terrazas re-raise, a classic squeeze that had worked for Terrazas on the previous hand. This time it wasn't so successful: the original raiser folded but Gino Gabriel moved all in. Terrazas had his opponent well covered but after looking like he was going to call he folded [qd][qs] face-up.

1.36pm Ainsworth talks
Jude Ainsworth is one of the few players that hasn't got massively involved on what is without question the action table. Late last night, the new member of Team PokerStars Pro talked to the video blog team:

1.35pm: Garcia doubles
Javier Garcia just outdrew Ricardo Sousa to double up. It was all in pre-flop, Garcia's 120,000-odd well covered by Sousa. Garcia had [as][8c] to Sousa's [ad][qd]. The flop was good for Garcia though: it ran out [7s][8s][6h] and the turn and river were [10s][5c], meaning the flopped eight stayed good. Sousa's slide continues.

1.30pm: Barbosa aggression
Pierre Neuville limped under-the-gun and it was folded to Joao Barbosa in the big blind. He raised to 24,000 and Neuville made it 53,000. Barbosa moved all in for about 300,000 and Neuville got out the way.

1.25pm: Double up
Michel Abecassis raised to 38,000 from the big blind. Ricardo Sousa was in the hand with him from middle position, and moved all-in, easily covering Abecassis who called showing [ad][ac], ahead against Sousa's [8c][8d]. The board came: [3h][2c][qh][4h][3d] and Abecassis doubled up, close to 600,000 now.

1.20pm: Skampa over Sousa
Ricardo Sousa raised to 20,000 under-the-gu and Jan Skampa called. The flop came [7d][qc][5c] and Sousa bet 27,000, which Skampa called. The turn was [6c] and they both checked, as they did the [kh] river. Sousa showed [7h][8h] but Skampa's [10c][10h] was better.

1.15pm: Previously this tournament
Putting that Lellouche bust out in a little context, here's a hand from earlier in the day that went unreported, although it's more relevant now. Lellouche raised to 20,500 from the hijack and Jan Skampa re-raised to 57,000 from the cut off. Lellouche then made it 137,000 and Skampa announced he was all in. That's the four-bet, fold from Lellouche that some people are talking about on internet forums, but also shows that Lellouche is capable of laying a hand down.

1.15pm: Loose change
Santiago Terrazos raised on the button to 20,500. Jeff Sarwer was in the small blind and re-raised to 61,000. Terrazos called and the flop came [7d][8c][7c]. Sarwer then bet 100,000, enough to take the pot.

1.10pm:The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Antony Lellouche started the day as chip leader and now he is out in dramatic circumstances. He raised from the cut off and was called by Antonio Matias in the small blind. The flop came [2c][8d][jc]. Matias check-raised Lellouche's 45,000 bet up to 100,000 and received a call. The turn came [qs] before Matias check-called a 145,000 from the Frenchman. When the river fell [2d] Matias checked to face an all in bet from Lellouche. Matias called! Lellouche said: "You're good," and tabled [7d][9d] for a busted draw and Matias opened [ah][2h] for rivered trips twos. A shocked Lellouche leaves the room while Matias spends a while stacking his stack now worth at least 1,700,000.

1pm: Big pair v big pair II
Guillaume Da Silva is next out and again it's big pair against big pair. Da Silver has pocket jacks, Santiago Terrazas has pocket queens. No help and that's another elimination.

12.57pm: Big pair v big pair I
Pierre Neuville raised from second position only to be re-raised by Andrei Vlasenko two seats along. His answer was to move all in and the call was quick in coming. [kc][kh] for Neuville, [qd][qc] for Vlasenko and the board ran [as][ks][9h][9s][3c]. It was all over by the turn and Neuville doubled to 340,000. Vlasenko on 190,000 now.

12.55pm: Vlasenko takes one from Sarwer
Jeff Sarwer and Andrei Vlasenko tangled on table one when Vlasenko called Sarwer's pre-flop opener from the big blind. The flop came [qc][3h][10s] and they both checked. The turn was [jc] and Vlasenko bet 25,000, which Sarwer called. The river was [4h] and Vlasenko bet 40,000, which again Sarwer called. Vlasenko showed [qh][10h] for two pair. "Hmm, better than I thought," said Sarwer.

12.50pm: Mr_BigQueso grilled
James Collopy is out. He eventually got it all in from the button with [ad][kc] and was up against Ryan Franklin and his [qs][jd]. The flop came [2s][4s][4d], good for Collopy, then the [4c] came on the turn. "Don't show me a two," Collopy said, but that was the least of his worries. The river was [js] which gave the whole pot to Franklin. Collopy is out in 21st.

12.45pm: Narrow margin
Tome Moreira just pushed Joao Barbosa out of a hand that was brewing pre-flop. He'd raised from the button before Barbosa re-raised in the small blind. That prompted Moreira to move all in for 200,000 or so more, ending the action.

A hand later Moreira was in action again, although not for long. Claudio Coelho opened for 25,000 which Moreira called in the cut off. Ruben Visser also wanted in, calling from the big blind for a flop of [ac][5d][4d].

Visser checked to Coelho who bet 30,000. Moreira folded but Visser called for a [2c] on the turn. The pattern continued. Visser checked before Coelho made it another 50,000 to play. Again Visser called. Same again on the [ad] river. Another 60,000 from Coelho, called by Visser. [as][qd] for Coelho, a narrow defeat for Visser, holding [ah][js].

12.45pm: Jacks full
Michel Abecassis raised to 20,500 from under-the-gun and was called in three spots to see a [jd][4c][7h] flop. Antonio Matias led out for 40,500 and was only called by Ricardo Sousa before the [9d] turn came down. Matias contimued to push with a 100,500 bet and once again his fellow country man called. The river [js] didn't slow Matias down as he fired 200,500 into the pot. Sousa thought for a while but ultimately laid it down and good job too as he was shown [jc][9c] for a full house.

12.30pm: Johns departs
Well, it doesn't get much crueler than this. Matt Johns is out, the victim of two miserable hands back-to-back. He had Antonio Matias covered in chips when they got them all in pre-flop, but Johns' kings were no match for Matias's aces and that put Johns down to about 70,000. Then he shoved with pocket sevens and ran into Ricardo Sousa's aces. Out.

That's aces on the first three hands of action on table two, with Johns following Mohamed Razab out the door.

12.25pm: Opening gambit
Jeff Sarwer made it 15000 from the cut off. Pierre Neuville was waiting in the big blind, raising to just less than 100,000. Sarwer rubbed his temples for a bit before folding. "Alright, nice hand." Cue long discussion about what Neuville had.

No such discussion for Santiago Terrazos. He just got re-raised off a hand by Jim Collopy. Collopy didn't show but Terrazos folded [ah][qh].

12.20pm: Cold start to the day
We have our first elimination today and it was a bit if a cooler. Action folded around to Mohamed Razab on the button who raised to 17,000 and then moved all in for around 230,000 when Jan Skampa re-raised to 27,000 from the small blind. Skampa snap called with [ac][ah] and you have to feel sorry for Razab who tabled [as][ks]. The board ran [qh][9h][7d][kh][jc] and a disbelieving Razab left the room.

12.10pm: Back to the action
We're back, the players are back, and we have action again in Vilamoura. There are only 11 minutes of level 17 remaining, where the blinds are 3,000-6,000 and then we'll be up to 4,000-8,000 for another 75 minutes. Stick with us.

The list of those players in order of chip-stack can be seen on the chip-count page. But here we have it in table and seat order. There was a redraw late last night and these are the results.

Table one
Seat 1 - Claudio Coelho - 508,500
Seat 2 - Aurelien Guiglini - 253,000
Seat 3 - Jeff Sarwer - 913,500
Seat 4 - Tome Moreira - 359,000
Seat 5 - Joao Barbosa - 362,000
Seat 6 - Pierre Neuville - 174,000
Seat 7 - Ruben Visser - 749,000
Seat 8 - Andrei Vlasenko - 258,500

Table two
Seat 1 - Mohamed Razab - 237,500
Seat 2 - Jan Skampa - 562,000
Seat 3 - Antonio Matias - 305,000
Seat 4 - Michel Abecassis - 250,000
Seat 5 - Matt Johns - 374,000
Seat 6 - Jude Ainsworth - 491,000
Seat 7 - Javier Garcia - 140,500
Seat 8 - Ricardo Sousa - 765,000

Table three
Seat 1 - Joao Silva - 283,500
Seat 2 - Santiago Terrazas - 351,000
Seat 3 - Antony Lellouche - 1,134,000
Seat 4 - Guillaume Da Silva - 167,500
Seat 5 - James Collopy - 192,500
Seat 6 - Hugo Felix - 160,500
Seat 7 - Ryan Franklin - 299,500
Seat 8 - Gino Gabriel - 385,000

We begin today with 11 minutes left in level 17, but if we're anything we're mavericks at PokerStars Blog and we're going to go right ahead and call our first post of the day Level 18 updates. Tune in there for all the action from the first couple of hours and stay with us until the end.

Meanwhile, we all know Team PokerStars Pro are a talented bunch, but this video just proves it. Watch out for Jan Heitmann's magic!

Yesterday we reported how Antony Lellouche and Jeff Sarwer were once again setting the benchmark for a successful day on an EPT, just as they had a few weeks earlier in Warsaw.

Well, not a lot has changed since then.

Tonight those two are still the leaders - all they did was swap places at the top. Yesterday it was Sarwer, today Lellouche.

Antony Lellouche

Jeff Sarwer

Lellouche (1,134,000 chips) and Sarwer (913,500 chips) were today's draw for reporters, and their progress seemed to directly affect everyone else. If either of them sneezed the players at their tables got colds and most of the time that meant another empty seat. By the whistle the closest stacks to them belonged to Ricardo Sousa (765,000) and the Team PokerStars Pro Ruben Visser (749,000).

Ruben Visser

Taking place around them was the process of going from 69 players to 24. It's often hard to predict how long that will take, but today it was as if the tournament floor had been lifted up at one end, sending players sliding uncontrollably towards the payout desk.

Within two levels we'd reached the bubble, the Russian player Sergey Lebedev claiming the dubious honour of bubble boy before the first hand-for-hand shuffle. With that popped we set a course for a final 24 and we reached that before 6pm, just half an hour after the sun set over the Algarve. There are still signs of daylight out there.

So who else got a pat on the back today?

Matt Johns had a breakthrough day at his first EPT event. The PokerStars qualifier finished on 374,000 after recovering from an earlier blow, and ultimately brought the day to a close when he busted Nicolo Calia in 25th place, flopping a straight against Calia's set of kings. Joao Barbosa secured his eighth EPT cash, bagging up 362,000 tonight. Team PokerStars Pro's new boy Jude Ainsworth continues his excellent debut. Ainsworth returns tomorrow with 491,000, joined by team mate Ruben Visser with 749,000. Jan Skampa is within sight of the leaders with 562,000, as is Claudio Coelho on 508,500.

Matt Johns

Jude Ainsworth

Flip the success coin for the list of today's eliminations, one that includes Andy Black, Alex Kravchenko, Johannes Strassmann, Johan van Til, Ljubomir Josipovic, Martin Wendt, Stefan Mattsson and Ross Boatman among others. You can find how much each of them cashed, if anything, at the prize winners and payouts page as well as all today's scores on the chip count page, which is the only place to find the official counts for all 24 remaining players.

Martin Wendt

In the meantime feel free to catch up on everything that happened today at the links below:

Level 14
Level 15
Level 16
Level 17

Our thanks to Neil Stoddart for the photography, including the three faces of Jan Heitmann, and you can find all the video blogs you like at PokerStars.tv. They're still celebrating the fact that the video blog curse has not struck Matt Johns.

That's it for today. Now it's on to day four, where we wrench up the excitement levels again and close in on the final table: from 24 players to a last eight.

Can Sarwer and Lellouche put their Warsaw demons behind them and reach that final? Or will a local man make a legend of himself in front of a home crowd? Find out when the action begins at noon GMT tomorrow. And if you need something for the time in between then there's action from the LAPT in Costa Rica right now.

Cheerio.

***
Here's something to ease you into the night. It's a football match between Germany and Spain, Team PokerStars Pro style:

Blinds: 3,000-6,000 (500 ante)

5.45pm: Action flop you think?
The flop was already out reading [ks][jh][qh] and in a flurry of action Matt Johns and Nicolo Calia had all their chips in the middle with the former just covering the latter. It was a cooler flop too as Calia held [kc][kd] for top set to John's [9h][th] for a straight with a re-draw to a straight flush. The turn came [4s] and river [2c] to bust Calia and give Johns a finishing stack of 374,000.

This exit means we're down to 24 players which is the magic number that ends today's play. A full chip count and a wrap of today's play will be on the way soon.

5.30pm: Sousa takes chunk from Johns
A sickener for Matt Johns. He has just doubled up Ricardo Sousa with [ac][kh] versus Sousa's [ks][kd]. Sousa raised pre-flop to 14,000 from the hijack; Johns made it 30,000 from the button, Sousa made it 74,000 and Johns shoved. Sousa called for his entire 316,000 stack and the board came [6d][4h][2h][3c][qh]. Sousa doubles to 650,000 approx, while Johns is down to around 180,000.

In better times, just before the bubble, Johns and his fellow American PokerStars qualifier Jim Collopy talked to the video blog team. Here's what they had to say:

5.25pm: Snap call
Dutch Team PokerStars Pro Ruben Visser opened with a raise to 14,000 from the button. Alexey Yuzikov was sat in the big blind and seemed to have a difficult decision but after a while decided an all-in push for around 120,000 was the right choice. Visser snap called him and quickly saw his [ad][9h] was in good shape against the Russian's [ah][4h] and it stayed that way through the [ts][8h][2h][3c][2d] board. Visser up to 760,000 now.

5.15pm: Heitmann out in battle of the Jans
It's time for Unhappy Jan, unfortunately, as Jan Heitmann has been eliminated by Jan Skampa. They got it all in pre-flop:

Heitmann: [js][qs]
Skampa: [9c][9h]

"That's better than I could have hoped for," said Heitmann, who was covered by Skampa. But the board ran [10d][4d][ks][kc][kh] and that was enough to bust him and shoot Skampa up to around 390,000.

"It's been a pleasure playing with and against you," said the German Team PokerStars Pro as he headed for the cash desk.

5.10pm: Back in the right direction
Jeff Sarwer has stopped the bleeding of his stack and is up to 620,000. Mohamed Razab started proceedings with a raise to 15,000 from early position, Luis Rodriguez then juiced it up a bit with a three-bet to 44,000 but it got even more interesting when Sarwer four-bet to 111,000. Razab moved out of the way but Rodriguez moved all-in for another 85,000 with [ad][qc]. Sarwer called with [ah][kh] and he was very happy to see it hold up through the [9c][kd][3c][8h][qh] board.

5.05pm: Pirbazari floored
Amir Pirbazari is out. Tome Moreira bet 15,500, and Pirbazari moved all in for around 160,000. Insta call from Moreira, and here's why:

Moreira: [ad][as]
Pirbazari: [ah][kh]

The board ran [9h][5d][4c][7d][6s] and we're a man down. Moreira is up to 360,000.

5pm: The Heitmann emoticon
As we've mentioned plenty of times before, but bears repeating, photography is prohibited in Casino Vilamoura, which means our photographer Neil Stoddart has had to grab players during their breaks to take portrait-style snaps. It unfortunately means we can't really get the flavour of the action in pictures, and we get no action shots. Undeterred, the Team PokerStars Pro Jan Heitmann has just helped us out by posing for three pictures: happy, sad and cool, allowing us to make sure we've got a picture for all occasions.

At the moment, he's still in the tournament, but keep an eye out for the changing Heitmann emoticon through the day to determine his current state.

Or, the smaller versions:

4.55pm: The short term
Tobias Reikenmeier's level 17 didn't last long. He got his 130,000 stack in pre-flop against Antonio Matias, but the German's [ad][kh] was in trouble against the Portuguese's [kc][kd]. He was left calling for a seven on the river when the board came [5s][8c][4c][6d], but the [8d] was not it. Reikenmeier is out and Matias is close to half a million.

4.50pm: Patriotic people
"Yes yes yes," came the cries from some of my colleagues. I already knew an Italian had won a pot before I reached the table to see for myself. Marco Della Tommasina 49,000 stack was over the line sitting along side his holding of [td][th] and the hand stood up against Amir Pirbazari's [kc][jc] on a [9c][5s][4d][qd][6d] board. Pirbazari stacked knocked a little to 195,000.

4.45pm: Franklin minted
Ryan Franklin opened for 15,000 on the button. Jeff Sarwer was waiting in the small blind and raised to 42,000. Franklin looked miserable, ummed and ahh'd before moving all in for another 120,000 or so. Sarwer called but didn't count on Franklin showing [as][ac]. Sarwer had turned over [ad][td].

"Oh really?" he said as Franklin showed his hand. "I didn't think you had aces."

The board ran out: [4c][6h][tc][2d][jh]

"Nice hand," said Sarwer. "Good time to get aces on the button. Oh well..."

Sarwer's earlier surge seems to have faded. He's down now to 460,000. Franklin on the other hand is back up to 340,000.

4.40pm: Rino Mathis takes down side event
New Team PokerStars Pro member Rino Mathis has taken down the €1k Pot Limit Omaha side event at EPT Vilamoura for a first prize of €15,932, writes Mad Harper.

Only an hour after busting out of the Vilamoura Main Event on Day 2, Rino - who joined Team PokerStars Pro just before EPT Barcelona - took his place for the two-day PLO event.

There were 45 entries in all and eight players made the money, including Dutch pro Marc Naalden and American Jonathan Aguiar. Rino, 37, a former chess and backgammon player, hails from Uster in Switzerland. His biggest result so far was third place at the 2002 Master Classics of Poker for €96,000.

Blinds: 2,000-4,000 (400 ante)

4.30pm: End of the level
That says it all.

4.25pm: Matt looking glossy
The PokerStars qualifier Matt Johns added a lot of yellows to his stack. On a board of [ad][3h][jh][9s] he made it 50,000 and was re-raised by Luis Rodriguez in the big blind who made it 120,000. Undeterred Johns asked how much he had and shoved all-in for another 103,000. Rodriguez thought about it, glancing occasionally at the clock showing 33 players remaining, but passed. Johns up to 460,000 chips now.

4.25pm: Boatman sunk
Ross Boatman has been riding some turbulent waves today but has now capsized. Aurelien Guiglini started it off, raising from early position, then Jude Ainsworth and Boatman renewed their acquaintance. Ainsworth re-raised, Boatman moved all in for about 120,000, Guiglini folded but Ainsworth called. The Irishman's A-K stayed good against Boatman's A-Q. Boatman is off to walk the harbour; Ainsworth is up to about 320,000.

4.20pm: Heitmann clubbed
Jan Heitmann got it in good with [as][js] against Guillaume Da Silva's all-in with [4c][10c]. Things are never that simple, however, and the [jc][8c][4s][qc][4d] board rather summed that up. Heitmann still over 120,000 though.

4.15pm: A new name
Andrei Vlasenko is regularly getting involved, taking down a small pot from Michel Abecassis, and then seeing off both Ricardo Sousa and Pierre Neuville on the next hand. That one was the more interesting: Sousa made it 11,500 from mid-position and Neuville called from his left. Vlasenko re-raised from the small blind, making it 8,500 more, which both Sousa and Neuville called. The flop came [2s][5h][4s] and Vlasenko bet 37,000, which was enough to get rid of Sousa. Neuville asked for a count, was shown that Vlasenko was playing something like 200,000 and made the call. The turn was [9d] and Vlasenko moved all in. Neuville folded.

4.10pm: Still sailing
Ross Boatman didn't wait long to get the last of his chips in. It was folded around to him in the cut off his moved all in for 27,000. Olaf de Zeeuw called from the next seat as did Aurelien Guiglini one more seat along. The flop came down [5h][7c][2h] before Guiglini led out for 38,000 forcing De Zeeuw to fold pocket sixes face up.

Guiglini opened [7h][7d] for top set and Boatman was in deep trouble with [jc][js]. He didn't have to fret for long though as the [jc] was the very next card out before the river came [2s] to triple Boatman up.

4.02pm: Ainsworth worth more
Jude Ainsworth just doubled up through Ross Boatman. Garcia Cayetano got things going, raising to 13,000 from the button. Ainsworth moved all in over the top from the small blind and Boatman then said he was all in from the big blind. Cayetano showed [10c][7c] for the steal gone awry, but he wouldn't have been in terrible shape against Ainsworth's [4h][4c] and Boatman's [ah][qh]. The flop came [2h][8s][3d] and the [10d] brought a small yelp from Cayetano. The river was [6h] meaning Ainsworth doubled up, plus a little bit more. The all in was for 92,500, so he has more than 200,000 now.

4pm: Franklin up, Sarwer down
The action was folded to Ryan Franklin in the small blind who bet a bit which Jeff Sarwer called in the big. The saw a flop of [8c][jd][2s] which Franklin checked. Sarwer went for his chips and made it 21,500 which Franklin called for a [ts] turn. Both checked that and on the [8h] river Franklin checked again. Sarwer made it 30,000 which Franklin called fast, showing [ad][tc] to take the pot. "Oh well..." said Sarwer.

3.55pm: Mattsson Busted
It was folded around to Stefan Mattsson on the button who pushed all in for his last 42,500. After a count Aurelien Guiglini called only to see Mohamed Razab move all in behind him for another 83,000, a move that prompted him to fold. Mattsson was in it deep as his [jd][2d] needed a lot of help against Razab's [kc][kd] and it didn't come on the [qc][ks][5s][4c][2s] board.

3.45pm: Pirbazari accounts for Wendt
Amir Pirbazari and Martin Wendt got it all in pre-flop. Wendt had about double Pirbazari's 110,000 stack, but was behind in terms of hands. Wendt showed [ah][js] but was behind Pirbazari's [as][ks] and the [7s][2s][6s] flop was emphatic. It got worse for Wendt soon after. He got it all in again with pocket nines and Pirbazari was the only called. Pirbazari had pocket fives but the flop came, well, it came five high. Wendt is gone.

3.40pm: Barbosa again
Messing with Joao Barbosa is not to be recommended. See xxpm post for proof and this little exchange for corroboration. Barbosa raised to 11,000 from mid position and Ryan Franklin re-raised to 31,000. Barbosa didn't take long to move all in over the top and that was too rich for Franklin, who let it go.

Two massive pots played out simultaneously in neighbouring tables. On the first, Berney Frankfort moved all in under-the-gun for 47,100 and Jan Heitmann called two to his left. It was folded around to Santiago Terrazas in the small blind, who moved all in over the top, for 140,000 more. Heitmann thought long and hard but folded, and Terrazas showed [10s][10c] to Frankfort's [7d][7c]. "That's the one hand I didn't put him on," said Heitmann, saying that he too had folded pocket tens. The board ran out [ad][qs][3d][6c][ac] to eliminate Frankfort and put Terrazas north of 200,000.

At the very same time all this was happening, Manuel Cadilhe was all in pre-flop and Michel Abecassis had already called, comfortably covering Cadihle. Johan van Til also had some money committed to the pot and he too eventually called, even though Abecassis also had him covered and he probably figured things were looking bleak. Indeed they were, Van Til had [ah][kh], Cadihle had [7d][7c] but the biggest stack also had the biggest hand: [ac][ad]. The board came [kc][5c][2h][8s][jc] and Abecassis sent two of them to the rail and brought his stack up to about 520,000.

3.35pm: Video!
Here's how the video blog team set up the day:

3.30pm: Lucky Barbosa
Chip leader Jeff Sarwer raised to 13,000 from early position before Joao Barbosa moved all in for 110,500 from the big blind. Sarwer snap called with [jc][js] and was in great shape against Barbosa's [kd][9s]. The board ran [qs][4s][7d][4c][ks] to see Barbosa spike a king on the river to double through.

3.25pm: Quick fire shoves
Ryan Franklin moved all-in, 46,000 in total, but got no takers while Patrick O'Connor, a PokerStars qualifier from Ireland, is on his way to the cash desk. Alexey Yuzikov tried an all-in with no takers while Javier Garcia did the same on a board reading: [9d][6d][td][7h][jc] Matt Johns had the decision, with 100,000 in the middle. It was 113,500 to call but Johns passed this time. More players are busting though, we're down to 40 and Jeff Sarwer's table is the next to break.

3.20pm: Facts
This appeared in the last level but it's still relevant now. Here are some notable observations now we're in the cash:

Sarwer, Tome Moreira, Lellouche, Alexey Yuzikov and Michel Abecassis have cashed in the two most recent EPT events having all made the money in Warsaw last month.

]]> http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/ept/2009/ept-vilamoura-day-3-level-16-updates-061471.html http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/ept/2009/ept-vilamoura-day-3-level-16-updates-061471.html European Poker Tour European Poker Tour season six Vilamoura Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:01:32 -0500 Updates from level 15 of EPT Vilamoura, brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Howard Swains and Simon Young.

Selected approximate chip counts, updated throughout the day, are available on the chip counts page. The EPT tournament structure can be found on the EPT tournament structure page. The full payout structure is on the payout structure page.

Previous coverage: Day 1a wrap | Day 1b wrap | Day 2 wrap | Level 14 updates

Blinds: 2,000-4,000 (400 ante)

3.05pm: Into the break
On a board of [qc][th][3s][5c] Alexey Yuzikov made it 50,000 which the Team PokerStars Pro Ruben Visser called. After the [6s] fell on the river Yuzikov checked to Visser who slowly assembled a bet of 102,500. Even slow than that was Yuzikov's response. With the break well underway he asked Visser how much he had behind. 170,000 was the answer. Yuzikov took a tower of yellows form his stack and called. Visser immediately said "two pairs," showing [qh][3h], and in a flash Yuzikov folded. 549,000 now for Visser.

Five minutes remain on the break.

3pm: Sarwer lets a big one go
Jeff Sarwer, who continues to impress with his aggressive style, has shown he can also let a hand go when it matters.

Marco Paulo Orlandi made it 9,000 under the gun, Gino Gabriel made it 24,000 in the next seat, and it's folded around to Sarwer in the big blind who makes it 62,000. Orlandi gets out of the way, but Gabriel then re-raises by another 100,000.

That's a big bet, and it send Sarwer into the tank for five minutes, long enough for the rest of the room to empty as everyone else goes on a break. "I'm right on the line here," said Sarwer, shaking his head. "OK, I fold. I fold eights." Orlandi does not declare his hand, but says only: "That's a very good fold."

2.55pm: What could he have?
It was folded around to Aurelien Guiglini who raised pre flop, bet the flop, bet the turn and then moved all in for his last 96,000 on the river. His opponent in the hand was Ismail Erkenov who called him all the way including the river even though he had only 16,000 more chips. The board ended up as [5c][5d][td][jd][9h] and Guiglini opened [ac][tc] and was getting out of his seat as he thought he was beat for sure. But no, to the surprise of everyone the Russian folded. King-ten or mid pocket pair? We'll never know.

2.45pm: A few facts
Some notable observations now we're in the cash: