Latest Tallinn Post

7.35pm: Congratulations to Kevin Stani, EPT Tallinn champion (€400,000) Kevin Stani has defeated Konstantin Bilyauer to become the inaugural winner of EPT Tallinn. He opened the pot with a raise to 250,000 and was called to go to a 3♣9♥2♠ flop where both players checked. The turn came 4♥ and...more

3.24pm: Konstant pressure Konstantin Bilyauer continues to grow his stack skywards. In the last hand before the break he raised to 125,000 on the button and was called by Dimitry Vitkind in the big blind. Both players checked the T♠T♥A♣ flop, before Vitkind bet 125,000 on the 4♦ turn, a...more

The final table of EPT Tallinn begins at noon today (edit: things are running a little behind schedule). While it would be easy to talk only about Team PokerStars Pro Arnaud Mattern and his chance of being the first double EPT winner, there are eight players still in this. So,...more

It's becoming clear that Prague is a home away from home for Italian players. It started two seasons ago when Salvatore Bonavena, accompanied by dozens of high-strung countrymen, dominated a televised event. Each of them in some way marked the start of Italy's poker boom, and each of them...more

Estonia has a history of foreign powers taking a fierce interest in its country. Over the years it has been subjected to rule from the Danes, Russians, Germans and Swedes but since it regained its independence in 1991 it has enjoyed its spot as one of the fastest growing economies...more

7.35pm: Done for the day With the elimination of Jonathan Weekes play is done for the day. The final eight will return at 12pm tomorrow to battle for the first prize of €400,000. Leading the way is Team PokerStars Pro Arnaud Mattern who is still in with a shout of...more

It's traditional to tell a performer to 'break a leg' before he takes to the stage, but it's something we can't say to Arnaud Mattern because he already has broken his leg in an ill-advised tennis match in Las Vegas during the recent WSOP. Instead, I suppose a more conservative...more

9.10pm: That's it, folks All four tables have now played out their final six hands but it wasn't an entirely uneventful process. Perica Bukara managed to pick up an additional 300,000 chips to take back the chip lead. Full report of the day's action coming up. Play will begin again...more

6.02pm: Break! That's level 18 out of the way. Players are now on a 15-minute break. 39 remain, and we'll be playing down to 24 tonight. -- SY 6pm: Storakers rakes it in Michal Polchlopek raised from the cut-off to 19,000 and was three-bet to 54,000 by Johan Storakers. Polchlopek...more

Day 2 here at EPT Tallinn was the definition of aggressive poker. The word call was way outnumbered by the word raise throughout our coverage. To look around the room though you wouldn't think the players were enjoying this brand of poker as emotions were kept in check and it...more

7.25pm: Bagging and tagging Play has finished and players are counting then bagging their chips. It looks certain that Jonathan Weekes is our overnight chip leader with 751,900. We'll have a full wrap with you shortly, and the full official chip counts will also be with you in a few...more

2.52pm: BREAK TIME Two out the five levels for today are completed. The players are on a short break.--MC 2.50pm: Really bad timing Fabian Quoss should have worn a watch today because his timing was completely off. He raised to 3,300 from the button and was raised by Andrea Benelli...more

You'll often see ABC grinders on PokerStars decrying shove-happy players. While busily accusing them of playing 'bingo' they're unfortunately failing to understand why you'd want to three-bet shove pre-flop for 20 big blinds. Players freshly blooded to the game fully embrace the skill element and don't realise how the very...more

11.30pm: Play concludes for the day Day 1b is done and dusted. Our overnight and overall chip leader is Perica Bukara with a mighty 210,600. Full chips counts and a wrap of the day's play will be up shortly. Play starts again tomorrow at 12pm. Goodnight from Tallinn. --MC 11.15pm:...more

6.40pm: Dinner time Six levels down and time for a dinner break. We shall all be back in around 90 minutes or 8.15pm local time for the resumption. 6.37pm: Michael Piper is out I saw him walking away from the table and he filled me in on the details. "Andrew...more

The good people of Estonia are a cheery bunch at the best of times, but tonight they had a smile wider than the Gulf of Finland, the expanse of sea that separates the capital city from their Finnish neighbors. The reason was an extraordinary international soccer match just a few...more

12am: Tekintamgac seizes overnight chip lead That's it for Day 1A with around half of the 182 starting field making it through. While all will get a day's rest they'll be one you will be sleeping that little softer. Ali Tekintamgac finished the day on 203,200 winning a monster pot...more

6.58pm: Grub's up The dinner bell has sounded, and everyone has hot-footed it to their favorite eatery. Not your hard-working bloggers, however. We'll be doing a run around for some more chip counts. Chip counting gives us all the sustenance we need. Live reporting will be back in 90 minutes....more