It seemed to be too much to hope for, but it has just come to pass.

After Jan von Halle bagged the chip lead at the end of Day 1A, it was pretty remarkable when George Danzer did the same at the end of Day 1B. This is not a tournament stacked to the gills with household names, but we certainly knew all about those two.

Then today, as 200 players arrived for the third and final opening flight of the €1,000 Eureka Hamburg Main Event, we saw another familiar face race into an early lead.

Tom Holke, who won this tournament last season, was making all the early headlines. And by the time the klaxon sounded for the close of another 12 levels, Holke had the biggest stack in the room.

The man who is sitting beneath the most distinctive get-up--a lei and stetson, in the colours of the German flag--also has the most distinctive pile of chips. It's worth 333,000, bigger than Danzer and Von Halle, and he goes into Day 2 in pole position in the attempt to defend his title.

This was a day full of Holke. Early on, he brought into play a tip glass on his table into which any player could put €5 if they wanted to see his cards at the end of a hand. The money would go to the dealers.

He went back and forth with Thang Duc Nguyen over this, but Nguyen was soon knocked out. Holke then dipped below Jonn Forst's stack when he found some turbulence late in the day, but he recovered and ended up with that mighty stack.

By that point, tournament administrators had done their bean counting and established that the winner of this event will get €69,120. There were 367 entries in total, comprising 327 unique players and 40 re-entries. (All the information is on the prizepool page.)

Tournament staff are presently counting up all the stacks...stop press, here they are:

As you can see, 55 finished today, meaning we'll have 108 in the room tomorrow. Redraw details will be here soon.

Come back tomorrow when we'll play eight levels and probably get into the money. It starts at noon.

10:15pm: News from the Hamburg Cup
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

There's been a small change to the schedule for the Hamburg Cup. Everybody who has been eliminated on Days 1A, 1B can re-enter on Day 1C. And if you bust during Day 1C during the first six levels, you can re-enter. It's a €330 buy-in event, so get yourself over to Hamburg for this one.

In the meantime, spin through all the coverage from the day in the post below:

10:10pm: Holke has us on tenterhooks
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

I'm not going to lie, we're on tenterhooks over here. We're approaching the end of play--they've just paused the clock and said they'll play the last four hands--and we're waiting for confirmation that Tom Holke is chip-leader. He has 310,000 at the moment, but with his loosey-goosey style, and Johnny Hansen to his left with 210,000, it's not a foregone conclusion that the defending champ will be our day-end leader. But we're hoping, because that would be neat.

9:50pm: Dobrint doubles
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Jurgen Dobrint has doubled up, taking the vast majority of Marc Hunter's stack in the process. Dobrint opened to 6,100 from mid-position and Hunter, one seat to his left, shoved for around 60,000.

Action folded around to Jan Peters in the big blind who had about 30,000 in his stack. He seemed to be pondering a call, but folded and quickly seemed to regret it. Dobrint called off his 38,400 stack with [ad][td] and was up against Hunter's [7h][7d]. (Peters' reaction seemed to suggest he was in good shape against those two hands.)

The board ran [as][8s][5h][2d][3s] and the ace in the window doubled up Dobrint.

9:40pm: Scything through
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

We are down to 67 players now after two more were eliminated early in the last level of the day.

After Seung Hyun Kang opened to 5,100 from early position, Do Chung Tran shoved from the button for his last 12,400. Kang called and Tran immediately got up and put his coat on, even though his [7h][7c] was favourite against Kang's [kh][jh].

Admittedly, the favouritism didn't last long as the flop came [ad][3s][jd]. The [2d] turn and [4d] river ended it and he didn't have to take his jacket off after that.

Over on Tom Holke's table, the defending champion was one of three players at the flop of [2h][jh][9d]. Holke bet 7,000 and Johnny Hansen, also with a big stack, called. Sonke Jahn moved all-in, for 42,000, and that quickly got Holke out of the way. But Hansen called and tabled [kc][ks]. Jahn had [ah][[jd] and missed on turn and river, sending him home.

9:30pm: Prize pool info
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

It's the moment you've all been waiting for: the announcement of the prize pool information. There was €355,990 in the prize pool, with 55 players getting paid and €69,120 for the winner. All the information of the full payout schedule is on the payouts page.

9:20pm: Appmann beaten, but not broken
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Adrian Appmann was all-in for his last 11,100 and in a race against Yun Ho Choi. Appmann had [ac][qh] and Choi had [7h][7c].

I'm not sure when they had arrived, but Appmann had a couple of friends on the rail at this point too, who gave their buddy all the support he could possibly hope for--that is, if you consider treating it like it was heads up for the World Series Main Event title. They ironically gasped when the hands were shown, then moaned again when the flop brought a gutshot straight draw. (It was [ts][ks][8h].) They winced at the [8d] turn and then they snapped their hands over their faces in anguish when the [3c] sealed Appmann's fate.

By this point, Appmann was chuckling away at the mock-histrionics and they therefore appear to have served their purpose of providing a sympathetic cushion. Appmann headed away into warm embrace.

8:55pm: The Big Squeeze
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

The squeeze play. They're all at it. Proof:

On Table 8, Sven Reichardt opened to 3,600 from under the gun and Jonas Jorgensen called from one seat to his left. Kai Schuster three-bet to 8,400, the first squeeze, but he himself was then squeezed further by Bartolomiej Grabowski's cold four bet shove for 34,500. They all folded.

On Table 5, Alin Puscas opened to 3,200 and Usman Siddique called. Action made its way to Michael Jacobs, who squeezed to 15,000 and got two folds.

On Table 9, it was a similar routine. After an open to 3,300 under the gun by Marc Philipp Hamening, Thorsten Walk called on the button. Marcel Schauenburg, in the small blind, raised to 11,400 and the other two folded.

8:40pm: It goes up to 11
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

We've cranked this one up into Level 11, the penultimate level of the night. Seventy-nine players are still involved.

8:40pm: Chantler's vigil continues
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

It's been a rough day for Gareth Chantler, who began his day in what almost seemed like a satellite office over on the far side of the tournament room, and was on one of the first tables to break. That brought him to sit to the immediate left of the fast-and-looseRinaldo Aquino, where he has been for the best part of five hours now. Chantler has never had many chips and was down to his last 7,500 not so long ago. He open-shoved from mid-position and picked up blinds and antes, but he'll need a few more of those to still be here at the end of play.

8:40pm: Chip counts
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Here are some of the big stacks. We know all about Tom Holke and Jon Forst, but Marcel Schauenburg is also worth highlighting. He is one of only three players to fire three bullets at this one. If he goes all the way to the final, he can say he played every single day.

Tom Holke - 188,000
Marcel Schauenburg - 164,000
John Först - 160,000
Georges Yazbeck - 135,000
Yun Choi - 132,000
Benjamin Büssenschütt - 117,000
Edgaras Kancaitis - 112,000
Robin Kazemieh - 110,000
Fabian Schaack - 96,000
Sebastian Homann - 84,000
Sven Reichhardt - 60,000
Erik Scheidt - 67,000
Sönke Jahn - 30,000

8:35pm: No respect
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Absolutely nobody seems to respect Tom Holke's raises, but that's exactly the way he seems to like it. However after losing a recent pot, having three-bet pre-flop, Holke had to show a big hand as he folded, just to make sure people knew he wasn't always sticking his chips in with air.

Sami Jacobs opened to 3,300 from mid-position and Andreas Bremer called from the hijack. Holke, in the cutoff, raised to 8,300 and after the blinds folded, both his opponents called pretty quickly. This was a Holke position raise, after all.

The flop brought the [7h][7d][jd] and Jacobs led at it, putting 13,000 into the middle. Bremer folded and then, after some deliberation, Holke opted to fold his [as][qh] face up. A legitimate squeezing hand, seemed to be the message.

8:20pm: Forst on Holke's tail
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Just after Tom Holke won the pot against David Wiese, Jonn Forst won one on the neighbouring table to draw himself within about 10,000 again. Dennis Nitz opened to 2,500 from UTG+1 and Lauri Laast called from the hijack. Forst, in the cutoff, three-bet to 6,300 and perhaps acknowledging how wide the chip leader might be squeezing, both players called.

The three of them all checked the flop of [3d][9s]][kh] but then after Nitz and Laast checked the [as] turn, Forst bet 4,000. Only Laast called.

The river was the [jc] and both checked. Laast had good reason to think his [ah][th] could be a winner, but it wasn't. Forst had [ad][qs] and now has about 160,000 in his stack.

8:10pm: Easy game
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

It's an easy game for Tom Holke, who is bossing his table around with the kind of abandon that only a big stack with an impossibly loose image can manage. He acts quickly, almost as if without thought, and the strategy is working wonders.

Case in point: Action folded to Holke on the button and he raised to 3,000. David Wiese called from the big blind and both players then checked the [2c][9h][9c] flop. The [6c] came on the turn and Wiese checked again. Holke doesn't usually need even two invitations, so he bet 4,000. Wiese called.

The [2s] came on the river and Wiese checked again. Holke bet 7,000 and Wiese's curiosity could only be sated one way. He called but mucked when Holke showed [as][7s].

Holke now has about 170,000 again.

7:50pm: Break time
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

That's the end of Level 9 and the remaining 92 players have gone on a 15-minute break.

7:45pm: Scratch that, Forst back in lead
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

No sooner had the ink dried on that last update, metaphorically speaking, than Jonn Forst sprung back into action and put himself back into the lead. Forst checked a board of [7h][8d][4d][9s][kh] but then shoved after Norbert Seefeldt bet 6,400, with 36,000 behind.

Forst covered Seefeldt, but the latter made a crying call with [ah][kd]. Forst had [9c][9h] and that felted Seefeldt.

That coup coincided with Tom Holke losing two pots without showdown on the neigbouring table and slipping to about 150,000. Forst has 170,000.

7:40pm: Big stack for Holke
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

At the end of Day 1A, arguably the best-known player in the field, Jan von Halle, was the chip-leader. At the end of Day 1B, arguably the best-known player in the field, George Danzer, was the chip-leader. If things continue as they have been going over the past couple of hours, Tom Holke, the defending champion, could end up chip-leader at the end of Day 1C. On a recent sweep of the room, Holke had about 190,000. No one else is close.

7:20pm: Last woman standing
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

This has been an excellent tournament in all ways but one. From a field of 327 players here in Hamburg, only three were women. That's a desperately low number for a game that tries to be inclusive. There were no women on Day 1A, one yesterday and only two today, one of whom has been knocked out.

That means that Brynn Kvinlaug was the last woman standing by the beginning of Level 9 on Day 1. But here's better news: she has just tripled up.

Yun Choi opened the button, making it 2,200 to play. Then Torsten Pook called from the small blind. Kvinlaug squeezed all-in from the big blind for 11,075. Choi then re-shoved for 36,275 but, if he was trying to isolate, it didn't work. Pook called after a few minutes of head shaking, lip squeezing and visible "math-doing" in his head.

So the three hands went on their backs:

Kvinlaug: [as][ks]
Choi: [ah][tc]
Pook: [ad][qs]

The dealer didn't over-dramatise. She burned through the following five cards: [kd][8d][8h][3s][td] and while that left Kvinlaug delighted, it was cruel on Pook who had made a good call but had finished third, losing both main and side pot. He now has fumes, while Choi moved up beyond 50,000.

7:10pm: Getting busy
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

We've entered that slightly mad period on a Friday night where the crowds arrive to play slot machines, roulette and cash games and players with short stacks in the poker tournament wonder if they might be better off joining them.

Marco Ditmann had only six big blinds when he saw a raise from Grabowski Bartolomiej on the button, to his direct right. He looked down at [ts][9s] and moved all in. (It was 6,500 total.) The big blind folded but Bartolomiej called with [ac][jh].

The flop came [kh][jd][kd] and Ditmann asked for a queen. ("Dame," to use the native lingo.) Neither a queen nor a Dame appeared on turn or river, though, and he was knocked out.

The Eureka player's party gets started in an hour or so, so he can drown his sorrows over at Lustis.

6:50pm: Cash game Charlie
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

"Are there cash games?" Charlie Carrel said as he stepped away from Table 12 having fired his second bullet in the Eureka Main Event and missing the target by a country mile. He didn't do a whole lot wrong in his elimination hand, and won't lose much sleep about it, one suspects. But he has drawn a blank from his trip to Hamburg so far.

This one began when Robert Saffran opened the cutoff, making it 1,800 to play. Carrel, on the button, called and then swigged down a big mouthful of coffee, asking, "How long does it take for the caffeine to kick in?"

He got no educated reply to that, but both the blinds folded and it was just Saffran and Carrel to see a flop of [qs][4h][8s].

Saffran bet 2,000 and Carrel called, which meant they saw the [as] on the turn. Saffran pushed 15,000 chips over the line, which he knew covered Carrel's 9,000-ish. Carrel called all-in.

Saffran had [js][jd] and was, at this stage, an underdog to Carrel's [qd][9d]. But the [3s] on the river completed Saffran's flush and that sent Carrel looking for alternative entertainment.

6:40pm: Shah lives to fight another day
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Alem Shah was all-in and drawing, but spiked his card on the river to stay afloat, taking a dent out of Dragan Simeunovic as he did so. Shah just called from the hijack pre-flop and Erik Scheidt made up the small blind, allowing Simeunovic to check his option.

The flop was queen high and all clubs. It came [9c][5c][qc]. Scheidt checked but Simeunovic bet 1,300. Shah instantly moved all-in for 12,175. Scheidt folded but Simeunovic tank-called, showing [qs][tc]. Shah had [ac][6s] and looked forlorn after the [js] turn. However the [7c] on the river earned a yelp of delight.

6:30pm: Forst the bully
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Jonn Forst has the chips to allow him to play as he pleases and he just showed some strong-arm to push Lauri Laast out of a pot. Well, in truth, I don't know if that's the result he was looking for. Perhaps he wanted a call. But he managed to add another 20,000 to his stack regardless.

I picked up the action on the turn, by which point the [jh][7c][3h][8c] were exposed and there was about 15,000 in the middle. Laast checked, Forst bet 10,000 and Laast called.

The [4h] came on the river and after another check from Laast, Forst announced that he was all-in, knowing full well that Laast's 27,000 was the effective stack. Laast folded and Forst built his stack to more than 130,000.

6:20pm: Number crunching
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

The complete list of players for this event has now been confirmed. There were 327 unique players, plus 40 re-entries. Three players (Andrew John Pierz, Enis Hodaj and Marcel Schauenburg) played every day.

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of players were German with the second-most represented country, Denmark, proving only 10. Here's how it breaks down:

The payout information will be with us soon.

6:15pm: More for Forst, more for Holke
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

In the 15 minutes since those two last came to our attention, Jonn Forst and Tom Holke have both won about 30,000 chips apiece. Forst now has 120,000 and Holke about 115,000.

6pm: Forst to be reckoned with
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Jonn Forst is becoming, ahem, a force to be reckoned with, sitting with 80,000 after picking up a big pot against Christian Golze. This didn't seem like it had much potential when it began, but it grew and grew.

Golze made all the running. He opened to 1,400 from UTG+1 and Forst called in the cutoff. Benjamin Bussenschutt (who I'm assuming was born an old German man and gets younger as time goes by) called too, on the button.

The flop came [2c][as][js] and Golze rifled 2,300 at it. Only Forst called. Then the [4c] came on the turn and Golze bet 4,200. Forst called. Then the [6s] came on the river and this time Golze bet 11,000. Forst called again, and Golze was reluctant to show.

The reticence prompted Forst to turn over his [ac][ts] and that allowed Golze to muck his hand and spare some blushes.

5:55pm: Nguyen beats Holke at his own game
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Thang Duc Nguyen and Tom Holke are mixing it up all the time on Table 2 with Nguyen having the best of it in the most recent two pots. Holke can handle it, though. Even after doubling up Nguyen, then losing another pot to the EPT Baden champion, Holke still has about 75,000.

On the first of those two hands, they got it in pre-flop with Holke's [ad][qd] in good shape against Nguyen's [kd][jh]. But there was a jack on the flop and another on the river and Nguyen doubled his 13,200 to a little more than the starting stack.

They tangled again on the next hand, however, when Holke opened from early position, Nguyen three-bet to 5,000 from the cutoff and Holke called. The flop came [ac][2s][5c] and Holke led 8,000 at it. Nguyen instantly slammed his two fistfuls of chips over the line, indicating quite clearly that he was all-in, and Holke suddenly didn't look so chipper.

The defending champion took a little while but then made a reluctant fold. Nguyen then stole Holke's thunder and said he would show his cards to anyone prepared to put €5 in the tips jar (see 1:25pm update).

Holke himself couldn't get his hand in his wallet quickly enough. He fished out a fiver, shoved it in the jar, and got the instant gratification of knowing he had made a good fold. Nguyen turned over [4d][3d] for the flopped nuts.

5:45pm: We will never know
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Philipp Lutkemeyer made a pretty good case that he had at least a full house in a recent pot, and possibly even quads, but Nikola Brankovic wasn't prepared to pay the price to let us all find out. It was, after all, for all his chips so we can forgive him.

Brankovic started things going with a raise to 1,300 from UTG+1 and Lutkemeyer, one seat to his left, was the only caller. After the [ts][2s][tc] fell on the flop, Brankovic bet 1,500 but was faced with a raise to 3,100 from Lutkemeyer. He called.

The [th] came on the turn and Brankovic now checked. Lutkemeyer bet 4,000 and Brankovic called again.

The [js] appeared on the river and Brankovic checked again. Seizing his opportunity, Lutkemeyer moved all-in for 10,675, which was almost exactly what Brankovic had behind. Brankovic spent about two minutes pondering his decision, but folded. Lutkemeyer quickly pushed his cards face down to the dealer.

5:35pm: The shutters come down
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Registration has just slammed shut on the Eureka6 Main Event. At time of writing, the tournament board shows 200 players in the field for the day, but it will take some jiggery pokery (by which I mean adding up and taking away) before we know for certain how many have entered.

Remember, there were 69 on Day 1A, then 98 on Day 1B, which puts our total field at around 367. But that is to be confirmed, as is the payout schedule.

4:45pm: Dinner time
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

There's the bell for 4.45pm and that can only mean one thing. Dinner! We'll be back in 45 minutes.

4:35pm: Yazbeck loses one
Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Georges Yazbeck, who has four EPT side-event titles to his name, has built a stack close to 70,000 already today. He just lost a small pot to Johannes De Hond, but it won't put too much of a dent in the Lebanese dentist's pile.

Yazbeck opened from the hijack, making it 1,200 to play and both blinds -- Arman Zonobi and De Hond -- called. They all checked the flop of [qd][qs][4c] and then Zonobi checked the [3h] turn too. De Hond bet 3,500 and Yazbeck was the only man to call.

The [ts] came on the river and De Hond bet another 3,500. Yazbeck called again, but mucked after Zonobi turned over [qh][js].

4:20pm: Homann misses draw, pays Olsen
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

"That escalated quickly," David Lappin said as, in a flash, Jan Olsen and Sebastian Homann got all their chips in the middle on a board of [qh][5s][3h]. Olsen had [qd][ks] for top pair, while Homann had [kh][jh] for the flush draw.

The turn and river came [4c] and [ac] and the pair stayed best, meaning Homann had to count out 14,525 from his stack and pass them over.

4pm: Volume turned up as Theilemann among two to bust
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Only a matter of minutes after giving his stack a boost in the hand described at length below, Joshua Theilemann is now out, getting sent to the rail in a three-way sickener. Virgo Laanso was also knocked out.

Theilemann had aces. Virgo Laanso had jack-queen and a very short stack. And Robin Kazemieh-Aghdam had [ac][kc]. They got it all in pre-flop and the first three community cards were all clubs.

That blockbuster raised the volume on the already excitable Table 4.

4pm: Silent Theilemann takes some from Aquino
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Rinaldo Aquino has the biggest stack in the room--at least he did, before this latest encounter. But whether or not he is still the chip-leader, he is certainly among those making the most noise. The chirping chips adage is in full effect on his table, and he's enjoying his time yukking it up with Miri Hamza.

The dealer actually had to step in during the following pot, just to make sure their conversation didn't overstep the mark. The reason was that a third player, Joshua Theilemann, was also involved in the hand, but not in the conversation, and the dealer had to ensure that the other two remembered and respected that they were not alone.

Action folded pre-flop to Hamza on the button and Aquino, from the big blind, said, "Come on. Don't be shy." This drew the first friendly rebuke from the dealer, who indicated that Aquino might be influencing action when Theilemann, in the small blind, still had cards.

Hamza opted just to call, but then Theilemann silently raised to 1,200. "How much do you have?" Aquino asked Hamza, drawing a second interjection from the dealer, who pointed to Theilemann's raise. Aquino said that he had seen it, and just called. So did Hamza.

All three players then checked the [9d][qh][js] flop, and then the [5d] came on the turn. Theilemann checked. Aquina bet 2,200 and said, "I don't bluff!" when Hamza was pondering his decision. The dealer again reminded Aquino of Theilemann's presence.

"I'm just talking to myself," Aquino said.
"I will do it for you," Hamza said, as he called. Theilemann also called.

The [5c] came on the river and Theilemann checked again. Aquino then said, "Come on, I let you bluff the river", indicating that he was checking too. The dealer had just about given up her attempts to keep it in order.

Hamza opted to check as well and that led to Aquino finally turning to Thielemann and saying, "Come on, show your ace king." Theilemann, delighted maybe to have his presence acknowledged, turned over [ad][qs] and got two mucks. "Oh, queens," Aquino said. "I hit the flop. I had a pair."

Aquino still has close to 75,000 so there's plenty more chit-chat sure to come.

3:45pm: Gami comes unstuck
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Sonke Jahn, who is firing his second bullet, opened to 700 from the cutoff but Milad Gami three bet to 2,000 from the small blind. Jahn called.

Those two saw a flop of [qd][6s][3d] and Gami bet 1,550. Jahn called. The [9d] came on the turn and, after Gami slowed down, Jahn shoved for 6,500 and Gami folded.

3:40pm: Big stacks
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

The biggest stacks in the room look to be in front of the following players:

Marc Hamening - 80,000
Rinaldo Aquino - 80,000
Ricky Christensen - 75,000
Thorsten Guerra - 72,000

Charlie Carrel is now in the field again too.

3:30pm: Big call
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

As the regular reader(s) of PokerStars Blog will know, it's not always possible for us to get the full details of every hand that plays out. Sometimes it's a case of piecing together incomplete information or, more often, simply admitting that we saw almost nothing.

That is certainly the case in this next pot, but we got a big clue as to what had happened when Vedran Mandic, who wasn't in the hand, said "Nice call." He was congratulating Blazej Przygorzewski, who was busy scooping up at least 35,000 chips and watching his opponent, Moussa Khanafer, head out of the door.

Khanafer's beaten hand was still in front of him. It was [6d][7d]. Przygorzewski's hand was there too. It was [ah][td]. The board read [4s][3h][th][7h][2d] and it seemed, given Mandic's comment, that Khanafer had had a big old stab at it with his pair of sevens.

Przygorzewski had called for what would have been his tournament life too with top pair. (The two of them had very similar stacks.) But as it was, he had been right and Khanafer was knocked out.

3:20pm: Into Level 5
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Onwards.

3:15pm: Ace-high bluff
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

If you're going to bluff, you've got to bluff big. And Yun Choi just demonstrated that he was prepared to bluff for all of it.

I arrived when they were already at the turn with about 9,000 in the pot and three players involved: Choi (SB), Rudy Raveyts (mid-position) and Erik Scheidt (cutoff). The four exposed cards were [qs][2h][3h][th]. Choi bet 4,400 and Raveyts thought long and hard before he folded. Scheidt thought for a slightly shorter amount of time before calling.

The river brought the [7s] and Choi moved all-in for his last 10,550. Scheidt now went into the tank. He counted out calling chips, then counted how much he would be left with if he was wrong (about 7,000). He opted to fold and glared at Choi.

Choi frowned a little and shook his head as he peeked again at his cards. Scheidt encouraged him to turn them over. Choi obliged, revealing the [ah][kc], for ace high. It was, in this instance, good.

3pm: The King of Schenefeld
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Thang Duc Nguyen, the only man from Schleswig-Holstein with an EPT title, is back in action in the Eureka Poker Tour event today. He fired his first bullet yesterday, and lost, but returns for a second crack of the whip. They love him around here. He lives close to this casino and is a regular. He's greeted with handshakes wherever he goes.

Nguyen is sitting on Tom Holke's table. Other relatively recent arrivals include David Lappin and Rasmus Agerskov.

2:45pm: Holke barrels into trouble
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Say what you like about Tom Holke's big-pot approach, but it can be very tricky to play against. At the start of the following hand, he had built his stack close to 50,000--double what he started with--but he ended up losing a chunk to the unflappable Jevgeni Libovych.

There were four players at the flop of [7h][jc][kc] but after Hans Peter Jacobi, Libovych and Van Thinh Pham all checked, Holke bet 2,000. Only Jacobi and Libovych called which meant they were three-handed to the [6d] turn.

There were two checks and then Holke bet 5,200, which got rid of Jacobi. But Libovych stuck around to see the [4c] river. Libovych took over the betting lead and fired 7,000 at it.

Holke tanked for a bit and asked to see Libovych's stack, learning that he had only 7,000 behind. Holke folded.

2:45pm: Big pair, bigger pair
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Leonardo Ebeling opened to 400 from under the gun but faced resistance from Aviad Regev, who three-bet to 1,000 on the button. Imad Fakhro called from the small blind and so did Ebeling.

Those three saw the flop fall [8s][8c][6d] and both Fakhro and Ebeling checked. Regev bet 1,300 and although Fakhro folded, Ebeling wanted to play for more. He raised to 2,600. Regev called.

The turn brought the [ah] and Ebeling bet 2,500. Regev called. They then both checked the [jd] river and Ebeling was asked to show first. He tabled [th][tc], but they were turned into the muck when Regev showed his [qc][qs].

2:15pm: Break time
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

That's the end of the first three levels of the day and players are taking a 15-minute break. Registration is open for another three levels, plus the 45-minute dinner break.

2:05pm: Alawy busts to Seefeldt
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

It's quite difficult to determine exactly what happened in this hand, but the headline news is that Seyed Alawy becomes our third player eliminated today. He checked on the turn, with [5c][6h][7c][kd] exposed, and Norbert Seefeldt shoved. Alawy called all-in with a stack of about 15,000, and his [as][kc] was drawing dead against Seefeldt's [8c][4c].

It turns out after later investigation that there were three players at the flop, the third of whom bet-folded after Seefeld check-raised. But even that sounds a little fishy. Anyway, Seefeldt won a big pot there with that mighty suited eight and Alawy can make other plans for Friday night.

1:45pm: Yag v Yaz
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Play on Day 1A here seemed often to be quite passive. There was a lot of pre-flop limping and we would frequently get to a river without anything much more than the bare minimum being invested. Day 1B was a little bit more aggressive, and today has ratcheted it up a notch once more.

Just recently, I saw two hands. One was short: Joshua Theilemann opened to 300 from the cutoff, Rinaldo Aquino three-bet to 800 from the button and Theilemann responded with a four-bet to 2,500, which took it down.

The second hand was a little longer, but no less aggressive. On this one, Georges Yazbeck opened to 425 from under the gun and got three callers: Andreas Wright, in the hijack, Gokhan Yagmur, on the button, and Hael Al-Labani, in the big blind. They saw the kind of flop that didn't seem likely to help anyone. It came [3d][8h][2s].

After Al-Labani checked, Yazbeck bet 1,400 and Wright folded. Yagmur raised to 3,300 and Al-Labani got out of the way. "How much you have?" Yazbeck said, now they were heads up. Yagmur indicated that he had 13,200. "All-in," Yazbeck said, covering his opponent.

Yagmur passed.

1:35pm: Level 3
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

We're into Level 3 now, with 166 players seated. One player, Hans-Peter Jaeger, has gone bust towards the end of the last level.

1:25pm: You want to see? You have to pay
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Players on Table 2 this afternoon have the pleasure of playing alongside Tom Holke. As we have already established, his chips are readily on offer as he plays just about every hand. Those players now also have the chance to see exactly what two cards Holke is playing--provided they are happy to pay a €5 fee, a tax that Holke is collecting for the dealers.

It's true. If anyone gets to showdown in a hand with Holke and he gets them off the pot, they can put €5 in a glass on the table and see his hand anyway. He will then put everything he collects into the dealer tokes.

There's €10 in there so far, but Holke still has chips so that could swell significantly by the time the day is done.

1:25pm: Classic race
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

The tournament board shows that we're coming to the end of Level 2 and that all 156 of the players who have registered so far are still seated. That might not have been true had a big flip on Table 9 gone the other way, but as it was Marc Hamening survived and doubled up.

When I got to the table, Hamening, in the cutoff, had 5,100 in front of him and Tobias Rohe, in the small blind, had 1,800. That was clear evidence of an open from late position from Hamening, then a three-bet from Rohe, then a four-bet from Hamening.

And now the five-bet. Rohe moved all in, for his stack of about 35,000. Hamening, who had only 17,425 of that, made the call.

Rohe: [ac][kd]
Hamening: [qh][qd]

Neither will have been entirely happy about the coup, but both will also have probably thought it could be worse. But there can only be one winner, and it was Hamening when the board ran [9h][5s][td][6d][3d].

Rohe still had about 17,000 left, while Hamening has slightly more than double that.

1:10pm: Any two will do
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Jurgen Dobrint opened to 225 from the cutoff but Marco Leopizzi didn't want to surrender the advantage of position at the table. He three-bet to 650 from the button. The blinds folded, but Dobrint refused to surrender. He called, paying for a flop of [4s][6h][2c]. Dobrint checked.

Leopizzi continued with his story. He bet 1,050. Dobrint had a quick double-check of his cards, but elected to call, and that took them to the [8s] on the turn.

Dobrint checked again and Leopizzi bet again. He made it 1,800 to play. Dobrint called once more.

After the [4h] came on the river, Dobrint checked again. Leopizzi clearly wanted to bet again, but eventually thought better of it. He checked and Dobrint turned over [ks][2s] for a pair of twos. It was good, however, as a miffed Leopizzi mucked.

1pm: Another on three bullets
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Marcel Schauenburg has taken his seat for the third time in this tournament. I suspect there are more, but that's at least two players on three bullets.

12:50pm: Big call breaks knuckles
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

This pot brought two firsts of the day: the first deployment of a yellow 5,000-denomination chip and, following it, the first deployment of the celebratory punch of the table.

Three players were at the flop, which read: [6h][th][8h]. Hans Woyrsch, who would have been in the small blind, bet 1,400 and Jens Tehrani, one seat to his left, called. Matthias Haenel, who would have been the cutoff, folded.

The [ah] came on the turn and Woyrsch bet again, this time 2,200. Tehrani called again.

After the [kc] completed the board, Woyrsch now checked. Tehrani fished to the bottom of his stack to find a 5K chip, married it with a few others, and threw out a bet of 5,325. Woyrsch thought about this one for quite a while, but then called. Tehrani instantly mucked and Woyrsch punched the table with some force as he turned over his [jd][jh] in a combination of delight and relief.

12:35pm: The lesser-seen 60X pre-flop raise
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Erik Scheidt only recently sat down at Table 3 and he was still filling out his waiver form when he received his first two cards, under the gun. Scheidt took a quick peek at them, but was clearly not properly engaged when he dipped into his stack and found three black chips, tossing them forward for a raise.

All of his table-mates sat up quickly in their seats and began chuckling. The black chips here are worth 1,000 each and Scheidt had just made a 60X pre-flop raise of the 25/50 Level 1 blinds. Quickly noticing the error of his ways, Scheidt sheepishly apologised and said that on the EPT, the black chips are worth 100 and he hadn't noticed.

Action folded very quickly to Michal Mrakes, in the small blind, but he was busy taking a photo of the 60K raise, presumably heading to Facebook or Twitter quite soon. Although Enrico Bonke was still to act in the big blind, Mrakes was happy to consider this a virtual mis-deal and showed that he was mucking [kc][qc]. "You should call!" Bonke said, but also mucked his hand allowing Scheidt to pick up the blinds, learning a lesson in the process.

12:25pm: Three bullets
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

This is the last of three flights to this €1,000 event, and players could, if they wanted, play all three. That would require them to bust on Days 1A and 1B, of course, which itself would might make a player wonder if this was really their week.

However, there is at least one man who is on his third bullet. Andrew Pierz is in action again, having also spent his Wednesday and Thursday at Casino Schenefeld. He is likely not to be alone, but his passing resemblance to the British politician Jeremy Corbyn means he stands out of the crowd, at least to the British contingent here. He'll be hoping for better from his last chance.

12:20pm: Holke again again
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

It's proving quite difficult to actually get into the main tournament area today, largely because of Tom Holke. The defending champion is sitting within two yards of the press area. He's the first person you see when you wander over to the tables. What's more, he is in every pot and it's always worth seeing how it plays out.

In the latest, he was in the big blind and was at a turn with two players: Thomas Merten (his previous adversary) and Oliver Rinc.

Holke bet 500 with the [3h][8d][9c][2s] exposed and only Rinc called. Then the [4d] came on the river. Holke bet 2,050 and Rinc called. "Vier," Holke said, showing the [4h]. "Set," Rinc replied, revealing the [3d][3s] and taking the pot.

12:10pm: Holke again
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Tom Holke is back again, firing a second bullet in his attempt to defend the title he won here last season. It doesn't take long to realise that Holke is an action player (he is in just about every hand) but it doesn't always go according to plan.

In a recent pot, Holke was involved with Thomas Merten and they were at the turn. The four exposed cards were [7h][2d][jd][6h] and there was about 1,200 in the middle. Merten, who would have been in the big blind, checked in the dark before the [6h] appeared and that prompted a bet of 1,100 from Holke.

Merten now snapped into action. He check-raised to 2,550 and Holke, after a little bit of one-sided chit chat (ie, he asked a question and Merten didn't answer), folded.

12pm: More than 100
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Cards are in the air and this is already bigger than yesterday. There are 104 players already seated and the number continues to tick upward.

Remember, it's 12 45-minute levels today. Starting stack is 25,000. Registration closes just before the start of Level 7, which is also the end of the 45-minute dinner break.

11.30am: Back once again

It's Friday in Hamburg and that means Eureka Poker Day. It's Day 1C of this €1,000 buy-in Eureka Poker Tour Main Event and it represents the last chance for poker players of this region (and beyond) to join the party. More than that, anyone who has already been eliminated can re-enter, like a drunken reveller booted out of a bar stealthily finding a fire door down a side alleyway and sneaking back in.

We are expecting a much larger crowd than even the 98 who showed up yesterday, and the rumour is that we might have to go 10 handed. That is unconfirmed and will be number dependent, but the capacity is 250 and that may be strained.

Dealers are going through their early preparations and cards will be in the air in 30 minutes. In the meantime, read how George Danzer took the chip lead yesterday, and how Jan von Halle did the same all the way back on Wednesday.

Day 2 of the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event promised two things: 1) the bubble, which is always a thrill ride, and 2) that the tournament would begin to take a real shape, with challengers emerging from the pack with serious designs on the title.

As it actually happened, both those strands became tightly entangled as David Yan won a massive pot to burst the bubble, knocking out Gareth Chantler in the process, and also to give him the kind of stack to begin toying with the field. On a separate table, George Danzer, the Day 1B chip-leader, was also plodding on very nicely indeed.

When they bagged at around 7pm, with 22 players remaining from the 347 who entered, Yan and Danzer were vying for the lead, with only Andre Haneberg separating them at the top.

It really did come down to the last three hands to decide the leader, but Yan lost back-to-back small pots late on to bag 801,000. Danzer, meanwhile, grinned as he counted out 854,000 ensuring his photograph remains at the top of the blogs for another night. Haneberg, meanwhile, has 838,000.

Yan's elimination of Chantler will be the big talking point of the day. Chantler, the lone North American in the field, had a big stack when hand-for-hand started as the money bubble arrived but made a hero-call with ace high for his tournament life.

He had run into Yan's flopped three-of-a-kind and Yan extracted the maximum, putting the remaining 55 players into the money. (Full details at 3:50pm below.) They fell quickly and steadily after that, with Tom Holke, the defending champion, picking up only a min-cash, then Jan von Halle busting to Yan.

Danzer, however, was superlative as ever. He took the bus to work, packing in alongside hundreds of Hamburgers heading to a local flea market. But there were no flies on Danzer. He just did what he does best and goes into the penultimate day of competition at the summit.

Don't forget, he won the High Roller here this week too, so is on for a rare double.

Play starts tomorrow at 2pm and we'll play down to a final table and, most likely, our last six.

Head to the chip-count page for all the stacks at the moment, and the payouts to date are on the payouts page.

Gute nacht!

6:55pm: Last three
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

They have stopped the clock and will play the last three hands before bagging and tagging.

It's close at the top of the counts. David Yan has lost a few hundred and is one of three men with about 800,000.

6:40pm: Olsen doubles
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

A big double up here for Gisle Olsen, who was staring at elimination when he shoved into Dinesh Alt's aces, but had Alt drawing to a chop by the turn.

Alt opened to 25,000 from under the gun and Olsen moved all-in for 155,000, with everyone else folding. Alt called and showed [ad][ac], prompting Olsen to say, "Oh, did I do that?"

He did.

The flop came [8h][9c][td] and Olsen now found reason for optimism. "Jack will do," he said. The turn was indeed the [jh].

Alt swallowed hard and the [4d] river didn't help him.

"I won't say I'm sorry, cos I'm not," Olsen said. He is now up to a high point of 320,000-ish. Alt has only 115,000 after the beat.

6:20pm: Last 24
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Anastasios Mastroudis was the first person to assume the chip lead in this tournament at a time when the "chip lead" was significant. He raced beyond 50,000 on Day 1A, after only a couple of hours. However, he has now been eliminated in 25th, losing to Jonn Forst and taking us down to our final three tables.

Although there's only 30 minutes on the tournament clock (and with it due to be paused with 15 minutes left to play the last x hands), they are doing a redraw and will shuffle the players around a bit.

6:10pm: Tilted room
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

A lot of the tournament chips have all amassed in one particular corner of the room, as if someone had lifted up the entire floor at one corner and watched gravity do what it does. Andre Haneberg (640,000) sits beside Kai Schuster (450,000) who sits beside David Yan (950,000) and then Marcel Schaeunburg (450,000).

They're not the only ones with chips, however, because Erik Scheidt, on Table 1, still has enough to be pulling strings. In a recent hand, he opened to 22,000 from the button and Frank Debus, in the small blind, made it 48,000 to play. Scheidt checked his hand again, then counted out a raise to 112,000 which was too much for Debus.

Scheidt had about 580,000 before that hand began and now has more than 600,000. He is cruising too.

6pm: Ole Olsen
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Gisle Olsen had only 92,000 in his stack, but he also had [ah][ac] in his hand, so scored a double up through Bartolomiej Grabowski when the pair got all their chips in the middle. Grabowski had [7c][7d] but whiffed the [5c][9h][7h][qh][ad] flop and was left with only about 20,000.

5:40pm: Shoving all over the world
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

On Table 5, Goran Milovanovic open shoved his short stack from under the gun and it got folds all the way round. Then on Table 1, Bartolomiej Grabowski open shoved his short stack and it got folds all the way round.

But then, on Table 2, the shoving took on a more significant flavour when it involved players with anything but short stacks.

Andre Haneberg, with about 450,000 in his stack, opened the button to 22,000. Kai Schuster, to his left and with about 400,000 in his stack, three-bet to 60,000. But then David Yan, who has more than 1.1 million, four-bet to 120,000 from the big blind.

Haneberg, with his mouth concealed by his hoodie zip, asked for the all-in triangle, committing all of it. That gave Schuster a tough decision to make. He thought for a long time, glancing at Yan beside him, but then folded. Yan instantly mucked, which meant Haneberg picked up more than 160,000 without seeing a flop.

5:40pm: Yan over Jan
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Jan von Halle has become the latest player to fall at the hands of David Yan. "MissOracle" is unstoppable today and he is the first player through a million.

Von Halle, the Day 1A overnight leader, open-shoved to 130,000 from under the gun with [ac][jd]. Yan, on the button, called with [7c][7h] and the board gave nothing to the over-cards.

5:40pm: Peters perishes
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Tobias Peters is out. He woke up with ace-queen in the small blind and shoved, but Jan Bloch was lurking in the big blind with a bigger stack and [9h][9d]. The board ran [2c][6d][jh][4c][kh] and Peters departs. Bloch, meanwhile, has 360,000.

5:35pm: Chips and payouts
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

The payouts page and the chip-count page were both updated at the last break. Take a look over there for the latest.

5:30pm: Three and four-bets
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Ismet Oral opened to 20,000 from under the gun and Andreas Majchrzak three-bet to 53,000 from the cutoff. That only seemed to encourage Walid Abdi-Ali into action, and he four-bet to 130,000 from the button. Everyone folded.

A few minutes later, Frank Debus tried to get something started with a raise to 22,000 from UTG+1. But that man Majchrzak, one to his left, three-bet again, this time to 54,000 and this time he got that through.

5:10pm: Break
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

The last 33 players are going on their last break of the day. We'll return and play two more levels in 15 minutes' time.

5:05pm: Topic bust to Scheidt
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Marco Topic was down to his last 120,000. And now he doesn't even have that. Erik Scheidt just hit a three-outer to bust Topic.

Topic opened to 18,000 and Scheidt shoved from the small blind, his 250,000 covering Topic's stack. Topic pondered for a moment, but then made a good call with [as][js]. He was up against Scheidt's [ad][td].

But joy turned to misery for Topic when the flop brought the [th] alongside the [8s] and [7h]. The turn [6c] and river [7d] didn't help, and Topic was toast.

4:50pm: Palevic pays price for latest hero call
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

In what also is becoming a pattern here in Hamburg, Rifat Palevic has become the latest player to make a hero call for his tournament life and get it wrong.

There was a pretty hefty pile of chips already in the middle and a board to the river: [2c][8c][2d][9d][6d]. Palevic checked and Kai Schuster shoved for 120,000, which just about covered Palevic.

The Swedish player stood up as if to leave and then he flicked a chip into the middle, indicating the call. Schuster showed [8d][8s] for a flopped full house and Palevic said, "Wow."

Palevic then mucked, but the dealer fished the cards out to show the table, as is required when it's an all-in/elimination situation. Palevic had [7s][7c] and was never ahead.

4:40pm: Hansen outmuscles Siddique
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Johnny Hansen just took a small pot from Usman Siddique, which is probably necessary to stop the British player running over that table. Siddique put on a dominant display when he won UKIPT London a few years ago, and is at it again here.

But not this time.

Siddique opened to 18,000 from the hijack and Hansen called from the cutoff. The both checked the [5s][qs][qd] flop and then Siddique bet 18,000 at the [9s] turn. Hansen quickly popped it up to 50,000 and Siddique let it go.

4:35pm: Toying with them
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

David Yan certainly has more high-stakes tournament experience than almost all of his opponents this afternoon. Although, of course, George Danzer and Jan von Halle are pretty familiar with the top levels of the game (and Usman Siddique has a UKIPT title), Yan is probably alone in having played quite so often at the High Rollers and Super High Roller events. He also has a stack of 760,000, which is bigger than any other, and is pretty much toying with his table at the moment.

Just recently, he opted to call from the hijack pre-flop, bringing Tamas Gonczi in from the small blind and Thorsten Walk from the big.

After Gonczi checked the flop of [2s][qs][tc], Walk stabbed 15,000 at it. Yan quickly raised to 40,000 and Gonczi folded.

It didn't talk Walk long to Walk away either, but he turned over the [th] as he did so. Yan probably doesn't need the extra information, but will no doubt take it.

4:20pm: And another level
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

On they go into Level 18. There are 39 players left.

4:15pm: Trips over trips
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Jan von Halle just made what turned out to be a "wrong" call, but the very fact that he was even considering a fold tells you that he knows what he's doing. In a blind-on-blind encounter with Nikolas Menke, Von Halle was looking at a board of [tc][9h][4d][4h] and had seen Menke check-raise all-in, over a bet of 24,000. The all-in was for 92,000.

Von Halle seriously seemed to be thinking about a fold, but, after looking down at his [6d][4c]--i.e., trips--called. Menke turned over [ac][4c] for trips too and the [7h] on the river was a blank.

Menke's comeback continues. Von Halle remains well stacked.

4:15pm: Staying alive
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Peter Jakob just doubled up through David Yan. It was only for 22,000 but he is staying alive.

He had red aces, mind you, and got it in pre-flop. Yan called with king-jack off and flopped a king but missed on turn and river.

"Chip and a chair," Arne Olsen said. "And some aces of course."

4:05pm: Holke sent home
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Tom Holke was playing just about every hand again today, much as he was yesterday and the day before. I'm not joking. He doubled up Nikolas Menke just before the bubble when Holke had [2d][5d] and Menke [as][kh] (it seems that Holke had shoved the small blind and Menke called the button). Menke won that one.

But if you live by the sword, you will sometimes die by it. And now, Menke has won another one against Holke, and it's the end of the defending champion. Holke shoved for 35,000 from the cutoff and Menke re-shoved his button. The blinds folded and Holke's [ac][8c] couldn't beat Menke's [8h][8d].

Holke heads out and Menke, who started the day with about 11,000, has ten times that.

4pm: Oh, and by the way
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

The chip-count page was updated at the last break, just before the bubble. It does not, at present, reflect Yan's huge win that has put him beyond 600,000.

3:50pm: Chantler bursts bubble! Yan wins huge pot
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

What a roller-coaster day in Hamburg for Gareth Chantler. The Canadian went from short stack to chip leader and has now burst the bubble, losing a massive pot to David Yan.

There was a huge crowd around his table by the time they were at the turn. The board read [3h][5d][3c][ts] and Chantler checked. Yan bet 64,000 and Chantler called.

The [qh] came on the river and Chantler checked again. Yan now said that he was all-in, with his 230,000 covering Chantler's 155,000. Chantler thought a good long while, but then called. Yan flipped over [ah][3s] for flopped trip threes.

Chantler wanted to muck, but was forced to show his [ad][8d], a hero call with ace high gone awry.

Thomas Stacha, our photographer, happened to be videoing the hand and, from the tape, we could piece together that Chantler opened from late position, then called Yan's button three-bet. He then check-called the 30,000 bet on the flop. Then the rest is as reported above.

Yan now leads with about 600,000.

3:35pm: Hand for hand
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

The tournament clock is paused as we go hand-for-hand with 56 players left. Jens Nielsen went out in 57th.

3:30pm: Onward to the bubble
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

We're into Level 17 now and the bubble will burst imminently, one suspects. Here's a reminder of what they are playing for.

3:15pm: Break time
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The remaining 57 players are going on a 15-minute break.

3:10pm: Aces loses
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Miroslav Forman is out. He played Day 1A and Day 1B, but came up short of the money in 59th. It was Andreas Majchrzak who accounted for him.

It might be that Damir Vasiljevic will soon follow him after he just got his aces cracked by Pablo Nerro in a pot that had the potential to take us to the bubble.

Vasiljevic opened to 11,000 from under the gun and Jonn Forst, on the button, three-bet to 27,000. Nerro, in the small blind, quickly announced that he was all in for 70,700.

Vasiljevic pondered for a moment, but then said, "Here we go! All-in!"

Forst found out from the dealer that it would cost him another 82,300 (in addition to the 27,000 he had invested). The rest of the table started talking about Forst's decision, about how he could knock two players out.

"Please, stop it," Vasiljevic said. "I need the €1,700." (That's the min-cash.)

Despite these requests, Vasiljevic actually seemed for all the world that he was praying for a call, but Forst did not oblige. He folded.

Vasiljevic quickly flipped over his [ad][ac]. Yes, he had wanted a call. Nerro had [jc][js] and was in trouble. But the flop came [2s][5d][jd] to put Nerro ahead and silence Vasiljevic.

He found some encouragement from the [2d] turn, but didn't get there on the [kh] river.

Update: He is now out.

2:55pm: "Oh my god"
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

We are four off the money, which is a pretty disappointing place to go out. And doesn't Alaettin Keles know it. He was just eliminated by Ismet Oral and Keles was furious.

When I arrived, they were at the turn and there wasn't an enormous amount of money in the middle. The four exposed cards were [8c][8h][4d][7d] and Oral checked. Keles bet 24,000 and Oral moved all-in, for about 145,000.

Keles now had a decision for his tournament as Oral had him out-chipped. After a short while in the tank, he did indeed call but then couldn't believe it when Oral turned over [6d][5d].

"Oh my god," Keles said. He said it again for good measure. Still without exposing his own hand, he said, "Oh my god," once more.

Then he eventually tabled [kh][ks], which was already drawing dead. The [th] completed the formalities on the river.

2:45pm: Danzer continues to crush
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

You know those updates about Gareth Chantler being in the lead? Scratch that. Chantler is still doing fine, but George Danzer is on a tear. He has about 560,000 chips at the moment and is now miles ahead. Danzer told Robin Scherr that he "had more playable hands today than he has in the past five EPT Main Events".

2:40pm: Full house, double up
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Here's another double up with a monster. This time Kai Schuster stayed alive thanks to a rivered full house in a hand against Tom Holke. He needed it too because Holke, who started with over-cards, had turned a flush.

It was all pretty straightforward. Andre Haneberg opened to 10,400 from early position and Schuster shoved for 53,300 from one seat to his left. It got round to Holke in the cutoff and he made the call. Haneberg folded.

Schuster: [8c][8s]
Holke: [kd][qd]

The flop came [3d][9s][7d], which offered plenty for everyone. But the [8d] offered even more. Schuster stood up, expecting his fate to be sealed, but the [3c] on the river kept him alive. He performed a celebratory pirouette and sat back down.

2:30pm: "How did you double up?" "Oh, I had a royal flush"
Level 16 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

When you're all-in and called, you'd be happy with any kind of win. Ace-high would do. But for Monir Marie, he did it in style: turning a royal flush.

Marie open-shoved his stack of 27,700 from the button and picked up a call from Kai Munster in the big blind. Munster had [qc][td], but Marie had [as][js].

Munster actually flopped two pair on the [ts][qs][kd] flop, but Marie already had a straight. And then, boom, the [ks] appeared on the turn to make it unbeatable.

2:20pm: Into Level 16
Level 16 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

These levels are racing by today. We're now into Level 16, the fourth of the day. They will take a 15-minute break at the end of this.

2:20pm: New chip-leader
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

It's all coming out now about Gareth Chantler. And rightly so. The man from Canada is the new tournament chip leader.

Remember earlier, when Chantler said that he was glad nobody was around to see his first double up? Well, it emerges that he had queen-jack against pocket queens and that Dara O'Kearney, also at the table, had folded a jack. Turn and river were the two case jacks.

That kept Chantler alive at the start of the day. Then in the hand described at 1:25pm below, Chantler made a flush while Klaus Hornschuch had a set of aces. That was another big double up. And now, Chantler has just won another enormous pot to bust Konstantin Karikov and put his own stack up to 360,000.

This one I did see. Karikov opened to 8,200 and, one seat to his left, Chantler three-bet to 20,400. Karikov called and they saw the flop of [ac][9d][4c]. Karikov bet 35,000 and Chantler shoved, covering Karikov.

The Russian player called and showed [ad][ks]. But Chantler had [as][9c] for the flopped two pair and the turn and river bricked.

2pm: Danzer up top
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Tournament staff conducted a full chip count during the last break and there's no surprise to see George Danzer assume the top spot after a superlative opening couple of levels.

We'll update the chip-count page with full counts at each break from now on.

1:55pm: Double shove
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

There were two simultaneous pre-flop shoves on neighbouring tables, but with notably different results. While Nikolas Menke got his under-the-gun raise, to 51,700, all the way through Jan von Halled, Marcel Schauenburg and Tom Holke (only Schauenburg seemed interested), Andreas Bremer picked up a call from Marco Topic and was knocked out.

Bremer had [as][8s] and Topic had [qs][qc]. There was nothing on the flop, turn or river to excite Bremer and he departs in 73rd.

1:45pm: Lifestyles of the rich and famous
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

George Danzer hasn't let life as one of the most famous players in Germany go to his head. He proudly revealed today that he took the bus to work at the Schenefeld Casino--a bus that was full to bursting with locals attending a flea market about a kilometre or so away from the office. Many of them had their purchases--including a lot of rolled up carpets--tucked under their arms. You just don't get this in Monaco. Just one more reason why the Eureka Poker Tour is better than the EPT.

1:30pm: Break time
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

That's the end of Level 14 and they're taking a 15-minute break. That's the pattern for today, by the way: two levels, then a 15-minute break. We'll do that four times.

We'll get full chip counts with you very soon.

1:25pm: Chantler's climb continues
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

There's a tough balance to be struck in tournament poker between acceptable patience and suicidal tightness. You often have to endure long, long barren periods where there are simply no spots to try to increase a tiny stack. However, we've seen it a million times where a player is so focused on not getting eliminated that they simply wind up blinding away to dust.

If you want to know about this, talk to Gareth Chantler. He played his first bullet on Day 1B and (at least from the spectator's viewpoint) it seemed like a fairly miserable grind, eventually ending in perhaps the penultimate level of the day. Then yesterday he was also short for hours, sitting to the right of Rinalo Aquino's big stack. Chantler bagged 37,800 at the end of the day, which was 16 big blinds.

But there's the reason sometimes to stick with it. Chantler has now doubled up at least twice and is now up to more than 160,000, most recently doubling through Klaus Hornschuch. Chantler had [kh][9h] and the full board showed [ah][td][6h][4h][5s]. I arrived only to see the dealer counting Chantler's stack as 76,000, then grabbing the equivalent from Hornschuch.

Chantler is actually now the big stack at his table, which also features David Yan (60,000), Georges Yazbeck (85,000) and David Lappin (17,500). Lappin could certainly do with the kind of fillip that Chantler has enjoyed this afternoon.

1:10pm: Kancaitis four-bets into two, wins
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

You may recall that we identified among the Day 1A players a surprising tendency to limp pre-flop, leading to multi-way pots that were often checked down. By the time Day 1C rolled around, that particular tendency had ended. Everyone was squeezing instead, punishing players who were calling early-position raises.

Today, and as the money draws steadily into view, the aggression is ramping up again. In a recent hand, Edgara Kancaitis opened to 6,400 from the cutoff and Marco Topic called in the cutoff. Quang Nguyen squeezed from the button, making it 15,100, but then Kancaitis four-bet into two opponents, making it 39,000. That got it done as both Topic and Nguyen folded.

1pm: Forst back at it
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

Jonn Forst and Johnny Hansen are sitting on the same table today--or at least they were, until it recently broke.

Anyway, just before they were scattered to the wind, they played a pretty huge pot against one another that ended with Hansen folding top pair on a scary board and Forst refusing to let him know if he'd made the right decision.

There was at least 60,000 in the middle and the board dealt all the way. It read [qd][8d][kd][3s][3c]. Hansen checked and Forst bet 37,000.

"I have a king," Hansen said after a good three minutes in the tank. "Can I say that? You also have a king?"

Forst gave nothing away.

"Forget it," Hansen said, and tossed his cards away.

"Show one card!" Thorsten Walk said, but Forst defiantly shook his head as he slipped the cards to the dealer.

12:55pm: Three Queens
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

Andreas Bremer opened to 7,200 from UTG+1 and Quang Nguyen called in the big blind. They then saw a highly feminine flop. It came [qc][qh][qd].

Nguyen checked but Bremer bet 11,300 and that got Nguyen counting his own stack. He had precisely 64,500 behind and opted to call.

They both checked the [6h] turn and then, after the [3c] cam on the river, Nguyen shoved.

That started Bremer counting his stack, and he soon realised that his 35,000 was the effective stack. He didn't want to commit it here--presumably he did not have a queen--and he folded.

12:45pm: Sixteen down
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

We're into Level 14 now, with 16 players having already hit the rail.

12:40pm: Imbalance
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

It's a case of the haves and the have nots on Table 11, where the likes of Jan von Halle (210,000) and Robin Aghdam-Kazemieh (173,000) sit with Miroslav Forman (45,000) and Yun Choi (32,000).

Both of the latter two open-shoved pre-flop in a recent orbit, and both got it through. Meanwhile, Andrey Demidov gave a little to Von Halle after opening to 6,000 from the button and then folding when Von Halle made it 18,200 from the big blind.

12:30pm: Play the Last Post for...
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

The list of early eliminations includes: Marc Hunter, Daniel Peche, Jorg Blohm, Tillmann Raschke, Amir Mozaffarin, Davor Bendin, Terge Sirnes, Hermann, Behrens, Tilmann Ebeling, Jan Peters, Robert Rohr and Bjorn Duda.

12:20pm: Chantler doubles; Lappin still trying
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

It's been a tough first 30 minutes, with 10 players knocked out already.

12:20pm: Chantler doubles; Lappin still trying
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Gareth Chantler, who is Canadian but has spent a lot of time in Europe over the past few years, including a spell living in Dublin, is the lone North American representative left in the Eureka Hamburg field. He was a short stack at the beginning of the day but has now found a double-up to keep him fighting.

It happened shortly before his table broke and he said he was happy no one was around to see it. (He seemed to suggest it hadn't come as the result of A-1 perfect play.) But a double is a double and Chantler can breathe a little more easily as a result.

Chantler's first table also featured Dara O'Kearney, a friend from his Dublin days. And even now those two have been separated, Chantler has found himself on the same table as another former Dublin-ite, David Lappin. Lappin now lives in Malta, but stays close to the Irish poker scene, and is attempting to get his own tournament kick-started this afternoon.

Just recently, Georges Yazbeck opened the cutoff and Lappin shoved from the button, a total of 25,300. Yazbeck asked a few cheeky questions about whether Lappin wanted a call; Lappin gave a few cheeky answers suggesting that he might or he might not. I suspect Yazbeck was none the wiser, and folded.

12:10pm: Early tournament-life decision for Lappin
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Marc Hunter was the first man knocked out today. He had fewer than 10 big blinds, so it was always likely. But he still got a chance to be photographed last night at the players party with Tom Holke and George Danzer, so it wasn't all bad news.

12:06pm: Early tournament-life decision for Lappin
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

David Lappin returned today with 13 big blinds and will likely know that he is going to have to find a spot to get them in soon-ish. Georges Yazbeck quickly gave him his first opportunity: when action folded to Yazbeck in the small blind, he moved all-in, covering Lappin, who was in the big blind. Lappin agonised for a moment, but eventually opted to wait for a better moment.

12:05pm: Rinaldo takes a small pot from Danzer
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Within the first orbit of play, Rinaldo Aquino has continued in a similar fashion to his start yesterday--ie, busy--winning a small pot from George Danzer.

The two of them got about 13,000 in the pot pre-flop, buying them a look at the [4h][ks][5s]. Rinaldo, who was under the gun pre-flop, checked and Danzer, hijack, bet 8,000. Rinaldo called and they then both checked the [ac] turn.

The [8c] came on the river and Rinaldo bet 13,000. Danzer mucked and said, "Ace five, two pair, well played."

12pm: Away they go
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

And they're off!

11:50am: Seat draw error

Profound apologies from everyone at Casino Schenefeld and the Eureka Poker Tour, but the redraw information we received overnight was incorrect. We now have the accurate seat draw and it is over on the seat-draw page.

11:45am: The morning after the night before

Good morning everybody and welcome back to Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, for Day 2 of the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event.

After the third of three flights of Day 1 ended at around 10:15pm yesterday, players, friends and hangers-on went over to Lustis restaurant for the players' party. Those of them who made a point of returning before the witching hour are likely to be among the 108 who still have chips, seeking a first prize of €69,120.

Today we will play another eight 45-minute levels, headaches permitting, by which point we will almost certainly be in the money. The top 55 are paid, and a min-cash is worth €1,740.

The top-ten stacks at this stage, as the three starting-stay fields merge, are as follows:

As you can see, there's clear air between Tom Holke and even George Danzer, in second, but there are a lot of dangerous players still involved.

Head over to the seat-draw page to see how they line up.

Play begins at noon.

Day 3 of the Eureka Poker Tour Hamburg Main Event started with 22 players and all eyes on George Danzer. The Team PokerStars Pro was going for a remarkable double having already won the High Roller here this week.

But when they bagged up for the end of the night at 8:30pm, only six players remained and Danzer wasn't one of them. The apparently immortal man from Salzburg went out in ninth--a performance he will no doubt have taken at the beginning of the week, but that left him deflated by the end.

It was a tough day. All of the overnight top three were knocked out--David Yan and Andre Haneberg joining Danzer on the rail--but it was the man in fourth yesterday, Erik Scheidt, who prospered the most.

The German player, who is now at the second Eureka final of his career, was the biggest stack in the right from the earliest levels, but things evened out a lot at the end. Scheidt has 1,975,000 to go into the final day, but that's not quite 40 big blinds in what has become a very shallow tournament.

Marcel Schauenburg is second. He fired three bullets at this tournament and, having now progressed to its final, can say that he has played on every single day.

The full counts are over on the chip-count page and we should make special mention of Dinesh Alt.

The man known online as "NastyMinder" was the smallest of the 22 stacks coming back today, but played it superlatively. He had one come-from-behind double up to stay alive, but otherwise picked his spots to perfection to make his way to the final.

This is anyone's game. The average stack is 30 big blinds and the shortest stack is 24 BBs. There's going to be a lot of shoving when they restart at 3pm tomorrow.

Look back on all the action by scrolling through the post below. Then join us for the denouement tomorrow, unfortunately without Mr Danzer.

***

8:30pm: Final day stacks
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

8:25pm: Hansen busts; down to six
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

That's that for Johnny Hansen, and for Day 3 of the Eureka6 Hamburg Main Event. Hansen open-shoved for 470,000 with [kh][9h] and Marcel Schauenburg found [qd][qh] in the big blind and picked him off. There was nothing for Hansen on the flop, turn or river and that's the end of the day.

We'll have full chip counts and final day profiles with you very shortly.

8:20pm: Hansen in peril as blinds get big
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Johnny Hansen is in the danger zone now, with only about seven big blinds, having lost a small pot to Erik Scheidt, but it still representing a good chunk of his stack.

Blinds went up to 25,000-50,000 and Hansen found himself in the small blind. Action folded to him and he completed, with Erik Scheidt checking behind. They saw a flop of [kc][3s][2d] and Hansen bet 55,000. Scheidt called.

The turn was the [8d] and Hansen checked. Scheidt bet 100,000 and Hansen folded. He has about 350,000 left now.

7:55pm: Atmaca four-bet shoves
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Ercan Atmaca opened to 100,000 from the hijack and Erik Scheidt, in the small blind, wanted a count of Atmaca's stack. He happily revealed that he had around 850,000. Scheidt then counted out a three-bet, making it 255,000. Marcel Schauenburg folded his big blind, but then Atmaca shoved.

Scheidt, knowing already how much it was, was able to make a very quick fold.

7:55pm: No recovery for Van Den Wyngaert
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

And that is indeed it for Stephan Van Den Wyngaert. He did manage one double up, through Dinesh Alt, but on the next hand he got his stack of 195,000 in against Marcel Schauenburg, who had opened to 85,000, and Schauenburg's [as][js] won the race against Van Den Wyngaert's pocket fives. Schaunburg flopped two aces. We are down to seven. When one more player is knocked out, we will be done for the night.

7:50pm: Schauenburg leaves Van Den Wyngaert short
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

And that is indeed it for Stephan Van Den Wyngaert. He did manage one double up, through Dinesh Alt, but on the next hand he got his stack of 195,000 in against Marcel Schauenburg, who had opened to 85,000, and Schauenburg's [as][js] won the race against Van Den Wyngaert's pocket fives. Schaunburg flopped two aces. We are down to seven. When one more player is knocked out, we will be done for the night.

7:50pm: Schauenburg leaves Van Den Wyngaert short
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

It seems likely that Stephan Van Den Wyngaert will be putting on his sweater soon and heading into the night as he just lost a massive flip for all but 70,000 of his stack. Marcel Schauenburg was the man to profit, doubling up to around 1 million, when his [ac][kd] hit a king on the board of [2d][js][kc][5c][5h]. Van Den Wyngaert had [8h][8s] and they got it in pre-flop.

7:50pm: Oral passes test
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

The first double-up of the final table has gone in favour of Ismet Oral, who made a bold call for his tournament life with one pair, but was right.

Oral opened from the hijack and Erik Scheidt defended his big blind, taking two players to the flop of [5s][ks][ts]. They both checked. The [2c] came on the turn and Scheidt bet 110,000. Oral called. Then the [8h] came on the river.

Scheidt said that he was all-in, but with the biggest stack in the room, it wasn't really him under threat. Oral had only 460,000 behind and was in danger.

But after double-checking his cards, Oral called and was rewarded when Scheidt turned over [qs][7c]. It meant that Oral's [kc][js] was good. He now has a little less than a million to play with.

7:40pm: Official final table begins
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

After photographs and formalities, the official eight-handed final table is now under way. Erik Scheidt started as he no doubt intends to continue, raising back-to-back hands, making it 80,000 each time, and picking up blinds and antes on each occasion.

7:13pm: Danzer ist kaput
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Well, we can't say that George Danzer hasn't given us good value this week. He won the High Roller, he was chip leader at the end of Day 1 and Day 2. But now, schade, George ist kaput. He got his last chips in good, with [ah][9s] against Dinesh Alt's [7s][6s]. But there was a six on the flop and Alt made the crucial pair to do what so many others have failed to do recently, knock out George Danzer.

This has been a superlative summer again for the Team PokerStars Pro. But that's now the end of that. He gets €6,800 for ninth place.

7pm: Final table counts
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Here's how they line up as the final table now begins:

Seat 1 - Walid Abdi-Ali - 1,530,000
Seat 2 - Stephan Van Den Wyngaert - 655,000
Seat 3 - Ismet Oral - 725,000
Seat 4 - Ercan Atmaca - 895,000
Seat 5 - Dinesh Alt - 1,045,000
Seat 6 - George Danzer - 230,000
Seat 7 - Johnny Hansen - 1,030,000
Seat 8 - Erik Scheidt - 2,360,000
Seat 9 - Marcel Schauenburg - 475,000

6:51pm: Bloch busts in 10th
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Jan Bloch has missed out on back-to-back final tables by the narrowest of margins. He has gone broke in 10th, shoving with pocket fives for his last 400,000 but running into Johnny Hansen's kings. There was no miracle.

We'll have a redraw then a full chip count for the last nine with you very soon.

6:50pm: Still riding the three bullets
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Marcel Schauenburg still has the chance to play on every single day of this tournament as the man who fired three bullets has just doubled up to stay alive.

Dinesh Alt open-shoved his small blind with just Schauenburg, and a stack of 240,000, behind him. Schauenburg glimpsed at his cards and saw [ad][kd], clearly enough to make the call.

Alt had [kh][ts] and was dominated, but actually went ahead on the [5d][7s][tc] flop. But then the [jh] on the turn and [qd] river swung it back in favour of Schauenburg. We're still waiting for the man to go out in tenth that will take us to our final table.

6:35pm: Danzer damaged just before the break
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

George Danzer is the tournament short stack now after losing a big hand just before the break. He had pocket eights and flopped a set, but by the time the river was out, Ismet Oral's [ac][td] had made a straight on the board of [9c][8h][5h][6d][7d]. It was a straightforward flip, however, as they got it all in pre-flop, with Danzer just covering Oral.

The Team PokerStars Pro has 110,000 going into Level 25. It's not even three big blinds.

6:20pm: Break
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

The last ten players are going on a break. We'll have their accurate chip-counts soon.

6:05pm: Danzer doubles
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

For the first time in about a week, George Danzer has been in need of a fillip. Sitting next to Erik Scheidt, albeit with position, has been tough for Danzer today. He had slumped to his last 375,000.

But, good news Danzer fans, he has just got a double up through Scheidt. Scheidt set Danzer all-in from the small blind, with his [ks][9s]. Danzer called with [ah][5c] and Danzer's hand stayed best.

Scheidt still has about 2.1 million, but will now at least need to think a bit about Danzer, who has about 800,000 to his left.

5:50pm: "Flips gewinnt!"
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

"Flips gewinnt!" Walid Abdi-Ali said after, let us guess, winning a flip to knock out Andreas Majchrzak. Action folded to Majchrzak in the small blind and he raised to 70,000.

Abdi-Ali, in the big blind, moved all-in, covering Majchrzak, but Majchrzak called for his last 300,000 or so.

Abdi-Ali had the smallest pair of them all. He had [2d][2s]. But the pair stayed good against Majchrzak's [as][7c] and, indeed, made a set when the [2h] came on the river.

5:50pm: Elf!
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

We're down to 11 players as Gisle Olsen just lost a flip against Walid Abdi-Ali for his tournament life. Abdi-Ali opened to 65,000 and Olsen shipped for 267,000. Abdi-Ali called and took his [4h][4c] up against Olsen's [kd][9h].

The [4d] on the flop all but ended it and there was no miracle outdraw from there. Abdi-Ali now has about 1 million.

5:40pm: Forst forced out
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

There has been a disturbance in the Forst.

Jonn Forst, last season's sixth-placed finisher, is out in 13th this time, open shoving for about 370,000 from the button and getting a call from Ismet Oral in the big blind.

Forst had [kh][5h]. Oral had [as][tc] and the board ran [ac][jh][4h][qs][kd]. Oral had a slightly bigger stack and that was that.

Jan Bloch is now the only person who can go back-to-back final tables in this event.

5:30pm: Schuster shafted
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

This spate of doubling up couldn't last and it's Kai Schuster who has perished in 14th. He open shoved for 313,000 and found a call from Dinesh Alt, who had marginally more.

Schuster: [ks][qd]
Alt: [8s][8d]

There was no excitement on flop, turn or river and Schuster hits the payouts cage. Alt now has more than 650,000 and can finally play some poker after a long grind with a short stack.

5:20pm: Oral doubles through Forst
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Jonn Forst's bid for back-to-back final tables just took a knock. He doubled up Ismet Oral, when Oral three-bet shoved from the big blind after Forst opened to 60,000 from the button.

Oral's shove was for 189,000 and Forst thought about it for quite a while. Eventually he decided that [as][6c] was good enough, but he soon learnt it wasn't. He was up against Oral's [ac][kh] and the board bricked through.

5:15pm: Alt doubles through Atmaca
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Dinesh Alt seemed tempted to shove his last 200,000 into the middle after Erik Scheidt opened to 50,000 from the button and he was in the big blind. But he folded, waiting for a better spot. That apparently came on the next hand, when action folded to Alt in the small blind.

He moved all in and gave Ercan Atmaca a decision for what was determined to be 204,000. Atmaca called.

Atmaca: [ks][3c]
Alt: [qh][8d]

Alt is sticking around thanks to a board of [ac][qd][4s][8h][3s].

5:10pm: Everyone shoving
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Only Erik Scheidt, George Danzer and Ercan Atmaca actually has enough chips to play with any degree of nuance here, leaving all the others to shove or fold. In the former category, all of Kai Schuster, Marcel Schauenburg and Gisle Arne Olsen all pushed in the past five minutes, but none of them got any callers. Olsen, however, made an additional 50,000 as his was a three-bet shove after Walid Abdi-Ali had opened.

5pm: Gorschewsky falls to Atmaca
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Robert Gorschewsky is out. He open-shoved for 260,000 and picked up two callers: George Danzer, on the button, and Ercan Atmaca, in the big blind.

There was betting on the side as the [qh][5d][7s] came on the flop, but both active players checked. The [th] came on the turn and Atmaca pushed out a bet. Danzer instantly folded, leaving Gorschewsky in dire straits with his [ad][5c] against Atmaca's [tc][td].

In fact, he was drawing dead and the [qd] on the river was irrelevant.

Gorschewsky takes €4,310 for 15th. Atmaca has 1.2 million in his bid for the €70,000 winner's cheque.

4:50pm: Oral close to gobbled by Scheidt
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Erik Scheidt is now up to 2.9 million, which is close to ten times the amount of his latest adversary, Ismet Oral. This was a blind-against-blind confrontation that proved costly for Oral.

Oral completed from the small blind and then called when Scheidt raised, adding another 65,000. They saw the [ad][ah][8c] fall on the flop and Oral checked.

Scheidt bet 51,000 and Oral called, then the [9d] came on the turn. Oral check-called Scheidt's bet of 85,000. And he check-called the [5s] river as well when Shceidt bet 150,000.

Scheidt tabled [ac][jc] and Oral mucked.

4:45pm: Insta-shove from Abdi-Ali
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Walid Abdi-Ali said a moment ago that he hadn't been all-in at any time during this tournament so far. That may have been true, but he's just been all-in again.

He opened from the cutoff to 55,000 and Jan Bloch three-bet the small blind, making it 105,000. Johnny Hansen folded the big blind and no sooner were his cards in the muck than Abdi-Ali asked for the red triangle.

Bloch needed about 30 seconds before he let his hand go.

4:40pm: Double for Van den Wyngaert
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Stephan Van den Wyngaert has just survived another all-in situation, this time getting [ad][ks] to hold up against Walid Abdi-Ali's [kd][td]. Abdi-Ali opened from early position and Van den Wyngaert shoved for 169,000 from the big blind. Abdi-Ali called and the board ran [7c][7d][4s][9s][4d].

Abdi-Ali said that was the first time he had been involved in an all-in all tournament.

4:30pm: Yan out in 16th
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

David Yan's tournament is over. As good as his day was yesterday, it was bad today and he couldn't get anything to hold up. Case in point: his elimination hand.

Jan Bloch open-shoved from the small blind with [9s][8c] and Yan found [ac][kh] in the big blind, which was plenty good enough to call all-in for his last 310,000.

Bloch had equity, and he hit the [8d] on the turn. That was the decisive card.

With Yan's elimination we now know that the Eureka Hamburg champion will be from Europe. You'd think that would be obvious, but neither the champion from Rozvadov (Ivan Luca - Argentina) nor Bucharest (Avishai Shitrit - Israel) was.

4:30pm: Shoving
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Both David Yan and Kai Schuster have about 270,000 and both open-shoved from under the gun on their respective tables. Both got folds all the way round.

4:25pm: Stacks
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Here are the stacks as Level 23 begins:

4:10pm: Chip leaders clash
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Erik Scheidt and George Danzer are the two biggest stacks in the tournament and although they will probably be keen not to clash, they will of course play hands against each other as the situation demands.

Just as the clock ran into the first break of the day, such a moment arose. Scheidt raised to 45,000 from the cutoff and Danzer three-bet his small blind, making it 160,000 to play. They both checked the [ad][kc][jc] flop but then Danzer bet 140,000 at the [2d] turn. Scheidt called.

The [8s] came on the river and after some silent jousting (ie, two players sitting motionless and saying nothing) they both checked.

Danzer showed [3h][3s] and Scheidt tabled his [td][tc]. "Nice call," Danzer said as the pot was pushed to Scheidt.

We'll have full chip counts for the remaining 16 players shortly as they head off for a 15-minute break.

3:50pm: Some oddness
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

There are two tables in play, and here's a weird hand on each of them. They played out simultaneously, to add to the weirdness.

The first started with a raise to 50,000 under the gun from Stephan Van den Wyngaert. Andreas Majchrzak three-bet to 115,000 from a stack of 390,000.

Action folded to Johnny Hansen in the small blind and he seemed very interested indeed. He pondered his options, asked for all the relevant stack sizes, but then folded.

Van den Wyngaert then started some agonising of his own, but opted to call. He then checked in the dark and buried his head into his arms on the table, as if not wanting to see the flop at all.

The rest of us looked at the [5d][6h][8s]. Van den Wyngaert had already checked, so Majchrzak said that he was all in. Van den Wyngaert woke up and folded instantly.

On the other table, Kai Schuster opened to 45,000 under the gun and George Danzer called in the cutoff. Jonn Forst also called in the big blind and that took three players to a flop of [td][5c][7d].

Forst led. He pushed 55,000 into the middle. Schuster folded, but Danzer called. Both remaining players checked the [5s] turn and then the [5d] came on the river.

Forst bet 85,000 and Danzer considered his options. He took a moment, but then called. Forst mucked without showing, allowing Danzer to slide his winning hand back to the dealer face down as well.

3:30pm: Redraw
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Here's how the last 16 line up. We'll have chip counts at the break, but it looks like Erik Scheidy (1.7 million) and George Danzer (1.3 million) have clear air at the top of the charts at the moment, especially as David Yan just lost another chunk, doubling up Johnny Hansen.

3pm: Count them: five called all-ins, one elimination
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

An absolutely mad few minutes here in Hamburg, with at least five called all-ins in a matter of minutes, but only one elimination. That takes them down to the last 16, a redraw, an a moment to catch up with the flurry.

First up, Jonn Forst open-shoved his button and Kai Schuster, with 255,000 in his stack, called from the big blind. "Oops," Forst said, and showed his [jc][9h], which was dominated and did not catch up against Schuster's [ac][js]. The board bricked.

It left Forst with 140,000 and he open-shoved on the next hand from the cutoff. Schuster, who was still assembling his chips from the previous hand, said that he would call, but then David Yan, in the big blind, wanted to know how much Schuster was playing before he made his move.

Yan re-shoved, covering Schuster, and Schuster folded. That meant it was Yan's [js][ts] against Forst's [kc][3c] and the king ended up decisive on the board of [4h][9c][9h][5d][7d].

That was all the action on that table, but it was all going on elsewhere too. Dinesh Alt shoved his stack of 133,000 from the button and Robert Gorschewsky called from the big blind. This was standard: Alt had [ks][6c] and Gorschewsky's [ad][qd] was looking good to knock out Alt.

The flop of [7d][7s][jc] was safe. So was the [4c] on the turn. But the [kd] river earned Alt the double.

On the very next hand, Gorschewsky got what was now a short stack in with [jh][jc] and found a call from Ercan Atmaca and his [ac][6h]. Gorschewsky probably feared the worst when the [as] was in the window of the flop, but there was also the [ks] and the [jd]. Then the turn [3c] and the [ts] river kept him ahead.

So, those were the four double-up hands, but there was an elimination going on on George Danzer's table.

The one started with Danzer opening to 45,000 from early position and picking up calls from both players in the blinds: Erik Scheidt and Andre Haneberg. Those two checked the [qh][3s][4s] flop, prompting a bet of 60,000 from Danzer.

Scheidt called but Haneberg moved all-in, for 267,000. Danzer called, Scheidt folded, and the two hands went on their backs:

Danzer: [kd][qc]
Haneberg: [ks][2s]

Danzer doesn't lose in spots like this. And sure enough the [7c] turn and [td] river were good only for him. Haneberg, second in chips at the start of the day, is out in 17th.

3pm: Two out from Table Danzer
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Seung Hyun Kang was knocked out in 20th a little while ago, when he limped with pocket tens and then called Ismet Oral's bet to 47,000. Kang must have loved the ten on the flop, sandwiched between two queens, and checked. But he bet the eight on the turn, and Oral called. The river, though, was his killer. It was a third queen and little did he know, Oral was sitting with pocket kings, which now counterfeited Kang's flopped boat.

They got it all in there and Oral took it down.

Not long later, the short-stacked Frank Debus shoved his small blind with [qs][2d]. His 130,000 represented an easy call for George Danzer in the big blind, who had [as][td]. There was a ten on the flop and that was the end of it for Debus.

The tournament clock has just ticked into Level 22, where blinds are now 10,000-20,000 (ante 3,000).

2:50pm: Hansen's double raid on Saric sends Serbian home
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Miomir Saric is on his way back to Serbia after losing back-to-back pots to Johnny Hansen. The first accounted for all but 71,000 of his chips. The next got the rest.

They were in the blinds for the first of these encounters with Saric open shoving the small blind with [kd][3c]. The short-stacked Hansen opted to call all-in with his [ac][5h] and the ace played on the board of [jc][6c][9d][2c][6s].

On the very next hand, action folded to Saric on the button and, with 71,000 now, which was four big blinds, he pushed again. Hansen did some calculations then re-shoved to isolate, persuading Jan Bloch to fold his big blind reluctantly.

Bloch was unhappy when he saw the hands. Saric had [ts][2s] and Hansen [kd][5c] and this time the king played when the board ran [7d][3s][jc][qs][4h].

2:40pm: Double for Majchrzak
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Andreas Majchrzak is the latest player to double up, getting very fortunate in a blind-versus-blind coup against Robert Gorschewsky.

Ercan Atmaca poked the hornets nest with a raise to 35,000 from the hijack, and Gorschewsky shoved from the button. Majchrzak found [ad][qc] and decided to call all-in for his last 181,000 and Atmaca left them to it.

Gorschewsky was a significant favourite with his [as][ks] but the flop fell [3s][qd][6d] and the turn of [tc] and river of [7s] kept Majchrzak alive.

2:30pm: Double for Van Den Wyngaert
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

The last Belgian player in the field, Stephan Van Den Wyngaert, has just earned the latest double up in this tournament, finding [ad][ks] in the big blind after Jan Bloch shoved the button, with [4s][4h]. The [as] came on the flop and Bloch didn't catch up after that.

Van den Wyngaert's shove was for 178,000 and so he has the better side of 350,000 to play with now.

Action on each of the tables is pretty brisk, with a lot of opens from the big stacks, followed by shoves by the small/mediums, which have usually earned folds. If it continues like this, we could easily see a quick rash of eliminations.

2:10pm: Action on Table 1
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Robert Gorschewsky has now arrived, but maybe he will have preferred another few minutes in bed. He lost a big pot, doubling up the dangerous Dinesh Alt in the process.

Alt shoved from the small blind--he was the overnight short stack, with 118,000--and Gorschewsky called from the big. Alt's jack-ten was behind the ace-six of Gorschewsky, but by the time the board was all the way to the river, Alt had quad tens. That's good for a double.

Only a couple of hands later, there was another big hand on Table 1, this time ending the participation of Edgaras Kancaitis. In this hand, Ercan Atmaca opened to 35,000 and Kancaitis shoved for about 120,000 from the small blind.

Atmaca called with his [js][ts] which was behind Kancaitis's [as][qh]. But a flop of [kc][9d][qc] soon swung it in Atmaca's favour, and the [2s] turn and [4s] river didn't change much.

Jack-ten appears to be unbeatable on that table at the moment.

2:10pm: Man down
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Nikolas Menke is our first elimination today. He shoved from the button for 114,000 after Marcel Schauenburg opened to 35,000 from the cutoff. Schauenburg called and was ahead with [th][tc] against Menke's [8s][6s].

The board brought little for the under-cards. It ran [2c][ah][6h][ks][2d] and that was that for Menke. Schauenberg is up and running.

2:05pm: Two seats open
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Nope, not two bust-outs already, but two no shows. Neither Robert Gorschewsky nor Andreas Majchrzak have arrive to Casino Schenefeld to take their seat as yet. They're both healthy enough in chips, but no one can afford to blind away in what is quite a shallow tournament. Average stack is 26 big blinds at the moment.

2pm: Away they go
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

They're off.

1:30pm: Day 3 ready to begin

It's Day 3 of the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event and 22 players remain, looking for a place at the final table. Today, we switch to 60-minute levels to give players slightly more wiggle room, but it's still likely to be a quick day. There's every chance we will play to the last six players to give an even shorter day tomorrow.

George Danzer is leading. Isn't he always. But he'll be taking nothing for granted with the like of David Yan and Erik Scheidt, among others, in the close chasing pack. Both Jonn Forst and Jan Bloch made the final table of this event last year, and they are still involved too, so there's no room for complacency.

Take a look at the chip-count page for the full line up, and the seat-draw page for their starting positions.

Play begins at 2pm.

Seat 1: Walid Abdi-Ali, 37, Kiel, Germany - 1,666,000





Last season, Walid Abdi-Ali fell just shy of the Eureka Hamburg Main Event final table when he was eliminated in 10th place, earning €7,550. But the 37-year-old from Kiel returned to make good on the promise shown last time, cruising to the last six. Abdi-Ali has amassed more than $60,000 in live tournament winnings, the largest single score of which came five months ago when he won the Redbet Live Rozvadov €1,000 High Roller event for €10,500.

Seat 2: Ismet Oral, 28, Hamburg, Germany - 1,190,000



Ismet Oral started playing poker when he turned 18. Ten years later, he's made it to the Eureka Main Event final table, an achievement made all the more sweet by the fact that it's in his home city of Hamburg. Oral has only one previous reported cash worth €2,610 for a second place in the €330 NLH Deepstack at King's Rozvadov. Oral says he prefers to play live tournaments to any other form of poker.

Seat 3: Ercan Atmaca, 49, Enschede, Netherlands - 1,265,000





Ercan Atmaca has been playing poker for 12 years and had already notched up three Eureka Main Event cashes before arriving here this week. His previous best result on the tour was a 15th-placed finish in Rozvadov worth €6,180. But the biggest cash in the 49-year-old's career came eight years ago when he took down the Uttrecht's 2008 Dom Classics for €71,610. Atmaca's live tournament winnings will move to more than $250,000 after this tournament as a seat at the final guaranteed him at least €8,400. The amateur poker enthusiast also enjoys tennis and football.

Seat 4: Dinesh Alt, 25, Bern, Switzerland - 1,260,000



Dinesh Alt has been playing poker for seven years during which time he has risen to the summit of the European game. The 25-year-old professional from Bern has earned $430,000 in live tournament winnings and plenty more online, where he is known as "NastyMinder". He won the ANZPT Main Event in Sydney for A$226,320 three years ago, but that was eclipsed by his victory in the 2016 PokerStars Turbo Championship of Online Poker (TCOOP) Main Event for record-breaking $396,691.

Seat 5: Erik Scheidt, 29, Rostock, Germany - 1,975,000





Erik Scheidt is entering his second Eureka Main Event final table. His debut came back at Eureka 4 Vienna, where he finished seventh for €33,090. That still remains the German's best result to date. The 29-year-old computer specialist from Rostock has been travelling around the live circuit for the past five years. He's racked up more than $250,000 in live tournaments including three EPT Main Event cashes and sixth place in the €1k Berlin Cup worth €31,000. He qualified for this event on PokerStars.

Seat 6: Marcel Schauenberg, 25, Hamburg, Germany - 1,795,000





Marcel Schauenberg is another local player on the final table. The 25-year-old comes from Hamburg and has been recreationally playing poker since he turned 18. He's playing both live and online tournaments. Making this final table is the best achievement of his career. His previous biggest cash came also here in Hamburg; in June 2014, Schauenberg finished seventh in the German Poker Tour Main Event, banking €3,380.

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7:10pm: Dinesh Alt is Eureka Hamburg champion
Ercan Atmaca eliminated in second for €43,790
Level 30 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (10,000 ante)

It's all over, and Dinesh Alt is Eureka Hamburg champion.

A floor-man brought over the trophy to put it on the table between the two heads-up players and Ercan Atmaca turned it towards Alt saying, "This is yours." Alt shrugged, but it came to pass almost immediately.

Shortly before this moment, Alt had made a good call with ace-high to pick off Atmaca's bluff. And soon after, ace-high won again.

Atmaca, with 1.55 million in his stack, open shoved and Alt took a while, but then called. Atmaca showed [jh][5s] and Alt's [ac][2d] was in the lead.

It was never threatened through a board of [7h][kh][8s][3c][3d] and they shook hands, with Alt the new champion. Read a full recap from the event now.

6:50pm: Alt tries to profit from tired Atmaca
Level 29 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Although he is still very much alive in this tournament, Ercan Atmaca seems to be either exhausted or distracted or both. He is frequently forgetting when it is his turn to act pre-flop, while also talking to his friends supporting him from the rail. By contrast, Dinesh Alt remains sitting bolt upright in his chair.

On a recent hand, Alt just called when he was first to act pre-flop and Atmaca raised to 300,000. Alt then said that he was all-in and Atmaca went into the tank. He counted his stack a few times--he had 2.85 million more--but then folded, leaving himself with that amount.

Not long afterwards, Alt again just completed pre-flop and Atmaca casually took a fistful of blue chips and plonked them over the line. Alt asked for a count, found out it was 475,000, and folded.

6:50pm: Atmaca chipping away
Level 29 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

This is shaping up to be a pretty interesting heads-up duel now with the measured approach of Dinesh Alt coming up against what, on the surface, appears to be a more devil-may-care attitude from Ercan Atmaca. Both of those impressions may be false, of course. But that's how it seems.

In a recent hand, Atmaca limped from the small blind and Alt raised to 350,000. Atmaca responded with a three-bet to 850,000 and Alt called.

The flop came [js][4h][4d] and Alt checked. Atmaca, chuckling, bet 800,000 and Alt, stony-faced, folded.

6:35pm: Atmaca back in it with double up
Level 29 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Ercan Atmaca is back in the game after doubling up with [ks][js] against Dinesh Alt's [jd][th]. Alt shoved pre-flop and Atmaca called for his last 1.715 million. The board bricked and Atmaca now has 3.5 million to play with.

6:25pm: Alt takes commanding lead after cooler
Level 29 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Dinesh Alt has seized control of this heads-up battle in the first significant pot they played. He made a better two pair than Ercan Atmaca and the latter did not slow down his betting.

Alt raised to 250,000 pre-flop and Atmaca min-three-bet to 500,000. Alt called. The flop came [as][3c][kh] and Atmaca bet 350,000. Alt called.

The turn was the [4c] and Atmaca now bet 700,000, which Alt called. And that took them to the [9d] river. Atmaca bet 1.3 million and Alt called. Atmaca showed [kd][4s] but Alt had [ad][4d] and it was better.

Atmaca now has only 1.7 million and Alt has the rest.

6:10pm: Heads up dead heat
Level 29 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Although there has been a flurry of eliminations, it is far from certain to end soon. They are all but even going into heads up play:

Dinesh Alt: 4.6 million
Ercan Atmaca: 4.5 million

6:10pm: Abdi-Ali out in third; tournament heads up
Level 29 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

This flurry of eliminations has continued. On the third hand back from the break, Walid Abdi-Ali has bust to Ercan Atmaca.

Atmaca opened to 220,000 and Abdi-Ali, with about 11 big blinds, shoved. Atmaca called instantly with [ac][js] and was ahead of Abdi-Ali's [kd][4c].

Abdi-Ali was delighted with the flop of [ks][qs][4s] and the [5d] turn was fine too. However the [9s] on the river made Atmaca a straight and Abdi-Ali perished. He wins €31,650 for third.

They're now heads up to decide who takes €69,120 and who takes €43,790.

5:55pm: Break time chip-counts
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

The last three players are off on a 15-minute break. Here are the stacks they will return to:

Dinesh Alt: 5.18 million
Ercan Atmaca: 3.115 million
Walid Abdi-Ali: 1.250 million

5:50pm: Oral busts in fourth
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

And just like that, we're down to three with Dinesh Alt now the table captain. He has just made a really good call to send Ismet Oral out in fourth.

Alt raised the button, making it 175,000 to play. Oral shoved from the big blind, for 1.2 million. Alt took a long while over his decision, as he has at all critical moments in this tournament, and once again he made the right move. He called and was ahead with his [ac][6h] to Oral's [kc][qd].

The board ran [7d][7s][8c][9c][ad] and Oral, who had played his short stack efficiently today, is now €25,600 richer.

There is one minute left on the level and we'll get full three-handed chip-counts during the imminent 15-minute break.

5:45pm: Scheidt out in fifth
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

As predicted, it's all-in followed by all-in now at this final table. The latest has sent Erik Scheidt, the overnight leader, to the payouts table in fifth.

Ercan Atmaca opened his button, making it 200,000 to play. Scheidt pushed from the big blind with [9d][9c] and Atmaca, with [as][jd], called.

There was something for everyone on the flop of [8d][7d][6d] but by the time the [3d] came on the turn, Scheidt had two outs--for the straight flush--to keep him alive.

The [ah] on the river was not one of them, and he goes home in fifth. He takes €20,260 from the second Eureka final table of his career.

5:40pm: Oral all-in, doubles
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Sure enough, the action has picked up. Ismet Oral was all-in almost immediately after Schauenburg was eliminated. But Oral scored a double up through Erik Scheidt to leave the latter with only 850,000.

Oral's [js][th] made a straight on the board of [6h][8h][9c][4h][qc] to beat Scheidt's pocket fives. They got it in pre-flop.

Oral had 550,000, so is back over a million. Scheidt assumes short-stack status again.

5:30pm: Schauenburg busts in sixth; dam sure to open
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

After an improbably two-and-a-half hours of play, we have lost our first player with Marcel Schauenburg, the only man to play every day of this tournament, going out in sixth.

The hand that left him on life support came when Erik Scheidt raised all-in from the button for his last 750,000 and Schauenburg, in the small blind, called. He had only about 860,000 himself.

Scheidt: [2d][2c]
Schauenburg: [ac][qc]

So it was a straight race for Scheidt's life, and he had the smallest pair in the deck. However, to chants of "Hold!" from his rail, it did indeed hold as the board ran [8h][4s][9c][4h][jc].

That was a big double up for Scheidt, the chip-leader at the start of the day, and left Schauenburg with only 115,000. He got that in two hands later and was called by both Ercan Atmaca, in the small blind, and Dinesh Alt, in the big blind.

Those two checked down a board of [qd][9c][6d][8d][3s] and Alt's [8c][2h] beat the [ac][7s] of Atmaca and, crucially, the [jd][kc] of Schauenburg.

Schauenburg, who invested €3,000 plus fees into this one, takes €15,590 for sixth. So all's well that ends well.

With that, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't lose another couple very quickly.

5:20pm: Grind continues
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

This has become a bit of a weird final table with everyone so comparatively short-stacked. It means that one false step can put anyone in the danger zone: if the biggest stack doubled up the shortest, their positions would all but switch.

Walid Abdi-Ali open shoved for just short of 1.1 million and Ercan Atmaca, in the small blind, wanted a count. He folded and then I think told the table that he had folded jacks. The veracity of that depends on two things: firstly, the fact that he's a poker player. Secondly, my German isn't great, so that might not be what he said at all.

Here's something I do know: Dinesh Alt just won three pots on the bounce with pre-flop raises, picking up blinds and antes.

5pm: Abdi-Ali gets away from it
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Walid Abdi-Ali opened the button to 170,000 and Ercan Atmaca called from the big blind. They both checked the [6d][js][8c] flop and then Atmaca bet 250,000 after the [3s] turn. Abdi-Ali showed the [as] as he mucked and Atmaca showed the [8d][6c] for flopped two pair that he didn't get paid.

4:50pm: No break
Level 28 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

The scheduled break for the end of Level 27 did not materialise, so we're pushing on into Level 28. Here are the approximate stacks:

Dinesh Alt: 2.25 million
Ercan Atmaca: 1.9 million
Walid Abdi-Ali: 1.55 million
Marcel Schauenburg: 1.55 million
Erik Scheidt: 1.3 million
Ismel Oral: 860,000

4:45pm: Hero call from Abdi-Ali
Level 27 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (5,000 ante)

As Level 27 ticked to its end, Walid Abdi-Ali made a great call with king-high to boost his stack for the higher blinds. It started when action folded to Marcel Schauenburg in the small blind and he completed. Abdi-Ali checked his option.

The flop came [ts][5s][9c] and Schauenburg led for 70,000. Abdi-Ali called. The turn was the [2c] and Schauenburg bet 135,000. Abdi-Ali called. The river was the [2d] and Schauenburg tried again, this time for 280,000. Abdi-Ali called again.

Schauenburg forlornly turned over [js][7s] and Abdi-Ali exposed his [ks][8s], pointing at the king triumphantly.

4:40pm: Atmaca makes some
Level 27 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (5,000 ante)

After a period of very little happening--all of Eric Scheidt, Marcel Schauenberg and Dinesh Alt raised pre-flop and took blinds and antes--Ercan Atmaca won a pot that got as far as the turn.

Ismet Oral, who was down to his last 700,000, raised to 120,000 from under the gun and Atmaca, one seat to his left, and Alt, one seat further around, called. The three of them went to a flop of [4s][7c][kh] and Oral checked.

Atmaca bet 180,000 and only Alt called, taking them to the [qd] on the turn. Atmaca bet 300,000 and Alt folded.

Approximate stacks:

Walid Abdi-Ali: 950,000
Ismet Oral: 550,000
Ercan Atmaca: 1,650,000
Dinesh Alt: 2,600,000
Erik Scheidt: 1,400,000
Marcel Schauenburg: 1,800,000

We'll make those a bit more accurate at the end of this level.

4:20pm: Two shoves
Level 27 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (5,000 ante)

Dinesh Alt opened two pots in a row, from cutoff then hijack. The first he got through, but the second resulted in a shove from Walid Abdi-Ali in the small blind, which forced Alt to fold.

On the next hand, action folded around to Ismet Oral in the small blind and he open shoved his 565,000. Ercan Atmaca folded his big blind.

Oral had been left short after a pot against Marcel Schauenburg where Schauenburg called Oral's bet of 145,000 on the turn, with the board reading [4h][ac][8c][jh]. There had clearly been some betting before this, with a pot of about 200,000 already amassed.

The river was the [4c] and both players checked. Schauenburg's [as][2c] was good as Oral mucked.

4:10pm: More for Alt
Level 27 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (5,000 ante)

Dinesh Alt now has about 2.7 million, while Walid Abdi-Ali has slumped to 850,000 after the Swiss player just won another pot from his favourite adversary.

Abdi-Ali opened to 140,000 and Alt called in the big blind. The flop came [3s][4h][4d] and Alt check-called Abdi-Ali's bet of 140,000. They both checked the [2h] turn and then Alt bet 250,000 after the [qs] river. Abdi-Ali called but mucked when Alt showed his [kd][qd].

4:05pm: Alt takes over the chip lead
Level 27 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (5,000 ante)

Dinesh Alt, who was the tournament short-stack when there were 22 players left, is now the chip leader of the final six. He has just doubled up through Walid Abdi-Ali to occupy top spot for the first time.

Alt opened to 120,000 from the cutoff and Abdi-Ali defended his big blind. It got immediately interesting on the flop, where Abdi-Ali checked the [qs][kd][6s] board and Alt bet 140,000. Then Abdi-Ali raised to 295,000. Alt, with just shy of 800,000 behind, called.

The [ks] came on the turn, which was a clear action card. The flush draw got there, but king-queen was now a boat. Abdi-Ali instantly pushed all-in.

Alt now had a decision for his tournament. He had 645,000 behind and, after about three or four minutes in the tank, called. Abdi-Ali showed [kc][jh] and a relieved Alt showed his [as][2s]. "I thought you might have full house," Alt said.

The [td] was a blank and Alt now has 2.15 million. Abdi-Ali has 1.5 million.

3:50pm: Jacks for Atmaca
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

On what turned out to be the last hand of Level 26, Walid Abdi-Ali opened to 110,000 but then folded after Ercan Atmaca three-bet to 235,000 from the cutoff. Everyone else had also folded by that point, and Atmaca showed [jc][jh] by way of proof that he wasn't three-betting light.

The buzzer sounded for the end of Level 26 during that hand, so we're heading straight into Level 27 where blinds are 30,000/60,000 with a 5,000 ante. Still six handed.

3:40pm: Alt bounces back
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Dinesh Alt has taken his stack back up to 1.25 million--about what he started with today--after taking a small sliver from Marcel Schauenburg.

Alt raised to 110,000 from the cutoff and picked up calls from both Schauenburg, in the small blind, and Walid Abdi-Ali, in the big. Both the blinds checked the [3h][ts][jc] flop, and then only Schauenburg called when Alt bet 140,000.

They then checked down both the [6c] turn and [3d] river and Schauenburg exposed his [kd][qd], a straight draw that missed. Alt's [8c][6c] made a pair on the turn and was good.

Schauenburg still has 1.7 million.

3:35pm: Scheidt wins one; Dinesh Alt in trouble
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

The start of this final table hadn't gone according to plan for Erik Scheidt. He had been the most active player, as chip-leaders tend to be, but hadn't won anything during the opening couple of orbits.

Case in point: Scheidt made it 110,000 from the hijack and, in a repeat of the 3:20pm hand, Walid Abdi-Ali called from the button. But this time, when action made it to Ercan Atmaca in the big blind, he shoved for 950,000 and both Scheidt and Abdi-Ali folded.

But then Scheidt did win some chips. He opened again to 110,000 on the next hand and Dinesh Alt was the only called, in the big blind. They both checked the [js][4c][6h] flop, but then Alt bet 135,000 on the [8s] turn. Scheidt called.

The [4h] came on the river and both checked. Alt turned over [ac][5d] but Sheidt had him out-kicked with the [as][qs].

Alt is left with 740,000 now. Sheidt is back up to around 1.8 million.

3:20pm: Abdi-Ali surges ahead
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

It seemed pretty unlikely that we could see any six-figure pots without somebody being all-in, but that has already been proven wrong. Walid Abdi-Ali has just added a big chunk to his stack when he came out best in the three-hander also involving Erik Schiedt and Ercan Atmaca.

Scheidt opened with a raise to 110,000 from the hijack and Abdi-Ali called on the button. Atmaca also came along from the big blind.

The flop brought the [tc][4d][3c] and Atmaca checked. Scheidt c-bet to 165,000 and both opponents called.

The [as] came on the turn and Atmaca checked again. Scheidt bet 315,000 and this time only Abdi-Ali came along.

The [3s] fell on the river and Scheidt was now first to act. He checked his stack numerous times--he had about 1.45 million back--but eventually checked. That allowed Abdi-Ali to check behind and turn over [ac][2c]. He had a flush draw on the flop, top pair on the turn and two pair by the river.

Scheidt mucked. Abdi-Ali now has close to 3 million.

3:05pm: First blood to Abdi-Ali
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Walid Abdi-Ali took the first pot of the final table after raising from the cutoff to 105,000 and getting a call from Dinesh Alt in the big blind. They both checked the [5s][7d][ah] flop and then Alt also checked the [qh] turn. Abdi-Ali bet 120,000 and Alt called.

The river was the [5d] and Alt checked again. Abdi-Ali bet 170,000 and after looking his opponent up and down a few times, Alt folded.

The stacks are so tight that that will now make Alt the tournament short stack and will give Abdi-Ali the lead. But by the time you're reading this, that might easily have changed again.

3pm: Play due to begin
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Players are now in their seats with their chip bags ripped open and action is about to begin.

2:30pm: The race to the title

Good afternoon all and welcome back, for the final time, to Hamburg for the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event. Over the course of the next five or six hours we will crown our latest champion. Six players remain in the hunt, and it is truly anyone's game. Only about 12 big blinds separates first and sixth in what is an even and shallow final table.

We begin in Level 26, with blinds at 25,000-50,000. Even Erik Scheidt, who is the chip-leader, can't really afford to be too tricky with his 39 BBs.

The stacks are as follows:

Check out the payouts page to see who has earned what so far, and what's on offer to the last six.

Play begins at 3pm local time. Don't be late.

Dinesh Alt is the latest champion on the Eureka Poker Tour, becoming the first man from Switzerland to take a title on the tour that snakes through mainland Europe, and adding a major live victory to the TCOOP Main Event that he won under his online moniker "NastyMinder".

"Everything happened that you need to win a tournament," Alt said after his victory. That included having a girlfriend on a work trip to Hamburg this week, which gave Alt reason to come to northern Germany in the first place.

Alt took his seat on Day 1B this week, becoming the first of a flurry of familiar faces to arrive on the second starting day. For a while, he was sat on a table with Charlie Carrel, George Danzer and David Yan, all of whom are regulars at the highest-stakes tables in the world, but none of whom was still involved when the tournament reached its business end today.

The 25-year-old from Bern, Switzerland, was the shortest stack in the room when 22 players came back yesterday, but managed to duck and weave his way to today's final, then land his punches at precisely the right moments.

"When I was short, I waited for good spots," he said. "The good spots came and I won every flip since then."

He was especially ruthless during a brief heads-up battle against Ercan Atmaca, a Dutch player living in Germany, when Alt picked off all Atmaca's bluffs and was seemingly always ahead when he committed big portions of his stack.

Atmaca ended up moving all in with [jh][5s] on the final hand. Alt made a shrewd call with [ac][2d] and it held up. Alt takes €69,120 for the win, having refused to talk about a deal. Atmaca takes €43,790 for second.

The final table had an unusual dynamic at its start, with only 12 big blinds separating the biggest stack from the shortest and no one with the luxury to play anything but a potentially tournament-defining pot.

Walid Abdi-Ali was the first to surge up the leader board, profiting in the main from Erik Scheidt. But then Alt, who had been the short stack for long periods, took it out on Abdi-Ali and put his own charge into motion.

Ismet Oral sat most of this out, with the shortest stack for the longest period, and it was proven to be a wise strategy. He will have known that the dam would have to burst soon and was careful that it didn't sweep him away first.

The unfortunate man to first hit the rail turned out to be Marcel Schauenburg, whose other claim to fame this week was that he had played every single day. Three players in the field used their full allocation of potential buy-ins, firing on Days 1A, 1B and 1C. Schauenburg was the only one to make it to Day 4, but couldn't hoist the trophy.

He lost a massive flip with [ac][qc] against Scheidt's pocket twos, and then Alt picked up the last shrapnel. Schauenburg won €15,590 for sixth.

Such was the delicate nature of all this that despite profiting from Schauenburg's misery, Scheidt was the next man out. He lost a flip with pocket fives when Oral's [js][th] made a straight. That sent Scheidt looking for €20,260 from the second Eureka Poker Tour final table of his career.

But lo and behold, Oral couldn't make those chips last very long. He tried to push Alt off an ace pre-flop with a big small-blind shove, but Alt made a shrewd call and the [ac][6h] stayed strong against Oral's [kc][qd].

Oral had laddered up a couple of spots and took €25,600 for fourth.

After playing for more than two-and-a-half hours without an elimination, we quickly saw three in 20 minutes. And then another one immediately after the first break of the day.

Abdi-Ali had slumped to short stack when they went three handed and got it in with [kd][4c]. Atmaca made the right call with his [ac][js] and it stayed good.

That left the stacks evenly balanced when heads-up play began, but Alt's superior guile quickly paid dividends. He won a chunk of chips when both players flopped a pair and turned two pair. And Alt could then afford to double up Atmaca when [ks][js] beat [jd][th].

But with Atmaca appearing to tire in the face of Alt's relentless precision, they went at it for the last time at around 7:10pm local time. Alt, as ever, was good.

Take a look through the live updates page for details of how it all went down.

Next up in the PokerStars universe is UKIPT Birmingham, which starts on Wednesday. Jake Cody, Liv Boeree and a young man named Chris Moneymaker are booked to play in the last ever event under the UKIPT branding. Head to Birmingham to join them.

Goodnight from Hamburg!

Eureka6 Hamburg Main Event

Dates: September 28-October 3
Buy-in: €1,000+€100
Entries: 367 (327 uniques, plus 40 re-entries)
Prize pool: €355,990

Click for full payouts

While the Hilton Hotel here in Prague is quite a spectacle, the tournament poker room leaves a little to be desired. Not in its appearance, mind; nor from its friendly staff. It's just that when you have as many players playing as we had today, a little more space wouldn't go amiss!

It was a busy Friday on the felt as we kicked off the last ever Eureka Poker Tour Main Event with Day 1A. A total of 602 players turned over the €1,100 buy-in for a shot at becoming the Eureka6 Prague champ, and when all was said and done 168 remained. Leading them all after twelve 45-minute levels was Mathias Jensen of Denmark, who got very fortunate in the last level of the day to end with 311,200.

Jensen found himself in a huge three-way all-in pot with the [ac][jc] against [qd][qs] and [ad][as] on a [jh][3c][5s] flop. The turn was the [6d], but the river? Yep -- it came the [jd], giving Jensen trips.

We caught up with the 19-year-old after play had ended. He came to Prague with his friend from Denmark, where they both work in a casino. "We can't play there as the company we work for owns all the casinos in our country!" Jensen explained.

He played yesterday's satellite but failed to qualify as he got two-outed. Eventually, he decided to take a shot and bought in anyway. He's predominantly an online player, telling us: "I won about $5K a few weeks ago and that made this trip possible." So far, it's been a great decision.

Others who had heavy bags filled with chips include Lars Wik with 303,400, Erez Walerstein with 273,800, Ioannis Mantonanakis with 254,300, Matas Cimbolas with 244,100, Rainer Rockenstein with 224,000, and Kaan Okar with 203,200.

There were plenty of big names in the line-up, many of whom hopped in having busted the €10K which started last night and continued today. Benjamin Pollak, Simon Deadman, Jason Wheeler and Sam Grafton all switched their focus over to this tournament, but none could survive the day. It could have been so different for Grafton though; he was all-in for a 220-big blind pot with a flopped flush draw and open-ended straight draw against pocket aces, but couldn't hit to survive.

Of the High Roller turncoats, it seems only Martin Finger (60,800) and the aforementioned Matas Cimbolas made it through, but we had plenty of notables who kicked off their Prague poker fest in this tournament too. Ana Marquez (100,500) and Tom Hall (147,100), for example, will both be returning for Day 2 on Sunday. Click here for a look at all 168 Day 1A survivors' counts. 

It's Day 1B tomorrow and play kicks off at 12pm. We'll be playing another twelve 45-minute levels, and you can expect the numbers to be even bigger. You know what that means: even less space for us humble reporters to move around.

Nevermind. Get some rest and we'll see you tomorrow here on the PokerStars Blog. Dobrou noc! --JS

Day 1A coverage

11pm: Day 1A concludes

That's it for the first of two Day 1 flights in the Eureka Prague Main Event. It appears Jensen held onto the chip lead to end the night, although Lars Wik has edged up close to challenge him. Back soon with a full recap of the day's action. --MH

10:50pm: Three more hands
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

You know the drill. --MH

10:45pm: Wheeler rolls out
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Jason Wheeler was one of the bigger stacks earlier today, but now is on the rail after losing the last of his chips in a three-way all-in.

Wheeler had been chipped down to a small stack before committing with [Kd][2s] and being up against both Javier Zarco's [As][Qd] and Davor Mudric's [Ac][Kh].

The board ran out [5c][Js][5s][Qh][Jd] which enabled Zarco to survive with about 60,000 and Mudric to keep about 190,000, but Wheeler has none and has departed. --MH

10:35pm: River jack gives Jensen huge pot, chip lead
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

A huge three-way hand just completed, with Mathias Jensen of Denmark dramatically emerging as the winner of the biggest pot of the day, catapulting himself into the chip lead as the last Day 1A level starts.

We picked up the proceedings before the flop, where Bartosz Jablonski appeared to have initiated things from middle position, then Anthony Borde looked to have reraised from the button with Jensen calling out of the small blind. Then Jablonski pushed all in for 42,700 total, and both Borde and Jensen called.

The flop fell [Jh][3c][5s] and Jensen pushed all in, and Borde who had a little less called the shove. All three tabled their hands:

Jensen: [Ac][Jc]
Jablonski: [Qs][Qd]
Borde: [Ad][As]

Jensen was a distant third when the chips went in, and stayed behind after the [6d] turn. But the [Jd] fell on fifth street, prompting an "oh, wow!" from Jensen as he saw he'd won the hand to knock out both Jablonski and Borde.

It took a while, but Jensen finally stacked up what looks to be about 360,000, certainly the most of anyone at the moment. --MH

10:30pm: Grafton's gone, in his own words
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

My colleague has just informed us here in the media room that Sam Grafton is out. Sam told him that the money went in preflop, creating a 220 big blind pot. Grafton had pocket jacks with the [Js], and was up against pocket aces. The flop came 8-9-10 with two spades -- giving Grafton a flush draw and open-ended straight draw -- but he bricked the turn and river to bust. --JS

10:25pm: Renaud's Hall pass
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

"All-in," said Tom Hall as I arrived at the table. While his only opponent - Gfeller Renaud - was thinking about what to do, I had to assess the situation: There was 17,000 in the middle pre-flop and the board fell [2c][8h][9s]. Renaud checked, Hall bet 9,500, and Renaud then raised it up to 19,000. Then Hall jammed - essentially putting Renaud all-in with a much bigger stack.

Now we're up to speed. Renaud looked at Hall for information, and the Brit just shrugged with a smile. In the end the man from Switzerland passed and left himself in the dangerzone with 17,500, while Hall is moving along nicely with a 120,000 stack. --JS

10:20pm: Last level
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Level 12 has begun, the last 45-minute level of Day 1A. --MH

10:15pm: Grasu gets the double
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Niculina Grasu just doubled up to keep her seat. All in with [5h][5s] for her last 14,000 versus Joerg Gehrke's [Kh][Ts], a [2h][5d][Ac] flop gave Grasu a set and a seven on the turn sealed it.

She's back to about 30,000 while Gehrke has 72,000. --MH

10:05pm: Blind vs. blind, flush vs. flush
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Any pro will tell you how important blind vs blind pots are in No Limit Hold'em tournaments. You can ask Zdenek Sedlacek and Max Blaum and they'll certainly concur after their last hand together.

Action folded to Sedlacek in the small blind and he limped. Blaum then bumped it up to 4,000, which was called. They saw a [7c][3c][ks] flop and it checked to Blaum who continued for a rather large 12,000 - more than the pot. Still, Sedlacek called.

The turn came the [5c] - putting three clubs out there - and the action was identical, bet size and all. That brought us to the [kc] river. It paired the board, and brought four to the flush. Sedlacek immediately moved all-in for 19,900, Blaum called and got the bad news.

Sedlacek - [ac][jc]
Blaum - [qc][2c]

Both had flopped flush draws and turned flushes, only Sedlacek's was the biggest available. That sneaky pre-flop limp with the big suited ace paid off big time, as Sedlacek moved up to 98,000, while Blaum was crippled to just 7,000. --JS

9:55pm: River deuce saves Schiffbauer
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

"I thought you were snap-calling... I was about to turn them over."

So said a grinning Robert Schiffbauer just now to Martin Kabrhel. After a Kabrhel raise to 3,500, Schiffbauer had three-bet all in for his last 11,500 and the action returned to Kabrhel who hesitated a moment longer.

"I was tank-calling," quipped Kabrhel who only waited a couple of seconds more before calling and showing [Kh][7s]. Schiffbauer had [Qh][2s], and after the [Td][7c][2s] flop gave both players pairs Kabrhel asked Schiffbauer what other events he planned to play.

Schiffbauer looked ready to go, and as the [3d] turn fell he focused on the days to come. Then came the river, which forced him back into the present -- the [2h]! Trips for Schiffbauer, who keeps his seat with about 25,000. Kabhrel is at 60,000 now. --MH

9:45pm: Chip lead for Tseissler?
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

I might have just caught a hand which has given us a new chip leader. Or at least I caught part of it.

There was 38,000 in the middle, a flop of [6s][8s][3d], and two players: Aleksei Tseissler and Robert Soogea. Tseissler had made a bet which had been raised to 35,000 by Soogea, only to then be re-raised to 87,400.

Soogea was deep in the tank when I turned up, and remained in there for another couple of minutes. The raise was for about half of his remaining chips, but in the end he decided to let it go.

Tseissler took it down and turned over his holding: [kd][kh]. Soogea tapped the table as he dipped to 106,000, while Tseissler might very well now have the chip lead with a 190,000 stack. --JS

9:35pm: Stenback climbs back
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

After Alexander Krasuntsev raised from early position, Nils Stenback reraised all in from the button for 11,500 and Krasuntsev called.

Krasuntsev had [Ac][3c] while Stenback had picked up [Kh][Ks]. The board came clean for the latter -- [8h][6d][7d][2c][3s] -- and Stenback is back up around the starting stack of 25,000. Krasuntsev meanwhile has 55,000. --MH

9:30pm: This one goes to eleven
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Level 11, that is. Actually there are two more levels left to go tonight, which will carry things up until about 11 p.m., in fact.

Right now 250 players remain from the Day 1A starting field. --MH

9:29pm: Grafton loses a few to Straka
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

It folded to Sam Grafton in the hijack and he came in for a raise to 2,500. That got a call from the cutoff, and Oskar Straka defended his big blind. The flop came down [jh][7c][8h] and it checked around to the [2h] turn, which checked to Grafton. Here the Brit made a delayed c-bet to 7,800 - a pot-sized wager - which shook off the cutoff but gave Straka reason to think.

The Slovakian then put in 14,900, but as it wasn't double Grafton's bet he had to increase it to 15,600. Grafton had already called while the chips were still being counted.

The river was the [5d] and Straka moved all-in for 34,000 exactly. After a little thinking time Grafton decided to give it up, leaving himself with 60,000, while Straka increased his stack to 73,000. --JS

9:25pm: Dobryakov done
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Following a mid-position open, Dmitriy Dobryakov pushed from the small blind with his last 15,000 or so, then Ping Liu called from the big blind and the original raiser got out.

Dobryakov had [Ah][Jh] and was behind Liu's [Ac][Kd]. The board came [8d][Jc][3h], then [Kc], then [5h], and Dobryakov has been eliminated. Liu now has about 105,000. --MH

9:20pm: Gapon stands up to the bully
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Yuriy Gapon opened to 2,500 and it folded around to Klavs Kukainis in the big blind. He defended to see the [2c][9d][4d] flop and checked it to the raiser, letting Gapon in for a c-bet worth 5,000. Kukainis then slid in around 35,000 - enough to put Gapon all-in - but the big stack bullying didn't work. Gapon made the call with his [ad][kd] for the nut flush draw, which left Kukainis' [kh][qd] drawing very thin. The flush came in on the [7d] turn (river [2h]) and Gapon doubled to 75,000 while Kukainis is still healthy with 125,000. --JS

9:10pm: Who has a big stack?
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Less than half the starting field remains, which means anyone with more than 50,000 (twice the starting stack) is above average at the moment. Some have done considerably better than that so far, as a post-dinner promenade around the tables reveals.

Klavs Kukanis had been leading in the counts earlier, and he's still doing well with 115,000 although others have passed him. Robert Soogea, Jason Wheeler, and Rainer Rockenstein have been among those rockin' the most so far on Day 1A. Here are those big stacks:

Robert Soogea - 165,000
Jason Wheeler - 160,000
Rainer Rockenstein - 155,000
Piotr Romanczukiewicz - 150,000
Lars Wik - 150,000
Ivan Gabrieli - 145,000
Bart Onsman - 140,000

We'll see how well this group fares over the last couple of hours of play, as well as who comes to challenge them for the end-of-night lead. --MH 

8:53pm: Grafton grafting, Finger raising, Wheeler fortune
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

We thought we'd check in a few of the more notable names still in the field after dinner.

Sam Grafton just opened a pot from the cutoff to 2,700 but was three-bet to 11,000. He'd then fold, leaving himself with a 75,000 stack.

Martin Finger was getting busy too. With the only action an under-the-gun limp, the German raised it up to 3,800 from the cutoff and got a call from the limper. They saw an [8c][6h][4h] flop and after it checked to him Finger fired for 5,000 and took it down. He has around 50,000.

They're both trailing the big stack of Jason Wheeler though. The American has quietly amassed a fortune of 160,000. --JS

8:50pm: Back at it
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Players are back and the action has resumed here on Day 1A. Three more 45-minute levels remain before play ends for the night. --MH

7:35pm: Dinner time

There are 310 players remaining and they've all now gone on a 75-minute dinner break, so we will too. See you back here at 8:45pm. --JS

7:20pm: Shalashov shoves
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

With about 30,000 in the middle, Kirill Shalashov pushed the last of his 18,300 forward as an all-in bet and after thinking for a while Eldad Bentov decided to call.

Shalashov showed [Kh][Th] for tens and fours, and that turned out to be good enough has Bentov had [Ac][Ks]. Shalashov has about 68,000 now, while Bentov has 27,000. --MH

7:15pm: Alidzanovic KO's Koufakis
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Alexandros Koufakis was all in and at risk with [Ac][7h] versus the [Ah][Js] of Damir Alidzanovic, but the [5s][3d][Qc][Td][6s] board was no help for Koufakis and he's out. Alidzanovic, meanwhile, chips up to 78,000. --MH

7:10pm: More victims
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

They're falling thick and fast now as we approach the dinner break. Even Felix Schlott, who we just wrote about in our last hand, is now out.

Joining him on the rail are Bryan Paris, David Longmate, Yury Gulyy, Thomas Leidecker, Radek Jantos, Bohumil Valenta, Martin Bartos, and about 30 others. --JS

7:05pm: Schlott not falling for Cimbolas speech play
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Matas Cimbolas is being very vocal here today; in fact, it's unusual to see him in a hand where he's not chatting away to his opponents.

He was at it again in a hand with Felix Schlott. The flop read [4d][8d][ks] and Cimbolas checked, before calling Schlott's assumed c-bet of 2,500. The turn then came the [qs].

"I check, then you make it......6K," said Cimbolas, trying to predict the future. Schlott grabbed 6,000 in chips, brought them down to the felt, but then tapped the table to check. "Oooooh, weakness!" laughed Cimbolas.

The river came the [9h] and that did inspire some more betting. "How much do you want me to bet?" asked the Lithuanian. "Hmmm..." thought Schlott. "13,300."

"What?!" said Cimbolas, surprised at the huge random amount. "It will be easier to call," said Schlott.

Well, he did bet, but it was 6,000 - not 13,300 - from Cimbolas in the end. Schlott then moved all-in for 37,000 and Cimbolas had a decision.

"If you fold I'll show you one card," offered Schlott, and that's exactly what happened. Cimbolas' face down hand hit the muck, and he then picked and turned over the [tc] from Schlott's hand.

Schlott now has 65,000, while Cimbolas is still very healthy with 108,000. --JS

6:55pm: What might have been
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Erik Cajelais once made it to 43rd in the PCA Main Event (in 2012). He's out. Remi Castaignon won the EPT9 Deauville Main Event. But he's out, too.

Romain Lewis took runner-up in a side event here in Prague a year ago, but he's busted. Georgios Sotiropoulos won the LAPT Bahamas event earlier this year, but he's lost the last of his stack here as well. And Antoine Saout, third-place finisher in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event and a final tablist at the EPT12 Grand Final Main Event in Monte Carlo where he finished seventh -- well, he's also on the rail.

But we shouldn't dwell on the past. Onward and upward! --MH

6:50pm: Forss-ing the issue
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Martin Bartos moved all in before the flop for about 27,000, and after thinking a bit Nils Marcus Forss called the shove. Forss had just a little less than Bartos, so he was the one at risk.

Forss: [9s][9c]
Bartos: [Ah][Kc]

The board ran out nicely for Forss, with [2s][4h][8h][8s][9h] adding up to both a full house and a full double-up (as they say). Forss has around 52,000 now while Bartos slips to just a few thousand. --MH

6:45pm: Lucky duck for Jantos
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Radek Jantos must be bowing to the poker Gods right now after that last hand. He was all-in and at risk with the [4d][4s] against Thomas Taubenschuss' [qh][qs] on an [8d][5h][6h][3d] board. He needed a four for a set or a deuce or seven for a straight.

And he got one. The [2s] on the river changed everything and doubled Jantos back to the 25,000 starting stack, while Taubenschuss dropped to 9,500. --JS

6:30pm: Yasyuchenya eliminated
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Elena Yasyuchenya has been eliminated here in Level 8. She lost the last of her chips after her [Ks][8s] failed to best Milan Sasek's [Kd][Qh].

Sasek has about 43,000 now, with 370 Day 1A players remaining. --MH

6:20pm: Marquez freerolls but can't double
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Ana Marquez was just in the perfect spot to get a full double up, but unfortunately for her she had to settle for a chop.

The hand began with an 1,800 open from Kirill Shalashov, which was then three-bet to 4,800 by Marc Negron. Action then folded to Marquez and she came in for a cold four-bet to 10,200, which only Negron would match.

The flop then fell [jd][8s][qd] and it checked to Marquez. She didn't hesitate in making a c-bet of 11,800, but then Negron shoved with the bigger stack. Marquez made the call and their hands were flipped: [ad][kd] for Marquez, and [ac][kc] for Negron.

Marquez was freerolling with the royal flush draw, but the [7s] turn and [ah] river meant this one would be split. Marquez has 44,000, Negron has 54,000. --JS

6:10pm: Shakhbazyan sunk
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

We all know poker is a partial information game. So here's a partial information hand, missing details from before the flop and after, but including the most pertinent information. And truly, for the players involved it will be the turn and river that stand out more prominently in their memories.

The board showed [6c][Js][Jc], and Vagan Shakhbazyan was all in holding [Ts][Tc]. That gave him the lead versus Ronan Monfort's [Ah][6h], but the turn brought the [Ad] and the river rubbed it in with the [6s], giving Monfort a full house and ending Shakhbazyan's tournament.

Monfort now has about 55,000. --MH

6pm: Gabrieli gets value
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Arriving on the river with the board showing [3h][Qh][Jh][Qc][5s] and a decent-sized pot already having developed, Ivan Gabrieli bet 20,200 and Asaf Mashiach tanked for a while to decide whether or not he wanted to call a bet representing about two-thirds of what he had behind.

Finally Mashiach did call, and when Gabrieli tabled [Qs][Jc] for a full house, Mashiach grimaced before mucking his cards.

Mashiach is down around 10,000 now, while Gabrieli is up to 125,000 after collecting that nice pot. --MH

5:55pm: The departed
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (100 ante)

Just a few of the almost 200 bust-outs we've had so far include:

Dominik Panka, Benjamin Pollak, Ben Heath, Daniel Portiansky, Dinesh Alt, Tony Dunst, Luis Cruz, Thomas Popov, Kevin Killeen, Zoltan Gal, Konstantinos Nanos, Cauf Man Taelly, and Jean-Marc Bellini. --JS

5:45pm: Er grounds Garces
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (100 ante)

Zorlu Er, best known for his fifth-place finish in the EPT13 Barcelona Main Event, just knocked out Jorge Rios Garces.

Others were involved preflop, but eventually only Er and Garces remained with Er playing [Ad][Kd] and Garces [Qd][Qh]. The board ran out [3h][Kh][4s][9c][3s] giving Er the better pair and ending the tournament for Garces. --MH

5:35pm: Pollak gets hooked
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (100 ante)

Farook Hossen Ghafoor's Day 1A just keeps on getting better. He's just busted two players, despite starting with the only unpaired hand.

It started when he limped in under the gun, which also brought limps from Benjamin Pollak, Nicoaos Skiadas, and Pavlos Xanthopoulous. The action was then on big blind Abraham Serrano and he squeezed it up to 5,000. That brought a quick call from Ghafoor, which Pollak then shoved over for 15,200, which got two folds and a call from Serrano. Ghafoor then jammed with the biggest stack and got Serrano to commit all of his chips.

Pollak - [jh][js]
Serrano - [6d][6c]
Ghafoor - [ac][qc]

Two over cards against two pairs. Unfortunately for the two players at risk, the flop came [qd][3h][kc], giving Ghafoor the lead, which he'd hold onto through the [as] turn and [2s] river. Pollak and Serrano made their exit, and Ghafoor increased to 120,000. --JS

5:25pm: A few counts
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (100 ante)

As the new level begins, here's a look at a few chip counts among the folks we've been tracking today, a list topped by Klavs Kukainis who continues to sport a big stack after accumulating rapidly during the early levels.

Klavs Kukainis - 138,000
Sam Grafton - 102,000
Martin Finger - 50,000
Ana Marquez - 42,000
Jason Wheeler - 35,000
Yury Gulyy -- 24,000
Antonina Anapolska - 23,000
Antoine Saout - 20,000
Dominik Panka - 14,000
Georgios Sotiropoulos - 14,000
Benny Spindler - 12,000

5:15pm: Play resumes
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (100 ante)

With the big board showing 470 left from the 602 who started Day 1A, cards are in the air again. They'll be playing three more 45-minute levels, then will come the 75-minute dinner break. --MH

4:55pm: Take 20

Players have gone on another 20-minute break. --JS

4:51pm: Spatharis still alive
Level 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

A huge heap of chips was crowding the middle of the table - around 60,000 or so - and then I saw why: Alexandr Spatharis was all-in with the [2h][2d] against Viachos Lampros' [ks][kc] on a [jc][qc][2c] flop. Flopped set versus the overpaid and flush draw.

The turn was the [3d], which kept the three ducks in front. Finally the [8s] floated down on the river and Spatharis have the table a loud tap to show his joy. He raked in the pot, while Lampros falls to just 12,000. --JS

4:45pm: Good flop for Eskelinen
Level 6 - Blinds 250/500 (75 ante)

Following a [Jd][5c][5h] flop, Mathis Wosegien inquired how much Kimmo Eskelinen had behind, saw it was 18,200, and bet all his chips. Eskelinen called to put himself at risk, but he was way ahead with [Td][5d] for trip fives versus Wosegien's [Qc][Jh].

Two red aces filled out the board, and Eskelinen bumps up to around 40,000 while Wosegien slips to 11,000. --MH

4:35pm: Going...Goetz...gone
Level 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Matas Cimbolas has done a great job of increasing his stack over the past level, taking his 25,000 starting chips and turning them into 70,000. Most of those newly-acquired discs came from this hand.

Ondrej Goetz was under the gun and opened to 1,100, which got callers from three players including Cimbolas. They saw a [4d][7s][qd] flop and it checked to the Lithuanian, who took the betting lead with a 2,500 stab. Goetz was the only caller to see the [7h] turn, and he checked it again. Cimbolas fired a second bullet for 5,000 and Goetz called quickly.

Finally the [9d] completed the board, putting three diamonds out there. Cimbolas started talking while Goetz contemplated his decision. "That can't be your card," Cimbolas said, referring to the river. "You can only check."

Goetz did indeed tap the table and Cimbolas didn't take too long to announce he was all-in for 24,000. Goetz had slightly less and made the call.

"Flush," said Cimbolas as he turned over the [6d][5d] for a flopped flush and straight draw, which became a flush on the river. Goetz mucked but was forced to show the [qc][tc] for top pair as he made his exit. --JS

4:25pm: Aloric doubles through Suman
Level 6 - Blinds 250/500 (75 ante)

Nedzib Suman opened from the button, Milan Aloric reraise-pushed for around 9,000 from the small blind, and Suman called.

Suman had the preflop edge with [Ad][Jd] versus Aloric's [Qs][8s], but the board came [7c][Qc][3s][7d][Ks] to help the at-risk player, and Aloric doubles to around 19,000. Suman slips back to just under the 25,000-chip starting stack. --MH

4:15pm: Gone Gal
Level 6 - Blinds 250/500 (75 ante)

Zoltan Gal has been eliminated. He committed the last of his chips behind [6d][6s] and was up against Avraham Arava's [Ks][Js]. The board ran [Kd][4d][3s][4h][7s] to give Arava the better two pair, spelling the end for Gal.

Arava has about 70,000 now. --MH

4:05pm: Onsman busts Susak
Level 6 - Blinds 250/500 (75 ante)

After Bart Onsman opened for 1,525 from middle position, Almedina Susak three-bet with her last 3,300 or so and when it folded back to Onsman he called.

Susak had [Kd][Qh] and needed help versus Onsman's [Ad][Jd], but the [9d][9c][Ac][8h][2c] runout had her drawing dead by the turn and she is out. Onsman has about 40,000 now. --MH

3:55pm: Talent pool
Level 6 - Blinds 250/500 (75 ante)

A quick walk around the field (now that entry has closed for the day) has revealed a few big names who managed to take their seats as-yet-unnoticed.

We've got the UK's Sam Grafton, Tom Hall, Jason Wheeler, Senh Ung, and husband and wife team Simon and Shola Deadman. Then there's Germany's Julien Stuer and France's Benjamin Pollak.

Ung was the only one we caught in the action while doing the rounds. Picking up the hand on the turn of a [5h][8c][6h][8s] board, Ung led for 1,600 against his sole opponent Pavel Sourek, who then raised it to 3,500 and got Ung to fold, bringing him down to 12,000. --JS

3:50pm: Time, time, hear the bells chime
Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Sam Grafton just played two hands that could be described as above-average on the "interesting index." Not to get too abstract, but you could say "time" won both of them.

The first was a more conventional spot. Having raised preflop and gotten a couple of callers, just one opponent called his flop c-bet, then after the turn got checked through his opponent fired a decent-sized river bet.

Grafton tanked a while, then finally covered his watch with one hand, lifted his hand to peek at it, and folded. 

"I call 25% of the time there," he said afterwards, implicitly explaining why he'd checked the second hand on his timepiece.

The next hand was a bit more unusual, though also was one in which the action was also motivated by what a player's watch read.

While the earlier hand was playing out, Daniel Van Aken told the table he was going to have to leave the tournament early to catch a flight. He'd won a satellite seat and couldn't give it to anyone and so started today's Day 1A, but now close to four hours into the tournament he was having to leave.

That meant a blind all-in bet from under the gun for Van Aken for his last 20,000-plus. Grafton reraise-shoved from a couple of seats over to scatter everyone else, then showed [Kh][Js]. Van Aken had [Qc][2d], and the [Qd][6s][Kc] flop paired both players' hands.

"Don't do it, Neil!" pleaded Grafton to the dealer wincingly, and indeed the [3h] turn and [8h] river were both okay for him. 

He has about 55,000 now, while Van Aken bid the table good luck before heading to Václav Havel Airport Prague to make that departure time. --MH

3:35pm: The dreaded kings against aces
Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Tough break for the Czech Republic's Ondrej Drozd. A pre-flop betting war saw him all-in (although not at risk) against Bogdan Ionescu. Drozd had the [kd][ks], but Ionescu had one better - the [as][ad].

The board provided no help for the local lad, meaning he shipped 19,500 over to the Romanian. Ionescu is up to 40,000, while Drozd drops to 22,000. --JS

3:25pm: Some notable names
Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

In the last level we had a few familiar faces take their seats. Antoine Saout is in the mix, as are Matas Cimbolas, Louis Salter, and Rasmus Agerskov. --JS

3:20pm: Late registration closes
Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

With the end of Level 4, late registration has closed for Day 1A. The big board is showing 597 players made it into today's first of two starting flights for the Eureka Prague Main Event. We'll keep watch to see if that indeed proves the official total of entries for today. --MH

3:15pm: Big blind special helps Damian
Level 4 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Ben Heath is here, and soon after entering was raising to 650 from middle position, getting two callers in Patrik Ciklamini (small blind) and Paul Damian (big blind). The flop came [4c][9h][3h], and after Ciklamini checked Damian fired a bet of 1,300. Heath raised to 3,200 to chase Ciklamini, but after thinking a bit Damian pushed all-in for 15,700 total.

Heath went into the tank, and after standing Damian offered to give him other things to think about besides the cards and betting action.

"Not on a draw, if that helps you," nodded Damian, and Heath responded with a nod. "I got my aces busted earlier by nines," Damian continued, and Heath grinned and said he wasn't sure if the information Damian was providing was helping him or making things more difficult.

Ultimately Heath called, and saw that Damian was telling the truth as he'd flopped two pair with [4h][3c]. He was vulnerable, however, as Heath had [9c][7c] for top pair. The [2s] turn and [Qd] were both safe for Damian, though, and he bumps up around 40,000. Heath now has about 7,000. --MH

3:10pm: Big pot for Marinelli
Level 4 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Yet another big multi-way pot to tell you about. It started with a 700 open from Dario Marinelli under the gun plus one which was called by Antonio Di Benedetto, Violetta Szczerba, Marc Negron, and Ana Marquez in the big blind.

They all went to a [js][8s][9d] flop and it checked to Marinelli who fired a c-bet worth 1,800. Only Szczerba, Negron and Marquez called to see the [9c] turn. Marquez checked again letting Marinelli fire again, this time for 3,325. Szczerba then raised it up to 6,800, which got rid of Negron and Marquez, but Marinelli wasn't done. He jammed for 25,000 total.

"I have to call," said Szczerba, but she didn't like what she'd see. Marinelli turned over the [jh][jc], and with the full house he was beating her [qh][9h]. The river was the [5c] and Marinelli now has over 60,000, while Szczerba drops to 6,500. --JS

3:05pm: Darbellay knocks out Ghirelli
Level 4 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Tsymbal Igor raised to 1,500 from middle position, and Edolo Ghirelli reraised all in with his last 3,275 from the button. Demetan Remy Darbellay then called from the big blind, Ghirelli called as well, and the two remaining players checked the [3c][Jh][5c] flop. Darbellay fired a bet at the [5s] turn, Igor folded, and Darbellay turned over [Qs][Qh].

Ghirelli had already been standing, and quickly mucked his hand as the [2c] river fell before exiting. Darbellay is now up around 50,000. --MH

2:55pm: An ace for an ace
Level 4 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Jonatnan Guetta was under the gun plus one and made a noticeably large open to 1,100 - almost four times there big blind. It folded around to the big blind player - Lars Wik - and he flashed the [ad] as he folded his hand.

Guetta then flashed his [ac] as he picked up the chips. Wik then asked something along the lines of whether Guetta had pocket aces again. "Not this time!" came the reply, but we'll never know for sure. --JS

2:50pm: Lost a Finger
Level 4 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Martin Finger just entered the tournament room, chips in hand, on his way to find his seat. PokerStars Blog photographer Tomas Stacha then came over to ask who we needed photos of. "Well, Martin Finger is over there...wait, where did he go?"

He was there one second and gone the next. He's in the field somewhere or other though. --JS

2:45pm: Leja leaves, Avitan ascends
Level 4 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Roberts Leja's Eureka Prague Main Event has come to an abrupt conclusion here at the start of Level 4 after losing the last of his short stack to Shai Shalom Avitan. Avitan now has around 55,000.

By the way, the big board is now showing 570 having registered today. This is the last level of late registration. --MH

2:35pm: Back to work
Level 4 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

More than 540 players have just returned from their break. Let's get back to the action. --JS

2:15pm: Break time

They've reached the end of Level 3 and are now on the first 20-minute break of the day. --MH

2:10pm: Merheb takes from Dunst
Level 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Not long after sitting down, Tony Dunst lost a small one with pocket aces versus Gilbert Merheb though still has just under 20,000. Merheb is sitting on 42,000 as the first break of the day nears. --MH

2:10pm: Limping's the order of the day
Level 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

After that nine-handed hand we brought you not too long ago, we were a bit disappointed in this one to see just the four players limp before there was a three-bet. Luckily Valentin-Marius Cristea provided the raise, having recovered from his queens v aces beat early on today.

With four limpers he made it 1,150, which was called by two players, including Petr Vesely. The flop came [jh][8d][9s] and it checked to Vesely, who took it down with a 2,500 bet.

Not quite as exciting as before, but with many players seemingly adopting a limping strategy it could make for plenty more interesting pots today. --JS

2:05pm: You'll know him from...
Level 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Tony Dunst is here, ladies and gentlemen.

You'll know him from his hosting duties on...well, let's just say he's on TV, co-presenting a poker show we can't really mention. He's also sponsored by...erm...let's just say he wears a patch when he plays. He recently won his first bracelet at...that big annual poker series where they give out bracelets.

Tony Dunst is here, ladies and gentlemen. Just Google him, yeah? --JS

2pm: Kukainis keeps collecting
Level 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

We're not even to the first break yet, and Klavs Kukainis of Latvia has already established himself as a frontrunner after spinning his starting stack of 25,000 up over 120,000 in less than two hours. --MH

1:55pm: Betting it all, getting no call
Level 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

There were postflop all-ins on adjacent tables just now, one of them involving a short-stacked Jorge Abreu.

Facing multiple opponents on a board of [Ad][Js][6h][2s][5d], Abreu pushed and got folds all around, with Maria Duarte De Miranda the last to fold, showing an ace as she did. Abreu showed one card, too -- a jack -- and won the small pot. He's at just under 20,000 now.

Meawhile next door it was Ozgur Arda pushing all-in on a [3d][9h][7c][Qd][Tc] board and forcing Salem Sahed to decide whether or not to call off his stack of around 22,000. The clock was eventually called, but Sahed folded before any staff had come over and Arda won that one, pushing up to around 35,000. --MH

1:45pm: Berger sizzling
Level 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Cyprien Berger of France just enjoyed a double-up after a confrontation with the Canadian Thomas Popov sitting to his right.

Arriving post-fireworks, Popov had [Qc][Qh], meaning the board of [Qs][Ks][4d][8s][6s] had given him a set. But Berger's [As][Ah] had made him a flush, and he survived the encounter.

Berger now stacks up over 45,000, while Popov slips to about 7,500. --MH

1:35pm: Field continues to grow
Level 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

They've moved into the day's third level, and already more than 500 players are in action on this first of two Day 1 flights. --MH

1:30pm: Family pot goes to Ghafoor; Butsan busto
Level 2 - Blinds 75/150

It's been a great couple of levels for Farook Hossen Ghafoor. He's just taken down a nice pot which had nine of the table's ten players involved at one point.

It started with a limp from Vitaly Butsan under the gun, which Ghafoor three-bet to 400 from middle position. That got callers from Thomas Leidecker (lojack), Pedro Lamarca (hijack), Kay Schoeb (cutoff), Matous Houzvicek (button), Mikko Turtiainen (small blind), Renee Xie (big blind), and Abraham Serrano (big blind). When the action got back to Butsan he squeezed it up to 2,700, and only Ghafoor and Lamarca called.

The three saw an [8h][2d][7c] flop and Butsan was first to act. He shoved for his last 6,000 and got a quick call from Ghafoor, while Lamarca folded.

Butsan - [as][js]
Ghafoor - [9s][9d]

The pocket pair was ahead and Butsan would need to hit something to survive. Instead the board ran [5c] and [3h] and the Russian hit the rail. Ghafoor is now playing roughly 62,000. --JS

1:27pm: Arkun's out, Schulz surges
Level 2 - Blinds 75/150

We've just clocked our first elimination, and the unfortunate soul is Huseyin Arkun. Well, we say unfortunate, but you be the judge: he got all his chips in the middle with the [9c][3c] on the two-club flop against Robert Schulz's [kc][6c], and when his flush got there it was still no good. Schulz is up to 60,000 already. - - JS

1:25pm: A river chat
Level 2 - Blinds 75/150

We're at the Hilton Prague Hotel, located right near the Vltava River, the longest river in the Czech Republic -- great for walking alongside with friends and enjoying lengthy conversations.

Rivers often provide opportunities for talking in poker, too, as demonstrated just now in a hand between the chatty Ramzi Zuraikat and Martin Zeleznik.

The board showed [4c][5c][Kh][Kc][3s], and after Zeleznik checked. "I want to see if I can get anything out of you," said Zuraikat, who then bet 3,500. Zeleznik exhaled in response.

"Can I take it back?" he jokingly asked the dealer while pointing at the chips he'd bet. "I don't want him to hate me!" he added with a grin.

They chatted some more, with Zeraikat guessing jacks or queens for Zeleznik as they did. At last the latter folded. "Because I like you, I'll show, said Zeraikat, who turned over [Kd][Qd] and collected the pot.

Zeleznik complimented Zeraikat on the river bet while saying he'd had pocket tens, their river conversation continuing into the next hand. --MH

1:10pm: Ghafoor gets some
Level 2 - Blinds 75/150

With the board showing [8d][Kc][8h][4c][Qh] and about 7,500 in the center, Pedro Lamarca (playing from the big blind) checked, then Farook Hossen Ghafoor (playing from the button) bet 5,600. Lamarca thought a short while then called, and Ghafoor tabled [Qc][8s] for a full house to claim the pot.

"Nice flop," said Thomas Leidecker, sitting in the between the pair. Indeed, and not a bad river, either. Ghafoor has 42,000, while Lamarca has 28,000. --MH

1pm: Haanniemi breaks the Sandsgaard
Level 2 - Blinds 75/150

There's still plenty of three-betting going on in these early stages. The latest to get involved was Jari Haanniemi who made a three-bet to 2,150 after a 400 open from Tomas Stasek. Borge Sandsgaard made the call, but Stasek gave his hand up.

The dealer put out a [2c][td][5h] flop and Haanniemi chose not to continue, check-calling an instant 3,000 bet from Sandsgaard. That took us to the [qc] turn which both checked, followed by the [6s] river. Haanniemi put out a very delayed c-bet of 5,000, and that was enough to take it down. --JS

12:50pm: There's no longer a Lakhov Marquez
Level 2 - Blinds 75/150

Among the sea of faces playing here on Day 1A so far we haven't been able to spot many recognisable names... until now.

Alexander Lakhov is here. You might remember the Sunday Million, Super Tuesday, and SCOOP winner from the IPT8 Malta final table, in which he got coolered to bust in sixth to eventual champ Ismael Bojang after his flopped set of fours lost to Bojang's rivered set of sevens.

We've also been joined by Ana Marquez. The Spaniard has more than a million in live earnings yet is missing a PokerStars live title. Perhaps she's left her best performance 'til the last ever Eureka/EPT festival. -- JS

12:45pm: 450 and climbing
Level 2 - Blinds 75/150

Play continues into Level 2 without a break as new players continue to arrive at a rapid pace. There are now more than 450 registered, with late reg open through Level 4. --MH

12:40pm: King found corrupt, removed
Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

"New deck please, table 19!"

So called the dealer, with tournament staff promptly stepping to the table with a fresh 52. Before accepting the new deck, the dealer held aloft the [Kd] one last time, showing all how it had bent just a bit too far to remain in the game. --MH

12:35pm: Sourek collects
Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

Lots of small pots here in the first level, as might be expected. Just now we spotted one of the blue chips (worth 5,000) being put at risk, but earning a fold in response.

With around 12,000 in the middle and the board showing two pair -- [Jd][Th][Ts][Js] -- Tsymbal Igor checked from the hijack, Pavel Sourek fired 6,000 from the cutoff, and Igor hemmed, hawed, then folded. Sourek is up around 40,000 here near the end of Level 1. --MH

12:30pm: Massimo decides well
Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

From the very start of any poker tournament, players face decisions at every turn. Even the ones made during the first level can start charting a course toward a success or failure.

Just now Anderlini Massimo faced a decision whether or not to play his [Ks][3s] from middle position, and he chose to do so. He then found himself involved postflop versus Mathis Wosegien who had position on him, but happily for Massimo a [Kd][Td][Kc][6h] board had given him trips.

Massimo chose to lead for 425, then when Wosegien raised to 1,225 Massimo made another choice just to call. He then opted to check the [2d] river, and when Wosegien fired 2,500 into that opening Massimo already had his mind up to call right away.

"Good hand," said Wosegien even before tabling his [Ah][Qc], and Massimo's decision-making won him the pot. He's up around 35,000 now and off to a good start, while Wosegien slips to 20,000. --MH

12:20pm: The action starts early
Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

A stack of 250 big blinds gives players a comfort blanket, but an early nightmare can soon see that protective cover kicked off. Just ask Valentin-Marius Cristea.

Amit Shaham was the one who kicked off the hand with an open from the lo-jack, which was then three-bet to 750 by Cristea in the cutoff. It folded back to Shaham and wanted to play higher, four-betting to 1,500 which got a call from his only opponent.

It was already a 30+ big blind pot when the [3c][4s][6c] flop hit the felt. Shaham wasted no continuing for 2,500 which got a quick call, and it was a similar story on the [6h] turn; Shaham fired again for 6,000 and was called.

This pot, in this first level, was enormous. It was about to get bigger too as when the [ts] river landed it looked at first like Shaham was going to jam, but he instead opted to make it 8,100. Cristea made a fast call but wouldn't be happy when Shaham showed him the goods: [ah][ac]. Cristea flipped his losing [qd][qc] and dropped right down to 8,000, while Shaham is living the dream. He's up to around 45,000 after just 20 minutes of play. --JS

12:10pm: Miss breakfast, don't miss value
Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

Players are starting with deep stacks of 25,000, although one player has already gone through all of it just a few minutes into the first level.

Majid Ejlal Noubarian has already left his seat and is heading for the exit after losing all of his chips in a hand versus Patrik Ciklamini. 

"If I had my breakfast, I wouldn't be sitting here right now," Ciklamini told the table afterwards. Missing a meal means getting value for the Slovenian player, who is now stacking up around 50,000. --MH

12pm: Cards in the air!
Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

Let's play some poker. Day 1A has begun! There are about 300 players in their seats already, with late registration lasting through the first four levels. --MH

11:30am: Got it! Eureka Prague Main Event begins today

"Eureka" is an expression often uttered by a person who after some period of struggle at last discovers the answer to a long-nagging problem. As in "a-ha... I've got it!" You know, the kind of thing that happens at the poker table constantly when players "solve" puzzles being presented to them by the cards, the chips, and their opponents.

Today begins the first of two Day 1 flights for the Eureka Prague Main Event here at the Hilton Prague Hotel, a €1,100 buy-in tournament that will continue until a winner is determined next Tuesday.

You say you want updates, hand reports, photos, chip counts, and more? Got it!

Today's schedule calls for 12 levels each lasting 45 minutes, with a 75-minute dinner break coming at the end of Level 9.

Last year this event drew a whopping 1,893 entries, with Spain's Javier Mederos outlasting the Czech Republic's own Martin Staszko heads-up to take the title and a huge €311,000 first prize -- the lion's share of what amounted to a nearly €2 million prize pool.

We'll soon start to see just how big the Eureka6 Prague Main Event turns out to be. And like we say, it won't be such a puzzle for you to figure out where to get your updates. Come back in a half-hour and we'll be bringing the action to you all day and night. --MH

Also all the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.

Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog

Remember when 'Y2K panic' was a thing? If you're a young whippersnapper, perhaps you won't. But essentially, as the year 2000 approached, there was a sense of dread in the air due to the digits of the year. People thought that when computers were reset to the 00, it would cause mass chaos and outages the world over.

We had a similar thing here tonight. Hubert Matuszewski and Vladas Tamasauskas were heads up, in the 12th hour of the day, with the blinds at 500K/1M, and just 50 big blinds in play, and yet we still couldn't find a winner. But as the clock ticked down on the level, we noticed there was no 'Next Level' present on the screen. What would happen when it ticked down to zero? This tournament had gone on for so long that we were entering unchartered waters. Panic ensued.

The tournament was 'FINISHED' - or at least according to the clock. Instead of moving on to a new level, it stopped thinking the event must be over. In fact, what happened was the dealer had to ask the floor staff what the next level should be. 'Level 40' (600K/1.2M) and 'Level 41' (800K/1.6M) didn't exist on the structure sheet until tonight. The two players battled it out for more than an hour in this unexplored territory (and for three hours total), before we finally found a winner.

Poland's Hubert Matuszewski has just taken down the last ever Eureka Poker Tour Main Event for €193,298, defeating Lithuania's Vladas Tamasauskas heads-up to finish off a marathon final table session. Tamasauskas was level-headed throughout the entire day, battling back when he was down in the same fashion that saw him win the UKIPT6 Dublin Main Event earlier this year. But in the end he couldn't get past the man we started calling 'The Hube' (mainly through deliriousness).

This tournament was a record breaker in more ways than one and an excellent way to cap off the final Eureka Poker Tour Main Event. The Day 1A runners totalled 602, which when combined with the enormous Day 1B meant we had a total of 2,031 players. Their entry fees added up to a prize pool of €1,970,070, which was split between the last remaining 391.

Of course, someone has to finish 392nd, and you might recognise the man who did. EPT12 Malta winner Niall Farrell found himself with just three big blinds on the bubble and got them all-in on a flop holding an up-and-down straight draw. Needless to say, the Scot didn't hit and 'Firaldo87' had to find another way to spend the rest of his Sunday.

Just 62 of the 617 Day 2 players made it through with chips, returning on Monday for Day 3. Tom Hall and Kristen Bicknell had deep runs (finishing in 32nd and 31st respectively), as did Team PokerStars Pro Marcin Horecki. The sole representative of the red spade made it all way down to the final two tables, but was ultimately felted in 12th for €12,340.

A hectic end to the night saw two players bust in quick succession to leave us with the final table. First Jan Susicky (10th - €16,030) lost a race with pocket tens against Rosen Angelov's ace-queen; then Ben Farrell lost his chips with ace-deuce to the ace-five of Vojtech Horut.

It was Italy's Alessandro "ale779" Giordano who had a slight chip lead coming into the final table, closely followed by UKIPT6 Dublin Vladas Tamasauskas of Lithuania. The shortest stack belonged to Piotr Romanczukiewicz, and - as you might have expected - he was the first to fall today. He bet most of his chips pre-flop without actually going all-in, and after a mis-click by Vojtech Horut in which he tried to make a smaller raise, the bet was called and the rest of the chips would went in on the flop. Romancukiewicz had a flush draw versus Horut's ace-high, but couldn't hit. He won €22,500.

Frenchman Jawad Bengourane left us next, for €31,840. He opened and then called a a Rosen Angelov three-bet to see a [qd][th][9d] flop. Bengourane checked and then shoved over a 1.35 million continuation bet; it was bad timing though as he was snap-called. Angelov had the [9c][9h] against Bengourane's [ac][qs], and the rest of the runout didn't see him improve.

Rosen Angelov took a strong chip lead at this point and held onto it for quite a while. His closest competitor became Hubert Matuszewski after he knocked out James Juvancic in sixth for €45,030. It was Juvancic's [ad][qc] against the [as][7s], and a seven on the turn delivered the knockout blow.

Five-handed play didn't last long. It was just a couple of hands later when Rosen Angelov opened and was called by Vojtech Horut. They saw a [7s][7h][3d] flop, and both checked to the [ks] turn. Horut chose this point to lead out for a bet, which Angelov called after a minute of thinking. The [tc] river completed the board and Horut jammed for 2.8 million - a shove that Angelov couldn't have called quicker with the [as][ah] for slow-played pocket rockets. Horut had only the [5d][6s] for a busted straight draw, and said his goodbyes as he went to collect €63,680.

Comparably, four-handed play lasted an age. The chips moved back and forth; Giordano was the shortie then doubled through Angelov, before Tamasauskas won a big pot from Matuszewski. Ultimately it would be Rosen Angelov who fell in fourth for €90,070, calling off his short stack with [kc][6c] against Matuszewski's [ac][jd], which held up on the [2d][2s][2c][qh][7c] board.

When our trio regrouped, they started chatting about a deal. ICM numbers were proposed, but ultimately they couldn't reach a decision and play continued as normal. More than two hours later, though, with slightly more even stacks as play got increasingly shallow, they cut a deal which would give Vladas Tamasauskas €188,157, Alessandro Giordano €180,694, and Hubert Matuszewski €173,298, leaving €20,000 for the winner. The blinds were 500K/1M/100K at this point, and the biggest stack was just 20 big blinds.

With big bucks secured, Alessandro Giordano made his exit in third. Hubert Matuszewski opened for 2 million from the button, and it folded to Alessandro Giordano who jammed from the big blind for 8.85 million. Matuszewski called and tabled the [ks][6s] while Giordano had the [as][2c]. The flop came [kh][jd][3c] to put Matuszewski in front, and neither the [8c] turn nor [4s] river could save Giordano. He went to collect his €180,694, and we were heads-up.

And it went on and on, as you already know. It had to end sometime, though.

First, with a 4:1 chip deficit, Vladas Tamasauskas doubled up with the [ks][9c] against Hubert Matuszewski's [as][3s]. The board ran out [5h][6c][js][6h][9s] and the river saved him.

But then in the next hand it was Matuszewski's turn to get lucky on the river. He opened jammed the button and Tamasauskas called. Matuszewski had the [qs][6s] and Tamasauskas the [ac][5h]; the flop fell [7s][ah][5s], the turn the [4c], and the [4s] river gave Matuszewski a flush and the win.

And then it was over. Life had returned to normal. At least for us, anyway; Matuszewski's may have just changed forever. The 37-year-old recreational player from Poland now has €193,298 to take home to his wife and two kids. That is, unless he fancies hopping in the EPT Main Event tomorrow...

Eureka6 Prague Main Event

Dates: December 09-13, 2016
Buy-in: €1,100
Entries: 2,031
Total prize pool: €1,970,070
*denotes three-handed deal

Jack Stanton is a freelance contributor to the PokerStars Blog. Photos by Tomas Stacha.

The end of Day 2 in an EPT Main Event usually offers players the first chance of the week to get some decent sleep. Play ends at around 8.30pm, so it's dinner then bed to dream about bursting the bubble the next day.

However there was no such luxury for Samuel Chartier and Foeke Deinum. Chartier bagged up 444,300 in the main event and Deinum 200,200, but those were not the only bags with their names on them.

Both Chartier and Deinum also made the last eight of the €2,000 Eureka High Roller event, which overspilled into a third day owing to its enormous field. It was scheduled to be a two-day affair but there were still eight players left late on Thursday night forcing them to reschedule the final to be played yesterday. Their bags of chips had been put into cold storage until such time as they could be thawed out and played with again.

The chip leader in the event was Vladimir Velikov, from Bulgaria, who last year finished fifth in the Eureka Prague main event, behind Balasz Botond. Botond also made the High Roller final this time around, underlining their abilities in Eureka events.

However when they finally managed to play out the final last night, none of the aforementioned players could record another victory. Instead, Lebanon's Ibrahim Ghassan, who was placed seventh of eight player returning, rode his short stack to the title (after they cut a four-way deal).

In total, 748 players started the event and, after Deinum went out in sixth and Chartier in fifth (for €53,530 and €70,820 respectively) the last four decided to guarantee themselves a six-figure payday each and chopped it up.

Velikov finished second but took the most money. He got €170,180. Botond officially finished third but got the second most (€164,450) and Denmark's Thomas Pedersen came fourth but took third most, with €163,080. Ghassan won the trophy and had €151,240 to go with it.

Eureka High Roller
Buy-in: €2,000 + €200
Players: 748
Prize pool: €1,451,120

1 - Ibrahim Ghassan, Lebanon, €151,240
2 - Vladimir Velikov, Bulgaria, €170,180
3 - Balazs Botond, Hungary, €164,450
4 - Thomas Pedersen, Denmark, €163,080
5 - Sam Chartier, Canada, €70,820
6 - Foeke Deinum, Netherlands, €53,530
7 - Pim Gieles, Netherlands, €38,450
8 - Jan Bendik, Slovakia, €26,270

Click for full payouts from the €2,000 Eureka High Roller.

Fresh off a blockbuster event to close Season 5 in Prague, the Eureka Poker Tour has announced it is coming back for another year.

Running March 2-8, the Season 6 kickoff festival in Rozvadov will feature a €1,100 Main Event running from March 4-8. That flagship tourney will again include two regular starting (Days 1A & 1B) plus a re-entry only turbo flight for Day 1C.

The tour will return in March with the first event of Season 6 at the King's Casino Rozvadov located near the Czech and German border. While we don't yet have details on the full schedule of events, you already have a chance to win your seat in the Main. PokerStars is running seat-only qualifiers right now. Beginning in January, you will be able to compete for full packages.

The finale in Season 5 was one to behold. The Eureka Prague Main Event broke all its previous records with a 1,893-entry Main Event. If that festival was any indication, Season 6 could be a monster.

For full details, keep your eye on the Eureka Poker Tour home page.

* CLICK TO REFRESH FOR LATEST UPDATES
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* 8 of 682 remain
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1:35am: Final table chip counts
Level 27 Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

This is how the final eight will stack up when the final table starts at 2pm CET. As it's cards-up it'll be subject to a one hour delay on the broadcast meaning we'll be starting our coverage at 3pm CET. Before then a wrap of the days play will be forthcoming.

1:30am: Dominico Gala eliminated in ninth place (€9,920)
Level 27 Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

The final table is set!

Pre-flop Dominico Gala opened to 130,000 on the button and Ivan Luca called from the big blind. On the [9s][Tc][Th] flop Gala c-bet 110,000, Luca check-raised 300,000 total and Gala smooth called fairly quickly.

On the [3s] turn Luca bet 535,000 and Gala called. The pot was now 2,050,000 and Gala had just 1,000,000 back. On the [9c] river Luca moved all-in and Gala tanked for seven minutes before eventually calling.

Luca: [Ts][7c]
Gala: [Qc][Qh]

Gala couldn't get away from the overpair and Luca won a massive pot and will start tomorrow's final table as the chip leader.

1:10am: No one wants to be the photo bubble
Level 26 Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Whilst there's over €2,600 between the 9th and 8th place payouts there's also the matter of missing out on the final table photograph!

It's been fairly cagey stuff so far at the unofficial final table. David Urban and Dominico Gala have been the most active players. Perhaps the most interesting thing to happen is the commentators digging out Gala for ordering a drink and not tipping.

"You've won at least €9,920 you could at least tip," they said.

0:50am: Gala takes some from Urban
Level 26 Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

David Urban and Dominico Gala reached the river of a [Qc][5c][Kd][3h][Ts] board and Urban bet 345,000 - almost a pot sized bet. Gala went into the tank and then called with [Ad][Tc]. Urban mucked his hand, he slips to 1,685,000 whilst Gala is up to 2,485,000.

00:40am: The unofficial final table has started
Level 26 Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

The nine remaining players are back in their seats and action is under way.

0:25am: Unofficial final table seat draw
Level 26 Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

0:20am: Andres Viola eliminated in 10th place (€ 8,070)
Level 26 Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

The unofficial final table is set!

David Urban opened to 110,000 on the button and then called when Andres Viola moved all-in for 595,000 from the big blind.

Urban: [Ad][Ts]
Viola: [Ac][9s]

The [Kc][Qs][Jh] flop meant Urban flopped broadway and the [Kh] turn and [Qs] river kept him in front.

They'll now be a short delay whilst they do a redraw of the final nine.

0:03am: Andres Viola doubles through Mick Heder
Level 26 Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

After loisng a pot to David Urban to slip to 295,000 Andres Viola moved all-in from the small blind with [As][Ah] and Mick Heder called from the big blind with [ad][5d]. The board ran [Td][Th][8h][Ts][9s] and Viola got his double up. He's up to 650,000, Heder drops to 1,500,000 and Urban has 1,400,000

11:45pm: Rene Kodlin eliminated in 11th Place (€8,070)
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Down to 10!

The exit happened on the feature table with Hannes Speiser opening to 85,000 and then calling Rene Kodlin's shove of 410,000.

Kodlin: [Kd][Th]
Speiser: [Kh][Qc]

A [7h][4s][2s][4d][Jd] board meant Speiser's hand held to boost him to 1,350,000 whilst Kodlin collected €8,070 for his efforts this week.

With one more exit we'll be down to the unofficial final table of nine.

11:30pm: Peter Siemund doubles through Robert Kokoska
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Big hands, big pot and not an exaggerated tank in sight. Great poker!

Peter Siemund opened to 85,000 from the cutoff, Robert Kokoska three-bet to 205,000 from the small blind, Siemund moved all-in, Kokoska asked for a count (about one million) and then called. This took about 30 seconds total.

Siemund: [As][Kc]
Kokoska: [Ad][Qs]

A [4s][Jh][3c][6c][Kd] board doubled Siemund to about 2,300,000 (he was all-in for 1,145,000) and saw Kokoska drop to 580,000.

11:25pm: Martin Ilavksy eliminated in 12th place (€6,950)
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Down to just 200,000 Martin Ilavsky moved all-in from the small blind with [Jd][7c] and Ivan Luca snapped him off with [Ac][4d]

A [Kc][3s][2h][Tc][9d] board means we lose Ilavsky in 12th place and Luca is up to 2,710,000.

11:15pm: Gala's turn to double with aces
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

A few hands after losing a big pot to aces, Domenico Gala got a double up with them. Ivan Luca opened from the hijack wih [Jc][Jd], Gala just called with [Ah][As] from the small blind and Maria Lampropoulos smooth called from the big blind. On the [8c][2s][8s] flop Luca c-bet 115,000 and Gala was the only caller.

The [3d] turn checked through and the [Tc] completed the board. Gala checked again and instantly called when Luca jammed for 405,000 He got a full double up to 1,300,000, whilst Luca slips to 2,450,000.

11:05pm: Speiser doubles with aces again
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Hannes Speiser sure loves aces. He doubled through Andres Viola with them earlier and just repeated the trick in a hand against Domenico Gala.

Gala had [As][Qs] to Speiser's [Ac][Ah] and although the [Ad][Ts][5h][Tc][Qc] board hit both players it hit Speiser harder. He was all-in for 575,000 so now has around 1,200,000 whilst Gala is down to about 750,000.

10:56pm: Daniel Rose eliminated in 13th place (€ 6,950)
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

They say there's a curse of the chip leader and 13 was definitely unlucky for start of day chip boss David Rose as he's just been knocked out in 13th place.

He was down to just over 400,000 and moved all-in from under-the-gun with [Kd][Qc]. David Urban re-raised with [Ac][Kh] and everyone else folded. The [As][5h][2d][6s][Qh] board meant the dominating hand held and Rose was sent to the rail. Meanwhile Urban is up to 1,500,000.

10:50pm: 13 into eight is the plan
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

The 13 remaining players are back in their seats. The plan is to get to the final table of eight tonight.

10:10pm: Dinner break chip counts
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

The players are now on a 45-minute dinner break. Ivan Luca leads the field with a stack of 3,095,000.

10:05pm: Big double for Siemund
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

On the final hand before the players went on a 45-minute dinner break there was a big hand between Peter Siemund and Hannes Speiser at the outer table

The former moved all-in from the cutoff for 538,000 with [2d][2s] and Hannes Speiser put him at risk holidng ace-king. The [Ts][7c][5d][Tc][8h] board kept the ducks in front and Speiser drops to around 650,000 whilst Siemund is up to 1,150,000.

9:58pm: Fabian Schaack eliminated in 14th Place (€6,280)
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

Live and die on the river...

After Stoyan Stefanov opened to 60,000, Fabian Schaack moved all-in for about 500,000 from the small blind. Mick Heder was in the big blind and he re-shoved, forcing Stefanov to fold.

Heder: [Ad][Js]
Schaack: [Ac][Qd]

The [Tc][8s][3s][6s][Jc] board meant Heder hit his kicker on the river to send Schaack out in 14th. Heder is up to 1,650,000 after that hand.

9:55pm: Dragoslav Timarac eliminated in 15th Place (€6,280)
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

Hannes Speiser opened [7h][7d] to 70k, Maria called with [jd][jh], Dragoslav Timarac then pushed with [7s][7c] for 472k, Ivan Luca re-raised all-in with [ad][kd] for 2.5m and both Hannes and Lampropoulos folded.

The board was [qc][ah][6s][5h][6c], Timarac was eliminated and Luca climbed to 3.2m

9:37pm: Grzegorz Wyraz eliminated in 16th Place (€5,620)
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

EPT regular Grzegorz Wyraz is out in 16th place and his chips have gone to David Urban. The Pole opened, Urban shoved and Wyraz called all-in for about 480,000.

Wyraz: [Ad][Qh]
Urban: [7d][7s]

A [Kc][Jd][6s] flop gave Wyraz a gutshot to go with his overcards but he missed the [Js] turn and [4s] river. Urban is now up to 1,400,000.

9:33pm: Back at it
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

Play has restarted. There are 33 minutes left in the level and the players will then go on a 60 minute dinner break.

9:20pm: Aces cracked...again
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

We've seen a lot of aces getting crack today and Daniel Rose was the latest victim. Mick Heder shoved from the cutoff for 484,000 with [Kd[Jh] and Rose called from the small blind with [Ac][Ad].

The [Th][7c][5h][2h][3h] board made Heder a flush and saw Rose let out a stream of expletives. He's down to 350,000 whilst Heder is up to 1,020,000.

At the same time this happened Patrick Wolff was eliminated at the feature table meaning we're down to 16 players. They'll be a short break whilst they redraw the final 16 and set up the new feature table.

In Wolff's exit hand he shoved for 177,000 with [Ah][Js] from the hijack and Rene Kodlin called with [Qc][Qs] on the button. A [9d][Kh][6d][4s][2h] board kept Kodlin in front.

9:17pm: Oliver Heppchen eliminated in 18th place
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

Down to just 236,000 Oliver Heppchen moved all-in from under-the-gun with [Ad][6c]. He picked up a call from Ivan Luca and the Argentinian had him dominated with [Ac][Jd].

The [Ks][5d][2s][Kh][Qd] board kept Luca in front and he's up to 2,200,000 now.

9:15pm: Big hands, small pot
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

This pot could've played out so much differently and it most cases would've been a huge pot.

From under-the-gun Daniel Rose raised to 75,000, Maria Lampropoulos smooth called from the cutoff and Robert Kokoska came along from the big blind.

The flop was a tasty looking [Qh][Td][Ah], the action was checked to Lampropoulos and her bet of 100,000 was enough to win the pot. Rose showed [Ks][Kc] as he folded and Lampropoulos opened [Ac][Kd] as she took the pot.

She's up to 2,175,000, whilst Rose drops to 800,000.

9:05pm: Stefanov on a surge
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

A short time ago Stoyan Stefanov had a sub 10 big blind stack. Now he's got almost 2,000,0000!

A big pot against ivan Luca gave the biggest boost to his stack. By thte time the two of them reached the river of a [9d][8d][8h][Js][Ad] river there was around 340,000 in the middle. The Argentinian checked the action over to Stefanov and he bet 175,000. After a bit of tank time Luca check-raised to 350,000 and Stefanov thought for a little while before calling.

Luca had [8c][6d] but Stefanov had made a straight with [Qs][Td]. Both have about 1,900,000 now.

8:50pm: Speiser doubles with aces
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Andres Viola opend to 50,000 from the button and Hannes Speiser shoved all-in for 525,000 from the big blind. "Count please," said Viola. "If it's less than 30 big blinds I'm calling."

It was and he did:

Speiser: [Ad][As]
Viola: [Th][Td]

The [8s][5h][7h][9c][4s] board kept the aces in front and Speiser doubled to 1,100,000 whilst Viola slips to 320,000.

8:40pm: Stoyan Stefanov doubles through Ivan Luca
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Is there a chink in Ivan Luca's armory? He just lost a pot to double up Stoyan Stefanov to lose a little under 12 big blinds.

Luca opened to 48,000 from the hijack with [Qc][Tc] and Stefanov shoved for 287,000 total with [Ac][Jh]. It folded back to Luca and he thought for about 90 seconds before calling.

The [4d][5s][Kc][Jd][6h] board favoured Stefanov and he doubled to around 600,000. Luca still has lots though, about 2,300,000 to be precise.

8:35pm: Martin Kristeller's aces cracked; out in 19th
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

What goes around comes around, I guess. Earlier today Martin Kristeller cracked kings with [9d][7d] and he's just had his aces cracked to exit the tournament in 19th place.

Pre-flop Robert Kokoska opened to 50,000, Kristeller three-bet to 130,000 and Kokoska smooth called. On the [Js][3h][9s] flop Kokoska checked to Kristeller, he bet 160,000, Kokoska check-raised to 325,000 total, Kristeller moved all-in for around 800,000 and Kokoska called.

Kristeller: [As][Ac]
Kokoska: [Ks][Qs]

The [7s] completed Kokoska's flush and the meaningless [4h] fell on the river. The stacks were counted down and Kokoska had Kristeller covered. He's up to 2,350,000 after that hand.

8:25pm: Darius Beres busts in 20th
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Some action!

Dragoslav Timarac opened to 50,000 with [as][jc] and Darius Beres pushed from the small blind for 217,000 with [ad][8s]. Call from Timarac.

The board ran [7s][ac][4s][jd][kc] to send Beres home with a cheque for €4,960 and boost Timarac's stack to 770,000.

8:15pm: All quiet on the outer tables
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Nothing much to report in the way of action from the outer tables. There was a flurry of action in the opening four levels, but the pace of play has slowed during level 23.

8pm: Karol Radomski eliminated in 21st place
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

It took about ten minutes into level 23 before we had any significant action but when we did it resulted in an exit.

Martin Kristeller opened to 35,000 from the cutoff, Karol Radomski then moved all-in from the button for 56,000 total. Maria Lampropoulos and Hannes Speiser both called from the blinds and Kristeller put in the extra to create a four-way pot.

The three active players checked down the [6d][Th][Qs][4d][Qh] board, Radomski had [Ac][Jh] but Kristeller's pocket sevens were the best hand and Radomski was eliminated.

7:50pm: Live stream begins
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

The live stream has started. It means we'll be blogging on a one hour delay. Stay right here for written coverage and/or click here to watch the cards-up live stream.

7:45pm: Live stream delay
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

There's been a delay in the live stream starting so it looks like we're going to be blogging on roughly a one hour delay. First updates with you shortly...hopefully.

6:55pm: Chip counts
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Whilst you're waiting for the 'live updates' to resume. Here's a look at the chip counts of the remaining players. Our next update will be at 19.30 CET.

6:45pm: 40 minute delay due to live stream
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Ok bit of a weird one this but stay with us. There's now a feature table and a live stream, which is on a 30 minute delay as it's a cards-up stream. So that will start at roughly 7:30 CET and can be watched here..

So to avoid spoilers we'll be blogging the outer tables on a 40 minute delay too. Essentially we'll note down the time a hand takes place and then write it up but publish it 40 minutes later.

Still with us? Good.

PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at Eureka6 Rozvadov: Nick Wright. Photos by Tomas Stacha. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog

By now, if you are any fan of Daniel Negreanu, you know he is a man of many countries. He is a proud Canadian who lives in the US and will be voting as a citizen in the USA's next election. You might also know, Negreanu's heritage is Romanian.

That's where the Eureka moment comes in.

Negreanu will soon be joining hundreds of fellow poker players in a Romanian homecoming of sorts, and you have the chance to join him.

Between May 16 and 22, the Eureka Poker Tour will be headed to Bucharest for a seven-day 18-event poker festival. The week-long party will feature the Eureka Main event (€1000 + €100 ), High Roller (€2000 + €200), The Pokerfest 500 ( €500 + €50 ), and the Bucharest Cup (€300 + €30).

And Daniel?

Well, he's going to be there for all of it. After all, it's his homeland.

As of today, PokerStars is running satellites so you can get to Bucharest for next to nothing. Within the next two months, you could be hanging out with Kid Poker with the chance of winning a Eureka title.

For full details on the event, visit the Eureka Bucharest homepage.

This final table of six started with three Romanians, two Israelis, and one Bulgarian. A local winner getting victory on their home soil seemed likely right from the start of the tournament, as Romanians truly love their poker and came out in force for this festival. 

But it wasn't to be. In the end, it was the two players from Israel - Avishai Shitrit and Moshe Eliyahu (who was celebrating his 28th birthday today) - who would find themselves heads-up. The two are friends, and have been chatting and routing for one another for the past two days.

In the duel it didn't take long for Shitrit to grind down Eliyahu as he came into the one-on-one match with more than a five-to-one chip lead. But it still took a super sick hand to end it - we'll get to that later. 

First, meet your winner of the first ever Eureka tournament in Bucharest, or Romania for that matter: 30-year-old poker pro Avishai Shitrit. Here's how the day played out.

Final table time

Six players returned today, and here's how they stacked up at the beginning:

Popular local pro Carmen Zainescu came in as the short stack, and she'd be the first player to leave us. She jammed over an open from Romania's Jozsef Liszkovics with Ace-eight and was called by his Ace-Queen. The kicker held up and she hit the rail in sixth for €22,860.

Shitrit started to gain momentum during five-handed play, climbing the chip counts after doubling through Liszkovics. However, the actual chip lead flipped a lot today - mainly between Dichev, Eliyahu, and Liszkovics.

Romania's Razvan Belea never really got a hold on this final. In fact, in one hand he even called the clock on himself! He was eliminated by Liszkovics after his Ace-nine was out-flopped by his countrymen's King-Queen. For fifth, he pocketed €29,200.

Yasen Dichev would be the next to fall, although you really couldn't see it coming. Dichev proved himself a quality player time and time again; from leading at the start and end of Day 3 to making some fantastic calls and plays here today. However, he got a little frisky when he four-bet jammed pocket nines for 2.95 million over an open from Eliyahu and raise from Liszkovics, the latter of which called with pocket Queens. The ladies held up and Dichev collected €37,070 for fourth.

Liszkovics led the way at this point, but Shitrit got stronger by taking chips from Eliyahu. He eventually took the chip lead, and right before Jozsef Liszkovics was eliminated in third here's how the chip counts looked:

Avishai Shitrit - 7.85 million
Jozsef Liszkovics - 4.5 million
Moshe Eliyahu - 1.8 million 

The biggest pot of the tournament took place three-handed, and it was also the one that would get us heads-up. Liszkovics started the hand with a button open to 200,000 and Avishai Shitrit called from the big blind. The flop came the [js][4s][Ah] and Shitrit check-called a c-bet of 150,000, before also check-calling a bet of 500,000 on the [3s] turn.

Finally the [2s] landed on the river, bringing four spades to the flush. Shitrit took his time and led out for 2 million, and after getting an exact count Liszkovics moved all-in. Shitrit snap-called with the [as][6d] for the nut flush, while Liszkovics had the [ks][7d] for second best. He won €47,910 for third, and we were then heads-up.

As you can see, Shitrit had a huge chip lead, and shortly after heads-up play began he'd whittled Eliyahu's stack down to less than a million.

In the final hand - that sick hand I told you about earlier - Shitrit made it 200,000 on the button and Eliyahu called. The flop came the [5c][3c][6d] and Eliyahu checked, allowing Shitrit to continue for 150,000, which was called. The turn was the [kd] and Eliyahu checked again only to see Shitrit bet 300,000.

At this point Eliyahu moved all-in for around 700,000 total and Shitrit snap-called, turning over the [4c][7h] for the nut straight. Eliyahu had also flopped a straight with his [2d][4d], but he had the low end and like that it was over.

The birthday boy Moshe Eliyahu might not have got the present he really wanted, however €66,950 is not bad by any means.

But how did our champion feel? "It's a wonderful achievement," Shitrit told the PokerStars Blog. "When I made the final table, I didn't expect to win it. It was very quick from yesterday. We went down to six players in the blink of an eye and it feels incredible that I won it now!" 

For winning the first Eureka6 Bucharest, Avishai Shitrit takes home €107,350. Congratulations to him, and thanks for reading over the past week. 

YEAR OF ROMANIA.

Eureka6 Bucharest results 
Entrants: 579
Total prize pool: €561,630
Places paid: 87 

1. Avishai Shitrit (Israel) €107,350
2. Moshe Eliyahu (Israel) €66,950
3. Jozsef Liszkovics (Romania) €47,910
4. Yasen Dichev (Bulgaria) €37,070
5. Razvan Belea (Romania) €29,200
6. Carmen Zainescu (Romania) €22,860

All photos by Tomáš Stacha. Many thanks to Jan Kores.

Jack Stanton is a freelance contributor to the PokerStars Blog.

Small, but beautifully formed.

There are few other ways to describe Day 1A of the second Eureka Hamburg Main Event, a €1,000 buy-in tournament in Casino Schenefeld, on the outskirts of Germany's northern city.

Only 69 players turned up for this first of three flights and they enjoyed a bright and airy casino, a slick and efficient 12 levels and the chance to watch Jan Von Halle roll back the years with a dominant performance.

Von Halle, who is best known in these parts as the man who founded Intellipoker (which became PokerStars' PokerSchool Online), is the clear leader of the 20 players remaining at the end of the day, having won big pot after big pot throughout proceedings.

He cracked aces at least twice (once with kings, once with [9c][6c]) and finished with 198,000 chips (the starting stack was 25,000). He's ahead now of Anastasios Mastroudis (164,700) and Ismet Oral (147,900). And the full counts look like this:

Tomorrow is Day 1B and anyone eliminated today can return for a second stab, along with anyone arriving for the first time. We will likely get much closer to the 250 capacity of the room, and will very likely fill it on Day 1C on Friday.

Look back on all the action in the post below and join us again tomorrow from noon for more of the same. Have a look over on the Eureka page for all you need to know about joining the party.

10:10pm: Six more hands
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

They're playing six more hands before the tournament wraps for the night. There are 21 players still in at this stage.

9.45pm: Ave Marie
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Monir Marie opened to 5,100, which is a touch larger than the standard raise at this time. Most are min-plussing (or limping, actually). Anyway, the raise picked up two callers: Pablo Nerro on the button and Andreas Heitzmann in the big blind.

Those three took a flop of [4h][6d][5c] and, after Heitzmann checked, Marie bet 7,200 and Nerro folded. Heitzmann called, which took them to the [5h] on the turn. Heitzmann then check-folded after Marie bet 12,000.

9.35pm: Bloch skips Fedderssen's trap
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Jesper Feddersen just won a small pot from Jan Bloch, but couldn't successfully lure his man into a trap so artfully set.

Actually, that's not really true. Feddersen didn't do an enormous amount to set the trap. He backed into it really. The hand played out like this:

Bloch limped from early position and action folded to Feddersen in the big blind, who checked. They both checked the flop of [tc][9s][3c] and then Feddersen led for 5,300 after the [js] came on the turn. Bloch called. The river was the [7c] and Feddersen checked.

That last check was the trapping part. He had [ac][8h] so had rivered a straight. But Bloch checked behind and mucked when shown the winner.

9.25pm: Bloch Party II
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Jan Bloch, who made the final table here last year, has just found a timely boost to his stack in a bid to go back-to-back. He check-raised all-in on the turn with the following four cards exposed: [jc][8h][4c][9d]. Peter Jaksland was the man with the 8,000 bet at this stage. Bloch's check-shove was for 42,000.

Jaksland called and showed [9c][8c]. But he was losing to Bloch's [qs][ts] and it never got any better.

9.10pm: The Jan Von Halle show
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Jan Von Halle continues to boss this opening day and now has about 170,000. The victim this time was Matthias Mordhorst who had [kh][qd] and might have thought that would be good against Von Halle's [qc][7s]. But a flop of [7d][3c][qs] assured two things: that all the chips would go in, and that they would end up with Von Halle.

9pm: It could have been a beautiful friendship
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Table four has just broken--we are down to 27 players--and that means that a budding relationship between Jens Christian Nielsen and Kai Münster has been broken up. The two of them were seated next to one another for the past few hours and they played a lot of hands together.

I saw two of them. The first was still in Level 10 and Nielsen raised to 2,400 from the small blind after action had folded to him. Münster called and they saw the [6d][2s][7d] flop. Nielsen bet 3,300 and Münster called, taking them to the [9d] turn. Nielsen bet 4,500 and Münster folded, but said, "They're coming back."

He was right. Into Level 11, they played another pot. Nielsen raised to 3,300 from the hijack and Münster three-bet to 8,200 from the cutoff. Nielsen called and they saw the [8s][4s][4h] come on the flop. Nielsen checked, Münster bet 7,400 and Nielsen let it go.

8.45pm: Mandric downed
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Vedran Mandic is the latest player to fall, leaving us with 28 and the imminent closure of a table. He got his last 17,000 chips in with [ac][9s] and was ahead against Peter Jaksland's [kd][jd]. But after a flop of [9h][qd][6h], the [kc] on the turn was bad news. The river was the [6s]. Jaksland is up to about 46,000.

8.45pm: Von Halle at it again
Level 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Here's another pretty brutal set-up, which has vaulted Jan Von Halle to what might be the chip lead. He has 138,000 and Martin Reckermann has zilch.

I only arrived towards the end of whatever went on pre-flop, but it seemed there was a raise from Von Halle and a call from Reckermann. But all the action came on the flop of [qc][kd][jc]. Von Halle bet 4,200, Reckermann raised to 10,400, Von Halle three-bet to 24,200 and Reckermann shoved for about 46,000. Von Halle instantly called.

Von Halle had flopped the nuts, with [ad][td] and he didn't even have to fade a flush draw. That's because Reckermann had flopped the second nuts with his [ts][9s]. Reckermann couldn't find the tough fold and has paid the price.

8.35pm: You work it out
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

It's very difficult to know what actually happened here, but the facts are as follows.

Martin Reckermann and Klaus Hornschuch were in a pot and the board was out all the way to the river. It showed [qs][6h][ks][jc][3h] and there was precisely 18,200 in the middle.

That much is OK, but this bit I don't understand: Hornschuch, who would have been in the small blind, had 33,000 chips over the line and only 16,000 behind. So this was a close to double pot size bet, for more than two thirds of his stack.

Anyway, whatever happened here, we would learn not much more. Reckermann tank-folded, showing the [ac]. Hornschuch raked it in.

8.20pm: Von Halle doesn't win a pot
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Not so long ago, Jan Von Halle cracked aces with [6c][9c]. It looked like he might be winning another pot featuring those two cards when he got embroiled in one against Dirk Volquardsen, but it evidently helped the latter more than him.

Von Halle opened to 3,200 from UTG+1 and Volquardsen called from the small blind. That's when the [6c][9c] appeared, alongside the [6d] on the flop. Volquardsen checked and Von Halle bet 7,000. Volquardsen called, taking them to a turn of [6s].

Volquardsen checked again and Von Halle asked him how many more he had in his stack. Itwas about 27,000. Von Halle bet 12,000 and Volquardsen shoved. Von Halle, knowing how much it was thanks to his earlier question, quickly folded.

8pm: Six of the best
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

They're heading into Level 10 now, where blinds are 600/1,200 (200 ante). As far as we ca see, the following players are the big stacks of the 34 remaining.

Anastasios Mastroudis - 139,000
Jan Von Halle - 98,000
Robert Gorschewsky - 87,000
Dragan Stankovic - 78,000
Oral Ismet - 76,000
Jens Nielsen - 74,000

7.45pm: Cracking aces for a living
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

On a hand just before the break, Jan Von Halle cracked aces for the second time today, sending Andre Elstermann to the rail. "I had nine-six clubs," Von Halle said. "And there was a nine and a six on the flop." That's how you do it. (He had kings the last time.)

That puts Von Halle up to around 100,000, but he is still trailing Anastasios Mastroudis. The Greek player has about 150,000.

7.35pm: Get Out of Jail Free
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Ion Teodor Naicu was absolutely furious when the [7d] appeared on the turn in a recent hand because he thought it had made Andrew Pierz a winner. But as Naicu would soon discover, it had actually rescued him. He was already a long way behind and it was his Get Out of Jail Free card.

This one started with a limp from Oliver Niemann, under the gun. Naicu raised to 2,300 from the hijack and Pierz called from the big blind, as did Niemann. The three of them saw a flop of [8d][9h][7c] and, after two checks, Naicu bet 3,000. Only Pierz called.

The turn brought the [7d] and Pierz checked again. Naicu bet 5,000 and now Pierz sprang a trap. He raised all-in, a total of 13,500.

Naicu jerked back in his seat as if 24,000 volts had just flooded through it. He was furious. After a minute or so to think, he turned over his [9c][8c] and flung them into the muck.

Pierz calmly revealed his [th][jd], a flopped straight. Naicu might have got off lightly.

7.15pm: Velvelt smoothed out
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Urmo Velvelt, a PokerStars qualifier from Estonia, was an early pick for the title from this corner of PokerStars Blog. It was based on nothing but looks: he just seemed to carry himself at the tables like someone who should go far.

That may yet turn out to be true, but he's not going to win Eureka Hamburg. He is the latest to fall, leaving us with 36 players today.

Velvelt had 15,450 and moved all-in from the big blind after Andre Elstermann opened to 2,200 from early position. Elstermann folded, but Velvelt's participation didn't last much longer.

On the very next hand, Armin Seyfi opened to 2,3000 and Velvelt shoved again. As he was waiting for Seyfi to make up his mind, Velvelt gulped down a big beer, as though there was a bouncer over his shoulder harrying him out of a club. Maybe that was a false tell. Who knows whether he actually wanted a call, but he got it. Seyfi pushed chips forward and turned over [as][jc].

That set off in a race against Velvelt's [8s][8c] and the over-cards prevailed. The board ran [2h][kc][jd][qc][ac]. Velvelt swigged down the remainder and made his way to the rail.

7.05pm: Three-quarters through
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Twelve levels of a poker tournament sounds like a daunting prospect for a single day. But when they're only 45 minutes long, it's not so bad. We're already into Level 9 and it's not even dark outside.

7pm: Kings on button
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

This hand happened in a flash, but it ended up with Oliver Niemann doubling to about 23,000 and staying alive in this tournament.

Action folded to Niemann on the button and he opened to what looked like 1,600. Jens Christian Nielsen, in the small blind, instantly raised, making it 5,200 to play. Niemann instantly shoved for about double that and Nielsen instantly called.

Niemann had [ks][kc] and stayed good against Nielsen's [ah][jh] through a dry board. "Kings on button," Niemann said, delighted.

6.55pm: We lose Limbara
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Enteng Limbara is also now among the 30 players who have been eliminated today. He got no help with his [ad][kh] against Robert Gorschewsky's [6s][6c]. Quite the contrary, in fact. The flop brought another six, the [6d] and there was no catching up from there.

6.50pm: Bloch party
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Jan Bloch now has about 60,000 after he found queens at the same time that Andreas Van Zadelhof was prepared to commit his last 9,875 with [ah][9h]. It looked like Van Zadelhof opened, Bloch three-bet the button and then Van Zadelhof under-called all-in. (This all happened before I got there.)

Anyway, what I did see was a board of [4c][kc][2h][jc][4s] dealt by the dealer and the back of Van Zadelhof's head as he headed for the exit.

6.30pm: The bad good card
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Poker is cruel in many ways, and we'll include in that the moment you see a card that improves your hand, but that makes an opponent's even better. Alem Shah will tell you about it, if you dare approach him outside Casino Schenefeld today.

Ismet Oral opened to 1,600 from the button and Shah called in the small blind. The rest of the table left those two to it and they saw a flop of [ks][5s][tc]. Shah checked and Oral bet 2,100. Shah found a cheeky-check-raise, making it 7,000, but Oral responded by shoving all in, covering Shah by quite a long way. Shah, however, called for about 15,000 more.

Oral had a big hand pre-flop, [kc][kh], and it had grown bigger with that king on the flop. But it was also vulnerable against a hand like Oral's. He had [qs][9s]. When another spade came on the turn, Oral was immediately delighted. But he whoop soon turned to a whelp when he noticed that the [ts] was actually better for Shah than him.

Shah's turned full house was now unbeatable and the river was irrelevant.

6.05pm: Long tank, fold
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Omer Yozgat opened to 1,500 from under the gun and Dragan Stankovic called in the cutoff. Then Jesper Feddersen made it 5,425, precisely what Yozgat had behind, and he wasn't prepared to risk it. He folded. Stankovic seemed like he was keen and ate up a good couple of minutes of the clock. But then he folded and no one was any the wiser.

It's tough going for all of them on that table because Anastasios Mastroudis is there, sitting with the first six-figure stack in the room. He has 107,000.

5.55pm: Cooler
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

To anyone still labouring under the misconception that aces versus kings only happens online, and that aces always lose, hear this: I've just watched that very coup play out for the second time today in this live tournament and aces have just held up.

This one started when Pablo Nerro opened to 1,300 from under the gun and Murat Erat called from one seat along. Dirk Suchanek raised to 6,000 from the big blind and that was enough to get Nerro out of the way.

However, Erat wasn't going anywhere. He shoved for 21,275. They only found out the precise amount later because at this stage Suchanek didn't care. He called and showed [kc][kh] but was already in deep trouble against Erat's [as][ah].

The highest card on an uncoordinated board was a jack and that ended it in Erat's favour. He now has around 50,000 while Suchanek is down to about 16,500.

5.45pm: Two pair twice
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

This hand started off in familiar fashion: a limp-fest all the way around the table. But after Axer Wilhelm tried to end those kinds of shenanigans, he ended up losing the vast majority of his stack.

Jens Christian Nielsen got it started, limping for 600 from under the gun. Dirk Suchanek called too, from the cutoff, and then Pablo Nerro called from the button.

Wilhelm, in the small blind, had clearly seen enough of this. He raised to 2,400 and everyone except Nerro got out of the way.

The flop came [ah][4h][6d] and Wilhelm bet 2,800. Nerro thought about it, then called, leaving himself about 13,500 behind. And Wilhelm asked if he fancied playing for all of it after the [7s] turn. Wilhelm shoved, covering Nerro by about 10,000.

Nerro called instantly and flipped over [ac][7c]. Wilhelm had flopped two pair with his [as][4s] but was now behind. And the [jc] didn't change that.

Nerro picked up a full double up as the rest of the table learnt a lesson about raising the limpers.

5.35pm: Another six levels left
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

They're back now from the break and will play another six 45-minute levels until bagging for the night. With only 69 players taking their seat (and registration now closed), we may have only about two tables left by the end of the day.

4.50pm: Break time
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

That's the half-way point for today and players are now heading for a 45-minute dinner break.

4.45pm: Triple for Schaeunberg
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Marcel Schauenberg just pulled off a handy triple up, finding two callers for his shove from the big blind for 4,375. It looked as though Wilhelm Axer had opened from under the gun and Jan Fondermann had either three-bet or called, two seats to Axer's left. Both of them called the shove, so there was betting on the side after a flop of [ah][jh][js].

Actually, there wasn't that much betting. Axer led for 3,000 and Fondermann instantly folded. However, his [qc][qs] was now behind Schauenberg's [as][kd] and the latter stacked up more than 13,000.

4.25pm: Von Halle puts the hurt on Ince
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Jan Von Halle is one of the big stacks now having just put the ultimate beat on Mehmet Ince. That's what they call it when kings crack aces, right?

In fairness, Von Halle did very well to get the maximum here, and also limit his own exposure. Ince opened for a min-plus raise from under the gun and Von Halle three bet his small blind, making it 2,600 to go. Ince four bet to 6,600 and Von Halle opted only to call.

The flop came [9h][kh][9c] and Von Halle check-called Ince's bet of 5,000. Then both players checked the turn of [8s]. After the [7h] came on the river, Von Halle announced that he was all-in for a stack almost exactly the same size as Ince's, round about 15,000.

Ince seemed unhappy, but called and only increased his misery. Von Halle showed his [kd][kc] and Ince slapped down his [ah][as]. It got worse. They counted down the stacks and Von Halle's 15,450 was shrapnel more than Ince had.

Ince was sent packing in a fug of red mist.

4pm: New level
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

They're into Level 6 now, after which there will be a dinner break and the half-way point of proceedings.

3.55pm: Mastoudis up top
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Anastasios Mastroudis has put distance between himself and the field after winning a flip against Tamu Kero to send the Finnish player out the door and the chip-leader's stack to around 61,500.

Mastroudis, who has been opening a lot of pots, got it started with a raise to 700 from under the gun. Robert Forster called in the small blind, but then Kero, in the big blind, wanted to play for more. He raised to 2,800.

Mastroudis wanted to see the size of both his opponents' stacks. He learnt that Forster had about 8,000 and Kero 6,000, a fraction of his 50,000+ holding. He shoved all-in, knowing even defeat would barely make a dent.

Forster folded, but Kero called and this was a race: Mastroudis had [9d][9s] while Kero had [ah][kc].

This time the pair held. The board ran [jh][ts][4d][th][6c] and Kero disappeared. Mastroudis assumed the top spot in the embryonic leader board.

3.45pm: Chips
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

You hardly need reminding that it's early days in this tournament, approaching the end of Level 5. To date, 67 players have registered and 59 are left, with the hordes expected to descend towards the end of the week.

At present, it looks as though the following have the biggest stacks in the room:

Martin Reckermann - 60,000
Anastasios Mastroudis - 54,000
Kai Munster - 52,000
Urmo Velvelt - 44,000

It really can't stay this peaceful for much longer.

3.30pm: Muscle from Jaksland
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Every second hand seems to feature Michael Witter. Admittedly that was because a glitch in our administrative system earlier meant that I was misidentifying Mehmet Ince as Witter (a problem since resolved) but on the past two passes, the real Witter played hands. But this latest one he lost against Peter Jaksland.

Christopher Schwarz started this one. He limped from under the gun. Witter limped from a couple of seats around, then Jaksland raised to 1,150. Both Schwarz and Witter called and they saw a flop of [kc][qc][8s]. After a couple of checks, Jaksland bet 1,100 and both opponents called.

The [5d] came on the turn and Schwarz checked again. Witter now bet 2,300 and then called after Jaksland raised to 7,100. (Schwarz folded.) That took them to the river of [6c]. Witter checked, but probably knew he would be facing a bet. Jaksland announced 8,800 and, after checking his stack of about 11,000 behind, Witter folded.

3.15pm: An epidemic of checks
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

In common with recent trends on the European Poker Tour, limping has made a big comeback at Eureka Hamburg, at least on the small sample size of the first few levels today. At least three times over the course of wanders around the tournament room today have I seen six players at a flop, all investing the minimum.

On the latest such occasion, Anastasios Mastroudis and Michael Witter were among the throng to a flop of [7s][8s][7d] and they were among throng to check. Then the [9h] came on the turn, followed by another epidemic of checking, then the [5s] came on the river.

This time Mastroudis bet 1,500 and Witter raised to 3,100. That got everyone else out of the way. Mastroudis wasn't going anywhere, however, and he called.

Witter showed [jc][tc] for a turned straight. But Mastroudis had rivered a flush with his [as][4s].

2.55pm: Ballstadt busts
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Christian Ballstadt, who was on the unfortunate end of a boat versus boat collision earlier in the day, is now out.

2.40pm: Big call for Von Halle
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Jan Von Halle just made a big call on the river in a pot against Ion Teodor Naicu and ended up chopping it, even though Naicu thought he might be heading out of the door.

It started with a raise to 400 from Naicu and action folded to Von Halle on the button. He called and Mehmet Ince also called from the big blind.

The flop came [kh][ad][2d] and after Ince checked, Naicu bet 700 and only Von Halle called.

After the [ah] came on the turn, Naicu bet again, this time 1,500 and Von Halle peeked down to check his cards again. He called, taking them to the [8c] on the river. Naicu immediately moved all-in, plonking 8,800 over the line.

Von Halle had him covered, but not by much, and took his time over the decision. Eventually he threw in a call and Naicu flipped [ac][4c]. Von Halle tabled his [as][6d] and Naicu stood up, preparing to leave. But he soon realised that they had chopped it and sat down to play on.

2.15pm: Pauls perishes
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Ulrich Pauls has become the second man to be eliminated today. He played the High Roller too yesterday, so may well stick around for a re-entry tomorrow or Friday.

And with that, they're off for the first break of the day. That's three levels done already.

2.10pm: It's always the quiet ones
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Miroslav Forman and Mehmet Ince have been at each other's throats for much of the early levels, but when they tangled again in a recent pot, it was the man who had tagged along too, Enteng Limbara, who profited the most.

Ince opened to 300 from under the gun and Forman three-bet to 800 from the cutoff. Limbara, in complete silence, called from the button and then Ince called too.

So, the three of them saw a flop of [4c][2s][7s] and Ince checked. Forman bet 1,100 and in similar silence, Limbara called. Ince was more flamboyant about his call, flicking in the chips with exaggerated abandon.

All three checked the [3s] turn but then Ince bet 1,400 at the [qd] on the river. Forman had seen enough. He folded. But now Limbara came to life. He raised to 4,200.

Ince, evidently fearing that might be about to happen, quickly mucked and Eureka Hamburg's only Indonesian participant (so far) scooped the pot.

2pm: Man down
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

We've lost one. The first player out is Evgeny Blyumkin who reportedly lost his stack to Robert Gorschewsky. There's still the chance for redemption with a re-entry either tomorrow or on Friday.

1:45pm: Ballstadt gets a let off
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

On the hand immediately after the huge double up for Dirk Suchanek, he had the chance to knock-out his beleaguered neighbour, Christian Ballstadt. But after opening to 400 from under the gun, Suchanek then folded [ad][8d] face up when Ballstadt shoved for his last 2,725. Ballstadt showed [ac][4h] so would have been in big trouble. As it is, he breathes again.

1:40pm: Breaking Balls(tadt)
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Christian Ballstadt was very close to becoming the first man eliminated from this tournament, losing an almighty pot to Dirk Suchanek when both players had a full house. Ballstadt flopped his, Suchanek hit his on the turn, and Ballstadt couldn't find a fold on the river.

It was a pretty weird hand. Suchanek limped from early position and Ballstadt limped one seat behind. Then Kay Di Stefano also limped and so did Jens Nielsen in the small blind, giving Kai Munster an easy check in the big.

The six of them saw a flop of [4d][th][ts] and after a couple of checks, Ballstadt bet 200. Suchanek was one of only two others who called.

They all then checked the [9h] on the turn and the [5h] came on the river. Suchanek bet 1,100 at it and his neighbour Ballstadt raised to 3,000. After Di Stefano (the other player left) folded, Suchanek, with hands quivering, moved his two stacks of chips over the line, apparently attempting to move all in but accidentally leaving 200 behind.

Ballstadt then went into the tank and questioned aloud whether Suchanek had a full house or had rivered a flush. He said that he too had a full house.

He nodded to the dealer and said, "Call." Suchanek turned over [td][9c] and Ballstadt showed his [4s][4h]. That [5h] on the river had turned out to be the best card in the deck for Suchanek as it gave Ballstadt reason to believe he could be beating a flush.

Suchanek's not-quite shove was 22,375 and he now has double that. Ballstadt was left with a little short of 3,000.

1:25pm: High Roller details
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

The Main Event will remain the focus of our attention throughout this week, but it's worth mentioning that there is also a €2,000 High Roller event under way. It started yesterday with 49 players (and ten re-entries) and 30 of them remain. They include Dara O'Kearney, who is on a bit of a roll at the moment, and the Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer. Neither have all that many chips and will face an uphill struggle to still be involved when the money kicks in with nine left.

Play starts at 7pm in that one and the (ambitious) plan is to play to a winner tonight. There's €34,330 up for grabs for the winner.

1:20pm: Baumann picks off the bluff
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

With the player in the big blind absent, the dealer took 100 chips from his stack and practically dangled in front of the other seven at the table as a carrot to go after stealing. Tamu Kero had a crack, raising to 300 from under the gun.

Franz Baumann, in the small blind, was one of two callers who saw a flop of [as][6d][7s]. Baumann checked and Kero bet 500. The decision passed back to Baumann after the third player folded. Baumann called.

The [3d] came on the turn and Baumann check-called Kero's bet of 1,200.

The [5h] came on the river and the pattern went through a third iteration. Baumann checked, Kero bet 2,700 and Baumann called. Kero sheepishly tabled [ks][ts] and Baumann's [ac][9s] took it down.

1:05pm: Not quads!
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Mehmet Ince showed quads towards the end of the last level when his big river raise got Miroslav Forman to fold. But this time, after a bet on the turn got a similar result, he showed nothing but ace high. (It might still have been good.)

Ince, Forman and Sebastian Esche this time went to the flop with, it seems, Ince the aggressor from the small blind. He squeezed to 850 after Esche, in the cutoff, called Forman's early position open to 300. All three of them saw the flop of [6d][8h][4c].

Ince and Forman both checked, prompting a bet of 500 from Esche. Ince check-raised to 1,400 and Forman folded, but Esche called.

The [qc] came on the turn and Ince fired 1,025 at it. Esche quickly folded and Ince tabled his [ad][kd].

12:40pm: Quads!
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

There was about 6,500 in the pot on Table 6 and two players still with cards: Miroslav Forman and Mehmet Ince. Forman bet 2,200 but saw Ince raise to 7,200. Forman went into the tank, but elected to fold and quickly learnt that he had made a wise decision. Ince couldn't resist flipping over his [3s][3d] for some early quads.

12:35pm: Batman's wings are clipped
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

The aforementioned man in a Batman suit is Eugen Baranow, and true to his superhero status he soared early on during Level 1 and was sitting with more than 40,000. He just lost a few of those, however, when Ulrich Pauls took rivered a boat to beat Baranow's trips.

I'm not sure how it all played out, but with a board reading [6d][jc][4s][6h][5h], Klaus Hornschuch, who would have been in the big blind, bet 500. Pauls raised to 2,400 and Baranow called. Hornschuch folded.

Baranow turned his [7c][6s] and had been leading post-flop against Pauls' pocket fives. But that five on the river changed things. It drops Baranow to about 36,000, which is still 11,000 more than he started with, only about 35 minutes ago.

12:30pm: See the flop for free
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Kay Di Stefano limped for 50 from early position and that tempted Jens Christian Nielsen to call from the button. Dirk Suchanek likes nothing so much as to see a flop for free from the big blind and he checked his option.

The board brought the [7s][8h][5c] and both Suchanek and Di Stefano checked. Nielsen tried to pick it up with a bet of 175. But both his opponents wanted to see the turn.

It came [jh] and this time Suchanek's lead--he made it 500--persuaded both of the others to let it go.

12:20pm: Six tables in play
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

It's a quiet start to this one, in more ways than one. In the traditional poker sense, it's quiet in that only six tables are currently in play. In the literal sense, it's also pin-drop quiet in this tournament room, with only a very limited daytime crowd in attendance.

Suffice to say there are no global superstars in the building yet, with my notebook returning blank from an early sweep of the tournament room. There's a guy who looks a bit like Jack Stanton, my PokerStars Blog colleague; there's a bloke in a Batman suit (that is, a suit with the Batman logo on it, not a mask/cape get-up); and there's a bloke who might have been a bloke I recognised from an EPT event, but turned out not to be. This is why they pay the big money for reporters. This is peerless journalism.

Thomas Stacha, our photographer, said that he recognised Batman bloke, and that there's a Danish guy here who arranges poker tours. "Do you know his name?" "No." There's also a Czech online player, who is "very good" but similarly as yet unidentified. But have no fear, names will be attached to all these fellas very soon.

12:05pm: And off they go
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Thomas Lamatsch, tournament director, has instructed his dealers to get the cards in the air and play is now under way. The starting stack is 25,000 and blinds begin at 25/50.

12pm: Another day, another huge PokerStars tournament

Morning all and welcome to sunny Hamburg for the start of the latest Eureka Poker Tour Main Event. We're actually in the suburb of Schenefeld, which I'm going to claim means "sunny field" as that's a lot like what it feels like. This casino, on the outskirts of the northern industrial powerhouse, has one of the rarest commodities in global gaming: natural light. There's a glass roof, an airy atmosphere, and it feels glorious.

Regarding the tournament itself: this is a €1,000 buy-in event with three starting flights. Today is Day 1A, which typically attracts the fewest players. But there's an option to play all three days if you like--if you bust today, you can come back tomorrow. If you bust tomorrow, you can come back on Friday. (However, if you only show up on Friday, that's your lot.)

Last year's hard cap of 200 players per day has increased to 250 this time, so there are hopes that last year's 581 entries will be surpassed. We will only know that when registration closes at the end of Level 6 on Friday.

Today's schedule looks like this: we'll play 12 45-minute levels, with a 45-minute dinner break at the end of Level 6. There's a 15-minute break after Level 3 and Level 9. That should get us out of here at 10:15pm, give or take.

That said, I don't know why anyone would want to leave. We are surrounded by bars and restaurants. We peer over the river Dupenau. And when the sun goes down, we'll be able to peer at the stars, all of us in the gutter. Stand by for the start of the action at noon.

Picture the scene: you wake up from fitful slumber, turn on a laptop and open up your emails. And there, beaming at you like a bright shard of sunlight through the blinds, is the face of George Danzer hoisting a trophy aloft.

Danzer's was the first face I saw this morning in the first email I opened. In the early hours of Wednesday night, he won the €2,000 High Roller event at Eureka Hamburg and that email carried his customary winner's picture.

But--what do you know?--Danzer's face will also be the last that most of us gaze upon tonight. This irrepressible Team PokerStars Pro is the huge chip leader at the end of Day 1B of the Main Event.

Having turned up around Level 4 today, he quickly set about building a stack. By the end of Level 12, it was worth 275,700, and not even Rifat Palevic, who led for much of the evening, could match it. Palevic finished with 210,400.

Both Danzer and Palevic sat at one of the toughest tables the Eureka Poker Tour has ever seen today, featuring those two monsters as well as Charlie Carrel, David Yan and Dinesh Alt. Those five would make for a fearsome line-up in an EPT High Roller, let alone a €1,000 event on a regional tour. There were only 98 players in the field in total, so for them all to be together was one of the cruellest quirks of the random table draw.

By the end of play, Carrel was no more, but each of the others remain and will come back on Saturday to play Day 2. (Yan has 116,400 and Alt has 58,000.) The full list of remaining players is below and it shows Danzer and Palevic as the only men with more than 200,000. Gisle Olsen is third, with 194,300.

Tomorrow is the last chance both for newcomers and for returning players. It's Day 1C, starting at noon at the Casino Schenefeld and playing through another 12 levels.

Scroll through this page for all the action from today. Then join us again tomorrow.

10:05pm: Clock paused, three more hands
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

The night is drawing in and tournament officials have said there will be only three more hands to play today. We'll have full stacks and an end-of-day report shortly.

9:45pm: Bonke bounced
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Enrico Bonke, who won the €200 Turbo late last night, will be free to play another one tonight if he likes. He has been sent packing from the Main Event by Phong Thanh Pham.

Bonke got the pot started with a raise to 6,000 from early position. Pham three bet the button, making it 13,500 and Bonke was the only player to call.

The two of them saw the flop of [3c][2h][4h] and Bonke immediately shoved. (They used to call this the "stop-and-go".) It was 36,400 and it put Pham, with 51,000 behind, to the test. "Do you have a pair?" Pham said, but got only a chuckle in response.

After a couple of minutes, Pham called and was possibly relieved to see Bonke's [jh][th]. He was drawing. Pham also didn't have a pair. He had [ad][kh]. And then the gods played a cruel little trick, giving Bonke the flush on the turn, with the [9h], but Pham a bigger one on the [6h] river.

Pham clutched the dealer's arm in gratitude, while Bonke looked for the exit.

9:30pm: Last level
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Thirty-six players remain as we head into the last level of the night.

9:15pm: Palevic hits back at Del Riego
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Rifat Palevic has found someone to play against. It's Diego Del Riego, who won that pot with aces described below. But Palevic just got some back from Del Riego and showed him the bluff, just to make sure he knew who is boss.

Palevic opened to 3,600 from the cutoff and Del Riego raised to 8,000 from the small blind. Dara O'Kearney, in the big blind, looked for a moment as though he might be tempted in, but he folded. Palevic called.

The flop came [4s][3c][7h] and after Del Riego checked, Palevic bet 7,000 and then slapped down [kh][2d] after Del Riego folded.

9:10pm: Georgie, Georgie and more Georgie
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

There are few more appealing sights than George Danzer in full flow. It's like watching a thoroughbred racehorse in the early-morning gallops, or the sun setting over the Grand Canyon. (And, really, the Canyon has nothing on Danzer.)

The only Team PokerStars Pro in this week's field now has by far the biggest stack in the room, almost 270,000, having just sent Imad Fakhro out the door. It was brutal.

Martin Mulsow began proceedings when he raised to 3,500 from early position. Danzer three-bet the hijack to 9,000 and Fakhro called on the button. Mulsow also called.

All three players checked the [ad][7c][2h] flop, then Mulsow also checked the [kd] turn. Danzer bet 14,000 and Fakhro called.

After the [js] came on the river, Danzer gave the most nonchalant of checks. It looked like he was done with the hand. Fakhro bet 35,000 and, with [7h][7s] in his hand, he must have thought he was value-betting.

Danzer, however, then came over the top for 65,000 more and Fakhro called. Danzer then revealed his [as][ac] for a bigger set. And that's how Georgie does it.

9:10pm: Koehle flips, wins, doubles
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Eike Koehler's tournament life depended on him winning a flip against Daniel Peche. And the god decided Koehler could hang around a while longer to see what he could do with a 60,000 stack.

Peche opened to 3,500. Koehler shoved for 27,500. Peche called and the starter's pistol sounded. Peche had [th][td] to Koehler's [as][ks].

There was help on the flop. It came [kh][2h][jd] and the [4d] turn followed by the [ac] river kept Koehler alive.

9:05pm: Del Riego's aces good against Palevic
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Rifat Palevic is mortal after all. He just lost at least 20,000 of his stack in a pot against Diego Del Riego.

I didn't see any of it except what happened on the end, by which point there was easily 15,000 in the middle (probably more) and the [2d][5s][7s][5d][9s] beside it. Palevic, who would have been in the hijack, checked and Del Riego, the button, bet 14,500.

"Oof," Palevic said. He then pondered his options. Eventually he called and Del Riego turned over [ah][ac]. Palevic seemed stung and tabled his smaller two pair, with [7h][9d].

Palevic probably still leads the tournament, with around 165,000. But George Danzer has made a brilliant comeback recently too and has 160,000.

8:50pm: Mansour folds out two
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Christian Kennepohl opened to 2,500 and then Martin Mulsow three-bet to 6,200 from the hijack. Action got to Karim Mansour and he positioned his cards very deliberately in front of him, as though for an RFID reader on a television table. He then moved all-in for 35,300.

Kennepohl quickly folded to the squeeze, but Mulsow took some more time about his decision. But then he too folded and Mansour's cold four bet got the job done.

8:45pm: Non stop Palevic
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Rifat Palevic continues to barrel, barrel, barrel and is the dominant force on Table 4. Dara O'Kearney has recently joined that table too, but has less than a third of Palevic's 160,000 stack and so will need to do what O'Kearney does best: pick his spots.

I watched three hands and Palevic played them all. He picked up two uncontested pre-flop and the other after betting the flop. On that one, he made it 2,500 to play and was called by Thorsten Holst, in the hijack one seat to Palevic's left, and Peter Jakob in the big blind.

After the [jc][3h][kh] flop, Jakob checked and Palevic bet 4,600. Both opponents folded and Palevic had the good manners to show them a king.

8:30pm: Wassmuth stumbles into Yan's trap
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

David Yan's stack is now worth about 110,000 after he took Johannes Wassmuth for more than 35,000 of his chips.

Yan opened to 3,200 from UTG+1 and Wassmuth called from two seats around, persuading Waldermar Kopyl to call from the big blind too.

The three of them saw the flop of [2h][8h][8c] and after Kopyl checked, Yan bet 3,200. Wassmuth was the only one to call. The [9h] came on the turn and Jan flicked out 10,000 chips. Wassmuth called again, which took them to the [4c] on the river.

Yan speedily threw 22,000 into the middle and Wassmuth, agonising, delved into the tank, counting his chips and realising that he would have 25,000 behind if he called and lost.

Miroslav Forman ended up calling the clock, forcing a decision out of Wassmuth, and eventually he called. Yan liked it. He turned over [4h][6h] for a turned flush and Wassmuth mucked.

8:20pm: Hupfer humped
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Benjamin Hupfer is out. He open-shoved for his last 11,200 and Stephen Van den Wyngaert, with not much more, reshoved. Everyone else got out of the wy and Hupfer needed help with [ah][5h] to Van den Wyngaert's [9h][9d].

He didn't get it. The board ran [8h][jc][jd][7s][5s] and that was the end of that.

8:10pm: Luedecke busts
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

There's nothing like the old limp/shove under the gun to get the pulse racing, but it didn't work for Alexander Luedecke, who has now hit the rail.

Luedecke matched the big blind of 1,200, first to speak, but then Andre Haneberg raised to 4,200 from one seat to his left.

Action folded back to Luedecke and he carried through a pre-planned manouevre, moving his full stack over the line (about 20,000 give or take). Haneberg called.

Luedecke had a nice suited ace. It was [as][js]. But so did Haneberg and his was [ac][kc]. After the king on the flop, Luedecke prepared to leave. And nothing on turn or river persuaded him to stay.

Haneberg has about 70,000 now.

8pm: Three more levels
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Players have returned to their seats and will now play three more 45-minute levels before bagging for the night.

7:45pm: Break time
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

That's the end of Level 9 and time for a 15-minute break. Here are some selected stacks of the remaining 53 players:

Rifat Palevic -- 205,000
Phong Thanh Pham -- 136,000
Tobias Schmidt -- 96,000
Marco Topic -- 74,000
George Danzer -- 68,000
Vallo Maidla -- 66,000
David Yan -- 59,000
Dara O'Kearney -- 56,000

7:35pm: The fun ends
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

The ridiculous table, featuring all of today's superstars, has now broken, scattering the players around the rest of the field. Rifat Palevic just about had time to win another pot from George Danzer, boosting his stack to 170,000 and cutting the Team Pro's to about 60,000. And now Palevic is sitting to the left of Dinesh Alt on Table four. I don't know what Alt has done to deserve it.

7:20pm: Double for Jarosz
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

It's got to that time, with the big blind now 1,000, that the short stacks are open-shoving. Pawel Stanislav Jarosz had 12,900 and open-shipped, with action folding around to Zlatibor Dujkovic in the big blind.

Dujkovic had about 36,000 and decided to call. But he needed to hit with [ad][7d] against Jarosz's [9c][9h]. He didn't hit. The board ran [4c][qs][2s][5h][4d].

That leaves Dujkovic with about 23,000 and Jarosz with a bit more.

7:10pm: Carrel busts
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

The constellation of superstars has lost one of its leading lights. Charlie Carrel is on the rail (but there's a good chance he'll come back tomorrow).

George Danzer filled in the details (is there nothing he can't do?). David Yan opened, Carrel shoved, Yan called and Carrel's king-queen didn't beat ace-jack on an ace high flop. Yan has about 56,000.

6:55pm: Palevic joins the party
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

More from Table 7, where Rifat Palevic has now joined the fray, sitting to George Danzer's immediate right. Palevic, from Sweden, has nearly a million in live tournament winnings and much more online and was a much-feared EPT regular for a few years.

Palevic has the most chips too. He has about 110,000 now, which is a shade above Danzer's 105,000.

The chip leader at this stage, however, is Phong Thanh who must have won another huge pot after the skirmish with Eke described below. He has 130,000.

6:40pm: Trouble with seven-four off
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

You can't just fold every big blind. That would be a highly exploitable play. But you have to be slightly selective, otherwise you can find yourself hitting the rail thinking, "Yeah, perhaps seven-four off wasn't the smartest idea."

That's the situation for Mehmet Eke, who defended his big blind with a call after Phong Thanh opened to 1,800 from mid-position.

The two of them saw a flop of [5h][7h][2d] and Eke check-called Thanh's bet of 2,200. The [2h] came on the turn and Eke checked again. Thanh bet 4,100 but rather than just calling, Eke tossed in a single 25 denomination chip and said, "All-in."

Thanh didn't wait for a count. He double-checked his cards and then called. (The shove was for about 17,000.) Eke tabled [7c][4d] which was in trouble against Thanh's [ah][qh].

Neither of the two remaining sevens appeared on the river and Eke went home. Thanh has about 65,000.

6:30pm: O'Kearney misses turn
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Dara O'Kearney has been playing well and running well over the past few weeks and has been to four final tables at four different festivals (albeit two being held on the same day in the same venue). He was at another final here in Hamburg last night, at which point his friend David Lappin observed that he had found a leak in O'Kearney's game. "Over-emphasis on mathematically correct decisions during this purple period of never missing flops," Lappin tweeted.

O'Kearney has had a good start to today and was up beyond 50,000 quite early. He's dropped back a bit now and just lost a small pot when he sort-of hit the flop, but totally missed turn and river.

Karim Mansour started it when he raised to 1,8000 from under the gun. Claas Segebrecht called from the small blind and O'Kearney also called from the big. The flop came [8c][4c][7h] and after O'Kearney checked, Mansour bet 3,600. Segebrecht folded and O'Kearney called.

They both checked the [ac] turn. And they also both checked the [5c] river. O'Kearney showed first. He had missed his straight draw with his [th][9h] (and might have struggled to bet it even if he'd hit, what with four clubs out there). Mansour couldn't beat any club, but he could beat O'Kearney. He had [ad][8d] for two pair.

6:15pm: Lappin takes his leave
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

As Level 7 drew to a close, David Lappin was seen wandering out of the room, his chair now officially open. I'm not sure if Lappin got above his starting stack today. It was a bit of a miserable grind if his increasingly helpless expression was any indication.

6:10pm: And their stacks...
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

George Danzer is still the table captain and tournament captain despite being surrounded by bosses. He has about 115,000. David Yan, who has only been with us about 45 minutes, has 45,000 already, while Charlie Carrel has about 27,000 and Dinesh Alt has 23,000.

Some of Alt's chips came from a recent small pot he played against Yan. Alt raised to 1,500 from mid-position and Yan called from the cutoff. Alt bet 2,200 after the flop fell [9c][2s][qh]. Yan called. Then Alt bet 4,200 after the turn of [8c]. This time Yan folded.

6:05pm: And more for Table 7
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

It's getting a little silly on Table 7. Not long ago, I walked past and glimpsed a new player who I briefly thought looked like David Yan. (I didn't look closely and thought nothing of it.) Now, on closer inspection, the player who looks like David Yan is actually David Yan. He must have sat down during the break. That means we now have George Danzer, Charlie Carrel, Dinesh Alt and Yan in four of the nine seats. There are easier tables to be found deep in the money in an EPT Main Event, let alone on Day 1B of a Eureka Poker Tour tournament.

6pm: One for Pedersen, and then one for Kozuch
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Thomas Pedersen opened back-to-back pots from cutoff and then hijack. He won the first and set the ball rolling on a big clash for the second, but sat back and watched others duke it out.

The first one:

Action folded to Pedersen and he raised to 1,300. Miroslav Forman called from the big blind and the two of them went to the [3s][jc][8d] flop. Forman checked, Pedersen bet 1,500 and Forman called.

The [6s] came on the turn and Forman checked again. Pedersen's bet of 3,400 took it down.

Next hand:

Action folded to Pedersen and he raised to 1,300. One seat to his left, Mateusz Kozuch moved all his chips over the line and the action passed to Johnny Hansen in the big blind. He wanted a count.

He found out it was a raise to 10,400 and Hansen, with more than 55,000, made the call. Pedersen got out of the way.

Hansen: [kd][qd]
Kozuch: [as][jd]

The board brought the [ah] among others and that was enough to double Kozuch. Hansen still has more than 45,000.

5:45pm: Getting tougher
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

With registration now closed, we have maxed out at 99 players for Day 1B. All the gaps at the various tables have now been closed and Table 10 was broken just before the restart. Dinesh Alt was on that table, but he has now joined George Danzer, Charlie Carrel and Sergej Barbarez on the undisputed toughest slab of felt in the room. Danzer has more than 100,000 now and by far the biggest reputation of them all.

5:30pm: Some counts

As players enjoy their slap-up feed, we've been counting their chips. Here are a few selected counts, with George Danzer already putting clear air between him and the rest of the field.

Selected counts:

George Danzer -- 90,000
Enrico Bonke -- 80,000
Johnny Hansen -- 65,000
Michael Oswald -- 64,000
Terje Sirnes -- 57,000
Davor Bendin -- 56,000
Peter Jakob -- 48,000
Tobias Schmidt -- 43,000
Dara O'Kearney -- 43,000

I may have also misreported Gareth Chantler's count below. He has about 27,000 now and not nearly 50,000 as previously stated.

4:45pm: Dinner time
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

And on the very stroke of 4:45pm, that's dinner. That's dinner time, right? We'll be back in 45 minutes.

4:30pm: Chantler chipping up
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Gareth Chantler is building a stack here this afternoon and just made a big call in a pot against Enrico Bonke and Andrew Pierz. I only arrived on the river, at which point the scary-looking board read [kh][ts][th][6d][tc].

Bonke bet 3,000 and Pierz called. That left the decision on Chantler. After a brief pause he put the chips forward and was rewarded when Bonke tabled [5d][5h] and Pierz mucked. Chantler's [kd][4d] was good. The lone Canadian in today's field (albeit one who has been based around and about Europe for a little while) stacked up about 50,000.

4:20pm: Cold five-bet
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Johnny Hansen opened to 900 from UTG+1 but he can't have known what he was about to start. Rifat Palevic three-bet to 2,600 from two seats along, but that only prompted a four-bet to 7,000 from Claus Carstensen in the small blind.

And it wasn't done yet. Hanno Offen, in the big blind, cold five-bet to 20,000, which quickly got rid of Hansen and Palevic. Carstensen wasn't so sure. From behind, Carstensen is the exact spitting image of Erik Seidel (from the front, not at all, but they are the same build and have the same monkish hair). He was monkish about his decision-making too, pondering long and hard.

Eventually he folded and Offen picked up a decent pot without even getting to a flop.

4pm: It's George's world, we just live in it
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

There's no messing around with George Danzer in the building. The lone Team PokerStars Pro up here in Hamburg is already up to about 50,000, taking about half of that in a recent pot against Sebastian Homann.

We only caught it on the river with Danzer making a more-than pot-sized bet on a board of [4s][9c][7d][9d][6c]. It was 12,000 from Danzer, into about 10,000.

Homann tank-called and Danzer opened [th][9h]. It was good.

3:50pm: Big-ish stack
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

I can't see a stack in the room at the moment bigger than Enrico Bonke's. He has around 64,000 and is in the seat adjacent to the one occupied yesterday by Anastasios Mastroudis, who led through the first eight levels of play.

Other big-ish stacks sit with Dara O'Kearney (50,500), Andreas Majchrzak (50,300) and Tobias Schmidt (50,000).

3:35pm: Ebeling elbowed by Freese
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

There's not been much to write home about for David Lappin so far today. He has about 17,500 chips at the moment, below the 25,000 starting stack, but still close to 60 big blinds.

He can take some credit for getting the following pot under way, although his participation was minimal (and it ended up fizzling out anyhow).

Lappin opened to 750 from under the gun and Sven Freese, two seats to his left, raised to 1,450. Tilmann Ebeling then cold four-bet to 3,200 from the cutoff and that was enough to persuade Lappin he had seen enough.

Freese still wanted to play. "Raise. Six. Two," he said. Ebeling called.

The flop came [jc][5s][4d] and Freese bet 3,200. Ebeling called. Then the [7c] came on the turn and Freese had another stab. He bet 10,000 this time. Ebeling joined Lappin in mucking.

3:25pm: Feature table
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Fresh from his High Roller victory last night, George Danzer has taken his seat in the Eureka Hamburg Main Event. What's more, he has joined the same table as Charlie Carrel and Sergej Barbarez making that by some measure the most interesting in the room.

3:10pm: Three-way
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

"I was lucky," Tobias Schmidt said as he began stacking up just short of 60,000 chips. Both Nicole Kohlmoos and Pierre Kauert will likely concur as they were heading to the exit.

I don't know the full betting, but they were all all-in by the turn, with the board reading [th][jh][2h][js]. Kohlmoos's [ks][ts] was already dead against Schmidt's [td][tc] by this stage and Kauert's [ah][ac] was in deep trouble too.

The [7h] wasn't one of Kauert's two outs and that ended this big hand, leaving two seats open.

3pm: In the Posto for Eirosius
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Rosmundas Eirosius wanted to see a flop for cheap. After action folded to him in the small blind, he completed and then chuckled when Alexandro Posto, in the big blind, raised to 600. Eirosius called anyway.

So, two to the flop of [qs][kd][2d] and Eirosius checked. Posto bet 600 and Eirosius called.

The [ad] came on the turn and both players checked. But by the time the [jh] came on the river, Eirosius had completed a 180 degree about-turn on his interest in this pot. He now bet 1,200.

Posto wanted to know why. He called and was quickly shown [jd][9d] for the turned flush. Posto mucked.

2:55pm: Alt bosses Olsen
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Dinesh Alt smelt a rat and punished Arne Gisle Olsen. There was 3,500 in the middle, with a board of [qd][ac][4h][5s][ad] exposed. Alt checked and Olsen bet 1,325.

Alt didn't seem interested at this stage, but neither did Olsen. He was looking concentratedly into the middle distance, apparently more concerned by absolutely anything than the actual pot in hand.

Alt seemed to think this feigned indifference perhaps concealed weakness and raised to 6,325 to see if his hunch was right. It was. Olsen folded quickly.

2:45pm: An EPT Champion arrives
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Thang Duc Nguyen has taken a seat, bringing the number of EPT Main Event champions in the field to...one! Nguyen won in Baden in Season 3, but seems to be on home turf here in Hamburg. He was greeted like a king when he arrived yesterday ahead of Day 2 of the High Roller event.

Nguyen is on Table 3 and watched the following small pot play out. Dirk Volquardsen opened to 500 from UTG+1 and Waldemar Kopyl called from the big blind. Those two took a flop of [qs][5d][3d] and Kopyl check-called Volquardsen's c-bet of 625.

The [ah] came on the turn and it went check, bet (1,225), call again. Then the [as] completed the board and now it went check, check. Kopyl waited for Volquardsen to show his hand, but ran out of patience pretty quickly when his reluctance clearly suggested he didn't have an ace.

Kopyl just flipped over his [qc][kd] and that was good.

2:35pm: Past 80
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

We're into Level 4 now, with 84 players having registered and 82 of them remaining. Registration is open for another three levels today, and then six tomorrow too.

2:15pm: First break
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

That's the end of the first three levels, so they players are heading off on their first break of the day.

2:05pm: Aggressive call
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Vanessa Rousso once got a lot of stick for claiming she had made an "aggressive call". The denizens of the internet poker chat-rooms took a few minutes away from dating supermodels and winning $10K tournaments to hammer out a few thousand words of vitriol when she did that, Cheeto crumbs bouncing off their keyboards along the way.

Anyway, I can tell you right now, and without fear of contradiction, that Naser Nowrozi just made an aggressive call. It was very aggressive. Nowrozi was just exiting the smoking room along side the tournament area in Casino Schenefeld when he saw the dealer getting close to finishing a round of card-pitching. He sprinted through the door, ducked athletically beneath the rope and landed himself in his chair the very moment the last card came off the deck. He was under the gun, peeked at his cards almost in the same motion, then...called.

He nearly rent asunder a couple of railbirds and a waitress or two en route to making this call, so it was the very definition of aggressive.

It also started the kind of limping epidemic that we saw yesterday, with Enrico Bonke and Andrew Pierz also calling from the two seats to his left. However that all ended when action made it to Tomislav Trefil. He threw out 1,650 to give everyone something to think about, and they all decided that folding was the best option, including the agressive caller.

1:50pm: Double for Holke
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

The defending champion Tom Holke was down to little more than 2,000, but scored a fortunate double up through Peter Jaksland to keep his hopes alive. Holke had [jd][7d] and was up against Jaksland's jacks. But three diamonds on the flop soon swung things in Holke's favour.

1:45pm: No shifting Offen's aces
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Hanno Offen just won a sizeable pot with aces, but had to make a solid call at the end to pick it up. Rifat Palevic got things going, raising to 350 from UTG+1. Alexander Bontemps, in the hijack, three-bet to 1,100 and then Offen four-bet the button to 2,400.

A cold four-bet at this stage certainly suggests strength, but neither Palevic nor Bontemps were scared. Both called, meaning three players saw the flop of [qs][td][3h]. Palevic checked but Bontemps bet, this time 2,600. Only Offen stuck around.

The turn brought the [th] and Bontemps continued betting, this time 4,600. Offen called and the river brought the [ks]. Bontemps had another go at dislodging Offen, pushing 7,500 over the line.

But Offen went nowhere and, after Bontemps flipped over his [kd][qh], showed his [ah][ac] and picked up this sizeable pot.

1:35pm: About that tough field...
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Charlie Carrel, fresh from a recent WCOOP success and with close to $2.5 million in live tournament earnings, is among the recent clutch of players to sit down in this tournament. I don't know what brings a €25,000 EPT High Roller champion to Hamburg for a €1,000 event, but everyone here is very happy to have him.

Peter Jaksland and Miroslav Forman have both also now bought in again. They were both eliminated yesterday but are giving it another spin.

1:30pm: Strasse gegen flush
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Yun Ho Choi is out and my German colleagues have just reported the hand details as "strasse gegen flush". I'm going to tell you that "gegen" means "against" or "versus" and you can figure the rest out for yourself.

1:20pm: Tough field
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

We're still not breaking any attendance records here in Hamburg, with 72 players now registered. But the field is getting tougher. Dinesh Alt, the reigning TCOOP champion, has now taken his seat, as has Soenke Jahn, who took down the Barcelona Main Event of the Estrellas Poker Tour in Season 4.

1pm: Nicole Kohlmoos, a woman
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Of the 69 players who showed up yesterday, there wasn't a single woman in the field. It's nothing to be proud of given the gradual increase in women players over the years, but there it is.

It's not a whole lot better today, at least so far, but it's not a total whitewash. Today, Nicole Kohlmoos has taken her seat and is representing half of the human race.

Kohlmoos is getting busy early on. She took a small pot from Michael Lewis when her jack-ten beat Lewis's [6c][4c] on a double-paired board (queens and kings) but Lewis earned some more back on the next hand.

In that, Kohlmoos opened to 300 from under the gun and picked up three callers: Ansgar Moller, one seat to her left, then Lewis in the small blind and Pierre Kauert in the big.

They saw a flop of [9h][qh][js] and all four players checked, taking them to the [ah] on the turn. Lewis led for 400 and Kauert and Kohlmoos called, with Moller folding after them.

Then the [3s] came on the river and Lewis bet 1,200. Kauert and Kohlmoos both now folded.

12:55pm: Busting out the check-raise
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

David Lappin dismissed our attention during the first level of play today, correctly stating that the early levels don't often produce too many fireworks. But just as the tournament clock ticked into Level 2, Lappin was involved in another pot--although it still didn't amount to a whole bunch.

Christoph Neuerer opened to 250 from early position and Lappin called from the small blind, followed by Fabian Schmidt in the big. The flop fell [9s][7d][9c] and, after two checks, Neuerer continued for 275.

"Eight-hundred," Lappin said, busting out the check-raise. Schmidt and Neuerer folded, and that was another one for the file marked, "We're Only Writing About It Because There's Not Much Else Happening At The Moment".

12:35pm: Holke probes with eights, loses
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Four players on Table 4 had invested 850 between them to see a flop. They were Davor Bendin and Pavel Ignatov, who had been in the blinds, and Tom Holke and Jens Moysich, who hadn't.

All checked the [7d][8d][jh] flop, but then after Bendin and Ignatov checked the [jc] turn, Holke bet 400. Only Moysich, to his left, called.

After the [kd] came on the river, the defending champion threw out 375 chips. Moysich announced a call. Holke reluctantly turned over the [8s] and knew he was beaten. Moysich exposed his [tc][ts] before Holke showed his other hole cards. Moysich took that one.

12:20pm: Barbarez finding his feet early
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Sergej Barbarez made more than 170 appearances for FC Hamburg in a six-year spell at the club, and also played for Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. He also scored 17 goals in 47 appearances for Bosnia. The lad could play. He is 45 years old now and is taking things more gently at the poker tables, although he can still sniff out an opportunity in front of goal, as it were.

He just found some very thin value in a hand against Andreas Majchrzak getting a worse hand to call him on a scary board. Barbarez raised the button and Majchrzak called in the small blind. They saw a flop of [ad][ac][qc]. Majchrzak checked, Barbarez bet 125 and Majchrzak called.

Both players checked the [2s] on the turn and then after Majchrzak checked the [js] river, Barbarez bet 300. Majchrzak called but mucked after Barbarez tabled his [as][4h].

12:05pm: From green turf to the poker table
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

The early arrivals today include the former Bundesliga footballer Sergej Barbarez, the defending Eureka Hamburg champion Tom Holke, and the familiar Irish players Dara O'Kearney and David Lappin. The tournament has started but registration is open until the start of Level 7.

12pm: Welcoming the masses
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

It's just past noon and action is getting under way on Day 1B of the Eureka Hamburg Main Event. This is a €1,000 buy-in and that gets you 25,000 tournament chips. So far the board is showing 39 players, but there will likely be more than three times that amount by the end of the day.

Don't forget, anyone eliminated yesterday can come back and try again today. Similarly, anyone knocked out today can come back tomorrow.

Of they go!

11am: Welcoming the masses

Flights into Hamburg have been plentiful this week, bringing another load of players ready to join the €1,000 Eureka Main Event. Right about now, this is their view:

We'll welcome them to the casino from noon today.

10:30am: High Roller victory for George Danzer

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Hamburg.

We begin today with some tremendous news from the PokerStars stable. Remember that German lad, big mohawk, did a few cool things at the World Series a few years ago? I think he won--what was it?--three bracelets and became Player of the Year, then another in June 2016?

Danzer, I think his name was. George Danzer. Yes, definitely. Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer.

Yes, him. Well, in the early hours of last night, just before Casino Schenefeld closed, Danzer took down the €2,000 Eureka High Roller event, beating 49 players and picking up €34,330.

That's not the biggest payday of his career, but it's a great omen. I remember talking to Danzer in Monaco in April 2014, just after he won a €1,000 NLHE side event at the EPT Grand Final. Remarkably, that was the first live tournament win of his career and, until last night, his only in no-limit hold'em. It became the springboard for that staggering run of success.

Danzer has now won his second NLHE title and will come into the remainder of this festival, then the last few stops on the EPT, in high spirits. He'll be one to watch, as ever.

Here are the full results from last night's tournament (and it's worth pointing out another cash for Dara O'Kearney. He has now gone back-to-back-to-back-to-back in live tournaments having also made the final of the previous three events he has played, including second in the PokerStars Super Series event at the Hippodrome).

Photos in Hamburg by Tomas Stacha

It seemed to be too much to hope for, but it has just come to pass.

After Jan von Halle bagged the chip lead at the end of Day 1A, it was pretty remarkable when George Danzer did the same at the end of Day 1B. This is not a tournament stacked to the gills with household names, but we certainly knew all about those two.

Then today, as 200 players arrived for the third and final opening flight of the €1,000 Eureka Hamburg Main Event, we saw another familiar face race into an early lead.

Tom Holke, who won this tournament last season, was making all the early headlines. And by the time the klaxon sounded for the close of another 12 levels, Holke had the biggest stack in the room.

The man who is sitting beneath the most distinctive get-up--a lei and stetson, in the colours of the German flag--also has the most distinctive pile of chips. It's worth 333,000, bigger than Danzer and Von Halle, and he goes into Day 2 in pole position in the attempt to defend his title.

This was a day full of Holke. Early on, he brought into play a tip glass on his table into which any player could put €5 if they wanted to see his cards at the end of a hand. The money would go to the dealers.

He went back and forth with Thang Duc Nguyen over this, but Nguyen was soon knocked out. Holke then dipped below Jonn Forst's stack when he found some turbulence late in the day, but he recovered and ended up with that mighty stack.

By that point, tournament administrators had done their bean counting and established that the winner of this event will get €69,120. There were 367 entries in total, comprising 327 unique players and 40 re-entries. (All the information is on the prizepool page.)

Tournament staff are presently counting up all the stacks...stop press, here they are:

As you can see, 55 finished today, meaning we'll have 108 in the room tomorrow. Redraw details will be here soon.

Come back tomorrow when we'll play eight levels and probably get into the money. It starts at noon.

10:15pm: News from the Hamburg Cup
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

There's been a small change to the schedule for the Hamburg Cup. Everybody who has been eliminated on Days 1A, 1B can re-enter on Day 1C. And if you bust during Day 1C during the first six levels, you can re-enter. It's a €330 buy-in event, so get yourself over to Hamburg for this one.

In the meantime, spin through all the coverage from the day in the post below:

10:10pm: Holke has us on tenterhooks
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

I'm not going to lie, we're on tenterhooks over here. We're approaching the end of play--they've just paused the clock and said they'll play the last four hands--and we're waiting for confirmation that Tom Holke is chip-leader. He has 310,000 at the moment, but with his loosey-goosey style, and Johnny Hansen to his left with 210,000, it's not a foregone conclusion that the defending champ will be our day-end leader. But we're hoping, because that would be neat.

9:50pm: Dobrint doubles
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Jurgen Dobrint has doubled up, taking the vast majority of Marc Hunter's stack in the process. Dobrint opened to 6,100 from mid-position and Hunter, one seat to his left, shoved for around 60,000.

Action folded around to Jan Peters in the big blind who had about 30,000 in his stack. He seemed to be pondering a call, but folded and quickly seemed to regret it. Dobrint called off his 38,400 stack with [ad][td] and was up against Hunter's [7h][7d]. (Peters' reaction seemed to suggest he was in good shape against those two hands.)

The board ran [as][8s][5h][2d][3s] and the ace in the window doubled up Dobrint.

9:40pm: Scything through
Level 12 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

We are down to 67 players now after two more were eliminated early in the last level of the day.

After Seung Hyun Kang opened to 5,100 from early position, Do Chung Tran shoved from the button for his last 12,400. Kang called and Tran immediately got up and put his coat on, even though his [7h][7c] was favourite against Kang's [kh][jh].

Admittedly, the favouritism didn't last long as the flop came [ad][3s][jd]. The [2d] turn and [4d] river ended it and he didn't have to take his jacket off after that.

Over on Tom Holke's table, the defending champion was one of three players at the flop of [2h][jh][9d]. Holke bet 7,000 and Johnny Hansen, also with a big stack, called. Sonke Jahn moved all-in, for 42,000, and that quickly got Holke out of the way. But Hansen called and tabled [kc][ks]. Jahn had [ah][[jd] and missed on turn and river, sending him home.

9:30pm: Prize pool info
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

It's the moment you've all been waiting for: the announcement of the prize pool information. There was €355,990 in the prize pool, with 55 players getting paid and €69,120 for the winner. All the information of the full payout schedule is on the payouts page.

9:20pm: Appmann beaten, but not broken
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Adrian Appmann was all-in for his last 11,100 and in a race against Yun Ho Choi. Appmann had [ac][qh] and Choi had [7h][7c].

I'm not sure when they had arrived, but Appmann had a couple of friends on the rail at this point too, who gave their buddy all the support he could possibly hope for--that is, if you consider treating it like it was heads up for the World Series Main Event title. They ironically gasped when the hands were shown, then moaned again when the flop brought a gutshot straight draw. (It was [ts][ks][8h].) They winced at the [8d] turn and then they snapped their hands over their faces in anguish when the [3c] sealed Appmann's fate.

By this point, Appmann was chuckling away at the mock-histrionics and they therefore appear to have served their purpose of providing a sympathetic cushion. Appmann headed away into warm embrace.

8:55pm: The Big Squeeze
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

The squeeze play. They're all at it. Proof:

On Table 8, Sven Reichardt opened to 3,600 from under the gun and Jonas Jorgensen called from one seat to his left. Kai Schuster three-bet to 8,400, the first squeeze, but he himself was then squeezed further by Bartolomiej Grabowski's cold four bet shove for 34,500. They all folded.

On Table 5, Alin Puscas opened to 3,200 and Usman Siddique called. Action made its way to Michael Jacobs, who squeezed to 15,000 and got two folds.

On Table 9, it was a similar routine. After an open to 3,300 under the gun by Marc Philipp Hamening, Thorsten Walk called on the button. Marcel Schauenburg, in the small blind, raised to 11,400 and the other two folded.

8:40pm: It goes up to 11
Level 11 - Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

We've cranked this one up into Level 11, the penultimate level of the night. Seventy-nine players are still involved.

8:40pm: Chantler's vigil continues
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

It's been a rough day for Gareth Chantler, who began his day in what almost seemed like a satellite office over on the far side of the tournament room, and was on one of the first tables to break. That brought him to sit to the immediate left of the fast-and-looseRinaldo Aquino, where he has been for the best part of five hours now. Chantler has never had many chips and was down to his last 7,500 not so long ago. He open-shoved from mid-position and picked up blinds and antes, but he'll need a few more of those to still be here at the end of play.

8:40pm: Chip counts
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Here are some of the big stacks. We know all about Tom Holke and Jon Forst, but Marcel Schauenburg is also worth highlighting. He is one of only three players to fire three bullets at this one. If he goes all the way to the final, he can say he played every single day.

Tom Holke - 188,000
Marcel Schauenburg - 164,000
John Först - 160,000
Georges Yazbeck - 135,000
Yun Choi - 132,000
Benjamin Büssenschütt - 117,000
Edgaras Kancaitis - 112,000
Robin Kazemieh - 110,000
Fabian Schaack - 96,000
Sebastian Homann - 84,000
Sven Reichhardt - 60,000
Erik Scheidt - 67,000
Sönke Jahn - 30,000

8:35pm: No respect
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Absolutely nobody seems to respect Tom Holke's raises, but that's exactly the way he seems to like it. However after losing a recent pot, having three-bet pre-flop, Holke had to show a big hand as he folded, just to make sure people knew he wasn't always sticking his chips in with air.

Sami Jacobs opened to 3,300 from mid-position and Andreas Bremer called from the hijack. Holke, in the cutoff, raised to 8,300 and after the blinds folded, both his opponents called pretty quickly. This was a Holke position raise, after all.

The flop brought the [7h][7d][jd] and Jacobs led at it, putting 13,000 into the middle. Bremer folded and then, after some deliberation, Holke opted to fold his [as][qh] face up. A legitimate squeezing hand, seemed to be the message.

8:20pm: Forst on Holke's tail
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Just after Tom Holke won the pot against David Wiese, Jonn Forst won one on the neighbouring table to draw himself within about 10,000 again. Dennis Nitz opened to 2,500 from UTG+1 and Lauri Laast called from the hijack. Forst, in the cutoff, three-bet to 6,300 and perhaps acknowledging how wide the chip leader might be squeezing, both players called.

The three of them all checked the flop of [3d][9s]][kh] but then after Nitz and Laast checked the [as] turn, Forst bet 4,000. Only Laast called.

The river was the [jc] and both checked. Laast had good reason to think his [ah][th] could be a winner, but it wasn't. Forst had [ad][qs] and now has about 160,000 in his stack.

8:10pm: Easy game
Level 10 - Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

It's an easy game for Tom Holke, who is bossing his table around with the kind of abandon that only a big stack with an impossibly loose image can manage. He acts quickly, almost as if without thought, and the strategy is working wonders.

Case in point: Action folded to Holke on the button and he raised to 3,000. David Wiese called from the big blind and both players then checked the [2c][9h][9c] flop. The [6c] came on the turn and Wiese checked again. Holke doesn't usually need even two invitations, so he bet 4,000. Wiese called.

The [2s] came on the river and Wiese checked again. Holke bet 7,000 and Wiese's curiosity could only be sated one way. He called but mucked when Holke showed [as][7s].

Holke now has about 170,000 again.

7:50pm: Break time
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

That's the end of Level 9 and the remaining 92 players have gone on a 15-minute break.

7:45pm: Scratch that, Forst back in lead
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

No sooner had the ink dried on that last update, metaphorically speaking, than Jonn Forst sprung back into action and put himself back into the lead. Forst checked a board of [7h][8d][4d][9s][kh] but then shoved after Norbert Seefeldt bet 6,400, with 36,000 behind.

Forst covered Seefeldt, but the latter made a crying call with [ah][kd]. Forst had [9c][9h] and that felted Seefeldt.

That coup coincided with Tom Holke losing two pots without showdown on the neigbouring table and slipping to about 150,000. Forst has 170,000.

7:40pm: Big stack for Holke
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

At the end of Day 1A, arguably the best-known player in the field, Jan von Halle, was the chip-leader. At the end of Day 1B, arguably the best-known player in the field, George Danzer, was the chip-leader. If things continue as they have been going over the past couple of hours, Tom Holke, the defending champion, could end up chip-leader at the end of Day 1C. On a recent sweep of the room, Holke had about 190,000. No one else is close.

7:20pm: Last woman standing
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

This has been an excellent tournament in all ways but one. From a field of 327 players here in Hamburg, only three were women. That's a desperately low number for a game that tries to be inclusive. There were no women on Day 1A, one yesterday and only two today, one of whom has been knocked out.

That means that Brynn Kvinlaug was the last woman standing by the beginning of Level 9 on Day 1. But here's better news: she has just tripled up.

Yun Choi opened the button, making it 2,200 to play. Then Torsten Pook called from the small blind. Kvinlaug squeezed all-in from the big blind for 11,075. Choi then re-shoved for 36,275 but, if he was trying to isolate, it didn't work. Pook called after a few minutes of head shaking, lip squeezing and visible "math-doing" in his head.

So the three hands went on their backs:

Kvinlaug: [as][ks]
Choi: [ah][tc]
Pook: [ad][qs]

The dealer didn't over-dramatise. She burned through the following five cards: [kd][8d][8h][3s][td] and while that left Kvinlaug delighted, it was cruel on Pook who had made a good call but had finished third, losing both main and side pot. He now has fumes, while Choi moved up beyond 50,000.

7:10pm: Getting busy
Level 9 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

We've entered that slightly mad period on a Friday night where the crowds arrive to play slot machines, roulette and cash games and players with short stacks in the poker tournament wonder if they might be better off joining them.

Marco Ditmann had only six big blinds when he saw a raise from Grabowski Bartolomiej on the button, to his direct right. He looked down at [ts][9s] and moved all in. (It was 6,500 total.) The big blind folded but Bartolomiej called with [ac][jh].

The flop came [kh][jd][kd] and Ditmann asked for a queen. ("Dame," to use the native lingo.) Neither a queen nor a Dame appeared on turn or river, though, and he was knocked out.

The Eureka player's party gets started in an hour or so, so he can drown his sorrows over at Lustis.

6:50pm: Cash game Charlie
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

"Are there cash games?" Charlie Carrel said as he stepped away from Table 12 having fired his second bullet in the Eureka Main Event and missing the target by a country mile. He didn't do a whole lot wrong in his elimination hand, and won't lose much sleep about it, one suspects. But he has drawn a blank from his trip to Hamburg so far.

This one began when Robert Saffran opened the cutoff, making it 1,800 to play. Carrel, on the button, called and then swigged down a big mouthful of coffee, asking, "How long does it take for the caffeine to kick in?"

He got no educated reply to that, but both the blinds folded and it was just Saffran and Carrel to see a flop of [qs][4h][8s].

Saffran bet 2,000 and Carrel called, which meant they saw the [as] on the turn. Saffran pushed 15,000 chips over the line, which he knew covered Carrel's 9,000-ish. Carrel called all-in.

Saffran had [js][jd] and was, at this stage, an underdog to Carrel's [qd][9d]. But the [3s] on the river completed Saffran's flush and that sent Carrel looking for alternative entertainment.

6:40pm: Shah lives to fight another day
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Alem Shah was all-in and drawing, but spiked his card on the river to stay afloat, taking a dent out of Dragan Simeunovic as he did so. Shah just called from the hijack pre-flop and Erik Scheidt made up the small blind, allowing Simeunovic to check his option.

The flop was queen high and all clubs. It came [9c][5c][qc]. Scheidt checked but Simeunovic bet 1,300. Shah instantly moved all-in for 12,175. Scheidt folded but Simeunovic tank-called, showing [qs][tc]. Shah had [ac][6s] and looked forlorn after the [js] turn. However the [7c] on the river earned a yelp of delight.

6:30pm: Forst the bully
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Jonn Forst has the chips to allow him to play as he pleases and he just showed some strong-arm to push Lauri Laast out of a pot. Well, in truth, I don't know if that's the result he was looking for. Perhaps he wanted a call. But he managed to add another 20,000 to his stack regardless.

I picked up the action on the turn, by which point the [jh][7c][3h][8c] were exposed and there was about 15,000 in the middle. Laast checked, Forst bet 10,000 and Laast called.

The [4h] came on the river and after another check from Laast, Forst announced that he was all-in, knowing full well that Laast's 27,000 was the effective stack. Laast folded and Forst built his stack to more than 130,000.

6:20pm: Number crunching
Level 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

The complete list of players for this event has now been confirmed. There were 327 unique players, plus 40 re-entries. Three players (Andrew John Pierz, Enis Hodaj and Marcel Schauenburg) played every day.

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of players were German with the second-most represented country, Denmark, proving only 10. Here's how it breaks down:

The payout information will be with us soon.

6:15pm: More for Forst, more for Holke
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

In the 15 minutes since those two last came to our attention, Jonn Forst and Tom Holke have both won about 30,000 chips apiece. Forst now has 120,000 and Holke about 115,000.

6pm: Forst to be reckoned with
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Jonn Forst is becoming, ahem, a force to be reckoned with, sitting with 80,000 after picking up a big pot against Christian Golze. This didn't seem like it had much potential when it began, but it grew and grew.

Golze made all the running. He opened to 1,400 from UTG+1 and Forst called in the cutoff. Benjamin Bussenschutt (who I'm assuming was born an old German man and gets younger as time goes by) called too, on the button.

The flop came [2c][as][js] and Golze rifled 2,300 at it. Only Forst called. Then the [4c] came on the turn and Golze bet 4,200. Forst called. Then the [6s] came on the river and this time Golze bet 11,000. Forst called again, and Golze was reluctant to show.

The reticence prompted Forst to turn over his [ac][ts] and that allowed Golze to muck his hand and spare some blushes.

5:55pm: Nguyen beats Holke at his own game
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Thang Duc Nguyen and Tom Holke are mixing it up all the time on Table 2 with Nguyen having the best of it in the most recent two pots. Holke can handle it, though. Even after doubling up Nguyen, then losing another pot to the EPT Baden champion, Holke still has about 75,000.

On the first of those two hands, they got it in pre-flop with Holke's [ad][qd] in good shape against Nguyen's [kd][jh]. But there was a jack on the flop and another on the river and Nguyen doubled his 13,200 to a little more than the starting stack.

They tangled again on the next hand, however, when Holke opened from early position, Nguyen three-bet to 5,000 from the cutoff and Holke called. The flop came [ac][2s][5c] and Holke led 8,000 at it. Nguyen instantly slammed his two fistfuls of chips over the line, indicating quite clearly that he was all-in, and Holke suddenly didn't look so chipper.

The defending champion took a little while but then made a reluctant fold. Nguyen then stole Holke's thunder and said he would show his cards to anyone prepared to put €5 in the tips jar (see 1:25pm update).

Holke himself couldn't get his hand in his wallet quickly enough. He fished out a fiver, shoved it in the jar, and got the instant gratification of knowing he had made a good fold. Nguyen turned over [4d][3d] for the flopped nuts.

5:45pm: We will never know
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Philipp Lutkemeyer made a pretty good case that he had at least a full house in a recent pot, and possibly even quads, but Nikola Brankovic wasn't prepared to pay the price to let us all find out. It was, after all, for all his chips so we can forgive him.

Brankovic started things going with a raise to 1,300 from UTG+1 and Lutkemeyer, one seat to his left, was the only caller. After the [ts][2s][tc] fell on the flop, Brankovic bet 1,500 but was faced with a raise to 3,100 from Lutkemeyer. He called.

The [th] came on the turn and Brankovic now checked. Lutkemeyer bet 4,000 and Brankovic called again.

The [js] appeared on the river and Brankovic checked again. Seizing his opportunity, Lutkemeyer moved all-in for 10,675, which was almost exactly what Brankovic had behind. Brankovic spent about two minutes pondering his decision, but folded. Lutkemeyer quickly pushed his cards face down to the dealer.

5:35pm: The shutters come down
Level 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Registration has just slammed shut on the Eureka6 Main Event. At time of writing, the tournament board shows 200 players in the field for the day, but it will take some jiggery pokery (by which I mean adding up and taking away) before we know for certain how many have entered.

Remember, there were 69 on Day 1A, then 98 on Day 1B, which puts our total field at around 367. But that is to be confirmed, as is the payout schedule.

4:45pm: Dinner time
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

There's the bell for 4.45pm and that can only mean one thing. Dinner! We'll be back in 45 minutes.

4:35pm: Yazbeck loses one
Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Georges Yazbeck, who has four EPT side-event titles to his name, has built a stack close to 70,000 already today. He just lost a small pot to Johannes De Hond, but it won't put too much of a dent in the Lebanese dentist's pile.

Yazbeck opened from the hijack, making it 1,200 to play and both blinds -- Arman Zonobi and De Hond -- called. They all checked the flop of [qd][qs][4c] and then Zonobi checked the [3h] turn too. De Hond bet 3,500 and Yazbeck was the only man to call.

The [ts] came on the river and De Hond bet another 3,500. Yazbeck called again, but mucked after Zonobi turned over [qh][js].

4:20pm: Homann misses draw, pays Olsen
Level 6 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

"That escalated quickly," David Lappin said as, in a flash, Jan Olsen and Sebastian Homann got all their chips in the middle on a board of [qh][5s][3h]. Olsen had [qd][ks] for top pair, while Homann had [kh][jh] for the flush draw.

The turn and river came [4c] and [ac] and the pair stayed best, meaning Homann had to count out 14,525 from his stack and pass them over.

4pm: Volume turned up as Theilemann among two to bust
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Only a matter of minutes after giving his stack a boost in the hand described at length below, Joshua Theilemann is now out, getting sent to the rail in a three-way sickener. Virgo Laanso was also knocked out.

Theilemann had aces. Virgo Laanso had jack-queen and a very short stack. And Robin Kazemieh-Aghdam had [ac][kc]. They got it all in pre-flop and the first three community cards were all clubs.

That blockbuster raised the volume on the already excitable Table 4.

4pm: Silent Theilemann takes some from Aquino
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Rinaldo Aquino has the biggest stack in the room--at least he did, before this latest encounter. But whether or not he is still the chip-leader, he is certainly among those making the most noise. The chirping chips adage is in full effect on his table, and he's enjoying his time yukking it up with Miri Hamza.

The dealer actually had to step in during the following pot, just to make sure their conversation didn't overstep the mark. The reason was that a third player, Joshua Theilemann, was also involved in the hand, but not in the conversation, and the dealer had to ensure that the other two remembered and respected that they were not alone.

Action folded pre-flop to Hamza on the button and Aquino, from the big blind, said, "Come on. Don't be shy." This drew the first friendly rebuke from the dealer, who indicated that Aquino might be influencing action when Theilemann, in the small blind, still had cards.

Hamza opted just to call, but then Theilemann silently raised to 1,200. "How much do you have?" Aquino asked Hamza, drawing a second interjection from the dealer, who pointed to Theilemann's raise. Aquino said that he had seen it, and just called. So did Hamza.

All three players then checked the [9d][qh][js] flop, and then the [5d] came on the turn. Theilemann checked. Aquina bet 2,200 and said, "I don't bluff!" when Hamza was pondering his decision. The dealer again reminded Aquino of Theilemann's presence.

"I'm just talking to myself," Aquino said.
"I will do it for you," Hamza said, as he called. Theilemann also called.

The [5c] came on the river and Theilemann checked again. Aquino then said, "Come on, I let you bluff the river", indicating that he was checking too. The dealer had just about given up her attempts to keep it in order.

Hamza opted to check as well and that led to Aquino finally turning to Thielemann and saying, "Come on, show your ace king." Theilemann, delighted maybe to have his presence acknowledged, turned over [ad][qs] and got two mucks. "Oh, queens," Aquino said. "I hit the flop. I had a pair."

Aquino still has close to 75,000 so there's plenty more chit-chat sure to come.

3:45pm: Gami comes unstuck
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Sonke Jahn, who is firing his second bullet, opened to 700 from the cutoff but Milad Gami three bet to 2,000 from the small blind. Jahn called.

Those two saw a flop of [qd][6s][3d] and Gami bet 1,550. Jahn called. The [9d] came on the turn and, after Gami slowed down, Jahn shoved for 6,500 and Gami folded.

3:40pm: Big stacks
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

The biggest stacks in the room look to be in front of the following players:

Marc Hamening - 80,000
Rinaldo Aquino - 80,000
Ricky Christensen - 75,000
Thorsten Guerra - 72,000

Charlie Carrel is now in the field again too.

3:30pm: Big call
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

As the regular reader(s) of PokerStars Blog will know, it's not always possible for us to get the full details of every hand that plays out. Sometimes it's a case of piecing together incomplete information or, more often, simply admitting that we saw almost nothing.

That is certainly the case in this next pot, but we got a big clue as to what had happened when Vedran Mandic, who wasn't in the hand, said "Nice call." He was congratulating Blazej Przygorzewski, who was busy scooping up at least 35,000 chips and watching his opponent, Moussa Khanafer, head out of the door.

Khanafer's beaten hand was still in front of him. It was [6d][7d]. Przygorzewski's hand was there too. It was [ah][td]. The board read [4s][3h][th][7h][2d] and it seemed, given Mandic's comment, that Khanafer had had a big old stab at it with his pair of sevens.

Przygorzewski had called for what would have been his tournament life too with top pair. (The two of them had very similar stacks.) But as it was, he had been right and Khanafer was knocked out.

3:20pm: Into Level 5
Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Onwards.

3:15pm: Ace-high bluff
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

If you're going to bluff, you've got to bluff big. And Yun Choi just demonstrated that he was prepared to bluff for all of it.

I arrived when they were already at the turn with about 9,000 in the pot and three players involved: Choi (SB), Rudy Raveyts (mid-position) and Erik Scheidt (cutoff). The four exposed cards were [qs][2h][3h][th]. Choi bet 4,400 and Raveyts thought long and hard before he folded. Scheidt thought for a slightly shorter amount of time before calling.

The river brought the [7s] and Choi moved all-in for his last 10,550. Scheidt now went into the tank. He counted out calling chips, then counted how much he would be left with if he was wrong (about 7,000). He opted to fold and glared at Choi.

Choi frowned a little and shook his head as he peeked again at his cards. Scheidt encouraged him to turn them over. Choi obliged, revealing the [ah][kc], for ace high. It was, in this instance, good.

3pm: The King of Schenefeld
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Thang Duc Nguyen, the only man from Schleswig-Holstein with an EPT title, is back in action in the Eureka Poker Tour event today. He fired his first bullet yesterday, and lost, but returns for a second crack of the whip. They love him around here. He lives close to this casino and is a regular. He's greeted with handshakes wherever he goes.

Nguyen is sitting on Tom Holke's table. Other relatively recent arrivals include David Lappin and Rasmus Agerskov.

2:45pm: Holke barrels into trouble
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Say what you like about Tom Holke's big-pot approach, but it can be very tricky to play against. At the start of the following hand, he had built his stack close to 50,000--double what he started with--but he ended up losing a chunk to the unflappable Jevgeni Libovych.

There were four players at the flop of [7h][jc][kc] but after Hans Peter Jacobi, Libovych and Van Thinh Pham all checked, Holke bet 2,000. Only Jacobi and Libovych called which meant they were three-handed to the [6d] turn.

There were two checks and then Holke bet 5,200, which got rid of Jacobi. But Libovych stuck around to see the [4c] river. Libovych took over the betting lead and fired 7,000 at it.

Holke tanked for a bit and asked to see Libovych's stack, learning that he had only 7,000 behind. Holke folded.

2:45pm: Big pair, bigger pair
Level 4 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Leonardo Ebeling opened to 400 from under the gun but faced resistance from Aviad Regev, who three-bet to 1,000 on the button. Imad Fakhro called from the small blind and so did Ebeling.

Those three saw the flop fall [8s][8c][6d] and both Fakhro and Ebeling checked. Regev bet 1,300 and although Fakhro folded, Ebeling wanted to play for more. He raised to 2,600. Regev called.

The turn brought the [ah] and Ebeling bet 2,500. Regev called. They then both checked the [jd] river and Ebeling was asked to show first. He tabled [th][tc], but they were turned into the muck when Regev showed his [qc][qs].

2:15pm: Break time
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

That's the end of the first three levels of the day and players are taking a 15-minute break. Registration is open for another three levels, plus the 45-minute dinner break.

2:05pm: Alawy busts to Seefeldt
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

It's quite difficult to determine exactly what happened in this hand, but the headline news is that Seyed Alawy becomes our third player eliminated today. He checked on the turn, with [5c][6h][7c][kd] exposed, and Norbert Seefeldt shoved. Alawy called all-in with a stack of about 15,000, and his [as][kc] was drawing dead against Seefeldt's [8c][4c].

It turns out after later investigation that there were three players at the flop, the third of whom bet-folded after Seefeld check-raised. But even that sounds a little fishy. Anyway, Seefeldt won a big pot there with that mighty suited eight and Alawy can make other plans for Friday night.

1:45pm: Yag v Yaz
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

Play on Day 1A here seemed often to be quite passive. There was a lot of pre-flop limping and we would frequently get to a river without anything much more than the bare minimum being invested. Day 1B was a little bit more aggressive, and today has ratcheted it up a notch once more.

Just recently, I saw two hands. One was short: Joshua Theilemann opened to 300 from the cutoff, Rinaldo Aquino three-bet to 800 from the button and Theilemann responded with a four-bet to 2,500, which took it down.

The second hand was a little longer, but no less aggressive. On this one, Georges Yazbeck opened to 425 from under the gun and got three callers: Andreas Wright, in the hijack, Gokhan Yagmur, on the button, and Hael Al-Labani, in the big blind. They saw the kind of flop that didn't seem likely to help anyone. It came [3d][8h][2s].

After Al-Labani checked, Yazbeck bet 1,400 and Wright folded. Yagmur raised to 3,300 and Al-Labani got out of the way. "How much you have?" Yazbeck said, now they were heads up. Yagmur indicated that he had 13,200. "All-in," Yazbeck said, covering his opponent.

Yagmur passed.

1:35pm: Level 3
Level 3 - Blinds 75/150

We're into Level 3 now, with 166 players seated. One player, Hans-Peter Jaeger, has gone bust towards the end of the last level.

1:25pm: You want to see? You have to pay
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Players on Table 2 this afternoon have the pleasure of playing alongside Tom Holke. As we have already established, his chips are readily on offer as he plays just about every hand. Those players now also have the chance to see exactly what two cards Holke is playing--provided they are happy to pay a €5 fee, a tax that Holke is collecting for the dealers.

It's true. If anyone gets to showdown in a hand with Holke and he gets them off the pot, they can put €5 in a glass on the table and see his hand anyway. He will then put everything he collects into the dealer tokes.

There's €10 in there so far, but Holke still has chips so that could swell significantly by the time the day is done.

1:25pm: Classic race
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

The tournament board shows that we're coming to the end of Level 2 and that all 156 of the players who have registered so far are still seated. That might not have been true had a big flip on Table 9 gone the other way, but as it was Marc Hamening survived and doubled up.

When I got to the table, Hamening, in the cutoff, had 5,100 in front of him and Tobias Rohe, in the small blind, had 1,800. That was clear evidence of an open from late position from Hamening, then a three-bet from Rohe, then a four-bet from Hamening.

And now the five-bet. Rohe moved all in, for his stack of about 35,000. Hamening, who had only 17,425 of that, made the call.

Rohe: [ac][kd]
Hamening: [qh][qd]

Neither will have been entirely happy about the coup, but both will also have probably thought it could be worse. But there can only be one winner, and it was Hamening when the board ran [9h][5s][td][6d][3d].

Rohe still had about 17,000 left, while Hamening has slightly more than double that.

1:10pm: Any two will do
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Jurgen Dobrint opened to 225 from the cutoff but Marco Leopizzi didn't want to surrender the advantage of position at the table. He three-bet to 650 from the button. The blinds folded, but Dobrint refused to surrender. He called, paying for a flop of [4s][6h][2c]. Dobrint checked.

Leopizzi continued with his story. He bet 1,050. Dobrint had a quick double-check of his cards, but elected to call, and that took them to the [8s] on the turn.

Dobrint checked again and Leopizzi bet again. He made it 1,800 to play. Dobrint called once more.

After the [4h] came on the river, Dobrint checked again. Leopizzi clearly wanted to bet again, but eventually thought better of it. He checked and Dobrint turned over [ks][2s] for a pair of twos. It was good, however, as a miffed Leopizzi mucked.

1pm: Another on three bullets
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

Marcel Schauenburg has taken his seat for the third time in this tournament. I suspect there are more, but that's at least two players on three bullets.

12:50pm: Big call breaks knuckles
Level 2 - Blinds 50/100

This pot brought two firsts of the day: the first deployment of a yellow 5,000-denomination chip and, following it, the first deployment of the celebratory punch of the table.

Three players were at the flop, which read: [6h][th][8h]. Hans Woyrsch, who would have been in the small blind, bet 1,400 and Jens Tehrani, one seat to his left, called. Matthias Haenel, who would have been the cutoff, folded.

The [ah] came on the turn and Woyrsch bet again, this time 2,200. Tehrani called again.

After the [kc] completed the board, Woyrsch now checked. Tehrani fished to the bottom of his stack to find a 5K chip, married it with a few others, and threw out a bet of 5,325. Woyrsch thought about this one for quite a while, but then called. Tehrani instantly mucked and Woyrsch punched the table with some force as he turned over his [jd][jh] in a combination of delight and relief.

12:35pm: The lesser-seen 60X pre-flop raise
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Erik Scheidt only recently sat down at Table 3 and he was still filling out his waiver form when he received his first two cards, under the gun. Scheidt took a quick peek at them, but was clearly not properly engaged when he dipped into his stack and found three black chips, tossing them forward for a raise.

All of his table-mates sat up quickly in their seats and began chuckling. The black chips here are worth 1,000 each and Scheidt had just made a 60X pre-flop raise of the 25/50 Level 1 blinds. Quickly noticing the error of his ways, Scheidt sheepishly apologised and said that on the EPT, the black chips are worth 100 and he hadn't noticed.

Action folded very quickly to Michal Mrakes, in the small blind, but he was busy taking a photo of the 60K raise, presumably heading to Facebook or Twitter quite soon. Although Enrico Bonke was still to act in the big blind, Mrakes was happy to consider this a virtual mis-deal and showed that he was mucking [kc][qc]. "You should call!" Bonke said, but also mucked his hand allowing Scheidt to pick up the blinds, learning a lesson in the process.

12:25pm: Three bullets
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

This is the last of three flights to this €1,000 event, and players could, if they wanted, play all three. That would require them to bust on Days 1A and 1B, of course, which itself would might make a player wonder if this was really their week.

However, there is at least one man who is on his third bullet. Andrew Pierz is in action again, having also spent his Wednesday and Thursday at Casino Schenefeld. He is likely not to be alone, but his passing resemblance to the British politician Jeremy Corbyn means he stands out of the crowd, at least to the British contingent here. He'll be hoping for better from his last chance.

12:20pm: Holke again again
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

It's proving quite difficult to actually get into the main tournament area today, largely because of Tom Holke. The defending champion is sitting within two yards of the press area. He's the first person you see when you wander over to the tables. What's more, he is in every pot and it's always worth seeing how it plays out.

In the latest, he was in the big blind and was at a turn with two players: Thomas Merten (his previous adversary) and Oliver Rinc.

Holke bet 500 with the [3h][8d][9c][2s] exposed and only Rinc called. Then the [4d] came on the river. Holke bet 2,050 and Rinc called. "Vier," Holke said, showing the [4h]. "Set," Rinc replied, revealing the [3d][3s] and taking the pot.

12:10pm: Holke again
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Tom Holke is back again, firing a second bullet in his attempt to defend the title he won here last season. It doesn't take long to realise that Holke is an action player (he is in just about every hand) but it doesn't always go according to plan.

In a recent pot, Holke was involved with Thomas Merten and they were at the turn. The four exposed cards were [7h][2d][jd][6h] and there was about 1,200 in the middle. Merten, who would have been in the big blind, checked in the dark before the [6h] appeared and that prompted a bet of 1,100 from Holke.

Merten now snapped into action. He check-raised to 2,550 and Holke, after a little bit of one-sided chit chat (ie, he asked a question and Merten didn't answer), folded.

12pm: More than 100
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50

Cards are in the air and this is already bigger than yesterday. There are 104 players already seated and the number continues to tick upward.

Remember, it's 12 45-minute levels today. Starting stack is 25,000. Registration closes just before the start of Level 7, which is also the end of the 45-minute dinner break.

11.30am: Back once again

It's Friday in Hamburg and that means Eureka Poker Day. It's Day 1C of this €1,000 buy-in Eureka Poker Tour Main Event and it represents the last chance for poker players of this region (and beyond) to join the party. More than that, anyone who has already been eliminated can re-enter, like a drunken reveller booted out of a bar stealthily finding a fire door down a side alleyway and sneaking back in.

We are expecting a much larger crowd than even the 98 who showed up yesterday, and the rumour is that we might have to go 10 handed. That is unconfirmed and will be number dependent, but the capacity is 250 and that may be strained.

Dealers are going through their early preparations and cards will be in the air in 30 minutes. In the meantime, read how George Danzer took the chip lead yesterday, and how Jan von Halle did the same all the way back on Wednesday.

Day 2 of the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event promised two things: 1) the bubble, which is always a thrill ride, and 2) that the tournament would begin to take a real shape, with challengers emerging from the pack with serious designs on the title.

As it actually happened, both those strands became tightly entangled as David Yan won a massive pot to burst the bubble, knocking out Gareth Chantler in the process, and also to give him the kind of stack to begin toying with the field. On a separate table, George Danzer, the Day 1B chip-leader, was also plodding on very nicely indeed.

When they bagged at around 7pm, with 22 players remaining from the 347 who entered, Yan and Danzer were vying for the lead, with only Andre Haneberg separating them at the top.

It really did come down to the last three hands to decide the leader, but Yan lost back-to-back small pots late on to bag 801,000. Danzer, meanwhile, grinned as he counted out 854,000 ensuring his photograph remains at the top of the blogs for another night. Haneberg, meanwhile, has 838,000.

Yan's elimination of Chantler will be the big talking point of the day. Chantler, the lone North American in the field, had a big stack when hand-for-hand started as the money bubble arrived but made a hero-call with ace high for his tournament life.

He had run into Yan's flopped three-of-a-kind and Yan extracted the maximum, putting the remaining 55 players into the money. (Full details at 3:50pm below.) They fell quickly and steadily after that, with Tom Holke, the defending champion, picking up only a min-cash, then Jan von Halle busting to Yan.

Danzer, however, was superlative as ever. He took the bus to work, packing in alongside hundreds of Hamburgers heading to a local flea market. But there were no flies on Danzer. He just did what he does best and goes into the penultimate day of competition at the summit.

Don't forget, he won the High Roller here this week too, so is on for a rare double.

Play starts tomorrow at 2pm and we'll play down to a final table and, most likely, our last six.

Head to the chip-count page for all the stacks at the moment, and the payouts to date are on the payouts page.

Gute nacht!

6:55pm: Last three
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

They have stopped the clock and will play the last three hands before bagging and tagging.

It's close at the top of the counts. David Yan has lost a few hundred and is one of three men with about 800,000.

6:40pm: Olsen doubles
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

A big double up here for Gisle Olsen, who was staring at elimination when he shoved into Dinesh Alt's aces, but had Alt drawing to a chop by the turn.

Alt opened to 25,000 from under the gun and Olsen moved all-in for 155,000, with everyone else folding. Alt called and showed [ad][ac], prompting Olsen to say, "Oh, did I do that?"

He did.

The flop came [8h][9c][td] and Olsen now found reason for optimism. "Jack will do," he said. The turn was indeed the [jh].

Alt swallowed hard and the [4d] river didn't help him.

"I won't say I'm sorry, cos I'm not," Olsen said. He is now up to a high point of 320,000-ish. Alt has only 115,000 after the beat.

6:20pm: Last 24
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Anastasios Mastroudis was the first person to assume the chip lead in this tournament at a time when the "chip lead" was significant. He raced beyond 50,000 on Day 1A, after only a couple of hours. However, he has now been eliminated in 25th, losing to Jonn Forst and taking us down to our final three tables.

Although there's only 30 minutes on the tournament clock (and with it due to be paused with 15 minutes left to play the last x hands), they are doing a redraw and will shuffle the players around a bit.

6:10pm: Tilted room
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

A lot of the tournament chips have all amassed in one particular corner of the room, as if someone had lifted up the entire floor at one corner and watched gravity do what it does. Andre Haneberg (640,000) sits beside Kai Schuster (450,000) who sits beside David Yan (950,000) and then Marcel Schaeunburg (450,000).

They're not the only ones with chips, however, because Erik Scheidt, on Table 1, still has enough to be pulling strings. In a recent hand, he opened to 22,000 from the button and Frank Debus, in the small blind, made it 48,000 to play. Scheidt checked his hand again, then counted out a raise to 112,000 which was too much for Debus.

Scheidt had about 580,000 before that hand began and now has more than 600,000. He is cruising too.

6pm: Ole Olsen
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Gisle Olsen had only 92,000 in his stack, but he also had [ah][ac] in his hand, so scored a double up through Bartolomiej Grabowski when the pair got all their chips in the middle. Grabowski had [7c][7d] but whiffed the [5c][9h][7h][qh][ad] flop and was left with only about 20,000.

5:40pm: Shoving all over the world
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

On Table 5, Goran Milovanovic open shoved his short stack from under the gun and it got folds all the way round. Then on Table 1, Bartolomiej Grabowski open shoved his short stack and it got folds all the way round.

But then, on Table 2, the shoving took on a more significant flavour when it involved players with anything but short stacks.

Andre Haneberg, with about 450,000 in his stack, opened the button to 22,000. Kai Schuster, to his left and with about 400,000 in his stack, three-bet to 60,000. But then David Yan, who has more than 1.1 million, four-bet to 120,000 from the big blind.

Haneberg, with his mouth concealed by his hoodie zip, asked for the all-in triangle, committing all of it. That gave Schuster a tough decision to make. He thought for a long time, glancing at Yan beside him, but then folded. Yan instantly mucked, which meant Haneberg picked up more than 160,000 without seeing a flop.

5:40pm: Yan over Jan
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Jan von Halle has become the latest player to fall at the hands of David Yan. "MissOracle" is unstoppable today and he is the first player through a million.

Von Halle, the Day 1A overnight leader, open-shoved to 130,000 from under the gun with [ac][jd]. Yan, on the button, called with [7c][7h] and the board gave nothing to the over-cards.

5:40pm: Peters perishes
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Tobias Peters is out. He woke up with ace-queen in the small blind and shoved, but Jan Bloch was lurking in the big blind with a bigger stack and [9h][9d]. The board ran [2c][6d][jh][4c][kh] and Peters departs. Bloch, meanwhile, has 360,000.

5:35pm: Chips and payouts
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

The payouts page and the chip-count page were both updated at the last break. Take a look over there for the latest.

5:30pm: Three and four-bets
Level 19 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Ismet Oral opened to 20,000 from under the gun and Andreas Majchrzak three-bet to 53,000 from the cutoff. That only seemed to encourage Walid Abdi-Ali into action, and he four-bet to 130,000 from the button. Everyone folded.

A few minutes later, Frank Debus tried to get something started with a raise to 22,000 from UTG+1. But that man Majchrzak, one to his left, three-bet again, this time to 54,000 and this time he got that through.

5:10pm: Break
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

The last 33 players are going on their last break of the day. We'll return and play two more levels in 15 minutes' time.

5:05pm: Topic bust to Scheidt
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Marco Topic was down to his last 120,000. And now he doesn't even have that. Erik Scheidt just hit a three-outer to bust Topic.

Topic opened to 18,000 and Scheidt shoved from the small blind, his 250,000 covering Topic's stack. Topic pondered for a moment, but then made a good call with [as][js]. He was up against Scheidt's [ad][td].

But joy turned to misery for Topic when the flop brought the [th] alongside the [8s] and [7h]. The turn [6c] and river [7d] didn't help, and Topic was toast.

4:50pm: Palevic pays price for latest hero call
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

In what also is becoming a pattern here in Hamburg, Rifat Palevic has become the latest player to make a hero call for his tournament life and get it wrong.

There was a pretty hefty pile of chips already in the middle and a board to the river: [2c][8c][2d][9d][6d]. Palevic checked and Kai Schuster shoved for 120,000, which just about covered Palevic.

The Swedish player stood up as if to leave and then he flicked a chip into the middle, indicating the call. Schuster showed [8d][8s] for a flopped full house and Palevic said, "Wow."

Palevic then mucked, but the dealer fished the cards out to show the table, as is required when it's an all-in/elimination situation. Palevic had [7s][7c] and was never ahead.

4:40pm: Hansen outmuscles Siddique
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Johnny Hansen just took a small pot from Usman Siddique, which is probably necessary to stop the British player running over that table. Siddique put on a dominant display when he won UKIPT London a few years ago, and is at it again here.

But not this time.

Siddique opened to 18,000 from the hijack and Hansen called from the cutoff. The both checked the [5s][qs][qd] flop and then Siddique bet 18,000 at the [9s] turn. Hansen quickly popped it up to 50,000 and Siddique let it go.

4:35pm: Toying with them
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

David Yan certainly has more high-stakes tournament experience than almost all of his opponents this afternoon. Although, of course, George Danzer and Jan von Halle are pretty familiar with the top levels of the game (and Usman Siddique has a UKIPT title), Yan is probably alone in having played quite so often at the High Rollers and Super High Roller events. He also has a stack of 760,000, which is bigger than any other, and is pretty much toying with his table at the moment.

Just recently, he opted to call from the hijack pre-flop, bringing Tamas Gonczi in from the small blind and Thorsten Walk from the big.

After Gonczi checked the flop of [2s][qs][tc], Walk stabbed 15,000 at it. Yan quickly raised to 40,000 and Gonczi folded.

It didn't talk Walk long to Walk away either, but he turned over the [th] as he did so. Yan probably doesn't need the extra information, but will no doubt take it.

4:20pm: And another level
Level 18 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

On they go into Level 18. There are 39 players left.

4:15pm: Trips over trips
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Jan von Halle just made what turned out to be a "wrong" call, but the very fact that he was even considering a fold tells you that he knows what he's doing. In a blind-on-blind encounter with Nikolas Menke, Von Halle was looking at a board of [tc][9h][4d][4h] and had seen Menke check-raise all-in, over a bet of 24,000. The all-in was for 92,000.

Von Halle seriously seemed to be thinking about a fold, but, after looking down at his [6d][4c]--i.e., trips--called. Menke turned over [ac][4c] for trips too and the [7h] on the river was a blank.

Menke's comeback continues. Von Halle remains well stacked.

4:15pm: Staying alive
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Peter Jakob just doubled up through David Yan. It was only for 22,000 but he is staying alive.

He had red aces, mind you, and got it in pre-flop. Yan called with king-jack off and flopped a king but missed on turn and river.

"Chip and a chair," Arne Olsen said. "And some aces of course."

4:05pm: Holke sent home
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Tom Holke was playing just about every hand again today, much as he was yesterday and the day before. I'm not joking. He doubled up Nikolas Menke just before the bubble when Holke had [2d][5d] and Menke [as][kh] (it seems that Holke had shoved the small blind and Menke called the button). Menke won that one.

But if you live by the sword, you will sometimes die by it. And now, Menke has won another one against Holke, and it's the end of the defending champion. Holke shoved for 35,000 from the cutoff and Menke re-shoved his button. The blinds folded and Holke's [ac][8c] couldn't beat Menke's [8h][8d].

Holke heads out and Menke, who started the day with about 11,000, has ten times that.

4pm: Oh, and by the way
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

The chip-count page was updated at the last break, just before the bubble. It does not, at present, reflect Yan's huge win that has put him beyond 600,000.

3:50pm: Chantler bursts bubble! Yan wins huge pot
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

What a roller-coaster day in Hamburg for Gareth Chantler. The Canadian went from short stack to chip leader and has now burst the bubble, losing a massive pot to David Yan.

There was a huge crowd around his table by the time they were at the turn. The board read [3h][5d][3c][ts] and Chantler checked. Yan bet 64,000 and Chantler called.

The [qh] came on the river and Chantler checked again. Yan now said that he was all-in, with his 230,000 covering Chantler's 155,000. Chantler thought a good long while, but then called. Yan flipped over [ah][3s] for flopped trip threes.

Chantler wanted to muck, but was forced to show his [ad][8d], a hero call with ace high gone awry.

Thomas Stacha, our photographer, happened to be videoing the hand and, from the tape, we could piece together that Chantler opened from late position, then called Yan's button three-bet. He then check-called the 30,000 bet on the flop. Then the rest is as reported above.

Yan now leads with about 600,000.

3:35pm: Hand for hand
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

The tournament clock is paused as we go hand-for-hand with 56 players left. Jens Nielsen went out in 57th.

3:30pm: Onward to the bubble
Level 17 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

We're into Level 17 now and the bubble will burst imminently, one suspects. Here's a reminder of what they are playing for.

3:15pm: Break time
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The remaining 57 players are going on a 15-minute break.

3:10pm: Aces loses
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Miroslav Forman is out. He played Day 1A and Day 1B, but came up short of the money in 59th. It was Andreas Majchrzak who accounted for him.

It might be that Damir Vasiljevic will soon follow him after he just got his aces cracked by Pablo Nerro in a pot that had the potential to take us to the bubble.

Vasiljevic opened to 11,000 from under the gun and Jonn Forst, on the button, three-bet to 27,000. Nerro, in the small blind, quickly announced that he was all in for 70,700.

Vasiljevic pondered for a moment, but then said, "Here we go! All-in!"

Forst found out from the dealer that it would cost him another 82,300 (in addition to the 27,000 he had invested). The rest of the table started talking about Forst's decision, about how he could knock two players out.

"Please, stop it," Vasiljevic said. "I need the €1,700." (That's the min-cash.)

Despite these requests, Vasiljevic actually seemed for all the world that he was praying for a call, but Forst did not oblige. He folded.

Vasiljevic quickly flipped over his [ad][ac]. Yes, he had wanted a call. Nerro had [jc][js] and was in trouble. But the flop came [2s][5d][jd] to put Nerro ahead and silence Vasiljevic.

He found some encouragement from the [2d] turn, but didn't get there on the [kh] river.

Update: He is now out.

2:55pm: "Oh my god"
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

We are four off the money, which is a pretty disappointing place to go out. And doesn't Alaettin Keles know it. He was just eliminated by Ismet Oral and Keles was furious.

When I arrived, they were at the turn and there wasn't an enormous amount of money in the middle. The four exposed cards were [8c][8h][4d][7d] and Oral checked. Keles bet 24,000 and Oral moved all-in, for about 145,000.

Keles now had a decision for his tournament as Oral had him out-chipped. After a short while in the tank, he did indeed call but then couldn't believe it when Oral turned over [6d][5d].

"Oh my god," Keles said. He said it again for good measure. Still without exposing his own hand, he said, "Oh my god," once more.

Then he eventually tabled [kh][ks], which was already drawing dead. The [th] completed the formalities on the river.

2:45pm: Danzer continues to crush
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

You know those updates about Gareth Chantler being in the lead? Scratch that. Chantler is still doing fine, but George Danzer is on a tear. He has about 560,000 chips at the moment and is now miles ahead. Danzer told Robin Scherr that he "had more playable hands today than he has in the past five EPT Main Events".

2:40pm: Full house, double up
Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Here's another double up with a monster. This time Kai Schuster stayed alive thanks to a rivered full house in a hand against Tom Holke. He needed it too because Holke, who started with over-cards, had turned a flush.

It was all pretty straightforward. Andre Haneberg opened to 10,400 from early position and Schuster shoved for 53,300 from one seat to his left. It got round to Holke in the cutoff and he made the call. Haneberg folded.

Schuster: [8c][8s]
Holke: [kd][qd]

The flop came [3d][9s][7d], which offered plenty for everyone. But the [8d] offered even more. Schuster stood up, expecting his fate to be sealed, but the [3c] on the river kept him alive. He performed a celebratory pirouette and sat back down.

2:30pm: "How did you double up?" "Oh, I had a royal flush"
Level 16 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

When you're all-in and called, you'd be happy with any kind of win. Ace-high would do. But for Monir Marie, he did it in style: turning a royal flush.

Marie open-shoved his stack of 27,700 from the button and picked up a call from Kai Munster in the big blind. Munster had [qc][td], but Marie had [as][js].

Munster actually flopped two pair on the [ts][qs][kd] flop, but Marie already had a straight. And then, boom, the [ks] appeared on the turn to make it unbeatable.

2:20pm: Into Level 16
Level 16 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

These levels are racing by today. We're now into Level 16, the fourth of the day. They will take a 15-minute break at the end of this.

2:20pm: New chip-leader
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

It's all coming out now about Gareth Chantler. And rightly so. The man from Canada is the new tournament chip leader.

Remember earlier, when Chantler said that he was glad nobody was around to see his first double up? Well, it emerges that he had queen-jack against pocket queens and that Dara O'Kearney, also at the table, had folded a jack. Turn and river were the two case jacks.

That kept Chantler alive at the start of the day. Then in the hand described at 1:25pm below, Chantler made a flush while Klaus Hornschuch had a set of aces. That was another big double up. And now, Chantler has just won another enormous pot to bust Konstantin Karikov and put his own stack up to 360,000.

This one I did see. Karikov opened to 8,200 and, one seat to his left, Chantler three-bet to 20,400. Karikov called and they saw the flop of [ac][9d][4c]. Karikov bet 35,000 and Chantler shoved, covering Karikov.

The Russian player called and showed [ad][ks]. But Chantler had [as][9c] for the flopped two pair and the turn and river bricked.

2pm: Danzer up top
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Tournament staff conducted a full chip count during the last break and there's no surprise to see George Danzer assume the top spot after a superlative opening couple of levels.

We'll update the chip-count page with full counts at each break from now on.

1:55pm: Double shove
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

There were two simultaneous pre-flop shoves on neighbouring tables, but with notably different results. While Nikolas Menke got his under-the-gun raise, to 51,700, all the way through Jan von Halled, Marcel Schauenburg and Tom Holke (only Schauenburg seemed interested), Andreas Bremer picked up a call from Marco Topic and was knocked out.

Bremer had [as][8s] and Topic had [qs][qc]. There was nothing on the flop, turn or river to excite Bremer and he departs in 73rd.

1:45pm: Lifestyles of the rich and famous
Level 15 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

George Danzer hasn't let life as one of the most famous players in Germany go to his head. He proudly revealed today that he took the bus to work at the Schenefeld Casino--a bus that was full to bursting with locals attending a flea market about a kilometre or so away from the office. Many of them had their purchases--including a lot of rolled up carpets--tucked under their arms. You just don't get this in Monaco. Just one more reason why the Eureka Poker Tour is better than the EPT.

1:30pm: Break time
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

That's the end of Level 14 and they're taking a 15-minute break. That's the pattern for today, by the way: two levels, then a 15-minute break. We'll do that four times.

We'll get full chip counts with you very soon.

1:25pm: Chantler's climb continues
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

There's a tough balance to be struck in tournament poker between acceptable patience and suicidal tightness. You often have to endure long, long barren periods where there are simply no spots to try to increase a tiny stack. However, we've seen it a million times where a player is so focused on not getting eliminated that they simply wind up blinding away to dust.

If you want to know about this, talk to Gareth Chantler. He played his first bullet on Day 1B and (at least from the spectator's viewpoint) it seemed like a fairly miserable grind, eventually ending in perhaps the penultimate level of the day. Then yesterday he was also short for hours, sitting to the right of Rinalo Aquino's big stack. Chantler bagged 37,800 at the end of the day, which was 16 big blinds.

But there's the reason sometimes to stick with it. Chantler has now doubled up at least twice and is now up to more than 160,000, most recently doubling through Klaus Hornschuch. Chantler had [kh][9h] and the full board showed [ah][td][6h][4h][5s]. I arrived only to see the dealer counting Chantler's stack as 76,000, then grabbing the equivalent from Hornschuch.

Chantler is actually now the big stack at his table, which also features David Yan (60,000), Georges Yazbeck (85,000) and David Lappin (17,500). Lappin could certainly do with the kind of fillip that Chantler has enjoyed this afternoon.

1:10pm: Kancaitis four-bets into two, wins
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

You may recall that we identified among the Day 1A players a surprising tendency to limp pre-flop, leading to multi-way pots that were often checked down. By the time Day 1C rolled around, that particular tendency had ended. Everyone was squeezing instead, punishing players who were calling early-position raises.

Today, and as the money draws steadily into view, the aggression is ramping up again. In a recent hand, Edgara Kancaitis opened to 6,400 from the cutoff and Marco Topic called in the cutoff. Quang Nguyen squeezed from the button, making it 15,100, but then Kancaitis four-bet into two opponents, making it 39,000. That got it done as both Topic and Nguyen folded.

1pm: Forst back at it
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

Jonn Forst and Johnny Hansen are sitting on the same table today--or at least they were, until it recently broke.

Anyway, just before they were scattered to the wind, they played a pretty huge pot against one another that ended with Hansen folding top pair on a scary board and Forst refusing to let him know if he'd made the right decision.

There was at least 60,000 in the middle and the board dealt all the way. It read [qd][8d][kd][3s][3c]. Hansen checked and Forst bet 37,000.

"I have a king," Hansen said after a good three minutes in the tank. "Can I say that? You also have a king?"

Forst gave nothing away.

"Forget it," Hansen said, and tossed his cards away.

"Show one card!" Thorsten Walk said, but Forst defiantly shook his head as he slipped the cards to the dealer.

12:55pm: Three Queens
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

Andreas Bremer opened to 7,200 from UTG+1 and Quang Nguyen called in the big blind. They then saw a highly feminine flop. It came [qc][qh][qd].

Nguyen checked but Bremer bet 11,300 and that got Nguyen counting his own stack. He had precisely 64,500 behind and opted to call.

They both checked the [6h] turn and then, after the [3c] cam on the river, Nguyen shoved.

That started Bremer counting his stack, and he soon realised that his 35,000 was the effective stack. He didn't want to commit it here--presumably he did not have a queen--and he folded.

12:45pm: Sixteen down
Level 14 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)

We're into Level 14 now, with 16 players having already hit the rail.

12:40pm: Imbalance
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

It's a case of the haves and the have nots on Table 11, where the likes of Jan von Halle (210,000) and Robin Aghdam-Kazemieh (173,000) sit with Miroslav Forman (45,000) and Yun Choi (32,000).

Both of the latter two open-shoved pre-flop in a recent orbit, and both got it through. Meanwhile, Andrey Demidov gave a little to Von Halle after opening to 6,000 from the button and then folding when Von Halle made it 18,200 from the big blind.

12:30pm: Play the Last Post for...
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

The list of early eliminations includes: Marc Hunter, Daniel Peche, Jorg Blohm, Tillmann Raschke, Amir Mozaffarin, Davor Bendin, Terge Sirnes, Hermann, Behrens, Tilmann Ebeling, Jan Peters, Robert Rohr and Bjorn Duda.

12:20pm: Chantler doubles; Lappin still trying
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

It's been a tough first 30 minutes, with 10 players knocked out already.

12:20pm: Chantler doubles; Lappin still trying
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Gareth Chantler, who is Canadian but has spent a lot of time in Europe over the past few years, including a spell living in Dublin, is the lone North American representative left in the Eureka Hamburg field. He was a short stack at the beginning of the day but has now found a double-up to keep him fighting.

It happened shortly before his table broke and he said he was happy no one was around to see it. (He seemed to suggest it hadn't come as the result of A-1 perfect play.) But a double is a double and Chantler can breathe a little more easily as a result.

Chantler's first table also featured Dara O'Kearney, a friend from his Dublin days. And even now those two have been separated, Chantler has found himself on the same table as another former Dublin-ite, David Lappin. Lappin now lives in Malta, but stays close to the Irish poker scene, and is attempting to get his own tournament kick-started this afternoon.

Just recently, Georges Yazbeck opened the cutoff and Lappin shoved from the button, a total of 25,300. Yazbeck asked a few cheeky questions about whether Lappin wanted a call; Lappin gave a few cheeky answers suggesting that he might or he might not. I suspect Yazbeck was none the wiser, and folded.

12:10pm: Early tournament-life decision for Lappin
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Marc Hunter was the first man knocked out today. He had fewer than 10 big blinds, so it was always likely. But he still got a chance to be photographed last night at the players party with Tom Holke and George Danzer, so it wasn't all bad news.

12:06pm: Early tournament-life decision for Lappin
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

David Lappin returned today with 13 big blinds and will likely know that he is going to have to find a spot to get them in soon-ish. Georges Yazbeck quickly gave him his first opportunity: when action folded to Yazbeck in the small blind, he moved all-in, covering Lappin, who was in the big blind. Lappin agonised for a moment, but eventually opted to wait for a better moment.

12:05pm: Rinaldo takes a small pot from Danzer
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Within the first orbit of play, Rinaldo Aquino has continued in a similar fashion to his start yesterday--ie, busy--winning a small pot from George Danzer.

The two of them got about 13,000 in the pot pre-flop, buying them a look at the [4h][ks][5s]. Rinaldo, who was under the gun pre-flop, checked and Danzer, hijack, bet 8,000. Rinaldo called and they then both checked the [ac] turn.

The [8c] came on the river and Rinaldo bet 13,000. Danzer mucked and said, "Ace five, two pair, well played."

12pm: Away they go
Level 13 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

And they're off!

11:50am: Seat draw error

Profound apologies from everyone at Casino Schenefeld and the Eureka Poker Tour, but the redraw information we received overnight was incorrect. We now have the accurate seat draw and it is over on the seat-draw page.

11:45am: The morning after the night before

Good morning everybody and welcome back to Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, for Day 2 of the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event.

After the third of three flights of Day 1 ended at around 10:15pm yesterday, players, friends and hangers-on went over to Lustis restaurant for the players' party. Those of them who made a point of returning before the witching hour are likely to be among the 108 who still have chips, seeking a first prize of €69,120.

Today we will play another eight 45-minute levels, headaches permitting, by which point we will almost certainly be in the money. The top 55 are paid, and a min-cash is worth €1,740.

The top-ten stacks at this stage, as the three starting-stay fields merge, are as follows:

As you can see, there's clear air between Tom Holke and even George Danzer, in second, but there are a lot of dangerous players still involved.

Head over to the seat-draw page to see how they line up.

Play begins at noon.

Day 3 of the Eureka Poker Tour Hamburg Main Event started with 22 players and all eyes on George Danzer. The Team PokerStars Pro was going for a remarkable double having already won the High Roller here this week.

But when they bagged up for the end of the night at 8:30pm, only six players remained and Danzer wasn't one of them. The apparently immortal man from Salzburg went out in ninth--a performance he will no doubt have taken at the beginning of the week, but that left him deflated by the end.

It was a tough day. All of the overnight top three were knocked out--David Yan and Andre Haneberg joining Danzer on the rail--but it was the man in fourth yesterday, Erik Scheidt, who prospered the most.

The German player, who is now at the second Eureka final of his career, was the biggest stack in the right from the earliest levels, but things evened out a lot at the end. Scheidt has 1,975,000 to go into the final day, but that's not quite 40 big blinds in what has become a very shallow tournament.

Marcel Schauenburg is second. He fired three bullets at this tournament and, having now progressed to its final, can say that he has played on every single day.

The full counts are over on the chip-count page and we should make special mention of Dinesh Alt.

The man known online as "NastyMinder" was the smallest of the 22 stacks coming back today, but played it superlatively. He had one come-from-behind double up to stay alive, but otherwise picked his spots to perfection to make his way to the final.

This is anyone's game. The average stack is 30 big blinds and the shortest stack is 24 BBs. There's going to be a lot of shoving when they restart at 3pm tomorrow.

Look back on all the action by scrolling through the post below. Then join us for the denouement tomorrow, unfortunately without Mr Danzer.

***

8:30pm: Final day stacks
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

8:25pm: Hansen busts; down to six
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

That's that for Johnny Hansen, and for Day 3 of the Eureka6 Hamburg Main Event. Hansen open-shoved for 470,000 with [kh][9h] and Marcel Schauenburg found [qd][qh] in the big blind and picked him off. There was nothing for Hansen on the flop, turn or river and that's the end of the day.

We'll have full chip counts and final day profiles with you very shortly.

8:20pm: Hansen in peril as blinds get big
Level 26 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Johnny Hansen is in the danger zone now, with only about seven big blinds, having lost a small pot to Erik Scheidt, but it still representing a good chunk of his stack.

Blinds went up to 25,000-50,000 and Hansen found himself in the small blind. Action folded to him and he completed, with Erik Scheidt checking behind. They saw a flop of [kc][3s][2d] and Hansen bet 55,000. Scheidt called.

The turn was the [8d] and Hansen checked. Scheidt bet 100,000 and Hansen folded. He has about 350,000 left now.

7:55pm: Atmaca four-bet shoves
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Ercan Atmaca opened to 100,000 from the hijack and Erik Scheidt, in the small blind, wanted a count of Atmaca's stack. He happily revealed that he had around 850,000. Scheidt then counted out a three-bet, making it 255,000. Marcel Schauenburg folded his big blind, but then Atmaca shoved.

Scheidt, knowing already how much it was, was able to make a very quick fold.

7:55pm: No recovery for Van Den Wyngaert
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

And that is indeed it for Stephan Van Den Wyngaert. He did manage one double up, through Dinesh Alt, but on the next hand he got his stack of 195,000 in against Marcel Schauenburg, who had opened to 85,000, and Schauenburg's [as][js] won the race against Van Den Wyngaert's pocket fives. Schaunburg flopped two aces. We are down to seven. When one more player is knocked out, we will be done for the night.

7:50pm: Schauenburg leaves Van Den Wyngaert short
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

And that is indeed it for Stephan Van Den Wyngaert. He did manage one double up, through Dinesh Alt, but on the next hand he got his stack of 195,000 in against Marcel Schauenburg, who had opened to 85,000, and Schauenburg's [as][js] won the race against Van Den Wyngaert's pocket fives. Schaunburg flopped two aces. We are down to seven. When one more player is knocked out, we will be done for the night.

7:50pm: Schauenburg leaves Van Den Wyngaert short
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

It seems likely that Stephan Van Den Wyngaert will be putting on his sweater soon and heading into the night as he just lost a massive flip for all but 70,000 of his stack. Marcel Schauenburg was the man to profit, doubling up to around 1 million, when his [ac][kd] hit a king on the board of [2d][js][kc][5c][5h]. Van Den Wyngaert had [8h][8s] and they got it in pre-flop.

7:50pm: Oral passes test
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

The first double-up of the final table has gone in favour of Ismet Oral, who made a bold call for his tournament life with one pair, but was right.

Oral opened from the hijack and Erik Scheidt defended his big blind, taking two players to the flop of [5s][ks][ts]. They both checked. The [2c] came on the turn and Scheidt bet 110,000. Oral called. Then the [8h] came on the river.

Scheidt said that he was all-in, but with the biggest stack in the room, it wasn't really him under threat. Oral had only 460,000 behind and was in danger.

But after double-checking his cards, Oral called and was rewarded when Scheidt turned over [qs][7c]. It meant that Oral's [kc][js] was good. He now has a little less than a million to play with.

7:40pm: Official final table begins
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

After photographs and formalities, the official eight-handed final table is now under way. Erik Scheidt started as he no doubt intends to continue, raising back-to-back hands, making it 80,000 each time, and picking up blinds and antes on each occasion.

7:13pm: Danzer ist kaput
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Well, we can't say that George Danzer hasn't given us good value this week. He won the High Roller, he was chip leader at the end of Day 1 and Day 2. But now, schade, George ist kaput. He got his last chips in good, with [ah][9s] against Dinesh Alt's [7s][6s]. But there was a six on the flop and Alt made the crucial pair to do what so many others have failed to do recently, knock out George Danzer.

This has been a superlative summer again for the Team PokerStars Pro. But that's now the end of that. He gets €6,800 for ninth place.

7pm: Final table counts
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Here's how they line up as the final table now begins:

Seat 1 - Walid Abdi-Ali - 1,530,000
Seat 2 - Stephan Van Den Wyngaert - 655,000
Seat 3 - Ismet Oral - 725,000
Seat 4 - Ercan Atmaca - 895,000
Seat 5 - Dinesh Alt - 1,045,000
Seat 6 - George Danzer - 230,000
Seat 7 - Johnny Hansen - 1,030,000
Seat 8 - Erik Scheidt - 2,360,000
Seat 9 - Marcel Schauenburg - 475,000

6:51pm: Bloch busts in 10th
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Jan Bloch has missed out on back-to-back final tables by the narrowest of margins. He has gone broke in 10th, shoving with pocket fives for his last 400,000 but running into Johnny Hansen's kings. There was no miracle.

We'll have a redraw then a full chip count for the last nine with you very soon.

6:50pm: Still riding the three bullets
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Marcel Schauenburg still has the chance to play on every single day of this tournament as the man who fired three bullets has just doubled up to stay alive.

Dinesh Alt open-shoved his small blind with just Schauenburg, and a stack of 240,000, behind him. Schauenburg glimpsed at his cards and saw [ad][kd], clearly enough to make the call.

Alt had [kh][ts] and was dominated, but actually went ahead on the [5d][7s][tc] flop. But then the [jh] on the turn and [qd] river swung it back in favour of Schauenburg. We're still waiting for the man to go out in tenth that will take us to our final table.

6:35pm: Danzer damaged just before the break
Level 25 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

George Danzer is the tournament short stack now after losing a big hand just before the break. He had pocket eights and flopped a set, but by the time the river was out, Ismet Oral's [ac][td] had made a straight on the board of [9c][8h][5h][6d][7d]. It was a straightforward flip, however, as they got it all in pre-flop, with Danzer just covering Oral.

The Team PokerStars Pro has 110,000 going into Level 25. It's not even three big blinds.

6:20pm: Break
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

The last ten players are going on a break. We'll have their accurate chip-counts soon.

6:05pm: Danzer doubles
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

For the first time in about a week, George Danzer has been in need of a fillip. Sitting next to Erik Scheidt, albeit with position, has been tough for Danzer today. He had slumped to his last 375,000.

But, good news Danzer fans, he has just got a double up through Scheidt. Scheidt set Danzer all-in from the small blind, with his [ks][9s]. Danzer called with [ah][5c] and Danzer's hand stayed best.

Scheidt still has about 2.1 million, but will now at least need to think a bit about Danzer, who has about 800,000 to his left.

5:50pm: "Flips gewinnt!"
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

"Flips gewinnt!" Walid Abdi-Ali said after, let us guess, winning a flip to knock out Andreas Majchrzak. Action folded to Majchrzak in the small blind and he raised to 70,000.

Abdi-Ali, in the big blind, moved all-in, covering Majchrzak, but Majchrzak called for his last 300,000 or so.

Abdi-Ali had the smallest pair of them all. He had [2d][2s]. But the pair stayed good against Majchrzak's [as][7c] and, indeed, made a set when the [2h] came on the river.

5:50pm: Elf!
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

We're down to 11 players as Gisle Olsen just lost a flip against Walid Abdi-Ali for his tournament life. Abdi-Ali opened to 65,000 and Olsen shipped for 267,000. Abdi-Ali called and took his [4h][4c] up against Olsen's [kd][9h].

The [4d] on the flop all but ended it and there was no miracle outdraw from there. Abdi-Ali now has about 1 million.

5:40pm: Forst forced out
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)

There has been a disturbance in the Forst.

Jonn Forst, last season's sixth-placed finisher, is out in 13th this time, open shoving for about 370,000 from the button and getting a call from Ismet Oral in the big blind.

Forst had [kh][5h]. Oral had [as][tc] and the board ran [ac][jh][4h][qs][kd]. Oral had a slightly bigger stack and that was that.

Jan Bloch is now the only person who can go back-to-back final tables in this event.

5:30pm: Schuster shafted
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

This spate of doubling up couldn't last and it's Kai Schuster who has perished in 14th. He open shoved for 313,000 and found a call from Dinesh Alt, who had marginally more.

Schuster: [ks][qd]
Alt: [8s][8d]

There was no excitement on flop, turn or river and Schuster hits the payouts cage. Alt now has more than 650,000 and can finally play some poker after a long grind with a short stack.

5:20pm: Oral doubles through Forst
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Jonn Forst's bid for back-to-back final tables just took a knock. He doubled up Ismet Oral, when Oral three-bet shoved from the big blind after Forst opened to 60,000 from the button.

Oral's shove was for 189,000 and Forst thought about it for quite a while. Eventually he decided that [as][6c] was good enough, but he soon learnt it wasn't. He was up against Oral's [ac][kh] and the board bricked through.

5:15pm: Alt doubles through Atmaca
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Dinesh Alt seemed tempted to shove his last 200,000 into the middle after Erik Scheidt opened to 50,000 from the button and he was in the big blind. But he folded, waiting for a better spot. That apparently came on the next hand, when action folded to Alt in the small blind.

He moved all in and gave Ercan Atmaca a decision for what was determined to be 204,000. Atmaca called.

Atmaca: [ks][3c]
Alt: [qh][8d]

Alt is sticking around thanks to a board of [ac][qd][4s][8h][3s].

5:10pm: Everyone shoving
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Only Erik Scheidt, George Danzer and Ercan Atmaca actually has enough chips to play with any degree of nuance here, leaving all the others to shove or fold. In the former category, all of Kai Schuster, Marcel Schauenburg and Gisle Arne Olsen all pushed in the past five minutes, but none of them got any callers. Olsen, however, made an additional 50,000 as his was a three-bet shove after Walid Abdi-Ali had opened.

5pm: Gorschewsky falls to Atmaca
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Robert Gorschewsky is out. He open-shoved for 260,000 and picked up two callers: George Danzer, on the button, and Ercan Atmaca, in the big blind.

There was betting on the side as the [qh][5d][7s] came on the flop, but both active players checked. The [th] came on the turn and Atmaca pushed out a bet. Danzer instantly folded, leaving Gorschewsky in dire straits with his [ad][5c] against Atmaca's [tc][td].

In fact, he was drawing dead and the [qd] on the river was irrelevant.

Gorschewsky takes €4,310 for 15th. Atmaca has 1.2 million in his bid for the €70,000 winner's cheque.

4:50pm: Oral close to gobbled by Scheidt
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Erik Scheidt is now up to 2.9 million, which is close to ten times the amount of his latest adversary, Ismet Oral. This was a blind-against-blind confrontation that proved costly for Oral.

Oral completed from the small blind and then called when Scheidt raised, adding another 65,000. They saw the [ad][ah][8c] fall on the flop and Oral checked.

Scheidt bet 51,000 and Oral called, then the [9d] came on the turn. Oral check-called Scheidt's bet of 85,000. And he check-called the [5s] river as well when Shceidt bet 150,000.

Scheidt tabled [ac][jc] and Oral mucked.

4:45pm: Insta-shove from Abdi-Ali
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Walid Abdi-Ali said a moment ago that he hadn't been all-in at any time during this tournament so far. That may have been true, but he's just been all-in again.

He opened from the cutoff to 55,000 and Jan Bloch three-bet the small blind, making it 105,000. Johnny Hansen folded the big blind and no sooner were his cards in the muck than Abdi-Ali asked for the red triangle.

Bloch needed about 30 seconds before he let his hand go.

4:40pm: Double for Van den Wyngaert
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Stephan Van den Wyngaert has just survived another all-in situation, this time getting [ad][ks] to hold up against Walid Abdi-Ali's [kd][td]. Abdi-Ali opened from early position and Van den Wyngaert shoved for 169,000 from the big blind. Abdi-Ali called and the board ran [7c][7d][4s][9s][4d].

Abdi-Ali said that was the first time he had been involved in an all-in all tournament.

4:30pm: Yan out in 16th
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

David Yan's tournament is over. As good as his day was yesterday, it was bad today and he couldn't get anything to hold up. Case in point: his elimination hand.

Jan Bloch open-shoved from the small blind with [9s][8c] and Yan found [ac][kh] in the big blind, which was plenty good enough to call all-in for his last 310,000.

Bloch had equity, and he hit the [8d] on the turn. That was the decisive card.

With Yan's elimination we now know that the Eureka Hamburg champion will be from Europe. You'd think that would be obvious, but neither the champion from Rozvadov (Ivan Luca - Argentina) nor Bucharest (Avishai Shitrit - Israel) was.

4:30pm: Shoving
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Both David Yan and Kai Schuster have about 270,000 and both open-shoved from under the gun on their respective tables. Both got folds all the way round.

4:25pm: Stacks
Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (3,000 ante)

Here are the stacks as Level 23 begins:

4:10pm: Chip leaders clash
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Erik Scheidt and George Danzer are the two biggest stacks in the tournament and although they will probably be keen not to clash, they will of course play hands against each other as the situation demands.

Just as the clock ran into the first break of the day, such a moment arose. Scheidt raised to 45,000 from the cutoff and Danzer three-bet his small blind, making it 160,000 to play. They both checked the [ad][kc][jc] flop but then Danzer bet 140,000 at the [2d] turn. Scheidt called.

The [8s] came on the river and after some silent jousting (ie, two players sitting motionless and saying nothing) they both checked.

Danzer showed [3h][3s] and Scheidt tabled his [td][tc]. "Nice call," Danzer said as the pot was pushed to Scheidt.

We'll have full chip counts for the remaining 16 players shortly as they head off for a 15-minute break.

3:50pm: Some oddness
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

There are two tables in play, and here's a weird hand on each of them. They played out simultaneously, to add to the weirdness.

The first started with a raise to 50,000 under the gun from Stephan Van den Wyngaert. Andreas Majchrzak three-bet to 115,000 from a stack of 390,000.

Action folded to Johnny Hansen in the small blind and he seemed very interested indeed. He pondered his options, asked for all the relevant stack sizes, but then folded.

Van den Wyngaert then started some agonising of his own, but opted to call. He then checked in the dark and buried his head into his arms on the table, as if not wanting to see the flop at all.

The rest of us looked at the [5d][6h][8s]. Van den Wyngaert had already checked, so Majchrzak said that he was all in. Van den Wyngaert woke up and folded instantly.

On the other table, Kai Schuster opened to 45,000 under the gun and George Danzer called in the cutoff. Jonn Forst also called in the big blind and that took three players to a flop of [td][5c][7d].

Forst led. He pushed 55,000 into the middle. Schuster folded, but Danzer called. Both remaining players checked the [5s] turn and then the [5d] came on the river.

Forst bet 85,000 and Danzer considered his options. He took a moment, but then called. Forst mucked without showing, allowing Danzer to slide his winning hand back to the dealer face down as well.

3:30pm: Redraw
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Here's how the last 16 line up. We'll have chip counts at the break, but it looks like Erik Scheidy (1.7 million) and George Danzer (1.3 million) have clear air at the top of the charts at the moment, especially as David Yan just lost another chunk, doubling up Johnny Hansen.

3pm: Count them: five called all-ins, one elimination
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

An absolutely mad few minutes here in Hamburg, with at least five called all-ins in a matter of minutes, but only one elimination. That takes them down to the last 16, a redraw, an a moment to catch up with the flurry.

First up, Jonn Forst open-shoved his button and Kai Schuster, with 255,000 in his stack, called from the big blind. "Oops," Forst said, and showed his [jc][9h], which was dominated and did not catch up against Schuster's [ac][js]. The board bricked.

It left Forst with 140,000 and he open-shoved on the next hand from the cutoff. Schuster, who was still assembling his chips from the previous hand, said that he would call, but then David Yan, in the big blind, wanted to know how much Schuster was playing before he made his move.

Yan re-shoved, covering Schuster, and Schuster folded. That meant it was Yan's [js][ts] against Forst's [kc][3c] and the king ended up decisive on the board of [4h][9c][9h][5d][7d].

That was all the action on that table, but it was all going on elsewhere too. Dinesh Alt shoved his stack of 133,000 from the button and Robert Gorschewsky called from the big blind. This was standard: Alt had [ks][6c] and Gorschewsky's [ad][qd] was looking good to knock out Alt.

The flop of [7d][7s][jc] was safe. So was the [4c] on the turn. But the [kd] river earned Alt the double.

On the very next hand, Gorschewsky got what was now a short stack in with [jh][jc] and found a call from Ercan Atmaca and his [ac][6h]. Gorschewsky probably feared the worst when the [as] was in the window of the flop, but there was also the [ks] and the [jd]. Then the turn [3c] and the [ts] river kept him ahead.

So, those were the four double-up hands, but there was an elimination going on on George Danzer's table.

The one started with Danzer opening to 45,000 from early position and picking up calls from both players in the blinds: Erik Scheidt and Andre Haneberg. Those two checked the [qh][3s][4s] flop, prompting a bet of 60,000 from Danzer.

Scheidt called but Haneberg moved all-in, for 267,000. Danzer called, Scheidt folded, and the two hands went on their backs:

Danzer: [kd][qc]
Haneberg: [ks][2s]

Danzer doesn't lose in spots like this. And sure enough the [7c] turn and [td] river were good only for him. Haneberg, second in chips at the start of the day, is out in 17th.

3pm: Two out from Table Danzer
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Seung Hyun Kang was knocked out in 20th a little while ago, when he limped with pocket tens and then called Ismet Oral's bet to 47,000. Kang must have loved the ten on the flop, sandwiched between two queens, and checked. But he bet the eight on the turn, and Oral called. The river, though, was his killer. It was a third queen and little did he know, Oral was sitting with pocket kings, which now counterfeited Kang's flopped boat.

They got it all in there and Oral took it down.

Not long later, the short-stacked Frank Debus shoved his small blind with [qs][2d]. His 130,000 represented an easy call for George Danzer in the big blind, who had [as][td]. There was a ten on the flop and that was the end of it for Debus.

The tournament clock has just ticked into Level 22, where blinds are now 10,000-20,000 (ante 3,000).

2:50pm: Hansen's double raid on Saric sends Serbian home
Level 22 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Miomir Saric is on his way back to Serbia after losing back-to-back pots to Johnny Hansen. The first accounted for all but 71,000 of his chips. The next got the rest.

They were in the blinds for the first of these encounters with Saric open shoving the small blind with [kd][3c]. The short-stacked Hansen opted to call all-in with his [ac][5h] and the ace played on the board of [jc][6c][9d][2c][6s].

On the very next hand, action folded to Saric on the button and, with 71,000 now, which was four big blinds, he pushed again. Hansen did some calculations then re-shoved to isolate, persuading Jan Bloch to fold his big blind reluctantly.

Bloch was unhappy when he saw the hands. Saric had [ts][2s] and Hansen [kd][5c] and this time the king played when the board ran [7d][3s][jc][qs][4h].

2:40pm: Double for Majchrzak
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Andreas Majchrzak is the latest player to double up, getting very fortunate in a blind-versus-blind coup against Robert Gorschewsky.

Ercan Atmaca poked the hornets nest with a raise to 35,000 from the hijack, and Gorschewsky shoved from the button. Majchrzak found [ad][qc] and decided to call all-in for his last 181,000 and Atmaca left them to it.

Gorschewsky was a significant favourite with his [as][ks] but the flop fell [3s][qd][6d] and the turn of [tc] and river of [7s] kept Majchrzak alive.

2:30pm: Double for Van Den Wyngaert
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

The last Belgian player in the field, Stephan Van Den Wyngaert, has just earned the latest double up in this tournament, finding [ad][ks] in the big blind after Jan Bloch shoved the button, with [4s][4h]. The [as] came on the flop and Bloch didn't catch up after that.

Van den Wyngaert's shove was for 178,000 and so he has the better side of 350,000 to play with now.

Action on each of the tables is pretty brisk, with a lot of opens from the big stacks, followed by shoves by the small/mediums, which have usually earned folds. If it continues like this, we could easily see a quick rash of eliminations.

2:10pm: Action on Table 1
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Robert Gorschewsky has now arrived, but maybe he will have preferred another few minutes in bed. He lost a big pot, doubling up the dangerous Dinesh Alt in the process.

Alt shoved from the small blind--he was the overnight short stack, with 118,000--and Gorschewsky called from the big. Alt's jack-ten was behind the ace-six of Gorschewsky, but by the time the board was all the way to the river, Alt had quad tens. That's good for a double.

Only a couple of hands later, there was another big hand on Table 1, this time ending the participation of Edgaras Kancaitis. In this hand, Ercan Atmaca opened to 35,000 and Kancaitis shoved for about 120,000 from the small blind.

Atmaca called with his [js][ts] which was behind Kancaitis's [as][qh]. But a flop of [kc][9d][qc] soon swung it in Atmaca's favour, and the [2s] turn and [4s] river didn't change much.

Jack-ten appears to be unbeatable on that table at the moment.

2:10pm: Man down
Level 21 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Nikolas Menke is our first elimination today. He shoved from the button for 114,000 after Marcel Schauenburg opened to 35,000 from the cutoff. Schauenburg called and was ahead with [th][tc] against Menke's [8s][6s].

The board brought little for the under-cards. It ran [2c][ah][6h][ks][2d] and that was that for Menke. Schauenberg is up and running.