9.30pm: Sergey Baranov eliminated in ninth place (€16,800)
Day 3 has come to an end and it's Sergey Baranov who's bubbled the official final table. There was a raise to 150,000 from Jaroslav Peter, then from the big blind Baranov moved all-in for around 450,000 with [10h][9d], back on Peter he made the call with pocket threes and the pair held on the [Ad][Ah][As][2c][8s] board.
The final eight will return at 12.30 as we play down to a winner. Someone is going to take home €226,400 whilst they're all guaranteed €21,700. A full wrap of the days play is on the way.
9.15pm: Dalimore wins a strange one
A very curious hand just played out and it was all to do with Vanessa Selbst, who's not even in this tournament.
She'd just made the final table of the €5,000 pot-limit Omaha event and as they were on a brief break she wandered over to talk to Stephen Chidwick. He was the small blind but because he wasn't paying 100% attention to the hand as the dealer dealt the cards he took one of Milan Simko's - he was on the button - so he had three cards and Simko, at this stage none! The floor was called and both Chidwick's and Simko's hands were ruled dead.
Play continued and Dmitri Holdeew raised to 125,000 from the hijack, Mark Dalimore was in the big blind and he meant to call but put out too much and it was ruled he'd have to min-raise. This hand was getting weirder! Back on Holdeew he made the call and they took a [3c][9h][3h] flop. I'm not sure if anyone knew who the pre-flop raiser was in this instance but first to act Dalimore led for 195,000 and Holdeew passed.
As he took the pot Dalimore showed [5d][2h].
9pm: All quiet
Not a lot to report from the opening few hands of nine handed play. It's mostly been simple raise and takes by the big stacks, with Ami Barer winning two pots and Stephen Chidwick winning one. Milan Simko was all-in on one occasion but despite Marcin Horecki looking interested for a while, everyone passed.
8.40pm: Final nine time
There was a longer delay than expected but the final nine are now in their seats and cards are back in the air. The button was drawn to seat one and this is how the final nine line-up. There will be no re-draw tomorrow for the final eight.
Jaroslav Peter, Czech Republic, 3,550,000
Marcin Horecki, Poland, Team PokerStars Pro, 1,900,000
Johannes Tiefenbrunner, Germany, 1,225,000
Sergey Baranov, Russia, 900,000
Dmitri Holdeew, Germany, PokerStars player, 4,575,000
Ami Barer, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 5,500,000
Milan Simko, Czech Republic, PokerStars qualifier, 1,000,000
Stephen Chidwick, UK, PokerStars player, 4,200,000
Mark Dalimore, UK, PokerStars player, 1,750,000
8.20pm: Joshua Hunt out in tenth (€14,000); Baranov survives at the same time
Two all-in at the same hand on different tables and we almost had a final table, as it is we're down to nine and the unofficial final table.
On table 2 Joshua Hunt had three-bet all-in for 1,200,000 with [Kd][qd] and Stephen Chidwick, who was the original raiser called, as you do, with [as][ac]. The [6s][7d][Jd] flop opened up the possibility of an outdraw but the [js] and [9c] completed the board.
In a hand that began before that one but finished after it, Sergey Baranov shoved for 430,000 from the small blind with [5h][4s] and after tanking for at least two minutes Jaroslav Peter made the call with [qd][6s]. The [7h][ks][5c][5d][qh] board gave Baranov the win and he did a fist pump as he sealed the pot.
There's now a short delay whilst they combine to an unofficial final table of nine, with one more exit the official final table will be set.
8.15pm: Starter for ten
Play is back underway, below you can see the chips in chip order and below is how the two tables line-up in seat order
Table 1:
Ami Barer, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 5,500,000
Sergey Baranov, Russia, 475,000
Peter Jaroslav, Czech Republic, 3,950,000
Marcin Horecki, Poland, Team PokerStars Pro, 1,900,000
Dmitri Holdeew, Germany, PokerStars player, 4,575,000
Table 2
Joshua Hunt, UK, 1,200,000
Mark Dalimore, UK, PokerStars player, 1,750,000
Johannes Tiefenbrunner, Germany, 1,225,000
Stephen Chidwick, UK, PokerStars player, 3,000,000
Milan Simko, Czech Republic, PokerStars qualifier, 1,000,000
Blinds up: 30,000/60,000, ante 10,000
7.05pm: Dinner break
That's the end of level 26 and the players are now on a 75 minute dinner break. This is how they stack up as they head off for some nosh.
Ami Barer, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 5,500,000
Dmitri Holdeew, Germany, PokerStars player, 4,575,000
Peter Jaroslav, Czech Republic, 3,950,000
Stephen Chidwick, UK, PokerStars player, 3,000,000
Marcin Horecki, Poland, Team PokerStars Pro, 1,900,000
Mark Dalimore, UK, PokerStars player, 1,750,000
Johannes Tiefenbrunner, Germany, 1,225,000
Joshua Hunt, UK, 1,200,000
Milan Simko, Czech Republic, PokerStars qualifier, 1,000,000
Sergey Baranov, Russia, 475,000
6.50pm: Chris Moorman eliminated in 12th place (€12,550); Aleksandr Kraizer
out in 11th (€14,000)
Chris Moorman has just been eliminated and his chips have gone to Stephen Chidwick. I missed the exact pre-flop action but Moorman raised from under-the-gun with [kh][6h] and Chidwick called from the big blind with [As][5c].
The [5h][Ac][Qh] flop therefore hit both hands pretty hard and both players committed their chips, it was a roughly 3M chip pot and Moorman had Chidwick covered by just one big blind.
The turn and river were the [8c] and [Qc] and Moorman was out soon after whilst Chidwick has 3M. Since then Aleksandr Krazier has also been eliminated and just 10 players remain.
6.35pm: Lasell King eliminated in 14th place (€11,200); Idan Raviv out in 13th (€12,550)
No details on the Lasell King exit other than it was Ami Barer who eliminated him. The Canadian is up to 6,000,000 and the chip leader.
I caught the Raviv exit first hand though and it was a sickener. He opened to 105,000 from mid position, Dmitri Holdeew three-bet to 235,000 from the button and it folded back to Raviv. He counted out a 4-bet and made it 385,000 to play with roughly 725,000 back. After thinking for about 20 seconds Holdeew moved all-in and Raviv snap called.
Raviv: [Ac][Ah]
Holdeew: [As][Kh]
The [7d][kc][4s] flop gave Holdeew hope, the [2d] turn all but killed it, but the [Kd] hit the river, Holdeew was stoic, but Aleksandr Kraizer shot out of his seat when he saw the river. As for Raviv he sat still momentarily stunned, but then took his headphones off before leaving the table. After that hand Holdeew is up to 3,800,000.
6.15pm: Alexander Reard eliminated in 15th place (€11,200)
No details I'm afraid but the Frenchman was the first player to lock up a five figure cash. 14 left.
6pm: Floor!
A rare occurrence just now on table two, one which required the floors assistance.
There was a raise to 110,000 from Dmitri Holdeew and then from the one seat Aleksandr Kraizer moved all-in for around 1,000,000. Seats two and three then folded, but as the dealer took their cards one of Krazier's cards touched the muck and he quickly pulled it back. The dealer though couldn't be sure that Krazier had the correct cards and the floor was called.
Krazier offered to whisper his cards to the tournament director but he decided the best plan was to go and find Teresa Nousiainen who had overall responsibility for running the tournament. The clock was then paused and action on the other table halted, however before Nousiainen could return both the blinds and Holdeew, who showed pocket sixes, decided to fold. Krazier said, " I had ace-king," and then flipped the two cards in front of his stack, revealing an ace and a king.
Blinds up: 25,000/50,000, ante 5,000
5.40pm: Martin Mulsow eliminated in 16th place (€9,900)
EPT side event winner Martin Mulsow has just been eliminated in 16th place and it was Team PokerStars Pro Marcin Horecki who took his scalp.
There was an open to 85,000 from the cut-off by Idan Raviv, Horecki flat called on the button and Mulsow then moved in for an additional 565,000 from the big blind. Back on Raviv he soon passed, but Horecki got a count before making the call.
Mulsow: [Jc][10c]
Horecki: [4h][4c]
The flop fell [9c][5d][3d] Mulsow who is almost permanently smiling when at the poker table, cocked his head in a way that suggested, "could've been better, could've been worse,' the turn was the [3c] and suddenly Mulsow had a flush draw to go with his overcards. He arched his eyebrows as the dealer delivered the [5s] river card. Sweat over he tapped the table and wished the table good luck before he was on his way.
Horecki meanwhile is now up to 3,300,000. "Finally winning flips," he smiled!
5.20pm: Final two tables
In the opening 15 minutes of the level we lost Zoltan Gal (19th), Houssein Zbib (18th) and Krzysztof Stuchlik (17th) and there was then a complete re-draw to two tables. Here's how the final two table shape up:
Table 1:
Joshua Hunt, UK, 760,000
Mark Dalimore, UK, PokerStars player, 1,540,000
Johannes Tiefenbrunner, Germany, 3,525,000
Alexander Reard, France, 380,000
Peter Jaroslav, Czech Republic, 2,000,000
Stephen Chidwick, UK, PokerStars player, 920,000
Chris Moorman, UK, PokerStars player, 1,550,000
Milan Simko, Czech Republic, PokerStars qualifier, 550,000
Table 2
Aleksandr Kraizer, Russia, 1,100,000
Ami Barer, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 2,300,000
Sergey Baranov, Russia, 1,470,000
Lasell King, Germany, PokerStars qualifier, 1,550,000
Idan Raviv, Israel , 1,975,000
Marcin Horecki, Poland, Team PokerStars Pro, 2,250,000
Dmitri Holdeew, Germany, PokerStars player, 2,300,000
Martin Mulsow, Germany, PokerStars qualifier, 755,000
5.05pm: In the money on Day 3
A total of 43 players returned on Day 3 and over half of them have already been eliminated. They all made the money though of course, below is who's won what so far today.
20th. Thomas Layher, Germany, €8,600
21st. Georgii Bandura, Russia, €7,350
22nd.Billey Demirtas, Germany, €7,350
23rd. Mindaugas Simkus Lithuania PokerStars qualifier, €7,350
24th. Malte Monnig Germany PokerStars qualifier, €6,100
25th. Asaf Levi, Israel, €6,100
26th. Simon Bleckman, Germany, PokerStars qualifier, €6,100
27th. Kevin MacPhee, USA, PokerStars qualifier, €6,100
28th. Mattias De Meulder, Belguim, Team PokerStars Pro, €5,250
29th. Jakub Michalak, Poland, PokerStars player, €5,250
30th. Adi Alkalay, Israel, PokerStars player, €5,250
31st. Udo Erlei, Germany, €5,250
32. Billy Chattaway, United Kingdom, €4,550
33rd. Ivan Skorospelkin, Russia, Live satellite qualifier, €4,550
34th. Ruben Gonzalez, Spain PokerStars qualifier, €4,550
35th. Igor Kasyanov, Russia, PokerStars qualifier, €4,550
36th. Martin Dahle, Norway, €4,550
37th. Mario Puccini, Germany, PokerStars qualifier, €4,550
38th. Florian Calin, Romania, €4,550
39th. Cemil Doganyilmaz, Turkey, €4,550
40th. Erik Soderholm, Sweden, PokerStars player, €3,850
41st. Alexander Beresnev, Russia, Live satellite qualifier, €3,850
42nd. David Lappin, Ireland, PokerStars qualifier, €3,850
43rd. Henri Kasper, Estonia, €3,850
4.47pm: Chip counts
Just 19 of the 1,315 entrants in the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event remain. Leading the way is Johannes Tiefenbrunner. The German has 3,525,000 and is the only player of the remaining 19 who has at least the average stack for the final table. In short then this is still anyone's tournament. Indeed at the last break Dmitri Holdeew and Peter Jaroslav were two of the three shortest stacks and now they're in the top five. Poker, it's a funny old game.
Johannes Tiefenbrunner, Germany, 3,525,000
Dmitri Holdeew, Germany, PokerStars player, 2,300,000
Marcin Horecki, Poland, Team PokerStars Pro, 2,250,000
Peter Jaroslav, Czech Republic, 2,000,000
Idan Raviv, Israel , 1,975,000
Lasell King, Germany, PokerStars qualifier, 1,550,000
Chris Moorman, UK, PokerStars player, 1,550,000
Mark Dalimore, UK, PokerStars player, 1,540,000
Ami Barer, Canada, PokerStars qualifier, 1,490,000
Sergey Baranov, Russia, 1,470,000
Aleksandr Kraizer, Russia, 1,100,000
Stephen Chidwick, UK, PokerStars player, 920,000
Joshua Hunt, UK, 760,000
Martin Mulsow, Germany, PokerStars qualifier, 755,000
Krzysztof Stuchlik, Poland, 740,000
Zoltan Gal, Hungary, PokerStars qualifier, 655,000
Milan Simko, Czech Republic, PokerStars qualifier, 550,000
Houssein Zbib, Lebanon, 480,000
Alexander Reard, France, 380,000
All photos are copyright of Tomas Stacha