4.05pm: On a break
The six remaining players are now on a 15 minute break, you'll find level 27 updates in a new post.
3.55pm: Vukovic takes one from Klosinski
After a period where nothing happened (just pre-flop raise and takes) a big pot just played out between Robert Vukovic and Mariusz Klosinski.
Pre-flop Klosinski made it 80,000 to go from under-the-gun+1 and Vukovic called from the big blind. On the [10d][2c][5d] Klosinski c-bet 115,000, Vukovic check-raised to 240,000 and Klosinski made the call.
The [Kh] turn was checked through and the [10s] hit the river, first to act, Vukovic slid out a bet of 255,000 and after tanking for around four minutes, Klosinski folded.
3.35pm: Chip counts
These are rough chip counts done using my eyes, so obviously room for some human error, but it appears Bernd Vogelhuber is back in the lead, although it's close between the top three.
2.Mariusz Klosinski, Poland, 900,000
4.Matias Knaapinen, Finland, 2,175,000
5. Ioannis Triantafyllakis, Greece, PokerStars Qualifier, 600,000
6.Menikos Panagiotou, Cyprus, PokerStars Player, 2,100,000
7.Robert Vukovic, Croatia, PokerStars Player, 1,300,000
8.Bernd Vogelhuber, Germany, 2,500,000
3.30pm: Big pot for Klosinski
I reached the table to see a complete board of [Qc][8s][Qd][9c][Ah] on the felt, there was around 500,000 in the pot and Mariusz Klosinski had just moved all-in for a shade over 300,000.
The action was on Robert Vukovic and he tanked before folding his hand.
On the next hand Ioannis Triantafyllakis moved all-in and got no takers. Still six handed for now.
3.15pm: Bogdan Ionescu eliminated in seventh place (€15,800)
From under-the-gun Bogdan Ionescu moved all-in for 411,000 and after getting a count Menikos Panagiotou made the call.
Ionescu: [5h][5d]
Panagiotu: [8d][8c]
The board ran [2s][4s][Ac][Ah][Ks] and the snowmen held up to eliminate Ionescu in seventh place.
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 20.000-40,000 ante 4,000
3pm: The last few hands
Not much has happened in the last 20 minutes, here's what happened in the last few hands...
- Ioannis Triantafyllakis raised to 60,000 on the button but folded when Robert Vukovic three-bet 130,000.
- Matias Knaapinen made it 60,000 from mid-position and Bernd Vogelhuber flat called from the big blind. On the [4s][6c][8c] flop Knaapinen c-bet 60,000 and took the pot down.
- It passed to Mariusz Klosinski in the small blind and he moved all-in for an effective 300,000 and Bogdan Ionescu folded. The Romanian is the shortest stack and now has just 10 big blinds.
2.40pm: Big pot for Vogelhuber
I think Bernd Vogelhuber has regained the chip lead as he just won a chunky pot against Robert Vukovic.
I joined the table to see Vukovic (small blind) calling a pre-flop raise of 256,000 from Vogelhuber (big blind), my best guess is that it was opened by another player, Vukovic three-bet from the small blind, Vogelhuber four-bet and Vukovic called, either way they both put in 256,000 pre-flop.
The flop fell [2c][10s][Qc], bet of 181,000 from Vogelhuber, call from Vukovic. The [10c] fell on the turn and both players checked to see the [7d] complete the board. It was checked to Vogelhuber again, he bet 225,000 and after a brief think Vukovic called, but he mucked when Vogelhuber showed [Ad][Qd].
After that hand Vogelhuber is up to 2,450,000 whilst Vukovic slips to 1,400,000.
2.25pm: Slow start to the level
There's been little or no action in the opening 20 minutes of this level, just a few raise and takes and very few flops. Ioannis Triantafyllakis did move all-in on one hand, but got no takers. It's as we were then.
2.05pm: Chip counts
During the break tournament staff did chip counts of the remaining players, Matias Knaapinen has a slender lead from Robert Vukovic.
2.Mariusz Klosinski, Poland, 703,000
3.Bogdan Ionescu, Romania, 505,000
4.Matias Knaapinen, Finland, 2,322,000
5. Ioannis Triantafyllakis, Greece, PokerStars Qualifier, 654,000
6.Menikos Panagiotou, Cyprus, PokerStars Player, 1,336,000
7.Robert Vukovic, Croatia, PokerStars Player, 2,295,000
8.Bernd Vogelhuber, Germany, 1,935,000
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 15,000-30,000 ante 3,000
1.50pm: Break time
That's the end of level 24, players are now on a 15 minute break.
1.45pm: Marcel Buissink eliminated in eighth place (€11,900)
Huge pot and the first elimination of the final table.
Yet again Matias Knaapinen opened to 50,000 from early position, Marcel Buissink three-bet to 126,000 on the button, Knaapinen then moved all-in and Buissink called all-in for around 1,125,000.
Knaapinen: [Ad][Ac]
Buissink: [As][Kc]
The board ran out [8s][5s][4d][Jh][Qh] and Buissink becomes the first casualty of the final table, whilst Knappinen is now the chip leader with around 2,300,000.
1.35pm: A pot for Panagiotou
There's a bit of a rivalry developing between Matias Knaapinen and Menikos Panagiotou the two of them just clashed in another pot.
From under-the-gun Knaapinen raised to 50,000 and Panagiotou called from mid-position, everyone else got out the way.
The [8c][7c][4h] flop was checked through and the [5d] fell on the turn. This prompted a bet of 75,000 from Knaapinen, call from Panagiotou. The [Ad] completed the board, both players checked, Knaapinen showed pocket nines, but Panagiotou revealed [Ah][Qc] for the river outdraw.
1.25pm: Vukovic takes the chip lead
Through virtue of winning a few small pots Robert Vukovic now has the chip lead. He's up to 2,250,000 whilst Bernd Vogelhuber is in second with 2,025,000.
1.10pm: Aggression factor = high
There's lots of three-betting going on at this table, two recent examples for you...
Hand one: Matias Knaapinen opened to 50,000 from under-the-gun+1, Menikos Panagiotou then three-bet to 115,000 from the hi-jack. Next to act Robert Vukovic got an eyes on chip count of Panagiotou's stack and then four-bet to 225,000. Both Knaapinen and Panagiotou folded.
Hand two: The very next hand Knaapinen again raised to 50,000 and Panagiotou three-bet again, although to 110,000 this time. On the button Marcel Buissink smooth called and Knaapinen did likewise.
On the [4c][3c][8s] flop it checked to Buissink, he bet 125,000 and Knaapinen was the only caller. Both players checked the [Ad] turn and [6s] river and at showdown both showed pocket jacks to split the pot.
1pm: All-in action
We've just had the first all-in of the final table...
From the button Matias Knaapinen raised to 50,000 and after a brief think Ioannis Triantafyllakis moved all-in from the small blind for 483,000 total.
After getting a count Knaapinen went into the tank, although you sensed the lack of a snap call meant he was leaning towards a fold. And after a couple of minutes he did indeed muck his hand.
The Finn has been getting beaten up a little bit in the early stages as he also lost a pot to Robert Vukovic.
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 12,000-24,000 ante 3,000
12.45pm: First hand to Vogelhuber
Chip leader Bernd Vogelhuber just extended his lead by winning a nice pot on the first hand, a hand that took almost 10 minutes to play.
From under-the-gun+1 Mariusz Klosinski opened to 40,000, Matias Knaapinen three-bet to 95,000 from middle position, Bernd Vogelhuber flat called from the big blind and Klosinski also smooth called.
The three of them saw a [10c][Ah][5c] flop, it checked to Knaapinen, he bet 115,000, Vogelhuber called and Klosinski went into the tank. He capped his cards with six yellow 5,000 chips and steepled his hands. After a couple of minutes he folded.
The [4s] fell on the turn, quick check from Vogelhuber, dwell then a check behind from Knaapinen. The [4d] completed the board, again Vogelhuber swiftly checked and after around 20 seconds Knaapinen checked and rolled over pocket jacks. But, Vogelhuber revealed the sneakily played [5d][5s] and he took the pot with a full house.
12.35pm: Introductions almost over
There was a bit of a delay whilst there was an introduction to EPT Prague, but the players have just been introduced and have taken their seats. The button is in seat six, there's 14 minutes left at the current level.
Cards are now in the air.
12.15pm: Money money money
A reminder of what's up for grabs today at the final table.
1st. €140,000
2nd. €91,700
3rd. €55,400
4th. €42,800
5th. €31,700
6th. €22,100
7th. €15,800
8th. €11,900
12.05pm: Final table set to start
Welcome to the final table of the record breaking Eureka Prague main event. Over four days a field of 652 has been whittled down to the final eight. And fittingly for an event of this size, it's been moved into the same room as EPT Prague, which starts today.
The final table is set up in the centre of the room and from the stage I can see that the players are taking their seats and getting ready to start. Chip leader is Bernd Vogelhuber, the German has just over two million to start, so more than 100 big blinds. But even the shortest stack has over 40 big blinds, so expect there to be plenty of play at the final table.
Eureka Prague Final Table
1.Marcel Buissink, Netherlands, PokerStars Qualifier, 1,064,000
2.Mariusz Klosinski, Poland, 891,000
3.Bogdan Ionescu, Romania, 435,000
4.Matias Knaapinen, Finland, 1,470,000
5. Ioannis Triantafyllakis, Greece, PokerStars Qualifier, 527,000
6.Menikos Panagiotou, Cyprus, PokerStars Player, 1,482,000
7.Robert Vukovic, Croatia, PokerStars Player, 1,857,000
8.Bernd Vogelhuber, Germany, 2,028,000
We're all set to start here in Prague, tournament director Teresa Nousiainen is just doing a brief introduction.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Prague: Nick Wright. Photos by Tomas Stacha.