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Can Spin & Go become Spin & Win for Asan Umarov?
We are all the way down to six players within the €5,300 main event of the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT12 Grand Final, and tradition demands at this point that I inform you the name of the chip leader.
But, frankly, to hell with tradition because there is a bigger story within the offing.
Asan Umarov, a hitherto unheralded player from Amaty, Kazakhstan, is writing himself into the record books. Not just is he the primary player from the rustic to make the overall table at the European Poker Tour, but Umarov heads into the general day at the ultimate spin-up.
He was one in all a clutch of players to book their trip to Monaco via a Spin & Go satellite on PokerStars. He paid $10 and needed to beat a field of 3 players to get here. Few others can possibly match that for ease of passage.
And now, with six players left, he's guaranteed a payday of no less than €170,950. He may yet finally end up an EPT Grand Final champion, with all but half a dozen of the 1,098-player field vanquished.
Join the Spin & Go party at PokerStars. Click here to get an account.To go the entire way, he'll want a bit more luck tomorrow, where he'll arise against the next players, sitting with the next stacks. The leader, as you'll be able to see, is Adrien Allain from France, leading his countryman by the narrowest of margins.
Final table line-up:
Seat 1 - Jimmy Guerrero, France, 11,480,000Seat 2 - Pierre Calamuso, France, 2,235,000Seat 3 - Adrien Allain, France, 11,815,000Seat 4 - Oren Rosen, Israel, 2,315,000Seat 5 - Jan Bendik, Slovakia, 2,625,000Seat 6 - Asan Umarov, Kazakhstan, 2,235,000
Adrien Allain: Rocket-man
It's a gorgeous unfamiliar line up there, we need to agree, Bendik apart. He's a former EPT Player of the Year, and is at his third main event final table. Antoine Saout, a former November Niner, went out in seventh.
It's also a French-heavy final, that's great for our hosts, especially as that is officially a stop at the France Poker Series.
Plenty of top names fell by the wayside today as we cut an overnight field of 28 right down to that final six. Vanessa Selbst, Kyle Frey, Benjamin Pollak, Ariel Celestino, Joao Vieira and Dario Sammartino all hit the rail.
Check out the payouts page to peer where all of them finished, and scroll throughout the blow-by-blow action below to look the way it all panned out.
The €25,000 high roller plays on, so join Nick Wright and Jack Stanton over there. (Where? There. Or here. But not here.)
We'll be back tomorrow to crown a champion. Coverage will start in synch with EPT Live from 2pm.
FULL ACTION ARCHIVE FROM DAY 5:
1am: No opt for the November NinerLevel 30 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Antoine Saout has become our last man out tonight, jamming with 5♠5♥ for 1.525 million and slamming into Adrien Allain's J♠J♥. Allaine opened to 250,000 from the button and Saout, with a micro-stack, had little choice within the small blind.
There was nothing to assist him on flop, turn or river and Saout's departure ends our day. A WHOLE wrap, with full chip stacks, is imminent. -- HS
12:49am: Cooler within the blinds costs CalamusaLevel 30 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Pierre Calamusa lost more chips to neighbour Adrien Allain in a cooler within the blinds.
He limped in with A♥7♦ and Allain checked his option within the big blind with 4♥3♥. The flop came 5♣7♥2♥ and Calamusa led for 125,000. Call. The A♦ tunr was gin for Allain and he raised to 800,000 after facing a 300,000 bet. Calamusa called after which snap check-called 1.5 million at the K♦ river. Allain showed him the bad news and he mucked and dropped to 2.7million. Allain rocketed to 9.5 million. --MC
12:40am: Guerrero damages Umarov's dreamLevel 30 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Asan Umarov's Spin & Go dream continues to be alive, but he has just learnt a valuable lesson concerning the cruelty of high-stakes, high-pressure poker, losing an enormous pot to Jimmy Guerrero.
The chip leading Guerrero opened to 235,000 from under the gun with 8♠7♠. It is the more or less thing you are able to do with a hand like that after you might have 10 million plus.
Umarov, with about 3.8 million, called within the big blind with A♣T♠ and should have been delighted with the K♠A♠T♥ flop. Umarov check-called Guerrero's 275,000 bet.
The 6♦ fell at the turn and Umarov remained passive. He check-called Guerrero's bet of 675,000.
This is where it got cruel: the 6♠ fell at the river and that filled Guerrero's flush. Umarov checked again and Guerrero this time also checked, fearing a whole house.
There's a controversy that Umarov must have pushed his two pair harder, but there is a really expert chance he would now be out had he done so.
Guerrero has 11.7 million now and Umarov is now the fast stack. -- HS
12:30am: Position is powerLevel 30 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
"Power of position, everybody!" said Stapes on EPTLive after Adrien Allain showed his class in position to oust his fellow Frenchman Pierre Calamusa off a greater hand.
Calamusa opened to 225,000 with T♦8♣ and Allain called behind with A♣Q♣. The board ran out 7♥8♦9♥K♥T♥ with Calamusa checking every street to Allain who bet 225,000, 575,00 and 800,000 on each street. Calamusa stuck around to the river where he made a rapid check-fold. -- MC
12:12am: Calamusa into third after blind battleLevel 30 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Pierre Calamusa has moved as much as third with 5.46 million after winning a battle of the blinds with Jimmy Guerrero, who dropped to 10.4 million.
Guerrero opened to 275,000 from the small blind and Calamusa defended his big unaware of see a 8♠K♦K♣ flop. The action checked to the 5♦ turn where Guerrero check-called 250,000. The board completed with the 3♠ and he the chip leader check-folded to a 425,000 bet with A♦4♦. Calamusa held 7♥7♠. --MC
12am: Bendik wins with the worst of itLevel 30 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)
Jan Bendik and Oren Rosen have swapped places within the counts after the previous got the latter off the most productive hand.
Rosen opened to 225,000 off the button and Bendik called from the small blind. The flop fell 3♦A♥K♠ and Bendik led for 280,000 with pocket sixes. Rosen had K♣9♣ for second pair but didn't fancy it and folded. --MC
| 30 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 10,000 |
11:36pm: Break timeThe players are on their last break of the night. Yet another elimination, or yet another level to come back. Here's how they stack up:
1: Jimmy Guerrero - 11.120 million2: Pierre Calamusa - 4.915 million3: Adrien Allain - 6.865 million4: Antoine Saout - 1.530 million5: Oren Rosen - 2.425 million6: Ben Phillips - ninth place7: Jan Bendik - 2.095 million8: Asan Umarov - 3.770 million9: Dario Sammartino - eighth place
11:35pm: Dario Sammartino gets in it good but can't hold and goes in 8th for €91,860Level 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino: not dominant enough
Dario Sammartino and his star-studded rail were left hugely disappointed today with the elimination of the Itlalain pro. He got it in good, went behind, had a draw to the world, but hit the moon.
Asan Umarov opened to 175,000 from the cutoff after which made a considered call after Sammartino three-bet all-in from the following seat for 1.205 million.
Umarov: A♥T♥Sammartino: A♦Q♦
The board ran 8♦T♣9♦7♠K♣ to pair up the Kazak's kicker. --MC
11:20pm: Calamusa dents Sammartino's hopesLevel 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino has dropped right down to 1.37million after Pierre Calamusa flopped a collection in a three-bet pot to overcome his second pair.
The Italian opened to 160,000 with A♦T♥ and called after he was three-bet to 480,000 with 2♦2♣. He check-called another 375,000 at the T♣2♠8♦ flop and 765,000 at the Q♥ turn. The board got wetter with the 9♦ river and that can have helped Sammartino as Calmusa checked behind. Calamusa's stack rose to 5.075 million. --MC
11:09pm: Guerrero finds an equaliserLevel 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Jimmy Guerrero got his own back on Dario Sammartino after he picked off the Italian's bluff.
Sammartino opened to 160,000 from the hijack and Guerrero was the one caller from the following seat. Sammartino continued for 120,000 on a 4♠5♥6♥ flop and was called. The turn was the 2♠ and was checked through to the 6♣ river where Sammartino led for 245,000. Guerrero smiled, thought for a moment and called with A♦Q♥, good to overcome his opponent's J♦T♦. He extended his lead as he moved as much as 10.42 million. --MC
10:56pm: Sammartino takes some off the leaderLevel 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino is among the most aggressive players left in however the final table draw has done him no favours in any respect. Being to the precise of the massive chip leader (Jimmy Guerrero) means it might be poker suicide to play his natural game until two or three more players bust.
A nice run out today though meant he could confidently value bet river. He didn't get a choice however the pot win was enough to look him rise to 3.4miilion and Guerrero drop to 9.85 million.
Guerrero opened to 170,000 from under the gun, a raffle that was only called by Sammartino within the big blind. The flop fanned 3♦2♠Q♠ and Sammartino check-called 185,000 before the A♦ turn was checked throughout the. Italian bet 390,000 at the 9♠ river along with his A♥3♦ and Guerrero binned his 8♣8♠. -- MC
10:40pm: Limp flop flushLevel 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Jimmy Guerrero is into eight figures. He has 10.225 million after taking a unusual line with 6♦3♦ and getting a really perfect run-out to take a host from Jan Bendik.
Guerrero limped from early position with that suited two-gapper and it persuaded Oren Rosen to name from the small blind with 7♣5♠ and Jan Bendik to test his option with K♦J♣.
The three of them went to a flop of A♦T♦J♦ and that gave Guerrero a flush and Bendik a royal flush draw. More chips were sure to go in.
Rosen and Bendik checked, but Guerrero bet 100,000. Rosen let it go but Bendik called.
The T♠ came at the turn and Bendik now took over the betting. He bet 365,000. Guerrero called.
The Q♠ hit and missed Bendik. It gave him a straight, nevertheless it was still behind Guerrero's flush. It meant he could only check-call when Guerrero bet 425,000. He then saw the bad news.
Guerrero moved to 10.225 million, that's the most productive a part of 8 million greater than Bendik has. -- HS
10:22pm: Rosen a risenLevel 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Oren Rosen has risen to 2.72 million after straightening out Jan Bendik in a three-bet pot.
He opened to 135,000 from the button and took his time in calling a Bendik three-bet to 465,000 from the massive blind. The flop came out J♦T♦A♥ and was checked through to the 8♥ turn. It wasn't an even board for Bendik's 5♠5♥ and he check-folded to a 480,000 bet. Good job too as Rosen had a straight with Q♠9♠. --MC
10pm: Saout survivesLevel 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
Antoine Saout found A♥T♦ within the big blind and a raiser in front of him. It was Pierre Calamusa at the button with A♠5♥. Saout shoved for 1.070 million, Calamusa called and the dominating ace only grew stronger when there has been the T♣ at the turn.
That doubles Saout to 2.13 million and keeps us eight-handed. The theory is to play two more levels (including this one) to to 6 players, whichever comes soonest. -- HS
10pm: Back to itLevel 29 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)
They're back from the break, filled with food, booze, nicotine or, in rare cases, fresh air a joie de vivre. -- HS
9:51pm: Break time
The plan was to push straight on through to level 29 but Jimmy Guerrero requested a break, in order that means we're all having a ten-minute break. Click the chip count tab for the present standings. --MC
9:50pm: Saout cut adriftLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Antoine Saout became the shortest stack after the elimination of Ben Phillips and he's dropped below 20 big blinds after being raised off a pot by Jan Bendik.
Saout opened to 135,000 from early postion and the Slovakian was the one caller from the cutoff. The flop came 7♦6♣5♥ and Saout took his time before continuing for 145,000. He took no time in folding though when Bendik raised to 525,000. --MC
9:35pm: Phillips busts in ninth, winning €71,620Level 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Ben Phillips is out. The overall British player--in fact, the overall native English speaker within the field--has hit the rail in ninth.
Pierre Calamusa opened to 135,000 from UTG+2 and action folded to Phillips at the button. He found K♦J♠ and moved all in for his last 1.070 million.
Ben Phillips: Surrenders last of his chips
The decision passed back to Calamusa and, with a stack of three million, he opted to name. Oh yeah, he had 6♥6♦.
The dealer didn't take too long to run through a board of T♣4♥8♥T♦4♣ and that was the tip of the street for Phillips.
Calamusa moves beyond 5 million. -- HS
9:25pm: AA flops JJJLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
A mis-step here from our Spin & Go winner, who just got unlucky to head behind in a hand against Adrien Allain after which paid off one street of value. It would has been worse, mind you.
Umarov opened to 125,000 from mid-position and Allain called within the small blind. Umarov had 7♠7♣ and Allain had K♣J♠ so there's nothing wrong with any of that.
The flop came J♦J♣4♦, which was tremendous for Allain. He bet 300,000 at it. Umarov wasn't convinced that there have been trips out there, so he called. And that took them to the 3♣ turn.
Allain bet at that again and, after a minute or so within the tank, Umarov found a fold. -- HS
9:20pm: Calamusa wins first showdown potLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
After a cagey first few hands, Pierre Calamusa won the primary pot that went to a river showdown.
He was within the small blind and called a 140,000 raise from Oren Rosen in early position. To be fair this hand was pretty cagey as well, because the flop and switch were checked through so it took until the river of a 6♦5♠5♦A♥8♣ board before any further chips were committed. Calamus led for 250,000 and Rosen tank called.
Calamusa opened A♠8♠ for 2 pair, beating out Rosen's worse two pair with A♦7♦. --MC
9pm: Play resumesLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Players are back of their seats for the overall 45 minutes of level of 28. The large blinds of the players range from 20bb (Ben Phillips) all of the way as much as 148bb (Jimmy Guerrero). Every player left is guaranteed €71,620 but only eight will make the official final table. --MC
7:35pm: Last table drawLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Tournament organisers have done the redraw and here's how our final nine will line up:
1: Jimmy Guerrero - 8.925 million2: Pierre Calamusa - 2.740 million3: Adrien Allain - 5.680 million4: Antoine Saout - 1.320 million5: Oren Rosen - 3.030 million6: Ben Phillips - 1.250 million7: Jan Bendik - 3.820 million8: Asan Umarov - 3.130 million9: Dario Sammartino - 2.825 million
They at the moment are heading to a 75-minute dinner break. We'll return at 8:45pm to minimize to 6. -- HS
Asan Umarov: $10 Spin & Go qualifier becomes first Kazakhstani player to a last table at the EPT
7:30pm: Abduraimov doubles down, then out in tenthLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
After a slow begin to the level, the action suddenly turned as much as 11. Adrien Allain doubled to 5.82 million through Enver Abduraimov, who busted a couple of hands later.
Allain opened to 135,000 from the hijack before Abduraimov three-bet to 300,000 from the following seat. Allain came back with a four-bet to 775,000 and was called in a flash.
The flop fell 3♦7♦2♠ and Allain continued for 500,000. Abduraimov raised 1.2 million and called when Allin shoved for 2.065 million.
Allain: A♠A♥Abduraimov: 7♣6♣
The board ran out 4♣ after which A♦.
Shortly afterwards Abduraimov moved all-in for 1.01 million and was called by Asan Umarov within the big blind.
Umarov: Q♠Q♥Abduraimov: A♠K♦
It was the El Classico of races and the board came 9♦J♥7♥6♥8♥ to finish the Ukrainian's tournament. --MC
Enver Abduraimov: Leaves before the unofficial final
7:10pm: Slow playing?Level 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
A couple of the players on the "new" outer table have raised concerns that they're going to naturally be playing more hands than the television table, and thanks to the pay jump between ninth and 10th, that puts them at a disadvantage.
Kate Badurek, the tournament supervisor, assured the players that she's tracking the hands to verify the pace of play stays even. We are not sure her statements were full believed as play has continued to be very slow--five hands played over the primary HALF-HOUR of the level--with zero showdowns. --MC
7pm: Aissani eliminated in 11thLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
We are all the way down to 10 players, with the short-stacked Mohamed Aissani the newest to fall. His timing was prosperous here as, with Q♥T♥, he opened to 135,000 pre-flop after which called Jimmy Guerrero's three-bet to 375,000. Guerrero, with the massive stack, also had the large hand. It was Q♠Q♦.
The flop just made things worse. It was Q♣3♦6♥, so although Aissani had top pair, Guerrero had top set. Aissani checked, Guerrero continued for 125,000 and Aissani check-raised. Guerrero called.
The 2♦ came at the turn and Aissani shoved for 615,000 drawing dead. Guerrero called and that was the top of Aissani. He's taking €500 shy of €60,000. -- HS
Mohamed Aissani: Out in 11th
6:55pm: Bend it like BendikLevel 28 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)
Jan Bendik may seem like he is not the type of player to become involved pre-flop with 4♣2♣, especially after a raise. But Jan Bendik isn't the roughly player he looks like.
Action folded at the feature table to Ori Rosen within the small blind and he raised to 140,000 with A♦3♠. Despite that suited four-high, Bendik called from the massive blind they usually went to a flop of 6♦5♦8♦.
Jan Bendik: They'll be dancing at the streets of Bratislava tonight
Rosen checked his nut flush draw, but Bendik bet his gutshot. He made it 160,000 to play. Rosen called.
The turn hit Bendik. It was the 7♥. Both players checked. The 7♠ came at the river and now Rosen bet 360,000. Bendik just called and was good. -- HS
| 28 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 10,000 |
6:25pm: Break timeLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Let's take 20 minutes folks.
6:20pm: Plenty of action to finish the extentLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
It was a down and up finish to the level for Jan Bendik. When he got down Jimmy Guerrero was up, and when he was up, Mohamed Aissani was down.
The action was three-way to the turn where the board read 6♠[10s]8♥5♣ and Oren Rosen bet out for 180,000 from the small blind.
Bendik called from the small blind after which Guerrero raised to 750,000. Only Bendik called to the Q♠ river where he checked to stand a fifteen. million bet. He called quickly after which angrily mucked upon seeing Guerrero's K♠5♠. That put Guerrro as much as 7.2 million.
Bendik still looked frustrated when slammed an all-in (1.845 million) in from the small blind the very next hand. Aissani had opened to 110,000 and was called by Guerrero, before Bendik made his move. Aissani called and that was enough to scare off Guerrero.
Bendik: J♣J♦Aissani: T♦T♥
The board ran 6♠A♠4♦2♦9♥ and Bendik pumped both fists in silence.
The players at the moment are on a 20-minute break, take a look at the whole chip counts by clicking through to our chip count page. --MC
6:10pm: Calamusa four-bets tensLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Enver Abduraimov opened to 125,000 from early position with A♦9♦ but Ben Phillips desired to play for more with A♣6♣. He raised to 275,000 from the button.
Phillips has really toiled on this level, continually running his moves into legitimate hands elsewhere. Such was the case when Pierre Calamusa awoke with T♥T♣ within the big blind. Calamusa four-bet to 600,000.
Abduraimov folded and, eventually, so did Phillips. -- HS
6pm: Sammartino's comeback continuesLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino's comeback continues apace. He just took a tight sized pot from Asan Umarov.
Umarov opened with A♠J♥ and Sammartino defended his big blind with K♠8♠. The flop helped Sammartino when it came K♣5♥2♠, but both players checked, but then Sammartino bet 125,000 at the 4♦ turn.
Umarov felt like getting tricky. He raised to 500,000. But Sammartino wasn't buying it. He called.
The K♥ came at the river and Sammartino checked, seeking to goad Umarov into firing out again. But he didn't opt for it this time, meekly mucking when Sammartino showed his king.
Sammartino is building back. He has 2.58 million now. -- HS
5:50pm: Sammartino doubles through PhillipsLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino now has greater than 2 million once you have a double up through Ben Phillips. Action folded to Sammartino within the small blind and he completed. Phillips, within the big blind, shoved with the covering stack and Sammartino called off for his tournament life.
Sammartino had 1.1 million and A♠J♠. Phillips had about 2.8 million and 8♣7♦. The board ran Q♠J♣Q♣5♠7♣ and that meant a double for Sammartino.
Phillips, who drops to 1.7 million, is now the quick stack on the table. -- HS
5:40pm: Sammartino continues to shoveLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Enver Abduraimov opened from early position with K♦T♣ but then faced an all-in re-raise from Dario Sammartino with A♠K♥. Abduraimov asked for a count, learning it was 975,000. "Another time," Abduraimov said as he folded. -- HS
5:35pm: Party at Jimmy'sLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Jimmy Guerrero is the player pushing the action probably the most on the outer table. It's working for him too, as his stack has grown to 4.5 milllion without showing down much.
He three-bet to 300,000 after Oren Rosen opened to 125,000 from first position. Rosen called and both players checked the T♦J♦J♠ flop. The turn was the 3♣ and Guerrero led for 425,000 after which flashed the A♦ when Rosen folded.
Two hands later, Antoine Saout raised to 125,000 from under the gun and folded after Guerrero three-bet to 300,000 off the button. -- MC
5:30pm: Calamusa bluffs himself into dangerLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Of all of the players left on the feature table, Pierre Calamusa is being probably the most creative by far. But his trickery just got him into trouble when he bumped into a flopped set of sixes within the hand of Asan Abduraimov.
Abduraimov opened from early position with 6♠6♦ and Calamusa three-bet from the button with not-a-misprint 7♦3♠.
The board brought the 6♥J♠4♥ and Abduraimov checked. Calamusa bet 115,000 and now Abduraimov raised. He made it 315,000. But Calamusa wasn't done. He three bet to 900,000.
Abduraimov sighed, rubbed his hands on his legs, looked terribly uncomfortable after which raised all in. Calamusa read the signals and folded. --HS
5:20pm: Jacks prove difficult to play as Loc Tu goes in 12thLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Loc Tu got himself right into a pickle out of position and ended up calling off although it looked as though he knew he was behind.
Oren Rosen opened to 120,000 from the cutoff and called after Tu three-bet to 290,000 from the small blind. The flop fell 5♠3♥A♦ and Tu led for 365,000, leaving himself just 525,000 back. Rosen wasted little time in moving a large stack of chips over the road. It was enough to set Tu in and he went deep into the tank. After several minutes he slid the remainder of his chips forward.
Tu: J♥J♦Rosen: A♥T♠
The board ran out 7♠8♦ and Rosen jumped as much as 3.5 million. Tu's $10 party ends with €53,310.
Loc Tu's big spin leads to 12th
"If he three-bet all-in before the flop, would you will have called?" asked an intrigued Antoine Saout from around the table.
"No, probably not," came the answer. --MC
5:13pm: Calamusa's strong armLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Pierre Calamusa is keeping Ben Phillips honest. After Phillips opened from early position with K♥7♦, making it 115,000, Calamusa three-bet to 320,000 from the button with Q♠T♣.
Phillips folded and Calamusa got away with that. --HS
5:10pm: Sammartino clinging onLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino shoved his last 13 big blinds with A♥T♥ and, well, it got through. He now has 15 big blinds. --HS
5pm: Two coolers send Vieira home in an unlucky 13thLevel 27 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)
When it is not your day, it isn't your day. Joao Vieira got his stack in twice with monsters and lost both times.
He raised to 115,00 from the hijack and was called by Oren Rosen within the small blind before Jan Bendik squeezed to 365,000 from the large blind. Viera shoved and Bendik called after Rosen folded.
Bendik: A♣A♠Viera: A♥K♠
The board ran 9♦8♠Q♥7♠8♥. Bendik jumped as much as 1.35 million whereas Vieira was left with 550,000.
Two hands later Vieira was under the gun and opened to 110,000. Jimmy Guerrero three-bet to 260,000 from two seats along and snapped Vieira's four-bet all-in.
Vieira: K♣K♦Guerrero: A♠K♥
The board came 9♠4♥9♣A♥2♥ and Guerrero moved as much as 3.6 million. AN EXCESSIVELY cruel end for Vieira who was one of the most stars of the primary event yesterday. --MC
4:55pm: Back to itLevel 26 - Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000 ante)
There are 13 players left, entering Level 27. -- HS
| 27 | 25,000 | 50,000 | 5,000 |
4:35pm: Break timeLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
That's the top of Level 26. Pierre Calamusa is the brand new chip leader. The entire counts at the moment are at the chip-count page.
4:30pm: Double for UmarovLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Asan Umarov just doubled up through Adrien Allain, flopping a set, turning an entire house and rivering a larger boat.
It played out as follows: Allain opened from under the gun and collected three callers: Dario Sammartino within the cutoff, Umarov within the small blind and Pierre Calamusa within the big.
The flop brought the 7♠Q♠3♥ and that helped two of them -- Umarov with 3♠3♣ and Allain with 9♠8♠ -- but was indifferent to Calamusa with 5♣4♥ and Sammartino with K♣J♣.
Umarov checked his set, as did Calamusa along with his air. Allain bet 180,000 together with his flush draw and Sammartino folded. Umarov then shoved, a complete of 930,000, and after Calamusa got out of the way, Allain was priced in to call.
The 7♦ at the turn gave Umarov his unbeatable boar, and there has been another seven at the river to make it bigger.
That was the last hand before the break. -- HS
4:25pm: Sammartino shortLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Enver Abduraimov took a nibble from Dario Sammartino's stack when each of them picked up pocket pairs within the blinds. Abduraimov had 8♥8♦ while Sammartino had 3♠3♥ and, after calling a pre-flop raise and a post-flop c-bet, Sammartino managed to seek out a fold at the river. Good timing too. By that time Abduraimov had a set.
Dario Sammartino now has about 14 big blinds. -- HS
4:15pm: Loc Tu's tournament spins onLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Loc Tu, the Spin & Go winner, continues his dream tournament. He got all of his chips in pre-flop with Q♠Q♦ and collected a decision from Oren Rosen, with 4♣4♦.
It appeared like his luck might run out when the flop brought the 4♣ (in addition to the 5♥ and 8♥). However the Q♥ at the turn put Tu back ahead. The 3♠ completed the board. -- HS
4:05pm: Right down to 14...make that 13Level 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
All of a sudden we're right down to 13 as a player went out from all of the two remaining tables.
Andy Andrejevic shoved with pocket tens but bumped into Antoine Saout's pocket jacks. Andrejevic was short and people hands played themselves. There has been nothing at the board for the under-pair and Andrejevic hit the rail.
On the feature table, Thi Xoa Nguyen open-shoved for 490,000 with K♥3♥ but she hit a wall within the type of Ben Phillips and his A♥J♠. There has been an ace at the flop and Nguyen was drawing dead at the turn. -- HS
4pm: Ace-high losesLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Pierre Calamusa just won a small pot, raising from the hijack with Q♦T♠ and finding a customer within the shape of Dario Sammartino within the big blind with A♦4♣.
The both checked the flop of 8♥2♠7♣ after which also the 9♥ at the turn. The Q♠ at the river gave Calamusa a come-from-behind top par and he bet 95,000 after Sammartino's check.
Sammartino did not want to fold. He took a very long time over a call for not quite 1/15th of his chips, before he eventually called. Sammartino's Ace-high was not good. -- HS
3:55pm: Play beginsLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Off they go again. We're now reporting on a 30-minute delay to synch us up with EPT Live.
3:30pm: Penultimate re-drawLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
| 1 | 1 | Loc Tu | Canada | 770,000 |
| 1 | 2 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | 1,625,000 |
| 1 | 3 | Ben Philipps | UK | 2,585,000 |
| 1 | 4 | Asan Umarov | Kazakhstan | 1,075,000 |
| 1 | 5 | Pierre Calamusa | France | 3,785,000 |
| 1 | 6 | Adrien Allain | France | 4,465,000 |
| 1 | 7 | Enver Abduraimov | Ukraine | 1,135,000 |
| 1 | 8 | Thi Xoa Nguyen | France | 585,000 |
| 2 | 1 | Antoine Saout | France | 2,525,000 |
| 2 | 2 | Joao Vieira | Portugal | 2,575,000 |
| 2 | 3 | Mohamed Aissani | France | 3,525,000 |
| 2 | 4 | Jimmy Guerrero | France | 1,470,000 |
| 2 | 5 | Oren Rosen | Israel | 3,050,000 |
| 2 | 6 | Jan Bendik | Slovakia | 2,155,000 |
| 2 | 7 | Andy Andrejevic | USA | 1,285,000 |
| 2 | 8 | Empty |
2:50pm: Extended breakLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
There will now be a break lasting roughly 50 minutes. The television crew will take the chance to take green-screen shots of the rest players while the re-draw takes place, and that are supposed to take around 20 minutes. Then our coverage will fall in keeping with EPT Live coverage, that is broadcast on a 30-minute delay, to maintain everything spoiler free. --MC
2:48pm: Celestino falls to SaoutLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Before the last two table re-draw could happen there has been time for an additional elimination, and it was the last Brazilian within the field who fell.
Antoine Saout opened the pot with a button raise to 80,000 and Ariel Celestino defended his big blind. Both players checked the A♥Q♦7♣ flop before Celestino check-called a delayed 100,000 c-bet at the 2♥ turn. The board filled up with the K♣ and Celestino checked to stand an all-in bet. His (400k) was the effective stack and after two minutes thinking he slammed them down in a calling montion.
Saout opened Q♣2♣ which was good to overcome Celestino's K♥9♥. Saout moved as much as around 2.55 million. --MC
Ariel Celestino: Vamoooo-out
2:35pm: Sperling finally succumbsLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
We are all the way down to 16 in general event after Fabio Sperling's long vigil involves an end. He shoved in two consecutive hands, the primary time getting it through against Andy Andrejevic, the second one time getting a choice from Pierre Calamusa.
Sperling actually looked pretty good initially. He had K♥K♦ to Calamusa's A♦J♥. However the A♥ at the flop, between the 5♠ and the 5♦ swung the pendulum into Calamusa's direction, and the turn (T♦) and river (7♣) ended it.
Sperling's departure in 17th means the remainder players will now consolidate around two tables and there'll be an entire redraw. Details could be forthcoming when it's done. -- HS
2:20pm: Pecheux departsLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
Erwann Pecheux is out. He only had 460,000 in his stack, or 11.5 big blinds, and open shoved from early position with A♦8♦. Action folded to Adrien Allain, who not just had a couple of billion chips, but in addition K♦K♠. It was a very simple call and the kings held, despite the fact that the board got more and more tempting to the suited ace. It ran 2♦T♠8♠ | 4♦ | 9♠. Pechaux is out.
At roughly the similar time, there has been an elimination from the feature table too. Watch EPT Live to peer who it was and the way it happened. -- HS
Roman Korenev: No spoiler. He's out
2pm: Full countsLevel 26 - Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000 ante)
The chip-count page is up to the moment with accurate counts from the rest 19 players. Kiryl Radzivonau went out in 20th place in advance of the break.
Here are the highest five stacks:
| Adrien Allain | France | 4,205,000 | |
| Joao Vieira | Portugal | PokerStars qualifier | 3,115,000 |
| Mohamed Aissani | France | Live satellite winner | 2,895,000 |
| Jan Bendik | Slovakia | Live satellite winner | 2,450,000 |
| Ben Philipps | UK | PokerStars qualifier | 2,310,000 |
| 26 | 20,000 | 40,000 | 5,000 |
1:40pm: Sperling ends the extent with a doubleLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Fabio Sperling continues to fly the flag for Germany on the EPT Grand Final. He doubled up on probably the most last hands before the break. Action folded to Adrien Allain within the small blind and he shoved, covering Sperling's stack by an element of greater than 10.
Sperling found A♥T♥ and called. He was sooner than Allain's K♥3♠ and the board ran 5♣2♠T♠8♣7♠. Sperling now has 700,000 chips.-- HS
Fabio Sperling: Action level
1:35pm: Andrejevic put during the wringerLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Andy Andrejevic is being forced to pick out his spots, but he isn't always finding the fitting ones. Or even he's. It's tough to know.
He just got fascinated by two recent pots in late position, either one of which he lost. But when poker is all about minimising losses up to maximising gains, then perhaps he played these two hands perfectly.
The first one happened when he opened to 65,000 from the button and was as shocked as anyone to peer Kiryl Radzivonau move all in from the small blind. Radzivonau had about 880,000 behind, which was not up to Andrejevic's near 2 million stack, but still a sizeable chunk.
Andrejevic folded after a very long time fascinated about it--"I can't believe you could have it," Andrejevic said, despite the fold--and that prompted a grilling from Pierre Calamusa.
"What did you've"? Calamusa said."A big hand," is all Andrejevic would allow."Eights or nines?""Bigger," Andrejevic said."Kings?" The table chuckled."Queens," Andrejevic said."Queens. Right," Calamusa said. (I DON'T BELIEVE he really believed him.)
Andy Andrejevic
Andrejevic got back at the horse the very next hand when he raised to 65,000 from the cutoff. This time there has been no bother from Radzivonau, but Adrien Allain's call from the large blind took them to the 7♣9♣2♥ flop. Both players checked.
The Q♥ came at the turn and Allain bet 80,000 at it. Andrejevic called. Then the 9♦ came at the river and Allain bet 275,000. Andrejevic went into the tank again but this time called.
Allain showed him the bad news. He had A♥9♥ and Andrejevic folded. Allain now has about 4.4 million. Andrejevic has 1.4 million. -- HS
1:25pm: Bendik doubles Abduraimov as Andrejevic takes out ChauskinLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
The two outer tables vied for the media's attention as two all-in and calls happened mutually. Enver Abduraimov ended up doubling, whereas Natan Chauskin's all-in luck came to and end.
Jan Bendik opened to 65,000 from second position and called after Abduraimov three-bet all-in for 550,000 from the small blind. Abduraimov's A♦K♣ was dominating his opponent's A♣Q♦ and it stayed ahead way in the course of the 5♣9♥7♦T♠J♣ board.
Over at the other table, Chauskin moved all-in for 312,000 and was called by Andy Andrejevic within the big blind.
Chauskin: A♣J♦Andrejevic: K♦Q♣
The Belarusian had got his chips in good but couldn't hold because the board ran out J♠8♦7♥Q♦4♠. Andrejevic, who won the super high roller tournament on the ACOP championships in Macau last November, saw his stack rise to nearly 2 million. --MC
1:11pm: Selbst departsLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Mohamed Aissani has ended the PokerStars party on the EPT Grand Final. He knocked out Vanessa Selbst when his A♣9♦ stayed good against Selbst's A♥5♥ at the feature table. That siren you hear sounds in this day and age the general member of Team PokerStars Pro departs. -- HS
Vanessa Selbst: Last pro becomes no pros
1:10pm: Thirteen lucky starsLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Natan Chauskin is the opposite tiny stack at Fabio Sperling's table and he will need to have counted his lucky stars when he found K♥K♦ a moment ago. He shoved for 316,000 but absolutely nobody called, so he tossed those useless cowboys face up at the table. -- HS
1pm: Tense times for Fabio SperlingLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Fabio Sperling is attempting to get himself out of the short-stack hole, but nothing quite appears to be going for him at this time. At time of writing, he's still in. But that can change any time soon.
On a board of K♦T♠4♣J♣T♥ and a pot of 500,000, Sperling checked after which faced a shove from Pierre Calamusa to his left. Calamusa had about 850,000 at this stage to Sperling's 350,000, so Sperling was under threat. He folded.
Not long after, Sperling found himself under the gun and he open-shoved for his last 315,000. It folded all of the way round, so he picked up some blinds and antes.
Sperling was within the big blind next hand and this one got somewhat more interesting. Loc Tu, who's one of the most quieter players on the table, opened to 68,000 from the cutoff and action folded during the mighty-stacked Adrien Allain to Sperling.
Sperling called. That took them to a flop of 7♠4♠Q♥ and Sperling checked. Tu followed up with a raffle of 70,000, which Sperling called, after which they saw the K♠ at the turn. Sperling checked again and now Tu moved all in, covering Sperling.
Clinging on seems to be the secret for Sperling as he folded again. -- HS
12:50pm: Sammartino's at it again as he cracks Pollock's acesLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)
Dario Sammartino's progress is firmly at the up after he cracked Benjamin Pollock's aces to send him home.
The action folded around to the aggressive Italian within the cutoff and he opened to 62,000. Pollak was at the button and three-bet to 145,000. Sammartino leaned past the dealer to take a look at how much Pollak had behind and after seeing it was 465,000, he moved all-in.
"Okay," send Pollak in a calm, French accent.
"You're calling?" clarified the dealer. Pollak nodded and opened A♣A♦, way prior to Sammartino's Q♠J♠.
"I have no idea if I LOVE this hand," said Pollak.
There a couple of wows heard spoken because the flop fanned 6♠T♠J♣. The flush never came in for Sammartino but two pair did because the board ran out 3♦Q♥. Sammartino moved as much as 1.85million and Thi Xoa Nguyen said to the sheepish looking Italian, "That's poker, right?"--MC
12:45pm: Sammartino rivers TedeschiLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)
Kyle Frey got the additional money on offer but his progress was halted after he busted the following time he was all-in, and the tournament was right down to three tables of eight after Dario Sammartino took care of the harmful Paul Tedeschi.
The Italian opened from early position and snap called after Tedeschi moved all-in from the small blind. The shove wasn't counted because it was clear Tedeschi was well covered by the Italian pro, nevertheless it was fewer than the 490,000 he started the day with.
Tedeschi: 9♥9♦Sammartino: A♦K♠
The board ran 6♥Q♦T♦5♠A♥ to peer Tedeschi's hopes dashed at the river. Sammartino's great start has continued and he moved as much as 1.48 million.
Dario Sammartino: At the up
They'll be no full redraw at this stage, that'll happen when 16 remain, table four could be broken during a brief pause. --MC
12:35pm: Chauskin at the comeback chaseLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
A dominant chip leader sitting for your left can also be both a blessing and a curse. You'll get looked up pretty cheaply, but you need to get a handy guide a rough double when you have the goods.
Natan Chauskin had only 396,000 overnight and located Adrien Allain, with ten times that amount, to his left. And only about HALF-HOUR have been played when Chauskin found A♦T♦ and moved all-in, a raffle quickly called by Allain and his A♥8♦.
Natan Chauskin, left, and Adrien Allain
There were no dramas at the board of J♠7♠5♦Q♦9♠, however, and Chauskin doubled. -- HS
12:34pm: Cross the stream!Level 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
There was a hand at the feature table. Take a look at the EPT Live stream in about HALF-HOUR from now to look what happened up there.
Dario Sammartino was up and down, up and down, up and down already today, but is currently at a high point.
His day began with a stack of 581,000 but he was put under immediate threat in a pot against Oren Rosen. There has been about 300,000 within the middle and a board the entire strategy to the river: 2♦9♦9♥T♥4♥. Sammartino checked, Rosen bet 174,000 and Sammartino went into the tank.
His decision-making process took see you later that Rosen called the clock and that prompted a fold from Sammartino.
On what could have been the very next hand, Sammartino open-shoved to 203,000 from under the gun and Jimmy Guerrero reshoved from the cutoff. That successfully isolated Sammartino, but Guerrero was behind along with his 3♦3♣ to Sammartino's T♠T♥.
The board ran 5♦9♣4♠9♦8♦ and Sammartino doubled.
It wasn't long until he was back at it, this time in a hand against Thi Xoa Nguyen. Those two conspired to get to a river with only about 200,000 within the middle alongside the 9♥4♠K♣9♦9♠ board and Sammartino checked.
Nguyen fired. She moved all in, covering Sammartino, and asking him an issue for his tournament life. He dwelled for some time but then called and compelled Nguyen to turn her J♦Q♠ before flipping his K♦5♠.
Sammartino is now as much as around a million, a stack that has probably bought him the luxurious of not needing to play every hand. --HS
12:22pm: The bank of AllainLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)
The bank of Adrien Allain doesn't just process withdrawals, it is also accepts deposits. Iacopo Brandi deposited all of his chips today and after busting in 28th place.The Italian was very short and the chips went in preflop.
Allain: A♥K♦Iacopa: A♠5♠
The board ran 3♦6♦4♠8♣T♣ to send Iacopa on his way.
Pierre Calamusa turned to Kyle Frey and said, "AN ADDITIONAL five-k to party with tonight!"Allain just about got back to the stack he started the day with. --MC
12:10pm: Laddering day at the EPTLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (4,000 ante)
At the top of play yesterday we saw some strategic stalling, and a key interest in any short stack battles from other tables, from players similar to Vanessa Selbst and Kyle Frey. That's because there's greater than €4k to earned by busting 27th as opposed to 28th place.
Frey came back with 283,000 and couldn't turn down the danger to shove early with an ace. His move was from middle position and he was called by Adrain Allian within the big blind.
Allain: K♠Q♥Frey: A♥8♣
The board ran 5♥7♣J♣6♣Q♣ and chip leader dropped to 3.63 million. --MC
12pm: Let the Day 5 fun commenceLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000 ante)
Away they go at the penultimate day. If that is done in anything not up to 12 hours, I WILL BE amazed. -- HS
11am: From 28 to ?
Good morning everybody. It's Day 5 of the €5,300 main event and we've a confession to make. We're way not on time. The printed plan for the tournament has it that we return this morning with 16 players and take a look at to play to a last table of six. However the truth is, there are 28 obdurate folk still involved that's going to make it tricky.
One way or another, we are going to wish to reach a last tonight, however the significant chances are high that that it'll be eight-handed. And goodness knows how long it will take to lose the following 20 players.
One thing you will be certain of, however, is that we'll be here watching it play out. So persist with us for what seems prone to be an excessively long day.
Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account.Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news and results.
Also all of the schedule information is at the EPT App, that is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT12 Grand Final main event: Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Martin Harris and Howard Swains. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
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