Two-time UKIPT champion Joeri Zandvliet will be aiming for his third UKIPT title - a feat that no-one has yet achieved. An urban economic developer by trade, Zandvliet won UKIPT1 Manchester (the second ever UKIPT) and also UKIPT2 Dublin for a combined cash prize of $216,445. He is currently based in London, where he works in urban housing development. Zandvliet first started playing poker six or seven years ago in the canteen of his local football club, and although he does play online, he prefers the live game.
He says that he's really enjoyed UKIPT Dublin, with good people and good times all round - he adds that he has definitely had more than his fair share of fun while he's been here! Nevertheless Zandvliet is clearly a sensible guy - when asked what he would do if he had to spend the €87,700 first place money in 24 hours, he said he would invest it wisely in property.
Larry Ryan's poker career began "many many years ago" when he used to play Five Card Draw. He owns his own business and plays poker recreationally - he prefers live poker to online, although he does enjoy one or two online sessions a week. When he does play online, he enjoys the satellites and has been pretty successful - three packages to the PCA and a trip to EPT Monte Carlo are just a few of his satellite successes.
His best live cash to date was a fifth place finish at EPT6 Prague for $202,320, and he recently cashed at the January PCA. Ryan has found the Round Room at The Mansion House a brilliant and lovely place to host a poker tournament. Ryan is a romantic at heart - when asked what he would do if he had to spend the €87,700 first place money in 24 hours, he said he would spend the lot on his wife.
Larry Ryan
Seat 3. Kevin Killeen, 24, Dublin, Ireland, PokerStars Player - 3,505,000
Online pro Kevin Killeen is our chip leader going into the final table after knocking out both Michael Naughton and Declan Barker in 11th and 10th places respectively. He mostly plays online, where he's a mid to high stakes tournament specialist - his biggest cash to date was $33,000 in the Sunday Second Chance on PokerStars. He's proving that his online skills translate nicely into the live game this week, though - currently he has almost a million chip advantage over his nearest rival. He has plans to move to Mexico later in the year where he intends to continue playing online for a living.
Christopher Wood is no stranger to final tables - he finished second in the Irish Winter Festival here in Dublin back in 2008 for €106,000. Despite this, he regards himself as primarily a cash player - he started playing at home with friends before progressing to the online game and then from there moving on to live cash. He tries to go to all the UKIPTs and as many EPTs as he can, playing mostly cash games but also playing the tournaments when he satellites in. Wood is one of our shorter stacks going into the day, but his experience and track record mean that he cannot be discounted just yet.
Chris Wood
Seat 5. Max Silver, 23, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player - 2,545,000
Max Silver has become something of a fixture at the UKIPT Dublin final table - he won this event in 2010, and then finished fourth in 2011. Silver has also racked up one more UKIPT final table appearance (sixth in Edinburgh in 2010) as well as one EPT final table (sixth at EPT Prague 2013) and a final table bubble spot at the PCA this January. Dublin has been extremely good to Silver - so much so that the native Londoner now calls the city home. Silver is not the only player at this final table who has been here before - Joeri Zandvliet shared the final table with him at both UKIPT Dublin and UKIPT Edinburgh, and the pair are about to do battle for a third time. Silver will be looking to even the score with Zandvliet and claim his second UKIPT victory
Max Silver
Seat 6. Ivan Tononi, 36, Italy - 435,000
Ivan Tononi originally hails from the small town of Bolzano in Italy, but has been living right here in Dublin for 14 years. A project manager for a Canadian company, Tononi works from home and plays poker recreationally. He is mostly an online player specialising in tournaments and heads-up cash, but he's also racked up some impressive live results including sixth place at the Irish Masters in 2010 for €23,500. Tononi goes into the final as the shortest stack at the table on little more than 10 big blinds, so he will be looking to double up as soon as possible when play resumes
Ivan Tononi
Seat 7. Dirk Thijssen, 31, Isle of Man, Rational Group staff - 1,290,000
Dirk Thijssen is the last Rational Group staff member standing in this tournament - he is a product manager working on desktop and mobile software, improving the online playing experience for PokerStars players. He started playing poker 10 years ago after watching a poker show on TV, and played professionally for four years before getting a job with the Rational Group.
Although this is only his second live tournament (he usually prefers cash games), Dirk finished fourth in the UKIPT Isle Of Man High Roller for £6,600 last year. He thinks that UKIPT Dublin has been, "Awesome, amazing and extremely well organized," and says that if staff were allowed to play in more UKIPT events he most definitely would. When asked what he would do if he had to spend the €87,700 first place money in 24 hours, he said that he would spend it on a couple of Rolexes and some other luxury watches!
Dirk Thijssen
Seat 8. Robert Sturman, 25, Stockton-on-Tees - 2,695,000
Robert Sturman is a plasterer by trade and used to play poker online during his lunch breaks at work out of boredom - he says his coworkers used to laugh at him for it. They won't be laughing now though - he's second in chips going into the final after knocking out UKIPT3 leader board winner Tom Hall with aces against A-K, and despite his limited experience (his biggest live cash to date was for €400) he is in an excellent position to take a serious shot at the title. If he does go all the way and take home the €87,700 first prize, he intends to spend it sensibly - a house, a new van, and a holiday with his wife and their six year old child and four week old baby.
4:16pm: Break time
The players are now on a 15 minute break. You'll find level 29 updates in a new post shortly. -- NW
4:15pm: Stations but no action
There's been little action of note in the last dozen hands, there's been a lot of raise and takes and a few raise, calls and then raise and takes on the flop.
The was only one pot that exceeded a million chips (12.5 big blinds) and it was between Chris Wood and Max Silver. It folded to Wood in the small blind he made it 200,000 to go and called when Silver raised to 500,000 total. On the [5d][4d][Jc] flop Silver c-bet 400,000 and Wood folded. As he took the pot Silver showed [9h][3d]. -- NW
4:05pm: Silver nearing eight million
Max Silver has really upped the aggression since play has gone three-handed as he tries to get a frim grasp on the tournament.
There was one pot where he four-bet-folded to Christopher Wood's three-bet, five-bet shove but, apart from that, he's been in control.
Silver shining
In one hand he completed from the small blind and called after Kevin Killeen raised from the big blind. The flop fanned [qc][td][8s] and Silver check-raised a 205,000 bet up to 540,000. Killeen called and also called another 960,000 on the [6c] turn. The board rounded off with the [4d] and Silver led for 1.8 million. Killeen folded.
Another hand saw Silver raise to 200,000 off the button. Wood called before both players checked the [qh][8h][7h] flop. Silver saw a 240,000 bet check-called on the [4d] turn before both players checked the [9h] river. Silver opened [qd][ts] and took the pot as Wood mucked.
Silver - 7.78 million
Killeen - 3.35 million
Wood - 2.25 million
--MC
3:45pm: Chip counts
Here are the rough chip counts of the three remaining players:
Kevin Killeen - 5,500,000
Max Silver - 4,600,000
Chris Wood - 3,500,000
3:35pm: Robert Sturman eliminated in 4th place (€29,100)
Robert Sturman had shoved a few times without getting looked up, this time he shoved without looking and found a caller in the shape of Chris Wood.
Sturman was on the button and shoved for 730,000 total, Wood made the call from the small blind and Sturman claimed to not have looked at his cards as he turned over the [10s] and then the [10d]. He was ahead of Wood's [As][9h] but not for long as the board came [Ah][Ks][3d][9d][Kc].
So Sturman is out in fourth, but €29,100 is a fantastic return on the £8 it cost him to qualify. -- NW
Robert Sturman - fourth place
3:25pm: Dirk Thijssen eliminated in 5th place (€23,100)
Dirk Thijssen has been eliminated but he walks away as the player who probably had the most fun at this final table so far. Big moves, accompanied by a constant smile, seemed to be his remit for how to approach today.
Max Silver got a little luck to knock him out after getting it in behind. The action folded to Silver in the small blind and he set Thijssen in for his last 800,000.
Silver: [8h][9h]
Thijssen: [kh][ts]
The board ran [4h][7d][ad][5c][8c] to pair Silver's eight.
At least Thijssen, being the last Rational Group employee standing, will have bragging rights in the office for a while. -- MC
Dirk Thijssen - 5th place
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 40,000-80,000, 10,000
3:10pm: Chris Wood doubles through Max Silver
Chris Wood just made a very brave or very foolish shove given that there were two shorter stacks at the table than him. Whatever your opinion on the play though hats off to him for pulling it off.
Max Silver raised to 120,000 from under-the-gun and Wood defended from the big blind. On the [3c][7d][8s] flop Silver c-bet 110,000 and Wood made the call. The [Ks] fell on the turn, Wood checked again, Silver bet 300,000 and Wood responded by check-raising all-in for 1,350,000 total.
Silver asked the dealer to pull in his 300,000 and 300,000 from Wood's bet so that he could see how much more it was and then said to Wood: "I wasn't expecting that one." He then cut the requisite calling chips from his stack and worked out what he'd have behind should he lose - about 4,100,000 - and he then made the call.
Wood: [5s][4s] - flush draw and inside straight draw
Silver: [Js][8c] - second pair
Silver was a 75% favourite to win the hand but the [6c] river made Wood a straight and he doubled up to 3,100,000. -- NW
3pm: Joeri Zandvliet eliminated in 6th place (€17,700)
Three-time winner history will not be made today after rival and good friend Max Silver eliminated Joeri Zandvliet.
Silver opened to 120,000 from the cut-off and called after Zandvliet moved all in for 1.15 million from the big blind. Silver got a count, gave his mate a look, and called.
Zandvliet: [kd][7h]
Silver: [7d][7s]
The board ran [ah][4c][4s][2d][qc] to send the Dutchman home. The two players embraced and Silver got back to work. He almost half the chips in play with six million. Earlier today Nick Wealthall caught up with Joeri Zandvliet to talk to him about making yet another UKIPT final table. -- MC
2:40pm: What's it like to make a final table of a UKIPT?
Ever wondered what it's like to make a final table of a UKIPT? Can the players get a decent night's rest? What's their plan? UKIPT Host Nick Wealthall caught up with Dirk Thijssen before the action kicked off here in Dublin. And also set the scene for the final table.
2:30pm: Killeen takes one from Thijssen
There was not much int the way of action in the opening orbit of the level that was until Kevin Killeen and Dirk Thijssen clashed in a pot.
Killeen opened to 120,000 from the cut-off and Thijssen smooth called from the big blind. On the [7h][6s][Qc] flop Thijssen led for 160,000 and Killeen made the call. On the [4d] turn Thijssen fired out 300,000 and again Killeen smooth called. The [Qd] completed the board, both players checked and Killeen's pair of eights were the winner as Thijssen had been at it with [5s][2c]. -- NW
Man in hat leads poker tournament
2:20pm: Chip Counts
Here are the chip counts from the first break:
Seat 1. Joeri Zandvliet, Netherlands, PokerStars qualifier, 1,265,000
Seat 3. Kevin Killeen, Ireland, PokerStars player, 2,970,000
Seat 4. Christopher Wood, United Kingdom, PokerStars qualifier, 2,215,000
Seat 5. Max Silver, United Kingdom, PokerStars player, 4,130,000
Seat 7. Dirk Thijssen, Isle of Man, Rational Group Staff, 1,790,000
Seat 8. Robert Sturman, United Kingdom, PokerStars qualifier, 985,000
2:06pm: Break time
The players are now on a 15 minute break. -- NW
2:05pm: Silver takes the chip lead after winning huge pot from Killeen
In the last hand before the break Max Silver won a huge pot against Kevin Killeen and as a result the chip lead at the final table has changed hands for the first time.
In the hand in question the action folded to Killeen on the button, he raised to 105,000 and Silver called from the big blind. On the [3s][Qh][4c] flop Killeen c-bet 80,000, Silver check-raised to 210,000 and Killeen smooth called.
On the [7s] turn Silver fired out a bet of 420,000 and Killeen smooth called once more. So there was some 1,500,000 in the pot as the [As] completed the board. Silver didn't slow down, he bet 660,000 and after a good five minutes in the tank Killeen made the call. Silver opened [4h][4s] for the flopped set, Killeen nodded his head and pushed his cards towards the muck.
Silver is now the chip leader, but Killeen is still in second. -- NW
1:50pm: Zandvliet shoves on Silver
Joeri Zandvliet is back over a million chips after emptying the clip in a hand against Max Silver.
Pre-flop, the Dutchman raised to 105,000 from the cut-off and Silver called from the big blind. The board came [2s][3s][10d][Kc][Qs] and Zandvliet bet 100,000 on the flop, 135,000 on the turn and then all-in for 435,000 on the river. SIlver called the first two bets, but not the third. "Pretty sweet run out," said Silver as he folded. -- NW
1:40pm: Thijssen 'playing to win'
It seems that Dirk Thijssen won't be happy with a standing ovation in the Isle of Man office later this week, he's playing a style that'll demand a welcome home ceremony at the airport, should he win.
He's playing fast and aggressive, putting opponents to the test with big shoves. He's also calling and running into full houses though.
Robert Sturman opened to 105,000 from under the gun and called after Thijssen three-bet to 280,000 from the big blind. On the [8c][5c][js] flop Thijssen continued for 340,000. Call. The turn fell as the [qh] and Thijssen moved all in for 1.15 million. Sturman folded after a minute's thought and was shown [6h][2c] by his opponent.
"Play to win," announced a smiling Thijssen as he raked in the pot.
The next hand Thijssen called a cut-off raise from Christopher Wood before both checked a [js][7s][5c] flop. The turn came as the [6c] and Wood saw his delayed 125,000 c-bet check-raised up to 300,000. Thijssen called and check-called another 390,000 on the [jh] river. Wood opened [7h][7c] for a full house and Thijssen mucked.
Thijssen is a man on a mission
Two hands later Thijssen raised to 100,000 and picked up callers in Sturman and Kevin Killeen. He continued for 150,000 on the [6h][3h][qs] flop and only Sturman called to the [8d] turn that was checked through. The board completed with the [9c] and Thijssen set Sturman in for his last 1.15 million. Sturman admitted defeat and folded.
A roller-coaster few hands for Thijssen saw his stack settle on 2.05 million. Wood moved up to 2.15 million. -- MC
1:20pm: Zandvliet gets some back
Two-time UKIPT champion Joeri Zandvliet had slipped into short stack territory and whilst he's not exactly flush with chips, he's got more than he had 10 minutes ago as he won two pots in quick succession.
In the first Max Silver opened to 100,000 from under-the-gun and Zandvliet moved all-in for 600,000 total from the button. Back on Silver he asked for the 100,000 bets to be pulled in and then did some mental maths. "It's super close," he said with a grin to Zandvliet.
As Silver was tanking four men arrived in onesies and silly knitted hats, it wasn't a Bloodhound Gang reunion, but friends of Kevin Killeen's here to support him. Silver burst out laughing at this spectacle, but they were directly behind Zandvliet, so the Dutchman might have thought Silver was laughing about his hand until he turned round and was let in on the joke.
Eventually though Silver folded to give Zandvliet the pot. A couple of hands later Zandvliet opened to 105,000 from under-the-gun and Robert Sturman defended from the big blind. A c-bet of 105,000 on the [Qc][Ac][5h] flop was enough to earn Zandvliet the pot. -- NW
1:05pm: Chris Wood doubles through Robert Sturman
"Go on Woody lad," was the cry from Chris Wood's rail after he scored a crucial double-up at the hands of Robert Sturman.
The Hartlepool lad moved all-in from under-the-gun for 670,000 and Sturman looked to the heavens before re-raising all-in from the button. Everyone else folded and the reason for Sturman's look was soon evident as he flipped [6c][6s] for the same hand he had 25 minutes ago when he doubled up DIrk Thijssen. He was ahead this time though as Wood had [Ah][Qh].
However the [Jd][10h][5s][Qs][Kh] board first gave Wood a superior pair and then gave him a straight. He's up to 1,450,000 whilst Sturman is down to 2,000,000. -- NW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 25,000-50,000, 5,000
12:55pm: Larry Ryan eliminated in 7th place (€12,830)
It took a cooler in a battle of the blinds to see off Larry Ryan in 7th place.
The action folded around to him in the small blind and he raised to 80,000 and called when Kevin Killeen three-bet to 190,000 out of the big blind. Both players checked the [7h][jc][kh] flop before Ryan check-called 195,000 on the [jd] turn.
The board completed with the [qc] and Killeen bet 290,000. Ryan then check-raised all in for around 415,000 and Killeen called. Ryan opened [tc][9d] for a rivered straight but the river had cost him dear as Killeen opened [qd][qs] for a full house.
Ryan got a generous round of applause and he shook all the remaining players' hands. Killeen extended his lead and moved up to 4,550,000. -- MC
Ryan's race run in seventh
12:40pm: Dirk Thijssen doubles through Robert Sturman
It folded round to Dirk Thijssen in the cut-off and the Rational Group Employee opened to 80,000, next to act Robert Sturman three-bet to 185,000 total and the blinds got out the way. Back on Thijssen he thought for a minute and then moved all-in for 675,000 total and after getting a count Sturman made the call.
Sturman: [6s][6h]
Thijssen: [Qc][Qh]
The superior pair held up as the board ran [3d][7c][As][10d][Ad]. Thijssen is up to 1,400,000 whilst Sturman slips to 2,700,000. -- NW
12:30pm: Ivan Tononi eliminated in 8th place (€8,748)
It took until hand number three of this final table to lose the first player, and it was lone Italian Ivan Tononi.
The action folded around to him in the cut-off and he moved all in for around 400,000. Robert Sturman looked very interested in the small blind and made the call after checking how many chips Joeri Zandvliet had in the big blind. The Dutchman left them to it.
Sturman: [qh][qd]
Tononi: [js][8d]
The board ran [as][ts][2h][6h][js] to seal Tononi's elimination. -- MC
Ivan Tononi - first out at the final table
12:20pm: Silver wins big first hand
Max Silver got off to a great start as he battled in a big pot on the first hand with Rational Group employee Dirk Thijssen.
Silver raised to 80,000 off the button and Thijssen defended his big blind to take a peek at the [8c][jc][8d] flop. Silver continued for 95,000 and Thijssen check-called to the [9h] turn. Silver fired 170,000 and called when check-raised up to 400,000.
On the [9s] river Thijssen gave up as he check-folded to a 375,000 bet. He dropped to less than 700,000 chips, whereas Silver passed the three-million mark. -- MC
12:15pm: Go time
Cards are in the air here in Dublin. -- NW
The elite eight at UKIPT4 Dublin
12:10pm: Final table profiles
There's a slight delay to the action here but cards should be in the air soon. To fill an action filled gap why not learn a bit more about the elite eight by checking out these final table profiles. -- NW
12pm: Killeen leads final eight
Welcome back to the PokerStars.com UKIPT4 Dublin and final table day!
Online pro Kevin Killeen leads the way with more than 25% of the chips in play but he faces a difficult challenge if he is to claim his maiden title. That's because he has to get through Joeri Zandvliet and Max Silver, two players who have been here and done it before.
Silver & Zanvliet have been here before
Max Silver dismantled the final table here back in Season 1 quicker than anyone else has before. The Briton, who is in the midst of a hot run in the game, doesn't like to hang around and has a style that is a joy to watch. Zandvliet took the Dublin title a season later to add to the Manchester UKIPT he won in Season 1. He's looking to make history here today by securing a historic third title.
The Rational Group still has one representative flying the flag. Dirk Thijssen will already receive a heroes welcome when he gets back into the Isle of Man (IOM) office later this week but can he go better than the fourth-place finish Chris Jonat managed at the IOM UKIPT?
Here's a reminder of how they line up:
Seat 1. Joeri Zandvliet, Netherlands, PokerStars qualifier, 1,310,000
Seat 2. Larry Ryan, Ireland, PokerStars qualifier, 920,000
Seat 3. Kevin Killeen, Ireland, PokerStars player, 3,505,000
Seat 4. Christopher Wood, United Kingdom, PokerStars qualifier, 650,000
Seat 5. Max Silver, United Kingdom, PokerStars player, 2,545,000
Seat 6. Ivan Tononi, Italy, 435,000
Seat 7. Dirk Thijssen, Isle of Man, Rational Group Staff, 1,290,000
Seat 8. Robert Sturman, United Kingdom, PokerStars qualifier, 2,695,000
7:25pm: Max Silver eliminated in 2nd place (€53,700); Kevin Killeen wins UKIPT Dublin (€87,700)
Kevin Killeen managed to survive four all ins throughout his ding-dong heads up battle. Max Silver, on the other hand, was eliminated the first time his stack was at risk.
Silver opened to 320,000 and then four-bet all in for around four million after Killeen three-bet to 825,000. Call.
Silver: [qs][8s]
Killeen: [kc][qc]
Silver was dominated and needed help. The [6d][4h][2c] flop didn't bring it. The [3s] turn offered chops out and Silver commented that he would take that, but it failed to appear in the [ad] river.
Killeen's rail stormed the barricades and hoisted their man aloft in celebrations.
Congratulations to both players on their fantastic performance this week. -- MC
7:15pm: Kevin Killeen wins
It's all over here in Dublin and Kevin Killeen has won UKIPT4 Dublin. Details on the final hand to come. -- NW
7:10pm: Killeen trims Silver's chip stack further
Kevin Killeen is up to almost 10 million after taking a big pot from Max Silver. It began with Killeen making it 350,000 to go and Silver calling from the big blind. On the [9h][2s][10d] flop Killeen c-bet 375,000, Silver check-raised to 1,000,000 straight and Killeen smooth called.
The [Kh] fell on the turn and Silver check-folded to a bet of 1,000,000 from Killeen. After that hand Silver is down to 3,800,000 whilst Killeen is up to 9,600,000. -- NW
It's Killeen who's in gold position now
7:02pm: Killeen leads
For the first time since heads-up play began Kevin Killeen has taken the chip lead. It happened in the following pot.
Max Silver raised to 320,000 on the button and called when Killeen three-bet to 825,000. Both players checked the [Qh][Kd][Js] flop and the [10d] fell on the turn. Killeen led for 750,000 and Silver smooth called. The [8h] river was checked through and Killeen showed [Ah][5d] to take the pot. He now has a roughly 6.9m to 6.4m chip lead. -- NW
6:58pm: Chip counts
The players are back and playing the following stacks:
Max Silver - 7.975,000
Kevin Killeen - 5,380,000. -- NW
Blinds up: 80,000/160,000, ante 20,000
6:45pm: Break time
The two remaining players are now on a short break. -- NW
6:41pm: We need to talk about Kevin
It's been all Killeen since his last double up and he's won the only two pots that have gone to showdown. Both have been reasonably small but they all count.
In the first Max Silver raised to 240,000 and Killeen called from the big blind. It checked all the way to the river on a [7c][Jc][8c][Qd][9s] board at which point Killeen check-called a bet of 200,000. "Two-pair," said Silver, but Killeen had [10s][7d] for a straight.
Then on the final hand before the break Killeen raised to 240,000 on the button and Silver called from the big blind. Again they checked to the river, this time the board came [4d][Ad][Qd][Js][6d], Silver bet 260,000 on the river and Killeen had a long think before calling. Again Silver had two-pair, [6h][4h] to be precise, but Killeen had [3d][3h] for a small flush. -- NW
6:26pm: Killeen gets another double
Another double for Kevin Killeen and it might be Max Silver who's getting drunk on his inability to seal a second UKIPT title.
After Killeen opened to 300,000, Silver moved all-in and Killeen snap called.
Silver: [7d][6c]
Killeen: [Ad][Kc]
"He's so live," said one of Killeen's rail at the fact that Silver, although behind, had plenty of clean outs. The board ran [js][5d][3h][10h][3s] and Killeen doubled to around 4,500,000 whilst Silver drops to 9,000,000. Game on. -- NW
Another all-in, same result
6:18pm: Killeen gets short, doubles yet again
Kevin Killeen is proving a difficult opponent to finish off. Max Silver had him down to just over ten big blinds before another all-in confrontation.
He was down that low because he called a 1.1 million bet from Silver on the river of a [2c][5c][8h][ah][3s] board. Silver opened [4c][7h] for a wheel and Killeen mucked.
The very next hand Killeen moved all in for 1.26 million with [8h][9c] and Silver called with [js][td]. The board ran [ah][6s][3h][9h][qh] to make Killeen a pair of nines. One more double up for Killeen and the game will well and truly be back on. -- MC
6:05pm: More for Silver
The heads-up patten is repeating itself as Max Silver has, yet again, ground Kevin Killeen down so that he again has an almost three to one chip lead. In the latest big pot that they played Killeen made it 300,000 on the button and Silver called from the big blind.
Both players checked the [6s][Qc][9d] flop and the [3d] fell on the turn. Silver led for 400,000 and Killeen smooth called. The [3h] completed the board, Silver fired out a bet of 600,000 and Killeen called, Silver showed [Jd][9d] and it was good.
Pot to Silver, 9,900,000 plays 3,500,000. -- NW
Silver is well in front once more
5:50pm: Silver scoops one with a pair of aces
A standard raise of 250,000 from Kevin Killeen was met with a standard call from Max Silver and the two of them took a [2s][10d][Ad] flop. Check by Silver, bet of 250,00 from Killeen, call by Silver.
The [Qd] hit the turn, check from Silver, bet of 600,000 from Killeen, call from Silver. The [9h] completed the board, Silver checked again and this time Killeen folllowed suit. "Ace" said Silver as he rolled over [As][7c], Killeen nodded to indicate it was good and he mucked his hand.
Pot to Silver who's up to 9,000,000, whilst Killeen is down to 4,500,000. -- NW
Blinds up: 60,000/120,000, ante 20,000
5:40pm: Kevin Killeen doubles through Max Silver
Kevin Killeen has just doubled through Max Silver for the second time in this heads-up battle. And much like the first he was in front when the money went in but not by much.
Pre-flop Silver opened to 200,000 on the button and Killeen called from the big blind. On the [Js][5s][Qh] flop Silver bet 240,000, Killeen check-raised to 640,000, Silver re-raised to 1,240,000, Killeen moved all-in for just under 3,000,000 and Silver made the call.
Killeen: [Qs][7c]
Silver: [Ks][3s]
Killeen was a 56% to double up and he did so as the turn and river came [5d][2d]. So stacks are roughly even again, with Silver having a slight advantage. -- NW
Silver stands to sweat the all-in
Killeen has restored parity once more
5:35pm: Back and forth they go
Although Max Silver four-bet pre-flop to 1,000,000 even in one hand and Kevin Killeen moved all-in in another that's about the sum total of the action in the last 10 minutes. It all means it's pretty much as we were, although Killeen has perhaps grabbed a couple of big blinds back. -- NW
5:25pm: Killeen dips below 30 big blinds
Another sizable pot has gone the way of Max Silver and it means Kevin Killeen's stack has dipped below the 30 big blind mark for the first time during heads-up play.
It was Silver who started the action with his standard raise to 200,000 on the button, Killeen raised to 525,000 from the big blind and Silver smooth called. On the [6d][5c][9c] flop Killeen c-bet 500,000 and Silver again smooth called.
The [3c] turn completed the flush draw and Killeen check-folded to a bet of 725,000 from Silver. Stacks now roughly 10.7m plays 2.6m. -- NW
5:15pm: Silver surges back into big lead
Max Silver just won a six million chip pot to quickly reestablish a hefty chip lead...
He raised to 200,000 on the button and Kevin Killeen smooth called from the big blind.On the [6d][6s][8d] flop Silver c-bet 180,000, Killeen check-raised to 450,000 and Silver flat called.
The turn was the [9d] Killeen bet 560,000 and Silver called again. So there was 2,620,000 in the pot as the [5h] hit the river. Killeen slowed down, checking it over to Silver who fired out a bet of 1,750,000. Killeen went deep into the tank but after a couple of minutes he made the call. Silver rolled over [9c][6c] for a full-house and Killeen mucked his hand.
The stacks are now roughly 9.5m plays 3.9m in Silver's favour. -- NW
5:10pm: Say hello to Max Silver
UKIPT Host Nick Wealthall seemingly cobbled everyone before the start of play here in Dublin. His latest victim is Max Silver.
5pm: Kevin Killeen doubles through Max Silver
Max Silver had stretched out to a 10.2m to 3.2m chip lead when the biggest pot of the tournament played out.
Killeen opened to 200,000 on the button, Silver three-bet to 525,000 from the big blind, Killeen moved all-in and Silver made the call.
Silver: [Ks][Qc]
Killeen: [9h][9d]
It was a race and the pair stayed ahead on the [6s][5c][10c][td][6c] board. As a result the stacks are all but even. -- NW
4:55pm: Meet Kevin Killeen
Whilst Max Silver is at his fourth UKIPT Main Event final table and is searching for his second title, this is Kevin Kileen's first tilt at a title. Nick Wealthall caught up with the start of final table chip leader before play began.
4:50pm: Heads-up chip counts
After a short break the two players are back in their seats and heads-up play is about to start. These are the chip counts at the start of the heads-up battle:
Kevin Killeen - 5,000,000
Max Silver - 8,355,000
And a reminder of what they're playing for:
1st. €87,700
2nd. €53,700. -- NW
Heads-up play gets underway
4:40pm: Chris Wood eliminated in third place (€38,400)
We're now heads-up here in Dublin as Chris Woods has fallen in third.
He three-bet all-in for 1,960,000 from the small blind over the top of Kevin Killeen's button open of 200,000. Back on Killeen the Irishman got a count before calling the all-in.
Killeen: [Ks][Qd]
Wood: [7d][6d]
The board came [10h][Ad][Qs][Js][5d] and a chant of "T is for Torino (Killeen's online screename is torino2000)," rang out around the Round Room. -- NW
4:37pm: Four in a row for Silver
Max Silver has won the first four pots of the level to further stretch his chip lead. -- NW
4:32pm: Who's left?
UKIPT Dublin is down to three players, here's a reminder of who they are and their chip counts heading into level 29. Max Silver has 8,035,000 of the 13,355,000 chips in play.
Kevin Killeen, 24, Dublin, Ireland, PokerStars Player - 2,960,000
Online pro Kevin Killeen is our chip leader going into the final table after knocking out both Michael Naughton and Declan Barker in 11th and 10th places respectively. He mostly plays online, where he's a mid to high stakes tournament specialist - his biggest cash to date was $33,000 in the Sunday Second Chance on PokerStars. He's proving that his online skills translate nicely into the live game this week, though - currently he has almost a million chip advantage over his nearest rival. He has plans to move to Mexico later in the year where he intends to continue playing online for a living.
Kevin Killeen
Christopher Wood, 30, Hartlepool, UK, PokerStars Qualifier - 2,360,000
Christopher Wood is no stranger to final tables - he finished second in the Irish Winter Festival here in Dublin back in 2008 for €106,000. Despite this, he regards himself as primarily a cash player - he started playing at home with friends before progressing to the online game and then from there moving on to live cash. He tries to go to all the UKIPTs and as many EPTs as he can, playing mostly cash games but also playing the tournaments when he satellites in. Wood is one of our shorter stacks going into the day, but his experience and track record mean that he cannot be discounted just yet.
Christopher Wood
Max Silver, 23, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player - 8,035,000
Max Silver has become something of a fixture at the UKIPT Dublin final table - he won this event in 2010, and then finished fourth in 2011. Silver has also racked up one more UKIPT final table appearance (sixth in Edinburgh in 2010) as well as one EPT final table (sixth at EPT Prague 2013) and a final table bubble spot at the PCA this January. Dublin has been extremely good to Silver - so much so that the native Londoner now calls the city home. Silver is not the only player at this final table who has been here before - Joeri Zandvliet shared the final table with him at both UKIPT Dublin and UKIPT Edinburgh, and the pair are about to do battle for a third time. Silver will be looking to even the score with Zandvliet and claim his second UKIPT victory.
After the Day 1 Max Silver had, it was up to everyone else to stop him. It was looking like no one could but then Kevin Killeen did and denied Silver the second UKIPT crown he so desperately wanted.
The heads up battle lasted around two-and-a-half hours but it was almost over within minutes of it beginning. Killeen was all in with pocket nines and survived the race with Silver's king-queen. Silver got the better of most of the pots that weren't all-ins but when all the chips were at risk, Killeen had the goods, or got there. Three more times his stack was a risk and all three times he found a double up.
Kevin Killeen, the proud hometown champion
When Silver was short and needed to make a move, he found himself dominated and out. He four-bet all in with queen-eight but was called by Killeen holding the dominating king-queen. Five cards later and Silver was covered in drink from Killeen's rail as they charged the tournament floor to celebrate with their man.
Silver just before defeat
Silver took the defeat well and told the blog, "Oh well! Hurts more coming second than not winning a second title. I don't regret anything about the final."
On Kevin he said: "Nice guy, he played really well."
The whole day had been surrounded by a very jovial atmosphere. By the time heads up play got underway, the two supporting camps were polarised in their approach to supporting their man. When Silver won a hand a polite ripple of applause could be heard from his support; when Killeen won a hand his rail, most dressed in animal onsies, leapt up and down and sung football chant style songs.
Killeen hoisted aloft
After his victory Killeen spoke to the blog:
"I'm absolutely delighted to have won UKIPT Dublin, words can't describe how I feel. The rail kept me believing, they were loud, and they were great. Max is a very good player, it took me a while to find my rhythm but once I got even I believed I could win.
"I said at the beginning of the year that I wouldn't shave my beard until I'd had a 50k score so I guess the beard's got to go! The money's one thing but I'm just absolutely delighted to make a run like this and to be crowned champion of Dublin is fantastic."
Kevin Killeen's rail
Back to the beginning of the day and it only took three hands of play to lose the first player. Lone Italian Ivan Tononi moved his short stack all in with [js][8d] but ran into Robert Sturman's pocket queens and left with €8,748 for just over three days work.
Ivan Tononi was the first player out
Twenty-five minutes later Larry Ryan joined him on the rail and it was pocket queens that did the damage again. He and Killeen made it to the river of a [7h][jc][kh][jd][qc] board where the chips went in. Ryan had made a straight with ten-nine but that was no good against Killeen's rivered boat.
Larry Ryan was straightened out
The final table settled down after that as chips moved around from one player's stack to another. Silver and Joeri Zandvliet contested the UKIPT1 Edinburgh final table that Nick Abou Risk won, and when the Dutchman secured his second title at UKIPT2 Dublin, Silver finished fourth. The rivalry extended to a friendship and the two met at a third UKIPT table today, and inevitably locked horns.
No third title for Joeri Zandvliet
Silver called Zandvliet's three-bet all-in with pocket sevens. Zandvliet was in trouble with king-seven and failed to hit the type of three-outer that came to his rescue more than once yesterday.
Dirk Thijssen earned lots of money and office bragging rights
As had been mentioned many times this week, the event was open to Rational Group employees who wished to play. Dirk Thijssen had only played two live poker tournaments before but that didn't stop him being the last employee in and the only representative at the final table. He played aggressively, always with a broad smile across his face though. His day came to an end when his king-ten failed to stay ahead of Silver's eight-nine. Office bragging rights and €23,100 equals a good week in most people's minds.
Robert Sturman can celebrate with his new baby
PokerStars qualifier Robert Sturman won his way into this event for just €8 and managed to turn that into €29,100 and a fourth-place finish. His pocket tens failed to stay ahead of Christopher Wood, who had called with ace-nine. This was the plasterer's second ever UKIPT and he was delighted to be able take the money home to lavish on his four-week-old baby.
Christopher Wood supported by his rail
The unofficial nine-handed table only lasted four hands last night and the first three of them saw Wood move all in. All three shoves got through but it just shows you the predicament he was in. For him to be able to ladder up to third place for a €38,400-score is some achievement. His exit hand came after he three-bet all in with six-seven after a Killeen raise. The Irishman called and hit a queen to send Wood back to Hartlepool.
UKIPT4 final table results: 1st. Kevin Killeen, Ireland, PokerStars Player, €87,700
2nd. Max Silver, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player, €53,700
3rd. Chris Wood, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, €38,400
4th. Robert Sturman, United Kingdom, PokerStars qualifier - €29,100
5th. Dirk Thijssen, Isle of Man, Rational Group staff - €23,100
6th. Joeri Zandvliet, Netherlands, PokerStars qualifier, €17,700
7th. Larry Ryan, Ireland, PokerStars qualifier - €12,830
8th. Ivan Tononi, Italy - €8,748
Dusk Till Dawn
That's all from Dublin. The next Season 4 stop promises to be a special one as the tour returns to Dusk Till Dawn and has a whopping £1 million guarantee. It takes place from May 7-12 and satellites are already running on PokerStars so it'd seem silly not to try and be involved.
To catch up on all today's action and to see who finished in what spot, please click on the links below:
The UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) has broken new ground many times this season. Not only did it go on 'holiday' to Marbella to team up with the PokerStars Estrellas Poker Tour, but the UKIPT brought big-time poker to the Isle of Man for the first time since John Duthie won the Poker Million in 2000. The event, which allowed Rational Group staff to play a PokerStars sponsored Main Event for the first time, was a huge hit with everyone who played - so much so that it was an instant addition to this season's calendar.
The UKIPT is continuing to innovate in 2014. Varied Main Event buy-ins have allowed players of all levels the chance to play an incredible multi-day tournament series, not to mention a great range of side events at each stop. Joining the UKIPT Isle of Man this October will be the first-ever PokerStars IOM International Chess Tournament. The events will cross over and could pit the cerebral heavyweights of the poker world against some of the best chess in the world. The chess players will, of course, be more than welcome at the poker table, too.
The Villa Marina will host the PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament and the UKIPT
The PokerStars IOM International Chess Tournament is scheduled October 4-12 and will overlap with the UKIPT Isle of Man festival, which takes places October 2-6 with the £770 Main Event running throughout. The £350,000 guarantee will no doubt help to attract hundreds of players, particularly following the critical success of last season.
"I'm proud to say that the first UKIPT event on the Isle of Man was a big success in 2013," said Mark Scheinberg, CEO of the Rational Group, the parent company of PokerStars. "The atmosphere was very social and it was obvious that the players were really enjoying themselves."
Recently I gave a talk at TED X Baltimore, shaking any remaining fragments of my glossophobia. Though I'm not a stranger to public speaking, I was nervous about the stakes. Then the crowd laughed at a part that wasn't even supposed to be a joke. Soft table, I realized. Indeed, it was a pleasure to present my ideas on chess, decision trees and poker to such an enthusiastic audience.
The intersections between chess and poker are a big part of my life- when I go to poker tournaments, friends hit me up for chess tips, while I have the exact opposite experience at chess tournaments.
I love talking to poker players about chess and chess players about poker. Contrary to the intro of my TED Talk, or Ike Haxton's recent blog, their questions tend to be so intelligent. At TED X Baltimore, an Indian Grandmaster was sitting in the audience. He had just arrived to the US to attend University of Baltimore County. He introduced himself on break and skipped the "How should I play AK?" queries right to tips on bankroll management and whether to start in tournaments or cash.
I've had a front seat view into PokerStars consistent support of chess. For eight years, they have sponsored my brother Greg Shahade's pet project, the US Chess League. The US Chess League is the first network of its kind in the US, featuring some of the best players in American history.
Now PokerStars is the lead sponsor of the Isle of Man Chess International, which will coincide with the UKIPT Isle of Man Main Event. PokerStars has asked me to be an ambassador for the brand, by commenting on poker/chess synergies, strategies and skills. I'll do this in public appearances, media interviews, blogs and by representing PokerStars as a sponsored player at a number of poker tournaments leading up to the UKIPT IOM Main.
Jen Shahade hosting Sinquefield Cup commentary with Yasser Seirawan. Here World Champ Magnus Carlsen battles US #1 Hikaru Nakamura.
The first event where I'll represent PokerStars is the WSOP Circuit Main in Saint Louis. Saint Louis was recognized by Congress as the "Capital of Chess" in America (seriously!). Saint Louis boasts the most prestigious chess club and chess museum in the US. The STL Chess Club recently hosted the new World Champion (also a poker aficionado), Magnus Carlsen in the Sinquefield Cup.
While in Saint Louis, I'll give a series of lectures on chess, including one on chess, feminism and fashion to complement the current World Chess Hall of Fame show, "A Queen Within."
Installation from "A Queen Within"
Hope to meet some of you in Saint Louis! Afterwards, I'll head to Israel for a month in which I'll say hello to some of my old friends, "Women's Sunday", "falafel" and "Sunday Million."
It took me less than 3 hours to be 'Dublin-ed'. This is process is also known as a 'good craic'. It is also referred to as being full of the party vibe aka whammed. I felt a little guilty as this was during the pre-event bash for the Irish media, but it's rude not to. I'm not making this up - in Dublin it's literally rude to refuse a drink. People have been kicked out for worse.
Without a doubt my personal highlight of an amazing week - and bear in mind this was a week that included a personal cash in the main event, a huge turnout for all our events and a star-studded final table - was seeing Jake Cody bust the media event.
Now before you jump on my back, this is not me being unpleasant, Jake is one of my favourite people in poker. Let me explain. The media event was a tournament for about 20 journalists from the mainstream Irish press. A chance to show off poker to people who normally don't get to see it or cover it and a really great thing to do. The point of Jake and me being there was to entertain them, show them a good time and explain a bit about the world of poker and the UKIPT to them. We're not there to win the tournament.... I can't emphasize that enough. And yet, when Jake bust in 5th he showed almost exactly the same emotions as if he'd bust an EPT main event.
Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody at UKIPT Dublin
He agonized over his decision in the final hand, was desperately unlucky to run into a cooler and then looked mortified when he had to leave. And here's the kicker... he wasn't eligible for a prize.
Of course, he quickly recovered and was his usual friendly self but he really really wanted to win! It was something to see. If you ever have questions about what it takes to get to the top, there's the attitude you need right there. And that is my excuse for throwing a temper tantrum like a child when I was badbeated out of the win in the heads up. True story.
Big, round and bounced out
The event proper was a ludicrously successful and fun one. The venue was a triumph in the shape of Dublin's Mansion House, in the historic round room which was built for King George IV in 1821. I know this because PokerStars made me memorise it to tell some journalists. Literally forced me to. It was like school.
A field of 682 entrants generated a prize pool of nearly half a million euros and a €90k first prize for the biggest UKIPT of season 4 so far.
Halfway through Day 2 I was in with a shout of a first UKIPT title only to wither and die like an untended shamrock on a wind swept cliff.
Nick Wealthall during the Day 2 grind
I played well and managed to get into a well above average chip position on day 2 without ever playing a really big pot. After a rocky start in these events I'm certain I've got the feel for them and hope to turn one of my many day 2 appearances (and now 2 cashes) into a big score. Watch this space!
If ever anyone outside poker wants proof our game is dominated by skill despite the presence of luck they need only stop by the UKIPT. Max Silver made his 5th UKIPT final table and Joeri Zandvliet joined him and went for his 3rd title. The ability of these pros who got their start on tour to regularly carve through the field is something to see. Shout out as well to Kevin Killeen who won the title; it was great to have an Irish winner on home soil and no surprise to anyone who follows Irish poker that this top player was the one to do it.
UKIPT Dublin champ Kevin Killeen
Right I need to wrap this out and go and recommit to healthy living. I'll see you all in Nottingham in May - this one is going to be HUGE. With a capital HUGE! £1 million guarantee is enough to get anyone excited, you can qualify now on PokerStars and I can't wait to see you there.
There are five full £1,600 packages guaranteed in this Sunday 20:02 GMT £215 qualifier. Satellites into that tournament are also available. Search for tournament #88205196 or click through 'Events' > 'More' > 'UKIPT' in the PokerStars lobby.
Nick Wealthall is the UKIPT host and a regular commentator at PokerStars.tv.
Did you know your live poker performance could win you Sunday Million and Sunday Warm-Up Tickets? Those are just a couple of the prizes you can win on the PokerStars LIVE Leader Board. Want to get in on the action? Then you should know about that upcoming return of the UKIPT Series to the PokerStars LIVE venue at the Hippodrome in London.
The UKIPT Series runs April 11-13 at The Hippodrome. Your £250 + £25 buy-in will get you a 20,000 starting stack, the UKIPT Main Event structure, and 30 minute blinds.
UKIPT Series players are eligible for UKIPT side event leaderboard points. What's more, UKIPT Series winners will get an invite to the UKIPT Champion of Champions event where a Season 5 passport is up for grabs.
Oh, and you get to play in a room that looks like this.
Not a bad little venue, eh?
If you think you have what it takes, you'll probably want to know about the big prizes from the PokerStars Live Leader Board. Here's what's you could win if you stick with it through the whole season.
2014 OVERALL LEADER BOARD PRIZES
1st: UKIPT London Seat, tickets to UKIPT Series and PS LIVE Classics 2nd: 4 x UKIPT Series Event entries 3rd: 2 x UKIPT Series Event entries 4th-10th: 1 x UKIPT Series Event entry
Sound good? Then get thee to the Hippodrome in April!
For a full schedule and information, visit the UKIPT Series page.
We know you have come to love EPT Live, and we don't blame you for that. But, we'll also assume you have a life, maybe a job, perhaps friends or family who require you to be away from your screen when the EPT plays out. You're going to miss some stuff.
Fortunately, if you happen to be one of the lucky people living in the UK, you'll be able to catch the broadcasts on Channel 4 just after midnight on Tuesdays. The show has just kicked off the EPT10 London fun. Don't worry. You'll also be able to see it in other places. Have a look at the EPT broadcast list to see if you can watch at home.
See that guy right there? That's Kid Poker himself, and he'll be on the next episode with Sam Trickett and Mike McDonald on the feature table of EPT London's Day 2. You can't ask for better action than that.
So, pop some corn, grab a very refreshing beverage, and put your feet up. The show is about to start.
4.00pm: BREAK
That's a rapid fire four levels in the bag. The players are on a 15 minute break. Level five updates and onward will continue at this link.
3.38pm: To clock or not to clock
Moments ago, Steve Berto just faced a mountain of pressure coming at him from every angle.
First off he was contending a pot heads up with Joseph McErlean. After Berto had led for 1,200, McErlean had checked-raised to 2,400 on the [Kd][Kh][5d] board.
A tough decision that sent him into the tank, made a little tougher moments later when Leo Imrie, uninvolved in the hand, piped in with his own contribution.
"Can i call the clock?"
"He's only had a minute now, come on," someone else chimed in.
"Just asking, I don't want to!" Imrie added. (The TD confirmed that any player can call the clock should he want however.)
Eventually Berto passed, leaving himself 10,000 or so. "I was shoving till you called the clock."
"Oh sorry," Imrie said.
"Don't worry, you might've saved me some chips!" Berto countered, looking on the bright side.
3.15pm: Bonanza Numbers!
The field continues to swell like a balloon attached to a garden hose by a recalcitrant child. Let's hope it doesn't burst!
120 is the current tally although there is one more level of late registration (level four) to come before we have the final numbers for this flight of the day.
There have been around six eliminations so far meaning 114 players remain with skin in the game.
3.02pm: No Diaper change
Luke Diaper just faced a decision for all his chips on the river of a [8h][5c][4c][Ks][5h] board. Nikolay Ponomarev had moved all-in for around 9,000 after he had checked and after a long pause in which time may have seemed to stand still...he called for all his chips.
Instant disappointment for him as his opponent wasted no time turning over the nut full house - K-K in his hand.
Diaper moved to muck his cards but the dealer moved to expose them. "Go on then, if you want to give me a rubdown. He had the best hand!" - a statement that proved accurate as the dealer showed a pair of jacks. Another quick exit...
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 75-150
2.35pm: Golden Graham melts down
Allan Graham has taken an early bath, running a multi street bluff that ended with him finally moving all-in for his stack on the [2h] [4s] [6s] [8s] [Jh] board.
The brave man who made the call for most of his chips with [Jd] [Qd] was Justin Titchinen, who called after a sigh and a shrug - only for a quick table tap of concession from Graham. He tabled the defeated [As][4c] and grabbed his coat for a quick getaway.
Titchinen up to over 40,000...
2.14pm: Deadly Sin part of giant field
The official numbers just keep rising - the wonderful location and weather drawing the players in like flies to honey. It's looking like 105 players are currently registered for the initial flight and the busy worker ants in the media room are typing like dervishes to get this information readily available for your perusal.
Full Tilt Poker Tour Ambassador Sin Melin is one of the more recognisable names in attendance - with nearly six figures already clocked up in live cashes, she is one of the rising female stars of poker in the UK.
2.00pm: UKIPT Series 4 at The Hippodrome Casino is off!
Welcome one and all for Season 4 of the PokerStars UKIPT Series 4. It's a beautifully sunny day in london today but a group of hopefuls have forgone the solar delights on offer to get stuck into a hard-fought game of poker.
The structure means the game will play out in fast and furious fashion. There are three flights in total - 2 starting today (the second flight will commence at 8pm) and already 90 plus players have signed up for the initial flight of the day.
The third flight will begin at 2pm tomorrow.
Incidentally for those invidiously eyeing up players above them in the UKIPT leaderboard rankings, note that this tournament will be included in the final tally, so there's a chance to leapfrog a few places with a deep run.
As usual we'll be bringing you all the excitement from the felt throughout the day, with news of all the big names and stories that play out as we proceed.
For now though cards are in the air, good luck one and all!
After kicking off 2014 in the Bahamas with a super fantastic experience at PCA, I was excited to organize another poker trip as soon as possible.
Whenever I get back to the States, I start going stir-crazy with the insufficient online poker options and sparse live tournament schedules. So when I learned that UKIPT Dublin was right around the corner, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for another poker getaway!
The UK & Ireland Poker Tour first caught my attention when the broadcasts began airing online on Pokerstars.tv, and it immediately became my one of my favorite poker shows. I will confess I have a slightly compulsive habit of watching any televised poker program, no matter how terrible it is, but the UKIPT episodes had a unique and special quality. They featured amateur players right alongside the well-known pros, and they had sophisticated production and commentary on par with EPT broadcasts. I particularly enjoyed Liv Boeree's strategy analysis alongside the often bizarre and hilarious commentary by Nick Wealthall. I was envious that my neighbors across the pond got to play all these big sexy local tournaments for relatively low buy-ins, and I hoped I'd be able to jump into a UKIPT myself one day.
When I visited my boyfriend Mickey in London in 2012, we took a trip to Nottingham, where I had my first chance to experience a UKIPT in the flesh. Although, sadly at that point, the UKIPT was no longer being televised, the tournament still lived up to all my expectations. UKIPT Nottingham was one of the largest tournaments ever to be held in England, yet it was so well organized that it went off without a hitch. Many well-known UK pros were in the field, and my British tablemates were friendly and welcoming, bantering with each other over midday pints of beer just like I'd seen on TV. I felt more comfortable than I had in any other live setting, and on Day 2, I managed to squeak into the money for my first live tournament cash, further solidifying my enduring UKIPT devotion!
For UKIPT Dublin this year, we planned to arrive a couple days early, so we'd have a chance to explore the city. The tournament venue was a lovely historic hall right in the center of town called the Mansion House, and the location was perfect. Situated between Trinity College and the city park St. Stephen's Green, the whole area was filled with bustling shopping streets, restaurants, and traditional Irish pubs. A cozy underground wine bar called La Cave quickly became our favorite spot to duck in to escape the frequent rainstorms. Dublin lived up to its reputation for stormy weather, but it was still one of the most charming cities I've had the pleasure of visiting.
After a couple days of vacationing in Dublin, I was super jazzed to play some poker. The tournament room was filled to capacity on Day 1B of the €770 Main Event, and although my table was not quite as festive as the one at UKIPT Nottingham, I was glad to notice that at least the chap across from me was nursing an early pint!
I got off to a good start early in the tournament, and the table started to loosen up and become more social as the levels progressed. I began conversing with the player to my left, Sin Melin, who I found out was a Full Tilt Ambassador for the UK. It is fantastic to meet female players who are traveling the live circuit and actively raising the profile of women in the game. Women are still a huge minority in poker, and it is understandable that it can be intimidating for a woman to put herself into an environment that is 95 percent male. This is why female representatives in poker are so incredibly important, because each one helps encourage more and more women to feel more comfortable venturing into the poker arena. For me, it was inspiring to meet a cool, down-to-earth gal who plays poker full time and has had success on the UK circuit, and experiences like these motivate me to continue to play as many live events as I can.
Unfortunately, the luck of the Irish was not with me at UKIPT Dublin, and I was knocked out shortly before dinner in a flush-over-flush situation. I figure at least it's better to bust out right before the dinner break than right after the dinner break! Mickey had already busted earlier in the afternoon, so we took the opportunity to go out for a fancy dinner, complete with plenty of champagne.
The next day, Mickey was playing the €2,200 High Roller, so I did some more sightseeing and met up with friends for dinner. My friend Linda is a veteran of the Dublin club scene, so she accompanied me to the PokerStars Player Party at Café En Seine (yep, pronounced "insane"). The multi-level venue was hip and packed, and we arrived just in time to secure a round of free drinks from the open bar before it turned into a pumpkin. We ran into Dale Philip of Team Online, who was trying to avoid an awkward Tinder blind date (you kids these days)!
Mickey missed most of the festivities, as he was keeping busy at the final table of the High Roller, but he eventually joined us after taking third place for €9,900! We all stayed awhile and partied with some awesome players and made some fun, new friends. Overall, my experience in Dublin was amazing, and the next day we returned to London where many more online and live poker antics would await.
To read updates from levels five onward, click here.
4.00pm: BREAK
Level four has come to a close and that means the players are free to fan out through the casino and take a 15 minute break. They have streamed out to exchange stories and order coffees and we'll be back shortly for level five. See you there!
3.34pm: All going Hemming's way
We joined Adam Hemmings contesting a flop of [9h][6d][5s] with Kyunghwan Lee moments ago. It all seemed so serene, though little did we know the conflict about to unfold.
It started with an innocent check from Hemmings, a bet of 325 from Lee, which Hemmings now suddenly check-raised to 750. Undeterred, Lee now made it 2,475 and after a few moments thought, Hemmings called.
The big pot was brewing and come the dangerous-looking [9c] on the turn, Hemmings checked and Lee fired out a chunky 3,450.
Once more though, he was stunned by Hemmings check-raise - this time to a more committing amount of 9,975...
Lee shook his head considered his options for a few moments but ultimately elected to muck his hand, shakiing his head the whole time. Hemmings was in no mood to put him out of his misery and didn't show him his holding.
Hemmings up to 30,000, Lee down to 12,000...
Hemming rising up the chipcounts
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 100-200-25
3.14pm: Early casualties
20,000 chips is a pretty good stack, but coolers, over-exuberance and perhaps the odd spot of bad play can see that stack dissipate in quicksmart fashion - as the following eliminated players have discovered:
Anthony Costa
Man Hei Lam
Edward Roger
Will Kassouf
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 75-150
2.57pm: Double for Sapiano
We joined Albert Sapiano's table with a board of [Ks][Qs] [7d][3d][8s] revealed - all Sapiano's chips in the middle, his holding [Ts][2s] whilst his opponent was showing down a beaten pair of aces.
"Bad luck," commiserated Sapiano. "That's what I need to win, **** cards."
Sapiano is up to 35,000 now...
2.42pm: Sapiano spreads honey at his table
Albert Sapiano made his fortune through honey it is said and he needed a little sweetness at his table moments ago. Poker is secondary to the banter at the moment - two players in particular seem to be doing their best to wind each other up.
An unconnected player in seat 9 had had enough and mentioned the non-stop talk.
"Would you like to borrow my earphones?" one of the participants offered. "Seriously."
Sapiano jumped in as peacemaker before another verbal confrontation broke out.
"You look very smart, very well dressed and for that I congratulate you. I wish I could be as smart as you but unfortunately, the years have overtaken me..."
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 50-100
2.24pm: Clock call causes friction
Already the patrons of table two have begun to rub each other the wrong way. Well, they have been playing for a whole 25 minutes!
One player was facing a bet of 400 after checking the river of a [Ad][3c][4s][8h][7s] board and tanked for a minute or two to the annoyance of his neighbour. "It's only 400," he said irritably.
"Are you in the hand?" his opponent countered brusquely. "What if I raise and he folds? Are you a genius then?" Another 10 seconds of tanking.
"I call the clock."
"You call the clock in a 250 event in level one. What are you doing?"
Eventually the active player did raise and his opponent quickly folded. "Are you a genius now? You know it all right, poker expert..." - there was an aggressive tone of sarcasm running through his delivery.
Calm down fellas!
2.12pm: The magic numbers
It will be some time before we can give you the official numbers for the day, but there are anticipated to be 150+ by the time the final numbers are tallied.
The poker room is packed close to capacity and there is an expectant hum coursing through the room.
One of the more recognisable faces bantering chirpily is that of Albert Sapiano, who has accumulated over $300,000 in tournament winnings, though he has lost a chunk of his stack in the early stages.
1.56pm: Welcome back to the Hippodrome for Day 1C of the UKIPT Series 4!
If you need a judicious prod to register (there are four levels of late registration so plenty of time) consider yesterday there were 173 entrants in total over the two flights, creating an already very attractive prizepool.
Today's numbers are expected to exceed 100 so there will be a further welcome financial boon coming up meaning Sunday's playdown to the winner should prove an exciting, tense and riveting affair.
But first we have to negotiate Day 1C. Once again there will be twelve half hour levels played out between 2.00pm and 8.00pm.
If you happen to be eliminated you are in the heart of Leicester Square with plenty of nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other attractions. If your itch to gamble has not yet been sated, the casino has a range of cocktails and other beverages.to keep you entertained whilst scratching that itch.
Day 1A's chipleader Gizniski will have slept soundly
But if you run well in the tournament, well that juicy prizepool starts to come tantalisingly into view. Imagine the cameras snapping, pretty girls holding your arms and the applause of all the rail ringing in your ears as you collect the trophy. Magical moments like this are few and far between, but start by registering, run well and it becomes a real possibility.
We're moments away from the start, good luck everyone.
6.13pm: BREAK
The end of level 8 means the players get one more fifteen minute break before the final four levels play out.
77 players remain in contention - though given the rate of attrition we witnessed during the final four levels in the first two days' play, this number is likely to be substantially reduced.
We'll be back soon for the fireworks!
6.10pm: Micro-millions winner in the house
Raphael Augustin had a nice touch in March, collecting $78,000 for winning the micro-millions. He's managed to survive the early carnage here and is tootling along just fine at the moment with aroun 38,500. Can he pick up his second big score within a month?
6.01pm: Instant-death service
Mark Willis just went for double his short stack up with pocket fours. Unfortunately he ran into kings. Even more unfortunately a king flopped to leave him clutching at almost invisible straws.
There was no perfect runner-runner to save him and he bombs out in level 8.
The new dealer who had arrived at the table for that hand was interrogated. "You deliver instant-death service then huh?"
"That's right, " he chuckled...
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 400-800-100
5.41pm: 90 players left...
130 started but already we've lost nearly a third of these....forty players having hit the rails as we move into level eight.
Gene Spencer-Salmon was unable to recover following that critical blow from Craig Sweden. He joins the ranks of the also-rans:
John Lucarotti
Gene Spencer-Salmon
James Kendrick
Ben Hodgkins
Jong Oh Chae
Stephen Bridges
Simon Griffin
Jamie Wilson
5.25pm: Sweden hands out Gene therapy
Craig Sweden just laid a trap for Gene Spencer-Salmon, check-calling 1,200 on a [Ac][7c][3h] board before check-raising from 2,400 to 8,400 on the [2h] turn.
Spencer-Salmon has cut a serene figure so far but this ruffled his feathers. "What have you got?" he inquired to no avail.
Eventually he called and when Sweden shoved for 14,000 on the [6c] river he called again after some vacillation.
Sweden showed him [Ah][7h] for two pair and it was good.
Spencer-Salmon crippled, Sweden up to 48,000....
Craig Sweden finessed a big pot from his top two
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 300-600<-75/b>
5.05pm: More eliminations
It's sad that not everyone can win, but that's just the way it is.
These men have fallen by the wayside over the last level - we warned the increasingly steep blinds would take their toll - note one of those fallen is the boisterous Albert Sapiano!
Thomas Currie
Adham Or Mackie
Salvatore Barna
Albert Sapiano
Toran Nicholls
Alberto Folador
4.52pm: Berry crushed
Nicolas Berry was reasonably short and so when he flopped a flush draw with [Qs][9s] on a [4h][2s][5s] board, he happily pushed his last 6,000 or so into the middle.
Unfortunately, he had run into Colin Marks' [2h][4h] and Marks re-shoved to isolate the hand.
Needing a spade to dig himself out of his predicament, the door to redemption was firmly slammed in his face on the [2d] turn, completing Marks full house and leaving Berry drawing dead and racing out of the poker room.
Marks up to 40,000...
Berry juiced
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 200-400-50
4.34pm: Big Mac squeezes out some sauce
We just joined El-Jay Macdonald's table to find all his and one other player's chips in the middle.
The board read [5h][8s][6h][Ac][2h] - Macdonald turning over the (technically) third nuts with [Kh][Th] for a winning king-high flush.
When his hapless opponent Mark Salmons showed down pocket aces for top set, a sympathetic "oooohh" rang out from the table. Poker is a harsh, unforgiving game at times.
Salmons leaves but a buoyant Macdonald is up to 33,000.
4.25pm: Gone but not forgotten
They paid their monies, they plied their trade and they busted out.
Not their finest moment perhaps but we salute and commemorate these fallen soldiers nonetheless. Good game,
Manish Parmar
Jerome O'Shea
Michal Wieslaw Jaron
Ethan Folk
John Michael McGrane
Matyas Szalai
Mohammed Suhail
Emmanuel Arokodare
Peter Emir Ali
Vishal Patel
Tai Tran
4.22pm: Singh when you're winning
Jerome O'Shea has just busted out - holding ace-king on an [Ac][Qh][8h] board, he went to war for his stack with Sameer Singh, only for Singh to make a quick call with the nuts - pocket aces.
A harsh cooler, but he was drawing almost dead and the board ran out with no succour, completing his fall from grace.
"I was more scared of the queen actually," O'Shea added as he gathered his belongings and left. Singh up to 36,000...
Home for Jerome
4.15pm: Welcome back to the Hippodrome for level 5 of Day 1C
Numbers are likely to be around 130 in total. We have news of some more eliminations just prior to the break to come, but the players are now seated and we are ready to play out another brisk four levels.
The blinds are now 150/300/25 and we are likely to see more vigorous contests, re-steals and squeezes with more chips on the line in the levels ahead. Bring on the noise!
8.48pm: Victor Ilyukhin leads Day 1C at close of play
Following the crazy shenanigans that played out yesterday, we anticipated another fast day's poker. We were not disappointed. With 12 30-minute levels and 130 players pencilled in to play, there was plenty of poker to be played out and we were entertained throughout.
The early levels saw Albert Sapiano and Craig Sweden among the more vocal players at the tables, though both were to perish prior to the end of the day - their barks worse than their bites on this occasion.
Raphael Augustin showed his mettle in collecting the MicroMillions title in March and his form held today at a significantly higher buy-in level as he finished the day with 89,300.
Augustin - the micromachine
Other players who illustrated skill and panache to find their way through the day included Richard Paul, who finished up with 154,100 chips and Matthew Stock, who,managed to accumulate an impressive 133,900 by the close of play.
It was Victor Nikolaevich Ilukhin however who swept all before him in a peerless show of No Limit Hold'em prowess to top the chip standings with 189,800 when the final tally was in.
The aptly-named Victor Ilyukhin
The 39 players who survived the day will meet up with the 52 survivors from the first two flights at 12pm tomorrow to play to a finish. It will be fast, brutal and exciting. We'll be bringing you all the information so make sure to log in and follow us. Chip counts for the combined Day 1A, B and C survivors can be found here.
For now though, thanks for following. We'll see you tomorrow!
8.30pm: Day 1C Finished!
That's it! Another tough 12 levels of poker, another slew of vanquished foes, another horde of run-good warriors emerging from the casino with with their dreams of UKIPT poker glory intact. Just another day on the UKIPT.
Victor Nikolaevich Ilyukhin is the man who ran best today and heads the chip counts which we will be publshing shortly. He finished on around 189,000, which means he will be overall chip leader when the players return to play to a finish tomorrow at 12pm.
We'll have a final wrap up post shortly but for now thanks for following!
8.26pm: Littlejohn goes for broke...and succeeds
With around 11,000 Stephen Littlejohn wasn't keen on returning tomorrow with less than five big blinds and, finding pocket sevens, he quickly moved all-in.
Aaron Lee Helmore had barely more than him, but he also had a worthy hand in [As][Kc] and similarly shoved.
There were murmurs of interest from other parties but eventually they all folded to leave the two shortstacks heads-up.
Littlejohn survived the overcards on the [8s][4s][8d] flop but the [Ad] on the turn meant he was facing oblivion and his fate was sealed on the [6d] river.
Well played sir, bad luck on busting one hand short of making it to the final day! Helmore doubles to 27,000...
Late double gives Helmore boost
8.12pm: Last three hands of the day!
With the end of the day in sight, the TD has called for the dealers to deal out three more hands. The end of the day is rapidly approaching...
8.03pm: Prizepool!
The full prizepool has been tallied. Here are the numbers for your perusal and enjoyment!
313 players have combined to form a prizepool of £75,905. £14,790 awaits the winner of the tournament with a total of 47 places to be paid out as follows:
7.49pm: Big call from Szeto reaps dividends
Daniele Giulivo just ran a big bluff but Philip Szeto made the right read to pick up a sizeable pot.
The hand saw Giulivo lead for 3,400 on the [As][Qs][5d] board, called by Nathan Thomas-Peter after a pot-spread and Szeto in position.
The turn was the [Ad] and when Giulivo checked, so did the other two players.
The [2c] on the river elicited a huge 12,000 bet from Giulivo. Thomas-Peter was done with the hand and lay down - though Szeto spend little time calling with [Qh][8c]!
Brave call and a good one as Giulivo mucked. Szeto sweeps up a pot that boosts him over 80,000.
Meanwhile Nathan Thomas-Peter has expired since that hand. He be gone.
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 800-1600-200
7.27pm: The count falls further...
53 players remain, these being the latest fallers near the final hurdle...
Philip Lee
Keith Christie
Lawrence Hamer
Rupom Pal
Hylton Goss
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 800/1600/200
7.06pm: A tale of two shorties
There are plenty of stacks in the danger zone now with the blinds a whopping 600/1,200/200. Oscar Tompsett was one of those looking to get his tournament back on track with a bit of showdown justice. He re-shoved over the top of a tablemate's open with [Ah][7c] - his opponent shrug-calling with [5c][5h].
A board of [Ks][Jd][9c][2h][4s] was of no use to him however and Tompsett hits the rail.
Showing better winning-at-showdown skills was Stephen Littlejohn, whose re-shove with [Ad][Td] was called by Richard Dawson, who had opened with the dominated [As][6s].
A board of [Ks][8d][7h][4h][2s] meant Littlejohn kept his advantage and he moves up to 21,000.
Incidentally, there are only a few ladies left in contention but one of those is the leopard-printed Camille Abram. She's a little short but only a few double-ups away from the top of the leaderboard really. We wish her good luck!
Abram showing some good stickability
6.52pm: More broken dreams
It just wasn't to be this time was it :
Victor Victorovich Ilyukhin
James Beardsmore
Mark Shepherd
Mohammad Mehdi Shahnameh
Quoc Nong
No it wasn't. Next time eh!
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 600-1,200-200
The dealers are doing some sterling work
6.48pm: Chang spin-up fails
A big hand moments ago saw Canadian John Chang's stack reduced to a paltry 2,000. He shoved blind under-the-gun, and Balbir Singh Pottiwal gave him some protection by shoving from the small blind.
He showed down [Ah][Jh] and Chang opened his hand curiously to reveal [Ts][Js].
"Already my outs are gone!" he lamented and the board ran out with no help.
One more down - Chang departs...
6.37pm: Chip Leaders
Here are the men who have pulled away from the pack. It looks like Raphael Augustin - the March MicroMillions winner has been busy!
Matthew Stock - 135,000
Phillip Szeto - 85,000
Raphael Augustin - 79,000
6.30pm: The home stretch
It's been tough, unrelenting, at times tetchy poker all day long but the players are now in the final furlong. 77 remain and we'll be posting up the men at the head of the chip counts shortly.
For now though, it's once more unto the breach dear friends! Good luck...
2.05pm: Break
There have been some sweaty palms over the last few hands with several players all-in but surviving their showdowns.
The latest man to tempt fate was Dominic Wells whose relief was plain as his [As][Td] stood up against Epameinondas Sintos
' [Ad][7d].
The players are now going to take a 15 minute break to gather themselves and take a breather after all the tension.
We'll be returning shortly for level 17. See you then!
1.54pm: Hand for hand!
Joshua Sklar has just been eliminated, making a move with [Jc][Qc] only to run into the dominating [As][Js] in Daniel James' hand.
He couldn't spike a queen, meaning we are down to 48 players. So just one more elimination till the money, the play is hand-for-hand.
Tense!
1.34pm: Carroll eliminates Shaw's stack
Shaw has been short of chips for a long time and moments ago, he finally played his last hand.
He was very unfortunate, calling a shove blind v blind versus the currently unstoppable Adam Caroll with pocket tens.
Caroll had been applying some bubble pressure with [7d][5d] and looked set to double Shaw until the flop of [As][Kh][5s][2c][7s] appeared - the river curtailing Shaw's tournament.
"Ooooh," sighed the table sympathetically.
"It's ok," Shaw said philosophically. "You were on a move and it worked out, that's the way it goes sometimes..." He leaves and we are now 49-handed, two spots off the bubble...
1.28pm: Imrie out-kicked and kicked out
Leo Imrie has provided an entertaining presence at the felt but his tournament ground to a halt moments ago.
Holding [Ah][Th] on a [As][9s][7d] board, he committed all his chips versus Adam Carroll, only to get the bad news he was in big trouble, Carroll exposing [Ac][Qc].
Two bricks on turn and river sealed his fate. No more we'll hear Imrie's dulcid tones.
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 2,500-5,000-500
1.08pm: The bubble approaches
It seems scarcely possible but in the first hour and a bit of play, we have already reduced the field from 91 to 53!
47 places are paid, meaning there are some stressed faces out there amongst the shortstacks. Can they make it through and earn themselves a payday?
Once there are 48 players left, the action will be hand for hand. The pressure rises...
At least the bubble boy will have a story to tell!
12.57pm: Ganatra no longer comin atcha
We're sad to report that Nilay Ganatra is just one of the plucky players to have been sent spiralling out of contention in recent times. THe rate of eliminations is incredible...just 61 remain now from the 91 who started the day.
Here are some others whose dreams of UKIPT glory will be shelved till another day.
Mats Rosen
David Barnes
Adam Mały
Clive Jones
Mark Prescott
Christopher Slade
Nilay Ganatra
Asgar Dharamshi
Carl Poulman
It's a metaphorical blood bath at the tables
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 2,000-4,000-500
12.46pm: "Floor, cross it off"
With the pressure on, it's good that many of the players are enjoying some light-hearted banter at the felt.
After Richard King had his queens cracked after calling a shortstack's three big blind shove with [Ac][9c], he called the floor over.
"Floor he's had his one time, can you cross it off please," he joked.
"It was a bit of a loose call if you ask me, " Leo Imrie added, getting into the spirit of things.
A spoonful of banter helps the medicine go down
12.34pm: It's over for Kozlov
Valerij Kozlov has run the wrong side of variance in the opening two levels and there is little breathing space to lose pots without facing elimination.
A big pot with [As][7s] versus big slick saw him lose most of his chips to Clive Jones, and Louis Hennessey finished the demolition job, calling Kozlov's shortstacked shove with [Jd][Qd] and finding himself ahead of [Td][9c].
A board of [Kd][Kc][5h][8s][5c] saw Hennessey take down the pot and send Kozlov to the rail. Bad news for him but meanwhile Hennessey is having a great day.
"I started with around 40k, up to 100 now!" he said cheerfully.
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 1,500/3,000/400
12.26pm: Bustout city
As we expected, there's been a fast start with a flurry of players. There's no waiting around for the shortstacks here - they know if they don't chip up soon, their days will be numbered.
Here are some of the early fallers:
Neil McCulloch
Hasan Gul
Andrea De Giorgi
Gladys Long
Danny Blair
Ali Shoubber
Mark Norman
Nick Morris
Jen-Yue Chiang
Cesar Santos
12.15pm: Fordyce - one flip
We can expect to see a cavalcade of coinflips to play out today. Leo Imrie just had his first, and it proved an unpleasant experience.
Paul Fordyce was the man to deal the pain, re-shoving for 31,000 after Imrie had opened to 6,000. Imrie made a quick call with [Ah][Qd] and Fordyce showed pocket fours for a classic race.
A board of [Kh][6h][5c][3h][8s] meant Fordyce's luck had held and he chips up to 65,000 - Imrie down to 40,000.
"That's what you need, eh?" a tablemate said with a smile, slapping Fordyce on the back as he gathered his newly won chips together.
12.00pm: UKIPT Series 4 FInal Day!
Welcome back for the final day of Series 4 at The Hippodrome Casino. 313 players have been crammed into three days of hard and fast poker and 91 have survived to today's final.
Victor Nikolaevich Ilyukhin holds the chip lead with 189,800 though the large blinds and aggressive play we've witnessed over the last few days means this could change in almost the blink of an eye. The full chip counts can be found here.
The prize pool of £75,905 will be distributed as follows:
We'll be playing to a winner today so there will be plenty of twists and turns on the road ahead. The players are keen and we are moments away from the start, so good luck one and all, let's get this underway!
To read updates from level 21 onwards, click here.
4.45pm: BREAK
Jan-Joost Van Den Bogert was eliminated just prior to the break, collecting £1,010 and the players are now on their bi-hourly 15 minute sabbatical.
We'll be back soon as we continue 13-handed for the title.
See you soon!
4.27pm: Carroll spike's Tountas out
Adam Carroll just received a shot of good fortune, taking on Vasileios Tountas's preflop shove with [Ac][Tc], only to find himself out-kicked - Tountas revealing [As][Js].
A board of [Qh][Th][5s][6c][6d] was just the ticket however and although Tountas looked a little sad, he left the table quietly and with little fuss. He collects £1,010.
Caroll up to 180,000...
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 6,000/12,000/2,000
4.12pm: It's all gone Darkin here
Aaron Helmore and Mike Ellis have both been vanquished courtesy of Samuel Darkin. The three went to war preflop - Helmore with [Ts][Jc], Ellis with [4d][4h] and Darkin holding [Ks][9s].
A board of [5s][6d][7s][2s][Ac] awarded a decisive victory to Darkin, who chips up over 450,000 with two metaphorical scalps to put on his metaphorical mantelpiece.
Helmore and Ellis finish in 17th and 16th places respectively, both collecting £895 for their deep run.
Just 15 remain now, the final table is in sight and you sense there is an air of seriousness growing ever more tangible amongst these players.
Helmore takes it on the chin
3.48pm: Paul wins battle of the Riches
Richard Paul just sent Richard King hurtling to the rail, his nominally-ahead A-5 holding versus King's desperate move with K-7.
King, who has been a constantly genial presence at his table, manages to make his way through to 22nd place where he collects £705. His banter will be missed!
King dethroned!
3.32pm: The carnage continues
There is scarcely time to draw breath. Another host of eliminations have seen
Iain Raydon
Hannah Martin Dombrowski
Sergey Chernykh
and Sameer Singh
hit the rail, though they managed to slip into the slightly higher payout spots and collect £555. Congratulations guys!
3.22pm: Big hit for Torres
Our erstwhile chip leader Alejandro Perez Torres no longer occupies that lofty position, surrendering his spot to TK Hogarty.
It was a direct transfer of chips from one to the other - a button (Torres) - small blind (Hogarty) war breaking out between the two that finally saw the pair get their stacks in preflop - Torres holding [Ad][9c] and in big trouble against Hogarty's pocket kings.
A board of [Ks][Td][Js][5s][6d] saw Hogarty pick up a huge pot (he had around 250,000 at the start of the hand) to boost him up to 520,000, whilst Torres is relegated back into the pack with a below-average stack of 160,000...
3.12pm: Cash rich, chip poor
All the following have been eliminated with the consolation of having cashed for £485 :
Denas Benevicius
Epameinondas Sintos
Haifeng Liang
Stephen Miles
Dominic Wells
Matthew Stock
Pradyamna Chand
Jason Robertson
Liang's exit was particularly cruel, he seemed to have won a flip to get himself back in contention, holding [Ad][Th] to opponent Allan Pike's [8s][8c].
A board of [As][Qh][5d][Kh] looked set to book his double, then the poker gods intervened, sending the [8d] on the river to cut short his victory celebration. His body collapsed, his tablemates commented on how that was a cruel way to exit but Allan Pike simply stacked up his chips - up to 280,000 now...
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 4,000-8,000-1,000
3.01pm: Torres leads the chip charge
Many of the stacks have aggregated in value but one man leads by a decent margin. Alejandro Perez Torres is that man.
He has 435,000, though Thomas Postelwaite with 360,000 and Phikip Szeto with 205,000 are also well placed to cause some damage in this tournament yet.
Torres is taming the tables
2.56pm: Payday frenzy!
Now all the shortstacks who were just hanging in there have secured a payday, the action has become wild and uninhibited once more.
That bubble bursting precipitated a rash of eliminations - the following players all busting in close succession - all of whom secured a £435 payday.
Congratulations to the following:
Edward Thomson
Pablo Martin-Romo
Paul Fordyce
El-Jay Macdonald
Rui Caiadas
Mark Poi
George Alexander
James Edgington
2.41pm: The bubble bursts! Victor Illyukhin finishes in 48th
If any further evidence was required of the vagaries of the poker gods, look no further than the unfortunate Russian Victor Illyukhin. He came into the day heading the chip counts, but in a seismic fall from grace, he lost all those chips, finally finishing up on the bubble.
Ouch.
His exit saw him commit the last of his chips with [6d][4d] on the turn of a [8d][6c][5h][7h] board with a straight, only to be picked off by Matthew Stock holding the better end of the straight with [Kc][9h]. No chop on the [Td] river and Illyukhin hits the rail.
Cheers all round from the survivors - everyone else is getting paid!
From chip leader to bubble
2.33pm: Back for level 17
We're back and although the players have had a few moments out to take stock and marshal their mental forces, the tension will continue unabated until that bubble spot is decided.
7.24: Szeto bounced in 6th spot - £3,430
Phillip Szeto has tried his best to get back into the game, making the odd re-steal and shove to steal the blinds - finally though he has come unstuck.
He had a real hand in [Kh][Qd] but ran into Sam Darkin's [As][Jh] - just a smidgen ahead.
That smidgen was enough as a board of [Td][6h][2c][Ac][2s] left Darkin's boisterous rail cheering their man and Szeto eliminated in 5th.
That hand happened right at the end of level 24.
The players are now on a 15 minute break, we'll be back shortly. See you then!
Szeto ends in a creditable 6th position
7.10pm: Chip counts
With the players consolidated down to just six potential champions now, let's have a quick look at the standings, Sam Darkin leading the way at present.
Sam Darkin - 1,800,000
Alejandro Perez Torres - 1,225,000
Thomas Postelthwaite - 1,200,000
Tobias Kirby-Hogarty - 815,000
Phillip Szeto - 600,000
Allan Pike - 500,000
6.55pm: Javier Perez Estevez eliminated in 7th spot - £2,520
While one spaniard is on the rise, one has fallen critically. Estevez was looking to emulate his compatriot's rise up the rankings - going for a double through with pocket sixes.
Sam Darkin took him on with [Ad][Qs] and duly won the flip over the [Ah][5h][5s][7d][5d] board to send Estevez to the rail in 7th.
Good game!
This final's Spaniard ratio just fell 50%
6.45pm: Paul eliminated in 8th spot - £1,850
Richard Paul hasn't managed to get going on this final table. It's been one long downswing and it's culminated in his elimination moments ago against the increasingly dangerous-looking stack of Alejandro Perez Torres.
He'd just witnessed Torres double up Allan Pike the hand previous with jack-eight, so felt he was in a good spot when he re-shoved with ace-eight following another Torres open.
This time however Torres had it, holding [As][Qd]. Paul was dominated and the board of [Kd][7c][3h][5c][6s] did nothing to change the status quo. Paul is eliminated in 8th spot - Torres up to 1.4 million.
Paul picked a bad time to re-steal
6.38pm: Torres becomes double trouble
Having already reached the cusp of an EPT final Alejandro Perez Torres clearly has some skills and having just acheived a double-through from Samuel Darkin he is now an ever-menacing force at the felt.
The hand in question saw the pair war preflop, understandably as they both held premiums - [Qd][Qh] for Torres, [Ad][Kh] for Darkin.
A board of [Qs][8s][2h][2d][Tc] left Torres the decisive champion and he is now up to 850,000 - Darkin down to just over a million chips...
6.33pm: Carroll finishes 9th - £1,520
Adam Carroll has just finished on the wrong side of the rail and his exit was somewhat unfortunate.
Holding [Ad][8h] he moved all-in for around 8 big blinds - called by Thomas Postelthwaite in middle position.
everyone else passed and Postelthwaite showed down a dominated [Ac][2d] - Carroll looking like he was about to double.
Once more fate weaved an insidious path however - the board falling [Kd][Js][Ts][Ts][2c] - Postelthwaite eliminating Carroll with that final river card.
"Good game guys, good luck," Carroll said sportingly.
"I guess we're all playin' for second!" Tobias Kirby-Hogarty said with a smile...
They continue 8-handed...
Brutal river sees Carroll fall in 9th
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 12,000-24,000-3,000
6.05pm: Final Table Counts
After a short break to speak to the combatants, the final table is underway. Here is how these players line up chipwise in table order:
Sam Darkin - 1,543,000
Tobias Kirby-Hogarty - 822,000
Adam Carroll - 204,000
Alejandro Perez Torres - 487,000
Thomas Postlethwaite - 1,028,000
Alan Pike - 556,000
Javier Perez Estevez - 424,000
Richard Paul - 542,000
Philip Szeto - 356,000
5.40pm:Two quick eliminations and we have our final table!
It didn't take too long to reach this point. First Louis Hennessey ran his [Ad][9c] shove into Allan Pike's [Ah][Kh].
No help on the {As][Qs][7s][3c][5c] board and he departs in 11th place for £1,275.
Next up David Alderton made a move with [Kc][5d] but was picked off by Javier Perez Estevez holding pocket jacks. Again the best hand held over the [Th][4s][3c][5h][6d] board and Alderton was eliminated in 10th spot for £1,275.
We have our final table! More information incoming...
5.30pm: Postlethwaite loses chunk
He was a llong way in front of his closest challenger before this hand, but that has all changed - Thomas Postlethwaite running a big bluff on a [3d][Jh][8c] board with [Kd][Qs] versus Samuel Darkin.
Darkin, holding kings, was going nowhere and with his stack at 600,000 before the huge confrontation, Darkin now vaults Postlethwaite as his hand held over turn and river.
Darkin up to 1,2 million, Postlethwaite down to 800,000...
5.27pm: Matt finish
The dream is all over for Matt Bryan. You need to win some key flips if you are to run deep, and when Bryan got it in with [Ad][Ts] versus the pocket nines of Adam Carroll, he needed to do just that.
Unfortunately, the board of {Qs][2d][2h][2c][4d] was not kind for him, Carroll holds to rise to half a million in chips and Bryan crashes out in 12th, collecting £1,125...
5.21pm: Darkin rides fortune to huge double
Samuel Darkin just made a huge misstep, though it worked out fine for him in the end. Holding [Ks][Ts] he opened - only for Philip Szeto to three-bet. Darkin felt in the mood to apply some pressure and four-bet all-in for a massive 375,000.
Szeto had an easy decision - holding pocket aces he made the call and looked set to eliminate Darkin, only for the poker gods to intervene as they are wont to do.
[Tc][2c][5d][8d][Td] came the cruel flop - the spiked trips on the river saving Darkin and boosting his stack to a third-in-chips position of 770,000.
Szeto meanwhile was left licking his wounds - short and needing help if his tournament is to progress much further...
Wrong time, right result for Darkin
5.10pm: Chip Counts
Here are the standings with the final table edging closer:
David Alderton - 135,000
Javier Perez Estevez - 480,000
Alejandro Perez Torres - 450,000
Adam Carroll - 180,000
Matt Bryan - 175,000
Richard Paul - 300,000
Louis Hennessey - 180,000
Thomas Postlethwaite - 1,555,000
Allan Pike - 400,000
Samuel Darkin - 425,000
TK Hogarty - 870,000
Philip Szeto - 690,000
5.00pm: Back to play to the Champion!
91 started the day, just 13 remain now. We're playing to a champion with Thomas Postlethwaite the current chip leader with 1.5 million in chips. The players are keen, focused and ready to write their names into the annals of UKIPT history.
Congratulations to Thomas Postlethwaite, Champion of UKIPT Series 4!
91 players arrived today nursing ambitions of being the latest UKIPT Series champion - but it was Cambridge's Thomas Postlethwaite who was the man left beaming into the camera lens, holding the trophy and receiving the plaudits come the end of the tournament.
"It feels brilliant!", Postlethwaite enthused when asked how he felt at the end of the marathon, having put paid to the hopes of the other 312 competitors.
Postlethwaite enjoys his magical moment
Day 2 saw the survivors of the Day 1A,1B and 1C aggregate to play to a winner.
Russian Victor Nikolaevich Ilyukhin had come into the day as the chip leader, but variance was not to be his friend - his tournament ambitions so vigorously derailed, he finished as the outright bubble.
Ilyukhin suffered the curse of the chip leader
The play was brisk and brutal, a regular stream of players busting out as the inexorably-rising blinds caught many a shortstack in their frothy wake.
Amongst those who navigated the waves with relative success were Joeri Zandvliet, the double UKIPT champion and Mike Ellis, who can boast a WSOP bracelet amongst many notable achievements.
Both went deep into the cash but finished up 25th and 16th respectively, leaving the path clear for some lesser-known names to carve a slice of poker history for themselves.
The incendiary rate of attrition saw the final reached by 6.00pm, 91 players reduced to nine hopefuls in a quickfire six hours.
The pace barely slowed on the final with Adam Carroll, Richard Paul and Javier Perez Estevez making relatively quick exits in ninth, eighth and seventh respectively.
During this period Alejandro Perez Torres and Sam Darkin were chipping up inpressively, the former looking to add to his EPT final table bubble performance earlier in the year.
Torres' impressive charge finished in 3rd
However once Tobias Kirby-Hogarty departed in 5th and Allan Pike followed him out of the door in 4th spot, Torres couldn't keep up the momentum, running afoul of Darkin's quads and leaving the table soon after in 3rd place.
That left Sam Darkin and Thomas Postlethwaite battling for the trophy and after an early period of feeling each other out, Postlethwaite put together a run of hands that would sweep him to the trophy, the £14,790 and the title.
Darkin had to make do with a cheque for £9,400 for his second place finish and another champion had been crowned!
Just short of the title for the excellent Sam Darkin
Congratulations Thomas Postlethwaite and all involved in what was an impeccably-run event - a lot of fun for players and spectators alike.
Thanks for following, it's been a blast and a quick shout out to the Heliot Steak House who make a mean (and very reasonably-priced) steak. If you're in the area, give it a shot - you won't regret it.
That's it from us then. The next UKIPT event will see the tour visit the much-vaunted DTD cardroom for UKIPT Nottingham (the Main Event starts 7th May) and we'd love to see you there for what should prove another fun, exciting tournament. Best of luck, one and all!
"It feels brilliant!"
9.37pm: Thomas Postlethwaite wins UKIPT Series 4!
Congratulations to Thomas Postlethwaite who takes down the tournament, defeating Sam Darkin heads-up.
Darkin had been growing increasingly under pressure, having lost a sequence of hands in a row.
Firstly, he three bet to 270,000 after a Postlethwaite open to 130k. Postlethwaite called.
Come the [Qd][Td][4c] board, Darkin led for 300,000, only for Postlethwaite to make it 750,000. Darkin mucked in disgust and Postlethwaite had taken a big chunk out of his stack.
Darkin also lost the next few small pots, leaving Postlethwaite with a 4.5 million to 1.5 million advantage. The next hand, the fireworks began...
Postlethwaite raised to 170,000 on the button, Darkin called...
The board fell [5c][3d][2s], Darkin led for 200,000, Postelthwaite called.
The turn was the dangerous-looking [4h] and now Darkin pushed all-in.
Postlethwaite gave a shrug, announced "call," and we had our first all-in of the heads up!
[As][3h] for Postlethwaite for the straight, whilst Darkin was on an airball bluff with [Js][8d]!
He was drawing almost dead although a six or ace would give him a chop but no luck, the river bricked and we had our champion!
Well played Sam Darkin, who finishes up 2nd with £9,400 his reward for the deep run but it is Thomas Postlethwaite collects the trophy and the £14,790.
"It feels brilliant," he told us, beaming with delight at his girlfriend watching from the rail. When asked where he will keep his prized trophy, he said "...at the centre of everything. Maybe I'll make a plaque for it!"
That brings a close to what has been an action-packed event. We hope you've enjoyed the coverage. We'll have a wrap-up post along with photos of the winner to follow shortly but for now, thanks for following.
9.22pm: Cautious play prevails...
The speed with which the final table has played out has left these two players reasonably deep with over forty big blinds each. So far there has been a lot of button raising and a lot of folding from the big blind.
We are waiting for a big hand to play out and ignite this heads up. Currently Sam Darkin holds a slight advantage 3.3 million to Thomas Postlethwaite's 2.7 million...
9.10pm: BREAK
The two players have asked for a small time-out to regather their thoughts, We'll be back shortly...
8.52pm: Two warriors locked in battle
Thomas Postlethwaite came into the heads-up with a chip lead, but he has seen his lead whittled away as Darkin has eaten into his stack.
Darkin now has a slim advantage with around 3.2 million to 2.7 million chips.
The players are raising each other regularly from the button - Darkin perhaps just a shade more aggressively...
Heads-up for the trophy!
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 30,000-60,000-10,000
8.36pm: Torres eliminated in 3rd place - £7,040
Alejandro Perez Torres has seen his tournament collapse. First off he was crippled making a big call for 850,000 on the river of a [Ad][3c][3d][Qc][9s] board against Sam Darkin - only for Darkin to show him pocket threes for quads.
His shrapnel (well still around 400,000) went into the middle two hands later, Thomas Postlethwaite making the call with [Ac][6d]. He was dominating Torres' [Kc][6s] and when the dealer laid out [Js][9c][5s][9d][6h], his time was done.
Well played sir, Torres exit means we have Sam Darkin heads-up with Thomas Postlethwaite for the title. Who can show nerves of steel to survive!
Third for the Spaniard
8.22pm: No retreat, no surrender
Three-handed, the players just tried to thrash out a deal but were unable to reach a compromise meaning they play on for the full value of the prizes.
Here are the remaining three places:
1st £14,790
2nd £9,400
3rd £7,040
8.03pm: Pike eliminated in 4th -£5,700
Two pairs are likely to bring about a violent confrontation with the blinds so big and when Allan Pike and Sam Darkin both found one - they went to war.
Darkin it was though who had the best of it - he'd found pocket aces, Pike just nines.
Pike needed to hit, but the board of [Qd][8d][5h][5d][6s] was of no help and he finishes up in 4th spot. It's an impressive finish for Pike, who is a form horse, considering he is fresh from his victory for £10,950 in the London Spring Classic.
There were cheers from Darkin's rail, following their man dealing out another elimination, Only moments ago were arguing with the tournament director over a ruling but now all their bile was forgotten - their focus fully on Darkin who has the advantage as the hunt for the title continues three-handed...
.
Pike failed to spike and he's on his bike
7.50pm: Kirby-Hogarty crashes out in 5th place - £4,490
The blinds are huge now and down to just over ten big blinds, Tobias Kirby-Hogarty looked to collect those meaty blinds - shoving with [Ah][3c].
Unfortunately Allan Pike was lurking with bad intentions behind, finding [As][Kh], he re-shoved to isolate and the pair went heads-up.
In a world of trouble, Kirby-Hogarty called for the three he needed.
The flop of [Ac][Kd][Jd] couldn't have been much worse however...
"Queen-ten?" he called hopefully.
No such luck, the board ran out [3h][9d] to improve his hand slightly to two pair, but it wasn't enough. Pike takes it down (moving to close to a million chips) and Kirby-Hogarty hits the rails in 5th. Good game.
They continue four-handed for the title, Who can hold their nerve at this pressurised stage?
Two pair versus two pair - what can you do?
7.48pm: Five-handed for the title
The 91 strong field has been whittled down to five players - Sam Darkin maintaining his chip advantage with around 1.6 million.
They have just been back for a few moments in level 25 however and we have an all-in!
So, you want to play in UKIPT Nottingham,but you don't really feel like paying the buy-in for it? Understood. I mean, it's not too expensive, but if you can play for free, why not, right?
Well, if you happen to be a talkSPORT listener, you can do just that. For those of you who listen to talkSPORT in the UK, PokersStars is running a series of freerolls. On offer? A seat to UKIPT Nottingham.
The dealers are waiting for you in Nottingham
Running from now until April 26, the freerolls require a certain password. You can get it by listening to talkSPORT every day. Those freerolls can win you tickets to the big final tournament where you can win your seat to Nottingham.
4:25pm: Break down
Four levels have been completed meaning it's time for a fifteen minute pause in play. The players will be returning shortly, as will we, for level five. See you soon!
Update: You can follow level five updates here. -- RS
4:24pm: Squid Chipping Up
Sam "TheSquid" Grafton has had a productive opening four levels, reaching 41,000 at the break.
He had this to say as he went on his break:
"I've not had the best of table draws really, but I've just played solid and chipped up. It's going well really!" -- RS
4:22pm: Moneymaker undoes self-harm with triple-up
Chris Moneymaker was sat looking at his sub-2k stack and spoke, "Only done the damage to myself today. All self-inflicted!"
Moments later, Simon Hemsworth limped in front of Moneymaker, who shoved for 1,600. Paul Haycock called from the big blind, as did Hemsworth.
The board ran out [8d][2h][5c][4h][4s] with checks all the way down.
"I think I win this," said Moneymaker who opened pocket fives for a full house. -- MC
4:15pm: More counts from around the room
More big names, further chip counts:
Simon Hemsworth - 18,500
Steve Warburton - 14,000
Jamie Sykes - 29,000
Dean Clay - 24,500
David Gent - 30,100
Danny Laming - 34,000
Simon Deadman - 18,000
Matti De Meulder - 5,500
Richard Kellett - 22,500
Joeri Zandvliet - 24,000
Joeri Zandvliet
Neil Raine - 21,000
Dermot Blain - 19,000
Patryk Slusarek - 22,500
Zimnan Ziyard - 19,800
James Mitchell - 14,800
Robbie Bull - 23,400
Andrew Chen - 37,000
Jamie Roberts - 12,800
Duncan McLellan - 24,400
Jack Salter - 24,300
4.05pm: De Meulder gets a double
"Your timing was impeccable," said Neil Rawnsley to the PokerStars Blog who had turned up just in time to witness Christophe De Meulder double up. The Team PokerStars Pro three-bet to 1,025 over the top of Tony Wu's 400 chip open. Back on Wu, he re-raised to 2,200 and De Meulder made the call in position.
On the [Ks][8h][6d] flop both players checked and the [7s] fell on the turn. First to act Wu led for 2,000 and De Meulder smooth called. On the [2s] river Wu fired out a blue 5k chip and De Meulder gave it a think. After about one minute in the tank he moved all-in for an effective 15,000 and Wu snap called. De Meulder showed [As][Js] for the nut flush, whilst Wu opened [Kh][Kc] for the flopped set that was outdrawn on the river.
After that hand De Meulder is up to 38,000. - NW
4pm: Paul McBust
Pau McTaggert will be trying his luck on Day 1C after he was eliminated after a frustrating day on the felt.
He told the blog a he had a ton of pairs in multi-way pots and failed to hit a set once. He also had a lot of suited connectors that flopped gutshots and/or backdoor draws but never came in and cost him a fortune.
He busted with ten-eight on a [t][7][6] flop to an opponent with pocket queens.
-- MC
3.55pm: Interesting chip counts
Here's a flavour of the chip counts from the felt.
Jamie Burland - 44,500
Charles Chattha - 31,000
Nick Hicks - 24,000
Sunny Chattha - 18,500
John Conroy - 14,500
Chris Moneymaker - 19,500
Martins Adeniya - 15,750
John Eames - 17,325
Kevin Allen - 50,000
Rick Trigg - 15,000
Renee Xie - 36,000 -- RS
3:48pm: Frankie works his magic
There are big draws and there are thin draws.
Chin Chai "Frankie" Koh just hit one of the thinnest possible the fabled "one-outer"- though in his defence, the money went in with him in much better shape.
Short, but holding queens, he fired all his chips in the middle, only to be called by ace-king with the [Kd].
That became relevant when the board rained down diamonds and came ace-high.
Frankie looked dead and buried with two black queens, but incredibly the [Qh] on the river appeared - Frankie's only clean out.
"I've used up my one time now! I think I'll win the tournament!" -- RS
3:40pm: Some Notable chip counts
Gordon Huntly - 19,600
Jack Ellwood - 23,000
Ben Jenkins - 18,700
Richard Milner - 31,000
Leo McClean - 17,800
Dara O'Kearney - 17,000
David Lappin - 24,000
Alli Mallu - 15,000
Sam Grafton - 28,000
Royston Drenthe - 12,000
Steven Watts - 30,000
Richie Allen - 22,000
James Williams - 34,000
Alex Goulder - 17,500
Kevin Willaims - 28,000
Jon SnowKevin Williams ticking along nicely
James Morris - 8,000
Dean Lyall - 33,000
Paul McTaggert - 2,700
James Tomlin - 16,000
Paul Zimler - 25,000
Sam Holden - 18,000
Brett Angel - 9,000
-- MC
3:30pm: Level 3 exits
The following players have perished before the antes have kicked in.
371 Thomas Postlethwaite
372 Bobbie Brummitt
373 Thomas Horton
374 Paul Febers
375 Alan Kenny
376 James Clarke
377 Mark Chantler
378 Arron Woodcock
379 Florian Isufaj
380 Norbert Berent
381 Andy Subir
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 100/200, ante 25
3:25pm: A catch up with Ben Jenkins
Full Tilt Poker Ambassador Ben Jenkins has taken a month off from poker, he discusses that, UKIPT events and shoving ranges in this talk with PokerStars.tv.
3:20pm: Ding Ding - Round 2 for Ashraf
Waheed Ashraf was a hive of activity when he played his first buy-in yesterday, engaging in regular dialogue with his tableand showcasing some sophisticated hand reading skills in the process.
It was almost a successful day as he'd negotiated his way through to the final level with 75,000, before a last minute blitzkrieg saw all his chips dissolve in a wave of intemperate variance.
He's availed himself of his opportunity to buy in once more today though and is keen to turn his fortunes round.
"As long as you get the chips across the line in your favour, eventually it will work out well," he told us - taking a philosophical approach to his strategy. Wise words indeed. -- RS
3:15pm: Man avoids setup
Chun Hao Man was just posed a tricky question by tablemate Christian Solvang.
Having led out in position on a flop of [Qs][9s][6d] for 3,200, Solvang had check-raised all-in for around 15,000.
Man looked puzzled over the action. He wrinkled his brow, he shuffled his chips, he pondered and deliberated and finally folded.
If he had any doubts about whether he'd made the right fold or not, they were about to be answered.
Solvang hit the table, shouting, "Damn! I was sure you had aces or kings and would call. I had a set of nines!"
Somewhat distraught, despite having won the pot, Solvang swept up the pot that moved him back to close to his starting stack; Man looking on impassively must felt a small glow of pride inside at having made the right decision. --RS
3.10pm: Mason-brown takes one down
Ryunosuke Mason-brown isn't exactly a name that slips of the tongue but he just took down a big pot against Guy Taylor. The two of them and Albert Sapiano all put in 900 pre-flop and a [Ks][6s][10c] flop hit the felt. Taylor c-bet 1,800 and Mason-brown was the only caller.
The [Qh] turn checked through and the [Qs] hit the river. Mason-brown took the lead firing out a bet of 3,600, Taylor tank-called but mucked when Mason-brown showed him [Qc][6c] for the full house. -- NW
3pm: Table open
New tables continue to be filled with fresh bums on seats here at UKIPT4 Nottingham2. UKIPT4 Isle of Man champion Duncan McLellan is one of the latest to take his seat at a freshly opened tabled. Rick Trigg and Peter Charalambous are also at that new table. Elsewhere I've spotted UKIPT4 London champion Robbie Bull and James Mitchell whilst Nick Hicks and Team PokerStars Pro Matti De Meulder are at the same table. It really is a high class field today. - NW
2:50pm: Drenthe scores injury time winner
Royston Drenthe was a very happy chap after a river came to his rescue to double him up in a hand versus Ray Caabay.
Caabay raised from the hijack and Drenthe called in the cut-off en route to a [ts][3s][7d] flop. Caabay continued for 525 and the former Dutch international footballer called.
On the [5h] turn Caabay fired again, for 1,200, and called when Drenthe shoved for his remaining 4,150. Call.
Cabaay opened [5c][3c] for two-pair, ahead of his opponent's [js][jd]. The river came as the [7s] and Drenthe went, "Wow, just wow!" -- MC
Drenthe loved this game
2:35pm: Lose some, win some for Moneymaker
Chris Moneymaker is usually a chatty presence at the tables and today is no different. The PokerStars Blog joined the table to see a [6c][10s][Jc][Ah] flop on the felt and 8,150 in the middle. Action was on Team PokerStars Online's Vicente Delgado, he fired out a bet of 3,250 and Moneymaker let out a rueful smile. "That's the worst board for my hand," he said as he folded [Qs][Qh] face up.
"You've either got ace-king or a set, was I beat on the flop or the turn?" he asked. "The flop," replied Delgado. "A set of tens or jacks then," Delagado shook his head. "Nice hand either way," said Moneymaker.
The 2003 WSOP Main Event Champion got involved in the next hand. He called bets of 400 pre-flop and 500 on the flop from Thomas Zhang before both the players checked the turn. The river completed a [10s][Qd][5s][As][4s] board, Moneymaker bet 1,200 and he took the pot. He's back up to around 17,000. -- NW
2:20pm: Brooks busto
Simon Brooks' day was shorter than he would've liked. He was crippled in one hand and busted the very next one.
John Hedley took most of his chips in a flush-over-flush set up. They were heads-up to the turn of a [qs][ks][6s][jh] board when most of the chips went flying in. Brooks opened [4s][5s] but was crushed by Hedley's [9s][8s].
Brooks tried to leave but he was forced to stay and watch the [qd] river and he had 575 chips left.
Those chips went in the next hand with ten-eight and he was eliminated by Kevin Williams who made a full house with pocket sixes.
Ben Sakal, Nigel Hannan, Blazej Przygorzewski, Nader Sarhan and Mark Reed have all been eliminated so far today as well. -- MC
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 75/150
2:00pm: Break it up!
Two levels have played out in brisk fashion here at Dusk till Dawn. The players are taking a quick hiatus to refresh their batteries with coffee, cigarettes, conversation and maybe a quick game of roulette.
Back in ten minutes. -- RS
1:58pm: Van Oort is Van Out-en
We caught the tail end of a hand being contested between Paul Van Oort, Sam Grafton and Tom Kuglestadt.
With the board reading [Jd][6s][8d] it looked as though Van Oort had bet, Grafton called and Kuglestadt raised the flop. Van Oort now went all-in, Grafton laid his hand down and Kugelstadt called quickly.
Pocket kings for Van Oort, but he'd run headfirst into Kugelstadt's piledriver of a hand - a set of sixes.
With hope dwindling, there was to be no succour for Van Oort on the [As][Qd] turn and river. "Can i buy back in at the same table?" he asked optimistically before we informed him he'd have to play tomorrow if he wanted to buy back in.
He sloped off a little disappointed.
Kugelstadt meanwhile rises to 31,200. --RS
Grafton made a snappy exit
1:57pm: Drenthe getting short, again
Royston Drenthe sure loves poker. He played and busted the Main Event yesterday before playing cash games all night. He grabbed a quick nap on the sofa in Trickett's VIP room and he's back in for Day 1B.
He might be back in the cash games sooner than he'd hoped for today as he's already down to 4,000.
A big three-way pot had made it to the river with a board resting as [9h][js][9s][th][ah]. Chris Forde bet 3,000 and the Dutchman was the only caller. Forde opened [9s][ts] for a full house and Drenthe mucked. -- MC
1.55pm: The toughest table of them all?
With so many talented players in the room there are plenty of tough tables dotted around. Table 57 might trump the lot of them though.
That's some line-up; there's Jamie Sykes who's won the Sunday Million, finished sixth at UKIPT3 Edinburgh and 11th here at the UKIPT4 Nottingham 6-max. Full Tilt Poker Ambassador Martins Adeniya has just shy of $500,000 in lifetime live earnings and final tabled EPT8 London. David 'sexygee' Gent is one of the best British players that you may not know. He was best known for playing high stakes cash games, that was until he finished second in the 7th Anniversary Sunday Million in 2013 and won $836,321.83.
Adeniya looks to build on his burgeoning reputation
Throw in Bart Besselink who has a good reputation amongst Dutch players and circuit grinders Dean Clay and Daniel Laming, who've both had big scores in the last year, and you've got a tough crowd. -- NW
1:50pm: Postlethwaite looking for the double
Thomas Postlethwaite has arrived in Nottingham relatively fresh from his recent win at the UKIPT series 4 London.
During the event, he pledged he would make the trip to Nottingham if he did win, and true to his word here he is. He's not been fazed by the bigger field and buy-in either, playing a host of pots in the early stages and winning most of them according to tablemate and well-known UK player Tom "Red Dog" McCready.
Unfortunately, our arrival signalled the end of Postlethwaite's dominance as he lost two pots in a row. "I had to lose one sometime!" he added with a smile.
He's just above his starting stack but enjoying getting stuck into the table, --RS
1.40pm: Zhang lets it go
Thomas Zhang is down to around 5,000 after bet-folding the river against Mathew Miners. There was 8,000 in the pot by the time the river of a [8h][Qs][5s][8c][Ks] board hit the felt. Zhang bet out for 3,300 but tank folded after Miners raised to 7,750.
Both those players are at the same table as Chris Moneymaker, the Team PokerStars Pro has slipped to around 12,000 and to his immediate right, Simon Hemsworth is down to 15,500. -- NW
1:30pm: He's just a Moneymaker
The UKIPT is very proud and happy to have 2003 World Champion Chris Moneymaker playing today.
The Team PokerStars Pro has Simon Hemsworth as a neighbour and PokerStars Team Online's Vicente Delgado across the table. He won a pot of Hemsworth to rise to 22,000.
The action was four-way to a [2d][6h][jd] flop but only Hemsworth (small blind) and Moneymaker (big blind) were left by the time the [kd] rolled out on the turn. Moneymaker bet 1,000 and Hemsworth check-called.
The board completed with the [kd] and both players checked. Hemsworth opened [qs][js] and lost out to Moneymaker's [ah][jh]. -- MC
1:17pm: Allen flush with chips
Kevin Allen has gotten back above his starting stack after he rivered a flush in a three-way pot.
He, Zoltan Szabo and Terry Jordan all took to a [ad][jh][4h] flop. The action was checked to Szabo on the button who fired 1,400. Jordan (big blind) and Allen (cut-off) both called to the [ac] turn where all three checked.
The river fell as the [6h] and Jordan led out for 3,000. Allen was the only caller with [kh][qh] for a flush. Jordan mucked. -- MC
1.10pm: Man down
The first exit of the day took less time than yesterday and Mark Reed is the unfortunate player to exit. The players at the table he was at told me that he was down to 6,000 on his exit hand and flopped the nut flush draw on a [10][J][Q] flop. Unfortunately for him Alan Stearn had ace-king for the flopped straight and it held on the turn and river. -- NW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 50-100
1:00pm: Allen applies pressure down the streets
Richie Allen has already done a little damage to his stack.
We joined the hand in question on the river of a [2h][2d][3c][5s][5d] board - Allen having fired out a chunky 5,500 bet.
His opponent in the hand (Daniel Gagne) clearly had a tough decision. Given the size of the pot by the river, we assume there had been some pressure applied down the streets.
A period of thought was followed by a call from Gagne. Allen went to muck as did Gagne - however Allen reconsidered.
"If I show, does he have to?"
The dealer confirmed this, so Allen tabled [Ad][8c] to Gagne's winning pair of eights. Gagne up to 27,000, Allen down to 15,000. -- RS
12.55pm: Best of British (Ireland and Holland)
The big names continue to arrive at UKIPT4 Nottingham2 and if anything it now looks like those players who chose to play Day 1A may have made a smart move. Some of the latest players to take their seats in this tournament include: John Eames, Richard Kellett, Jamie Sykes, Joeri Zandvliet, Sunny Chattha, Dara O'Kearney, David Lappin, Steve Watts, Dean Lyall, David Gent, Gordon Huntly, Iqbal Ahmed, Kevin Allen and Paul Zimbler. Keep an eye on the chip counts page where we'll be updating the names, notables and chip leaders throughout the day. -- NW
12:45pm: A chat with Jenkins and Ellwood
Season 4 of the UKIPT has seen PokerStars try out new things. There is the variable buy in levels for different stops and this event marks the first time a re-entry system has been used.
Ben Jenkins is Full Tilt Poker Tour Ambassador and his good friend, and fellow pro, Jack Ellwood has been a supporter of the tour since its birth. The blog bent their ears before play started to find out what they think of the trials/changes:
BJ on his re-entries: I'm probably going to treat it pretty normally, maybe go for the marginal spots a bit more. If I'm thinking I'm flipping, normally I might pass, but I'll probably take those gambles today.
JE on re-entries: It's tough to say; I think there is a place for them. I don't think every tournament should be a re-entry but there is a time and a place. For the UKIPT, maybe one or two spots - if they boost the guarantee - can work. In theory, I'm against them but there are a lot of pros as well in terms of travelling, costs and getting to play the tournament twice. Online I'm against them though.
I like that fact it's only one re-entry per day rather than players firing multiple bullets in a day. To do it the other way, the structure should be shorter and the prize pool boosted by a smaller buy in. Definitely not right for a 1k.
BJ on the variable buy in levels this season: I think both buy in levels have a place. I think there are a lot of people that want to play a thousand, and a lot of people that want to play smaller ones but they're accommodating both markets. There may well be a place for re-entry tournaments as well, one thousand re-entries, seven hundred re-entries to help accommodate more people, which is a good thing.
Having a mix-bag of options give players the chance to vote with their feet, go to the tournament they want to see work.
-- MC
Jenkins has plenty to say both off and on the felt
12.30pm: Snapshot from the felt
Even at this early stage of the tournament, the casino is awash with noise and activity. There's a palpable buzz permeating the cardroom and there are a host of reasons why.
Huge one million pound guarantee? Check.
Array of marquee names in the field? Check.
Decadent, well-run cardroom with attentive, well-trained staff? Check.
Scanning the field, we saw the following:
- Full Tilt Poker Ambassador Ben Jenkins decked out with his usual sartorially well-chosen raiment playing a host of small pots in the early stages
- The effusive Sam Grafton sporting the kind of beard that makes lumberjacks rub their chin in jealousy. (Yesterday's High Roller winner Dave "Dubai" Shallow explained that Grafton had been trapped on a desert island for some time.)
- Kevin Williams laughing and joking with his table as he sets out to write his own tale of glory at the UKIPT.
- UKIPT Marbella 2013 winner Ludovic Geilich gleefully swapping tales of his online exploits with fellow online players.
The scene is set for an outstanding day of poker. Hold tight! --RS
1215pm: Lucky we like queuing
If there were such a thing as Countries Top Trumps (turns out there is) then one of Britain's highest scoring categories or special skills would be the ability to queue. And that skill is being tested right now in two distinct types of queue.
There's one around the centre of the room - where there's a central command pod of sorts, players are queuing here to get seat assignments, Canadian grinder Dan Williams was one such player I spotted there, when in the UK and all that. Then there's another larger gathering at the front of the Dusk Till Dawn poker club, they include the De Meulder brothers and they - among with many others - are looking up at a big screen which depicts the table layout here at Dusk Till Dawn. Perhaps they have their seats and are working out where to go.
There's also a third subset, those who are patiently waiting for more tables to open to get their seats but see an alternative to queuing. Amongst them are Full Tilt Poker Ambassadors Dermot Blain and Martins Adeniya. They've got the look of two people who've seen this before so they're sat down having a chat whilst the hullabaloo carries on around them.
278 people are currently registered for Day 1B. -- NW
12pm: B is for bigger
At most, but not all, UKIPT stops Day 1B has easily surpassed Day 1A in terms of number of entrants. Today we expect it to be no different but what will change is that Day 1B is going to be the middle sibling this time out as Day 1C will dwarf both. We had 175 runners yesterday and that number could well be doubled today. Whilst Day 1C is still open for registration but there are only a handful of seats left.
However many players we get though I suspect the table containing one Chris Moneymaker will be a beehive for us honey gatherers and spectators alike. The 2003 WSOP Main Event champion is playing today, as is felllow Team Pro Christophe De Meulder. Other big names confirmed for some felt time today are: Full Tilt Poker Ambassador Ben Jenkins, Sam Holden (back from retirement) and UKIPT Marbella champion Ludovic Geilich.
Moneymaker will be joining the UKIPT party
And with this being a single re-entry tournament plenty of players who busted yesterday will be back for more today: Simon Deadman, Royston Drenthe and Ali Mallu are a triumvirate of terrors with a chance to wreak havoc once more.
As always at Dusk Till Dawn play will start bang on time at midday.
Key UKIPT Nottingham Facts:
- 20,000 starting stack
- Blinds starting at 25/50 for 400 big blinds
- One hour levels and we'll play ten today.
- For the first time ever players can re-enter a UKIPT Main Event. It's a single re-entry only and it must be used on a different starting day than the one the player busted from.
- This is the second Day 1, Day 1C is tomorrow then on Saturday survivors will merge for Days 2, 3 and 4 until a winner is crowned (cue winner's photo, trophy swinging around, celebrations in the bar).
- There's a live satellite at 20.00 BST here at the Dusk Till Dawn Club with 20 seats guaranteed.
- Full UKIPT schedule here
PokerStars Blog reporting team at PokerStars UKIPT Nottingham2: Marc Convey, Rod Stirzaker and Nick Wright. Photos by Danny Maxwell.
