5.17pm: Break
Players are now on 15 minute break, we'll get 100% accurate chip counts during the break. You'll find level 28 updates in a new post shortly. -- NW
5.12pm: Two more short stacks double
We've seen so many double-ups, many as set-ups with big hands matching up against each other.
Chris Ferguson has lost most of the small pots he's played but won most the big ones. He called an Alexander Jobling small blind raise whilst sat in the big blind to see a [kh][4c][kc] flop. It was an action flop as both players quickly committed their chips.
Jobling opened [ks][jd] for trips, ahead of Ferguson's drawing [qc][tc]. The latter got instant service as the board ran out [8c][2s].
He didn't hold on those new-found chips long though. The next time he was in the big blind he faced a button raise from David Knight. Ferguson three-bet called his opponent's shove and the cards were on their backs.
Ferguson: [qd][qc]
Knight: [kc][kd]
The board ran [jc][5d][5s][5c][9s].
It was a cooler of a pot, and Ferguson was in disbelief. He and Knight have had to rely on the deck helping them out a lot today.
We're almost at the break and will post official chip counts then. For now Ferguson has about 1,250,000 to Knight's 2,100,000.-- MC
4.51pm: Good job, good job
Two big pots in a row for Alex Jobling has helped cement his status as chip leader.
Hand One: He raised to 130,000 and called after Sam Holden three-bet to 390,000 from the small blind. On the [6s][2c][10s] flop he called Holden's 300,000 c-bet and both players then checked the [Jh] turn. The [Qs] completed the board, Holden checked it over to Jobling who bet 250,000. Holden grimaced, re-checked his cards and with some reluctance mucked them.
Hand Two: From the small blind Jobling made it 130,000 to play and Chris Ferguson defended from the big. The flop fell [6c][3d][Qc] 150,000 from Jobling, call from Ferguson. The [8s] turn checked through before the [3s] completed the board. Jobling checked once more, Ferguson bet 350,000 and Jobling called. Upon seeing the call Ferguson mucked his hand and Jobling showed [Qd][Jd] to claim the pot.
After those two uptick's Jobling's stack is around 5,000,000, over half the chips in play. -- NW
4.47pm: Holden can't catch a break
Sam Holden is having a nightmare period, but it hasn't derailed him from playing aggressive poker.
After he lost that latest showdown he went on to win the next two pots with three-bets. Then came another all in showdown, and guess what? He didn't win it. It wasn't all bad news though as the pot ended in a chop.
David Knight opened to 125,00 from under the gun and was called by Alexander Jobling before Holden three-bet up to 450,000. Very quickly, Knight moved all in for a little less than 900,000 chips. Jobling folded and Holden said he had to call, but didn't seem to like it.
Knight: [ad][5d]
Holden: [ah][9s]
The board ran [9c][tc][7d][jd][8s] putting a straight on the board.
Holden must've been surprised he was ahead as Knight had no fold equity when he moved all in. How will this level or so of hell affect Holden moving forward? Time will tell. -- MC
4.35pm: Chip counts
Well after all that excitement here's the current chip counts:
Seat 3. Sam Holden, United Kingdom, 2,550,000
Seat 6. David Knight, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 970,000
Seat 7. Alexander Jobling, PokerStars player United Kingdom, 3,945,000
Seat 8. Chris Ferguson, PokerStars player, United Kingdom, 1,880,000
4.30pm: David Knight doubles through Sam Holden
Sam Holden has now lost three all-ins on the bounce and this is probably the one that's hurt the most so far.
He opened to 120,000 in the cut-off with pocket kings, David Knight moved all-in for 510,000 with pocket queens and Holden naturally called the extra. The [td][5s][4c] changed nothing. The [Qc] turn though gave Knight a set and the [Qs] river was, as one of Knight's boisterous rail said, overkill. -- NW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 30,000-60,000 ante 5,000
4.18pm: Chris Ferguson doubles through Alex Jobling
The short stacks are winning all the all-in confrontations right now.
From the button Alex Jobling opened to 110,000, next to act Chris Ferguson moved all-in from the small blind for 1,060,000. After getting a count Jobling cut out the calling chips, swivelled round in his chair to take a look at how long was left in the level (58 seconds) and then slid out the requisite calling chips.
Ferguson: [6c][6s]
Jobling: [As][Jd]
Fliop: [Kh][Kd][7h] - now an seven, ace or jack would do for Jobling
Turn: [Qs] - add queens and tens to the above
River: [3d]
Ferguson's pair held up and he doubled to 2,150,000. -- NW
4.15pm: Holden gets some back
Sam Holden has stopped the rot by taking a chunky pot from Chris Ferguson in a blind on blind battle.
Ferguson raised to 100,000 pre-flop and Holden defended. On the [Ks][Qs][8c] flop Ferguson fired 130,000, call from Holden. The [Qh] hit the turn, bet of 220,000 from Ferguson, call from Holden. Both players checked the [6c] river, Holden showed a flushing but ultimately one pair [6s][4s] which bested the up and down but ultimately missed [Jc][10d] of Ferguson.
Holden climbs to 2,800,000 whilst Ferguson drops to 1,075,000. -- NW
4.10pm: The bank of Holden
If you need chips this level, just ask Sam Holden for them. He's just doubled up another player, the very grateful Chris Ferguson.
The latter open shoved 735,000 from under the gun and was called Holden on the button to create the showdown.
Ferguson: [jc][tc]
Holden: [ac][qd]
The board ran [9h][ah][7c][5d][8h] to make Ferguson a straight on the river. Holden looked visibly disappointed, the opposite to Ferguson and his large contingent on the rail.
"You're free-rolling now!" Commented Alexander Jobling to the victor.
That put him up to more that 1.5 million. Holden dropped further to 2,280,000. --MC
4pm: Ewan Brown eliminated in fifth place (£22,240)
Ewan found a bit of a cooler spot to bust in fifth place. He three-bet all-in for 650,000 after finding [ac][js] in the small blind. Alexander Jobling had opened - as he had been a lot with his big stack - to 110,000 from under the gun. He snap called with the dominating [ad][kd] and safely navigated the [7d][8h][5s][ts][2h] board.
Brown was all smiles as he left, Jobling is up to 4,350,000. -- MC
3.45pm:David Knight doubles through Sam Holden
Sam Holden raised to 100,000 under-the-gun with [2d][2h], David Knight move all-in with [Qd][9d] for 455,000 total and Holden called the extra. A [4c][Qs][Th][As][Kc] board doubled Kinight to 1,00,000 whisst Holden slips to 3,075,000. -- NW
3.35pm: A dozen hands: No flops no drops
Yep in the first 12 hands after the break not one flop was seen here's what happened:
• Two raise and takes for Sam Holden
• Five raise and takes for Alex Jobling
• Two walks for Alex Jobling - he showed [Ah][Js] and pocket queens on those occasions
• One walk and one uncontested shove for Chris Ferguson
• One uncontested shove by Ewan Brown -- NW
3.20pm: Official chip counts
Seat 3. Sam Holden, United Kingdom, 3,660,000
Seat 5. Ewan Brown, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 745,000
Seat 6. David Knight, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 645,000
Seat 7. Alexander Jobling, PokerStars player United Kingdom, 3,095,000
Seat 8. Chris Ferguson, PokerStars player, United Kingdom, 945,000
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 25,000 - 50,000, 5,000
3pm: Break
The players are on a 15 minute break whilst tournament staff race off/colour up the T1,000 chips. -- NW
2.55pm: Play it again Sam; Holden takes the chip lead
The two chip leaders - Alex Jobling and Sam Holden - just clashed in a pot worth over two million chips.
The action was started by Jobling who raised to 80,000 from the cut-off, Holden three-bet to 255,000 from the small blind and Jobling made the call. On the [3d][10c][4d] flop Holden c-bet 190,000, call from Jobling.
The [2d] fell on the turn, Holden checked it over to Jobling who bet 280,000, call from Holden. The [8c] completed the board, once more Holden checked to Jobling and again he fired out a bet, this time 350,000. After about 10 seconds thinking time Holden announced call, Jobling rolled over [Kh][10h] but was outkicked by Holden's [Ah][10s]. After that hand Holden is up to roughly 3,700,000 whilst Jobling slips to around 3,000,000. -- NW
2.50pm: Dark times for Brown
Ewan Brown's stack is right in the danger zone at 695,000 after he lost two pots on the trot.
First up he raised to 120,000 from the small blind and David Knight defended his big blind to see a [3c][8d][8s] flop. Brown check-folded to a 140,000 bet from Knight who showed a bluff with [4h][2h].
The next Brown raised off the button and Alexander Jobling called from the big blind. Both checked the flop before Jobling led for 120,000 and 475,000 on the turn and river. The final board read [5d][4c][7h][8d][ks] and Jobling opened [kd][6d] for a straight. Brown mucked. -- MC
2.35pm: Holden rivers the nuts
Sam Holden just won a 1,700,000 chip pot to climb to second place. He opened from the small blind to 120,000 and Ewan Brown made the call.
Holden then fired 95,000, 180,000 and 450,000 on the respective streets on a [10s][Kd][6c][6s][Jh] board. Brown called all the way, but saw the bad news when Holden flipped [Ad][Qd] for the rivered straight, Brown showed [Jc][10h]. After that hand Holden is up to 2,600,000 whilst Brown slips to 1,500,000. -- NW
2.30pm: Anthony Shields eliminated in sixth place (£17,880)
There goes the other short stack. Anthony Shields pushed all in twice in-a-row, the second time for 430,000. Man of the moment, Alexander Jobling, made the call from the small blind.
Shields: [3d][3h]
Jobling: [ah][jc]
The board ran out [ac][7h][9c][4c][3c].
Jobling flopped an ace and went on to four-flush. Many of the spectators, and Shields' supporters, thought their made had won the pot when he hit a set on the river but they were left disappointed.
Shields will be upset but also happy at laddering for more than £4,000 more that he would've been expecting to get before Jack Sambrook's capitulation. -- MC
2.15pm: Jack Sambrook eliminated in seventh place (£13,520)
"Nice man busts," said a railer as Ewan Brown stacked the chips that meant he'd just eliminated Jack Sambrook.
The overnight chip leader was left perilously short when his aces were cracked and couldn't recover. He moved all-in for around 300,000 with [10d][7h] and Brown called from the big blind with [Ad][3h]. The board ran [Ac][Kd][8c][Js][4h] and we're down to six. -- NW
2.05pm: Official chip counts
Seat 1: Anthony Shields, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 447,000
Seat 2: Jack Sambrook, United Kingdom, 311,000
Seat 3. Sam Holden, United Kingdom, 1,826,000
Seat 5. Ewan Brown, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 1,739,000
Seat 6. David Knight, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 1,075,000
Seat 7. Alexander Jobling, PokerStars player United Kingdom, 2,865,000
Seat 8. Chris Ferguson, PokerStars player, United Kingdom, 875,000
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 20,000-40,000, 4,000
1.48pm: Alex Jobling doubles through Jack Sambrook
We've just witnessed the biggest pot of the tournament so far and it's one that's propelled Alex Jobling to the chip lead and reduced Jack Sambrook to the short stack of the remaining seven.
From under-the-gun+1 Sambrook opened to 60,000, David Knight flat called on the button before Jobling three-bet to 180,000 out of the small blind. Back on Sambrook he re-raised, making it 375,000 total. Facing this action Knight got out the way, Jobling thought for a bit before moving all-in for 1,377,000, Sambrook took a quick glance at his cards and announced call.
Jobling: [Jh][Jd]
Sambrook: [Ah][Ad]
The board ran [Js][5s][10d][9h][10h] Jobling flopped a set and rivered a full house to crack aces and take the chip lead. We'll get official chip counts on the break but Jobling up to circa 2,850,000 whilst Sambrook is down to roughly 290,000. -- NW
1.46pm: Break time
The players are on a 15-minute break. A big hand played out on the last hand of the level. Details to follow....
1.40pm: Lull in action
There has been a flop drought the last 15-minutes or so. We're seeing a lot of raising, three-betting and a squeeze from Sam Holden but no one was willing to play back. -- MC
1.30pm: Three pots that made it to the river
No massive pots in the last 20 minutes, but three pots have made it to the river, two of those went to showdown.
Hand One: Alex Jobling, who's been pretty quiet in the opening 90 minutes, opened to 65,000 from under-the-gun and David Knight gave him a spin from the big blind. On the [2c][8h][Qc] flop, Jobling c-bet 55,000 and called when Knight check-raised to 125,000. Both players checked the [6s] turn, before Knight check-called a bet of 125,000 on the river. Both players had [A][Q] and they chopped the pot.
Hand Two: Chris Ferguson made it 60,000 from the cut-off and both Jack Sambrook (small blind) and Sam Holden (big blind) gave him action. On the [2h][4d][8h] flop Sambrook led for 80,000, Ferguson was the only caller. Both players then checked the [Ac] turn and [6h] river, with Sambrook showing pocket sevens to win the pot.
Hand Three: Sam Holden raised to 90,000 from the small blind and Ewan Brown made the call. Holden fired bullets of 70,000 and 145,000 respectively on the [9s][Jh][4c][Qh] board, before check-folding to a bet of 195,000 on the [4h] river. -- NW
1.20pm: Chips ahoy!
Seat 1: Anthony Shields, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 540,000
Seat 2: Jack Sambrook, United Kingdom, 1,600,000
Seat 3. Sam Holden, United Kingdom, 1,875,000
Seat 5. Ewan Brown, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 1,700,000
Seat 6. David Knight, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 1,200,000
Seat 7. Alexander Jobling, PokerStars player United Kingdom, 1,175,000
Seat 8. Chris Ferguson, PokerStars player, United Kingdom, 900,000
1.10pm: Much needed chips for Knight
David Knight was the short stack but he just won a multi-way pot to ease his worries.
His 65,000 open from early position was called in three spots en route to a [4h][td][5c] flop. He continued for 90,000 and was called by Alex Jobling and Anthony Shields.
Knight didn't want to commit any more chips from there on in and checked the [2s][7s] turn and river down. Both his opponents were happy to follow suit and both mucked when Knight opened [qd][qh] at the conclusion. He's up to 1,100,000 chips now and has a little more breathing room. -- MC
12.52pm: Final table profiles
Want to know a bit more about the eight seven players left in? Of course you do. It contains juicy gossip. I mean who knew Alex Jobling wants to buy a tractor should he win. Click here for more nuggets of gold like that one. -- NW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 15,000-30,000 ante 3,000
12.47pm: Ewan Brown doubles through Jack Sambrook
Easy come, easy go for Jack Sambrook, who's just doubled up Ewan Brown.
From under-the-gun+1 Sambrook opened to 50,000 and called after Brown three-bet to 110,000 from the cut-off. On the flop of [2s][Kh][6c] Sambrook check-called a c-bet of 100,000. The [7c] fell on the turn, check to Brown, who bet 225,000 a quick all-in from Sambrook and an equally quick call from Brown, who was all-in for 667,000.
Sambrook: [Ks][8s]
Brown: [Kc][Jc]
The [Ac] completed the board, Brown is up to 1,800,000 whilst Sambrook slips to 1,825,000. Just one big blind separates the two top stacks. -- NW
12.42pm: Sambrook extends lead
Jack Sambrook has wrestled firm control of the early stages of this final table after winning a big pot off Chris Ferguson.
Ferguson opened to 48,000 from the hijack and called when Samrook three-bet to 100,000 from the button. Sambrook went on to fire bullets of 120,000, 220,000 and 375,000 on each street of the [3s][9d][js][5d][kc] board. Ferguson called the first two bets very quickly but tank-folded the river to drop to 1,150,000 chips. Sambrook is up to 2,725,000.
After the hand David Knight returned to the table after his penalty. -- MC
12.28pm: Anthony Shields doubles through Chris Ferguson
During the first orbit, Chris Ferguson had opened the button, Anthony Shields had jammed from the small blind and Ferguson folded.
In orbit number two this pattern repeated itself only this time Ferguson made the call. Shields was all-in for 445,000.
Shields: [Ad][9c]
Ferguson: [Ac][Kc]
The [9d][5d][As] flop, gave Shields the lead and he stayed there on the [2s] turn and [10c] river. He's up to 938,000 whilst Ferguson slips to 1,600,000. -- NW
12.22pm: One round penalty for David Knight
David Knight is currently serving a one round penalty after exposing his hand with action pending. He held [A][J] in a pot against Jack Sambrook who had [K][7]. The flop came down with both a king and a jack on it. It was at this point that Knight mistakenly exposed his hand, he bet, Sambrook raised and Knight called. The turn was another jack! Knight bet and Sambrook folded saying, "I think you might have it," cue laughter all round.
There's a great atmosphere at this final table, although Knight's penalty meant he's just missed another big pot. News on that coming right up. -- NW
12.17pm: Dan Hemmingway eliminated in eighth place (£10,250)
The first significant action saw the first elimination of the final table.
The action was started by Chris Ferguson, he opened to 48,000 from under-the-gun, Sam Holden then three-bet to 115,000 from mid-position, only for Dan Hemmingway to move all-in for around 425,000. It was a fast fold from Ferguson and an equally swift call from Holden.
Holden: [Ac][Kc]
Hemmingway: [Ad][Qd]
The board of [As][3d][9h][5s][Js] mean we lost the first player from the final table, Holden meanwhile now has roughly 1,575,000. -- NW
12.10pm: First three hands
The first two pots were simple raise and takes. One each for Sam Holden and Ewan Brown.
The third hand saw the first all-in of the final table, it folded to Chris Ferguson on the button, he raised to 48,000 but folded when Anthony Shields moved all-in for roughly 380,000 from the small blind. -- NW
12.05pm: Shuffle up and peel
Play is underway, stacks are still pretty deep so we should get to see some post-flop play. -- NW
11.55am: Final table set to start
Over four days of play a field of 623 runners has been whittled down to just eight. As always with poker tournaments there's some players who you'd expect to be there and others who've seemingly come from nowhere to somewhere. They of course could just be internet sickos with no live record to speak of.
The chip leader falls into the latter category...for now. Jack Sambrook, who takes 2,413,000, to the final table, has just one live result to his name a second place finish in a tournament in Nottingham for $10,000. That happened less than a month ago and he's carried his form into this tournament. He'll be hoping to go one better, wherever he ultimately finishes it'll be his biggest live cash.
One of the players lurking in the pack definitely falls into the category of players you'd expect to reach a final table or two. Sam Holden, a 23-year-old professional poker player from East Sussex is making his first UKIPT final table appearance.
However, he's already made the biggest final table of them all, finishing ninth in the 2011 World Series of Poker main event. The money jumps and pressure are therefore unlikely to phase this affable young man. "On the final table of UKIPT Newcastle today. I have 1.122m in chips which puts me 4th/8. We still have some time left in the 12k/24k level so there is still plenty of play," he tweeted this morning. He's one to watch for sure and many people's tip to take it down. He's also got position on Sambrook.
Of course six players will have other ideas about who's going to be UKIPT Newcastle champion. The final is set to start at noon, although it's possible as with most final tables they'll be a bit of a delay. There's 37 minutes left in the current level of 12,000 - 24,000 ante 3,000. The full final table line-up is below, we believe this is the first all UK, UKIPT final table.
Final table:
Seat 1: Anthony Shields, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 402,000
Seat 2: Jack Sambrook, United Kingdom, 2,413,000
Seat 3. Sam Holden, United Kingdom, 1,122,000
Seat 4. Dan Hemingway, United Kingdom, 446,000
Seat 5. Ewan Brown, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 832,000
Seat 6. David Knight, PokerStars qualifier, United Kingdom, 683,000
Seat 7. Alexander Jobling, PokerStars player United Kingdom, 1,198,000
Seat 8. Chris Ferguson, PokerStars player, United Kingdom, 2,045,000
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Newcastle and their favourite Holden Marc Convey (Amanda Holden) and Nick Wright (Holden Caulfield). Photos by Mickey May (Edith Holden - she loves The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady)