4.40pm: Approximate Chip counts
Tim Wong -- 400,000
Ben Vinson -- 800,000
David Clifton-Burraway -- 2,850,000
Tony Salmon -- 1,900,000
Ben Mayhew -- 2,700,000
4.35pm: Won hanging on
Tim Wong is the short, shorter, shortest stack and knows it. But as the cards are dealt he cannot seem to bring himself to push.
Meanwhile Ben Vinson opened for 110,000 in the cut off which Ben Mayhew raised to 235,000 in the big blind. Vinson called for a flop of [td][6s][9d]. Mayhew bet another 195,000 which Vinson called for an [8d] turn. Mayhew checked before Vinson lumped in 285,000. Mayhew then announced that he was all in, which forced the fold from Vinson, who drops down to 800,000. Mayhew on the other hand is now up to 2.7 million. - SB
Blinds up: 20,000/40,000, ante 5,000
4.25pm: Mayhew, Clifton-Burraway and Vinson at the centre of the action
In the last two orbits Ben Vinson has won three pots, Ben Mayhew has taken two, as has David Clifton-Burraway.
And when they've not been winning them, they've been losing them. The most significant action saw Ben Mayhew open to 80,000 from the cut-off, Clifton-Burraway three-bet to 260,000 and Mayhew then four-bet to 500,000. After a brief period in the tank Clifton-Burraway folded. -- NW
4.15pm: Sergio Aido eliminated in sixth place for £20,700
After more than two hours of play the first elimination, and it's Spaniard Sergio Aido that heads to the rail first.
Sergio Aido out in sixth
Aido open shoved from the small blind for what was roughly 700,000 (Ben Vinson would later admit to not looking), before Ben Vinson called from the big.
Aido: [ad][3h]
Vinson: [ac][qh]
The board ran [kh][as][8c][2s][jh] to send Aido out in sixth place. After handshakes all round Vinson stacked up 1.7 million chips. We're down to five. - SB
4.10pm: Glittering cash prizes
A reminder of what the final six are playing for today:
1st £100,000
2nd £60,450
3rd £43,200
4th £34,000
5th £26,750
6th £20,700
4.05pm: A couple of walks, one flop and not a lot else
It's still cagey here in Nottingham but we have had one flop. In the hand that made it that far David Clifton-Burraway raised to 80,000 from under-the-gun and Ben Vinson called from the big blind. The latter folded to a c-bet of 125,000 on the [6c][10d][7c] flop though. -- NW
4pm: Salmon mucks against Clifton-Burraway
Play continues with little more to report. The only hand of note came between David Clifton-Burraway who opened to 95,000 from the small blind, and Tony Salmon in the big blind who raised to 315,000. Clifton-Burraway then moved all-in. Salmon, after a minute or so of thought, mucked his hand. - SB
3.45pm: A couple of all-ins, but no calls
The calm before the storm continues with not a single flop to be seen in the past orbit. We had a couple of all-ins though. Tim Wong was the first to chance his arm, moving all-in from the hijack he got no action.
Three hands later Ben Mayhew opened the button and again Sergio Aido moved all-in, Mayhew thought it over for around 30 seconds before releasing his hand. Six handed play continues. -- NW
3.30pm: Not much to report
A quiet spell in the general scheme of things. Sergio Aido has been the main player, moving in twice, both times against Ben Mayhew. In between Ben Vinson was raised out of a pot by David Clifton-Burraway pre-flop. That though is about it for the past ten minutes. - SB
3.10pm: Chip counts
We're back underway here in Nottingham and these are how the final six stack up.
1. Tim Hong Wong, Malaysia, 720,000
2. Sergio Aido Espina, Spain, 1,095,000
3. Ben Vinson, United Kingdom, 1,240,000
4. David Clifton-Burraway, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, 3,010,000
5. Tony Salmon, United Kingdom, 1,885,000
6. Ben Mayhew, United Kingdom, PokerStars Player, 1,130,000
Blinds up: 20,000/40,000, ante 5,000
3.10pm: Break time
The players are on a short break whilst the tournament staff colour up the 1k chips. -- NW
3.03pm: Clifton-Burraway extends chip lead
Just before the break David Clifton-Burraway took a mid-sized pot from Sergio Aido to extend his chip lead.
The Spaniard opened to 60,000 from under-the-gun and Clifton-Burraway called from the cut-off. The flop fell [9c][2s][7c], Aido c-bet 80,000 and Clifton-Burraway called. On the [5s] turn Aido ceded control of the pot and check-called a bet of 190,000 from Clifton-Burraway. The [Jd] completed the board, both players checked, Clifton-Burraway showed [10s][9s] to take the pot.
3pm: Ben Mayhew doubles through Tony Salmon
It folded to Tony Salmon in the small blind and he set Ben Mayhew in for his final 573,000. There was no instant action from Mayhew, he capped his cards and leaned back.
He took another look at his cards, then counted his chips and then looked at the tournament clock. There were less than 10 minutes until the blinds would go to 20,000/40,000/5,000, perhaps he was wondering if he would find a better spot? Eventually he placed his chips over the betting line and it was time for showdown.
Mayhew: [As][4d]
Salmon: [6d][6c]
"Nice hand," said Mayhew when he saw Salmon's hand. But the board came [4c][Ad][3h][Ah][9h] and Mayhew doubled to around 1,200,000 whilst Salmon slipped to 1,875,000. -- NW
2.55pm: Pots for Salmon and Aido
A couple of big pots to tell you about...
In the first Tony Salmon raised to 60,000 from the button, Ben Mayhew three-bet to 130,000 from the small blind and Salmon called. On the [7d][Qs][10c] flop Mayhew c-bet 105,000 and Salmon made the call. The [Ks] turn card made Mayhew slow down and he check-folded to a bet of 100,000.
The next hand Ben Vinson opened to 65,000 from under-the-gun and Sergio Aido called from the big blind. The [5c][6h][2h] flop was checked through and the [Qh] landed on fourth street. First to act, Aido led for 100,000 and Vinson smooth called. The [7c] fell on the river and Aido bet 175,000. After about 20 seconds Vinson picked up the 175,000 chips it would cost to call and placed them in his left hand and did a couple of pump fakes before ultimately folding. -- NW
2.50pm: Salmon clashes with Clifton-Burraway
Tony Salmon was soon in action again, calling a pre-flop raise of 60,000 by David Clifton-Burraway on the button. On the flop of [jc][8s][as] Salmon checked from the small blind before Clifton-Burraway bet 70,000. Salmon called.
The turn came [3d] which both players checked for a [3s] on the river. Salmon then bet 155,000, which Clifton-Burraway raised to 310,000. Salmon looked intently at Clifton-Burraway without finding any answers. He then flicked his cards away. He drops down to around 2.1 million while Clifton-Burraway moved up to close to 2.5 million. -- SB
2.45pm: Salmon shoves against Mayhew
Tony Salmon seems to be playing a part in the significant pots so far. In the first Ben Mayhew opened for 60,000 under-the-gun which Salmon called for a flop of [qh][3h][2s]. Salmon then checked to Mayhew who bet 53,000. Salmon called for a [6s] turn card.
Again, Salmon checked before Mayhew bet 133,000. Salmon asked him how much he had left and was shown about 600,000. "I'm all in," said Salmon. The effect on Mayhew was to make him perform a half spin in his chair. He looked at his cards again, and again before folding. Salmon showed him [ac][3c]. - SB
2.35pm: Mayhew continues to slide
Whilst Tim Wong continues to rise, Ben Mayhew continues to slide in the opposite direction. In his latest set back he raised to 60,000 from the hi-jack, David Clifton-Burraway called from the big blind and the two of them saw a [4c][Ks][2c] flop. It was checked to Mayhew, he continued for 50,000 and Clifton-Burraway called.
The [7d] turn checked through, Clifton-Burraway then bet 180,000 on the [9s] river and Mayhew didn't take long before folding. -- NW
2.25pm: Wong continues to trend upwards
It's been a fantastic start to the final table for Tim Wong who's increased his stack from 447,000 to roughly 750,000 without going to showdown.
He got his latest boost in a hand against David Clifton-Burraway, the chip leader opened to 60,000 from the cut-off and Wong, who was in the big blind, capped his cards and contemplated his action.
He counted his chips, leaned round to check the tournament clock and then flicked in the call. The flop came [3h][8d][Jh] Wong checked, Clifton-Burraway c-bet 65,000 but folded when Wong moved all-in. -- NW
2.15pm: First action of the day
Short stack Tim Wong shoved once, then twice without any callers. He picks up the blinds but is still some way behind the others.
The first notable hand of the day is not long in coming. Ben Mayhew opened for 30,000 under-the-gun which Tony Salmon called from the big blind. The flop came [ks][6c][3s] which Salmon checked. Mayhew bet another 53,000 which Salmon then raised to 155,000. Mayhew called.
On the turn card [8s] Salmon pushed forward all of his blue chips, worth 220,000. Mayhew tanked, but folded. - SB
2.05pm: Play underway
Play starts at the final table. There are 55 minutes left of level 24.
2pm: Almost ready
Play is about to start with blinds of 15,000/30.000 with a 4,000 ante.
1.45pm: Introducing the players
Welcome back to Nottingham for the final table of the UKIPT Nottingham 6-max Main Event. After five days of tournament play we're down to the last six players from a field of 458, one of whom will walk away with a first prize of £100,000.
Introducing the six finalists:
Seat 1: Tim Hong Wong, 45, Malaysia - 447,000
Wong, better known as 'Ken', is a 45-year old live poker player who lives in Vauxhall, London. Originally from Malaysia, Wong was a chef in a takeaway restaurant until 2006 when he started to play poker full-time. The 45-year old has promised to make the press team Kung Po Chicken if he takes home the title tomorrow!
Seat 2: Sergio Aido, 25, Spain - 1,342,000
Spaniard Sergio is no stranger to the UKIPT, having won UKIPT3 London last year - impressive since he's only been playing live poker for a year and a half. He is more familiar with the online game, and came 5th in the 2013 PokerStars SCOOP Main Event for $313,200. Sergio moved to Hammersmith eight months ago and although he professes to having spent most of the last few months concentrating on his poker, he still follows his local football club, Gijon.
Seat 3: Ben Vinson, 26, United Kingdom, 1,648,000
Ben Vinson is a vastly experienced 26-year-old professional poker player who is originally from London but now calls Derby home. That makes Dusk Till Dawn his local card room, but he's travelled far and wide in search of a game. He's made the trip to Macau on at least half a dozen occasions for high stakes cash games and has had big tournament scores in London, Deauville, Monte Carlo, Galway and Cannes, including a 13th place finish at the EPT Grand Final in 2012.
His Dad Alan is also a regular tournament player with over $750,000 in lifetime earnings; in fact Vinson Jr. must win tomorrow if he wants to better his dad's best live score of £83,000. If he does so then his Dad will be on hand to buy him a pint, as he's travelling up from London to rail.
Seat 4: David Clifton-Burraway, 30, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, 2,200,000
This 30-year-old Londoner is more used to playing cash games than tournaments but that hasn't stopped him from taking the chip lead to the final table. He made the transition from online poker to live poker about three years ago and now plays in £5/£10 games and higher at various London card rooms and says the biggest pot he's won is in the region of £25,000.
However, the Arsenal fan could've played against his all-time football hero Dennis Bergkamp had life panned out differently. A Youth Team prospect at Scunthorpe, the striker instead went to University and then did an MBA in America on a football scholarship. However, he says that if he wasn't playing poker he couldn't work a 9-5 job.
Seat 5: Tony Salmon, 50, United Kingdom, 1,996,000
Just like Robert Baguley did last year, Tony Salmon, 50, will be hoping to score one for the older gents and keep the UKIPT title in Nottingham. He's local to the club and qualified on Dusk Till Dawn Poker for just £100.
He's retired, having sold his company in 2008, and has been playing poker for six years. His biggest result came in 2008 when he finished 22nd in the Irish Open, winning €18,000. Although he's had several big scores at Dusk Till Dawn, he's already eclipsed his best cash here which is £8,500.
When not playing poker he likes to play golf and although he doesn't have an official handicap he reckons that he plays off 14. A father of three and grandfather of three, he has obviously passed on the poker gene, as his youngest son, who's 21, plays online with some success.
Seat 6: Ben Mayhew, 27, Bury St. Edmonds, PokerStars Player - 1,451,000
Professional poker player Ben is fairly new to the UKIPT, having played his first-ever stop of the tour at UKIPT4 Isle of Man last month. With at least £20,700 now guaranteed, Mayhew has now achieved his biggest-ever live win, with his previous record of £7,200 now obliterated.
He says, however, that it's all about the title for him and he will be coming back tomorrow with that at the forefront of his mind. Mayhew plays football for his local team, Stanton FC, but he says that he's sure his teammates will forgive him as he'll be buying the first round next week!
PokerStars Blog reporting team at PokerStars UKIPT Nottingham 6-max: Nick Wright and Stephen Bartley. Photos by Danny Maxwell.