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.
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
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
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
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
And a reminder of what they're playing for:
1st. €87,700
2nd. €53,700
3rd. €38,400
4th. €29,100
5th. €23,100
6th. €17,700
Blinds up: 30,000/60,000, ante 5,000
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
Cards will be in the air at midday.