4:45pm: Winsor bluffs to Tallon as break ticks by
Level 26 had come to an end and all but two players - who were still locked in battle - went off on a 15-minute break.
Ben Winsor opened to 115,000 from under the gun and was called by Pierrick Tallon in the big blind. Winsor continued for 125,000 on a [9s][kd][ac] flop and called when Tallon check-raised to 250,000.
The [6c] turn was checked by both players and Tallon went on to check-call 240,000 on the [4h] river. Winsor was bluffing with [jd][td], losing out to Tallon's [ah][7s].
Tallon - 4,710,000
Winsor - 1,075,000
Updates from level 27 onwards will appear in a new post. -- MC
4:40pm: Christopher Brice doubles through Pierrick Tallon
A much needed double up for Chris Brice to tell you about and it came at the expense of the chip leader Pierrick Tallon.
It all went in pre-flop, Tallon raised to 100,000 with [Kc][Qd], Brice shoved for 770,000 with pocket threes and after a long tank during which Tallon tried to elicit information Brice the Belgian made the call. The [Jc][4d][7s][6h][6s] board kept the small pair ahead and Brice said "Sorry guys" to Joseph Lalor and Chi Zhang as they are the two other short stacks at the table. -- NW
4:32pm: Leslie Packer eliminated in 7th place (£9,700)
Leslie Packer has been smoked after Otto Richard came back and finished off the job he'd recently started.
Packer moved all in for 420,000 from the hijack and Richard was the only caller from the next seat.
Packer: [ad][ks]
Richard: [as][ac]
The board ran [qc][4c][ts][7h][qh] to see the aces hold. Richard moved up to 2,310,000. --MC
4:25pm: Packer down to ten big blinds
Les Packer is now the clear short stack after losing back to back hands against Otto Richard.
In the first he opened to 125,000 from under-the-gun and then folded when Richard moved all-in from under-the-gun+1. In the next he opened to 100,000 on the button and called when Richard three-bet to 275,000 from the small blind.
On the [Ks][Tc][2h] flop Otto moved all-in and Packer folded to leave himself with just 475,000. --NW
4:17pm: Clock called on Richard again
For the second time in just over an hour the clock was again called on Otto Richard but this time it was pre-flop and was in a spot where he was simply facing a three-bet.
He'd opened to 100,000 from the hijack and Ben Winsor had three-bet to 235,000 on the button. It folded back to Richard - he had about 1,300,000 behind - and he began to think over his decision. After a couple of minutes Joseph Lalor called the clock and the tournament director was called. The TD asked dealer how long Richard had taken so far and informed the Frenchman that he wasn't going to call the clock but that Richard should act soon else he would.
After about another 20 seconds Richard called and the two players took a [Th][Tc][9s] flop, no one bet and it was a similar story on the [9h] turn. The [Ah] completed the board and Richard checked and then folded when Winsor bet 285,000. --NW
4:07pm: Chips Ahoy
| Seat | Name | Country | Status | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Brice | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 1,250,000 |
| 2 | Chi Zhang | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 780,000 |
| 3 | Joseph Lalor | Ireland | PokerStars Qualifier | 750,000 |
| 4 | Leslie Packer | United Kingdom | 1,050,000 | |
| 5 | Otto Richard | France | 1,600,000 | |
| 6 | Pierrick Tallon | Belgium | PokerStars Qualifier | 4,650,000 |
| 7 | Benjamin Winsor | United Kingdom | 1,350,000 |
4:03pm: Business as usual for Tallon
Pierrick Tallon's up to 4,650,000 after forcing Ben Winsor off a hand.
He raised to 100,000 from the small blind and Winsor defended his big blind to see a [th][6d][2d] flop come down. Tallon continued for 45,000 and called when raised to 150,000. Both players checked the [kc] turn before Winsor folded to a 350,000 bet on the [6s] river. -- MC
3:55pm: Lots of shoves, no calls
The players aren't being shy about getting their chips in the middle but when it comes to calling all-ins they're less keen.
In the past orbit Joseph Lalor, Otto Richard and Les Packer have all three-bet shoved but each time the original raiser didn't have the goods to call.
It's Lalor (730,000), Packer (900,000) and Chi Zhang (800,000) who are playing the role of short stacks right now. --NW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 25,000/50,000 ante 5,000
3:45pm: Tallon gets some back
Pierrick Tallon is back up to 3.8 million after winning a three-way pot.
Joseph Lalor raised to 100,000 from the cutoff and was called by Otto Richard and Tallon in the blinds. All three checked the flop before Lalor bet 150,000 on the turn with the board reading [8d][2c][6s][as]. Richard called but Tallon raised to 430,000. Both opponents folded. -- MC
3:30pm: Joseph Lalor doubles through Pierrick Tallon
Joseph Lalor started the final table with 1,390,000 but was down to 530,000 and took a stand against Pierrick Tallon.
The chip leader opened to 80,000 and Lalor shoved for 530,000 from the small blind. Back on Tallon he mulled the decision over for a couple of minutes before saying to Lalor: "Do you want me to call?" to which Lalor replied. "It depends what you've got."
After another minute or so Tallon announced call and showed [Ad][9s] which was ahead of Lalor's [Kc][Jd]. The [2h][Js][7h][2c][5s] board saw Lalor spike a jack to survive. He's back up to 1,100,000 whilst Tallon is down to 3,200,000. --NW
3:15pm: Guess who
So which of our finalists is into renewable energy and which has final tabled the Sunday Million twice? Read our final table profiles to find out. --NW
3:08pm: Clock called on Otto Richard
Otto Richard likes to take his time over decisions. For the first time today, an opponent called the clock on him.
Ben Winsor opened to 90,000 from early position and Richard peeled from the big blind before both players went on to check the [5s][8d][2d] flop. The turn was the [9d] and Richard led for 140,000. Call. The board completed with the [3d] and Richard checked to face an 85,000 bet.
After a few minutes, the clock was called on Richard. After 30 seconds he flicked in a chip to call. Windor opened [jd][ts] for a flush and Richard mucked.
Winsor - 2,000,000
Richard - 1,300,000
--MC
2:53pm: Tallon passes four million
Pierrick Tallon has become the first player to pass four million chips.
He defended a cutoff raise from Joseph Lalor while in the big blind and check-called 150,000 on a [3c][3d][qh] flop. The turn was the [9h] and he called another 250,000 before both players checked the [qc] river. Laor opened [jd][9d] but lost out to Tallon's [ac][9c]
Tallon - 4,100,000
Lalor - 705,000
--MC
2:40pm: Back in their seats
The seven remaining players are back in their seats, the small blind and a ante now equals a starting stack! -- NW
Blinds up: 20,000/40,000, ante 5,000
2:25pm: Break time
The players are now on a 15-minute break. --NW
2:15pm: Tallon extends his chip lead
Pierrick Tallon started the final table as chip leader and he's just padded his stack after winning a three-way pot.
He got the action started by raising to 60,000 from the hijack, Ben Winsor (cut off) and Chris Brice (button) both called but Joseph Lalor didn't call, instead he three-bet from the big blind to 140,000. That was enough to see off Winsor, but the other two stuck around and the flop fell [Jh][5s][Jd].
The action checked to Brice who bet 200,000, Lalor folded but Tallon made the call. The two players both checked the [5d] turn and [Kc] river and Tallon's pocket tens bested Brice's pocket nines at showdown. --NW
2:05pm: Lee Mulligan eliminated in 8th place (£6,900)
Lee Mulligan came into the final as the shortest stack and he was the first person to depart, in a three-way all-in confrontation.
He was under the gun and moved all in for his last 204,000. Chi Zhang was in the cutoff and called before Otto Richard moved all in for 590,000 from the big blind. The move sent Zhang deep into the tank. You could see his working numbers in his head and he eventually made the call after about four minutes.
Mulligan: [ad][qd]
Zhang: [as][qc]
Richard: [ks][kh]
The board ran [3h][5h][9h][tc][6d] to see the Frenchman's hand hold up.
Richard - 1,423,000
Zhang - 650,000
Mulligan - eliminated
--MC
1:45pm: Final table chip counts
After a short break the final table has just got under way here at the Rainbow Casino in Bristol. Here's how the final eight stack up. All players are now guaranteed £6,900
| Table | Seat | Name | Country | Status | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Chris Brice | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 1813000 |
| 1 | 2 | Chi Zhang | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 1775000 |
| 1 | 3 | Joseph Lalor | Ireland | PokerStars Qualifier | 1390000 |
| 1 | 4 | Les Packer | United Kingdom | 575000 | |
| 1 | 5 | Otto Richard | France | 594000 | |
| 1 | 6 | Lee Mulligan | United Kingdom | 283000 | |
| 1 | 7 | Pierrick Tallon | Belgium | PokerStars Qualifier | 2707000 |
| 1 | 8 | Benjamin Winsor | United Kingdom | 1953000 |
1:25pm: Hak-Mann Lee eliminated in 9th place (£5,194)
The official UKIPT Bristol final table is set after the elimination of Hak-Mann Lee in ninth spot.
The Swede was down to 458,000 when he open shoved from middle position. Christopher Brice was sat in the cutoff and was the only caller.
Lee: [ah][td]
Brice: [as][kd]
The board ran [8c][qs][js][3s][js] to see the dominating hand hold.
They'll now be a pause in the action while photos are taken, bios are done etc, and then play will resume. -- MC
1:15pm: Tallon takes one
Chi Zhang will be breathing a sigh of relief that his draw didn't get there otherwise the amount of chips he lost to Pierrick Tallon may have been far higher.
He raised it up pre-flop from middle position and Tallon called from the big blind. Zhang then fired bets of 72,000 and 180,000 on the [8h][Ts][Ks][Qh] board before shutting down on the [6c] river. "Jack high" announced Zhang, showing [Js][7s], Tallon could beat that as he had [Qs][9s]. If the flush had come there may well have been fireworks, as it is it was just a small skirmish. --NW
Blinds up: 15,000/30,000, ante 4,000
1:05pm: Unofficial final table redraw
Here's the seat draw for the final nine, it's the last table not the final table though as the official final table is eight handed.
| Table | Seat | Name | Country | Status | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Christopher Brice | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 720000 |
| 1 | 2 | Chi Zhang | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 2150000 |
| 1 | 3 | Joseph Lalor | Ireland | PokerStars Qualifier | 1750000 |
| 1 | 4 | Leslie Packer | United Kingdom | 630000 | |
| 1 | 5 | Otto Richard | France | 600000 | |
| 1 | 6 | Lee Mulligan | United Kingdom | 300000 | |
| 1 | 7 | Pierrick Tallon | Belgium | PokerStars Qualifier | 2300000 |
| 1 | 8 | Hak-Mann Lee | Sweden | 575000 | |
| 1 | 9 | Benjamin Winsor | United Kingdom | 1980000 |
12:58pm: Brett Angell eliminated in 10th place (£4,570)
The third final table in four dream is over for Brett Angell after he lost a race to Ben Winsor to bust.
Winsor opened to 60,000 from under the gun and was called by Hak-Mann Lee in the next seat before Angell squeezed all in for 507,000 from the small blind. Winsor shoved behind and Lee folded to leave them to it.
Winsor: [jc][jd]
Angell: [as][ks]
The board ran [7s][3h][tc][7h][4d] missing both players. Angell received warm congratudolances from his table mates before he was led off to the payout desk. The remaining nine players will now be drawn onto one table of nine. -- MC
12:45pm: Mulligan the shortest
Lee Mulligan is the shortest stack of the remaining 10 players and he just moved all his chips across the line in an attempt to double up.
His shove was for 298,000 in total and he'd got through everyone in double quick time until Otto Richard - who was in the big blind - asked for a count. The Frenchman has a notepad and a pen with him at the table and can often be seen scribbling notes or making calculations. He took a look at the tournament clock, for informatioon payouts, average stack or perhaps just to see what the blinds were.
He then scribbled something on his notepad and went back to tanking. He played with his chips, counted how many he had had again and eventually folded after about two to three minutes. --NW
12:30pm: Angell nervous about achieving
There's a sense of nervousness in the air as the players edge closer to a UKIPT final table. Naturally, and understandably, the average time to make decisions has lengthened as each one becomes ever more important. The style of play hasn't changed; three-bets, one four-bet and a couple of all ins with no calls have been seen since they were reduced to ten.
"I don't know what I'm more nervous about," said Brett Angell. His beloved Middlesbrough are streaming on an iPad next to him but thoughts of making a third final table in four UKIPT Main Events are at the front of his mind.
Angell won UKIPT4 London last October and returned to make the next final table, back in London for the first stop of Season 5. He failed to go deep in Nottingham and was too busy getting engaged to travel to Marbella. What ever happens today, life seems to be pretty sweet for Angell at the minute. -- MC
12:10pm: Andrew Fleming eliminated in 11th place (£4,570)
Phil Hellmuth could learn a lot from Andrew Fleming for never has a man taken having aces cracked deep in a tournament better than him.
He three-bet to 150,000 after Joseph Lalor had opened to 60,000 and when Lalor set him in for around 540,000 total Fleming snap called.
"We've got aces against nines," he explained to a friend on the rail as the dealer fanned a [Kc][9s][Jd] flop. "And we're done," he added. The [3s] turn and [8h] river meant he didn't hit his two outer, although Lee Mulligan told the PokerStars Blog that he folded an ace so in fact Fleming had been drawing even thinner. Fleming displayed no histrionics and no bad will towards Lalor indeed he was smiling as he shook hands with the players at the table as he left.
With Fleming's elimination Lalor has taken the chip lead and Otto Richard was moved from table two to balance the tables. --NW
12pm: Shuffle up and deal
Cards are in the air!
11:50am From 11 to a winner on the final day
Shola Akindele Deadman busted on the very last hand of level 22 last night, meaning just 11 players return for what is the final day of the UKIPT5 Bristol festival here in the West Country.
A mixture of good play and good timing helped Chi Zhang to the end of day chip lead yesterday, although it's quite tightly bunched at the top so no one's assured of making the official final table of eight. Here's how they line up:
| Table | Seat | Name | Country | Status | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Andrew Fleming | United Kingdom | 547000 | |
| 1 | 2 | Christopher Brice | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 12190000 |
| 1 | 3 | Lee Mulligan | United Kingdom | 404000 | |
| 1 | 4 | Pierrick Tallon | Belgium | PokerStars Qualifier | 1420000 |
| 1 | 5 | Joseph Lalor | Ireland | PokerStars Qualifier | 1376000 |
| 2 | 1 | Hak-Mann Lee | Sweden | 1010000 | |
| 2 | 2 | Chi Zhang | United Kingdom | PokerStars Qualifier | 1804000 |
| 2 | 3 | Brett Angell | United Kingdom | 752000 | |
| 2 | 4 | Leslie Packer | United Kingdom | 850000 | |
| 2 | 5 | Benjamin Winsor | United Kingdom | 1036000 | |
| 2 | 6 | Otto Richard | France | 674000 |
Cards will be in the air at midday BST. -- MC
PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at UKIPT5 Bristol: Marc Convey and Nick Wright. Photos by Mickey May