3.20pm: Break time
The players are on a 15-minute break. Updates from here will appear in a new post.
3.10pm: Chip counts
After those two big pots in the past 20 minutes here are the current chip counts
Nicolau Villa-Lobos - 4,000,000
David Vamplew - 2,250,000
Vladislav Donchev - 1,450,000
Przemysław Dajer - 1,390,000
3.05pm: Przemyslaw Dajer doubles through David Vamplew
After eight hands that involved more walks than flops and showdowns combined we had some action.
It folded to David Vamplew in the small blind and he moved all-in for an effective 690,000, Przemyslaw Dajer didn't take long to call, all-in for 690,000 he was the at risk player.
Vamplew: [Js][5s]
Dajer: [Ah][10d]
The [10c][Kd][7h] flop kept the Pole in front, the [8s] turn card gave Vamplew a gut shot to go with his pair outs but he missed them all on the [6d] river. -- NW
2.50pm: Huge pot sees Villa-Lobos double through Vamplew to claim lead
It was a big one and took more than ten minutes to play out. The result saw a new chip leader emerge.
David Vamplew opened to 120,000 and Nicolau Villa-Lobos defended his big blind to see a [5s][2h][6s] flop fall down. Vamplew continued for 250,000 and Villa-Lobos called.
The [kc] appeared on the turn and Vamplew fired 430,000 at the pot. Villa-Lobos took a little longer this time before he check-called again to see the [ah] river. Without hesitation Villa-Lobos moved all in for his remaining 1,220,000. The move took Vamplew by surprise and the longest tank of this final table ensued.
Vamplew was trying to figure out what it all meant and sporadically looked at his opponent as if he was a dying puppy. Eventually he made the call and the Brazilain jumped out of his seat and revealed [4s][3s] for straight. What a flop that was for him. Vamplew opened [ts][th] and dropped to 2,900,000. Villa-Lobos started this final table with 313,000 chips and now he has 3,900,000 - wow. -- MC
2.35pm: Vladislav Donchev doubles through Nicolau Villa-Lobos
The stacks of Vladislav Donchev and Nicolau Villa-Lobos are now much closer together as the former has just doubled up through the latter.
Donchev open-shoved from the button for 745,000 and Villa-Lobos called quickly and David Vamplew turbo mucked from the big blind.
Donchev: [Ah][Kd]
Villa-Lobos: [As][10s]
On a day when the worst hand has got there often in all-in situations, despite having the best of it Donchev could take nothing for granted. The [5h][5s][7c] flop opened up the possibility of a chop as well as an outdraw, but the [6c] turn and [2s] river kept Donchev in front. He's up to 1,550,000 whilst Villa-Lobos slips to 2,100,000. -- NW
2.25pm: Updated chip counts
David Vamplew - 4,375,000
Nicolau Villa-Lobos - 2,900,000
Przemysław Dajer - 1,030,000
Vladislav Donchev - 825,000
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 30,000-60,000, ante 5,000
2.15pm: Pressure grows on Dajer and Donchev
Przemysław Dajer and Vladislav Donchev are both on around 950,000 and below the 20 big blind mark with the new level on the horizon.
Dajer has been trying to get chips but he keeps getting shoved on, on a day that nothing has gone right for him so far.
Donchev lost a bunch of chips to Nicolau Villa-Lobos after he peeled an under the gun raise from the Brazilian whilst in the big blind. Both players checked the [4s][2c][4h] flop before Donchev check-called a 130,000 bet on the [jh] turn. Both players checked the [jh] river and Villa-Lobos opened [ah][5c]. Dochev smiled as he flashed the [kd] and mucked. -- MC
2.05pm: Vamplew over four million
Well that big pot between David Vamplew and Przemyslaw Dajer did happen. From the button Vamplew made it 100,000 to go, Dajer three-bet to 240,000 from the small blind but folded when Vamplew moved all-in. After that hand Vamplew has more than four million, whilst Dajer is down to 1,025,000. -- NW
1.55pm: Huh? No exits
Action has slowed, as of course it had to, after the frantic opening 75 minutes. In the past eight hands there's been just one flop. There's still been a fair bit of three-betting going on and you sense it's only a matter of time before David Vamplew and Przemyslaw Dajer play a big pot. -- NW
1.40pm: Chris Derrick eliminated in 5th place (£21,150)
Long-time leader from earlier days, Chris Derrick, has seen his ride come to an end in 5th place. He was eliminated by Nicolau Villa-Lobos but the real damage was done by Vladislav Donchev the hand before.
David Vamplew opened to 100,000 before Donchev moved all in for 740,000 from the small blind and Derrick followed suit for a little more from the big blind. Vamplew folded to leave them heads up.
Donchev: [4h][4c]
Derrick: [kc][qd]
The board ran [8c][8h][3d][jd][7d] to miss Derrick's hand.
He had 115,000 left the next hand and in they went, to be called by all four opponents. They all went on to check down the [5d][4h][2c][6d][4d] board. Derrick opened [ac][4s] for trips but was unlucky that Villa-Lobos held [5c][3h] for a straight. -- MC
1.25pm: Chip counts
Below are 100% accurate chip counts from the break, David Vamplew and Nicolau Villa-Lobos have two thirds of the chips in play between them.
Nicolau Villa-Lobos, Brazil, 2,430,000
Przemyslaw Dajer, Poland, PokerStars Player, 1,410,000
David Vamplew, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, 3,610,000
Chris Derrick, United Kingdom, PokerStars Qualifier, 980,000
Vladislav Donchev, Bulgaria, PokerStars Qualifier, 710,000
1.20pm: Back from the break
The players are now back in their seats and play is underway once more. -- NW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 25,000-50,000 ante 5,000
1.05pm: More for Vamplew
There's just no stopping David Vamplew right now as he just won the last pot before the break.
He opened to 80,000 and got calls from Vladislav Donchev (button), Chris Derrick (small blind) and Nicolau Villa-Lobos (big blind). The dealer fanned a [5c][7c][9s] flop, Vamplew c-bet 160,000 and Donchev was the only caller.
The two of them then checked down the [5h] turn and [Jh] river Vamplew showed [4c][4d] which was good to take the pot.
The players are now on a 15 minute break, we'll be getting official chip counts during it. -- NW
12.55pm: Jamie Sykes eliminated in 6th place (£17,000)
This is fast becoming the David Vamplew show. He just got somewhat lucky to eliminated the dangerous Jamie Sykes is a cold hand.
Sykes opened the pot with an under the gun raise to 85,000 and Vamplew three-bet to 183,000. The action was back on Sykes who four-bet to 325,000 then called all in for around 1,200,000 chips when Vamplew shoved.
Sykes: [kd][kc]
Vamplew: [as][kh]
The [5d][ts][7s] was safe for Sykes.
The [js] turn opened up half the deck for Vamplew's hand now and prompted Sykes to say. "You have far too many outs, you have to miss!"
The river fell as [ah] to send a spike through Syke's house. He took the loss well and wished everyone luck. As he walked off we heard him say, "Yawn" to his railing buddy, Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody.
Vamplew is up to 3,600,000 chips now and on fire. -- MC
12.45pm: Guido Braye eliminated in seventh place (£12,850)
We have a new chip leader and it's home town hero David Vamplew.
He opened to 80,000 from mid-postion, Jamie Sykes flat called on the button and Guido Braye then moved all-in for 451,000 total. Back on Vamplew he asked Sykes for a count (1,200,000) and then moved all-in for around 1,900,000, Sykes instantly folded.
Vamplew: [Ah][Ad]
Braye: [Kc][Js]
It was all over by the turn of the [2c][4d][7s][2s][Kh] board and Braye shook everyone's hand before walking to the payouts desk. With 2,300,000 Vamplew now has the chip lead. -- NW
12.35pm: Big guns firing chips
The players are not here to hang around today, that's for sure. David Vamplew and Jamie Sykes were both all in after pre flop raising wars.
The first hand saw Chris Derrick opened to 80,000 from cut-off before Vamplew three-bet to 183,000. Przemysław Dajer was in the small blind and put out a four-bet to 285,000. Derrick folded but Vamplew tank-shoved for 1,350,000. The Polish chip leader made a considered fold.
The very next hand Vladislav Donchev opened before Derrick three-bet and Jamie Sykes four-bet all in. Donchev folded but Derrick made the call. Both players opened pocket jacks and the pot was split. -- MC
12.28pm: Christian Bergstrom eliminated in eighth place (£9,750)
It's been an entertaining start to the final table and we've just lost our first player. Even the exit was exciting as it involved a three-way all-in.
The action folded to Christian Bergstrom and he moved all-in for 421,000 from mid-position. It folded to Vladislav Donchev who asked for a count and then called. Fold from Chris Derrick, but Nicolau Villa-Lobos then announced that he too was all-in. The Brazilian had 594,000 in total and Donchev called off the extra. Showdown!
Bergstrom: [Kd][Qd]
Donchev: [6c][6d]
Villa-Lobos: [Qs][Qc]
The [Jh][8s][5s] flop kept Villa-Lobos out in front, the [7c] turn gave Donchev more outs to a double knockout, but the [10d] completed the board and changed nothing.
What a start then for Villa-Lobos who 30 minutes ago had just 313,000 and now has more than 1,600,000. -- NW
12.20pm: Braye put to the test; becomes the short stack
Guido Braye has become the short stack of the final table after David Vamplew put him to the test for his entire stack.
Vamplew opened to 80,000 from early position and was only called by the Dutchman en route to a [js][6c][3s] flop. Vamplew continued for 80,000 and was snap-raised up to 160,000 by Braye. Vamplew shoved and Braye had to admit defeat with a fold. He dropped to 440,000, Vamplew grew to 1,350,000. -- MC
12.10pm: Quads help Villa-Lobos to an early double up
It took only two hands for Nicolau Villa-Lobos to double up and be back in with a shout of the title.
He three-bet all in for 285,000 from the button after Chris Derrick opened to 80,000 from the cut-off. "Go in then, I call" said Derrick.
Derrick: [2h][2c]
Villa-Lob: [4h][4d]
The board ran [8d][qc][4s][9c][4c] to make the Brazlian quads! Not a bad start. -- MC
12.03pm: Shuffle up and deal
Tournament director Toby Stone has introduced all the players and cards are in the air. -- MC
11.50am: Final table day
Welcome back to the final day here in Edinburgh. Four days of poker action has seen us whittle a field on 612 players down to out final eight. All are still in with a shot of claiming a £101,000 new year present. With more than 20% of the chips in play Przemysław Dajer is the man to catch. Many eyes will be on local poker hero David Vamplew as he tries to add a home town UKIPT title to his London crown. Play is due to kick off very shortly but for now find out a bit more about our players below:
Seat 1: Nicolau Villa-Lobos, Brazil - 313,000
Nicolau Villa-Lobos's introduction to poker in 2007 came in dramatic fashion after heart surgery meant that he had to give up the sports he enjoyed - surfing, skateboarding and football - for six months. Villa-Lobos, 24, is a part-time poker player, cinema producer and student, enjoying playing in his first UKIPT. His best previous live result was an impressive 77th in the WSOP in 2012 for $88,070 but to win UKIPT Edinburgh coming back from the shortest stack would be even better.
Seat 2: David Vamplew, United Kingdom, (PokerStars Qualifier) - 1,127,000
At just 25-years-old David Vamplew is already top of the all-time Scottish money winners list and needs little introduction. Born in Fife, but now living in Edinburgh, Vamplew took down UKIPT/EPT London in October 2010 for £900,000. Technically that means he can become the fourth member of the exclusive double UKIPT winner's club should he take down the £101,000 first prize tomorrow.
Although he says the victory wouldn't be as big as the London win he said: "I'm more excited that it's one of the only big events in Scotland." The Scotsman made the trip straight from the PCA and cheekily said: "I need seventh to get me out of it for the year."
Seat 3: Przemysław Dajer, Poland - 2,083,000
The chip leader going into the final table is 24 year old Przemyslaw Dajer from Szczecin in Poland who started playing poker three years ago via online freerolls. Nowadays he's trying out the pro lifestyle and his first foray into larger-sized buy-in tournaments here in Edinburgh has already paid off. He says he can't believe he made it as far as the final table but hopes to play a good game tomorrow, helped by his chip advantage.
Seat 4: Christian Bergstrom, Sweden - 517,000
Christian Bergstrom travelled from Stockholm to play in the UKIPT Edinburgh Main Event, and has made the final table, guaranteeing him a cash of at least £9,750. Bergstrom has played poker as a competitive amateur for eight years, playing a mixture of tournament and cash games, live and online. His stack took a big hit near to the end of the day with the emergence of a three-outer (in Guido Braye's favour) which means he will be one of the short stacks going into Day 4. However, after an evening off he will be supported by his rail of friends who also travelled over to play as he attempts to capture the title.
Seat 5: Jamie Sykes, United Kingdom - 1,029,000
Jamie Sykes, 24, hails from Leeds and plays online poker professionally. Sykes has attended two other UKIPTs; this is his first cash on the tour and to win would amount to smashing his live tournament winnings record. He rarely plays live poker, saying that coming out here represented a "burst of work ethic" and that in the future he was going to play every stop on the tour. Despite a rollercoaster journey to the final, Sykes admits, "I've played so many tournaments online that I'm used to it," adding that sharing a table with Kevin Williams and Jamie Burland earlier on was good fun - just one of many chatty line-ups he enjoyed playing with during his run to the final.
Seat 6: Guido Braye, Netherlands (PokerStars Qualifier) - 775,000
Guido Braye is a 52 year old data manager from Amstelveen (near Amsterdam); the final table of UKIPT Edinburgh is already guaranteed to be his biggest live poker result to date. But, amusingly, it should never have happened at all. He qualified for UKIPT Newcastle, cashing in 60th place, and travelled with his girlfriend. However, she didn't want to head to Edinburgh, so Braye, who qualified online, tried to switch his ticket to the London leg, but was not permitted to. So, he travelled alone and has now made the
final table.
Braye took the game up four years ago, when his nephew took him to a bar where they played poker. He says that should he win the tournament he'd go to the BMW garage and buy an X5! Away from the table he's a keen squash and golf player. He names Ruben Visser and Paul Berende as players he looks up to.
Seat 7: Vladislav Donchev, Bulgaria (PokerStars Qualifier) - 1,700,000
Bulgarian Donchev is another to fly straight from the PCA to Edinburgh (via London) to take part in the UKIPT. The 25 year old professional poker player from Sofia, is playing in only his eighth live tournament and this is his first cash. Given that he's second in chips going to the final it could well be worth waiting for.
As well as the PCA he's previously taken part in the PokersStars Eureka poker tour, when taking a break from playing tournaments online - his main game. He's only been playing for two and a half years and away from poker likes to play football with friends. If he doesn't win he says David Vamplew and Przemysław Dajer are the two most likely to.
Seat 8: Chris Derrick, United Kingdom (PokerStars Qualifier) - 1,497,000
Although Chris Derrick currently lies third in chips, he originally planned for a holiday around his trip to UKIPT Edinburgh, figuring, "I'll probably bust day one, and my wife and I will have a nice holiday." Instead, he's made the final of his first ever big live tournament, and his wife has had to settle for the rail for one more day. Derrick, 29, is from Bangor, Northern Ireland, and has been an online poker professional for 6 years, playing under the screen name 'BornSurvivor' after a now somewhat-regretted fascination with Bear Grylls. He specialises in MTTs having graduated from the 180-man sit-and-goes but is keen on the live experience. "I love the one hour levels, and the fact you can make moves."
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Edinburgh (in order of number of times their laptop has died today) : Marc Convey (once) and Nick Wright (never, I have a Mac). Photos by Mickey May (never, has a Mac also).