Stian Knutsen wins UKIPT6 Super Series and £42,500
Quiet. Focused. Stubborn.
These were the three words I jotted down on my notepad a couple of hours ago when I challenged myself to describe Stian Knutsen and his approach at the table today. There were more bubbly characters at today's final, such as Albert Sapiano and Chris Da-Silva, but it was the unassuming Norwegian who made it to heads up, alongside another quiet character in the shape of PokerStars qualifier Dara O'Kearney.
By that stage Knutsen had already done 90% of the work needed to win the title and £42,500. O'Kearney needed help from the deck and although he got some, it wasn't enough to turn around the large chip disparity between the two.
Chris Da-Silva finished the tournament in third place and being sat to Knutsen's left with an aggressive style, meant he was, for long periods the biggest threat. Knutsen stubbornly took him on though and managed to spike a couple of river cards in heads up pots between the two to frustrate the Brit. Knutsen also had the final say in the Da-Silva's day when he won a race with sixes versus A-Q; the very same hand he used to finish of O'Kearney heads up as well. Knutsen also took out Henry Bibby an hour into the day but, apart from that, he let his opponents finish each other off.
Here's how everyone finished at today's final table:
| POSITION | NAME | STATUS | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stian Knutsen | £42,500 | |
| 2 | Dara O'Kearney | PokerStars Qualifier | £26,800 |
| 3 | Chris Da-Silvs | £19,250 | |
| 4 | Valdir Cordeiro Dos Santos | £15,300 | |
| 5 | Adam Maxwell | £12,000 | |
| 6 | Albert Sapiano | £9,400 | |
| 7 | Alexander Fradlin | £7,055 | |
| 8 | Henry Bibby | £5,000 |
That's all from this highly enjoyable UKIPT6 Super Series weekend in London. The next outing for the tour will be a special occasion, with it being a first and the last of something all in one go. UKIPT6 Birmingham takes place from October 5-9 and is the first time the tour will make a visit to the second biggest city in the UK. It's also the last ever UKIPT before the tour is rebranded under the PokerStars Festival banner. Qualifiers are already running on PokerStars.com so get involved and come and join the festivities.
But for now, it's goodbye from London. Thanks for reading all week and a massive congratulations to all today's finalists, especially Stian Knutsen.
7:12pm: Dara O'Kearney eliminated in 2nd place (£26,800)
Level 29 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 15,000)
It was third time unlucky for Dara O'Kearney as Stian Knutsen finally managed to see the job through. The Irishman got his chips in in a flip but that was obviously far too much equity for him.
The Norwegian raised to 240,000 and made a quick call once O'Kearney three-bet all-in from the big blind.
O'Kearney: [as][8d]
Knutsen: [6d][6s]
The board ran [7d][js][kc][ts][jc] to see the kings hold up. The PokerStars qualifier won £26,800 for 11th and biggest cash on the UKIPT.
7:03pm: Who's behind the wheel?
Level 29 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 15,000)
Dara O'Kearney is who. He's back over 2.5 million after making a straight on the river.
The pot was limped and Stian Knutsen bet 125,000 on the flop when the action was checked to him. The turn was checked through and a [3c][6d][7s][4c][2s] board rested on the river. O'Kearney bet 225,000 and opened [ah][5s] when Knutsen called. The Norwegian mucked.
6:50pm: All-in or fold
Level 29 - Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 15,000)
There's the odd limp still but a lot of the action has seen one or other player all-in preflop with no calls.
The latest hand saw Stian Knutsen raise to 250,000 before tank-folding to Dara O'Kearney's 1.99 million shove.
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6:35pm: Some chips back for Knutsen
Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Stian Knutsen has extended the gap once more by moving Dara O'Kearney off a hand on the turn.
He raised to 225,000 and then bet 150,000 on a [td][6h][5c] flop. O'Kearney called preflop then check-raised to 400,000. Knutsen called then bet 375,000 on the [7s] turn. O'Kearney folded to drop back below 3 million.
6:28pm: Another Doke double
Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Dara O'Kearney obviously doesn't mind being dominated. He just got his stack in with an inferior ace once more, but yet again, found a way to survive.
He was on the button and moved all-in for 1.765 million. Stian Knutsen looked down at his cards and made a quick call.
Knutsen: [ac][jd]
O'Kearney: [as][4s]
The board ran [5d][6d][tc][4c][ah] to make the embarrassed (so he said) Dubliner two pair.
6:10pm: River raising from Knutsen
Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Dara O'Kearney's stack has dropped back to around 2 million after he bet-folded a river.
He led for 100,000 on the turn and 250,000 on the river. The final board read [ac][3s][ad][2h][5d] and Stian Knutsen called turn and raised river to 725,000. Fold.
6:02pm: Dara doubles, luckily
Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Dara O'Kearney got his chips in dominated but found a way out to survive and double up.
He was on the button and moved all-in for 1.485 million. Call!
O'Kearney: [js][9h]
Knutsen: [as][9c]
The board ran [qh][5s][7h][ts][8s] to make O'Kearney a straight. Game on.
5:58pm: O'Kearney dips below 2 million
Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Heads up has been mostly played small-ball so far, with a lot of button limping.
Dara O'Kearney just paid off a river value bet from Stian Knutsen to drop below 2 million. Knutsen checked his option after an O'Kearney button limp and a [kc][qh][9h][ac][5d] board rolled out. No more chips ventured forward until the river where Knutsen led for 175,000. His Irish opponent called but mucked upon seeing [ks][7s].
5:45pm: Chris Da-Silva eliminated in 3rd place (£19,250)
Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Well that was a surprise. After Dara O'Kearney had limped off the button and Stian Knutsen completed, the last thing that was expected was an exit.
Chris Da-Silva was in the big blind and raised to 350,000. O'Kearney folded but Knutsen moved all-in and, after thinking for a minute, Da-Silva called all-in.
Knutsen: [6c][6h]
Da-Silva: [as][qc]
The board ran [5h][3h][th][9d][2h] to see the sixes hold.
Knutsen will now take an 8.8 million to 2.5 million leads into heads up play.
5:35pm: Play resumes
Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Official chip counts:
Stian Knutsen - 6.66 million
Dara O'Kearney - 2.73 million
Chris Da-Silva - 1.935 million
4:50pm: Dinner break
Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)
The three players have decided to move forward the dinner break and will take 45 minutes now.
4:48pm: Another knock for Da-Silva
Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)
Chris Da-Silva's stack has shrunk to 2.05 million after Dara O'Kearney took a pot off him.
The turn was out and the board read [2d][jc][5h][as]. O'Kearney checked from the small blind and called a 325,000 bet before both players checked the [js] river. O'Kearney opened [ah][4c] and Da-Silva made a slow fold. O'Kearney moved past 2.5 million.
4:42pm: Running good?
Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)
"You run so good!" commented Chris Da-Silva to Stian Knutsen on showdown in a limped pot that got interesting. The loss saw his stack drop to 2.4 million.
They were in the blinds and Knutsen led for 85,000 on a [7c][4s][ts] flop. The turn was the [7h] and Knutsen bet 140,000 and called when he was raised to 325,000. The [6h] completed the board and both players checked. Knutsen opened [ac][6c] and scooped as Da-Silva mucked.
4:25pm: Valdir Cordeiro Dos Santos eliminated in 4th place (£15,300)
Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)
Dara O'Kearney's stack has gotten up to a high of 2.3 million after he took care of Valdir Cordeiro Dos Santos in fourth place.
The two players were in the blinds and took to a [6c][th][kd] flop after preflop limps. Cordeiro Dos Santos led for 85,000 and was called. He then check-called 140,000 on the [td] turn and check-called all-in for 520,000 on the [7s] river. O'Kearney opened [ts][8s] beating out Cordeiro Dos Santos' [kh][4d].
4:17pm: Da-Silva takes on Knutsen, wins
Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)
Chris Da-Silva negated a positional disadvantage to scoop a nice pot off chip leader Stian Knutsen. The latter is still cruising on over 6 million though.
Knutsen raised from the button and Da-Silva called to an [ad][5h][8d] flop. He continued for 110,000 and called when Da-Silva check-raised to 365,000. The turn was the [js] and Da-Silva led for 800,000 (1.1 million back). He put his head into his arms as Knutsen tanked for several minutes before folding.
4:07pm: Doke walks into a house
Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)
Dara O'Kearney has dropped back down to around 1.45 million after Stian Knutsen made a full house in a limped blind battle.
Both players checked the flop before O'Kearney checked-called bets of 80,00 and 205,000. The final board read [2d][8h][ad][2h][8s] and Knutsen opened [9d][8c]. O'Kearney nodded and mucked.
3:50pm: Knutsen tricky play fail
Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)
Stian Knutsen has taken a small knock to his stack after a blind on blind battle versus Chris Da-Silva.
He limped in from the small blind to face a raise to 185,000 from Da-Silva. He came back with a reraise to 485,000 but had to admit defeat and fold when Da-Silva jammed. The latter moved up to around 2.2million.
3:34pm: Adam Maxwell eliminated in 5th place (£12,000)
Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)
It just wasn't Adam Maxwell's day today. He didn't seem to make any miss-steps, but couldn't get the deck to help him out in anyway, highlighted most by his exit hand.
Chris Da-Silva moved all-in for 1.4million from under the gun and Maxwell called all-in from the very next seat.
Da-Silva: [as][7s]
Maxwell: [kc][ks]
The board ran [8d][6c][ac][4h][qd] to pair's Da-Silva' ace and he moved up to around 2 million.
3:20pm: Jack the lad O'Kearney doubles
Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)
A second double of the day for Dara O'Kearney and once more he withdrew from Adam Maxwell.
The latter raised from the cutoff and snapped the Irishman off when he three-bet all-in for 869,000 from the button.
Maxwell: [ts][th]
O'Kearney: [jh][jc]
The board ran [9s][9d][6s][qc][7d] to see the jacks hold. Maxwell dropped to around 700,000.
3:15pm: Cordeiro wins with eights
Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)
Valdir Cordeiro has been relatively quiet today but just won a pot off Chris Da-Silva to edge closer to 3 million.
He opened to 135,000 from the cutoff and Da-Silva peeled from the big blind to see a [kh][3s][7s] flop. Cordeiro continued for 165,000 and was check-called before the [4d][2c] turn and river were checked through.
"Ace high," announced Da-Silva before mucking upon seeing Cordeiro's [8d][8h].
2:57pm: Power poker from Knutsen
Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)
Stian Knutsen has extended his lead after he bombed the river in a hand against Adam Maxwell.
He raised from the button and Maxwell peeled from the big blind prior to check-calling a 75,000 c-bet on a [9d][jc][ac] flop. Both players checked the [3c] turn before Maxwell checked to face a 540,000 bet on the [7c] river.
It really looked as if he wanted to call and at one point he asked, "Is king high any good?" He decided against the hero call and made a reluctant looking fold. Knutsen is looking menacing right now.
2:42pm: Fantastic five chip counts
Stian Knutsen - 5.1 million
Valdir Cordeiro - 2.45 million
Adam Maxwell - 2.16 million
Chris Da-Silva - 946,000
Dara O'Kearney - 904,000
2:30pm: First break of the day
Level 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)
The players are on a 15-minute break.
2:25pm: Knutsen gets there to win huge four-bet pot
Level 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)
Stian Knutsen has moved back to the top of the counts after he won a huge pot off neighbour Chris Da-Silva.
He opened to 105,000 from the cutoff and then four-bet to 480,000 after Da-Silva three-bet to 240,000 from the next seat. The board rolled out [4d][ac][7d][3s][qs] with Knutsen leading for 315,000 and 510,000 on flop and turn before he checked the river. Da-Silva checked back and then sat motionless once he saw Knutsen open [qc][jc] for a rivered pair. He dropped to 950,000. It's hard to tell what Knutsen is up to but a break is immanent and full counts will be carried out.
2:10pm: Albert Sapiano eliminated in 6th place (£9,400)
Level 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)
"I never hit flushes anyway," said Albert Sapiano after his all-in was called by Adam Maxwell. On this occasion he was right and he hit the rail.
Chris Da-Silva had opened from second position and picked up calls from Maxwell (cutoff) and Sapiano (big blind) en route to a [9d][9c][4h] flop. All three checked and then Sapiano moved all-in for 354,000 on the [8d] turn. Da-Silva folded but Maxwell made a considered call.
Sapiano: [kd][5d]
Maxwell: [ah][qd]
Maxwell made a great call with ace high and improved on the [qc] river. He moved up to around 2.5 million.
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1:59pm: Double Doke
Level 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)
PokerStars qualifier Dara O'Kearney moved all-in for a third time in an orbit and this time he was called to find himself at risk.
He was in the hijack and made the move for his last 447,000. Adam Maxwell was in the big blind and made the call.
Maxwell: [ks][jd]
O'Kearney: [ah][7s]
The board ran [3s][2s][2c][ac][kd] and Maxwell dropped to 1.95 million.
1:52pm: Alexander Fradlin eliminated in 7th place (£7,055)
Level 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)
Alexander Fradlin made a move with a gutshot but Valdir Cordeiro made the call with an over pair and eliminated him.
The former opened from the cutoff and called when the latter three-bet from the small blind. The flop came [3d][8s][4h] and Cordeiro led for 350,000 and called when Fradlin moved all-in for 577,000 on top.
Cordeiro: [9h][9d]
Fradlin: [ad][5s]
The board ran out [4d][jc] and Cordeiro shouted, "Yes!" and moved into the chip lead with 2.9 million.
1:44pm: Doke's in shoving mode
Level 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)
Not much a man can do when he has fewer than 10 big blinds. Dara O'Kearney is in full-on shoving mode.
His first all-in got quick folds, but his second one - for 437,000 from under the gun - had a couple of opponents thinking before releasing their holdings.
1:24pm: Da-Silva gains revenge on Fradin
Level 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)
Chris Da-Silva found a dream flop to gain a full double up through Alexander Fradin, who took a lot of his chips a while back.
The former raised from under the gun and Fradin called from the next seat. The flop fanned [6s][9c][5d] and Da-Silva continued or 120,000. Fradin raised and then made a quick call after Da-Silva moved all-in for 718,000.
Da Silva: [7d][8d] for a flopped straight.
Fradin: [qh][qd] for an over pair.
The board ran out [2d][7s] and Fradin dropped to 1.25 million.
1:17pm: Sapiano realises dream...
Level 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)
....of winning one hand.
He and Valdir Cordeiro took to a [4d][jc][8c] flop where Sapiano open shoved for around half a million. Cordeiro tank folded and was shown [qc][9c] by Sapiano.
"Well, I've won one hand, so I'm happy now!" he said. "Now anyone can take my chips."
1:08pm: Henry Bibby eliminated in 8th place (£5,000)
Level 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)
It's taken a while but the first player has been eliminated, and it was Henry Bibby who fell to Stian Knutsen after a miss-timed shove.
The latter raised from the cutoff and Bibby defended his big blind to see a [7h][8c][6d] flop. Knutsen continued for 75,000 and Bibby check-called. On the [9s] turn Bibby checked to face a 120,000 bet that he treated to an all-in for 631,000. Knutsen asked for a count and then called with [ah][td] for a straight. Bibby opened [ac][kc] and headed off into the London afternoon once the [2h] appeared on the river.
12:55pm: Fradlin shoves on Da-Silva
Level 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)
Chris Da-Silva went deep into the tank after he bet into Alexander Fradlin on the river, only to be shoved on.
He raised from the hijack and Fradlin called in the next seat. The flop fell [kd][js][6d] and Da-Silva check-called 120,000 before both players checked the [7d] turn. The river was the [9d] and Da-Silva led out for 315,000 only for Fradlin to quickly move all-in for 955,000. Da-Silva thought for a good while before folding to preserve the 800,000 or so he had back.
"Can you tell these boys, I'd like to win one f%%king hand before I bust?" yelled a frustrated sounding Albert Sapiano to no one in particular.
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12:35pm: More for Maxwell
Level 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)
Adam Maxwell has extended his lead slightly after getting Stian Knutsen off a hand.
The latter raised from under the gun and was called by Maxwell (cutoff) along with Albert Sapiano (big blind). The flop spread [8d][8s][5h] and Knutsen continued for 90,000. Maxwell called and then bet 130,000 on the [as] turn when the action was checked to him.
While Knutsen was thinking, Sapiano said to the dealer, "Be nice to get a hand at some point!" The dealer gave him a little elbow to quieten him down.
Then Knutsen mucked. --MC
12:17pm: Da-Silva after Da-gold
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 4,000)
Chris Da-Silva is ideally sat to the left of start of day chip leader Stian Knutsen and just used that position to win a nice pot without showdown.
A pile of chips had made it into the middle by the time the turn was out and the board read [ks][2s][4c][ah]. Knutsen led for 115,000 from the small blind and then tank-folded after the Londoner raised to 250,000. The raise came with an intimidating stare down as well.
12:09pm: Three-betting and Sapiano advice
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 4,000)
"What's the point of that?" asked Albert Sapiano of Dara O'Kearney after the Irishman three-bet folded the very first hand. "I had a lovely hand and wanted to see the flop. I've driven two hours and I don't want to go back yet."
"What's your name?" he continued. "Well Dara, can I suggest if you raise in future, you follow through?"
Adam Maxwell has moved back into the chip lead after he opened to 65,000 and then four-bet jammed after a O'Kearney three-bet to 190,000 from the small blind. O'Kearney folded.
12:02pm: Shuffle up and deal
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 4,000)
Let's get this final table party started! There are 25 minutes left of Level 23 to play out. The levels will increase to 60 minutes each from Level 24 onwards.
11:20am: Welcome back for the final day
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 4,000)
Just eight players remain in the hunt for the PokerStars Live at the Hippodrome UKIPT Super Series title. If yesterday's play was anything to go by, we're all in for a real treat today. Until the very last hand of the night there was action galore, and we hope the players carry that momentum through to today's final.
Stian Knutsen busted Jen-Yue Chiang on that last hand to pip Adam Maxwell to the lead, and burst the final table bubble. See how those two players sit amongst their rivals by viewing the seat draw below and to find out more about each of them, click here to read their profiles. Cards will be in the air around 12pm BST so join us back here soon.
| Seat | Name | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert Sapiano | 1,133,000 |
| 2 | Stian Knutsen | 2,096,000 |
| 3 | Chris Da-Silva | 1,411,000 |
| 4 | Alexander Fradlin | 1,363,000 |
| 5 | Henry Bibby | 564,000 |
| 6 | Adam Maxwell | 2,087,000 |
| 7 | Valdir Cordeiro | 1,811,000 |
| 8 | Dara O'Kearney | 869,000 |
PokerStars Blog reporting team at UKIPT6 Super Series: Marc Convey. Photos by Mickey May.