2009 World Series of Poker Europe

Day 3 completed

Posted 09-23-2009 17:01 GMT+1

Bracelet for Erik

As they prop Erik Cajelais' winning hand up in his chip sea for his winner's photo, it becomes apparent by his relaxed smile that he's not one of the players trying to keep a toe dipped in the £5k Pot Limit Omaha tournament running right now.

However as one WSOPE event crowns a champion, another progresses towards a final, maybe to be played with the very chips being stacked and bagged by the TDs right now... it's like the wheel of life. Right now, it's across the room and off to the PLO for me - bring on Event #3.

Tags: Erik Cajelais.

Mats Gavatin Takes Runner Up Spot (and £64,705), while WSOP Event 3 Won by Erik Cajelais (£104,677)

Still comparatively non-stacked, Mats Gavatin gave another Omaha double-up a go, moving all in preflop with , given a spin by Erik Cajelais with his .

A flop of clearly delighted Cajelais, who smelled victory as the turn and river came ... . Filling up, he finally amassed the last chip in the game.

Tags: Erik Cajelais, Mats Gavatin.

'David' Gavatin vs. 'Goliath' Cajelais

Heads up looks most uneven, with nearly a million in chips for Erik Cajelais, and less than 180k for Mats Gavatin.

However, a quick Omaha double up gives the short stack a tiny bit more breathing space - he raised on the button with and was out of options when he was put all in by Cajelais' . The board came out which handed Gavatin and his two pair the pot.

Robin Keston Eliminated in 3rd Place £ 47,858

A few hands into the Hold'em round saw Robin Keston's last stand. With such a huge discrepancy between chip leader Cajelais and the other two, he made a bid for a double through raising preflop and then moving in over Cajelais' pot bet. He was quickly called - Cajelais held to his , and he was drawing dead by the turn on the board.

Tags: Robin Keston.

Mini Huddle for Keston

While Mats Gavatin and Erik Cajelais play out a small heads up pot, the popular Robin Keston joins a bunch of people on the rail who cluster briefly round him like kids around the one whose birthday it is and who's giving out the candy... Michael Greco and other successful Omaha afficionados Richard Ashby and Ben Grundy give him support (while they're on a break from Event Three perhaps, but still...)

Tags: Erik Cajelais, Mats Gavatin.

Play Restarts Three Handed

Button Robin Keston makes it 35k to go in the one remaining Omaha hand left in the round, the first played at the new level after the break.

The flop comes . Check to Keston who bets 40k. Cajelais quickly raises a further 160k and takes it down, flashing his hand to Keston as he scoops in yet more chips to add to his lead. We've been moved into the Gallery and off the Stage in preparation for the huge rig of equipment getting fixed in place for imminent filming, so my myopic eyes couldn't catch any more of his hand than the which is admittedly not much to go on. Whatever it was, it got a nod from Robin Keston as they switched games to Hold'em.

Tags: Erik Cajelais, Robin Keston.

Level 21 started

Posted 09-23-2009 16:32 GMT+1

Action Decelerates as if First Break Were Sharp Corner

Not a glimpse of a pair or quartet of hole cards for quite a while now. Both games are being played preflop and on the flop, with the aggressive, or at least perma-involved Erik Cajelais seizing the lead and holding on to it with his large tattooed arms.

It's start-of-day leader Mats Gavatin who's nearest the chip danger zone now, though. He just raised pot on the button to get back to 180k. When he gets back after the break, he'll find the pressure even more firmly on him as the blinds go up.

Tags: Erik Cajelais, Mats Gavatin.

Patience Running Out for Multitablers?

I remember hearing that of the final five players, at least two were intending to start playing the Pot Limit Omaha event at midday, then switch over to polish off the FT of the ROE, then head back to climb the mountain of a second final.

All in a day's work - but it seems that Erik Cajelais and probably Robin Keston too are looking in antsy fashion round at the PLO tables wondering how their respective stacks are faring without their gentle hands to guide them to victory...

I'm sure they're fine; eyes on the prize now, lads...