2009 PokerStars.com EPT San Remo

€5,300 EPT San Remo Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2009 PokerStars.com EPT San Remo

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aa
Prize
€1,508,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€5,000
Prize Pool
€5,713,300
Entries
1,178
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

The Eliminations Pick Up Pace

With the bursting of the bubble, eliminations have increased pace. The earliest of the in-the-money eliminations include: Nikolay Tsanev, who called all in from the big blind with {K-Diamonds} {J-Hearts} after a similar-sized small blind, Luca Ascani, open-shoved the small blind with {A-Spades} {10-Hearts} (no help on board for Tsanev); and Tom McEvoy, who shoved a flush draw on a flop of {A-Hearts} {9-Clubs} {3-Clubs} and was called by Ramin Ludwig Henke, who tabled top pair. McEvoy picked up a gutterball straight draw on the turn to go with his flush draw but missed everything on the river. He's out.

Tags: Luca AscaniNikolay TsanevRamin Ludwig HenkeTom McEvoy

The Bubble Bursteth

We join the action as a throng of spectators begins pushing in around Table 6. Picking our way through the madness, we can see that there is a flop on board showing {2-Diamonds} {6-Diamonds} {7-Hearts}. Joakim Hall and Fabio Zappietro both have all their chips in the center of the table, with Hall being the all-in player at risk of elimination.

After more than a minute of suspense, the two hands were turned up. Hall confidently tabled {K-Diamonds} {K-Spades}, drawing a forlorn look from his opponent. Rather sheepishly, Zappietro turned over {A-Hearts} {9-Diamonds}, miles behind.

With the two players standing to await the final two cards, the dealer ran off a safe turn card, the {5-Hearts}. As necks craned in closer and closer to the table, Hall leaned in as well to watch what would unfortunately be his final river card of the day. Like a bolt of lightning, the {A-Diamonds} ripped off the deck, drawing a huge reaction from all in attendance. Gutshot, Hall lowered his head and pushed his way slowly out of the room.

There was still hope for the eliminated player to make the money though. Across the room, one hand involving a short-stack all in was yet to be played. By virtue of his chip advantage, Hall would earn his payday should the short-staked player bust from the other table. That player was Pierre Neuville, and he had tabled {10-Hearts} {10-Spades} after moving all in for his last 14,300. Working against him was Marco Vailati, racing with his {A-Hearts} {Q-Diamonds}. The board ran down {5-Clubs} {K-Hearts} {4-Clubs} {4-Diamonds} {5-Spades}, safe for the all-in player. Neuville earned a crucial double up in the eleventh hour, earning him a spot in the money.

With that, Joakim Hall becomes our bubble boy, knocked out in 113th place.

Sticky Bubble Situation Puts Smith on Tilt

Moments ago, Dan Smith was eliminated from the tournament in 114th place, but instead of accepting his fate, he continued to sit in his seat at the table, chipless. Eventually, a floorman came to the table and asked him to leave, as all non-players were being ejected from the tournament area during hand-for-hand play.

Smith was most confused, and then most upset -- it turns out he thought that 114 were getting paid, instead of the 112 that are in reality getting some tasty monies. Indeed, Thomas Kremser did this morning announce that 114 were getting paid, before correcting himself. Mr. Smith is very unhappy. Just goes to show, you should always pay attention to everything the TD says...

Tags: Daniel Smith

Chen Robbed

Chen - not happy
Chen - not happy
Bill Chen is busto, and most understandably unhappy about it.

Turns out a gent shoved with {9-?} {7-?} and Chen called all in from the big blind with {A-?} {Q-?}.

Board: {J-?} {J-?} {5-?} {8-?} {10-?}

To add insult to injury, Chen's opponent initially didn't realize he'd won. Yikes.

Tags: Bill Chen

'KingDan23' Dethroned

Online pro Dan Smith was recently eliminated from the San Remo Main Event, succumbing to a two-hand cooler that kept him out of the money.

Known as 'Danny98765' on PokerStars, but better known as 'KingDan23' on other sites, Smith managed to run pocket queens into Marco Vailati's pocket aces, leaving himself just under 15,000 in chips. Moments later, Smith moved all in from early position for his last 13,300 and was looked up by one of the table's big stacks (and big blind at the time), David Eldar. Smith was in front when the hole cards were revealed:

Smith: {A-Clubs} {8-Clubs}
Eldar: {Q-Clubs} {10-Clubs}

The {6-Hearts} {K-Clubs} {5-Spades} flop that ensued still had Smith in front, but the {Q-Hearts} that fell on the turn gave Edlar a pair and proved to be fatal for Smith. Failing to catch a life-saving ace on the river {4-Hearts}, Smith was eliminated from the tournament just outside of the money.

Tags: Dan Smith

Markussen Busto

Thomas Bo Markussen came into the day as the second shortest chip stack. He needed a miracle to make the money but didn't get it. Running out of time and chips, Markussen called all in with {3-Hearts} {4-Hearts} after Stefano Brega opened the pot. Brega showed {K-Clubs} {K-Spades} and hit another king on the flop to take a stranglehold on the hand. Markussen was drawing dead by the turn and leaves as one of twelve unhappy players.

Tags: Stefano BregaThomas Bo Markussen

Valero Comes Up Short

Jose Valero was fortunate to find himself in a race against Fabio Zappietro. After being crippled early, Valero moved all in with pocket threes and was called by Zapietro, who showed {9-Spades} {7-Clubs}. A nine on the flop had Valero out of his chair. By the time the river came down no help, Valero was already three steps away from the table.

Tags: Fabio ZappietroJose Valero

Constant Destruction of Opponents

Constant Rijkenberg started the day in second chip position and has shown no fear in throwing those chips around early on Day 3. He took out Alessandro Giuseppe Pastura, all in preflop with {2-Hearts} {2-Clubs} against Pastura's {K-Hearts} {10-Diamonds}. Three clubs on the flop, {8-Clubs} {6-Clubs} {5-Clubs}, spelled bad news for Pastura by taking away two of his outs. He was down to the river card after the turn fell {J-Spades}, and down to the felt with a river {4-Spades}.

Busto

Mattern - not in the money
Mattern - not in the money
We're down two already -- the poor unfortunates who will definitely not be making the money today are Alexander Amundsen and Arnaud Mattern.

Mattern saw Michael Tureniec open with a button raise, and he moved all in for just less than 100,000. Tureniec called, tabling {A-?} {6-?}. Mattern's {Q-?} {Q-?} was in fine shape for a double up, but a second {A-?} on the board would spell his demise.

Tags: Arnaud Mattern

Portal Doubles Up

Portal - up
Portal - up
Alexia Portal raised to 12,000 under the gun, and it folded right around to Johannes Soderstrom in the big blind, who disappeared into the tank. The ever-helpful Ms. Portal silently stacked her chips up in an easy-to-count fashion (she had 45,100 behind) and eventually Mr. Soderstrom raised her all in. She called, and was ahead all the way to double up to around 120,000.

Portal: {J-Spades} {J-Diamonds}
Soderstrom: {10-Clubs} {10-Diamonds}

Board: {4-Clubs} {8-Diamonds} {2-Spades} {A-Clubs} {A-Hearts}

Tags: Alexia Portal