Main Event | 2010 PaddyPowerPoker.com Irish Poker Open

04-05-2010 18:07 UTC

Chip Counts

[user76023]

James Mitchell -- 2,622,000
Santeri Valikoski -- 2,328,000
Paul Carr -- 2,087,000

Level: 27

Blinds: 25,000/50,000

Ante: 3,000

04-05-2010 19:13 UTC

It would appear as though James Mitchell is unwilling to release his foot off the pedal as within the opening couple of hands, he three-bet Santeri Valikoski's open of 135,000 to 335,000 to pick up the pot.

04-05-2010 19:19 UTC

Mitchell Takes Down Another One

[user4144]

James Mitchell raised it to 135,000 from the small blind and Santeri Valikoski made the call in the big. Both players checked the {8-Spades}

flop, but were less hospitable on the {7-Hearts}

turn, Mitchell betting 170,000 and Valikoski making the call.

A {3-Diamonds}

river led to another bet from Mitchell, this time for 350,000, but Valikoski made the fold. Nevertheless, Mitchell extends his lead and is looking like the most likely to become the 2010 Irish Open Champion.

04-05-2010 19:26 UTC

Mitchell Muscles Another

[user76023]

Santeri Valikoski raised to 125,000 from the button. Paul Carr folded but James Mitchell reraised again, making it 350,000 to go. This time however, Valikoski called in position.

The flop was {Q-Diamonds}

and Mitchell bet a suspiciously small 250,000 but it was enough to make the Finn fold. The Englishman has dominated proceedings since the dinner break.

04-05-2010 19:30 UTC

Mitchell Value Towns Himself

[user4144]

James Mitchell raised it up preflop from the button and Paul Carr called in the big blind. The flop came {4-Diamonds}

(excuse my language) and both played checked.

On the {7-Clubs}

turn, Paul Carr check-called 135,000, and then 155,000 on the {4-Hearts}

river. When the cards were flipped, it looked like Mitchell was making a value bet on the end, thinking his {A-?}

was ahead, but it wasn't, Carr tabling {K-?}

for top pair.

04-05-2010 19:34 UTC

Paul-ing Some Ground Back

[user76023]

More chips for Paul Carr, who is still more passive than the other two. On the turn of a {3-Spades}

board, he check-raised James Mitchell's 140,000 bet to 400,000 making the Englishman fold.

04-05-2010 19:36 UTC

Cautious Approach

[user4144]

The final three seem to playing aggressively preflop, but adopting a more cautious approach post-flop, and the latest hand continued that trend.

Raising it up from the small blind, James Mitchell received a call in the big blind from Santeri Valikoski. The {J-Hearts}

was checked all the way down, Mitchell snapping up the goodies with {K-?}

.

"It seems like he has showdown value, like king high or something," observed Channing correctly as the board was being dealt.

04-05-2010 19:48 UTC

Paul Position For Carr

[user76023]

Suddenly he's upped to cruise control, has that Paul Carr. He's won almost all of the last six or seven pots - each with a cheer from his fan base.

He put in one reraise against Valikoski to make the Finn fold, while another time he simply opened to a chunky 550,000 preflop to take the blinds and antes.

04-05-2010 19:53 UTC