€8,500 Cannes Main Event | 2008 Partouche Poker Tour - Cannes

09-08-2008 02:20 UTC+3

Rinaldi Steals His Chips Back

[user38449]

A few minutes after handing over almost a million in chips to opponent Stephane Bazin, Claudio Rinaldi was able to steam them back courtesy of a major league bad beat.

Facing a pre-flop raise from Bazin, Claudio attempted to steal the pot by moving all in with {K-Clubs}

. Bazin insta-called and tabled a pocket pair of kings.

His tournament life on the line, Claudio needed a world of help to stay alive and help is exactly what he got as the flop came down {J-Spades}

, giving Rinaldi a set of jacks.

The turn and river then blanked out {4-Diamonds}

,

enabling Rinaldi to double through to right around one million in chips. With the loss, Bazin fell back down to two million.

Tags: Stephane Bazin

09-08-2008 02:33 UTC+3

Another Technical Problem...

[user38449]

For unknown reasons, the clock has been paused once more. No one we've asked understands quite why, though we can tell you that there is a member of the tournament staff examining all of the cards in play. All of the players have been asked to vacate the tournament stage and we've been told the break should only last a few minutes.

Back shortly.

09-08-2008 02:40 UTC+3

Cards in the Air

[user66118]

Play has mercifully resumed.

09-08-2008 02:50 UTC+3

Antonin Tesseire On the Brink Again

[user66118]

Antonin Tesseire came in raising the minimum, making it 200,000 to dance. Next to act was Alain Roy, and he bumped it up to 600,000. Action passed around back to Antonin, and he moved all in, being quickly called by Roy. With Antonin's tournament life again on the line, the hands were turned up:

Tesseire: {4-Clubs}

Roy:

The flop was quite nice for Roy, coming down {9-Spades}

. The

on the turn was a rag for both players, leaving Tesseire drawing to the four remaining non-spade fours and fives.

Wouldn't you know it, the {5-Hearts}

ripped off on the river, drawing another huge roar from the crowd. For the second time in this level, Antonin Tesseire comes storming back from being a huge underdog to double up into contention. After that win, he sits pretty with 2,500,000.

Tags: Alain Roy Antonin Tesseire

Level: 31

Blinds: 75,000/150,000

Ante: 15,000

09-08-2008 02:58 UTC+3

By the Numbers

[user66118]

With four players remaining, the average stack is 2,400,000. All four men are within spitting distance of that mark, as this final table has truly become a horse race. The blinds have gone up to a whopping 75,000/150,000 with an ante of 15,000. That means that the players will be forced to put 285,000 chips into the pot every four hands. For those of you familiar with Dan Harrington's "M" Theory, all players have an M right around 8 at the moment. Things should be heating up with a quickness.

09-08-2008 03:05 UTC+3

Tesseire on a Heater

[user38449]

Antonin Tesseire has just taken down another big pot -- this one hoisting him into the chip lead!

The action saw Claudio Rinaldi make it 450,000 to go before the flop and Tesseire was the lone caller.

Both players checked the {K-Spades}

flop, which brought us to the turn -- the {J-Hearts}

. Claudio then led out with a smallish 200,000 bet and Antonin made the call.

When the {7-Spades}

fell on the river, Rinaldi passed the action to Antonin, who had his eyes locked on his Swiss opponent. Tesseire then opted to make a bet of 600,000 and immediately, Rinaldi released his hand.

With the win, Tesseire moved closer to the three-million mark in chips while Rinaldi dropped under two million.

Tags: Claudio Renaldi

09-08-2008 03:09 UTC+3

Ace in the Door

[user66118]

Under the gun, Claudio Rinaldi moves all in for right around 1,000,000 chips. Tesseire and Roy fold, and action is on Stephane Bazin in the big blind, who calmly says, "Call," as he turns over {Q-Diamonds}

. Rinaldi doesn't seem too upset as he tables {A-?}

.

Right in the door comes the {A-Spades}

, and the board fills out with {K-Spades}

, doubling Rinaldi up on a big outdraw. He has moved up close to the 2,000,000 mark, while Bazin has dropped to about 1,400,000. Chips are flying around the table right now with these huge blinds and antes.

Tags: Claudio Rinaldi Stephane Bazin

09-08-2008 03:27 UTC+3

Stephane Bazin Eliminated in 4th Place ($321,709)

[user66118]

Under the gun, Stephane Bazin moved all in for a cool 1,000,000 chips. The next two players folded, but Alain Roy looked down at {A-Clubs}

and made the call, having his opponent well covered. Bazin tabled {9-Diamonds}

and was racing for his tournament life.

Board: {K-Spades}

The ace on the river spells the end for Stephane Bazin, who will take home $321,709 for his fine efforts this weekend. Bazin ran into some terrible luck here at the final table, getting outdrawn on numerous occasions. Each time, he handled the situation with class and dignity, congratulating his opponent and putting his game face back on. This time, he has no chips left to play with, but picking up the check from the cashier's desk should provide some consolation.

With Bazin's elimination, we are down to just three players.

Tags: Stephane Bazin

09-08-2008 03:35 UTC+3

Chip Counts at the Start of Three-handed Play

MarcC

Alain Roy - 5,340,000
Claudio Rinaldi - 2,200,000
Antonin Tesseire - 1,925,000