PokerStars EPT Warsaw Main Event | 2008 PokerStars.net EPT Polish Open

03-15-2008 13:59 UTC+2

2008 PokerStars.net EPT Polish Open - The Final Table

[user38449]

Welcome back to Warszawa, Polska for the conclusion of the 2008 PokerStars.net EPT Polish Open. The nine remaining finalists are scheduled to hit the felt (no, not literally Jean Claude) at 2:00 p.m. local time (GMT +1).

Among them, Trond Erik Eidsvig, who now holds EPT records for the most cashes in a single season (4) and most final table appearances in a season (3). Already guaranteed a minimum payout of $53,657, Eidsvig will be looking to add to a big number to his impressive tournament resume; just 22-years-old, Trond has career tournament earnings in excess of 1.4 million dollars.

Joining him at the final table are Michael Schulze of Germany and Richard Sousa of Portugal. Between the two of them they own approx. 53% of the total chips in play, though neither has any real final table experience. Aside from Trond, the only other player who's been here before - and just barely - is Juan Lapido Maceiras. Juan finished 9th at the 2007 EPT Barcelona Open, earning an $88,000 payday - his biggest to date.

The lion's share of the $3,153,752 prizepool is still up for grabs. Keep it locked in here at PokerNews.com to find out who claims it - I guarantee it will be one of these guys:

Seat 1: Trond Erik Eidsvig - 220,000
Seat 2: Christian Öman - 110,000
Seat 3: Mehdi Ouakhir - 360,000
Seat 4: Niclas Svensson - 174,000
Seat 5: Daniel Woolson - 164,000
Seat 6: Juan Maceiras - 437,000
Seat 7: Michael Schulze - 1,162,000
Seat 8: Ricardo Sousa - 756,000
Seat 9: Mathias Viberg - 229,000

03-15-2008 15:19 UTC+2

Shuffle Up and Deal

[user38449]

The players have all taken their seats and the pre-tournament hubbub has settled. The blinds will resume at the 4,000/8,000 level, with about 50 minutes left on the clock.

It's standing room only outside of the ropes, and spectators are utilizing any means necessary to catch a glimpse of the action.

It's official - we're underway!

Level: 19

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 1,000

03-15-2008 15:34 UTC+2

First Elimination: Daniel Woolson

[user50492]

Hand 3 of the final table and Daniel Woolson raises to 22,000 for the second hand in a row. Ricardo Sousa, Mathias Viberg and Mehdi Quakhir all call. The flop is dealt out {Q-Spades}

.

Mehdi checked from the big blind. Daniel put in a 65,000. Ricardo quickly folded but Mathias made the call after a small dwell. Mehdi then had a think in the big blind before moving all in - he had both players covered.

Daniel quickly called and Mathias called even quicker. The cards:

Mehdi {K-Clubs}

Daniel

Mathias

The turn gave Mehdi a chance to scoop as it was the {6-Clubs}

giving him a flush draw.

The river was the {K-Hearts}

and this meant that Mathias won a 700,000-chip pot and Daniel Woolson was eliminated in ninth place earning $ 53,657.

Tags: Daniel Woolson Mathias Viberg Mehdi Ouakhir Ricardo Sousa

03-15-2008 15:39 UTC+2

Christian Öman Doubles Up

[user50492]

Christian Öman pushed with 44 and Juan Macieras made the call from the big blind with QT. There was no queen or ten and Christian has doubled up to 200,000.

Tags: Christian Öman Juan Maceiras

03-15-2008 15:51 UTC+2

Picking on the Lil' Guy

[user38449]

A half an hour into the start of play, Ricardo Sousa finds himself trapped between a rock and a hard place. He started the day in perhaps the best seat at the table, sitting to the immediate left of tournament chip leader Michael Schulze. Now, following Mathias Viberg's quasi-double up, he's stuck between the tournament's top two stacks, who've proven early that they don't plan on making life any easier for the little man with a big heart.

In back-to-back hands, Sousa had his big blind stolen by Schulze, then, in an attempt to steal Viberg's big blind, he was met by a re-raise and was forced to lay down his hand. This could potentially be a very long day for the young man from Portugal.

03-15-2008 15:59 UTC+2

Squeeze by Mehdi

[user50492]

Michael Schulze makes it 25,000 from UTG, Christian calls from the cut off and the Mehdi quickly pushes all in from the button. The blinds and Schulze quickly get out of the way but Christian has some thinking to do. Eventually Mehdi has enough and calls the clock on Christian. Just as the clock is being counted down by Lee Jones, Christian fakes to put his chips in but in the end he lets the clock run down and his hand is automatically folded.

Tags: Christian Öman Mehdi Ouakhir

03-15-2008 16:02 UTC+2

Mathias Takes One Down

[user50492]

Mathias raises to 25,000 from early position and Michael Schulze calls from the big blind. The flop is dealt out {4-Hearts}

and both players check.

The turn is the {9-Spades}

and Michael check-calls a 35,000 chip bet from Mathias.

On the {J-Spades}

river Michael check-folds to a 110,000 bet from Mathias.

Tags: Mathias Viberg Michael Schulze

03-15-2008 16:05 UTC+2

Christian Öman:

[user50492]

27-year-old Christian lives in Stockholm where he is a well-known poker club regular and has payed regularly for five years. His biggest live win so far has been €6,000 in a local club’s final. This is Christian’s third EPT and the first time he's survived Day 1. He said: “I’m really looking forward to winning today as my shopping trip to Milan has taken a big part of my bankroll.” Christian also practices yoga.

Tags: Christian Öman

Level: 20

Blinds: 5,000/10,000

Ante: 1,000