€10,000 EPT Grand Final Main Event Day 3 | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final

05-01-2009 15:41 UTC+3

Some Chip Counts

[user46392]

Luca Pagano: 320,000
Tristan Clemencon: 270,000
George Danzer: 275,000
Johannes Strassmann: 530,000
Andreas Hoivold: 370,000
Michael Greco: 110,000
Daniel Zink: 296,000
Faraz Jaka: 107,000
Jean Paul Pasqualini: 490,000
Asa Smith: 315,000
Gregory Zima: 750,000
Sandra Naujoks: 750,000
Marcel Luske: 71,000
Alex Kravchenko: 285,000
JJ Liu: 150,000
[Removed:133]: 203,000
Ludovic Lacay: 660,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg: 310,000
Steven Sliverman: 310,000

05-01-2009 15:42 UTC+3

Another Mercier Down

[user75032]

Late in the day yesterday, we lost Jason Mercier (mur - see - er). Early in the day today, we've lost Isabelle Mercier (mur - see - ay). We didn't see where the money went in, but the good bet is that it was in on a flop of {2-Clubs}

, with Mercier tabling {A-Clubs}

for top two pair against Xavier Detournel's {A-Spades}

. The turn was the safe {10-Hearts}

, but the river was a most unkind {Q-Hearts}

, a three-outer for Detournel. Isabelle wished her table good luck, stood up and was off to join the railbirds.

Tags: Isabelle Mercier Xavier Detournel

05-01-2009 15:43 UTC+3

Break Time

[user46392]

For some reason we now have a little burst of rather dramatic classical music instead of the"Bong bong -- chig-a-chig-ahhh!" to signify level up/break, to which we have become accustomed. Either way, out into the sun they go.

05-01-2009 15:44 UTC+3

Get Carter

[user46392]

Also busted just before the break, Mr Carter Phillips, who ran his {A-Diamonds}

into Gregory Zima's {A-Clubs}

.

Board: {4-Clubs}

Level: 18

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 500

05-01-2009 16:10 UTC+3

Yazbeck Out

[user46392]

Have to say, play is cagey-ing up a little as we approach the bubble -- remember, only 88 of our remaining 91 runners will be getting paid.

One of those who is definitely not in the money, though, is Georges Yazbeck. He pushed for his last 81,000 to a 21,000 raise from overnight chip leader Marc Naalden, and although big blind Antonin Teisseire considered it, it was Naalden who made the call and busted Yazbeck.

Naalden: {5-Spades}

Yazbeck:

Board:

Teisseire said he folded {A-?}

, incidentally.

05-01-2009 16:11 UTC+3

Stop! Bubble Time

[user46392]

Ladies and gentlemen, we are hand for hand.

05-01-2009 16:22 UTC+3

Banned

[user46392]

The hand for hand is still going on, and Thomas Kremser has most politely but firmly ejected all media from the area.

05-01-2009 16:29 UTC+3

Your 2009 EPT Monte Carlo Bubble Boy

[user75032]

A throng -- no no, more than a throng, call it a press -- of media, spectators and players jammed themselves around Table 9 on the second hand of hand-for-hand play after the fateful words "All in and call!" rang out from the dealer on that table. On a board of {2-Hearts}

, Marcel Luske was all in for about 40,000 chips and had been called by Sebastian Ruthenberg. Once play was completed at all other tables, TD Thomas Kremser instructed the players to open their hands.

Luske: {A-Spades}

Ruthenberg: {2-Diamonds}

"Sebastian shows a set of deuces," said Kremser. "Marcel has ace-nine. This is going to be a tough one for him. He needs to see running cards. Let's see the turn."

The turn came {J-Diamonds}

, leaving Luske drawing dead. He hit a useless {A-Clubs}

on the river and has been eliminated in 89th place. He's the 2009 EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final bubble boy. All other 88 players are in the money.

Tags: Marcel Luske Sebastian Ruthenberg

05-01-2009 16:39 UTC+3

No Niccolo

[user46392]

Play is loosening up like Greg Raymer's belt after he hits the buffet now that everyone knows they're going home with a party bag full of euros.

Looks like first to go was Niccolo Caramatti who got it in on that classic coinflip, {A-Clubs}

versus Patrick Sacrispeyre's {Q-Hearts}

.

The

board gave some brief hope and then a plunging defeat to Caramatti, while Sacrispeyre bellowed, "YES! YES YES YES!" rather unnecessarily.