EPT Prague Main Event | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Prague

12-06-2009 22:20 UTC+2

Avitan Takes Control

[user66118]

From the button, Jan Skampa made an opening raise to 360,000. Avitan called, and the flop came out {10-Diamonds}

. Avitan furrowed his brow and grabbed chips, sliding out a leading bet of 550,000. Skampa gave the same half-puzzled look but didn't waste much time with the call.

The turn was the {J-Spades}

, and both men checked to the {4-Clubs}

on the river. Avitan fired again, 750,000 this time. As soon as the bet was counted down, Skampa called. Avitan tabled {A-Hearts}

for the trips, and his small cheering section erupted as Skampa sent his cards into the muck.

We're still waiting for him to finish stacking the pot, but Avitan has just about 10.5 million now, leaving Skampa down around 7 million.

Tags: Eyal Avitan Jan Skampa

12-06-2009 22:16 UTC+2

Dead Even

[user66118]

We just counted Jan Skampa at 8.75 million chips. That is 10,000 shy of exactly half the chips in play, meaning that the two men are deadlocked in quite the duel.

12-06-2009 22:14 UTC+2

Skampa Jabs Back

[user66118]

On the next hand, Eyal Avitan made it 405,000 from the button. Jan Skampa counted out a reraise and slid 1.06 million into the pot. Avitan mucked instantly.

12-06-2009 22:13 UTC+2

Pair vs. Pair

[user66118]

Well it certainly took a while to get some action. Finally, about a half hour into the level, things have started to loosen up.

Jan Skampa opened to 360,000 from the button, and Avitan made the call from the big blind. On the flop of {7-Spades}

, Avitan quickly check-called a continuation bet of 420,000. They'd both check the turn {5-Hearts}

and the river {A-Diamonds}

as well.

Skampa turned up {2-Hearts}

for the underpair, and Avitan's {9-Clubs}

is good enough to win the pot.

Tags: Eyal Avitan Jan Skampa

12-06-2009 21:38 UTC+2

Back We Go

[user46392]

We're still heads up, but the local boy has the lead now.

Jan Skampa - 9,810,000
Eyal Avitan - 7,760,000

Level: 31

Blinds: 80,000/160,000

Ante: 20,000

12-06-2009 21:31 UTC+2

Hold the Clock

[user66118]

We're taking a 10-minute break.

12-06-2009 21:30 UTC+2

Skampa is On a Boat

[user66118]

On the final hand before break, Jan Skampa opened the pot to 270,000. Avitan called, and the flop came {K-Spades}

. After a check from Avitan, Skampa continued out with 280,000. Avitan instantly folded, and Skampa flashed his {A-Spades}

as he pulled in a smaller-than-he-hoped-for pot.

12-06-2009 21:30 UTC+2

Hand Not Limped Or Checked

[user46392]

A button raise from Avitan was followed by a reraise to 870,000 from Skampa. This represented not only significant action, but in a very real sense the only action that did not involve limping or checking for some time. A wall of various media and railers closed in on the table.

They saw a {6-Spades}

flop and, after a suitable pause, Skampa bet out 875,000. Call. The Wall Of Railers closed in further.

They saw an {A-Diamonds}

turn and a quiet "Oooh" rose from the rail. Skampa paused again - and this time he bet out 1,525,000.

There was a pause during which apparently no-one dared breathe.

But Avitan folded, and we play on, the stacks now roughly even.

12-06-2009 21:19 UTC+2

Slow and Steady Back and Forth

[user46392]

With both players being pretty aggressive through the rest of the final table, we're finding the current lack of action rather puzzling.

Almost every hand for the past half hour has involved our two heads-upsers limp/checking their way to a flop, with the first person to bet on any street taking the pot down.