Vilamoura Championship Main Event | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Vilamoura

11-22-2009 12:54 UTC

North American on North American Action; Rail is Indifferent

[user46392]

Jeff Sarwer made it 52,000 in early position and got looked up by Ryan Franklin in the big blind, who then proceeded to check the {7-Diamonds}

flop. Over to Sarwer, who bet 65,000 with an oddly theatrical flourish. It was enough to make Franklin fold.

11-22-2009 12:51 UTC

Porrtuguese-on-Portuguese Action Confuses Rail

[user46392]

Antonio Matias, originator of our quote of the day ("No limit hold'em is my beach"), raised from the button. In the big blind, fellow countryman Joao Silva made the call.

Silva checked the {5-Diamonds}

flop and then called a bet from Matias. Silva then bet out 75,000 on the {K-Hearts}

turn, but laid it down to a 250,000 raise from Matias. There was polite applause from the rail, who seemed happy just a Portuguese player had won a hand, never mind that a Portuguese player had also been on the losing end.

Level: 23

Blinds: 12,000/24,000

Ante: 2,000

11-22-2009 12:36 UTC

Kickoff Time

[user66118]

The players have been introduced, and the two Portuguese representatives were greeted by a rousing ovation. With the button in front of Jeff Sarwer, the cards are in the air, and the final table is underway!

There are five minutes remaining in Level 22.

Level: 22

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 2,000

11-22-2009 12:25 UTC

Almost There

[user66118]

The announcements are underway in the tournament room, and the players are in their chairs after a brief photos shoot outside. We just have the introductions to get through before we can play some poker. Stand by.

11-22-2009 12:23 UTC

Artist's Impression

[user46392]

Since the unusual Portuguese law that prohibits all manner of photography within casinos remains in effect, even for final tables, please enjoy this artist's representation of the scene inside the Casino Vilamoura today.

11-22-2009 12:07 UTC

Seat 8: Pierre Neuville, 67, Knokke, Belgium - PokerStars player - 1,027,000 chips

[user46392]

Pierre started playing poker 50 years ago at university when he and his fellow students used to play every day. He then took 25 years off while working at Hasbro where he eventually became Vice President. Once he retired two years ago, he decided to follow his dream of playing poker around the world. He took his wife to the PCA in the Bahamas in 2008 and finished 18th place, scuppering his wife's doubts that he could compete against world-class players. The following season he did even better and, although hugely disappointed to bubble the final table, he took ninth place at EPT5 San Remo for €78,800. He believes making the final here in Portugal has a lot to do with being better prepared. Up against younger players, Pierre tries to give himself an edge by making sure that he is fit and also by planning scenarios ahead of time. Pierre has had tons of support from the Belgian poker community and woke up this morning to a barrage of emails from fans. He feels he is proving that 'older' players can handle the modern game against young aggressive players.

11-22-2009 12:07 UTC

Seat 7: Michel Abecassis, 57, Paris, France - 488,000 chips

[user46392]

Before becoming one of the best-known faces of French poker, Michel Abécassis embraced many different careers. He originally studied to become a doctor but, despite qualifying, he quickly set aside his stethoscope to become one of the best bridge players in the world. After 13 French Champion titles and two European titles, Michel decided he had to find more lucrative employment. He became a journalist, snagging a job at the French magazine Elle where he swiftly became chief editor. In 1997, Michel discovered poker and thus began another career, his most successful to this date. He has five titles in French tournaments, two WSOP final tables and one WCOOP PLO title from 2002. Despite playing many EPTs, this is Michel's first EPT final table - he came tenth in London in 2006 and 21st in Warsaw last month.

11-22-2009 12:06 UTC

Seat 6: João Silva, 27, Lagos, Algarve, Portugal - 780,000 chips

[user46392]

Even though there is another Portuguese player at the final, it's João Silva is the one who can really say he is playing at home. The 27-year-old pro has come to his first EPT from Lagos, a small city in the Algarve region around half an hour from Vilamoura. Only 14 months ago he quit his job as an IT consultant to dedicate himself 100% to poker. He says he prefers playing cash but his tournament results this year are pretty impressive. He has already made more than €32,000 in four live tournaments since August, including three final tables and a first place in Casino Estoril. When he is not playing poker, he loves to go to the Algarve's beaches and kite surf. Even though he is far away from the chip lead, he assures that he has only one goal in EPT Vilamoura: "to win it!" He also plans to attend other EPTs.