Vilamoura Championship Main Event | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Vilamoura

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 12:25 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.

Level: 22

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

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: 23

Blinds: 12,000/24,000

Ante: 2,000

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.

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 12:58 UTC

Czech Takes Chunk Out of Chip Leader

[user46392]

Antonio Matias raised to 56,000 in early position and Jan Skampa made the call from the big blind.

Skampa check-called 56,000 on the {5-Diamonds}

flop and again on the {9-Hearts}

turn. When both players checked the {A-Clubs}

river, showdown revealed that Skampa's {J-Spades}

had been miles ahead of Matias' {Q-Hearts}

the whole way, and he took the pot.

Tags: Antonio Matias Jan Skampa

11-22-2009 13:03 UTC

Andrei Vlasenko Eliminated in 8th Place (€31,234)

[user66118]

First in from the cutoff seat, Ryan Franklin made a raise to 55,000. Antonio Matias quickly made the call from the small blind, but Andrei Vlasenko took a pause in the big. After about 30 seconds of sitting like a statue, he grabbed his remaining 350,000 chips and shoved them across the line. Franklin then announced a re-raise all in himself, and that was enough to eventually fold Matias, though reluctantly. With Vlasenko at risk, the cards were on their backs.

Showdown
Vlasenko: {9-Hearts}

Franklin:

The flop was pretty dry for the at-risk player as it came out {Q-Hearts}

. The

on the turn left Vlasenko drawing to just two outs, and the {6-Hearts}

on the river is, indeed, not a nine when viewed right-side-up. Unable to improve his underdog nines, Andrei Vlasenko shook hands with his opponents and made his way out the door to a big ovation. His 8th-place showing is good for more than €30,000.

Photo courtesy of PokerStars and Neil Stoddart

Tags: Andrei Vlasenko Ryan Franklin

11-22-2009 13:14 UTC

Matias Wins Raising War

[user46392]

Jan Skampa raised to 56,000, only for Jeff Sarwer to his immediate left to make it 135,000 to go. On his immediate left, though, Antonio Matias pushed in a stack of orange 25,000-denomination chips, which promptly fell over. When the dealer stacked the chips back up, it became apparent that the four-bet totaled 500,000. Skampa folded quickly, and Sarwer soon followed with a sigh of, "Kings or aces?" to Matias.

Tags: Antonio Matias Jan Skampa Jeff Sarwer