Vilamoura Championship Main Event | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Vilamoura

11-22-2009 14:08 UTC

Chippes

[user66118]

Here's how the players stack up at the first break:

Antonio Matias - 2,550,000
Pierre Neuville - 2,260,000
Jeff Sarwer - 2,110,000
Jan Skampa - 1,090,000
Ryan Franklin - 941,000
Joao Silva - 343,000
Michel Abecassis - 255,000

Level: 24

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 3,000

11-22-2009 14:12 UTC

Start it Up

[user66118]

We're back in live action.

11-22-2009 14:27 UTC

A Timid Return

[user66118]

The players have returned from the break a little timid to play poker at the new blind level. The first orbit around the table saw zero flops, and through ten hands, we're still flop-less.

Ryan Franklin started the orbit in the small blind, and he raised to 90,000 when the action folded around to him. In the big blind, Jan Skampa announced an all in, and Franklin quickly folded.

Two hands later, Joao Silva open-shoved under the gun for 334,000, and he found no takers. On the following hand, Michel Abecassis did the same, moving his stack in from first position. Again, no action.

It seems like a confrontation is brewing at our final table, though, and it figures to be a preflop all-in with the players reluctant to see flops.

11-22-2009 14:30 UTC

Franklin Moves In

[user66118]

Jeff Sarwer opened to 70,000 under the gun, and action passed nearly all the way around. In the small blind, though, Ryan Franklin announced an all in. Sarwer removed his shades and asked for the stacks to be counted down; it was a total bet of 797,000. Jeff considered carefully for another minute or two before surrendering, letting Ryan add 136,000 to his stack.

Tags: Jeff Sarwer Ryan Franklin

11-22-2009 14:40 UTC

Blind on Blind Action

[user46392]

It folded around to Jan Skampa in the small blind, who raised to 90,000. Jeff Sarwer in the big blind promptly made it 220,000. But everyone was very surprised when Skampa, action back on him, announced all in.

Sarwer took it seriously enough to ask for a count (1,183,000 total) and tanked up for a long time, experimenting with inching his stack towards the line while studying Skampa's face for a reaction. Eventually he passed, announcing, "Nice hand."

Tags: Jan Skampa Jeff Sarwer

11-22-2009 14:45 UTC

Silva Doubles Through Sarwer

[user46392]

Joao Silva shoved for his last 334,000 under the gun, and Jeff Sarwer announced a call.

Sarwer: {4-Clubs}

Silva:

, to delirious applause from the rail

Board: {6-Diamonds}

The young Portuguese contender remains in the running, doubling up to over 700,000. Sarwer, meanwhile, is down to around 1.5 million after losing those last two pots.

Tags: Jeff Sarwer Joao Silva

11-22-2009 14:51 UTC

Confusion

[user66118]

Here's an interesting one.

With the first couple players ducking out of the way, Pierre Neuville opened the pot with a raise to 77,000. Nearly simultaneously, Ryan Franklin put 70,000 chips out in front of him, thinking he had seen Neuville muck. If Franklin's chips had gone into the pot before Neuville's raise, he would have had the option to change his action. But because nobody could be certain which chips hit the felt first, Franklin's action was determined to be a call. He added the extra 7,000 on top to make it match.

Two seats over from Franklin, Jeff Sarwer slid out a healthy reraise to 325,000, and Neuville and Franklin instantly folded in turn.

Tags: Jeff Sarwer Pierre Neuville Ryan Franklin

11-22-2009 14:53 UTC

Updated Chip Counts

[user66118]

Ryan Franklin - 830,000
Jan Skampa - 1,420,000
Jeff Sarwer - 1,780,000
Antonio Matias - 2,540,000
Joao Silva - 720,000
Michel Abecassis - 188,000
Pierre Neuville - 2,250,000

11-22-2009 14:57 UTC

Abecassis All In

[user66118]

First into the pot from the cutoff seat, Michel Abecassis slid his full stack of 188,000 forward. Two seats over in the small blind, Ryan Franklin announced an all-in reraise, enough to get him heads-up with Abecassis.

"I've only looked at one," said Abecassis, as Franklin tabled {A-Clubs}