2010 PokerStars.net EPT Snowfest

2010 EPT Snowfest Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info

2010 PokerStars.net EPT Snowfest

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
77
Prize
€445,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€3,500
Entries
546
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
0

2010 EPT Snowfest Main Event

Day 4 Completed

Day 4 Complete; One Table Remains

Mr. Baekke was all smiles today
Mr. Baekke was all smiles today
It only took about seven hours of play to whittle Day 4's starting field of 24 down to the final eight in what was an action-packed day of cards at the PokerStars.net EPT Snowfest.

At precisely 2:00pm-or-so local time this afternoon, the cards went in the air, and there was no shortage of action right from the word "go". Before his chair had even gotten warm, [Removed:197] became the first player eliminated when his {A-Clubs} {7-Clubs} was dominated at the hands of chip leader Allan Baekke's {A-Diamonds} {K-Diamonds}. Baekke tallied the first knockout of the day, and that was a sight we'd get used to as the day progressed.

Day 1a chip leader David Wintersberger parlayed his quick start into a deep run this week, but his Main Event was cut short in 22nd place after running an ace into Brent Wheeler's pocket kings. Lee "Bill Ivey" Gaines followed him right out the door after taking {A-Clubs} {Q-Diamonds} into Johannes Holstege's {A-Diamonds} {K-Diamonds}.

The pace only quickened from there with the eliminations of Jim Collopy (18th place) and Richard Toth (17th place) in quick succession. EPT Kyiv champion Max Lykov was in the hunt for an unheard of double dip, but 13th place was as far as he could run his good fortunes this time around.

When Alexander Debus ran his {A-Diamonds} {K-Hearts} into Johannes Strassmann's {A-Spades} {A-Hearts}, his 10th-place exit forced the field to combine around the TV table and play for one more knockout to set tomorrow's official final table.

The unfortunate wooden spoon has gone to Dutchman Huub Verdonschot. In a tangle with Brent Wheeler, Verdonschot four-bet shoved with {A-Diamonds} {J-Diamonds}, and was met with bad news as Wheeler instantly called with the dominating {A-Clubs} {K-Hearts}. A rather dramatic board of {5-Spades} {9-Diamonds} {6-Clubs} {K-Diamonds} {J-Hearts} signaled the end of Verdonschot's tournament and the end of Day 4.

The final eight are set, then, and among them is Team PokerStars Pro Johannes Strassmann. We've also got three online qualifiers left, looking to turn their small investments into a big payday by this time tomorrow. Everyone's looking up at the Danish juggernaut Allan Baekke, though. He started the day with the chip lead and never relinquished it, and he'll begin the final table in that same familiar position. Here's how the table sets up heading into the last day.

Seat 1: Russell Carson (3,463,000)
Seat 2: Alain Medesan (919,000)
Seat 3: Jonathan Schroer (972,000)
Seat 4: Johannes Strassmann (2,034,000)
Seat 5: Lukas Baumann (728,000)
Seat 6: Brent Wheeler (3,096,000)
Seat 7: Allan Baekke (4,688,000)
Seat 8: Daniel Van Kalkeren (396,000)

The festivities kick off at 2:00pm (or so) tomorrow, and we'll be right back on the floor to bring you the conclusion of this Snowfest fairy tale.

Tags: Allan Baekke

Huub Verdonschot Eliminated in 9th Place (€28,000)

Huub Verdonschot - 9th place
Huub Verdonschot - 9th place
Huub Verdonschot opened for 75,000 and serial reraiser Brent Wheeler made it 211,000 to go. Verdonschot pushed for 652,000, Wheeler snap-called, and they were on their backs.

Verdonschot: {A-Diamonds} {J-Diamonds}
Wheeler: {A-Clubs} {K-Hearts}

Board: {5-Spades} {9-Diamonds} {6-Clubs} {K-Diamonds} {J-Hearts}

Verdonschot's Huubris was punished, as the jack on the river wasn't enough to beat the pair of kings Wheeler made on the turn, and we are down one of our two Dutchmen.

Tags: Brent WheelerHuub Verdonschot

Action! Almost

Johannes Strassmann opened for 70,000 but Brent Wheeler made it 200,000 from the small blind. Over to Allan Baekke in the big blind - who made it 515,000 to go.

Strassmann got out of there with alacrity, but Wheeler paused. He checked his hole cards a couple times while he thought about his options, perhaps in case they had magically turned into two totally different, better cards. They had not, though, and he folded.

Wheeler Forces a Fold from Baekke

Allan Baekke raised to 65,000 under the gun and it folded right around to Brent Wheeler in the big blind, who re-popped for 232,000. Baekke looked him up and down for a few moments, considering his options - but he folded, and Wheeler took the pot.

Level: 24

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 3,000