Welcome back to the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour, brought to you from the Casino Barcelona.
We raced to 24 players yesterday, and today's aim is to make our final table of eight. It'll take longer than yesterday, most probably, as there is so much more at stake.
Runaway chip leader is Spanish player Samuel Rodriguez on a massive 5,330,000, which is more than two million head of second placed Jonathan Karamalikis, who is many people's favourite for the title.
Team PokerStars SportsStar Fatima Moreira de Melo is still representing her sponsors well, and lest us not forget Roberto Romanello who is the only remaining EPT champion.
Play, as ever, is due to get under way at 12:00 PM CET. Join us back here then.
Our access to the feature table is a bit restricted, but we do know that Lucille Cailly and Ole Schemion just played a big pot.
From what we could piece together, John Juanda had opened and Cailly three-bet. We're not sure if Schemion put in a reraise or just flatted from the cutoff, but we do know Piazuelo made it 299,000 to go from the button. Juanda quickly got out of the way, Cailly moved all in, Schemion moved all in over the top, and Piazuela got out of the way.
Showdown
Cailly:
Schemion:
Cailly got her stack of around 1 million in good, but she was in a quintessential race. Cailly was looking to have as much success as she did when she finished as runner-up of the 2012 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final, but the flop had other plans as it gave Schemion the lead by pairing his ace.
Cailly remained stoic as the was put out on the turn followed by the on the river. Cailly exited the tournament in 21st place for €29,400.
John Juanda is one lucky boy, after he found himself in a very cold spot.
Our information is very limited as this hand took place on the TV table. What we do know is that Juanda got his stack in with pocket kings and was called by Ole Schemion holding pocket aces.
Juanda was looking doomed on the flop, but the spiked on the turn to give him a set, much to Schemion's disgust. The river was of no consequence and Juanda doubled tp 3.5 million.
Action folded around to Algirdas Saveikis in the cutoff and he moved all in for 382,000. Mauro Canavese was next to act on the button and made a quick call, which inspired both blinds to get out of the way.
Showdown
Saveikis:
Canavese:
The was disaster for Saveikis as it gave Canvese a set, and the turn left him drawing dead. The meaningless was run out on the river for good measure, and Saveikis took his leave in 19th place for €29,400.
Over at the feature table, Javier Piazuelo found himself all in preflop holding and at risk against the of Antonin Duda. The former was primed for a double, but the flop made things very interesting as it gave Duda an open-ended straight draw and a flush draw.
Much to Piazuelo's dismay, the turn completed his opponent's flush and left him drawing dead. The was put out on the river and then Piazuelo exited in 17th place for €29,400.
The remaining players are now on a 20-minute break as they draw for new seats.
"Queens again!" said Fatima Moreira de Melo after her all in push was called by Anaras Alekberovas.
She was under-the-gun and paused to consider her move before pushing her remaining 601,000 over the line. The action folded around to Alekberovas in the big blind and he snapped.
Alekberovas:
Moreira De Melo:
The board ran . A jack was not enough to save the Team PokerStars SportStar.
If you're going to out, why not go out in a blaze of glory? Aku Joentausta won't be thinking that right now, he'll be ruing his failed bluff attempt.
He raised to 65,000 from under the gun and was called by Ole Schemion in the cut-off and Ilari Sahamies in the small blind. Joentausta continued for 100,000 on the flop and was called by both players.
Schemion was the only player who called Joentausta's 300,000 bet on the turn. The river came and Joentausta "emptied the clip" by betting all his remaining 1,190,000 chips.
Schemion looked like he wanted to call but it took him five minutes to seemingly pluck up the courage to slide the calling chips forward with his for top two-pair. It was good too as the Finn only had .
Right off the bat coming back from the break, Mikolaj Zawadzk was all in preflop over at the feature table and at risk against Mikalai Pobal.
Showdown
Zawadzki:
Pobal:
Zawadzki was behind and looking for some help, but he wouldn't get a lick of it as the board ran out . Zawadzki failed to catch and he was eliminated in 12th place, good for €46,700.
It was a cruel end for Jonathan Karamalikis. He fell to Ole Schemion after getting his chips with in great shape.
The Australian opened to 80,000 from under the gun and was three-bet to 185,000 from Schemion in the cut-off. Sinel Anton looked like he wanted to get involved but tank-folded to leave the action back on Karamalikis. He put in a four-bet to 265,000 and then snapped off when Schemion shoved.
Schemion:
Karamalikis:
The board ran to hit the three-outer for the German's hand. Karamalikis was very gracious in defeat.
, and he found custom from Aku Joentausta with 
.
to pair the Finn's ace.
flop had other plans as it gave Schemion the lead by pairing his ace.
was put out on the turn followed by the 
on the river. Cailly exited the tournament in 21st place for €29,400.
flop, but the 
spiked on the turn to give him a set, much to Schemion's disgust. The 
was disaster for Saveikis as it gave Canvese a set, and the 
turn left him drawing dead. The meaningless 
was run out on the river for good measure, and Saveikis took his leave in 19th place for €29,400.
of Antonin Duda. The former was primed for a double, but the 
turn completed his opponent's flush and left him drawing dead. The 
. A jack was not enough to save the Team PokerStars SportStar.
turn. The river came 
and Joentausta "emptied the clip" by betting all his remaining 1,190,000 chips.
.
