£10,300 High Roller
Day 2 Completed
£10,300 High Roller
Day 2 Completed
European Poker Tour High Roller events have consistently been pulling in big numbers and big names over the last couple of years, and the latest event in London was no different. With the late-entry system players could register as late as the start of Day 2, so the field was boosted by six new entries and three re-entries. The former included Phil Hellmuth and November Niner David Benefield, while Tony Bloom, Stephen Chidwick, and Salman Behbehani made up the latter.
After 10 more levels of action, just 12 players remain with Carla Sabini managing to reclaim her chip lead right at the end of the day thanks to two big pots. The first was against Sofia Lovgren and the other Dan Shak. Sabini finished the day with 1.346 million.
Other players who made it through to the final day and are guaranteed a minimum of £26,155 include Jason Lavallee (1.224 million), Sorel Mizzi (1.205 million), David 'Devilfish' Ulliott (750,000), last year's winner of this event, Talal Shakerchi (346,000), and the last remaining Team PokerStars Pro, Luca Pagano (282,000).
The day started with a bang when Shannon Shorr made a big bluff after a ruling that resulted in his opponent min-raising instead of calling a river bet. Shorr proceeded to push all in in an attempt to make his opponent fold, but unfortunately for the American he was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Shak took the chip lead for the early part of the day, crippling Jason Mercier with the against the Team PokerStars Pro's
for a large pot. Mercier would be eliminated soon after, joining an illustrious rail that included names such as Eugene Katchalov, Randal Flowers, Paul Volpe, and Tobias Reinkemeier.
One of the highlights of the day was a ridiculous hand that played out between Frederik Jensen and Salman Behbehani. Behbehani's continual banter and joking around with "slow-rolling" came back to haunt him, albeit in an entirely good-natured way.
Elsewhere, "Devilfish" looked to turn back the clock to his glory days, briefly taking the chip lead after winning a huge pot with the on a
board against last year's winner, Shakerchi. He also gave us perhaps the quote of the night — “What the f**k is game theory optimal!?!?”
Tomorrow, the High Roller will play to a winner, starting earlier than the Main Event at 12 p.m. local time. With £357,700 for first place, this will prove no laughing matter. Join the PokerNews Live Reporting Team for all the live updates as this tournament plays out to its thrilling conclusion!
Play has come to a close here on Day 2 with 12 players remaining. Stay tuned for a full recap of the action.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
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1,346,000 | -104,000 |
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1,224,000 | -1,000 |
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1,205,000 | 105,000 |
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830,000 | 30,000 |
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750,000 | 50,000 |
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692,000 | 282,000 |
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481,000 | -89,000 |
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346,000 | 46,000 |
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328,000 | 108,000 |
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282,000 | 32,000 |
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228,000 | 18,000 |
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152,000 | -168,000 |
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Team PokerStars Pro Ville Wahlbeck opened to 36,000 preflop from late position and Tamel Kamel made it 85,000 in the seat next to him. The Finnish player shoved and Kamel quickly called - off to the races they go!
Wahlbeck:
Kamel:
The door card was a ten and Wahlbeck was already up to his feet, the board coming to leave just 12 players remaining.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
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800,000 | 270,000 |
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Busted | |
Carla Sabini is on a roll... she's also the new chip leader.
It happened when she opened for 42,000 from early position and Dan Shak three-bet her to 120,000 from the hijack. Sabini wasted little time in announcing that she was making it 240,000, and Shak responded, "Alright, I'm all in."
Shak had 520,000 total and Sabini double checked her cards and made the call.
Sabini:
Shak:
It was a big pot with Shak the one at risk. The flop provided no help, though Shak commented that had he seen it without moving all in preflop he likely would have shoved the low cards. The dealer then put out the
.
It was close to an eight but not quite close enough. This is an elimination post so you already know an eight didn't come on the river; instead, it was the .
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
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1,450,000 | 600,000 |
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Busted | |
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David "Devilfish" Ulliott opened for 40,000 from the cutoff, Talal Shakerchi three-bet all in for 143,000 from the button, and both blinds folded. Ulliott gave a little speech, counted out some chips, and then put them in the pot.
Ulliott:
Shakerchi:
Shakerchi was well out in front and stayed there as the board ran out a safe .
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
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700,000 | -250,000 |
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300,000 | 157,000 |
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We didn't catch the action until the river when there was about 200,000 in the pot and a board reading . Tony Bloom had just bet 100,000 from the big blind (leaving himself about 155,000 behind), and Jason Lavallee moved all in from the under-the-gun position.
Bloom lean back in his chair, pondered the decision, and then quietly said, "Call." Lavallee then tabled the for a full house. What's more, he got it via running cards to win as Bloom showed the
for a flopped flush.
"Bad luck, Tony," some players at the table offered before Bloom made his way to the payout desk in 15th place.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
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1,225,000 | 425,000 |
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Busted | |
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On a flop, Carla Sabini fired a 45,000 bet before Sofia Lovgren raised to 120,000. Sabini moved all in and Lovgren quickly called.
Sabini:
Lovgren:
The changed nothing but the
on the river saw Lovgren let out a quiet sigh. Sabini doubled to 850,000 and Lovgren was left with about 105,000.
The next hand saw Lovgren move all in from middle position before Dan Shak reraised all in. Lovgren showed to Shak's
and the board came
offering no help to the Swede who busted out in 16th place.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
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850,000 | 425,000 |
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450,000 | -5,000 |
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Busted | |
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On the bubble, David "Devilfish" Ulliott was one of the short stacks. Now he is the chip leader.
It happened when action folded to Ulliott in the cutoff and he opened for 35,000. Defending champ Talal Shakerchi called from the button, Jason Lavallee came along from the big blind, and three players took a flop of . Lavallee checked, Ulliott bet 35,000, and Shakerchi called. After Lavallee got out of the way, the dealer burned and turned the
. Ulliott checked and Shakerchi slid out 80,000.
During all of this Ulliott had been quietly singing Frank Sinatra's My Way, much to the displeasure of Lavallee. Eventually he check-raised to 180,000, and it was Shakerchi's time to think about it. While being serenaded, Shakerchi put in a stack of blue T5,000 chips for a call, which brought about the river.
"Let me think how much I can bluff without committing myself," Ulliott said before settling on 150,000. Shakerchi snap-called. "I've got a five," Ulliott said and tabled the . Shakerchi mucked.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
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950,000 | 676,000 |
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260,000 | -440,000 |
|
Table | Seat | Player |
---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Sofia Lovgren |
1 | 2 | Dan Shak |
1 | 3 | Luca Pagano |
1 | 4 | Ariel Celestino |
1 | 5 | Sorel Mizzi |
1 | 6 | Ville Wahlbeck |
1 | 7 | Tamer Kamel |
1 | 8 | Carla Sabini |
2 | 1 | Simon Higgins |
2 | 2 | Mark Teltscher |
2 | 3 | David Ulliott |
2 | 4 | Talal Shakerchi |
2 | 5 | Tony Bloom |
2 | 6 | Jason Lavallee |
2 | 7 | Antonio Lafosse |
2 | 8 | Frederik Jensen |