2013 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona

€5,300 Main Event
Day: 5
Event Info

2013 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
55
Prize
€942,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€5,000
Prize Pool
€5,984,900
Entries
1,230
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
50,000

Final Table Set: Tom “hitthehole” Middleton Leads for Third Day in a Row

Level 31 : 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
Tom Middleton
Tom Middleton

On Friday, Day 5 of the EPT10 Barcelona Main Event kicked off at the Casino Barcelona with the remaining 24 players of a 1,234-player field returning to battle down to the final table of eight. After a long day of play, which included nearly two hours of nine-handed, the official final table was set.

Coming back tomorrow and leading the way is Tom “hitthehole” Middleton with a huge stack of 9.85 million. Kresten Nielsen is second on 7.3 million and Eduard Bhaggoe is the short stack with 1.615 million. Eighth place will pay €102,430, but all eyes will be on the first prize place of €1,067,000, the trophy (not to mention the SLYDE watch) and admittance to the exclusive club of EPT winners.

Middleton was the chip leader at the start of the day with a stack of 3,886,000, and although it looked bleak for him at one stage, he would go on to be not only the last UK player standing, but also the last participant in the Skrill Last Longer competition. He'll receive his €5,300 buy-in back for that achievement thanks to the EPT Season 10 official payment provider. What's more, Middleton earned the distinction of finishing with the chip lead for the third day in a row.

It was a long day for the players though, before the final table was set. Several players fell early, the first of which was Julian Thomas, a PokerStars player from Germany. He moved all in over the top of Middleton’s opening bet and got a call. Middleton looked fairly nonplussed when he found his {a-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds} was against the {a-Hearts}{7-Hearts} of Thomas, but poker can a cruel game as Thomas was about to find out. The board ran out {6-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{3-Spades}{6-Clubs} and Middleton’s full house cleaned Thomas out.

Next out was Jamila Von Perger who got all her chips in with {2-Hearts}{2-Clubs} against the {k-Diamonds}{k-Clubs} of Madis Muur. She could not repeat her Day 4 feat of spiking a two outer however, and she had to say goodbye. Further eliminations included Lukas Bergland (22nd), Florian-Dimitrie Duta (21st), Sergei Chantcev (20th) and Denis Pisarev (19th). From there, action slowed down a little bit, although there were a few double ups for the short stacks along the way, meaning the third level of the day finished with 17 players remaining.

Just after a break, Valentino Konakchiev shoved over the top of Niall Farrell’s open and was snapped off with {a-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}. Konakchiev held {k-Hearts}{q-Diamonds} and there was no drama as the board ran out {j-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}{2-Spades}{4-Hearts}{4-Spades}. That meant the final 16 redrew for the final two tables.

Anaras Alekberovas finished fourth in Barcelona last year, and was looking to make back-to-back final tables. Unfortunately, the snappily dressed Lithuanian was to have a frustrating day, dwindling down to one of the shorter stacks before making a tremendous fight back only to have two hands send him to the rail in 13th for €58,980.

Just before 11:30 p.m. the unofficial final table of nine was set after Stefan Kolossow fell in tenth place. It happened when Kresten Nielsen raised to 200,000 from the button and Kolossow shoved for 1.79 million. Nielsen snapped him off with {a-Diamonds}{k-Diamonds} and with Kolossow holding {a-Clubs}{8-Spades}. The board ran out {2-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{3-Diamonds}{9-Spades} and that was all she wrote for the German.

After the redraw it was Nielsen who led the way with 7.35 million, closely followed by Pasi Sormunen with 6.96 million. That said, Sormunen was to lose a succession of big pots to Middleton, who had position on the Finn. Finally, after nearly two hours of play it was Alejandro Perez who was eliminated when, having been left on a short stack, shoved with {q-}{j-} over Benoit Gury’s open. Gury, who was at one point down to 500,000, made the call and his {a-}{10-} held to set the official final table.

SeatPlayerCountyCount
1Andreas ChristoforouCyprus2,560,000
2Kimmo KurkoFinland2,265,000
3Pasi SormunenFinland3,070,000
4Tom Middleton*UK9,850,000
5Eduard BhaggoeNetherlands1,615,000
6Luca Fiorini*Italy4,610,000
7Kresten Nielsen*Denmark7,300,000
8Benoit GuryFrance5,610,000

*PokerStars Qualifier

The sixth and final day will kick off at 1:00 p.m. CET at the Casino Barcelona, though the live stream that we'll reporting off of is on a one-hour delay. Be sure to check PokerNews' live coverage then as we bring you all the action and eliminations from the tournament floor.

Tags: Tom Middleton

Alejandro Perez Eliminated in 9th Place (€79,000)

Level 31 : 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
Alejandro Perez Torres - 9th Place
Alejandro Perez Torres - 9th Place

After doubling Andreas Christoforou, Alejandro Perez was left on the short stack. Not long after, Benoit Gury opened and Perez shoved holding {q-}{j-}. Gury called with the {a-}{10-}, and while we don't know how the board ran out, we do know that Perez was eliminated on the hand, thus ending the hopes of a Spainard capturing an EPT title here in Barcelona.

Player Chips Progress
Alejandro Perez es
Alejandro Perez
Busted

Tags: Alejandro PerezBenoit Gury

Stefan Kolossow Eliminated in 10th Place (€65,600)

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante
Stefan Kolossow - 10th Place
Stefan Kolossow - 10th Place

It took some doing, but we're now down to a single table.

It happened when action folded to Kresten Nielsen on the button and he raised to 200,000. Germany's Stefan Kolossow then announced that he was all in for 1.79 million from the small blind, the big folded and Nielsen snap-called.

As the duo waited for action to finish at the outer table, Kolossow revealed that he had an ace. "You're beat," Nielsen responded. When it came time to reveal their hands, that proved to be the case.

Kolossow: {a-Clubs}{8-Spades}
Nielsen: {a-Diamonds}{k-Diamonds}

Kolossow was in bad shape and in need of some big-time help. The {2-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}{4-Hearts} flop gave him a little as a five would give him a chop, and the {3-Diamonds} actually gave him more outs to split. Obviously this is an elimination post, so you already know a chop card didn't come; instead, the {9-Spades} appeared on the river to send the German home in tenth place for €65,600.

Player Chips Progress
Kresten Nielsen
Kresten Nielsen
7,330,000 1,730,000
Stefan Kolossow
Stefan Kolossow
Busted

Tags: Kresten NielsenStefan Kolossow

The Emmy Goes to Nielsen

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante
Kresten Nielsen
Kresten Nielsen

We just saw an acting performance reminiscent of 2004, but one deserving of an Emmy.

It happened on a flop of {7-Clubs}{7-Spades}{6-Spades} with about 1.1 million in the pot. Benoit Gury led out for 350,000 and Kresten Nielsen shifted in his chair and did his best to look uncomfortable.

"You don't like me?" he asked Gury, seemingly on the brink of folding. Instead, Nielsen made the call. When the dealer burned and turned the {2-Hearts}, Gury slowed down with a check but called when Nielsen bet right around 300,000.

Gury checked for a second time on the {10-Hearts} river and Nielsen shook his head. It's hard to explain the acting job if you haven't seen it, but even the commentators said it was a bit over the top. Eventually he bet 755,000 after which he removed his hat and sunglasses and continued to shift in his chair. He then took a drink or water, prayed to the ceiling and refused to look at his opponent. Again, a bit over the top.

Nonetheless it worked as Gury called. Nielsen clapped his hands together, let out a shout and then tabled the {7-Hearts}{7-Diamonds} for flopped quads. Gury simply mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Pasi Sormunen fi
Pasi Sormunen
7,300,000 350,000
Kresten Nielsen
Kresten Nielsen
5,600,000 2,250,000
Kimmo Kurko fi
Kimmo Kurko
3,080,000 255,000
Benoit Gury
Benoit Gury
2,355,000 -1,620,000
Stefan Kolossow
Stefan Kolossow
1,700,000 -190,000

Tags: Kresten NielsenBenoit Gury

Emilio Jimenez in Eliminated 11th Place (€65,600)

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante
Emilio Jimenez Bueno - 11th Place
Emilio Jimenez Bueno - 11th Place

Emilio Jimenez moved all in and found a caller in Pasi Sormunen. It was a race as Jiminez had {a-Spades}{q-Spades} and again Sormunen a small pair with the {4-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}. The pair was good this time as, despite a sweat on the turn, as the cards fell {7-Hearts}{2-Spades}{8-Hearts}{k-Spades}{10-Diamonds}.

Jimenez exited in 11th place for €65,600.

Player Chips Progress
Pasi Sormunen fi
Pasi Sormunen
6,950,000 1,365,000
Emilio Jimenez
Emilio Jimenez
Busted

Tags: Emilio JimenezPasi Sormunen

Madis Müür Eliminated in 12th Place (€58,980)

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante
Madis Müür - 12th Place
Madis Müür - 12th Place

Shortly after being moved to the secondary feature table, action folded to Madis Müür in the small blind and he moved all in. Tom Middleton was in the big blind and seemed interested. He asked for a count, and upon learning that it was 1.16 million, he slid in some chips to indicate a call.

Müür: {5-Spades}{4-Diamonds}
Middleton: {q-Spades}{10-Clubs}

Müür seemed crestfallen, but he did hold live cards. He even picked up a good sweat when the {j-Spades}{2-Spades}{3-Hearts} flop delivered him an open-ended straight draw. Unfortunately for him, neither the {8-Diamonds} turn nor {10-Spades} river were one of his many out.

Müür shook hands with the remaining four players at the table and the made his way to the payout desk to collect €58,980 for his 12th-place finish.

Player Chips Progress
Tom Middleton gb
Tom Middleton
EPT Main Event Champion
EPT 1X Winner
3,500,000 1,000,000
Madis Müür
Madis Müür
Busted

Tags: Madis MüürTom Middleton

Anaras Alekberovas Eliminated in 13th Place (€58,980)

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante
Anaras Alekberovas
Anaras Alekberovas

Anaras Alekberovas opened for 200,000 and Tom Middleton moved all in from the small blind. Back to Alekberovas who called and showed {7-Clubs}{7-Hearts} racing against the {a-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} of Middleton. The board ran out {10-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{a-Spades} and Middleton doubled up to cripple Alekberovas. Desperately unlucky as he had managed to work his stack up with excellent poker but couldn’t win that crucial flip. Good timing for Middleton.

A few hands later Alejandro Perez was all in and Alekberovas gave him the call. Perez held {k-Spades}{j-Spades} and Alekberovas had the {a-Diamonds}{q-Diamonds}. Just not Alekberovas’s day though as the board ran out {j-Spades}{2-Clubs}{k-Hearts}{9-Clubs}{8-Diamonds} and he was out.

Player Chips Progress
Tom Middleton gb
Tom Middleton
EPT Main Event Champion
EPT 1X Winner
2,940,000 1,930,000
Alejandro Perez es
Alejandro Perez
2,735,000 740,000
Anaras Alekberovas lt
Anaras Alekberovas
Busted

Tags: Alejandro PerezAnaras AlekberovasTom Middleton

Michel Eid Eliminated in 14th Place (€52,940)

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante
Michel Eid - 14th Place
Michel Eid - 14th Place

Luca Fiorini opened for 220,000 from the cutoff only to have Michel Eid, who has been playing on the tighter side of things as of late, three-bet all in for 1.365 million from the button. The blinds both folded and action was back on Fiorini. He immediately shot back in his chair, removed his sunglasses and stared down Eid. Eventually he made the call.

Fiorini: {8-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}
Eid: {6-Clubs}{2-Spades}

Eid let a big smile cross his face as he knew he'd been caught red handed trying to steal. Fiorini also smiled as he wasn't expecting to be such a heavy favorite. The {j-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}{5-Hearts} was no help to Eid and he got out of his chair in preparation for his exit. His preemptive rise wasn't wasted as the dealer burned and turned the {9-Diamonds} to leave him drawing dead.

Fiorini let out a little cheer as the {3-Diamonds} was put out on the river and Eid took his leave from the tournament in 14th place for €52,940.

Player Chips Progress
Luca Fiorini
Luca Fiorini
5,600,000 2,100,000
Michel Eid lb
Michel Eid
Busted

Tags: Luca FioriniMichel Eid

Niall Farrell Eliminated in 15th Place (€52,940)

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell

Pasi Sormunen opened for 160,000 and Niall Farrell shoved all in over the top of him for 925,000. Sormunen made an optimistic call with {Q-Diamonds}{10-Spades} and was drawing live against the {a-Hearts}{9-Clubs} of Farrell. The board ran out {7-Hearts}{5-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds} and the gamble paid off as Sormunen paired his ten on the river to send Farrell home in 15th place.

Not a bad showing for the man who finished sixth in the UK & Ireland Poker Tour Galway €2,000 No Limit Hold'em High Roller Championship last month.

Player Chips Progress
Pasi Sormunen fi
Pasi Sormunen
6,425,000 925,000
Niall Farrell gb
Niall Farrell
EPT 1X Winner
Busted

Tags: Niall FarrellPasi Sormunen

Rens Feenstra Eliminated in 16th Place (€46,940)

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Rens Feenstra
Rens Feenstra

First hand after the dinner break on the second feature table and Feenstra was all in for his last 365,000. Luca Fiorini took his time and made the call. Feenstra had {k-Hearts}{7-Hearts} and Fiorini tabled {k-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}. They saw the five cards, which ran out {6-Hearts}{3-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}{j-Spades}{4-Clubs}, and Feenstra, who had been crippled by Tom Middleton not long before, was eliminated from the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Luca Fiorini
Luca Fiorini
2,030,000 395,000
Rens Feenstra nl
Rens Feenstra
Busted