With roughly 4,000 in the pot and a flop of , Faraz Jaka checked from middle position and the player in the cutoff did the same. The UK's Mudasser Hussain then bet 1,100 from the button, only Jaka called, and it was heads-up action to the turn, which both players checked.
When the completed the board on the river, Jaka led out for 3,800 and Mudasser tossed in a single chip to signify a call. Jaka tabled the for top pair, and it was good as Mudasser mucked.
That's a famous saying here on the EPT, and in a recent hand it certainly proved true.
It happened when Remi Castaignon opened for what looked to be 1,000 from the hijack and Germany's Jonathan Currle flatted from the cutoff. Hani Bahna then three-bet to 7,000 from the small blind, and after thinking about it for 30 seconds or so, Castaignon moved all in for 30,800. Somewhat surprising, Currle quietly announced a call.
Bahna seemed a bit shocked by the sudden turn of events and he hit the tank. Eventually he found a fold of what he said was pocket kings.
Castaignon:
Currle:
Neither player seemed surprised to discover their opponent held the same hand, but as Connor Drinan well knows, four-flushed boards do happen. The flop gave Currle the freeroll to running spades, and the turn made it a reality. Fortunately for Castaignon, the harmless peeled off on the river and he received half the pot.
Despite losing 7,000 in the hand, Bahna seemed excited to have escaped without losing more.
Davidi Kitai open shoved his last 8,300 from middle position and his neighbor Rocco Palumbo called from the hijack. Action folded around and it was time for the Belgian and Italian to open their cards.
Davidi Kitai:
Rocco Palumbo:
"If I win this pot, I win the tournament" Davidi Kitai said. Well, we guess he's going to be the second double EPT champion winner then as the board ran out and Kitai doubled.
After a player in middle position opened for 900, defending champ Jean Montury called from the small blind. The player in the big did the same, and three players took a flop of . Two checks saw the original raiser continued for 1,600, and Montury decided to check.
That's when the player in the big blind woke up with a check-raise to 4,800, which inspired both the original raiser and Montury to released their hands.
Meanwhile, EPT8 London champ Benny Spindler has been eliminated from the tournament.
Fatima Moreira de Melo. Photo c/o PokerStars Blog.
Fatima Moreira seemingly hasn't booked many of her own flights over the years. Simon Trumper, Yann Dion and others offer advice in a new piece on the PokerStars Blog.
As we approached the table the turn was alreadyout with the board reading . Both Alex Lindop (hijack) and Igor Kurganov (cutoff) checked. Not all that much action but the river was interesting. The completed the board and Lindop bet 6,275. Kurganov thought about it for a bit before calling.
"Ace high" Lindop said without showing. Kurganov tabled and took it down.
Just before the level went up, with around 15,000 already in the pot and a board reading , Canada's Shaan Siddiqui put his big stack to good use by moving all in under the gun, which put the pressure on France's Remi Marlair in middle position. The Frenchman gave it some thought, but opted to release his hand.
It wasn't the most exciting hand, but it gave us a good excuse to introduce you to Siddiqui, who is primed to be around for awhile.
, Faraz Jaka checked from middle position and the player in the cutoff did the same. The UK's Mudasser Hussain then bet 1,100 from the button, only Jaka called, and it was heads-up action to the 
turn, which both players checked.
completed the board on the river, Jaka led out for 3,800 and Mudasser tossed in a single chip to signify a call. Jaka tabled the 
for top pair, and it was good as Mudasser mucked.
flop gave Currle the freeroll to running spades, and the 
peeled off on the river and he received half the pot.
and Kitai doubled.
. Both Alex Lindop (hijack) and Igor Kurganov (cutoff) checked. Not all that much action but the river was interesting. The 
and took it down.
