Yori EpskampCan Monica Vaka Become the First Female Unibet Open Winner?
At noon local time, Casino Copenhagen in the beautiful capital of Denmark welcomes back 13 players for the final day of the 2017 Unibet Open Copenhagen DDK 8,250 Main Event. It's the 40th edition of the popular series, which is also in its jubilee tenth season. All remaining players have already locked up DDK 44,500 - roughly €6,007 - but all eyes are set on the massive first place prize of DDK 562,300 (€75,996).
Chipleader after two days of intense action is Monica Vaka. The Norwegian player needs one more pay jump to already claim the biggest cash prize of her career. Vaka's run is made all the more impressive by the fact that she is seven months pregnant. Vaka starts from pole position with 1,881,000 in her quest to become the first ever female Unibet Open Main Event champion.
Behind Vaka, Poland's Tomasz Kozub (1,754,000). Estonia's Kaarel Lepik (1,632,000) and Faroese hopeful Sigurd Carlsson (1,469,000) also swing impressive stacks. Another dangerous contender is Peter Harkes, winner of 2011 Unibet Open Riga. Harkes starts with 747,000 on the final day and is just a double-up away from the top of the pack.
Day 3 Seating and Chip Counts
Table
Seat
Player
Country
Chip Count
9
1
Sigurd Carlsson
Faroe Islands
1,469,000
9
2
Mikael Johansson
Sweden
328,000
9
3
[Removed:402]
Lithuania
459,000
9
4
Florian Lanz
Switzerland
500,000
9
6
Soren Hansen
Denmark
978,000
9
7
Monica Vaka
Norway
1,881,000
9
8
Tomasz Kozub
Poland
1,754,000
10
2
Kaarel Lepik
Estonia
1,632,000
10
3
Thomas Ardai
Romania
431,000
10
5
Martin Wendt
Denmark
558,000
10
6
Mateusz Krzyzewksi
Poland
333,000
10
7
Peter Harkes
Netherlands
747,000
10
8
Jes Bondo
Denmark
584,000
The action of the Main Event resumes with level 22 with blinds at 15,000/30,000 and a running ante of 4,000. A live stream of the feature table including hole cards will be available on a half hour security delay. The PokerNews live reporting team will be on the floor to provide around-the-clock coverage until a winner is crowned.
In one of the first hands of the day, Mateusz Krzyzewski was sent to the rail by Thomas Ardai. Ardai opened the action in early position, Krzyzewski shoved a little over 300,000 in late position and Ardai instantly called.
Thomas Ardai:
Mateusz Krzyzewski:
Krzyzewski was dominated but reversed it on the flop, taking a huge lead in the hand. The turn, however, was the and swung it right back to Ardai. The river was the and Krzyzewski became the first casualty of the day.
After Thomas Ardai had opened from middle position, Sigurd Carlsson three-bet to 175,000 on the button. Ardai four-bet shoved for 1,030,000 and Carlsson called it off after mere seconds.
Thomas Ardai:
Sigurd Carlsson:
It was the mother of all coin flips and by far the biggest pot of the tournament yet. Ardai was the one at risk and needed to improve but missed on the flop. The on the turn didn't help the Romanian either and the on the river bricked as well.
The 2 million-plus pot went to the man from the Faroe Islands, who is now the overwhelming chipleader.
At the feature table, Soren Hansen raised to 80,000 on the button. Monica Vaka three-bet to 220,000 from the small blind. Tomasz Kozub four-bet shoved 1,030,000 from the big blind and Hansen folded.
Vaka appeared visibly unpleased with the situation and spent a minute thinking before coming along with the call.
Monica Vaka:
Tomasz Kozub:
The flop all but sealed it for Vaka. Kozub shook her hand after the turn and river, said his goodbyes and went to the payout desk to collect his DKK 50,000 in winnings.
Soren Hansen raised to 90,000 on the button with and Peter Harkes defended his big blind with . The flop was fantastic for Harkes. The Dutchman checked, Hansen bet 75,000 and Harkes called.
The turn was the and Hansen was officially drawing dead. Harkes checked, Hansen tried to take it with a second barrel of 225,000 and Harkes called again.
The river brought the . Harkes checked a third time and Hansen emptied the clip with a 685,000 shove. Harkes, with 595,000 behind, thought around a minute before making the correct call with his two pair.
Hansen was left with just three big blinds after the hand. In the next hand, he committed those from the cutoff with . Harkes wanted to finish the job with from the blinds and did so on a board. Hansen received DKK 56,100 for his ninth place finish.
Action folded around to Monica Vaka in the small blind. She shoved all in for 565,000 and Mikael Johansson instantly called all in for slightly more.
Monica Vaka:
Mikael Johansson:
No help for Vaka on a rundown. The Norwegian - seven months pregnant - started the day as the chipleader but a series of unfortunate events spelt her exit in 7th place. She took home DDK 87,600 for her accomplishment and the Unibet Open will have to wait a little longer for their first female champion.
Martin Wendt raised to 135,000 with from early position. Sigurd Carlsson picked up on the button and simply shoved to put everyone to the test.
The other players folded to Wendt, who called all in for 910,000 total.
The flop was and changed nothing with neither playing having a heart. The turn was the and the river the to eliminate Wendt.
The experienced Dane, the biggest name at the final table, had been nurturing the short stack throughout the day until his run ended in 6th place. Wendt headed for the rail and collected DDK 109.400.
Mikael Johansson went under the gun all in for 410,000 with and Kaarel Lepik called from the small blind with . The dealed flipped a board and the short stacked Swede was eliminated in 4th place.
Johansson received DKK 185,000 - around €25,000 - for his fantastic run in this event.
flop, taking a huge lead in the hand. The turn, however, was the 
and swung it right back to Ardai. The river was the 
and Krzyzewski became the first casualty of the day.
flop. The 
on the turn didn't help the Romanian either and the 
on the river bricked as well.
flop all but sealed it for Vaka. Kozub shook her hand after the 
. The Dane collected DDK 50,000 in winnings.
and Peter Harkes defended his big blind with 
and Hansen was officially drawing dead. Harkes checked, Hansen tried to take it with a second barrel of 225,000 and Harkes called again.
. Harkes checked a third time and Hansen emptied the clip with a 685,000 shove. Harkes, with 595,000 behind, thought around a minute before making the correct call with his two pair.
. Harkes wanted to finish the job with 
from the blinds and did so on a 
