The stack of Christin Maschmann has taken a big hit before the break and the German was kind enough to provide the details. According to Maschmann, she raised to 600 first to act with pocket jacks and was called by Ovidiu Tureac on the button. On a flop, Maschmann continued for 1,200 and Tureac called, what followed was the turn and a bet of 2,800 by Maschmann. Tureac opted to raise to 6,000 and Maschmann called.
After the river, Maschmann check-called a bet of 7,000 and was shown pocket fives for a full house.
Along with Unibet Poker ambassador Fredrik Bergmann, most of the esports Battle Royale XI participants walked into the tournament area and took seats on different tables. Bergmann happened to be seated with Sonja “OMGitsfirefoxx” Reid and Scott "Sco" McMillan, Sven “Svennoss” Edelenbosch headed over to the feature table along with Unibet Poker ambassador Dan Murariu.
Sophia "Djarii" White was immediately involved in a hand in a battle of the blinds and her opponent bet the flop for 325, which White called. On the turn, her opponent check-called a bet of 600 and the river was checked. White showed the and her opponent held the superior .
A big pot had emerged over on table eight and it was a battle between Bjorn Kadgien and Klemen Kregar that had created a pot of 16,000 already. Kregar checked out of the blinds with the board showing and then faced a bet of 6,200 by Kadgien. One minute passed and the pot was awarded to Kadgien, as Kregar opted to fold.
Phillip Huxley already had a decent stack and was just involved in heavy action over on table three. He raised to 850 in the cutoff and Eirik Lunde in the small blind three-bet to 2,650, the big blind then four-bet to 6,600. Huxley studied his two opponents carefully and announced all in, two instant folds followed.
The action of the live stream table can be followed on the Unibet Open Twitch channel and features Sven “Svennoss” Edelenbosch as well as Unibet Poker ambassador Dan Murariu. Both already have been able to increase their stacks after sitting down and Edelenbosch has sweet memories of the feature table, as he won the Tag Team Championship with David Lappin two days ago.
One day ago, John Keown finished 3rd in the €330 Deepstack Open and received €6,114 as per a four-way deal and he now battles against Unibet Poker ambassador Dara O'Kearney, among others.
Keown was in a big pot just now, in which he faced a pot-sized bet of 15,000 by Greg King on the river. Eventually, Keown tossed in a single chip for the call and King announced king ten, revealed the . Keown had that beat with for flopped two pair and King said "nice hand," to which he replied "you had me worried."
The PokerNews team sat down with Unibet Poker ambassador Fredrik Bergmann in one of the tournament breaks to catch up with the former esports professional, who now studies, breaths and plays poker for a living. Right away, the Norwegian joked “I take this as my final step in the transformation to a poker player.”
For almost a decade, the Norwegian was involved in online gaming and has spent the past two years to focus on poker, be it on the live circuit or on the virtual felt. But how and when exactly did it all start? Let's scroll back and take a closer look. Back in 2006, Bergmann started playing video games and things really kicked off a few years later.
“Three years later I was approached by one of the biggest streaming organizations called Dignitas, a UK based one, and ever since then I traveled around the world and played professionally on the circuit. I actually won the World Championship, which I am really proud of.”
The trophy shelf of the Norwegian, who turned 28 years old today, boasts one World Championship title in TrackMania, an E-games bronze medal and six national championship titles. However, while esports still plays a role in the life of Bergmann, it is poker that has taken over the top spot some two years ago.
“That's when I discovered poker and instantly fell in love with it,” Bergmann said with a big smile on the face before continuing as follows.
“So I was watching Twitch one day and they had this tournament called the esports SNG, which was basically an SNG between nine esport gamers and I was pretty intrigued by it and wanted to find out if I have a chance to play.”
Bergmann contacted Unibet and also met with the former head of poker at his first-ever live event in the Unibet UK tour in Nottingham, but it took another year before the Norwegian was in fact invited to experience the Unibet Open Copenhagen. From there on out, Bergmann received an invite for said esports SNG at the 2017 Unibet Open Bucharest festival and won it for €5,000 to record his second-ever cash on the live poker circuit.
The esports Battle Royale has taken place for the 11th time in Dublin and Bergmann watched the action from nearby. Having participated in and played against his fellow online gamers, the Norwegian has crossed paths at the poker tables with Scott “Sco” McMillan and Sophia “Djarii” White.
Scott “Sco” McMillan
“Their skill level in poker is not the highest yet, but that's cool and also challenging at the same time. I would think for someone that has never played poker before and the first time is the esports SNG, it is a very good icebreaker and makes it much easier for them to play the Main Event after. For me, it was actually the first time on the feature table, so in that sense it made it easier for me to play on the feature table after. The best thing was the atmosphere, for sure.”
The popular online games have become a stronghold in the streaming services with big championships now drawing millions of viewers and mindboggling prizes up for grabs for the very best. All that sounds very familiar to poker and both have a lot in common in terms of the very competitive nature, and the willingness to consistently work on the own skills and experience.
“Yes, for sure, I see a lot of similarities and that has also made it easier for me to switch over to poker. Specifically the decision making and handling of the pressure, you have to be able to keep your nerves under control when you are bluffing, for example. It is the same in esports, when you make a big decision there, you cannot be affected by the environment and such.”
The esports gamers in action in Dublin
Most of the other esports streamers that take part in the Unibet Open aren't as interested in poker, but can certainly see the thrilling aspects of it according to Bergmann. Scott “Sco” McMillan has been very consistent in the SNG format, however, the Brit is such a big name in the esports scene that it may take a while for him to consider poker as a top priority.
“Him and Alan, and the others, I can see that they have the potential. If they want to play more, hit me up and I can teach you a few things!”
Bergmann himself has received his fair share of lessons from the other Unibet Poker ambassadors such as David Lappin, Ian Simpson, Dara O'Kearney and Daiva Byrne, and admitted that he has a very good relationship with them.
“They have been very friendly and welcoming to me since I joined, since I was kind of a hybrid and a little bit out of place. They have been very helpful, whenever I had a tricky spot I could talk to them, which I really appreciate.”
So far, Bergmann has recorded a dozen cashes at the live poker tables for $40,000 and that's definitely a sign of things to come with hopes of a deep run during the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas and other big events all over the world in sight and mind. Other former esports gamers such as Lex Veldhuis and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier have shown what is possible, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see the Norwegian follow into their footsteps.
“I want to try it for as long as possible, as I enjoy it. I travel a lot, which I enjoy a lot. Maybe at one point I will become tired of traveling, but for now I just want to live life to the fullest and see places I have never been to. My goal is always to become the best version of myself in whatever I do.”
Fredrik Bergmann
Make sure to check out the PokerNews live updates here in Dublin to follow Unibet Poker ambassador Fredrik Bergmann in his pursuit of the ultimate poker dream.
The €330 Unibet Deepstack Open champion Samuel Baneham was among the recent casualties and he was joined on the rail by 2017 London champion Gerret van Lancker and Jean Paul Zaffran, while Apostol Beg continues his rise towards the top of the leader board.
Gunnar Wedde bet the river for 3,000 and David Lappin called to see Wedde muck his cards, Lappin flashed for the ace-high straight on the four-card flush board.
One table over, fellow Unibet Poker ambassador Ian Simpson is also doing quite well as he just took on Gareth Hamilton. Kelvin “Snutz” Nguyen and Hamilton limped and Simpson in the small blind raised to 2,400, only Hamilton called with the words "you always raise."
They checked down the flop and the turn, Simpson bet the river and Hamilton mucked.
"It was a good one," Simpson admitted and showed his before raking in the pot.
flop, Maschmann continued for 1,200 and Tureac called, what followed was the 
turn and a bet of 2,800 by Maschmann. Tureac opted to raise to 6,000 and Maschmann called.
river, Maschmann check-called a bet of 7,000 and was shown pocket fives for a full house.
flop for 325, which White called. On the 
turn, her opponent check-called a bet of 600 and the 
and her opponent held the superior 
.
river. Eventually, Keown tossed in a single chip for the call and King announced king ten, revealed the 
for flopped two pair and King said "nice hand," to which he replied "you had me worried."
river for 3,000 and David Lappin called to see Wedde muck his cards, Lappin flashed 
for the ace-high straight on the four-card flush board.
flop and the 
turn, Simpson bet the 
before raking in the pot.
