With eyelids getting heavy, the audience was suddenly woken from their near slumber by an all-in from Dave Penly, the Woking man pushing his entire stack over the line on a flop. Without too much hesitation, Tomi Nyback made the call and we had ourselves a showdown.
Penly =
Nyback =
Although Penly had the lead with pocket kings, Nyback boasted a bigger wrap than you'd find on an Eminem album with a four or nine for the split pot, and an ace or six for the win.
Although the made little difference, the river came the to indeed chop it up, and Penly survived.
Max Pescatori, David Penly, Jason Mercier, Sorel Mizzi and Tomi Nyback all limped in. Theo Jorgensen, in the big blind, put in a pot-sized raise to 48,000, which chased away all but Mizzi and Nyback.
The flop was . Nyback moved all in for 156,000 Jorgensen called, and Mizzi tanked for several minutes before moving all in over the top for about 270,000 or so. Jorgensen made the call.
Jorgensen
Nyback
Mizzi
Mizzi flopped top two pair, sevens and fours, and was in the lead over Jorgensen's kings and Nyback's pair of sevens. The turn was the , the river was the and Mizzi dragged the monster pot, tripling his stack to 860,000, eliminating Nyback.
The young Finn will take home £22,688 for his finish here today.
Here's how things look right now, following Nyback's elimination and Mizzi's triple-up:
Sorel Mizzi 860,000
Erik Friberg 630,000
Theo Jorgensen 440,000
Chris Ferguson 380,000
Jason Mercier 361,000
Eric Dalby 234,000
Max Pescatori 217,000
David Penly 172,000
A large pile of chips settling in the middle signified the development of a big pot, and when I joined the action, the board read with Jason Mercier facing a foreboding bet of 124,000 from Theo Jorgensen. After a few seconds, Mercier made the call.
On the river, Jorgensen casually waved all in, as if ushering away a foul smell. No chips found their way into the middle, but Jorgensen had around 400,000 and it was obvious he had his man covered.
With 210,000 before him, Mercier's body sagged as Jorgensen made his move. As pensive as ever, he pitched up tent in the think tank and dwelt for a good few minutes. As Jorgensen remained stationary, a tortured Mercier removed his cap and shook his head continuously as he continued to mull.
Just as I was thinking complimentary thoughts about the patience of the table, the clock was called (by whom, I remain unsure) and a one minute warning was given. A few moments later, Mercier made the fold.
Jason Mercier and Sorel Mizzi took a flop of . They checked it, as well as the that landed on the turn. The river was the . Mercier checked a third time, Mizzi bet 54,000 and Mercier made the call.
Mizzi showed for trip threes and took down the pot, leaving Mercier on only 125,000 in chips.
Dave Penly is down to 130,000 and looking somewhat frustrated. His last encounter was against Italian Pirate Max Pescatori. Penly raised it up to 30,000 preflop, but was reraised to a total of 80,000 by Pescatori in late position. Penly folded with a wince.
Sorel Mizzi opened for a pot-sized raise, David Penly re-potted, leaving himself with only a few chips behind. Mizzi set him all in and Penly called.
Penly
Mizzi
The flop was , Mizzi's pair of jacks still leading. The turn was the , no help to Penly, but the on the river certainly was, allowing his king kicker to play. Penly's timely river draw-out doubled his stack to about 270,000.
With just under 100,000 in the middle and a lying patiently on the felt, Jason Mercier found himself all in for around 115,000 with against the of Theo Jorgensen.
With Mercier looming over the table, his breath held, the turn came a most welcome to give him a straight to the jack. Mercier clenched his fist in silent celebration, but the fat lady wasn't singing just yet, as the board could still pair to give the Dane the pot.
The board may have paired, but it was the that hit to give Jorgensen quad aces and send the young American out in eighth. One again, the poker gods display their teasing ways.