Level: 6
Blinds: 250/500
Ante: 50
World Series of Poker Europe 2010
Event #5: £10,350 WSOPE Championship No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
World Series of Poker Europe 2010
Buy-in
£10,000
Entries
346
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000
Vive la France!
![[user76023]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
It's certainly a day for the French here at the WSOPE, Arnaud Mattern is the biggest stack at the upper level with 130,000 and his compatriot Nicolas Levi is close behind with 123,000. Rémy Biechel has 80,000 while Almira Skripchenko has 75,000 which also puts them all among the leading group.
Break
The players are on their last 20-minute break of the day. We'll be back shortly to play one more level.
Five Alive
With five bracelets in Vegas, Canada had an impressive showing, and it could get even better as Jonathan Duhamel heads into November's final with the chip lead. But before then, there's the small matter of a WSOPE bracelet to tie up, and as we come to the close of level five, Duhamel is still alive.
However, with 17,000, he's short and facing a tough table that includes Nick Schulman and Faraz Jaka, both of whom have chips to play with. But if anyone can mount a comeback, it's Duhamel, the 22-year old Quebecer having already proved his stamina by battling through a field 7,319 to become the favourite to capture the title of 2010 World Champion.
Despite having guaranteed himself $811,823, Duhamel will be keen to make an impact here in London, and prove he's no flash in the pan by echoing the achievements of James Akenhead and Antoine Saout last year who both made the final of Europe's WSOP counterpart. The journey will be long, but he's traveled longer before.
Chippies From Downstairs
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
64,000 | -29,000 |
|
60,000 | -1,000 |
|
51,000 | |
|
47,500 | 500 |
|
47,000 | -1,000 |
|
39,600 | -22,400 |
|
34,000 | -1,000 |
|
32,000 | -7,000 |
|
28,000 | -15,000 |
|
21,000 | 7,000 |
|
20,000 | -1,000 |
|
|
15,000 | |
|
13,300 | -4,700 |
|
12,000 | -16,000 |
|
10,500 | -8,500 |
Kessler KOd
From early position, Allen Kessler raised to 1,150. A few seats over, Alexander Kravchenko three-bet it to 3,150, and Kessler called to see a flop.
It came 
, and Kessler knocked the table. When Kravchenko bet 3,500, Kessler moved all in for just less than 20,000, and Kravchenko called to put him at risk. Kessler, "The Chainsaw", as he's better known, was well ahead:
Kravchenko: 
Kessler: 
Kravchenko was was looking for one of his two-out aces to notch the knockout, and that's exactly what he found. A third ace peeled right off on the turn, and Kessler could not find the last ten in the deck.
Allen Kessler had the most cashes of anyone this year at the WSOP (with a very impressive nine), and he even managed to get heads up in the $10,000 Stud Hi/Lo event for a bracelet. He couldn't snag one there, though, and he won't be winning this Main Event bracelet either. He's out, essentially doubling up Kravchenko in the process.
Kaczka Doesn't Get Paid On Big River Bet
From the cutoff seat, 2010 Aussie Millions Main Event winner Tyron Krost raised to 1,100. Harry Kaczka reraised to 3,600 from the small blind and the big blind called. Krost folded.
The flop came down 
and Kaczka bet 3,900. His opponent called.
The turn brought the 
and paired the board. Kaczka took a minute or two while being comfortably massaged before checking to his opponent. The player checked behind.
The river completed the board with the 
and Kaczka thought for a bit before firing 21,500. His opponent flung his cards into the muck and Kaczka improved to 50,000.
No Cantu
Brandon Cantu has been eliminated, Arnaud Mattern raised the button with 
and Cantu called in the big blind. The flop came 
and it was checked to Mattern, who bet 1,400. Cantu made it 4,000 before Mattern 3-bet to 11,000. Cantu replied by setting him all-in for 60,000 effective and Mattern quickly called with his set against Cantu's straight drawing 
.
The board bricked and Mattern won a 122,000 chip pot. Soon after he finished of Cantu when his 
got there against the latter's 
.
Pascal's Pressure Preflop Has Real Strength Behind It
Pascal Lefrancois has eliminated Scott Fischman. A preflop hand was already getting frisky as Toby Lewis did something under the gun (a small raise of some sort), Pierre Canali re-raised and Lefrancois made it 3,200. These little incremental raises abruptly ended as Fischman moved all in. Speedy passing until back to Lefrancois who immediately called with his 
. Fischman remained cool as he shrugged that his 
was so obviously behind.
Flop: 
Despite the set of Kings, this was a ray of sunshine for Fischman who laughed that it was the best he could have hoped for.
Turn: 
And the cloud of inevitable exit blocked it out again.
River: 
For a bit of rubbing-it-in sleet.
"Good luck," said Fischman as he headed out into the now buzzing casino.
Phil-tered Out
Djinn might have got the meat of Phil He11muth's downfall, but I managed to get the money shot, He11muth's demise coming just a hand or two after he ran into his neighbour's set.
All in from the small blind for around 6,000 with 
, He11muth found himself in water hotter than the sun as Leo Margets made the call and showed 
.
The board rolled out an uneventful 
, and like a sneeze in the wind, the 11-time bracelet winner was gone.