With the last hand complete and the chips going into the baggage Anthony Chimkovitch knew exactly what it was a love to have a super day at the EPT. If it wasn't clear enough from the stack of 1,825,000 that he bagged up tonight, the grin on his face for a lot of the day just about clinched it.

The Belgian started the day with 144,000 and turned that into the benchmark today. Still only 23, he showed the experience of a veteran to become the primary player past the million chip mark, knocking out the likes of Chance Kornuth along the way.

If quality of a performance is judged by the extent of opposition, Chimkovitch's performance was much more notable. His name is on the top of the counts tonight however the chasing pack is a powerful one.

Anthony Chimkovitch - 1,825,000Marco Caza - 1,521,000Nuno Capucho - 1,375,000Simon Lofberg - 1,200,000Uri Reichenstein - 1,187,000Alejandro Belluccia 1,148,000Harcharan Dogra Dogra - 1,100,000Ramon Miguel - 1,082,000Aku Joentausta - 1,063,000Marc Trijaud - 1,039,000Jose Quintas - 1,031,000Thomas De Rooij - 1,010,000Jason Mercier - 1,006,000Bryn Kenney - 728,000Michael Eiler - 679,000Sam Grafton - 635,000Morten Mortensen - 608,000Nicolas Chouity - 603,000Keith Johnson - 443,000Byron Kaverman - 442,000Jason Koon - 424,000Kent Lundmark - 387,000Erik Friberg - 365,000Rumen Nanev - 332,000Brian Tae-Hyun Yoon - 328,000Mikhail Shalamov - 304,000Eugene Katchalov - 215,000

That line up means things are shaping up nicely to become another memorable Barcelona Main Event final. What's more there are still double-winner possibilities.

Victoria Coren-Mitchell was the primary (admittedly this makes it more memorable) and up to now only champion to win a second, but there are actually only two more EPTs for somebody to enroll in her in poker's most exclusive club. Will anyone do it before the EPT steps as much as become the PokerStars Championship? Five players could still do it this weekend, some better placed than others: Nicolas Chouity, Jason Mercier, Michael Eiler, Kent Lundmark, and Ronny Kaiser.

We'll track their progress when the principle Event continues tomorrow, with play expected to cut back the sphere to a final 16. Will or not it's the players above, or someone else, who becomes a title contender?

The list of these it won't be is an extended one. When play began today there have been 294 players in seats. That figure is now 98.

Along the best way we lost the likes of Felipe Ramos, Steven Watts, Ilari Sahmies, Mike McDonald, Ognyan Dimov, Sam Greenwood, Davidi Kitai, Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Dimitar Danchev, Connor Drinan, Govert Metaal, Kitty Kuo, Leo Margets, Harrison Gimbel and Philipp Gruissem.

Some of these names will feature again tomorrow, albeit in a completely different event.

That's when the EPT €10K High Roller begins. Our live updates from what's the last major event of the Barcelona festival begin at 12.30pm local time. Expect big names, a large field, and massive money. By now you'll notice everything is huge in Barcelona.

For you can now get the detailed picture of what came about today by scrolling in the course of the live updates below. And if you need more details take a look at the payout page for the scores so far, and the chip count page, with a purpose to be updated once we have now official counts, for the counts going into tomorrow. Lastly, scores from every event played up to now in Barcelona are available on our side event results page.

Until tomorrow then it's good night from Barcelona. -- SB

9:10pm: Play ends on Day 3

At the tip of play it's Anthony Chimkovitch bagging up the chip lead. The entire report at the day might be published here shortly. -- SB

8:59pm: Slipping awayLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Albert Puigsech opened to 23,000 from the cutoff and it folded to Philipp Gruissem within the big blind. Gruissem only had 98,000 in his stack, but made the decision that may cost him 1 / 4 of it.

The flop came 7♦T♦3♣ and Gruissem checked. Puigsech bet 17,000 and now, from a stack of 75,000, Gruissem called for an additional quarter.

The 2♣ came at the river and Gruissem checked again. Puigsech bet 50,000 this time and Gruissem folded, leaving himself six big blinds because the day's end approaches.

Ah--STOP PRESS--word reaches that Philipp Gruissem is now out. -- HS

8:57pm: Three more handsLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Just three more hands to play before play ends for the day.

8:56pm: Nuno picks up on Misztela's tellLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Przemyslaw Misztela's 181,000 shove with the A♦8♠ was called by Nuno Capucho who had 2♦2♥. Whether he had a read on him or not, he should have known his opponent did not have a couple to make that decision. Besides, 'tela' and 'tell' sounded good in a headline, so let's just say he 'picked up on something'.

The board bricked with out a Ace or eight and Misztela left with 20 minutes left at the day. Capucho is as much as 1.485 million now. --JS

8:53: Boring, not boringLevel 19 - 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

When Olli Autiö pushed all-in, Christian Jeppsson called, and so they both opened ace-jack, a player from around the table offered a one-word commentary.

"Bo-ring." Delivered sing-song style.

He was right. The board brought no flushes, and Autiö continues with 140,000 and Jeppsson with 560,000.

But at the next table when Sergei Chantcev was all-in with A♥J♣, it was decidedly not boring. That's because he was all-in versus Michael Kane's 7♣7♦, and the board came...

5♦K♠9♦... (snoozerama)...

9♥... (whatever)...

J♥! (Whoa.)

The river jack saves Chantcev, who doubles to 430,000 while Kane is right down to just 50,000. --MH

8:50pm: Schroedinger's LundmarkLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Kent Lundmark was earlier reported to be out of this tournament by some very untrustworthy media outlet. But, shhhh, we they changed it and restored Schroedinger's poker player to the chip-count page.

Lundmark was just taken with what had the possible to be a fairly large pot, however it fizzled right into a chop. Lundmark opened to 27,000 from under the gun and Michael Addamo shoved for 205,000 a couple of seats behind him. Seemingly all of the other players were just about calling--asking for a count, double-checking their cards, etc.--but all folded. Lundmark, however, called.

Lundmark showed A♦K♦ and was technically slightly sooner than Addamo's A♣K♠. However the chop was confirmed by the point the turn had brought one card of every suit. -- HS

8:45pm: Jeppsson survivesLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Down to simply 77,000 Christian Jeppsson moved all-in from the small blind and Olli Autiö called from the large. Jeppsson opened 9♠8♦ and was behind to Autiö's Q♣7♥. The 9♥5♣6♦K♦6♣ board favoured the Swede and he doubled up. --NW

8:44pm: That was uglyLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

You do not have to be an extremely compassionate person to feel what just happened to Neculai Macovei. Holding 4♥4♦, he was happy to get it all-in on a 6♣4♠Q♠ flop. Thing was, Avi Binyamin was even happier to place his final 279,000 within the middle, because he'd flopped a larger set with 6♠6♦. He dodged the one-outer and moved as much as nearly 900,000 while Macovei has barely 120,000. --BW

8:42pm: 3..2...1...callLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Ping Liu had checked the A♥3♦8♦ flop to Aram Sargsyan after which found himself facing an all-in bet to 233,000. It might account for around a 3rd of Liu's stack. He had a choice to make, and he took his time to make it. Minutes and minutes glided by before someone called the clock. Liu then took literally every second of his clock before pushing forward calling chips. The time to think hadn't led to the best decision. Liu's A♦2♠ was no match for Sargsyan's A♣J♥. Sargsyan now has an around average stack. Liu has numerous work to do if he desires to make it to Day 4.--BW

8:41pm: "Bluffed you"Level 19 - 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

"Don't tell me you will have ace-queen and that i check for you."

So said Wael Sarkis at the river betting round in a hand versus Jeffrey Mulder. With about 300,000 already within the middle, Sarkis had checked on a 2♠K♦2♥Q♠Q♣ board, and Mulder took the chance to jam his last 210,000 within the middle. The comment sounded as if it will have alluded back to a check at the previous street.

"Ace-king, right?" Mulder shot back. "Don't tell me you call me with king-jack."

Sarkis grew quiet at that, and Mulder continued.

"I'll show you," Mulder said with a nod. "I'll show you a technique or another."

"You won't show me a bluff?" asked Sarkis. "I'll show you, ONE HUNDRED PC" Mulder insisted. "It's as much as you."

Sarkis thought some time longer, then saying "I FEEL you" folded his hand. Mulder instantly turned his over -- 8♠8♣.

"Bluffed you," he said. It were a chatty table, but things got pretty quiet pretty quick after that.

Mulder has 520,000 now, while Sarkis has 305,000. --MH

8:39pm: Hotshot TottenhamLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Adam Owen has built his overnight stack of 168,000 to the most efficient a part of 900,000 today, but has done so all but unnoticed--at least by our updates team. He recently flicked throughout the entirety of this post on his phone and won't have seen an image of himself, more's the pity.

I say that because he has recently started wearing a Tottenham Hotspur football scarf, and that is the reason always going to endear him to this actual quarter of PokerStars Blog. The North London club were within the hat for the Champions League draw today and presumably Owen is celebrating a bunch that pits his Spurs against CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco, when it might has been such a lot worse.

Owen played a small pot shortly after reviewing today's coverage. He called from the massive blind after Byron Kaverman opened to 23,000 from mid-position.

They both checked the 7♠K♣7♥ flop after which Kaverman called Owen's bet of 20,000 after the Q♣ turn. Owen bet again, this time 43,000, at the Q♥ river and Kaverman called again.

Owen turned over A♣T♠ but Kaverman was never behind together with his A♠K♦. Owen will hope for a greater outcome when the Champions League matches kick off on September 13-14. -- HS

8:35pm: A three-ring SarkisLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Wael Sarkis was just within the thick of it again. Tomas Macnamara was looking to eliminate him, having called his 222,000 three-bet all-in with the A♣Q♦, but Sarkis had the products with the A♥K♣. A three-heart flop took away one in every of Macnamara's outs, and Sarkis doubled. Macnamara has 270,000 now. --JS

8:27pm: Ruzicka takes out KamarLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Pretty simple one this, Fady Kamer got his final 123,000 in with A♦J♥ and Vojtech Ruzicka looked him up with A♠Q♦. A K♣6♦5♣2♥2♦ board didn't improve either player and Kamar exited the tournament. --NW

8:27pm: Friedli as a birdLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Nicolas Gil Friedli has suddenly found himself with an additional 45 minutes to fill, as he has busted on this last level of the day. He was all-in for 130,000 with the A♣Q♣ against Georgios Zisimopoulos' A♥J♥ (and, to be honest, slow rolled his hand just a little.) There has been Jack within the window at the flop though, and no Queen meant he was outta here. Zisimopoulos is as much as 470,000 now. --JS

8:25pm: More chips for Anthony ChimkovitchLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Having taken most of Yuval Friedman's stack a short while ago (see 8.08pm post) Anthony Chimkovitch just got the remaining and is now as much as 1,750,000.

I arrived on the table to peer Friedman shoving for 200,000 from the small blind at the turn of a 4♦6♥9♥K♣ board and Chimkovitch then made a fast call. He turned over A♠K♦ for prime pari, while Friedman had 9♠7♣ for second pair. The 6♠ river kept the Belgian in front and he added yet more chips to his burgeoning stack. --NW

8:22pm: The 150,000 WoopsLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Blind battles. Amirite?

So, Byron Kaverman was sitting within the small blind when play folded all of the way around to him. He thought for a bit of after which made it 27,000 to play. Sitting within the big blind, Ivan Deyra chose to name and notice the 8♦5♠4♦ flop. Kaverman elected to check, so Deyra bet 25,000. The following thing I know, Kaverman had put him all-in...which didn't become an excellent thing for the yankee. Deyra were sneaky with a couple of aces in his hand. Kaverman only had and king and 4 in his hand. The board paired the eight at the turn giving Kaverman even fewer outs. After a brick at the river, Kaverman shipped 156,000 over to Deyra. -- BW

8:20pm: Gimbel's goneLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

We're right down to five former EPT winners now as Harrison Gimbel just lost a race to bust. He was all-in for 140,000 with pocket jacks and looking out to vanish the A♥Q♣ that Jean-Jacques Zeitoun was holding. He almost managed it, however the river of a 9♥9♦5♦2♣Q♥ board dashed his hopes of a double. Zeitoun is as much as 850,000. --NW

8:19pm: Aye, there's the rubLevel 19 - 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Shmuel Madar was about QUARTER-HOUR right into a massage when he found it essential to stop massaging his short stack and commit the last of it behind Q♥J♣. Too bad for him he was up against Jean-Jacques Zeitoun's K♦J♦.

The board ran out 3♥6♠8♥7♥2♣, and after paying the massage therapist, Madar headed over to the cashier's table to begin the method of having paid himself.

"Man," said Sam Grafton to Zeitoun. "YOU PLACE a beat at the massage therapist, too," he quipped. "She's seeking to make a living!"

Unlike Madar, she will remain here within the tournament area, continuing the work. So, too, remains Zeitoun who has 575,000 now. --MH

8:12pm: Big blind special for JohnsonLevel 19 - 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Kevin Andriamahefa opened for 24,000 from under the gun, and Anthony Chimkovitch called from one seat over. It folded around to Keith Johnson within the big blind who came along as well, and the flop fell 8♥8♣7♣.

Johnson checked, Andriamahefa raffle 40,000, Chimkovitch folded, and Johnson called. Johnson check-called again a bet of 80,000 after the 5♥ fell at the turn.

The river was the J♥. Johnson checked, and after about 10 seconds Andriamahefa checked back. Johnson turned over 8♦5♦ for a whole house, and Andriamahefa mucked.

"The river," said Johnson, speaking in disconnected phrases. "Backdoor flush. All in."

Alas for him, neither happened, but Johnson still chips as much as 505,000. And fortuitously for Andriamahefa it didn't besides; he still has 310,000. --MH

The journey to becoming an EPT champion starts on PokerStars. Click here to get an account.

8:11pm: Clean and crispLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Diego Zeiter raised the hijack to 23,000 and was faced with a 3 bet from Thomas Miller one seat to his left. The remainder of the table left them to it, and Zeiter desired to play for more. He four-bet to 145,000 like he meant business. Miller believed him and folded.

There's nothing more to it than that, but this was a crisp and tasty raise, three-bet, four-bet combo and that i liked it. -- HS

8:10pm: Aces too full for TranLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

I didn't arrive on the table until the river, but that gave the look to be where the largest action was anyway. Marc Trijaud was in a hand with Van Hiep Tran and the board showed A♣A♠8♣9♣A♥. Trijaud bet 102,000 into what was a lovely hefty pot already and after a minute Tran made the call, but mucked when he saw the Frenchman's A♥9♥ for what was presumably a greater full house. Tran dropped to 156,000 while Trijaud is as much as 1.1 million. --JS

8:08pm: In case you are good enough, you're old enoughLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Anthony Chimkovitch looks as if he'd be the type of person anybody could be happy to introduce to their parents. By that, I DO NOT mean he's boyfriend material. They'd much more likely meet this baby-faced Belgian at the school-run.

He is, however, 23 years old (we've checked his passport) and he's playing this game like a seasoned pro. He just added another 160,000 chips to his stack on the expense of a shell-shocked Yuval Friedman, who's left with 225,000.

Chimkovitch opened from the hijack, making it 22,000, and Friedman called at the button. The blinds got out of the way, so it was just the pair of them to a flop of 7♠7♣6♥. Chimkovitch checked.

Friedman had a tickle. He bet 26,000, but Chimkovitch quickly threw in a choice. They saw the turn of Q♦ and Chimkovitch checked again. Friedman bet again, this time 50,000, but Chimkovitch wasn't letting him off easy. He raised to 120,000.

After a brief think, Friedman called, but possibly regretted it after Chimkovitch shoved the K♣ river. Friedman had 225,000 behind, an insignificant fifth of Chimkovitch's stack. Friedman decided to live to fight another day together with his 22 bigs.

Chimkovitch is now as much as about 1.6 million. -- HS

8:04pm: Wait...I'm drawing in your handLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

You know you are not within the best shape whilst you get all you cash in on a draw to a hand that your opponent has already made. So went the life and times of Marcos Paton Bao. He got it in on a J♠9♣Q♥ flop with A♦T♥. Problem was, Xixiang Luo had already flopped the nuts with K♠T♦. That left Bao drawing to at least one of 3 kings, none of which appeared. Bao is now on his way out. -- BW

8:02:pm: Short-stack strugglesLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Sergei Chantcev was right down to 16 big blinds and had to make something happen. In preference to open-shove, he decided to make it 21,000 from early position and got a choice from Michael Howard within the big blind. They saw a 3♣T♠7♠ flop fall, and Howard check-called a 20,000 c-bet.

The turn was the 8♦ and both decided to test to the J♠ river. Howard surveyed Chantcev's remaining chips (129,000) and took the betting lead with a 56,000 wager. Chantcev's stack gave him little wiggle room to outplay his opponent, so it basically came all the way down to 'having it' or not. I ASSUME he just did not have it, as he folded and left himself with 12 big blinds. --JS

8pm: Gruissem getting shortLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Philipp Gruissem is all the way down to just 83,000 after doubling up Narcis-Gabriel Nedelcu. The German opened to 21,000 from early position with Q♠4♠ and was priced in to called when Nedelcu jammed for 58,000 total. The Romanian had Gruissem dominated with A♥Q♣ and hung on the K♦K♥J♦7♠8♥ board. --NW

7:55pm: Good call by Luth, but Liu the beneficiaryLevel 19 - 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Soon after play resumed, a hand arose over on the table Peyman Luth and Ping Liu that saw Luth open from the button for 25,000, Liu jam from the small blind for just over 200,000, and Luth think for some time before deciding to call.

When Liu opened A♠3♦, Luth was visibly happy with his decision as he turned over his 7♣7♥. However the A♣9♣K♥ flop proved less agreeable to Luth, pairing Liu's hand. The turn was the J♣ and river the T♥, and Liu doubled as much as about 420,000. Luth, meanwhile, now has 455,000. --MH

7:50pm: Top ten stacksLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

The final level of the day has just started and these are the players who're in all probability to assert the overnight chip lead as they're the highest 10.

Name Country Chips

Anthony Chimkovitch	Belgium	1,400,000
Uri Reichenstein	Germany	1,325,000
Marco Caza	Canada	1,234,000
Simon Lofberg	Sweden	1,200,000
Alejandro Belluccia	Argentina	982,000
Adam Owen	UK	980,000
Jose Quintas	Portugal	970,000
Ramon Miguel Munoz	Spain	948,000
Nuno Capucho	Portugal	920,000
Thomas De Rooij	Netherlands	899,000

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

19	5,000	10,000	1,000

7:06pm: What are you doing, amigo?Level 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

"You can go on break. I'LL BE some time."

This was Adem Marjanovic, sitting behind a stack of about 290,000, but looking intently, and alternately, in two directions. The primary was on the middle of the table, where there has been a pot of about 300,000 sprinkled next to four exposed cards: 2♠J♠A♣T♣. The opposite was at his neighbour Albert Puigsech, who had 252,000 in front of him, in addition to an all-in triangle.

The tournament clock still showed 1 minute and 10 seconds on it when one of the crucial other players on the table seemed restless, and one man got up. That's when Marjanovic made it clear that he was going to be taking no less than those 70 seconds to choose for the majority of his chips.

Everyone else believed him and left only Marjanovic and Puigsech on the table. "What are you doing, amigo?" Marjanovic said. Puigsech remained silent. "I DO NOT know why I WOULD LIKE to name this," Marjanovic continued, clearly anguished.

After an even three minutes more, and after examining every inch of Puigsech for info (including a peek under the table to look if his leg was shaking or not), Marjanovic folded.

"You show me one card?" Marjanovic asked of Puigsech. Puigsech assented, allowing Marjanovic to select which one he wanted. Marjanovic turned over the 7♠ and didn't look pleased. Puigsech then voluntarily showed him the A♠ as well, before saying, "What did you've? Something like ace-queen?" Marjanovic didn't reply, but made a hasty motion clear of the table instead. -- HS

7:05pm: A decade on, Friberg recalls WSOP Main Event runLevel 18 - 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

"You made the primary Event final table, right?" asked Filipe Oliveira of the player on his right. "Yes, ten years ago," came the response.

"What was that like? Did you enjoy it?"

With the sphere right down to just 114 players, Sweden's Friberg is among those still vying for the EPT13 Barcelona Main Event title. Friberg's first major tournament cash came here a dozen years ago on the EPT1 Barcelona Main Event where he finished 26th. And indeed, somewhat later in 2006 he was the eighth-place finisher in what's still the largest ever World Series of Poker Main Event, a finish worth nearly $2 million.

"No," said Friberg, the perhaps surprising short answer to Oliviera's question. "It was a bit of tense as a result of pressure," he continued, adding how when he looks back at the experience he wishes the "November Nine" delayed final table format have been a part of the equation for him back then. (The Nov. Nine wasn't introduced until 2008.)

Friberg explained how he made a few mistakes at that final table, and if he'd had even only a week to assemble himself mentally and more fully consider the magnitude of that tournament, the end result could have been different for him.

"I do not believe I'D have played the similar way," he said.

During among the conversation Friberg was enthusiastic about a hand, defending his blind and at last taking a small pot with a turn bet to extend his stack to 570,000. Another hand had begun wherein he'd folded, however, and probably the most players asked if he didn't mind in the event that they might need a little bit quiet while it played out.

"Yes, I WILL BE quiet," said Friberg. "I respect that," he added, knowing well how the pressure of thinking clearly on the tables may also be. --MH

7:10pm: Six champs still inLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

At the beginning of the day there have been 12 former EPT winners in with an opportunity of doing the double. That number was reduced to 6 now and here's how they stack up:

Nicolas Chouity - 1,200,000Jason Mercier - 744,000Michael Eiler - 310,000Kent Lundmark - 300,000Ronny Kaiser - 290,000Harrison Gimbel - 235,000

7:08pm: Get your game face onLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

A hand just played out that, to be honest, is not the most fun. I'm telling you about it as a result of information players received after the hand was done.

It started with an 18,000 bet from Alisan Holozlu that was three-bet to 61,000 by Nicolas Chouity. Holozlu then four-bet to 136,000, and Chouity folded.

A member of floor staff then came as much as the table to tell the players that theirs is to be the brand new feature table after the break (you know, in case they desired to spruce themselves up somewhat.) The table features Bryn Kenney, incidentally. --JS

6:55pm: Gecevicius priced in, but knows it's AcesLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Kestutis Gecevicius knew that Michael Howard had pocket Aces, or a minimum of it certainly seemed that way. Howard had opened to 18,000 which was then three-bet to 56,000 by Thomas de Rooij. Gecevicius then came in for a chilly four-bet of 115,000, and Howard five-bet jammed for 240,000. De Rooij hated to surrender his hand but had to, whereas Gecevicius...well, he knew he was beat but was priced in. He called with the K♥Q♥ and Howard flipped the A♣A♠.

You get the sensation Gecevicius would was a lot more the decision if he knew the 6♥5♠3♥ flop was coming. He'd picked up a flush draw and needed any heart to play executioner, however the Aces held. Howard is as much as 552,000, while Gecevicius is right down to 281,000. --JS

6:45pm: Cody cut downLevel 18 - 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Amid a flurry of activity at neighboring tables, the "all-in and a choice" sounded from Jake Cody's table, and unfortunately for the Team PokerStars Pro he was the only being led from the table afterwards to the cashier's desk. --MH

6:44pm: Who hit their draw?Level 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Taichi Yoneya opened to 16,000 from the cutoff after which rubbed the palms of his hands on his trousers as he saw Sebastian Malec counting out a raise from the button. Malec made it 44,000 and the blinds folded.

"How much do you may have"? Yoneya asked. Malec had about 550,000, which was about 200,000 greater than Yoneya. Yoneya called.

The flop came J♣9♣2♦ and Yoneya checked. Malec bet 38,000 and Yoneya called.

The turn was the Q♦, which both players checked, after which the T♣ appeared at the river, apparently hitting almost about any draw available in the market. Yoneya bet 30,000, seeking to suggest he had one in all them. Malec folded, suggesting he didn't. -- HS

6:37pm: Beresford bouncedLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

A white hat levitated up from Seat 7 on Table 1 and commenced hovering to the payouts table. "Good luck, guys," it said on its way.

Beneath it was the ghost of Conor Beresford, whose cards were mucked by the point I arrived, but who could not, evidently, beat the T♥T♦ of Mikhail Molchanov on a board of 7♣6♥4♥5♦2♠.

Molchanov has 800,000. -- HS

6:34pm: Big C's as Chimkovitch, Chouity and Caza leadLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Seems like your surname has first of all C if you would like a large stack on this tournament. It's Anthony Chimkovitch who leads still and he's being chased hardest by Nicolas Chouity and Marco Caza.

Name Country Chips

Anthony Chimkovitch	Belgium	1,535,000
Nicolas Chouity	Lebanon	1,220,000
Marco Caza	Canada	1,200,000
Ramon Miguel Munoz	Spain	1,060,000
Simon Lofberg	Sweden	1,050,000
Alejandro Belluccia	Argentina	1,045,000
Uri Reichenstein	Germany	910,000
Yuval Friedman	Israel	900,000
Diego Zeiter	Switzerland	900,000
Bryn Kenney	USA	880,000

6:32pm: Double the actionLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Two tables, two all ins, two calls, and two double ups. Within the first Sergei Chantcev doubled though Taichi Yoneya, sevens against nines (Chantcev flopped a seven). Within the other Padraig O'Neill doubled up with pocket tens which held against ace-ten. -- SB

6:24pm: Read and watchLevel 18 - 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

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Hard working TV crew

6:24pm: Turn brings action, river satisfaction for FribergLevel 18 - 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

No idea what happened before the turn, but fourth street was where the action was, anyway, on this hand between Erik Friberg playing from the small blind and Konstantin Puchkov within the big.

That's when Friberg put the remainder of his stack in with the board showing 7♦A♦5♣7♣, and Puchkov called. Friberg had A♣K♣ for aces and sevens plus a flush draw, but Puchkov had J♥7♥ for trip sevens.

Fifth street was pretty interesting, too -- the 2♣.

A flush for Friberg, and he now has 310,000 while Puchkov slides to 160,000. --MH

Erik Friberg

6:15pm: The wait goes on for KerignardLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

He have been to a few EPT Main Event final tables, but Yorane Kerignard must watch for his first title. He's out.

He shoved his last peanuts in from the button with A♦3♣ and was picked off by Ping Liu and his Q♥J♣. Of course, Liu had to improve before he completed the job, and it was a topsy-turvy run-out of 7♦J♥A♥K♥T♠ before it was done. -- HS

6:14pm: Ascensao out, Oliveira ascendsLevel 18 - 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

From middle position Nuno Pereira Ascensao paid his ante, then looked down at A♥9♥ and decided it was time to commit his last 101,000. Felipe Oliveira was next to behave and called the shove, and when no person else chose to play along Ascensao only had one hand to overcome to survive.

Alas for him, that hand was A♦A♣.

The board came an unhelpful seven-high for Ascensao -- 6♠7♣5♥2♣4♠ -- and he's out. Oliveira has 420,000 now. --MH

6:12pm: Niste falls to MercierLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

You might need seen this one on EPT Live already, but a short while ago Jason Mercier spiked the river to eliminate Mihai Niste. The Romanian was all-in pre-flop for around 195,000 with 7♦7♣ and Mercier had him in peril with A♦K♣.

The 8♠4♦3♦T♠A♣ run out kept Mercier waiting but on account of that knockout he's as much as 574,000. --NW

6:09pm: Seen or not seen?Level 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Sam Chartier just lost a large chunk of his chips to Simon Lofberg and wasn't happy as he paid off his opponent, insisting he hadn't seen all of Lofberg's stack because the hand had played out. Chartier said about 80,000 was tucked behind Lofberg's other chip towers and Chartier intimated he don't have made the play if Lofberg's chips were visible.

It was removed from clear whether there has been any wrongdoing. Lofberg said that each one of his chips were easy to see, and Kimmo Kurkko, to Chartier's immediate right, said he could see them. The purpose was moot, as Chartier tacitly conceded. He needed to pay Lofberg regardless.

The hand began in standard enough fashion, with Chartier open-raising to 18,000 from the button. Lofberg three-bet from the large blind, making it 61,000 to play, and Chartier called.

The flop brought the 9♦K♠5♦ and Lofberg led 58,000. Chartier called. Then the 5♠ came at the turn and Lofberg checked. Chartier, with a stack of about 1.1 million before the hand and obviously covering Lofberg, said that he was all-in. Lofberg called.

Lofberg tabled K♦4♠, which stayed good against Chartier's 6♠7♠. But that is where the talk started. Chartier said he only noticed a 3rd tower of blue chips in Lofberg's stack when he pushed them forward to depend out for a double up. The dealer told him that Lofberg's stack was 350,000 and Chartier was clearly angry.

There was just about nothing anyone could do about it, however, and Chartier pushed the chips forward. That's why you hear such a lot of of the professionals constantly inquiring for their opponents' counts, it seems.

Chartier still has greater than 600,000.-- HS

Sam Chartier

6:06pm: Chips spill Howard's wayLevel 18 - 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Ireland's Michael Howard just earned a large double-up, crippling Sergei Chantcev of Russia within the process.

It was an "all-in pre," with Howard holding A♠J♣ and Chantcev 8♣8♦. The T♣4♣A♣ favored Howard, and the 3♦ turn and 6♠ went his way, too.

"Just push 'em all over," he said to the dealer who after counting out Howard's winnings was preparing to slip the columns over. Howard reached out and spilled all of them his way, and commenced restacking them himself.

Counting is a challenge on the moment, but Howard's at around 280,000. Meanwhile Chantcev's stack is lots easier to eyeball -- he's right down to 35,000. --MH

6:05pm: Not the house, however the Straight of RomanovLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)At the close of play yesterday Polish player Sebastian Malec was so happy with his stack he wanted an image of it before it was dismantled and kept in a bag for the night.

The trouble was getting a stack so big to face upright. He'd had an identical issue earlier that day. Together with his chips stacked as much as his chin, he'd leant forward to glance on the stack of an opponent only to inadvertently spill his chips everywhere in the table. From a distance it gave the look of he was throwing up poker chips as though he'd secretly been eating them.

Fast forward an afternoon and Malec has learned handle his stack, in additional ways than one. For a start it's now in a more modest arrow shape. Secondly, he just used it well to win chips from Padraig O'Neill.Malex opened for 18,000 at the button which O'Neill raised to 44,000 from the small blind. Malec asked how much O'Neill had (210,000) after which moved all-in, getting a handy guide a rough fold from the Irishman. Malec as much as 600,000. - SB

6:00pm: A stare with Gruissem consequencesLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

If you ever desire a prime example of the way the easiest poker players are always being attentive even if they are not within the hand, then Philipp Gruissem is the person to look at. Today I've seen him focus his ice-cold gaze on Michael Adammo and Aku Joentausta sometimes for minutes on end with none cards in front of him. I WOULD NOT wish to be at the receiving end of it when bluffing, that's for sure.

You'd imagine he's picked up quite a lot of from those staring sessions, but he hasn't got Joentausta sussed just yet. In a hand today the Fin opened to 17,000 and Gruissem called. The flop came the K♦3♦A♣ and the German check-called 15,000, after which check-called 30,000 at the 4♥ turn. The 7♥ then completed the board and Gruissem checked a last time to look Joentausta slide out 100,000.

He was thinking for an even short time before he started talking out loud to himself. I COULD NOT make out the whispers - something about pocket Jacks or pocket Queens - but he clearly didn't know what to make of all of it. Finally he folded, leaving himself with 140,000. "Show one!" he asked. "Show a ten!"

Joentausta kept his cards down, and is now looking at a stack of 570,000. --JS

5:53pm: Not the house, however the Straight of RomanovLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

There were a large number of blue chips within the middle by the point the flop was dealt in this one. With K♣Q♠K♥ at the board both Alexey Romanov and Neculai Macovei checked for a A♦ turn. Funnily enough they checked that too.

On the 2♦ river though Romanov bet 65,000 which after some mild agonising Macovei called. J♦T♦ for Romanov, adequate to win the hand. As much as 400,000. - SB

5:45pm: Big stacksLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

As level 18 gets underway there are five players who've broken during the million chip barrier. Chief amongst them is Anthony Chimkovitch, he leads with 1,508,000.

Name Country Chips

Anthony Chimkovitch	Belgium	1,508,000
Sam Chartier	Canada	1,280,000
Nicolas Chouity	Lebanon	1,200,000
Alejandro Belluccia	Argentina	1,045,000
Marco Caza	Canada	1,010,000

5:40pm: Super-fast dealerLevel 17 - 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

And a super-fast trigger finger by photographer Neil Stoddart.

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

18	4,000	8,000	1,000

5:20pm: Chimkovitch vaults ahead after Chance encounterLevel 17 - 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Big hand to report, culminating in a notable knockout and a return to the chip lead for Anthony Chimkovitch.

We rolled up at the flop with the board showing Q♠K♠6♥, about 55,000 within the middle, and 4 players still involved. From appearances it had checked to Chimkovitch who led with a bet, got one fold, then a decision from Danny Tang at the button. That's when Chance Kornuth installed 115,000 as a reraise from the blinds which Chimkovitch called.

After some thought Tang got out, and the turn brought the 4♦. Kornuth sat motionless for a while, then announced he was all-in. A count showed the bet was worth just over 340,000, and Chimkovitch tanked for a while before finding a call.

Kornuth turned over Q♥8♥ for second pair, earning some response from observers, and Chimkovitch turned over A♥K♣ which also drew a reaction. The river was the 5♥, and Kornuth wished the table well before departing.

Anthony Chimkovitch: Back out front

With that gigantic pot and the following break approaching, Chimkovitch vaults in front with just over 1.5 million. --MH

5:20:pm: Grafton and Baumann tangle againLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Sam Grafton and Gaelle Baumann has been playing numerous pots together, and if this latest one is anything to move by they're getting bigger and bigger.

It started with a 14,000 open from Baumann which picked up one caller before reaching Grafton at the button. He then installed a squeeze to 50,000, just for Baumann to then four-bet to 110,000. The caller got out of ways and Grafton called to look a flop.

The 2♥7♥T♥ hit the felt and both checked, bringing the 7♠ at the turn. Baumann checked another time and Grafton slid in an 81,000 wager, which was enough to get a fold. Grafton is as much as 771,000, while Baumann is all the way down to 204,000. --JS

5:19pm: Ace-King KaiserLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Ronny Kaiser just doubled as much as 270,000. Not exactly a large stack, but better than the fate of Jan Nakladal, who's now out.

The pair of them got their chips in, Kaiser with A♦K♦ and Nakladal with J♥9♥. The ace at the flop did it for Nakladal. - SB

5:17pm: Huge pot to BellucciaLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

An enormous pot just played out at the feature table, with the massive stacks Dorian Rios Pavon and Alejandro Belluccia going at it in a pot worth greater than 1 million.

Pavon opened to 12,000 from under the gun and collected two callers--Jerome Sgorrano and Jason Mercier--before Belluccia three-bet to 36,000. Pavon wanted everyone to believe that he had an actual hand and four-bet to 82,000.

Sgorrano and Mercier both folded, but Belluccia called to make a huge pre-flop pot.

The flop came 5♠T♠T♦, which they both checked. However it went mad from then at the. J♥ came at the turn and Pavon bet 84,000. Belluccia raised to 205,000 and Pavon called.

Wow. Now the 6♦ came at the river and Belluccia shoved for 431,000, only about 20,000 not up to Pavon's stack. Pavon quickly apologised to the table for the time it was about to take him to make his decision, before the clock was called on him.

As the TD ticked him down, Pavon open-folded aces and Belluccia moved to 1.046 million. -- HS

5:15pm: Getting tricky with GruissemLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

I joined the action at the turn to look Philipp Gruissem betting 21,000 and Nuno Capucho eyeing up the J♣2♥T♣A♣ board as he made his decision to name. The 3♦ completed the board and Gruissem took a while before betting 60,000. Capucho went into the tank and emerged with a raise to 149,000.

"Everyone loves to play tricky against me," Gruissem said as he pondered on what to do. He ultimately elected to fold and preserve his stack of 196,000. Capucho is now as much as 480,000. --NW

5:10pm: Triiaud wins French blind on blind battleLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

When action folded to Benjamin Saada within the small blind, he took a glance on the stack of the player to his left - Marc Trijaud - which amount to 82,000 and moved all-in with 7♠6♥. Triiaud checked out his cards, announced call after which showed A♥3♦.

The 4♠J♦Q♦A♣J♣ board kept Triiaud in front and he doubled, whilst Saada drops to around 90,000. --NW

5:05:pm: And that's the reason just differently ace-king winsLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

It's been 11 and half years since I covered my first poker tournament. At the first actual day, someone lost with a small pair against ace king after the board paired twice with higher pairs. The loser was aghast, nonplussed, and angry. Lee Jones stood nearby and said with a shrug, "That's only one way ace-king beats a pair."

For whatever reason, that phrase has become a part of my mental poker lexicon over time. It turns out to be useful presently as Tuukka Meklin makes his option to the payout cage.

All in with pocket eights against veteran Jani Sointula's A♦K♦, Meklin looked as relaxed as he could at the T♠6♦3♥ flop. He tensed a bit more at the J♦ turn. He groaned when the river was the Q♦.

It always looks ugly when it happens that way, but, again, there has been no changing the chances after the money went in. It feels worse when it seems like runner-runner, but, hey, that's only one way ace-king beats a pair.

So, Meklin is out and Sointula is now sitting on a average stack of 390,000. -- BW

5pm: Chips!Level 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

You won't find more accurate or comprehensive chip-counts than those now on our chip-count page. They've just been freshly updated. Here's the highest five:

NAME COUNTRY CHIPS

Nick Chouity	Lebanon	1250000
Anthony Edouard Chimkovitch	Belgium	1000000
Marco Caza	Canada	960000
Sam Chartier	Canada	900000
Miroslav Forman	Czech Republic	820000

5pm: Plesuv bulls through Grafton and BaumannLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Pavel Plesuv opened to 14,000 and the action folded to Sam Grafton. "How much do you've gotten in greens?" he asked, regarding the brand new "sea foam green" 25k chips. "I'VE 570 total," came Plesuv's reply. Grafton liked the sound of doubtless winning much that much and made the call, as did Gaelle Baumann within the big blind. Plesuv's shades went on and it was time for business.

The three went to a 2♦Q♥3♥ flop and Baumann checked, allowing Plesuv in for a 25,000 c-bet. Both called, and the dealer burned and turned the K♠ which everyone checked. Finally the J♠ completed the board and it checked to Plesuv again. He put out a gamble of 65,000 which got Grafton to fold, but Baumann wasn't really easy. She went into the tank for a few minutes, clearly tempted to make the decision. After all she thought her chips might be put to raised use elsewhere and laid it down.

Plesuv has 670,000, Baumann has 315,000, and Grafton has 610,000. --JS

4:56pm: Choosing rightLevel 17 - 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Andrea Cortellazzi appeared uncomfortable.

It wasn't the out-and-out agony you usually see poker players experiencing when seeking to reach a hard decision, however it wasn't placid, unhurried contemplation, either.

The board showed K♥A♥K♣9♠3♣. Adrien Delmas had shoved for 142,000, and after slightly a recall to mind his own Adrian Attenborough had folded in between Delmas and Cortellazzi.

After a few minute of thought and a request to peer Delmas's cards should he fold, Cortellazzi finally folded, asking "Show one?"

"Choose one," answered Delmas.

"Right."

Delmas flipped over the J♣. And now Cortellazzi is in a distinct type of discomfort, wondering if he'd chosen right within the hand along with his fold.

Cortellazzi keeps his stack of about 540,000, Delmas is as much as 225,000, and Attenborough has almost 700,000. --MH

4:50:pm: The danger Kornuth SystemLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Chance Kornuth is without doubt one of the more animated players within the game. His smile stretches from one side of the room to the opposite. He's chatty without being annoying. He's friendly without being fake.

So, imagine what it have to be love to see Kornuth become some kind of curious alien creature when in a large hand. It's form of spooky.

He had a 15,000 raise, call, and three-bet to 45,000 in front of him when he sat within the small blind. After checking his cards behind a couple of flier sunglasses, Kornuth slipped right into a super-slow, super-methodic examination of his opponents. He turned his head in slow motion, stopped at each player within the hand, held his obscured stare for a couple of seconds per man, after which moved directly to the following. It was as though he could take some important inventory of every man's soul, process it in his alien brain, after which export the knowledge to the super computer beyond his frontal lobe. Or, a minimum of that is what it gave the look of from a couple of feet away.

The result was a four-bet from the small unaware of 99,000, a move that shed not one, not two, but all three individuals who had shown willingness to place their money within the pot only a minute earlier. That may be apparently how aliens pick up an additional 80,000 in chips. -- BW

4:45pm: Luth can't loseLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Igor Yaroshevskyy opened to 14,000 and Peyman Luth then moved all-in for 119,000 total. It folded back to Yaroshevskyy and he called. Luth showed pocket fours and was in a race against Yaroshevskyy's A♦Q♥. Luth stood up but he soon needed to chill down again because the 5♥3♠3♦6♣7♣ board stayed low. He's as much as 260,000 while Yaroshevskyy drops to 300,000. --NW

4:40pm: Bryn bluffs BeresfordLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Popular wisdom is for you to never show bluffs but Bryn Kenney is experienced enough to grasp when it is a good time to head against the grain. He should have had an even reason to take action when he won a large pot against Conor Beresford.

I only saw the river action but Kenney bet 114,400 right into a pot of approximately 145,000. The entire board was 7♦8♠K♥4♠Q♦ and Beresford, who had about 270,000 left, was deep within the tank seeking to make a decision. Eventually he folded and Kenney showed 6♠6♥ as he took the pot. He's as much as 602,000 after that hand. --NW

4:30:pm: We now have a brand new millionaireLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Nicolas Chouity and Artur Karamuca both had very healthy stacks, but if combined they invent probably the most biggest within the room. Luckily for the Lebanese player, it's Chouity all of them sit in front of.

After Chouity had opened and received one caller, Karamuca then squeezed it as much as 50,000. Chouity raised much more to 105,000, getting a fold from the caller, but if it got back to Karamuca he moved all-in for around 400,000. Chouity tilted his head, picked up calling chips, and said "Let's go."

He had the J♣J♠ and was racing against the A♥K♣. The board ran out 2♣9♣5♥7♠T♦, which meant the pocket pair held up, eliminating Karamuca and giving Chouity an enormous stack of 1.26 million. --JS

4:28pm: Jacks a choice for NakladalLevel 17 - 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Alessandro Borsa is out, having re-raise-jammed his 9♥9♦ for around 110,000, gotten called by Jan Nakladal who had J♠J♥, and watched a board arrive 5♣2♣4♠6♣Q♦.

Nakladal has about 250,000 now. --MH

4:25:pm: Prokudin accumulatingLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Christian Jeppsson opened to 14,000 and Mikhail Shalamov made the call, in conjunction with Alexander Prokudin from the massive blind. The 3 saw a 7♠Q♠3♠ flop and it checked around to the 4♥ turn. Prokudin led out for 20,000. Both the opposite players called to peer the T♣ river, and the aggressor continued with another bet of 40,000. Jeppsson made the decision while Shalamov folded.

Prokudin proudly showed his 5♥6♥ for a straight, and that caused Jeppsson to tap the table as he mucked. That hand leaves Jeppsson with 290,000, Shalamov with 158,000, and Prokudin with 636,000. --JS

4:24:pm: Let's call it "sea foam green"Level 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

For the primary time for the reason that tournament began, we've got a brand new chip in play. The larger stacks have now been gift some quite pretty sea foam green 25,000 chips. -- BW

4:20pm: Katchalov catches card, collects, continuesLevel 17 - 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Another double for Eugene Katchalov to report, bringing him officially up and out of the chance zone -- DANGER ZONE! -- after he survived a preflop all-in versus Jan Nakladal.

In this one Katchalov was the underdog, in peril with A♣T♣ against Nakladal's A♠J♠. The flop fell 2♥7♠T♦, though, pairing Katchalov's kicker, and after the 9♠ turn and 7♦ river Katchalov was up around 260,000. Nakladal continues to be battling with 81,000. --MH

4:17pm: More for MaoLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

You sense Vasyl Zabrodskyy knew what was coming when he got it all-in with A♣K♣ for his final 163,000 and located himself dominating Sam Mao's A♥T♦. The 5♦J♦7♦ flop gave Mao a flush draw and Zabrodskyy started to gather his possessions as though the flush had already completed. The 5♣ turn was a brick, however the K♦ filled Mao's flush and eliminated Zabrodskyy. --NW

4:15pm: Kitty runs out of livesLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

From early position Kestutis Gecevicius opened to 15,000 and it folded to Kitty Kuo within the small blind. She had just over 100,000 left and committed all of them with A♠Q♠. When it got back to Gecevicius he called and showed A♥K♥. The K♦4♦8♣ flop was basically game over for Kuo. The 8♥ turn left her drawing dead and the 9♣ completed the board. --NW

4:12:pm: Mass regicideLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

It's a nasty day to be a king. We have seen four of them dethroned previously two minutes. It all started when Fady Kamar got his pair of kings all in against Olli Autiö's flopped set of sixes. Kamar survived but ended up with not up to 200,000 chips, far not up to average. Autiö moved as much as 450,000.

A minute later, Pavlos Xanthopoulos saw the similar fate after his kings paid off A♦5♦ on all three streets after two other fives flopped. Xanthopoulos didn't survive and is in line to receives a commission. -- BW

4:11pm: Queens help LuisLevel 17 - 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

It was a tense scene at the river with greater than 100,000 within the middle and the board reading 4♠4♦6♦4♥5♠. Van Hiep Tran had fired 50,000, then Damien Luis raised to 175,000 to force Tran right into a deep tour of the figurative tank.

Up Tran came with a call, and when Luis instantly tabled his Q♠Q♥, Tran mucked his hand.

Luis is as much as 680,000 now, having nudged sooner than Tran within the counts as he has 640,000. --MH

4:10:pm: Two bust-outs in two minutesLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Aki Virtanen has fallen by the hands of Adem Marjanovic. It was the 4♥4♦ against the Q♣J♣ and the 3♠9♠T♥8♠3♥ run-out gave Marjanovic a straight to eliminate the Finn. Marjanovic now has 360,000.

Meanwhile, over at Govert Metaal's table things didn't look good for the Dutchman. He was all-in against Abbas Moradi with pocket sixes and was up against pocket nines. The 7♦8♣5♦ flop was certainly interesting. Neither player desired to hit a set, that's needless to say. The 2♥ turn was a brick, and the 7♣ river changed nothing either. Metaal is outta here. --JS

4:05pm: Von Oort outLevel 17 - 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Shortly after the beginning of the level, Paul von Oort was all-in from the hijack seat for his last 50,000 or so, then Eugene Katchalov pushed his short stack in over that from the following seat over. Sam Grafton folded at the button as did the blinds, and the pair tabled their hands.

Von Oort: A♣9♠Katchalov: A♠A♥

When Von Oort immediately stood up the table reacted, and when the flop came Q♦K♠9♥ to present him a glimmer of hope they continued to chuckle. The turn was the 7♥ and river the 2♥, however, and von Oort is out.

Katchalov needed that one, though he's still at the short side with 135,000. --MH

4:03:pm: The collection of the beast doubles Chebli ChebliLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Artur Karamuca opened to 14,000 before the fantastically-named Lebanese player Chebli Chebli moved all-in for 71,000. It folded back to Karamuca and he made the decision with the A♠9♦, which was up against Chebli's 6♥6♠. That pair would become 666 at the 7♥2♥6♦ flop, and the set of sixes were the most efficient hand right until the tip. Karamuca had 360,000 left after that hit. --JS

4pm: Andrew and Andrey bustLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

It's now three EPT main event cashes at the spin for Andrew Abernethy but his run has come to an result in 168th place. He shoved from the button for 29,000 with Q♥3♥ and got a decision from Jean-Jacques Zeitoun who had K♣J♦. A J♣9♥2♠9♠J♠ run out wasn't what Abernethy was in search of but he adds €9,260 to the €10,270 he picked up in Dublin and the €9,530 he won in Monaco.

One table over Andrey Volkov was all-in with A♥3♦ and up against Ibrahim Ghassan's pocket jacks. A 6♠K♠8♥J♣T♦ board improved Ghassan to a suite and he knocked out Volkov. --NW

3:55pm: Koon K.O.s KovalskiLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

After an early-position raise to 12,000, Jason Koon three-bet to 31,000. But that wasn't the tip of the action. Fabiano Kovalski, one seat further around, shoved for 138,000 and only Koon called.

It was a straight race. Koon had T♦T♥ and Kovalski A♦K♠. This time the over-cards couldn't catch on a J♥5♠2♠J♣5♥ board, which sent Kovalski out and sent Koon as much as 604,000. -- HS

3:50pm: Level upLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

The pink chips, worth 500 apiece, aren't any more. That implies the ante is now as much as 1,000 as they go into Level 17. -- HS

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

17	3,000	6,000	1,000

3:35pm: It's break time mostly Event

3:30pm: Betting BaumannLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

On the last hand before Table 23 broke, Gaelle Baumann took a couple of chips from Shivan Abdine before the Australian carried them off to his new seating assignment. It went like this:

Baumann opened from the cutoff to 12,000 and Abdine three-bet from the small blind, making it 38,500 to play. Baumann called and the took the Q♠7♣T♦ at the flop. Abdine checked, but Baumann fired 28,500 and Abdine called.

The 3♠ came at the turn and Abdine checked again. But he couldn't match Baumann's bet of 46,000. Baumann racked 320,000 to take elsewhere. -- HS

3:25pm: Defining new poker termsLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

I'm still undecided if there's an official name for this play, but we're seeing it much more at the European Poker Tour. Basically, it's when a player calls a raise in position, making him or herself liable to a squeeze, but then plays back aggressively once the squeeze was made. A squeeze back, perhaps?

Here's a textbook example. Fady Kamar opened to 12,000 from mid-position and Olli Autiö called at the button. Georgios Zisimopoulos was within the small blind, one seat to Autiö's left, and Zisimopoulos had a sprawling stack. It's probably about time to coin "sprawling stack" as a poker term too. This can be a stack that may be huge, but comprises vast collection of of small-denomination chips. It will possibly even be a large" stack" within the traditional sense (ie, worth so much) but it's most notable for its physical size.

Anyhow, a sprawling stack can often indicate someone who's very active, picking up a large number of blinds and antes, and so perhaps Autiö knew that the danger of a Zisimopoulos three-bet squeeze was high. So it proved because Zisimopoulos made it 45,000 to play and Kamar folded quickly.

Autiö will have been expecting all of this because he now four-bet shoved, for approximately 155,000. It put Zisimopoulos into the tank for long enough for the clock to tick right down to the tip of the level, but eventually he passed.

And so the squeeze back punished the sprawling stack. It will catch on*.

*It won't. -- HS

3:20pm: He really loves BarcelonaLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

There are some things it's possible you'll already find out about Ireland's Conor Beresford. One, he's referred to as 1 conor b 1 on PokerStars and two, he's a beast with greater than $3.2 million in online winnings.

But here's something it's possible you'll not know: this guy really loves Barcelona. Like, really.

Yesterday he was wearing an orange fedora hat emblazoned with 'I heart Barcelona'. Today he has identical hat on, but this time in white. How big is his hat collection? We'll must be patient if he gets through to Day 4 to determine. --JS

3:18:pm: "You win."Level 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

"You win," is also two of the hardest words a poker player can say at the river, especially while you can say it without even seeing your opponent's hand.

I picked up the hand at the 6♠T♣K♠ flop when Miroslav Forman had check-raised Simon Mattsson's bet. Mattsson called they usually saw the 7♣ turn.

This time Forman wasn't going to be satisfied with a check. He led for 81,000, but Mattsson didn't leave. The river brought the A♣. This time, Forman backed down and checked. Mattsson thought for a minute or so before announcing he was all-in for 136,000.

Forman considered the move and tilted his head all the way down to Mattsson's. "Are you turning king-jack or king-queen right into a bluff?"

After a little bit consideration, Forman tossed a chip in front of him. He was right to do so.

"You win," Mattson said without Forman's cards. Mattson had 7♠8♠ for the flopped flush draw and turned pair, but Forman had A♠3♠ for a similar flopped flush draw...and rivered pair.--BW

3:16pm: Plesuv knocks out SarroLevel 16 - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Alessandro Sarro open-pushed his last 60,000 or so from under the gun and his neighbor to the left Pavel Plesuv called the raise. Everyone else stepped aside, and after Sarro showed his 5♦5♥ he was disappointed to peer Plesuv table A♠A♥. Five cards later -- J♣T♥4♥J♥9♣ -- Sarro was out.

Plesuv jumps as much as almost exactly 500,000 after picking up that pot. --MH

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3:15pm: Caza leads the principle eventLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

That huge hand against Andreas Hoivold has vaulted Marco Caza into the chip lead. He's the primary player to acquire greater than one million chips broadly speaking event. You will discover selected chip counts here.

Name Country Chips

Marco Caza	Canada	1,200,000
Anthony Chimkovitch	Belgium	930,000
Nicolas Chouity	Lebanon	820,000
Uri Reichenstein	Germany	790,000
Sam Grafton	UK	730,000

3:13pm: A COUPLE of pairsLevel 16 - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

After a preflop open, Andrea Cortellazzi reraised then Miguel Mora Hernandez four-bet all-in for his last 124,500. It folded back around with the preflop raiser stepping aside, and Cortellazzi needed to take a little while to think things through before calling the all-in.

Cortellazzi then showed J♦J♥, well sooner than the 8♣8♥ of Hernandez, and after the T♠K♥9♣2♥6♥ runout Hernandez was knocked out.

The pair then discussed their pocket pairs, with Cortellazzi explaining how the decision wasn't exactly automatic, and Hernandez didn't disagree.

Cortellazzi has 325,000 now. --MH

3:05pm: Big pot for Grafton eliminates KhatriLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

It was hard to seek out a great spot to face for this one because the EPT Live cameras were rolling, but after muscling my option to the table I DISCOVERED Sam Grafton with a tricky decision. He'd made it 78,000 pre-flop after a betting war with Aharub Khatri and the 2 saw a loaded board of the K♦T♥J♥. Khatri then shoved for 180,000 total and action was on Grafton, who stood as much as help the thinking process.

Eventually he announced a decision and flipped over the Q♦Q♥, which on the time was trailing Khatri's A♦K♥. The 9♦ hit the turn though, giving Grafton a straight, and the T♦ river changed nothing. Khatri was busto.

"Unlucky sir," Grafton told him. "It was simply too big a pot."

Indeed it was - Grafton is as much as 730,000 now. --JS

3:03pm: Khatri scratches RotondoLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Aharub Khatri is now out--details coming from Jack Stanton soon--but pretty soon before he was himself eliminated, he knocked out Cristian Rotondo. Rotondo open-shoved for 64,500 with 9♣9♠ and Khatri called together with his A♣K♣. The flop was safe. It came 2♥4♥8♠ however the turn of A♠ was decisive. The river was blank. That put Khatri as much as 270,000 and sent Rotondo out. -- HS

3pm: Second is the primary loserLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

No one remembers the player who came second, right? Well, it isn't easy, but by my reckoning (and likewise to twelve former champions) there have been also a minimum of four runners up in today's starting field. They're Gleb Tremzin, Kimmo Kurko, Ilari Sahamies and Eugene Katchalov. Marco Neumann and Jimmy Guerrero have finished third at the EPT. Stick around for more useless trivia. - HS

2:55pm: Caza and Hoivold clash for 1.2 millionLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Marco Caza has just won what should be the largest pot of the tournament so far, felting Andreas Hoivold and hitting the 1.2 million mark.

Robin Scherr took a breather from practising penalty kicks over on the German wing of PokerStars Blog to offer us the update. It went like this.

Hoivold and Caza were on the flop. The 3 cards out were J♣3♦Q♦. Caza bet 15,000, Hoivold raised to 45,000, Caza three-bet to 105,000 and Hoivold five-bet shoved for 500,000+. Caza called.

Caza's Q♠J♠ flopped top two. Hoivold's K♦J♦ was middle pair, with a large draw. However the 2♣ was a blank and the J♥ river only improved Caza's hand. That's another champion down as Caza hits a brand new tournament high. -- HS

2:54pm: One pair, two pair, all-in, callLevel 16 - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

On a 4♠5♠8♦ flop, the similarly-stacked Dimitrios Farmakoulis and Robert Lipkin got their chips in with Farmakoulis having one pair with A♦8♣ and Lipkin proving to have two with 5♦4♣.

Farmakoulis got up from his chair because the 3♥ turn and J♣ river were delivered, and appeared resigned to having to leave. However a count showed he still had about 25,000 left behind, and he sat down again. Lipkin, meanwhile, jumps as much as 260,000. --MH

2:50:pm: No two-time EPT championship for DanchevLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

The race to become the second one (and perhaps last) two-time EPT champion won't include one-time PCA winner Dimitar Danchev. All-in pre-flop with pocket fives versus Daniel Peche's pocket kings, Danchev could only stand and walk to the payout table after Peche flopped a collection and turned an unbeatable boat. --BW

Dimitar Danchev: Busto

2:48pm: Heavy Metaal: three way all-inLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Govert Metaal moved all-in under the gun again and this time he wasn't getting the similar level of respect. Andreas Chalkiadakis jammed excessive of the 41,000 bet for his 240,000 stack, only to peer Lars Gabrielsson move all-in too for 127,000. It was almost a four way all-in as Sergii Zubariev had a difficult decision from the large blind, but finally he thought best of it and let it go.

Metaal: A♥7♥Chalkiadakis: A♣K♠Gabrielsson: A♠A♦

Things looked great for Sweden's Gabrielsson however the Q♥4♥J♣ flop brought some problems. Metaal had picked up a flush draw, while Chalkiadakis could now win with a ten.

The turn then came the T♣, putting Greece's Chalkiadakis out in front and at the verge of eliminating two players. But wouldn't you realize it? The river was the 6♥ which gave Metaal a flush, besting the lot. The Dutchman trebled as much as around 130,000, the Swede hit the rail, and the Greek was left with 275,000. --JS

2:43pm: Papi's pushes, picks up potLevel 16 - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

We had just seen Adam Jaguscik earn a small double-up with 8♥8♣ through Yordan Mihaylov Petrov's K♠T♦, getting it in on a 5♥K♥9♦ flop then spiking an eight at the turn to survive.

On the following hand Jaguscik was all-in again together with his short stack of 24,500 and it folded around to Yigal Papi who called in late position. Acting after Papi was Aki Vertanen, and he reraised to 78,000. When the action got back to Papi he called, then after the 4♣J♠4♠ flop Papi promptly announced he was all-in.

Virtanen tanked for 2 minutes, eyeing the 150,000 or so he had behind, rather a lot lower than what Papi had pushed. Finally Virtanen folded, and Papi turned over K♥9♥ to turn he'd made a bold flop bet. Jaguscik showed his Q♥T♦, and after the 2♦ and 7♦ completed the board, Jaguscik was eliminated and Papi claimed the pot.

Papi is up over 340,000 now, while Virtanen preserves his almost 150,000. --MH

2:40pm: Chimkovitch makes monkeys of them allLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

The million-chip barrier was broached, and it is the young Belgian Anthony Chimkovitch who's first into seven figures. He started with only 144,000 today but says he "made some hands and won some flips" to get to that dominant position.

Anthony Chimkovitch: Million

Most recently he sent Thomas Eychenne in a single of these flips. His pocket jacks were up against Eychenne's K♦Q♥ and Chimkovitch stayed best, despite a possible-straight scare, through a board of of T♠J♠3♠3♦8♥.

That sent Eychenne out and pushed Chimkovitch ever upward. -- HS

2:36:pm: Yung Hwang scores timely doubleLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Below the 100,000 mark, Yung Hwang managed to make his pocket eights trip up and hold against Alexey Romanov's K♥Q♦. Hwang now has a bit of more space to respire. .--BW

2:32:pm: Top 200Level 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

There are actually 200 of the unique 1,785 players remaining ordinarily Event. -- SB

2:31:pm: Alexandros Vlachakis hits the railLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

We've reached the purpose within the tourney where the fast stacks must double up or go home. For Alexandros Vlachakis, it turned out to be the latter after he shoved his short stack with K♣8♥ and ended up against Van Hiep Tran's pocket threes. The treys held, and Vlachakis was gone.--BW

2:29pm: None for NunoLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Nuno Ascensao has just been eliminated by Taichi Yoneya. The money went in at the J♠T♥2♦ flop, Ascensao with K♣Q♦ and Yoneya with the A♥A♠, however the open-ended straight couldn't meet up with the overpair. --JS

2:27pm: Everyone respects Govert MetaalLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

There are various things to respect about Govert Metaal. He sits at number six within the Netherlands' all-time money list, as an example. He made back-to-back final tables in PCA $25k high rollers. He has greater than $2.2 million in live earnings. So when he shoves from under the gun for just 42,000, you better respect that too.

Erik Friberg certainly did. "THIS CAN BE A 'respect' laydown," he told Metaal. "Big fold."

Prior to that, Andreas Chalkiadakis had also considered calling but opted to put it down. When everyone had thrown their hand away, Metaal showed the A♠J♦ and Chalkiadakis gave himself a pat at the back for a fair fold. --JS

2:24pm: Heart of PalmaLevel 16 - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Nicholas Palma just enjoyed a much-needed double, although he's still short with with regards to 100,000.

All-in with J♣J♦ versus Alexandros Vlachakis's A♥T♦, the board ran out K♥9♥9♠, then T♥, then 6♦.

"I thought that was a heart," said a wide-eyed Palma of the river diamond while holding a hand as much as his own.

Vlachakis slips to only 28,000. --MH

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2:22pm: Firsau out, Kornuth collectsLevel 16 - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Chance Kornuth opened for 12,500 from the cutoff and Kevin Andriammahefa called from the button. Vasili Firsau then called all-in for exactly 1,000, all he had left after posting the ante and small blind.

As the massive blind considered what to do, Firsau started to check his phone however the dealer reminded him to not achieve this while in a hand. He nodded quickly, saying "I'm already..." and pointing toward the exit as he did.

The big blind folded, and the dealer spread the 3♠T♣T♥ flop. Kornuth check-called a big gamble of 10,000 from Andriammahefa, then both checked the 5♠ turn. The river brought the 8♥ and another check from Kornuth, and when Andriammahefa bet 31,000, Kornuth called without much hesitation.

Andriammahefa showed 7♥7♣, but Kornuth had T♦9♦ for trip tens. Firsau showed his Q♣J♥ and indeed headed toward the exit.

Kornuth has about 270,000 now, just behind the 280,000 or so Andriammahefa has. --MH

2:20pm: I ♥ BarcelonaLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

There's always one player who shows as much as the EPT Barcelona Main Event wearing a hat they bought from one of the most numerous hat-sellers that peddle their wares along the promenade. Actually, there's often greater than one, and infrequently they go the entire strategy to the overall table.

This week's more prominent hatstand is Conor Beresford, a contemporary SCOOP winner, and presently the #1 ranked online player within the Uk. But Beresford, who plays on PokerStars as "1 conor b 1", is taking a break from the web grind to construct a stack here within the EPT Main Event. And he's just added a good chunk to to it, knocking out Rafael Rojano Ramos along the way.

It wasn't an exciting hand. Beresford had A♠J♥ and it had Ramos's A♥Q♥ beat by the point the board had run 2♣J♦T♣6♥T♦. They were definitely all-in by the point the turn was out, and it should has been pre-flop even.

That's mere details though. The important thing point is that Beresford has 360,000 chips now and a hat that declares that he loves Barcelona. That can become increasingly true today. -- HS

2:16:pm: Davidi Kitai eliminatedLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

With only 35,000 left in his stack, Davidi Kitai shoved all-in. Erik Friberg considered his big blind hand for a minute or so before finally deciding to gamble with a queen and jack. He hit his queen at the flop, and Kitai couldn't get back from behind.--BW

2:13:pm: Adammo doubles through NagaoLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

We came up at the end of this one and didn't see when the cash went in, but it surely changed into a large pot worth greater than 450,000 for Michael Adammo who doubled through Daniel Nagao with K♣Q♥ vs Nagao's A♣J♣ on a 5♠8♦Q♦3♦6♦ board. --BW

2:12pm: Veiga doubles through FreundLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Diogo Veiga has just secured a double up after his pocket tens held as much as beat Andreas Freund's A♥8♣. He's as much as 125,000 now. --JS

2:10:pm: Yastreb takes one from KornuthLevel 16 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Volodymyr Yastreb was short stacked, but not quite in push-fold mode just yet. He decided to limp in mid-position, and the small blind and massive blind - Chance Kornuth - came along too. They saw a Q♣3♥7♣ flop and it checked to Kornuth who led out for 10,000. Yastreb called.

The K♥ turn didn't inspire any more action as both checked, but Kornuth would then lead out for 20,000 at the 8♣ turn, which put three clubs on board. Yastreb counted out the chips he had behind (65,500), but then removed a couple of so there has been just 56,000 in his hand. As opposed to moving all-in he opted to carry directly to the 9,500 and put the remainder within the middle, which was enough to get Kornuth to make a snappy fold. --JS

2:03pm: Makelcovs, Cheng outLevel 16 - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

The first hand of Level 16 was the last one for 2 players -- Andrejs Maklecovs (who finished 224th) and Leo Yan Ho Gheng (223rd) -- either one of whom went out on preflop all-ins at neighboring tables.

Maklecovs had A♠K♠ and was in danger versus Sam Mao and his Q♥Q♣. A flop of 3♥K♥A♥ gave Mao two pair and had Maklecovs calling for a heart, however the 6♦ turn and 8♣ river spelled the top for him.

Meanwhile Cheng was rather less well-armed for his all-in with T♦9♠ against Fedor Truntsev's A♣9♥. The 9♣J♠5♠5♥A♦ runout didn't work for Cheng, and he joined Maklecovs making the walk to the cashier's table at the other side of the room. - MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

16	2,500	5,000	500

1:39pm: Break

Time for the primary 20-minute break of the day.

1:38pm: Long tank, huge foldLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Austria's Adem Marjanovic had his head in his hands. "Woowwwwwww," he said as he sighed. After building a pot with Bulgaria's Yordan Petrov, the 2 had reached the river and the board showed the A♦7♥T♣J♥A♠. Petrov bet, Marjanovic raised to 74,500, and Petrov put him all-in.

A little while into his thinking the 2 began speaking to one another. "I DON'T BELIEVE you may have straight," he said to Petrov, who then asked if he had one. "If I had straight I fold already," Marjanovic replied.A short while later and he was apologising to the table for taking so long, Petrov smiling all of the while. The clock was called and when it set out to around 10 seconds Marjanovic folded face up: the A♣7♠.

He'd thrown away a whole house, and a few of the tablemates - including Leo Margets - looked a bit of stunned. Petrov wasn't showing, despite Marjanovic's pleas.

Petrov is as much as 500,000 now, while Marjanovic drops to 200,000. You'll rest assured that Marjanovic won't be resting assured any time soon way to this hand. --JS

Adem Marjanovic

1:37pm: Verheyen plays it by the book, bustsLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The conventional wisdom with a brief stack is, "Any ace or any pair." But I WOULD NOT attempt to tell Tim Verheyen that nowadays. He just found either one of those things, in consecutive hands, and is now out.

He was actually the dominant stack at the first of this two-hand disaster. He found 4♥4♣ and got it in against the 40,000-ish stack of Benjamin Saada. But Saada had 8♥8♣ and the board of 2♣T♣Q♠J♦2♦ meant Saada doubled up. Verheyen was left with 23,000.

Those chips were quickly within the middle. Verheyen looked down at A♣4♣ and shoved, but Steffen Sondtheimer, within the small blind, had K♣K♥ and called. (Sondtheimer could have been hoping Bryn Kenney, within the big blind, had something to return along side too. But he passed.)

This board was blank in addition to Sondtheimer's kings stayed best. That is the last chapter in Tim Verheyen's tournament narrative. -- HS

1:36pm: Three men enter, one man leaveLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

A three way all in, details of that have been lost a bit of within the crowds. But essentially there has been a board of 9♥Q♥3♥Q♦3♣ and two players standing up. They were Bradley Myers and Elliot Smith. There has been also one player sitting down. This was Luis Fernandez. He'd just taken all of their chips.

In all the melee Fernandez had held A♠9♦ against pocket eights (Myers) and ace-king (Smith). The nine had proven crucial. Fernandez now as much as 400,000. - SB

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1:35pm: Reichenstein leadsLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The cream is rising. Uri Reichenstein leads with an incredible stack of 850,000 however the chasing pack includes some stellar names as Sam Chartier, Nicolas Chouity, Aku Joentausta and Jason Koon are all building big stacks. You'll other selected counts here.

Name Country Chips

Uri Reichenstein	Germany	850,000
Sam Chartier	Canada	575,000
Nicolas Chouity	Lebanon	575,000
Aku Joentausta	Finland	505,000
Jason Koon	USA	492,000

Uri Reichenstein

1:23pm: Chantcev says bye to BahnaLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Hani Bahna open-raised his last 39,000 from under the gun and watched it fold across the table to Sergei Chantcev in late position who called. The others folded, Bahna showed A♠T♥, and Chantcev A♥K♦.

The board came a monotonous 3♣7♥Q♥Q♣2♦, and Bahna departed. That's 285,000 for Chantcev now. --MH

1:17pm: Pre-flop intrigue results in a raceLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Sergei Chantcev made it 9,000 to play, second to behave pre-flop, and collected a direct call from Pavel Veksler, one seat to his left. It skipped one seat but then Narcis-Gabriel Nedelcu, within the cutoff, desired to play for more. He raised to 38,000.

All of a sudden--or, actually, all of a three-minute-in-the-tank-combined--this one was growing intriguing. Chantcev called but then Veksler moved all in, for a stack of about 200,000. Nedelcu had taken a protracted while about his three-bet, but called immediately after Veksler's shove. Chantcev folded.

So two of them were left. Veksler had J♠J♦ and was racing Nedelcu's A♣K♦. The flop favoured the over-cards. It came 7♥K♠Q♠. But Veksler picked up some outs at the T♣ turn. But the Q♣ at the river was a blank and Nedelcu doubled. -- HS

1:16pm: Felipe Ramos says goodbyeLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

1:15pm: Koivisto outLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Another player departs the principle Event. Henri Koivisto shoved for 55,000 with A♦T♦ and got a decision from Miguel Mora with 4♠4♦.

The flop came 6♠T♠J♠ giving Koivisto a pair, however it was the turn card 7♠ which made everyone say "wow", giving Mora the flush. The 2♠ river card changed nothing. - SB

1:12pm: Go fetch the railLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

What happens if you find yourself all-in and at risk, but you do not have a rail of friends and family around to cheer you on? Why you simply get up, leave the table, and go fetch one yourself of course.

Nandor Solyom just demonstrated this. He jammed for his last 64,500 only to look the player to his left, Simon Mattsson, move all-in excessive. At this point, Solyom leaped out his chair and ran over to get his fellow Romanian Hila Dan, also playing on this event. Dan left his own table and legged it over to peer Solyom show J♣J♥ up against Mattsson's A♠K♠.

The 4♣4♥6♣ kept the rail (i.e. Dan) happy, as did the 7♠ turn. Finally the 7♥ river secured Solyom the double up and two celebrated, before Dan noticed a brand new hand was about to start at his own table and sprinted back. Mattsson is left with 90,000. --JS

1:11pm: Big stack Kabrhel dominatingLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

It's difficult playing poker against Martin Kabrhel. He's deliberate about his play, to the purpose of being slightly ponderous sometimes, and he's also always keen to cast his gaze around at opponents' stacks, in order that they know they're always under threat. He's also wildly unpredictable on the table, making huge and risky plays whenever it takes his fancy. And today it is all worse because he's one of the vital tournament big stacks.

Martin Kabrhel

Three hands in question:

Action folded to Kabrhel within the cutoff and he began his scan of the stacks behind him. When he gaze landed on Andrej Punka's short stack, Punka looked disgusted at Kabrhel's request that he lift his hands. "Twenty blinds," he said, as though it really must be clear. Kabrhel raised to 9,000 and everybody else folded.

On the following hand, Didier Mazairac opened from early position, making it 11,000 to play, and when it was Kabrhel's turn to act, he again began scanning the similar stacks behind him that he had scanned literally seconds before. He then raised to 28,000.

Only Mazairac called and the 2 saw a flop of Q♠4♣9♥. Mazairac checked, Kabrhel bet 25,000 and took it down. (IT IS GOING TO be noted, Mazairac also has a stack of 300,000+, so this might have gotten ugly.)

Kabrhel actually folded the following hand, but still had a cameo on the very end. Mazairac and the short-stacked Abel Durban got it all-in pre-flop, with Durban in danger and sitting with A♦Q♦. He was in a place of bother against Mazairac's A♠K♠.

However Durban soon went into the lead when the flop came 8♦Q♠5♠ and Durban clearly thought that was still so even if the board was completed. He was sitting and looking ahead to his stack to matter and doubled. The issue was that he hadn't acknowledged that the 9♠ turn and the 8♣ river had made Mazairac a flush.

"Seat open!" the dealer said and the floor-man arrived to select up Durban's media ID and ready to escort him to the payouts cage. Durban still hadn't realised what had happened. "He has a flush," the dealer explained and Durban, embarrassed and disappointed in equal measure, soon realised the mistake of his ways. He apologised to the table for delaying and got as much as leave, picking up what he thought was his media card.

It wasn't his media card. It was Kabrhel's. And despite the ignominy of elimination compounded by the humiliation of not correctly reading a board, Kabrhel didn't let him off this latest tiny etiquette blunder. He chuckled at Durban as he retrieved the rogue card and the Spanish qualifier headed off to seek out a corner to cry in. -- HS

1:09pm: The sound of victoryLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)Florian Bordet just allowed himself a brief "woo-hoo" after doubling up with pocket fours against the pocket tens of Michal Rudnik. He moved as much as 100,000 after the board was dealt 5♥2♥4♠2♣K♠. Woo-hoo indeed. - SB

1:06pm: Terzoudis zooming upwardsLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Evangelos Terzoudis is out, his A♦Q♠ failing improve following a preflop all-in versus Andreas Freund's J♥J♠ followed by an eight-high board -- 6♠8♦8♣2♥4♦.

"The rich get richer," said Terrence Ryan with a smile. Indeed, Terzoudis is now up around 480,000, having gotten off to a fair start in this Day 3. --MH

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1:02pm: Dara O'Kearney eliminatedLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

12:55pm: Firsau felts McDonaldLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Vasili Firsau opened for 10,000 from middle position and it folded around to Mike McDonald within the big blind who called, leaving himself just below 50,000 behind. The flop came A♣2♠9♣, and McDonald checked-called Firsau's continuation bet of 10,000, then both checked the 5♦ turn.

The river brought the 3♦, and when McDonald checked again, Firsau pushed all-in, forcing Tîmex into the tank. Finally McDonald emerged to name together with his last chips, showing K♦9♦ for a couple of nines. That was beaten by Firsau's A♥K♠, however, and EPT4 Dortmund champ McDonald is out.

Firsau is up around 280,000 at the present time. --MH

12:50pm: A proposal he couldn't refuseLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Steven Watts is out. The Englishman had a tricky day yesterday and came back for Day 3 with 36,500. He was capable of move all-in with just a little greater than that, but his A♥J♣ was no good against the pocket nines of Andreas Chalkiadis of Greece, who has a tattoo of Marlon Brando because the Godfather on his right bicep. - SB

12:47pm: Early eliminationsLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Felipe Ramos and Mike McDonald were both some of the early departures on Day 3. --BW

12:43pm: Roovers runs over NeumannLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Marko Neumann was all-in before the flop from the hijack together with his short stack versus two opponents, Mark Roovers (cutoff) and Alessandro Borsa (button), watching the pair check both the J♠K♦6♥ flop. With the 7♦ turn Roovers bet 45,000, chasing Borsa, then opened K♣Q♥ for prime pair while Neumann showed A♣Q♠.

The river was the 8♥, and Neumann is out. Roovers is as much as 295,000 now, with reference to the similar stack Borsa is playing to boot. --MH

12:42pm: Gruissem dodges danger, becomes the dangerLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

If you watch the similar players long enough, you get a type of feel for his or her intentions. You do not necessarily get good reads at the strength or otherwise in their hands, but you'll definitely detect a big gamble or a fold coming.

Wandering towards Philipp Gruissem's table a moment ago, it was abundantly clear he was about to commit some chips to the pot. This was doubly clear when a waitress arrived alongside him with a pint of carbonated, clear liquid and a smaller cup of another liquid, plus a pot of honey. I've no idea what this cocktail is, but have seen some of the high rollers with something similar this week, so can only guess that it is a new concoction infused with ambrosia.

Gruissem didn't register the coming of his elixir and instead flicked 25,000 chips out of his stack, a raise of Gleb Tremzin's 10,000 open from under the gun. (Gruissem was UTG+1.) Action folded back to Tremzin, who glanced at stacks. He had greater than 400,000; Gruissem about 130,000. Tremzin moved all in.

Gruissem instantly called, somehow managing to pay the waitress all on the same time.

There was a reason Gruissem was so confident. He exposed A♦A♥. Tremzin was in trouble together with his 9♥9♠.

The board ran T♥8♠5♥4♦T♣ and Gruissem doubled. He's going to now be the risk. -- HS

12:31pm: Gruissem waves goodbyeLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Walking past Philipp Gruissem's table, I saw him waving within the face of Gleb Tremzin, the person in seat one. Gruissem was in seat two and a roughly-80,000 pot had built between the two.

The cause of the wave? Tremzin had made a virtually pot-sized bet at the river of the 7♣3♠7♥8♠Q♠ board. Gruissem hoped to pick out up some more or less read, but after all he folded and waved goodbye to a bit of his chips. --JS

12:30pm: Ryan still clinging onLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Yesterday we watched Terrence Ryan lose a hand with kings into aces, but take the beat as gracefully as you need to ever hope. He returned today with 72,500 chips, but was keen to turn that he wasn't simply going to chill and check out to maintain them. He got them in at the first actual hand.

Andreas Freund opened from the hijack, making it 8,500, and action folded around to Ryan within the small blind. He called and Leo Yan Ho Cheng, one seat along, also took the king-high flop.

Both blinds checked, persuading Freund to continue. He bet 13,500. Ryan moved all in pretty quickly, and both opponents folded. It's still a ways to a chip-leading stack for Ryan, and he's in dangerous company with Alex Ward and Adam Owen a number of the players at his table. But it is a start. -- HS

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12:29pm: The issue with acesLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

When you locate aces on day 3 of an EPT Main Event, it's always a reason to celebrate, no less than quietly, to yourself, while looking nonchalant. But Andreas Hoivold knew they were sometimes just a mixed blessing.

When Alessio Di Cesare opened for 8,000, and Marcos Paton Bao moved all-in for 91,800, Hoivold, looking down at aces, had a horny uncomplicated decision to make. He moved all-in.

But if the plan were to isolate together with his stack of nearly greater than 350K it didn't work. Bao called just as fast. Seems all of them had reason to get their chips in.

Hoivold: A♥A♣Di Ceseare: K♠K♣Bao: Q♣Q♥

Hoivold's hunch though proved correct. The king was the primary card at the board: K♥9♥3♠6♣4♣

There was a bang, someone slapping their hand at the table. It just wasn't clear who caused it - Di Cesare who tripled as much as 255,000 or Bao, who now out was gathering his things. Only Hoivold, still on 280,000, remained unaffected.

"I've had aces four times this tournament," he said. "I've lost with three of them." -- SB

12:18pm: River saves van ZadelhoffLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Steven van Zadelhoff started the day as some of the shortest stacks some of the 294 returning players. He folded the primary few hands of Level 15, then open-raised his last 22,000 and saw both Ognyan Dimov (cutoff) and Adrien Delmas (button) call.

His two opponents then checked down the A♣8♥5♣ flop, 3♣ turn, and 9♥ river, and primary Dimov showed 4♥4♠ then Delmas K♥Q♦.

With a smile the bearded van Zadelhoff tabled his cards right next to that fifth-street nine, showing his 9♠7♠. With the most efficient pair he triples up (plus some blinds and antes) to 76,000 and gets to maintain his seat. --MH

12:16pm: Great start for ChartierLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Sam Chartier got very lucky to double up yesterday when he hit a two-outer at the river. The only consolation to the fellow who he beat is that a minimum of he's put those chips to good use.

When I arrived at his table, Chartier had made a gamble of 71,000 at the river of a K♥7♠5♠J♥2♥ board when it checked to him. Zoltan Ban had a choice to make, and after a few minutes he made the call, just for the French-Canadian to turn him the J♠7♦ for 2 pair. Ban mucked and Chartier increased to 335,000.

Ban can be eliminated within the very next hand, having dropped to 38,000. He was all-in pre-flop with the K♥T♠ against Dimitar Danchev's A♣J♠, and the Q♠J♦6♣ flop brought a sweat. His up-and-down straight couldn't get there though, and he was off to receives a commission. --JS

12:11pm: Hope for the bestLevel 15 - 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Action folded around to Sam Greenwood at the button, and after checking his cards and counting out his stack, he began looking around to check out and see the closest tournament clock.

"Does anyone known when the following pay jump is?" he asked. The closest clock was a little bit distant to read the payouts listed at the left, so no person had a ready answer.

"Just put your stack within the middle and hope for the best," said a tablemate, and Greenwood chuckled as he did just that. The others folded, and he claimed the small pot.

"Thank you," said Greenwood, acknowledging the advice.

Another asked him about his stack -- while he was listed at 21,000 to start the day, he actually had 71,000 because the number on his bag was misread. That's about what Greenwood has at the moment after winning the blinds and antes. --MH

12:05pm: Kaiser doubles on first handLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

It was the primary hand of the day, on Table 1, and the player in Seat 1 was first to behave. That is what happens when the random button draw lands it in Seat 6.

That player also just happened to be Ronny Kaiser, the previous EPT Tallinn champion, who's on the whole now seen on the high-stakes cash tables as "1-ronnyr3".

Kaiser is as Kaiser does and he raised on the very earliest opportunity. He made it 8,000 to play. Action folded the entire way round to Jose Quintas within the big blind and he called.

Then all of it kicked off. The flop fell 4♦3♦7♦ and Quintas checked. Kaiser, from a stack of about 91,000, bet 9,000 and Quintas pretty quickly check-raised, making it 26,000.

Kaiser took a bit of longer over his decision. He had his hood held over his mouth as he thought. Then he said, "All-in", and Quintas called almost immediately.

Kaiser flipped over Q♦T♦ and had flopped a flush. Quintas was distraught as he exposed his A♥A♣ and was drawing very thin already. The 3♥ turn and the 2♠ river didn't help Quintas and Kaiser allowed himself a devilish chuckle.

Kaiser, one in all 12 former champions within the starting field today, is now motoring with about 200,000. Quintas has dipped below 100,000. Aces first hand? What are you able to do? -- HS

11:59am: Watch and read!

As we prepare to start out up, we must always make you aware the feature table goes to be amazing, with Felipe Ramos, Jason Mercier, and Jason Koon. You'll click the EPT Live link up there to look at. As for the remainder of the action, we'll have it here until we finish tonight around 9pm local time. --BW

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11am: Morning all, now Day 3

Welcome back to Casino Barcelona everybody, where the point of interest of just about everyone within the room is again the €5,300 Main Event. If you are one of the vital 294 players still involved, I expect you are looking to determine where you're sitting. That'll be at the seat-draw page.

Nicolas Chouity is out in front. The entire chip-counts are at the chip-count page, and they're going to be updated regularly inside the day.

By my reckoning, Chouity is certainly one of 12 former EPT champions still within the tournament (the others are Andreas Hoivold, Jake Cody, Jason Mercier, Harrison Gimbel, Kent Lunkmark, Michael Eiler, Ognyan Dimov, Mike McDonald, Ronny Kaiser, Dimitar Danchev and Davidi Kitai) and there are scores of ultimate tables between the rest players too. That is still an overly high-quality field.

Today we play five 90-minute levels and the sphere might be in double figures by you then. can watch feature table action on EPT Live and stick around here for all of the rest.

Former champions Andreas Hoivold and Kent Lundmark

Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for EPT13 Barcelona and the remainder of the season.

Also all of the schedule information is at the EPT App, that is available on both Android or IOS.

PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT13 Barcelona Main Event: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris, Jack Stanton, Howard Swains, Brad Willis and Nick Wright. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog

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