Herzlichen Wilkommen zurück aus Barcelona zur EPT! In diesem Artikel findet ihr über den Tag verteilt Updates zum Mainevent und natürlich lassen wir die Sideevents auch nicht aus den Augen. Auf dem Programm heute das 10k Highroller, ein 1k NLHE, das 3k Heads Up Finale mit Julian Stuer und das Ladies Event. Viel Spass beim railen wünscht euch das Hochgepokert und PokerToday Team.
20:20 – Final Table Profile
Hier noch die genauen Chipcounts und offiziellen Spielerprofile vom Final Table der EPT Barcelona Season Acht. Wir melden uns morgen wieder ab 12 Uhr zum Final Table. Dann erfahrt ihr auch wer es an den Final Table vom Highroller Event geschafft hat. Bis morgen!
Seat 1. Saar Wilf, 36, Tel Aviv, Israel – 4,555,000 chips
Technology entrepreneur Saar Wilf may class himself as a recreational player but that certainly doesn’t make him a fish. The Israeli has amassed $288,859 in live tournament winning which is pretty impressive for someone that claims: “I just play the big tournaments, the ones in places that I feel like visiting. I don’t play much home.” It certainly doesn’t show.
Wilf finished 32nd at EPT Berlin last year for €17,500, a tournament that we look back at as one of the toughest of last season and his performance here so far has been more than commendable. Perhaps it’s the freedom with which the self-made man plays, he does say that it would be “fun” to win but that he’s unlikely to feel the pressure of the money jumps.
He currently rates Tomeu Gomila as the biggest challenge to his title ambitions: “He’s the only one that covers me. He’s very active and I’m sure we’ll get in some messy situations tomorrow. I could bust to him.” Wilf may be honest in his assessment but given that he has direct position on Gomila it may be the Spaniard that has more to fear.
Seat 2. Martin Schleich, 29, Munich, Germany – PokerStars player – 2,100,000
Schleich started playing poker online with No Limit cash games in 2006 and later decided to play more tournament poker, both live and online. He works
part-time in customer service but his poker expertise is demonstrated by the fact that, in cash games, he reached the highest ranking achievable in a big German online poker school. He has already played a couple of EPTs and cashed once in the EPT5 San Remo Main Event – 81st for €9,200. He also cashed in two side events at the PCA in January.
Seat 3. Juan Manuel „Pibe“ Perez, 32, Lugo, Spain – 1,090,000
Originally from Buenos Aires, José Manuel „Pibe“ Pérez has been living in Lugo, North Spain for the last 14 years. “Pibe” started playing 5-Card-Draw when he was a child. Together with his wife, Pibe owns a cafeteria in his home town but considers himself a semi-professional poker player, competing regularly on the EPT circuit and also the La Toja Poker League in Pontevedra, Galicia. His best result so far was third in an EPT Vilamoura side event last season. He also plays the Sunday Majors on PokerStars and once finished fourth in the Sunday Warm-Up as well as making two final tables in PokerStars $100 rebuy tourneys.
Seat 4. Eugene Katchalov, Ukraine – Team PokerStars Pro – 690,000
Eugene Katchalov is a player that needs little introduction, but let’s indulge him anyway; a Team PokerStars Pro with $6,489,636 in live tournament winnings, the Ukranian born player beat Daniel Negreanu heads up at this year’s PCA to win the $100,000 Super High Roller for $1,500,000, having already come second in the regular High Roller for $131,920. Following Katchalov’s bracelet win this summer, he’s on course to complete a triple crown and tomorrow may be the day he makes it: “Records do mean something in any sport. It’s certainly on my mind. It’s been a long road for me and I’m excited for it,” said Katchalov.
It may look like an uphill struggle at the moment – Katchalov comes into the final table with the least amount of chips – but it would be very hard to say that he’s not the most dangerous player at the final table, he’s certainly the most experienced: “I know mathematically I’m at a disadvantage but I’m very comfortable playing a short stack, playing 14 big blinds, so if I catch some cards or run decent tomorrow I know I can run it up,” said Katchalov.
If the Team PokerStars Pro does get an early double up the rest of the table could be in some serious trouble.
Seat 5. Isabel Baltazar, 44, Bordeaux, France – 2,270,000
Baltazar – of French and Portuguese descent – is a professional restauranteur but has always enjoyed playing cards at casinos in her free time. She took up poker five years ago and, in fact, her 19-year-old daughter is about to start a course to become a croupier. Passionate about playing live, Baltazar’s best results to date were third place in a €500 Partouche side event and sixth place in a €600 tourney in Spain. She finds it interesting that tomorrow’s final – the biggest of her career – will take place in Spain, which lies sandwiched between her two “home” countries of France and Portugal. She says her aim for the final is to last as long as possible and focus on playing her usual solid style of play.
Seat 6. Dragan “AADRAGAN” Kostic, 47, Mallorca, Spain – 2,155,000
Kostic was born in Serbia but has lived in Spain for the last 20 years. He took up poker in 2001 – the year that the euro was introduced in Spain. He said: “I remember it was that year because I was losing a lot of euros!” He actually learned Texas Hold’em at private clubs while running a restaurant in Innsbruck, Austria. Although he plays a lot of live events in Mallorca, the EPT is by far the biggest live tournament he has ever entered. The married father-of three won his seat in a live satellite on the eve of the Main Event. He said: “I’m very happy to reach the final because, at the start of Day 3, I only had 30,000. I always aimed to make it but that means not making a single error – because if you make just one mistake, you’re out!” His wife Simona is supporting him from home while looking after the couple’s youngest daughter.
Seat 7: Raul Mestre, 29, from Valencia, Spain – 3,525,000
The explosion in poker in Spain owes a lot to Raul Mestre, a former chemistry student turned high-stakes cash player, poker coach and writer. Mestre has been a key figure in developing poker in Spain – teaching people how to play and helping set up a team of professional players. This is Mestre’s second EPT final table but he’s looking forward to this one a lot more than EPT Prague in Season 5 where he came into the final as by far the shortest stack. “It was very frustrating,” he said. “I was eliminated in the second or third hand. But this time I’m in great shape. I have twice the average stack and the time to make good choices. I’m going to enjoy this final.” Although he does most of his playing – and winning – online, Mestre also won a High Roller event in Madrid two years ago and has a couple of high finishes on the WPT to his name.
Seat 8. Tomeu “Amatos” Gomila, Mallorca, Spain – 6,985,000
Local poker media consider Tomeu “Amatos” Gomila one of the most respected and trusted players in the Spanish poker community. His extensive experience in all kinds of live events, both national and international, as well as good online results have made Gomila one of the most competent all-round players in the country. Gomila was also a co-founder of PokerVD so fans have been able to see his philosophy and strategy for multimedia tournaments at first hand thanks to the hundreds of videos that he’s made. His best live results have been winning a PLO side event at EPT Barcelona last season and coming third in the PLO side event at the 2010 PCA. His online results are also impressive; he has won the PokerStars $109 rebuy several times.
18:45 – Dinnerbreak
Die Highroller gehen in eine einstündige Dinnerbreak. Die Möglichkeit für uns auch mal an den selben Tische wie die Jungs zu sitzen. Sobald wir die offiziellen Chipcounts und Final Table Profile haben werden wir diese hier posten. Bis gleich!
18:25 – Final Table
Unser offizieller Final Table im Main Event steht fest. Preflop eröffnet Martin mit AJ und der Shortstack Jose Miguel Esteban reshoved AT. Martin callt und der Flop blankt aus, sodass AJ hoch die beste Hand bleibt.
18:20 – Zwei Tische
Im 1k Event das gestern gestartet war sind wir auf zwei Tische runter. Letzter deutscher ist Martin Finger. Für den ersten gibt es 78k. Good Luck Martin!
17:10 – Update!
Im Main Event sind wir auf neun Spieler runter. Martin Schleich hält 1,5 Millionen bei Blinds 15k/30k/4k. Noch einmal muss der Dealer Set Open annoncieren und wir haben den offizielen Final Table für Tag 5.
Beim Highroller läuft es gut für Mad Marvin. In 4 Levels ist er von 25k Startstack auf 80k hochgekommen. Und das an einem Ultratoughen Tisch mit Jason Mercier, Elky, Igor Kurganov und Bryn Kenney. Torsten Brinkmann konnte seinen Stack auch schon auf 60k ausbauen.
15:45 – Erster deutscher Bustout!
Unter den Sechs Bustouts die im Highroller Event bereits zu vermelden sind ist auch Giuseppe Pantaleo dabei. „Tilt Alter!“ waren die Worte die mir von Giu auf die Frage nach seinem Bustout entgegenschallten. Gestern hatte Ansgar2000 nur knapp den Final Table des Super Tuesdays verpasst.
Im Main Event sind wir auf dreizehn Spieler runter. Martin Schleich sitzt am TV Table, was es uns schwer macht Updates von ihm einzufangen. Auch noch im Rennen Massimiliano Martinez! Wem dieser Name kein Begriff ist der sollte sich unbedingt das „Big Game“ auf Pokerstars.tv angucken. Massimiliano hatte dort einen unvergesslichen Auftritt als Loose Canon.
15:20 – Call!
Julian Stuer callt für seine letzten 11 Big Blinds aus dem BB All In. Gomez hat Julian mit AJo vor die Entscheidung gestellt und Julian hält Poket Vierer. Flop K89. Turn 7. Und am River hittet Gomez die Zehn zur Straight. 12k Preisgeld für Julian.
15:05 – Big Pot
Martin Schleich hat eben ohne Showdown einen 450k grossen Pot gewonnen. Damit steht er jetzt bei 1,2 Millionen. Bei Julian Stuer sieht es momentan nicht gut aus. Im zweiten Heads Up Match hat sein Gegner den Chiplead 6k bei Julian und 14k bei Gomez. Bei Blinds 100/200 aber auch noch genug Luft zum atmen.
14:25 – 0:1 im Heads Up
Julian Stuer hat das erste Heads Up Match verloren. Das zweite Match läuft. Jetzt darf sich Julian keine Patzer mehr erlauben. Verliert er auch dieses ist es vorbei für ihn. Um ins Finale einzuziehen muss Julian jetzt die nächsten zwei Matches gewinnen.
14:05 – Plus 2
Marvin Rettenmaier und Igor Kurganov haben jetzt ebenfalls im Highroller Event Platz genommen.
13:25 – 5 Bet
Neues von Julian Stuer. Blinds sind bei 100/200. Julians Opponent macht es 400 vom Button. Julian erhöht auf 1025 und bekommt von Gomez de Barreda die 4-bet auf 2175. Julian setzt ihn All In und Gomez callt. 
bei Julian und 
für Gomez. Das Paar Neunen hält und Julian ist runter auf 4,5k.
13:25 – Main
20 Spieler left im Main Event – Bei Martin alles unverändert!
13:15 – Ballerz!
Giu ballert gut los! Leider gehts bisher nach hinten los! Er musste eben 5k im Highroller abgeben. Marvin Rettenmaier muss sich nur noch schnell 20k besorgen (das Highroller ist ein Single Rebuy Event) und dann gehts auch bei ihm los.
12:55 – Highrollerz in da House
Gerade den ersten Rundgang beim Highroller Event gemacht. Giuseppe „Ansgar2000“ Pantaleo sitzt links von Philipp Gruissem. Einen Tisch weiter haben Max Lehmanski, Armin Zoike und GCOP V Finalist Khiem Nguyen ihren Platz eingenommen. Stefan Jedlicka und Torsten Brinkmann haben auch 10k auf den Tisch gelegt um mit den besten der Welt zu kompetieren. 34 Spieler sind bis jetzt registriert
12:35 – QUADS!
Gleich mal gute Neuigkeiten zu Beginn! Unser letztes deutsches Pferdche hat gerade mit KK gegen 44 verdoppelt. Preflop liegen insgesamt 770k in der Mitte. Martin hittet am Flop direkt den King und am Turn erschient gleich noch einer. Bilderbuchstart für Martin!
