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1:14am: Sam Greenwood wins, Christoph Vogelsang takes 2nd
Level 25 – Blinds 125,000/250,000 (BB ante 250,000)

After a long back-and-forth heads-up match, we finally have our champion.

Christoph Vogelsang jammed and had the advantage when Sam Greenwood called and the cards went on their backs:

Greenwood: K♠ J♣
Vogelsang: A♥ 5♥

The board ran out 8♥ J♠ 3♣ 10♣ J♦ , giving Greenwood trip jacks to take the pot and end the tournament.

Congratulations to both of our players, for their stamina and for taking the top two prizes in a very large prize pool. You can read a full recap of the day’s action here. From all of us on the blog team, thanks for reading and we’ll see you tomorrow for lots more poker action. –JK

1:10am: Nothing outlasts Greenwood and Vogelsang…
Level 25 – Blinds 125,000/250,000 (BB ante 250,000)

…they keep going, and going, and going. Sam Greenwood is firmly in the lead after 206 hands of final table poker. He has 42 big blinds to Christoph Vogelsang’s 16. –JK

12:54am: More for Vogelsang
Level 25 – Blinds 125,000/250,000 (BB ante 250,000)

The usual pattern happened pre-flop: Sam Greenwood limped (with 9♣ 6♥ ) and Christoph Vogelsang checked (with J♥ 10♠ ).

The 6♣ 4♣ 10♦ flop paired both, and yet it went check check to the 3♦ turn. Now Vogelsang led for 750,000 and got a call, taking them to the J♦ river, which gave Vogelsang two pair.

He fired 1.5 million, which was enough to get a fold. –JS

12:48am: Vogelsang pulls some back
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

Sam Greenwood limped with Q♥ 4♠ and Christoph Vogelsang checked 10♥ 8♦ . The flop fell 4♥ 3♦ 10♠ , pairing both, but Vogelsang’s top pair was best. Both checked though.

The turn was the 5♣ and Vogelsang now led for 550,000 which Greenwood called. The J♥ completed the board, and Vogelsang fired 1.1 million. Greenwood would make another hero call, shipping the pot to Vogelsang and bringing them pretty much back to even.

6.5 million for Greenwood, 4.95 million for Vogelsang. The blinds are up now though: 125K/250K/250K. –JS

12:42am: Greenwood’s aces good for a double
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

After all that checking and limping, we finally got an all-in bet before the flop when Christoph Vogelsang looked down at 2♦ 2♥ . Then Sam Greenwood looked at his two cards and found A♥ A♣ . He called all-in for 4 million and the rockets held up on the 4♠ Q♣ 8♣ 3♥ J♥ board for the double to 8.4 million. Vogelsang is still in the game with 3.1 million. –JK

12:37am: Vogelsang back in front
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

Sam Greenwood had the 6♠ 3♦ and limped. Christoph Vogelsang had the Q♣ 3♦ and checked.

The flop came 4♣ Q♠ 10♣ giving Vogelsang top pair, but both would check to the 3♠ turn. Now Greenwood picked up a pair, and Vogelsang led for 600,000 – a pot-sized bet – when it checked to him. Greenwood called.

The 9♠ river landed and it checked to Vogelsang again. He went for a smaller sizing of 500,000 this time, and after using a time bank card Greenwood eventually hero-called with his three. No good, Sam.

Greenwood now has 5 million, while Vogelsang’s back in front with 6.5 million. –JS

12:30am: Straight over straight = min-value
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

Christoph Vogelsang limped on the button with K♠ 6♥ and Sam Greenwood checked with J♥ 2♣ . Both players checked the 3♣ 7♦ 8♦ flop and 10♣ river before making straights on the 9♥ river. Greenwood bet 400,000 — two big blinds — with his jack-high straight and won when Vogelsang called with his ten-high straight.

Vogelsang drops to 5.2 million, and Greenwood creeps up to 6.3 million. –JK

12:22am: Aces but no action
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

Christoph Vogelsang was dealt pocket aces!

But then he limped, Sam Greenwood checked with 8♣ 7♥ , the flop came J♠ 5♣ 2♥ , Greenwood checked, Vogelsang bet one big blind, and Greenwood folded.

That’s pretty much the story of this heads-up. –JS

12:10am: Greenwood doubles through Vogelsang
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

After watching a lot of very passive poker, we finally got an all-in and a call. It looked like the game was close to done, since Sam Greenwood’s K♥ 7♠ trailed Christoph Vogelsang’s A♦ 6♥ and the board read 10♦ J♠ 3♣ 2♦ by the turn. Then the K♣ hit the river, giving Greenwood a pair of kings and the double to 6.15 million. Vogelsang drops to 5.35 million — and the game keeps going. –JK

12am: Vogelsang smashes flop
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

The first interesting hand since the players returned from the break went a little something like this.

Sam Greenwood limped the button with the 10♠ 4♣ and Christoph Vogelsang checked with the K♦ 2♦ . That hand would absolutely smash the 9♦ 3♦ K♥ flop, giving Vogelsang top pair and a flush draw. He’d check it, and Greenwood led out for 200,000. Call.

The J♣ turn gave Greenwood a gutshot, and he’d fire again for 750,000 when it checked to him. Vogelsang matched it and the A♦ river completed Vogelsang’s flush. He checked a final time hoping Greenwood would fire again, but it was no dice. He checked.

With that, Vogelsang’s up to 9.53 million while Greenwood dips below ten bigs with 1.98 million. –JS

11:45pm: Back to the action
Level 24 – Blinds 100,000/200,000 (BB ante 200,000)

It’s time to play some more poker. Our two remaining players have 58 big blinds between them, with Sam Greenwood holding just 18 of those at the moment. And given the big blind antes, those stacks are effectively halved. –JK

11:25pm: We made it to the break

We don’t know how, but we’ve reached yet another 20-minute break. Back soon.

Christoph Vogelsang – 7.96 million
Sam Greenwood – 3.54 million

11:10pm: Greenwood mixes it up
Level 23 – Blinds 80,000/160,000 (BB ante 160,000)

Christoph Vogelsang limped in for 80,000 with 4♥ 3♥ and Sam Greenwood, who’s mostly been checking his big blind when Vogelsang calls on the button, mixed things up by raising to 550,000 with J♥ 2♣ . Vogelsang called but folded to Greenwood’s 275,000-chip bet on the Q♥ 8♠ 7♣ flop. –JK

11:07pm: The (slow) comeback continues
Level 23 – Blinds 80,000/160,000 (BB ante 160,000)

Another pot has gone Sam Greenwood’s way.

Sam Greenwood limped the button with 8♥ 5♣ and Christoph Vogelsang checked with Q♥ 6♣ . the [6H][3S][3D] flop paired Vogelsang, but both checked to see the 9♥ turn. Greenwood picked up a gutshot.

Vogelsang now led for 160,000 and Greenwood called before taking the lead on the 8♣ river. Vogelsang bet 240,000, but now Greenwood raised it to 1 million. Vogelsang thought for a while before calling with third pair, meaning the pot shipped to Greenwood.

Vogelsang – 8.13 million
Greenwood – 3.37 million
–JS

10:49pm: A little more for Greenwood
Level 23 – Blinds 80,000/160,000 (BB ante 160,000)

Not many things have been going Sam Greenwood’s way since we’ve been heads-up, but he just took down a small pot to get the ball rolling.

Christoph Vogelsang limped the button with 4♠ 2♥ and Greenwood checked with 8♦ 4♥ . The 7♠ 8♠ 5♥ flop gave Greenwood top pair and a gutshot, which he’d check to the raiser. Vogelsang continued for 180,000, but would fold when Greenwood check-raised to 525,000.

Greenwood’s up to 2.37 million. The rest (9.13 million) belongs to Vogelsang. –JS

10:40pm: Greenwood chips up a bit, can’t get paid on the river
Level 23 – Blinds 80,000/160,000 (BB ante 160,000)

Sam Greenwood limped on the button with J♠ 5♣ and Christoph Vogelsang checked on the button, bringing a 10♥ 3♣ 4♠ flop. Vogelsang check-called 160,000 with his pair of fours and then both players checked the 6♠ turn. Greenwood rivered a straight with the 2♥ and moved in for 1.23 million when Vogelsang checked. The German considered a call for a bit but eventually pushed his cards to the dealer, giving Greenwood the pot.

Greenwood’s now at 2.03 million, Vogelsang at 9.47 million. –JK

10:35pm: Trips for Vogelsang
Level 23 – Blinds 80,000/160,000 (BB ante 160,000)

Christoph Vogelsang limped with the 4♥ 2♥ and Sam Greenwood checked his option with the 6♦ 5♦ . Both checked the 4♠ 10♥ J♠ flop, after Vogelsang took the lead with a four.

The lead switched when the 6♠ turn hit, but there’d still be no more betting. And finally Vogelsang retook the lead with the 4♣ river. Greenwood checked, and Vogelsang announced an overbet of 620,000. Greenwood thought about it, using up a time bank card, before making a hero call with his six.

“I’m just running so hot,” said Vogelsang, who now has an ever bigger chip lead. Greenwood is down below ten bigs with 1.55 million, while Vogelsang now has 9.95 million. –JS

10:20pm: Vogelsang doubles with ducks
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

Christoph Vogelsang just scored a crucial double to retake the chip lead.

Vogelsang opened for 310,000 with 2♦ 2♣ on the button and Greenwood called with Q♦ 5♥ in the big blind, bringing us to the 2♠ 8♥ 5♦ flop. Greenwood check-called 325,000 there and another 900,000 on the A♠ turn to get to the A♥ river. Greenwood checked one more time and Vogelsang, after taking most of his shot clock, announced himself all-in. That’s as tough a spot as Greenwood has been in all day, and he looked suitably uncomfortable. Eventually he opted to call with his pair of fives and dropped a massive pot to Vogelsang’s deuces full of aces.

That changes the game completely as Vogelsang moves up to 8.44 million and Greenwood drops to 3.06 million. –JK

10:15pm: Unbelievably not so amazing
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

Seeing as we’ve described recent hands with the words ‘unbelievable’, ‘amazingly’, and ‘even more amazingly’, you could say it’s been a pretty dull start to this heads-up battle.

Christoph Vogelsang just took down a small pot, so I guess that’s worth mentioning. Sam Greenwood made it 270,000 with 10♦ 4♠ and Vogelsang called with J♣ 2♦ bringing a 2♣ K♣ 3♦ flop. Vogelsang took the lead with bottom pair, and check-called a 200,000 c-bet.

The 8♠ and 7♣ turn and river were checked down. “Deuce,” announced Vogelsang, as Greenwood mucked. Vogelsang now has 4.16 million to Greenwood’s 7.34 million.

Stay tuned for what will hopefully be some unbelievable and amazingly good hands. –JS

9:55pm: Heads up counts
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

Here’s how they now line up:

Sam Greenwood: 7.61 million
Christoph Vogelsang: 3.89 million

9:45pm: Fatehi triples up, then busts in third (€669,920)
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

Ali Reza Fatehi’s rough ride against Christoph Vogelsang’s straight flush left him with less than one big blind, forcing him to go in with 6♥ 3♦ from the small blind on the next hand.

Sam Greenwood (with Q♣ 5♣ on the button) and Vogelsang (with 7♥ 2♠ in the big blind) both entered the hand, but neither was able to beat the pair of sixes Fatehi flopped, giving him the 270,000-chip main pot.

On the following hand Fatehi opened all-in for that amount on the button with Q♣ 4♠ . Greenwood called with K♣ 3♠ in the big blind and turned top pair on the 7♥ J♥ 6♥ K♦ 8♣ board to lock up the pot and end Fatehi’s remarkable run in third place.

That takes us down to heads-up between two very tough players. They’re on a short break before returning to play down to the title. –JK

9:40pm: Unbelievable
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

This is a pretty sick one, especially if you’re an Ali Reza Fatehi fan.

Christoph Vogelsang opened the button to 240,000 holding 10♦ 7♦ , and Fatehi defended his big blind with 10♣ 9♠ . Two similar hands that were about to hit the flop hard.

Flop: 6♦ 8♦ 7♣

You couldn’t have picked a better action flop. Fatehi checked his flopped straight, and Vogelsang put out a 210,000 c-bet with his pair and straight flush draw. Back to Fatehi, he check-raised to 480,000, and Vogelsang just called.

Turn: 9♦

Amazingly, Vogelsang had hit the straight flush. And even more amazingly for the German, Fatehi then moved all-in! Vogelsang of course snap-called with the stone cold nuts, and Fatehi couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The J♦ then landed on the river, turning it into a six-card straight flush. Fatehi is left with just 170,000 now, while Vogelsang doubles to 4.07 million. –JS

9:35pm: Fatehi’s queens take a hit
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

Even though he was able to get away from his hand on the turn, Ali Reza Fatehi’s stack just took a sizable hit with pocket queens in the hole.

Sam Greenwood opened the action for 240,000 on the button with K♥ 8♣ . Fatehi looked down at Q♠ Q♥ and came in for a re-raise, though a small one — 390,000. Greenwood called and connected strongly with the J♦ K♠ 4♦ flop. The overcard didn’t slow Fatehi down, though. He fired 470,000 and Greenwood made the call.

The turn was the K♦ and Fatehi fired a second time for 875,000. Greenwood thought it over briefly and then announced himself all-in. With more than double Fatehi’s chips, that gave him enough to knock the Iranian businessman out should Fatehi call. He didn’t, though — he opted to fold with 2.18 million chips remaining. Greenwood, meanwhile, stacks up to 7.26 million. –JK

9:25pm: Fatehi fires with air
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

Ali Reza Fatehi must have sensed something, as he’s just taken down a pot against both Christoph Vogelsang and Sam Greenwood with absolute air.

Vogelsang had opened to 240,000 with 7♠ 5♠ on the button and Sam Greenwood called from the small blind with K♦ 10♣ . Fatehi then came in from the big holding 6♠ 4♥ , and they all saw an 8♥ 9♠ A♦ flop land.

Greenwood checked, and Fatehi – holding the worst hand of the lot – decided to lead out for 355,000. That got two folds, and brings Fatehi up to 3.08 million. –JS

9:20pm: Nice river for Greenwood
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

On the first hand back from the break, Sam Greenwood opened to 250,000 from the button and Christoph Vogelsang called in the big blind. Greenwood has Q♠ 10♦ to Vogelsang’s A♥ 6♠ .

The dealer offered them the 2♦ 9♦ J♠ to consider and Vogelsang checked. Greenwood continued with a bet of 175,000. A sceptical Vogelsang called.

The 7♦ completed the diamond draw, but both players checked. That’s when the dealer gave Greenwood precisely what he was looking for: the Q♣ on the river. Action was on Vogelsang, whose ace-high wasn’t great but warranted a 550,000 stab nonetheless.

Greenwood made an easy call to get the evening session up and running with a tidy profit. Even the small pots, like that one, are worth more than 1 million chips now. — HS

9:15pm: One last push
Level 22 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (BB ante 120,000)

Our last three heroes are back at the table and this is the final push before we crown a champion. — HS

8:17pm: Dinner break stacks

When they come back at around 9:15pm, the big blind will be 120,000. Here’s how they stack up:

8:15pm: Fatehi flops a straight
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

The last hand before the dinner break was an interesting one for Ali Reza Fatehi. He checked in the big blind with J♣ 8♠ after Sam Greenwood limped in from the small blind with J♦ 6♦ .

The 9♣ 10♥ 7♣ flop gave Fatehi the nuts. Greenwood bet the minimum of 100,000 and Fatehi, after crossing his arms and sighing, raised to 275,000.

Greenwood didn’t fold right away, though — instead he fired 725,000. He did get out of the way when Fatehi made it 1.9 million to go, though. That takes us to the one-hour dinner break with all three players within seven big blinds of one another. That should make for some interesting action when they return to play. –JK

8:05pm: Vogelsang feeling flush
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

Christoph Vogelsang limped the small blind holding 7♣ 5♣ , and Sam Greenwood looked down at 10♥ 2♠ in the big. He mixed it up and decided to raise to 300,000, and Vogelsang made the call.

The dealer spread the A♠ J♣ A♣ flop, giving Vogelsang a flush draw. He’d check call a 150,000 c-bet, and then hit his flush on the 2♣ turn. That also gave Greenwood a pair of deuces, and when Vogelsang checked he decided to check it back.

The J♥ river was interesting. Vogelsang was now behind any ace or jack, while Greenwood (his pair counterfeited) could only win by bluffing. He chose to give up though, as both checked and the pot shipped to Vogelsang.

He now has 3.4 million, while Greenwood has 5.08 million. –JS

8pm: Three button raises, little action
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

We just saw three button raises in a row and only the third resulted in significant action.

Ali Reza Fatehi picked up A♦ A♣ on the first hand and raised to 225,000. Sam Greenwood came along with 9♥ 5♥ in the big blind but check-folded to a bet on the 4♠ 4♦ 2♠ flop.

Christoph Vogelsang opened with 9♠ 8♠ on the second hand and got no action at all.

Sam Greenwood’s turn on the button saw him open for 200,000 with A♦ 9♦ . This time Fatehi (10♣ 9♥ in the small blind) and Vogelsang (A♠ 2♥ in the big) both came along for the J♣ J♦ 6♦ flop.

All three players checked the J♣ J♦ 6♦ flop and Fatehi bet 225,000 on the 5♠ turn. Only Greenwood called and the Q♥ came on the river.

Fatehi led again with his pure bluff and, after using a time bank card, Greenwood let go of the best hand. –JK

7:55pm: Greenwood gets it back
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

Sam Greenwood found Q♥ 5♥ and opted to call from the small blind, leading Ali Reza Fatehi to check his K♦ 8♣ in the big blind. So far, so boring, but the J♦ 10♠ K♣ flop spiced it up a bit.

Greenwood checked and Fatehi bet 175,000. Greenwood called.

Greenwood’s up and down draw got there on the A♥ turn, but both players checked. That meant Greenwood waited until the 3♣ river before doing his betting. Greenwood put 200,000 out there.

Fatehi called, and Greenwood’s straight was good. Greenwood moves to 6.18 million and is putting distance between himself and his opponents now. Vogelsang has 3.15 million and Fatehi has 2.18 million. — HS

7:50pm: Greenwood hero calls
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

Ali Reza Fatehi just squeezed out a few more chips than expected from Sam Greenwood.

Fatehi opened the button to 225,000 with A♠ 8♠ and Greenwood defended with K♥ 7♣ . They checked the 10♥ 5♣ 10♠ Q♠ board down, but Fatehi rivered a flush with the 5♠ . He led out for 175,000, and Greenwood called with just king high.

He slips to 5.6 million, while Fatehi increases to 2.75 million. –JS

7:45pm: Family pot for Greenwood
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

Sam Greenwood opened for 200,000 on the button with Q♥ 4♥ and, for the first time since we reached three-handed play, both opponents called: Ali Reza Fatehi with A♥ 6♦ in the small blind and Christoph Vogelsang with J♣ 10♦ in the big blind. They all checked the 9♣ 5♠ 3♠ flop but things got more interesting after the 2♣ turn.

Fatehi led for 225,000 with a gutshot draw and ace-high, which chased Vogelsang. Greenwood, however, had other plans. He announced a re-raise to 750,000 with his own open-ended straight draw. Fatehi looked like he wanted to get involved further but in the end he thought better and folded his hand.

Fatehi is down to 1.97 million after that loss, Greenwood up to 5.6 million. –JK

7:40pm: One for Vogelsang, one for Greenwood
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

There’s not a lot of pre-flop raising going on, despite some half-decent holdings.

Ali Reza Fatehi limped the small blind with 4♥ 4♦ and Christoph Vogelsang checked his option with Q♥ J♦ , bringing a 5♠ 5♦ 8♥ flop. It went check check, just as it would on the A♣ turn. The J♠ river finally gave Vogelsang a pair, and when Fatehi checked a third time Vogelsang went for value. He bet 200,000, and got a call.

Onto the next hand, Vogelsang limped the small blind with A♠ Q♣ , and Sam Greenwood just checked with K♣ J♠ . Greenwood took the lead after the 8♥ 9♣ J♦ flop, and led for 100,000 when checked. Vogelsang stuck around to see the J♥ turn, but gave up when Greenwood barrelled for 300,000.

Vogelsang now has 2.75 million, Fatehi has 2.95 million, and Greenwood’s way out in front with 5.8 million. –JS

7:30pm: Action flop, no-action turn
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Anywhere but a Super High Roller this flop probably would’ve seen two stacks make it to the middle.

Christoph Vogelsang opened for 315,000 in the small blind with A♣ Q♣ and Sam Greenwood called in the big blind with 10♦ 7♦ . The J♣ 7♥ 10♣ was a big one for both players, making two pair for Greenwood and a royal flush draw for Vogelsang.

Vogelsang fired 225,000 there and Greenwood, after a bit of thought, raised to 700,000. Vogelsang might have re-raised but he called instead, and the 5♥ came on the turn. That killed the action completely. Vogelsang check-folded to a Greenwood bet large enough to set him in had he called.

With that loss Vogelsang drops into third place, though in terms of big blinds he’s not particularly far behind his two opponents. –JK

7:15pm: Ole Schemion out in fourth (€513,000)
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

If Sam Greenwood can do it, maybe I can too.

That’s a thought that might have been running through Ole Schemion’s head just now. Christoph Vogelsang had opened the button to 200,000 with 9♦ 8♥ , and Greenwood jammed from the small blind with A♠ 7♠ . That got through.

Onto the next hand, it was Greenwood opening the button to 200,000. Ole Schemion was in the big blind holding 6♠ 7♠ , and he decided to shove all-in for around 2 million. Would he get a fold too?

Nope. Greenwood had 10♣ 10♠ and snap-called, and after the 4♦ K♦ J♣ A♣ 9♣ runout the tens held up.

Just like that they’re down to three. Schemion heads to the cage to collect €513,000, while Greenwood is now chip leader with 4.64 million. –JS

7:10pm: On we go
Level 21 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (BB ante 100,000)

Away they go again. Four of them still in the hunt. — HS

6:49pm: Break time

The time has come for another 20-minute break. When they get back they’ll play one more level before taking a 60-minute dinner break. The big blind will be 100,000, so stacks are now getting very shallow. Specifically:

6:48pm: Vogelsang bluff gets through Fatehi
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Well, we didn’t see that coming.

Ali Reza Fatehi opened the button to 180,000 and Christoph Vogelsang called from the big blind holding the J♣ 10♦ . His hand was dominated by Fatehi’s A♣ J♥ , and was even more so after the 9♦ 9♠ A♥ flop.

Vogelsang checked, and Fatehi had a pretty standard c-bet spot which he took for 215,000. Vogelsang had a trick up his sleeve though, and check-raised to 525,000.

Fatehi went into the tank, using up one of his time bank cards. It seemed certain he’d at least call, but then he announced “fold”, flashing his ace as he did. Vogelsang gave a cheeky grin as he raked in the pot.

He’s up to 4.1 million, while Fatehi slips to 2.48 million. –JS

6:40pm: Schemion hits trips
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Sam Greenwood opened the action for 160,000 with 10♦ 8♦ on the button and Ole Schemion called in the big blind with J♥ 7♥ . He made bottom pair on the A♥ 7♠ K♦ flop and check-called 100,000 from Greenwood, then led out for 210,000 with trips when the 7♦ came on the turn. Greenwood called with his flush draw but folded to an all-in bet on the 2♥ river, giving Schemion the win. That boosts the German’s stack to a much healthier 2.18 million. –JK

6:35pm: More pushing and shoving
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

We just had the potential for an all-in and a call, but Christoph Vogelsang decided not to risk it.

He’d opened the button to 160,000 with the 6♠ 6♥ only for Sam Greenwood to shove from the small blind. He had the A♣ K♠ and put his 2.89 million on the line, but in the end there’d be no flip.

Greenwood – 3.25 million
Vogelsang – 3.67 million
–JS

6:25pm: Greenwood pushes Schemion around
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Ole Schemion doesn’t fold the best hand often, but he just did. He didn’t have much information to go on, though. He opened under the gun for 160,000 with J♦ 10♦ and the action folded to Sam Greenwood in the small blind. Greenwood looked down at 10♣ 9♣ and announced himself all-in for 2.53 million. Schemion had the dominant hand but snap-folded, giving Greenwood the pot. –JK

6:15pm: It ain’t easy repping quads
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Ole Schemion limped from the small blind with J♠ 9♥ before Christoph Vogelsang checked his option with 9♣ 7♣ . The A♥ 2♥ A♣ flop missed both, but saw Vogelsang lead for 80,000 when it checked to him. Call.

Schemion’s hand improved to two pair after the J♥ turn, and again he’d check. Vogelsang continued to fire for 175,000, and after a call the A♦ river landed. Would Vogelsang continue betting, representing he had the case ace?

Nah. Schemion checked a third time with his full house, but Vogelsang checked it back quickly and mucked when Schemion flipped his hand.

It’s now 3.46 million for Vogelsang, the chip lead again, and 2.15 million for Schemion. –JS

6:05pm: Schemion doubles again
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Ole Schemion has a few more chips to work with after making two pair from the big blind.

Ali Reza Fatehi raised to 185,000 in the small and Schemion called with 8♠ 3♠ in the big. Fatehi shoved on the 3♣ 10♥ 4♠ flop and Schemion snap-called with the pair of treys. The 8♦ turn gave him two pair to lock up the pot and the 5♥ river was a formality.

Schemion is now on 1.73 million, while Fatehi drops to 3.48 million. Fatehi is still the tournament leader. –JK

5:55pm: Straight shooting for Vogelsang
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Christoph Vogelsang is comfortably back at the top of the counts after winning a healthy pot from Sam Greenwood.

Vogelsang got it going by opening to 130,000 with K♣ 10♣ under the gun, which Greenwood called on the button with J♠ 10♠ . Ole Schemion thought he’d take a look at the flop with his 7♠ 5♥ , but he’d get no big blind special. In fact, it was Vogelsang who hit the special, flopping the nuts after the J♥ Q♠ 9♦ hit the board.

Vogelsang continued for 200,000 when it checked to him, and Greenwood stuck around for a turn card with his middle pair and open-ender. Schemion left the party before the 4♣ turn, and now Vogelsang continued for 575,000. Call.

An eight on the river would have been a disaster for Greenwood, but fortunately for him he could get away from the 4♦ after Vogelsang tank-bet 1.1 million, using a time bank card.

Vogelsang is up to 4.68 million now, while Greenwood slips to 2.57 million. –JS

5:50pm: Schemion doubles through Vogelsang
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Ole Schemion just caught a small break. He opened all-in for 635,000 from the small blind with 10♥ 7♥ and Vogelsang called with Q♦ 9♣ in the big blind. The board ran out 5♠ A♠ 10♦ 6♥ 10♣ , moving Schemion up to 1.35 million and dropping Vogelsang to 3.97 million. –JK

5:45pm: Bonomo busts in fifth (€401,000)
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

A nasty cooler just cost Justin Bonomo the rest of his chips, and gave us our first elimination for four hours.

Bonomo limped in from the small blind with 3♠ 2♠ , Ali Reza Fatehi checked in the big blind with 6♥ 2♣ , and both players picked up two pair on the 6♠ 3♥ 2♦ flop.

Bonomo bet 60,000 and Fatehi called. Bonomo fired again for 225,000 on the A♣ turn and snap-called for 820,000 when Fatehi moved all-in — and then he groaned when he saw what Fatehi had him down to just two outs.

The 5♥ river brought down the curtain on Bonomo’s tournament. We’re now down to four players and things are getting tighter up top. But, significantly, Fatehi is now in the lead for the first time today. –JK

5:35pm: Greenwood’s ladies hold up
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Sam Greenwood has just doubled up through Ole Schemion, taking his stack up 3.47 million and leaving the former chip leader with just 825,000.

Schemion opened 9♦ 9♣ from the cutoff to 135,000, only for Greenwood to wake up with Q♥ Q♦ in the small blind. He popped it up to 415,000, and when it got back to Schemion he moved all in. Greenwood snap-called for his entire 1.675 million.

The 8♦ 3♥ 10♣ J♥ 10♦ board kept Greenwood in front, dodging a nine and the straight outs that Schemion had picked up on the turn. –JS

5:25pm: Bonomo counterfeited again
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Justin Bonomo is back into the danger zone after a bad river card.

Bonomo defended his big blind for 120,000 with 8♥ 5♥ against Christoph Vogelsang’s button raise with 9♦ 9♠ . Both players checked the 8♦ 10♣ J♥ flop and Bonomo turned two pair on the 5♥ turn. He led for 250,000 and Vogelsang bet 250,000. Bonomo called there and then bet extremely small — 80,000 — after the J♣ hit the river. Vogelsang called and won with jacks and nines.

Vogelsang reclaims the lead with 3.6 million, and Bonomo drops down to 820,000. –JK

5:20pm: Vogelsang and Schemion clash again
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

It’s all about the Germans right now, with another big pot playing out between Ole Schemion and Christoph Vogelsang.

Schemion raised to 190,000 from the small blind with J♠ 10♠ and Vogelsang defended with A♦ 10♣ from the big. The 9♥ A♠ 6♠ flop was pretty spicy, pairing Vogelsang’s ace but giving Schemion a flush draw. He continued with it for 150,000, and naturally Vogelsang didn’t budge.

The A♥ turn improved Vogelsang to trips, and Schemion now checked. Vogelsang took the betting lead for 355,000, and Schemion called hoping for a spade on the river. Alas, it came the 3♦ and he checked once more.

“1.3 million,” announced Vogelsang after a 30-second shot clock timed out. Schemion was forced to lay it down with his jack-high, putting a dent in his new-found chip lead.

Schemion – 3.42 million
Vogelsang – 3.15 million
–JS

5:10pm: Schemion claims the lead, but Vogelsang gets away from queens
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

We have a new chip leader — and a hand that everyone is talking about.

Ole Schemion picked up A♥ A♣ under the gun and opened for 130,000. Christoph Vogelsang was behind him with Q♦ Q♣ in the cutoff and re-raised to 385,000, then called when Schemion made it four bets and 840,000 to go.

That took us to a 2♥ 9♦ 6♦ flop that looked sure to spell doom for Vogelsang. He called Schemion’s 435,000-chip bet, and the turn was the 9♠ . Schemion had 1.38 million left — about half the size of the pot — and moved it in. Vogelsang somehow managed to get away from his pocket queens, and didn’t take particularly long to do it, either.

Schemion moves into the lead with that win, up to 4.08 million. Vogelsang drops into second with 3.3 million. –JK

4:55pm: The Germans collide
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

A big pot just played out between Ole Schemion and Christoph Vogelsang which sees the former close some of the chip gap with the latter.

Schemion limped from the small blind with Q♠ 8♠ before Vogelsang bumped it up to 190,000 from the big with 6♠ 4♠ . Schemion called, and the 8♥ K♠ 7♠ was great for his hand, giving him middle pair and a bigger flush draw than Vogelsang’s.

Schemion check-called a 130,000 c-bet, before the 7♣ hit the turn. Vogelsang didn’t slow down when checked to, firing again for 225,000. Schemion called again.

The 8♦ river gave Schemion a full house, and he opted to trap by checking a third time. Vogelsang didn’t take the bait though, giving up with a check.

Schemion scoops this one, bringing him up to 2.66 million. Vogelsang is down to 3.88 million now. –JS

4:45pm: Back to the action
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

We’re back! Time to see what our five players do with bigger blinds and antes.

4:25pm: Break time

That’s the end of Level 18 and five players still remain. There will be a 60,000-chip big blind when they return from the break, meaning the stacks will look like this:

4:20pm: Fatehi trips up Greenwood
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Ali Reza Fatehi opened in the cutoff for 110,000 with A♣ 10♣ on the final hand of the level and Sam Greenwood called with K♥ 4♥ in the big blind. That gave us a 6♦ 10♥ 2♥ flop and Fatehi top pair. He bet 210,000 when Greenwood checked, and Greenwood called to bring the 9♣ on the turn. Greenwood check-called another 340,000 there but missed his draw when the 10♠ fell on the river. Greenwood checked one more time and Fatehi declined to bet his trip tens, instead showing down the winner.

That puts Fatehi on 2.55 million, while Greenwood drops to 1.08 million. –JK

4:15pm: Perfect runout for Fatehi
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Sam Greenwood and Ali Reza Fatehi both had junk hands pre-flop. Greenwood raised to 100,000 on the button with 9♣ 6♣ , and Fatehi called from the big blind with 4♣ 7♣ . When the 10♠ 5♦ J♦ flop fell, it didn’t look like this would be an interesting hand. Both checked.

The 6♥ turn was interesting though. It paired Greenwood and also gave Fatehi an open-ender. He led out for 160,000 with the draw, and Greenwood made the call to see the river.

The 3♠ completed the board, completing Fatehi’s straight. He opted to overbet the pot, making it 640,000, which certainly gave Greenwood food for thought. He only had third pair, but still took a time bank before eventually deciding to fold.

Greenwood is now on 1.67 million, while Fatehi overtakes him with 1.84 million. –JS

4:10pm: Bonomo doubles through Vogelsang
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Justin Bonomo was at risk as the shortest stack, but no longer.

Christoph Vogelsang opened for 100,000 on the button with 5♥ 5♦ and Bonomo called with K♥ 4♥ in the big blind, making top pair on the 8♦ K♠ 3♠ flop. Bonomo check-called 60,000 there and then improved to two pair on the 4♦ turn.

Both players checked and Bonomo didn’t waste much time moving in for 515,000 after the J♠ hit the river. Vogelsang let his shot clock run most of the way down before saying, “I’m making a loose call.”

He tossed his chips in and found out that his pocket fives were no good.

That boosts Bonomo’s stack to 1.43 million, while Vogelsang drops to 4.71 million. –JK

4pm: Schemion secures a double up
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Ole Schemion just found a perfect double up spot, and took full advantage.

Justin Bonomo began the hand by raising to 100,000 under the gun. He had the 6♥ 6♦ , which was then three-bet to 255,000 by Ali Reza Fatehi holding A♥ Q♥ in the cutoff. Over to Schemion on the button, he looked down at Q♣ Q♠ and shoved for 830,000, which got a fold from Bonomo and a call from Fatehi.

The J♠ 7♣ J♣ 2♦ 3♦ board kept the queens in front, bringing Schemion up to 1.88 million and Fatehi down to 1.55 million. –JS

3:50pm: Greenwood pays on the river, falls behind Fatehi
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Christoph Vogelsang opened for 100,000 in the cutoff with 4♠ 4♣ and ended up in a three-way pot when Sam Greenwood (Q♠ 10♥ on the button) and Ali Reza Fatehi (A♦ 7♣ in the big blind) both called.

Fatehi made top pair on the 3♥ A♠ 10♦ flop and checked. The other two checked as well and Fatehi made two pair with the 7♠ turn. This time he led for 155,000, shaking Vogelsang, and Greenwood called with his pair of tens.

The A♥ on the river gave Fatehi a full house and he bet another 285,000. Greenwood paid him off and dropped to 2.05 million, behind Fatehi’s 2.41 million. –JK

3:40pm: Counterfeit Bonomo
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Sam Greenwood limped in from the small blind with Q♦ 5♥ and Justin Bonomo checked with 8♦ 6♦ in the big blind. The K♠ A♥ 8♦ flop gave Bonomo a pair of eights so he called Greenwood’s 50,000-chip bet.

They both checked the A♦ turn and the K♥ on the river counterfeited Bonomo’s flopped pair. He bet 125,000 anyway when Greenwood checked, but Greenwood called to win the pot.

That drops Bonomo to 1.23 million, while Greenwood jumps to 2.26 million. –JK

3:35pm: Bonomo binks it
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

There hasn’t been much action to report in the past orbit or so, but this three-handed pot makes the cut for an update.

It started with a 100,000 under-the-gun open from Justin Bonomo which was called by Ali Reza Fatehi in the cutoff with the Q♦ J♠ . Sam Greenwood found the Q♣ 9♥ in the big blind and he came along too.

The 9♠ K♣ 8♠ paired Greenwood’s nine and gave Fatehi a gutshot. Bonomo had missed, and all three checked it to the J♦ turn. Now Bonomo made a delayed c-bet for 225,000 with a gutshot of his own, which Fatehi folded to despite pairing his jack. Greenwood made the call though, and the river saw the A♦ fall.

Bonomo had taken the lead on fifth street, and when Greenwood checked a final time Bonomo led for 400,000. He only had 280,000 behind so he was essentially committing himself, and Greenwood thought better of calling.

Greenwood’s now got 1.98 million, while Bonomo is up to 1.51 million. –JS

3:25pm: Blinds up
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

We’re into Level 18 now, with a 50,000 big blind. Here’s how they’re stacked:

3:20pm: Schemion bluffs on the river
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

Ole Schemion is in dangerous territory, which calls for making slightly dangerous moves.

Christoph Vogelsang opened for 80,000 under the gun with K♦ Q♦ and Schemion called with 10♥ 8♣ in the big blind. Schemion check-called 75,000 on the J♦ A♠ Q♥ flop and then both players checked the 4♣ turn, bringing the 4♦ on the river.

This time Schemion led for 140,000, leaving himself about 500,000 behind, and Vogelsang decided to let his pair of queens go.

That boosts Schemion to 890,000 – still the shortest stack, but a little closer to the pack than before. –JK

3:15pm: Greenwood chips up
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

Christoph Vogelsang is raising every chance he gets, as he probably should with the biggest stack. But sometimes he runs into a real hand.

His 80,000 button open with K♣ 6♥ was called by Sam Greenwood in the small blind holding A♣ 8♥ . The 9♠ 2♣ 10♠ didn’t help either (both checked), but the 8♠ turn paired Greenwood. He checked it though, and Vogelsang checked back.

The A♦ improved Greenwood to two pair, and he checked a third time. Vogelsang felt he could take it down with a bet, and announced 130,000. Back to Greenwood, he looked to get paid off with a raise to 630,000, but alas Vogelsang folded quickly.

Greenwood chips up to 2.02 million, while Vogelsang loses a little and sits with 5.39 million. –JS

3:10pm: Bonomo moves in, takes the pot
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

Justin Bonomo is one of the shorter remaining stacks, along with Ole Schemion. Bonomo just picked up a pot from Sam Greenwood to create a little separation.

Bonomo opened for 80,000 in the cutoff with K♠ 6♠ and Christoph Vogelsang came along with 10♠ 3♠ in the big blind. Both players checked the 7♠ J♦ K♣ flop — Bonomo with top pair — and the 9♣ came on the turn. Vogelsang led for 205,000 with his gutshot draw and Bonomo moved all-in for another 680,000. That shook the chip leader and gave Bonomo the pot.

Vogelsang drops to a mere 5.52 million with that loss; Bonomo climbs to 1.11 million. –JK

3pm: Two wins for Schemion
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

Ole Schemion is on a heater, even without winning many chips. First, Ali Reza Fatehi raised holding ace-five and Schemion moved all-in with ace-king, forcing a fold.

Then in the next hand, he opted to not mess around with his 8♥ 5♦ from the small blind. Lucky for him, as Christoph Vogelsang turned over the 10♦ 10♣ from the big blind.

Now all he needs is a double up. –JS

2:55pm: Fatehi makes a move, Greenwood takes the pot
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

We’re starting to see some interesting moves as the big stacks get bigger. The latest came from Ali Reza Fatehi and though it didn’t work it did inject some life into the proceedings.

Sam Greenwood opened for 80,000 on the button with J♦ 10♦ and Fatehi called in the big blind with K♠ 7♠ , bringing us to the 4♣ J♠ 4♦ flop. Fatehi checked and Greenwood bet a slight 55,000, prompting Fatehi to bump the bet to 130,000 with pure air.

Greenwood didn’t like the looks of that move. He pondered his options and went for the re-re-raise — 280,000. That chased Fatehi from the pot and gave Greenwood the win. –JK

2:50pm: Another Vogelsang/Greenwood battle in the blinds
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

Christoph Vogelsang picked up a very nice hand in the small blind: A♥ K♦ . He opted just to limp in though, looking to play on the flop, turn and river streets against Sam Greenwood’s 9♦ 2♣ , which he checked.

The Q♠ 4♥ 3♦ flop missed both, but saw Greenwood make a 40,000 bet when checked to. Vogelsang didn’t go anywhere with his ace-high, taking them to a 4♦ turn which checked through.

They saw the 5♦ complete the board, and Vogelsang checked again. Greenwood took another shot at getting the German to fold, but Vogelsang called his 175,000 river bet for the win.

Vogelsang has increased his chip lead to 5.68 million now, while Greenwood’s bluff brings his stack down to 1.56 million. –JS

2:45pm: Vogelsang leans on Bonomo
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

Justin Bonomo opened the action for 90,000 in the cutoff with A♦ 5♦ and Christoph Vogelsang popped him back for 350,000 in the big blind with K♠ 3♦ . Bonomo called with just over 1 million chips behind, taking us to the 5♥ Q♦ K♣ flop.

Vogelsang led for 175,000 with top pair, weak kicker, and Bonomo called with a pair of fives. Vogelsang checked the 9♠ turn, Bonomo checked behind, and the river was the 6♠ .

Vogelsang took the lead once more for 275,000 and Bonomo folded.

That boosts Vogelsang’s leading stack to 5.38 million, while Bonomo drops to 905,000. –JK

2:30pm: Blind leading the blind
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

As Lex Veldhuis just pointed out on the live stream commentary, it’s always interesting watching great players play marginal hands, particularly in blind vs blind situations.

In this latest pot, Christoph Vogelsang had 4♠ 4♥ in the small blind and limped in. Sam Greenwood was in the big blind with a dominated 4♣ 3♠ , with which he chose to raise to 150,000. Vogelsang made the call, and the K♦ 9♠ 5♣ flop fell. Greenwood continued for 80,000 when checked to, and Vogelsang called with his under-pair to the board.

The 6♥ hit the turn and it checked to Greenwood once more. He went for a much larger sizing for his double barrel, leading for 400,000. That got a quick fold from Vogelsang, and the four-high beat the pocket fours. –JS

2:20pm: Back in the room
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (BB ante 40,000)

The five players are back and playing again. — HS

2pm: Breaktime reading

Players have headed off on their first break of the day and, as he was at the start, Christoph Vogelsang still leads this final table. We actually first met Vogelsang here in Monte Carlo, all the way back in 2014. At that point, he was a hotshot online player just making waves in the live scene–and he was a pretty fascinating guy. Pass the tournament break by have a look back at our interview with the reluctant superstar.

Here’s the latest counts:

1:55pm: Fatehi continues to stack up as Schemion slides
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

Ole Schemion just dropped under a million chips, the latest victim of Ali Reza Fatehi’s heater.

Schemion opened for 70,000 10♠ 9♦ under the gun, his first raise in quite a while, and Fatehi came along from the big blind with K♥ 3♥ . He check-called another 75,000 with a flush draw on the J♥ 2♠ 5♥ flop and picked up a gutshot draw to go with it on the 6♦ turn. Both players checked there and Fatehi made his flush on the 10♥ river. He bet small for 145,000 and Schemion, who paired his ten, made the call.

That takes Fatehi up to 2.84 million, while Schemion falls to 820,000. –JK

1:50pm: Bonomo back over a milly
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

Justin Bonomo kicked this one off with a min-open to 60,000 on the button holding A♦ 8♣ . Ali Reza Fatehi peeked down at a pretty-looking 9♥ 8♥ and made the call, before Ole Schemion also came along holding another suited hand: Q♣ J♣ .

The 7♥ 6♣ 6♦ flop didn’t improve anyone, but it did give Fatehi an up-and-down straight draw. He checked it, as did Schemion and Bonomo behind him, bringing the 7♦ on the turn. Fatehi now led out on the double-paired board for 85,000, which got a fold from Schemion. Bonomo called with his ace-high though.

Fatehi then gave up on the 4♣ , as both checked. The pot went Bonomo’s way, bringing his stack back over a million. He now has 1.22 million, while Fatehi has 2.58 million. –JS

1:45pm: Three for three Ali
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

Ali Reza Fatehi is picking up strong hands left and right. He just took down three hands in a row with solid starters.

First he picked up 9♠ 9♣ in the cutoff, raised, and took the pot. Second was 4♥ 4♣ under the gun, and another raise cleared out the field.

The third hand started with Sam Greenwood raising to 70,000 on the button with 10♣ 8♦ in the hole. Fatehi called in the big blind with A♦ Q♦ and check-called another 125,000 on the 5♣ 6♦ J♥ flop.

The A♠ turn gave Fatehi top pair, but Greenwood checked behind him. Fatehi finally led for 155,000 after the 4♠ river but Greenwood folded his bluff. –JK

1:35pm: Interesting line from Bonomo
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

Justin Bonomo just played an interesting pot against chip leader Christoph Vogelsang, having defended his big blind with the J♠ 7♦ against a 75,000 button open.

Vogelsang had 2♠ 2♣ , which was crushed after the A♣ 7♥ J♥ flop gave Bonomo two pair. Bonomo checked it, but there was no c-bet from Vogelsang, taking them to the 6♦ on the turn. Bonomo still chose to slow play, but Vogelsang wasn’t enticed to bet.

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Finally the 8♣ river landed and now Bonomo bet big. He made it 300,000 when the pot was only 195,000, and it almost worked. Vogelsang used a time bank card, clearly thinking about making a hero call with his deuces. He’d eventually think better of it though, laying his hand down.

That brings Bonomo up to 1.08 million, while Vogelsang now has 4.68 million. –JS

1:30pm: Aces for Ali
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

After taking one small pot from Justin Bonomo, Ali Reza Fatehi took a bigger one.

Bonomo opened the action under the gun for 70,000 with A♦ J♦ and then called when Fatehi re-raised small to 155,000 in the cutoff with A♠ A♥ . Bonomo came along and picked up a gutshot draw on the K♦ 10♣ 5♥ flop. That was enough to check-call another 165,000 from Fatehi. The 4♣ came off on the turn, Bonomo checked again, and Fatehi bet again — this time all-in for 1.48 million.

That ended the hand quickly and dropped Bonomo’s stack to 985,000, good for just 32 big blinds. Fatehi, meanwhile, climbs back close to 1.9 million. –JK

1:20pm: Ali Reza Fatehi gets involved
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

Ali Reza Fatehi has only been lightly involved up to this point, but he’s just broken the seal on his Day 3.

Justin Bonomo limped in with 10♦ 6♣ in the small blind and, after Fatehi called with J♣ 7♣ , bet 30,000 with a gutshot draw on the 8♣ 7♦ A♦ flop. Fatehi called and then both players checked the K♥ turn.

The 4♥ hit the river and Bonomo bet 150,000, losing the pot when Fatehi snap-called with his pair of sevens. –JK

1:15pm: Great flop for Greenwood
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

The final table flops continue to smash the players, with Sam Greenwood the most recent beneficiary.

Ali Reza Fatehi made it 75,000 to go in the cutoff with A♣ J♦ which Christoph Vogelsang called on the button holding A♠ 9♠ . It was a big blind only hand following Haxton’s elimination, and Sam Greenwood defended his with Q♣ 6♣ .

The flop fell 3♣ 5♣ Q♦ , not only giving Greenwood top pair but a flush draw to boot. Nobody else had anything, but Fatehi c-bet for 135,000 when checked to. That got rid of Vogelsang, while Greenwood opted just to call.

The dealer burned and turned the 10♥ which both decided to check, bringing the 8♠ river. Greenwood now led out for 175,000, and Fatehi made the call with his ace-high. Ship the pot to Greenwood.

He’s up to 2.17 million now while Fatehi dips to 1.76 million. –JS

1:10pm: Blinds up
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (BB ante 30,000)

They have played through the end of Level 15 and we’re pushing straight into Level 16 now.

1:05pm: Ike Haxton out in sixth (€313,000)
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

Isaac Haxton was guaranteed a profit coming into this final table, but after firing three bullets sixth place would only be good for about €13,000 profit. Unfortunately for him, that’s what he’s walked away with after trying to semi-bluff leader Christoph Vogelsang.

Vogelsang opened the action with J♣ J♥ in the small blind for an oversized raise to 105,000. Haxton, with 7♠ 6♣ in the big blind, came along for the 10♥ 9♣ 4♣ flop. Vogelsang led for 85,000 and Haxton, after a bit of thought, made the call. He picked up an open-ended straight draw with the 5♦ turn and that’s where things got interesting.

Vogelsang continued his action for a whopping 350,000 and Haxton, after considering his options, announced himself all-in for 1.56 million. Vogelsang made the call with the jacks and dodged all of Haxton’s outs on the 10♦ river, ending the American’s day in sixth place.

That win puts Christoph Vogelsang near 5 million chips, worth roughly 160 big blinds with just four opponents left. –JK

1:03pm: Fatehi’s making moves
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

A nice check-raise bluff and barrel from Ali Reza Fatehi has just seen him take a small pot from Sam Greenwood.

Greenwood opened to 60,000 from the cutoff with A♠ K♦ , which Fatehi called from the small blind holding A♣ 9♣ . Neither of them hit the J♦ 2♠ 5♥ flop, and Fatehi checked it to the raiser. Greenwood put out a 50,000 c-bet, only for Fatehi to check-raise it to 135,000 with the weaker ace-high. Greenwood didn’t budge though.

The turn then came the J♣ , pairing the board. Fatehi fired again for 165,000, and that made Greenwood lay down the best hand. –JS

1pm: The table leans on Ike
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

Isaac Haxton is having a rough go right now in position. Two of his raises in a row have been shot down by players in the blinds. First he opened for 65,000 on the button with 9♠ 5♠ and had to bow out when Sam Greenwood popped him for 240,000 from the small blind.

Haxton tried again on the next hand with Q♥ 9♣ in the cutoff, then folded again when Ali Reza Fatehi made it 180,000 to go from the cutoff. –JK

12:55pm: Another action flop
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

Every flop seems to be hitting the players at the moment.

In this hand, action folded to Isaac Haxton in the small blind and he limped in with 9♦ 4♦ , before Sam Greenwood checked his option with J♣ 3♣ . The flop fell 9♥ 9♠ 3♠ , giving Haxton trips and Greenwood two pair. Whatever Haxton bet it seemed sure to be called, and that’s exactly what happened when he led for 25,000.

The 6♣ then hit the turn and Haxton went for a larger sizing: 100,000. Greenwood made the call again, taking them to the 5♠ river. Haxton stuck with 100,000, and Greenwood called before seeing the bad news.

Haxton is up to 1.91 million now, while Greenwood dips to 1.79 million. –JS

12:45pm: Check-raise good for Vogelsang
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

Justin Bonomo opened for 60,000 UTG+1 with A♠ 10♥ in the hole and Christoph Vogelsang called in the small blind with 6♦ 5♦ . The 3♦ 4♦ 4♠ flop left Vogelsang behind, but with more outs than you can shake a stick at.

He checked to Bonomo, who bet 40,000, and then raised to 120,000. No diamonds in hand for Bonomo, so he tossed his cards in the muck. –JK

12:40pm: Bonomo begins with a win
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

We had a little bit of action in the very first hand of this final table.

Justin Bonomo raised to 60,000 on the button with J♣ 10♣ , and Ole Schemion looked down at 8♠ 8♥ in the big blind. He defended to bring a 9♣ 5♣ A♥ flop, before check-calling a 110,000 c-bet.

The K♠ landed on the turn, and when it checked to Bonomo again he didn’t slow down. Having picked up a gutshot Broadway draw to go with his flush draw, Bonomo fired 325,000 and got a fold from Schemion. –JS

12:30pm: Cards are in the air
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

It’s now all systems go for this final table. We’re reporting alongside the PokerStars.tv live stream, so there won’t be any spoilers here. Read us, or watch them. Or both!

11am: Welcome back to the final day!
Level 15 – Blinds 10,000/25,000 (BB ante 25,000)

Good morning everybody. The PokerStars and Monte-Carlo©Casino EPT gets real from today with a number of titles up for grabs and the Main Event kicking off. The big one to be won today, of course, is the €100K Super High Roller event where just six players remain.

The final six was set last night after Jan-Eric Schwippert fell to Ali Reza Fatehi, who made a backdoor baby flush. Schwippert was the bubble boy meaning everyone returning today is guaranteed €313,000, but all with have their eyes on the €1.52 million top prize. Fatehi is the only non professional left in the field, but the Iranian businessmen is in form after he won his first tournament last month. He also came third in this very event two years ago so will be looking to go a couple better today. The other five players need very little introduction. They’re amongst the brightest minds ever to handle cards and have all tasted high roller success in the past.

As you can see from the table below, the players are super-deep for this stage of a tournament so a fascinating day of poker awaits. Cards will be in the air at 12pm and will be streamed on PokerStars.tv, so we will be following the action along with the stream delay, starting at 12:30pm.

And here’s a quick reminder of the enormous amount of money up for grabs today:

Download the PokerStars LIVE! app with all tournament information. Available for IOS and Android.

PokerStars Blog reporting team on the €100,000 Super High Roller: Jason Kirk, Jack Stanton and Howard Swains. Photography by Joe Giron/PokerPhotoArchive.

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