At an hour like this, it’s hard to wrap up 13 hours of play, and it’s pointless to even try.

At one point, we had imagined the story tonight to be all about Adam Owen holding a big lead going into the final table, which will be seven handed when play reconvenes at 1pm tomorrow for 2pm live cards up coverage. But a hand minutes from the end changed that.

So then we imagined the story would Thomas De Rooij snatching the lead from Owen with one of those ace-high hero calls that proves aesthetics has a part to play in poker. That alone would have been one of the stories of the day, although arguably the horrific bad beats suffered by Morten Mortensen and Stephen Malone earlier trumped that.

But none of this provides tonight’s headline. That instead belongs to Uri Reichenstein, who snatched the lead at the bell tonight by about one big blind.

Uri Reichenstein

Here’s how things stand with seven left:

Uri Reichenstein – 11,325,000
Thomas De Rooij – 11,175,000
Andreas Chalkiadakis – 5,050,000
Zorlu Er – 7,075,000
Harcharan Dogra Dogra – 1,760,000
Adam Owen – 9,800,000
Sebastian Malec – 7,325,000

When play began at 12 noon, there were 21 nations represented in the last 24, and no American players at all.

Vojtech Ruzicka was the first to depart; Pavel Plesuv would be the last. In between we’d seen promising performances from previously unknown players, among them Anthony Chimkovitch, Andrea Cortellazzi, Alexandru Baron, and of course Mortensen and Malone, who may find sleep a little difficult tonight.

If you’re not quite ready to call it a day our live updates from the €10K High Roller continue into the early hours. Follow those by clicking here. In the meantime you can find the results so far and pay-outs still to come in the Main Event by clicking here. For action from today, including all the gut-wrenching moments from the day, simply scroll down for all Day 5 updates.

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12:50am: Day ends with Dogra Dogra in the tank
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Harcharan Dogra Dogra had only 16 big blinds in his stack and raised to 360,000 from under the gun. In most circumstances, that spells a monster, but Uri Reichenstein wasn’t scared. He three-bet the cutoff to 825,000 (with 9.3 million back) and Dogra Dogra pondered his options.

After spinning a chip around between thumb and middle finger, Dogra Dogra called. He then checked the 10♥ 3♠ 7♣ flop. Reichenstein bet again, this time a tiny tickle of 325,000.

Dogra Dogra let the level run all the way down, which took them to the end of the day. “Tomorrow!” he said, as he folded. — HS

12:40am: De Rooij hero call earns the chip lead
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Thomas De Rooij and Adam Owen just played a pot that was bigger than Harcharan Dogra Dogra’s total stack. The short-stack must have been delighted to see them go at it, but not as delighted as De Rooij, who won it and takes the chip lead.

Owen opened the cutoff and De Rooij called in the big blind. This had happened before. De Rooij checked the Q♦ Q♥ 4♥ , but Owen bet. De Rooij called. Then Owen followed De Rooij’s second check with a bet of 770,000 at the 3♣ turn. De Rooij called. Then Owen bet the 6♦ river, this time 1.15 million, and after a short time to ponder, De Rooij called yet again.

Owen tabled his K♥ 10♦ but De Rooij had been right to hero-call with his A♠ 8♠ and was paid off with the chip lead.

De Rooij now has 11.3 million, while Owen has 10.19 million. — HS

12:25am: Magic man Malec wakes with a boat
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Sebastian Malec just woke from his reverie (he seems absolutely exhausted and appears close to sleep at the table) to take a pot from Harcharan Dogra Dogra.

Dogra Dogra raised his button and Malec defended his big blind. That much was standard. The 9♠ 7♦ 7♣ flopped and Malec bet 345,000. Dogra Dogra called.

Both players checked the 9♥ turn and that brought the 10♦ on the river. Malec bet 750,000 at it and Dogra Dogra called quickly. But Malec showed his 7♠ 10♠ for a turned boat, which got bigger on the river, and Dogra Dogra mucked.

Sebastian Malec

12:20am: De Rooij up again
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Thomas De Rooij is back into second place after taking a small pot from Zorlu Er and Andreas Chalkiadakis. De Rooij opened to 350,000 from the hijack and both Chalkiadakis, in the cutoff, and Er, on the button, called.

The flop came 4♠ J♣ 10♦ and De Rooij bet 600,000. After a few minutes combined of deliberation, both Chalkiadakis and Er folded. — HS

12:10am: Nine minute nothing
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

We have seen some slow downs on the EPT, but things have got a little out of hand during seven-handed play. Both Zorlu Er and Andreas Chalkiadakis are taking an eternity over every decision–and they very often fold after all the delay.

In this latest hand, Er raised to 350,000 from under the gun and Harcharan Dogra Dogra called from one seat along. Uri Reichenstein three-bet to 1,075 from the button and it then got very, very silly.

Chalkiadakis, in the small blind, tanked for four minutes, counting out 2 million in chips and suggesting he might be raising, but he eventually folded. Then despite having had those four minutes to consider his decision, Er asked how much was the bet, then waited about three minutes before also folding. (Dogra Dogra also folded quickly.)

The hand took nine and a half minutes to play and they did not see a flop. — HS

11:55pm: Latest chip counts in seat order
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Seat 1. Uri Reichenstein, 7,480,000
Seat 2. Thomas De Rooij, 7,260,000
Seat 3. Andreas Chalkiadakis, 7,510,000
Seat 4. Zorlu Er, 7,380,000
Seat 5. Hacharan Dogra Dogra, 4,720,000
Seat 6. Adam Owen, 13,150,000
Seat 7. Sebastian Malec, 5,945,000

11:55pm: Owen does what chip-leaders should do
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Folded to Adam Owen on the button, he raised to 360,000. Uri Reichenstein called in the big blind and then checked the flop of 9♣ J♥ Q♣ . Owen bet 400,000 and won the pot.

Folded to Adam Owen in the cutoff, he raised to 360,000. Thomas De Rooij called in the big blind and then checked the flop of 4♣ Q♣ Q♦ . Owen bet 300,000 and won the pot.

It’s what a chip leader can do, should do and will do. — HS

11:45pm: Dogra Dogra boosts his stack (again)
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Thomas De Rooij opened for 350,000 in the highjack which Harcharan Dogra Dogra called in small blind, as did Adam Owen from the big.

The flop came K♦ 5♦ Q♥ which was checked all round. So was the 9♦ turn for a 7♠ river. It was checked to De Rooij who bet 475,000. Dogra Dogra called (Owen passed) showing J♦ Q♠ which beat De Rooij’s A♦ 8♦ . Dogra Dogra up to 4.78 million. – SB

11:35pm: Back again
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Don’t forget, the plan for the day now is that we play to the end of this level or until the next elimination, whichever is soonest. Based on the almost total inaction from the first 20 minutes of the level, the former resolution is the favourite. — HS

11:15pm: Back again
Level 31 – Blinds: 80,000/160,000 (20,000 ante)

Everyone ready for Level 31? Good, then we’ll begin.

11pm: Break time
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

That’s the end of Level 30 and the last seven players are heading off for a break. We now have some structure to the day with the news that play will end at the end of the next level if seven players are still involved, or at the next elimination, whichever comes soonest.

Here are the stacks at the moment:

Adam Owen – 12,865,000
Thomas De Rooij – 9,115,000
Uri Reichenstein – 8,235,000
Zorlu Er – 7,200,000
Andreas Chalkiadakis – 6,450,000
Sebastian Malec – 6,265,000
Harcharan Dogra Dogra – 3,315,000

10:55pm: Three pair no good
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

Sebastian Malec just took a nice pot from Uri Reichenstein when the latter turned three pair, which is useless in poker, especially when his opponent had a better two pair.

Malec raised the hijack, making it 270,000 to play. Reichenstein called in the cutoff and they took a 2♠ J♥ J♦ flop.

Malec checked, Reichenstein bet 120,000 and Malec called. Then the A♠ came on the turn and both players checked.

The 5♠ came on the river and Malec check-called Reichenstein’s bet of 440,000.

Reichenstein showed A♥ 2♥ , which was aces and jacks with a five. Malec had A♣ Q♠ which was aces and jacks with a queen. The queen played; the pair of deuces that Reichenstein had was irrelevant. — HS

10:45pm: De Rooij moves up to second
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

Thomas De Rooij just took on the chip leader Adam Owen, and he managed to pick up a couple of streets of value as Owen bluffed away.

Thomas De Rooij goes bluff picking

Owen opened the cutoff, making it 275,000 to play, and De Rooij called from the big blind. They saw a flop of J♥ 3♦ K♣ and here’s where the bluff picking started.

First up, De Rooij check-called a 300,000 bet. They both checked the Q♠ turn but then Owen had another go at the 10♣ river, betting 475,000. De Rooij picked it off, forcing Owen to show his 7♦ 2♦ .

De Rooij had K♠ 8♣ and the pot put him second on the leader board. — HS

10:35pm: Two, three, four bet
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

Andreas Chalkiadakis and Adam Owen just renewed their acquaintance. Chalkiadakis opened to 255 from UTG+1 and Owen, on the button, said very clearly, “Six hundred and eighty thousand.” He then put the chips over the line.

Chalkiadakis, whose decisions take about as long as I take to remember how to spell his name, then surprised many with a four-bet to 1,075,000. We all thought he was about to fold.

Now, with the action back on Owen, the chip-leader folded. — HS

10:20pm: Chalkiadakis takes a nibble from Owen
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

Andreas Chalkiadakis just took some chips from Adam Owen after the chip leader got lairy with six high pre-flop.

Owen opened to 270,000 from under the gun and Chalkiadakis called on the button. Zorlu Ur also called, from the small blind, and the three of them saw a flop of 7♣ 3♥ 5♦ .

Er checked, but Owen continued, betting 350,000. Chalkiadakis called and Er folded.

The 7♥ came on the turn and Owen now slowed down. He checked, with Chalkiadakis checking behind, taking them to the A♥ on the river.

Both players checked again, and Owen showed 6♦ 3♦ . But Chalkiadakis tabled J♥ J♠ and that took it. — HS

10:15pm: Rubber-necking
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

These may not be household names, but people are bending the ropes to watch this event here in Barcelona:

10pm: Dogra Dogra boosts his stack
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

Dogra Dogra just did his prospects some good winning what became a useful sized pot against Chalkiadakis. On a flop of K♥ 3♥ Q♠ Chalkiadakis bet 280,000 which was called and then checked the 4♣ turn, as did Dogra Dogra. On the 8♣ river it seemed like the betting would be over. But with the action checked to Dogra Dogra he bet 325,000, which Chalkiadakis called. Dogra Dogra turned over A♥ Q♣ which was enough to win the pot, and boost his stack to more than 3 million. – SB

Harcharan Dogra Dogra

9:40pm: Another cooler, Pavel Plesuv busts
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

This tournament has suddenly turned ice cold with Pavel Plesuv taking the long walk after getting an overpair beaten by a flopped set of eights.

Uri Reichenberg’s stack

Plesuv opened to 225,000 from the hijack and Reichenberg called on the button, with Andreas Chalkiadakis also coming for the ride from the big blind. Two players checked the flop of 10♠ 8♦ 9♦ , but Plesuv bet 560,000.

After Chalkiadakis folded, Reichenberg then shoved, a check-raise all-in. Plesuv called, but his pocket jacks were now behind Uri Reichenberg’s eights, which had found another one quickly on the board. Plesuv had a straight draw too, but Reichenberg faded it and off went Plesuv in eighth, winning €165,950.

Plesuv also won €134,100 for sixth in the €10,000 event at the start of this festival. — HS

Pavel Plesuv

9:35pm: Er snags Malone in latest cooler
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

Zorlu Er and Stephen Malone can’t leave one another alone, and their latest skirmish, immediately on the back of the previous hand, has vaulted Er up to 8.27 million and sent Stephen Malone out in ninth. This was a huge cooler and it went in the favour of Er.

Malone opened to 275,000 from under the gun and Er three-bet to 975,000 from a couple of seats around. Malone then four-bet shoved and Er called instantly. (This was the first thing Er had done quickly all day.)

Here’s the reason:

Er: A♥ K♦
Malone: K♠ K♣

This was looking like the end of Er–he would have been left with 300,000–especially after the 8♦ turn followed the 4♦ 4♥ 2♥ flop. But the A♦ came on the river and it was Malone who span away in despair.

He marched out the door, devastated. And then, after he was called back so they could double check whether he was indeed covered, he got to march out the door again. He is now standing in the corridor not far from the media room, inconsolable.– HS

9:30pm: Malone gets a boost
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

The intriguing pots come early in the new level. Stephen Malone opened for 255,000 in early position which was called by Zorlu Er in the hijack, and Sebastian Malec in the big blind. The flop came 5♣ 10♦ Q♦ which was checked to Malone who bet another 475,000. Er called while Malec left them to it. The turn came 6♥ and Malone bet another 800,000, about half of what he had left. Er thought for a while, but folded. Malone up to 3.8 million. – SB

9:20pm: Playing for more
Level 30 – Blinds: 60,000/120,000 (20,000 ante)

They got a grand total of three hands in at the last level before the blinds did indeed go up. Thomas De Rooij raised and took it. Stephen Malone raised and took it, then Uri Reichenstein did it again. — HS

9:20pm: Postprandial action
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

They are back from dinner and will play four more minutes at this blind level, before blinds will go up for Level 30. — HS

8:05pm: Chips!
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Here’s the final redraw of this tournament, with stacks at the dinner break too:

Seat 1 – Uri Reichenstein, 4.58 million
Seat 2 – Stephen Malone, 2.37 million
Seat 3 – Thomas De Rooij, 7.865 million
Seat 4 – Andreas Chalkiadakis, 6.55 million
Seat 5 – Zorlu Er, 4.995 million
Seat 6 – Harcharan Dogra Dogra, 3.195 million
Seat 7 – Adam Owen, 14.985 million
Seat 8 – Pavel Plesuv, 2.9 million
Seat 9 – Sebastian Malec, 6.035 million

7:55pm: Dinner
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

With only four minutes left on the clock, the remaining nine players are going on a dinner break. We’re getting the single-table re-draw, and the chip counts, now. So hang on a minute before you boil a kettle for the Pot Noodle. — HS

7:50pm: Huge suck-out; Mortensen busts!
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

We’ve just had an enormous hand on the feature table that has taken us down to the final nine and sent Morten Mortensen to the rail in an absolute stinker. Adam Owen now has more than 15 million chips and is absolutely crushing.

Mortensen will feel sick, but this is how this game works sometimes.

Owen opened from the hijack to 230,000 and Pavel Plesuv called from the cutoff. Mortensen three-bet the small blind, making it 775,000.

Action made it back to Owen who bombed it. With the biggest stack in the room he can do that. Plesuv folded, but Mortensen had A♣ K♦ and called. This was a huge pot.

Owen had A♦ 10♦ , so was way behind, but the poker gods are shining on him today.

The flop was dry. It came 2♠ Q♥ 7♦ but the turn was the 10♥ . That catapulted him into the lead and, after the 5♣ came on the river, Mortensen’s doom was confirmed. — HS

7:45pm: He’s a good kid
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Iliodoros Kamatakis just popped over on his dinner break from the €10k to speak to his friend, Andreas Chalkiadakis. When the floor asked him kindly to remain a certain distance from the TV table, Kamatakis didn’t mind at all, leaving some kind words about his friend:

“My Greek friend there,” he said. “He’s tattooed, but he’s a gentleman. A good player, and a good kid.”

Chalkiadakis has just been moved back to the outer table to balance things out. –JS

7:40pm: Owen continues his masterclass
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Adam Owen is the tournament chip leader, and he’s dominating the feature table–albeit in near silence.

In his latest big hand, he opened to 225,000 from the cutoff and Morten Mortensen, who had been on his own roll recently, called from the big blind.

The flop came 7♥ J♦ J♣ and Mortensen checked. Owen bet 200,000 and Mortensen called.

Adam Owen: Bossing

The turn was the 3♥ and Mortensen checked again. Owen bet 450,000 and Mortensen called again.

That took them to the river of 3♣ and Mortensen checked for a third time. Owen emptied the clip. He bet 1.4 million, which put Mortensen into the tank for more than three minutes.

Mortensen folded eventually, and Owen increased his stack up to 9.6 million. — HS

7:35pm: Baron out in 11th place
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

We’re down to 10 in the Main Event after the departure of Alexandru Baron. Thomas De Rooij opened from the cut off for 225,000 before Baron shoved on the button for 1.3 million. De Rooij called showing A♠ 8♥ to Baron’s 5♥ 5♣ .

The board came 6♠ 4♦ J♥ A♥ 6♣ to send Baron out, while leaving De Rooij on 7.6 million. – SB

Alexandru Baron: The smile is now gone

7:20pm: Andrea Cortellazzi out in 12th (€81,700)
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

The curse has been broken, but it’s at Andrea Cortellazzi’s expense, I’m afraid.

He moved all-in from under the gun for 1.005 million and was called by the man to his left, Zorlu Er. Everyone else got out of the way, and the cards were flipped.

Cortellazzi: 6♦ 6♣
Er: J♠ J♣

The Italian would need either a six, diamonds, or straight cards to fall for him to survive, but in the end the 10♣ 4♥ 2♠ 10♦ 8♦ was no good. He’s off to collect his €81,700, and Er is busy stacking up just shy of five million in chips. –JS

Andrea Cortellazzi: The game is up

7:10pm: Pot to Malone
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Harcharan Dogra Dogra opened for 230,000 in late position. Zorlu Er called from the small blind and Stephen Malone did the same from the big. The flop came 2♦ 2♥ 6♦ , which was checked to Dogra Dogra, who bet 125,000. Er called, as did Malone for the 5♠ turn card. They all checked that, for the 6♥ river.

This time Er bet 500,000, which Malone called before Dogra Dogra folded. Er showed K♣ 7♣ but Malone’s A♥ 2♣ was easily ahead. He’s up to 2.5 million. Er meanwhile has around 3.75 million. – SB

Stephen Malone

7:10pm: Mortensen moving up
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Morten Mortensen has just moved up a couple of spots on the leader board after he got maximum value when he rivered a straight. Mortensen raised from early position with J♠ 7♠ and he was up against only Uri Reichenstein by the time they were at the river on a board of 10♠ 2♥ 9♣ Q♦ K♦ .

Moretensen bet 575,000 and a dispirited Reichenstein called but mucked. — HS

7:05pm: All deep
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

The smallest stack at the feature table sits in front of Morten Mortensen. But all things are relative. His stack of 4.355 million is still 43 big blinds.

The random table draw has actually landed the six biggest stacks in the tournament under the EPT Live lights. Everyone on the outer table has fewer than Mortensen.

Here’s how they line up on the feature table at the moment:

Adam Owen: 8.39 million
Andreas Chalkiadakis: 7.98 million
Sebastian Malec: 5.355 million
Uri Reichenstein: 4.645 million
Pavel Plesuv: 4.545 million
Morten Mortensen: 4.335 million

7pm: Don’t worry guys, you’re all safe
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

I’m starting to think that I really am cursed. Earlier Stephen Bartley said whenever I’m hovering by the outer table, nobody busts. A couple of hours later and…that’s still true.

Stephen Malone open-jammed for 1.315 million and it folded around to Andrea Cortellazzi in the small blind. He called all-in for 1.015 million, and the cards were flipped after Zorlu Er gave up his big blind.

Cortellazzi: A♣ Q♠
Malone: A♥ 7♥

OK, so the at-risk player did have the best hand, but whomever lost this one would either be out or left with only three big blinds (and in the big blind next, in Malone’s case).

But don’t worry guys, I’m here! The flop came the 9♥ 8♦ 8♠ , the turn the 6♠ , and the river the 6♦ to make it a chop. Twelve still remain, but I might not remain on the PokerStars Blog team if I keep this up. [He’s right to be worried–Ed.] –JS

6:50pm: Cortellazzi shoves twice
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Andrea Cortellazzi had only 525,000 – five big blinds – and moved all-in. Nobody called.

A couple of hands later he did it again, this time under the gun, and this time for 715,000. Again, nobody called, and Cortellazzi showed the A♠ . –JS

6:40pm: Dogra Dogra King King
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

It looked like a hand that might fizzle out. Harcharan Dogra Dogra raised to 200,000 from the small blind. Would Andrea Cortellazzi let his big blind go? No. He moved all-in with A♥ 10♣ only for Dogra Dogra to call with K♦ K♣ .

Harcharan Dogra Dogra, left, and Andrea Cortellazzi

There wasn’t much drama on the board, which came K♥ 5♥ 4♣ 9♣ A♠ to send the chips to Dogra Dogra, who now has 4 million, while leaving Cortellazzi with 650,000, or little more than six big blinds. – SB

6:35pm: Four bet for Mortensen
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Morten Mortensen has broken out the four-bet early on after the resumption of play. He opened to 225,000 from the button, watched Andreas Chalkiadakis three-bet to 550,000 from the small blind, then four-bet 1.225 million.

Chalkiadakis folded. — HS

Morten Mortensen: Four-bettor

6:25pm: Easy calculations
Level 29 – Blinds: 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Off they go in Level 29, where blinds are 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante) and finally it’s easy to calculate how many BBs players have in their stack. Enjoy it for the next 90 minutes. — HS

6:05pm: Another break

The level ends with Adam Owen leading on the feature table.

Adam Owen — 7,950,000
Andreas Chalkiadakis — 7,600,000
Uri Reichenstein — 5,645,000
Pavel Plesuv — 5,400,000
Sebastian Malec — 5,150,000
Morten Mortensen — 3,565,000

Full counts of the last 12 players coming up shortly. When play restarts blinds will be 50,000/100,000 with a 15,000 ante. — SB

6:02pm: More moves from De Rooij
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Thomas De Rooij made it 180,000 to play under the gun and got callers from the blinds Zorlu Er and Stephen Malone. The latter asked De Rooij how much he had behind, and the answer was around 3.4 million.

They all went to the 4♥ 7♦ 7♣ flop and it checked to the raiser. De Rooij continued for 210,000 and only Er stuck around. The turn was the A♣ and both checked, taking us to the K♠ river. Er checked, De Rooij made one last bet of 525,000, and that would give him the win. –JS

6pm: A slip for Malec
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

A pot between Chalkiadakis and Malec leaves the latter in fourth place. Chalkiadakis had been calling all the way as the board filled out 3♥ 9♠ 3♠ 5♥ A♣ . The ace on the river may have ruined things for Malec. Both players checked the river, with Chalkiadakis showing a winning A♠ K♠ to take a sizeable pot and move up to 7.6 million. – SB

5:50pm: Puchkov’s run ends in 13th
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Konstantin Puchkov is out, but somehow managed to play only a bit part in his own elimination. This looked for all the world like being a huge pot between Zorlu Er and Thomas De Rooij, but ended with Puchkov pretty limply departing the tournament room.

Er opened the pot, making it 185,000 to play, and Puchkov, one seat to his left, called from a stack of less than 900,000.

The next decision landed at the feet of De Rooij and he squeezed to 500,000.

The action came back to Er, where it quickly became inaction. Er looked at his cards a couple more times, then he asked the dealer how many chips De Rooij was playing. The dealer told Er that she wasn’t allowed to count them, so Er asked De Rooij how much he was playing.

“About one-point-seven,” De Rooij said.

Er nodded in apparent comprehension, then said, “About two million” suggesting maybe he hadn’t heard. No mind, he looked at his cards again, then very deliberately counted out what looked like being a raise. He put 2.5 million chips in a pile, stared some more at De Rooij, then shocked everyone by saying, “Fold.”

Only then did anyone appear to realise that Puchkov still had cards, and he then also started counting out his chips. The last World Series bracelet winner in the field called, leaving himself 250,000 behind.

Konstantin Puchkov

So they did see a flop after all. It was 3♥ 9♦ 2♠ and Puchkov pushed his last chips over the line. De Rooij called instantly and Puchkov’s K♥ Q♠ had always been in trouble against De Rooij’s A♣ K♠ whatever way they played it.

The 3♠ turned and the 5♠ rivered and that sent Puchkov to the rail.

Er is still the table captain with close to 5 million. Not so long ago he was stalling for pay jumps and now he’s the tournament leader.– HS

5:35pm: De Rooij picks one up
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Thomas De Rooij opened to 180,000 and Zorlu Er – who is definitely the most active player right now – called, before checking in the dark. The flop came down 7♦ 2♦ 3♠ and De Rooij continued for the same amount, 180,000. Er asked for De Rooij to move his hand so he could get a good look at his stack, which sat 1.98 million strong. Er folded. –JS

5:30pm: It’s a cruel game
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

If you’re watching EPT Live you’ll have seen the brutal nature of Mikhail Molchanov out in 14th place.

He was all in with K♥ K♦ and got called by Pavel Plesuv with 9♠ 9♦ . And things looked pretty good for him on the K♠ 10♥ 2♠ flop. Then the Q♣ turn, and the J♦ on the river. A straight for Plesuv and a harsh departure for Molchanov, out in 14th to collect €69,170. – SB

5:26pm: Holozlu busts next hand
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Having lost that majority of his stack to Harcharan Dogra Dogra on the last hand, Alisan Holozlu has handed the rest to Zorlu Er.

Er opened this pot, making it 165,000 from the hijack. Holozlu moved all in from the small blind for 980,000 total.

Er took a few moments, then called.

Er: A♠ 6♠
Holozlu: A♠ 6♠

The flop left Holozlu drawing thin. It came A♣ 3♠ 4♦ . The turn gave him a glimmer of hope: Q♣ . But the 2♥ river was terminal. Holozlu departs in 15th and wins €69,170. – HS

5:23pm: Big hand no cards
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Adam Owen three bet to 800,000 from the small blind, Uri Reichenstein four bet to 1,175,000 from under the gun plus one before Owen five bet shoved, forcing the fold from Reichenstein. No cards shown, but that hand leaves Owen with 8.4 million chips. Reichenstein drops to 4.5 million. – SB

5:20pm: Dogra style!
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Harcharan Dogra Dogra just picked off a huge river bluff from Alisan Holozlu, leaving Holozlu extremely short and doubling his own stack. Dogra Dogra had top two pair, so it wasn’t a hero call or anything, but the unheralded Spanish player is now a big mover. He doubled. That’s Dogra Dogra Dogra Dogra!

Dogra Dogra opened to 180,000 and Holozlu called from the big blind. They both checked the flop of 9♦ 5♥ 7♠ but then Holozlu bet 200,000 at the Q♠ turn. Dogra Dogra called.

The K♠ came on the river and Holozlu shoved, covering Dogra Dogra. Dogra Dogra instantly called, and Holozlu turned over 10♣ 8♠ . He had a gutshot draw on the flop, but pure air on the end.

Dogra Dogra had about 1 million chips in his stack at the end, so he now has abour 2.3 million. Meanwhile Holozlu is in trouble. — HS

5:18pm: From Twitter last night
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Friday, August 26th 2016 was the best day of my life so far and by far. In two days it might be the 3rd.

— Sebastian Malec (@GM_Malcev) August 27, 2016

5:15pm: AnothEr winnEr for Er
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Not much has happened on the outer table since play re-started, but there was a quasi-interesting hand to report. Alexandru Baron kicked it off with an open to 175,000, and only Zorlu Er would call.

The pair went to the 2♥ 4♣ Q♠ flop and Er check-called the same bet, 175,000. Then both decided to check the 8♠ turn. Finally the 5♦ landed on the river and Er put four fingers in the air, also announcing “four.” He tossed in the 400k in four black chips and Baron didn’t take too long to call. He’d muck though when Er showed him the Q♣ 10♥ . –JS

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5:10pm: Zeitoun gone
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Jean-Jacque Zeitoun goes out in 16th place. He shoved under the gun for 495,000 with A♣ K♣ . Sebastian Malec was in the small blind, found K♠ K♥ and called.

Zeitoun asked Malec whether he wants to be beaten by an ace or a flush (he chose flush) and on the flop of 5♦ J♣ 8♣ it looked a distinct possibility. But the turn came 7♥ and the river 8♦ to send him to the rail. – SB

4:55pm: Redraw details
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

They have now done the redraw for the final two tables. Here’s how the last 16 line-up.

Feature table:

Seat 1 – Adam Owen
Seat 2 – Mikhail Molchanov
Seat 3 – Pavel Plesuv
Seat 4 – Uri Reichenstein
Seat 5 – Morten Mortensen
Seat 6 – Jean-Jacques Zeitoun
Seat 7 – Andreas Chalkiadakis
Seat 8 – Sebastian Malec

Outer table:

Seat 1 – Alisan Holozlu
Seat 2 – Thomas De Rooij
Seat 3 – Alexandru Baron
Seat 4 – Harcharan Dogra Dogra
Seat 5 – Andrea Cortellazzi
Seat 6 – Zorlu Er
Seat 7 – Konstantin Puchkov
Seat 8 – Stephen Malone

They will now play down to nine, at which point they’ll reassemble at a “last” table. Then they’ll try to get to eight, for the “final” table. Then they’ll try to get to six, for the “who knows what this is called” table. — HS

4:50pm: Yet another double for Cortellazzia
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

“You’re bad luck Jack,” Stephen Bartley told me. “Every time you cover an all-in hand the player doubles up instead of busting.”

Best to ignore this one then.

Andrea Cortellazzia has doubled up once again, moving all-in for 1.08 million and getting called by his nemesis at this table Andreas Chalkiadakis. The Italian had the Q♣ 10♠ and would need to hit against the Greek’s 9♦ 9♥ .

And hit he did – twice. Once on the 10♥ 6♠ 7♦ flop, and once again on the K♠ Q♦ turn and river. Cortellazzia is up to 2.34 million now, while Chalkiadakis drops to 4.93 million. –JS

4:40pm: Down to 16
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Down to 16 after Nuno Capucho gets unlucky, all in with A♦ 3♦ against the A♣ 3♣ of Thomas De Rooij. If we haven’t telegraphed what happens next enough, the board ran 2♣ 6♥ 6♣ 2♦ 7♣ to send Capucho out and the last 16 into a redraw. – SB

Nuno Capucho: Out with the same hand

4:30pm: Er finds no reason for hesitation (again)
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

In a tournament from which almost all familiar names have now been eliminated, Pavel Plesuv is approaching star billing. He made a final table at the beginning of this festival, in the first €10,000 event, and so is practically a household name compared with many of his present adversaries.

He just lost this pot, however, handing just shy of 400,000 of his chips to Morten Mortensen.

Plesuv raised to 175,000 from the hijack and Mortensen was the only caller in the big blind. After the flop fell 4♥ 2♥ 7♦ , Mortensen check-called Plesuv’s bet of 200,000.

They both checked the 5♥ turn and then the 6♠ came on the river. Mortensen bet 275,000 and Plesuv folded. — HS

4:20pm: Er finds no reason for hesitation
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Despite a name that suggests hesitation, Zorlu Er is no longer the most ponderous at his table–although it’s a close-run thing. All of Er, Jean-Jacques Zeitoun and Stephen Malone are taking a long time over every decision, keeping one eye on the pay-jumps, and it’s slow-going on Table 2.

Er just slipped into aggressive gear, however, and I don’t mean he just put on a bear-suit. After Alexandru Baron opened to 175,000 from under the gun, Er called to his left and Zeitoun called in the small blind.

The J♦ A♥ 9♥ came on the flop and after two checks, Er bared his teeth with a bet of 425,000. His two opponents folded.

That’s about as exciting as it has been on that particular outer table since the most recent tournament break. — HS

4:15pm: Chips at the start of the level
Level 28 – Blinds: 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

3:57pm: 20 minutes break

It’s break time in the Main Event. There are 17 players remaining and they’ll be a redraw at 16. — SB

3:56pm: Now it’s Plesuv’s turn to get lucky
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Wow, two double ups from behind in quick succession. This one was more stomach-turning though.

Pavel Plesuv

Morten Mortensen opened to 140,000 and Simon Lofberg made the call. Pavel Plesuv then shoved for 1.12 million and it folded back to Lofberg who snap-called, showing the K♠ K♦ . Plesuv could only muster the 3♠ 3♣ .

The 5♣ A♣ 9♠ flop was bad for the at-risk player. So was the Q♦ turn.

But the 3♥ river was the miracle Plesuv was hoping for. He doubled up and then some, while Lofberg dropped to 1.65 million. –JS

3:55pm: Cortellazzi gets a double
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Andrea Cortellazzi handed almost all of his chips to Andreas Chalkiadakis not too long ago, so it;s only fair that the Greek give a little back, right?

Cortellazzi shoved for 450,000 under the gun with the 6♦ 9♠ and Chalkiadakis called with the A♠ 8♥ . Not even the eight on the turn could beat Cortellazzi’s flopped pair of nines, and the Italian doubled to 1.05 million. –JS

3:50pm: Turning well
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Presumably Andreas Chalkiadakis has seen enough of Konstantin Puchkov’s play this week to know that he doesn’t always tell the truth. Even when Puchkov is outright admitting that he has a big hand, Chalkiadakis wasn’t having it.

The two of them saw a flop, turn and river after Chalkiadakis raised his button and Puchkov called from the big blind. The board read 6♥ 5♦ 4♣ 8♦ 3♠ and Puchkov bet 475,000.

“The turn was very good for me,” Puchkov said as Chalkiadakis pondered the call. He even pointed at the 8♦ but way of confirmation that that was the card he was talking about.

Then Chalkiadakis called and Puchkov tabled his J♦ 7♦ . The turn was very good for him. Chalkiadakis mucked. — HS

3:45pm: Malec back in front
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Chalkiadis held the chip lead for about five minutes. It’s now safely back in Malec’s hands after he won a pot against Molchanov, showing K♥ 8♦ on a 8♣ 8♥ Q♥ 4♥ K♦ board to take his stack up to 7,795,000. — SB

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3:40pm: Huge pot gives Chalkiadakis the chip lead
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Well that got out of hand fast. Andreas Chalkiadakis’ 130,000 open was called by Simon Lofberg and Pavel Plesuv, and the action was on Andrea Cortellazzi. He looked at what was already a healthy pot and decided he’d give it a good squeeze, making it 500,000 to go out of the big blind.

Back to Chalkiadakis then. He wasn’t done with this one, four-betting to 1,025,000, and getting Lofberg and Plesuv to fold. It was back on Cortellazzi, and you know what happens next.

He jams.

It was a huge five-bet shove which just had Chalkiadakis covered, and the Greek went into the tank. “I’ve never folded kings at this stage of a tournament,” he said, not really to anyone, but with his eyes firmly placed on Cortellazzi.

Then, suddenly, he slammed down a call. He did indeed have the K♠ K♣ , and that was beating the Italian’s 10♥ 10♠ .

The 5♦ 8♣ 4♥ flop didn’t bring a sweat. Neither did the 5♣ turn. Only two cards could do it, but the 5♥ river meant the kings were still in front and secured Chalkiadakis the huge double up.

He’s up to 6.54 million which is the chip lead right now, while Cortellazzi is crippled, left with jusT 375,000. –JS

3:25pm: Er… wait. He… what?
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

I’ll be honest. I thought Zorlu Er was going to fold after Michael Addamo moved all-in for 900,000. He went through his usual routine. Check one card. Check the other. Spin them round. Check them both together. Look up. Think for a few seconds. Fold.

But he only went and called.

The thing is there was no showdown at this point. Because Addamo had decided to keep 10,000 back, which confused Er and a few others before we noticed. The flop came 10♥ A♣ 6♣ . No pause this time from Er who bet 10,000. Then followed a moment to raise the eyebrows.

Michael Addamo

Addamo didn’t do anything. It seemed like a formality, toss in the last 10,000 and hope for the best. But no. Addamo stared at the board for more than a minute before Adam Owen decided sanity should prevail and called the clock. Half way through Addamo had decided that maybe he should call, and gave up his last two chips, joking that he had top set, but turning over 2♥ 2♦ . Er showed J♣ J♠ .

The turn and river came 5♠ 5♥ to put the hand out of its misery and send Addamo to the rail. – SB

3:20pm: New chip leader. Just
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Uri Reichenstein has taken the chip lead in this tournament, cold four-betting big on the feature table to edge him above Sebastian Malec.

Thomas De Rooij opened to 130,000. Alisan Holozlu three bet to 295,000 from the button and Reichenstein cut out 850,000 from the small blind and both opponents folded. — HS

3:10pm: Dogra Dogra pays off Chalkiadakis
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Picking up the action on a Q♦ 7♦ 2♥ flop, Harcharan Dogra Dogra check-called a bet of 155,000 from Andreas Chalkiadakis to see a 9♠ turn, which both checked.

Harcharan Dogra Dogra

When the 2♣ river hit the felt Dogra Dogra checked once more, and then faced a big bet of 500,000. After a little pondering Dogra Dogra made the call, but mucked when the Greek player showed the A♠ A♦ for pocket rockets. Dogra dropped to 810,000, while Chalkiadakis moved up to 3.6 million. –JS

3:05pm: You don’t need anymore luck
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Olli Autiö is out in 19th, slamming his A♠ Q♣ into Uri Reichenstein’s A♦ A♣ . He had 1.44 million behind in the cutoff, but Reichenstein woke up with the bullets in the small blind.

The board bricked. It came 2♣ 10♦ 8♥ 2♦ 4♣ and Autiö departed. He began to offer his good luck around the table, but then stopped short of offering it to either Sebastian Malec or Reichenstein, who are now the two biggest stacks.

“You don’t need any more luck,” Autiö said.

2:55pm: Er? Chop
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Zorlu Er was all-in again. He is now getting some cards and getting his chips in the middle. But his ace-king was matched by an ace-king in Michael Addamo’s hand and it was a chop. — HS

Zorlu Er

2:45pm: Unconventional Autiö confounds nanonoko
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Olli Autiö just picked up a decent pot after playing K♥ Q♠ in a tricky fashion despite a short stack.

Uri Reichenstein opened from the cutoff, making it 135,000 to play. With only about 1.3 million behind, Autiö called on the button and Thomas De Rooij called in the big blind.

In the EPT Live commentary booth, Randy “nanonoko” Liu was surprised. He thought Autiö could only shove or fold, but then guesses that maybe he was sitting with either aces or ace-ten.

If that had been true, Autiö will have loved the 10♥ 2♣ A♦ flop. And he will have liked Reichenstein’s bet of 150,000 too. Autiö called and the plot thickened. (De Rooij folded.)

The Q♦ came on the turn and both players checked it. Then the 3♣ came on the river and both players checked again. That’s when Autiö showed his K♥ Q♠ and it was good. — HS

2:35pm: Chimkovitch out in 20th
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Anthony Chimkovitch’s tournament has come to an end. He shoved on the button for a very clearly stated 590,000. Morten Mortensen was in the big blind and called immediately showing A♦ K♦ . Chimkovitch turned over J♥ 9♥ .

The flop was of the interesting sort 10♣ 9♥ Q♠

The turn came A♥ to put Mortensen back in front, albeit while Chimkovitch had options. But the river card 10♦ sealed his fate. He departs in 20th place while Mortensen moves up to 4,075,000. – SB

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2:27pm: Malone gets early double
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Stephen Malone was nursing a short stack for all of the last level and it was only 690,000 when this one started.

Stephen Malone

He got it all-in very early, with J♠ 9♠ , and found a call from Mikhail Molchanov, who had A♦ Q♠ .

It looked bleak for Malone when flop and turn came 5♦ 2♣ 6♣ 3♠ but a nine popped out on the river to save him. — HS

2:25pm: Big ante
Level 27 – Blinds: 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Off they go in Level 27, posting blinds of 30,000/60,000 and a monstrous 10,000 ante. — HS

2:05pm: Owen takes more, eating into the break
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

There are a lot of things that poker tournament staff and media dislike. We’re a miserable bunch in the main. Near the top of that list you’ll find “Hands That Go On Into The Break” and it really does often feel as though it’s a conspiracy to rob us of that precious 20-minute down time.

Of course, you could argue that whinging about it for five minutes isn’t going to make things better, and you’d be right. But there you go, I’ve written it now.

This hand played out into the break between Zorlu Er and Adam Owen, with Owen taking it down to add to his superb end of level. This was the hand directly after Owen doubled up and it earned him another 750,000 chips.

Er started it, opening to 130,000 from the hijack. Owen called in the hijack and Jean-Jacques Zeitoun called in the big blind too.

Zorlu Er and Adam Owen play out a big one

The flop came Q♥ 6♠ K♦ and Zeitoun checked. Er bet 220,000 and Owen raised to 575,000. That was too rich for Zeitoun (although he didn’t seem entirely pleased to be forced out) but Er called.

The 9♦ came on the turn. Er checked, then Owen bombed it. He moved all in, covering Er’s 1.25 million by some distance.

Er eventually folded, showing Owen the K♣ . Owen didn’t wait long to pile up his chips. He scooted away for what was left of his break.

Full chip counts to follow shortly. — HS

2pm: Hectic play as level concludes
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

A busy spell at the end of the level. First Zorlu Er doubled. After Mikhail Molchanov opened for 110,000, with calls from Alexandru Baron and Pavel Veklser, Er jammed for 830,000. Molchanov would call with K♣ Q♣ against Er’s A♥ 5♥ . The board ran 6♥ 2♠ Q♥ A♠ J♥ , the turn rescuing Er who doubled to 2 million.

Zorlu Er

Moments later Simon Lofberg was shoving again (the fourth time in about 15 minutes). He was in for 585,000 which Andrea Cortellazzi called.

Lofberg A♣ 10♣
Cortellazzi 3♥ 3♠

The board ran 2♦ Q♣ 7♥ 5♥ 7♣

Lofberg sensed his tournament was over on the flop and stood ready to leave. He was right. He’s out in 22nd place while Cortellazi now has in the region of 4.5 million.

Shortly after Veksler would join him on the rail.

He opened for 110,000 which Adam Owen raised to 375,000. When Veksler then shoved, Owen called turning over K♣ K♥ . For Veksler Q♠ A♦ .

10♥ 2♦ 6♦ 6♠ 4♣

Nothing to help Veksler who, after a count to confirm (he was all in for 2.2 million), was declared out in 21st place. Owen meanwhile has close to 5 million. – SB

1:45pm: Vogt won’t
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Stefan Vogt was knocked out from the feature table about half an hour ago. He turned two pair with his K♣ 10♣ on a board of 10♥ 9♥ 8♦ K♥ but was already behind Uri Reichenstein’s Q♦ J♣ . Vogt didn’t hit any of his outs on the river, and he perished in 23rd for €41,220. — HS

Stefan Vogt: Out in 23rd

1:40pm: No callers for Lofberg
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Simon Lofberg has shoved his short stack at least twice in the previous orbit and got folds all the way around on both occasions. It was about 365,000 the first time and a little more afterwards.

Simon Lofberg: Battling to stay afloat

1:35pm: 100K value-bet
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Michael Addamo opened to 125,000 from the cutoff and Jean-Jacques Zeitoun called from the button, as did Alexandru Baron from the big blind.

The three of them took a look at the K♦ 2♥ 10♠ on the flop and both Baron and Addamo checked. That allowed Zeitoun to bet 135,000 and only Addamo was interested in carrying on.

Both remaining players checked the J♦ turn and they then saw the 3♣ come on the river. Addamo was first to speak and he put out the smallest bet of the hand: 100,000. Zeitoun couldn’t resist and called.

Addamo showed his Q♣ Q♦ and Zeitoun mucked. — HS

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1:25pm: Plesuv’s good start continues
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Plesuv has doubled up, continuing his solid start to the day. He and Simon Lofberg got their chips in, Plesuv calling for his tournament life with A♦ Q♣ against Lofberg’s K♣ Q♠ .

The board ran 3♥ A♣ 9♣ 3♦ 5♣ to double up the Moldovan, who now has 2.7 million. Lofberg drops to a perilous looking 450,000. – SB

1:20pm: Molchanov shoves
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

On a flop of Q♥ 7♥ 2♠ a serious pot was building between Michael Addamo and Mikhail Molchanov. With the action checked to the 6♠ turn Molchanov, playing out of the big blind, bet 275,000 which Addam (button) called for the K♦ on the river. Molchanov checked, Addamo bet, and then Molchanov moved all-in.

Cue some thinking time, followed by a call.

K♥ 10♠ for Addamo
K♠ Q♣ for Molchanov

Addamo, who not long ago had more than 4 million chips, now drops to 1.7 million. Molchanov meanwhile is back up to 3.5 million. – SB

1:10pm: Keeping it slow
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

There was a small chance that the field today could find the collective accelerator pedal and that we would shed 10 or so players fairly quickly. But that is far from the case, and probably the opposite is true. This has been a very slow opening hour of play.

Indeed, Zorlu Er just found himself on the wrong side of a player revolt at his table. It seemed some of his opponents considered that he was taking too long to make pre-flop decisions, which usually ended in him folding his cards. The tournament officials asked him to expose a hand he tank-folded. When that turned out to be 3♠ 2♣ , the suspicions were someway confirmed.

Er didn’t receive a penalty and I’m not even sure whether he got an official warning, but one hopes the knowledge that suspicion is now on him will hasten things.

It would be wrong to single out Er, however. With many of the last 23 deep in a tournament of this nature for the first time, they are making sure they take as long as is necessary to ponder all aspects of their decision-making.

It’s also become the case that a three-bet pre-flop often ends the hand. On one table, Adam Owen opened to 110,000 from the cutoff and then folded when Michael Addamo three-bet the big blind to 385,000. On the other table, Andreas Chalkiadakis opened the cutoff to 110,000 and Morten Mortensen three-bet the button to 280,000 and Chalkiadakis folded.

One hand did make it to the river. Mikhail Molchanov opened to 110,000 from under the gun and Addamo called from the small blind.

They both checked the A♥ 6♣ 5♠ flop and then Addamo check-called Molchanov’s bet of 110,000 on the A♣ turn. After the 5♥ river and another check from Addamo, Molchanov’s bet of 230,000 took it down. — HS

1pm: More ammo for Addamo
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Michael Addamo just won a sizeable pot against Alexandru Baron. Addamo opened for 120,000 in middle position which Baron raised to 325,000 from the button. Addamo then called for a 7♦ 10♥ 6♥ flop which was checked both ways. On the Q♣ turn Addamo bet 450,000 to force Baron to fold. Addamo moves up to 4.1 million while Baron has 2.3 million – SB

12:45pm: Ruzicka railed
Level 26 – Blinds: 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Despite the confrontation with Andrea Cortellazzi that cost him a lot of his chips, Vojtech Ruzicka remained busy on one of the outer tables. But it didn’t help. He is now out.

Ruzicka won a small pot in a battle of the blinds against Cortellazzi when he bet an ace-high flop and, galvanised, he open-raised his button on the next hand, making it 110,000 to play. Cortellazzi again seemed interested, asking Harcharan Dogra Dogra, who was in the big blind, how much he was playing before committing anything to the pot.

Dogra Dogra said that he had a million, but Cortellazzi was sceptical. There was clearly a lot more than that in his stack. They established that it was a little more than 1.3 million and Cortellazzi folded.

Dogra Dogra, however, called and they took a flop of 6♣ 5♠ 7♣ . Dogra Dogra checked, Ruzicka bet 120,000 and then Dogra Dogra sprung some kind of trap. He raised to 320,000.

Ruzicka counted down his own chips a couple of times, establishing that he had another 750,000 behind, or 870,000 in total. He shoved.

Dogra Dogra now wanted a count but, having got it, called pretty quickly and showed a flopped straight with his 3♦ 4♠ . Ruzika wasn’t dead yet, though. He had outs with his 6♦ 8♦ .

Vojtech Ruzicka: Rotten flop

But he whiffed turn. That was the 10♦ . And he whiffed river. That was the A♦ . Ruzicka becomes the first man out today, finishing in 24th, and can now focus again on the WSOP Main Event final table, where he is due towards the end of October.

The consolation is that he now doesn’t have to play a cards-up final on the eve of the biggest day of his life, a fate that would have befallen him had he survived today. — HS

12:25pm: Great start for Owen, takes two in a row
Level 25 – Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

The UK’s Adam Owen is certainly one of the most accomplished players left in the field. A mixed-game specialist with multiple deep runs at this year’s World Series Of Poker, as well as several wins in UKIPT side events, he’s hit the ground running today (although going by the pace of play, it’s more a slow jog).

In the first hand he played, Alexandru Baron opened to 90,000 and got a call from Zorlu Er in the small blind. Action was on Owen in the big and squeezed to 325,000, which shook off Baron but got a call from Er. The flop came down 5♥ 4♠ 5♥ and Er checked. Owen took a good look at Er’s short stack (850,000 behind) and announced all in. Er folded.

The very next hand Owen limped from the small blind after it folded to him and Stephen Malone checked his option. They saw a 4♣ 6♠ 3♥ flop and Owen led for 45,000 which was called, so the dealer burned and turned the 10♣ . That went check-check and a J♦ river fell. It wouldn’t inspire any more betting, and after both checked Owen showed the K♦ 3♦ and the pair of threes were good.

Owen is up to 2.7 million, while both Er and Malone are on 850,000. –JS

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12:20pm: Flying start
Level 25 – Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

With a flop of K♥ 9♣ 6♣ on the table, Vojtech Ruzicka and Andrea Cortellazzi got the day off to a flying start.

Pavel Plesuv played a supporting role. He checked to Ruzicka who bet 180,000, the first of three bets, each of which was delivered with conviction. Cortellazzi was in the seat next to him and was next to act. He took his time though, occasionally looking up at Ruzicka to see him staring at him, as if waiting for an answer to his question. For the first time in this hand Cortellazzi tank called. Plesuv’s part in the story was over.

The turn came 9♥ .

Ruzicka went to his stack again, 365,000 this time. Cortellazzi looked at his cards again. He sniffs from time to time, breathing through his mouth. It gives him a look of almost complete exhaustion, mental if not physical. His hair looks like it has been pulled at, his face rubbed a lot. You’d think the poker table was the last place this guy should be. Still, he called.

The river card: A♣ .

Ruzicka looked fierce more than anything. Again, he wasted no time going to his stack, betting 430,000, this time with brute force.

The dealer turned to Cortellazzi and told him the size of the bet, like an act of compassion. Cortellazzi leaned back to go through his ritual think, looking up, down, always exhausted, as if the hand itself had taken every ounce of his strength. He lined up the chips it would take to call, leave himself 1.8 million behind. After so long without a decision you expect a fold, but despite all the fidgeting, the rechecking, the breathing, he called, tossing a single chip into the middle.

Ruzicka 9♦ 10♦

Cortellazzi 6♠ 6♦

Ruzicka had managed a grin before the call, but by now he wasn’t smiling. The dealer pushed the pot to Cortellazzi whose expression didn’t change as he stacked up what would amount to 4.1 million.

What did Ruzicka look like? He’d just lost a million chips. How would you look? – SB

12:25pm: Puchkov folds kings
Level 25 – Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

An interesting hand here on the feature table, where Konstantin Puchkov opened to 85,000 from under the gun and picked up calls from both Nuno Capucho in the cutoff and Olli Autiö in the big blind.

Everyone checked the flop of J♦ A♠ 7♠ and then Autiö led for 140,000 on the 3♥ turn. Puchkov called, but Capucho folded.

The 8♣ completed the board and Autiö bet again, this time 260,000. An agonised Puchkov sigh-folded pocket kings face up. — HS

12pm: Startling diversity
Level 25 – Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Play is now under way on Day 5. Robin Scherr, our cousin from the German wing of PokerStars Blog, took a few moments away from drinking pilsner and managing his time efficiently to share this startling fact with us this morning: there are 21 different nationalities represented among the 24 players remaining in this tournament. None of them are from the United States. That is a pretty remarkable stat and I’d be amazed if such diversity has been represented before by the final three tables of any poker tournament. — HS

11.45am: Three tables to one
Level 25 – Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Table 1, which features the chip-leader Sebastian Malec, is going to be the feature table for the first part of today. You can watch along on EPT Live. The best place for all the outer table action is right here with us.

Don’t forget, the bare minimum we need to happen today is that we reach a final table of eight players and the clear target is that only six are left. Who knows what time that will be.

They will be resuming this afternoon in Level 25, with only about 20 minutes on the clock, but will quickly move into Level 26, where blinds are 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)– HS

10:30am: Loooooong day ahead

Good morning all and welcome back to Barcelona for Day 5 of the €5,000 EPT Main Event. As you are no doubt weary of hearing, this is an enormous poker tournament, meaning huge stacks and a lot of play. Tournament organisers added an extra level to play yesterday in a bid to get us down close to a manageable number coming back for the penultimate day, and we reconvene this afternoon with 24. Review how it all played out.

The idea is to get down to six players, but I suspect they would settle for eight. There probably won’t be a fixed finish time announced until they know exactly what the likelihood is of finishing with few enough to sit around a final.

The chip counts at this stage are as follows (the seat draw is on the seat-draw page):

You can see the dominant young Polish player, Sebastian Malec, at the top of the tree. He was unstoppable yesterday, but today is another day.

Sebastian Malec: Leading the last 24

Play begins at noon. And as for the €10,000 High Roller, that’s another matter entirely. You think the Main Event is big? You should see that one.

All eyes on the last 24

Take a look at the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for EPT13 Barcelona and the rest of the season.

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

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

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