First Morning Poker of week 3 and five players were eager to win a chip upgrade of 1000 chips for Friday’s final. Already in the first blind level 10/20 Charles almost had to say Goodbye after loosing an all in with 10s/Qs against Antar’s 5/K who hit a straight.
Next level 20/40 it was on Martin to double up. Hannes raised pre flop 200, Martin reraised up to 600 and Hannes called for the flop: A/5/9. This time Martin bet 500, Hannes reraised 2000 and Martin went all in – Hannes called with 8/A vs Q/A. The turn 8 was in favour for Hannes. But the river 9 turned the tide! But Hannes was still alive with 310 left to play.

Blinds at 30/60. Pre flop Hannes took heart and went all in. Nadi and Antar called. Hannes with 6/J, Antar with J/7 and Nadi with Ducks (2/2) in his hands. Again, flop and turn 8/5/6/3 were in favor of the Austrian. But the 7 on the river killed his hopes. Goodbye Hannes! First player down.

Blinds 50/100 and we had the next decision. Charles went all in pre flop 790 and Martin called. Charle’s Ajax (A/J) vs Martin’s Maverick (Q/J). The board came down with 6/9/10/7/8 and the Maverick stroke with a Queen high straight kicking Charles off the table.

Meanwhile blinds were at 200/400. The flop showed 5/2/4 and Antar went all in. Another French battle, Martin called. Showdown! Antar with a Big Slick in his hands against J/8 by Martin. On the turn K, Antar hit the pair and the river five was the last nail in Martin’s coffin.

Heads up between the newcomer Nadi (2510) and Antar (12490), the PokerIsland veteran. First Hand, Nadi raised 800, Antar reraised all in and Nadi called with Ace-little (A/3) vs Antar’s A/10. In the end, the board showed Q/K/2/4/Q and our veteran won the first upgrade! Congratulations Antar! 

It was the final of week 2. Five players were battling for the final table end of July. Gregor, Harald and Jurij with 5000 chips, Denis with 6000 (+1000 chip upgrade) and Jorn with 7000 (+2000). It’s no surprise if i tell you, the game was really tight. Like the whole week. But I eat my hat, if these players kept on like this. To put a long 90 minutes short: we had four showdowns and three of them were straights.

Then finally, the game heated up and surprisingly we had the first decision. Blinds were 100/200. Flop and turn came down with 6/7/9/K and Jurij went all in with 1440. Gregor called. Jurij with King Kong (K/K) vs Gregor’s American Airline (A/A). The river 4 didn’t help Gregor and Jurij hit K trips. But Gregor was still alive with 1600. Next hand, next blind level 150/300. Gregor went all in and again he played again against the Slowanien guy. This time Jurij with pocket A and Gregor with the German Virgin (9/9). Already on the flop Jurij hit the trips (A/2/7 - /J - /6) and Gregor was the first to say Goodbye!

The players recovered. It took a while till the game speeded up again. Blinds were 300/600 and all in sudden we had the next decision. Jurij on the small blind went all in with 3030 and Jorn called. What a bluff: Jurij with 9/10 but Jorn with J/J. The cards weren’t on Jurij’s side. 4/8/3/K/2 and the Slowanien guy had to leave!

Meanwhile the blinds were 400/800 and Jorn (6/4) was smashed by trips of 6 with Q kicker by Denis. Next hand Jorn (J/10) went all in and this time Harald called with pocket 9. Trips again (A/4/6/7/9). Again against Jorn. And the former chipleader Jorn had to say adieu.

Heads up between Denis (16760) and Harald (11240). Blinds were at 500/1000. Harald raised pre flop 2500 and Denis called. On the flop K/5/6 both checked. Then on the turn 9, Denis bet 2000 and Harald called. Same story on the river 7. So showdown! Denis hit the straight with J/8 and Jorn just threw away. Blinds at 600/1200 and the final hand took place. Harald on the small blind went all in with A/4 and Denis called with Q/J. So let’s see the flop: Q/J/3. A flop from space for the French. The turn J almost killed the Austrian but the river 7 finally sealed his fate. Congratulations Denis! Good luck in the final!