Jan Skampa opened the pot with a raise to 100,000 from under the gun. Joao Silva made the call in the small blind, and Pierre Neuville came along from the big blind as well.
The three men watched the flop come out , and the blinds checked. Skampa kept the heat on with a continuation bet of 175,000. Silva announced a reraise to 551,000 straight, and Neuville quickly mucked. Skampa wasn't going anywhere though. He announced, "I'm all in," with his hands behind his chip towers, and Silva instantly called.
Showdown
Skampa:
Silva:
It feels like Day 4 all over again with another big-pair-versus-big-pair cooler. Skampa was poised for the knockout, having his opponent covered.
The turn was the , changing nothing. And the filled out the board, locking up the pot and the knockout for Skampa. Silva made a full house, but it wasn't good enough. He's been ousted in 5th place, taking close to €80,000 for his work here in Vilamoura. The Portuguese favorite was sent off with a huge ovation and hugs and high fives all around.
Pierre Neuville made it 90,000 to play from middle position, and he found action from big blind Antonio Matias. The flop came out , and Matias took the betting lead. He slid out 100,000, and Neuville put in the call with no delay.
The turn card brought the , and Matias pushed another bet of 100,000 out across the line. Neuville didn't want to go any further and kicked his cards back to the dealer.
By the by, we are beginning to feel a little sorry for all the non-Portuguese final tablists still in the running. Every time Joao Silva or his compatriot Antonio Matias wins a hand, the entirely Portuguese rail explodes with joy. Deathly silence reigns at all other times.
Jeff Sarwer button-raised to 90,000; big blind Joao Silva called. Come the flop, though, Silva checked, and a simple 95,000 bet from Sarwer was enough to push him off.
Jan Skampa made it 110,000 from the button and Antonio Matias called out of the big blind to see a flop; Matias checked. Skampa bet 135,000, and back to Matias, who spent some time considering his move. Eventually he raised, dumping a stack of chips in the middle which turned out to total 385,000. Skampa folded in a second.
Joao Silva opened to 100,000 from middle position, and Pierre Neuville called on the button. Jeff Sarwer came along from the big blind as well, and it was a three-way flop.
It brought and a check from Sarwer. Silva continued out with 165,000 chips, and Neuville had already mucked at the mere thought of that bet. Action was back on Sarwer now, and he took his pause. He and Silva exchanged a short chat and a few smiles before Sarwer made the minimum check-raise to 330,000. More smiles from Silva and more quick conversation before Silva surrenders his cards.
Pierre Neuville raised to 95,000 and picked up a call from Jan Skampa behind.
They saw a flop and Neuville bet out 135,000. Call.
They saw a turn as well and now Neuville bet out 300,000. Skampa, though, announced a raise all in. Neuville folded more or less instantly, and Skampa took the pot.
From the button, Antonio Matias open-raised to 93,000 before Michel Abecassis quickly moved all in for 344,000 from the big blind. Matias would tussle with the decision for a minute or two before making the call with a chance to knock out a player.
He showed down , and Abecassis was looking for his to hold up and double him. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, the flop brought to put him in the hole. The on the turn gave him another two outs to hunt for, but the blank filled out the board.
Abecassis got it in good, but he could not fade Matias' outs. He has been sent home in 6th place, taking home more than €60,000 for his fine efforts this week.
Jan Skampa made it 90,000 from the button and Antonio Matias made the call from the big blind.
They saw an flop and Matias checked, spinning a single chip around on the felt like a man who does not play much live poker. Skampa continuation-bet 120,000, and it was enough to take the pot.
Jan Skampa raised to 95,000 in the hijack, only for Jeff Sarwer in the cutoff to make it 227,000. It folded back around to Skampa, and after a while he folded too.
Skampa evened the score a few minutes later, though, when he limped in on the small blind. Sarwer in the big blind raised to 110,00 - but very quietly and withe the absolute minimum of fuss, facial expressions and the like, Skampa announced all in. Sarwer passed.