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Despite the heat that traditionally goes with a TV set, both Juan Maceiras and Torsten Brinkmann are wearing high-necked sweaters into which they sink like turtles whenever involved in a hand. Maceiras is only visible from top-of-nostril upwards when he's in the action, while Brinkmann looks like he's in disguise. Any banter between these two will be somewhat muffled.
Andrew Li raised to 165,000 with 1.4 million back from the button and Tobias Brinkmann wanted to do something in the big blind, but elected to fold.
Andrey Daniluk raised to 175,000 from the hijack, Team PokerStars Pro Alex Gomes (who hadn't played a hand yet) moved all in from the big blind, Daniluk gave up very quickly and the Brazilian goes played one, won one.
Andrew Li open-shoved and everyone folded.
We're only seeing the backs of the cards as the finalists warm up. Juan Maceiras picked up Andrey Danilyuk's big blind by raising him from the small, then Andrew Li threebet all in over Eugene Yanayt's cutoff raise to 160,000 (no call. Finally, Torsten Brinkmann gave up his preflop minraise when Ivan Freitez in the big blind made it 380,000.
UTG, Team PokerStars Pro Juan Maceiras raised the first hand to 180,000 and won the blinds and antes.
Chip leader Ivan Freitez raised to 175,000 and Juan Maceiras called to see our first flop of 
which both players checked. The 
came on the turn and Maceiras led out 240,000 but Freitez made the call to see the 
river. Maceiras now fired 350,000 and Freitez thought about making a raise and then folded instead.
First blood to the Spaniard.
Level: 28
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 5,000
From 11pm (CET) the final table of the EPT will be shown with hole cards (on a two hour delay) on the following channels:
• Germany: Sport 1 - 23.30-03.30 CET (German commentary)
• Netherlands: RTL7 - 01.30-End of play CET (Dutch commentary)
• Spain: Antenna3 - 01.45-04.45 CET (Spanish commentary)
• Russia: TV3 - 23.00-03.00 CET (Russian commentary)
• Romania: Sport.ro - 23.00-03.00 CET (Romanian commentary)
• Slovenia: Sport TV - 23.00-03.00 CET (Slovenian commentary)
• Belgium (North): Jim - 23.30-End of Play (Dutch commentary)
• Belgium (South): Plug RTL - 23.30-End of Play (French commentary)
• Canada: The Score - 17.00-22.00 ET (English commentary)
• PokerStars.tv: 23.00-End of play (English, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, Italian)
Unable to get access to the players before play, Sarah decided to chat with poker player and sister of Juan Maceiras, Maria Maceiras.
Thanks to Mad Harper and PokerStars for the player profile work!
The players are in their seats, chips ready for action. The final day is always a little slow to get going, the streaming being set up etc. and bloggers are rail-distance away from the players so we're on hold until the shuffle up and deal.
Seat 8: Alex Gomes, 28, Curitiba, Brazil - Team PokerStars Pro – 1,670,000
Team PokerStars Pro Alex Gomes is in a unique position to become only the third ever winner of poker’s “Triple Crown.” The 28-year-old Brazilian already has a WPT victory under his belt (Bellagio Cup, 2009, $1,187,670) and a WSOP bracelet ($2,000 No Limit, 2008, $ 770,540); now he needs an EPT title to become only the third member of poker’s most exclusive club.
Only four years ago Alex was fully set on a career as a lawyer. He played poker at home with friends but was committed to his career and was already a partner in a corporate law firm. However, once he started playing online poker he was soon winning big money, including first place in the Wednesday Hundred Fifty Grand for $65,333.
Eventually he turned pro – a decision which brought rapid rewards. First he took down the $2k NLHE event at the 2008 WSOP, for $770,540; then he joined Team PokerStars Pro and only weeks later came fourth at the first LAPT event in Punta del Este, in Uruguay.
Gomes, who came 33rd at last season’s EPT Grand Final, earning €35,000, is a keen sportsman and plays soccer regularly, as well as supporting his local team, Curitiba FC. He plays online as 'Allingomes'.
Seat 7: Torsten Brinkmann, 27, Osnabrück, Germany – 1,875,000
Economics student Brinkmann has been playing poker since 2006 and is a regular in heads-up cash games, as well as the Sunday tournaments on PokerStars. He also plays live in his home casino in Osnabrück.
His best online result was runner-up in a $215 WCOOP event, for $193.620, in 2009, losing heads-up to Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand ElkY Grospellier. His best live finish was first place at the €1,000 Twente Classics Enschede, for €33,480.
This is his third EPT. He cashed last season at EPT Berlin in 88th place for €12,000. Brinkmann is being railed in Madrid by his girlfriend Natalie Hof, one of the last six contestants left in the German poker talent show “Das PokerStars.de Ass” which is airing now in Germany.
