Ouch | 2009 PokerNews Cup Alpine

As I neared table three, I noticed Georgi Gochev all in and clasping onto his cards as if they were gold dust. Meanwhile, Kenny Hallaert and Trevor Neufeld were busy creating a side pot, Neufeld leading the way with a bet of 6,000 into a flop of {8-Hearts}

.

Neufeld hesitated momentarily, as if contemplating a call, before surprising everyone and moving all in. A befuddled Hallaert dropped his head into his hands.

As Neufeld remained statuesque under pressure, Hallaert counted out the necessary chips and hovered them around the line, torturing himself in the process. After a good couple of minutes of teasing, he eventually announced that he could be making a bad call, and pushed the chips over the line.

"Good call," complimented Neufeld as he revealed {10-Clubs}

. Hallaert flipped over {K-Spades}

. But it was the short stack who had the goods, Gochev was surprised as anyone to see his {A-Diamonds}

ahead of both opponents.

As the {7-Spades}

turn was dealt, there were a few slight gasps, some perhaps even enjoying the mere threat of a cruel bad beat. But, in the end, that threat became a reality when a gut-wrenching {9-Hearts}

hit the felt, and those slight gasps soon turned into a chorus of wows and winces.

As Gochev left the table, a stunned Hallaert returned to his now 8,500 stack, his head still shaking from the defeat.

Tags: Georgi Gochev Kenny Hallaert Trevor Neufeld