2009 World Series of Poker Europe

£10,000 WSOPE Main Event
Day: 5
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker Europe

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
1010
Prize
£801,603
Event Info
Buy-in
£10,000
Prize Pool
£3,340,000
Entries
334
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
15,000

Break Time

The Powers That Be have given up all hope of a speedy conclusion to this, and have sent the heads-upsers on break. Back in 20.

All the Numbers and Letters Starting to Swirl

So many flops are coming down in this heads up match, but so few get past one or t'other of these two betting them that they're starting to feel like a card patchwork or a flop simulator of some sort. Bearing in mind that no more than three big blinds will have changed hands per flop in this list, and that the balance of chip power has in no way altered, here are some flops for you, just to fill in the time I've spent watching and recording and give you an idea what I mean:

{2-Diamonds} {A-Hearts} {10-Hearts}
{2-Diamonds} {2-Hearts} {2-Spades}
{10-Diamonds} {6-Spades} {8-Clubs}
{K-Clubs} {9-Hearts} {3-Spades}
{6-Spades} {6-Hearts} {3-Hearts}

What's Going On In Here?

Attention has been diverted a little from the tournament, as a) Jason Mercier has shown up and all the cameras decided they'd rather follow him than the heads-up match, b) a gentleman in the crowd seemed to be filming the proceedings and had to be ejected (it looks like security ejected the wrong guys, but what can you do), and c) the play for some time has consisted of, as Djinn put it, "A long list of flops."

We'll let you know as soon as anything more worthy of note happens, or Mr. Mercier says something funny.

Pace Frantic, but Stacks Static

Hands are rocketing past at speed which would be surprising online. So frequent are the flops-to-rivers checkdowns, or check most of the way and then bet-fold, that it's hard to get them down in order or pick the most interesting ones.

For example, Barry Shulman just check-raised 250k on a {A-Spades} {7-Diamonds} {3-Hearts} flop, called by Negreanu. They both checked the {3-Clubs} turn, but Negreanu folded to a bet out by Shulman on the {Q-Spades} river.

This hand took about as much time to play as it did to type at top speed - I've rarely seen heads up players storm through hands like this.

Tags: Barry ShulmanDaniel Negreanu

Shulman Cracks Negreanu's Aces to Double Up and Take the Lead

Negreanu raised his button and Shulman reraised. Call.

Flop: {6-Hearts} {8-Hearts} {K-Diamonds}

Shulman bet out -- and Negreanu announced all in. Instacall.

Shulman: {A-Hearts} {5-Hearts}
Negreanu: {A-Clubs} {A-Spades}

Turn: {2-Hearts}

The crowd exploded with various shoutings.

River: a sad {A-Diamonds} as if to mock Negreanu

Shulman enjoys a full double-up and is now in possession of three quarters of the chips in play. Negreanu meanwhile is left with, obviously, one quarter.

Tags: Barry ShulmanDaniel Negreanu

Not Quite the Second Nuts for Negreanu

Another pot heads over to Negreanu who check-raised Barry Shulman 400k on a {3-Spades} {7-Diamonds} {5-Spades} flop. Shulman, who'd bet around 170k (hard to see from this angle and I think someone's turned the volume on Jack Effel's mic down), made the call. They both checked the {A-Spades} turn, but on the {4-Spades} river Negreanu came out betting -- 580k. This large final bet went uncalled, and Negreanu was left wondering, "Should I have gone in on the flop?" and showing his {K-Spades} {K-Diamonds} for a very nice hand indeed.

Tags: Barry ShulmanDaniel Negreanu

Shulman Back in the Game

Shulman bet out on an {8-Clubs} {3-Hearts} {6-Diamonds} flop and Negreanu duly called.

Shulman checked the {8-Clubs} turn and now Negreanu bet in position -- but Shulman announced all in and Negreanu was put to a decision. He squinted hard at both the board and the impassive Shulman, while the crowd went wild at the rail. After a few tense moments, though, the crowd were disappointed -- Negreanu folded, and Shulman is back up to 4 million or so up against Negreanu's 6 million.

A few moments later and Shulman picked up another 300,000 or so after his {J-?} {9-?} came out good on a {K-?} {4-?} {Q-?} {J-?} {3-?} board with little action.

Tags: Barry ShulmanDaniel Negreanu