Updates from level 17 of EPT Vilamoura, brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Howard Swains and Simon Young.

Blinds: 3,000-6,000 (500 ante)

5.45pm: Action flop you think?

The flop was already out reading [ks][jh][qh] and in a flurry of action Matt Johns and Nicolo Calia had all their chips in the middle with the former just covering the latter. It was a cooler flop too as Calia held [kc][kd] for top set to John’s [9h][th] for a straight with a re-draw to a straight flush. The turn came [4s] and river [2c] to bust Calia and give Johns a finishing stack of 374,000.

This exit means we’re down to 24 players which is the magic number that ends today’s play. A full chip count and a wrap of today’s play will be on the way soon.

5.30pm: Sousa takes chunk from Johns

A sickener for Matt Johns. He has just doubled up Ricardo Sousa with [ac][kh] versus Sousa’s [ks][kd]. Sousa raised pre-flop to 14,000 from the hijack; Johns made it 30,000 from the button, Sousa made it 74,000 and Johns shoved. Sousa called for his entire 316,000 stack and the board came [6d][4h][2h][3c][qh]. Sousa doubles to 650,000 approx, while Johns is down to around 180,000.

In better times, just before the bubble, Johns and his fellow American PokerStars qualifier Jim Collopy talked to the video blog team. Here’s what they had to say:

5.25pm: Snap call

Dutch Team PokerStars Pro Ruben Visser opened with a raise to 14,000 from the button. Alexey Yuzikov was sat in the big blind and seemed to have a difficult decision but after a while decided an all-in push for around 120,000 was the right choice. Visser snap called him and quickly saw his [ad][9h] was in good shape against the Russian’s [ah][4h] and it stayed that way through the [ts][8h][2h][3c][2d] board. Visser up to 760,000 now.

5.15pm: Heitmann out in battle of the Jans

It’s time for Unhappy Jan, unfortunately, as Jan Heitmann has been eliminated by Jan Skampa. They got it all in pre-flop:

Heitmann: [js][qs]

Skampa: [9c][9h]

“That’s better than I could have hoped for,” said Heitmann, who was covered by Skampa. But the board ran [10d][4d][ks][kc][kh] and that was enough to bust him and shoot Skampa up to around 390,000.

“It’s been a pleasure playing with and against you,” said the German Team PokerStars Pro as he headed for the cash desk.

5.10pm: Back in the right direction

Jeff Sarwer has stopped the bleeding of his stack and is up to 620,000. Mohamed Razab started proceedings with a raise to 15,000 from early position, Luis Rodriguez then juiced it up a bit with a three-bet to 44,000 but it got even more interesting when Sarwer four-bet to 111,000. Razab moved out of the way but Rodriguez moved all-in for another 85,000 with [ad][qc]. Sarwer called with [ah][kh] and he was very happy to see it hold up through the [9c][kd][3c][8h][qh] board.

5.05pm: Pirbazari floored

Amir Pirbazari is out. Tome Moreira bet 15,500, and Pirbazari moved all in for around 160,000. Insta call from Moreira, and here’s why:

Moreira: [ad][as]

Pirbazari: [ah][kh]

The board ran [9h][5d][4c][7d][6s] and we’re a man down. Moreira is up to 360,000.

5pm: The Heitmann emoticon

As we’ve mentioned plenty of times before, but bears repeating, photography is prohibited in Casino Vilamoura, which means our photographer Neil Stoddart has had to grab players during their breaks to take portrait-style snaps. It unfortunately means we can’t really get the flavour of the action in pictures, and we get no action shots. Undeterred, the Team PokerStars Pro Jan Heitmann has just helped us out by posing for three pictures: happy, sad and cool, allowing us to make sure we’ve got a picture for all occasions.

At the moment, he’s still in the tournament, but keep an eye out for the changing Heitmann emoticon through the day to determine his current state.

Or, the smaller versions:

4.55pm: The short term

Tobias Reikenmeier’s level 17 didn’t last long. He got his 130,000 stack in pre-flop against Antonio Matias, but the German’s [ad][kh] was in trouble against the Portuguese’s [kc][kd]. He was left calling for a seven on the river when the board came [5s][8c][4c][6d], but the [8d] was not it. Reikenmeier is out and Matias is close to half a million.

4.50pm: Patriotic people

“Yes yes yes,” came the cries from some of my colleagues. I already knew an Italian had won a pot before I reached the table to see for myself. Marco Della Tommasina 49,000 stack was over the line sitting along side his holding of [td][th] and the hand stood up against Amir Pirbazari’s [kc][jc] on a [9c][5s][4d][qd][6d] board. Pirbazari stacked knocked a little to 195,000.

4.45pm: Franklin minted

Ryan Franklin opened for 15,000 on the button. Jeff Sarwer was waiting in the small blind and raised to 42,000. Franklin looked miserable, ummed and ahh’d before moving all in for another 120,000 or so. Sarwer called but didn’t count on Franklin showing [as][ac]. Sarwer had turned over [ad][td].

“Oh really?” he said as Franklin showed his hand. “I didn’t think you had aces.”

The board ran out: [4c][6h][tc][2d][jh]

“Nice hand,” said Sarwer. “Good time to get aces on the button. Oh well…”

Sarwer’s earlier surge seems to have faded. He’s down now to 460,000. Franklin on the other hand is back up to 340,000.

4.40pm: Rino Mathis takes down side event

New Team PokerStars Pro member Rino Mathis has taken down the €1k Pot Limit Omaha side event at EPT Vilamoura for a first prize of €15,932, writes Mad Harper.

Only an hour after busting out of the Vilamoura Main Event on Day 2, Rino – who joined Team PokerStars Pro just before EPT Barcelona – took his place for the two-day PLO event.

There were 45 entries in all and eight players made the money, including Dutch pro Marc Naalden and American Jonathan Aguiar. Rino, 37, a former chess and backgammon player, hails from Uster in Switzerland. His biggest result so far was third place at the 2002 Master Classics of Poker for €96,000.

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

Updates from level 15 of EPT Vilamoura, brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Howard Swains and Simon Young.

Blinds: 2,000-4,000 (400 ante)

4.30pm: End of the level

That says it all.

4.25pm: Matt looking glossy

The PokerStars qualifier Matt Johns added a lot of yellows to his stack. On a board of [ad][3h][jh][9s] he made it 50,000 and was re-raised by Luis Rodriguez in the big blind who made it 120,000. Undeterred Johns asked how much he had and shoved all-in for another 103,000. Rodriguez thought about it, glancing occasionally at the clock showing 33 players remaining, but passed. Johns up to 460,000 chips now.

4.25pm: Boatman sunk

Ross Boatman has been riding some turbulent waves today but has now capsized. Aurelien Guiglini started it off, raising from early position, then Jude Ainsworth and Boatman renewed their acquaintance. Ainsworth re-raised, Boatman moved all in for about 120,000, Guiglini folded but Ainsworth called. The Irishman’s A-K stayed good against Boatman’s A-Q. Boatman is off to walk the harbour; Ainsworth is up to about 320,000.

4.20pm: Heitmann clubbed

Jan Heitmann got it in good with [as][js] against Guillaume Da Silva’s all-in with [4c][10c]. Things are never that simple, however, and the [jc][8c][4s][qc][4d] board rather summed that up. Heitmann still over 120,000 though.

4.15pm: A new name

Andrei Vlasenko is regularly getting involved, taking down a small pot from Michel Abecassis, and then seeing off both Ricardo Sousa and Pierre Neuville on the next hand. That one was the more interesting: Sousa made it 11,500 from mid-position and Neuville called from his left. Vlasenko re-raised from the small blind, making it 8,500 more, which both Sousa and Neuville called. The flop came [2s][5h][4s] and Vlasenko bet 37,000, which was enough to get rid of Sousa. Neuville asked for a count, was shown that Vlasenko was playing something like 200,000 and made the call. The turn was [9d] and Vlasenko moved all in. Neuville folded.

4.10pm: Still sailing

Ross Boatman didn’t wait long to get the last of his chips in. It was folded around to him in the cut off his moved all in for 27,000. Olaf de Zeeuw called from the next seat as did Aurelien Guiglini one more seat along. The flop came down [5h][7c][2h] before Guiglini led out for 38,000 forcing De Zeeuw to fold pocket sixes face up.

Guiglini opened [7h][7d] for top set and Boatman was in deep trouble with [jc][js]. He didn’t have to fret for long though as the [jc] was the very next card out before the river came [2s] to triple Boatman up.

4.02pm: Ainsworth worth more

Jude Ainsworth just doubled up through Ross Boatman. Garcia Cayetano got things going, raising to 13,000 from the button. Ainsworth moved all in over the top from the small blind and Boatman then said he was all in from the big blind. Cayetano showed [10c][7c] for the steal gone awry, but he wouldn’t have been in terrible shape against Ainsworth’s [4h][4c] and Boatman’s [ah][qh]. The flop came [2h][8s][3d] and the [10d] brought a small yelp from Cayetano. The river was [6h] meaning Ainsworth doubled up, plus a little bit more. The all in was for 92,500, so he has more than 200,000 now.

4pm: Franklin up, Sarwer down

The action was folded to Ryan Franklin in the small blind who bet a bit which Jeff Sarwer called in the big. The saw a flop of [8c][jd][2s] which Franklin checked. Sarwer went for his chips and made it 21,500 which Franklin called for a [ts] turn. Both checked that and on the [8h] river Franklin checked again. Sarwer made it 30,000 which Franklin called fast, showing [ad][tc] to take the pot. “Oh well…” said Sarwer.

3.55pm: Mattsson Busted

It was folded around to Stefan Mattsson on the button who pushed all in for his last 42,500. After a count Aurelien Guiglini called only to see Mohamed Razab move all in behind him for another 83,000, a move that prompted him to fold. Mattsson was in it deep as his [jd][2d] needed a lot of help against Razab’s [kc][kd] and it didn’t come on the [qc][ks][5s][4c][2s] board.

3.45pm: Pirbazari accounts for Wendt

Amir Pirbazari and Martin Wendt got it all in pre-flop. Wendt had about double Pirbazari’s 110,000 stack, but was behind in terms of hands. Wendt showed [ah][js] but was behind Pirbazari’s [as][ks] and the [7s][2s][6s] flop was emphatic. It got worse for Wendt soon after. He got it all in again with pocket nines and Pirbazari was the only called. Pirbazari had pocket fives but the flop came, well, it came five high. Wendt is gone.

3.40pm: Barbosa again

Messing with Joao Barbosa is not to be recommended. See xxpm post for proof and this little exchange for corroboration. Barbosa raised to 11,000 from mid position and Ryan Franklin re-raised to 31,000. Barbosa didn’t take long to move all in over the top and that was too rich for Franklin, who let it go.

Two massive pots played out simultaneously in neighbouring tables. On the first, Berney Frankfort moved all in under-the-gun for 47,100 and Jan Heitmann called two to his left. It was folded around to Santiago Terrazas in the small blind, who moved all in over the top, for 140,000 more. Heitmann thought long and hard but folded, and Terrazas showed [10s][10c] to Frankfort’s [7d][7c]. “That’s the one hand I didn’t put him on,” said Heitmann, saying that he too had folded pocket tens. The board ran out [ad][qs][3d][6c][ac] to eliminate Frankfort and put Terrazas north of 200,000.

At the very same time all this was happening, Manuel Cadilhe was all in pre-flop and Michel Abecassis had already called, comfortably covering Cadihle. Johan van Til also had some money committed to the pot and he too eventually called, even though Abecassis also had him covered and he probably figured things were looking bleak. Indeed they were, Van Til had [ah][kh], Cadihle had [7d][7c] but the biggest stack also had the biggest hand: [ac][ad]. The board came [kc][5c][2h][8s][jc] and Abecassis sent two of them to the rail and brought his stack up to about 520,000.

3.35pm: Video!

Here’s how the video blog team set up the day:

3.30pm: Lucky Barbosa

Chip leader Jeff Sarwer raised to 13,000 from early position before Joao Barbosa moved all in for 110,500 from the big blind. Sarwer snap called with [jc][js] and was in great shape against Barbosa’s [kd][9s]. The board ran [qs][4s][7d][4c][ks] to see Barbosa spike a king on the river to double through.

3.25pm: Quick fire shoves

Ryan Franklin moved all-in, 46,000 in total, but got no takers while Patrick O’Connor, a PokerStars qualifier from Ireland, is on his way to the cash desk. Alexey Yuzikov tried an all-in with no takers while Javier Garcia did the same on a board reading: [9d][6d][td][7h][jc] Matt Johns had the decision, with 100,000 in the middle. It was 113,500 to call but Johns passed this time. More players are busting though, we’re down to 40 and Jeff Sarwer’s table is the next to break.

3.20pm: Facts

This appeared in the last level but it’s still relevant now. Here are some notable observations now we’re in the cash:

Updates from level 14 of EPT Vilamoura, brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Howard Swains and Simon Young.

Blinds: 1,500-3,000 (300 ante)

1.28pm: Break time

That’s the end of the first level of day three. Players get a fifteen minute break.

1.27pm: Choppy waters

Team PokerStars Pro Johannes Strassmann was down to around 60,000 and looking to get busy. He bet 7,700 pre flop and only the chip monster that is Antony Lellouche from the small blind looked interested. So much so that he re-popped to 20,500. Strassmann moved all-in, Lellouche called, and the result was a bit of a let down:

Strassmann: [ad][kh]

Lellouche: [as][kd]

The board failed to produce one of those horror flushes, running a harmless [8c][7s][7d][jh][5d].

1.26pm: Another one bites the dust

This time it’s Vishal Pundjabi who got his marching orders, accounted for by PokerStars qualifier Pierre Neuville. Neuville had raised pre-flop, Pundjabi moved all in for his last 50,000 or so, and Neuville called.

Pundjabi: [ac][qc]

Neuville: [10h][10c]

The board? [3c][kc][8d][2d][jd]. Neuville up to around 250,000.

1.25pm: Get it quietly son

Claudio Coelho has been very vocal throughout the tournament and he was no different after he went all in for an over raise of 70,000 from under-the-gun and was looked up in the next seat by Dutch Team PokerStars Pro Ruben Visser. Visser tabled [jc][jd] and this prompted Coelho to shout “Vamos, vamos” as he tabled [qc][qd]. A little premature celebration maybe but his hand stood up through the [2h][3h][9d][kd][9c] board. Cue more and loader cries of “Vamos”.

1.22pm: Collopy wallops Lebedev

Jim Collopy raised to 7,200 under-the-gun and Sergey Lebedev, in the hijack, made it 17,200. It was folded back to Collopy, who asked for a count and then called when Lebedev showed him two towers of yellow chips. The flop was [ac][10d][as] and both players checked. The [3h] turn was checked too, as was the [kd] river. Collopy showed his hand first: [kc][jc] and Lebedev peered skyward and mucked. Jacks?

1.20pm: Despair for Jesus as arch rival Gabriel casts him out

Jesus Sanchez bet pre-flop and was called by Gino Gabriel for a flop of [qs][9d][ah]. At this point Sanchez pushed in with [8c][8s] for the remainder of his stack, now less than half of the 170k he started with. Gabriel called showing [ad][8d]. A [9h] on the turn, [9c] on the river. Sanchez out.

1.16pm: Sarwer soaring

Jim Collopy opened for 7,200 from early position getting calls from Jeff Sarwer in the small blind and Marco Paulo Orlandi in the big. The flop came [8s][ks][4c]. Sarwer checked, as did Orlandi. Collopy then threw out 10,700.

“You were supposed to check that back,” said Sarwer smiling, before re-raising to 27,200. Collopy said nothing, but was grinning. Orlandi folded, so did Collopy.

1.15pm: Heitmann slays Slotboom

Team PokerStars Pro Jan Heitmann picked up 140,000 chips by eliminating Rolf Slotboom. The Dutchman made it 7,000 from the cut-off, but Heitmann made it 25,000 from the big blind. Slotboom was having none of it, re-re-raising to 69,000. Heitmann quickly announced all-in having Slotboom well covered. He counted his remaining chips – 66,200.

“Kings are winning,” he said. “Mind you, queens are winning too,” he added to laughs all round, more or less confirming his hand was jacks.

Heitmann replied: “I’m feeling even more confident now!”

Slotboom made the call, turning over [jd][js] and begging the dealer to produce at least one more jack because Heitmann tabled [ac][as].

The board ran dry: [kc][8h][2c][7h][4h], and Slotboom, after shaking the hand of all those at the table, was out. Heitmann, meanwhile, moves up  to a menacing 230,000.

1.10pm: Bullies

This is the day when the big stacks become the bully boys – and tend to get away with it. Jeff Sarwer, who has the biggest of them all, raised to 7,000 under-the-gun and picked up Jesus Sanchez on the button. The flop came [7c][3c][5h], which they both checked. Then the turn was [7d]. Sarwer bet 7,000, Sanchez called, and the river was [jh]. Sarwer bet 21,000 and Sanchez let it go.

Across the room, Ruben Visser was playing a similar game. Santiago Terrazas was his sole opponent, with the turn already out. The board read: [3s][kc][ks][3h] and after Terrazas checked, Visser bet 35,000. Terrazas called. The river was [10c] and now Terrazas checked again. Visser moved all in, covering the Spanish player by the odd 200,000. Terrazas didn’t fancy putting his tournament on the line and let it go.

1.06pm: Drescher downed

Daniel Drescher didn’t manage to get two double ups in a row and therefore has been eliminated. Joao Barbosa was the man who took care of him after calling the all in bet of 17,700 with [qh][th] from the big blind. Drescher had pushed with [as][9d] and the board came [7h][2d][tc][7c][5c] to pair Barbosa’s ten.

1.01pm: Up and down for De Zeeuw

Alexandre Brail just doubled up, getting it all in pre-flop with [qc][qh] against Olaf De Zeeuw’s [3d][3s]. A queen flopped and although back-door diamond flush potential appeared on the turn, it didn’t fill on the river and Brail feels his way to about 90,000 with De Zeeuw clinging onto about 20,000.

Actually scrap that, De Zeeuw got his short stack in moments later, with [ah][qd], called by Ross Boatman and his [6h][6d]. An ace flopped, doubling De Zeeuw back up.

1pm: Jesus wept

Sergey Lebedev just doubled up against Jesus Sanchez. Lebedev had pocket deuces and had called Sanchez’s shove with [4s][ts]. The board ran out: [qd][5d][5c][6s][8h].

12.58pm: Stand clear of the keyboard player

Filipa Lemos, singer in Portuguese band Santamaria, which we’re reliably informed are massive this side of the Portuguese border, just doubled up also. Again, this is based on the man identified as her keyboard player, leaning over the rail to rub her head in delight.

12.57pm: Cheery Garcia

Javier Garcia just doubled up, nay, tripled. We missed the action but were able to piece things together based on how happy or how sad the players involved were looking. There were queens, kings and nines turned over on the table and a queen on the flop. Garcia looked really happy, Goncalo Santos really sad and Ryan Franklin annoyed. He’d had the kings.

12.56pm: Positive thinking

Thomas Kremser was standing alongside Jeff Sarwer’s table where the Canadian has around 600,000 stacked up in front of him on three levels. “Just one day to have that many chips,” said Kremser, who can play a bit. “One day…”

Sarwer’s only problem when he woke up this morning was how to stack so many chips.

“That’s the dream,” he added. “To make a bet like this…” At which point Kremser mimed reaching up above his head to take chips from a stack seven feet tall.

12.55pm: The shorties do battle

Daniel Drescher moved in for his last 10,200 from under-the-gun and managed to make all fold except Ryan Franklin who felt he was priced in to call even though it represented a bigger portion of his stack than he would’ve liked. Dresher tabled [ts][8s] and was up against Franklin’s [5s][2c] and the board ran [as][4s][8s][4c][th] to double Dresher up to 25,000. Franklin has little more on 29,000.

12.45pm: I’ve got nothing, what about you. Oh, nothing too

Jan Skampa and Luis Rodriguez got to a flop of [2h][2d][kd], with Skampa in the cut-off and Rodriguez on the button. Skampa bet 8,000 at it and Rodriguez called. The turn was [js], which both checked, and the river was [8h] which Skampa also checked. Rodriguez bet 13,500 and Skampa called quickly. Rodriguez tapped the table and mucked his cards. Skampa mucked too. So no information for patient reporters, but a pot of around 40,000 for Skampa.

12.40 pm: Slow then fast

A four-way limped pot brought a [3c][6s][4s] flop. The blinds checked to Garcia Cayetano in the under-the-gun-seat who led for an over bet of 23,000. Olaf de Zeeuw was next to act and made his move with an all in bet. The blinds quickly folded and Cayetano called all in with [9c][9d]. De Zeeuw opened the very drawing [as][5s] but it failed to hit through the [jd] turn and [3h] river. The Spaniard is up to 150,000, the Dutchman down to 52,000.

12.30pm: Too cute

Ruben Visser opened pre-flop to 7,000 and Alexey Yuzikov and Rumen Nanev both called. The flop was [10c][5d][5c] and they all checked. Things got a little suspicious on the [6c] turn as Nanev bet 10,200, Visser called, as did Yuzikov. The river was [ks] and Nanev bet 25,000, which was enough to get rid of Visser. But Yuzikov was going nowhere and moved all in for about 140,000 more. Nanev called, as well he might with [5s][6h] for the turned full house. But he was sent spinning out of the tournament when Yuzikov showed his [10d][10h] for the bigger boat.

12.32pm: Blackout

Andy Black is out. Nobody actually saw how it happened and even the accounts from players at the table were sketchy, but by and large Black was moving in hand after hand, trying to recover some of yesterday’s momentum, but came up short.

12.30pm: Collopy moving up

Vishal Pundjabi opened for 8,000 which Jim Collopy called for a flop of [jc][tc][js]. Pundjabi checked to Collopy who made it 9,500. That was called and a [ks] fell on the turn. Again Pundjabi checked, as did Collopy before the [th] river card. Check again from Pundjabi before Collopy bet 12,700. Pundjabi called but got nothing for it when Collopy turned over[kh][8c]. He’s up to 220,000.

12.25pm: Pay up

Rolf Slotboom just doubled up with aces against the pocket sevens of Rogerio Sousa. There was nothing on the board to improve either hand but things weren’t quite that straightforward. Sousa had been told it was 41,000 to call when in fact it was 43,000. This involved the floor being called and a long explanation from Thomas Kremser. Sousa wasn’t happy but had to pay. Slotboom up to around 150,000.

12.20pm: Vamooooos!

We’re getting near the money which means the volume has been turned up a massive amount. André Moreira was the first to give himself a celebratory “Vamooos!” when he called with [4s][4d] on the board of [6h][5s][5h][jc][9d]. His opponent, Amir Pirbazari, had been caught at it with [2h][3c], betting about 20,000 into a pot of at least double that.

Moments later, Claudio Coehlo scaled similar volumes with his celebration after taking a pot on Ruben Visser’s table. I’m hoping it wasn’t just the blinds and antes otherwise it’s going to be a loud day.

12.15pm: Kravchenko’s day is done

Another one of the overnight short stacks, Alex Kravchenko, got it all in pre-flop with king-queen. Ross Boatman called with A-K and the board offered no help to the Team PokerStars Pro. Kravchenko is the first player to bust today; we’re down to 68.

12.10pm: Back to Black

Andy Black left the casino last night after losing almost everything he’d had, from more than 200,000 to 19,000 in one potentially glorious last hand. He’s back today though, his war face on, and just got the start he wanted, and needed. He open shoved with [th][9d] getting called by Manuel Cadilhe with [kd][ts]. The board ran: [ks][8s][js][8h][7c] giving Black the straight and some welcome chips.

12.05pm: Bubble business

Of course, one more thing to keep us entertained today: it will be bubble time this afternoon in Vilamoura. Forty-eight players will be paid, which means we’ll be going hand-for-hand at 49. Take a quick glimpse at the prize structure over at the prizewinners and payout structure page.

12pm: New day

Welcome back everybody to Vilamoura and day three of the inaugural EPT event on the Algarve. Today’s target is very simple: we need to cut the remaining 69 players down to the 24 who will sit around the final three tables.

Leading the charge are Jeff Sarwer and Antony Lellouche, who each bagged close to 500,000 chips last night and are ahead of the Team PokerStars Pro Ruben Visser, Ljubomir Josipovic, Martin Wendt and Luis Rodriguez.

We’ve seen countless times how quickly things can change. Stick with us today. We’re expecting the usual fireworks, suckouts, bust-outs, beats and MS Paint.

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

Updates from level 13 of EPT Vilamoura, brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Howard Swains and Simon Young.

Blinds:

Level 13: 1,200-2,400 (200 ante)

7.30pm: Done for the day

That’s it for day two at EPT Vilamoura. Jeff Sarwer is tonight’s chip leader with 545,900, well ahead of the other 70 players going into day three. A full wrap up of today’s action is on the way. In the meantime check out the latest chip counts.

7.25pm: Sousa safely into day three

On a flop of [7c][3h][4c] Ricardo Sousa made it 7,000 which Jeff Sarwer made 9,300 more. Sousa meant business and re-raised another 58,000. Sarwer just grinned.

“Serious about business, huh?” then passed.

“You had a good hand,” said Sarwer, “not nothing…”

Sousa up to 112,000.

7.20pm: Black goes from hero to almost zero

Andy Black, who was sitting on more than 200,000 a short while ago, just lost just about all of it in an extraordinary last hand that shot Ruben Visser to the near chip lead.

First Nicolo Calia raised to 11,000 from early position, then Black called, but Visser re-popped to 40,000. While Calia got out of the way, Black quickly announced all-in, and Visser called in a flash.

Black had been caught very much “at it”:

Visser: [ac][kd]

Black: [9d][10s]

Whoops! The board ran [8h][qc][5s][3h][8c], and Team PokerStars Pro Visser successfully dodged the bullets and doubled up to 389,000.

Black? He was left with just 19,400 to play with tomorrow. Ouch.

7.15pm: Closing stages

Tournament Director Thomas Kremser has just announced that, with 15 minutes remaining on the clock, we will play five more hands and call it a day.

7.05pm: Up or down?

Jeff Sarwer, sat with 560,000 in a large triangle block in front of him, is getting advice from the rail from a couple of young internet guys who prefer a more vertical stack.

“We’ll teach you how to stack chips Jeff,” he says. “There are still things you need to learn.”

“I know guys. We’ll talk,” replied Sarwer, wrapping his arms around his chips. “I just decided to go with this for the feel.”

6.55pm: Cold in Holland this time of year

Steven van Zadelhoff opened the pot with a raise from early position before Olaf de Zeeuw three-bet from the button. Van Zadelhoff then moved all in and De Zeeuw snap called with [ah][ad] and saw the pain on his countryman’s face as he revealed [ks][kd]. The board ran [7s][qh][4d][th][3s] to double De Zeeuw up to 160,000 and leave Van Zadelhodd in danger on 55,000.

6.50pm: Black in the black

Andy Black just eliminated a player. The money went in on the flop of [qh][9s][jd], Andy Black calling Miguel Menendez’s all in. Black showed [9c][9d] to Menendez’s [ad][qd]. Blanks on the turn and river and a handshake later and Menendez is on the rail. Black moves up to around 320,000.

6.45pm: Nice flop

Johannes Strassmann just doubled up. Opening for 6,600 pre-flop he was cllaed by Luis Rodrigues on the small blind for a flop of [6s][kd][kh]. Rodrigues then pushed leaving an easy call for Strassmann who showed [as][ks] to Rodrigues’s [8c][8s]. A [5s] on the turn and [js] on the river sent Strassmann up to 90,000.

6.40pm: That’s gotta hurt

Rob Yong got it all in pre-flop with [9s][9d], and was pretty happy to be called by Luis Rodriguez with his [8c][8s]. That was until an eight hit on the turn, knocking Yong out and sending a hefty 155,000 pot the Spaniard’s way.

“Sometime you just know it’s coming,” said Yong ruefully as he headed off for a calming walk on the beach.

6.35pm: Sarwer storms into lead

Jeff Sarwer already had a lot of chips, and now he has even more. On a flop of [9d][6s][8s] he and Andre Santos of Portugal were in the middle of a mighty scrap. Santos checked to Sarwer who made it 8,300 from the button. Santos then re-raised to 21,000 from his position on the big blind which Sarwer called for a [kc] on the turn. Now Santos made it 45,000. Sarwer immediately asked how much Santos had behind and raised to 200,000.

Santos’s stack of 80,000 would be swallowed up if a call went against him. Santos thought, grinned, squirmed, counted his chips and covered his ears with his fists. Sarwer just waited with his head on his hands, elbows perched on the edge of the table, waiting for Santos to respond. He folded. Sarwer now the likely chip leader with more than 500,000.

6.30pm: Chips!

This is the final level of the day, and the chip counts of the 81 players entering it are all now proudly displayed on the chip-count page.

6.25pm: Johns doubles

Probably the best way to meet PokerStars qualifiers at EPTs is in the elevators of the hotels in which we stay, where they stay, and where about 90 percent of the EPT fields usually stay. The second best place is at an airport. Matt Johns, originally from California, but now studying in Madrid, by way of Austin, TX, first came to the attention of PokerStars blog at Stansted airport, waiting for a flight to Faro. Since then, we’ve been tracking his progress deep into day two and now have the happy task of reporting that he has just effectively doubled up to around 130,000.

Jorge Carvalho opened from under the gun and Johns raised to 16,000 from one seat to his left. All the other players got out the way and Carvalho took his time over the decision, with the clock eventually called on him. He moved in for his last 40,000-odd and Johns called, almost all in himself. Johns had [ac][kc] and Carvlho [9c][9h]. The flop came [as][qh][8h][10c][5d] and Johns won the race.

He’s in this tournament after qualifying via the steps system on PokerStars. It cost him about $26.

6.20pm: Tome’s up for Levi

Tome Moreira opened with a raise from the button and then called Nicolas Levi’s all in push from the big blind with [ac][kd]. Levi was up out of his seat as he tabled [ah][5h] knowing he was in bad shape and it got even worse as the board came [jd][9s][3h][4c][kh] to confirm his exit. The look upon Levi’s face told the story better than we could but as we’re not allowed to take pictures inside the casino we had our artist run after him to show you as best we could.

6.10pm: That rhymes

Play is under way in the last level of the day.

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

Updates from level 11 of EPT Vilamoura, brought to you by Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Howard Swains and Simon Young.

Blinds:

Level 11: 800-1,600 (200 ante)

Another level over

Another 75 minutes has passed us by. Break time.

4.30pm: The end of the world is nigh

That is what seemingly was happening by the look on Paulino Subtil’s face when he got the last of his chips in with pocket tens versus the ace-king of Michel Abecassis. Has anyone explained the term “coin flip” to him? Obviously not as he was up out of his chair cursing the heavens in Portuguese (assumption made there) before a flop had even been dealt. To be fair to him though he might have some sort of sixth sense as the killer ace fell on the river to seal his fate.

4.20pm: Little vs very little

On a flop of [6c][7s][9h] Stefan Mattsson, Ross Boatman and Ricardo Sousa each checked for a [3h] turn. Mattsson bet 3,200 forcing Boatman out but Sousa was harder to shake, calling for a [9d on the river. Mattsson checked. Sousa, who’d been grinning all the way through the hand, made it 4,000. Mattsson called. Sousa didn’t want to show but reluctantly turned over [qh][jh]. Mattsson took it down though, showing [qs][7h]. He’s up to 45,000 while Sousa sits around the 60,000 mark.

4.15pm: Pagano put out of his misery

It’s been a tough – and relatively quiet – tournament for Luca Pagano. And now it’s over. Having never had many chips since early on day one, he just got his last 15,000-odd in pre-flop with [ah][10h]. André Moreira had [as][kh] and although Pagano picked up a straight draw on the turn (the first four cards were: [7c][5s][8c][9c], the river [2h] wasn’t good enough and Pagano was out.

4.10pm: Look at me, I’m Shauny D

Gotta love Shaun Deeb. After Andre Santos raised from the cut off, Deeb re-raised to 10,300 from the button. It was folded back to Santos, who now made it 23,000, sending Deeb deep into thought. He peered at length at Santos, who did his best to hide his face behind his fist. But Deeb re-raised anyway, setting Santos all in. Santos folded and Deeb showed him the [4d] to general chuckles.

4.07pm: Out of the Black

Ryan Franklin opened the pot from early position with a raise to 3,800 before Andy Black three-bet to 8,400 and Ruben Visser four-bet to 25,000. Franklin moved out of the way pretty quickly but Black moved all in for 52,000 and after a shrug of his shoulders Visser called with [jh][jc]. Black had him dominated with [ah][as] and the board ran [kc][2d][6d][qc][8c]. Black doubles to 115,000, Visser down a little to 245,000.

4.05pm: Mercier gets there

Jason Mercier, Marco Mattes and Robert Willis all get to the turn – [8c][8h][ah][2s], and on the [7h] river Mattes and Willis check and Team PokerStars Pro Mercier bets 10,600.

Mattes gives it up but Willis wants to take a look and calls. He’ll wish he hadn’t, as Mercier turned over [kh][10h] for the winning flush.

4.05pm: Pagano on the ropes

Luca Pagano has been struggling all day, never able to improve a stack that had taken an early hit. He’s been folding miserably for a couple of levels, but now finally seemed to have picked up something worth playing. He put out 4,100 but things are never easy, especially when Rumen Nanev decided this was the time for a re-raise, making it 15,000.

Down to only 20,000 or so, this was a critical moment for the Italian, but after a long time in the tank, he decided he could find a better spot, and folded.

4pm: No fear for Wendt

Big stack Matthew Nieberg opened with a raise and was only called by Martin Wendt in the small blind before a [3c][qd][7s] flop came down. Wendt check-called a 5,800 bet before check-raising Neiberg’s 11,600 up to 40,000 after the [ts] fell on the turn. It took a while but Nieberg let the pot go. He’s still big on 340,000 and Wendt’s not looking too shabby on 195,000.

3.55pm: Take that

Eduardo Lopez opened for 3,800 from late position. Tome Moreira called on the button, as did Nicolas Levi from the big blind. The flop came [8d][9c][5h]. Levi checked and Lopez made it 6,300. While Moreira folded Levi re-raised to 17,500 total which Lopez called for a [8c] on the turn. Levi now made it 21,000 to play. Lopez looked once more at his cards before folding. The Frenchman now up to more than 120,000.

3.50pm: Collopy accounts for Pomerantsev

Sergey Pomerantsev found a decent spot to get it all in. Jim Collopy had raised on the button and Pomerantsev shoved from the small blind for around 30,000. Collopy called and showed [ah][9c], which was behind Pomerantsev’s [ac][jd]. But the nine turned and Pomerantsev hit the rail, leaving Collopy looking kind of sheepish, but saying: “I had an ace.” He also had Pomerantsev well, well covered and now has about 170,000.

3.45pm: Leaving hell behind; welcome to Hades

It doesn’t get any easier for Christophe Benzimra. The EPT Warsaw champion was moved from the table of fireworks featuring Jason Mercier, Johannes Strassmann and Pierre Neuville, but landed himself right in the middle of Antony Lellouche and Jim Collopy on a table also featuring Rob Yong and Alexander Dovzhenko. Nice.

3.42pm: Nice hit

Shaun Deeb opened for 3,800 from middle position. António Martins called from the big blind for a flop of [8h][qc][qd]. Martins checked and Deeb made it another 3,200 to play. Too rich for Martins who passed leaving Deeb with the lost potential of his [ah][qh] and a stack now breaking the 100,000 mark.

3.39pm: Roll up, roll up if you want to go all in

Robert Willis started the action with an under-the-gun raise to 4,800 that was called by Jurien van Galen two seats along and Johannes Strassmann in the big blind before the flop came down [6c][9s][5s]. When checked to Willis he moved all in for 20,700 and was quickly called by Van Galen before Strassmann quickly moved all-in too for another 34,500. Van Galen shook his head and folded leaving the other two to battle it out.

Willis tabled [8s][8h] to Strassman’s [ts][7s]. The turn came [5d] and river [ad] to see Willis’s hand hold and he’s now up to 80,000. Strassman low on 35,000 and so too Van Galen on 28,000.

3.37pm: Levi times it right

Nicolas Levi was down to 43,000 but found the perfect spot to get all of those in the middle with [ks][kd] against Tome Moreira’s [as][qc]. The flop came with the [ac], but unfortunately for Moreira it also came with the [kc] and [4h]. To rub it in further, Levi made quads on the [kh] turn, and the [6d] counted for nothing.

Levi is back up to a healthy 87,000.

3.35pm: Baekke foiled

On a [10s][3d][as][8d] board Allan Baekke made it 12,500, called by Jan Skampa. Baekke then made it 22,500 on the [2d] turn after Skampa checked. That sent Skampa into the tank, and his response when he emerged was to move all in for around 80,000. Insta fold from the Dane.

3.25pm: End of the road

Team PokerStars Pro Rino Mathis is out. He lost half of his stack a short while ago, jacks against ace-king and now shoved with [qd][qs]. He got a caller in PokerStars qualifier Hugo Felix with [ac][kc]. The board ran: [kh][7h][8s][3s][3d]. It’s all over for Mathis.

3.20pm: Pastor pasted

Juan Manuel Pastor’s day is done. It was pocket tens against the pocket queens of Luis Rodriguez. No help.

3.15pm: Chips

Our army of chip-counting oompa loompas did their stuff during the break and their findings will be on the chip count page momentarily.

CLICK HERE FOR CHIP COUNTS

It seems as though Matt Nieberg is our clear leader. A royal flush against a full house will do that.

3.10pm: Has play resumed yet?

Yes, play has resumed.

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.