EPT Barcelona Open Main Event Day 3 | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona Open

EPT Barcelona Open Main Event

Day 3 Completed

09-14-2008 03:51 UTC+2

Day 3 Concludes, Final Table Set

[user25067]

It's been a long day of poker for our eight remaining players, who will need to be back at the Gran Casino Barcelona in about 12 hours' time to play out the final table of the PokerStars EPT Barcelona. It took over three hours of play to eliminate ninth-place finisher Mikael Lundell, while in the meantime fortunes changed among his opponents. Former chip leader Jason Mercier will enter play tomorrow as the second-shortest stack, while Fintan Gavin's patient play paid off, as he moved from the basement to the middle of the pack.

Join us again tomorrow at 4 p.m. Central European Time (Daylight/Summer Time, GMT+2) for the conclusion of the EPT Barcelona. Will Jason Mercier make a comeback to become the first player to win two EPT titles? Or will an amateur surprise us all?

Until then, buenos noches, y buena suerte!

09-14-2008 03:50 UTC+2

Final Table Seating Assignments and Chip Counts

[user25067]

At last, we have our final table. Play will resume just over 12 hours from now at 4 p.m. local time (GMT+2). Danish investment banker-turned-poker player Martin Nielsen is the chip leader while Italy's Daniele Mazzia is the short stack. Here's how our players will be seated tomorrow:

Seat 1: Martin Nielsen 1,229,000
Seat 2: Davidi Kitai 600,000
Seat 3: Dren Ukella 734,000
Seat 4: Jason Mercier 526,000
Seat 5: Samuel Chartier 879,000
Seat 6: Daniele Mazzia 359,000
Seat 7: Fintan Gavin 701,000
Seat 8: Sebastian Ruthenberg 1,204,000

09-14-2008 03:47 UTC+2

Mikael Lundell Eliminated in 9th Place (€ 74,400)

[user40108]

Davidi Kitai moved all in from early position for 464,000 and action folded around to Mikael Lundell in the big blind and he went into the tank. He eventually made the call and the players showed:

Lundell: {A-Spades}

Kitai:

The board ran out {Q-Clubs}

and Kitai's pair of queens emerged best. There was a bit of confusion about who had whom covered, but after a count, Lundell was left with just over 20,000 in chips.

Lundell was all in from the small blind in the very next hand, and after a limp from Fintan Gavin, Sebastian Ruthenberg put in a raise to isolate Lundell. Action folded around and the players showed:

Lundell: {10-Clubs}

Ruthenberg: {8-Hearts}

The board ran out {J-Hearts}

and Ruthenberg's eights were best. He picked up the small pot and sent Lundell home as the final table bubble boy in ninth place. Lundell will take home a consolation prize of € 74,400 for his impressive finish in this event.

Tags: Davidi Kaiti Fintan Gavin Mikael Lundell Sebastian Ruthenberg

09-14-2008 03:25 UTC+2

Sebastian Ruthenberg Doubles Through Jason Mercier

[user40108]

Sebastian Ruthenberg open-raised all in for a total of 479,000. When action hit Martin Nielsen, he thought for quite some time before making what appeared to be an agonizing fold. Jason Mercier made the call and action folded around. The players showed:

Mercier: {A-Hearts}

Ruthenberg: {9-Spades}

The flop came {A-Diamonds}

marking the second time in recent memory Mercier has gotten involved in a "pair vs. overcards" scenario, only to flop top pair but see his opponent spike a set. The turn and river were no help to the American as they fell the {J-Spades}

and

respectively.

Ruthenberg's chip count shot up to 1,034,000 on the hand and left the once-dominant Mercier with a modest half-million chips.

Tags: Jason Mercier Sebastian Ruthenberg

09-14-2008 03:17 UTC+2

Updated Chip Counts

[user25067]

Now that the blinds have moved up, we're looking at a rather short-stacked table, with half the field sitting with under 15 big blinds:

Jason Mercier 1,048,000
Samuel Chartier 1,031,000
Martin Nielsen 919,000
Dren Ukella 784,000
Davidi Kitai 631,000
Fintan Gavin 569,000
Sebastian Ruthenberg 499,000
Daniele Mazzia 471,000
Mikael Lundell 409,000

Level: 26

Blinds: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 4,000

09-14-2008 03:10 UTC+2

Stop 'n' Go for Gavin

[user4144]

After a few levels of run-of-the-mill final table bubble action, a bizarre hand emerged as we stumbled upon a rare three-handed pot. Daniele Mazzia kicked things off, raising to 75,000 from the button. With Fintan Gavin making an odd smooth-call from the small blind, Sebastian Ruthenberg decided he was priced in and made the call from the big blind.

On the {J-Diamonds}

flop, Gavin lived up to the expectations of the commentary team by pushing all in. With Ruthenberg quickly side-stepping out of the way, Mazzia waved his arms in a huff. As Gavin looked at his watch, mumbled something about being tired, and rose from his seat, Mazzia continued to mull before eventually folding.

With a clenched fist, Gavin proudly chucked {K-?}

onto the felt.

Tags: Daniele Mazzia Fintan Gavin

09-14-2008 03:03 UTC+2

Staying Alive

[user4144]

Fintan Gavin raised an eyebrow under the gun as he checked his cards, ummed and aahed momentarily as if contemplating a push with a marginal hand, before indeed sliding his stack across the line. Although the play paused at Davidi Kitai, the Belgian bracelet winner folded, as did the rest of the table. Gavin showed pocket jacks.

Tags: Fintan Gavin

09-14-2008 02:58 UTC+2

Samuel Chartier Doubles Through Mikael Lundell

[user40108]

Samuel Chartier opened the pot for a raise to 73,000 from early position. Action folded around to Mikael Lundell in the big blind and he announced a raise. After a few moments, Lundell said "all in" while gesturing his hands towards the center.

Chartier made a very quick call and the players showed:

Chartier: {K-Clubs}