Wednesday, November 8, 2017 10:33 PM Local Time
Maria Ho Leading Final 12; Kevin MacPhee's Back-to-Back Bid Still Alive
Only 12 players remain in contention to become the ninth Main Event winner in the history of World Series of Poker Europe.
While strong contenders like Anthony Zinno, Kristen Bicknell, Rainer Kempe, Mike Leah, David Peters and 888poker Ambassador Parker Talbot hit the rail, the small field doesn't lack for good storylines heading into the penultimate day.
First, there's Maria Ho. She bagged the chip lead with 3,850,000 at the close of Day 4 play, which ended a bit early as the eliminations piled up to whittle the field down further than may have been expected.
As more and more observers in the poker world eagerly await and root for the success of women in the game, Ho has long been a player tabbed for a breakout bracelet win. She has plenty of accomplishments to point to — over $2 million in live cashes and a handful of final tables — but she hasn't yet obtained that first bracelet. It's almost become a yearly tradition for a number of PokerNews' own to predict her first win.
She's now in prime position to get it, and in a very prestigious event at that.
Ho's ascent up the chip counts came about in a bit of a roundabout fashion, as much of the talk early on was about a hand she chose to fold. After flopping middle set of tens on an all-heart flop in a massive, four-way three-bet pot, Ho elected to fold to preflop raiser Niall Farrell's overbet shove. As it turned out, he had a big combo draw, so that pot could have either propelled Ho to an even more massive lead or left her heading to payouts way back in 28th place.
Instead, it was a different pot that failed to get to showdown that boosted her to the top. She continuation-bet two-tone flop with two fives on the felt and saw a big check-raise from the small blind and a cold call from the big. Ho jammed over and induced two pained folds, then won mostly smaller pots to conclude the night.
Perhaps the biggest story coming into the day was the strong showing of Kevin MacPhee in his attempt to win a second consecutive WSOPE Main Event after having taken it down when Berlin hosted in 2015. MacPhee scored an elimination early on with pocket kings against pocket eights, but other than that just seemed to be grinding peacefully and keeping himself out of trouble.
He wound up putting 1,060,000 in the bag, putting him second-to-last on the leaderboard, but the two-time bracelet winner still has some room to maneuver as blinds get set to head to 20,000/40,000/5,000 with the 90-minute levels providing additional cushion.
Finally, Farrell himself sits second in the counts with 3,575,000. The Scotsman became the first from his homeland to win a bracelet when he shipped the €25K High Roller just a few days ago for a handsome payday of €745,287.
Farrell humbly noted himself to be in the top third or so of that super-strong field, but many will be rating him as highly as almost any contender in any event if he pulls off this unlikely double. With nearly 90 big blinds, he's well-positioned to do so.
All three of these stories and more will converge at noon on Thursday. Everyone will have an eye on the €1,115,207 top prize, but they'll first be playing down to a final table and then six final-day competitors. Tune in to PokerNews to find out who those six will be.
2017 WSOPE Main Event Day 5 Seat Assignments
Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
40 | 1 | Gianluca Speranza | Italy | 1,070,000 | 27 |
40 | 2 | Jack Salter | United Kingdom | 2,125,000 | 53 |
40 | 4 | Robert Bickley | United Kingdom | 2,885,000 | 72 |
40 | 6 | Luis Rodriguez | Spain | 2,020,000 | 51 |
40 | 7 | Andrei Boghean | Romania | 1,900,000 | 48 |
40 | 8 | Mathijs Jonkers | Netherlands | 1,850,000 | 46 |
| | | | | |
41 | 2 | Marc MacDonnell | Ireland | 505,000 | 13 |
41 | 4 | Marti Roca De Torres | Spain | 3,260,000 | 82 |
41 | 5 | Kevin MacPhee | United States | 1,060,000 | 27 |
41 | 6 | Maria Ho | United States | 3,850,000 | 96 |
41 | 7 | Stepan Osinovski | Russia | 2,360,000 | 59 |
41 | 8 | Niall Farrell | United Kingdom | 3,575,000 | 89 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 10:29 PM Local Time
End-of-Day Chip Counts
The remaining 12 players bagged up and will return to the poker arena of the King's Casino at 12 p.m. local time on Thursday November 9th 2017. Below are their chip counts, a recap of today's action is to follow.
Maria Ho | 3,850,000 | 0 |
Niall Farrell | 3,575,000 | -25,000 |
Marti Roca De Torres | 3,260,000 | 85,000 |
Robert Bickley | 2,885,000 | 85,000 |
Stepan Osinovski | 2,360,000 | 560,000 |
Jack Salter | 2,125,000 | -15,000 |
Luis Rodriguez | 2,020,000 | 205,000 |
Andrei Boghean | 1,900,000 | 50,000 |
Mathijs Jonkers | 1,850,000 | -250,000 |
Gianluca Speranza | 1,070,000 | -80,000 |
Kevin MacPhee | 1,060,000 | -210,000 |
Marc MacDonnell | 505,000 | 50,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 10:22 PM Local Time
Vlad Darie Eliminated in 13th Place (€46,594)
Stepan Osinovski opened to 90,000 and Niall Farrell called on the button. Vlad Darie called from the big blind as well.
The flop came and the action checked to Farrell on the button. He be 150,000. Darie raised to 515,000 and Osinovski folded. Farrell went all in for more than Darie's remaining 900,000. Darie called with a straight, showing against the of Farrell.
Farrell was looking for the board to pair and when the came on the turn, Darie was one step closer to winning a huge pot, but the river was the and gave Farrell a full house. Darie was eliminated and Farrell stacked over 3.5-million chips.
Darie will take home €46,594 for his finish.
Niall Farrell | 3,600,000 | 900,000 |
Vlad Darie | 0 | -1,625,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 10:12 PM Local Time
Small Pot for Speranza
Gianluca Speranza raised to 60,000 in the cutoff and Robert Bickley as well as Luis Rodriguez called out of the blinds. The flop of was checked and Speranza bet the turn for 60,000, which only Bickley called. After the river, Rodriguez checked and folded as soon as Speranza cut out a bet of 255,000.
Robert Bickley | 2,800,000 | -175,000 |
Luis Rodriguez | 1,815,000 | 45,000 |
Gianluca Speranza | 1,150,000 | -140,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 10:09 PM Local Time
Bickley Picks Off Boghean
Andrei Boghean opened to 70,000 in the cutoff and Robert Bickley defended big blind. Both checked the flop and Bickley check-called 75,000 on the . He checked the as well, calling fairly quickly when Boghean bet 260,000.
Boghean turned over for an airball and Bickley took it with .
Robert Bickley | 2,975,000 | 425,000 |
Andrei Boghean | 1,850,000 | -500,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 10:07 PM Local Time
Jonkers Beats Boghean
Mathijs Jonkers raised to 70,000 from the under-the-gun position and was called by Andrei Boghean in the big blind.
They both checked through the flop and the on the turn. The river completed the board with the . Boghean bet 55,000 and Jonkers called. Boghean showed for a pair of sixes but Jonkers had him beat with and took the pot.
Andrei Boghean | 2,350,000 | -50,000 |
Mathijs Jonkers | 2,100,000 | 450,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:58 PM Local Time
Rodriguez Gets The Fold
Mathijs Jonkers raised to 70,000 from the hijack and was called by Robert Bickley and Luis Rodriguez in the blinds.
They all checked through the on the flop. The turn brought them the , Bickley checked, Rodriguez bet 120,000. Jonkers raised to 300,000, Bickley folded but then Rodriguez three-bet to 525,000. Jonkers stared at Rodriguez but decided to fold in the end.
The players were then told that they would continue playing this level no matter what. If the tournament hasn't reached 12 remaining players by then, the players would continue playing until there are twelve players left.
Luis Rodriguez | 1,770,000 | 470,000 |
Mathijs Jonkers | 1,650,000 | -400,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:47 PM Local Time
Michal Mrakes Eliminated in 14th Place (€46,594)
Jack Salter raised to 75,000 on the button and Michal Mrakes announced all in from the small blind. Robert Bickley in the big blind asked for a count and Mrakes was at risk for 465,000. Bickley four-bet to 950,000 and Salter quickly folded.
Michal Mrakes:
Robert Bickley:
The flop of was no good for Mrakes and he was in need of running cards in order to avoid elimination. However, that hope disappeared on the turn, making the river a formality.
Robert Bickley | 2,550,000 | 650,000 |
Michal Mrakes | 0 | -550,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:42 PM Local Time
MacDonnell Calls His Chop
Marc MacDonnell defended his big blind from a raise to 75,000 by Maria Ho in the cutoff. He check-shipped for 355,000 after she bet 50,000 on a flop. Ho snap-called since she had for the straight.
"It's a chop," MacDonnell said calmly, throwing in the middle.
The turn gave him some more outs but he still insisted it was a chop. He was right: the hit the river.
Marc MacDonnell | 455,000 | 30,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:36 PM Local Time
Bickley And Boghean Battle Along
Hand #1: Andrei Boghean raised to 70,000 from mid-position and everyone folded to Robert Bickley in the big blind. Bickley three-bet to 250,000 and Boghean called.
The flop came , Bickley opened to 175,000 and Boghean folded.
Hand #2: Boghean now raised to 65,000 from the under-the-gun position and action folded back to Bickley but now sitting in the small blind. Bickley three-bet again to 250,000 and Boghean once more.
Andrei Boghean | 2,400,000 | -370,000 |
Robert Bickley | 1,900,000 | 125,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:29 PM Local Time
Speranza Doesn't Sit Still
Hand #1: Gianluca Speranza raised to 65,000 from the under-the-gun position and action folded to Luis Rodriguez on the button who raised to 175,000. The players in the blinds quickly got away and Speranza called. The flop came 2s5s8s], Speranza check-folded to the 175,000 bet of Rodriguez.
Hand #2: Andrei Boghean raised to 70,000 from the cutoff and Speranza, now sitting in the small blind, three-bet to 235,000. Boghean looked at his cards again and then decided to fold.
Hand #3: Speranza limped in from the button and Michal Mrakes shoved all in from the big blind. Speranza asked for a count. The dealer counted Mrakes' stack and confirmed it was 470,000. Speranza checked his cards once more before reluctantly folding them.
Luis Rodriguez | 1,300,000 | 220,000 |
Gianluca Speranza | 1,290,000 | -90,000 |
Michal Mrakes | 550,000 | 55,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:25 PM Local Time
MacDonnell Gets Short
Marc MacDonnell raised to 60,000 from the hijack and Maria Ho defended her big blind. The flop came and Ho checked before calling a continuation bet worth 55,000 by MacDonnell. Both checked the on the turn and Ho bet the river for 135,000. MacDonnell quickly called and mucked ]Ah10c] when he was being shown for top pair by Ho.
Maria Ho | 3,850,000 | 155,000 |
Marc MacDonnell | 425,000 | -335,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:17 PM Local Time
Two Three-Bets on the Feature Table
After two raise and take it hands, Kevin MacPhee raised to 75,000 on the button, Stepan Osinovski three-bet to 280,000 in the big blind and forced a fold from the defending WSOPE Main Event champion.
Osinovski limped in the next hand and Niall Farrell checked. On a flop of , Osinovski bet 75,000 and forded a fold.
Osinovski lost some of the profit when raising to 75,000 from the hijack and facing a three-bet to 265,000 by Vlad Darie, besides that no other hand went past the preflop stage.
Niall Farrell | 2,700,000 | 300,000 |
Stepan Osinovski | 1,800,000 | 75,000 |
Vlad Darie | 1,625,000 | 25,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:08 PM Local Time
Norbert Madaras Eliminated in 16th Place (€37,862); Ante Varnica Eliminated in 15th Place (€37,862)
Norbert Madaras went all in in early position for 185,000 and Niall Farrell called. Ante Varnica shoved over the top for 560,000 total and, after checking the amount, Farrell called.
Hands:
Niall Farrell:
Ante Varnica:
Norbert Madaras:
Farrell had the best hand and he had both players covered. The board ran out , giving Varnica and bit of a sweat, but ultimately sending Madaras and Varnica to the rail. Both players will take home €37,862.
Niall Farrell | 2,400,000 | 775,000 |
Ante Varnica | 0 | -585,000 |
Norbert Madaras | 0 | -195,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 9:08 PM Local Time
Mrakes Barrels Twice
Michal Mrakes opened on the button and got a call from big blind Luis Rodriguez. The flop came and Rodriguez check-called 65,000. He check-called 155,000 more on the turn. Both checked the and Rodriguez showed for a turned flush.
Luis Rodriguez | 1,080,000 | 305,000 |
Michal Mrakes | 495,000 | -405,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 8:52 PM Local Time
Redraw of the Last Two Tables
Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
Feature | 1 | Ante Varnica | Croatia | 585,000 | 20 |
Feature | 2 | Marc MacDonnell | Ireland | 760,000 | 25 |
Feature | 3 | Vlad Darie | Romania | 1,600,000 | 53 |
Feature | 4 | Marti Roca De Torres | Spain | 3,175,000 | 106 |
Feature | 5 | Norbert Madaras | Hungary | 195,000 | 7 |
Feature | 6 | Maria Ho | United States | 3,695,000 | 123 |
Feature | 7 | Stepan Osinovski | Russia | 1,725,000 | 58 |
Feature | 8 | Niall Farrell | United Kingdom | 1,625,000 | 54 |
| | | | | |
40 | 1 | Gianluca Speranza | Italy | 1,380,000 | 46 |
40 | 2 | Jack Salter | United Kingdom | 2,140,000 | 71 |
40 | 3 | Michal Mrakes | Czech Republic | 900,000 | 30 |
40 | 4 | Robert Bickley | United Kingdom | 1,775,000 | 59 |
40 | 5 | Kevin MacPhee | United States | 1,270,000 | 42 |
40 | 6 | Luis Rodriguez | Spain | 775,000 | 26 |
40 | 7 | Andrei Boghean | Romania | 2,770,000 | 92 |
40 | 8 | Mathijs Jonkers | Netherlands | 2,050,000 | 68 |
Maria Ho | 3,695,000 | 45,000 |
Marti Roca De Torres | 3,175,000 | 260,000 |
Andrei Boghean | 2,770,000 | 120,000 |
Jack Salter | 2,140,000 | -15,000 |
Mathijs Jonkers | 2,050,000 | -215,000 |
Robert Bickley | 1,775,000 | -20,000 |
Stepan Osinovski | 1,725,000 | -15,000 |
Niall Farrell | 1,625,000 | -135,000 |
Vlad Darie | 1,600,000 | -125,000 |
Gianluca Speranza | 1,380,000 | -150,000 |
Kevin MacPhee | 1,270,000 | 40,000 |
Michal Mrakes | 900,000 | -55,000 |
Luis Rodriguez | 775,000 | 90,000 |
Marc MacDonnell | 760,000 | 140,000 |
Ante Varnica | 585,000 | -30,000 |
Norbert Madaras | 195,000 | -15,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 8:40 PM Local Time
Chi Zhang Eliminated in 17th Place (€31,377)
Maria Ho started with two three-bets after the dinner break, raking in the open-raised of Vlad Darie and Andrei Boghean for 65,000 each. In the third hand, Ho raised to 65,000 from under the gun and Chi Zhang moved all in for 645,000 on the button. Boghean in the big blind asked for a count and reshoved to force a fold from Ho.
Chi Zhang:
Andrei Boghean:
While Zhang was dominated, he had chop outs on the flop. The turn ensured just that while Zhang could not win the hand outright anymore. Any jack, king or ace would give Boghean the better hand and the on the river did just that to eliminate Zhang in 17th place for €31,377.
The remaining 16 players will now redraw to the last two tables.
Maria Ho | 3,650,000 | 145,000 |
Andrei Boghean | 2,650,000 | 585,000 |
Chi Zhang | 0 | -705,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 8:38 PM Local Time
Speranza and Rodriguez Play a Small One
Luis Rodriguez completed from the small blind and Gianluca Speranza opted to check.
The flop came , Rodriguez check-called the 30,000 bet of Speranza.
They both checked through the on the turn. The came on the river to complete the board and now Rodrigues bet 100,000. Speranza tank-folded.
Gianluca Speranza | 1,460,000 | -70,000 |
Luis Rodriguez | 775,000 | 90,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 8:34 PM Local Time
MacPhee Wins Some
Kevin MacPhee raised to 75,000 from the button and was called by Luis Rodriguez in the big blind.
They both checked through the on the flop. The turn brought them the , Rodriguez bet 100,000 and MacPhee called.
The river completed the board with the , Rodriguez check-folded to the 200,000 bet of MacPhee.
Kevin MacPhee | 1,230,000 | 225,000 |
Luis Rodriguez | 685,000 | -180,000 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 8:31 PM Local Time
Level 23 started
Level: 23
Blinds: 15000/30000
Ante: 5000