PARADISEPOKER TOUR ALGARVE VILAMOURA ANNOUNCEMENT

ParadisePoker have today announced some amends to the schedule for the ParadisePoker Tour Algarve Vilamoura event taking place from September 9th – 12th.

The main event will now feature one starting day and the entry cap will be reduced to 280. The €125,000 guaranteed prize pool will remain in place. An additional side event and live satellite have also been added to the schedule.

Full PPT Algarve Schedule

9 Sep, 20:00 - €70 + €10 No Limit Texas Hold’em Main Event Satellite, 200 Cap
10 Sep, 17:00 - €100 + €10 Pot Limit Omaha Freezeout, 60 Cap
10 Sep, 20:00 - €70 + €10 No Limit Texas Hold’em Main Event Satellite, 200 Cap
11 Sep, 13:00 - €500 + €50 No Limit Texas Hold’em Main Event Day 1, 280 Cap
11 Sep. 21:00 - €135 + €15 No Limit Texas Hold’em Freezeout, 100 Cap
12 Sep, 13:00 - €500 + €50 No Limit Texas Hold’em Main Event Day 2
12 Sep, 13:30 - €80 + €10 + €10 No Limit Texas Hold’em Knockout, 100 Cap

Qualifiers for Algarve Vilamoura are running on ParadisePoker now with entry from as low as €1 and prize packages guaranteed to be won everyday.

For more information visit www.ParadisePoker.com.

Toni crowned King of Paradise, 2009/10

Congratulations go to Toni Merivuori after he was crowned the inaugural ParadisePoker Tour League champion for 2009/10.

The Finn accrued the most points across the four events, with his final table appearance in London the catalyst for a fine debut season.

Players scored points for finishing in the top 100 places, with the tournament winner earning one hundred down to a single point for the 100th-place finisher, and it was Merivuori who proved the most consistent performer.

His reward was €10,000 plus free packages for all six of Season Two’s events, worth a total of €6,600, and the amateur player was understandably delighted with his biggest ever poker win.

“It feels amazing but I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” he told the PPT blog, “It’s €10,000 and six events for next season so I don’t know what to think!

“After London I looked at the satellites for the next events and decided to take a shot, so without the leaderboard London might have been my only tournament.

“Coming eighth in the London event was my biggest achievement in poker and I think this is even bigger because the prize is so nice,” admitted a smiling Merivuori, “I play poker to win money; I’m not after the fame.

“Now it’s free for me to play all six events next year but I have to go and improve my game if I want to maintain this. Maybe I’ll change something so I can go for the win now because a lot of this season I’ve been playing tight for ranking points.”

Leaderboard - Final Standings

1st Toni Merivuori 213
2nd Marek Viščak 199
3rd Johnny Jensen 192
4th Lim-wai Cheung 151
5th Georges Tohme 146

ParadisePoker Season Two Announced!

ParadisePoker have today announced the schedule for Season Two of the ParadisePoker Tour.

The new season launches with a €550 entry, €125,000 guaranteed debut event in Algarve Vilamoura in Portugal from September 9th–12th. Following on from Portugal there are events planned for London, Copenhagen, Prague, Spain and Bulgaria.

The new season will again feature the leaderboard promotion that proved so popular with the players in Season One. With points allocated to the top 50 places in each main event and €20,000 in prize money, it will once again be easy to get involved.

Qualifiers for Algarve Vilamoura commence on July 26th with satellites running from as low as €1 and prize packages guaranteed to be won everyday.

Full schedule:

ParadisePoker Tour Algarve Vilamoura
Casino de Vilamoura
September 9th – 12th 2010
ParadisePoker Tour London
November 2010
ParadisePoker Tour Copenhagen
January 2011
ParadisePoker Tour Prague
March 2011
ParadisePoker Tour Spain
May 2011
ParadisePoker Tour Bulgaria
July 2011

For more information visit ParadisePokerTour.com

Marek delighted to go one better

Marek Viscak exorcised the demons of his PPT London heads-up defeat as he lifted the title in Sunny Beach.

The Czech lost his tussle with Georges Tohme back in December, but it was a happier ending in Bulgaria as he overcame Danish cash game specialist Aske Muff to wrap up the win he coveted.

"I feel great to have won after coming second in London," said the newly crowned champion.

"The last 15 players in this tournament were a lot tougher than those in London and it was important for me to finish in the top three places and be second in the Tour League.

"This was one of the three best cashes I've had since I started playing poker, so I'm really pleased with the result."

Marek's victory; the photos:

Right on cue, Marek delivers the killer blow

Just as we felt our big hand sense tingling, the key moment duly arrived and it was Marek Viscak who continued his late surge to win the PPT Bulgaria.

It came in similar circumstances to the hand which had earned him the chip lead, as once again rival Aske Muff flopped top pair and the Czech a big draw.

This time it was 7♦8♦ on a Q♦-J♦-&4clubs; board, and even with Q10 in the hole, Aske almost sensed his own impending downfall by striking the table.

The turn delivered another set of outs for Viscak, as the 6♥ dropped, and the river 5♣ made him an unlikely straight.

The pain was evident in Muff's reaction, but he admitted his €20,000 prize - won courtesy of a pre-heads up deal - would be of considerable comfort.

"I'm disappointed because I feel like I had him twice," said the Dane, "It was only €3,000 more at stake but of course you always want to win.

"The trophy would have meant a lot but this is why I love live poker, for this kind of excitement, so I'll definitely be back for future events!"

The Aske fightback commences

Some by now familiar aggression from one-time chip leader Aske Muff has edged him back towards equality in the heads-up duel for the PPT crown.

Though his Czech opponent may have slightly more chips across the baize, the momentum appears to be with the Dane once again.

Marek Viscak had tried to tame Aske with calls on two streets on a 4♥-4♠-3♦-J♦-8♠ board, but he was forced to concede on the river as his foe refused to slow down.

With the blinds now at 10,000/20,000 and the ante 2,000, there is still more play in this contest, but you sense a defining hand could be just around the corner.

A deal is done, but Marek seizes command

Continuing his ascent, Marek Viscak stole the chip lead in the heads-up duel after making a deal for all but €2,950 of the prize pool.

Aske Muff had the edge initially and so took €20,000, while Viscak was awarded €18,000.

With the PPT trophy still up for grabs, as well as the remaining cash, the players immediately set about the score by getting it all-in on a K♥-7♠-8♥ flop.

Muff turned a top pair king holding K♦9♥, but it was his rival's flush draw (J♥2♥) that connected on the turn to swing the pendulum his way.