The subplot at the PPT Vilamoura has been the battle between our gracious hosts, the Portuguese, and the biggest influx of foreign players from Germany.
ParadisePoker staff from the nations backed a selection of their country's finest to outlast the others. And in an act of revenge that helps ease recent footballing pain at Euro 2008 and the 2006 World Cup, it was Team Portugal who held on for victory.
That was thanks to the two ParadisePoker sponsored players in the home side's line-up, as Carlos "Cmpjo" Oliveira and Paulo "Kinas" Nunes marched on as the final German competitor, Frank "Squishy Joe" Ewald, made his exit.
"It was never in doubt," grinned a delighted Kinas, "I think we were simply the better players, plus we had home advantage on our side!
"I didn't know the bet was actually on, even though I heard them discussing it yesterday, so it's a good feeling that we won it."
Nunes was less content with his personal chances however, having taken a hit to his once towering chip stack, but as Day Two approaches, he was still in the mood for a double up.
"I have around 30,000 chips but was on 60,000 only a short while ago," lamented the ParadisePoker pro, "I'm looking to double up now.
"The table has been really aggressive so I've been opening a lot of pots, but I've been three-bet quite a few times when I had to fold.
"That's cost me quite a few pots and then I lost another AQ, folding when I missed the flop despite there already being 16k in the middle.
"Obviously I've got to keep the range of hands I play a lot smaller now, since I can't open a lot with this kind of chip stack," he explained, "I have so few chips now so I'm waiting for a good spot to double up and that's it."
Saturday, 11 September 2010
The final 50: Tour League points secured
We are closing on the Day One finish at the Casino Vilamoura with less than an two hours to go until the end of play, but with our 51st-place finisher came the added bonus of the ParadisePoker Tour League points.
Just like last season, the player who accumulates the most points across Vilamoura, London, Copenhagen, Prague, Madrid and Bulgaria will win €10,000 plus entry into all of next season's events.
The major twist from last year is that the top 50 players alone will earn the points to propel them up the league table.
First place earns the full 50 point quota, with 49 for second and so on... I think you get the idea!
Just like last season, the player who accumulates the most points across Vilamoura, London, Copenhagen, Prague, Madrid and Bulgaria will win €10,000 plus entry into all of next season's events.
The major twist from last year is that the top 50 players alone will earn the points to propel them up the league table.
First place earns the full 50 point quota, with 49 for second and so on... I think you get the idea!
The money in sight at Casino Vilamoura
The money may be 33 places away for those still battling the 750/1,500 blinds plus 100 ante, but at least the prize pool breakdown is keeping them focused on the task at hand.Twenty players will go home richer by the end of our Season Two opener, with the top prize potentially the largest ever on the ParadisePoker Tour.
Last season's Madrid event had a deeper field, but this year's new €125,000 guaranteed prize pool could still see our biggest winner depending on what deals may lay in store.
That's a discussion for another day, but for now, I present you with the prizes in full:
1st €31,525
2nd €20,613
3rd €13,338
4th €10,305
5th €8,488
6th €7,275
7th €6,063
8th €4,850
9th €3,683
10th €2,425
11th-14th €1,455
15th-20th €1,091
Players lost, but not forgotten
With so many tournament lives ending so rapidly over the last few hours, the PPT blog would like to offer condolences to some good friends who were among the fallen.
Having made the final table in Bulgaria, Anders Loringen was back for another attempt at improving that third-place finish, but fell short of the money this time.
"I had quite a few hands but just haven't been able to get paid off when I've hit them," cursed the Dane, "I hit three top sets but somehow everyone just keeps folding in those spots and calling me when I bluff.
"In the end I trapped a guy in a blind battle because I needed to get back into the tournament and I picked up A7 in the sb.
"I knew if I limped he would shove with a huge range and when he did, I snap called and he showed 34o. The flop even came Ace high and he got up, but he runner-runnered a flush to all but knock me out."
One of our many German players, Ingo Meyer, was another victim shortly before dinner, picking up the blinds with a series of short stack shoved, only to get called and lose when he finally picked up AK.
"Anna Kournikova," he mused with a smile, "She looks great but she never wins!"
Also out of the running is British player Raymond Irving after the Pro-Am pool player found his luck run out at the card table, and defending ParadisePoker Tour League champion Toni Meriviori couldn't reach the points.
Even fame and fortune couldn't keep Ricardo Sa Pinto in Lady Luck's good books, as the ex-Portugal international footballer crashed out earlier this evening.
Having made the final table in Bulgaria, Anders Loringen was back for another attempt at improving that third-place finish, but fell short of the money this time.
"I had quite a few hands but just haven't been able to get paid off when I've hit them," cursed the Dane, "I hit three top sets but somehow everyone just keeps folding in those spots and calling me when I bluff.
"In the end I trapped a guy in a blind battle because I needed to get back into the tournament and I picked up A7 in the sb.
"I knew if I limped he would shove with a huge range and when he did, I snap called and he showed 34o. The flop even came Ace high and he got up, but he runner-runnered a flush to all but knock me out."
One of our many German players, Ingo Meyer, was another victim shortly before dinner, picking up the blinds with a series of short stack shoved, only to get called and lose when he finally picked up AK.
"Anna Kournikova," he mused with a smile, "She looks great but she never wins!"
Also out of the running is British player Raymond Irving after the Pro-Am pool player found his luck run out at the card table, and defending ParadisePoker Tour League champion Toni Meriviori couldn't reach the points.
Even fame and fortune couldn't keep Ricardo Sa Pinto in Lady Luck's good books, as the ex-Portugal international footballer crashed out earlier this evening.
Full stomach means no more excuses!
The Casino Vilamoura served up a fine mix of Portuguese cuisine for players and PPT bloggers alike, so there can be few excuses for being off your game.
With a hearty meal inside them, our 63 remaining entrants are focused on reaching Day Two. We're expecting to carry 36 players into Sunday's play, but if the clock strikes midnight first - it's time to party.
We have free entry for all the 179 players who were here for the opening hand, as well as a few who missed it!
Among those was our mysterious chip leader at the dinner break; a certain Behzad Zarnegar, who having arrived in Vilamoura in holiday this weekend, found the ParadisePoker Tour on his hotel doorstep.
The German poker fan even took advantage of late registration to take his seat and now has nearly 100,000 chips!
Selected Chip Count
Behzad Zarnegar - 98,625
Pedro Marques - 71,800
Joao Brito 54,325
Paulo Calado - 52,950
Ayaz Manji - 46,300
Łukasz Gębica - 45,000
Sofia Mendes - 37,025
Mafalda Lopez - 35,535
Carlos Oliveira - 34,550
Paulo Sarmento - 34,175
With a hearty meal inside them, our 63 remaining entrants are focused on reaching Day Two. We're expecting to carry 36 players into Sunday's play, but if the clock strikes midnight first - it's time to party.
We have free entry for all the 179 players who were here for the opening hand, as well as a few who missed it!
Among those was our mysterious chip leader at the dinner break; a certain Behzad Zarnegar, who having arrived in Vilamoura in holiday this weekend, found the ParadisePoker Tour on his hotel doorstep.
The German poker fan even took advantage of late registration to take his seat and now has nearly 100,000 chips!
Selected Chip Count
Behzad Zarnegar - 98,625
Pedro Marques - 71,800
Joao Brito 54,325
Paulo Calado - 52,950
Ayaz Manji - 46,300
Łukasz Gębica - 45,000
Sofia Mendes - 37,025
Mafalda Lopez - 35,535
Carlos Oliveira - 34,550
Paulo Sarmento - 34,175
The field thins at rapid rate
We're losing players quicker than Usain Bolt in the PPT Vilamoura, leaving us with just 82 remaining as we approach the dinner break.
With blinds at 400-800 and the average stack just over 21,800, the exits show no sign of abating as our fine buffet meal is laid out before our players.
Perhaps one or two might cite a rumbling stomach and the smell of good food as the formula for busting out sooner than expected, but the likes of Carlos Oliveira and Johnny Jensen remain.
Portugal have the upper hand in the ongoing ParadisePoker prop bet with Germany, as the away team have lost more players along the way.
Along with Oliveira, Paulo "Kinas" Nunes and Daniel "JackDaniels" Ferreira are still in the fight for the hosts.
With blinds at 400-800 and the average stack just over 21,800, the exits show no sign of abating as our fine buffet meal is laid out before our players.
Perhaps one or two might cite a rumbling stomach and the smell of good food as the formula for busting out sooner than expected, but the likes of Carlos Oliveira and Johnny Jensen remain.
Portugal have the upper hand in the ongoing ParadisePoker prop bet with Germany, as the away team have lost more players along the way.
Along with Oliveira, Paulo "Kinas" Nunes and Daniel "JackDaniels" Ferreira are still in the fight for the hosts.
Defending champ card dead but fighting
Defending Tour League champions Toni Meriviori is finding things tough in Paradise this season, but he lives on in the battle for PPT points.The Finn was an ever-present in Season One, grinding out his €10,000 prize by securing top 100 finishes again and again.
With just the top 50 players scoring for the league this time around, repeating the feat will be tougher in Season Two, and the deck is yet to help him out.
"The cards haven't been too good to me so far," he revealed for the PPT blog, "I've played probably less than 10 hands in total, including one AQ and one JJ.
"That followed a good start, as I made a flush and got up to 15,000 really quickly, but after that I've not hit anything.
"I'm on about 12,000 chips and hoping things turn around for me, but it's been so bad that one guy even joked around with me when I made my first move after about an hour!
"After the dinner break there is usually this kind of 'short-stack hunting' period," he added, "So I'll see if I get some big hands and if not, I'll have to change gears."
Lady Luck may have a few things to answer then, but there no complaints regarding the tournament's idylic setting.
"Vilamoura is beautiful," smiled Toni, "I like the sea view and there's less people than Sunny Beach (Bulgaria).
"It's certainly calmer here and judging by the weather at the moment, I don't think it ever rains!"
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