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.

Czech mate for Loringen as Marek goes head-up with Muff

Marek Viscak finally claimed a Danish scalp to go heads-up, but it took a harsh beat to send Anders Loringen to the rail.

Together with Aske Muff, the duo from Denmark had looked invincible at times, even after Loringen (pictured) lost a sizeable pot to his countryman.

His final hand was another tough one to take however, as his Kings were cracked by a river Jack that handed Marek two pair after the chips had all gone in.

The Czech player had raised from the button with Q♣J♣ and called a three-bet from the man to his right.

The flop held fear for both men, as the A♠-5♥-Q♠ prompted both men to check.

The 7♦ followed on the turn and while Loringen checked again, Marek made his move with middle pair, betting 90,000 chips and putting his opponent to the test.

It seemed the Dane had passed when he moved all-in and was called by the weaker pair, but he drowned in that cruel river.

"I feel kind of disappointed but I'm very satisfied overall," he revealed in the wake of the beat, "I was especially pleased with the final table.

"I had the patience to wait for moments to make moves and set myself goals as I went along. I obviously made the final table, then the last six players, but equally one was to win it.

"That last hand was tough but I think I played it really well, because when you re-raise someone pre-flop, the last thing you want to see is an Ace. Right now I wish he had folded but i got it in with the best hand.

"It would have been great to play Aske heads-up," he added, "If I'd won that pot it would have been quite even, but now I'm backing him to go on and win it.

"He's definitely the better player of the two left in my opinion. He's good at putting his opponents under pressure, so I don't doubt that he can finish the job."