Juha Helppi wins heat 6 of the World Open

23.50

Juha Helppi

1st Juha Helppi
2nd Jennifer Tilly
3rd Sandra Naujoks
4th Mike Sexton
5th Bruno Fitoussi
6th Sorel Mizzi
7th Roberto Romanello
8th Fabrice Soulier

The runners-up heat will commence tomorrow at 11pm with the final to follow in the afternoon. Don’t miss it!

23.38

Close, But No Cigar

After losing a pot with flopped top pair versus turned trips, Jennifer Tilly was down to 395,000, and soon found herself all in with . This time, however, it looked as though her nine lives were well and truly up as Juha Helppi revealed .

The flop provided little joy, and although the turn took away some outs, it added some too. Sadly for the film and poker star, the river was a raggy , and that was all she wrote. After a monumental comeback, she’d stumbled at the very final hurdle and succumbed to the rock-solid Fin.

Watching that final was like a workout down the gym. Although it was steady Eddie early doors, it later turned into a roller coaster of a ride which saw more twists and turns than Spaghetti Junction. It’ll take a week for the final few competitors to recover, but for two of them, they don’t have that long – Tilly will be returning in the morning for her second bite of the cherry, whilst Helppi will be dipping his toes into the final.

23.34

Big Slick for Tilly

Jennifer Tilly:
Juha Helppi:

Board:

Tilly wins another race!

23.27

Flush Helps Helppi

Our two remaining gladiators reached the turn of a board where Jennifer Tilly bet 200,000 with . Juha made the call with .

On the river, Helppi moved all in with his flush for around 600,000, and without any deliberation, Tilly instantly announced call whilst turning over her hand as if it were a Royal Flush. She seemed certain that Helppi had flopped a draw and later missed, but on this occasion she was wayward in her assumption and paid the ultimate price: a double for her opponent.

[Edit. It later emerged that Tilly had misread her hand for a straight.]

23.14

Latest Chip Counts

Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 1,275,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 1,080,000

23.08

Sandra Naujoks

Sandra Naujoks played a great game, and will no doubt add a few more members to her fan base when the episode hits the small screen, but today, the cards just weren’t on her side, and straight after being out-raced by Jennifer Tilly, the German pro was propping up the rail.

It was a simple affair in the end, Naujoks pushing her button for 465,000 with and Juha Helppi making the call with . A board and that was that – the bubble had burst, and the one person who you never expected to feel even a drip, had taken the full splash.

As soon as that river card hit, Naujoks left the stage in search of Lady Luck who would surely have some explaining to do. Naujoks was devestated, and understandably so.

23.00

“I Believe in Miracles”

Never have I seen so many big hands clash three-handed. This time, we headed off to the races again as Sandra Naujoks raised to 75,000, Jennifer Tilly shoved for 555,000, and Tilly made the call.

Tilly:
Naujoks:

Before any cards were dealt, you could almost see the resignation in the German’s eyes.

But she soon perked up as the flop delivered her more outs than the Test Series…

Tilly sank her head into her hands as if she was watching a horror movie and too scared to take a peek.

Naujoks remained as motionless as Michelangelo’s David as she prayed for one of her umpteen outs..

Alas, it wasn’t to be, and if Hot Chocolate are ever looking for a replacement to sing “I believe in miracles”, then Tilly would be the first in the queue. She’s gone from last to first, and now has over a million in chips after a quite remarkable series of events.

22.48

Latest Chip Counts

Naujoks leads the pack, despite her trio of losses to Tilly, after winning a nice pot off Juha Helppi with a turned two pair.

Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks — 960,000
Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 840,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 600,000

22.44

The Comeback is Complete

If there were a crowd here today, they’d be going absolutely wild as Jennifer Tilly doubles through for the third consecutive time.

Once again, Sandra Naujoks was the victim, finding to Tilly’s . A knave on the flop, however, was clinical, and although a teased a gutshot straight, no such drama arrived as a safe hit the river.

From the jaws of defeat, Tilly has risen like a phoenix from the flames and now has 600,000 as a result.

22.37

Tilly Doubles Again

Send the fat lady back to the locker room, Jennifer Tilly’s back in the game!

Jennifer Tilly:
Sandra Naujoks:

Board:

This could be the biggest comeback since Rocky defeated Ivan Drago.

22.32

Tens for Tilly

Jennifer Tilly

The former EPT winner pondered her options for a moment, but ultimately opted for the call, which subsequently induced Juha Helppi to isolate with his in the big blind by bumping it up to 165,000. Naujoks paused for a few seconds, and then announced all-in, much to the chagrin of Helppi who reluctantly threw his cards into the muck.

The raise from Helppi had put a little extra value into the pot, and after a nine-less board, Tilly found herself back up to 165,000.

22.27

Level 7

The end is near… 15,000/30,000.

22.17

Helppi Cuts Sexton’s Mike

“Every time you min-raise, you have a good hand,” observed Sexton astutely. And he was exactly right!

Juha Helppi had kick-started the action, raising it up to 40,000 with . Sitting in the big blind, Mike Sexton looked down at and three-bet to 120,000, but his fears were seemingly justified as Helppi raised again.

Despite his suspicions, and analysis of the preflop betting trends, Sexton decided that his hand was too big to fold and duly pushed his stack across the felt.

The board didn’t save Sexton, the dealer turning a to eliminate him in fourth.

22.09

Latest Chip Counts

Seat 1: Mike Sexton — 635,00
Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks — 740,000
Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 865,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 130,000

22.00

Rollercoaster Ride

Juha Helppi raised it up to 45,000 from the button with , only for Jennifer Tilly to come over the top for a total of 450,000 with in the small blind.

But lying in wait in the big blind was Mike Sexton with ! After a slight hesitation, the veteran commentator called all in for 300,000 to leave the weight of the world resting on the shoulders of the Fin.

Whilst more aggressive players might have made a quick call, past records hinted that Helppi could easily let it go, and after a long dwell, that’s precisely the option he selected as he flipped his hand onto the felt. However, when all hands were revealed, Helppi’s face looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp as he realised that he would have been coin flipping to eliminate two players from this sixth and final Heat.

When the flop came , Helppi couldn’t help but laugh with a shake of the head, but the Poker Gods work in mysterious ways, and it was Scandinavian relief when a hit the turn. But what that card also meant was that Tilly was drawing dead, and regardless of the river, her stack plummeted to the 150,000 mark.

As for Sexton, he’s sky-rocketed up to 635,000 and is now a real contender after playing a highly impressive game.

21.43

Latest Chip Counts

Seat 1: Mike Sexton — 330,00
Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks — 660,000
Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 1,030,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 380,000

21.42

Ace From Space

All in preflop.

Jennifer Tilly:
Mike Sexton:

Flop

“Not looking good for Miss Tilly,” reports the subject matter.

Turn:

“I had a feeling to fold. Ace. On the river!”

River:

A stunned, but jubilant Tilly raises her arms aloft in victory.

She’s right back in it with 380,000!

21.39

Bruno Fitoussi

It’s fitting that Michael Greco is in the room, because after such a long period of inactivity, we’re now witnessing more drama than an entire decade of Eastenders.

We experienced a shot break, but it didn’t slow things down as right off the bat we lost Bruno Fitoussi.

Down to just 150,000, Fitoussi moved all in from the button with , and found himself in commanding shape against Sanda Naujoks who made the call with in the small blind.

An flop seemed to signify that the Frenchman’s patience was going to be rewarded, as did the turn, but a jaw-dropping arrived on the river to send him crashing towards the rail.

21.36

Level 6

Meaty blinds now: 10,000/20,000.

21.16

Latest Chip Counts

Seat 1: Mike Sexton — 527,00
Seat 2: Bruno Fitoussi — 243,000
Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks — 481,000
Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 979,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 148,000

21.06

Mizzi Misses

Sorel Mizzi

After Naujoks tapped the table, Helppi decided to bet his world to the tune of 35,000. Mizzi made it 90,000, and Helppi flat called. But despite the flop trickery, it all went in on the turn, and Mizzi was in water hotter than sun.

“Pretty nice flop for you,” he observed dryly.

“A four of hearts will do nicely,” he pleaded, but the Poker Gods ignored his request and sent a blank hurtling towards the felt. A quick count of the chips, and Mizzi was toast.

21.00

Like Buses

Eliminations are likes buses. No, not cramped, loud and with a layer of urine on the top deck, but always coming in packs when you’ve been kept waiting for one.

With Fabrice Soulier barely out of the door, fish and chip shop owner Roberto Romanello might still want to share a taxi with the Frenchman after dropping just a hand or two later. Juha Helppi set the ball rolling, opening to 35,000 with . One seat down, Romanello looked down at and moved all in for 240,000. Tortured by his decision, Helppi writhed in his seat like a three-legged ferret, but eventually made the call.

Board:

And the Welshman found himself well and truly battered.

20.51

Fabrice Felted

Fabrice Soulier

Sandra Naujoks folded, but Juha Helppi wore the same look of a losing gambler hesitating at the exit. He seemed to consider a fold, but then went for the ‘what the heck’ approach and made the call for 133,000 with , leaving himself just 41,000 behind.

If the Fin was happy to see he wasn’t up against a pair, he will have been ecstatic when the flop brought a deuce: .

He didn’t swing his trousers overhead just yet though, as there were still miracle outs for a straight, but no such event occurred as the turn and river came and respectively to secure Soulier his seat on the Eurostar.

20.37

Level 5

I have an important announcement: blinds are now 7,000/15,000.

20.30

Tilly Shoves & Survives

With Juha Helppi raising to 22,000 from under the gun with , Jennifer Tilly made the call with two seats along and we saw a flop. After Helppi checked, Tilly paused for a minute before moving all in for 111,000 into a 59,000 pot. Helppi, who may have been planning a check-raise, released his hand, much to the relief of Tilly who sensed that she was being trapped by a bigger pair. Tilly claws up to 170,000.

20.24

Short Stacks Struggling

Compared to to other heats, players seem to be calling from vulnerable stacks rather than coming over the top, and just now Jennifer Tilly exemplified that dynamic by flat calling Sandra Naujoks’ open to 25,000 from a stack of 158,000 with .

Nevertheless, with , and given the tricky stack sizes, Naujoks was faced with a tough spot out of position when the flop came , but she grit her teeth and made a continuation bet of 25,000 with what she likely assumed was the weaker hand.

But it wasn’t, and with little hesitation, Tilly chucked her cards to leave herself with 133,000.

Tilly’s style, incidentally, is also one that has been adopted by Juha Helppi, who is similarly struggling with 196,000.

20.13

Slow Progress

This sixth heat is threatening to be the longest so far. Not only are there still eight players remaining with the 7,000/15,000 level, but there is also little in the way of action. A few nicked pots here and there, but rarely are we seeing anyone step out of line preflop, or extract more than one street of value when a board is reached.

20.01

French Resistance

The early action has been dispersed evenly across the table, but the only player to have moved all in is short stack Fabrice Soulier. With Mike Sexton, who has been widening his preflop range of late, making it 22,000 from the cut-off with , Soulier pushed all in for 141,000 from the small blind with . Sexton quickly made the fold.

19.54

Level 4

Blinds are now 5,000/10,000.

19.20

Latest Chip Counts

Seat 1: Mike Sexton — 412,00
Seat 2: Bruno Fitoussi — 295,000
Seat 3: Sorel Mizzi — 330,000
Seat 4: Fabrice Soulier — 141,00
Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks — 460,000
Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 225,000
Seat 7: Roberto Romanello — 301,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 221,000

19.05

A Lack of Action

A 20 minute break is upon us, and my hope is that it will liven up the players and spark them into action for their return. It may be just a lack of cards, or situations, but that last level was rather short on drama and had some pining for the action players of previous heats.

But there’s still plenty of interesting poker to be played, and with blinds rising to 5,000 and 10,000, we could well see the volume turned up a notch for the next hour or two.

Certainly Fabrice Soulier will have to consider moving chips, as he’s the current short stack with just under 15 big blinds. At the other end of the spectrum, meanwhile, Sandra Naujoks is the leader of the pack with 412,000, despite an accident with K-2 against Juha Helppi.

It’s been a long time since we witnessed a big pot, so fingers crossed that there are some on the horizon.

18.55

Not Finnished Yet

Juha Helppi has endured a rather fruitless day, but is still fighting like a champion boxer. On his last hand, he opened to 13,000 from the cut-off with , but was called one seat down by Roberto Romanello who held .

On the flop, Helppi gave up on the hand and checked, allowing Romanello to bet 16,000 with his open-ended flush draw. Helppi sat silently in his seat, as still as bottle of Evian water as he prepared to fold – but suddenly, he broke his stoicism, reached for chips and threw in a raise to 70,000. Romanello quickly made the fold, and Helppi picked up a vital pot to pull him back up to 193,000.

18.28

Taking a Shot

The atmosphere at the table was rather subdued earlier, but it’s now enjoying a more jovial vibe after Sorel Mizzi suggested the possibility of bringing shots to the table. “If we all take them,” he explained, “there’s no EV change.”

Mizzi’s attempts to inebriate his opponents even went as far as inviting Sandra Naujoks to start hitting the vodka, adding the stipulation that for every one she downed, he’d give 0 to charity.

They always say you should take the occasional shot in poker.

18.26

Latest Chip Counts

Seat 1: Mike Sexton — 470,00
Seat 2: Bruno Fitoussi — 289,000
Seat 3: Sorel Mizzi — 239,000
Seat 4: Fabrice Soulier — 192,00
Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks — 498,000
Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 196,000
Seat 7: Roberto Romanello — 353,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 163,000

18.23

Level 3

We’re turning up the heat. Blinds are up to 3,000/6,000.

18.21

“Nice Pair!”

Roberto Romanello

Helppi, however, showed the utmost discipline by making the fold, thus leaving the decision with Romanello. The Welshman was never calling, but he couldn’t resist a cheeky comment, and said with a mischevious grin: “You’ve got a nice pair”.

“Thank you,” smiled Tilly as Romanello’s cards hit the muck.

18.08

Upping Gears

After being as quiet as a librarian for the opening level, Sorel Mizzi has reaised the last three hands, and raised for a fourth consecutive time with from early position. Perhaps not surprisingly, there was resistance from the troops:

Roberto Romanello
Jennifer Tilly:
Mike Sexton:

The flop left Mizzi with an awkward decision, but he decided to find out where he stood by leading out for 26,000. Just Romanello called.

Both players checked the turn, but Romanello value bet the river, but it was barely worth it in the end as Mizzi was shrewd enough to realise that there was nothing he could beat that would check the turn and bet the river and duly made the fold.

17.50

Straight Squared

Fabrice Soulier raised it up from early position with and Juha Helppi, Mike Sexton and Bruno Fitoussi called with , and respectively.

Everyone checked the , but Fitoussi was giving no free cards with his straight on the turn and led for 15,000. Soulier called with the same hand.

The river was an interesting card and Fitoussi check-called a bet of 44,000, but I couldn’t help but wonder what Fitoussi would have done if his fellow countryman had announced all-in.

17.38

Bruno Takes a Hit

Bruno Fitoussi raised it up to 12,000 with and found two callers: Juha Helppi on the button with , and Jennifer Tilly in the big blind with .

On the flop, Fitoussi continuation bet 19,000. Just Helppi called.

After check-calling 30,000 on the turn, Fitoussi resisted the temptation to bluff the river and check-folded before Helppi’s chips had barely hit the felt.

Heppi — 276,000
Fitoussi — 269,000

17.28

Fighting Back

After a torrid start, Jennifer Tilly is mounting a mini fight back. With Juha Helppi raising to 11,000 with , Jennifer Tilly flat called in the cut-off with an even more connected-suited hand in . On the flop, Helppi made a continuation bet of 11,000, but quickly folded to a raise to 35,000 from Tilly. She’s now back up to 140,000.

On a side note, Tilly looks ravishing today. Like a film star in fact, which is quite the coincidence as that’s exactly what she is. It’s lucky for Phil that he made his move when he did, I may just have snapped her up otherwise.

17.25

Level 2

Raisy daisy. Blinds are up to 2,000/4,000.

17.21

Latest Chip Counts

Seat 1: Mike Sexton — 366,00
Seat 2: Bruno Fitoussi — 342,000
Seat 3: Sorel Mizzi — 242,000
Seat 4: Fabrice Soulier — 329,00
Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks — 416,000
Seat 6: Juha Helppi — 246,000
Seat 7: Roberto Romanello — 341,000
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly — 112,000

17.13

Setting Le Trap

With Sorel Mizzi raising to 5,000 with and Fabrice trap-calling with , Roberto Romanello made an ill-timed squeeze play to 16,000 with . Mizzi flat-called expecting to set-mine in a three-way pot, but Soulier turned up the heat by four-betting to 50,000. Both opponents released their hand.

17.04

Hot Flushes

Finding yet another strong starting hand, Jennifer Tilly raised it up under the gun with – just the minimum of 4,000 this time – but found herself three-bet rather light by Fabrice Soulier who held . The player with the best hand, however, was Sandra Naujoks, who flat called with .

Somehow, the flop was checked around, but Soulier hit what he believed to be the pot-winning card on the turn and led out for 18,000. Not realising how big her opponent’s hand was, Naujoks decided to slowplay her nut flush and flat called.

On the river, Soulier bet 31,000, but received a rude awakening as Naujoks raised to 80,000. The Frenchman sensed something was awry, but couldn’t part himself from his jack high flush and made the call.

16.52

A Believable Story

Jennifer Tilly has seen more hands than a manicurist so far, and once again she was involved when she found in early position. Naturally, she raised it up, to 5,000, but won’t have approved of receiving three callers: Mike Sexton with , Fabrice Soulier with , and Sandra Naujoks in the small blind with .

The flop missed everybody, but Sexton had the open-ended straight draw, so when Tilly led out for 20,000, the PartyPoker ambassador was the only caller.

Sexton didn’t get exactly what he wanted on the turn, but armed with a flush draw, he decided to raise Tilly’s second barrel of 35,000 to 90,000.

“If you have a set,” mused TIlly, “we have a problem,” but Sexton had written a believable story, and Tilly did indeed fold.

16.38

Tilly Versus Soulier: Round Two

It’s been a frustrating day so far for Jennifer Tilly whose stack has now dipped below the 200,000 mark (incredibly, that would leave her with zero if this were Series 1).

She didn’t do too much wrong on her last hand, though, raising to 5,000 with before calling a three-bet squeeze from Fabrice Soulier to 18,000. Sorel Mizzi stepped out of the way with leading to a flop of where Tilly checked. Holding , Soulier led for 27,000 to put the decision back on Tilly, who could easily have got stubborn with her hand. This time, however, she followed her gut, and made the fold.

16.27

Ignoring Your Gut

Jennifer Tilly

The turn was gin for Soulier, and after Tilly had checked, the Frenchman fired out 19,000. Tilly called.

The river was a blank, and, not surprisingly, Soulier bet his nuts ( ) once again, this time to the tune of 37,000. Although she smelt a rat, Tilly was unable to find a fold and threw in the necessary chips with .

“Why didn’t I just go with my gut?” grimaced Tilly upon being met with the bad news. “In an interview before we started I said that when my gut says fold like a pussy, fold like a pussy. I didn’t follow my own advice.”

16.14

One More Time

It’s groundhog (half)day one more time with the sixth and final Heat a mixture of glamour, experience, and flair that should create an entertaining finish to the preliminary stages. Picking a winner is always hard in this format, but if I were a betting man, Sorel Mizzi would be the horse I’d be egging on.

Seat 1: Mike Sexton
Seat 2: Bruno Fitoussi
Seat 3: Sorel Mizzi
Seat 4: Fabrice Soulier
Seat 5: Sandra Naujoks
Seat 6: Juha Helppi
Seat 7: Roberto Romanello
Seat 8: Jennifer Tilly

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