The final table is set for the third annual PartyPoker.com Poker Nations Cup in Cardiff, Wales. After six heats, Germany go to the final table as chip leaders after winning both heats on day three.
The first heat was won by Great Britain represented by Neil Channing and the Irish Open champion kept up his great recent form to overcome Sweden’s Johan Storakers heads-up.
Heat two saw a surprise as Dutch online qualifier Quirjin van der Peet took it down after an epic heads-up with Great Britain’s Ian Frazer. The heat featured Jamie Gold, who finished third, the highest finishing position of any Team USA player at the event. Day one finished with 2006 winners Great Britain in the ascendancy.
Day two opened with two captains at the table, Bo Sehlstedt for Sweden and Michael Keiner for Germany – but it was Holland’s Daan Ruitter who triumphed, with Irish online qualifier Darren O’Brien roared on by his team mates into second place.
The next heat saw another maximum for Great Britain as Surinder Sunar was victorious with Sweden’s Mats Rahmn the runner-up. The heat featured the USA’s Chris Ferguson who busted first, adding to what was turning into a miserable run for Team USA. At the end of day two Holland and Great Britain were pulling away from the field in the points table.
Day three saw the balance of power swing dramatically as pre-tournament favourites Germany took down both heats. Andreas Krause won the first heat, defeating Sweden’s 2007 Poker Nations Cup hero Anders Henriksson heads-up. The final heat was won by Germany’s Benjamin Kang who saw off Ireland’s Ciaran O’Leary in a heat that also featured Marcel Luske, William Thorson, Robert Williamson III and Roland de Wolfe.
This marvellous last day gives Germany the chip lead going into the tag team final.
The team event features line-ups from Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Holland and the United States. The winning team will scoop $100,000 in this unique tournament that sees players pursuing personal and team glory, along with the honour of representing their home nation.
The tournament sees one PartyPoker.com VIP qualifier on each team playing alongside five world class poker professionals from the same participating nations, except the USA who feature celebrity player Montel Willams. Each player pays a buy-in of $5,000 making a total prize pool of $280,000 ($100,000 added by PartyPoker).
PARTYPOKER.COM POKER NATIONS CUP FINAL TABLE STARTING LINE-UP
USA Chris Ferguson
GB Surinder Sunar
IRE Marty Smyth
SWE Mats Rahmn
GER Benjamin Kang
HOL Quirjin van der Peet
PARTYPOKER.COM POKER NATIONS CUP – FINAL TABLE CHIP STACKS
USA 10,050
GB 25,350
GER 29,050
HOL 25,350
SWE 23,800
IRE 16,400
PARTYPOKER.COM POKER NATIONS CUP (POINTS AFTER DAY THREE)
GER 55pts
GB 48pts
HOL 48pts
SWE 45 pts
IRE 31 pts
USA 19 pts
