Today is the day 3 of WPT Bratislava and we are playing down to the final table.
Marke Blasko will be feeling on top of the world after destroying everybody who dared to sit at his table at day 2. He is our chip leader at the start of day 3 with an incredible 903,500 chips.
Stay tuned to the PartyPoker Blog for all the latest updates, pictures, and videos from the The Golden Vegas Casino in Bratislava, Slovakia
So Roberto Romanello ends the day as our new chip leader and despatches our old chip leader in the process. He has an astonishing 1.8 million chips going into the final tomorrow. Please have a read of the recap here.
Final table live updates are here!
Final Table Chip Counts and Seat Draw
Roberto Romanello 1,803,000 Seat 2
Jesper Hoog 1,042,000 Seat 6
Mayu Roca 899,000 Seat 8
Alexander Jager 594,000 Seat 5
Bodo Sbrzesny 594,000 Seat 7
Christopher Williamsson 564,000 Seat 9
Frank Dollinger 549,000 Seat 4
Lubomir Kudlicka 406,000 Seat 3
Marek Tatar 105,000 Seat 1
00:39
Marek Blasko Has Been Eliminated in 9th Place
Our chip leader from this morning has been eliminated in the very last hand of the night and it was a peach.
Marek Blasko raised to 28,000 from early position. The action folded around to Roberto Romanello on the button who picked up a pile of blue 25k chips and dumped them into the middle. The bet was 150,000. It was a huge three-bet and the way that Romanello dumped them into the middle was a sure sign that he was trying to wind Blasko up. We have seen some needle between the two of them for days and we just knew that Blasko was going to explode. He stared at Romanello, fiddled with all of his chips for an eternity, stared some more and then declared all-in. Romanello snap-called and everyone on the table knew Blasko was in trouble. As it turned out there was some work to do before Romanello was to come through the hand victorious.
Romanello: 
Blasko: 
Board: 
Blasko was eliminated and Romanello will head to the final table as our chip leader.
00:26
Alexander Jager raised to 30,000 on the button, Marek Blasko called in the small blind as did Jesper Hoog in the big. The flop was 
and all three players checked. The turn was the 
and Blasko took the pot down with a bet of 60,000
–
Marek Blasko bet 25,000 and Chris Williamson called on the button. The flop was 
and Blasko bet small – 15,000 and Williamson called. They both checked the turn 
and river 
. Williamson won the pot with 
. Blasko held 
.
23:59
Over-betting The Pot
Here is a good example of when to over bet the pot.
Roberto Romanello bet 21,000 holding 
and Alexander Jager defended his big blind with .
Flop: 
Both players checked.
Turn: 
Jager bet 35,000 and Romanello called.
River:
Jager checked to Romanello. Romanallo believed he had the best hand despite the co-ordination of the board – but how does he get paid? He decided to try and dupe Jager into believing he missed his draws and over bet the pot. He bet 131,000 into a 127,000 pot. The bet intrigued Jager and his curiosity got the better of him and he called with only second pair.
23:44
Hoog Rivers Lubowir
Kudlicka Lubowir raised to 28,000 in early position and Jesper Hoog called.
Flop: 
Lubowir bet 31,000 and a newly shaded Hoog called.
Turn: 
Lubowir bet 36,000 and Hoog called.
River:
Both players put the brakes on and Hoog took down the pot with . Lubowir was winning up until the river with his 
.
23:21
And There Was One Table
We are ten-handed and when one more person as his heart broken we will retire for the evening and return for the final table tomorrow.
Seat 1 – Marek Tatar 153,000
Seat 2 – Roberto Romanello 900,000
Seat 3 – Kudlicka Lubowir 405,000
Seat 4 – Frank Dollinger 475,000
Seat 5 – Alexander Jager 525,000
Seat 6 – Marek Blasko 525,000
Seat 7 – Jesper Hoog 1,090,000
Seat 8 – Bodo Sbrzesny 480,000
Seat 9 – Mayu Roca 1,250,000
Seat 10 – Chris Williamson 530,000
23:03
Florian Langmann Has Been Eliminated in 10th Place
He has been one our most active and interesting players to watch today, and the final table will be worse off without him, but Florian Langmann has been eliminated at the hands of Jesper Hoog. This is how it went down.
Langmann raised to 20,000 on the button and Hoog three-bet to 73,000 from the big blind. Langmann composed himself before moving all-in and Hoog called very quickly.
Langmann: 
Hoog: 
Board: 
We now have one table and we will bring you the draw and chip counts in a moment.
22:52
The Good Old Blasko
Marke Blasko has not been his usual dominant self today but this hand shows a glimpse of the man the players learned to fear yesterday.
Alexander Jager raised to 25,000 under the gun and Marek Blasko three-bet from the big blind. It was for 51,000 and Jager made the call.
Flop: 
Blasko dismantled two of his big yellow towers of chips and bet 80,000 and Jager folded.
22:50
We Haven’t Seen Bodo In a While
Bodo Sbrzesny has had a quiet day at the tables. He has just sat back and watched everyone else be at each others throats all day. I suppose that strategy helps solidify his image as this hand shows.
Sbrzesny opened to 20,000 in the hi-jack and Florian Langmann three-bet to 50,000 from the cut-off. Sbrzesny had a think and four-bet to 130,000 and Langmann folded.
22:42
Trappy, Trappy Jager
Alexander Jager raised to 27,000 up front and Chris Williamson three-bet on the button to 51,000; Jager called.
The both players check all three streets on a board of 
. Jager took down the pot with the straight holding .
“I thought he would bet the river.” Said Jager.
22:40
I Repeat Do Not Bluff The Romanello
The board is 
.
Mayu Roca bet 47,000 on the river with 
and Romanello called with
22:30
Scott Shepherd Has Been Eliminated in 12th Place
He has been extremely short all day and I suppose you have to congratulate him for laddering up so far, but it had to come to an end sometime.
Chris Williamson raised to 20,000, Shepherd moved all-in for 38,000, Kublicka Lubowir four-bet to 55,000 and Williamson folded.
It was a race between the [ax][kx]of Lubowir and the [qx][qx]of Shepherd and an ace on the flop meaning Lubwir won it.
22:22
Ingo Paulus Has Been Eliminated in 13th Place
Party Poker Qualifier Ingo Paulus was a recent final tablist at the WPT NS Paris but he has fallen just short of repeating that feat here today.
We caught the action on a flop of 
.
Alexander Jager bet 44,000 and Ingo Paulus moved all-in and Jager called.
Jager: 
Paulus:
Turn:
River:
22:06
Quick Round Up At The Break
Scott Shepherd is on life support after losing a pot against Alexander Jager earlier. Shepherd was ahead on the turn and Jager called to hit a diamond flush draw and it arrived on the river. A 35,000 river value bet by Jager was reluctantly paid by Shepherd leaving him with a mere 34,000.
Marek Blasko is bleeding chips and here is an example of how it is happening.
Blasko limps into the pot under the gun and Frank Dollinger raised from the button making it 26,000 to play. Blasko then re-raised making it 75,000 to play before Dollinger pumped it up to 226,000 and Blasko laid it down.
Table 1
Seat 3 – Roberto Romanello ~ 850,000
Seat 4 – Bodo Sbrzesny ~ 245,000
Seat 5 – Florian Langmann ~ 600,000
Seat 6 – Mayu Roca ~ 1,075,000
Seat 7 – Jesper Hoog ~ 600,000
Seat 9 – Marek Tatar ~ 172,000
Table 2
Seat 1 – Kublicka Lubowir ~ 475,000
Seat 2 – Marek Blasko ~ 520,000
Seat 3 – Alexander Jager ~ 540,000
Seat 5 – Ingo Paus ~ 225,000
Seat 6 – Chris Williamson ~ 480,000
Seat 7 – Frank Dollinger ~ 600,000
Seat 8 – Scott Shepherd ~ 34,000
22:05
Bernard Yoann Has Been Eliminated in 14th Place
It was a small blind versus big blind tussle that ended in disaster for Bernard Yoann.
Jesper Hoog raised to 21,000 from the small blind and Bernard Yoann moved all-in in the big blind. Hoog likes to take his time when making a decision and it was a big one. When he finally made it he called.
Hoog:
Yoann:
Hoog was behind but the board would soon change his fate.
Board: 
Hoog now has ~ 600,000.
21:29
A Trio of Hands
Florian Langmann opened to 21,000 on the button and Jesper Hoog defended the big blind.
Flop:
Both players checked.
Turn:
Both players checked.
River: 
Hoog bet 24,000 and Langmann folded.
–
Mayu Roca raised to 18,000 from the cut-off and, the new boy to the table Marek Tatar, defended his big blind.
Flop: 
Tatar checked, Roca bet 19,000 and Tatar check-raised all-in for over 100,000. Roca promptly folded.
–
Chris Williamson raised to 16,000 on the button and Frank Dollinger three-bet from the small blind making it 45,000. Action back to the button and Williamson made the four bet when he made it 31,000 more to play and Dollinger called.
Flop: 
Dollinger checked and a 45,000 Williamson bet took it down.
21:15
Simon Charette Has Been Eliminated in 15th Place
Jesper Hoog raised to 18,000 from early position and Simon Charette open shoved for 110,000 with [kx][qx]. Hoog called with [ax][k]and the board did not help the man from Toronto Canada and he was gone just a few minutes after Carlsson.
21:11
Jakob Carlsson Has Been Eliminated in 16th Place
Florian Langmann raised from under the gun holding and Jakob Carlsson open shoved holding . Langmann made the call and the river was very favourable to him.
Board:
Langmann continues his good start after the break.
21:07
Country Tells
Live tells are over-rated. Just ask the person where he comes from because apparently that is all the information you need.
Jesper Hoog raised from the hi-jack to 18,000 and Bernard Yoann, who has not got out of line at all today, three-bet to 50,000 from the cut-off. The action folded back around to Hoog who takes his shades off and thinks for ages.
“Where are you from?” He asks Yoann.
Then he thinks for some more before finally moving all-in. Then Yoann thinks some more before folding.
20:55
Williamson Has The Jacks
Chris Williamson raised from mid position and Alexander Jager defended his big blind. The flop was and both players checked. The turn was the and Jager bet 20,000 and Williamson called. The river was the and Jager checked to Williamson who bet 37,000 and Jager called. Williamson turned over and we did not see Jager’s hand but believe it was a small pocket pair.
20:53
The Impressive Langmann
Florian Langmann has started well after the dinner break.
Bernard Yoann raised from early position to the tune of 20,000 and Florian Langmann defended the small blind. The two of them saw a flop of and Langmann check-called a 28,000 Yoann bet. The turn was the and Langmann led this time, betting 52,000 and Yoann folded.
20:42
Some Post Dinner Break Hands
Mayu Roca raised from the small blind and Jesper Hoog called. The flop was and both players checked. The turn was the and once again both players checked. The river was the 
and a Hoog 27,000 bet won the pot.
–
Florian Langmann bet 20,000 from the cut-off and Bernard Yoann defended his big blind. The flop was and both players checked. The turn was the and Yoann bet 35,000 and Langmann called. The river was the fourth heart and Yoann checked to Langmann who bet 56,000 to take the pot down.
–
Marek Blasko raised to 20,000 under the gun and Kudlicka Lubowir defended the big blind. The flop was and Lubowir check-called a 26,000 Blasko bet. The turn was the 
and this time Lubowir led and he bet 25,000 and Blasko called. The river was the 
and again Lubowir led, this time for 39,000 and Blasko folded.
20:13
Dinner Break Chip Counts
Table 1
Seat 1 – Simon Charette ~ 112,000
Seat 3 – Roberto Romanello ~ 830,000
Seat 4 – Bodo Sbrzesny ~ 300,000
Seat 5 – Florian Langmann ~ 410,000
Seat 6 – Mayu Roca ~ 939,000
Seat 7 – Jesper Hoog ~ 230,000
Seat 8 – Bernard Yoann ~ 395,000
Seat 9 – Jakob Carlsson ~ 210,000
Table 2
Seat 1 – Kublicka Lubowir ~ 335,000
Seat 2 – Marek Blasko ~ 753,000
Seat 3 – Alexander Jager ~ 520,000
Seat 4 – Marek Tatar ~ 185,000
Seat 5 – Ingo Paulus ~ 279,000
Seat 6 – Chris Williamson ~ 292,000
Seat 7 – Frank Dollinger ~365,000
Seat 9 – Scott Shepherd ~ 160,000
20:11
Missed Elimination
Earlier we reported that Marek Blasko had lost a lot of chips and then gained them again. We have been told during dinner that he did lose a significant portion of his chips to Simon Charette but then eliminated WPT Venice winner Alessio Isaia. Isaia just couldn’t put anything together today and Blasko eliminated him.
19:16
Carlsson Doubles Up Hoog
Bodo Sbrzesny raised to 12,000, Mayu Roca called, Jesper Hoog moved all-in for around 100,000 and then Jakob Carlsson also moved all-in for 330,000. Sbrzesny folded instantly and Roca took a little bit longer to release his hand.
Hoog:
Sbrzesny:
Board: 
Hoog ~ 200,000
Carlsson ~ 220,000
19:07
Michael Kovac Has Been Eliminated
Frank Dollinger has just eliminated Michael Kovac. Dollinger raised pre flop, Kovac shoved and Dollinger called. Dollinger had pocket jacks and Kovac pocket eights and the board didn’t change anything.
18:59
Itay Rokni Has Been Eliminated
Florian Langmann opened up from early position with [ax][kx]and Itay Rokni jammed from the big blind and Langmann called. Rokni was holding and Langmann showed Simon Charette how to win a flip against trash with ace-king.
18:49
Balls of Steel or Just Balls?
This game just never ceases to amaze us. There has hardly been an altercation of worthy note when this happens.
Simon Charette raised with from mid position and Roberto Romanello made a three-bet from behind with when he made it 31,000 to play. The action folds around to Charette who four-bets to 96,000. The action is now back on the Welshman who makes a five-bet shove with for 400,000 (all of his chips) and Charette made the call.
Flop: 
Still Charette in the lead.
Turn:
More outs for Romanello.
River:
Romanello hits a straight while holding to break the heart of Charette.
“Why do people keep on shoving on me with trash?” Charette asked the sky.
“Sorry mate it was just a move.” Said Romanello.
Balls of steel or just plain balls? Romanello doesn’t care – he now has 850,000 chips to his name while Charette has to start all over again with a lowly 150,000.
18:41
Roc – king and Rolling
The impressive Mayu Rocu from Colombia continues to play a very high standard of poker here at WPT Bratislava.
He has just taken a bite out of Florian Langmann’s stack and here is the hand.
Rocu raised under the gun and it folded around to Langmann who three-bet and Rocu called.
Flop:
Langmann checked and Rocu bet 67,000. Action back to Langmann who made the call.
Turn:
Again Langmann checked. Rocu continued to pile the pressure on his German competitor with another bet; this time for 85,000 and Langmann sat with 310,000 decided to pass.
Langmann ~ 310,000
Rocu ~ 941,000
18:27
Final Two Tables
Table 1
Seat 1 – Simon Charette ~ 560,000
Seat 2 – Itay Rokni ~ 120,000
Seat 3 – Roberto Romanello ~ 400,000
Seat 4 – Bodo Sbrzesny ~ 300,000
Seat 5 – Florian Langmann ~ 390,000
Seat 6 – Mayu Roca ~ 760,000
Seat 7 – Jesper Hoog ~ 115,000
Seat 8 – Bernard Yoann ~ 350,000
Seat 9 – Jakob Carlsson ~ 340,000
Table 2
Seat 1 – Kudlicka Lubowir ~ 335,000
Seat 2 – Marek Blasko ~ 1,320,000
Seat 3 – Alexander Jager ~ 520,000
Seat 4 – Marek Tatar ~ 120,000
Seat 5 – Ingo Paulus ~ 200,000
Seat 6 – Chris Williamson ~ 176,000
Seat 7 – Frank Dollinger ~ 270,000
Seat 8 – Michael Kovac ~ 100,000
Seat 9 – Scott Shepherd ~ 140,000
18:15
Gianluca Speranza Has Been Eliminated in 19th Place
It has been extremely quiet out there in the Main Event. The action generally consisting of a lot of pre-flop action and folding.
Gianluca Speranza has been short for quite a while now and he eventually got called after moving in a lot of times.
Speranza:
Lubowir:
Board:
On Day 1b I watched Kudlicka Lubowir win a very fortunate double up, when he should have been out of the door, after making a big pre flop mistake. I decided not to remember his name because I thought he wouldn’t last long. What do I know about poker?
Lubowir now has ~ 335,000
17:45
Marek Blasko
I reported earlier than Marek Blasko had lost a significant amount of chips. It seems I did not see the two huge towers of Orange chips each worth 5k each. I apologise for my schoolboy error. Blasko has not lost chips and in fact he has gained them with 1,190,000 at present.
17:42
More Moves Than a Bowl of Jelly
Marek Blasko raised to 10,600 in middle position and Roberto Romanello three-bet to 50,500 from the big blind. The action folded around to the chip leader who asked Romanello how many chips he had. Romanello remained motionless and it was left to the Dealer to inform Blasko of the count and it was around 400,000.
Blasko started inspecting his own stack then suddenly out of nowhere Romanello burst into life.
“Did he just say all-in?” Romanello said excitedly.
“I said nothing.” Said Blasko.
“He said nothing.” Said the Dealer.
“But he said something right? It was all-in?” Asked Romanello a second time.
“He said nothing sir.” Said the Dealer.
Blasko had a grin on his face and folded.
“Next time.” Said Blasko.
“Do not bluff the Romanello.” Said Romanello before.
17:41
The Mayu Roca Table
He has quietly plough his furrow over the past two days and now Mayu Roca is the man who seems to have risen to challenge Marek Blasko. He now has 705,000 chips and an uncanny calm about him.
We caught a hand between Ingo Paulus and Jakob Carlsson. The hand was on the turn with a board of 
when Paulus check-called a 24,000 Carlsson bet. The river was the and both players checked. Carlsson took the pot down with .
Seat 1 – Mayu Roca 705,000
Seat 3 – Ingo Paulus 250,000
Seat 4 – Jakob Carlsson 320,000
Seat 6 – Jesper Hoog 130,000
Seat 7 – Marek Tatar 140,000
Seat 8 Bernard Yoann 390,000
17.30
Tatjana Pasalic spoke to PokerStrategy’s Tsubasa Manabe as he made his first WPT cash here in Bratislava.
17:15
Chip Leader Table Report
Marek Blasko has lost a significant amount of chips today and there seems to be a few benefactors but the main upswing belongs to Simon Charette. Charette was not a well bunny yesterday but he looks in fine shape early on Day 3. He seems to be involved in most pots and is using the three-bet effectively. That being said he just three bet Itay Rokni from the button that resulted in a shove by Rokni and Charette folded. Here are the chip counts:
Seat 2 – Scott Shepherd ~ 160,000
Seat 3 – Roberto Romanello ~ 420,000
Seat 4 – Itay Rokni ~ 169,000
Seat 5 – Alessio Isaia ~ 240,000
Seat 6 – Simon Charette ~ 580,000
Seat 8 – Alexander Jager ~ 510,000
Seat 9 – Marek Blasko ~ 635,000
17:05
Death By Two Cuts
For a long while Jan Niks looked like being our bubble boy. Since the bubble burst he has managed to cling on to his chair until a few minutes ago when he was eliminated in 22nd place.
Firstly he lost an all-in against the very short Michael Kovac.
Kovac:
Niks:
Board:
Then he lost his second race in a row, this time against Gianluca Speranza
Speranza:
Niks:
Board:
16:51
Alessandro Speranza Has Been Eliminated
When we walked over to the Speranza table it was clear that there had been a shift in chips. Florian Langmann, occupying the number 3 seat had 420,000 and Alessandro Speranza, occupying the number 8 seat, had 50,000.
Speranza moved all-in holding and Kudlicka Lubowir called holding .
Flop:
Speranza improved but there was a gut shot for Lubowir.
Turn:
River:
Kudlicka hits his straight and eliminates the first Speranza brother. Here is the run down on that table after that hand.
Seat 1 Kudlicka Lubowir ~ 150,000
Seat 3 Florian Langmann ~ 420,000
Seat 4 Bodo Sbrzesny ~ 300,000
Seat 5 Chris Williamson ~ 395,000
Seat 6 Michael Kovac ~ 50,000
Seat 8 Jan Niks ~ 60,000
Seat 9 Gianluca Speranza ~ 184,000
16:44
Paulus Doubles Up Sanders
Dean Sanders moved all-in for his last 95,000 holding and Ingo Paulus called with
Board: 
Who needs the ace when you can bank a straight?
Sanders now has over 200,000 while Paulus is knocked down to 310,000
16:32
Romanello and Charette
Roberto Romanello and Simon Charette are probably the two people who like to do the most talking at our final three tables. During this hand, however, both of them were as quiet as mice.
Romanello raised to 21,500 from early position and Simon Charette three-bet on the button making it 26,500 to play and Romanello made the call.
Flop:
Romanello checked, Charette bet 32,000 and Romanello called.
Both players checked the turn of before we saw the on the river. Romanello bet 90,000 and Charette folded.
After the hand Charette turned around and looked at Frank Dollinger who was drinking a huge cup of peppermint tea.
“Wow, how do you ask for a cup of tea that big?” Asked Charette.
Dollinger took a sip from his giant cup and said stoically.
“Please can I have a big cup of peppermint tea.”
16:16
There is Less Sunshine at WPT Bratislava
Alessio Isaia raised to 12,500 from late position and Alexander Jager three-bet on the button making it 28,500. Hiren “Sunny” Patel moved all-in from the blinds for 142,000, Isaia folded and Jager went into deep thought mode. He eventually called and was ahead.
Jager:
Sunny:
Board:
Sunny had a good run but it ended in 25th place. Jager has ~ 600,000
Bubble Time
Sorry about the lack of updates folks. We have been in the bubble period and didn’t want to miss any of the action. Here is a very quick summary of bubble action before we bring you the final hand and unmask our unwilling superhero.
We said that Mayu Roca never loses a hand? Well during the bubble period we saw him lose some chips to Bernard Yoann in a pot with Yoann holding pocket kings on a low board. Bernard Yoann is quietly going about his business and has over 300,000 chips and could be a dark horse here today.
Jakob Carlsson has just been moved to Marek Blasko’s table and Blasko has position on him. Carlsson raised his first hand and Blasko showed him who was boss with a three-bet forcing the fold.
Hiren “Sunny” Patel had a very up and down bubble period. First of all he crippled Jan Niks with a full house on a 
board. Niks was down to 27,000 and had the shortest stack left in the competition. Then Sunny lost a very big pot to Alessandro Speranza. Speranza holding on a 
board. This put Sunny down to 130,000. Then he raised the Romanello big blind from the small and the Welshman moved all-in forcing Sunny to fold.
Gianluca Speranza was all-in over a Mayu Roca raise but the Colombian folded.
Alessio Isaia lost yet another pot, this time to Marek Blasko. The board was when Blasko value bet 55,000 and Isaia took his time before calling. Blasko had for two pair and the Italian mucked his cards. Isaia now has 195,000.
Then we had the bubble hand.
Mayu Roca raised from mid position and Matthieu Sustrac called in the big blind. The flop was and Sustrac, who had 65,000, checked to Roca who bet 8,500. Sustrac check-raised to 20,000 and Roca moved all-in. Sustrac looked devastated.
“What you don’t believe me? You have ace-king?” Asked Sustrac.
When
