Pasi Heinanen plays at the Ladbrokes Poker Cruise in 2008(credit: Ladbrokes Poker)
243 players started the main event, 93 survived day one, but only 45 would get a return on their money when day two kicked off at 11.00am. And it didn’t take long for the first big-name casualties. Shortly after Paul Jackson was knocked out, Roy Brindley – second in chips at the start of the day – flopped a flush and got all his chips in ahead of his opponent’s set only for the board to pair and knock him to the rail. I saw him on the way out and assumed he was on a break. ‘Yep, I am mate. A long break… Four days I think…’
Back in the card room, and you could barely hear yourself think over the sound of chips being riffled… And Roberto Romanello regaling his table. The Welshman was talking a good game, but he’d managed to lose most of his starting stack of 80,900 chips when he decided to slow play his A-Q. His min raise under the gun wasn’t enough to see off John Lafstram, who called with 8c-2c. The flop came Queen high, but also had two clubs, and when the action went check, check, the Ace of clubs on the turn sealed Romanello’s fate.
Two Scandinavians took it upon themselves to play the biggest hand of the day. After a raise from Pasi Heinanen, Jonas Lennartsson moved all-in and got a quick call from Pasi who tabled Aces. Jonas showed Ac-Kc and was in horrible shape until the flop delivered a King and two clubs. Pasi’s tournament life was on the line but two blanks on the turn and river meant he took the pot which was worth more than 150,000.
And so to the bubble, which burst at the record-breaking time of 3.50pm. Kevin Poast was the unlucky player to miss out on the cash, but the remaining 45 players had to suffer leaving the card room while it was still daylight outside! Play isn’t due to resume until February 1, which means they’ve all got plenty of time to spend the $3,050 they’re all guaranteed. A few name players, including the Devilfish, are still in and Marc Goodwin is up with the chip leaders and looking for a final table finish to kick off 2008 with a bang.
Editors Note: Ladbrokes Poker are currently running online qualifier to win a seat at next month's EPT Copenhagen. Click here for details