by Mad Harper
NAPT champion Vanessa Selbst, the latest star to join the elite Team PokerStars Pro, will be competing in her first European Poker Tour event in Tallinn next month.

Selbst, 26, made it to Day 5 of this year's World Series of Poker Main Event, finishing 476th for $27,519. She also won a WSOP bracelet in 2008, taking down the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha tournament.

Currently studying law at Yale, Selbst has several big USA titles to her name and won the inaugural PokerStars North American Poker Tour Main Event at Mohegan Sun in April this year for $750,000.

Selbst will be joined at the first EPT of Season 7 by a host of stars such as Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater, EPT Barcelona and 2010 WSOP bracelet winner Carter Phillips, EPT Berlin and EPT Players' Choice Award winner Kevin MacPhee, EPT Player of the Year Max Lykov and Friend of PokerStars Pierre 'Serial PokerStars Qualifier' Neuville.

More than 80 players have already won their seat to the €4,250 EPT Tallinn main event on PokerStars and satellites are still running, giving everyone the chance to visit the beautiful Estonian capital.

EPT Tallinn is taking place August 11-16 at the luxurious Swissôtel in the heart of the city and a full range of qualifiers are running now on PokerStars giving players the chance to win a seat for as little as €5.45.

EPT Tallinn is the EPT's first visit to the Baltic States but it's already familiar territory for PokerStars which first visited in October 2009 for the PokerStars Baltic Festival and was there again last month for the second Baltic Festival, won by Team PokerStars Pro William Thorson.

by Mad Harper
Satellites for EPT Vilamoura on Portugal's stunning Algarve coast are running now on PokerStars. This beautiful resort is one of Portugal's premier tourist destinations and is surrounded by numerous championship-level golf courses.

EPT Vilamoura launched last season and was a huge success, as reported by the PokerStars Blog. The dates for this season's EPT Vilamoura have been brought forward so that players and their guests can take advantage of the resort's myriad tourist amenities - stunning beach, beautiful marina packed with great restaurants and bars, and fantastic golf courses.

Last year's event attracted 322 players creating a total prize pool of more than €1.5 million, making it the richest poker tournament ever held in Portugal.

The event ended with a spectacular final table. The players included Canadian chess whizz Jeff Sarwer, Czech pro Jan Skampa - who won EPT Prague only a few weeks later - and French veteran Michel Abecassis. The event was won by local businessman Antonio Matias for €404,793.

The Vilamoura prize package is worth €7,330 and includes Main Event buy in (August 28-September 2), hotel accommodation at the new Crowne Plaza hotel and €770 expenses. Satellites are available on PokerStars now from as little as €5.45 or 50 Frequent Player Points.

Good luck, and we hope to see you in Portugal.

EPT selection for Mixed Game Player of the Year. As reported by Brad Willis a few days ago, such a selection was too difficult to obtain, so the eight finalist are joined here today for a Sit and Go to determine the award's rightful owner. What better way to test their skill than to play in the 8-game rotation:

Limit Triple Draw Deuce to Seven
Limit Hold Em'
Limit Omaha Eight or Better
Limit Razz
Limit Stud
Limit Stud Eight or Better
No Limit Hold Em'
Pot Limit Omaha

Our lineup with half of them patched up as Team PokerStars Pros:
Katja Thater (Team Germany)
Ben Kang (Team Germany)
Joe Hachem (Team Australia)
Alex Kravchenko (Team Russia)

And the other foursome looking to snag that Mixed Game Player of Year trophy stuffed with a package to the EPT Season 7's Tallinn, Estonia event:

Scott "BigRiskky" Clements (Runner up and 3rd place in Omaha Eight or Better at $10,000 and $5,000 buy-in events at last year's World Series of Poker)
Mike "gordo16" Gorodinsky (winner of the NAPT Carribean Poker Adventure 8-Game tourney for $105,540)
Matthias "mattes123" Kuerschner
Ilari "Fabahaba" Tahkokallio (Runner-up at EPT Germany stop for $817,417 and won the PLH/PLO side event at 2009 EPT London for almost $48K)

The eight would start on two tables since 8-Game is played six handed here's how the players looked all fresh with their 8,000 chip stacks and six minute rotations between the games:

Table one's lineup:

Table two's lineup:

The second round of NLHE (blinds 150/300 ante 40) proved to be deadly for two of our elite eight. First, Matthias "mattes123" Kuerschner down to just 1,845 chips looked at [Ah][9d] on the button and shoved into Ilari "Fabahaba" Tahkokallio's big blind who covered and made the call with [Qs][Jd]. A jack would hit the end of the flop [Kd [8d] [Jc] [7d] [4c] and beat out Kuerschner's ace-high for the 4,000 chip pot reducing our field to seven.

Germany vs. Russia

Two hands later Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko tried to make a move in a blind vs. blind battle with fellow PokerStars Pro Ben Kang. A short-stacked Kravchenko tried to shove for 3,306 chips holding [Th][Jd] but the well-stocked Kang had plenty of chips to spare and a decent [Ac][Ts] in his hand to make the call. Both players would flop their kickers [Ah] [7s] [Jh], but Kravchenko couldn't find trips on the turn and river [3c] [5c] finishing in seventh place sending everyone to one table.

Here's how our final six stacked up after combining the two tables:

Seat 1: JoeHachem (11700 in chips)
Seat 2: BigRiskky (8225 in chips)
Seat 3: Katja Thater (6002 in chips)
Seat 4: gordo16 (6073 in chips)
Seat 5: BenKang (22694 in chips)
Seat 6: Fabahaba (9306 in chips)

Big Risk, Big Reward

Ben Kang fell on hard times quickly after coming to the final table of six with a third of the chips in play. While in the third round of Deuce to Seven and bets at 1000/2000, Kang would three-bet all-in for 740 over BigRiskky's raise for less than the full raise amount as Clements made the call. Kang drew two the first draw as Clements took one. One card for Kang on the second draw as Clements stood pat, same action on the third draw as Clements flipped up a nine [9s] [6c] [4c] [3s] [2d] beating out Kang's draw to an eight that ended with a pair [8d] [3h] [8h] [5d] [7c] also ending Ben's game in sixth place.

Nines are easy to find

Check out Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem's search for a nine while knotted up with Mike "gordo16" Gorodinsky who is all-in preflop:

Hachem's [9d][Ks] would find the winning nine on the turn [3h] [6c] [Ts] [9s] [As] overcoming the preflop disadvantage to Gorodinsky's [Jc][Kh] and taking down the 8,298 chip pot.

Sevens, Sevens, Sevens, Oi, Oi, Oi

While still in the Limit Hold Em' section and blinds at 1200/2400, Hachem would open for a raise from the button as Clements three-bet from the small blind and Hachem called to see a [9d] [7d] [5s] flop. Clements led out as Joe Hachem raised, Clements three-bet, as Hachem capped and Clements made the call all-in for less.

BigRiskky: [As] [Ah]
JoeHachem: [7c] [7s]

No getting away from rockets at this point, but the former Main Event champ had flopped a set of sevens which would take down the 16,250 chip pot after an ace failed to hit the [3c] turn and [Th] river.

One less World Series bracelet holder left

The former world champ's chip leading stack would take a turn for the worse during Omaha Hi/Lo after not being able to catch much and with blinds 800/1600 catching a worth while hand early was crucial. Unfortunately, Joe Hachem was left with just 2,610 chips after the game moved on to Razz and was nearly forced to call Katja Thater's completion showing a [6s] to the World Series of Poker Razz champ's [5c]. Thater would show a seven [3s] [Ad] / [5c] [Kd] [2d] [7d] / [3c] to take out Hachem's ten [4c] [8c] / [6s] [9d] [4s] [Th] / [9h] and take the 5,620 setting up heads-up play.

Heads-up for the trophy

With nether player holding more than nine big bets, it would take some timely bets and a little luck to take home the EPT Mixed Game POY trophy today.

Katja Thater (27,234 in chips)
Ilari "Fabahaba" Tahkokallio (36,766 in chips)

Studly Ladies

After taking down a huge 40,800 chip pot in Razz (what else?) Thater maintained the lead going into the final hand in Stud Eight or Better (limits 3000/6000). With a 47,834 to 16,166 chip lead both player would cap third street Thater showing [8d] and Tahkoallio a [Js]. Fourth street brought a [4d] to Thater and [3c] to Ilari as after a few raises Tahkokallio was all-in holding split jacks [Ts][Jd] to Thater's low draw and an ace [7s][Ah]. Thater would pair up on fifth [4s] as Ilari missed with the [2c]. [Qc] for Thater on sixth missed the low draw again as Tahkokallio still led with the jacks [6h]. But, a lady for the lady on the river [Qs] gave Thater two pair as Tahkokallio missed hitting trips [Qd] sending the 32,332 chip pot and the EPT Mixed Game Player of the Year award to Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater.

Congratulations to the German pro who wins the EPT Mixed Game Player of the Year trophy and will be freerolling the first EPT Season Seven event in Tallinn.

It was if it was an eight-handed game that went on for 10 months and left everybody with the exact same number of chips. Now it's time to settle the score.

At the end of the European Poker Tour's sixth season, there was a curious eight-way tie that included: Katja Thater, Benjamin Kang, Alex Kravchenko, Joe Hachem, Scott Clements, Mike Gorodinsky, Matthias Kuerschner, and Ilari Tahkokallio.

During Season 6, each of the above players won a mixed game event on the EPT. When the season was over, there was an eight-way tie for Mixed Game Player of the Year.

Now, they will face each other on PokerStars in a tough online Deep Stack 8-game tournament. Sunday under Tournament ID 274402666, the eight players will face off at 2pm EST to determine the champion.

The EPT Mixed Game Award acknowledges the achievement of players with talents stretching across a variety of disciplines. PokerStars began offering its 8-Game mix online more than 18 months ago and now has numerous daily tournaments as well as cash games ranging from play money to $400/$800.

Whoever comes up with the title will win a an EPT Awards trophy and a free seat into the first Main Event of EPT Season 7 in Tallinn, Estonia. Satellites for Season 7 start on PokerStars in June.

Good luck to the eight players in this weekend's 8-Game showdown.

With Season 6 of the EPT still just a recent memory, the European Poker Tour has released a fantastic and surprising schedule for Season 7.

The seventh year of the EPT will add brand new cities and a few unexpected stops along the way.

The new season launches with a €4,250 debut event in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, from August 11-16. Tallinn proved to be a big hit last year when more than 300 played the first PokerStars Baltic Festival.

Season 7 will also see the EPT make return visits to Vilamoura, Portugal (August 28-September 2) and the ski destination tournament 'EPT Snowfest' in Austria (March 20-25). The EPT will also be going back to Germany's capital city of Berlin (April 5-10).

As always, new season will include many events of the events you've come to expect like Barcelona, Prague, Deauville, San Remo and Copenhagen, not to mention the flagship 'Festival of Poker' events in London and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.

Online satellites for EPT Tallinn will launch on in mid-June.

For a complete look at what's to come, see the EPT Season 7 schedule page.

Following yesterday's main event final table, the European Poker Tour's sixth season wound down with celebrations, big cheques and a few extra takes to get the winner's smile just right. Then, to finish off, there was a lavish EPT Awards ceremony at the Karement Club, a few minutes' walk away from the Salle des Etoiles.

While the winners toasted their success late into the night, eight others knew their EPT season was not quite complete. They still had the high roller event to see through to the end, a showcase of panache, gall and talent that would feature none of the caginess that turned yesterday's main event final into a long and tense standoff.

Instead, when Germany's Tobias Reinkemeier beat Olivier Busquet heads up to win the first prize of €956,000 tonight, it was after a speedy and enticing scrap, one of high spirits and high stakes that left a refreshing reminder that a seventh season of the EPT is already on the way.

High Roller winner Tobias Reinkemeier

It took five one-hour levels to wrap this one up, from Michael Friedrich's first hand shove with ace-four to Busquet's departure with ace-deuce.

That climax came about when Reinkemeier called Busquet with pocket queens, a hand that held firm to make him an EPT High Roller champion, bettering his sixth place finish the $25k event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.

Heads up

After Friedrich's first hand departure, Allen Bari departed in seventh while Sorel Mizzi, who extended the number of final tables he's reached since January to nine today, departed in sixth place.

Sorel Mizzi

Paul Berende, who was a late entrant to the high roller event on day one after busting in 24th place from the Grand Final main event, span up his €50,000 pay day from that with the €191,200 he made from this.

Paul Berende

NAPT Venetian winner Tom Marchese added another result to his 2010 resume, finishing fourth, while the amiable Dori Yacoub, who doesn't appear on any database anywhere, was unable to make it a double win for Lebanon (after his friend Nicolas Chouity won the main event), but was a match for most, earning a good third.

Dori Yacoub

For his part Olivier Busquet, a WPT champion from New York, would have made an equally worthy winner. Both players displayed the type of cold bloodedness that makes a high roller event a unique and fascinating beast. Long may they continue to feature on the EPT calendar.

The full result of the high roller final:

1. Tobias Reinkemeier, Germany, €956,000
2. Olivier Busquet, USA, €597,600
3. Dori Yacoub, Lebanon, €358,500
4. Tom Marchese, USA, €263,000
5. Paul Berende, Holland, €191,200
6. Sorel Mizzi, Canada, €143,400
7. Allen Bari, USA, €109,900
8. Michael Friedrich, Switzerland, €81,300

If the thought of three and a half months of EPT-free life is too difficult to contemplate the links below can be clicked on as many times as you like between now and Tallinn in August.

The final poker flourish
Level 20 & 21 updates
Level 22 & 23 updates
Level 24 updates

So we say for the last time this season that you can read similar accounts of the day's action on our gibberish sister blogs, in German, Swedish, Italian, Dutch and French. Photography was provided, as ever, by Neil Stoddart, who worked off an upturned orange crate in the deserted tournament room today. Moving images come courtesy of PokerStars.tv and you can find all the scores from the high roller event on the prizes page.

That's it. Time now to risk our lives crossing the racetrack for one last €20 club sandwich at the hotel. Thanks for reading our EPT coverage this week and during the entire season - EPT Tallinn, in Estonia, starting August 11, can't come soon enough.

Until then it's goodbye from Monte Carlo.

6.40pm: Tobias Reinkemeier wins €25,000 High Roller at EPT Grand Final
Olivier Busquet out in second, winning €956,000
That's that for season six. Tobias Reinkemeier is the champion. Here's how the last hand went. Reinkemeier raised to 100,000 and Busquet shoved all in for just less than a million chip. Reinkemeier couldn't call quickly enough and showed [qc][qd], which was way ahead of Busquet's [as][2c].

The flop came [7s][10d][2h], giving some more outs to Busquet. But the [3h][7d] on turn and river weren't enough and Reinkemeier is our champion.

Reinkemeier, who made the High Roller final table at the PCA, has his first major title. It was coming, folks. This guy is good. Reinkemeier wins €956,000. Good game, good game.

A full wrap is on its way. -- HS

6.35pm: The new way of things
That hand opened up a near four-to-one advantage for Reinkemeier -- 4,685,000 to 1,060,000 -- and Busquet will now know what that means. On the hand immediately after the big bluff, Busquet raised his button to the standard 80,000 and Reinkemeier three-bet to 240,000. Busquet folded. -- HS

6.30pm: Reinkemeier's river bluff worth more than two million
This is the biggest pot of the heads up stage so far - and it's gone to Tobias Reinkemeier. It started with the standard raise pre-flop from Reinkemeier, making it 80,000 to go. Busquet three-bet to 220,000 and Reinkemeier was amenable.

That took them to a flop of [qs][2c][8h] and Busquet bet 240,000, which Reinkemeier called. The turn was [as]. Busquet led again, making it 450,000 and again Reinkemeier called, building a pot at this point of already 1.8m.

The river was [2h] and Busquet did not let up. He bet 560,000 and after a long, long dwell, Reinkemeier emerged with an all in shove. Could this be the end of it?

No, Busquet folded instantly, but Reinkemeier couldn't resist showing his hand. He showed [js][9s] for air.

Busquet said that he folded jack-ten, which would have been a chop had he found an amazing call. But he didn't - and Reinkemeier secures a pretty huge psychological advantage there, I'd say. -- HS

6.20pm: Deep
A regular pattern has emerged here. Both players are raising their button to 80,000 and both players are defending their big blinds with a call. Pretty much four out of five hands begin that way. By and large a bet on flop or turn takes it - that bet is usually about 80,000 too - and stacks have hardly changed since the start.

Currently they stand as follows:

Tobias Reinkemeier: 3,155,000
Olivier Busquet: 2,590,000

This could go on for a bit. -- HS

6.10pm: Tactical battle
As expected with such deep stacks, neither of these players is going to do anything reckless and this is a tense tactical battle. Both players are exhibiting good pot control and keeping it small; we haven't seen two big hand go against one another yet, which might explain it.

Time then for a pictorial interlude:

6pm: A swing in the momentum
The first three-bet and the first million chip pot of the heads up stage. And Olivier Busquet wins it. Tobias Reinkemeier opened for 80,000 and Busquet re-raised to 220,000. Reinkemeier called.

The flop was [3d][6h][8s] and Busquet bet 240,000, which Reinkemeier called. This has been his MO; he calls a flop bet and stabs at the turn if it's checked to him. So it was this time. The [2h] turned, Busquet checked, Reinkemeier bet 330,000, but Busquet called.

The river was [ad] and Busquet checked. Reinkemeier checked behind and Busquet showed his [jh][js] to take it down as Reinkemeier mucked.

On the next hand, they got to the river in a much smaller pot - checking it all the way - and Busquet's bet took it. -- HS

5.55pm: Reinkemeier still not reined in
We've gone a few minutes without a flop. Reinkemeier has been the more aggressive player still and has taken down a couple of blinds.

The heads up counts are roughly:

Reinkemeier: 3,615,000
Busquet: 2,130,000 - HS

5.49pm: Reinkemeier takes it on the turn
After Busquet takes a couple of small pots, Reinkemeier wins another more substantial one. Busquet raised from the button and Reinkemeier called in the big blind. The flop was [qd][jd][2s] and Busquet bet 80,000. Reinkemeier called. The turn was [5c] and now Reinkemeier led for 160,000. Busquet folded. -- HS

5.40pm: Reinkemeier nicks first one
Reinkemeier takes down the first hand of heads up play - and it got all the way to the river. He raised to 80,000 from the button/small blind and Busquet called. That brought a flop of [kc][3s][9c], which they both checked. The turn was [5h] and Busquet bet 80,000. Reinkemeier called, taking them to a river of [3d]. Busquet slowed, but hopes of a cheap showdown were dashed. Reinkemeier bet 185,000 and Busquet let it go. -- HS

5.32pm: And we're off again
So, they're heads up for the last title of EPT season six. Can you contain your excitement? Please try. This really could last any amount of time: they're excellent players, they're level in chips. But coolers affect the best players as well as the worst. -- HS

5.22pm: Chip counts
Tobias Reinkemeier -- 3,136,000
Olivier Busquet -- 2,508,000

5.20pm: Back from the break
the TV crew have finished taking their team photo on the stage (plus one for fun) and the players are back ready for the heads up.

Tobias Reinkemeier

PokerStars Blog reporting team in Monte Carlo: In order of prize money on the Hendon Mob database): Stephen Bartley ($1,164), Howard Swains ($0).

5.10pm: Heads up counts
The chip counts going into heads-up play are as follows:

Tobias Reinkemeier: 3,136,000
Olivier Busquet: 2,508,000

5.05pm: Dori Yacoub out in third, winning €358,500
Dori Yacoub has just bluffed himself out of this tournament - and Tobias Reinkemeier made a terrific call to pick him off. Yacoub raised to 65,000 pre-flop and Reinkemeier called. The two of them went to a flop of [6d][js][2h] and Yacoub fired 115,000 at it, which Reinkemeier called.

This pattern had been repeated several times before, and as a couple of the commentators noted, Yacoub had often been on a bluff. We would see.

The [kh] turned and Yacoub bet 160,000, which Reinkemeier called, taking them to a [jc] river. Yaboub now moved all in, for his last 453,000, which was enough to make Reinkemeier take off his glasses as he pondered the call.

He took a good long while over it, but eventually he did call, and Yacoub got up from his seat almost immediately. He showed [8s][2c] for bottom pair and Reinkemeier's [ks][10c] was good.

We're taking a 10-minute break before beginning heads up play. -- HS

4.55pm: Busquet takes the lead
On a flop of [qd][2h][qs] Busquet bet 80,000 and Reinkemeier called. Both checked the [5s] turn for a [8s] river card. Reinkemeier bet 125,000, Busquet then raised to 700,000 total which gave Reinkemeier something to think about for a while. But he passed. Busquet now has the lead again with 2,570,000. - SB

4.45pm: Yacoub all-in x 2
Yacoub raised and Busquet called for a flop of [3d][9h][jh]. Here Yacoub moved all-in for 511,000. Busquet thought for a while but folded. On the next hand, Busquet raised pre-flop and again Yacoub shoved. That too was enough; it was a quick fold from Yacoub. - SB

4.40pm: The Reinkemeier show
Tobias Reinkemeier is putting on a masterclass now. Just recently, he took down two pots having limped from the button and encouraging both blinds to follow him to a flop.

On the first occasion, the three of them saw a [5h][4c][8s] board and when it was checked to Reinkemeier, a small bet was enough to take it down.

He earned even more on the next time he had the button in front of him. After the limp from both he and Busquet in the small blind (Yocoub checking the big) they saw a flop of [10c][3s][8c] and Yacoub bet 45,000. Reinkemeier raised to 115,000 and Reinkemeier called.

The turn was [kc] and after Yacoub checked, Reinkemeier bet big. Busquet let it go again. -- HS

4.25pm: Yacoub halts one-way traffic
Tobias Reinkemeier raised to 65,000 from the button and Dori Yacoub re-raised to 155,000 from the big blind. Reinkemeier saw the red flag and hurried away. -- HS

4.20pm: Like a cheap suit
On a flop of [jc][9d][5d] Reinkemeier checked in the small blind and Busquet bet 115,000. Reinkemeier re-raised to 300,000 before Busquet moved all-in, inducing a speedy fold from Reinkemeier. -- SB

4.15pm: Reinkemeier ratchets up more pressure
Tobias Reinkemeier is closing in on three million and he has just extracted another bunch of chips from Olivier Busquet. Busquet raised to 65,000 from the button and Reinkemeier called from the big blind. Again it was a heads up flop between these two: [4h][qc][ad].

Reinkemeier checked, Busquet bet 95,000, and Reinkemeier called. The [as] turned. Reinkemeier checked, Busquet bet 165,000, and Reinkemeier called. The river was [5c] and although Reinkemeier probably wanted me to have to use copy+paste again on the established pattern, Busquet checked behind after Reinkemeier checked.

The German had rivered a boat with his [ac][5d] and Busquet escaped, having not fired the third bullet. -- HS

4.05pm: No need
Busquet opened for 65,000 from the button which Reinkemeier called for a flop of [qc][8c][5s]. Reinkemeier needed only to reach for his chips to get Busquet to fold. -- SB

4.03pm: And now Reinkemeier from the small blind
Reinkemeier has now taken a small pot from Olivier Busquet. Reinkemeier raised from the small blind and Busquet called, taking them to a flop of [4d][3c][6s]. Reinkemeier bet 86,000, which Busquet called, and then they both checked the [3d] turn. The also checked the [9s] river, and Reinkemeier's [7s][6c] sent Busquet's cards into the muck. - HS

LEVEL UP. BLINDS 15,000-30,000, 3,000 ANTE IN LEVEL 23

3.55pm: Reinkemeier defends big blind, wins
Tobias Reinkemeier is applying the pressure on Dori Yacoub. After Yacoub opened for 62,000 from the small blind, Reinkemeier called from the big. The two of them saw a flop of [10s][4d][qs] and Yacoub bet 100,000, which Reinkemeier called, taking them to an [ac] turn. Yacoub checked - a red rag to a bull like Reinkemeier - and the German player bet 100,000. Yacoub folded. -- HS

3.52pm: Chip counts
Olivier Busquet: 2,497,000
Tobias Reinkemeier: 2,161,000
Dori Yacoub: 989,000

3.50pm: Busquet up
On a flop of [4c][jd][2c] Olivier Busquet bet 55,000 from the small blind. Dori Yacoub called from the big blind and a turn card [as]. Busquet bet 125,000 which Yacoub called for a river card [6s]. Busquet bet 330,000 on the end to make Yacoub think a little. He called, but passed his cards when Busquet turned over [ac][2h]. Good for the pot, and the chip lead. -- SB

3.30pm: Three handed
The remaining three players have seen significantly more flops than previously. They're all trying to out-play one another post-flop.

So far there haven't been any major skirmishes, meaning their current stacks are very similar to how they began.

These, incidentally, are your final three:

3.25pm: Marchese marched out in fourth, winning €263,000
Dori Yacoub came to the final table with the most chips, but he was reduced to open shoving with his last 475,000. The player who called him - Tom Marchese - was the only man at the table with fewer chips (about 445,000), so it was Marchese who was facing elimination if he couldn't win this race:

Marchese: [9s][9d]
Yacoub: [ah][kc]

Marchese started marginally ahead, but Yacoub hurtled into the lead on the flop. It came [as][ad][6c]. Then after the [4d][kh] came on turn and river, Marchese was sent to the rail.

It's been a terrific start to 2010 for Marchese, who won the inaugural event on the NAPT at the Venetian. He adds the fourth prize of €263,000 here to his $827,648 cheque from Las Vegas. And that's not bad at all. -- HS

3.15pm: Paul Berende out in fifth, winning €191,200
Mr Smiling Short Stack - Paul Berende - moved all in from early position, and the significant chances were that he'd find a call from one of his four opponents. He possibly didn't expect this, though. Dori Yacoub called but then Olivier Busquet moved all in for 1,761,000 offering at least a triple up possibility for Berende, and the possibility of a double elimination.

Yacoub tank-folded, but could barely contain his disgust when they showed their hands. Berende had [4h][3h] against Busquet's [kh][jh]. "I folded eights," said Yacoub. Ancient history, Dori.

Berende thought he was on for the outdraw on the [6c][ac][3d] flop, but the [kd] river swung it back to Busquet and the [qh] river ended it. Berende leaves in fifth - €191,200 richer. -- HS

3.13pm: Five-bet shove
Tobias Reinkemeier opened for 48,000 and Olivier Busquet raised to 155,000. Reinkemeier then re-raised to 336,000 before Busquet shoved all-in. Enough for Reinkemeier. He passed. - SB

3.10pm: Busquet rivers lifeline
This was far from a dormant final table, but since the level break, it's become even more active. Tom Marchese open shoved for 1,010,000 and after a bit of a dwell, Olivier Busquet called all in - Busquet's 665,000 stack was at risk.

It was a standard race:

Busquet: [ah][qs]
Marchese: [10d][10h]

Marchese looked like taking this one down and sending Busquet out the door when the flop and turn were [2h][8d][5d][jh] but the [qc] rivered, which kept Busquet alive.

Marchese is sliced down to 710,000. Busquet has more than a million again. -- HS

3pm: No flop required
Tom Marchese opened for 55,000 which Olivier Busquet raises to 155,000, enough to force Marchese to fold. - SB

2.55pm: First hand back
Paul Berende moved all-in for 169,000 on the first hand back from the break. Everyone folded and Berende showed [ac][qd] and then giggled a lot. He's still the short stack with about 200,000. -- SB

2.50pm: And begin level 22
There are five high rollers remaining in search of this major top prize.

The counts at the break are on the chip count page, and they look something like this:

Tobias Reinkemeier, Germany, 2,232,000
Dori Yacoub, Lebanon, 1,257,000
Tom Marchese, USA, 1144000
Olivier Busquet, USA, 835,000
Paul Berende, Holland, 176,000

So far today, this has been the Tobias Reinkemeier show, assuming the chip lead from Dori Yacoub. But Paul Berende, who came to the table as the short stack, is still there too. Smile Paul...

2.40pm: Break time
That's the end of the level. Players are now on a 15 minute break.

2.35pm: Reinkemeier continues to roll
On a flop of [3h][3d][9h] Dori Yacoub bet 80,000 and Reinkemeier check called for a [7c] turn. Reinkemeier checked again before Yacoub bet 142,000. Again Reinkemeier called for a [kc] river. Reinkemeier checked once more. Yacoub tried 230,000 this time but Reinkemeier wasn't convinced. He called, showing [8c][8h] to take the pot. Yacoub showed [ac][qc]. - SB

2.25pm: Sorel Mizzi, eliminated in sixth place
Tobias Reinkemeier opened for 45,000 before Sorel Mizzi moved all-in for 339,000. Reinkemeier didn't take long to call, showing [ac][qh]. Mizzi was behind with [as][8d]. The board came [2s][3d][4d][qs][jd].

Mizzi, who has had an amazing year so far, this being his ninth final table (he won four of them), departs in sixth place for €143,400.

Short stack Paul Berende, meanwhile, has moved up into fifth. He's done it by playing a few more hands than Herve Costa did yesterday, but nonetheless, these have been the final tables for the short stacks. -- SB

2.15pm: Marchese and Reinkemeier chop it
Tom Marchese raised to 47,000 and Tobias Reinkemeier called on the button. It was just those two again, going to a flop of [4s][7s][4c]. Marchese bet 47,000, Reinkemeier called. The turn was [kd], which they both checked, and they also checked the [qc] river. But they chopped this one after Marchese showed [ac][10s] and Reinkemeier was playing [ah][jd]. -- HS

2.10pm: Busquet moves on up
Olivier Busquet raised to 45,000 and Dori Yacoub called on the button. This was a pattern establish over the past two days. The flop came [kc][5h][3h] and they both checked, but then Busquet bet 65,000 at the [4h] turn. Yacoub called. The river was [9s] and this time Yacoub folded to Busquet's 125,000 bet. -- HS

2.05pm: Showdown
On a flop of [5h][3h][kh] Dori Yacoub checked in the small blind and Tom Marchese made it 35,000 from the big. Yacoub called for a [5d] turn. Marchese bet another 110,000 which Yacoub called for a [2h] river. Both checked, Marchese taking the pot when he showed [8c][5s] to Yacoub's [6d][7h]. -- SB  

2pm: Reinkemeier show continues; Bari busts in seventh, winning €109,900
Tobias Reinkemeier got involved in three consecutive pots - and won them all, eliminating Allen Bari in the last one. Here's how this little series played out:

First up, Reinkemeier three bet Tom Marchese after the American had raised to 47,000. Marchese folded. Then Reinkemeier raised to 45,000 pre-flop, was called by Olivier Busquet, but then fired a continuation bet on the [4h][4d][2c] flop. Busquet got out the way.

And then the big one. Reinkemeier opened for 45,000 and Bari three-bet to 98,000. All of a sudden all the money was in the middle: Bari's total stack of about 560,000 more was up against Reinkemeier's much larger one.

And Reinkemeier also had the goods. It was [kd][ks] for the German against Bari's [ad][kh]. The flop came [6s][4d][2h][6s][7c] and the absence of the ace meant Bari went bust.

Reinkemeier, on his second high roller final table of the year, is the new chip leader here. -- HS

1.49pm: Score draw
Allen Bari opened for 42,000 and Sorel Mizzi moved all-in for 375,000. Bari called but each had the same: [ad][qc] for Mizzi, [ah][qh] for Bari. No cruelty on the board of [4c][5h][qd][7c][jc]. Split pot. -- SB

1.45pm: Marchese v Mizzi
After Sorel Mizzi raised to 45,000, he picked up both the blinds, namely Dori Yacoub in the small blind and Tom Marchese in the big. Those three all checked the [qd][ah][ac] flop and then both Yacoub and Marchese checked the [4s] turn. Mizzi, however, bet 60,000, which only Marchese called, taking them to a [7s] river.

Marchese checked and Mizzi checked behind, which was probably the last thing Marchese wanted. The American showed [as][8h] to win and Mizzi's [qh][10h] was done for. - HS

1.35pm: New blinds, three bet
This is a lot of fun; they're really playing poker. Just after the tournament director announced the raise in the blinds, Tom Marchese opened to 47,000 and Olivier Busquet, in the big blind, three bet to 150,000. Marchese decided against pursuing that line. -- HS

BLINDS UP TO 10,000-20,000 WITH A 2,000 ANTE

1.30pm: Busquet busy
Olivier Busquet opened for 35,000, Yacoub called and Sorel Mizzi raised to 138,000. Busquet wasn't done and popped it up to 240,000. No response from Mizzi, except to pass. -- SB

1.22pm: Mizzi starts, Reinkemeier finishes
Sorel Mizzi opens for 36,000 which Paul Berende and Tobias Reinkemeier in the big blind called. The flop came [3c][6d][4d]. Reinkemeier checked and Mizzi bet another 42,000. Berende passed but Reinkemeier raised to 129,000, enough to win the pot. -- SB

1.17pm: Marchese takes a small one
Tom Marchese, on the button, called Olivier Busquet's 35,000 raise. The two of them went alone to a flop of [as][8h][8d], which they both checked. Marchese bet 46,000 on the turn of [ks] and Busquet gave up. -- HS

1.12pm: On the flop
Tom Marchese opened for 50,000 which Dori Yacoub called for a [8d][7d][8c] flop. Marchese bet 66,000 to take it down. -- SB

1.10pm: Flashback
Ah well, they do know how to fold too. Paul Berende opened for a min raise from early position and got it through, then Tobias Reinkemeier raised from the button and that too was successful. Two hands, no flops? What is this, the main event? -- HS

1.05pm: Yacoub in control
Allen Bari opened for 36,000 which was called by Dari Yacoub on the button. Tobias Reinkemeier called in the big blind for a flop of [ks][2c][3d]. Reinkemeier checked and Bari bet 60,000. Yacoub then raised to 158,000 forcing Reinkemeier to pass. Bari called though for a [8c] on the turn. Bari checked, Yacoub made it 150,000 and Bari passed. Yacoub showed [ad][5d] and moves up to 1,419,000. -- SB

1pm: Berende moves in
They really are relentless at this final table so far. On the second hand, Olivier Busquet opened from early position and Paul Berende, who had assumed short-stack duties in the absence of Friedrich, moved all in for his 293,000. Busquet folded. -- HS

12.50pm: Michael Friedrich out in eighth, winning €81,300
There's no delay with these high rollers. On the very first hand dealt, Michael Friedrich moved all in and although Dori Yacoub seemed as though he might want to take a shot, it was Allen Bari who actually said "Call".

So Friedrich was looking at the earliest of baths, and it was looking pretty gloomy when the cards were exposed:

Bari: [ac][qh]
Friedrich: [ad][4c]

The flop, though, gave plenty of possibilities. It came [3c][5c][6c], which was an open-ended straight flush draw for Friedrich. The [2h] turned, giving him the straight, but the [8c] on the river filled the big flush for Bari.

All that drama meant Friedrich was sent packing and Bari moved up to 973,000. Six more hands are we're done! -- HS

12.45pm: The cast
Thomas Kremser is introducing the players. Here's how they'll line up:

Dori Yacoub, Lebanon -- 1,199,000
Tom Marchese, USA -- 909,000
Allen Bari, USA -- 835,000
Tobias Reinkemeier , Germany -- 826,000
Sorel Mizzi, Canada -- 770,000
Olivier Busquet, USA -- 666,000
Paul Berende, Netherlands -- 327,000
Michael Friedrich, Switzerland -- 112,000

12.40pm: About to start
The players are in position, the cameras are ready and the commentary team have finished their la-la-las. We're minutes away from getting this last final table of the season under way. -- SB

The finalists

PokerStars Blog reporting team in Monte Carlo (in order of flights home tomorrow):Stephen Bartley (10am), Howard Swains (cancelled).

Good afternoon all and welcome back to Monte Carlo. It's a peculiar place today: the poker party has all but departed to be replaced by a vast void in the tournament area and a load of people in motor sport jumpsuits awaiting the Formula One jamboree. Poker? What?

However Monte Carlo is the place for high rollers, and they like their own company. Eight players battled through two days and nights to outlast a record EPT High Roller field. And now they're going to do battle for the first prize of €956,000 and all the places down to eight, as detailed on the prizes and payouts page.

Luke Schwartz was our final table bubble late on; Javier Garcia and Antoine Saout also cashed. Now it's all about these eight:

(Seat, name, chips)

1. Dori Yacoub - 1,199,000
2. Tom Marchese - 909,000
3. Tobias Reinkemeier - 826,000
4. Sorel Mizzi - 770,000
5. Allen Bari - 835,000
6. Olivier Busquet - 666,000
7. Paul Berende - 327,000
8. Michael Friedrich - 112,000

Play will start at noon and we'll have all the coverage in text form here. You can also watch it on EPT Live, if you've got all the plug ins.

We're moments away.