2012 PokerStars.com EPT Sanremo

Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2012 PokerStars.com EPT Sanremo

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q10
Prize
€744,910
Event Info
Buy-in
€5,000
Prize Pool
€3,865,450
Entries
797
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000

Litvinov's Card Protectors

Level 16 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
Litvinov from the 2011 WSOP Europe performing his signature move
Litvinov from the 2011 WSOP Europe performing his signature move

Artem Litvinov seemed to have a little bit of an issue with one of the rules of the European Poker Tour.

If you head over to the EPT rules page, Rule #28 under Tournament Poker Rules �� Procedure states the following:

28. Foreign Objects - There will be no foreign objects on the table except for a maximum of one card cap. This includes foreign gaming chips. As per Rule #3, Electronic Devices are not permitted to be placed on the table or on the rail.

Litvinov had two card protectors on the table, both coins about the size of a poker chip. He was told he had to remove them, but argued against it as the objects were coins and not "foreign gaming chips" as is stated in the rules. Litvinov got a copy of the entire list of EPT rules, and had Yevgeniy Timoshenko help translate things to him to better understand.

Litvinov's argument seemed valid, but the tournament staff also had their own valid point, and that was that the two coins somewhat resemble chips when on the table, which can cause players to make a mistake. It didn't help that Litvinov placed the coins under one of his stacks, the blue T5,000 stack, which made it look a little bit bigger.

In the end, it was ruled that Litvinov had to take one coin off the table and the other could be on the table, per Rule #28 of only being allowed on card cap. The coin left on the table was to be used as a card protector and not stacked up with his chips.

Litvinov joked about the other coin, holding it in his hand and asking if it was fine if he just held it in his hand. He then sarcastically asked if it was fine if the coin was on top of his head, and he put it on top of his head to show the floor staff. The floor staff chuckled, but reminded Litvinov not to have the second coin on the table.

A little bit upset the ruling didn't go his way, Litvinov walked to the edge of the tournament area and gathered two chairs from empty tables. He spread them a few feet apart, put one foot on each and held himself in a split position while bending at the waist to stretch out. This isn't uncommon to see from Litvinov, who regularly practices martial arts off to the side of a tournament when he feels like kicking up his adrenaline (see photo). After a minute or this, Litvinov went back to his seat.

Not too long after, Litvinov had another issue as his opponent in a hand had an electronic device on the table, which according to EPT rules, aren't allowed on the table:

3. Electronic Devices - For the avoidance of doubt, the term Electronic Device includes, but is not limited to the following devices, both known and unknown: [Email and Texting Devices, Telephones, iPads, eBooks, etc., Laptops, Net books, Computers, etc.]. Electronic Devices are not permitted to be placed on the table at any time. They may be in a player��s pocket, on their lap, on a side table, but never placed on the tournament play.

Litvinov was upset he had to remove one of his coins, but this player had his phone on the table during a hand. After the argument was over, Litvinov was a bit steamed and began doing some of his martial arts off to the side to let off some more steam.

Tags: Artem LitvinovYevgeniy Timoshenko

Ladouceur Wakes Up with Kings

Dimitar Danchev opened for 8,000 from the hijack and then watched Marc-andre Ladouceur shove all in from the big blind for 56,500. Danchev asked for a count and the mumbled, "I call."

Showdown
Ladouceur: {K-Hearts}{K-Clubs}
Danchev: {A-Diamonds}{J-Hearts}

Ladouceur wasn't happy to see the ace, but he had nothing to fear as the board ran out an uneventful {7-Spades}{5-Clubs}{8-Spades}{4-Spades}{2-Hearts}.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Dimitar Danchev bg
Dimitar Danchev
205,000
-65,000
-65,000
EPT Main Event Champion
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Marc-Andre Ladouceur ca
Marc-Andre Ladouceur
120,000
69,200
69,200

Tags: Dimitar DanchevMarc-andre Ladouceur

Shoving On the Bubble

Level 16 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

A few players don't seem to be scared of bubbling the event here in Sanremo. Recently, Manig Loeser and Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari both put their money in preflop.

Loeser shoved for 57,000 on the button after Eric Nhouyvanisvong opened to 8,500 from middle position. Loeser's shove went uncalled and he chipped up a little bit.

On an adjacent table, Akkari moved all in for 38,500 from under the gun. Everyone folded, allowing Akkari to add 10,000 in blinds and antes to his stack.

Tags: Eric NhouyvanisvongAndre AkkariManig Loeser

Timoshenko Outkicked

Sofia Lovgren raised to 10,000 from the hijack and Yevgeniy Timoshenko called from the button. Rudi Van Mol tagged along from the big blind and the flop came {4-Hearts}{10-Spades}{8-Spades}.

All three players checked to see fourth street which was the {A-Spades}. Van Mol checked once again and Lovgren fired 16,000. Timoshenko and Van Mol both called. The {3-Hearts} finished the board on the river and there were two checks to Timoshenko. He pushed out 32,000 and Van Mol called all in for the rest of his stack which was only 14,000. Lovgren folded and Timoshenko showed {A-Hearts}{Q-Hearts}.

Van Mol tabled {A-Diamonds}{K-Diamonds} for a better ace and was able to take down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Yevgeniy Timoshenko ua
Yevgeniy Timoshenko
175,000
-40,000
-40,000
Profile photo of Rudi Van Mol
Rudi Van Mol
110,000
18,900
18,900

Tags: Rudi Van MolYevgeniy Timoshenko

Massage Out the Tilt

Roberto Romanello
Roberto Romanello

Roberto Romanello might as well take his top off as the masseuse working on his back virtually has it off anyway.

The Brit needs a massage to help calm him down after he lost a big pot in a battle-of-the-blinds versus Kent Roed. Romanello's pocket sevens couldn't hold against the Norwegian's jack-ten.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kent Roed no
Kent Roed
370,000
86,500
86,500
Profile photo of Roberto Romanello gb
Roberto Romanello
72,000
-102,400
-102,400
EPT 1X Winner

Tags: Roberto RomanelloKent Roed

Islamay Catches Danchev's Bluff

With 65,000 already in the pot and {5-Clubs} {Q-Diamonds} {9-Clubs} on the board Dimitar Danchev bet 23,500 from the button and Erion Islamay called from under the gun.

Both players checked the {4-Hearts} on the turn and Danchev pushed in 75,000 after the dealer opened the {10-Diamonds} on the river. Islamai instantly called and Danchev mucked his hand without even seeing his opponent's cards.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Erion Islamay it
Erion Islamay
350,000
138,700
138,700
Profile photo of Dimitar Danchev bg
Dimitar Danchev
270,000
-95,000
-95,000
EPT Main Event Champion
EPT 1X Winner

Tags: Dimitar DanchevErion Islamay

Loth Pushes Back

The play has slowed considerably now that we're near the money bubble.

In a recent hand, Richard Loth opened for 9,500 from middle position and was met with a three-bet to 24,500 from Yevgeniy Timoshenko in the small blind. Loth made the call and then watched his opponent lead out for 20,000 on the {9-Hearts}{7-Spades}{J-Hearts}. Loth thought for a moment, put together some chips, and then came out with a raise to 45,000. Timoshenko eyed up his opponent and then flicked his cards to the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Richard Loth
Richard Loth
220,000
96,500
96,500
Profile photo of Yevgeniy Timoshenko ua
Yevgeniy Timoshenko
215,000
-125,000
-125,000

Tags: Richard LothYevgeniy Timoshenko