And so to the final table. After five days of play just eight of the original 797 players remain to contest the final of EPT Sanremo. At stake is a first prize of €800,000.

Yesterday we saw the collapse of one chip leader and the emergence of another. While Inge Forsmo imploded in spectacular fashion, Jason Lavallee, who sent the Norwegian to the rail, took over. He did not look back, bagging up 5,545,000 at the close. However, his lead is only slight, being less than 200,000 ahead of second placed Ludovic Lacay. More on him later.

Jason Lavallee

The final features various others who have sparkled this week.

Irishman Jason Tompkins, who we featured earlier in our coverage, returns, as does Micah Raskin, supported as ever by his two brothers, Logan and Roger, from the rail.

The Russian player Artem Litvinov continued his run of good form. Expect to see him in the same mint green shirt he’s been wearing all week. It’s lucky he says, although perhaps not so much for the player sitting next to him.

That would be Angelo Recchia of Italy, the host nation’s last hope of a home grown winner. Only one Italian, Salvatore Bonavena, has ever won an EPT before today. Recchia will carry the hopes of a poker community in bloom on his shoulders. He’ll be carried away from here on theirs if he can pull it off as one of the short stacks.

Ismael Bojang, the live cash game specialist from Germany, ensured he reached the final with some careful play yesterday. He was middle of the field at the start yesterday, and is in the same spot coming into today.

It’s a final table featuring eight different nationalities with some possible firsts poised for the record book.

While Tompkins could become the tour’s first Irish winner, Adrian Piasecki, a PokerStars Qualifier, could also become the first Polish champion. It’s a big ask, but it will be answered one way or another by the close today.

Here’s how the final eight will line up.

1. Ludovic Lacay France 5,366,000
2. Jason Tompkins Ireland 3,605,000
3. Adrian Piasecki Poland PokerStars qualifier 2,045,000
4. Micah Raskin USA 1,550,000
5. Jason Lavallee Canada PokerStars qualifier 5,545,000
6. Ismael Bojang Germany 2,845,000
7. Angelo Recchia Italy 1,755,000
8. Artem Litvinov Russia 800,000

Play started at 3pm but with the live streaming in place coverage will begin at 4pm. That means you can watch all the action live, if you know what we mean, by watching EPT Live. Just follow that link to see for yourself.

Keep an eye on the live tournament reporting from EPT Sanremo for all the news from the tournament floor.

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