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• MATTHIAS EIBINGER DEFEATS ANDRAS NEMETH HEADS-UP
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3:25pm: Matthias Eibinger wins (€653,000)! Andras Nemeth runner-up (€451,350)
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

After so much waiting, we finally have a winner!

Andras Nemeth opened for 200,000 on the button and snap-called when Matthias Eibinger moved all-in. Things looked rough for Eibinger with his A9 dominated by Nemeth’s A10. They didn’t look any better after the 232 flop or 7 turn, but the 9 landed on the river to give him the win.

So close for Andras Nemeth

Eibinger adds yet another big score to his amazing 2018, while Nemeth likewise earns a monster payday. A full recap of an exciting final day coming shortly. –JK

Congratulations to Matthias Eibinger, 2018 EPT Prague Super High Roller champion

3:20pm: Nemeth bluffs, Eibinger doesn’t fold
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Matthias Eibinger opened for 200,000 from the button and Andras Nemeth called.

The flop came A7A. Nemeth checked, Eibinger bet 160,000, and Nemeth called. Both then checked the 4 turn.

The river 9 put a fourth spade on the board. Nemeth led this time, betting 600,000, and Eibinger didn’t wait long before calling. Nemeth showed K6 to reveal he had been bluffing, and Eibinger tabled 53 to show he’d made the flush.

That hand puts Eibinger just over 6 million, while Nemeth is now a touch below 4 million. –MH

3:15pm: Ten hands, little action
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

The further the blinds and antes rise, the less action there is. Over the past 10 hands, Andras Nemeth and Matthias Eibinger have seen only three flops. Only one of those hands progressed as far as the river, and even then it was due to both players checking down every street. And wouldn’t you know, there’s almost no difference between the two players’ stacks now.

The €200,000 difference between first and second looks like it’s going to have to be decided by a cooler of some sort. –JK

3pm: Executive summary hand report
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

Andras Nemeth and Matthias Eibinger have played six hands this level. Each has won three of them, alternating taking pots according to which one has the button. Only two of the hands went to the flop, with single bets enough to end them each time.

Tl;dr: back and forth, to and fro, hither and yon. –MH

2:50pm: Play resumes
Level 20 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (BB ante 80,000)

We’re back in action here in the Chez Louis room. –JK

2:40pm: Break time
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

It’s time for the first official break of the day. Matthias Eibinger currently holds the lead with 6 million chips to Andras Nemeth’s 4 million. We’ll be back in 20 minutes. –JK

Matthias Eibinger: Leading again

2:35pm: Nice turn for Eibinger puts him back in front
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Matthias Eibinger opened for 150,000 from the button, getting a call from Andras Nemeth. The flop came 726 and Nemeth checked. Eibinger continued for 240,000, then Nemeth check-raised to 725,000 and after some thought Eibinger called.

The turn was the Q. Nemeth sat quietly for about 15 seconds, then said he was all-in. Eibinger called instantly, flipping over Q7 to show he’d turned two pair. Nemeth less enthusiastically turned over J7, which meant the 5 river was no matter.

The latest piece of bad news for Andras Nemeth

Eibinger bounds back in front and now has 6.45 million to Nemeth’s 3.55 million. –MH

2:30pm: Nemeth trips up, reclaims the lead
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

The chip lead is a pendulum in our heads-up match today, and it’s just swung back to Andras Nemeth.

Nemeth opened for 150,000 on the button and Matthias Eibinger called. Eibinger check-called 125,000 on the A23 flop and another 350,000 on the 3 turn, bringing the 9 on the river. He checked one more time and Nemeth, after about 10 seconds, slid two stacks of green chips forward — an even 1 million.

Eibinger thought for a few moments and indicated a call, but he mucked his cards as soon as Nemeth showed 43 for trip treys.

That moves Nemeth up to 6.9 million, while Eibinger slips to 3.1 million. –JK

2:25pm: Nemeth nudges back into lead
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

It was a limped pot when the flop came 627. First to act, Andras Nemeth checked, then called after Matthias Eibinger bet 100,000. That would be the same routine on each of the subsequent streets, with Nemeth check-calling 380,000 after the A turn, then check-calling another 350,000 following the 5 river.

Eibinger tabled 107 for sevens, but Nemeth’s A3 for aces was best and he scooped the pot.

Nemeth edges back into the lead on that hand and now has 5.3 million to Eibinger’s 4.7 million. –MH

What’s on the line in Prague (and €650K)

2:15pm: Eibinger dodges death again, doubles through Nemeth
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Matthias Eibinger just dodged his most serious brush with tournament death today, and the chip lead is his as a result.

Eibinger opened for 150,000 on the button. Andras Nemeth used about half his shot clock before making it 500,000 to go. Eibinger used all of his before announcing himself all-in for 2.9 million, and Nemeth couldn’t have called any faster.

Nemeth’s 88 had the advantage over Eibinger’s A2 as a crowd gathered around the table, calling for the cards of their preference in what seemed like about a dozen different languages. The AJ3 flop was all Eibinger, as were the Q turn and 7 river.

Matthias Eibinger back into the lead

Eibinger is now on 5.8 million to Nemeth’s 4.2 million. –JK

2:05pm: Nemeth can’t call Eibinger’s shove
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Andras Nemeth opened for 150,000 from the button and Matthias Eibinger called. The flop came 4Q3. Eibinger checked, and Nemeth continued for 135,000. Eibinger paused, then check-raised to 375,000. Nemeth called.

The turn was the A. Eibinger checked once more, and an undeterred Nemeth bet 425,000 this time. Eibinger again paused, then announced he was raising all in. Nemeth actions followed thusly: (1) grimace; (2) re-check cards; (3) exhale; (4) fold.

Tough game playing heads-up against Matthias Eibinger

Eibinger inches up a little further to 3.6 million, better than where he was when heads-up play began, while Nemeth is at 6.4 million. –MH

2pm: Eibinger doubles through Nemeth
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Matthias Eibinger just caught a perfect river card to double through Andras Nemeth.

Nemeth limped on the button and then called when Eibinger made it 220,000 to go from the big blind, bringing the AK9 flop. After letting his clock run almost all the way down, the Eibinger led for 135,000. Nemeth called.

Both players checked the Q and the river was the 4. Again Eibinger let his shot clock tick down before announcing himself all-in for his last 825,000 chips. Nemeth didn’t look too happy, but he shook his head with the realization that he couldn’t fold his pair of kings with K3. Indeed, he made the call — only to find that Eibinger’s 94 had rivered two pair for the win.

Andras Nemeth: In anguish

Eibinger is now up to 2.4 million. –JK

1:50pm: Eibinger survives all-in
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Andras Nemeth limped in, Matthias Eibinger called, then both checked the 6QJ flop. Nemeth led for 125,000 on the 2 and Eibinger called, then after the 8 river Nemeth bet 500,000 and Eibinger quickly called again. Nemeth showed Q4 for queens and Eibinger mucked.

Matthias Eibinger: Doubles to survive

Down to about 620,000, two more small hands quickly passed, then Nemeth open-raised all in and Eibinger called for just 530,000.

Eibinger: KQ
Nemeth: 109

The board ran out J64AQ, giving Eibinger a pair of queens and survival, and he now sits with 1.12 million. Nemeth remains way in front with 8.88 million. –MH

1:40pm: Nemeth picks off Eibinger’s bluff
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Matthias Eibinger has his work cut out for him after Andras Nemeth picked off his river bluff.

As he had for the previous three orbits, Eibinger limped on the button. Nemeth had raised out of position in those situations before, but this time he checked to take the Q83 flop. Nemeth check-called 60,000 there and 300,000 on the 4 turn, taking them to the 5 river.

Nemeth checked one more time, giving Eibinger the opportunity to fire off 900,000 — roughly half his remaining stack. Nemeth looked pained by this development but eventually made the call, tabling 82 for a pair of eights. Eibinger rolled over J9, both his flush and straight draws having come up short.

That leaves Eibinger with about 1.05 million chips. The rest, obviously, currently belong to Nemeth. (There are 10 million chips in play.) –JK

1:35pm: Heads up begins
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (BB ante 60,000)

Heads up play is beginning here in Prague with Matthias Eibinger’s 3.225 million up against Andras Nemeth’s 6.775 million. That’s 113 big blinds vs. 54 big blinds at this new level. They did not agree a deal. — HS

Heads Up: Matthias Eibinger & Andras Nemeth

1:35pm: Time for a short break
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

We’re breaking for a few minutes as Level 18 has just completed. Given that a break wasn’t scheduled for this point, it looks like they may be talking over a potential deal. Eibinger is on 3.225 million, with Nemeth at 6.775 million. –JK

1:30pm: Liang Xu eliminated in 3rd place (€288,090)
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Andras Nemeth won three straight small ones to add a few more to his leading stack, then started the next three-handed orbit with an all-in opening raise from the small blind.

Liang Xu counted out his chips to see he had about 725,000 left, then after a few more moments of contemplation said he was calling. Nemeth tabled his hand — 98 — and Xu reacted positively.

Liang Xu: Tough decision for his tournament life

“Show yours,” said Nemeth with a grin, and Xu turned over his Q8. “Queen,” he said to the dealer. “Nine,” grinned Nemeth.

The A10A flop ignored both requests, but the 9 turn hit Nemeth’s hand. The river was the 6, and Nemeth took the pot to knock out Xu in third.

Liang Xu: End of the line

Heads-up begins with Nemeth sitting with 6.25 million and Matthias Eibinger 3.75 million. It sounds like they’ll finish out this level (just a couple of minutes remain), then take a five-minute break. –MH

1:20pm: Pressure drop
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Liang Xu isn’t having a very easy time of it right now thanks to Andras Nemeth’s tendency to pile on the pressure. But Nemeth is vulnerable to pressure as well, as Matthias Eibinger just demonstrated.

Xu opened two different pots in the last five minutes, only to end up folding to a Nemeth raise each time. He managed to put in a re-raise of his own over Eibinger to take down one pot, leaving him with 1.1 million chips.

Then Xu opened for 115,000 on the button, Eibinger called in the small blind, and Nemeth asked for a count from Xu. The 1.1 million confirmed, Nemeth moved a stack of 500,000 forward. Xu looked this close to making the call but eventually decided against it. Eibinger wasn’t ready to let Nemeth skate away with the win, though — he announced himself all-in and put the pressure back to the original raiser. Nemeth puffed his cheeks in frustration and let his hand go.

Eibinger is now on 3.6 million; Xu, 1 million; and Nemeth, 4.9 million. –JK

1:05pm: Small stuff
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Not much happening over the past five hands. The first three ended with raise-and-takes, with Andras Nemeth claiming two small pots and Liang Xu the other. Nemeth then raised and won a small pot off of Matthias Eibinger with a flop continuation bet, then came another minor skirmish between Xu and Nemeth.

Liang Xu: First European Super High Roller tournament continues

Xu raised to 110,000 from the button and Nemeth defended the big blind, then Nemeth check-called a bet of 70,000 after the 3J3 flop. Both players checked the 2 turn and 7 river, and when Nemeth showed K2 for two pair, Xu mucked while showing one of his cards, the K.

“One card beat me,” said Xu and Nemeth chuckled. “It wasn’t my proudest showdown,” he replied.

Nemeth still leads with 5.325 million, Eibinger is next with 3.35 million, and Liang Xu has 1.325 million. –MH

12:55pm: Nemeth eliminates Plesuv in fourth
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

Pavel Plesuv is the first player to leave the table today after a bit of bad luck against Andras Nemeth.

Nemeth opened for 110,000 under the gun and Plesuv took about five seconds before moving all-in for his last 875,000. The other two players folded, and after confirming the size of the bet, Nemeth made the call.

Pavel Plesuv: First man down

His A10 needed help against Plesuv’s AK, and it got that help on the Q106 flop. Plesuv was still drawing to a Broadway straight but the 3 turn and A didn’t bring it, knocking him out in fourth place.

Pavel Plesuv takes his leave

Nemeth is now on about 4.2 million. –JK

12:50pm: Set of queens nets more for Nemeth
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

In less than a half-hour of play today, Andras Nemeth has climbed all of the way back to challenge Matthias Eibinger for the chip lead. Actually “climb” seems like the wrong verb. It has been more like a few big jumps forward, while Eibinger has taken a couple of tumbles.

Andras Nemeth: High flyin’ again

In the latest exchange of chips between the pair, Eibinger opened for 105,000 from the button, Nemeth called from the small blind, and Pavel Plesuv called as well from the big blind. The flop came 89Q and it checked around to Eibinger, with only Nemeth calling. Both then checked the 2 turn card.

The river was the 10. Nemeth checked, then after a pause Eibinger bet 375,000 and Nemeth called instantly. Eibinger tabled 55, but Nemeth had a set with QQ and claimed the pot.

Eibinger now has 3.625 million, while Nemeth is closing in with 3.45 million. –MH

12:45pm: Eibinger chases Nemeth away on the river
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

After doubling Andras Nemeth up a few minutes ago, Matthias Eibinger has begun clawing some of those chips back from the Hungarian.

Nemeth opened the action for 110,000 under the gun and Eibinger, in the big blind, was the lone caller. They both checked the 10J7 flop. Then the J came on the turn and Eibinger led for 220,000. Nemeth called.

The river card was the 2 and after about 15 seconds Eibinger clearly and forcefully announced his bet: 495,000. He counted the chips off and moved them forward in a single, tall stack.

Nemeth looked like he had a genuinely tough decision to make. He closed his eyes and began running through his options. His eyebrows arched more than once. He studied his opponent, looking for any kind of information to help him out, but behind his mirror shades and hooded sweatshirt, Eibinger was giving up nothing. Nemeth even glanced down to see if the Austrian might be tapping his feet or something of the sort. Still nothing.

With two time bank cards already used up, Nemeth reluctantly pushed his cards to the dealer one at a time, and Eibinger took down the pot to climb to 4.4 million. Nemeth dips to 3.15 million. –JK

12:35pm: Nemeth earns early double through Eibinger
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

The day began with two small hands — one won by Liang Xu over Matthias Eibinger, then Eibinger was given a big blind walk. Then came the third, which was the opposite of small.

Pavel Plesuv opened for 125,000 first to act, and it folded to Eibinger who announced he was re-raising all in. Andras Nemeth sat in contemplation for nearly a half-minute before saying he was calling all in for his 1.38 million, and Plesuv folded right away.

Andras Nemeth’s big decision

Eibinger: A5
Nemeth: AK

The board ran out 6J84A and the better hand held, bumping Nemeth up over 2.9 million. Eibinger, meanwhile, slips back to about 4 million. –MH

Ace-king winner for Nemeth

12:28pm: Let’s play…early!
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (BB ante 50,000)

For the first time ever in the history of poker, a tournament day is beginning early. It’s 12:28pm–two minutes ahead of the scheduled 12:30pm start time–and cards are in the air. — HS

11:15am: Final four return to decide Super High Roller winner

From 40 total entrants just four players remain with a shot at the first big title of this year’s European Poker Tour Prague series, the €50,000 Super High Roller. While each of those remaining theoretically could win it, one will have a decided edge when the first hand of today’s third and final day begins, as Austria’s Matthias Eibinger currently owns more than half the chips in play and a large lead over his three remaining competitors.

Matthias Eibinger, chip gatherer

None of us were familiar with Eibinger before the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure back in January, but over the course of 2018 we’ve gotten to know him pretty well thanks to his constant presence at final tables in events of all shapes and sizes.

Eibinger has over $4 million in tournament earnings now, with almost all of it coming since those PCA cashes, including a $1M score for a super high roller win at the ARIA and numerous EPT final tables including a third-place finish in the €100K SHR at EPT Barcelona in August worth €759,680.

Plesuv of Moldova is also in the midst of a breakout year, having just exceeded $4 million in live earnings himself after winning the WPT Seminole Rock ‘N Roll Poker Open Main Event in Florida last month. He also has silver spade, having won a €25K high roller at EPT Barcelona last year.

The Hungarian Nemeth has over $2.2 million in live tournament cashes already, including a career-high live cash of €605,600 in August for winning a €25,000 event at EPT Barcelona. Online his legend is even greater, with more than $9.3 million in recorded cashes according to PocketFives, the majority of which on PokerStars where he plays as “probirs”

Of the final four only Xu is making a first appearance at a high roller final table, though the Chinese player has collected cashes in a variety of places including on the EPT, APPT, and UKIPT. Xu’s cash today is already guaranteed to exceed his total winnings in tournaments thus far. The Chinese player has cashes on the EPT, APPT, and UKIPT before.

Here’s how those stacks will look when play commences:

Name Country Chips BBs
Matthias Eibinger Austria 5,455,000 109
Pavel Plesuv Moldova 1,670,000 33
Andras Nemeth Hungary 1,445,000 29
Liang Xu China 1,410,000 28

And here, besides the big shiny trophy, is what the final four are playing for:

Position Name
1 €653,000
2 €451,350
3 €288,090
4 €220,870

Check out the coverage from Day 1 and Day 2 to see how they made it from 40 to four. Play resumes at 12:30 p.m. today, so join us then and we’ll find out together if Eibinger can hold off the others or someone else will emerge as the next EPT Super High Roller champion. –MH


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PokerStars Blog reporting team on the €50,000 Super High Roller: Martin Harris, Jason Kirk and Howard Swains. Photography by Joe Giron/PokerPhotoArchive and Neil Stoddart.


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