Though he’d already enjoyed a poker career that is the envy of many of his peers, Jeff Madsen still had a monkey to get off his back. Despite his two WSOP bracelets, his $2 million in earnings, and his sponsorship deal…

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Eight hours ago their tournament hopes were alive. Now, the dream of EPT glory lies in ruins for 32 of 40 players who returned to Casino Copenhagen this afternoon for the business end of another great EPT event.

That we bring this news on the cocktail side of midnight is some indication as to how fast this day flew by. Finals here in Denmark have produced memorable moments; today will hopefully be just a forerunner to what’s in store tomorrow - a frenetic and merciless scrap for every last chip by some of the game’s best.

Today marked the latest example of Nordics renewing their claim to be the best and most fearless players of the thoroughbred poker breed - with seven of the eight finalists hailing from Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish shores; an unsurprising surge of local poker brilliance, alongside some EPT loyalists, trigger-happy young guns and the odd legend thrown in.

Anders Langset

Anders Langset has the honour of leading the overnight chip list with 1.1 million after a solid day in the saddle. With an ever-expanding block of attack chips Langset, who has been playing poker for only three weeks, seemed unstoppable, able to toss in calls without the fear of crippling loss others had to endure - like the Frenchman Eric Larcheveque, today’s miracle man, who never seemed to advance beyond 20 big blinds but finds himself with 205,000 tonight, enough for a guaranteed €80,364.

A welcome sight in his second final is Peter Hedlund, a chatty EPT stalwart, who entertains at the table whether opponents like it or not. He lines up alongside Jonas Klausen who has narrowly missed two previous finals (12th in San Remo, 11th in Barcelona) and makes his first appearance seventh in chips.

Peter Hedlund

Spare a thought for Mikael Lundell. He now knows how Klausen feels after departing in ninth place today, one place off the final for a second time, after being inflicted with the same cruel fate in the season five opener in Spain. Klausen has chance to put his demons to bed tomorrow, but Lundell’s nightmares will go on.

Mikael Lundell

Here’s who’ll be back:

Anders Langset, Norway, 1,119,000
Rasmus Nielsen, Denmark, 1,031,000
Jussi Nevanlinna, Finland, 894,000
Petter Petersson, Sweden, 407,000
Peter Hedlund, Sweden, 367,000
Jens Kyllonen, Finland, 366,000
Jonas Klausen, Denmark, PokerStars qualifier, 262,000
Eric Lachavaque, France, 221,000

But we lost a lot of good men out there.

If your fetish is for record breaking you no doubt had your eye on the Norwegian player Andreas Hoivold today. The winner in Dortmund on season three was on course for a potential second title, and would have taken a giant step closer had it not been for the seven-four (yep, seven-four) of Rasmus Nielsen, crushing Hoivold’s five-three (yep, five-three).

The legions of PokerStars were great in number and in talent. Tony Mallandain, one of six qualifiers who made the money, busted in 21st place, €16,371 to the good, having won his seat in a freeroll. The steps qualifier Michael Aston, who pledged 5% of his winnings to Friends of Eastgate — the charity set up by World Champion Peter — was the unlucky 13th place victim of a poker mugging, his A-Q outdrawn by the K-J of Mikael Lundell.

PokerStars qualifier Michael Ashton

Elsewhere Andrea Benelli missed out on a third EPT final of the season, exiting in 32nd place; while one of poker’s elder statesmen, Thor Hansen, fell short of his first EPT final, departing in 17th place.

Thor Hansen

But that’s all behind us, now onto the final. We’ve witnessed a 4am finish (season 2), a come from behind upset (season 3) and a white knuckle four hour heads-up monster (season 4). This is the place of legend - you’d be mad to miss what surprises are in store for season 5.

Until then you wouldn’t have thought it possible, but thousands and thousands of words of coverage from today’s tournament can be unleashed by clicking on these innocent-looking hyperlinks.

Day three introduction
Michael Aston: chips and beer
Wrecking ball: Anders Langset
As flies to wanton boys
Eight down
Andrea Benelli downed
Thor Hansen handing out the lessons
Level 17 updates
Level 18 updates
Level 19 updates
Level 20 updates
Level 21 updates

Stuff in languages: German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or Finnish.

Stuff in moving pictures: PokerStars.tv.
Chip counts: Chip count page.
Prize-winners: Prizewinners page.

***

Today was also a big day for some very worthy causes. The Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem has asked his friends in the poker community to help the plight of the some of his Australian countrymen and women, suffering as a result of the horrific bush-fires that have swept through his homeland. And by “friends in the poker community” he means YOU! <A href=”Click here to read Hachem’s open letter and learn about a terrific charity tournament on PokerStars, where you can play against Team PokerStars Pro and help the worth cause at the same time.

The World Champion and friend of PokerStars Peter Eastgate has also recently launched a new charity venture, called “Friends of Eastgate”. Claus Nielsen, the President and CEO of the charity, told Kara Scott all about it.

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Eastagte’s new charity on PokerStars.tv

And that, folks, is that. We’ll be back tomorrow for the final.

This post shows updates from level 21 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 6,000-12,000 with a 1,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a final table of eight.

11.45pm — Your final eight

Here they are:

Anders Langset, Norway, 1,119,000 (seat 9)
Rasmus Nielsen, Denmark, 1,031,000 (seat
Jussi Nevanlinna, Finland, 894,000 (seat 1)
Petter Petersson, Sweden, 407,000 (seat 7)
Peter Hedlund, Sweden, 367,000 (seat 2)
Jens Kyllonen, Finland, 366,000 (seat 3)
Jonas Klausen, Denmark, 262,000 (seat 4)
Eric Lachavaque, France, 221,000 (seat 5)

11.25pm — Mikael Lundell eliminated; final table set
He’s done it again. Mikael Lundell, who went out on the final table bubble in Barcelona, has once again departed in ninth - and it would take a harsh man not to feel sorry for him about that. He was very short when he moved all in pre-flop with Ad-10h and ran into the pocket nines of one of the big stacks, Jussi Nevanlinna. There was no help on a dry board and Lundell stood, shook his head, and left the tournament arena again. That’s it, then. The final table is set.

The official chip counts are on their way, as is the full wrap of the day. Don’t. Go. Anywhere. (Unless you really have to.)

11.20pm — Scary
Mikael Lundell’s stack is now “scarily short”, to use the phrasing of Sverre Sundbo, currently commentating on EPT Live. He has about 10 big blinds, which is not M enough, or something. (There’s considerably better analysis than that over at EPT Live.)

11.05pm — Tight and nervy
This has been a very fraught passage of play. Mikael Lundell, perhaps fearing a similar fate to what befell him in Barcelona, when he bubbled the final table, has got involved in a couple of pots but has not been keen to get all his chips in. That’s meant he’s drifted down to less than 150,000 and is the man under threat. Rasmus Nielsen, on the other hand, is up at the top with more than a million.

10.50pm — The long haul
This could be over in one hand; it could take two hours. Either way, why not kill some of that time in the company of Christian Saxin, who fell in 11th place today.

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Christian Saxin (English) on PokerStars.tv

10.40pm — Nielsen back in the saddle
Rasmus Nielsen and Jens Kyllönen see a queen high flop and Nielsen checks, which allows the Finn to bet 40,000. Nielsen loves that: he pops it up about another 100,000 and Kyllönen folds. Nielsen shows A-Q to prove he’s got the goods as well as all the chips.

10.30pm — Hedlund hangs on
Peter Hedund keeps the barmen of Casino Copenhagen happy by hanging around in this tournament a while longer. He moves all in over the top of Rasmus Nielsen’s opener, and Nielsen dwells and calls. Hedlund’s all in is about 260,000 and he’s in great shape with Ad-Qh versus Nielsen’s Ac-Jh. The flop is 10h-2d-3c and after the turn of 5c Nielsen begins counting out chips to pass across. The 8d confirms it and the well-oiled Hedlund remains.

10.15pm — The final furlong
Well, we’re now down to a single table, with nine players (and the EPT Live cameras) seated around it. Something’s got to give before we reach the official final table. And it’s not going to be one of the EPT Live cameras.

Stay tuned, maybe on EPT Live if you fancy it, until we find our unlucky* ninth-placed finisher.

* Not that unlucky. He’ll take €49,112.

This post shows updates from level 20 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a final table of eight.

10pm — Counts!
The last elimination also coincided with the end of the level. They are now crammed around the single feature table, where they have these chips:

Rasmus Nielsen Denmark 1,224,000
Jussi Nevanlinna Finland 725,000
Anders Langset Norway 579,000
Petter Petersson Sweden 513,000
Jens Kyllönen Finland 360,000
Mikael Lundell Sweden 320,000
Jonas Klausen Denmark PokerStars qualifier 314,000
Peter Hedlund Sweden 312,000
Eric Larcheveque France 310,000

9.50pm — Nine pins
We are down to nine players, having just lost Tom Johansen, yet another victim of Rasmus “Steamroller” Nielsen. The huge stack raised to 24,000 from the button and Johansen called from the big blind. The flop was 7h-Jd-Qd and both players check. The turn was the 6s and Johansen checked, which invited Nielsen to bet 27,000. Johansen raised to 60,000. Call. The turn was the Qh and Johansen announced all in for 181,000. Nielsen had to think a while but then rolled in a stack of blue chips for the call. Johansen showed J-4 for a pair of jacks to go with the paired queens on the board. Nielsen showed J-9 for the same two pairs but a crucial nine kicker that played. Johansen is done.

9.40pm — Saxin out for the count
Christian Saxin is out, although it wasn’t straight forward. He made it 25K under the gun and Navanlinna moved all-in with pocket eights. Saxin called with A-K and hand was underway with a board of Q-4-5-6-2. That didn’t end it though…

“Sorry man, I have you covered…” said Navanlinna, before walking away from the table.

The floor person and dealer counted the debt, assuming Saxin was covered but it seemed Saxin had about 60K left. This didn’t make Navanlinna very happy, returning to see Saxin alive before demanding a recount. This was done as Saxin awaited his fate, discovering that his glimmer of hope was gone. The recount sending him to the rail.

9.35pm — Chips
Official counts are coming at the end of the level, but in the meantime, these are pretty close to accurate:

Rasmus Nielsen 1,100,000
Anders Langset 840,000
Petter Petterson 506,600
Jens Kyllönen 420,000
Christian Saxin 380,000
Eric Larcheveque 340,000
Jonas Klausen 329,000
Peter Hedlund 302,000
Mikael Lundell 280,000
Tom Johansen 231,000
Jussi Nevanlinna 223,000

9.30pm — Hoivold hounded out
Well, the search for the first two-time EPT champion continues. Andreas Hoivold has taken his leave in a textbook 7-4 v 5-3 battle. Gotta love these Scandis. The 7d-4d were in the hands of Rasmus Nielsen and he must have loved the flop of 6c-5s-8c. All the money went in then, with Hoivold hoping to double his short stack with bottom pair. He made trips on the turn when another five came, but he missed his full house outs on the river and was gone.

9.27pm — Fold, fold, fold.. all-in
Eric Larcheveque has laboured under the short stack all day - all tournament as one observer said. But he’s still here and his prognosis is a lot better after he doubled up with aces through Anders Langset with A-K.

9.20pm — Aston’s ashes
Michael Aston, the PokerStars qualifier from England, has just been sent back there by Jussi Nevanlinna. Aston lost a load of chips to Mikael Lundell earlier and was the short stack, of about 150,000, when he moved all in pre-flop from early position. It was folded to Nevanlinna who squeezed his cards, thought for a long long time, squeezed his cards again, asked for a count, and then made what looked like an agonising call. This, however, was all an act to try to get the big stack of Anders Langset involved. Nevanlinna actually had aces, which he showed the minute Langset insta-mucked. Aston was in very bad shape and although he picked up a flush draw, it wasn’t good enough. The aces held up. Down to 12.

Aston out

9.12pm — Checking
Hardly a massive pot but it’s typical of the caginess on the feature table. Rasmus Nielsen takes nothing more than the blinds on a 5-9-6-J-7 board checked all the way. His hand 5-3 was enough.

9.05pm — Hedlund heading up
Peter Hedlund got his final 140,000 in pre-flop against the table bully Rasmus Nielsen. Nielsen has 8-8 and NHedlund Kh-Qh. Nielsen has been on fire in the coin flips today, but not this time. The queen comes on the turn and the eight does not appear on the river. Nielsen is back up to close to 300,000 and that’s the first notable chunk to leave Nielsen’s stack.

9pm — Larcheveque doubles
The lone remaining Frenchman among the Nordics (and one Brit) has just doubled up. Eric Larcheveque got it all in against Anders Langset with Ad-Js. Langset had As-9s. The all in was about 120,000 and Langset had already raised a pot-committing amount. The flop ran out only in favour of Larcheveque and he’s now back in the hunt.

8.56pm — Pot to Rasmus
Rasmus Nielsen takes a pot against Petter Petersson. On a board of 9h-Ah-9d-4h-8c which was checked to the river, Petersson made a small bet of 15,000 holding A-6 which Nielsen called, showing 6-8, taking it down.

8.50pm — Ante-ing up a buy in
We have 13 players remaining at the start of level 20. We’ve reached that moment when a big blind is now the equivalent of a starting stack at the beginning of the tournament. Five players will depart before we find our final tableists.

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This post shows updates from level 19 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 4,000-8,000 with a 1,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a final table of eight.

8.40pm — Saxin doesn’t speak
On the last hand of the level Christian Saxin made a standard bet of 20,000. Navanlinna looked at his cards and raised to 52,000. It was just the two of them, and Saxin moved all-in, taking the trouble to move his 300,000 forward tower by tower. Navanlinna didn’t take long to fold.

8.35pm — Hoivold speaks
Andreas Hoivold is the latest player to attempt the so-far unattainable. Through five seasons of the EPT, we have never crowned a two-time champion, but with 13 left here in Denmark, Hoivold still has the chance to change that. He spoke to our video bloggers earlier:

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Andreas Hoivold Day 3 (English) on PokerStars.tv

8.20pm — Kyllonen lied to
Jussi Nevanlinna and Jens Kyllonen just tangled in a pot, Nevanlinna emerging the better for it. The board was checked to the river, 7h-Qs-Tc-6c-5d when Nevanlinna made it 40,000. Kyllonen wanted to call but couldn’t bring himself to do it and mucked instead, being shown the Ah-9h bluff.

8pm: Boberg bounced
Fredrik Boberg and Anders Langset have been going at it all day, with the young Norwegian probably having the run of it. That, ultimately, is how the record books will have it because Langset has just accounted for his Swedish adversary, in a hand that you can’t really expect either of them to have got away from.

Fredrik Boberg

Langset raised from mid position to 30,000 and Boberg called from the small blind. The flop came Jh-4d-3d and Boberg check-raised all in after Langset put out the continuation bet of 60,000. He’d been doing that pretty much every time he’s raised pre-flop, and there was something of the whiff of a trap to Boberg’s move. Langset put his head in his hands, asking for a count of the all in (about 200,000), before eventually announcing call. Boberg seemed happy and flipped pocket queens, which was ahead of Langet’s Ad-10d. That, though, was a pretty big draw and the Jd on the turn filled the flush. The river bricked and Boberg was gone.

7.57pm — Van Til leaves us
Johan Van Til falls next, all in with pocket sevens against the As-Ks of Jonas Klausen. Van Til looked good until the ace on the turn.

7.55pm — Lundell, the God of Roar
Mikael Lundell, a fearsome looking presence at any poker table, just pushed in. The action was folded to Michael Aston who was going to call, but not before applauding the eliminated Erik Karlsson on the other table.

Mikael Lundell

“I’m going to make a very bad call” said the Englishman, turning over Ac-Jc. It turned out to be not that bad at all, with Lundell turning over Kd-Qc and needing help. He got it on a board of Jd-5s-9s-6d-Td. When the river hit Lundell yelled loud enough to rattle the bones of Canute the Great, landing a straight to keep him alive. Aston down to 140,000.

7.50pm — Karlsson kommitted. Katastrophe
Erik Karlsson is out in 16th. He made a pretty standard all in push from the button with his short stack of 54,000. Tom Johansen, the other short stack, dwelled for a while but then called with Ah-3s. Karlosson was in trouble with Kd-7s and although he picked up a diamond draw it never came, and he’s gone.

7.45pm — Reminders
Don’t forget that you can get the latest chip counts on the chip count page. They were updated at the break. Also try to remember that the feature table action is available up close and personal on EPT Live. And the only excuse for forgetting either of those two things is if the knowledge is pushed out of your brain by remembering Joe Hachem’s appeal on behalf of the Australian bush-fire victims. That’s way more important than any of this.

7.40pm — Nourished
Players have returned from the dinner break and they are now settling in for the long haul to decide our final table. As the shufflers shuffle, why not take a look at a couple of video blogs. The first comes from the British player Michael Ashton, who is still deep in the mix here in Copenhagen. The second comes from Ramzi Jelassi, who isn’t.

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Michael Aston (English) on PokerStars.tv

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Ramzi Jelassi on PokerStars.tv

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Next Sunday will mark the start of the Bluff Online Poker. Originally slated to take part in the festivities was Josh “JJProdigy” Field. However, due to violations of the Cake Poker Network’s Terms of Service, Field will not be allowed to participate.