As the various members of Team PokerRoom head home to all corners of the globe, we're left to reflect on yet another fantastic Race Trophy weekend. It's hard to pick a highlight, although the night out in the Hummer and the hilarious interviews with the players on the PR golf buggy (coming soon!) are definitely up there. We'd like to thank all the players for making it such an enjoyable weekend - you were all brilliant company and it was great to see the cameraderie between everyone. As a few people commented, it seemed like everyone was old friends, rather than people from all over the world thrown together for a weekend. Great friendships have been formed and I'm sure we'll all meet again. Here's a photo recap of the weekend:

So, as you can see, a great weekend all round. Congratulations again of course to Marky_Crash. Don't forget that there are still 2 seats up for grabs for the 6-handed $500k final in Vienna in November. So if you fancy a shot at the big money, as well as experiencing the legendary PokerRoom live event hospitality, then find out how to qualify now! See you in Germany....

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Here at PokerRoom we do generally like to do things in style. So, for our welcome party on Friday night we decided to surprise the players and hire a Hummer for the evening!

The limo then took us to Rochester, a historic town half an hours drive from the hotel, where the players were treated to a magnificent meal at Elizabeth's restaurant. The slightly more adventurous of us (i.e. funkfish and your trusty blogger) went for frogs legs, and after a bit of persuasion we even got Marky_Crash to try them too. Probably not used to them not deep fried eh Mark?

The party continued well into the night, although we wisely chose not to document it with photographic evidence!

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As he is the winner!!! yes yes yes…… Marky_Crash!!! Congratulations mate!!! Nobody could argue that you didn’t deserve to win it. You were really unlucky at the last two semi-finals and it’s fantastic to see you finally make it. Look forward to seeing you in Vienna! Commiserations to Balthazar73 who also played a fantastic game. It was almost inevitable that a coin flip would decide it and that’s exactly what happened. Marky_Crash pushed all-in with ATo and after a long think, Balthazar73 called with KJo. Neither player hit on the flop, nor the turn, and it came down to the river. That was also a blank and saw Marky_Crash crowned as the semi-final champion. Once again, WELL DONE MARKY!

Marky_Crash

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And the second Brazilian takes the bronze medal. .Nvalerio’s AdJh ran into Balthazar73’s AhKh. Nobody hit on the flop and the turn and river were no help for .Nvalerio, who finishes 3rd having played some superb poker. His lack of English didn’t stop him sharing a few jokes with the other players either! Great stuff .Nvalerio, we’ve really enjoyed having you here this weekend.

So now we’re heads up. Marky_Crash has already gone one better than last time, but can he make it third time lucky and seal his seat at the $500k final? We should find out soon….

Blinds are 700/1400 and both players are neck and neck!Balthazar73 has 20100 and Marky_Crash is sitting on 19900.

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Mario1955 is the next to bite the dust. He was extremely short stacked after losing a monster pot to Balthazar73 and moved all-in for 1800 with A 7. Marky_Crash made the call of course and flipped over 79o, leaving him someway behind. The flop seemed to favour Mario1955 with J (and not a K as previously reported sorry...) 7 2, but a T on the turn followed by an 8 on the river gave Marky_Crash an improbable straight and sent Mario1955 to the rail. Unlucky Mario, you played a really good game and I know you’ll be back at another of the semi-finals. Great hat as well!

The final 3 chipstacks:

Marky_Crash 17100 / Balthazar73 11400 / .Nvalerio 11500 with the blinds now up to 700/1400, apologies for the lack of chip counts but we can only get them when there's a break.

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We have another faller. After another lengthy period of play with no casualties, our Frenchman gregxxxxl has bowed out in 5th. Here’s how the hand went down: gregxxxxl was dealt A9 and moved straight all-in. Marky_Crash insta-called with AJ and everyone else folded. The flop was T 2 Q and the turn and river were no help with to gregxxxxl - 3 and then Q. He’d battled back really well from having as little as 700 chips at one point, but in the end it wasn’t quite enough. C’est la vie! Good game monsieur.

The latest chipstacks for anyone who's interested ;) are :

Mario1955 8000 / Marky_Crash 7900 / Balthazar73 10200 / .Nvalerio 13900

and P.S. blinds are 500/1000, anything else?

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The latest chipstacks:

gregxxxxl 1325 / Mario1955 7750 / Marky_Crash 12200 / Balthazar73 7875 / .Nvalerio 10775

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funkfish is next to crash out. His pocket 8’s came up against .Nvalerio with pocket 3’s. Pre-flop, funkfish re-raised .Nvalerio’s initial bet of 825 up to 1500, which was called.The flop then came 7h3c9h giving .Nvalerio the set and putting funkfish in big trouble. The fishmeister pushed all-in straight away and .Nvalerio insta-called... and you can imagine the look on funkfish’s face as the Brazilian showed his 3’s. The turn and river were no help to funkfish, who ends the tournament in 5th place. It’s still a great achievement for him to get here, especially as he qualified for free! He’s vowed to be back again for another crack at getting to the final in Vienna. Well played mate.

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The information you've all been waiting for: the chipstacks.

gregxxxxl 3775 / Mario1955 4450 / Marky_Crash 12850 / funkfish 5800 / Balthazar73 8075 / .Nvalerio 5050

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After almost hour without action, we've just lost another player. Schooter69 was dealt AdKd and raised 400. The table folded round to Marky_Crash, who was sat on pocket 8's. He called and the flop came 5d Qd 6s. Schooter69 checked and then Marky_Crash bet 675 which Schooter69 called straight away. The turn was 8c giving Marky_Crash the set, with Schooter69 still with the flush draw.Schooter69 made a big bet of 2000 and Marky_Crash immediately moved all-in for 4750. The German thought about it for a moment and called. Marky_Crash had him covered so only a diamond would save him. Sadly for Schooter69the river was 6s and he bows out in 7th place. Unlucky fella. Still, you've had a great weekend and seem to have really enjoyed your first ever trip abroad! All the best and see you next time perhaps.

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