Bubble Carnage as Six All-In Hands Deliver Multiple Exits

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

A remarkable turn of events as six all-in situations led to some serious complications for the bubble and the tournament.

On the first table, Francois-Charles Scapula and Daniel Studer were all in and at risk against former World Series of Poker November Niner Sylvain Loosli, who called covering both players.

Scapula had the , Studer the , and Loosli the . The board came , allowing for Loosli to win the pot and eliminate both short stacks, but this is where things got interesting.

There was some confusion as to who was the shortest of the two stacks, but it was eventually confirmed that Scapula had just 1,000 more than Studer.

On the next table to run out an all-in hand, Farid Chati was all in on an board against former EPT winner Martin Finger. Chati turned over the for a king-high flush, but Finger flipped over the for a straight flush to the astonishment from all surrounding the table. That meant after two of the six showdowns, three players had been eliminated.

The third table saw Randal Flowers all in with the . His mood had been brightened by the fact that several players had already been knocked out, guaranteeing the American some sort of prize. Philippe D'Auteuil was the one who had made the call his .

The flop came , and Flowers said, "I'll take two hearts," but the turn was the and the river was the . That meant a fourth elimination was confirmed, with more all-in situations to play out.

The next two all-in hands — both on different tables — saw double ups for the short stacks, leaving just one more to go.

Pawel Brzeski had put Richard Dubini at risk and Dubini called it off, but he had an agonizing wait while all of the other hands played out. Eventually, he was able to turn his cards over and see what he was up against, and when that time came he saw his against the for Brzeski.

The final board was and Dubini joined the other players eliminated on the bubble.

As it stands, five players were eliminated on the bubble, but with two of them coming from the same table, it's a very unique situation as to who would get what. The bubble was to receive a guitar and $5,300 seat in the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $10,000,000 guaranteed event in Florida this week, so the tournament staff was left to sort out the mess.

It was decided that the five players would take the money from the first four in-the-money spots (€8,050 times four for €32,200) and divide it evenly amongst them, taking €6,440 each. Then the five will be play a sit-n-go for the guitar and the $5,300 seat. This ruling has raised a bit of question because it is ignoring the "bigger chip stack" rule that applies to situations in which two players bust from the table table on the bubble or in the money. Accordingly to the rule, the player with the largest stack would receive the highest finishing position.