Now that the Caesar's Cup has drawn to a close (and Doyle and co. have stopped playing high stakes Chinese Poker), they have decided to move our remaining five finalists in today's Omaha event down to "centre court", as Jack Effel calls it. This has been the main reason for the slight delay, although players are slowly regathering at the table, and play looks to be recommencing shortly.
Having made a river for his tournament life the previous hand, Aarno Kivelio then came over the top of Ville Haavisto's 70,000 open just one hand later. Boatman, down to 85,000 with 20,000 in the big blind, was tempted, but folded, as did Haavisto.
In what was a dominating performance, Europe rose triumphant in the inaugural Caesar's cup as Annette Obrestad toppled Huck Seed in the final match to bring home the bacon for her continenent, four games to one. The final hand saw the Norwegian's A-7 defeat Seed's A-rag when a second seven hit the board.
Ah, the poker see-saw: entertaining for the rail, stressful for some. On this occasion it was Ross Boatman enduring the ups and downs of Omaha. On the first hand, he reraised Aarno Kivelio's open of 70,000 to 240,000 to take the pot. Then, on the very next hand, Boatman opened himself, to 60,000, before folding to a reraise of 210,000 from Ville Havisto.
Play is achingly slow at the moment after such an early flurry of exits. The five remaining players are very much a pensive bunch, and contemplate every decision with intense thought and meticulousness. What initially appeared to be an early night, looks like a early morning trudge on the late bus. Then again, they are playing for a bracelet, so can be forgiven for treading so cautiously.
With Ville Haavisto limping for 20,000, Howard Lederer raised it to 90,000 and Haavisto called. Haavisto then check-folded to a bet of 110,000 on the flop.