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7:50pm: Fast finishes off Buldygin!Level 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

It's everywhere here in Malta as Dietrich Fast has finished the job against Viacheslav Buldygin. After the 2 of them traded all-in shoves, with the opponent folding, they finally found hands to play for it all.

Fast shoved with A♠3♠ and Buldygin called for his last 400,000 with 6♦6♣. The pocket pair was ahead initially of the hand, however the flop of A♦J♠2♣9♦J♥ soon ironed it out in Fast's favour.

That's that. Fast is the wire-to-wire champion and takes €174,600 for first. Buldygin, who has had a blast, gets €126,300 for second.

Here's the whole event wrap up.

7:45pm: Fast river raiseLevel 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

The following few hands were either all-in and folds, or limped pots that did not go anywhere. Then Dietrich Fast won with a river raise to scale back Viacheslav Buldygin to 460,000 chips.

Fast limped in and Buldygin checked. The board ran out T♥5♥3♣A♥5♦. The flop was checked before Buldygin led for 40,000 and 100,000 at the turn and river. Fast called the firs bet after which tanked before raising to 330,000 at the river. Buldygin ran for the hills. --MC

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7:30pm: Oh for a hole card cameraLevel 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Who knows what these two had here. They've just played out a type of captivating heads-up pots that ends with a fold and we all at the rail none the wiser as to who was besting whom.

Viacheslav Buldygin completed from the small blind and Dietrich Fast, with the option, raised to 120,000. Buldygin called, which took them to the flop of 8♦K♦J♣. They both checked.

The turn was the A♥ and Fast led 130,000. Buldygin then raised to 260,000--a click back min-raise (but only after he had not quite put out enough chips for the raise and was told so as to add a couple of more to make it legit. These online players, huh.) Anyway, Fast called.

The pendulum swings back to Dietrich Fast

The 2♥ came at the river and Fast shoved. Buldygin only had about 660,000 behind but folded fairly quickly, leaving himself with another mountain to climb. -- HS

7:20pm: Second bullet downs FastLevel 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Viacheslav Buldygin couldn't believe that the counts were exactly 2:1 when he came back from break. He's gone a messed that up though by winning a pot.

The Russian raised to 80,000 and Dietrich Fast defended his big blind before going onto check-call a 75,000 c-bet on a Q♠6♥K♦ flop. The turn was the 2♦ and Buldygin upped the calibre with a 225,000 bet. Fast made a rapid check-fold. --MC

6:55pm: Break timeLevel 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Chips counts:

Dietrich Fast - 2 millionViacheslav Buldygin - 1 million

6:50pm: Optimal heads-up playLevel 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

As soon as they got heads up, Dietrich Fast and Viacheslav Buldygin began to get to understand each other a little better and Fast quickly established that Buldygin is a heads-up online specialist, who plays the high stakes games. "But not with this stack," Buldygin said, pointing at his meagre holding.

"Yeah, but you'll play optimally," Fast said, with an air of trepidation.

Viacheslav Buldygin: Heads up demon

I'm sure it was optimal was happened next, which was a shove from Buldygin with K♥9♦ and a choice from Fast with A♠T♦.

It was looking good for a pre-7pm finish when the flop brought the Q♥4♦7♠ after which the 7♥ at the turn. However the 9♠ emerged at the river to double up Buldygin and keep this one alive.

Buldygin's shove was for 455,000 and he now has 900,000 to work with. -- HS

6:45pm: Heads up chip countsLevel 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Heads up quickly got underway. Here's how they stand:

Dietrich Fast: 2,635,000Viacheslav Buldygin: 365,000

6:45pm: Sammartino races away in third, wins €81,480Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

For long periods, it looked as though the trophy had Dario Sammartino's name on it, nevertheless it wasn't meant to be and he busted in third.

Dietrich Fast opened to 60,000 at the button after which made a considered call after the Italian three-bet all-in for 665,000.

Sammartino: 4♣4♠Fast: A♦7♦

The board ran 3♦5♠9♠A♣T♠ to pair Fast's ace. --MC

Great performance from Sammartino

6:35pm: Buldygin shoves on FastLevel 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Viacheslav Buldygin got a river shove on Dietrich Fast through to look his stack rise to a still short 620,000.

He was within the big blind and called a 60,000 button raise from Fast before both players checked a Q♣4♦T♠ flop. The turn was the 2♣ and Buldygin led for 100,000. Call. The board completed with the 4♠ and Buldygin went right into a painful looking tank after which moved his last 270,000 forward using both hands. Fast took a second to fold. --MC

6:20pm: All-in x 4Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Someone said, "All-in" in four consecutive hands, but none were called and no-one won very much.

The first was one of the vital interesting: After Dario Sammartino limped from the small blind, Viacheslav Buldygin checked his option. They checked the flop of 6♣3♥A♣ after which they checked the turn of 9♠.

Then the 4♣ came at the river and Sammartino checked again. Buldygin bet 35,000 after which Sammartino said he was all-in. His 750,000-ish covered Buldygin's 500,000-ish and the latter folded.

On the following two hands, Buldygin shoved pre-flop on the earliest opportunity. Nobody called. After which at the hand after that, Sammartino shoved and got it through.

After a pair more small pots, Buldygin was left with 440,000. Sammartino had 600,000 and Dietrich Fast had the remaining. (about 1.95 million). -- HS

6:10pm: One moment in time for BuldyginLevel 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

There might be something in what my colleague Howard Swains was alluding to. This Viacheslav Buldygin chap could well be far more accomplished than anyone is giving him credit for (not that anybody was thinking he was anywhere near bad - just less experienced in a situation like this).

First up, let's take a look at this hand. It is a small one however the reactions after its conclusion makes one think a definite way. Buldygin was at the button and moved all-in. He got the shove through after which let loose an enormous breath of air. Dietrich Fast smiled and said, "Real emotions!"

Then this happened the very next hand.

Dario Sammartino completed from the small blind and called after Buldygin raised to 70,000 from the massive blind. The both ran out 2♦5♠9♦A♥3♦ with out a chips moving into until the river. There, Sammartino led for 65,000. Buldygin had 280,000 behind and stared on the board.

"Going to name with king high?" Sammartino asked after 30 seconds."I'm sorry for this moment," replied Buldygin."Take you time and fold!" Sammartino came back with a smile.

Buldygin then rested his chin on his arms as he thought for 2 more minutes. Then, all of a sudden, he announced he was all-in. Sammartino's eyes opened as wide as physically possible in shock, after which he stretched his arms back over his head as he thought. He called with 9♠9♥ for a slow-played flopped set but Buldygin had got there at the river with 8♠4♦ for a straight.

That dropped Sammartino right down to 760,000. Buldygin doubled to 695,000. --MC

5:55pm: Colour up at level endLevel 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

That's the top of Level 22 and the players head into Level 23 with the next stacks:

Dietrich Fast: 1,535,000Dario Sammartino: 1,160,000Viacheslav Buldygin: 300,000

The 1,000-denomination chips was taken out of play. They have been devalued into obscurity as quickly because the British pound. -- HS

5:50pm: Fast three-bets Sammartino againLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

The last time I witnessed Dietrich Fast three-bet Dario Sammartino; he was treat to a four-bet shove. He just tried the similar again, and although the positions were the same, the stack sizes were different, and so was the result.

Viacheslav Buldygin, for one, was even shorter on just over 500,000 and Sammartino had 1.08 million in comparison to the 800,000 last time. Sammartino opened to 62,000 from the button before Fast three-bet to 225,000 from the massive blind. Sammartino tanked for some time and decided to fold that point around. --MC

5:35pm: One to Buldygin, then back to FastLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

It's fascinating watching both Dario Sammartino and Dietrich Fast of their attempts to outwit Viacheslav Buldygin, their less-experienced opponent. However, I FEEL either one of them also are aware by now that Buldygin might like play-acting that he's overawed while secretly feeling quite at home.

Vlacheslav Buldygin: A natural?

In a contemporary hand, Buldygin was vocally lamenting that he missed out on a double up having not moved all-in pre-flop in a prior hand. He was doing this because it was his turn to behave and Fast looked keenly on the cards in front of Buldygin, heavily implying that he should make a raffle or fold as opposed to getting hung up on what had long gone.

Buldygin suddenly said, "All-in" as though he was always aspiring to do that. Fast quickly folded.

Shortly after Buldygin completed from the small blind and Fast checked his option. The took within the 8♦8♠T♠ flop and Buldygin bet 26,000. Fast bet 65,000 and Buldygin three-bet to 130,000. That was good enough.

However Fast was keen to verify he didn't lose the momentum and played bully himself at the next hand. Fast raised his button, making it 50,000 to play. Buldygin three-bet the massive blind, making it 156,000 and Fast four-bet shoved, covering Buldygin. Buldygin folded. -- HS

5:20pm: Then Sammartino shoves on FastLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast knows he's in a really perfect position to bully both players, especially Dario Sammartino, as he knows he won't take too many high-variance lines in an try to get heads up with him. The article is: Sammartino is world class and knows all of this, and when the timing is right, can use that to his advantage.

Maybe we're seeing something that is not there but....

Sammartino opened to 62,000 from the button and faced a three-bet to 200,000 from Fast within the big blind. The Italian waited for a couple of moments after which jammed for around 800,000. Snap fold from Fast who dropped to 1.35 million. --MC

5:15pm: Wish I USED TO BE just a little tallerLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Viacheslav Buldygin was still whispering that he was "so short" when he called a raise from Dietrich Fast within the big blind. (Fast made it 40,000 from the button.) So it was Fast and the short-stack to the flop of A♠4♠T♣ and Buldygin check-called Fast's 40,000 c-bet.

They both checked the 9♥ turn. And so they both checked the 2♦ river. Buldygin's 7♥T♠ was good and he built his stack to 570,000. It's still short, but a little bit taller than it was. -- HS

5:10pm: Sammartino shoves on BuldyginLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Viacheslav Buldygin opened the button, making it 50,000 to play, and Dario Sammartino gave him action from the large blind. Nobody seemed all for either the 2♥Q♥T♦ flop or the Q♠ turn. But then, after the T♠ came at the river, Sammartino check-raised all-in, with Buldygin bet 50,000 between the check and the raise.

Bulgyin folded, muttering, "I'm so short. I'm so short." -- HS

5pm: Pots staying smallLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

The pot are staying small post break, and - with the stack sizes and players the best way they're - we're expecting it to stick that way for essentially the most part.

Viacheslav Buldygin has dropped slightly more (to 605,000) and is the player most in peril. He lost a small pot to Dietrich Fast to get there. He completed from the small blind and Fast checked his option. The flop fell K♦7♥5♦ and Fast called a 25,000 bet before the T♥7♠ turn and river where checked through.

"Jack high," said Buldygin""No good," responded Fast but didn't show.

Dietrich Fast

He waited until Buldygin opened J♦2♥ before he showed his A♣3♥. --MC

4:55pm: Extracting the minimumLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Dario Sammartino just won a tiny pot with what's going to probably be the most important hand he sees all week. At the first hand back from the break, he was within the small blind and went to an inexpensive flop with Viacheslav Buldygin. It came 8♣8♠8♥. They both checked. The 5♣ came at the turn they usually both checked. After which the 4♦ came at the river.

Sammartino tossed out one green chip, worth 25,000. "Twenty five?" an incredulous Buldygin said.

"What you have, a four?" Sammartino said back.

Buldygin threw a green chip forward to name and Sammartino revealed his 8♦5♠. He flopped quads after which even turned the opposite certainly one of his cards. (Is that a roughly "Full House Extra"?)

"I have no idea the way you play this hand," Sammartino said. It roughly played itself, but wasn't worth greatly. -- HS

4:35pm: Break-time chipsLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast added one million chips to his stack up to now couple of levels. He leads this tournament once again:

Dietrich Fast - 1.38 millionDario Sammartino - 953,000Viacheslav Buldygin - 739,000

4:30pm: Fast flops big, rivers better but can't ensnare SammartinoLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

If you defend your big blind with 3♥5♠, you will be delighted to peer a flop of 8♥5♦3♣. That's exactly what happened to Dietrich Fast, who decided to play fast and loose with the notion of appropriate starting hands in poker after Dario Sammartino opened his button to 45,000.

Both players checked that flop after which Fast bet 75,000 at the Q♠ turn. Sammartino called.

The river was the 3♠, which made it even better for quick. However, his cheeky check didn't work because Sammartino checked behind after which mucked when shown the winning full house.

Fast, by the way, has also bought into the IPT Main Event now and is multi-tabling. He headed over there firstly of the 20-minute break within the €10K. -- HS

4:30pm: Big shove, out of the blueLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Most of the new pots was played out small-ball, even if aces and kings match up as we saw within the 3:40pm post. Maybe Viacheslav Buldygin is within the mood to change that up.

Dietrich Fast opened to 50,000 at the button and Buldygin twitched his head within the big blind before moving all-in. Fast's eyes opened wide and he sat back right into a thinking pose after he asked the dealer to count Buldygin's stack. It came to 821,00, or greater than 40 big blinds.

Fast should have had a tight hand as he gave it numerous thought before folding. "Ace-king?" asked Dario Sammartino of Buldygin. He didn't get a conclusive reply. --MC

4:20pm: Sammartino respondsLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Dario Sammartino responded to losing his chip lead by turning on his afterburners and getting aggressive pre-flop. After Viacheslav Buldygin opened to 40,000 from the button, Sammartino made it 150,000 from the large blind and won. Then after Dietrich Fast opened to 50,000 from the button, Sammartino made it 160,000 from the small blind and won that too.

However, those chips soon went back to Buldygin when Sammartino opted for a more passive line. He called within the big blind after Buldygin raised to 45,000 from the button. They usually both then checked the flop of Q♥5♣7♦.

Sammartino bet 75,000 on the turn of J♣ and Buldygin called, taking them to the 8♠ river. Both players checked and Sammartino said, "You win." Buldygin showed A♣K♥ and did indeed win the pot.

4:15pm: Fast leapfrogs SammartinoLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Pocket queens have featured so much today, and feature always been the winning hand - previously. Dario Sammartino couldn't cause them to work and lost a pot to Dietrich Fast at hand him the chip lead.

He raised to 50,000 off the button and Fast defended his big blind en routé to an A♥6♦4♦ flop. Sammartino continued for 75,000 and Fast check-called before both players checked the A♦ turn. Fast checked again at the 9♣ river and snapped off a 178,000 bet from Sammartino, who opened Q♥Q♠. Fast tabled A♣7♣ foo trips and scooped to rise to 1.36 million. Sammartino dropped to 840,000. --MC

4pm: Fast leapfrogs BuldyginLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast now has a whole tower of 25,000-denomination chips again, having won a good pot from Viacheslav Buldygin. It also puts him back into second place and breathing down Dario Sammartino's neck.

Sammartino folded from the button and Buldygin opened from the small blind, making it 60,000 to play. Fast defended and so they saw a flop. It came Q♥2♣8♥. Buldygin bet 60,000 and Fast called. Then they both checked the 5♣ turn.

When the J♣ fell at the river, Buldygin bet 150,000 and Fast called. Buldygin showed his A♣J♣ but Fast had flopped better together with his 7♣Q♦.

That put Fast as much as about 1.1 million and cut Buldygin all the way down to 750,000. -- HS

4pm: Sammartino gets back over a millionLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

"Such tough spots for me today!" said a tanking Viacheslav Buldygin."Me too!" responded his opponent within the hand, Dario Sammartino."Yes, I understand," came the reply.

Dietrich Fast just son there smiling at the exchange. It is very hard to not like Buldygin, and any of those finalists for that matter.

The hand started with a button raise from Buldygin and a large blind defend from the Italian. Both players checked the 8♥6♠T♥ flop before Sammartino led for 48,000 and 128,000 at the Q♦9♦ turn and river. Buldygin ultimately mucked to drop to 890,000 and Sammartino got back as much as 1.1 million. --MC

3:40pm: Fast's aces holdLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast just doubled up through Dario Sammartino with the coldest cooler in poker: aces versus kings. However, they did not get all their chips in until the river, with various chunks of Fast's stack going into the center at each stage of the hand.

I'm undecided how they did not get it in pre-flop, but by the point I picked up action, they were on the turn with the board reading 9♠2♦2♣T♥. Fast checked, Sammartino bet 104,000 and Fast called.

Then the J♥ came at the river and Fast checked again. Sammartino said that he was all-in, covering the 361,000 Fast still had behind. Fast called and showed his A♠A♦, which had always been leading Sammartino's K♥K♣.

Fast now has 886,000 to play with and is with reference to increase to the 900,000 with which he started the day. -- HS

3:35pm: Chips at level upLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

The tournamnet has come of age because it turns 21. Here's the rough chip counts:

Dario Sammartino - 1.42 millionViacheslav Buldygin - 1.15 millionDietrich Fast - 400,000

3:35pm: Level ending bluff failLevel 20 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

The last hand of the extent saw Dario Sammartino catch a small bluff from Dietrich Fast.

The German raised to 38,000 from the button and Sammartino was the one caller from the small blind. The board rolled out 9♥K♦9♣4♣A♥ with out a chips going into the river where Fast bet 35,000. Sammartino check-called with Q♣T♣ which was good to bear Fast's J♦5♦. --MC

3:25pm: Buddiga out in fourth, taking €61,690Level 20 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Pratyush Buddiga is heading to the payouts desk, the most recent victim of Viacheslav Buldygin.

Buldygin was raising numerous pots pre-flop, usually then c-betting, getting a fold, and picking up a couple of additional chips. It's happening so frequently that the primary subject of conversation nowadays is his chip stacks. Not usually a live player, he's having some trouble in keeping them in neat stacks of 20s.

As all this have been going on, Buddiga was nursing a stack of about 12 big blinds, looking forward to a place. He found one, he got his chips in, after which he lost a race at the river.

Pratyush Buddiga

Buldygin started this one, as is the familiar pattern. He raised to 35,000 from the cutoff/under the gun. Buddiga moved all in for 171,000 and Buldygin called.

Buddiga: 7♥7♦Buldygin: K♦Q♦

The flop seemed good for Buddiga. It came 4♥5♠9♥. He wouldn't have minded the 5♦ at the turn either. But the K♥ at the river was a killer blow and Buddiga was left to mutter, "Good game" as he packed his things and departed. He'll get €61,690 for fourth.

Buldigin now has about 1.1 million. -- HS

3:15pm: You can not push me around, big fella!Level 20 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Just because Dario Sammartino has half the chips in play, it does not imply he'll get all of it his own way. He folded three hands he was occupied with to drop back to 1.45 million.

He raised to 54,000 from the small blind and Viacheslav Buldygin peeled from the massive unaware of see a 7♦T♣8♦ flop. The action was checked there and at the A♠ turn. Sammartino checked for a 3rd time at the 3♥ river and watched as his opponent counted out a raffle. It started as 80,000 (behind the imaginary line) and grew as Buldygin kept adding a chip - the entire while Sammartino - by chip. He was smiling as he did it and stopped at 116,000 before pushing them forward.

"I was gong to check-call however the size is simply too big," commented Sammartino as he mucked.

The next hand Sammartino got fascinated by was when he defended his big ignorant of a Dietrich Fast Small blind raise. Both players checked the 6♥A♥7♠ flop and the Italian folded to a 70,000 bet at the 9♥ turn.

The very next hand he completed from the small blind and folded when Buldygin raised from the large blind. -- MC

3pm: Time to atone for your readingLevel 20 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast and Pratyush Buddiga are finding a large number of time to compensate for emails, hearken to podcasts or read in the course of the news sites at their cellphones as back-to-back pots just played out between Dario Sammartino and Viacheslav Buldygin that took an absolute age.

In the first, Sammartino raised to 35,000 from under the gun and Buldygin called at the button. The flop brought the 3♥3♦9♣ and Sammartino bet 30,000. Buldygin called. Both players checked the K♥ on the turn, then Sammartino's bet of 50,000 after the T♥ river won it for him. It could sound simple, but it surely took far longer than you'd think.

It was nothing compared with the following hand, however, which went on even longer. This one started when Buldygin raised to 35,000 from under the gun and Sammartino called within the big blind. The flop this time around was 4♠3♠4♣ and Sammartino checked to yield the betting result in Buldygin. He made it 40,000 to play and Sammartino called.

The 9♣ came at the turn and Sammartino checked. Buldygin bet 78,000 and Sammartino called. Then they saw the 4♥ at the river. Sammartino checked for a 3rd time and Bulydgin bet 85,000. Sammartino tank-folded.

Again, it sort of feels like an overly tedious hand whilst you take a look at the bare bones, nevertheless it played out in icy, slow silence like a Bergman film or something. We learned similar lessons in regards to the futility of life and man's existential struggle for meaning. -- HS

2:40pm: Check, check, boomLevel 20 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast needed chips badly, and managed to get some off chip leader Dario Sammartino. It put him back above the 20 big blind mark with 382,000.

The latter opened to 33,000 from under the gun and Fast peeled from the large blind. The flop fanned 8♦4♦J♦ and Sammartino continued for 24,000. Fast check-called and did likewise - for one more 58,000 - at the 7♥ turn. The 3♦ filled out the board and Fast tanked before moving all-in for 136,000. Sammartino smiled as he made a fast fold. --MC

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2:30pm: Counts going into Level 20Level 20 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Dario Sammartino - 1,516,000Viacheslav Buldygin - 817,000Pratyush Buddiga - 368,000Dietrich Fast - 299,000

2:20pm: Break timeLevel 19 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

There were not more significant pots before the extent ended, and players at the moment are heading on a ten-minute break. We'll have the official chip-counts shortly.

2:05pm: Fast doubles backLevel 19 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

On the very next hand after the huge skirmish described below, Dietrich Fast doubled up through Dario Sammartino. Fast shoved with 5♠5♥ and Sammartino called with 7♣7♠, but Fast flopped a five. Sammartino also flopped a straight draw but whiffed. -- HS

2pm: Huge pot sends Sammartino clearLevel 19 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast began today because the only player with an entire tower of green 25,000-denomination chips, and he just dug into them for the primary time to play an incredible pot against Dario Sammartino. It didn't go too well for him.

Sammartino opened to 28,000 from under the gun and Fast called within the big blind. The flop came 3♦K♠5♦ and Fast checked. Sammartino bet 24,000 and Fast called.

The T♥ came at the turn and Fast checked again. Sammartino bet 39,000. Fast now reached into that tower of green chips and pushed out a check-raise to 165,000, which Sammartino tank-called.

The 9♥ came at the river and Fast took a very long time before pushing another 12 green chips forward. That was 300,000. Sammartino shoved over the top, covering Fast's remaining 175,000 and Fast instantly folded.

That gave Sammartino a stack of 1.6 million and left Fast with only 175,000. Pratyush Buddiga has 405,000 and Viacheslav Buldygin has 880,000. -- HS

1:55pm: Ramin Hajiyev wins €47,720 for busting fifthLevel 19 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Viacheslav Buldygin almost seemed a little bit embarrassed by his success after he found queens again to bust Ramin Hajiyev. His English is damaged but he seemed sad that he knocked out a pleasant" guy".

Hajiyev was all the way down to around 270,000 when he moved all-in from first to behave. The action folded to Buldygin within the big blind who made an instant call after taking a look at his holding.

Buldygin: Q♦Q♠Hajiyev: A♠Q♣

The board ran 4♣6♦4♠2♦6♣ to look the queens hold. That put Buldygin as much as around 850,000. --MC

Ramin Hajiyev: Nice guys finish...fifth

1:45pm: Sammartino gets some back from BuddigaLevel 19 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Despite winning that pot against Viacheslav Buldygin, Pratyush Buddiga has not been permitted to run away with things. He lost a pot to Dario Sammartino soon after to ensure everyone was aware that that is still anyone's game.

Buddiga opened his button, making it 30,000 to play. Sammartino called within the big blind. The 3♥3♦7♠ came at the flop and Sammartino check-called Buddiga's bet of 27,000.

They checked the 2♠ turn after which Sammartino moved 90,000 into the center after the 7♥ river, and that massive bet was too rich for Buddiga, who folded. -- HS

1:35pm: Buddiga halts Bulgygin momentumLevel 19 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Someone needed to put a stop to the runaway train that was Viacheslav Buldygin, and it fell to Pratyush Buddiga to do the deed. "It's random," Buldygin said greater than once on the end of the hand, confused by Buddiga's line in an intriguing hand.

Buldygin opened to 26,000 from the cutoff and Buddiga called within the big blind. Then they checked the 5♥8♦4♠ flop. The Q♥ came at the turn and Buddiga bet 90,000 right into a pot of 68,000. Buldygin was perplexed already here, but called, and saw the 6♣ come at the river.

Buddiga now reached for his two towers of blue chips, worth 100,000 each, and left two 25,000-denomination chips on top. The bet was 250,000. Buldygin blew out his cheeks and said, "I WOULD LIKE time."

He took it, contorting his face into all manner of expressions indicative of a person looking to untangle a tight, cognitive knot. Eventually, and with a refrain of "It's random" he folded, allowing Buddiga so as to add about 150,000 to his stack. -- HS

1:25pm: Davidi Kitai goes first, takes away €37,250Level 19 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Viacheslav Buldygin had built a chip stack large enough to do a little real damage. The fourth stage of his build saw him acquire his neighbour's land and everything contained within its borders.

The action folded to Buldygin at the button and he raised to 26,000. Davidi Kitai was within the small blind and three-bet all-in for 237,000. Buldygin snap-called when the action was back on him.

Kitai: A♣J♠Buldygin: Q♠Q♣

Bad news for Davidi Kitai

The board ran 2♥K♣2♠3♠8♥ and the queens held. Buldygin moved as much as around 750,000 while Kitai is the primary to trouble the cash-out cage today, in search of €37,250. --MC

1:20pm: Buldygin building Part IIILevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Dietrich Fast raised to 23,000 from the button and Viacheslav Buldygin called from the large blind. They saw the 9♦A♥2♥ fall at the flop and Buldygin checked. Fast bet 20,000 and Buldygin called.

They checked the 8♣ turn but then Buldygin bet 37,000 on the 8♥ river and Fast folded. Another boost for Buldygin, sufficiently in order that he was in a position to do that a couple of hands later...update coming...

1:15pm: Buldygin building Part IILevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Despite being the least experienced player on the table (no less than in relation to recorded results; who knows what he gets as much as in private games) Viacheslav Buldygin is likely one of the most active players at this final. He just won another small pot from Dario Sammartino.

Buldygin raised to 25,000 from under the gun and Sammartino called within the big blind. The flop brought the 7♥Q♦2♠ and Sammartino checked. Buldygin bet 20,000 and Sammartino called.

Vlacheslav Buldygin: the master builder

They both checked the 9♥ turn and followed up with a check of the J♦ river too. Buldygin suggested that he was probably beaten with a rueful chuckle. Sammartino hopefully said, "I'VE a deuce."

"Deuce?" Buldygin said. "Oh, I'VE six." He then exposed his 6♥6♠ which was a winner. -- HS

1:10pm: Fast puts pressure on HajiyevLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Ramin Hajiyev opened to 24,000 from the button and after Pratyush Buddiga had folded his small blind, Dietrich Fast said that he was all-in from the large blind. Hajiyev was the effective stack. He had 290,000 behind. He decided to maintain it with a fold. -- HS

1:05pm: Buddiga makes a large squeezeLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Pratyush Buddiga hadn't been too thinking about the action so far, and that had seen him lose around 100,000 chips off his stack. In a single big squeeze at present though, he got most of them back.

Dario Sammartino opened to 23,000 and was called by Davidi Kitai (button) and Ramin Hajiyev (small blind) before Buddiga paused within the big blind and announced (loudly as a result of his headphones) that he was all-in. It searched for about 37 big blinds (370,000) which was an excessive amount of for all three opponents to name. --MC

12:55pm: Buldygin buildingLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Wow, that is the same as a wholly different tournament to the only being played yesterday. Not just is it now almost silent, but it is also happening at a snail's pace. Thank goodness for one shred of consistency: the large river bet, which has characterised this tournament from the off.

The following hand took a minimum of five minutes to play out, possibly for much longer. It was a slow burn that ended with that chunky bet at the end.

Viacheslav Buldygin got things moving with a raise to 23,000 from the cutoff. Pratyush Buddiga decided to name from the large blind and so they saw a flop of 4♣2♦K♠. Buddiga's check, followed by Buldygin's bet (of 18,000) set a pattern that may repeat three times.

Buddiga called and so they saw the K♥ at the turn. Check. Bet. This time 27,000. Buddiga called. The J♦ came at the river and Buddiga checked again. Buldygin bet again, this time 107,000. That was greater than 70 percent of the pot.

Buddiga didn't take too long to fold. Buldygin has around 400,000 now. -- HS

12:45pm: Sammartino moves into the leadLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Second blood also went to Dario Sammartino. He moved into the chip lead with over 900,000 after taking a large pot off Dietrich Fast who dropped to 622,000.

Fast opened to 23,000 before happening to drain the clip with bets of 26,000, 55,000 and 110,000. The overall board rested as 9♣3♠9♥6♠J♦. Sammartino called fairly quickly at the flop and turn, but agonised over his river call. He looked to the skies and gave Fast an intense star down at close quarters. Eventually he called and was shown Q♣Q♦ by Fast. He opened a trickily played A♠A♣ and needs to be the brand new favourite for the crown now. --MC

12:40pm: First blood to SammartinoLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

First hand to Dario Sammartino. After Vladimir Troyanovskiy went out within the big blind last night, the primary hand of today meant there has been no small blind in play, meaning only Dietrich Fast was obliged to speculate greater than the antes pre-flop. But then Sammartino, the primary man with a decision, raised to 23,000.

Four folds later and the verdict was on Fast. He called, taking the 2 big stacks to the flop of 4♠6♥3♦. Fast checked and Sammartino bet 25,000. Fast called. Then the T♠ fell at the turn and Fast checked again. Sammartino bet 50,000 this time, with a double-handed flourish, and Fast quickly folded.

12:35pm: Herding of the high value playersLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Takes a bit time to get these "high rollers" into the poker pen. After a couple of calls of encouragement over the PA system, they're in place and cards are within the air. --MC

Final six in Malta

12:3pm: Able to goLevel 18 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

There's 43 minutes left in Level 18 and the tournament director's finger is hovering over the button to begin it ticking again. Stick to us as we play to a winner in Malta.

11:30am: The overall six

Good morning everyone and welcome back to Malta. This EPT festival is now three days old and it's high time we had a tremendous final table.

We kick off at 12:30pm today with the concluding stages of the €10,000 single re-entry hold'em event, satisfactorily numbered Event 1. There's €174,600 up for grabs for first place, and to be able to make the remainder of the trip a freeroll for whichever of the next manages to move all of the way:

Name Country Chips

Dietrich Fast	Germany	900000
Dario Sammartino	Italy	654000
Pratyush Buddiga	USA	479000
Viacheslav Buldygin	Russia	328000
Ramin Hajiyev	Azerbaijan	324000
Davidi Kitai	Belgium	315000

In truth, they all are going to feel free. They're guaranteed no less than €37,250 already, that's an exceptional technique to start a festival. Or even for such luminaries as Dietrich Fast, Dario Sammartino, Pratyush Buddiga, Ramin Hajiyev and Davidi Kitai, that's a vital chunk of change. As for Viacheslav Buldygin, who's playing only the sixth live tournament of his career, he can double his total live career earnings if he finishes fourth or better.

Play gets under way at 12:30pm and we'll go all of the option to a winner. Indubitably they'll discuss a dinner break as and when it becomes necessary--and it is not a foregone conclusion that this may occasionally be quick. Fast's chip lead represents 90 big blinds; Kitai's short stack is 31. There is a lot of play left.

Stick with us until the top. We are the only outlet covering this, so that is exclusive.

Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for EPT13 Barcelona and the remainder of the season.

Also the entire schedule information is at the EPT App, that's available on both Android or IOS.

PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT13 Malta €10K single re-entry: Marc Convey and Howard Swains. Photography by Jules Pochy. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog

Whose boat is coming in today?

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