March 29 2012, Chris Hall

Day 3 of the PokerStars.it European Poker Tour Campione Main Event began with 99 players, but by the end of the night, only 24 remained and PokerStars qualifier Jannick Wrang was leading the field. Wrang ended the night with 1,742,000.

Eight former EPT champions began in the Day-3 field, including the last two remaining Team PokerStars Pros, Liv Boeree and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier. Both managed to make the money but neither reached the end of the day. Grospellier ran kings into aces before his pocket sixes lost to Andrey Gulyy’s ace-five, which rivered a wheel to knock out Grospellier. Boeree lasted longer but was eliminated when she called all in on the river of a against Olivier Busquet, who showed to take down the pot.

The six other former EPT champions also made the money – David Vamplew, Rupert Elder, Martin Finger, Ronny Kaiser, Nicolas Chouity, and Roberto Romanello. Of that group, only Kaiser and Vamplew have managed to progress to Day 4 with hopes of becoming the EPT’s first double champion.

It didn’t take too long for the tournament to progress to the money bubble. Benas Molis was dubbed “bubble boy” when he bet then three-bet with on a board against Wrang. When Wrang pushed all in, Molis felt committed and called it off against his opponent’s . The on the turn changed nothing and the on the river gave Wrang a full house, guaranteeing the rest of the field at least a min-cash.

Once in the money, the players began to fall at a steady pace with former San Remo champion Rupert Elder the first to go. Meanwhile, a two-way battle was brewing for the chip lead with Balasz Botond and EPT Snowfest finalist Koen De Visscher jostling for position on top of the counts.

De Visscher won a huge three-way all in with aces against Nick Yunis’ kings and Bryan Piccioli’s ace-queen to put him into contention. De Visscher became the first player over the million mark after he turned a straight against Massimiliano Bellon Bellucci’s turned top two pair.

The chip lead was then passed around between several players. Busquet briefly took the lead before Wrang also had a go at the top when he had flush against flush against Stefan Czischke. Alexandre Andermatt was next to claim the spot at the top when he won the classic flip with queens against ace-king to knock out former Grand Final winner Nicolas Chouity. It was short-lived, because Andermatt then lost a one-million-chip pot when Fabrice Soulier’s outflopped Andermatt’s queens. Wrang then regained the chip lead to finish the day on top.

End of Day 3 Chip Counts

Day 4 kicks off at 1400 CEST (0500 PDT) on Friday and the remaining 24 players will play down to a final table. Be sure to join the PokerNews Live Reporting Team for all of the action live from the felt.

Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

February 04 2012, Mickey Doft

The PokerStars.fr European Poker Tour Deauville Main Event resumed on Saturday with 54 players remaining from the starting field of 889. After three levels and change, the final three tables were reached. Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano began the day in 36th place, but finished on top of the chip counts with 3,561,000.

Pagano began the day with 344,000, but chipped up nicely to about 700,000 before things really took off. It started when he picked up and eliminated Balazs Botond who held . That put Pagano at about the million chip mark, leading to the hand that changed everything.

Pagano tangled with Samphane Phomveha, the chip leader at the start of Day 4, toward the end of the day’s first level. After raising under the gun to 28,000, Pagano called Phomveha’s three-bet to see an flop. Pagano bet 125,000 Phomheva called, and the hit the turn. That didn’t slow Pagano down as and made it 325,000 to play. Phomheva called and the dealer delivered the river, where once again Pagano fired – this time 600,000. Phomheva called, but could not beat Pagano’s with his .

Shortly thereafter, Phomheva busted. Joining him on the rail were Mohsin Charania, Koen De Visscher, Martins Adeniya, and many others.

Following Pagano in the chip counts are Olivier Rogez (2,668,000), Vadim Kursevich (1,815,000), and Paul Guichard (1,700,000). Here is the table and seat draw for the 24 returning players Sunday.

Play will resume at 1200 CET (0300 PST) Sunday and will continue until the final table is reached.

To follow all the action, check out our PokerNews’ EPT Live Updates from start to finish. Also, follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

Follow Mickey Doft on