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Eastgate and Tran continue to set the paceDay four at the PartyPoker.com Premier League III saw wins for Tom ‘Durrr’ Dwan and Peter Eastgate. Dwan’s win is a timely boost for his final table chances, while 2008 WSOP Main Event champion Eastgate has put himself in a prime position for a place at Sunday’s deep-stack [...]

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PartyPoker.com has a new ruler. All hail TheMArF who has been crowned head monarch in our $2 million King of the Table spectacular; the biggest tournament in PartyPoker.com history. TheMArF’s coronation followed yesterday’s thrilling event, where he sat down with a 3,498 other pretenders to the throne to generate a $2,099,400 royal bounty. With 500 [...]

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The unstoppable Tran JC Tran is the PartyPoker.com Premier League III champion after taking down the most formidable final table in the event’s history.Tran, widely regarded as one of the finest and consistent tournament professionals on the circuit, scooped the $300,000 first prize in the elite tournament that saw 12 of the world’s finest players [...]

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De Wolfe and Tony G win through after heads-up play-offsThe final table is set at the PartyPoker.com Premier League III. JC Tran goes through to the final table as chip leader and league winner with a 450,000 stack in a fantastic week that saw him pick up three first places and two second places. Second [...]

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The unstoppable Tran

JC Tran is the PartyPoker.com Premier League III champion after taking down the most formidable final table in the event’s history.

Tran, widely regarded as one of the finest and consistent tournament professionals on the circuit, scooped the $300,000 first prize in the elite tournament that saw 12 of the world’s finest players battle it out for a $1.25 million prize pool.

“This is brilliant and I am so happy,” said Tran. “I have been feeling good all week and it is amazing to win this event. Until this week I had never played in Europe so I really couldn’t ask for more. Perhaps I should move here.”

Tran reached the final table as chip leader, overall league winner after fantastic displays that saw him pick up three first places and two second places in the heats and the favourite to win with PartyBets.com. It wasn’t all plain sailing, though, as Tony G fought hard to finish runner-up, holding the lead for much of the heads-up battle.

How it went down

At the start of the heads-up, Tony G had the advantage and held 1,150,000 to Tran’s 780,000. It looked like it was going to be Tony’s day until a key hand turned everything on its head. Pre-flop, a super confident Tony G raised to 75K with 8s-6s and Tran called with 10h-8c. After the flop came 10d-Qh-6d Tony led out with 95K, which was called quickly by Tran. The turn brought a Qs and Tony bet 110K that prompted Tran to raise it up to 260K. Tony folded and JC gained the chip lead and there was no going back.

With the blinds at 20K/40K, Tran limped in with 9c-7d and Tony checked with Ks-8d. The flop came 5d-7h-6h and Tony G checked raised all-in only to be called by Tran. Tony needed a king, four or nine to double-up and take a formidable chip lead. The turn came Js and a 2s on the river gave Tran victory. “I brought my best game but it just wasn’t good enough,” said Tony G.

The best of the rest

The action at the start of the final table certainly didn’t take long to get going and it was the fifth hand of the night that swung the balance of power.

Unsurprisingly, Tom ‘Durrr’ Dwan was at the centre of the action, just like he had been all week. Tony G raised pre-flop with 10s-9h and was re-raised another 21,000 by Durrr with Qc-4c. Tony G called and the flop came down 4d-Jc-10c. Durrr bet 43K and Tony moved all-in. Tom’s super-aggressive play had been a factor all week throughout the heats and Tony G had put a massive marker down. Dwan called with a flush draw and the turn was a 3h with a Kh on the river. Tony G doubled up to 434K and with chips the ‘Mouth from Down Under’ started getting under the skin of his opponents as the verbals escalated. At that stage it looked like Tony G was the man to beat.

Even though Dwan was short stacked, 2008 WSOP Main Event champion Peter Eastgate was the first to exit. Eastgate had impressed all week and went to the final table second in chips. Most observers predicted that it would be a battle between the Dane and Tran for the title but he took a big hit when his Ks 9s ran into Tran’s pocket aces. His cards were no match on the final board of Js-Kd-5d-Jd-Ac.

Out in fifth was Roland De Wolfe whose Kd-Ks was crushed by Juha Helppi’s Ad-Qc when an ace came on the flop. As all of this was unfolding Tony G continued to talk, with commentator’s Jesse May and Phil Hellmuth convinced he was winning the psychological battle. It even seemed at certain points that he might be getting under the skin of super-cool Tran.

Dwan finally bit the dust in fourth place. It was none other than Tony G who sent him on his way when ‘Durrr’ found his 8h-6s up against Tony G’s Jc-8d. The flop came down 7s-8c-5h, Dwan failed to hit the open-ended straight draw and one of the most feared players of PartyPoker.com Premier League III was on his way.

Now, Tony G was in fine form, telling his rivals to get on their bikes. He was the chip leader, table captain and had more than double the stack of JC Tran. Finland’s Helppi, winner of the inaugural PartyPoker.com Premier League, was next to go in third place when his As-10d ran into Tony’s Ad-Qc and a queen came on the flop.

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “JC Tran was truly outstanding and there is no doubt at all that he is one cool cat and that he deserved to win. The standard of play all week from all the players involved was really something to remember.”

Eddie Hearn, Director of Matchroom Sport, said: “The PartyPoker.com Premier League III lived up to all expectations and then some. JC Tran’s performance was pure genius from beginning to end. This series has completely raised the bar for televised poker and we are already planning the next installment.”

Final PartyPoker.com Premier League III results and payouts:

1st JC Tran, $300,000
2nd Tony G, $150,000
3rd Juha Helppi, $80,000
4th Tom Dwan, $50,000
5th Roland De Wolfe, $40,000
6th Peter Eastgate, $30,000

PartyPoker.com has a new ruler. All hail TheMArF who has been crowned head monarch in our $2 million King of the Table spectacular; the biggest tournament in PartyPoker.com history.

TheMArF’s coronation followed yesterday’s thrilling event, where he sat down with a 3,498 other pretenders to the throne to generate a $2,099,400 royal bounty.

With 500 players assured of receiving a payout there was plenty at stake. Eventually, TheMArF defied all others to lay his hands on the title and become PartyPoker.com’s first-ever King of the Table.

Here are the top 10 finishers in the King of the Table:

1. TheMArF $277,849
2. DonkeyStyle $267,994
3. EEEEGON $123,864
4. TutidtiTa $94,473
5. makido111 $75,578
6. Snowking1 $59,832
7. Ivyleaf999 $46,186
8. Stel_77 $34,640
9. gregior $24,143
10. MintyOne $13,646

There are plenty more big-money promotions on PartyPoker.com, including a share of $150,000 prize pool in The Great Chase. If you want to be in the running for a pay day from PartyPoker.com check out our news and promotions page and take a seat at the poker room where players love to win.

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We didn’t just appoint our new king over the weekend; we also paid out $101,757 to player Klloshari who was our latest lucky loser on our Bad Beat Jackpot tables.

Also, in the $50K Guaranteed Saturday winner Snortajt received a cheque for $13,914.

De Wolfe and Tony G win through after heads-up play-offs

The final table is set at the PartyPoker.com Premier League III. JC Tran goes through to the final table as chip leader and league winner with a 450,000 stack in a fantastic week that saw him pick up three first places and two second places. Second in chips is 2008 WSOP Main Event champion Peter Eastgate with 390,000. Season one winner Juha Helppi is third with 340,000. Sitting in joint fourth place at the start of the final table is Tom ‘Durrr’ Dwan and Tony G, who both sit with 260,000. The short stack is Roland De Wolfe with 230,000. The deep-stacked final table starts with blinds at 2k-4k.

How it went down

Tran, Eastgate, Helppi and Dwan all qualified automatically for the final table from their positions in the league table. Dwan and Tony G both finished with 26 points but ‘Durrr’ got the automatic spot based on his superior league record.

In the heads-up qualifiers De Wolfe beat Annette Obrestad 2-0 to secure his seat at the grand finale, while Tony G beat Vicky Coren 2-0 to fix his place. Both De Wolfe and Tony G made the final table in season two with De Wolfe eventually finishing runner-up to champion Andy Black and Tony G finishing third.

PartyPoker.com Premier League III has not been so kind to Phil Hellmuth. He still holds the record of winning four heats in the Premier League but has been unable to replicate the form that led him to dominate season one.

Also relegated were defending champion Black, Nenad Medic and David ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott. The final heats were particularly difficult for De Wolfe and Coren, who both had to play tight and hope other players busted themselves to secure enough points to finish in the final eight.

Final PartyPoker.com Premier League III standings:

45 points – JC Tran
39 – Peter Eastgate
34 – Juha Helppi
26 – Tom Dwan

26 – Tony G
25 – Annette Obrestad
23 – Roland De Wolfe
22– Vicky Coren

21 – Phil Hellmuth
16 – Andy Black
17 – Nenad Medic
6 – Devilfish

Final table line-up
Seat 1 – Tom Dwan (USA) 260,000
Seat 2 – Juha Helppi (FIN) 340,000
Seat 3 – Tony G (AUS) 260,000
Seat 4 – Roland De Wolfe (UK) 230,000
Seat 5 – JC Tran (USA) 450,000
Seat 6 – Peter Eastgate (DEN) 390,000

Final table prize money
1st - $300,000
2nd - $150,000
3rd - $80,000
4th - $50,000
5th - $40,000
6th - $30,000
Total prize pool $1.25 million

Eastgate and Tran continue to set the pace

Day four at the PartyPoker.com Premier League III saw wins for Tom ‘Durrr’ Dwan and Peter Eastgate. Dwan’s win is a timely boost for his final table chances, while 2008 WSOP Main Event champion Eastgate has put himself in a prime position for a place at Sunday’s deep-stack final table. The success of Eastgate and JC Tran is good news for all the other players as it leaves the rest of the league wide open and the chances of making the final table live.

Heat seven

Heat seven was eventful and, unsurprisingly, Dwan was at the centre of it all with a mixture of creative play that bamboozled his opponents and good fortune at key times. Again, the heat was fantastic for JC Tran, who finished second for six points as his domination of the event continued.

When it got heads-up Dwan led 490,000-110,000 and it was all over very quickly. ‘Durrrr’ pushed all-in with Ac-7c and was called by Tran with Q-7 off-suit. An Ace of the flop was enough to take it down. After the maximum on day three Phil Hellmuth ended up with the bagel busting out for 0 points. Tony G finished fifth for two points, Nenad Medic was fourth for three points and Roland De Wolfe ended third for four points.

Heat eight

Heat eight saw another win for Eastgate, who continues to impress on his Premier League debut. This heat also saw Juha Helppi pick up six valuable points as runner-up.

The heat was very fast and ended-up heads-up after just 71 hands. Helppi held a strong advantage over Eastgate, leading 463,000-137,000, but the WSOP champ showed his mettle to claw his way back and snatch victory from the season one winner.

The decisive hand saw Helppi raise with K-J off-suit and pushed all-in by Eastgate with A-K. Nothing came on the flop and the Dane consolidated his second position in the league table behind JC Tran. First out for the bagel was Andy Black and finishing fifth was Annette Obrestad for two points. Devilfish finished fourth for three points as he continues to be dreadfully unlucky and in desperate need of a break. Vicky Coren ended third for four points and continues to accumulate the points to see her through.

PartyPoker.com Premier League III standings after day four:

32 points – JC Tran
26 – Peter Eastgate
22 – Tom Dwan
20 – Juha Helppi
18 – Vicky Coren
16 – Tony G
16 – Roland De Wolfe
13 – Phil Hellmuth
12 – Annette Obrestad
10 – Andy Black
9 – Nenad Medic
3 – Devilfish

Heat nine line-up
Juha Helppi
Nenad Medic
Phil Hellmuth
JC Tran
Devilfish
Peter Eastgate

Heat 10
Andy Black
Annette Obrestad
Vicky Coren
Roland De Wolfe
Tony G
Tom Dwan

You can follow the PartyPoker.com Premier League III action live and analyse the hands at MatchroomPoker.com.