Event 4, No-Limit Hold'em Main Event Live Updates

John Juanda has just won this tournament, defeating Stanislav Alekhin in heads-up play to claim his fourth WSOP bracelet after a record-setting, nearly 22-hour final table!

The Full Tilt pro found himself behind Alekhin chip-wise late in the 28th level of the tournament, but that changed after he doubled through his Russian adversary while all-in with K♥ 6♥ to Alekhin's 4♣ 3♣ on a K♣ Q♥ 7♣ flop.

Juanda needed to dodge clubs and runners to stay alive, and after the board finished 9♠ 4♥, he'd doubled up, bringing his stack up to $6.6 million and crippling Alekhin, who was left with only $600,000 after the hand.

Juanda Does It!

A few hands later, Alekhin open-shoves all-in and Juanda peeks down at his cards, gives the matter a bit of thought and then shrugs. "OK; I call."

Victory!

He turns up K♠ 6♣ and finds himself behind Alekhin's A♣ 9♠. Juanda needs to improve to win the tournament and improve he does as the flop comes 6♠ 6♦ 2♦, giving him trips and a stranglehold on the tournament.

The turn card is the Q♣ and Alekhin is drawing dead. The case six on the river gives Juanda quads and thus the tournament, clinching him his fourth WSOP bracelet and first since 2003.

He'll also take home £868,800 for his efforts, while Alekhin earns £533,950 as a tidy consolation prize. Both players share the honor of having lasted out the longest final table since the dawn of man.

Congratulations to both finalists and to Harrah's, Betfair Poker and World Series staff for an incredible second World Series of Poker Europe!

We're well into Hour 20 at the Betfair Poker World Series of Poker Europe Main Event final table and John Juanda and Stanislav Alekhin continue their titanic struggle for WSOP glory from the Casino at the Empire in London, with the last hour having accomplished almost literally nothing.

The streets outside are sunny and crowded once more and inside only the hardiest of the throngs of spectators who packed the bleachers remain, some staring blank-faced at the TV monitors above the table and the rest stealing sleep, their chins against their chests as they await some sort of absolution.

The logistics of running a 20-hour final table are mammoth. Every half-hour or so a cadre of suits huddles in a corner, wondering aloud about overtime and coffee runs, replacement camera crews and airline change fees.

Talent sits asleep in chairs and on couches scattered throughout the media areas, they too waiting the inevitable resolution. The dealers rotate in and out of the box and the floormen sit weary on the sidelines, no longer bothering to describe anything but the most spectacular action.

Tournament director Jack Effel, whose vaunted structure we've praised repeatedly for the languor with which its blinds advance, watches the action, barely bothering to conceal his yawns and no doubt wondering if perhaps this structure might have evolved into his Frankenstein.

And meanwhile, Juanda and Alekhin sit in silence at the table, Juanda tapping the table for a check as he scarfs a snack, Alekhin motionless beneath the hood of his sweatshirt, his movements disconcertingly mechanical and forbidding.

Nothing has happened in the last hour of play. Juanda still holds $3.9 million to Alekhin's $3.2 million. The two combatants shuffle chips between their rival stacks with little accomplished but the passage of time. 

And media members, their minds numbed by hours of checks, raises, folds and calls, hopped up on Coca-Cola and gummy bears, dispense with the traditional hand-by-hand reporting as delirium threatens to mutiny. 

The night goes on.

Nineteen hours after the beginning of play at 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, John Juanda and Stanislav Alekhin remain locked in what is quickly (all right, not so quickly) becoming one of the epic heads-up battles of all time.

We've just passed the 400th hand of this final table, meaning we've played 158 hands heads-up since Ivan Demidov's elimination. We're told that in 2005 a Razz final table at the World Series of Poker went 16 hours of actual play, and even allowing for our two-hour dinner break, that means we're getting close to history.

Just minutes ago, Juanda found himself on the brink of elimination. Down to his last $850,000, the Full Tilt pro got all-in holding A♠ K♣ against Alekhin's K♦ J♦ and watched the flop come J♣ 4♣ 4♠ to give the Russian pro the lead.

Juanda was left needing an ace or running cards to double and after the turn was the Q♥ he was halfway there. The river was the T♣ and Juanda made the broadway straight, doubling up to over $1.7 million and removing himself from the danger zone.

Juanda Regains the Lead!

Just minutes ago, Alekhin raised to $150,000 pre-flop and Juanda made the call. The flop came A♦ 6♦ 4♥ and both players checked. The turn brought the 2♦ and Juanda bet out $275,000. Alekhin made the call and the river card was the T♠.

Juanda fires out $475,000 and Alekhin immediately puts him all-in. 

"What? Again?" Juanda stands, looking distressed. He paces for a few seconds before finally announcing,  "All right, I call."

Alekhin pauses momentarily, waiting for Juanda to show his hand, but is forced to turn up Q-2 for bottom pair. Juanda, satisfied, slams down A-6 for aces up and takes down the pot, doubling up to $3,850,000.

Alekhin, meanwhile, has $3,370,000.

It's 10 past seven in the morning here in London as we enter Hour 18 of the final table at the Betfair Poker 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event, and this is now the longest WSOP final table in history.

John Juanda and Stanislav Alekhin have sat in for more than 355 hands, eclipsing the record set by Andy Bloch and Chip Reese on the final day of the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the 2006 World Series.

Meanwhile, Mike "The Mouth" Matusow has made his entrance, professing to have slept for 24 hours and to have woken up at 3:30 a.m. ready for action. That makes one of us. He's now doing the wave.

Meanwhile x 2, everyone else here - media, Harrah's reps, ESPN producers asleep in their chairs - have been or are in the process of changing their flights home. This is a marathon, folks, and it's going to take a cooler to end the proceedings.

Meanwhile x 3, on the tables, Stanislav Alekhin has taken the lead in this heads-up battle. The Russian has won a couple of big pots, which we'll outline below:

First Hand

Juanda raises from the button to $100,000 and Alekhin makes the call. The flop comes Q♦ 9♥ 6♠ and Alekhin checks to Juanda, who bets out $105,000. Alekhin raises to $285,000 and Juanda makes the call.

The turn is the 6♥ and Alekhin bets out $375,000. Juanda flat-calls and the river is the 7♦, prompting a $725,000 wager from Alekhin. Juanda insta-mucks and his opponent turns up 8♥ 5♥ for the straight as he rakes the pot.

Second Hand

Alekhin raises to $100,000 and Juanda repops to $325,000. Alekhin makes the call and the flop comes K♠ 4♥ 2♣. Juanda leads out for $365,000 and Alekhin makes the call. The turn is the T♦ and Juanda bets out $480,000.

Alekhin goes into the tank for a few minutes before making a large reraise. Juanda mucks before Alekhin can announce the amount, and his rival takes another massive pot.

Moons over My Chip Counts

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

Heads-up play between John Juanda and Stanislav Alekhin continues almost 17 hours after play began yesterday afternoon, neither player seemingly able to strike that fatal blow, despite having plenty of opportunity.

Juanda has seen his lead erased and, in fact, eclipsed by Alekhin, who had the Full Tilt pro on the ropes until Juanda managed to finagle a timely double-up.

Here's the story:

Alekhin Doubles!

Juanda raises to $100,000 and Alekhin makes it $300,000 to go. Juanda makes the call and the flop comes T♣ 7♥ 5♣. Alekhin bets out $350,000 and Juanda ruminates for a few minutes before announcing all-in and putting Alekhin to a decision for his tournament life.

As it turns out, it's an easy decision for the Russian, who makes the quick call with pocket jacks for the overpair to Juanda's Q♦ T♦ for top pair. The turn is the J♥ and Alekhin turns a set, meaning he'll double through Juanda to bump his stack up to $4.67 million.

Juanda Doubles Back!

Alekhin continues to build his lead, taking Juanda to under the $2 million mark before the following hand takes place:

Juanda opens for $100,000 and Alekhin again makes it $300,000 to go. Juanda calls and the flop comes T♣ T♥ 4♥. Alekhin bets out $400,000 and Juanda makes a quick call. The turn is the 2♦ and Alekhin puts Juanda all-in.

The American pro instantly calls, tabling A♥ T♠ for trips against Alekhin's pocket jacks. The river is the 4♣ and Juanda takes the pot to double back up to $3.4 million. He's since taken a number of small pots to retake the chip lead.

Taking Care of Chip Counts

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

We've reached the end of the 25th level of the Betfair Poker 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event and nothing has been accomplished during heads-up play between John Juanda and Stanislav Alekhin.

Juanda took a commanding lead in the match, but Alekhin managed to battle back with a timely double-up, as related below:

Juanda Extends Lead

Juanda raised to $80,000 on the button and Alekhin reraised to $240,000. Juanda made the call and the flop came 5♦ 3♥ 2♦. Alekhin bet out $280,000 and Juanda made the call. The turn was the 6♣ and Alekhin checked.

Juanda checked as well and the river was the 2♣, prompting both players to check once more. Alekhin showed a queen for queen-high, but Juanda had 7-6 for a pair of sixes and took down the pot.

Alekhin Doubles

Juanda opened for $80,000 and Alekhin made it $260,000 to go. Juanda put him all-in and Alekhin made the call, showing A♠ Q♦ to Juanda's A♦ 2♦. The flop came T♠ 9♠ 8♠ and Alekhin flopped some insurance, and after the board finished A♥ 5♣ Alekhin doubled up to $2,850,000 while Juanda is back down to $4,420,000.

And the beast goes on ...

After 14 1/2 hours of final-table play at the Main Event of the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event (presented by Betfair Poker), we're down to heads-up action between John Juanda and Stanislav Alekhin.

Ivan Demidov's downfall came after a pair of climactic hands with Juanda. The first saw the Muscovite raise to $95,000 pre-flop and get a call from the Full Tilt pro. The flop came J♠ 6♦ 2♥, and Juanda check-raised Demidov's $135,000 bet to $300,000.

Demidov made the call and the turn brought the T♣ and a $475,000 bet from Juanda. Demidov tanked before making the call and the river card was the T♦. Both players checked the river and Juanda turned up Q♥ J♥ for two pair to take the pot.

Demidov Dunzo (Third)

Then Demidov called a $105,000 raise from John Juanda in the big blind and saw the flop come 8♠ 5♦ 3♦. Juanda checks in the small blind and Demidov bets out $170,000. The American pro makes the call and the turn is the J♣.

Juanda checks and Demidov bets out $450,000. Juanda check-raises him all-in and the Russian makes the call, tabling Q♦ T♦ for the flush and straight draws. Juanda has A♦ A♣ and is ahead, leaving Demidov needing to improve to stay alive.

The river card, however, is the J♠ and Juanda's aces-up is good to take the pot. Demidov is eliminated in third place and takes £344,850 for his time.

Billie Jean Is Not My Chip Count

Here are the chip counts as heads-up play begins:

We've reached the end of Level 24 of the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event, still presented by Betfair Poker, and we head to break with nothing major having been accomplished in the last hour of play. Our final three opponents have been swapping chips around the table and despite a healthy amount of reraising, we've seen no all-ins called and very few pots brought to showdown.

Here's how the last hour played out:

A Civil Action!

The two Russian players at this final table have tended to avoid playing big pots with each other, with both Ivan Demidov and Stanislav Alekhin folding to each other's reraises with regularity. 

However, after Alekhin raises to $70,000 in a recent hand, Demidov makes the call and the two countrymen see a flop come 3♥ 3♦ 2♠. Demidov checks to Alekhin; he checks behind. The turn is the T♣ and Demidov again checks.

Alekhin bets out $110,000 and his rival makes the call. The river is the 7♥ and Demidov checks a third time. Alekhin bets $150,000 and Demidov again makes the call, tabling J-T. Alekhin has a ten himself, but is outkicked, and Demidov takes the pot.

The Bluff's the Stuff!

Demidov raises on the button and John Juanda makes it $250,000 to go in the big blind. Demidov, after some thought, makes it $649,000 total to go and Juanda is again sent into the tank by his young Russian opponent.

After some serious thinking, Juanda lays it down and Demidov turns up T-7 offsuit as he rakes the pot. Good times.

Who's That Chip Count?

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

The first hour of three-handed play has come to an end with John Juanda having just relinquished a chip lead he'd stolen from Stanislav Alekhin early in the 24th level at this, the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event final table presented by Betfair Poker.

Here's how the last hour played out:

Juanda Takes Chip Lead!

John Juanda raises to $70,000 on the button and Stanislav Alekhin calls in the big blind. The flop comes 8♠ 7♥ 6♦ and Alekhin checks to Juanda, who bets out $110,000. Alekhin again calls and the turn is the 4♥.

This time, the Russian bets out $230,000, but his American counterpart matches the wager and the river card is the 7♦. Alekhin bets out $500,000 and Juanda, after some thought, moves all-in over the top.

Now it's Alekhin who backs off, conceding the pot and the chip lead to Juanda, who builds his stack up to $3.5 million after the hand.

Juanda Loses Chip Lead

Ivan Demidov raises to $70,000 on the button and Juanda reraises to $215,000. Demidov thinks for a few moments before moving all-in over the top, and that puts Juanda in the tank.

The Full Tilt pro ruminates for about five minutes before seeming to make up his mind. He double-checks his cards, rubs his hands together and exhales before shipping a matching wager into the middle and making the call.

Demidov turns up K♥ T♥ and is behind Juanda's A♦ J♠ with his tournament life on the line. The flop, however, changes matters when it comes T♠ 4♦ 3♥ to give Demidov a pair of tens. The board finishes out Q♠ 3♣ and Juanda can't execute the resuck, instead doubling Demidov to keep play three-handed.

Lean on Chip Counts!

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

We're down to three finalists in the Main Event of the Betfair Poker 2008 World Series of Poker Europe after another hour of play in the Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square, London. Perennial fan favorite Daniel Negreanu and Swedish icon "Bada" Bengt Sonert are the unlucky two to hit the rail, with John Juanda facing off against his two Russian adversaries in pursuit of a WSOPE title.

Here's how the last hour played out:

"Barry Negragnu" Bustified! (Fifth)

After juking and jiving and feinting at being all-in throughout the first hour of Level 23, Daniel Negreanu calls all-in from the big blind after Stanislav Alekhin makes a sufficient-sized raise out of the small blind.

Alehkin has J♣ J♥ while Negreanu is left needing to improve, holding A♣ 9♥. The flop comes K♣ 8♦ 6♠ and Alekhin retains the lead. The turn is the 3♦ and the river the 6♣ and that there world-famous Barry Negragnu is sent packing, out in fifth place and earning £217,200 for his efforts. 

Pot for Juanda!

John Juanda raises to $70,000 and sees Ivan Demidov re-up to $202,000 from the small blind. The flop comes K♠ J♥ J♣ and both players check. The turn is the A♠ and both players check again. The river is the 7♥ and the combatants check a third time. Juanda turns up K♥ Q♥ and takes down the pot.

Sonnert Decomposed! (Fourth)

Alekhin makes a raise from the button to $70,000 and Bengt Sonnert moves all-in over the top for another $311,000. Alekhin makes the call, tabling A♥ 8♠, and Sonnert is behind with A♦ 5♥. 

The flop comes K♠ T♦ 8♥ and Sonnert's fortunes take a big hit, leaving him needing running cards to stay alive. The turn is the 3♦ and that about does it; Sonnert is drawing dead and is eliminated in fourth place. He'll take £271,500 for his time.

God Only Knows What I'd Be Without Chip Counts

Here are the chip counts for our final three players:

We've played another hour at the final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event (presented by Betfair Poker) with little accomplished beyond a succession of raises and reraises that have thus far succeeded in taking pots without much conflict.

Daniel Negreanu has been balancing on his short stack for the last hour or so and has been all-in at least twice, with nobody willing to take the bait and make the call.

Meanwhile, Ivan Demidov has bullied Negreanu after Kid Poker dared to flat-call his raises pre-flop, putting the Team PokerStars pro all-in on a couple of innocuous flops and getting nothing but folds.

The biggest pot of the last hour: 

Juanda Doubles

Bengt Sonnert limped in from the small blind and John Juanda raised to $75,000 from the big blind. Sonnert paused for a moment before putting Juanda all-in, and the Full Tilt pro made the call, turning up Q♥ Q♣ and finding himself well ahead of Sonnert's A♥ 7♥.

Sonnert had managed to finagle a victory out of a similar situation earlier in the final table, but the board came 5♠ 2♦ 2♣ 4♠ 8♣ and although the Swede picked up a straight draw, he couldn't get there, doubling Juanda up to $647,000 and continuing five-handed play.

If Your Mother Only Chip Counted!

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

The dinner break is over and we're back in the saddle at the Betfair Poker World Series of Poker Europe Main Event with five players remaining in the hunt for a World Series of Poker bracelet. The cards are back in the air from the Empire Casino and we'll keep 'em there until someone's got all the chips. Game on!

Here are the seating positions and chip counts for the final five:

Stanislav Alekhin has just taken a massive pot from John Juanda that seems to have completely demoralized the Full Tilt pro, giving the Russian a stranglehold on this final table as Level 22 of the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event comes to a close.

But first, these highlights!

Alekhin Bullies Negreanu

Alekhin raises to $54,000 from the cut-off and Daniel Negreanu makes it $154,000 from the button. Bengt Sonnert gives the matter some serious thought in the small blind before making a reluctant fold and Alekhin, after some thought, makes the call.

The flop comes Q♦ 7♠ 5♦ and Alekhin puts Kid Poker all-in. The Team PokerStars pro folds out and Alekhin takes the pot.

Demidov Takes One from Juanda

Juanda raises to $65,000 and Ivan Demidov makes the call. The flop comes A♥ 6♥ 2♦ and Juanda bets out $85,000. Demidov flat-calls and the turn is the 9♥. Both players check and the river is the 2♠.

Juanda checks and Demidov bets out $111,000, prompting a fold from the former bible salesman as Demidov rakes the pot.

THE Pot

Juanda raises to $55,000 on the button and Alekhin makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes 6♠ 5♥ 2♠ and Alekhin checks to Juanda, who bets out $100,000. The turn is the K♥ and Alekhin checks again.

Juanda counts out $200,000 and slides it into the middle of the table. Alekhin again opts to flat-call. The river is the 3♥ and Alekhin checks a third time. Juanda bets out $340,000. After some thought, Alekhin puts the American all-in, and you have never seen a man's face fall as fast as Juanda's as he considers the ramifications.

Looking pale and stressed, Juanda goes into the tank for a good five minutes, his tournament life on the line. Eventually he decides it's not worth it and lays down the hand, conceding a $1 million-plus pot to Alekhin in the most important pot of the day thus far.

Hit Me with Your Chip Counts

Here are the current chip counts for the final five players:

We're midway through Level 22 at the Main Event of the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe presented by Betfair Poker and five players remain in the hunt for that WSOPE bling in the Empire Casino in London.

After the flurry of eliminations to close out Level 21, the first hour of Level 22 has seen very little action, with flops a rarity and raises and reraises taking down most of the pots pre-flop.

Beng Sonnert, however, has - to use one PL.com reporter's favored expression - gone from the outhouse to the penthouse with a recent double-up through Ivan Demidov.

Sonnert raised to $50,000 on the button and saw Demidov reraise to $123,000 from the big blind. Sonnert moved all-in over the top and Demidov quickly called, tabling Q♥ Q♦ to Sonnert's A♦ 7♦.

The Swede found himself in sorry shape, needing an ace or some runners to stay alive, and after the flop changed nothing with the 9♣ 6♥ and 4♥, the turn brought the A♣ and a roar from the pro-Scandie sections of the crowd. 

The river card was the 7♣ and Sonnert made two pair, wading into the crowd to exchange high fives with his crew before stacking a $1 million-plus pot.

She's in Love with the Chip Count

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

If the first half of Level 21 was slow and plodding, the second half of the level has been supersonic here at the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event, presented as always by the cool cats at Betfair Poker.

Here's how the last hour played out:

Hiltunen Stilted (Eighth)

Stanislav Alekhin raises to $42,000 from early position and Toni Hiltunen reraises to $100,000 from the small blind. Alekhin thinks for a minute before putting the Finn all-in for his tournament life, and Hiltunen makes the call for his tournament life, turning up J♥ J♦.

Alekhin is well ahead with Q♦ Q♠ and after the flop comes 6♠ 4♥ 3♣, the turn is the Q♥ and Alekhin makes a set, meaning Hiltunen is drawing dead and is thus eliminated.

The Finn will take home £108,600 for his eighth-place finish.

Robin Sparrow'd (Seventh)

Ivan Demidov raises to $38,000 and Robin Keston moves all-in over the to. Demidov makes the call, tabling 9♥ 9♦ to Keston's A♣ 8♥. The flop comes K♣ T♣ 4♥ and Keston needs an ace or some running cards to stay alive.

The turn is the 9♣, probably the most interesting card in the deck as it gives Demidov the set but Keston the flush draw. The river is the 6♦, however, and Keston can't get there. He's out in seventh place and will earn £135,750 for his time.

Sick flop!

Fischman Hooked, Man (Sixth)

Demidov raises to $39,000 and gets calls from both Scott Fischman and Alekhin in the hijack and cut-off, respectively. The flop comes A♦ J♥ T♦ and Demidov checks. Fischman fires out $45,000 and Alekhin raises to $135,000.

Demidov folds out but Fischman moves all-in, only to see his Russian opponent make a quick call with K♥ Q♥, aka the nuts. Fischman has A♣ Q♣ for top pair with the gut-shot straight draw and needs a lot of help to stay alive.

The turn is the 4♠ and the river the 4♣ and the Full Tilt pro can't conjure a miracle. Instead, he's out in sixth place and takes £171,950 from the prize pool as he makes his exit.

Meanwhile, the suits breath a sigh of relief as the Crewman's shall we say polarizing taste in attire is no longer a factor in the TV broadcast.

I Saw the Chip Count

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

We're midway through the 21st level of the tournament and action is slow at the final table of the Main Event of the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe of the presented by Betfair Poker. In fact, Daniel Negreanu has suggested this final table will be looong - as long as 15 hours, by his calculations.

So, with that in mind, here are the highlights of the last hour from the Empire:

Pot for Juanda

John Juanda raises from $46,0000 from middle position and Scott Fischman calls on the button before Negreanu calls in the big blind. The flop comes K♠ K♦ T♥ and action checks around. The turn card is the J♦ and Negreanu checks to Juanda, who bets $85,000.

Fischman makes the call and after Negreanu gets out of the way, the river is the 2♥. Juanda bets $224,000 and Fischman, after a few moments' thought, lays it down.

Jacks for Negreanu

Negreanu raises to $38,000 in early position and Ivan Demidov makes the call from the cut-off. Fischman joins the party from the small blind and the flop comes Q♦ 8♣ 4♠. Action checks around and the turn is the 6♦.

Now action checks to Negreanu, who bets out $60,000. Demidov calls and Fischman lays it down. The river is the 8♠ and both players check again. Kid Poker shows pocket jacks and it's good for the pot.

All That She Wants (Is Another Chip Count)

Here are the current chip counts, courtesy www.worldseriesofpoker.com:

We've reached the end of the first level of the day and the 20th of the tournament overall, and eight players still remain in the hunt for that gold WSOP bracelet. John Juanda had been dominating this tournament almost from the beginning of play on Day 1, but the Full Tilt pro has just suffered a major setback at the hands of Double Trouble Ivan Demidov.

Here's how it went down:

After Juanda raised to $36,000 from the cut-off, Demidov re-upped to $99,000 from the button. Action folded around to Juanda, who made the call, and the flop came J♥ J♣ 6♣. Juanda checked to the Russian, who bet out $125,000.

Juanda raised to $314,000 and Demidov immediately sat back in his chair looking extremely pained. Eventually, however, he made the call. The turn was the 8♣ and Juanda bet out $277,000. 

After a few seconds' more thought, Demidov moved all-in and Juanda insta-mucked, conceding the pot to Demidov and halving his stack in the process.

Chop Chop

A few hands later, Juanda raises to $36,000 and is called by Demidov in position and Stanislav Alehkin in the big blind. The flop comes Q♥ 6♥ 3♣ and action checks to Juanda, who bets out $58,000. 

Demidov makes the call while Alekhin gets out of the way. The turn is the J♦ and Juanda bets out $115,000. Demidov calls and the river is the 5♣. Now Juanda bets out $110,000 and Demidov matches the wager. Both players turn up Q-9 and we've got a chopped pot.

I Used to Love Chip Counts

Here are the current chip counts for the surviving eight players:

Action is under way at the final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event presented by Betfair Poker and we're already down one contestant, with short stack Chris Elliott the first to be eliminated after action was unleashed.

Here's how the first hour of play has panned out:

Controversy!

As action gets started, a flurry of suits in the vicinity of the PokerListings.com mobile HQ commands our attention. It seems Scott Fischman has seen fit to wear a shirt to the final table that might not be construed as particularly "family appropriate."

Daniel Negreanu is the first to notice, staring across the table at his rival's choice in attire and describing its image, a woman in the late stages of undress, to the audience.

Meanwhile, the suits huddle in the background, trying to decide how to get Fischman into something more appropriate before the world explodes around them.  The problem is solved, at least for now, with the addition of a strategically placed Full Tilt Poker patch to cover up the offensive image, and the action continues without interruption.

Sonnert Doubles!

Robin Keston raises to $40,000 from the cut-off and Daniel Negreanu makes the call on the button before Bengt Sonnert raises to $130,000 from the big blind. Keston repops to $300,000 and Kid Poker gets out of the way.

Sonnert moves all-in for $409,000 and Keston makes the call, tabling A♥ K♠ against Sonnert's Q♣ Q♦ in a classic race scenario.

The board runs Q♠ 5♣ 3♦ K♥ 9♠ and Sonnert wins the pot with a set of queens, doubling through Keston.

Elliott Flushed (Ninth)

Stanislav Alekhin raises from middle position and Chris Elliott makes the call on the button. The flop comes T♥ 9♥ 2♣ and Alekhin bets $45,000. Elliott flat-calls and the turn is the 7♣, at which point Alekhin bets enough to put Elliott all-in.

The Englishman makes the call, showing T♣ 9♣ for two pair and the flush draw. Alekhin has A♣ 5♣ for the naked flush draw, however, meaning Elliott needs to dodge any club to stay alive.

The river, however, is the painful K♣ to give Alekhin the nuts and send Elliott packing, out in ninth place for £108,600.

Welcome to the fifth and final day of the Betfair Poker 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. We're down to the final nine contestants in the battle to take Annette Obrestad's crown as European World Champion for the next year or so, and today we'll see that number reduced to one.

Cards will be in the air from the Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square, London as soon as the TV crew figures out what it's doing, which means it could be a half-hour or so before we actually get started.

Take that time to pick out a tasty snack and get comfortable, because once we start we just will not be persuaded to stop under any circumstances. PokerListings.com's continued coverage of the WSOPE Main Event goes live from the final table starting now!

Here are the seating positions and chip counts for the final nine: