PokerStars Macau at Casino Grand Lisboa had a successful opening to the September edition of the Macau Poker Cup (MPC) which runs from September 1-5. The MPC kicked off with 167 players in the $2,000 KO Bounty event which set a record for that tournament. This was particularly impressive considering the T1 typhoon warning delayed travel plans for many players and cancelled flights from Korea. Ironically, it was Korean Jinduk Kim that won the opening preliminary event.

Team PokerStars Pros from Asia are looking good in the side events as Bryan Huang from Singapore placed 7th in the Charity Event which now has him trailing fellow Team Pro, Raymond Wu from Taipei, by only 128 points on the Asia Player of the Year Leaderboard. Huang has been the hottest player in Asia with a win in the PokerStars Macau Emperor Series, runner-up finish in the July's Red Dragon event, and final tables in ANZPT Queenstown and the recent Manila event.

Team Pro Tae Joon Noh from Korea leads the remaining 19-player field heading into the $3,000 NLH - Day 2 final and is joined by China's Celina Lin.

Please click HERE for the 2010 Asia Player of the Year Leaderboard.

It appears as though weather won't affect Asia's premiere poker series as the PokerStars Macau poker room is buzzing with players. Friday's Deepstack event set its own record with 186 players and all signs point towards another big Red Dragon main event which begins Day 1A at 8:10 PM later in the evening.

Players can still qualify to the Red Dragon $2,000,000 Guarantee event at PokerStars Macau.

For complete Macau Poker Cup schedule please click HERE

Live reporting of the Red Dragon event is available at Poker News Asia

I spent 10 or so days in Edinburgh and re-discovered the student within me. Not sure how many reading this will have been to the Edinburgh Festival or to Edinburgh full stop, but if you haven't then do! I haven't been everywhere but of the towns/cities I've visited in the UK and Ireland it's by far my favourite - if we could move it a couple of hundred miles south I'd be there in a shot.

I was there for the latest leg of the UKIPT and then for some quality comedy festival time. The tournament went very well, especially considering it was a brand new event for Scotland - next year I think it'll be even bigger.

The festival was great except for deciding to torture my liver by drinking every night. I'm a complete lightweight and never really 'drank' when I was the age you're supposed to drink, so it was all a bit silly but a lot of fun.

The comedy was very mixed - there are a lot of comics around these days who clearly belong in rock bands (as in they just want to be famous) and don't actually have any material. But then there are also geniuses like Emo Phillips and the God that is Tim Vine. When Tim was told he'd won the best joke at the festival award he replied: "I'm so excited I'm going to Sooty's barbecue to have a Sweep stake." Genius, but only if you know the kids' TV show Sooty and Sweep.

Sooty and Sweep (www.bbc.co.uk)

I have 'a lot on' at the moment. Lots of big poker tournaments are coming to London this month and the WCOOP is happening online, so there's plenty of poker work. Also I'm working on some comedy projects and probably a couple of TV shows so it's all a bit full.

With all of that there isn't much time for poker at the moment and I've reached a plateau with Omaha so I'm taking a break until I have time to focus on it properly. I'll be playing a couple of live events in the next six weeks so I'll let you know how those go.

Think that's about it... hope summer isn't over for you and you can cling onto it for a few weeks to come!

For me personally, the start of the WCOOP brings back some amazing memories. Back in 2008, when I was too young to even play live in the US, I managed to beat a field of over 3,000 players to win my very own bracelet and over $135,000. A great night and something to always remember. This year I hope to be able to final table another event, hopefully even the WCOOP Main Event which has a staggering $10 million guaranteed price pool, but there are countless tournaments in the schedule that I am excited about.

If the buy-ins are a bit too high for you to buy-in directly, I would recommend trying your luck in the cash and FPP satellites as the WCOOP is your chance to play with the best, or maybe even prove you are the best!

Looking forward to see you at the tables, and check out more on the official WCOOP site.

"More people I didn't know before knew me," Kelly said. ""It's kind of cool."

After winning the WCOOP Razz event, Kelly went on to win the $10K HORSE event and final table the $5K WCOOP main event.

"I was running pretty well the whole series," he said during an interview at the PCA as tournament guru Bryan Slick handed over the two WCOOP bracelets.

Kelly may have been the king of the understatement. Not only did he win two bracelets and final table the biggest WCOOP main event in history, he also amassed enough WCOOP points to win Player of the Series. As if that wasn't enough, Kelly went on to get a live tourney sponsorship and win a WSOP bracelet in 2010.

Daniel Kelly (not the two bracelets along with his Player of the Series trophy)

Kelly may have come out on top in 2009, but the Player of the Series leaderboard was full of big names, including Team PokerStars Pros ElkY and George Danzer.

2009 WCOOP Player of the Series

1. djk123 (United States)
2. ElkY (United Kingdom)
3. g0lfa (United States)
4 - 6. Believer82 (United States)
4 - 6. GeorgeDanzer (Germany)
4 - 6. MUSTAFABET (United Kingdom)
7. iacog4 (United States)
8. 2FLY2TILT (Spain)
9. drkamikaze1 (United States)
10. plattsburgh (United States)

Now we're just a few weeks away from the beginning of the 2010 World Championship of Online Poker, and it's anybody's guess who will be fighting for the top spot again. Eighth place finisher 2FLY2TILT started a Supernova Elite campaign in April and has some catching up to do, but just can't stay away from WCOOP.

"I have no sure plans for the WCOOP yet but will be making the VPP points during September so no doubt will find some interesting events along the way," he said.

One of the three people who tied for fourth place in 2009, MUSTAFABET, has made his plans, and they begin with making a run for it as long as he can.

"If I start very well i might make another attempt to win Player of the Series," he said.

Meanwhile, Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem (who has played in WCOOP since it began nine years ago) is looking to make a splash of his own.

"Coming into the 2010 WCOOP still has the same excitement and anticipation for me," Hachem said, "except now the WCOOP has become an such an established and well-reputed series on the poker tournament calender that no serious player or amateur alike can afford to miss it."

It will be another month before we know who will take top billing in 2010. In the meantime, PokerStars will be awarding millions of dollars over dozens of events. It all kicks off Sunday, so start stocking up on Five-Hour Energy shots, because we're about to get this thing underway.

See you Sunday!

Expectations were high when we touched down in Vilamoura last Friday. The weatherman forecast glorious sun, the hotel promised brand new views and freshly grouted luxury, and the European Poker Tour promised a week of poker better than any Portugal had ever witnessed before. We got all three.

Tonight, as the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean, Toby Lewis is the newest winner on the world's best poker tour, victorious tonight after a fiercely contested final table, and now €467,835 richer.

EPT Vilamoura winner Toby Lewis

It came after eight hours of first-rate poker, at a table that featured former poker champions, former football stars and several of those enigmatic newcomers you predict will stick around and make names for themselves.

The likes of Jacobson, Trickett and Lee are among that bunch. Each arrived today intent on winning EPT silverware and all could have done so if things, tiny details, had gone their way. Instead, it's the 20-year-old from Southampton, who takes the glory, ahead of Martin Jacobson, his worthy adversary, having quietly obliterated the opposition.

Never one to say something when dead silence would do, Lewis showed confidence beyond his years to breeze through the day. He arrived with the narrowest of leads but finished with the lot. Heads-up Lewis began to excel, undaunted by his chip disadvantage, he soon wrestled control of the final, retaking the lead, and then regrouping when Jacobson brought things back to all square, ultimately securing the win.

"Martin lost a big pot to me in the middle of day two and it didn't faze him at all," said Lewis. "He's a really good player and he doesn't make big mistakes. I knew he'd be hard to beat and that I'd have to cold deck him like I did in the final hand."

Eight hours ago the first question on some people's minds, albeit British ones, was how would the English perform? Three Englanders had reached the final, the first time that had happened since EPT Dublin in season three. Some were cynical enough to predict failure for Albion. Not so the dozen Brits on the rail, intent on celebrating each Lewis, Trickett or Sheringham victory, with the ceremonial hoisting aloft of a fresh beer.

It wasn't just the British out in force for Sheringham. The former England and Manchester United star is known beyond British borders for his exploits on the football field. He made a career best fifth place finish today worth €93,120.

Sam Trickett became the poster boy for bad luck, his surname becoming synonymous with the phrase "running bad". Trickett was quick to engage in a campaign of attrition against his opponents while getting a day long massage.

First he spoiled any hope of a first double EPT winner by consistently beating short stacked Rob Hollink around the head with raises until the Dutchman could wait no longer and departed in seventh, behind eighth place local hero Sergio Coutinho and before Frederick Jensen in sixth.

Trickett then took it upon himself to take on anyone who dared shove, but while invariably ahead on the showdown he would be left with the worst of it on Fifth Street. It cost him greatly, and then some more, until his Vilamoura campaign ran out of pluck in fourth.

Closely behind him followed young American Jason Lee, cheered all the way by a slightly more modest rail of Annette Obrestad and Scott Montgomery. Lee defied his dislike for long haul flights to play only his second EPT. The decision to fly was a good one, worth €186,240 to the 25-year-old, who busted in third.

A final hat tip to Martin Jacobson (engage the roller coaster cliché now and press go). The Swede soared high yesterday before plunging into the depths, reaching the final table with just 441,000, a shadow of his former stack that had once dominated the tournament room horizon. Yet the Swede turned that disadvantage into a strength, coming back powerfully and almost making it the most memorable rally of all. A mighty performance that should not be forgotten amid English celebrations.

The final result:

1. Toby Lewis, United Kingdom, PokerStars player, €467,835
2. Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier, €297,984
3. Jason Lee, United States, PokerStars qualifier, €186,240
4. Sam Trickett, United Kingdom, €139,680
5. Teddy Sheringham, Friend of PokerStars, UK, €93,120
6. Frederick Jensen, PokerStars player, Denmark, €74,496
7. Rob Hollink, Holland, €55,872
8. Sergio Coutinho, Portugal, €37,248

It proved one of the best finals for some time on the EPT, a tenth British winner, continuing the tradition of at least one British winner in each EPT season. It's certainly worth looking back on at any of the links below:

Final table profiles
Level 23 & 24 updates
Level 25, 26, 27 & 28 updates

That brings our EPT Vilamoura coverage to a close. Thanks for joining us on the Algarve this week and our congratulations go to winner Toby Lewis, currently being mugged, hugged and beered by his emotionally whooped up friends.

Toby Lewis with his rail, including Daniel Negreanu

If you'd prefer this in another language, or you're an English speaker sick of the soon to be short-lived 10-win patriotism, you can find coverage of the day in five-wins-German, only four-wins-Dutch, two-win-Portuguese and one-win-Italian. Our thanks also to our photographer Neil Stoddart who battled legal restraint to take the pictures this week, and never once faltered in the face of some truly striking MS Paint work on our part.

That's all from us. Next stop London at the end of September where we'll swap sun and heat for damp and exhaust fumes. You won't want to miss it. See you there.

Barry Greenstein, Tom McEvoy, and Daniel Negreanu are among the top ten nominees chosen by the public for this year's Poker Hall of Fame inductions. Now a panel consisting of media members and current Hall of Fame inductees will choose the 2010 class from the list of Team PokerStars Pros, Chris Ferguson, Jennfer Harmon-Traniello, Dan Harrington, Phil Ivey, Linda Johnson, Scotty Nguyen, and Erik Seidel.

The Team Pros' records are undeniable. Barry Greenstein holds three WSOP bracelets, two major WPT titles, and more than $7 million in live tournament winnings. That is to say nothing of his untold success in live cash games, his charity work, and his support of up-and-coming players. He's also the author of Ace on the River.

Barry Greenstein

Tom McEvoy is famous for a lot of things, not the least of which is a fairly long list of books he's written to help poker players improve their game. He is well-known as the first person to ever win the WSOP Main Event after earning a seat via a satellite. Since that time, McEvoy has accumulated a total of four WSOP bracelets and more than $2 million in live tournament winnings. During the 2009 WSOP, McEvoy won the Tournament of Champions.

Tom McEvoy

And then there is Daniel Negreanu, a man who needs no introduction. One of the most outspoken members of the moden poker community, Negreanu owns four WSOP bracelets and can claim two major World Poker Tour titles. At just 36 years old, he has amassed more than $12 million in live tournament winnings.

Daniel Negreanu

Here are the Poker Hall of Fame criteria:

• A player must have have played poker against acknowledged top competition
• Played for high stakes
• Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
• Stood the test of time
• Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

The 2010 Poker Hall of Fame class will be inducted as part of the WSOP Main Event final table events in November.

Between now and the end of the day on September 11, your deposits will earn you a reload bonus of up to $100 (or the equivalent in €, £ or Canadian $). All you do is reload your account with the bonus code 'WCOOP' and you'll receive 20% of the value of your deposit as a pending bonus.

After that, you'll have to earn the rest of it by racking up some VIP Player Points, and it's not too tough to do that.

There are some details you'll want to know before depositing, so for all the information you will need, check out the WCOOP reload bonus page.

Good luck in WCOOP!

The fireworks were soon let off though on the [5s] turn as the Swede led for 180,000 only to be raised to 525,000. Jacobson put another raise in making it 1,025,000 but he was soon under pressure when Lewis bumped it up to 2,025,000. Jacobson really thought hard now as he had 4,250,000 behind so knew he was playing for his tournament right here if he was to continue in the hand. He decided his holding was that strong and moved all in. CALL!

Jacobson; [9d][5d]
Lewis: [5c][5h]

Jacobson only had two nines in the deck to hit and one chance to hit. The river came [tc] to send the pot Lewis's way along with the title. His supporters on the rail, all a little bit inebriated by now, swarmed him to give him big hugs. One close friend, Chris Brammer was even reduced to tears.

Congratulations to Toby Lewis for a patient and well timed assault of this most enjoyable final table. Also well played to Martin Jacobson for nearly ruining the British party with a great performance. -- MC

8.03pm: Toby Lewis wins EPT Vilamoura
Details to follow. Lewis gets €467,835 for first place while Martin Jacobson receives €297,984. -- SY

7.55pm: And here we go again
Cards are back in the air again. Word has come back that the players have agreed to move to 30-minute levels rather than the full one hour. -- SY

7.40pm: Break
The heads up combatants are taking a 15-minute break. The table is finely balanced with Lewis holding a slither of a lead but to all extents and purposes the pair are evenly matched. It could go either way. -- RD

7.35pm: Nearly even stevens
Jacobson is almost back to even with Lewis after forcing him off a pot. The Swede raised to 125,000 from the button and called Lewis' 385,000 three-bet from the BB. Lewis led for 435,000 on the [js][7h][3c] flop but check-folded to the heavily breathing Jacobson and his 950,000 bet on the [8s] turn. -- MC

7.30pm: Lewis making dents again
After doubling up Martin Jacobson a short while ago, Toby Lewis is setting about extending his lead once more. First he bet 125,000 and Jacobson called to see a [6s][kc][3d] flop. Lewis then bet 150,000 and that was enough to take it.

Next hand Jacobson made it 125,000 then folded when Lewis fired it up to 385,000. -- SY

7.22pm: It's on!
Jacobson raised to 125,00 and Lewis three-bet to 385,000 and Jacobson moved all-in for 2,350,000. Lewis called.

Lewis: [ac][8d]
Jacobson: [7s][7h]

A coin flip for the EPT title and Lewis looked like he was holding a lot of emotion as the rail came streaming in towards the table shouting for an ace. No ace on the [jh][ks][3h] flop. No ace or eight on the [jd] turn either. "King," screamed the rail and Jacobson allowed himself a smile. The [4d] fell on the river and Jacobson doubled up to 4,700,000. Lewis has the lead with 6,800,000. So close for Lewis who will have to reset and regroup. -- RD

Martin Jacobson: back from the brink

7.15pm: Nice one for Lewis
Toby Lewis has extended his lead once more. He made it 125,000 and Martin Jacobson called. The flop was [3c][ah][kc] and Jacobson check-called Lewis' 125,000 bet. On the [qd] river, Jacobson check-called 425,000 before both checked the [4s] river. Jacobson had [as][2c] but Lewis had him out-pipped with [ad][5h].

Jacobson has slipped back to 2.8million while Lewis has approaching 8 million. -- SY

7.10pm: The calm after the storm?
Things have slowed down a little bit here after Lewis' triple-barrelling. There has been a couple of raise and takes and the odd open fold too. There's been one flop but that was quickly bet by Lewis who took the pot down. -- RD

7.05pm: Lewis speeds up
Lewis three-barreled out of position and it did the trick. He called a Jacobson 125,000 button raise before he led for 150,000 on the [8s][2d][jc] flop. Jacobson called and then called a 375,000 bet on the [4c] turn. The river came [9s] and there was no slowing down Lewis who fired 475,000 into the middle. Jacobson gave it a minute's thought before sliding his cards into the muck. -- MC

6.55pm: Jacobson gets some back
After a couple of raise and takes Jacobson raised from the small blind to 150,000 and Lewis three-bet to 385,000. Jacobson made the call. Lewis led the [th][9h][kc] flop for 400,000 and Jacobson decided to move all-in. Lewis passed. It's a significant and vital chip swing for Jacobson. Lewis still in the lead. -- RD

6.50pm: All quiet
We've seen no flops since the post below. Nothing to see here. -- SY

6.44pm: Jacobson stops the leak
Martin Jacobson has taken down his first pot in a while. He raised to 100,000 and then tank-called when Lewis three-bet to 385,000. The flop came [4h][kd][ts] and the play went check-check. Lewis also checked the [ks] turn and folded when his opponent fired 425,000 at the pot. -- MC

6.40pm: More for Lewis
The Brit Toby Lewis is piling on the aggression. For the third time in a row Martin Jacobson made it 125,000, but instead of folding like the first two times, Lewis re-raised to 385,000 total. Jacobson was not done yet, making it 775,000. Things were tense as Lewis went over his options - he decided to move all-in, and Jacobson insta-mucked.

Right now it's Lewis on around 8.7 million and Jacobson on 2.8 million. -- SY

6.35pm: Big pot alert
Lewis was on the small blind and raised it up to 150,000 and Jacobson called. The Swede checked the [8d][7s][4d] flop and Lewis bet another 150,000. Jacobson raised to 375,000 and Lewis made the call. The turn was the [6d], an action card to say the least as it completed flush and straight draws. Jacobson led into it for 525,000 and Lewis quietly announced that he was all-in. Jacobson didn't need to think for long before he passed. Lewis has a 3-1 chip lead now. -- RD

6.27pm: Two small pots for Sweden
Jacobson has taken down two small pots in a row. In the first hand he raised to 125,000 and Lewis called before check-folding to a 150,000 bet on the [qh][6c][3h] flop. The next hand Lewis raised to 125,000 from the button but folded to a Jacobson 310,000 three-bet. -- MC

6.21pm: First one to Lewis
Back from the break and Toby Lewis raised first hand to 125,000, called by Martin Jacobson. Both checked the [3s][jc][ah] flop, and on the [8d] turn Lewis called Jacobson's 150,000 bet. Both then checked the [5s] river and Lewis' [7h][8s] was good enough to take it. -- SY

6.18pm: Get ready
Toby Lewis and Martin Jacobson are heading back to their seats. Blinds will now be 30,000-60,000

6.07pm: Lewis wins another big one
Lewis min-raised to 100,00 from the small blind and Jacobson made it 250,000 from the big blind. Lewis called. Jacobson led the [5h][2d][kd] flop for 325,000. Lewis called. Jacobson bet another 725,000 on the [js] turn. Lewis called again. The [3h] dropped on the river and neither player wanted to take things any further. Lewis showed [kc][th] to take the pot and lengthen his chip lead. The stacks are around 4,485,000 for Jacobson and 7,050,000 for Lewis.

The players are taking a well-earned 15-minute break. -- RD

6.02pm: Little movement
They're trading small blows at the moment. Twice Toby Lewis has raised to 100,000 and got a call from Martin Jacobson. On the first one Lewis bet 125,000 on the [kh][jc][ad] flop and got a fold. The second went on a little longer - both checked the [qh][qd][4c] flop, but on the [7c] turn Jacobson made it 100,000 and Lewis called. Jacobson then slowed down to a check on the [3d] river, then folded when Lewis reached for 300,000 chips. -- SY

5.55pm: Lewis edges into chip lead
Toby Lewis has just moved into the chip lead after winning a sizable pot without a showdown. He raised to 100,000 from the button and Jacobson called for a [6c][ks][4c] flop where he check-called a 135,000 bet. The turn came [5h] and Jacobson check-called a 300,000 bet. Jacobson checked the [9h] river and the Brit really upped the pressure with a 1,175,000 bet. Jacobson thought and studied his opponent who was looking into the distance before folding. -- MC

5.50pm: Lewis clawing back chips
Jacobson raised from the small blind to 105,000 and Lewis called in the big. Both players checked the [9h][td][7h] flop before Lewis led the [5c] turn for 120,000. The [6h] river completed the two major draws and Lewis pushed forward another 250,000. Jacobson didn't think long before opting to pass. Lewis is up to 5,125,000 and Jacobson slides to 6,350,000. -- RD

5.45pm: No show
On a flop of [td][jc][ah] Jacobson bet 130,000 which Lewis called for a [4d] turn. Again, Jacobson bet, making it 300,000 this time, which Lewis called for a [3d] river. Both checked, Jacobson mucking before Lewis had shown. -- SB

5.40pm: Chip counts at the beginning of heads-up play
Martin Jacobson - 7,075,000
Toby Lewis - 4,405,000

5.38pm: We're heads-up
Three-handed play didn't last long with the elimination of Jason Lee in third. He open shoved for just under one million chips and was snap-called by Martin Jacobson in the BB. Showdown:

Jacobson: [ac][td]
Lee: [ah][5h]

The board ran [3c][4s][9d][ts][js]. Lee said he card dead all day and he had a horrible seat draw today with the uber-aggressive Trickett to his left. His final table started after Trickett departed but things didn't work out for him. €186,240 should soften the blow somewhat. -- MC

5.35pm: Lee not leaving
Jason Lee just moved all-in for 965,000. Lewis folded by Jacobson went into the tank, thinking, moving chips around and eventually folding. Lee still alive. -- SB

5.20pm: Pre-flop battle
The two chip leaders just battled in a pre-flop raising war. Toby Lewis raised to 135,000 from the SB to face a three-bet to 300,000 from Martin Jacobson. Lewis' response was to four-bet to 660,000 and after a lot of though the Swedish chip leader folded. -- MC

5.15pm: Trickett out of here
In the end it seemed the most humane outcome. Sam Trickett's final table suffering had gone on for so long that his own elimination can only come as gentle relief. That's not true of course and Trickett looked devastated as he shook hands a few moments ago, eliminated by Martin Jacobson after an afternoon spent trying to catch a break.

All in after all-in was called by Trickett, who more often than not was ahead on showdown, only to be behind when it mattered. So when Toby Lewis opened for 110,000 under the gun and Martin Jacobson raised to 265,000 from the button, Trickett saw his chance and pushed all in for just short of 1,400,000.

Lewis folded quickly but Jacobson was going nowhere, asking for a count, looking again at his cards, pulling out towards of orange chips from around the back ready to push in. After confirming that it was 1,105,000 to call his did so, turning over [qh][jh] to Trickett's [2h][2s].

"I got it," said Trickett to friends on the rail with some good British irony. "I got it, I got the deuces." Jacobson came to shake hands and they both awaited the board. [jd][5h][8h][3c][4s]. Jacobson had been ahead on the flop and never looked back. Trickett out, Jacobson up to more than 5.5 million. Down to three players. -- SB

5.05pm: Sheringham eliminated in 5th place (€93,120)
Friend of PokerStars Teddy Sheringham has been eliminated in 5th place by the recent Swedish force known as Martin Jacobson. The former footballer raised to 125,000 from under-the-gun and was called by Jacobson to see a [ks][9d][th] flop. The action went check-check before Sheringham led for 275,000 on the [9h] turn. Jacobson raised to 590,000 and then snap-called when his Sheringham moved all-in.

Sheringham tabled [kc][qc] for two-pair but Jacobson had a straight with [qs][jc]. The river blanked with a [3s] and Sheringham left to an almighty round of applause. Jacobson regains the chip lead he held yesterday with 4.9 million. -- MC

4.55pm: Jacobson hits Trickett hard
Martin Jacobson opened from the hi-jack to 110,000 and was called by Sam Trickett on the button. The Swede led for 140,000 on the [2h][9h][3d] flop and Trickett called. Jacobson bet another 270,000 as the flush appeared on the [7h] turn and Trickett called again. The four-flush and paired board materialised on the river with the [3h] and Jacobson bet 510,000. Trickett called and was shown the nut flush with [ah][kh]. -- RD

4.50pm: Play re-starts
With an armed, dismounted mounted police officer patrolling the smoking area, the players have returned for level 26.

4.40pm: Chip counts at the break

Teddy Sheringham - 1,490,000
Toby Lewis - 4,350,000
Martin Jacobson - 1,850,000
Jason Lee - 1,215,000
Sam Trickett - 2,615,000

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 25,000-50,000, ANTE 5,000

4.36pm: Break time
Players are on another 15 minute break.

4.35pm: Lewis picking up the pace
Lewis seemed to have picked up the pace a little bit towards the end of the level, winning a few hands with simple 90,000 raises pre-flop. That's what happened on the last hand before a 15-minute break was announced. When the players return the blinds will be a huge 25,000-50,000, 5,000 ante. -- RD

4.30pm: Trickett wins big pot......
....without showdown. Sam Trickett has got a lot of those lost chips back after forcing a fold from Martin Jacobson. Trickett raised to 80,000 from early position and was called by the Swede from the BB. Jacobson check-called a 125,000 bet on the [2h][3s][8d] flop and 325,000 on the [4s] turn. The river came [jc] and Trickett emptied the clip with a 625,000 bet when it was checked to him again. Jacobson tank-folded. -- MC

4.25pm: Trickett can't win a showdown
You can tell Sam Trickett is trying to shrug off the frustration of this final table. He just can't win a showdown after getting it in pre-flop and this last one was the worst. Jason Lee shoved [as][2c] from the cut-off and Trickett moved all-in behind him from the button with [ah][kd]. The flop instantly put Lee ahead on the [ad][2c][qd] flop but the [4d] turn gave Trickett plenty of outs to get back in front; any four, queen, king or diamond. None of them came and Lee is back up to over one million. -- RD

4.20pm: In the blinds
Toby Lewis opened for 105,000 in the small blind. Martin Jacobson was waiting in the big and called for a [5d][8d][4h] flop. Lewis then bet 130,000 and Jacobson made it 140,000 more. Good enough to force Lewis to fold. -- SB

4.15pm: Can't win a show-down
Sam Trickett has been the most active player at this final table and has easily won the most pots without showdown. The poor guy just can't win an all-in showdown, though, no matter how hard he tries or how far he's ahead. The latest player to double through the Brit is Swedish representative Martin Jacobson.

Jacobson raised to 80,000 to see Trickett three-bet to 200,000 from the SB which was exactly the same action as one orbit ago. The last time Jacobson folded but this time he moved all-in for 1,132,000. Trickett called quickly to create a showdown:

Trickett: [jd][js]
Jacobson: [qd][jc]

"Ive got to win one of these" said Trickett before the board ran [5d][2d][6d][ad][5h]. Maybe not then! Trickett down to 2.3 million. --MC

4.09pm: Four million
Jason Lee opened for 80,000 from the button which Sam Trickett called in the small blind. Trickett is playing well and has to, as I suspect he'll need a top three finish to pay his massage bill. On a flop of [kd][2s][5h] both checked for a [4h] turn card. Trickett then bet 125,000 which Lee called for a [4d] river card. Another 500,000 from Trickett this time which Lee went on to call. We never saw his cards though. Trickett showed [ks][qs] to win the hand and move up to nearly 4 million. Lee down to just 700,000. -- SB

4.07pm: Rail to get louder
The British rail is about to get a little noisier. All those cheering on Toby Lewis/Sam Trickett/Teddy Sheringham have now taken delivery of large beers (previously they were content with smaller bottles). -- SY

4.05pm: Sheringham playing snug
Teddy Sheringham has been playing a calm and composed tournament and it doesn't look like he's going to change that to make any major mistakes in this five-handed action. Jason Lee opened to 84,000 from the button and Sheringham passed in the big blind. -- RD

4.03pm: Three-way action
Jason Lee opened the action from the hijack to 85,000 (for the second hand on the bounce) and was called by Sam Trickett and Martin Jacobson. The Swede checked as did Lee and Trickett took down the [tc][8d][8s] flop with a 150,000 bet. -- RD

4pm: Football fan
I doubt there's any kind of metagame attached to it but Martin Jacobson has just said to Sheringham: "You used to play for my favorite football team... two years before I was born." Sheringham quickly clicked the Swede was talking about Djurgårdens IF a team that he went on loan to in 1985 (playing 21 times and scoring 13 goals). "Good club," replied Sheringham. -- RD

3.52pm: Anglo tension
Sam Trickett opened for 90,000 which Sheringham folded to in the small blind but Toby Lewis called in the big. The flop came [3d][8h][9s] and Lewis bet 110,000 which Trickett called without ceremony. They both checked the [9h] turn and did the same for the [jd] river. Trickett showed [as][8s] to take it down, beating Lewis's [ad][5d]. -- SB

3.47pm: Pre-flop dominance
All the action in the last two orbits has been pre-flop and one player has taken 80-90% of the chips on offer. Sam Trickett has raised and taken most pots and when Toby Lewis raised to 90,000 into his BB he responded with a three-bet to take the pot down. This is one player who is not looking to ladder up the payouts. -- MC

Toby Lewis

3.38pm: Deal me in
Sam Trickett opened for 80,000 which Teddy Sheringham called in the small blind. Toby Lewis immediately raised to 245,000 in the big blind. Trickett folded but Sheringham thought about it for a while, asking the dealer to spread the chips a little before eventually folding.

At this point Mario the dealer finished his duties, thanked the players and got up to leave. Only there was no replacement for him, so instead he sat back down again. Thomas Kremser also sat down, at the empty seat left by Rob Hollink. To much amusement Mario dealt him before snatching the card back and passing it back along to Sheringham. -- SB

3.30pm: Frederick Jensen eliminated in 6th for €74,496
Frederick Jensen is the most recent casualty, departing EPT Vilamoura in sixth place for €74,496. The Dane had moved all-in from the small blind into Teddy Sheringham's big blind and the former professional football player made the call.

Sheringham: [5d][5s]
Jensen: [ac][jd]

It was a huge flip for Jensen and one that gave him a huge number of outs on the [qs][3h][qc] flop and [th] turn. Any ten, ace, jack or king would have kept the Dane in it. It wasn't to be, though, as a [6h] dropped on the river. Sheringham is up to 2.3m and moves into second place behind Toby Lewis (who is on 4,000,000). -- RD

3.23pm: Not the hand we were expecting
Toby Lewis and Fredrick Jensen tangled once more in the first hand back from break. Jensen made it 80,000 to go from the button and Lewis called from the BB. Both players checked to the river where the board read [4d][6h][6d][2c][th] before Lewis over-bet the pot to the tune of 195,000. Jensen tank-called and was very surprised to see Lewis table [kc][ks] for the pot. -- MC

3.15pm: Here we go again
Players are back at the table. With six left, each is now guaranteed at least €74,496 - that was probably a week's wages for former soccer star Teddy Sheringham (ok, that's a slight exaggeration).

As they sit down, here are the current chip counts, with blinds now at 20,000-40,000 and a 4,000 running ante:

Teddy Sheringham - 1,715,000
Toby Lewis - 4,150,000
Martin Jacobson - 940,000
Jason Lee - 1,890,000
Sam Trickett - 1,840,000
Fredrick Jensen - 840,000

Martin Jacobson

PokerStars Blog reporting team (in order of smartness today): Stephen Bartley (shirt and tie - really!), Marc Convey (trendy - he claims - shirt), Simon Young (usual PokerStars t-shirt) and Rick Dacey (tramp-like)

All photos (c) Neil Stoddart

1.58pm: All-in! Call! Oh
Martin Jacobson moved all-in from the button for 405,000 and Sam Trickett called from the big blind. Great excitement until the cards were turned over... [ad][6h] for Trickett, [ac][6s] for Jacobson. The board ran a rather uneventful [9s][10h][7h][qc][10d]. Nothing to see here. -- SY

1.55pm: Treading carefully
Sam Trickett raised under the gun to 60,000 and only Toby Lewis called from the button. Both checked the [8h][ac][qc] flop, and Trickett check-folded when Lewis made it 80,000 on the [6s] turn. -- SY

1.50pm: That pesky monkey remains
There will be no double EPT champion crowned here in Vilamoura as Rob Hollink has been eliminated in 7th place for €55,872. The action folded around to him in the cut-off and he moved all-in for 150,000 and was called by Teddy Sheringham in the SB. Showdown:

Hollink: [ts][8s]
Sheringham: [ah][jh]

The board ran [3d][kh][ad][8c][7s]. The Dutchman got the generous round of applause he deserved and exited stage left. -- MC

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 15,000-30,000, ANTE 3,000

1.45pm: Back from the break
Play re-starts after the break.

1.38pm: Chips
Here is the current state of play:
Teddy Sheringham - 1,900,000
Toby Lewis - 4,000,000
Martin Jacobson - 445,000
Jason Lee - 908,000
Sam Trickett - 3,300,000
Rob Hollink - 175,000
Fredrick Jensen - 1,360,000

1.36pm: Level up
That elimination also marked the end of level 23. We're on a 15-minute break for level 24, when blinds will be 15,000-30,000 (3,000 ante). -- SY

1.35pm: Sergio Coutinho, eliminated in eighth place for €32,248
After a level spent calling all-ins Sam Trickett just eliminated the first player of the day. Sergio Coutinho open-shoved for around 160,000 on the button and Trickett called in the small blind. [8h][6s] for Coutinho against the [ah][8d] of Trickett.

The two players shook hands and waited for the board. It ran [5d][9d][qs][5s][qd]. Coutinho had needed a six or seven after the flop but that was as close as he came to doubling up. Instead he's the first to go. -- SB

Sam Trickett

1.30pm: A stack to play back
Two double-ups for Fredrick Jensen means he now has a stack to play back at the big boys - as Toby Lewis just found out. The Dane raised to 50,000 from the hijack to face a button three-bet to 135,000 from Lewis. Fredrick wasn't having any of it, though, and made it 295,000 to go, total. Lewis pulled a face and mucked his hand. -- MC

1.20pm: No reply
A series of hands with no real outcome. Sam Trickett moved all-in from the small blind, much to the irritation of Rob Hollink who had no option but to fold. Then Teddy Sheringham opened for two successive hands with no takers, before Hollink managed to get his chips into the middle, only to find no takers. -- SB

1.15pm: Straight back on the horse
Sam Trickett got straight back into the action after losing that big pot just before. He called a 53,000 button raise from Jason Lee while sat in the BB. The flop came [qs][qh][ac] and Trickett led for 65,000. Call. There was no slowing the Brit down on the [kh] turn as he led for 165,000. Lee went into the tank and ended up folding with a look of pain across his face. -- MC

1.10pm: Jensen has just the Trickett
Sam Trickett opened for 50,000 in early position and Frederick Jensen made it 90,000 more. With the action back on Trickett he announced all-in which Jensen called in a flash, showing [qc][qd] while Trickett could only muster [jc][jd].

The board ran [6d][ad][9c][5d][qs] for Jensen's second double up, both of them being through Trickett. Jensen up to 1,100,000. -- SB

1.07pm: Video time
Brit Toby Lewis introduces the final table...

1.05pm: Stealing his moves
Rob Hollink has the cut of a frustrated man at the moment. His stack has shrunk to 155,000 and he can't find a spot to move all-in because Sam Trickett keeps min-raising in front of him. He therefore he has to find a genuine hand if it's to be three-bet shove as he knows he will be called. Just as we were about to publish this the action folded to Hollink and he moved all-in and managed to take the blinds and antes to increase his stack by around 30%. -- MC

1pm: 'We love you, Toby!'
Toby Lewis has several railers here including Team PokerStars Pro JP Kelly, UKIPT leaderboard challenger Chris Brammer and WSOP bracelet winner James Dempsey. It was the latter that just shouted out: "We love you, Toby." The Brits, somewhat unsurprisingly, already have beers in their hands and the railing is likely to get louder - and more liquid - as the day goes by. -- RD

12.56pm: Coutinho down
Toby Lewis opened for 53,000 in the cut off which Sergio Coutinho called from the big blind. On the flop of [9d][7h][4d] Coutinho checked to Lewis who bet 60,000. Coutinho called that for a [kd] turn, again checking and then calling Lewis's bet of 135,000. On the [kc] river Coutinho checked again. Lewis bet 280,000 this time which Coutinho called, grimacing as he turned over [8d][qd] for a flush when seeing Lewis's [9c][9h] full house. Coutinho down to 290,000. -- SB

12.53pm: Lee less blind
Jason Lee took small pot off Martin Jacobson in the blinds. The Swede raised to 62,000 from the SB and the American called from the BB. The flop came [7h][9h][tc] and Jacobson check-folded to a 55,000 bet from Lee. -- MC

12.50pm: Jacobson squeezes all-in
Sam Trickett started this hand with a min raise to 48,000 from middle position. Frederick Jensen called in the cut-off before the action folded round to Martin Jacobson in the big blind who moved all-in for over 500,000. Both players passed. Jensen has dropped 100,000 in the last couple of hands. -- RD

12.48pm: Sheringham strikes from the small blind
Frederick Jensen opened the button for 48,000 and Teddy Sheringham three-bet to 160,000 from the small blind. Lewis looked like he was considering a move but decided against it. Jensen passed and Sheringam adds close to 100,000 to his stack. -- RD

12.44pm: Lewis wins utg
It's as simple as that. Toby Lewis opened the action under the gun and took the blinds with Teddy Sheringham passing his big blind. -- RD

12.38pm: First of the all-ins
The first all-in to be called just featured Frederick Jensen doubling through Sam Trickett. Trickett opened from the button for 48,000 and Jensen moved all-in for a little more than 300,000. Trickett called showing [ac][8c] to Jensen's [kc][7c].

The board ran [5c][7d][6h][5h][7h], the flop putting Jensen into the lead and the river keeping him there. He's up to nearly 700,000 while Trickett slips to the 3 million mark. -- SB

12.32pm: Trickett soars into lead
To be honest Sam Trickett sort of hopped into the lead he's been craving to claim back after the last hand of yesterday's play. The first hand of the day he raised to 48,000 from early position and was only called by Toby Lewis on the button to see the [qs][2h][ah] flop. Check-check. The turn came [4s] and Trickett led for 58,000 which was good for the pot as Lewis folded. -- MC

12.28pm: Play begins
The EPT Vilamoura final table is under way. We're just hours away from someone winning €467,835. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is not to be sneezed at. Here are your eight finalists... -- SY

12.20pm: Nearly ready
The final eight players are now in their seats. Thomas Kremser is making the introductions, we'll be off in around five minutes. -- SY

12.15pm: What a relief
Followers of PokerStars Blog this week will know we've had a spectacular run of fortune, making more than $12million from kindly ladies in Africa wanting help with their deceased fathers' fortunes, plus a cheeky win on an Australian state lottery (which we never entered, but we're keeping quiet about that).

Imagine our horror, therefore, to receive an email at blog@pokerstars.com from FBI Headquarters in Washington. We instantly feared the worst - perhaps the FBI was to tell us we had been conned and our bank accounts were being fleeced.

But no. It turns out this was another piece of good news. Dr Chad L. Fulgham was writing from the FBI to tell us his department had discovered we were owed $6million from China. We're not sure how, but we're certainly not questioning it, although his yahoo.cn email address is a worry (shouldn't it be fbi.com or something?). Nonetheless, we're sending him the $150 he needs to get the ball rolling.

So, we're now up to $18million this week. Quite impressive, we think you'll agree. -- SY

12.10pm: Delayed start
The players are here but not yet ready to play. Chips are on the table but the usual preliminaries are taking a few minutes. Play should be under way soonish. When play does start the blinds will be 12,000-24,000 with a 2,000 ante. -- SB

Welcome back for the final table of EPT Vilamoura, the culmination of five days of play that began with a field of 384. Those players are just a memory now as the last eight emerge to fight it out for a first prize of €467,835.

The leader coming into the final is Englishman Toby Lewis, who last night snatched the chip lead from countryman Sam Trickett at the bell, ahead by just 4,000. Behind them is soccer legend Teddy Sheringham, making the top three an all English affair that we couldn't believe either. The table will line up like this:

Seat 1: Teddy Sheringham, 44, UK, Friend of PokerStars - 1,783,000
Seat 2: Toby Lewis, 20, UK, PokerStars player - 3,322,000
Seat 3: Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier - 441,000
Seat 4: Jason "JaspudUF" Lee, 25, Florida, USA PokerStars qualifier - 1,167,000
Seat 5: Sergio Coutinho, 30, Oporto, Portugal - 872,000
Seat 6: Sam Trickett, 24, Nottingham, UK - 3,318,000
Seat 7: Rob Hollink, 48, Groningen , Netherlands - 259,000 chips
Seat 8: Frederik Jensen, 28, Denmark, PokerStars player - 375,000

Lewis seems confident, or at least he's looking forward to the final. His Facebook status this morning reads: "BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM! 1/8 into the FINAL! Lets f do this 480k euros yes." I think that says it all.

And so to it. The players are arriving, well kind of. Martin Jacobson was just seen still eating breakfast back at the hotel and to be honest I can't see any of the others. But we're assured they're on their way, undergoing the rigours of a pre-match photo shoot with Neil Stoddart before taking their seats in Casino Vilamoura's tournament coliseum.

In honour of this momentous occasion the blog team are each decked out in ceremonial battle dress today, complete with staff blazers and ties, decorative sash, plus fours, tricorne hats and campaign medals. All except Rick Dacey, who follows us all making horse noises with two coconut shells. As leader Simon Young is entitled to carry a side arm.

Live coverage will begin shortly. You can find regularly updated chip counts throughout the day on the chip count page, while all the results will be posted on the prize winners page as we inch nearer to a winner. Fancy starting from the beginning? Then all news from Vilamoura is posted at this convenient link.

PokerStars Blog reporting team at EPT Vilamoura (in order of Octopus eaten this week): Rick Dacey (1), Stephen Bartley (1), Marc Convey (1 tentacle) and Simon Young (not on your life). Photos by Neil Stoddart.

3pm: Break time
Players are taking a 15 minute break after level 24. Here's how things stand after the best part of two levels:

Teddy Sheringham - 1,715,000
Toby Lewis - 4,150,000
Martin Jacobson - 940,000
Jason Lee - 1,890,000
Sam Trickett - 1,840,000
Fredrick Jensen - 840,000

2.57pm: Trickett wins battle of aggression
Sam Trickett opened with his usual raise to 60,000 from the button. Teddy Sheringham was in the big blind and having seen Trickett do this countless times already made it another 125,000 on top. Trickett was going nowhere, however, and thought for a moment or two before making it another 225,000 on top.

That stopped the action dead in its tracks as Sheringham mucked. -- SY

2.52pm: Another set-up
Frederick Jensen was the recipient of a huge double just moments ago, flopping a house into Sam Trickett's top trips. It was the Dane this time who found himself on the wrong end of a set-up. Jason Lee raised the button to 65,000 and was called by Trickett in the small blind and Jensen in the big. Both blinds checked the [6h][7c][7h] flop to Lee who bet 82,000. Trickett passed and Jensen raised to 215,000. Lee sat still for a shirt while before announcing that he was all-in. for 762,000. Jensen called.

Jensen: [3s][7s] for top trips
Lee: [7d][9d] for top trips with a better kicker

Jensen was in need of a three for the win, or two cards higher than a nine or a six for the chop. None of those combinations came and Lee doubled to 1,720,000. -- RD

2.46pm: Don't push me
Toby Lewis made it 75,000 from the small blind, and Martin Jacobson took one quick look at his cards before moving a tower of orange 25,000 chips worth 500,000 into the middle. Lewis did not like that one bit and mucked instantly. -- SY

2.42pm: What a set-up
Trickett limped the small blind and Jensen checked behind. Trickett led the [tc][ts][4h] flop for 50,000. Jensen called. Trickett fired another 105,000 at the [9c] turn. Jensen called again. Trickett slid out a huge 405,000 bet on the [kh] river and Jensen moved all-in for 665,000. It was Trickett's time to make the call.

Trickett: [td][5d]
Jensen: [4s][4c]

Both players had flopped massively in the limped pot and Jensen is now up to 1,620,000 taking an 800,000 chunk out of Trickett. -- RD

2.34pm: Donk lead works
Sam Trickett just took down a pot worth nearly 200,000 after leading for 100,000 on a [kc][qc][2s] flop. Toby Lewis started the action with a 68,000 raise from the hi-jack that both Trickett and Fredrick Jensen called from the blinds. Trickett took the initiative with his bet and that did the trick. -- MC

2.30pm: Pulling the trigger
It was folded around to Martin Jacobson in the small blind, a perfect spot to push for his last 551,000. Jason Lee had a long look at his cards, but the more he looked the more he disliked them. He mucked.

Next hand it was folded around to Lee in the small blind. With 600,000 behind he might have fancied open shoving against Sam Trickett in the big blind. Alas, Lee looked down and saw [7s][2c], not quite good enough to go with. Trickett showed [qs][jc]. -- SY

2.25pm: pm: Wet board, big hands, small pot
Sam Trickett opened from the cut-off to 60,000 and was three-bet to 150,000 by Teddy Sheringham in the small blind. Trickett made the call. Both players checked the [8h][td][9h] flop. Then they checked the [ac] turn and finally they both quickly checked the [7s] river. Sheringham showed [kd][kh] and Trickett showed pocket queens.

The pot? Just 345,000. -- RD

2.20pm: Lewis takes a bigger chunk this time
Fredrick Jensen lost a bigger chunk to Toby Lewis on the very next hand. Jensen raised to 60,000 and once again the 20-year-old Brit three-bet. The amount was 175,000 and the Dane called to see a [kh][3d][2h] flop. Lewis continued with the aggression and led for 195,000. Jensen called before the [8s] turn and [qh] river were checked down.

Lewis tabled [qd][jc] for a rivered pair of queens. Jensen let out a gasp and showed [9c][9h] and said "Nice catch!" -- MC

2.15pm: Back to the three-bet
Since Jensen and Jacobson doubled up there has been a little more depth at the table in terms of stacks, and that means less openings are all-in shoves. In turn that means the preflop three-bet is rearing its head more frequently. First Jacobson opened for 60,000 from the hi-jack and was three-bet by Jensen to 170,000 from the small blind. Jensen was then the one being forced to back down after min raising the button and getting attacked by Toby Lewis in the big blind with a three-bet to 175,000. -- RD

2.10pm: Passing chips around
It's been a slow few minutes. Sam Trickett raised and took the blinds and antes. Then Teddy Sheringham did the same. Finally we saw a flop when Jason Lee made it 65,000 and Frederick Jensen called from the big blind. The flop was [5s][9c][kc] and Jensen check-folded to Lee's 75,000 bet. -- SY

2.07pm: Ask Teddy

2.05pm: Thin value bet chance declined
Sam Trickett brushed off doubling-up another opponent by raising the next two pots in a row. His first 60,000 raise took the blinds and antes but the next was called by recent nemesis Martin Jacobson.

The flop came [ad][3d][jc] and Jacobson check-called a 75,000 bet before both checked the [2c] turn. Jacobson checked the [2s] river and so did Trickett after a good deal of thought. Trickett tabled [ah][th] which bested the Swede's [ac][7s]. -- MC

2.01pm: Jacobson and Trickett all-in again
Martin Jacobson and Sam Trickett are all-in again with the Swede moving in for 418,000 from the cut-off and Trickett taking him on from the small blind.

Jacobson: [js][ks]
Trickett: [ad][3d]

The board ran out [2c][4s][tc][4c][jh] with Jacobson getting saved on the river. The Swede strode to the rail to celebrate with one of his supporters with a high-five. Jacobson is up to 860,000. -- RD

1.58pm: All-in! Call! Oh
Martin Jacobson moved all-in from the button for 405,000 and Sam Trickett called from the big blind. Great excitement until the cards were turned over... [ad][6h] for Trickett, [ac][6s] for Jacobson. The board ran a rather uneventful [9s][10h][7h][qc][10d]. Nothing to see here. -- SY

1.55pm: Treading carefully
Sam Trickett raised under the gun to 60,000 and only Toby Lewis called from the button. Both checked the [8h][ac][qc] flop, and Trickett check-folded when Lewis made it 80,000 on the [6s] turn. -- SY

1.50pm: That pesky monkey remains
There will be no double EPT champion crowned here in Vilamoura as Rob Hollink has been eliminated in 7th place for €55,872. The action folded around to him in the cut-off and he moved all-in for 150,000 and was called by Teddy Sheringham in the SB. Showdown:

Hollink: [ts][8s]
Sheringham: [ah][jh]

The board ran [3d][kh][ad][8c][7s]. The Dutchman got the generous round of applause he deserved and exited stage left. -- MC

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 15,000-30,000, ANTE 3,000

1.45pm: Back from the break
Play re-starts after the break.

1.38pm: Chips
Here is the current state of play:
Teddy Sheringham - 1,900,000
Toby Lewis - 4,000,000
Martin Jacobson - 445,000
Jason Lee - 908,000
Sam Trickett - 3,300,000
Rob Hollink - 175,000
Fredrick Jensen - 1,360,000

1.36pm: Level up
That elimination also marked the end of level 23. We're on a 15-minute break for level 24, when blinds will be 15,000-30,000 (3,000 ante). -- SY

1.35pm: Sergio Coutinho, eliminated in eighth place for €37,248
After a level spent calling all-ins Sam Trickett just eliminated the first player of the day. Sergio Coutinho open-shoved for around 160,000 on the button and Trickett called in the small blind. [8h][6s] for Coutinho against the [ah][8d] of Trickett.

The two players shook hands and waited for the board. It ran [5d][9d][qs][5s][qd]. Coutinho had needed a six or seven after the flop but that was as close as he came to doubling up. Instead he's the first to go. -- SB

Sam Trickett

1.30pm: A stack to play back
Two double-ups for Fredrick Jensen means he now has a stack to play back at the big boys - as Toby Lewis just found out. The Dane raised to 50,000 from the hijack to face a button three-bet to 135,000 from Lewis. Fredrick wasn't having any of it, though, and made it 295,000 to go, total. Lewis pulled a face and mucked his hand. -- MC

1.20pm: No reply
A series of hands with no real outcome. Sam Trickett moved all-in from the small blind, much to the irritation of Rob Hollink who had no option but to fold. Then Teddy Sheringham opened for two successive hands with no takers, before Hollink managed to get his chips into the middle, only to find no takers. -- SB

1.15pm: Straight back on the horse
Sam Trickett got straight back into the action after losing that big pot just before. He called a 53,000 button raise from Jason Lee while sat in the BB. The flop came [qs][qh][ac] and Trickett led for 65,000. Call. There was no slowing the Brit down on the [kh] turn as he led for 165,000. Lee went into the tank and ended up folding with a look of pain across his face. -- MC

1.10pm: Jensen has just the Trickett
Sam Trickett opened for 50,000 in early position and Frederick Jensen made it 90,000 more. With the action back on Trickett he announced all-in which Jensen called in a flash, showing [qc][qd] while Trickett could only muster [jc][jd].

The board ran [6d][ad][9c][5d][qs] for Jensen's second double up, both of them being through Trickett. Jensen up to 1,100,000. -- SB

1.07pm: Video time
Brit Toby Lewis introduces the final table...

1.05pm: Stealing his moves
Rob Hollink has the cut of a frustrated man at the moment. His stack has shrunk to 155,000 and he can't find a spot to move all-in because Sam Trickett keeps min-raising in front of him. He therefore he has to find a genuine hand if it's to be three-bet shove as he knows he will be called. Just as we were about to publish this the action folded to Hollink and he moved all-in and managed to take the blinds and antes to increase his stack by around 30%. -- MC

1pm: 'We love you, Toby!'
Toby Lewis has several railers here including Team PokerStars Pro JP Kelly, UKIPT leaderboard challenger Chris Brammer and WSOP bracelet winner James Dempsey. It was the latter that just shouted out: "We love you, Toby." The Brits, somewhat unsurprisingly, already have beers in their hands and the railing is likely to get louder - and more liquid - as the day goes by. -- RD

12.56pm: Coutinho down
Toby Lewis opened for 53,000 in the cut off which Sergio Coutinho called from the big blind. On the flop of [9d][7h][4d] Coutinho checked to Lewis who bet 60,000. Coutinho called that for a [kd] turn, again checking and then calling Lewis's bet of 135,000. On the [kc] river Coutinho checked again. Lewis bet 280,000 this time which Coutinho called, grimacing as he turned over [8d][qd] for a flush when seeing Lewis's [9c][9h] full house. Coutinho down to 290,000. -- SB

12.53pm: Lee less blind
Jason Lee took small pot off Martin Jacobson in the blinds. The Swede raised to 62,000 from the SB and the American called from the BB. The flop came [7h][9h][tc] and Jacobson check-folded to a 55,000 bet from Lee. -- MC

12.50pm: Jacobson squeezes all-in
Sam Trickett started this hand with a min raise to 48,000 from middle position. Frederick Jensen called in the cut-off before the action folded round to Martin Jacobson in the big blind who moved all-in for over 500,000. Both players passed. Jensen has dropped 100,000 in the last couple of hands. -- RD

12.48pm: Sheringham strikes from the small blind
Frederick Jensen opened the button for 48,000 and Teddy Sheringham three-bet to 160,000 from the small blind. Lewis looked like he was considering a move but decided against it. Jensen passed and Sheringam adds close to 100,000 to his stack. -- RD

12.44pm: Lewis wins utg
It's as simple as that. Toby Lewis opened the action under the gun and took the blinds with Teddy Sheringham passing his big blind. -- RD

12.38pm: First of the all-ins
The first all-in to be called just featured Frederick Jensen doubling through Sam Trickett. Trickett opened from the button for 48,000 and Jensen moved all-in for a little more than 300,000. Trickett called showing [ac][8c] to Jensen's [kc][7c].

The board ran [5c][7d][6h][5h][7h], the flop putting Jensen into the lead and the river keeping him there. He's up to nearly 700,000 while Trickett slips to the 3 million mark. -- SB

12.32pm: Trickett soars into lead
To be honest Sam Trickett sort of hopped into the lead he's been craving to claim back after the last hand of yesterday's play. The first hand of the day he raised to 48,000 from early position and was only called by Toby Lewis on the button to see the [qs][2h][ah] flop. Check-check. The turn came [4s] and Trickett led for 58,000 which was good for the pot as Lewis folded. -- MC

12.28pm: Play begins
The EPT Vilamoura final table is under way. We're just hours away from someone winning €467,835. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is not to be sneezed at. Here are your eight finalists... -- SY

12.20pm: Nearly ready
The final eight players are now in their seats. Thomas Kremser is making the introductions, we'll be off in around five minutes. -- SY

12.15pm: What a relief
Followers of PokerStars Blog this week will know we've had a spectacular run of fortune, making more than $12million from kindly ladies in Africa wanting help with their deceased fathers' fortunes, plus a cheeky win on an Australian state lottery (which we never entered, but we're keeping quiet about that).

Imagine our horror, therefore, to receive an email at blog@pokerstars.com from FBI Headquarters in Washington. We instantly feared the worst - perhaps the FBI was to tell us we had been conned and our bank accounts were being fleeced.

But no. It turns out this was another piece of good news. Dr Chad L. Fulgham was writing from the FBI to tell us his department had discovered we were owed $6million from China. We're not sure how, but we're certainly not questioning it, although his yahoo.cn email address is a worry (shouldn't it be fbi.com or something?). Nonetheless, we're sending him the $150 he needs to get the ball rolling.

So, we're now up to $18million this week. Quite impressive, we think you'll agree. -- SY

12.10pm: Delayed start
The players are here but not yet ready to play. Chips are on the table but the usual preliminaries are taking a few minutes. Play should be under way soonish. When play does start the blinds will be 12,000-24,000 with a 2,000 ante. -- SB

Welcome back for the final table of EPT Vilamoura, the culmination of five days of play that began with a field of 384. Those players are just a memory now as the last eight emerge to fight it out for a first prize of €467,835.

The leader coming into the final is Englishman Toby Lewis, who last night snatched the chip lead from countryman Sam Trickett at the bell, ahead by just 4,000. Behind them is soccer legend Teddy Sheringham, making the top three an all English affair that we couldn't believe either. The table will line up like this:

Seat 1: Teddy Sheringham, 44, UK, Friend of PokerStars - 1,783,000
Seat 2: Toby Lewis, 20, UK, PokerStars player - 3,322,000
Seat 3: Martin Jacobson, Sweden, PokerStars qualifier - 441,000
Seat 4: Jason "JaspudUF" Lee, 25, Florida, USA PokerStars qualifier - 1,167,000
Seat 5: Sergio Coutinho, 30, Oporto, Portugal - 872,000
Seat 6: Sam Trickett, 24, Nottingham, UK - 3,318,000
Seat 7: Rob Hollink, 48, Groningen , Netherlands - 259,000 chips
Seat 8: Frederik Jensen, 28, Denmark, PokerStars player - 375,000

Lewis seems confident, or at least he's looking forward to the final. His Facebook status this morning reads: "BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM! 1/8 into the FINAL! Lets f do this 480k euros yes." I think that says it all.

And so to it. The players are arriving, well kind of. Martin Jacobson was just seen still eating breakfast back at the hotel and to be honest I can't see any of the others. But we're assured they're on their way, undergoing the rigours of a pre-match photo shoot with Neil Stoddart before taking their seats in Casino Vilamoura's tournament coliseum.

In honour of this momentous occasion the blog team are each decked out in ceremonial battle dress today, complete with staff blazers and ties, decorative sash, plus fours, tricorne hats and campaign medals. All except Rick Dacey, who follows us all making horse noises with two coconut shells. As leader Simon Young is entitled to carry a side arm.

Live coverage will begin shortly. You can find regularly updated chip counts throughout the day on the chip count page, while all the results will be posted on the prize winners page as we inch nearer to a winner. Fancy starting from the beginning? Then all news from Vilamoura is posted at this convenient link.

PokerStars Blog reporting team at EPT Vilamoura (in order of Octopus eaten this week): Rick Dacey (1), Stephen Bartley (1), Marc Convey (1 tentacle) and Simon Young (not on your life). Photos by Neil Stoddart.