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Yes, as the saying goes ‘all good things must come to an end’, and unfortunately this is true of the bwin team’s trip to the PokerNews Cup Alpine.

After a glorious week of non-stop poker and partying in the Austrian Alps, the time has come for the 24 bwin team members to make their way back home, but before we sign off let’s take a look back at some of the many highlights of the week. Snowmobiling, partying, loads of skiing and snowboarding, exciting action at the poker tables, great food, and then when it all got too much there was the fabulous Alpine Palace Spa for relaxation. What a week!

View from the top - The breathtaking views of Hinterglemm-Salbaach

The Money Gang - A KIA (€4,820), _Aasisdebaas and mr.schne (€3,100 each) were the big winners at the poker table

All Class - The luxurious Alpine Palace Hotel

The team tearing up the snowmobiling track

Sirin-22 and billybillard (samsampson) carvin' it up on the slopes....

...... and then livin' it up in the spa....

Smiling Assassin- The always happy A KIA had plenty to smile about after finishing in 9th place in the Main Event

Cheers! miniguss1 and thomasPille enjoying a beer

-NUTS6020- enjoying himself in the hot tub with his girlfriend Sanela

PokerNews Cup Alpine Champion Mark Naalden

French team member lamarcouille enjoying the dinner buffet

KristapsK3 giving it the thumbs up!

It's always fun when Poker Island winner Sirin-22 is around

MickeMusxxx, KungBoan and mr-Schne relaxing in the poker room

Well folks that’s it for the PokerNews Cup Alpine! It has been an incredible week for all involved and a big thank you goes out to PokerNews and a big congratulations to all the players involved. Liked what you have seen here at the PokerNews Cup? Then make sure you Qualify Now for the bwin team’s next event; WPT Venice! See you there!

Before the bwin team pulls up stumps here at the PokerNews Cup Alpine, I think it is important to emphasis just how incredible the stay has been here at the Alpine Palace Hotel. bwin team members are always used to VIP treatment, but I think what the team has experienced this week would have to be at the very top of the list as far as luxury goes. With access to the Alpine Palace Health Spa, exquisite buffets for breakfast and dinner, and a 6 day ski lift past with some of Austria’s best slopes right outside the front door, I am not sure there has ever been a trip where players have ever been treated better.

To show everyone out the terrible conditions the players have had to endure, we used the late to the day Day 3 of the Main Event to follow around team veterans samsampson (billybillard), Sirin-22 and -NUTS6020- and capture their experience here at the PokerNews Cup Alpine. Here is the video and photos we got from following these guys around for the morning;

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bwin Team member A KIA has just been eliminated from the final table of the PokerNews Cup Alpine in 9th position. A KIA started the day with a short stack of 74,100 and things got worse on the 2nd hand of the day when A KIA came up against chip leader Mark Vos and, after trying to defend his BB, he ended up folding away 20k.

A KIA then pushed all-in twice within a few rotations, but found no takers. With the three other short stacks at the table then doubling up, A KIA clearly became the shortest stack at the table and looked like he running out of time to make a move. With the blinds increasing to 3000/6000/500 A KIA shoved from EP and the action was folded around to Joseph Buhmann on BB who only needed to put in another 15 to make the call. Buhmann somewhat reluctantly chucked the extra 15K in the middle and turned over 7♣8♦ and A KIA turned over 9♦T♣ to be leading the race.

A KIA was up against Joseph Buhmann for his tournament life

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Tournament director Thomas Lamatsch has just individually introduced each player on the final table and called shuffle up and deal. We had the chance to have a quick chat with A KIA before he took his seat and he seemed extremely relaxed and in good spirits. He said he was looking forward the challenge of playing on the final table and was hoping for the best.

When arriving into the poker room A KIA was the centre of attention due to his colourful tie with other players, dealers, journalists and spectators all commenting on how cool it looked. Maybe it will be his lucky charm!

The dealer for the final table was very impressed with A KIA's tie, let's hope he give him some good cards!

The PokerNews Cup Trophy is up for grabs

Day 3 of the PokerNews Cup Alpine Main Event is about to kick off and bwin team member A KIA is ready to take his seat on the final table. With 74,100 in chips, A KIA will be one of the shorter stacks on the table, but with 60 minute blind levels starting at 2000/4000/400 he still has a bit of time to find the right spot to double up and make a run at the big cash.

A KIA looking very relaxed this morning

With first place paying a whopping €46,474 so it is going to be a big payday for one player, let’s hope that player is our man A KIA. Standing in his way is Australian pro Mark Vos who has a commanding chip lead with 538,000 in chips and seemingly the approval of the poker gods. Vos has been running incredibly hot so far this tournament and doesn’t seem able lose a showdown, no matter how far behind he is when the chips go in the middle.

A KIA will have to get past chip leader Mark Vos if he wants to take home 1st prize

Here is a look at the full payout structure for the final table and how a look at all the players who will be taking their seats:

Seat 1: Marc Naalden – 251,200
Seat 2: Fedor Los – 286,700
Seat 3: Simon Borg – 75,800
Seat 4: Salvatore Cundari – 116,800
Seat 5: Mark Vos – 548,800
Seat 6: Runnar Lindepuu – 391,300
Seat 7: Joseph Buhmann – 126,300
Seat 8: Jan Hlobil – 84,400
Seat 9: A KIA – 74,100

Payout Structure:

1st: € 46,474
2nd: € 29,940
3rd: € 19,780
4th: € 16,340
5th: € 12,900
6th: € 10,320
7th: € 8,080
8th: € 6,360
9th: € 4,820

It’s not long now until the cards will be in the air so make sure you keep it tuned the bwin Pokerblog to follow A KIA’s quest for PokerNews Cup Alpine glory.

With _Aasisdebaas’ busting in 10th place, bwin team member A KIA has just made it through to the end of Day 2 and the final table of the PokerNews Cup Alpine Main Event! A KIA had a great day, starting with a stack of 64,000, before building it as high as 166,000 and then finishing the day with a respectable 74,100.

A KIA counting up his chips after play

All smiles - A KIA

In great story A KIA actually qualified for the PokerNews Cup Alpine on bwin for only $1 and now is guaranteed at least €4,820. Who knows, maybe he will even be able to run hot on the final table and pick up the first prize of €46,474. Turning $1 into €46,474, now that would be good ROI! However, the money isn’t the only thing A KIA’s mind, if he is able to win tomorrow he have the honour of beating out some great players to pick up the PokerNews Cup Main Alpine Event Trophy.

A KIA

One such player standing in A KIA’s way is Australian Pro Mark Vos. Vos is a big time pro with a WSOP bracelet and millions in online winnings. Vos has already won Event #2 at the PokerNews Cup Alpine and is a huge chip leader at the final table with 548,000 in chips.

Mark Vos

Here is the full final table with chip counts;

Seat 1: Marc Naalden – 251,200
Seat 2: Fedor Los – 286,700
Seat 3: Simon Borg – 75,800
Seat 4: Salvatore Cundari – 116,800
Seat 5: Mark Vos – 548,800
Seat 6: Runnar Lindepuu – 391,300
Seat 7: Joseph Buhmann – 126,300
Seat 8: Jan Hlobil – 84,400
Seat 9: A KIA – 74,100

Well that’s all for today folks, it was a great day for the bwin team with _Aasisdebaas and mr.schne each taking home €3,100 and A KIA making winning his way to the final table. Play will continue tomorrow at 4pm local time and we will be here like always keeping you up-to-date with all the action. How much can A KIA win? Make sure you stay tuned to the bwin Pokerblog to find out!

Dutch team member _Aasisdebaas has just bubbled the final table and been eliminated in 10th position.

The hand started with _Aasisdebaas looking down on A♥3♥ and facing one limper from UTG. _Aasisdebaas shoved his stack of approximately 35K in over the top and the action was folded back to UTG. Sitting on a huge stack UTG made an easy call turning over A♠J♥. _Aasisdebaas really wanted see a three or some hearts, but the board ran out Q♦7♣9♣2♠5♥ with no help.

_Aasisdebaas - Laughing all the way to the bank

After his bust _Aasisdebaas said he was pretty disappointed not to make it onto to the final table, but I think he should be very proud of his efforts considering how short stacked he was all day. I am sure once he get’s some time to reflect on his day today he will be pretty damn proud of himself as well… and the €3100 will certainly provide some nice consolation!

After playing extremely patiently to make it into the money, Swedish team member mr.schne exploded into action once the bubble burst and after a rollercoaster few minutes has been busted in 12th position.

Firstly mr.schne doubled up to 80k through chip leader Mark Vos when his Q♣9♥ connected with the board to bring down Vos’ 8♥A♦. A few hands later mr.schne picked up J♠J♥ and this time was ahead when he got it all in against his opponents A♥K♠. mr.schne moved further ahead with a blank flop, but a A♦ on the turn crippled him back down to only 25k.

With the blinds at 2000/4000/200 it wasn’t long until mr.schne was in the action again, picking up A♥9♥ in MP and shoving in. The cut off called with A♣4♦ and BB called with K♠Q♦ to make it a three way pot. The cut off took the lead on the flop of 3♥4♣J♠, but then T♣ on the turn and 9♦ on the flop gave BB runner runner straight to take the three-way pot and eliminate mr.Schne.

mr.Schne capped of a great time in Austria with €3,100

mr.Schne will take home €3,100 for his 12th place and get’s a big congrats from everyone bwin! Great work fella!

Daniel Perfeito has just claimed the dubious crown of ‘bubble boy’ after coping a very nasty runner runner flush beat from chip leader Mark Vos. It is never nice to be eliminated on the bubble, especially not in such sick circumstances. The up shot of this is that the payout structure has now been reached and bwin Team members A KIA, mr.Schne and _Aasisdebaas are all guaranteed at least €2,580. Well done guys, now make it all the way to the final table!

Ching Ching - Congrats to A KIA, mr.Schne, and _Aasisdebaas

Blinds have just moved up to 2000/4000 with a 400 ante and here our the chips counts:

A KIA: 147,000 in chips
mr.Schne: 45,000 in chips
_Aasisdebaas: 32,000 in chips

Chip leader: Mark Vos – 570,000 in chips
Ave Stack: 205,000 in chips

Charly Le Guillou has just been busted in 17th place so we are now on the money bubble. This means we now have at least two team members guaranteed to cash! _Aasisdebaas is the only player who is short, still just below the 30k mark. He hasn’t been afraid to get his chips in as we approached the bubble, but has not yet found a caller to one of his shoves. Stealing the blinds and antes is keeping him afloat and hopefully it will be enough to get him past the bubble and into the money.