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While the first days of poker started at the WSOP in Las Vegas, there was a final showdown on PokerIsland. Not on a casino floor, but in the middle of an island paradise! A total of seven players went to their bwin Magic Moment stop in the exclusive villa on PokerIsland. After stops at Real Madrid, AC Milan, and the MotoGP the players finally used their tickets for the trip to PokerIsland.

What is PokerIsland? - Poker on an island? Yes it is, but that's not all. It's poker on a paradise island in a luxury villa with a full slate of adventures waiting for the players, including sightseeing trips, contests, and nights out on the town.

A stay at PokerIsland includes it all, sailing trips, visiting the most exclusive bars, and a very special host: Luca Toni. The soccer star usually enchants his fans at Bayern Munich, but this time he was the one being enchanted by the impressive PokerIsland villa.

From the stretch limo ride to the yacht and off to the "Privilege" - the hottest club in Ibiza, where there were reserved bwin VIP boxes reserved for the players.

Top events, TV cameras and the bwin Poker Team ... As always, there was a seat for the Magic Moments of Poker finals up for grabs. The winner at the final will be a regular bwin Poker Team member, traveling to the biggest poker events around the world, winning a sponsorship package worth $100,000, with the bwin poker blog following them around the globe.

With all of the fun out of the way, it was time to get serious for the PokerIsland final tournament, which would feature a televised table. The starting stacks were 15,000 chips, with the blinds increasing every 30 minutes and starting at 25/50. Only the winner of the semifinal will go to the MMOP Final in Vienna to play for the $100,000 sponsorship package. All or nothing! 
So much for the hard facts, but who will stand up as winner in front of the cameras? How will the TV studio atmosphere affect the players?

Seat 1: Gabriroma88 - He wants a WSOP bracelet! A little late for this year, but if he prevails in the MMOP, he will get a few opportunities in 2010. The former airport employee from Rome plays about 15 hours of poker per week - will this training pay off?

Seat 2: Julion550 - The 43-year-old Frenchman is a real estate agent - will this make him an inscrutable poker player? He started playing poker 2 years ago, apart from poker he loves to go fishing - the question is, how many fish are sitting at the table ...

Seat 3: ivichuelas - His favorite hand is AA, his favorite player Carlos Mortensen (will he sit next to his idol in one of the future major poker tournaments?). He already won this $7,000 package for MMOP Poker Island, can the 25-year-old Spaniard from Madrid turn it into a $100,000 bwin team package?

Seat 4: senterpied - 50 hours per week sitting at online poker tables, six years of experience and a job of which many dream: Professional poker player! On paper he seems to be the strongest player, can he live up to that on the TV poker table! The highlights for this young Welshman MMOP over the weekend: The stretch limousine, the sailing trip to Formentera, and hopefully the following MMOP semifinal.

Seat 5: Brook65 - "Poker is a simple game, you just need to win the last hand" - there is obviously some truth in this, but will he still be around when the last hand gets dealt? We hope the best for the employee from Innsbruck!

Seat 6: rominhio - A 26-year-old Frenchman, playing poker for 2 years. His greatest success so far was the Magic Moments of Poker Package for Poker Island. If he wins today he could still beat his own record, when he plays for a $100,000 bwin Poker team membership!

Seat 7: Eeszz - He already wants to return to PokerIsland as soon as possible - what better compliment could we ask for? The 18-year-old sports student from Holland plays for about 2 hours per week at bwin poker, but as a footballer and a fitness freak, he should be able to sustain the estimated 8-10 hours at the poker table.

"Shuffle up and Deal"! The best of luck to all the players and a good poker game!

At the dinner break the two Frenchmen have the shortest stacks at the table. The blinds are 200/400 with antes, the players are gradually forced to act ...

Brook65: 19,350
senterpied: 19,275
Eeszz: 18,625
Gabriroma88: 18,050
ivichuelas: 15,325
rominhio: 8,275
Julion550: 6,100

After a long time as small stack Julion550 had to push. While it was not his favorite hand Ax Ax , he still had A♣ Q♣. Eeszz calls with K♠ T♠ and a king on the turn sends the likeable Frenchman to the Rail.

The blinds are 400/800. Eeszz has a slight chip lead, but the rest of the field is close. No time for resting, because only the first place is going to big MMOP final!

Aso the new short stack rominhio tries to save himself. With K♥ 9♦ he pushes with 6,250 chips and gets the call from senterpied (A♠ 9♥). The board brings Q♠ J♦ 2♦ 7♥ 4♦ and rominhio has to leave his seat. He qualified for this unforgettable MMOP Poker Island weekend, unfortunately didn't get the right cards at the poker table.

The new chip count:

Gabriroma88 26,200
ivichuelas 23,975
senterpied 22,475
Brook65 16,875
Eeszz 15,525

The rookie is out! The 18-year-old Eeszz tried to close up to the leader with his pocket nines. But he ran straight into Pocket Kings of ivichuelas. No help from the board and the youngest player has to leave the table. His biggest dream is to come back to PokerIsland one day. A wish that could turn into reality next year on bwin Poker! Good luck for the future.

The veteran on the Rail - senterpied out! He played some good poker, built his stack time after time, maybe a little to decisive in his last hand. After a raise to 3800 by ivichuelas, senterpied pushed with A♥ T♥. ivichuelas called, showing A♣ Q♣. The board of 8h 6♦ 3♥ 2♦ 8♠ gave senterpied a flush draw on the flop, but he couldn't get there.

That left just three players remaining:

ivichuelas: 60,000
Gabriroma88 26,000
Brook65 18,000

Stack redistribution. After an all-in showdown between Brook65 and ivichuelas the Austrians wins a large pot. K♠ J♣ (Brook65) against A♠ T♣ (ivichuelas). Brook65 wins the pot with the King on the River. Same thing next hand. Brook65 takes a giant pot against ivichuelas.

New chip count:

Ivichuelas: 41,000 

Gabriroma88: 34,000
Brook65: 29,000

After an extremely aggressive push-or-fold period, Gabriroma88 had to bury his hopes. He goes all-in with J♠ 8♦, Brook65 calls with 9♦ 5♦. The flop brings the 9 and no runner-runner miracle for Gabriroma88. That means heads-up between Brook65 and the local ivichuelas.

Brook65 and his 71,900 chips were the favorite when heads-up started against ivichuelas 33,100 chips. ivichuelas can double up right away and push himself into lead. The blinds already at 4000/8000, the decision was in the air. With K♠9♠ agains 4♣ 4♦, ivichuelas' overcards came out victourious with a King on the river and the Spaniard had a 4:1 lead.

While ivichuelas was stacking his chips after this the big hand, Brook65 pushed with J♥ 7♥, followed by an immediate with A♥ 6♦. Conclusion: 2♠ Ax 4♥ 5♦ A♣.

Congratulations to all the players, who performed well at the poker table and delivered the most exciting semifinals of MMOP history! ivichuelas wins it all: Five days in paradise and a ticket to the final!

The next stop of the Magic Moments of Poker Tour is at the German champion Bayern Munich.

ivichuelas - Winner Interview

The Magic Moments of Poker have another winner! ivichuelas was able to get one of the MMOP Final tickets. The 25-year-old Spaniard - perhaps soon to join the bwin Poker team - in an interview.

You spent almost a week at the Magic Moments of Poker Tour PokerIsland - what was the absolute highlight, your Magic Moment?

I had fun at all the activities, I guess it was the boat trip to Formentera that I enjoyed most. The ship was beautiful, turquoise blue sea and the beach of Formentera, just wonderful.

How was the meeting with guest star Luca Toni in the Poker Villa?

I am a big football fan. Getting to know a player like Luca Toni and talk to him is an opportunity one doesn't get every day. In addition, the villa is just a dream.

What does a typical day at the Magic Moments of Poker at Poker Island look like?

The whole trip was excellently organized. Impossible to get bored, there was always something to do. The only time to rest was after meals. Then we went to one of the countless trips to explore the island. After dinner we usually went out and partied until early morning. Naturally, as a good Spaniards I like to sleep a little longer. But on a trip like this should you have to exploit every moment.

What do you think about the other qualifiers for the MMOP PokerIsland? Did you find some new friends?

We had a lot of fun. At first I found it very difficult to speak English, but we helped each other over all linguistic barriers. We were all roughly the same age, perfect for group dynamics. It was an unforgettable experience to get to know the others and became really close friends. We are still in touch through the internet.

Did you expect to win the MMOP semifinal? Especially in the very aggressive stage, when only Brook65 and Gabriroma88 sat at the table?

Not at all! At this time I had lost most of my chips to them and only a small stack. I had to think hard what cards to play to have a chance for the win. Apparently the luck was on my side. I just can't believe I won!

How long you been playing poker?

I started at bwin Poker two years ago. I knew bwin from sports betting, then one day I saw they offered poker, so I followed a friend's advice and gave it a try. I started with play money to practice. Later, I met with friends, working on our poker. Thats how everything started.

What is your biggest poker success?

Apart from a little money on the Internet I won some Sit and Go's at the Casino in Madrid. My greatest success, however, was the qualification for the MMOP final.

The crucial question: Why will YOU win the final of the MMOP and become the new member of the bwin Poker team?

Actually, I wanted to qualify for the semi final for the trip! It wasn't really about winning more. But now that I actually managed to qualify for the final, I think that I have the same odds as in the semifinal, where ultimately everything went well. Now I want to win because I managed to get so far. bwin offers me the opportunity to become a professional player - it would be a shame not to take it.

And with that another successful edition of PokerIsland was concluded. We'll leave you with a few more photos of the amazing villa and island where all the action happened at: