Ali didn’t join the rest of us for dinner .. too wound up and ready for action .. do or die .. boom or bust.  First hand back he goes all-in with 64 off suit and called by Tony with pocket 99’s.  Ali makes a straight when the board comes 5778K and he’s up to 360k.

Not slowing down Ali moves all-in over the top of Tony’s 40k bet for the full 360k and Tony calls with Ac8c.  Ali has made another play with 9h3h.

Tony flops a flush and takes it down and also takes down the title of the GUKPT Leg 7 Bolton Champion for 2008

Ali takes home £30,600

Tony has £52,850 plus a £3,000 seat to the grand final later in the year. 

and Tony Cascarino has ALL the chips headsup against Ali Mallu.  He’s left with just 120k as we take time out to eat and get refreshed.

Roberto Romanello didn’t last much longer, pushing in with JT for 60k and getting a call from Ali holding 83.  The board comes 2324A.  Roberto finishes in 3rd for £21,900

Next comes the utter destruction of Mallu’s gameplan and chip stack.  He’s busy chipping away at Tony Cascarino, slowly taking the lot when he decides he’s obviously bored and says “all-in” holding 84 on a 743 flop with Tony calling with Q7 and doubling up.  The very next hand “oh, let’s gamble!” from Mallu.  “All-in” preflop after Tony’s button 50k raise.  Immediate call from Tony who has pocket KK’s !! .. Ali with K8 offsuit !!!.. oh dear ! Ali down to the felt … why, why, why, oh why?

A couple of hands later and Mallu’s got an hour to contemplate how on earth he can come back from this.  If anyone can, he can … if he keeps his discipline.

.. and a full house for Roberto Romanello.

Blinds at 8k 16k ante 1k

Ali Mallu is totally dominant and in control of the final three.  He’s slowplaying, stealing and seemingly doing everything right.  Roberto has made a stand a couple of times, moving in on his BB and Tony appears weak in most pots.

Mallu and Romanello both see an unraised 45T flop with the welshman betting 20k and boltonman  calling.  A ten on the turn and 20k again with Mallu over the top to 75k. Romanello calls.  The river brings  another ten…!  Checked to Ali who bets 110k and it is called.  Ali with the case ten and Roberto with only a 5.  He’s left with just 75k now.

Ali Mallu 1.25 million

Tony Cascarino 333k

Roberto Romanello 298k

(short break)

Guess who done that then?  Rob tangled with Mallu once too often.  He doubles up to 215k offa Ali after the Baltiman made it 50k to go and Rob all-in for 50k more which Ali was obliged to call with his 72.  Rob with pocket 33’s.  A few hands later and they get it all-in on a flop of T73 with Ali holding 9T and Robin of Sherwood gets no steal with his A7.

Rob takes home £14,900 in his shirt flaps

It’s the Ali Mallu show !  He’s involved in most pots and  is out to win it for sure.  Ali’s had quite a few split pots .. Kevin and he both had 75 with Ali being the aggessor throughout after they flop an open-ended straight draw, then checked on the river when they missed.  He’s split with AQ after Rob Sherwood moved all-in for his last 100k. 

He takes out Kevin when holding pocket JJ’s against Lovejoy’s AK sooooted !

Kevin O’Leary leaves with £11,400 bundled into his shirt flaps.

Not quite the thriller in Manilla but the Baltiman from Bolton, who doubles up through Kevin O’Leary when he makes 2 pair with his QJ to “Lovejoy’s” pocket 44’s.  Kevin had made it 36k to go and then called the 150k all-in bet from the master.

(Apologies for the delay since our last update.  We’ve had a technical difficulty called Windows Vista)

Blinds at 6k 12k ante 1k

Mallu makes it 35k and Clough moves all-in for 14k more.  Called.  Mallu with KJ and Clough with A5.  Mallu makes a broadway straight by the turn and we say so long to Dennis Clough who pockets £8,750

Next hand and Mallu doubles up Romanello when they get it all-in with AT and AJ resp.  Roberto had raised UTG with Mallu on the BB and setting the fish fryer all-in.  Romanello now up to 320k and Mallu 160k

Surinder is a non-believer as he gets the clock called on him and with 20 secs to spare calls Kevin’s all-in bet with only overcards AcKc on a board showing 3 spades and a couple of 55’s.  Kevin has another one of them and Surinder goes home with £7,000.

Ali Mallu does the dirty on Sid when he finds Aces and raises Tony’s 30k bet to 120k with Sid calling all-in for 70k of it (Tony folds)

Sid has 5d6d (value call?.. why?).  The Aces of Mallu make a full house and Sid leaves with £5,250