The poker legend that is Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk, unfortunately, became the unfortunate one to bubble the €350 Open-Face Chinese.
He started what was going to become his final hand by distributing his first five cards:
- Top: A♣
- Middle: 7♦3♠
- Bottom: Q♣10♥
On his first drawing round, Franke improved to a pair in the middle row, and left the door open for a possible straight at the bottom:
- Top: A♣
- Middle: 7♦3♠3♥
- Bottom: Q♣10♥J♠
He didn’t get optimal cards on his second drawing round. He decided to improve to aces on the top, as well as pairing his ten at the bottom row:
- Top: A♣A♥
- Middle: 7♦3♠3♥
- Bottom: Q♣10♥J♠10♣
On his third drawing round, he found a three, but realized it would be too dangerous to put it in the middle, especially considering many queens, jacks, and tens were already out. Instead, he put it on the top, and put a six on he middle row:
- Top: A♣A♥3♦
- Middle: 7♦3♠3♥6♥
- Bottom: Q♣10♥J♠10♣
“Six ten, six ten, six ten,” Franke was praying as the dealer gave him his final three cards. He found the 6♣ to clean up his middle row, but the 4♦2♣ couldn’t see him improving to a superior two-pair on the bottom row. He started fake-crying, and then said, “Look at this!” as he saw that one of his opponents had found two cards that would have kept Franke alive, namely Q♦10♦. As his opponents were playing:
- Top: K♥A♠K♠
- Middle: 5♣5♠7♣7♥A♦
- Bottom: J♣9♥8♠10♦Q♦
And…
- Top: K♦Q♥7♠
- Middle: 5♦5♥9♣6♦4♠
- Bottom: Q♠10♠9♠J♦8♥
…they fiested on Franke’s remaining chips/points, and he became the unfortunate bubble boy. Being a crowd favorite in Tallinn, players and spectators were sad to see Franke go, but, perhaps, also a little bit relieved, considering he’s a very prominent player with a whopping seven Open-Face Chinese titles to his name. Perhaps Franke will be back tomorrow for redemption, seeing as Event #29: €555 Open-Face Chinese kicks off at 12:00.
Meanwhile, the remaining eight players are all guaranteed €720, and they’re continuing to battle it out for the €5,476 up-top. Finland’s Riku Koivurinne, who, together with Fabian Bartuschk, is arguably one of the best Open-Face Chinese players that there is, seems to have a very healthy stack.
