The final table in the €1,100 EPT National is set after Gaelle Baumann was the one to bubble the final table. With ten players left, Michal Mrakes opened with from the cutoff, Baumann three-bet shoved 1,300,000 (16 big blinds) on the button with and Mrakes called. The best hand held up to send the French pro to the rail in 10th place (€15,830).
The final table is set with the following players and chip counts. Players will return in the level 40,000/80,000.
It didn't take long for the players in the €2,200 EPT National High Roller to reach the final three tables. Dario Sammartino is the man in charge with 1,400,000 in chips, while players like Alexandre Reard (600,000), Lily Kiletto (400,000), Leo Margets (350,000) and Jeff Hakim (250,000) are still in contention as well.
They'll play down until a winner is crowned later tonight, with €173,000 up for grabs for first.
At the first break, the field in the €1,100 EPT National is down to its final 13 players. Two-time National winner Georgios Vrakas was the last to go just shortly before the break.
From under the gun, Vrakas moved in with his last 12 big blinds holding . Guillaume Diaz called in middle position with and Vrakas was unable to connect to the board. The Greek received €9,700 for his 14th place finish.
The stacks of the 13 remaining players are as follows. Federico Petruzzelli holds the chip lead with 9,000,000, followed by Diaz (7,200,000) and Michal Mrakes 5,000,000. Team PokerStars Pro Online Randy "nanonoko" Lew sits in fourth place with 4,100,000.
A Spanish translator is present to make sure nothing gets lost in translation, but the first thing out of the tennis star's mouth needs no translation:
"I love poker," he says with a big grin.
"I've played poker for many years," he continued. "I've played many LAPT events in the past and was invited by PokerStars to come over here. Obviously, I'm very excited to play at this fantastic event."
According to The Hendon Mob, Zabaleta cashed two LAPT events in Lima, Peru, back in 2012: a fifth place in a $500 turbo event ($2,100) and 28th place a day later in the $1,100 Grand Final ($1,875). It shows Zabaleta's passion for poker goes back a while. Did he discover poker while playing the APT tour?
"I love tennis just like I love poker," he said. "You have to be prepared. Playing poker gives me the same adrenaline as playing tennis. That's why many other tennis players have been interested in playing poker as well."
Zabaleta's tennis career has been a major success, with three singles titles, five runner-up finishes and $3,204,127 in career prize money. His highest ranking was 21st, back in 2000. Zabaleta's deepest run at a Grand Slam event was at the 2001 US Open, where he made the quarterfinal as an unseeded player.
When asked about his best poker results, Zabaleta erupts in laughter.
"I play like shit."
Playing "like shit" or not, Zabaleta's competitive drive is present in poker as well.
"I've always wanted to get to a final table," he said. "I've been able to get from a Day 1 to a Day 2, and even a Day 3, but I'm not really making any money. As an average Joe, just like other people can't imagine playing tennis for four, five hours straight, I can't believe poker players can do that. After eight, nine hours, my mind is so exhausted. It's really tough to win a tournament."
After hanging up his rackets, Zabaleta became a TV host for ESPN and presents the very popular Argentinian show "Con Amigos Así" (translated as: "with friends like this [who needs enemies]"). Famous athletes often appear on the show and they do what Zabaleta called "fun stuff."
To get an idea of "Con Amigos Así," check out the video below of the latest episode.
Back in his heyday as a tennis pro, Zabaleta was known for his unusual but effective service. Has the Argentinean brought the proverbial ace up his sleeve to the poker table as well?
"I don't play enough to know," Zabaleta admitted. "I play whatever seems right at the time. If it feels good, I go for it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't," he concluded with a laugh.
Zabaleta has played the €2,200 National High Roller, but wasn't able to cash, and will play the Right to Play Charity Tournament on April 28 at 6 p.m.
He may never reach $3 million like he did on the tennis court, but Zabaleta will continue to enjoy the game, especially as a celebrity guest of PokerStars.
Mariano Zabaleta playing the €2,200 EPT National High Roller
Isaac Haxton was the first casualty at the final table here in the €100K Super High Roller.
The poker legend defended his big blind with when Christoph Vogelsang opened in the small blind with . The flop came and Haxton called a large continuation-bet. On the turn, Vogelsang barreled big again with 350,000 into 410,000. Haxton had about 1.3 million and shoved all in.
Vogelsang took a bit of thinking time but did make the call, seeing he needed to dodge eight outs. The wasn't one of them and Haxton took his leave with a small profit of €13K booked as he was in for three shells.
Vogelsang, already coming in with the chip lead, now has nearly half of the chips with 4.9 million.
There are four tournaments on the docket for Saturday scheduled to get coverage here on PokerNews, and they run the gamut of buy-ins, ranging from €330 to €100K.
Perhaps most relevant for poker fans will be the conclusion of the €100K Super High Roller, set to play to a conclusion when a winner will pocket €1,520,000. A loaded final six has emerged from a field of 44, with all of the remaining players in the money.
Everyone is looking up at Christoph Vogelsang, as the scarf-wearing German bagged over 100 big blinds to notch a decent lead over the red-hot Sam Greenwood — the Canadian enters having shipped two recent high roller events, one for over $1.2 million in Barcelona.
Also of import, the Main Event at least gets under way. The marathon grind begins with the first of two starting days, with players able to enter — and now reenter once, for the first time ever — at the €5,300 price point. Ten levels are on tap today and we'll bring you hand history coverage right here on PokerNews.
Two prominent side events will conclude as well.
The €1,100 EPT National has just 24 players remaining in contention for a €250K first-place prize. Chip leader Michal Mrakes, PokerStars Team Pro Online Randy Lew and Gaelle Baumann appear to be the headliners.
Meanwhile, the €2,200 EPT National High Roller sees 55 players return out of 462. They're fighting for a €173K windfall. Plenty of big names remain in contention, including Leo Margets, Dario Sammartino, Jack Salter and Rainer Kempe.
Finally, the third and fourth flights of the €330 EPT Cup will go down.
PokerNews will bring you recaps, features and updates from all of the above throughout the day.
from the cutoff, Baumann three-bet shoved 1,300,000 (16 big blinds) on the button with 
and Mrakes called. The best hand held up to send the French pro to the rail in 10th place (€15,830).
. Guillaume Diaz called in middle position with 
when Christoph Vogelsang opened in the small blind with 
. The flop came 
and Haxton called a large continuation-bet. On the 
turn, Vogelsang barreled big again with 350,000 into 410,000. Haxton had about 1.3 million and shoved all in.
wasn't one of them and Haxton took his leave with a small profit of €13K booked as he was in for three shells.