The Skrill Last Longer competition has been being held at each stop on this season’s EPT Main Events, of which they’re an official sponsor.
Over at the Main Event final table, just three Skrillees remain in the race in Malte Moennig, Antonio Buonanno, and Jack Salter. For updates from that tournament, click here.
The promotion is simple – players sign up for the promotion either online (preregistration is available) or at the Skrill booth (which will be present at each stop); don a Skrill patch; and then aim to be the last man or woman standing. The last player remaining will then receive their buy-in back via their Skrill account.
It's the last stop of Season 10, and that means it's the last Skill Last Longer competition of the season. On Day 1a, 214 players took their shot at poker glory on Day 1a, and of them 31 players participated in the contest, which was 14% of the field. Day 1b saw 41 players register, which was 10% of that starting field.
While Skrill upped the ante for Season 10 with a bigger branding initiative, it wasn't their first appearance on the EPT; as a matter of fact, they were a sponsor of Season 8 and have held previous “Last Longer” promotions.
The company’s website provides a bit more information on Skrill, which rebranded from Moneybookers back in 2010:
“Skrill has been moving money digitally since 2001. We offer online payment solutions for businesses and consumers, allowing them to pay and get paid globally. Over 36 million account holders already trust Skrill. Our customers can send and receive money worldwide in 200 countries and 40 currencies, securely and at low cost, without revealing their personal financial details. Your business will benefit from our worldwide payment network with over 100 payment options. Whether through a simple one-step integration or a fully-tailored payment solution. Whoever you are, however you like to pay or get paid, trust Skrill to make your online payments simpler, faster and safer.”
Headquartered in London, Skrill is looking to make their presence known in the poker world with a commitment to customer satisfaction through innovation and service. Not only that, they’re looking to be more than just a company by becoming a trusted and respected member of the poker community.
Philipp Gruissem opened for 80,000 and got called by Scott Seiver in the small blind and John Juanda in the big blind.
They saw a flop of . It checked to Gruissem who bet 125,000. Seiver was the only caller as they went to a turn of . Check-call again from Seiver, this time for 275,000.
The river card was the . When Seiver checked Gruissem went for a bet of 550,000 and Seiver stated to talk to himself, thinking out loud. In the end he made the call and when Gruissem showed him he mucked his cards.
First hand back after the break John Juanda opened shoved from the cutoff and Martin Finger declares himself all in too from the button. The blinds folded and the hands were turned over.
Juanda had and Finger the . The board ran out and Juanda doubled up through Finger.
On the next hand Juanda opened for 90,000 and Finger thought for a long time before saying, “All in.”
It folded back round to Juanda who didn’t take long to call.
Finger flipped over the and Juana had the . Final board of and Juanda passed his newly won chips back to Finger.
Chenxiang Miao opened for 65,000 and got one caller in Davidi Kitai.
They saw a flop of . Miao continued for 90,000 and Kitai made the call. The turn card was the and Miao quickly moved all in. Just as quickly Kitai made the call.
Miao: flush draw.
Kitai: trips on the turn.
The river card did not bring the needed spade for Miao and Kitai claimed another victim.
Byron Kaverman opened for 65,000 only to have Scott Seiver three-bet him to 200,000 from the small blind. Kaverman made the call and then folded to a bet of 260,000 on the flop.
In the next hand, Kaverman repeated his preflop action and Davidi Kitai decided to three-bet him from the cutoff, this time to 135,000. Kaverman made the call and then check-called a bet of 88,000 on the flop.
Kaverman checked for a second time on the turn, and Kitai fired out 255,000. It did the trick as Kaverman released his hand.
No big pots recently but some interesting dynamics nonetheless.
Davidi Kitai opened for 30,000 and then called a three-bet of 140,000 from Philipp Gruissem. The blinds folded and they saw a flop of Kitai checked and a continuation bet from Gruissem won the pot.
Scott Seiver opened for 65,000 and Martin Finger three-bet him to 140,000. A four bet of 350,000 from Seiver saw Finger quickly flick his cards away.
A rare open from Byron Kaverman for 60,000 saw Chenxiang Miao move all in and Kaverman fold when he got the count.
Seiver limed on the button and Finger checked his option in the big blind. They saw a flop of and Finger check-called a bet of 35,000 from Seiver. The turn was the and again Finger checked. This time he folded to a bet of 120,000 from Seiver.
Seiver raised to 70,000 from the cutoff and his only caller was Philipp Gruissem in the big blind. The flop was . Gruissem check-called a bet of 70,000 from Seiver and they both checked the turn and river . Gruissem showed the to win and Seiver claimed to have queen high but mucked.