Under unknown circumstances Sylvain Loosli just got knocked out against Philipp Gruissem at one of the outer tables.
This is an important development for Team UK who needs to jump over at least one team to stay in the race. Team France is near the bottom of the standings, but the UK needs a lot of help still to stay alive.
One more time, from the Global Poker Masters website:
THE QUARTERFINALS (day 2 – March 22nd)
With the 8th place team already eliminated and the Playoff winner leapfrogging directly into the Semifinals we are now left with the 6 remaining teams in the Quarterfinals all playing each other in a series of “Best out of 3” Heads-Up matches to determine which 5 teams will move onto the Semifinals and which team will be eliminated.
Heads-Up Quarterfinals
2th Seeded Team
vs.
7nd Seeded Team
3rd Seeded Team
vs.
6th Seeded Team
4th Seeded Team
vs.
5th Seeded Team
Each Heads-Up match will be played by a different player of each competing team. This means each competing country will need to deliberate and decide which 3 of its teammates will represent them during Heads-Up play.
After a total of 9 Heads-Up matches, Quarterfinal points are tallied and combined with playoffs points to determine the Semifinal chip count. The team with the lowest amount of point after the Playoffs & Quarterfinals is eliminated from competition.
THE SEMIFINALS (day 2 – March 22nd)
The Semifinals Play Out As A 6-max Sit-n-go’s, With 1 Player Each Representing Their Nation & Play Down To A Champion.
The remaining 6 Nations each select a player to represent their team in the Semifinals. Play begins as normal deep stacked 6-Max action with each team’s starting stack dictated by how many points (chips) they were able to win as a team during the Playoffs & Quarterfinals.
The Semifinals will last for 4 hours of play – or until action gets down to Heads-Up play.
TBD: Teams may be able to “tag” one another in and out of play during the Semifinals.
THE FINALS (day 2 – March 22nd)
Once Semifinal Play Gets Down To Heads-up Action Play Pauses & All 10 Remaining Players Split Off Into 5 Heads-up Matches Simultaneously, Each Using Their Teams’ Stack As It Was At The Conclusion Of The Semifinals.
All remaining players participate concurrently, playing Heads-Up against opposing Team members w/ each side using their Teams’ end-of 6-Max Semifinal chip stacks to play.
The GPM Finals play out until one of the 2 remaining Teams’ players have won 3 out of 5 concurrent Heads-Up matches - this team is crowned Champion of the 2015 Global Poker Masters.
Yesterday at the Draw Party, some teams were concerned that two Time Bank Chips per heat, per team wouldn't be enough. That was proved wrong as very few players have found the need to use them, so teams have amassed quite a few by the time the last heat started.
If you could rely on one man to find a spot to use them up, that man would be Marvin Rettenmaier.
He and Marc-Andre Ladouceur made it to the river where the board rested as . Ladouceur set the German in for his last 6,550 and he took three minutes and thirty seconds (using three Time Bank Chips) to fold face up. Ladouceur was then goaded into showing his bluff with .
Moments after the big hand you just read about, it all came to an end for Rettenmaier. His opponent was once again Marc-Andre Ladouceur.
Giuliano Bendinelli opened under the gun for 700 and small blind Marc-Andre Ladouceur three bet to 2,200. Big blind Marvin Rettenmaier didn't need any time bank now, he shoved all in for 6,625.
Bendinelli folded but Ladouceur tanked for a bit and said "Ok, I'll gamble" and called.
Rettenmaier was up to his old tricks again, first showing the and waiting for Ladouceur to turn over his . Rettenmaier then showed his accompanying and Ladouceur showed the .
The flop came . on the turn helped Ladouceur in front. The on the river wasn't one of the cards Rettenmaier needed and he made his way to the exit.
Giuliano Bendinelli has been crushing so far today, but found himself short in Heat 5 just now. Not to worry though, he's back in it after doubling up through Eugene Katchalov.
Bendinelli shoved for 7,350 and Katchalov made the call in position.
Team Italy was behind holding as Team Ukraine had .
The flop was though, and Bendinelli was in front all of the sudden. The on the turn and on the river didn't change anything and Katchalov handed over 7,350 in chips.
"How does he do it?" Marc-Andre Ladouceur laughed. "And I've heard it isn't the first time today either"
"It's crazy. I win 95 percent of showdowns. Its amazing" Bendinelli laughed while stacking his newfound chips.
and Busquet bet 2,200. Palumbo folded.
on the turn and 
on the river effectively didn't change a thing and Duhamel headed back to his hotel.
face up. Ladouceur was then goaded into showing his bluff with 
.
. 
on the turn helped Ladouceur in front. The 
on the river wasn't one of the cards Rettenmaier needed and he made his way to the exit.
.
and Grospellier doubled.
turn and river sealed Frank's place on the rail.
on the turn and