DARREN BLOOM FIRST MAN THROUGH TO SEMI-FINALS - 12/09/2006

Darren "The Snake" Bloom is the first man through to the semi-finals after a convincing display in his first round heat.

Roope and Le Mesurier share Tour Championship lead

Mark Muldoon started off on fire, showing aggression, he was hitting everything, taking chips from everyone. Darren ‘The Snake’ Bloom started off slow along with the ‘Steelman’ Dave Broadhurst, Eamonn O’Neil liked to bet his hands but was getting caught out by Norman Pace and Muldoon. The young gun Patrick Neckelmann was fairly quiet but then made a move and knocked out Eamonn O’Neil.

O’Neil was dealt 8,8 and raised, Neckelmann called, the flop came down J,A,10 they both checked, the turn came down 9, Neckelmann fired out with the bet and O’Neil called, the killer card then came down for O’Neil an 8. That gave O’Neil a set of 8’s but gave Neckelmann a straight he put O’Neil all in and immediately O’Neil called and was sent packing.

It was then Patrick’s turn to be taught a lesson, he went all in with K, 4, and was called by Norman Pace with the pocket rockets. The flop came down 2, 10, 4 giving Patrick four spades and a pair off fours. The turn and river brought him no luck and was knocked out.

The ‘Steelman’ Dave Broadhurst was quiet all game and went all in with 10, 8 off suit, again Norman Pace called with Q, 8. No cards came down to help Broadhurst and he was knocked out.

Down to the last three and Norman Pace was setting the standard and taking the chip lead with 275,000 in chips.

Darren Bloom then raised to 50,000 total with his pocket ten’s and Norman went all in with A, 8 suited. Darren thought long and hard while sipping his water and eventually called.

The flop came down 7d, 6c, 6h, the turn 9h giving Pace a flush draw and a an open ended straight draw. The river came down Qc and Norman was down to his last 12,000 chips.

Very next hand and Norman was all in on the small blind, Bloom raised and Muldoon folded. Norman showed 7, 3 and Bloom A, 3. Bloom hit his straight on the turn and the only card to save Norman was a 6 to give him the higher straight, but it didn’t come down and he was off to the green room.

Head’s up between Muldoon, the early pace setter and Bloom. It didn’t last that long, with both players having 300,000 chips each, the pivotal hand came along.

Muldoon holding pocket 7’s raised and Bloom went all in with A, Q suited. The flop brought no help for Bloom, but then the gods smiled on Bloom he hit an Ace on the turn.

Muldoon needed a 7 to win but it never came.

Bloom wins through to the Semi’s and a chance of the $200,000 first prize.