Keiner chip leader in 888 Poker Open V Final - 06/11/2008

German WSOP Bracelet winner Michael Keiner is chip leader with 518,000 ahead of Friday's 888 Poker Open V final.

Stars within touching distance of European Tour

Keiner is 100,000 clear before the battle for the $250,000 begins after a fine performance in the third semi-final on Thursday evening, where internet qualifier Mike Partridge, who is the short stack with 182,000 also got through in the final semi which included Australian Tony G and Achilleas Kallakis in the line-up.

Poker pro Paul Zimbler aka The Marbella Kid takes 418,000 into the final after coming through a very tough second semi-final - with defending champ Feldman and UK Open II winner Ian Frazer alongside Andy Ward, Josh Tyler and James Dempsey. Richard Wheatley is a familiar face on the UK circuit and he is the second player through from the second semi, holding 282,000.

The first two players through to the final were online qualifier Craig Young (411,000) and poker pro James Akenhead (289,000) after they got the better of ‘Mr Cool' Marc Goodwin in the first semi-final. Akenhead will be a major threat as his fine year continues and he'll be confident of adding the 888 Poker Open V title to the second place finish in the WSOP $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event that netted him $520,219.

With the total prize pool at $648,000, Friday's final is sure to be a tense affair and live reporting on the MatchroomPoker.com Forum will kick into action around 11am when the players arrive at the venue.

Final, 7 November

Michael Keiner 518,000, Paul Zimbler 418,000, Craig Young 411,000, James Akenhead 289,000, Richard Wheatley 282,000, Mike Partridge 182,000.