Darren Hickman came through an entertaining heat to claim his seat in the semi-final of the PartyPoker.com European Open III. 
 
Jonny “Texas” Hewston, who has never lost a first round match in a televised tournament, Dale Hoy, Achilleas Kallakis, Denis O’Mahoney, Leon Loukaides made up the rest of the field. 
 
After 10 hands, there was a dramatic exit.  Hickman looked at his cards and saw two queens and raised, action folded to Kallakis and he went all in with the pocket rockets.  Hewston folded and O’ Mahoney looked at pocket Kings, he thought long and hard and amazingly he folded, action was back on Hickman and he called.
The flop came down 2d, 3h, Ks, O’Mahoney thinking why didn’t I call.  The turn saw a 4c and the river came down a Q.  Kallakis couldn’t believe it and was back in his helicopter. 
 
Hewston wasn’t allowed to play his normal game and he forced to go all in with Kd, As.  Hickman called with 4c, 10c.  The flop gave Hewston two pair but with two clubs on board Hickman was on a flush draw.  The turn came the 5c putting Hickman in front.  Hewston needed a King or an ace to hit the full house and keep him in the game and a chance of saving his incredible record, but the river came down a 3d and he was out.  Hickman’s chip lead was now $269,000.
 
Three hands later and Leon Loukaides was out, and it was Dale Hoy who took him out.  Leon went all in with As, Kh and Hoy called with Qs, Kd.  Both players paired their King on the flop but two diamonds came down.  The 2d came on the turn giving Hoy the flush draw, and the diamond came on the river sending Leon home, and giving Hoy a much needed wake up call.
 
A few hands later Hoy was out, when Hickman’s pocket fours held up against his
Q, 9.  Heads up lasted 26 hands and it was Hickman who went through.  O’Mahoney went all in with 9c, Kc and Hickman called.  The flop came down 4h,10, Jc. The turn saw the Ah putting Hickman in control but giving O’Mahoney the straight draw.  The river came down the Ks and sent Darren Hickman through to his first televised semi-final where he will join Pippa Flanders.