Current PartyPoker.com World Open II champion Pippa Flanders’ good run of form continued, as she made the semi-finals of the PartyPoker.com European Open III. 
 
She was up against a strong field, which included Neil “Aces” Channing, Kevin O’Connell, Anthony Nicholls, Dave Copus and Richard Herbert.  Kevin O’ Connell was the early pace setter and built his lead to $144,000 chips.  The lead was then shared between Channing, Flanders and O’Connell.  The game then changed in two hands.
 
First to leave the table was Neil Channing.  He was all in with 10s, Jd, Copus thought long and hard about calling and he did.  The board came down 2c, 7d, 6h, 8s, Qd.  The very next hand Anthony Nicholls held the pocket rockets, but they were cracked by Herbert, who held 10, K.  The flop came down 9s, 7d, Jc.  The turn came down a Qs and the river a K.  Unfortunate for Nicholls, but great for Herbert as he took the chip lead with $205,000.
 
Herbert’s lead didn’t last long, and after 67 hands he was eliminated.  He was all in with 4d, Ad, O’Connell called with Ah, Kh.  The board showed 9c, 4h, Kd, Kc, 8s giving O’Connell trip kings.  Three hands later and O’ Connell was left reeling.  Copus raised with Qc, Js, O’Connell went all in with Ac, 4c.  Flanders looked down and saw Ad, Ks and went all in.  Copus mucked his hand, and the board bought no help for O’Connell and he was down to $3,000 chips and he was out the next hand.
 
Heads up lasted three hands.  The Flop came down Ah, Qh, Kc.  Copus went all in with 7s, Ks and Pippa called with 5h, 2h. She needed a heart to take it and it came on the turn and she was through to the second semi final.