Veterans of the European Poker Tour know that final tables in Copenhagen can take some time. From the epic Mads Anderson/Edgar Skjervold battle of season two, to the four-hour Tim Vance/Soren Jensen heads up of a year ago, television directors know to bring extra tapes, journalists are well-stocked with caffeine pills, and an emergency table has been arranged in the car-park should the casino close before play is done.

That was then, this is now. Thanks in the main to two players -- Jens Kyllönen, from Finland, and Anders Langset, from Norway -- crates of unused tapes will be floating down the Copenhagen canals tonight as wired reporters go buzzing around the city with hours to kill until they can sleep. I write this at 6.45pm, less than five hours after play began on the final table of the season five Copenhagen EPT, and minutes after Kyllönen was named the new champion, earning the equivalent of €878,057 for demolishing his seven adversaries in one of the swiftest ever final days.

This breakneck resolution reconfirmed every preconception of Nordic poker players we have ever held. Firstly, there were loads of them -- from the final eight, only the French player Eric Larcheveque hailed from a non-Nordic nation. Secondly, they all played supremely quickly and aggressively -- a "dwell" was anyone who thought about a million-chip call for more than about 30 seconds. And finally, they were all exceptionally talented -- it surely says enough that three online superstars Jonas "Tulkaz" Klausen, Rasmus "Jungleras" Nielsen, and Petter "Slaktarn" Petersson were among the first four out. It was that tough.

Yet even among these notable talents, one was especially irresistible. Kyllönen was one of the relative short stacks at the start of play, but there was a rare focus to the Finn and seasoned observers noted early on that if he was to get chips, he could be very dangerous indeed. So it proved. The two massive overnight stacks -- Langset and Nielsen -- clashed in a 700,000 pot early in the day, crippling Nielsen and vaulting Langset clear at the top.

Nielsen never recovered and followed Klausen and Larcheveque, both of whom busted in the first level, out the door. That set the stage for Kyllönen's rise.

Five handed, Langset was looking exceptionally comfortable. Rumours had been circulating around the tournament arena for the past couple of days that the young Norwegian had only graduated from the play money to real money tables of PokerStars within the past month or so.

But no one believed the story, not because Langset looked dishonest (far from it), but because he had put on such an accomplished display in what was his first-ever live tournament. He'd been chip leader and principal vanquisher for two full days, and here he was with more than the rest of his final four adversaries put together. Even advisors to Copenhagen's prime yarn-spinner Hans Christian Anderson might have tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Listen, Hans. That's a fairytale too far, mate."

Langset, though, was able to sit back and relax as Peterson perished in fifth, before Jussi Nevanlinna and Kyllönen went to battle in a series of Finn-on-Finn escapades. The countrymen seemed to have been targeting one another for much of the final table, and Kyllönen ultimately came out on top when his A-7 out-raced Nevanlinna's pocket fives in a pot from which the latter never recovered. Nevanlinna left us in fourth.

Then there was the tournament-defining hand. Kyllönen and Langset had largely stayed out of one another's way until the gloves came off in a whopping all-in pre-flop clash. Langset had pocket eights and the chance to eliminate his closest opponent; Kyllönen had Kd-Qh and the opportunity to get right back in it.

The two players put their arms around one another and stood as the dealer decided their fate. The flop was good for both: 9d-6d-4h. The turn made things even more interesting: 3d and the river was the clincher for the Finn: Qd. He hit his overcard and his flush for good measure and for the first time Langset was on the ropes.

One further hand between the two and it was all over for the Norwegian: Kyllönen's As-8s flopped the nut flush and picked off Langset's bluff. Langset went to the rail in the same manner he had played for four days: with a huge smile. One suspects we'll see him again.

That left two players, and the absence of Peter Hedlund's name in this report to date is only so that he can get his own full paragraph here, which he so richly deserves. Hedlund, firstly, is no mean poker player. This is his second EPT final table, and we've seen him through all five seasons of the tour, always offering a threat. But more than that, Hedlund is among the most charismatic players in the whole of the continent: sitting on the same table as him (or in the same tournament room as him, in fairness) means exposure to an incessant rat-a-tat-tat of observations, gags, questions, jokes, usually with himself as the brunt.

The waiting staff and bartenders usually get to know Hedlund quite well too, oiling the cogs of this unique machine. And once he got heads up today, he bought beers for the entire crowd around the final table: "You can't beat me, so join me!" seemed to be the tacit invitation.

And so Hedlund and his enthusiastic supporters went heads-up with Kyllönen, who had now begun to sport a baseball cap emblazoned with the apt slogan: "Teenage Millionaire". Hedlund had it all to do, giving up a three-to-one chip advantage to the young Finn. They probed and they jousted for a while, but ultimately it was something of a heads-up cooler. Kyllönen found jacks as Hedlund had A-J. The board ran out in favour of Kyllönen, and that was the end of that.

"I definitely didn't expect anything," Kyllönen said. "I came in as the short stack and tried to play the best game I could. It turned out well."

No kidding. The money was shipped to the 19-year-old teenage millionaire as Finland produced its second EPT champion. Jens Kyllönen is our champion and I suggest you remember the name. I have a feeling you won't be able to forget it in a couple of years.

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: The Winner - Jens Kyllonen on PokerStars.tv

Now take a look back at how this all played out, including some riveting internet connection issues during the first couple of levels:

Introducing our finalists
Level 22 updates
Level 23 updates
Level 24 updates
Level 25 updates

And here's all that stuff in numerous other languages. These languages, to be precise, are: German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or Finnish.

Stuff in free flowing moving pictures: PokerStars.tv.

And where would you find a full list of the prize-winners? The prizewinners page, of course. Fools.

Good night from Copenhagen. It's Dortmund next. Be back.

Photography: (c) Neil Stoddart

This post shows updates from level 24 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 20,000-40,000 with a 3,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a winner.

6.46pm -- Jens Kyllonen is the new EPT Copenhagen champion, earning €878,057
Full details to follow soon.

6.45pm -- Peter Hedlund, Sweden, out in second, earning €497,069
This may be the exact opposite final table as that of 12 months ago. Hedlund raised pre-flop to 220,000. Kyllonen re-raised all in and Hedlund insta-called. As-Jh for Hedlund, Js-Jc for Kyllonen. As the two players stood with an arm around each others shoulder the board ran out 9s-8h-5s-Kc-Qc. That did it. Hedlund in second, Kyllonen the new EPT Copenhagen champion.

6.35pm -- We go on...
While it shows no signs of being the check-check marathon heads-up of last year there's no question the pace of the final has slowed as Hedlund and Kyllonen lock horns. Hands pass with pre-flop bets enough, with the occasional flop thrown in. The main feature of the room, apart from the table of golden beers, is Anders Langset pacing the room happiliy talking on the phone, passing on his news. We may yet see the dinner break.

6.20pm -- A lot of folding pre-flop
A lot of folding pre-flop.

6.15pm -- Mine's a pint
A tray full of beers has arrived, filling a table. It's from Peter Hedlund looking to sway the support on teh rail in his favour. It's working.

6.10pm -- Six high
Kyllonen wins the first head up pot, a quiet affair, after a small bet on the flop. A few hands later Kyllonen made it 120,000 pre-flop which Hedlund called for a flop of Qh-Ad-2h. Hedlund checked. Kyllonen went to his stack and made it 175,000 before Hedlund immediately moved all in. Kyllonen was forced to pass as Hedlund showed his 6-3.

6.05pm -- Heads up
We are now heads up, and the players return from a five-minute breather to find the following stacks:

Jens Kyllönen - 3,508,000
Peter Hedlund - 1,154,000

5.55pm -- Anders Langset, Norway, out in third, earning €288,717
Langset made it 120,000 from the button whicj Kyllonen called for a flop of Js-9s-Qs. Kyllonen checked. Langset made it 200,000 which again Kyllonen called. With a turn card 7s the money went in, Kyllonen checking before Langset moved all-in. Kyllonen called at light speed, showing the nut flush, As-8s. Langset could only manage a 4s. The river was an irrelevant jack. Langset out.

5.50pm -- Double up for Kyllönen
The first hand of the new level is a massive one for Jens Kyllönen and might yet go a long way to determining the winner of this tournament. The Finn takes Kd-Qh up against Anders Langset's 8-8, all in pre-flop. The two players embrace as they see the 9d-6d-4h flop, which changes nothing. The 3d on the turn gives Kyllönen plenty of outs -- he can now hit any diamond or any of the remaining kings or queens -- and the Qd fills both roles. Kyllönen wins the two-million-plus pot and becomes the chip leader.

5.45pm -- New level
And now, as the world continues to turn on its axis, we have a new level. It's the last before dinner.

This post shows updates from level 24 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 15,000-30,000 with a 3,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a winner.

5.40pm -- Level comes to a close
The level ends with Kyllonen taking a small pot from Langset in a battle of the blinds.

5.35pm -- None shall pass
Anders Langset might only have been playing a short amount of time, but he must have read all the right books about aggressive play. In an unraised pot, he and Jens Kyllönen see a flop of 10h-10c-Qc and Langset bets 105,000 at it, after Kyllönen checks. Now the Finn wants something to do with it and re-raises to 280,000. "All in," declares Langset, which is plenty good enough to get Kyllönen to lay it down.

5.25pm -- Jussi Nevanlinna from Finland, out in fourth, earning €220,258
Nevanlinna moves all-in from under the gun. Hedlund asks for a count - it's 164,000 to call. "When Peter flat calls" says Nevanlinna to the others "you're supposed to squeeze."
Hedlund calls and then Kyllonen does the same. The action moves to Langset who spends a minute thinking about doing the same. A four way pot? No, just the three, he passes and Hedlund and Kyllonen check down the board of 2d-5s-Qc-Ad-2h. Nevanlinna shows K-9, Kyllonen pocket nines, but Hedlund takes it down showing A-4, sending Nevanlinna to the rail in the process.

5.20pm -- Double up for Kyllönen
Jens Kyllönen is a force here now in Copenhagen after he doubles his stack to around 1,200,000 with a double up through his countryman Jussi Nevanlinna. Kyllönen opened from under-the-gun and Nevanlinna shoved from the small blind. He had Kyllönen covered and it was a huge call to make, especially with only Ah-7c. But he went ahead and made the call and was racing against 5-5. There was an ace in the window and Kyllönen took the lead, which he did not relinquish. Nevanlinna is now the prohibitive short stack, with Kyllönen about a million short of Langset. Hedlund is probably in third at the moment.

5.05pm - Three way action
A three way pot develops with Langset betting 85,000 pre-flop which is called by Nevanlinna and Kyllonen. On the flop of 9d-8d-Ks Kyllonen and Langset check but Nevanlinna bets out 157,000, enough to win the hand.

5pm -- Power play
Peter Hedlund and Anders Langset get to a flop in an unraised pot. It's 8d-6h-5c. Langset bets 125,000 and Hedlund eventually folds, showing a seven, for an open-ended straight draw. Langset shows a queen and "Queen high is good," according to Hedlund.

4.50pm -- Oranges are not the only chips
Orange chips are now in play, each worth 25,000.

4.45pm -- Hedlund all-in
Hedlund bet 70,000 pre-flop which Langset called in the big blind for a flop of 2c-2s-Qd. Both checked for a turn card 9s. Checked to Hedlund, he made it 40,000 before Langset raised to 150,000. Hedlund then moved in for 743,000 more. Then the chat started, Langset asking Hedlund if he had A-Q, "maybe" being the reply.

"If you had a little less I'd call" said Langset. "Or maybe I'll call anyway."

It went on like this for a while before Langset folded with a roar.

"How could you fold?!" asked Hedlund, showing the A-Q.

4.40pm -- Petter Petersson, Sweden, out in fifth, earning €181,564
The two Swedish players get their chips in pre-flop and Peter Hedlund is significantly ahead in both chips and hand of Petter Petersson. Hedlund has As-Qs and Petersson A-2o. The flop gives chop possibilities: Js-6s-6d but the 4d and Ks on turn and river gave Hedlund the nut flush and Petersson is out.

4.30pm -- New level
Five players return for the new level and they have the following chips in front of them. (You might notice one player has a few more than the others):

Anders Langset, Norway, 2,570,000
Peter Hedlund, Sweden, 606,000
Jens Kyllönen, Finland, 605,000
Jussi Nevanlinna, Finland, 444,000
Petter Petersson, Sweden, 335,000

Don't forget, you can follow all the action LIVE! on EPT LIVE!

This post shows updates from level 23 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 10,000-20,000 with a 2,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a winner.

4.20pm -- Taking aces to the break
On the final hand before the break, Jens Kyllönen and Jussi Nevanlinna have some more Finn on Finn action. Nevanlinna makes a standard opener from late position, Kyllönen repops it to 140,000 from the small blind, and Nevanlinna thinks, thinks, thinks, but then folds. Kyllönen curses his luck as he shows two red aces.

4.15pm -- Hedlund
Peter Hedlund and Jens Kyllönen get to a flop of As-9s-9c, which both players check. The turn is Qc and Kyllönen bets 65,000. Hedlund calls. The river is 2h and Hedlund checks. Kyllönen checks behind, wisely as it turns out. Hedlund shows A-7 and that's good.

4.05pm - Rasmus Nielsen, Denmark, out in sixth, earning €142,870
With the action folded to Nielsen in the small blind he completes his option and then calls the bet of Langset on the big blind for a flop of 5d-6c-Ad. Nielsen checks in the dark and Langset makes it 200,000. Nielsen then moved all in and winced as Langset called immediately, showing A-K to Nielsen's A-9. The 7h turn gave the Dane a gutshot draw but the Ks on the river ended his tournament.

4pm -- Chip leader chips up
Anders Langset raises pre-flop to 60,000 and Peter Hedlund calls the additional 40,000 in the big blind. The flop is 4s-Jc-7c and both players check. They also check the 5d turn and the 3h comes on the river. Hedlund bets 60,000, Langset calls and Hedlund mucks. Langset still shows the Q-6 for the seven-high straight, and that's more than good enough.

3.48pm -- What was that? Fold?
Peter Hedlund opens the hand, making it 50,000 pre-flop. Rasmus Nielsen re-raises to 160,000 in total. It's back on Hedlund who spends a few minutes looking serious and slightly suspicious, or as if he's picking out which of the voices in his head is offering the best solution. He takes a sip from a glass next to him that has a plastic stirrer in it and then folds. Nielsen shows him the 3c.

3.44pm -- You had me on the flop
The action is folded to Petersson in the small blind who completes the bet. Nielsen checks his option for a Jh-Td-8s flop. Both check for a 4d turn and check again for a 8d river. Petersson makes it 35,000 and Nielsen passes. Petersson shows Q-9 for a flopped straight.

3.40pm--Finn on Finn, then Finn again
Jussi Nevanlinna and Jens Kyllönen get involved in a pot that gets to the flop. Nevanlinna makes it 55,000 pre-flop, his countryman calls and they see 10s-5h-Ah. Nevanlinna bets 80,000 but is then seen folding his cards and the pot going to Kyllönen, which suggests there might have been an unseen/unheard all in reraise.

But no worries for Nevanlinna because he gets a bunch back on the very next hand. Petter Petersson makes it 60,000 and Nevanlinna shoves from the blinds. He has Petersson well covered and the Swede opts to lay it down. He's looking a little short these days, with only about 200,000 left. The two Finns are possibly the most active players at this stage, with Kyllönen in particular looking solid, despite his relatively short stack.

3.30pm -- Little to report
After a flop of Qh-Ah-4h Nielsen and Kyllonen check the 7d turn and 9h river. Nielsen shows Ks-9s for a pair, good enough. It's the first hand of any note in the level which has been dominated by hands taken down by a pre-flop raise.

3.25pm -- New level
We begin a new level with the whole of the Danish internet system apparently creaking under the strain of the supremely popular EPT Live. If you're seeing it -- and you should be, because it's on a satellite feed -- then you can see more than us. Enjoy. Still, we have all this in the flesh and will continue to bring the action from Casino Copenhagen as best we can.

This post shows updates from level 22 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a winner.

3.20pm -- End of level
A difficult level, in which two players were eliminated and the internet died, finishes with the chip counts as follows:

Anders Langset, 1,600,000
Rasmus Nielsen, 600,000
Jussi Nevanlinna, 730,000
Petter Petersson, 400,000
Peter Hedlund, 750,000
Jens Kyllönen, 450,000

3.10pm -- Small confrontations
Jens Kyllönen raises back to back pots and takes the blinds of the two chip leaders, Langset and Nielsen. Then Jussi Nevanlinna and Peter Hedlund get involved in a battle of the blinds, which might have turned nasty. Nevanlinna bets out on a flop of 8d-6c-9s and Hedlund folds A-Q face up. Nevanlinna shows pocket eights for flopped top set and takes down a small pot.

3pm -- Eric Larcheveque, France, out in seventh place, earning €113,106
Well, it doesn't come much more emphatic than that. Eric Larcheveque gets it all in pre-flop against Rasmus Nielsen. Nielsen has 2-2 and Larcheveque Kc-Qh, but the flop is a brutal 2-2-J, giving quads to Nielsen. Larcheveque departs and Nielsen earns some back.

2.55pm -- Critical issues
Thanks largely, I suspect, to the success of EPT Live we have had some critical internet issues here in Copenhagen and are struggling to post at the moment. But the major news from the past half hour is that Anders Langset took a pot of about 700,000 from Rasmus Nielsen when his 5h-6h hit a six on the river to beat Nielsen's 5-5. Then this...

2.20pm -- Shove, take
Jens Kyllönen moves all in from the small blind over a mid position opener. This time it's good. Remember, you can watch the action over at EPT Live

2.12pm -- Jonas Klausen, Denmark, out in eighth place, earning €80,364
Strap yourself in - another all-in comes on the second hand. Jonas Klausen shoved for 240,000 with 7h-7c and he's called by Peter Hedlund with Ah-Ad. The flop came 5c-Qc-Td and the turn card Tc gave Klausen a flush draw and the crowd some early drama. He hit the flush on the river but the Ac also gave Hedlund a full house, sending Klausen to the rail.

2.10pm -- No wasting time...
First hand and an all-in. Nevanlinna made a pre-flop bet of 42,000 before Kyllonen on the small blind pushed in for 362,000. A simple fold for Nevanlinna and we're underway.

With the elimination late last night of Mikael Lundell, the final table was set for EPT Copenhagen. The following players return today to play down to our champion. Play begins at the start of level 21 and we will have complete coverage of all the action here until the day is done.

These are our contenders:

Seat one: Jussi Nevanlinna, 30, Helsinki, Finland - 894,000

Jussi Nevanlinna started playing poker just three years ago but turned pro within a year. The 30-year-old plays mostly online, anything from $10-$20 to $50-$100 no limit cash games, but has competed in EPT events in San Remo and Monte Carlo in season four, and London and Budapest in season five. Nevanlinna's best result came in the 2009 Helsinki freezeout where his eighth place finish was worth €14,045. He added €25,171 to that win finishing second in the €200 pot limit Omaha event at the same festival. In his spare time, Nevanlinna enjoys tennis and lives with his girlfriend in Helsinki.

Seat two: Peter Hedlund, 40, Stockholm, Sweden - 367,000

Peter Hedlund makes his second EPT final table appearance after a seventh place finish in EPT3 London, a result worth £36,000. His poker career started in Las Vegas in 1992, but it was two years before he really got the hang of the game. By 1997 Hedlund was playing semi-professionally; juggling poker with his job working the financial markets, but for the last five years has played full time. His supporters on the rail include seven-time speedway world champion Tony Richardson, while his mother and girlfriend support him from home where, he says, they will be less of a distraction. Away from poker Hedlund enjoys playing his grand piano - a hobby he admits to being terrible at. He also loves to cook and is a major sport fan.

Seat three: Jens "Jeans" Kyllönen, 19, from Helsinki, Finland - 366,000 chips

Jens Kyllönen has been playing poker for two years, playing full time since he completed his national service. While he used to play mostly no limit hold 'em his usual game is pot limit Omaha. Kyllönen will be playing the remaining EPT events in season five, saying he really enjoys the atmosphere on the tour. His best results to date though have come online and the EPT Copenhagen is only his second major international tournament.

Seat four : Jonas Klausen, 22, from Odense, Denmark - 262,000

Jonas Klausen is best known as an online player, where he competes under the username "Tulkaz". He has scored major cashes in the $215 heads up tournament, and also finished third in the Sunday Million, sixth in a $320 pot-limit hold 'em WCOOP event and seventh in a $530 $250,000 guaranteed tournament, all on PokerStars. Now Klausen has turned his attention to live events and has already achieved some notable successes, including an 11th placed finish at EPT Barcelona and 12th at EPT San Remo last year. Klausen also made two final tables at the national Danish poker championship and cashed at the WSOP last year. Nevertheless, if there was no such thing as poker, Klausen says he'd like to train has a police officer.

Seat five: Eric Larcheveque, 35, Puteaux, near Paris, France - 221,000

Eric Larcheveque has only been playing poker for two years but has already made the final table in three major tournaments. In 2007, he came sixth at the Master Classics in Amsterdam for €87,000 and the following March finished eigth at the Irish Open for €75,000. He also won a $500 tournament at the Bellagio last summer for a further $50,000. Larcheveque runs an online entertainment company and recently created a small poker team -- "Cenacle" -- with his friends Sébastien Decamps and Thierry Tregaro. The team made their first outing at EPT Deauville last month, but none of the trio cashed. Copenhagen is a different story, however, and now Decamps and Tregaro are cheering on their captain as he reaches his third major final table. Larcheveque's wife Yveta is supporting him from home in Riga, Latvia, where she is looking after the couple's five-month-old daughter Anastasia.

Seat seven: Petter Petersson, 28, from Malmo, Sweden - 407,000

Petter Petersson has been playing poker full-time for five to six years, mainly online under the screen-name "Slaktarn". He is perhaps best known for beating Patrick Antonius in a $25,000 heads-up pot-limit Omaha tournament, but the taciturn Swedish player is now turning this attention to live events and has played in several EPT tournaments already. This is his best live result to date and although he is thrilled to make the final table, he says it was a pretty tough journey to get there. He is planning to compete in all the remaining EPT events this season.

Seat eight: Rasmus Hede Nielsen, 27, Copenhagen, Denmark - 1,031,000

Rasmus Nielsen plays online as "Jungleras", named after a Danish comedy series. He has been playing poker professionally for two years and already accrued some great results with three major final tables finishes: fourth place here at EPT Copenhagen last season, second place in $1,500 no-limit hold 'em event at the World Series for nearly $400,000 and fifth place at the Master Classics in Amsterdam for €106,000. This year also began with a major triumph: the birth of his daughter Silja. Nielsen studied business at college but has primarily focused on poker since graduation.

Seat nine: Anders Langset , 23, Eidsvåg, Norway - 1,119,000

The chip leader Anders Langset has made comfortable progress on his way to the final table of EPT Copenhagen. Langset is relatively new to the game and thinks that the total number of hands he's played online is around 3,000 and his only live experience comes from playing in the card room in the "Ocean Sands" casino in the Dominican Republic, where he has been holidaying for the past few months. Langset's father bought him into EPT Copenhagen and it is his first ever live tournament. Langset graduated in logistics from university and is planning to continue with his studies next summer. He is currently working as the manager of Norway's third-biggest cycling club. If he wins EPT Copenhagen, he plans to sail around the world with his friend.

***

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Final Table Intro on PokerStars.tv

Eight hours ago their tournament hopes were alive. Now, the dream of EPT glory lies in ruins for 32 of 40 players who returned to Casino Copenhagen this afternoon for the business end of another great EPT event.

That we bring this news on the cocktail side of midnight is some indication as to how fast this day flew by. Finals here in Denmark have produced memorable moments; today will hopefully be just a forerunner to what's in store tomorrow - a frenetic and merciless scrap for every last chip by some of the game's best.

Today marked the latest example of Nordics renewing their claim to be the best and most fearless players of the thoroughbred poker breed - with seven of the eight finalists hailing from Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish shores; an unsurprising surge of local poker brilliance, alongside some EPT loyalists, trigger-happy young guns and the odd legend thrown in.

Anders Langset has the honour of leading the overnight chip list with 1.1 million after a solid day in the saddle. With an ever-expanding block of attack chips Langset, who has been playing poker for only three weeks, seemed unstoppable, able to toss in calls without the fear of crippling loss others had to endure - like the Frenchman Eric Larcheveque, today's miracle man, who never seemed to advance beyond 20 big blinds but finds himself with 205,000 tonight, enough for a guaranteed €80,364.

A welcome sight in his second final is Peter Hedlund, a chatty EPT stalwart, who entertains at the table whether opponents like it or not. He lines up alongside Jonas Klausen who has narrowly missed two previous finals (12th in San Remo, 11th in Barcelona) and makes his first appearance seventh in chips.

Spare a thought for Mikael Lundell. He now knows how Klausen feels after departing in ninth place today, one place off the final for a second time, after being inflicted with the same cruel fate in the season five opener in Spain. Klausen has chance to put his demons to bed tomorrow, but Lundell's nightmares will go on.

Here's who'll be back:

Anders Langset, Norway, 1,119,000
Rasmus Nielsen, Denmark, 1,031,000
Jussi Nevanlinna, Finland, 894,000
Petter Petersson, Sweden, 407,000
Peter Hedlund, Sweden, 367,000
Jens Kyllonen, Finland, 366,000
Jonas Klausen, Denmark, PokerStars qualifier, 262,000
Eric Lachavaque, France, 221,000

But we lost a lot of good men out there.

If your fetish is for record breaking you no doubt had your eye on the Norwegian player Andreas Hoivold today. The winner in Dortmund on season three was on course for a potential second title, and would have taken a giant step closer had it not been for the seven-four (yep, seven-four) of Rasmus Nielsen, crushing Hoivold's five-three (yep, five-three).

The legions of PokerStars were great in number and in talent. Tony Mallandain, one of six qualifiers who made the money, busted in 21st place, €16,371 to the good, having won his seat in a freeroll. The steps qualifier Michael Aston, who pledged 5% of his winnings to Friends of Eastgate -- the charity set up by World Champion Peter -- was the unlucky 13th place victim of a poker mugging, his A-Q outdrawn by the K-J of Mikael Lundell.

Elsewhere Andrea Benelli missed out on a third EPT final of the season, exiting in 32nd place; while one of poker's elder statesmen, Thor Hansen, fell short of his first EPT final, departing in 17th place.

But that's all behind us, now onto the final. We've witnessed a 4am finish (season 2), a come from behind upset (season 3) and a white knuckle four hour heads-up monster (season 4). This is the place of legend - you'd be mad to miss what surprises are in store for season 5.

Until then you wouldn't have thought it possible, but thousands and thousands of words of coverage from today's tournament can be unleashed by clicking on these innocent-looking hyperlinks.

Day three introduction
Michael Aston: chips and beer
Wrecking ball: Anders Langset
As flies to wanton boys
Eight down
Andrea Benelli downed
Thor Hansen handing out the lessons
Level 17 updates
Level 18 updates
Level 19 updates
Level 20 updates
Level 21 updates

Stuff in languages: German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or Finnish.

Stuff in moving pictures: PokerStars.tv.
Chip counts: Chip count page.
Prize-winners: Prizewinners page.

***

Today was also a big day for some very worthy causes. The Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem has asked his friends in the poker community to help the plight of the some of his Australian countrymen and women, suffering as a result of the horrific bush-fires that have swept through his homeland. And by "friends in the poker community" he means YOU! <A href="Click here to read Hachem's open letter and learn about a terrific charity tournament on PokerStars, where you can play against Team PokerStars Pro and help the worth cause at the same time.

The World Champion and friend of PokerStars Peter Eastgate has also recently launched a new charity venture, called "Friends of Eastgate". Claus Nielsen, the President and CEO of the charity, told Kara Scott all about it.

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Eastagte's new charity on PokerStars.tv

And that, folks, is that. We'll be back tomorrow for the final.

This post shows updates from level 21 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 6,000-12,000 with a 1,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a final table of eight.

11.45pm -- Your final eight

Here they are:

Anders Langset, Norway, 1,119,000 (seat 9)
Rasmus Nielsen, Denmark, 1,031,000 (seat 8)
Jussi Nevanlinna, Finland, 894,000 (seat 1)
Petter Petersson, Sweden, 407,000 (seat 7)
Peter Hedlund, Sweden, 367,000 (seat 2)
Jens Kyllonen, Finland, 366,000 (seat 3)
Jonas Klausen, Denmark, 262,000 (seat 4)
Eric Lachavaque, France, 221,000 (seat 5)

11.25pm -- Mikael Lundell eliminated; final table set
He's done it again. Mikael Lundell, who went out on the final table bubble in Barcelona, has once again departed in ninth - and it would take a harsh man not to feel sorry for him about that. He was very short when he moved all in pre-flop with Ad-10h and ran into the pocket nines of one of the big stacks, Jussi Nevanlinna. There was no help on a dry board and Lundell stood, shook his head, and left the tournament arena again. That's it, then. The final table is set.

The official chip counts are on their way, as is the full wrap of the day. Don't. Go. Anywhere. (Unless you really have to.)

11.20pm -- Scary
Mikael Lundell's stack is now "scarily short", to use the phrasing of Sverre Sundbo, currently commentating on EPT Live. He has about 10 big blinds, which is not M enough, or something. (There's considerably better analysis than that over at EPT Live.)

11.05pm -- Tight and nervy
This has been a very fraught passage of play. Mikael Lundell, perhaps fearing a similar fate to what befell him in Barcelona, when he bubbled the final table, has got involved in a couple of pots but has not been keen to get all his chips in. That's meant he's drifted down to less than 150,000 and is the man under threat. Rasmus Nielsen, on the other hand, is up at the top with more than a million.

10.50pm -- The long haul
This could be over in one hand; it could take two hours. Either way, why not kill some of that time in the company of Christian Saxin, who fell in 11th place today.

Watch EPT Copenhagen S5: Christian Saxin (English) on PokerStars.tv

10.40pm -- Nielsen back in the saddle
Rasmus Nielsen and Jens Kyllönen see a queen high flop and Nielsen checks, which allows the Finn to bet 40,000. Nielsen loves that: he pops it up about another 100,000 and Kyllönen folds. Nielsen shows A-Q to prove he's got the goods as well as all the chips.

10.30pm -- Hedlund hangs on
Peter Hedund keeps the barmen of Casino Copenhagen happy by hanging around in this tournament a while longer. He moves all in over the top of Rasmus Nielsen's opener, and Nielsen dwells and calls. Hedlund's all in is about 260,000 and he's in great shape with Ad-Qh versus Nielsen's Ac-Jh. The flop is 10h-2d-3c and after the turn of 5c Nielsen begins counting out chips to pass across. The 8d confirms it and the well-oiled Hedlund remains.

10.15pm -- The final furlong
Well, we're now down to a single table, with nine players (and the EPT Live cameras) seated around it. Something's got to give before we reach the official final table. And it's not going to be one of the EPT Live cameras.

Stay tuned, maybe on EPT Live if you fancy it, until we find our unlucky* ninth-placed finisher.

* Not that unlucky. He'll take €49,112.

This post shows updates from level 20 of EPT Copenhagen, updated on a regular basis. The blinds are 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante. Updates are brought to you by Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains.

You can find the most recent official chip count on the chip-count page. Prizewinners to date are on the prizewinners page. Today we will play down to a final table of eight.

10pm -- Counts!
The last elimination also coincided with the end of the level. They are now crammed around the single feature table, where they have these chips:

Rasmus Nielsen Denmark 1,224,000
Jussi Nevanlinna Finland 725,000
Anders Langset Norway 579,000
Petter Petersson Sweden 513,000
Jens Kyllönen Finland 360,000
Mikael Lundell Sweden 320,000
Jonas Klausen Denmark PokerStars qualifier 314,000
Peter Hedlund Sweden 312,000
Eric Larcheveque France 310,000

9.50pm -- Nine pins
We are down to nine players, having just lost Tom Johansen, yet another victim of Rasmus "Steamroller" Nielsen. The huge stack raised to 24,000 from the button and Johansen called from the big blind. The flop was 7h-Jd-Qd and both players check. The turn was the 6s and Johansen checked, which invited Nielsen to bet 27,000. Johansen raised to 60,000. Call. The turn was the Qh and Johansen announced all in for 181,000. Nielsen had to think a while but then rolled in a stack of blue chips for the call. Johansen showed J-4 for a pair of jacks to go with the paired queens on the board. Nielsen showed J-9 for the same two pairs but a crucial nine kicker that played. Johansen is done.

9.40pm -- Saxin out for the count
Christian Saxin is out, although it wasn't straight forward. He made it 25K under the gun and Navanlinna moved all-in with pocket eights. Saxin called with A-K and hand was underway with a board of Q-4-5-6-2. That didn't end it though...

"Sorry man, I have you covered..." said Navanlinna, before walking away from the table.

The floor person and dealer counted the debt, assuming Saxin was covered but it seemed Saxin had about 60K left. This didn't make Navanlinna very happy, returning to see Saxin alive before demanding a recount. This was done as Saxin awaited his fate, discovering that his glimmer of hope was gone. The recount sending him to the rail.

9.35pm -- Chips
Official counts are coming at the end of the level, but in the meantime, these are pretty close to accurate:

Rasmus Nielsen 1,100,000
Anders Langset 840,000
Petter Petterson 506,600
Jens Kyllönen 420,000
Christian Saxin 380,000
Eric Larcheveque 340,000
Jonas Klausen 329,000
Peter Hedlund 302,000
Mikael Lundell 280,000
Tom Johansen 231,000
Jussi Nevanlinna 223,000

9.30pm -- Hoivold hounded out
Well, the search for the first two-time EPT champion continues. Andreas Hoivold has taken his leave in a textbook 7-4 v 5-3 battle. Gotta love these Scandis. The 7d-4d were in the hands of Rasmus Nielsen and he must have loved the flop of 6c-5s-8c. All the money went in then, with Hoivold hoping to double his short stack with bottom pair. He made trips on the turn when another five came, but he missed his full house outs on the river and was gone.

9.27pm -- Fold, fold, fold.. all-in
Eric Larcheveque has laboured under the short stack all day - all tournament as one observer said. But he's still here and his prognosis is a lot better after he doubled up with aces through Anders Langset with A-K.

9.20pm -- Aston's ashes
Michael Aston, the PokerStars qualifier from England, has just been sent back there by Jussi Nevanlinna. Aston lost a load of chips to Mikael Lundell earlier and was the short stack, of about 150,000, when he moved all in pre-flop from early position. It was folded to Nevanlinna who squeezed his cards, thought for a long long time, squeezed his cards again, asked for a count, and then made what looked like an agonising call. This, however, was all an act to try to get the big stack of Anders Langset involved. Nevanlinna actually had aces, which he showed the minute Langset insta-mucked. Aston was in very bad shape and although he picked up a flush draw, it wasn't good enough. The aces held up. Down to 12.

9.12pm -- Checking
Hardly a massive pot but it's typical of the caginess on the feature table. Rasmus Nielsen takes nothing more than the blinds on a 5-9-6-J-7 board checked all the way. His hand 5-3 was enough.

9.05pm -- Hedlund heading up
Peter Hedlund got his final 140,000 in pre-flop against the table bully Rasmus Nielsen. Nielsen has 8-8 and NHedlund Kh-Qh. Nielsen has been on fire in the coin flips today, but not this time. The queen comes on the turn and the eight does not appear on the river. Nielsen is back up to close to 300,000 and that's the first notable chunk to leave Nielsen's stack.

9pm -- Larcheveque doubles
The lone remaining Frenchman among the Nordics (and one Brit) has just doubled up. Eric Larcheveque got it all in against Anders Langset with Ad-Js. Langset had As-9s. The all in was about 120,000 and Langset had already raised a pot-committing amount. The flop ran out only in favour of Larcheveque and he's now back in the hunt.

8.56pm -- Pot to Rasmus
Rasmus Nielsen takes a pot against Petter Petersson. On a board of 9h-Ah-9d-4h-8c which was checked to the river, Petersson made a small bet of 15,000 holding A-6 which Nielsen called, showing 6-8, taking it down.

8.50pm -- Ante-ing up a buy in
We have 13 players remaining at the start of level 20. We've reached that moment when a big blind is now the equivalent of a starting stack at the beginning of the tournament. Five players will depart before we find our final tableists.