Peru has won the World Cup of Poker, snatching the title away from the Netherlands and Japan in an exciting eight-way team battle. Peru had never been far from the lead but a strong finish in the final heads-up rounds powered them through to victory and the $90,000 winner's purse.

After six rounds of play over two days, which took in full ring and short-handed sit-and-gos, one multi-table tournament and a series of heads-up matches, the Netherlands were the team to beat. That set up one final round of heads-up matches, which pitted the team ranked first against eighth, second against seventh and so on. These were played side by side, all team members attendance, which helped to create a thrilling and noisy crescendo to a spectacular event.

Railing, both for and against, was loud, passionate and usually involved Humberto Brenes. Little surprise given that every point scored changed the leader board. Even fourth-placed Germany could have scored a shock victory had they won all five of the matches against Tajikistan and the teams above them stumbled.

Peru, however, performed the best when it mattered and the five South American players - Luis Felipe Villaran, Daniel Banacco, Renato Lezama, Renso Renfigo and team captain Martin Sansour - beat their final round opponents, Team France, four-to-one with Banacco's fifth leg victory securing the cup ahead of the Netherlands and Japan. Their jubilation was genuine, exuberate and, dare I say it, heart-warming.

Their main opponents, the Netherlands, met stiff resistance from Team Rest of the World, captained by Team PokerStars Pro David Williams, who stopped the orange army from keeping the slender lead that they held going into the last round. That match finished three-two against the Dutch who claim the runner-up spot.

The five winning team members each pocket $22,500, the trophy and a whole stack of national pride so roll out the red carpet, get the military brass band ready and start mixing those Pisco sours - the World Cup is going to Peru.

The leader board going into the final round
1. Netherlands, 241 points
2. Peru, 237 points
3. Japan, 222 points
4. Germany, 219 points
5. Tajikistan, 215 points
6. Costa Rica, 189 points
7. France, 187 points
8. Rest of the World, 174 points

Final standing
World Champions: Peru (267 points), $90,000
Runner-up. Netherlands (251 points), $65,000
3rd. Japan (247 points), $45,000
4th. Germany (244 points), $30,000
5th. Tajikistan (225 points), $20,000
6th. Rest of the World (199 points*), $15,000
7th. Costa Rica (199 points*), $10,000
8th. France (192 points), $7,500
9th: Italy, (eliminated Day 1) $5,000

*Played off in a sudden death match with David Williams beating Humberto Brenes

Congratulations to Team Peru. If you'd like to track how the World Cup of Poker was played just click on this link that will take you to every World Cup of Poker VIII PokerStars Blog post.

Photos and images are courtesy of Joe Giron and copyright is held by www.joegironphotography.com. He's a feisty chap, I wouldn't recommend messing with him.

Peru has won the World Cup of Poker, snatching the title away from the Netherlands and Japan in an exciting eight-way team battle. Peru had never been far from the lead but a strong finish in the final heads-up rounds powered them through to victory and the $90,000 winner's purse.

After six rounds of play over two days, which took in full ring and short-handed sit-and-gos, one multi-table tournament and a series of heads-up matches, the Netherlands were the team to beat. That set up one final round of heads-up matches, which pitted the team ranked first against eighth, second against seventh and so on. These were played side by side, all team members attendance, which helped to create a thrilling and noisy crescendo to a spectacular event.

Railing, both for and against, was loud, passionate and usually involved Humberto Brenes. Little surprise given that every point scored changed the leader board. Even fourth-placed Germany could have scored a shock victory had they won all five of the matches against Tajikistan and the teams above them stumbled.

Peru, however, performed the best when it mattered and the five South American players - Luis Felipe Villaran, Daniel Banacco, Renato Lezama, Renso Renfigo and team captain Martin Sansour - beat their final round opponents, Team France, four-to-one with Banacco's fifth leg victory securing the cup ahead of the Netherlands and Japan. Their jubilation was genuine, exuberate and, dare I say it, heart-warming.

Their main opponents, the Netherlands, met stiff resistance from Team Rest of the World, captained by Team PokerStars Pro David Williams, who stopped the orange army from keeping the slender lead that they held going into the last round. That match finished three-two against the Dutch who claim the runner-up spot.

The five winning team members each pocket $22,500, the trophy and a whole stack of national pride so roll out the red carpet, get the military brass band ready and start mixing those Pisco sours - the World Cup is going to Peru.

The leader board going into the final round
1. Netherlands, 241 points
2. Peru, 237 points
3. Japan, 222 points
4. Germany, 219 points
5. Tajikistan, 215 points
6. Costa Rica, 189 points
7. France, 187 points
8. Rest of the World, 174 points

Final standing
World Champions: Peru (267 points), $90,000
Runner-up. Netherlands (251 points), $65,000
3rd. Japan (247 points), $45,000
4th. Germany (244 points), $30,000
5th. Tajikistan (225 points), $20,000
6th. Rest of the World (199 points*), $15,000
7th. Costa Rica (199 points*), $10,000
8th. France (192 points), $7,500
9th: Italy, (eliminated Day 1) $5,000

*Played off in a sudden death match with David Williams beating Humberto Brenes

Congratulations to Team Peru. If you'd like to track how the World Cup of Poker was played just click on this link that will take you to every World Cup of Poker VIII PokerStars Blog post.

Photos and images are courtesy of Joe Giron and copyright is held by www.joegironphotography.com. He's a feisty chap, I wouldn't recommend messing with him.

Peru has won the World Cup of Poker, snatching the title away from the Netherlands and Japan in an exciting eight-way team battle. Peru had never been far from the lead but a strong finish in the final heads-up rounds powered them through to victory and the $90,000 winner's purse.

After six rounds of play over two days, which took in full ring and short-handed sit-and-gos, one multi-table tournament and a series of heads-up matches, the Netherlands were the team to beat. That set up one final round of heads-up matches, which pitted the team ranked first against eighth, second against seventh and so on. These were played side by side, all team members attendance, which helped to create a thrilling and noisy crescendo to a spectacular event.

Railing, both for and against, was loud, passionate and usually involved Humberto Brenes. Little surprise given that every point scored changed the leader board. Even fourth-placed Germany could have scored a shock victory had they won all five of the matches against Tajikistan and the teams above them stumbled.

Peru, however, performed the best when it mattered and the five South American players - Luis Felipe Villaran, Daniel Banacco, Renato Lezama, Renso Renfigo and team captain Martin Sansour - beat their final round opponents, Team France, four-to-one with Banacco's fifth leg victory securing the cup ahead of the Netherlands and Japan. Their jubilation was genuine, exuberate and, dare I say it, heart-warming.

Their main opponents, the Netherlands, met stiff resistance from Team Rest of the World, captained by Team PokerStars Pro David Williams, who stopped the orange army from keeping the slender lead that they held going into the last round. That match finished three-two against the Dutch who claim the runner-up spot.

The five winning team members each pocket $22,500, the trophy and a whole stack of national pride so roll out the red carpet, get the military brass band ready and start mixing those Pisco sours - the World Cup is going to Peru.

The leader board going into the final round
1. Netherlands, 241 points
2. Peru, 237 points
3. Japan, 222 points
4. Germany, 219 points
5. Tajikistan, 215 points
6. Costa Rica, 189 points
7. France, 187 points
8. Rest of the World, 174 points

Final standing
World Champions: Peru (267 points), $90,000
Runner-up. Netherlands (251 points), $65,000
3rd. Japan (247 points), $45,000
4th. Germany (244 points), $30,000
5th. Tajikistan (225 points), $20,000
6th. Rest of the World (199 points*), $15,000
7th. Costa Rica (199 points*), $10,000
8th. France (192 points), $7,500
9th: Italy, (eliminated Day 1) $5,000

*Played off in a sudden death match with David Williams beating Humberto Brenes

Congratulations to Team Peru. If you'd like to track how the World Cup of Poker was played just click on this link that will take you to every World Cup of Poker VIII PokerStars Blog post.

Photos and images are courtesy of Joe Giron and copyright is held by www.joegironphotography.com. He's a feisty chap, I wouldn't recommend messing with him.

The final round robin heads up matches are over and it's the Netherlands out ahead with just one set of high pressure seeded heads up matches to play. Bar a miraculous turn of events, which is always possible in the World Cup, it will be one of three countries lifting the trophy; the Netherlands (241), Peru (237) or Japan (222).

Germany (219) and Tajikistan (215) stand outside chances of winning but would need to dominate all five of their heads up matches to do so, and hope their rivals fail. Tajikistan have already had one sweep scored and one conceded so it's distinctly possible that takes place.

Win 0 HU: 0 points
Win 1 HU: 5 points
Win 2 HU: 10 points
Win 3 HU: 25 points
Win 4 HU: 30 points
Win 5 HU: 50 points

The leader board as it stands
1. Netherlands, 241 points
2. Peru, 237 points
3. Japan, 222 points
4. Germany, 219 points
5. Tajikistan, 215 points
6. Costa Rica, 189 points
7. France, 187 points
8. Rest of the World, 174 points

It's been a wild ride for Team Tajikistan as it's been the first time all five have played live beyond home games and they've acquitted themselves well. We caught up with their captain Angel Davidov during round six.

"The event means a great deal for all of us and Tajikistan. Like in any other post-Soviet country card games are considered gambling but we're trying to prove that it's a sport. For a country with only 50 poker players it was a big victory just to get here ahead of countries like Ukraine and Russia," said Davidov, a hulking tower of a man.

"When we walked in here yesterday we said, 'We are not going to finish in ninth place, we're shouldn't be the first to leave if we want to achieve our goal of promoting poker. Our goal today was to finish in the top four... but first or second would be great for us and Tajikistan. Ten people have asked me where it is. It was in Europe according to some, others thought Latin America!" said Davidov.

One round left to play.

The payouts
1st. $90,000 ($22,500 per person)
2nd. $65,000 ($16,250 per person)
3rd. $45,000 ($11,250 per person)
4th. $30,000 ($7,500 per person)
5th. $20,000 ($5,000 per person)
6th. $15,000 ($3,750 per person)
7th. $10,000 ($2,500 per person)
8th. $7,500 ($1,875 per person)
9th: Italy, $5,000 ($1,250 per person)

The final round robin heads up matches are over and it's the Netherlands out ahead with just one set of high pressure seeded heads up matches to play. Bar a miraculous turn of events, which is always possible in the World Cup, it will be one of three countries lifting the trophy; the Netherlands (241), Peru (237) or Japan (222).

Germany (219) and Tajikistan (215) stand outside chances of winning but would need to dominate all five of their heads up matches to do so, and hope their rivals fail. Tajikistan have already had one sweep scored and one conceded so it's distinctly possible that takes place.

Win 0 HU: 0 points
Win 1 HU: 5 points
Win 2 HU: 10 points
Win 3 HU: 25 points
Win 4 HU: 30 points
Win 5 HU: 50 points

The leader board as it stands
1. Netherlands, 241 points
2. Peru, 237 points
3. Japan, 222 points
4. Germany, 219 points
5. Tajikistan, 215 points
6. Costa Rica, 189 points
7. France, 187 points
8. Rest of the World, 174 points

It's been a wild ride for Team Tajikistan as it's been the first time all five have played live beyond home games and they've acquitted themselves well. We caught up with their captain Angel Davidov during round six.

"The event means a great deal for all of us and Tajikistan. Like in any other post-Soviet country card games are considered gambling but we're trying to prove that it's a sport. For a country with only 50 poker players it was a big victory just to get here ahead of countries like Ukraine and Russia," said Davidov, a hulking tower of a man.

"When we walked in here yesterday we said, 'We are not going to finish in ninth place, we're shouldn't be the first to leave if we want to achieve our goal of promoting poker. Our goal today was to finish in the top four... but first or second would be great for us and Tajikistan. Ten people have asked me where it is. It was in Europe according to some, others thought Latin America!" said Davidov.

One round left to play.

The payouts
1st. $90,000 ($22,500 per person)
2nd. $65,000 ($16,250 per person)
3rd. $45,000 ($11,250 per person)
4th. $30,000 ($7,500 per person)
5th. $20,000 ($5,000 per person)
6th. $15,000 ($3,750 per person)
7th. $10,000 ($2,500 per person)
8th. $7,500 ($1,875 per person)
9th: Italy, $5,000 ($1,250 per person)

The World Cup of Poker always throws up some oddities. If it's not the biggest slow roll ever then it's having to deal with a team mate flying home early. This time we've just had to deal with the fact we had eleven winners out of ten sit-and-gos. Thankfully that's now been sorted and against all odds it's Tajikistan that has taken the lead after the first round of heads up play, scoring a five from five sweep for 50 points.

Where play was carefree yesterday with players just enjoying the experience as much as anything else (maybe too much in Italy's case) then today has seen a marked increase in passion. Every few minutes there's a roar from one of the tables, albeit mostly from Humberto Brenes and his Costa Rican Team. We have two further rounds of round-robin heads up play before the final seeded heads up matches settle the tournament and crown a winning nation.

1. Tajikistan, 205 points
2. Netherlands, 192points
3. Peru, 182 points
4. Germany, 179 points
5. Japan, 167 points
6. France, 157 points
7. Rest of the World, 154 points
8. Costa Rica, 154 points

Tajikistan have moved ahead but swings can and will take place at this juncture. Stay with us to find out the pre-final round results.

Tajikistan
Angel Davidov (c): 8 + 5 + 8 + 6 (27)
Ildar Faizakhmanov: 7 + 6 + 8 + 8 (29)
Yaukb Imamov: 2 + 6 + 5 + 4 (17)
Makisimov Dmitrievich: 2 + 6 + 6 + 6 (20)
Akmal Sultanov: 7 + 8 + 6 + 6 (27)
MTT: 3rd (35)
Heads up rounds: 50
Team total: 205

Netherlands
Noah Boeken (c): 4 + 5 + 5 + 10 (24)
Johan 'bustosoon' van Til: 6 + 7 + 10 + 10 (33)
Andries Swart: 2 + 8 + 2 + 10 (22)
Peter Roeleveld: 3 + 7 + 6 + 10 (26)
Giel van Doorn: 8 + 5 + 2 + 4 (19)
MTT: 2nd (40)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 191

Peru
Martin Sansour (c): 1 + 10 + 2 + 4 (17)
Renato Nunez: 10 + 10 + 7 + 8 (35)
Luis Felipe: 6 + 6 + 10 + 10 (32)
Renso Renfigo: 7 + 7 + 5 + 10 (29)
Daniel Adrianzen: 4 + 7 + 10 + 8 (29)
MTT: 4th (30)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 182

Germany
Jan Heitmann (c): 3 + 10 + 4 + 10 (27)
Christian Rudolph: 5 + 8 + 7 + 8 (28)
Dennis Wiedenbruck: 2 + 10 + 8 + 6 (26)
Klaus Hornschurch: 3 + 5 + 4 + 6 (18)
Michael Stobbe: 1 + 8 + 5 + 6 (20)
MTT: 1st (50)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 179

Japan
Masaaki Kagawa (c): 7 + 7 + 8 + 10 (32)
Kosei Ichinose: 4 + 10 + 4 + 4 (22)
Atsushi Iwasa: 10 + 5 + 6 + 4 (25)
Yuichi Andoh: 10 + 10 + 3 + 6 (29)
Makoto Fukuta: 10 + 6 + 8 + 10 (34)
MTT: 5th (25)
Heads up rounds: 0
Team total: 167

France
Arnaud Mattern (c): 5 + 6 + 6 + 8 (25)
Anthony Monestes: 2 + 8 + 3 + 6 (19)
Guillaume Lebosse: 8 + 7 + 7 + 6 (28)
Philippe Lucas: 10 + 7 + 10 + 4 (31)
Sami Ben Ahmed: 8 + 5 + 7 + 4 (24)
MTT: 6th (20)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 157

Rest of the world
David Williams: 4 + 5 + 3 + 8 (20)
Jake Schwartz: 7 + 8 + 10 + 4 (29)
Wu Shuk Man: 6 + 8 + 5 + 8 (27)
Carl Slate: 6 + 10 + 2 + 4 (22)
Pierre Lambert: 4 + 6 + 3 + 8 (21)
MTT: 8th (10)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 154

Costa Rica
Humbertop Brenes (c): 1 + 10 + 4 + 8 (23)
Ibuki Fukui: 1 + 8 + 7 + 10 (26)
Paul Cukier: 6 + 6 + 2 + 4 (18)
Onofre Sade: 3 + 5 + 3 + 6 (17)
Adrian Mora: 8 + 10 + 4 + 8 (30)
MTT: 7th (15)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 154

The World Cup of Poker always throws up some oddities. If it's not the biggest slow roll ever then it's having to deal with a team mate flying home early. This time we've just had to deal with the fact we had eleven winners out of ten sit-and-gos. Thankfully that's now been sorted and against all odds it's Tajikistan that has taken the lead after the first round of heads up play, scoring a five from five sweep for 50 points.

Where play was carefree yesterday with players just enjoying the experience as much as anything else (maybe too much in Italy's case) then today has seen a marked increase in passion. Every few minutes there's a roar from one of the tables, albeit mostly from Humberto Brenes and his Costa Rican Team. We have two further rounds of round-robin heads up play before the final seeded heads up matches settle the tournament and crown a winning nation.

1. Tajikistan, 205 points
2. Netherlands, 192points
3. Peru, 182 points
4. Germany, 179 points
5. Japan, 167 points
6. France, 157 points
7. Rest of the World, 154 points
8. Costa Rica, 154 points

Tajikistan have moved ahead but swings can and will take place at this juncture. Stay with us to find out the pre-final round results.

Tajikistan
Angel Davidov (c): 8 + 5 + 8 + 6 (27)
Ildar Faizakhmanov: 7 + 6 + 8 + 8 (29)
Yaukb Imamov: 2 + 6 + 5 + 4 (17)
Makisimov Dmitrievich: 2 + 6 + 6 + 6 (20)
Akmal Sultanov: 7 + 8 + 6 + 6 (27)
MTT: 3rd (35)
Heads up rounds: 50
Team total: 205

Netherlands
Noah Boeken (c): 4 + 5 + 5 + 10 (24)
Johan 'bustosoon' van Til: 6 + 7 + 10 + 10 (33)
Andries Swart: 2 + 8 + 2 + 10 (22)
Peter Roeleveld: 3 + 7 + 6 + 10 (26)
Giel van Doorn: 8 + 5 + 2 + 4 (19)
MTT: 2nd (40)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 191

Peru
Martin Sansour (c): 1 + 10 + 2 + 4 (17)
Renato Nunez: 10 + 10 + 7 + 8 (35)
Luis Felipe: 6 + 6 + 10 + 10 (32)
Renso Renfigo: 7 + 7 + 5 + 10 (29)
Daniel Adrianzen: 4 + 7 + 10 + 8 (29)
MTT: 4th (30)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 182

Germany
Jan Heitmann (c): 3 + 10 + 4 + 10 (27)
Christian Rudolph: 5 + 8 + 7 + 8 (28)
Dennis Wiedenbruck: 2 + 10 + 8 + 6 (26)
Klaus Hornschurch: 3 + 5 + 4 + 6 (18)
Michael Stobbe: 1 + 8 + 5 + 6 (20)
MTT: 1st (50)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 179

Japan
Masaaki Kagawa (c): 7 + 7 + 8 + 10 (32)
Kosei Ichinose: 4 + 10 + 4 + 4 (22)
Atsushi Iwasa: 10 + 5 + 6 + 4 (25)
Yuichi Andoh: 10 + 10 + 3 + 6 (29)
Makoto Fukuta: 10 + 6 + 8 + 10 (34)
MTT: 5th (25)
Heads up rounds: 0
Team total: 167

France
Arnaud Mattern (c): 5 + 6 + 6 + 8 (25)
Anthony Monestes: 2 + 8 + 3 + 6 (19)
Guillaume Lebosse: 8 + 7 + 7 + 6 (28)
Philippe Lucas: 10 + 7 + 10 + 4 (31)
Sami Ben Ahmed: 8 + 5 + 7 + 4 (24)
MTT: 6th (20)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 157

Rest of the world
David Williams: 4 + 5 + 3 + 8 (20)
Jake Schwartz: 7 + 8 + 10 + 4 (29)
Wu Shuk Man: 6 + 8 + 5 + 8 (27)
Carl Slate: 6 + 10 + 2 + 4 (22)
Pierre Lambert: 4 + 6 + 3 + 8 (21)
MTT: 8th (10)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 154

Costa Rica
Humbertop Brenes (c): 1 + 10 + 4 + 8 (23)
Ibuki Fukui: 1 + 8 + 7 + 10 (26)
Paul Cukier: 6 + 6 + 2 + 4 (18)
Onofre Sade: 3 + 5 + 3 + 6 (17)
Adrian Mora: 8 + 10 + 4 + 8 (30)
MTT: 7th (15)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 154

The World Cup of Poker always throws up some oddities. If it's not the biggest slow roll ever then it's having to deal with a team mate flying home early. This time we've just had to deal with the fact we had eleven winners out of ten sit-and-gos. Thankfully that's now been sorted and against all odds it's Tajikistan that has taken the lead after the first round of heads up play, scoring a five from five sweep for 50 points.

Where play was carefree yesterday with players just enjoying the experience as much as anything else (maybe too much in Italy's case) then today has seen a marked increase in passion. Every few minutes there's a roar from one of the tables, albeit mostly from Humberto Brenes and his Costa Rican Team. We have two further rounds of round-robin heads up play before the final seeded heads up matches settle the tournament and crown a winning nation.

1. Tajikistan, 205 points
2. Netherlands, 192points
3. Peru, 182 points
4. Germany, 179 points
5. Japan, 167 points
6. France, 157 points
7. Rest of the World, 154 points
8. Costa Rica, 154 points

Tajikistan have moved ahead but swings can and will take place at this juncture. Stay with us to find out the pre-final round results.

Tajikistan
Angel Davidov (c): 8 + 5 + 8 + 6 (27)
Ildar Faizakhmanov: 7 + 6 + 8 + 8 (29)
Yaukb Imamov: 2 + 6 + 5 + 4 (17)
Makisimov Dmitrievich: 2 + 6 + 6 + 6 (20)
Akmal Sultanov: 7 + 8 + 6 + 6 (27)
MTT: 3rd (35)
Heads up rounds: 50
Team total: 205

Netherlands
Noah Boeken (c): 4 + 5 + 5 + 10 (24)
Johan 'bustosoon' van Til: 6 + 7 + 10 + 10 (33)
Andries Swart: 2 + 8 + 2 + 10 (22)
Peter Roeleveld: 3 + 7 + 6 + 10 (26)
Giel van Doorn: 8 + 5 + 2 + 4 (19)
MTT: 2nd (40)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 191

Peru
Martin Sansour (c): 1 + 10 + 2 + 4 (17)
Renato Nunez: 10 + 10 + 7 + 8 (35)
Luis Felipe: 6 + 6 + 10 + 10 (32)
Renso Renfigo: 7 + 7 + 5 + 10 (29)
Daniel Adrianzen: 4 + 7 + 10 + 8 (29)
MTT: 4th (30)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 182

Germany
Jan Heitmann (c): 3 + 10 + 4 + 10 (27)
Christian Rudolph: 5 + 8 + 7 + 8 (28)
Dennis Wiedenbruck: 2 + 10 + 8 + 6 (26)
Klaus Hornschurch: 3 + 5 + 4 + 6 (18)
Michael Stobbe: 1 + 8 + 5 + 6 (20)
MTT: 1st (50)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 179

Japan
Masaaki Kagawa (c): 7 + 7 + 8 + 10 (32)
Kosei Ichinose: 4 + 10 + 4 + 4 (22)
Atsushi Iwasa: 10 + 5 + 6 + 4 (25)
Yuichi Andoh: 10 + 10 + 3 + 6 (29)
Makoto Fukuta: 10 + 6 + 8 + 10 (34)
MTT: 5th (25)
Heads up rounds: 0
Team total: 167

France
Arnaud Mattern (c): 5 + 6 + 6 + 8 (25)
Anthony Monestes: 2 + 8 + 3 + 6 (19)
Guillaume Lebosse: 8 + 7 + 7 + 6 (28)
Philippe Lucas: 10 + 7 + 10 + 4 (31)
Sami Ben Ahmed: 8 + 5 + 7 + 4 (24)
MTT: 6th (20)
Heads up rounds: 10
Team total: 157

Rest of the world
David Williams: 4 + 5 + 3 + 8 (20)
Jake Schwartz: 7 + 8 + 10 + 4 (29)
Wu Shuk Man: 6 + 8 + 5 + 8 (27)
Carl Slate: 6 + 10 + 2 + 4 (22)
Pierre Lambert: 4 + 6 + 3 + 8 (21)
MTT: 8th (10)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 154

Costa Rica
Humbertop Brenes (c): 1 + 10 + 4 + 8 (23)
Ibuki Fukui: 1 + 8 + 7 + 10 (26)
Paul Cukier: 6 + 6 + 2 + 4 (18)
Onofre Sade: 3 + 5 + 3 + 6 (17)
Adrian Mora: 8 + 10 + 4 + 8 (30)
MTT: 7th (15)
Heads up rounds: 25
Team total: 154

Neil Johnson bounces round like he owns the place because, in a way, he does. Johnson is the EPT tournament host and is also the man in charge of the World Cup of Poker, a two-day team event which is approaching its final stages. This morning the team captains, including such luminaries as Team PokerStars Pros Humberto Brenes, Jan Heitmann, David Williams, Noah Boeken and Arnaud Mattern, were gathered in and told about an amendment to the rules. We collared Johnson to get a clarification of how the final heads-up stages are going to play out, straight from the horse's mouth.

Johnson explains: "We've made a couple of adjustments. We were going to break them one to four and five to eight and that's all they could win but that's changed. We're going to take the eight teams and randomly draw them into two pods of four, no longer seeded but still a round robin, then we'll seed them then so five plays four, six plays threes, seven plays two and at the end wherever the points fall that's where they finish.

"Captains play captains and the TLB guys play the TLB guys. They score points all the way through... We should finish 8.30-ish. I'm hoping that if we get cards in the air we should be able to do all three round robins between five and seven. We should be able to get that done because by the time half-an-hour is done they'll be 25 big blinds on the table. They'll still be able to play that but not by much. We should be able to start the final round of heads up at 7.30pm."

Okay, I think I understand how this is going to work out. Results for the last round are getting calculated now and will be posted up as soon as we get hold of them.

Neil Johnson bounces round like he owns the place because, in a way, he does. Johnson is the EPT tournament host and is also the man in charge of the World Cup of Poker, a two-day team event which is approaching its final stages. This morning the team captains, including such luminaries as Team PokerStars Pros Humberto Brenes, Jan Heitmann, David Williams, Noah Boeken and Arnaud Mattern, were gathered in and told about an amendment to the rules. We collared Johnson to get a clarification of how the final heads-up stages are going to play out, straight from the horse's mouth.

Johnson explains: "We've made a couple of adjustments. We were going to break them one to four and five to eight and that's all they could win but that's changed. We're going to take the eight teams and randomly draw them into two pods of four, no longer seeded but still a round robin, then we'll seed them then so five plays four, six plays threes, seven plays two and at the end wherever the points fall that's where they finish.

"Captains play captains and the TLB guys play the TLB guys. They score points all the way through... We should finish 8.30-ish. I'm hoping that if we get cards in the air we should be able to do all three round robins between five and seven. We should be able to get that done because by the time half-an-hour is done they'll be 25 big blinds on the table. They'll still be able to play that but not by much. We should be able to start the final round of heads up at 7.30pm."

Okay, I think I understand how this is going to work out. Results for the last round are getting calculated now and will be posted up as soon as we get hold of them.