Scandinavian Masters

WELWYN, ENGLAND-We are down to playing the final two "heats." Each winner of their heat moves to the final table for a chance to win the Scandinavian Masters crown. Here's who will be meeting up at the final table on Wednesday.

Heat 1- Albert Kirk Iversen
Heat 2- Rickard Johansson
Heat 3- Chris Bjorin
Heat 4- Teemu Salminen (right)

Heat 5 began play at 8 p.m. and will resume play tomorrow morning. Juha Helppi busted out before play ended this evening. Heat 5 features Swedish poker pro Anders Henriksson as well as Peter Gunnarsson who was at the Lennaard Invitational final table. Devilfish, who arrived this evening, will be playing in Heat 6 tomorrow afternoon.

So what happens if a Brit wins the Scandinavian crown?

Sir Charles Ronald George Nall-Cain, Third Baron Brocket was nine when his father died. At 21, when his grandfather passed away he acquired the title Lord Brocket as well as the Brocket Hall mansion, a crumbling ruin at the time. Despite the title and the mansion, Brocket was left penniless. British banks refused to loan him money, but an American bank came through loaning Brocket enough to restore the hall. The Hall located in Hertfordshire is worth an estimated £42 million and is currently a beautiful hotel and conference venue.

After the classic car business collapsed, Brocket decided to destroy four of his classic Ferraris and reported a £4.5 million insurance claim. A rocky divorce and a wife who was addicted to pain killers didn't mix well. She ratted him out after she was arrested for forging drug prescriptions. He went to prison for conspiracy to fraud.

The mansion and estate are now rented out to guests and conference groups. The place is truly beautiful.Click below to see a few shots of the property.

WELWYN, ENGLAND-Whether they pass time after busting out or wait for their moment at the final table on Wednesday, most players wind up in the Brocket Hall basement. If playing their heat wasn't enough there is plenty of poker to go around. PartyPoker has a table, chips and cards ready to go for players who are looking for action.

No room at the table? A dodgy internet connection is available for those who would rather play online. Juha Helppi was seen playing online poker an hour after he busted out at the Lennaard Invitational final table. He said normally after a tournament he takes a day away from poker.

"But there is nothing else to do here," he said.

When the internet is down or they just need a break, there is a television set up to view the televised table.

Some competitors choose to leave the basement to travel to London for the day, hang out at the Crooked Chimney Pub or play a round on the Melbourne Golf Course surrounding the property.

Today I hung out for nine holes with Poker Magazine's Rikard Aberg as well as Anders Henriksson, Rickard Johansson, and Peter Gunnarsson (bottom right). I don't play golf, but after the morning rain cleared, it turned out to be a beautiful day. I was pretty much out of the loop, all the guys spoke Swedish 90 percent of the time. But it didn't matter. It was just good to get out of the basement.

WELWYN, ENGLAND-I got an email last night from a reader wanting to know just what the bloody heck was the Scandinavian Masters and who is Lennaard?

First things first....the festivities began here at Brocket Hall on August 17 with the Ken Lennaard Invitational Poker Tournament. Lennaard is a Swedish poker pro and a former reality TV winner. Party Poker invited 18 Scandinavian players to play in the freeroll. In order to participate, the players had to agree to buy ($5000) into the Scandinavian Masters tournament going on right now. Others playing in the Masters event could either buy-in directly or qualify online. Both tournaments are open to Scandinavian players only...with the exception of David Ulliott a.k.a Devilfish....a special guest who is playing in Heat 6 tomorrow.

Right now no one is paying much attention to chip counts. Competitors play in "heats" which are like sit-n-go's with a $5000 buy-in. The winner of each heat goes onto the final table on Wednesday. Because PartyPoker uses U.S. dollars on their site, chip counts will be reported in USD.
The events aren't in Scandinavian countries because it is illegal to play poker there unless the government organizes it. While the tournament could be organized in a private room, Scandi TV couldn't televise it later or even advertise the event...so Party decided to have it here.

Another interesting legal tidbit...all players had to sign an agreement that they wouldn't drink alcohol on the property...a displeasing fact for the Fins who apparently like their drink. In England, most pubs have notices posted stating that gambling on the property isn't allowed. Pubs, bars, and other places with a liquor license can't be a gambling venue unless the also carry a gambling license. Brocket Hall was worried that authorities would have a problem with the Scandinavian Master tournament on their premises without a gambling license when they can sell alcohol. So with the exception of wine offered with one meal the night of the Lennaard Invitational, players have had to visit the Crooked Chimney down the street if they want to indulge. Otherwise, it's only apple juice with dinner here.

I have to say after the WSOP, it's strange not seeing drinky players partying it up once play has ceased for the day.

UPDATE:Players have just been banned from smoking inside Brocket Hall as well. What?...poker and no drinking or smoking? Get your umbrellas boys and girls smoking is only outdoors!

WELWYN, ENGLAND--I arrived at Brocket Hall yesterday just in time for final table for the Ken Lennaárd Invitational. The tournament began August 17 with 18 Scandinavian players. I was excited to find Juha Helppi among those six who made the cut. He was the only Scandi player I knew and I looked forward to talking to him...not about poker, but about SCUBA.

In November, Helppi won the Caribbean Poker Classic Extreme Tournament after beating his three opponents playing poker underwater. As the players descended to the weighted poker table and chips below, Helppi struggled to get to his seat.