Germany leads as final table begins

CARDIFF, Wales -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The star studded final table is set for the third annual PartyPoker.com Poker Nations Cup in Cardiff, Wales. After six heats, Michael Keiner's Germany arrive at the final table as chip leaders after winning the final two heats. Coverage of the tag team final, which is covered in three 55 minute episodes, begins Tuesday 28th/Wednesday 29thth October at 01.15am and runs for three weeks on Channel 4 in the UK.

Over six heats each player competed once to score points for their team, and individual match winners scooped $20,000 for themselves for their efforts. All six teams now compete in a "tag" final where each team captain's judgement is vital, as it is up to them to make tactical substitutions and strategic "time outs." The size of the team chip stacks for the tag final depend on the points gained by the players in the six heats. The triumphant nation will be the last with a player standing.

The team event features line-ups from Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Holland and the United States. The winning team will scoop $100,000 in this unique tournament that sees players pursuing personal and team glory, along with the honour of representing their home nation. The tournament sees one PartyPoker.com VIP qualifier on each team playing alongside five world class poker professionals from the same participating nations, except the USA who feature celebrity player Montel Willams. Each player paid a buy-in of $5,000 making a total prize pool of $280,000 ($100,000 added by PartyPoker.com).

The first heat was won by Great Britain's Neil Channing and the Irish Open champion overcome Sweden's Johan Storakers heads-up. Heat two saw a surprise as Dutch online qualifier Quirjin van der Peet took it down after an epic heads-up with Great Britain's Ian Frazer. The heat featured Jamie Gold, who finished third, the highest finishing position of any Team USA player at the event so far. Day one finished with 2006 winners Great Britain in the ascendancy.

Day two opened with two captains at the table, Bo Sehlstedt for Sweden and Michael Keiner for Germany but it was Holland's Daan Ruitter who triumphed, with Irish online qualifier Darren O'Brien roared on by his team mates into second place. The next heat saw another maximum for Great Britain as Surinder Sunar was victorious with Sweden's Mats Rahmn the runner-up. The heat featured the USA's Chris Ferguson who busted first, adding to what was turning into a miserable run for Team USA. At the end of day two Holland and Great Britain were pulling away from the field in the points table.

Day three saw the balance of power swing dramatically as pre-tournament favourites Germany took down both heats. Andreas Krause won the first heat, defeating Sweden's 2007 Poker Nations Cup hero Anders Henriksson heads-up. The final heat was won by Germany's Benjamin Kang who saw off Ireland's Ciaran O'Leary in a heat that also featured Marcel Luske, William Thorson, Robert Williamson III and Roland de Wolfe. This marvellous last day gives Germany the chip lead going into the tag team final.

Last year Sweden triumphed over the USA in a rollercoaster tag-final, while the year before there was glory for Great Britain. Coverage of the 2008 event was produced by Presentable and is presented by Vicky Coren.

PARTYPOKER.COM POKER NATIONS CUP FINAL TABLE STARTING LINE-UP

• USA: Chris Ferguson

• GB: Surinder Sunar

• IRE: Marty Smyth

• SWE: Mats Rahmn

• GER: Benjamin Kang

• HOL: Quirjin van der Peet

PARTYPOKER.COM POKER NATIONS CUP – FINAL TABLE CHIP STACKS

• USA 10,050
• GB 25,350
• GER 29,050
• HOL 25,350
• SWE 23,800
• IRE 16,400

PARTYPOKER.COM POKER NATIONS CUP - POINTS AFTER DAY THREE

• GER 55pts
• GB 48pts
• HOL 48pts
• SWE 45 pts
• IRE 31 pts
• USA19 pts

TEAMS

GREAT BRITAIN

• Roland de Wolfe Capt.
• Joe Beevers
• Ian Frazer
• Surinder Sunar
• Neil Channing
• Francis Durbin - qualifier

GERMANY

• Michael Keiner Capt.
• Andreas Krause
• Benjamin Kang
• Sebastian Ruthenberg
• Thomas Bihl
• Thomas Potzel - qualifier

HOLLAND

• Marcel Luske Capt.
• Thierry Van den Berg
• Hans Ritburg
• Eric Van der Berg
• Daan Ruiter
• Quirijn Van der Peet - qualifier

IRELAND

• Padraig Parkinson Capt.
• Donnacha O'Dea Ciaran O'Leary
• Liam Flood
• Marty Smith
• Darren O'Brien - qualifier

SWEDEN

• Bo Sehlstedt Capt.
• Anders Henriksson
• Mats Rahmn
• Johan Storakers
• William Thorson
• Johan Ocklind - qualifier

USA

• Robert Williamson III Capt.
• Jamie Gold
• Chris Ferguson
• Thomas Keller
• Chad Brown
• Montel Williams – Celebrity Player