Grafton Goes Early, Doubles Through Flink
Shortly after Manig Loeser doubled back to a starting stack against Steve O’Dwyer, Sam Grafton and Sam Soverel tangled on Table 2.
Picking up the action on [Th9d6c], Soverel bet 7,000 from the button. Grafton, who was in the small blind, called before Robert Flink check-raised to 80,000 from the big. Soverel went into the tank and slid a time extension into the middle, before putting his head in his hands.
Grafton then asked if the clock had been reset, before pushing a full stack of 100,000 in the middle while announcing “all-in”. There was a brief pause before Grafton realized Soverel still had cards and the floor was immediately called.
The dealer explained the situation to British Poker Open Tournament Director Paul Campbell and he confirmed that if Soverel called Flink’s raise, Grafton would not have the option to change his action. If Soverel moved all-in, Grafton would not be held to his out-of-turn all-in.
Soverel took a few more seconds to think before he eventually folded, meaning Grafton was held to his all-in. Flink threw in calling chips and then got an official count of Grafton’s 127,000 chip stack.
“That sucks.” Flink said, describing not only the situation, but the hands as well.
Grafton had turned over [QhJd] and the Swede tabled [Qd8d]. Flink needed to hit to score the knockout and he could not.
The [Ah] and [3d] completed the board and Grafton’s double which has him among the chip leaders with close to 300,000.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Flink | 110,000 |
-45,000  |
