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Day 1B? Daher 1B more like
Albert Daher: Crushed Day 1B
In a room containing greater than 500 people, plus an overspill of nearly 300 next door, you'll do well to draw all the attention for even a minute, not to mention a whole day.
But because the field swelled to a record size for a chief event of the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final, Day 1B was all about Albert Daher, from Lebanon, who hasn't ever been out of the chip lead.
He knocked out two players before Level 1 was over, and continued to crush for the following seven levels too, bagging 266,600 chips tonight. That's significantly more even than last night's leader.
There are an entire host of superlative talents tailing him, including Sebastien Lebaron (234,400) and Kulli Sidhu (231,000). This was also a large day for the Team PokerStars SportStar Fatima Moreira de Melo, who has 149,200, Randy "nanonoko" Lew, who has 143,000, and Vanessa Selbst, who marks her return after a break with an afternoon worth 155,000.
But Daher heads the 435 (approx) remaining and can be the person to catch when the sphere combines for Day 2 at noon tomorrow.
It's worth mentioning Daniel Negreanu tonight as well, but not in this occasion for his successful appearance. Negreanu's tournament was one of the vital briefest. He arrived just after the dinner break and played only two hands. He lost both and was quickly eliminated.
His Team PokerStars Pro colleagues Johnny Lodden, Luca Pagano, Eugene Katchalov and George Danzer also perished, but Selbst, Randy Lew, Yaxi Zhu, Naoya Kihara, Liv Boeree, Celina Lin, Chen Ang Lin and Lex Veldhuis are still involved.
Here are some selected chip counts (the entire list won't be with us until much later, but we'll update the Blog once we get it).
| Albert Daher | Lebanon | 266,600 |
| Sebastien Lebaron | France | 234,400 |
| Kulli Sidhu | United Kingdom | 231,000 |
| Markku Koplimaa | Estonia | 199,900 |
| Vanessa Selbst | United States | 155000 |
| Fatima Moreira de Melo | Holland | 149,200 |
| Randy Lew | United States | 143,000 |
| Naoya Kihara | Japan | 123,100 |
| Chen Ang Lin | Taiwan | 79,400 |
| Nacho Barbero | Argentina | 75,700 |
| Celina Lin | China | 27,300 |
| Felipe Ramos | Brazil | 23,900 |
| Lex Veldhuis | Holland | 14,300 |
So, yes, it is a record-breaking field here already--vindicating the verdict to slash the buy-in to €5,000 from its more usual €10,000. The overall number was 782, but registration continues to be open. Come along tomorrow to play.
The single-day €50,000 tournament remains to be under way, so follow that to its bitter conclusion. Marc Convey is your host.
From the primary event, goodnight.
Full coverage from Day 1B:
11:50pm: Katchalov outLevel 8 - Blinds: 300/600 (75 ante)
Eugene Katchalov just busted the principle event. He moved in with ace-queen at the turn, with a queen at the flop. The important thing factor were the 2 diamonds at the board, which made a flush for his opponent at the river. - SB
11:40pm: Lin finishing strongLevel 8 - Blinds: 300/600 (75 ante)
Team Pro Chen Ang Lin just secured his stack a late boost. He opened from the bring to an end for 1,400 which Alexandru Papazian called from the massive blind.
The flop came K♠2♣4♣ which was checked to Ang. He bet anothet 1,500 which was called.
The turn was the A♠. Another check from Papazian before Lin bet another 4,100. Again, Papazian called.
The river card now, the 7♥. Papazian checked to Lin who made it 10,050 to play. Papazian called instantly, but slapped the table when Lin showed A♥2♠.
Lin now as much as 82,000. - SB
11:25pm: Barbero and Kihara and a 40K potLevel 8 - Blinds: 300/600 (75 ante)
A tense hand played out between Nacho Barbero and Naoya Kihara just boosted one in every of their stacks to 125,000.
Barbero opened for 1,400 which Kihara then raised to 4,000 within the bring to a halt. Barbero, figuring out of early position, called for a flop of 8♦T♦6♦.
Barbero began a sequence of checks. This time it ended in a chance of 4,500 from Kihara, which was called. At the 8♣ turn both checked, after which at the river card Q♦ Barbero checked again.
At this point Kihara bet again, an additional 10,700. Barbero pulled faces as he looked over at Kihara, who was not making any faces in any respect. Grinning, Barbero said that he hoped Kihara hadn't got pocket queens. He hadn't. When Barbero called Kihara turned over A♦K♠. Crucially the ace was a diamond, for the but flush. Barbero mucked his K♦ face up.
Kihara as much as 125,000 while Barbero slips to 100,000. - SB
11:10pm: Deadman greatly aliveLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
British pro Simon Deadman has just doubled up. He called Thomas Saxler's pre-flop small blind open from the massive blind and the 2 saw a T♠2♠T♦ flop fall. Saxler continued for 3,500 and Deadman matched it.
The turn came the A♥ and now the bet from the German PokerStars Qualifier was 7,000. Deadman called once more.
The 5♦ completed the board and Deadman shoved after Saxler checked to him. The bet was 21,125 and Saxler didn't take long to throw in calling chips. He'd wish he hadn't though when Deadman turned over his T♠9♠ for trips. Saxler could only muck.
Deadman is now being silly 45,000. --JS
10:55pm: Mojave deserts some chipsLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Heading over to Felipe 'Mojave' Ramos' table, I caught the Friend of PokerStars mid-hand. A 5♥9♥5♦ flop were dealt and Ranno Sootla checked it to the Brazilian, who put out of venture of 1,800. Sootla then raised it to 4,700 and Ramos called.
We needed a turn and the dealer gave us one - the 8♠.Now Sootla led out for 5,200 and again Ramos called. The river was the 4♦ and both players checked, but Ramos sure appeared like he felt he will need to have bet when Sootla turned over the 2♥4♥ for a busted flush draw that hit bottom pair on the end.
Anyway, the chips slid Sootla's way and Ramos is now on 21,300. --JS
10:40pm: Daher the dangerLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)
Albert Daher has had the type of day that poker players dream of. He got a large stack early and has simply pummelled anybody who dared get near him.
His latest victim was Andres Artinano Munoz, who had the audacity to open to 1,500 from early position after which call when Daher raised to 5,000 from the button.
They went heads-up to the K♣2♥J♣ flop and a pattern was quickly established. Munoz checked, Daher bet, Munoz called on every street. At the flop, it was 6,000. At the 8♥ turn it was 14,500. At the 7♣ river it was 25,000, and that was for the majority of Munoz's remaining stack.
Munoz discovered that he can be left with only about 9,000 if he called the overall bet, but with Daher doing the betting, he appeared to think it was worth it. Bad news. Daher turned over A♣A♦ and built his stack past 250,000. Munoz is in a place of bother.
Yesterday's end-of-day leader, Roman Verenko, had 198,000. There is a strong chance Daher goes to knock that right into a cocked hat. -- HS
| 8 | 300 | 600 | 75 |
10:50pm: A futile seek for Chance KornuthLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
This hand happened a short while ago, but I just found it within the notebook and it rang a bell in my memory. Action folded to Albert Sebag, a PokerStars qualifier from France, at the button and he opted to limp for 500.
Andrei Stoenescu, within the small blind, made it 1,600 to play after which Chance Kornuth, within the big blind, made it 3,600.
Sebag was massively disgruntled. "I knew it!" he grumbled, the muttered something in French that I DID NOT catch.
It looks as if it's been a coarse day for Sebag with Kornuth sitting within the big blind. Although Kornuth is as affable as players get on the table, he's also pretty sharky (as his €10K high roller result will attest) and it have to be absolutely miserable having him on your left when the conversation stops.
Sebag had had enough. Who's this kid? He picked up his phone and spread out a browser, then went to Google. He pieced together all of the information he could find and typed "poker", "chance" and "rungood" into his phone, i.e., the game, the name of his tormentor (I'm guessing he had asked) and the name of the clothing company whose livery Kornuth was sporting.
However should you take into consideration it, all those terms, even added together, don't bring you to Chance Kornuth. And so even Sebag's Google search was an exercise in frustration. He tried shifting the order of the words. He made "run good" two words as opposed to one.
But no, still only a lot of general poker stuff and no toward knowing the identity of the child within the big blind. He turned his phone over and got on with it, with a Gallic sigh. -- HS
10:55pm: Kerignard takes his chanceLevel 7 - Blinds: 250/500 (50 ante)
Yorane Kerignard arrived for the primary Event this afternoon with six blue chips. He'd lost a couple of since then but looking down at two red kings found a chance to get all of them back, particularly when there has been a raise and a re-raise in front of him.
Sylvain Loosli started it, opening for 1,200. Patrick Fortin was within the hijack and raised to 3,300. Kerignard, at the button, paused, then four bet to 7,600.
That wasn't even the tip of it. Laurent Strouk was within the big blind and hadn't folded yet. Instead he called Kerignard, leaving Loosli to get out in their way. Then Fortin paused, taking a minute before he too called. They might see a flop.
2♦3♦T♥
Strouk checked before Fortin bet 60,000, easily covering the others. Kerignard called before Strouk passed, and watched Fortin turn over J♦8♦ for a flush draw. Kerignard's K♥K♦ looked good, but not for terribly long. The turn card 7♦ gave Fortin his flush. The river card 7♣ couldn't save Kerignard.
He stood quickly, muttered his best wishes, and left. - SB
10:50pm: Boeree heads to the races and finds a winning ticketLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
Chance Kornuth opened to 1,300 within the cut-off and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz made the decision at the button. The action then got to Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree within the big blind, and he or she felt it was the proper time for a three-bet to 4,400. That removed Kornuth, but Abdulaziz then jammed having Boeree covered.
She had 25,625 behind and thought for a minute, eventually telling the table she didn't wish to race. That's exactly what she ended up doing though; when she made the decision her A♥K♣ was up against the 9♣9♦.
Help arrived quickly with a King within the window of the K♠2♠4♥ flop.The J♥ turn and 5♠ river kept her in front and Boeree secured the double-up to 51,850. --JS
10:45pm: Nitsche's niche? Flopping two pairLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
Dominik Nitsche was within the single-day 50K high roller last time I saw him. Now he's doubling up here on the whole event.
There was an open to 1,000 and Team PokerStars Pro Yaxi Zhu, Kitson Kho, and Domink Nitsche (big blind) came along.
The flop came the K♥Q♦5♦ and there has been a c-bet to 1,600. Zhu folded, but Kho called. Nitsche then moved all-in for 15,750 and only Kho called.
Nitsche - K♣Q♠Kho - A♦J♦
Both had flopped big, but Kho was trailing along with his flush draw. The 6♣ hit the turn changing nothing, and neither did the A♣ river. Nitsche is as much as 32,000. --JS
10:40pm: Lodden's challenge endsLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
Johnny Lodden usually loves the Grand Final. But his reserved seat on the final table will visit another person this time as he's now out. -- HS
Johnny Lodden
10:30pm: A corner of Monte Carlo that may be forever MacauLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
At the start of play today, Team Online's Naoya Kihara expressed his joy that he was sitting together with his friend Juicy Li, keeping the Asian contingent strong on that table. Not just are either one of them still there--Kihara with 110,000 and Li about 95,000--but Celina Lin, the Chinese Team PokerStars Pro, may be now on that table. She is a multiple winner of the coveted Red Dragon at the APPT and knows both Li and Kihara well. Lin has 26,000 on the moment, but that's still greater than 50 big blinds.
Randy "nanonoko" Lew is on a neighbouring table, and he's having an effective day besides--as noted below. He has about 100,000 too. He just knocked out Joe Mouawad as well to construct his stack just a little more.
Mahomed Aissani opened the pot in question, limping for 500 from mid-position. Lew raised to 2,000 from one seat along but then Mouawad shoved for approximately 19,000 from the small blind. Aissani folded but Lew called. The reality he didn't ask for a count was bad news for Mouawad.
Mouawad tabled A♦Q♣ but was dominated by Lew's A♠K♦ and there has been nothing to get fascinated about at the board. -- HS
10:10pm: Lew some of the leadersLevel 7 - Blinds: 250/500 (50 ante)
PokerStars Online Pro Randy Lew is as much as nearly 100,000 after sending a player to the rail.
After of venture of 1,000 Philipp Krummenacher called at the button and small blind Stephan Fajg did the similar. The action then reached Lew within the big blind who re-raised, making it 4,450. Krummenacher and Fajg both called for a flop.
6♦K♦7♥
Fajg checked to Lew who bet 6,100. That prompted Krummenacher to transport all in for about 11,000. Krummenacher folded but Lew called.
Lew: T♦K♥Krummenacher: A♦9♦
The turn came 6♣ and the river 2♠, much to Krummenacher's irritation.
He's out though, while Lew is now on about 96,000. - SB
10:20pm: A lot of fallersLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
It's all getting slightly feisty in the market. The newest list of eliminations includes: Kevin MacPhee (mutilated), Mar Sen (slain), Louis Linard (lanced), Tiemo Goenen (gone), Mikalai Pobol (pulverised), Artur Koren (kaput), Carlos Chang (chomped), Dimitry Yurasov (yahooed), Raymond Wu (wiped), Shaan Siddiqui (shelved), Ghassan Bitar (bounced), Daniel Wilson (wasted), Jason Wheeler (whipped), Ludovic Geilich (gutted), Gleb Tremzin (trounced), Stefan Schillhabel (shafted), Ognjen Sekularec (spewed), Farid Jattin (jettisoned), Max Pescatori (pushed), Andre Difelice (defeated) and Stefan Fuchs (come on, you're better than that). -- HS
10:15pm: Short day for Negreanu - plays just two hands before bustingLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
Actually, you'll scratch what we just said. Daniel Negreanu was eliminated after just two hands of play.
He opened to 1,175 (the primary hand he'd played) and it folded around to Markku Koplimaa within the big blind who made the decision. The flop fell T♠3♣K♠ and Koplimaa checked to the Team PokerStars Pro, who continued for 1,600 and was called.
The A♦ hit the turn, which both checked, taking us to the 6♥ at the river. Koplimaa checked another time and Negreanu said: "I should bet here, but I won't."
He turned over the K♥J♦ which was the winner against Koplimaa's 7♦7♠, however the two would soon meet again. At the next hand, in fact.
Negreanu kicked it off again with the similar open - 1,175 - and it got to Koplimaa again, this time within the small blind. He opted to three-bet to 3,450, and Daniel Dvoress gave up his big blind, so the action was back on Negreanu. He made a fast call.
"Good luck," said Koplimaa.
"I need luck?" asked Negreanu. "Oh, well that suggests you need to have it already then."
The flop was the K♠5♠9♣ and Koplimaa continued for 3,600. The 7♥ hit the turn after Negreanu made the call, and he'd also call a big gamble of 7,700 on fourth street.
The J♥ completed the board and Koplimaa asked Negreanu how much he had. "Seventeen and a half with change," was the answer.
He put Negreanu all-in and Kid Poker began his thought process. He pointed on the cards and tried to make use of them to determine what Koplimaa should have. Eventually, he decided he may well be ahead and made the decision along with his A♦K♦. It looked good right? Top pair top kicker?
Only problem was that Koplimaa had turned a straight with the 8♦6♦. Negreanu said his goodbyes and now must find something else to do along with his night. It should not be too hard for him here in Monte Carlo! --JS
10pm: One in, one outLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
Daniel Negreanu has hauled himself along to the Salle des Etoiles this evening, joining the action just after the dinner break. There at the moment are 779 players registered for play today--a good chunk of whom are already out, of course.
The arrival of the Canadian Team PokerStars Pro has actually just evened out the selection of Red Spades. Andre Akkari is now out. -- HS
9.55pm: A DISTINCT option to leave a poker tournamentLevel 7 - Blinds: 250/500 (50 ante)
Busting from a chief event is an unhappy experience on the better of times. That's why most players not just leave their seat as quickly as possible when the poker Gods strike, but in addition the tournament room - a minimum of until the €300 Turbo begins, or the bar opens. That's the standard practice. But not for one player just forced to simply accept his fate by a couple of queens.
As the last card was dealt this young man stood up from his seat, in no hurry in any respect to go away the premises. Instead he slowly picked up his track top and put it on. Then, he picked up his card protector and his headphones, which he placed back of their case, which then went into the bag he had with him.
Then there has been his cushion, and the plastic bag he'd brought with him to position it in. He located it in a pocket and awkwardly packed the cushion away. Then he checked his phone, picked up his bag, picked up the stretch purple thing with a ball on each end (what the...?) and his player ID. Actually sir, the dealer needed that back.
All in all two minutes past before he left. Through which his table mates... make that former tablemates... tried to pretend he wasn't there. - SB
9:45pm: Fatima scores double elimination - one among which was AkenheadLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)
You can have seen Team PokerStars' Fatima Moreira de Melo singing a fantastic version of the song 'Clown' on TV show It Takes 2 (if not, YouTube it). Well, there is no clowning around presently; it is all business as she's just knocked out two players in a single hand.
Tomas De La Maza moved all-in for his last 6,600 and it folded to Moreira de Melo at the button. She flat called, and the action came to James Akenhead within the big blind. After he about 10 seconds he announced he was all-in - an try to isolate De La Maza definitely. However it was never going to work; Moreira De Melo snap-called and turned over her A♥A♦.
Fatima Moreira de Melo: Butter wouldn't melt
Akenhead had an excellent hand too within the A♣K♣, while De La Maza held the A♠T♠. The board ran out 3♥2♥Q♦4♠9♦ and both Akenhead and De La Maza headed for the exit.
"See you in Vegas?" De Melo asked Akenhead. "Oh for sure," came the reply.
Moreira de Melo has 135,000 after that one. --JS
9:30pm: Cards within the airLevel 7 - Blinds: 250/500 (50 ante)
Play resumes more often than not event. There are two more levels to play today.
| 7 | 250 | 500 | 50 |
8:10pm: Dinner break
Players will shortly be on a 75 minute dinner break. Play resumes at 9.30pm.
7:55pm: Latest bust-outsLevel 6 - Blinds: 200/400 (ante: 25)
Here we're again. The long list of eliminated players: Luca Pagano, Christian Thiry, Koray Aldemir, Julian Thomas, Sergio Aido, Pablo Gordillo, Paul Ephremsen, Gaetano Dell'Aera, Anatoly Chen, Eric Nhouyvanisvong, Sam Benoliel, Ole Eide, Ronaldo de Oliveira, Abbas Moradi, Adb El Fatah Ahmed, Alexandr Komarov, Nasrodin Pirmamod, Daniel Duthon, Francois-Charles Scapula, Padraig O'Neill, Gaetan Cauchy, Georgy Komarov, Yury Gulyy, Katsuhiro Muto, Stephane Gabarre, Jean Paul Zaffran, Kevin Pascal Barden, Simon Higgins, Darren Nelson and Jean Baptiste Tomi. - HS
No laughing matter: Luca Pagano is out
7:50pm: Talking GuLevel 6 - Blinds: 200/400 (50 ante)
It seems Falk Schubertspeaks somewhat Chinese, to the delight of Guigong Gu. So it seemed a shame when the dealer told them it was English only.
Gu raised the following hand, which he does a lot, making it 900 from early position. The action folded to James Akenhead within the small blind who called for a flop of 7♠Q♣A♠.
He then checked to Gu who bet 1,400. Akenhead called.
The turn came Q♠. Both checked that, and the 7♣ river card that followed. Akenhead showed A♥Q♦ for the whole house. Gu checked out it for a couple of moments, however at his own A♦9♦, before surrendering. Meanwhile Akenhead was regretting checking the river. - SB
7:45pm: Three-way actionLevel 6 - Blinds: 200/400 (ante: 25)
Here's a three-way all-in to report, accounting for the departure Vincent Perez and greater than doubling the stack of Michael Melin. Nikita Nikolaev didn't adore it either, but he had enough to hide them both and remains to be in.
I reckon the money probably went in after this flop: 6♣4♣2♠. That's because Perez had and over-pair (7♦7♥), Nikolaev had the nut flush draw and bottom pair with A♣2♣ but Melin had 4♠4♦, for a set.
The 8♠ turn and 3♦ river helped nobody, in order that was the top of Perez. Melin had a stack of 33,700 and now has much more. -- HS
7:30pm: Urbanovich buzzingLevel 6 - Blinds: 200/400 (50 ante)
I'm unsure how long Dzmitry Urbanovich have been on this tournament (he registered late) but within the five minutes I HAVE BEEN acutely aware of his presence, I've seen him all in and called twice. The primary led to a chop, the second one in a double up.
On the primary hand, it seemed like Jovan Pupovac had opened to 800, Effendy Widjaja called from one seat along, and Urbanovich three-bet from the cutoff, using a 5,000 chip and an inaudible mutter of the particular raise amount. Pupovac then four-bet to 10,500 which got Widjaia out of the way, but Urbanovich shoved for 41,700.
Pupovac called and tabled his A♦K♥. Urbanovich showed his A♥K♠. The dealer told them to take their bets back by the point the primary four community cards showed 4♦9♠9♦7♠. The river was irrelevant. Shall we embrace it was Mrs Chips the Carpenter's Wife.
Not long after, Urbanovich was all in again, this time a flop and switch of 6♦8♠3♥T♣. Widjaia called -- Urbanovich's shove was for 16,175, so plenty had already gone in -- and the Polish phenom said, "Full house." He showed 3♣3♠.
Widjaia had a ten, however it wasn't enough. Urbanovich is buzzing. --HS
7:15pm: Smurfit Smurfs it(?)Level 6 - Blinds: 200/400 (50 ante)
Some action from Alan Smurfit, a veteran of the sport who proudly displays his gold WSOP bracelet from 2007. He and Lex Veldhuis are seated next to one another and both were taken with a pot a little while ago.
Jose Schwaiger opened from under the gun. The action was folded around to Lex Veldhuis within the small blind who called, as did Smurfit within the big blind.
The flop came 6♦K♣A♥. Action was checked to Schwaiger who bet another 1,500. That forced a fold from Veldhuis but not Smurfit. The Irishman, who leaves in Monaco, raised to 6,500. Schwaiger figured he was beaten, and folded the A♦ face up. - SB
| 6 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
6:50pm: Ping wrongLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (ante: 25)
A measure of bewilderment greeted the showdown on Table 26 where Ping San Chan turned over his cards and appeared to connect to a low board. But although the dealer was a type of convinced by his claims at the small pot, pushing the chips in his direction, it's fortunate that Eduardo Santi was keeping an eye fixed out. The pot belonged to him.
Santi started things going, opening to 750 from mid-position. Dimitrios Farmakoulis called from the hijack after which Hani Bahna called from the button. Ping was priced in from the large blind.
So it was four players to a flop of 3♦5♦8♠ but four checks followed. Then the 2♦ came at the turn and all four players checked again, even supposing this was now an excellent flop for somebody priced in from the massive blind.
The 3♠ came at the river and Ping opted to spring his trap. He bet 2,000. Only Santi called, forcing Ping to show over 4♠7♣ which really, really gave the look of a straight. Santi turned over his 5♠6♠ which really, really seemed like it had lost.
The dealer turned over Santi's hand and began pushing the pot to Ping. "No!" Santi said. "It's me! It's me!" The dealer double-checked and realised the mistake of her ways. Santi got his money. -- HS
6:40pm: Buddiga busts with acesLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (ante: 25)
Albert Daher was the beneficiary of a few gifts within the early levels when a minimum of two players paid him off in full when he had the products. It meant he was the primary player to have a six-figure stack, and that's the reason allowed him the liberty to take some unorthodox lines and continue to extend his holding.
Just ask Pratyush Buddiga about that. Or, rather, don't. He's just been knocked out with aces by Daher.
Daher opened from the hijack (I'm afraid I DID NOT see the fitting amount) and Buddiga three bet his button. Nothing about this seemed weird, including the bit where Daher called.
"How much are you playing?" Daher asked Buddiga and learned that it was about 23,000.
The flop came 5♥9♠8♥ and Daher checked. Buddiga bet 4,200 and Daher called. After the 3♥ came at the turn, Daher asked Buddiga if he could see his stack, and at this point there has been 19,350 there.
Daher picked up a handful of blue chips and put them over the road. That covered Buddiga and put him into the tank. He took an even short time over this decision -- it was for his tournament life, in spite of everything -- but eventually called and showed A♣A♠.
Daher had 3♦5♦, hitting two small pair at the turn. The 3♥ at the river filled him up and Buddiga was gone. -- HS
6:20pm: Ping San Chen looking goodLevel 5 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
In a sea of twenty-somethings in t-shirts and baseball caps, there's Ping San Chan of Canada, in a tailored jacket, gold watch, elegant wedding ring and a stack of chips across the 100,000 mark. Furthermore he is taking charge at his table, as his opposition are finding out.
In the primary of several hands I watched him play he opened for 800 from middle position and got two callers, from the button and from the large blind. The flop came 6♠A♣5♦ which was checked to Chan who bet 1,200. The button, Dimitrios Farmakoulis, called, while Hani Bahna folded within the big blind.
The turn came 7♠. That was checked. So too the Q♥ river. Chan showed A♥8♥ to win the hand.
He won the following hand too. After Bahna opened for 600 at the button, Chen Ang Lin raised to 1,200 within the small blind. Chan was within the big blind and 4 bet 6,000. Bahna agonsided and folded, so too did Lin.
A few hands later more chips. Chan opened for 800 within the hijack. Alexandru Papazian called from the button, as did the large blind Farmakoulis.
The flop came A♥K♥J♦. Chan bet 1,600 and took the pot there after which. Playing well and winning, Chan is without doubt one of the leaders with greater than 100,000. - SB
6:05pm: AN EXTENDED list of elimineesLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (ante: 25)
Have you ever started a task you would like you hadn't, but continued anyway basically out of nothing but pointless stubborness? Well, that is what just happened once I decided to type out the names of all of the players who've been eliminated to this point from this event. I'M an idiot, but here's the made of that lunacy. This lot are out:
Samuele Grassi, Guillaume Darcourt, Andrew Chen, David Yan, Daniel Smith, Lee Markholt, Jens Moysich, Roman Herold, Robert Schiffbauer, Michael Kolkowicz, Clive Smith, Naji Tannoury, Senol Karahasan, Daniel Merrilees, Dirk van Luijk, Sita Divari, Marlon Burgoon, Jorge Dominguez, Aliaksei Boika, What number of More Of those Guys, Fernando Halac, Pierrick Burban, Raffaele Castro, Jean-Philippe Peyratoux, Navid Saberin, Fabio Freitas, Ian Nelson, Jin Hui, Torbjoern Skrunes, Emil Lukac, Viacheslav Kabaylov, Nader Alfred, Alexandre Amiel, Pennacchia Thomas, Benjamin Winsor, Raul-Narcis Olarescu, Martin Kus, Graydon Kowal, Not Even Half Way Yet, Jeremias Mendoza, Neil Van Der Merwe, Dan Oren, Ke Chen, Hiroyuki Noda, Mamouni Smain, Adrien Tantaro, Amar Al-Hussona, Aleksandar Tomovic, Idaino Jos Lopes, Boutros Naim, Ivar Orn Boovarsson, Belmehel Dja Daouadji, Olivier Puche, Angel Cobo, Efim Rudnik, Are You Serious, Erik Ross Bardsgard, Claudio Monteforte, Yuguang Li, Andrew Christoforou, I'm Losing The need To Live, Antonio Matias, Niste Mihai Gabriel, Filippo Gandini, Ryan Rivers, Yaron Zeev Malki, Jacques Torbey, Guiseppe Vicidomini, Roman Emelyanov, Manuel Leal Borges, The tip Is In Sight, Dorde Jovanovic, Mart Tammoja, Mihails Morozovs, Artur Karamuca, Martin Nikolov, You won't Believe It, Someone Just Brought Another Load of Tickets By, Oleksii Liashenko, Mariano Martiradonna, Andreas Fluri, Uladzimir Zakharau, There's no One Reading, Andrey Zaichenko, Antonino Venneri, Bruno Fitoussi, Anatoly Filatov, Tomasz Kokoszka, Igor Dubinskyy, These Are Basically Made Up Names, Mathieu Maroccini, Michael Ferrari, Danut Chisu, Arman Nugmanov, Ronny Lovoll, Carole Segoura, Souhail Nassar, Well Done When you've got Got This Far, Souhail Nassar. -- HS
| 5 | 150 | 300 | 25 |
5:35pm: Break timeLevel 4 - Blinds: 100/200 (ante: 25)
That's the tip of that level. They're heading for a 15-minute break.
5:30pm: Chebli greater than doublesLevel 4 - Blinds: 100/200 (ante: 25)
Duke Lee opened to 525 from early position and Chebli Chebli three bet to 1,600 from a few seats to his left. Mikhail Korotkikh called from the cutoff and as did Alexander Nemchin at the button.
When it came back to Lee, nobody would has been surprised to peer him call too, but instead he four-bet to 6,525. And this wasn't done yet. Chebli shoved for 9,650 more and the 2 to his left folded.
Lee, however, called and we were taking a look at a race:
Lee: Q♣Q♦Chebli: A♥K♠
This time the over-cards came up trumps. The board ran J♣5♦A♠5♥A♦ and Chebli lives to fight again. -- HS
5:20pm: Adeniya at the riseLevel 4 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
A small victory for Martins Adeniya, playing on one of the vital tables closest to the television stage.
He opened for 500 in late position which the small blind Rowley Ruitenberg called for a flop of A♦5♦J♣. Both checked for an A♣ at the turn. Ruitenberg checked again before Adeniya tossed in a 1K chip. Ruitenberg called for the 6♥ at the river. Again Ruitenberg left it to Adeniya to lead, which he did, betting 2,000. Ruitenberg called with pocket eights, but Adeniya had that beat, holding K♥J♠.
He's now as much as 41,000. - SB
5:05pm: Nosebleed star now goes glory huntingLevel 4 - Blinds: 100/200 (ante: 25)
Any excuse in these parts to advertise the bright documentary Nosebleed by our PokerStarsBlog colleague Victor Saumont. It follows the lifetime of the French high-stakes players Alex Luneau and Seb Sabic and it's great. (We had a talk with Saumont about it a short while ago.
Luneau was once predominantly a cash-game player, but now says that he desires to get some recognition within the tournament arena. Hence his appearance here on the whole event in Monaco, and hence the small crowd of folks around his table for a up to date hand against Andrey Konopelko.
When I arrived, they were all of the strategy to the river, with the board reading 6♦6♣3♣3♦8♣. There has been about 35,000 within the pot by this stage and Konopelko had checked.
Luneau said that he was all in and Konopelko immediately asked for a count. The dealer chopped down the stack and told Konopelko that it was 21,625. Konopelko seemed a little bit sceptical of that, and asked a pair more times for the count.
Eventually the dealer convinced him that she had done her job correctly the primary time and he slammed down his calling chips. We all watching were thrilled we were going to look Luneau's hand.
Luneau will have had just about anything on this spot. If there's something you learn from watching Nosebleed it's that the Frenchman is hard. He's going to play anything. Even after learning the action on this pot from a colleague -- Konopelko opened to 500; Luneau three-bet to 1,500; Konopelko four-bet to 4,500 and Luneau called -- it might still be any two cards.
(Konopelko bet 3,500 at the flop, Luneau called. Konopelko bet 8,500 at the river, Luneau called.)
But what did he have? Well, Luneau this time actually had a hand. He had A♥A♦. Konopelko furiously flipped his K♣K♠ and paid off Luneau to the full.
In Nosebleed, Luneau goes bracelet hunting in Las Vegas (Spoiler: Unsuccessfully.) But it surely could be great to peer him at an EPT final table. He has bundles of star quality. -- HS
4:40pm: What might be the issue with too many chips?Level 4 - Blinds: 100/200 (25 ante)
There at the moment are greater than 700 players in seats for Day 1B. But while that is great news for players, and the tournament in general, it does have some drawbacks. Principally the provision of chips.
When you purchase in to an EPT Main Event you're presented with a stack of chips in useful denominations. With nine players per table this permits for a free flowing exchange. One player isn't removed from a neighbour who could make change.
But with 700 players on one day, expediency often takes priority, and new arrivals are presented with six blue chips, each worth 5,000, before being directed to their seat.
This wbecause the case of Yorane Kerignard, but he wasn't the first, as the dealer at his table knew.
"Floor!"
There was now any such drought of change that one dealer had no option but to name for help. Almost every bet involved the player with all of the change giving it to another person. Kerignard opened from under the gun for 500, using one among his 5K chips.
It ended in a rather comic situation whereby within the hand he needed to explain to the dealer how much he was betting. The dealer then did his best to make up the change. It had the effect of keeping everyone considering each hand, whether or not they were playing it or not.
When another player arrived to fill the vacant five seat, the dealers spirits visibly dropped. He should have felt like six blue chips he was carrying with him were designed specifically to make his life harder.
"I told them," said the ground man, answering the dealer's wordless plea.
A new hand began, but this will be the last involving players holding up fingers to indicate how much their 5K chip was well worth. For help had arrived within the type of a fresh rack. Like water to parched desert, it flushed away the entire dealer's problems and he watched contented as blue chips were exchanged for browns, for reds, for yellows...
Now he shuffled the deck for the following hand with more speed than before. "Blinds and antes!" he said, with joy in his voice. - SB
4:20pm: Biggest yetLevel 4 - Blinds: 100/200 (ante: 25)
With greater than 700 players now registered today, we're taking a look at our biggest ever EPT Grand Final main event. The buy in can have been cut in half - right down to €5,000 from €10,000 - but with greater than 1,000 total players, that is huge. -- HS
4:20pm: Stuttering conversationLevel 4 - Blinds: 100/200 (ante: 25)
Goodness knows, we've all been interested by some conversations that experience ended abruptly. I mean, "Fancy a second date?" usually does it. For poker players, conversation usually stops when some of the chatters decides to get entangled in a pot. Everyone else quickly shuts as much as allow the hand to play out without the distractions of smalltalk.
Such was the case on Vanessa Selbst's table recently, where she and Tudor Purice were nattering on about something or another before Purice opted to lift to 500 from under the gun and Selbst three bet him to 1,600 from the hijack. Putting the sector to rights needed to wait. They both buttoned it fairly quickly.
Vanessa Selbst: Conversation stopper
The flop came 8♥8♦5♣ they usually both checked. The T♥ came at the turn and Purice checked, allowing Selbst to select up the pot with a raffle of 1,700.
The dealer shoved the chips to Selbst and ready the deck for the following hand. As that process went on, the early saplings of a brand new conversation appeared between Purice and Selbst, but frost quickly descended again. Selbst raised from early position, Purice called from the large blind and this time they took in a flop of 9♥9♦8♦. Purice checked, Selbst bet 600 and took it down.
The next hand at the table was played out largely in silence, although Selbst was not involved and Purice only minimally. Colin Lovelock opened the pot from the hijack and collected three callers: Jesper Hougaard at the button, Purice within the small blind and Gerard Sanches within the big blind.
Those four saw a flop of J♣9♦8♦ and both Purice and Sanches checked. Lovelock bet 1,000, Hougaard folded but Purice and Sanches both called.
The 3♣ came at the turn and Purice and Sanches checked again, allowing Lovelock to bet 1,600 at it. Only Sanches called this time.
So the sector had thinned to simply two players by the point the 6♣ came at the river. Sanches checked, Lovelock now bet 3,500 and after Sanches banged the table in frustration, the sector thinned to 1. Sanches folded. -- HS
| 4 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
4pm: Johnson gets the simpler of KatchalovLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Four players saw a flop, including Team Pro Eugene Katchalov.
5♦4♠8♣ It was checked to Katchalov in late position who bet 400. Keith Johnson of the united kingdom and Bartolomeo Tato were the 2 players who called for a K♣ turn card. Again, more checked leaving Katchalov to bet another 1,000.
Johnson, almost with contempt, tossed in a chip to call, while Tato backed out. The river came 9♥. Neither player desired to put more into the pot. Check, check.
Johnson showed 9♣7♦ which was ok for the win. Katchalov mucked, down slightly to 31,000. - SB
3:55pm: Wheeler's three kingsLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Jason Wheeler opened to 550 from early position but got little or no respect. Niall Murray, to his immediate left, called as did Kenneth Haugland at the button.
The flop came 3♥K♥2♣ and Wheeler bet 700. Murray stuck around, but Haugland believed Wheeler now.
The K♣ came at the turn and maybe Wheeler not believed himself. He checked. Haugland bet 1,200 and Wheeler called.
Wheeler also checked the 7♣ at the river, but instantly called after Haugland bet 2,400 at the end. Haugland showed A♥9♥ and Wheeler's J♠K♦. -- HS
3:45pm: Four bet shoveLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Samuele Grassi and Falk Schubert had 1,600 within the pot pre-flop and that bought them A♥A♦4♥ within the middle. Then it went a little nuts. I BELIEVE Grassi, who would has been within the big blind, will need to have led at it, because after I arrived Schubert, who would was under the gun, had 3,500 in front of him, and Grassi had 9,350 in front of him. That's in step with a lead, a raise and a three-bet.
Then came the four bet. Schubert moved all in for 25,025 and Grassi had another decision. He pondered. He peered from beneath his hood. He rubbed his chin. He folded. --HS
3:40pm: Darcourt preserves his stackLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Roberto Romanello prodded the hornets' nest after which scampered after they began to swarm. After Emmanuel Murgia opened to 400 from under the gun, Romanello, a few seats around, raised to 1,500.
Guillaume Darcourt called at the button and that only prompted Murgia to shove for roughly 19,000. Romanello folded with the haste of a finalist within the speed-origami championships, leaving Darcourt to ponder a call for his tournament life.
With only about 9,000 behind, he decided to present it up and on they went. -- HS
3:30pm: Goulder and Johnson seeking to continue good runsLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Alex Goulder, who made the overall table of the primary event in Dublin, is sitting alongside Keith Johnson, who made the general table of the €25,000 on the same stop within the Irish capital. It's essential have someone to speak to or, in Goulder and Johnson's case, somebody to look at football streamed in your phone with. (It's Manchester United 1 Leicester City 1 at time of writing.)
Alex Goulder and Keith Johnson: Everybody needs good...
At near to the time that United opened the scoring, Goulder won a small pot from Cristiano Guerra. Guerra opened to 400 from the button and Goulder called within the big blind. They checked the A♣Q♦6♠ flop after which Goulder bet 200 on the T♦ turn. Guerra called.
The river was the 3♥ and Guerra call-mucked after Goulder bet 1,100 and showed A♦6♣. -- HS
3:25pm: Bendik gets best of YanLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
David Yan's woes continue. On a flop of K♠T♠J♦, and with five players interested by the hand, he bet 2,000 which was called by Jan Bendik (the 3 other players folded). The turn came the 9♣. A check from Yan before Bendik lumped in 20,000. This easily covered Yan who had little choice but to fold.
Yan drops right down to 5,875 while Bendik recovers some ground, as much as 27,500. - SB
3:15pm: Yes, for JaouiLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Jack Salter, a former runner up on this event, was a board of J♥J♦4♠3♦K♦. He was also a gamble of 1,475 from David Jaoui. Salter thought for a couple of second, picked up some chips, exnteded his arm to its full reach, and dropped a raise to 7,050 within the middle.
Now Jaoui needed to think things through, which he did, nudging a decision around the line. It was an excellent decision. Salter turned over A♦T♥ but Jaoui's J♠Q♠ was the clear winner. - SB
3:10pm: Fine call from FilatovLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Anatoly Filatov just made a beautiful remarkable call to take his stack close to100,000. For a person who has shown up today in green shirt, green bowtie and white braces, he had better be good at this game otherwise it is a pretty conspicuous walk of shame.
Hani Bahna opened to 500 from the button and Filatov made it 1,500 from the small blind. Then it went back to Bahna who made it 4,500 and Filatov made it 10,000. Bahna called.
After all that pre-flop back and forth, they finally saw some community cards: 8♠J♦K♦. Filatov bet 7,000 and Bahna called.
Anatoly Filatov: Sharp
They both finally bogged down at the 7♠ turn, but after the K♥ came at the river, more chips went in. Filatov checked but then faced a gamble of 10,000 from Bahna. Filatov took a moment before calling and compelled Bahna to turn his A♣Q♥.
That meant that Filatov's A♠8♦ was good. --HS
2:30pm: Break timeLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Players are off on their first break of the day. Action will resume in QUARTER-HOUR. --HS
| 3 | 100 | 200 |
2:20pm: A TRICKY start for YanLevel 2 - Blinds: 75/150
A flop of 3♠9♦A♦ and David Yan was betting, making it 600 to play.
Yan stands proud as his table, not just because he's the youngest, but because his clothing features images of sushi - t-shirt and cap alike, which I NEED to mention is a primary for the Grand Final. He waited for his one opponent to act, Abbas Moradi in seat eight, who called.
The turn came 6♦. Another bet from Yan, 1,300 this time. Moradi seemed suspicious, but kept at it, calling yet again to peer the A♠ at the river.
Now Yan checked and Moradi seemed happy to do the same.
Yan: Q♦K♣Moradi: J♠J♣
The jacks would win it. Moradi moving back as much as 27,000. Yan meanwhile has had a tricky first two levels, right down to 10,300. - SB
2.10pm: Zhu moving upLevel 2: Blinds - 75/150
Yaxi Zhu, considered one of Team PokerStars Pro's most up-to-date acquisition, is playing in a single of her first EPT Main Events. She's doing very well as well, and just got paid off in a small pot against Florian Decamps.
Zhu opened from the cutoff to 400 and Decamps defended his big blind. It took the 2 of them to a flop of 9♥5♥4♣ and Decamps checked. Zhu bet 650 and will have thought that will get it done, but Decamps raised to 1,800. Zhu called.
The turn brought the T♥ and Decamps led for 2,700. Zhu called. Then the 4♠ came at the river and both decided they'd committed enough chips to this pot. Following two checks, Decamps showed his 8♣6♦ which was not beating Zhu's J♦J♣. --HS
1:55pm: Juicy squeezedLevel 2: Blinds - 75/150
Juicy Li and Jesper Feddersen had got 1,025 within the pot by the point the flop was out. The J♦J♣2♦ was spread. Li bet 400, Feddersen called and so they saw the T♥ turn Li bet 1,000 again, Feddersen called and so they saw the K♣ at the river.
Li now checked and Feddersen bet 1,575. Li called, but she couldn't beat Feddersen's A♣Q♣. --HS
1:50pm: Akenhead turns against SmithLevel 2 - Blinds: 75/150
James Akenhead opened for 400 in early position. Huidong Gu called in middle position, as did Samuele Grassi next to him, Falk Schubert next to him. Next to him was Daniel Smith, who moved all-in for his last 3,250.
Akenhead was next to act, and moved all-in himself for a bit greater than 17,000. Gu asked for a count, and took a moment, but he would pass. As would Grassi and Schubert.
Q♠Q♦ for Smith6♠6♥ for Akenhead
The board ran out 4♣K♣8♠ 6♦9♣
The flop was fine for Smith but not the turn, and his winced on seeing it. Life was unfair at that moment, and all he could do was pick up the toy card protector and leave, although not before complimenting Fatima Moreira de Melo, in seat 7, on something. - SB
1:30pm: Man downLevel 2: Blinds - 75/150
They at the moment are into Level 2, with a minimum of 579 players having registered for play today. -- HS
| 2 | 75 | 150 |
1:15pm: Man downLevel 1: Blinds - 50/100
The impeccable accuracy of the former hand reported suffered just after the turn was dealt because, on a neighbouring table, the dealer bellowed the primary "Seat open!" of the day. That meant there has been a minimum of one player who didn't make it in the course of the first level.
Ivar Boovarsson was his name and, although details are scarce, Albert Daher was the person stacking up a hefty pile of chips. "I DO NOT know why..." Daher began, as he started to stack. "It's my first four-bet and he doesn't..."
None of those sentences ended, however the sentiment was clear.
"Young guys don't love to believe," one in every of Daher's table-mates said. Well, he better believe this: Boovarsson is out. -- HS
1:10pm: Kornuth has company; Boeree bests GordilloLevel 1: Blinds - 50/100
Chance Kornuth sent out a slightly plaintive tweet in the beginning of play today. "Who's playing the #EPTGrandFinal Main event today!?" he said. "I HAVE NEVER seen one person I DO KNOW yet."
It's likely he now has. Kornuth is sitting at some of the stacked tables this afternoon with Pablo Gordillo, Liv Boeree, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz and Julian Stuer, among others.
Kornuth is chatting away to Boeree in particular, although kept quiet when the Team PokerStars Pro played a contemporary hand against Gordillo, which earned her an even few thousand chips early within the day.
Gordillo opened to 300 from early position and Boeree called from the small blind. They were left alone to peer a flop of Q♥9♦2♦ and Boeree checked. Gordillo bet 400 and Boeree called.
Liv Boeree: A CHUM to Kornuth
The J♥ came at the turn and, reader, I confess: I DIDN'T see what happened here. Something happened on a neighbouring table (see next update) that attracted my attention and by the point I returned to this pot, the 7♥ was at the board and there has been a blue 5,000-denomination chip in front of Gordillo.
(I think Boeree could have bet 1,000 and been raised, but I AM NOT 100 percent.)
Anyway, Boeree called and Gordillo showed A♣K♥. Boeree had Q♦6♦ and the dealer shovelled the pot in her direction. -- HS
1pm: Carlino has his way, while Rudnik says nothingLevel 1 - Blinds: 50/100
Joseph Carlino is playing the principle Event, who it's possible you'll remember because the kung-fu kicking songster from EPT Deauville a year or so ago. He's wearing black and has on a black scarf, on that is pinned lily of the valley. He first watched a hand featuring Efim Rudnik after which played a hand featuring Efim Rudnik.
Rudnik is notable in that it was he who was found seeking to get into the incorrect hotel room on the Meridien a couple of nights ago. HE spent five minutes rattling a door until the occupant came out to explain, in no uncertain terms, that he'd got the incorrect room. I DO KNOW all this as it was my room. He'd said nothing.
In that first hand Rudnik wat the pot with a lavish bet of 4,000 on the end, which amused Carlino, who laughed.
"Why, why, why, why, why four thousand? Ping. Boom."
Rudnik said nothing.
Carlino opened the following hand for 250,000. Rudnik called for a flop of 2♦9♦J♣
Rudnik threw out 700 which Carlino called. Inside the entire hand Carlino showed no sign of doing anything but calling all of the way.
The turn was the 5♦. Rudnik checked out his cards again, and acting quickly through out 500 this time. Carlino called.
The river came the 5♣. Rudnik checked out his cards again and bet 500 one last time. Carlino called before Rudnik's 500 had stopped spinning.
J♠2♥ for RudnikJ♦Q♠ for Carlino.
"I win?" said Carlino, surprising even himself.
Rudnik said nothing. -- SB
12:45pm: No messing around on Table 17Level 1: Blinds - 50/100
You never find anybody complaining about slow play in Asia. It's true. In the event you ever play at the APPT, you had better get used to doing things quickly: registering, sitting down, putting your bets, calls and raises in, and bagging up. It is all done no less than 50 percent quicker than it's in Europe.
Sixiao "Juicy" Li is considered one of Asia's pre-eminent poker stars and he or she is bringing her usual hasty strategy to the Monaco tables. It's rubbing off on her table-mates too: action on Table 17 is whizzing along.
Here's two hands: first, Li opened to 250 from the hijack and Vincent Verdickt, to her left called. Team PokerStars Online's Naoya Kihara was next to act, but he folded his button, and both the blinds also folded.
The flop came A♣K♥3♣ and Li immediately bet 325. Verdickt immediately called. The 8♦ came at the turn and now Li immediately checked. Verdickt immediately bet 700 and Li immediately folded. She immediately picked up her glittery phone and immediately wrote out a text message or something.
On the following hand, Li folded, so Verdickt opened from the hijack, making it 250. Oliver Muller called at the button and Viacheslav Kabaylov called within the small blind. That meant three of them saw a flop of A♦K♦A♠, that is about as dangerous because it gets.
But all this action happened in a flash too: Kabaylov checked, Verdickt bet 300, Muller called, Kabaylov folded.
The K♠ came at the turn and both remaining players checked immediately. The Q♦ came at the river and this was now an excessively scary board. But again, it took about 10 seconds total for Verdickt to check, Muller to bet 600 and Verdickt to fold.
Next hand, please! -- HS
12:30pm: Danzer in main event actionLevel 1: Blinds - 50/100
George Danzer played the charity event last night and, should you believe PokerStars Blog's Jack Stanton, he "got lucky" to send our scribe to the rail within the early stages. You do not win three WSOP bracelets without getting lucky. It is a lesson our man Stanton is yet to be told. (He's been relegated to life with the €50,000 high rollers on account of his ignominy.)
Danzer, however, is commonly event, where he just lost a small pot to Samuel Bonnett. Bonnett opened to 250 from under the gun and it folded to Danzer within the big blind, who called. They then saw a flop of 2♦J♠5♠.
George Danzer
Danzer check-called Bonnett's bet of 325, taking them to the A♠ at the turn. The pattern was check--bet-call again, this time 525. After which they both checked the 4♣ river.
Danzer turned over the T♠T♥. But Bonnett had J♦K♦. That one was for Stanton. -- HS
12:20pm: Cheeky five-highLevel 1: Blinds - 50/100
Action is predictably tentative in these early stages, although when you flop and flush, you flop and flush and you are going to wish to get involved.
Martin Nikolov was the lucky man: he opened to 250 from the button and Daniel Tudorie three-bet from the small unaware of what appeared like about 750. (This all happened in no time). Nikolov called.
The flop came 4♥J♥9♥ and, after Tudorie bet what gave the look of 625, Nikolov called. They then saw the 2♦ at the turn. Tudorie fired again, this time 800, and Nikolov raised to 2,100. Tudorie called.
The river was the T♦ and Tudorie was now a slightly less gung-ho. He checked. Nikolov bet 3,800 and Tudorie instantly called. However he mucked when Nikolov tabled his 5♥2♥.
He had all of it along. Well, except pre-flop, when he had five-high. Nevertheless it got stronger from there. -- HS
12:10pm: Only to be expectedLevel 1: Blinds - 50/100
The tournament board shows that 487 players are already registered for today, so we will be able to comfortably pass the five hundred mark and make this some of the biggest Grand Final main events in recent memory. Of course, the buy-in has dropped to €5,000 this time, when previously it was €10,000. But there's still going to be a huge prize pool with 800+ total players now highly likely.
The Red Spades in today's field will include: Fatima Moreira de Melo, Nagoya Kihara, Lex Veldhuis, Randy Lew, George Danzer, Luca Pagano, Johnny Lodden, Chen Ang Lin and Liv Boeree. -- HS
12pm: All the way down to itLevel 1: Blinds - 50/100
The opening ceremony is complete and action is now under way. There are eight one-hour levels to come, with a dinner break after six levels. -- HS
11:45am: Huge field expected for Day 1B
It's Day 1B of the EPT Grand Final main event and there'll be an absolute flood of players coming in the course of the door for a noon start. Stick to us.
Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news and results.
Also all of the schedule information is at the EPT App, that is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT12 Grand Final main event: Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
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