Nicolas Chouity: Heading the Day 3 field
Day 2 of the most recent record-breaking renewal of EPT Barcelona began with greater than 900 people sitting on this enormous ball-room learning that they were playing one of the crucial last ever tournaments at the European Poker Tour.
The announcement from EPT tournament officials wasn't quite an obituary, however. PokerStars is solely expanding its live operations beyond the continent's boundaries and going global in its branding. You'll learn all about it right here--and we'll see you in Panama, Macau and New Jersey.
But if the danger for glory in a single of the EPT's last events wasn't already enticing enough, those self same tournament officials soon made it clear that the principle Event champion would also get a cheque (or a bank transfer, this being the 21st century) of €1,122,800. That is the latest first prize at this hottest of all stops after the sphere was confirmed at 1,785.
What followed was what always follows. Carnage. By the point the klaxon sounded for the tip of the day, fewer than 295 players still remained. What's more--and that is new for an EPT Main Event--they were also all now within the money, with the bubble bursting on the mid-point of Level 14, earlier than the tip of the day.
Yann Pineau was the unlucky faller so with regards to the money. He lost an intriguing hand, which simmered, bubbled after which boiled over. By the point they were all-in at the river, Pineau's T♣T♦ was second best against Neculau Macovei's 5♣3♠. Macovei? Maciavelli more like. He had an entire house and Pineau was forced to go away. (ALL OF IT went down like this.)
As he skulked away, tail trailing along the carpet behind him, Nicolas Chouity sat at the other side of the tournament room as happy as a chip-leader. The previous EPT Grand Final champion was the massive stack within the room within the day's opening stages, but then slipped back into the pack. But perhaps it was the information that everybody is now running out of time to become a two-time EPT champ that got him motoring again.
Chouity's stack of 559,000 is indeed the most important because the tournament heads into Day 3, but he'll know that there is quality intensive still chasing him.
The full chip-counts will appear at the chip-count page as and when they're known tonight, but we will be able to let you know that the next are all still curious about this one. They'll all soon appear at the payouts page, but will hope it is not for an additional couple of days yet.
Adem Marjanovic - 542,500Mikhail Molchanov - 473,000Georgios Zisimopoulos - 462,000Martin Kabrhel - 458,500Sebastian Malec - 452,000Anooj Sareen - 440,500Ramon Miguel Munoz - 431,500Gleb Tremzin - 428,000Sam Mao - 413,500Thomas de Rooij - 383,000Mikhail Shalamov - 377,500Andreas Hoivold - 366,500Bryn Kenney - 303,500Jake Cody - 284,500Sam Grafton - 268,500Jason Mercier - 266,500Harrison Gimbel - 216,500Byron Kaverman - 216,500Vladimir Troyanovskiy - 177,000Jason Koon - 167,000Chance Kornuth - 160,000Dimitar Danchev - 80,000Sam Greenwood - 71,000Felipe Ramos - 63,000Davidi Kitai - 57,000
Adem Marjanovic: Sitting second
Today we lost a couple of heroes, including Fedor Holz, who decided to provide another person a possibility. Theo Jorgensen, George Danzer, ElkY, Yaxi Zhu, Janne Mikkonen and defending champion John Juanda were among those to be eliminated before the cash. Fatima Moreira de Melo was one of the most first within the line on the cash desk after failing to get queens to overcome kings.
Tomorrow we'll play five 90-minute levels and the payouts will only increase. Scroll in the course of the remainder of this post for blow-by-blow details of all today's action, and are available back tomorrow for a similar again.
8:20pm: Five more handsLevel 14 - 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
They will play five more hands before bagging and tagging begins on the end of Day 2. -- HS
8:10pm: Fatima Moreira de Melo busts post-bubbleLevel 14 - 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
"Thirty bigs," Fatima Moreira de Melo said with a shrug.
She was within the payout line and coughing the air con out of her lungs. It is a fact of life--dry cold air makes her cough, and queens have a troublesome time beating kings on this game. That is what she ran into, and that is the reason why she's off to receives a commission now.--BW
8:05pm: A beauty for BenhalimaLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
Abdelkader Benhalima sneaked into the cash with a stack of 5.5 big blinds. Unsurprisingly they went into the center at the first hand after the bubble burst. Arsh Grover also shoved - for approximately 50,000 - and Alexander Prokudin, who had both players covered, called to place both players at risk.
Benhalima: A♥2♦Grover: A♠7♣Prokudin: A♦Q♦
The 6♣2♣6♥K♠2♥ board meant an overly excited Benhalima made a full-house and Grover and Prokudin chopped the side pot.
On the following hand Grover and Prokudin got it all-in again with the previous holding A♥K♠ and the latter A♦J♦. The T♦Q♠5♦3♥8♦ meant Prokudin made a flush and Grover is without doubt one of the first in-the-money finishers.
Others to secure a min-cash, but no more, include Pablo Gordillo and Maria Lampropulos. --NW
8:02pm: Off the ChartierLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
You waited patiently while hand for hand was being played nursing a brief stack. You get the good news - you've cashed. Then you definately go all-in the primary hand afterwards and hit a two outer to outlive. Is there really a greater time--or better way-- to double up?
Now, Sam Chartier isn't a player trying to lock up a min-cash (he's a high roller in the end.) But that does not mean his double up at present wasn't as sweet.
He had pocket Jacks against Kristoffer Jakobsson's Ace-Queen and the flop brought two Queens. Chartier was all but dead until a Jack hit the river to provide him a whole house. The French-Canadian is as much as 84,000 now. --JS
:8:01pm: Conan the cashing barbarianLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
Remember the serial tanker from earlier (7:20pm). Well.......he cashed! --JS
8pm: €10 Spin and Go qualifier makes the moneyLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
At least some of the Spin and Go winners has made the money here in Barcelona. Paul van 't Veer qualified for €10 and is now guaranteed no less than €5,630. He's got an fair stack too of 85,000. --NW
7:55pm: Standing room just for the bubbleLevel 14 - 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
While all bubbles are different, all of them share something in common. That's the hopelessness of looking to keep players of their seats. The explanations floor staff try is discreet - players standing up and milling around block the view of staff seeking to make sure the integrity of hand for hand play, and to identify eliminations. Getting that inaccurate could cause a heck of a mess.
But the curiosity is often irresistible, whether it's to look at the bubble from pack up (although the television cameras show the bubble hand, and Tournament Director Toby Stone announces it) or to float around identifying players in worse shape than you. Players won't ever sit still.
I suppose there are alternatives that may solve this. Lets strap players to their seats maybe, or enforce draconian punishment for those caught wandering. Perhaps shall we issue Ritalin because the bubble approaches.
More likely we'll continue to simply accept it as a part of bubble play. And actually, it's a bit fun. - SB
7:50pm: Dan Jones made itLevel 14 - 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
For those of you who we understand are following along back at home on PokerStars qualifier Dan Jones' quest to make the money, he's in the course of the bubble and now engaged on making it to Day 3. --BW
7:45pm: The bubble bursts after postflop dramaLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
They're within the money! And no, the bubble didn't burst on a regular "all-in and speak to"! This one was a bit more complicated.
Yann Pineau started things off with a raise from middle position, then Neculau Macovei three-bet from the button for 18,500. It folded back around and after a little thought Pineau called, and both watched the flop fall 7♥9♦3♥.
Both checked, and it remained a comparatively quiet scene there within the far corner of the tournament room. The turn brought the 3♦ and a number one bet from Pineau of 22,000, and Macovei called. Still quiet within the corner.
The 5♣ fell at the river and this time Pineau checked. Macovei leaned forward to peer how much Pineau had left -- somewhat over 60,000 -- after which after a couple of more seconds set out a column of chips, enough to position Pineau all-in.
Yann Pineau: Waits to look his fate
Pineau smiled, sitting with arms folded and chewing his gum. He wasn't folding in no time. He rechecked his cards, then, after a couple of minutes -- and against the expectancies of your intrepid reporter (see below, entry 3:30pm) -- he called!
That's when it got noisy. Reporters and media swarmed, as did the EPT Live crew. That they had to attend for the opposite tables to complete and the tournament director to present the signal. Eventually it came, and Pineau quickly turned over his T♦T♣.
Macovei then showed his hand -- 5♠3♠! He'd rivered a whole house (following that button three-bet before the flop).
Yann Pineau takes his leave
Get ready cashiers! You're about to have some visitors. --MH
7:33pm: Stone bubbleLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
New reaches from the tournament floor that 360 players remain, which puts them at the stone bubble.
7:31pm: Hand-for-hand timeLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
The tournament director is calling dealers to complete the hand they're currently dealing, as hand-for-hand play is set to commence. Cue the cliff-hanger "dun-dun-DUNNNNN" stinger. --MH
7:29pm: Two steps toward the bubbleLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
A big double-knockout to share -- a doozy. Nines take out aces and kings!
The hand began with Abbas Moradi opening for 6,500 from early position, then Johan Verhagen made it 14,000 to move from the button. Rui Ferreira followed by calling all-in from the small blind together with his laset 10,100, and when it got back to Moradi he called Verhagen's three-bet.
The flop came 8♣9♥6♣ and Moradi checked. Verhagen fired 20,000 into the side pot, then Moradi check-raised to 55,000. Verhagen responded by pushing all-in for around 75,000, and Moradi called in a flash.
We gave it away above. Here's who had what:
Moradi: 9♦9♠Verhagen: A♣A♠Ferreira: K♥K♣
The set of nines had Moradi way ahead, though the 3♣ at the turn had Verhagen calling for an additional club. The river was the 3♦, however, and both Ferreira and Verhagen exit shy of the cash. --MH
7:26pm: Cody takes a stingerLevel 14 - 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
To be fair, it seemed like a re-steal when when Jake Cody three bet a button raise. The primary raise was to 7,500. Cody made it 22,500 out of the small blind. That's when big blind Darryll Fish thought for a minute after which put it all-in for 72,200.
With the unique raise out of the way, Cody made the short call with A♠K♣. He was up against Fish's A♥Q♣.
Jake Cody: Stung
The Q♥ hit the felt first, and Cody couldn't catch up. Fish now has greater than 150,000. Cody continues to be fine with across the same amount. --BW
7:25pm: Munoz dents DimovLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Ramon Munoz is now challenging for the chip lead after taking an enormous pot from the person who was chip leader, Ognyan Dimov. It was Munoz who started the action, raising to 7,800 from middle position and called when Dimov three-bet to 25,000 from the button.
The Q♣4♠3♠ flop was checked through and the 3♦ fell at the turn. Munoz check called a chance of 26,000 to be able to the 9♠ river they went. Again Munoz checked, yet again Dimov bet, this time 60,000 and again Munoz called. Dimov sheepishly turned over 7♣5♣ and Munoz showed J♥J♦ to scoop the pot. He's as much as 430,000 while Dimov drops to 305,000. --NW
7:20pm: Serious consideration or a tanking masterclass?Level 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
We're rapidly approaching the bubble and also you know what that suggests. Excitement? Sure. Nerves? In fact. Tanking? Ohhhhhh yes.
The tanker on this segment (one of the within the room I'm sure) was Arthur Conan. First off, Ivan Luca opened to 6,200 and was three-bet by Kestutis Gecevicius to 16,100. Action folded to Conan within the big blind and he had a call: move all-in for his last 31,000, or look ahead to a greater spot.
The problem was, Gecevicius didn't believe he had a choice in any respect. Conan will need to have been tanking so much previous to our arrival as after a minute or so Gecevicius called the clock. The ground came to visit and were told what was happening, but Luca said that this time Conan hadn't taken excessive time, and so he wasn't at the clock yet. While the entire commotion was going on, Conan got a couple of more minutes thinking time. Once the clock was on he'd eventually fold with ten seconds left to act, as would Luca.
On to the very next hand.
Vojtech Ruzicka opened to 5,500 and this time it was Luca doing the three-betting. He made it 18,000 and again play slowed when it got to Conan within the small blind. After another minute, Gecevicius called the clock a second time in two hands.
This time when the ground arrived, they weren't so understanding. The clock was on from the get go and the similar thing happened. The ground told Conan after he folded that if he did it again he would have ten seconds to make his decisions and there can be potential penalties.
The action was then on Rui Milhomens within the big blind, and he was short stacked too! However, he thought for roughly a minute and a half before folding - a much more reasonable time for what gave the look to be a real decision with about 45,000 behind. Once he folded, Ruzicka did too and Luca took it down.
Will Conan scrape into the cash even supposing it means getting penalties? --JS
7:15pm: Gruissem taking the long viewLevel 14 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)
With the bubble approaching, Philipp Gruissem sits with chin in hand, looking off to the left clear of his table as though eyeing something from afar.
He's fascinated by the hand that just finished, one wherein he checked behind at the river on a 3♠J♣6♣4♠7♥ board, watched his opponent Diogo Cardoso show J♦T♠ for jacks, then muck his hand, having lost an 80,000-chip pot.
Cardoso has 270,000 now. Meanwhile Gruissem has 120,000 -- a snug enough stack for making the money, but he looks as if he's fascinated with something else. Something a little bit further away. --MH
| 14 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 400 |
7:07pm: This...is BarcelonaLevel 13 - 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Overheard within the hallway just now, in a city where things don't really get cranking until some of the remainder of the arena is asleep:
"We stayed out all night. We had six or seven mojitos. After which we went to a celebration. --BW
7:05pm: How was dinner?Level 13 - 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Dan Jones is a PokerStars qualifier and on the last break had lost an enormous hand that, by his own admission, he'd not played really well. When he left for the 20-minute break, he wasn't within the best mindset. When he didn't return after 20 minutes, everyone wondered just exactly where he'd gone.
Jones had gone to dinner...on an afternoon when there's no scheduled dinner break.
See, yesterday, there has been a 75-minute break after the fourth level. So, as Jones absorbed the bad hand, he wandered off and took a dinner break that did not exist. When he came back to peer how much time he had left, he realized he'd lost 45 minutes of blinds and antes. Safe to say, it wasn't good.
Dan Jones: Aces for dessert
As the bubble approached, he had lower than 50,000 in chips. It was maybe enough to make to a min-cash. So...that made all of it the crazier when a few minutes ago, he simply put it all within the middle.
And he got called.
Jones turned up A♠A♥, relatively safe against the opposing A♣K♦. The board ran clean, and now Jones is sitting on about 100,000 only a few spots off the money bubble. --BW
7:02pm: Margets gets Luciani's chipsLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Alessandro Luciani's Main Event run has come to an end following a hand between the Italian and Barcelona's own Leo Margets.
All-in with a brief stack of only a few big blinds, Luciani was ahead together with his Q♠Q♥ versus the 9♦9♣ of Margets. And he was still leading following the J♣8♦7♠ flop and K♠ turn.
But the 9♥ at the river gave Margets a suite and the easier hand, and Alessandro is out as Margets moves as much as 165,000. --MH
7:02pm: Adios!Level 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Another enormous pile of bust-out tickets have arrived at the PokerStars Blog desk, in order that gives us another chance to reel off the most recent list of these who've met their maker. The queue on the pearly gates includes:
Younas Yousaf, Andres Herrera, Fabian Geisel, Nicholas Verkaik, Per Ummer, Yaron Malki, Nicki Dalgaard, Stefan Vagner, Juha Lauttamus, Tom Alner, Jesper Feddersen, Mathias Siljander, Oleksii Kovalchuk, Lavrentiy Ni, Gregory Goldberg, Luigi Curcio, Maksim Semisoshenko, Nicolas Cardyn, Raul Martinez, Ioakim Papadopoulos, Per Hildebrand, Jaime Viela, Taylor Black, Kalidou Sow, Andres Luna, Koray Aldemir, Brian Ganon, Maksym Bidiuk, Cristiano Viali, Chris Lee, Seref Dursun Anar, Javier Mederos, Steve Warburton, Ezequiel Macho, Santiago Parra Garcia, Dejuante Alexander, James McCrink, Jose Echevarne, Bernikov Vyacheslav, Martin Kozlov, Justas Semaska, Harpreet Gill, Jenya Gavrilovich, Jean-Philippe Rohr, Maurizio Coppola, Christopher Lockhart, Philippe Wettstein, Claas Segebrecht, Remi Wyrzykiewicz, Paul Corrigan, Vasvenszki Zsolt, Do Chung Tran, Michel Dattani, Walid Bou Habib, Vladimir Velasquez, Ramin Hajiyev, Leonardo Balague, Dimitrii Makarov, Marek Grzeska, Pierre Merlin, Wei Zhao, Wouter Beltz.
7:01pm: Miller timeLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
With the bubble closing in it's squeaky bum time for the quick stacks. Thomas Miller was in sub 15 big blind territory and put his stack of 36,200 around the line. It seemed like he was going to pick out up some much needed blinds and antes with out a resistance, but Elliot Smith, who was within the big blind, asked for a count. He cut out the chips from his stack and called.
Smith: 4♦4♠Miller: K♣Q♣
The Q♥K♥A♥ flop gave Miller the lead and the 8♥ made it four hears at the board and none in either players' hand. "I'll take a chop," Smith said, but he didn't get one at the 9♣ river. --NW
7pm: The massive boysLevel 13 - 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
They're getting very just about the cash now, and the next five players should feel confident of a minimum of a min-cash. They're the players with the most important stacks within the room. Head over to the chip-count page for the refreshed counts.
| Ognyan Dimov | Bulgaria | 440000 |
| Alin Grasu | Romania | 430000 |
| Taichi Yoneya | Hong Kong | 410000 |
| Joel Nystedt | Sweden | 400000 |
| Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 380000 |
6:55pm: Shamalov's (poorly-kept) secretLevel 13 - 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Mikhail Shamalov just wanted some action. Was that an excessive amount of to invite. He'd raised to a pittance: 5,500, and everyone folded until it got around to the massive blind. Shamalov got a call, but no action when he bet the K♦5♣5♥ flop. Bemused, he flashed his cards in direction of the fold.
"If you show that side of the table, you must show the entire table," the dealer said.
And so Shamalov turned up his cards: A♣A♦. --BW
6:50pm: Just about the moneyLevel 13 - 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
After a rock'em-sock'em day, play has began to decelerate. With 381 players remaining, we're now 22 players off the money.--BW
6:45pm: Kitai takes from DanchevLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Coming at the heels of that confrontation with Byron Kaverman, Davidi Kitai found himself in another big tussle with probably the most other heavy hitters at his table, Dimitar Danchev.
Picking up the action with about 25,000 within the middle and a flop reading 9♥K♥2♠, Danchev led for 10,100, then Kitai shoved all-in for 43,200.
Danchev went deep into the tank to think about what to do. Meanwhile Kitai sat along with his arms folded, statue-like in his stillness as he looked downward toward the board.
After a while a 3rd player called the clock, and because the countdown began Danchev continued to think. Finally with about 15 seconds left, he set forward calling chips, then nodded as he saw Kitai's hand -- A♦K♦ for high pair, top kicker. Danchev had but A♠Q♥, in fact, having doubted Kitai connected with the board.
The turn was the 7♣ and river the 5♣, and Kitai has bounced up over 110,000. Danchev now has 71,000. --MH
6:40pm: A Gruissem overbetLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Philipp Gruissem had called Quentin Roussey's 5,200 open within the big blind and checked the 6♥3♣T♥ flop. Roussey opted to not c-bet, and the 2 went to the turn.
It came the 6♠, and so they both checked that too. To be honest I ASSUMED about walking away at this point. "THIS IS NOT going to show into a fascinating hand," I BELIEVED. I stuck around long enough to look the T♦ river though, which put two pair on board.
Then Gruissem led out for 16,000, an overbet to the pot and one who was brutal for Roussey. It seemed most likely that he had Ace-high and was debating calling together with his two pair top kicker, and after four minutes of thinking time he called.
Philipp Gruissem: How could you walk away?
Gruissem quickly turned over the A♣9♣ for that particular hand, and Roussey - relieved - showed his version: the A♥9♦.
"I was like, 'Nice freeroll!'" Gruissem said on his river bet. He's on 92,000 at this time. --JS
6:35pm: A Kitai/Kaverman konfrontationLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Davidi Kitai was within the cutoff, and when action folded to him he did what comes naturally: he bet. It was a 6,200 open and no-one called until Byron Kaverman within the big blind. The dealer spread a J♣2♦9♣ flop and Kaverman checked it to the raiser, but Kitai checked back.
The 5♣ was the turn card and that sprung Kaverman into life. He led out for 7,000 and got a decision from Kitai, leading to the 4♠ at the river. Now Kaverman got serious and made it 23,500. Kitai thought for an excellent little while before folding and Kaverman - whose left hand didn't move an inch from the spot on his shoulder it were resting on - raked in and stacked the chips one-handed. --JS
6:30pm: A DIFFICULT technique to make an eliminationLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
We're now around 30 places from the cash and Zorlucan Er is the most recent player to fall just short normally event. He three-bet all-in for 38,4000 excessive of Gytis Bernatavicius's open and the Lithuanian got a count after which called the extra.
Er: A♥T♠Bernatavicius: T♥T♣
It was domination nation for Er, however the 9♣8♣A♠ gave the Turkish player the lead. The Q♣ turn gave Bernatavicius a back door flush draw and it completed at the J♣ river to provide him a straight flush no less.
Lucky we still have Zorlu Er to maintain the Z. Er count up. --NW
6:25pm: Being Jason MercierLevel 13 - 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
There was a time earlier today after I literally stood by Jason Mercier's table for half an hour looking forward to him to bust. He'd been hobbled by a lost coin flip and had 17,000 left. In preference to punting, Mercier settled in, played OFC on his phone, and ordered coffee (and a banana). Now, Mercier has better than a standard stack. Sitting on 160,000, Mercier now looks...well, just as comfortable as he has looked all day, but with much more chips.--BW
6:20pm: Shatilov shovesLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Andrey Shatilov had a career best result last night in Barcelona when he was a part of a three-way deal within the €25K Single Day High Roller. He picked up €606,020 for that performance but is struggling slightly in general Event.
He jammed all-in for 43,000 from early position and action folded to Mike McDonald, who was within the big blind. McDonald did not have much more than Shatilov and he appeared to have a borderline decision. He reluctantly folded and Steve Watts - to McDonald's left - said. "Sevens," to which McDonald replied. "No, eights."
Could you are making the fold? Would you are making that fold? --NW
6:17pm: Picture thisLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Two black aces do make a lovely picture as a hold'em hand. They give the impression of being even better after having secured a decent-sized pot and the elimination of another player. That's how Janne "Savjz" Mikkonen feels about it, anyway, after just winning a hand with A♣A♠.
Wei Zhao didn't think those aces looked so pretty after committing his short stack with A♥Q♠ and finding himself up against them. The board came 5♠5♦K♣3h]2♣, and Zhao is out.
Janne "Savjz" Mikkonen: Aces!
Mikkonen has 110,000 and a pleasant photo to text to his friends. That puts him a bit of below average still -- with 406 players left the common stack is around 132,000. --MH
6:13pm: Greenwood still goingLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Remember Sam Greenwood? In fact you do - he only went and won €903,600 a couple of days ago within the €50,000 Super High Roller. Fedor Holz would best him heads up in that one, but no less than Greenwood has won the non-existent Main Event last more between the 2. He's still in here on Day 2, currently playing 175,000. --JS
6:10pm: Year of RomaniaLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Narcis-Gabriel Nedelcu is as much as 350,000 after eliminating Thore Nordboe. The action was started by Nedelcu, who raised to 6,000 from middle position. Bernd Vogelhuber called at the button and Nordboe then moved all-in from the small blind.
His shove was for 37,400 and both players fancied their possibilities of scoring a knockout and installed the desired chips to name. The 9♦K♦K♠ flop was checked through, as was the 7♣ activate. the A♣ river Nedelcu bet 25,000 and Vogelhuber folded. "Ace," said Nordboe, showing A♦J♣ however the Romanian had him pipped with A♠Q♦. --NW
6:10pm: Sweet board for TuiteLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Dejuante Alexander is out after having re-raise-shoved his last 27,000 or so with 7♣7♥, finding himself up against the J♠T♠ of Colm Tuite, then witnessing a runout of A♠T♣T♦J♣5♠ to present his opponent a winning full house.
Tuite is as much as 170,000. --MH
6:09pm: Moorman is not true to his tweetLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
During the break Chris Moorman tweeted that he was going to must fold his technique to the money with 45,000. However, since we've back he's as much as his old tricks. Problem is, it hasn't worked out too well.
Moorman called an open from Zorlu Er within the big blind and the 2 saw a 6♦2♦K♠ flop. Moorman checked, Er continued for 4,000, and the Brit called. The turn then came the 6♠, pairing the board, and Moorman decided to guide out at it for 8,500. He couldn't shake Er though, and the 2 would duel the entire option to the J♠ river.
At this point both gave up and checked. Moorman was a little annoyed as he needed to show his T♦8♦ and realised that had he bet he can have taken it down. Er had the 9♣9♠ a single pair was best.
Moorman is all the way down to 24,500 now, and is in a good more critical state than before. --JS
6:08pm: William Kassouf eliminatedLevel 13 - 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
If you spotted anything different concerning the background chatter within the area across the EPT Live feature table, there's a cause of that. The ever-chatty William Kassouf was eliminated just wanting the money bubble.--BW
6:05pm: The case of the river shoveLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
With 2♠5♣8♣T♣3♦ at the board and a decent-sized pot already developed, Arthur Conan was looking to deal with a mystery after having checked to his opponent Simon Mattsson who had pushed all-in.
Mattsson had Conan well covered, and prefer the nature created by his famous namesake (A.C. Doyle) had just a little detective work to do to make a decision his best plan of action. Finally he decided folding was the one route to take, and after he did Mattsson provided yet another clue to think about during his post-fold cogitation, showing him one card -- the A♣.
Mattsson is as much as 215,000 while Conan still has 85,000 with which to pursue other hold'em cases. --MH
6pm: Where on the planet do these players come from?Level 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
If you have ever found yourself wondering where exactly 1,785 poker players could come from to pay €5,000 to play EPT13 Barcelona, wonder not more. They arrive from here:
(Click to enlarge image)
5:50pm: Hot chips!Level 13 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)
Since the last full sweep of the room, Jake Cody and Fatima Moreira de Melo are among those to extend their chip-stacks dramatically. Cody was at 20,000 earlier today, but is now with regards to 200,000. He knocked out Benny Spindler with ace-king against jacks.
Head over to the chip-count page for the newest update.
5:49pm: Now...the payouts
After a temporary hiccup within the reporting, listed below are the EPT Barcelona Main Event payouts.
| 13 | 1,200 | 2,400 | 400 |
5.30pm: Break time
Players are actually at the last break of the day. Once they return they'll play two more levels. -- SB
5:28pm: Gecevicius gets it all-in, eventuallyLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Thinking Kestutis Gecevicius was all-in when he set a medium-sized blue column forward, Lee Michael Egan said he called and tabled his hand -- K♦K♠ -- and there has been a clumsy moment because it was realized by all that Gecevicius still had about 10,000 behind.
No one was too bothered about it, and in reality Gecevicius was saying he was willing to bet his remaining chips within the dark, making it intriguing to think what he may need had. The ground was called over to fix things out officially, and with Egan's call being confirmed Gecevicius indeed set his chips forward as a dismal bet, Egan called it, and Gecevicius showed A♥K♥.
Then came the flop -- 8♥9♥2♥! A flush for Gecevicius. The 8♠ turned to pair the board, meaning it wasn't quite over yet. However the 7♣ completed the board and Gecevicius doubled to about 165,000 while Egan slipped to 85,000.
"That was a pleasant flop," grinned Egan, and Gecevicius nodded with a laugh, neither seeming too bothered by the little hitch that occurred of their preflop all-in. --MH
5:25pm: Always the riverLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
A classic race to inform you about and one who wasn't settled until the overall community card. Ville Haavisto opened to 4,400 from the hijack, Tuukka Meklin then three-bet to 10,300 at the button and Shmuel Madar smooth called from the small blind.
Back on Haavisto he moved all-in for 58,500 which forced Meklin out but Madar quickly announced call. He showed Q♠Q♥ and Haavisto opened A♠K♣. The 2♥A♦7♣ flop put Haavisto into the lead, he held onto it at the 6♠ turn but Madar spiked the Q♣ at the river to win the hand. --NW
5:20pm: Harvest KoonLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
Jason Koon's stack was steadily increasing within the day, yet I've yet as a way to catch him in one hand that's gone to a flop.
In my latest attempt, Jan-Eike Wilken opened to 4,500 and that bet was called by Conor Beresford. Action was on Koon and - just after we thought he might just call - he grabbed more chips and squeezed it as much as 16,500. Everyone folded.
"Nooo bluff to showwwww," Koon sang while giving his cards to the dealer.
"Please still show!" asked Beresford.
"Hmmmm no," was Koon's reply. --JS
5:15pm: It isn't a game of footsieLevel 12 - 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Chance Kornuth is hobbled.
No, his chip stack is healthy with greater than double the typical stack. It's his ankle. It isn't in good shape.
Since arriving here, Kornuth have been limping around with a brace on his left ankle. When it isn't too crowded, he has post his foot on a table cushioned with an opulent smiley face emoji.
When it's crowded, he has to maintain his feet within the normal position in front of him. That may cause some problems.
"You don't even realize what number of times you get kicked under the table," he said. "When it hurts, you realize."--BW
5:20pm: Spain v SpainLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Two of Spain's finest players just clashed in a large pot. I missed the pre-flop action but on a 8♠3♠9♠ flop Pablo Gordillo (middle position) bet 8,000, Leo Margets (small blind) check-raised to 25,000 and after a temporary tank Gordillo smooth called.
The T♦ fell at the turn and Margets moved all-in for 88,200 total. This time Gordillo spent so much longer thinking over the verdict. He had just over 120,000 in his stack and elected to maintain his powder dry as he folded. Pot to Margets. --NW
5:13pm: Full house helps Johnson buildLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
The board read 9♦7♦Q♥7♣, and after Keith Johnson checked, Yaron Genut fired a big gamble of 12,000 only to peer Johnson respond with a check-raise to 28,000. Genut thought for some time then called, bringing the pot up around 85,000.
The river brought the 3♦, and this time Johnson sat quietly for approximately a half-minute before saying he was all-in. Genut exhaled because the dealer counted out Johnson's stack.
Finally, before the counting was absolutely done, Genut set out a stack of blue 5,000-chips to call, and Johnson quickly tabled his 9♣9♥ for an entire house. Genut was made to turn his hand -- A♠7♠ for trip sevens -- and Johnson collected the pot.
Johnson is up around 245,000 now while Ganut slips to 98,000. --MH
5pm: Moorman's sneaky, Kovtunov's sneakierLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
One checked a boat, the opposite checked trips - they seem to be a sneaky bunch this lot. I picked up the action on an 8♠5♠8♣ flop and it checked around to Zorlu Er who was at the button. He made it 9,500 to go, completely ignorant of the onslaught his teeny weeny bet was about to endure.
Glib Kovtunov was within the small blind, after which check-raised it to 21,500. That gave the impression to intrigue Chris Moorman, who was within the big blind. He gave the impression of he was able to get entangled and did just that, bumping it up again to a fair 40,000. Er wasn't able to play for that much, bit Kovtunov desired to play for much more. He moved all-in for 78,000 total and Moorman snap called with the 8♦9♣ for trips. Kovtunov had almost flopped the sector the 5♦5♣.
Moorman would wish a nine or the case eight nevertheless it wasn't to be. Kovtunov doubled as much as around 170,000, while Moorman falls to to 48,000. --JS
5:06pm: You have to have joking around chipsLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
When a player is winning, then walks around (often) to inform others how things are going, the stack left behind is typically known as "walking around chips."
It's a phenomenon more apt for cash games than tournaments, as within the latter players do not want to be missing hands when the blinds and antes are always because of increase.
Thus in tournaments does the phenomenon morph into different ways to precise cheerfulness after winning, reminiscent of the "joking around chips" phenomenon.
That's what Alisan Holozlu is experiencing these days. Having just won an all-in with pocket aces versus ace-king, he's clearly feeling good. While stacking up what's now 260,000, he made the joke made by many tournament players before him.
"Thank you, dealer," he cracked, flipping a 100-chip in his direction.
"Cash, cash!" said a tablemate, noting how tipping with chips only works within the cash games. Holozlu kept grinning, pulling back his joking around chip. --MH
Winning a seat to the EPT starts with a PokerStars account. Click here to get yours.5:05pm: Farewell FernandezLevel 12 - 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Leo Fernandez just busted against Philippe Souki. Fernandez three-bet shoved for 31,100 with K♦J♥ but Souki's Q♣Q♦ were good. Souki as much as 170,000.
5pm: What else goes on?
As well because the Main Event there are dozens of side events happening through the EPT Barcelona festival. Take a look at the most recent results here.
4:53pm: Two-outer ends Vagner's dayLevel 12 - 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
All in with T♣T♠, Slovakia's Stefan Vagner got called with 4♣4♠, however the first card to hit the felt was the 4♦. Vagner couldn't hit a two-outer of his own, and was eliminated. --BW
4:52pm: More departuresLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Gilbert Diaz, Akin Tuna, and Benny Spindler at the moment are out of the principle Event. -- SB
4:50pm: Koon attempts to suck out, is successfulLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
"I'm basically seeing if I'm getting the appropriate price to suck out on you," said Jason Koon as he weighed up if he should commit the remainder of his chips to the pot.
There was a T♦K♠Q♠9♥ board at the felt and around 55,000 within the middle plus the 13,500 Koon had bet. That wager were upped by Jesper Feddersen who had raised all-in for 60,700 in total. He covered Koon who had 54,400 total. He riffled and re-riffled his chips before electing to call.
Koon showed A♠5♠ for the nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. Feddersen already had the straight though with A♣J♦. The 9♠ river filled Koon's flush to spice up him to around 165,000 while Feddersen was left with just 6,300. --NW
4:38pm: Lipkin trending upwardLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
It's been an excellent day up to now for Robert Lipkin. At present he fired a river bet with Q♠J♦ on a T♠4♥9♦9♣K♠ board and got some more value as a lesser hand called.
Lipkin has chipped as much as 260,000 thus far this afternoon. --MH
4:30pm: Farrell felted after five-bet jamLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (200 ante)
There was an all-in triangle in front of Solomon Stan before the cards had even been dealt. He had lost the vast majority of his chips within the previous hand, being crippled right down to just 600. He was then within the small blind - a compulsory all-in.
A few players folded before Romania's Alin Grasu made it 4,700 to play. One player had called that bet by the point it was on EPT12 Malta champ Niall Farrell at the button, and he took a slow peek at his cards before surveying his opponents. Carefully, he pieced together a squeeze of 18,000 and placed it over the line.
It was back on Grasu, and he wasn't done with this one. It took an even few minutes, but eventually he made a four-bet to 46,500. The opposite player got out of ways and it was back at the Scot.
Farrell waited a minute before announcing he was all-in, of venture worth greater than 140,000 more. Grasu had him covered and made the decision. Both their hands were flipped, as was Stan's.
Farrell: A♦K♠Grasu: Q♦Q♥Stan: A♣5♣.
"Noooooooooo!"
Farrell couldn't believe it. Not just was he now all-in for his tournament life, however the tiny stack of Stan had managed to pick out up an Ace, therefore removing certainly one of his outs.
The board ran out 4♠7♦J♦J♣7♣ and the Queen held up, eliminating Farrell and Stan. With that massive windfall, Grasu is now on 360,000. --JS
4:25pm: Chouity faces the inevitability of it allLevel 12 - 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
At this time within the tournament, because the bubble approaches, folks who have more in mind than a min-cash are keen to begin getting it in once they feel like there is a decent chance they have got the most efficient of it. So it went for Nicolas Chouity. Facing a raise to 4,600 from Alexandru Baron, Chouity looked all the way down to see A♥K♥ and re-raised to 14,000 out of the small blind. Baron shoved all in for 54,100 and Chouity made the decision to peer Baron's K♦K♠. Baron did not have to fret much after the flop: K♣9♣9♦. After the 8♠ turn, Chouity was drawing dead and doubled Baron up. --BW
| 12 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 300 |
4:17pm: Veksler vanquishes YoussafiLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
I picked up the action because the dealer burned and turned a 9♣J♥6♥ flop. Khalil Youssafi was all-in and searching on the size of the pot he'd not had many chips left initially of the hand.
There were two other players within the hand and the primary of these was Anton Wigg. The EPT8 Copenhagen champion checked to Pavel Veksler and called when the Israeli player bet 8,500. The A♦ hit the turn and Youssafi wore the look of a person who'd just been overtaken within the hand and he began to gather his belongings.
There was no betting action though and the 7♠ rounded off the board. Wigg checked again and Veksler fired out a big gamble of 16,500 which was enough to force the Swede out. Youssafi was first to show, he'd got it in with Q♦Q♣ but Veksler had him beat with A♥8♥. --NW
4:16pm: Zeiter zooms upLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Just as Pavel Kranoselskii was doubling with pocket aces against Akin Tuna at the neighboring table, so, too, did Diego Zeiter earn a large double through Lawrence Bayley, also with pocket aces.
"That's why it's worthwhile to have a large stack," reflected Bayley afterwards. "In case that happens."
Zeiter jumps to about 195,000 after his big double, while Bayley still has 118,000. --MH
4:15pm: AA works for KrasnoselskiiLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Pavel Kranoselskii just scored a far needed double through Akin Tuna, using A♦A♥ to best Tuna's K♠5♠ on a 2♥5♥6♦6♣K♥ board.
Kranoselskii jumps to 175,000 after that hand while Tuna slips all the way down to 45,000. --MH
Winning a seat to the EPT starts with a PokerStars account. Click here to get yours.4:13pm: Lundmark send Jorgensen packingLevel 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Team PokerStars Pro Theo Jorgensen isn't any more for this event. After EPT champion Kent Lundmark came in for a raise to 3,500, Jorgensen shipped from the small unaware of 24,500. Lundmark took his time to name but finally did holding ace-nine. Jorgensen had a king and a jack. The board ran out with baby cards, and Jorgensen took his leave of the tourney room. --BW
4:12pm: Recent eliminationsLevel 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Thor Hansen, Luca Pagano, and Simon Ravnsbaek are all now out of the principle Event. -- SB
4:10pm: Ramos slips towards the risk zoneLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Felipe Ramos was within the tank. He was facing a big gamble of 19,000 at the river of a K♥A♣3♥Q♣3♦ board. There has been about 30,000 within the pot and Ramos had about 60,000 total so this pot was pretty crucial.
It was a big gamble for a 3rd of his stack and one who should he call and win would boost him to a comfort zone of 110,000 but should he lose then he'd be rapidly approaching 20 big blind territory.
So you'll be able to understand why Ramos was taking his time, but he eventually flicked in a chip to name and Markus Durnegger showed A♠Q♠ for 2 pair. "THAT IS THE only hand it is advisable to have," said a frustrated Ramos who couldn't top it and he mucked his cards face down and slides to 39,000. --NW
4:06pm: Hot chips!
We've just performed our first full sweep of the room, in search of all of the big stacks and/or reputations left on this field. It was quite the performance, I WILL tell you.
Here's your top five on the moment, and head on over to the chip-count page for the remainder. There are about 550 players left of the numerous many more who started (full number still to be confirmed).
| Ognyan Dimov | Bulgaria | 460,000 |
| Nicolas Chouity | Lebanon | 390,000 |
| Raffaele Castro | Switzerland | 305,000 |
| Hanyang Peng | China | 283,000 |
| Wahid Patel | United Kingdom | 280,000 |
4:05pm: The William Kassouf external monologueLevel 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
If you want an image of frustration, stand by William Kassouf's table as everyone waits for Kassouf's hands to complete. At one point, the opposing players were literally standing to stretch, putting their face of their hands, and sighing audibly because the latest Kassouf speech played out.
In this case, it was a flop of 9♣K♦T♦.
"That's an excellent flop for my hand. I almost flopped the nuts. I nearly shipped it pre."
But he checked anyway, and implored his opponent: "ARE NOT MAKING a mistake. You do not want to bet it and that i check-raise all in."
Facing a chance to 3,200, Kassouf pondered.
"Top pair good? I should ship it here but when you may have king-ten or king queen..."
He put out calling chips.
"Catch your bluff."
It was the 7♣ at the turn.
"I should ship now, but I BELIEVE I lose you if I bet. Check. Yeah, set the trap."
Now facing an all-in bet, Kassouf did not have a lot more to mention. He folded, after which said, "YOU'LL BE ABLE TO show this one. Good for the game."
Money bets Kassouf's interpretation of fine for the sport is different than the person along with his face buried in his palms. --BW
4:01pm: Double up for Mercier, but he's still super shortLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Team Pro Jason Mercier moved all-in for 14,000 after the action folded to him. He got a snappy call from Diogo Veiga within the big blind who was ahead together with his A♠J♥ against the J♠T♠.
The flop changed matters. It came the T♣5♠9♠, giving Mercier both top pair and a flush draw. Veiga would now need running spades or an Ace, however the T♦ turn left him drawing dead because it gave Mercier trips. An inconsequential 6♦ river secured Mercier the double up, but he's got a ways to visit get a snug stack. --JS
3:58pm: Song's swan song gets ovation from MoormanLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
It was just a couple of days ago that Chris Moorman was chip leader heading into the general table of Estrellas Main Event. As we kept reminding you then, the person referred to as Moorman1 is the most important money winner within the history of online poker, but his performance this week strengthens the argument that his live game is simply as good.
We might be in for one more deep Moorman run because the Brit just won a large pot (albeit in an excessively lucky way). After I arrived on the table Moorman had a gamble of 9,100 in front of him which were raised to 24,800 by Michael Song. Back to the Brit, he jammed and got a handy guide a rough call.
Here's why: Song had the Aces, Moorman had pocket Jacks. The 3♣Q♠2♥ flop changed nothing, however the J♠ turn sure did. Moorman's set held up over the 3♠ river, giving him an entire house and all of Song's chips. That took his stack as much as 190,000, while Song was sent on his way. --JS
3:54pm: Bad timing for RamosLevel 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Austria's Markus Durnegger had are available for a raise, and Felipe Ramos took the chance to 3-bet to 9,000. It would have gone better but for the reality short-stacked Abel Durban decided to shove all in for under 6,000 more. Durnegger stepped aside, but Ramos was compelled to name. Durban held A♥K♥, hit his king at the turn, and doubled to greater than 30,000. --BW
3:50pm: Kabrhel collects from SavardLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Jean-Pascal Savard just took successful to his stack in a hand that saw him open for middle position, get one caller within the cutoff, then see Martin Kabrhel push from the button for roughly 36,000. After some thought Savard eventually called, squeezing out the third player, and turned over A♥J♥ versus Kabrhel's Q♥Q♠.
The board fell 3♥3♣7♥4♣K♣, and now Kabrhel has about 75,000 while Savard slips to 80,000. --MH
3:44pm: Blom and Pagano goneLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Add Viktor Blom to the list of the departed, so too Luca Pagano. -- SB
3:44pm: ElkY, Shahade outLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
We just spotted Jennifer Shahade leaving the tournament area, having lost the last of her stack. So, too, is Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier at the rail, finally out after nursing a brief stack for the primary two-and-a-half levels today. --MH
3:42pm: "I'm the defending champion..."Level 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
"...not no more."
John Juanda is out, chuckling to his neighbour Jason Mercier about how his title defence has now come to an end. He ran headlong into Alejandro Belluccia's turned full house--Belluccia had 4♠4♦ and the board was 7♣7♥8♠4♥J♠. Juanda could have had ace-seven, but it surely have been mucked by the point I got there. Juanda headed out of the door. -- HS
3:39pm: Branco bustoLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
A standard exit this, Dieter Albrecht opened with K♦K♥ and called when Carlos Branco moved all-in for 29,000 with K♠J♠.
The 7♠7♣7♥ flop left Branco praying for the case seven nevertheless it didn't arrive at the 2♥ turn or 8♦ river. --NW
3:36pm: No back-to-back championLevel 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
There may not be a back-to-back Barcelona champion. Last year's winner, John Juanda, was eliminated. --BW
Winning a seat to the EPT starts with a PokerStars account. Click here to get yours.3:33pm: Recent bustsLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Among the latest wave of knockouts here in Level 11 were Patrick Mahoney, Alexandru Papazian, Dylan Wilkerson, Andrey Pateychuk, and Bruno Politano. --MH
3:32pm: Fast fold pokerLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
There's a poker saying that goes similar to this: 'If you think that long, you think that wrong' and it is a school of thought that Anooj Saareen seems to join. He three-bet to 10,000 excessive of Tobias Reinkemeier's open and collected calls from Christophe Larquemin and Reinkemeier.
The 3♣Q♦2♠ was quickly checked to Larquemin, he bet 20,500, Reinkemeier swiftly got out the best way and Saareen insta-folded pocket jacks face-up. Larguemin was kind enough to turn A♥Q♥ meaning Saareen made an excessively fast and proper fold.--NW
3:31pm: Lewis' hands are Kitai-dLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (100 ante)
Davidi Kitai is really a feel player and a 'live tell' guy greater than a stats and maths man. However, hitting big blind specials certainly helps him too.
He defended his big blind after Austin Lewis made it 4,000 at the button the flop came down 4♥3♦5♦. It went check-check, leading to a turn card: the 3♠. The board had paired to compliment the straight draws, and Kitai chose to guide out for 5,500. Lewis came along and the A♣ river completed the board. Kitai continued for 13,000 and Lewis instantly called, but mucked when Kitai showed the 2♣5♣ for a flopped top pair, turned two pair, and rivered straight. The Belgian is as much as 87,000 now. --JS
3:30pm: A optimal tellLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
There exists in poker a nearly wholly reliable tell, accurate nearly 100% of the time. A minimum of apparently way. Only problem is, knowing about this tell won't be of much use to you when playing poker. It is just value, really, is to these reporting on poker, or even for them it would only save a few seconds now and then.
What's the tell? A player goes all-in, another hesitates before acting, then looks back at his or her cards.
It's a fold. Trust me.
Here in the beginning of Level 11, Fabian Geisel opened a hand from the button and watched the player within the big blind shove. Geisel waited a couple of seconds, rechecked his cards, then folded.
Soon after Patrick Sacrispeyre raised from middle position, then watched the table fold to the small blind who shoved for approximately 10 times the raise amount. Sacrispeyre sat for a moment, then checked out his cards. Fold.
Then it was Taichi Yoneya raising, and Jose Echevarne shoving over the top.
Yoneya looked down, peeling up the corners of his cards. It's probably the most few sure things in poker.
He folded. --MH
3:25pm: What sort of rubdown are we talking about here?Level 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
The William Kassouf Show continues in the course of the room with the banter getting much more and more familiar. The newest middle-of-a-hand monologue offered a free rubdown to anyone who busted him. The patter got some laughs, but no less than one person was ready for Kassouf to speak less and smile act more.
Kassouf (who has proven himself rather unwilling to learn to close up) took some umbrage with the suggestion. He wondered what the hurry was. "YOU WERE GIVEN a plane to catch?" he asked. "What time is your flight?"--BW
3:20pm: Call the clockLevel 11 - Blinds: 800/1,600 (200 ante)
In a three-bet pot Grzegorz Grochulski and Martin Arce Llobera each installed 10,800 and an 'actiony' looking 9♥K♠Q♥ flop hit the felt. Fireworks were forthcoming surely? Not such a lot. It was checked the entire strategy to the river with the 2♣ and 5♣ completing the board.
At this juncture Grochulski bet 8,800 and Llobera went into the tank. He cut out the 8,800 from his stack of 110,000 and set it to at least one side. He then looked intently at Grochulski for a very long time. He'd taken almost five minutes and seemingly wasn't any toward a decision, so a player called the clock. About 20 seconds of the allotted minute passed before Llobera mucked his cards and a hand that took almost 10 minutes ended. --NW
3:15pm: Regardless of how much you bet...Level 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Alejandro Belluccia had a plan, it seemed. He would keep betting until Neculai Macovei decided to fold. He may not have read Of Mice and Men.
After raising to 4,200 and getting called, the boys saw a 5♠T♦2♥ flop, and Belluccia led for 6,400. Neculai made the decision and went to the A♣ turn. This! This may be when Macovei would fold to a 7,300 bet.
Actually, no it wouldn't. He called and got the A♥ at the turn. It was going to take a larger bet apparently.
Apparently not. Belluccia came out with 15,200 and Macovei called pretty quickly.
After firing all of his barrels with [khJ♥, Belluccia was forced to concede the pot to Macovei's K♦K♣.
Woops.--BW
3:10pm: Mercier hobbledLevel 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
In the start hands of this level Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier had most of his stack cut out from underneath him. It was an easy race that did not go his way. He put his pocket sixes up against Diogo Veiga's ace king. Veiga made his ace, and Mercier dropped right down to 17,000-chip pittance. He got one shove through under the gun shortly thereafter, but got no callers.--BW
3:05pm: Latest eliminationsLevel 11 - 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Joining the ranks at the rail are Michael Gathy, Kristen Bicknell, Dominik Panka, Fedor Holz and Diego Ventura.
| 11 | 800 | 1,600 | 200 |
2:52pm: Would you like to be seen or not mateLevel 10 - 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Poker's greatest irony is William Kassouf's T-shirt. The noisiest man within the room is wearing camouflage, becoming the personification of the legendary Would you like to be seen or not mate tweet.
By his standards, Kassouf is a bit quiet on the moment, mainly because he's sitting with only about 25,000 chips and so can't become involved in an excessive amount of shenanigans.
He did, however, have the capacity to find one spot to interact in a handy guide a rough verbal joust. Alexandru Baron open shoved for 15,500 and the verdict passed all of the way round to Kassouf within the big blind.
It was already a heads-up pot, so Kassouf could speak about the hand--an opportunity he would never turn down.
"Do you need me to name"? Kassouf said. "Does it matter?"
Baron was quiet.
"You've had an even day today? You've had a good time? You prepared to head home?"
Baron decided to take him on. "I just want more chips, that's all."
"Where you from? Romania?"
Baron told him he was from Canada. "Hmm, Canada." Kassouf said. He then added: "I HAVE broadway cards, king high. You need a choice now?"
Baron was non-committal. "You're either ace-high or we're flipping. I pass, I pass."
Kassouf flashed a king, then slid his cards forward. "I've a sense I'm getting it on this hand," Kassouf added.
But he didn't. Alexey Romanov opened the following hand. Kassouf was among those to fold. Tony Blanchandin opened the following hand and Nicolas Chouity three bet everyone out of it, including Kassouf. Then Franz Ditz opened to 2,600 and Kassouf was among those to fold again.
And then it was the break. -- HS
2:50pm: O'Kearney in tough companyLevel 10 - 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Dara O'Kearney is giving a running commentary at the action from his table on his Twitter account, and given the usual of his opponents it is going to make for interesting reading.
He had Daniel Dvoress and Benny Spindler alongside him to begin with ("Spindler's KQ > Dvoress AQ to bust him" ©@daraokearney) after which Jake Cody landed in Dvoress's seat ("80k after Jake pings his two outer against me first actual hand" ©@daraokearney).
He hasn't mentioned it yet, but O'Kearney possibly also knows the person sitting to his direct left. Although Jordan Westmorland is quiet, sitting beneath a large pair of headphones, O'Kearney has possibly met "JWPRODIGY" online, where he was in and across the world's top 30 for several years -- HS
Winning a seat to the EPT starts with a PokerStars account. Click here to get yours.2:45pm: Some Team Pro countsLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Level 10 has just ended and there is a number of assorted Red Spades still in contention. Here's how a few of them are becoming on:
Luca Pagano - 66,000Jason Mercier - 60,000Jake Cody - 51,000Felipe Ramos - 43,000Jennifer Shahade - 9,000
2:44pm: Top 3 hands Fedor Holz played up to now little while (you will not believe what happens in no. 3!)Level 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (100 ante)
I apologise for the click-bait tabloid headline of this post, but hey - it got you reading right? Who am I kidding, all I WANTED to write down was that Fedor Holz have been eliminated and also you probably would have con...ahhh dang. Spoiler.
1. Holz wins with c-bet
Fedor Holz opened to 2,700 from mid position and got one caller within the big blind. The flop came 3♠6♥T♦ and he won it with a 2,300 c-bet when it checked to him.
2. Holz wins with c-bet again in very next hand
Fedor Holz opened to 2,700 and got one caller within the big blind (Rafael Moraes). The flop came 6♦K♠3♦ and he won it with a 2,500 c-bet when it checked to him.
3. FEDOR HOLZ BUSTS FROM MAIN EVENT!
Fedor Holz opened to 2,700 under the gun and was instantly three-bet to 7,100 by Narcis-Gabriel Nedelcu. When it got back to Holz he called and the flop came 2♠3♣9♥. Holz checked and Nedelcu continued the aggression with a 12,200 bet. Holz called and the turn was the 7♠, which he'd check another time. Nedelcu checked out Holz's stack and put him all-in - around 38,000 more to name. Holz studied his opponent as we have seen him achieve this repeatedly but this time he made the inaccurate decision.
He called, turning over the A♦9♦ for high pair. That was way behind Nedelcu's Q♥Q♦ and the river bricked, sending Holz outta here.
Fedor Holz gets eliminated from tournament without even cashing? See, we told you you would not believe it. --JS
2:44pm: Panka outLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/12000 (200 ante)Dominic Panka's tournament is over. On a flop of Q♦T♦6♣ there has been a check from the large blind followed by a gamble of 5,000 from Alexander Lakhov. Panka thought for a minute after which moved all in for 32,000 with K♠Q♠. Lakhov showed A♠Q♥.The turn came 5♣ and the river K♥. Panka out. Lakhov as much as 97,000. - SB
2:41pm: Verkaik wins three-way, avoids eliminationLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (200 ante)
In some of the last hands before the break, Quentin Roussey opened for 2,800 from early position and watched Andrey Kotelnikov call from the hijack. Nicholas Verkaik then reraise-pushed for 17,400 from the hijack seat, and Roussey called the shove.
Kotelnikov then elected to reraise all-in himself for approximately 46,000, and after taking a bit of more time to consider it, Roussey called that shove as well.
Roussey: 8♦8♥Kotelnikov: T♦T♣Verkaik: K♥Q♦
The community cards came K♠5♣5♦2♠J♥, meaning everyone made two pair -- and everybody survived. Verkaik won the primary pot and now has 55,000, Kotelnikov won the side and has 65,000, and Roussey still has a healthy 117,000. --MH
2:20pm: Notable departuresLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (100 ante)
Among the more notable bustouts from the last hour or so: Steve O'Dwyer, Daniel Dvoress, Team PokerStars Pro Yai Zhu, Sergio Garcia, Sergio Aido, Ludovic Geilich, Natasha Barbour, Xuan Liu, Christopher Frank, Dylan Linde, Cate Hall, George Danzer. --BW
Cate Hall
2:13pm: Isildur1 alive and kickingLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (100 ante)
Viktor Blom was quiet to this point today. He came into Day 2 short in chips with 23,300, so I expected to peer him shoving, pushing, and jamming right from the get go. But no. It sort of feels the person referred to as Isildur1 is playing a patient game, and it's working. After Miguel Iglesias opened to 2,500, Blom casually sat up in his seat, took a glance at his opponent, and three-bet to 5,500. Iglesias folded and Blom is as much as 33,000. --JS
2:10pm: Van Zadelhoff doublesLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (100 ante)
After a pre-flop betting war Steven van Zadelhoff was all-inwith the A♥K♦ against the K♥K♠ of Koray Aldemir. The Dutchman needed an Ace to hit the felt, and his wish came true at the 9♥A♠4♣J♠2♦ run out. He's as much as 116,600 now. --JS
2:05pm: Moreira de Melo makes a brand new friend: ace-jackLevel 10 - 600/1,200 (100 ante)
Based on a sample size of 2 pots, Fatima Moreira de Melo has a brand new favourite hand. It's ace-jack and it's just earned her a host of chips.
The PokerStars SportStar was under the gun when she picked up A♦J♠ (we discover this out on the end; there is not any telepathy occurring here) and raised to 2,600. Georgios Zisimopoulos, from a stack of about 150,000, called within the hijack and Luigi Curcio, who had slightly greater than Zisimopoulos, called within the cutoff.
So, three of them to a flop of J♣5♠9♠. Moreira de Melo, together with her top pair, bet 4,500 and Curcio was the one caller. After the K♣ came at the turn, Moreira de Melo checked and Curcio bet 9,000. Moreira de Melo called and was rewarded by the A♥ appearing at the river.
Moreira de Melo, with two pair now, laid a trap with a check. But Curcio checked behind and Moreira de Melo needed to make do with a pot of a bit of under 40,000.
But there has been much more for her at the next hand when, wouldn't you already know it, she got dealt the very same hand again, suits and all. Moreira de Melo was within the big blind this time and watched Guy Goossens, one seat to her left, raise to 3,300 pre-flop.
Zisimopoulos called again and Moreira de Melo paid the additional from the massive blind.
Moreira de Melo again flopped top pair when the primary three cards fell A♠9♥3♥. She checked, Goossens bet 5,000 and both Zisimopoulos and Moreira de Melo called.
The 7♠ came at the turn and Moreira de Melo checked again to Goossens. He bet 15,000 this time. Zisimopoulos let it go, but after a little while to ponder, Moreira de Melo called. She looked as if it would sense that she may need kicker trouble.
However, if the kicker was a weakness on the start, it was a strength by the tip when the J♣ appeared at the river. Moreira de Melo checked and Goossens checked behind, furious when his opponent showed A♦K♠ again. Goossens' A♥K♣ have been well and really rivered. -- HS
2pm: Breton stacks De RoussacLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Florian Febre De Roussac is out, his T♣9♣ failing him versus his fellow Frenchman Thibaut Breton's A♠7♣ on a board of 8♠J♣A♦9♠8♦.
Breton bumps as much as 135,000 after that hand. The large board is showing 711 players remain. --MH
1:50pm: Xanthopoulos gets one over on UmerovaLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (100 ante)
Safiya Umerova beat Niall Farrell heads up on the WSOP this summer to win her first bracelet, and she'd only been cards for 18 months. She's still within the mix here today, but just lost a large chunk of her stack making what was clearly an agonising fold.
Rewinding a bit, Umerova had called a 2,500 open at the button, and Pavlos Xanthopoulos defended his big blind. When the 2♦4♣8♦ flop fell it checked to the Russian who led out for 5,200, and only Xanthopoulos called.
That took us to the A♠ turn and impulsively Xanthopoulos took the betting lead for 8,500. Umerova raised it to 21,500, but was then raised again to 45,000. She ended up making that decision to look the 9♠ river on which Xanthopoulos jammed for 71,700. The pot was enormous and Umerova was in a tricky spot. She tanked for an excellent short time before laying it down.
"Show the bluff!" she urged, but Xanthopoulos just shook his head. Umerova has 91,000 after that one. --JS
Winning a seat to the EPT starts with a PokerStars account. Click here to get yours.1:48pm: Fatima fires, forces fold from foeLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Returning to Team PokerStars Pro Fatima Moreira de Melo's table, it looks as if her teammate Yaxi Zhu has lost her short stack, as Stephen Malone is now within the seat she'd formerly occupied.
In fact, Malone just tangled with de Melo in a hand that reached the turn with about 12,000 within the middle and the board reading 8♣K♠Q♥7♥. After de Melo bet 3,700 (from the massive blind), Malone called (from UTG), then watched the 2♥ fall and de Melo fire again for 11,100.
Malone let his hand go that time, keeping his 55,000 or so. Meanwhile de Melo has 65,000. --MH
1:42pm: Kings lose to aces, but no person loses coolLevel 9 - 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Terence Ryan outranks his opponents at Table 68 in a minimum of two ways: for one, he's by far their senior. But he also has many more chips.
The man from Ohio was beyond 200,000 before the next hand played out--although his chip-lead took successful when a large chunk headed to Rui Milhomens. It played out so graciously, however, that it even led to a talk concerning the importance of fiddling with respect on the tables.
Ryan opened from the hijack and got all in favour of a raising war with Milhomens, who was within the small blind. I BELIEVE there has been no less than a 3 bet, possibly a four bet, before I FEEL Ryan called they usually saw a flop of 5♣7♥T♦. Milhomens checked, Ryan bet 4,400 and Milhomens called.
They then saw the 8♣ at the turn and Milhomens again checked. Ryan bet 6,500 and Milhomens shoved, for 18,200. Ryan didn't watch for a count before calling.
Ryan had K♣K♥, but Milhomens had him all along. He turned over A♥A♠. The Q♠ popped out at the river to seal it for Milhomens.
"You were trapping each other," Nuno Capucho, sitting to Ryan's right, said."But never let it get personal in poker," Ryan said."But it is so a lot more fun when it's personal," chimed Sander van Wesemael from the opposite end of the table."But if it's personal, you always lose," Ryan said.
Ryan then turned to Milhomens and said, "Well played." Milhomens turned to Ryan and said, sincerely: "You too."
They're playing for millions of euros, but it surely can be a game between friends over the kitchen table. In fact, it's probably more friendly than that. -- HS
1:41pm: Danzer dunkedLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer is out here in Level 10, but with the sun out and the day still long, he still has hoop dreams. --MH
1:35pm: Lucky LudoLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (100 ante)
Ludovic Geilich was all-in with pocket sevens while two other players - Kevin Stammen and Bradley Myers - continued the action. I arrived at the river of the A♥A♠T♥4♣7♥ board, and it turned out Ludovic Geilich had gotten very lucky indeed.
Stammen had the A♣6♥ for flopped trips, while Myers had two hearts for a rivered flush. That eliminated Stammen, but Geilich had survived by hitting a river set along with his 7♠7♣. He's as much as 67,500 now. --JS
1:25pm: Leo (Mar)gets moreLevel 10 - Blinds: 600/1,200 (200 ante)
Leo Margets is as much as 65,000 after a hand against Juha Lauttamus. Brian Ganon opened the hand from early postion, a chance of 2,200 which Margets called from the bring to an end. Lauttamus was at the button and raised to 7,100 which forced out Ganon but which got a decision from Margets.
The flop came A♥Q♠J♥
Margets checked and Lauttamus made it 7,300. Margets looked over at Lauttamus after which made the verdict to easily pick up her nearest tower of chips, worth 40,000 on this case, and move them forward - arguably one in every of poker's most aesthetically pleasing moves.
Which Margets should have thought too as Lauttamus folded. AN EVEN begin to the day for her. - SB
| 10 | 600 | 1,200 | 200 |
1:23pm: Easy game; or, queens over kings and acesLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Sometimes in poker you simply run into hands. That is what just happened in your humble scribbler when walking back into the poker site and confronting the action happening on Table 45 right by the doorway. That's also what happened to the 3 players thinking about the hand playing out there.
After Ioannis Kontonatsios opened for 2,300 from early position, Aliaksei Boika called from around the table, then when the action reached Marcelo Caceres within the big blind he shoved his short stack all-in. Kontonatsios responded by reshoving for roughly 57,000, and Boika called in a flash.
Caceres: K♦K♠Kontonatsios: Q♥Q♦Boika: A♥A♦
Caceres was already standing up when the 2♦7♦9♠ flop came. Then he took out his phone to snap a photograph because the Q♣ fell on fourth street to provide Kontonatsios the lead. The 5♦ river blanked, Caceres is out, Boika right down to 18,000, and Kontonastsios up around 130,000 now.
It took three steps and two seconds to seek out that hand. Easy game. --MH
1:15pm: Van Zadelhoff and runningLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
The bearded one, aka Steven van Zadelhoff, has enjoyed an even first level here on Day 2. He came into the day with 22,000, but is already as much as 59,000 after taking down this latest pot.
He opened to 2,300 from early position and got a decision Koray Aldemir at the button and David Calzada within the big blind. The trio saw the dealer spread an 8♣Q♠T♣ flop and it checked to van Zadelhoff who continued for 4,400. Aldemir came along, but Calzada let it go.
The turn came the 9♠ and van Zadelhoff led out again for 11,100. That was an excessive amount of for Aldemir and the Dutchman raked it in, --JS
1:14pm: The nice cullLevel 9 - 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Mercy, me, the stack of bustout slips is already heavy. Listed here are one of the most early bust-outs.--BW
Patrick Leonard, Liwei Sun, Ludovit Fischer, Freerk Post, Gaetano Dell Aera, Paul Berende, Tom-Aksell Bedell, Kim Victor Hanen, Wilfried Harig, Robert Askarov, Yakov Onuchin, Shaun Deeb, Magnus Karlsson, Michael Fardel, Davor Anticevic, Charles McCrink, Thi Xo Nguyen, Michael Tureniec, Matthia de Meulder, Nicolas Le Floch, Ronny Voth, Dzmitry Urbanovich, Guillermo Olvera, Michel Abecassis, Adrien Allain, Vincente Delgado, Pawel Zawaowicz, Andrejs Perederejevs, Giulo Spampinato, Roberto Fernandez, Stephane Benadiba, Michel Halioua, Ricardo Da Silva, George Dunst, Olivier Jarny, Simon Deadman, Morten Klein, Yang Zhang, Jurijs Binklers, Bartosz Jablonski, Marco Leonzio, Mitch Johnson, Michael Cano, Raymond Forsland, Benjamin Barkay, Artem Metalidi, Vic Zagar, Dymtro Isupov, Renjun Tang Robert Schulz, Grant Wheelhouse, Stefan Ivanov, Russell Thomas, Tomasz Kowalski, Thomas Oesterreicher, Mark Radoja, Clemens Manzano, Christian Grundtvig, Israel Carriazo, Matthew Selides, Nino Ullmann, Mark Heirrnan, Zeus Post, Cesar Garcia, Benjamin Keeline, Radek Jantos, Enrico Rudelitz, Dmitry Ivanov, Gabriel Blehaut, Anthony Borde, Ronald Keijzer, Eric Le Goff, Karolia Ananevas, Jeremie Sarda, Paul Hoefer, Ben Heath, Anthony Zinno, Jussi Nevanlinna,Robin Hegele, Moritz Dietrich, Marcelo Caceres, Christophe Benzimra, and Iegor Zarev.
1:10pm: Building a perch for Mau5Level 9 - 500/1,000 (100 ante)
ElkY has a tiny stack on the moment, which means that a comparatively low pedestal from which his Mau5 toy can survey the action. That exact plastic pet has, in its lifetime, had way more lofty perches.
But with only about 25,000 in chips, it's possible you'll think ElkY was looking forward to a premium hand to become involved. Not so. After folding six in a row, he min-opened to 2,000 from early position and collected a choice from Eric Rabut within the small blind.
They weren't curious about the 6♣4♣8♦ flop. Both checked. Then they weren't fascinated by the J♣ turn either. They both checked. After which additionally they checked the 8♥ river. Rabut turned over K♠T♠ but it surely couldn't beat ElkY's monstrous Q♦4♦. -- HS
1:08pm: Holz gets the double upLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Fedor Holz was all-in with the Q♣T♠ and were called at the river of a 7♣4♥9♠Q♥Q♠ board. His running Queens smashed his opponent, who had called with the 9♦T♦, and taken the Super High Roller winner as much as 48,000. --JS
1:05pm: A waste of time? Relies on your point of viewLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
As Nils Jarefjall and Karam Alfonse played out a hand at Table 84, Mark Roovers and Nicholas Palma engaged in some cross-table conversation.
Roovers has his smartphone out and is playing Pokemon Go. And defending doing so versus Palma's suggestion that the sport is a waste of time.
"Some would argue poker is a waste of time," answered Roovers somewhat philosophically. The road didn't change Palma's excited about Pokemon Go, however.
"You might think it's stupid, but if I AM GETTING back home to my nephews, they are going to be happy with me," said Roovers with a grin, alluding to his progress within the game. "WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF with them, it's okay," Palma conceded, but still wasn't able to endorse the game.
"Yu-Gi-Oh was better, anyway," Palma cracked.
Meanwhile the board was showing T♣7♠6♠8♥, and after a Jarefjall shove Alfonse snap-called, tabling J♣9♦ for the nuts. But Jarefjall had J♥9♠ for a similar straight, and after a river blank the pair chopped it up.
"Aww... that's sad," said Palma of the chopped pot. "A MINIMUM OF he called right away."
Indeed, Alfonse didn't waste any time. Although both he and Jarefjall wouldn't be faulted for thinking the hand were a waste, as they stack back up similar-sized stacks of around 35,000. --MH
Winning a seat to the EPT starts with a PokerStars account. Click here to get yours.1:04pm: Luca getting busyLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Ivan Luca just min-opened two pots in a row, with different outcomes. The primary time his 2,000 bet got everyone to fold. The second one time, he got a choice from Cesar Garcia after which folded to Oscar Kroon's 26,000 shove. It's official - poker is simpler when everyone folds. --JS
1:05pm: Quads for FreundLevel 9 - 500/1,000 (100 ante)
It was already looking pretty good for Alexander Freund when he got his 30,000 stack in pre-flop with Q♣Q♦ and was up against Pascal Vos's pocket jacks. But his advantage was boosted further with the Q♠ within the window at the flop and--what's this?--the Q♥ nestling alongside it. Vos couldn't hit runner-runner jacks to trigger the bad-beat jackpot, but still has about 90,000 to play with. -- HS
12:52pm: Why, bro... why?Level 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
"Why, bro... why?" asked Mehlbaum -- of his opponent, Baljit Singh, the dealer, and to anyone else who'd listen.
All-in with A♣K♣ versus Singh's A♠Q♠, Mehlbaum felt reasonably assured a double-up was coming his way after a 3♣3♦T♣ flop. However the 3♥ turn and T♠ river put an entire house at the board, meaning each players' two hole cards now not mattered as they chopped it up.
Mehlbaum sits with about 14,000, down a bit from the 25,900 he had at the start of Day 2, while Singh has about 68,000, just a bit greater than what he needed to start the day.--MH
12:52pm: High Rollers within the MainLevel 9 - 500/1,000 (100 ante)
For my money, the hardest table within the room today isn't any 98, the entire far more than within the far corner, that's practically a special zip code. Six of the players there could generally be seen in High Roller events. Indeed one among them, Pratyush Buddiga, won a €25,000 buy-in tournament about 11 hours ago.
The others on that table are Kent Lundmark (former EPT Barcelona champion), Keith Johnson (who made the overall table of the EPT Dublin High Roller), Ben Heath (4th within the PCA High Roller), Alexandru Papazian (Monaco High Roller champion), Ana Marquez (former Team Pro, top Spanish online tournament pro) and the aforementioned Buddiga.
Until recently, Yang Zhang, who came fourth on this week's opening €10,000 tournament was also on that table, but he has just been sent packing by Ping Lin. Lundmark opened from the hijack, making it 2,200 to head; Lin made it 6,500 from the cutoff and Zhang shoved for 76,200 from the massive blind.
Zhang had J♦J♣ but stood up and ready to depart when the flop of A♥3♥7♥, coupled with Lin's A♣K♥ left him with one out. Neither the 6♦ turn nor the Q♠ river was it, and Zhang's elimination was confirmed. --HS
12:50pm: Murderers rowLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
If your table breaks, there's one table particularly you better hope you do not get moved to. It's over within the far right corner of the room and currently hosts Keith Johnson, Ben Heath, Alex Papazian, Ana Marquez, and last night's €25K Single Day Re-entry winner Pratyush Buddiga.
However, the only hand I caught was won by Jeromie Sarda, a French player with solid ends up in the FPS and IPT. Ben Heath min-raised to 2,000 from under-the-gun and Sarda raised to 4,500 from under the gun plus one. It got back to Heath and he called to look the 4♠J♦A♣ flop, but check-folded to Sarda's continuation bet. --JS
12:48pm: Title defence still onLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Reigning EPT Barcelona Main Event champ John Juanda and Alexandros Kolonias find themselves sat at the same table today, they usually just played a small pot together. Juanda opened to 2,300 within the cutoff and Kolonias defended his big unaware of see a 6♦8♠8♥ flop. He checked, Juanda continued for 3,000, and Kolonias let his hand go. --JS
12:45pm: Barkay bouncedLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Benjamin Barkay's Day 2 has ended early after a hand against Zorlu Er.
With the board showing 6♦3♠7♦7♥, Barkay put the last of his chips in with A♦K♦ and Er called with 5♥5♦. The river was the T♥, and Barkay is out. Er is up near 100,000, having greater than doubled his stack already today. --MH
12:42pm: Hello, neighborLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Team PokerStars Pros Fatima Moreira de Melo and Yaxi Zhu happen to be seated side-by-side today at Table 82 to start out play today.
Both has been relatively quiet so far -- both literally and figuratively with regards to becoming concerned in hands. Zhu has position on her teammate, but de Melo has the chip edge with 55,600 to start out the day versus Zhu's 23,700. --MH
12:40pm: Deeb and Urbanovich outLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Just a few hands after losing flush over flush to Pablo Gordillo, Shaun Deeb was eliminated, despite still having 48 big blinds after the hand. Dzmitry Urbanovich was also seen leaving the tournament area along with his bags packed. --JS
12:37pm: Upping the Watt-ageLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)A mixed begin to the day for Steven Watts. After having his aces cracked by nines to double up Gereon Sowa, he recouped a few of his losses against countryman Matthew Davenport. Not quite back to his stack of 62,000, but at the way. - SB
12:35pm: Albrecht adds as Heirrnan hits railLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)
"All right... bring about the double-ups!"
So said Luke Haward to Table 26 as he sat down behind his stack of 32,000 or in order the primary hand of the day was being dealt.
Across the room, Mark Heirrnan was certainly thinking similarly when he open-raised his stack of 13,000 from middle position, then watched Dieter Albrecht reraise all-in from the small unaware of force a fold from Luca Falco on his left.
Heirrnan had A♥K♦ and needed help against Albrecht's 5♥5♦, but a board stuffed with low cards -- 2♣7♣6♣8♥6♦ -- was of no need to Heirrnan and he's an early Day 2 casualty. Albrecht now has about 115,000.
"You saved me," said Falco. "I had ace-jack... I'D have called." He preserves his stack of 40,000. --MH
12:31pm: Late arrivalsLevel 9 - Blinds: 500/1,000 (100 ante)The fourth last player to register for the primary Event was Fedor Holz, who was in line to register as announcements were being made within the tournament room. Prior to him was Sergio Aido who took his seat frequently room. Meanwhile Holz, followed by a camera crew, made his approach to tournament room 2. - SB
12:30pm: Now, time for Day 2Level 9 - 500/1,000 (100 ante)
It was a packed house today as PokerStars announced the new Championship and Festival tours, including a stop in New Jersey bobbing up in a pair months. For more, take a look at this full story at the news.
The tournament room as PokerStars announces its new tours
12:15pm: Big announcement done, play beginsLevel 9 - 500/1,000 (100 ante)
Now that today's big announcement have been made, it's eyes down for Day 2 of the EPT Main Event. Registration may be now closed, and we learn that 28 players bought in on the last minute, including the following:
Andrey Shatilov (Russia)Tony Broekhof (Netherlands)Tom Alner (United Kingdom)Dmitry Yurasov (Russia)Jordan Kaplan (United States)Hipolito Carapeta (Portugal)Mattia Verzeletti (Italy)Carlos Sanchez Diaz (Spain)Wilfried Harig (Germany)Alessio Casiraghi (Italy)Shlomi Elimeleh (Israel)
A full list, confirming total choice of players, might be with us soon-ish. -- HS
| 9 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
11:35am: Day 2 able to go
The remaining 900+ players from this record-breaking EPT Barcelona Main Event have reconvened to play another six levels today. There are a couple of announcements to be made before play gets under way, but expect cards within the air at about 12:15pm.
Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for EPT13 Barcelona and the remainder of the season.
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 EPT13 Barcelona Main Event: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris, Jack Stanton, Howard Swains, Brad Willis and Nick Wright. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog
Fatima Moreira de Melo
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