They've made it through three huge days -- the 3 Day 1 starting flights -- of the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event. On the close of Day 1C it was Hungary's Gabor Szabo zooming to the highest of the counts, passing everyone here today and who played Wednesday and Thursday, too, to say the whole chip lead with 454,000.
Gabor Szabo
Szabo's late surge pushed him prior to the Frenchmen Hilal Merabet and his stack of 410,000.
Hilal Merabet
And Louis Salter surged forward at night's end besides to finish with 378,000, joining those two as having passed the former chip leader, Benny Glaser, who could be coming back to 360,000 tomorrow.
Louis Salter
Day 1C saw 1,755 players take part, and while the entire totals must be confirmed that are supposed to take the entire field for this event to greater than 3,450 players. That's uniques, by the way, because the tournament isn't a re-entry. That still tops last year's record mark of 3,292 players.
Mills Leon (293,000), Tim Hickling (279,500), and Sjors Harmens (270,000) were also among those bagging above average stacks. Chris Moorman (143,500) and Sofia Lovgren (143,500) didn't badly for themselves today, either.
A total of 449 players survived Day 1C, meaning 862 players will come together to play tomorrow's Day 2. Click here for an entire list of chip counts from the tip of Day 1C. Also, here's a combined list of all 862 players' chip counts heading into Day 2.
It'll be another early start at 10am, and that is the reason when we'll be back, too, to continue bringing you start-to-finish coverage of this ESPT Main Event.
Come back then and we'll continue to determine together who becomes the following ESPT Main Event champion. Until then, see you mañanas! --MH
10:01pm: Day 1C concludes
They've reached the finish line for Day 1C, and it looks as if Gabor Szabo might need edged prior to everyone -- including the former first flight leader Benny Glaser -- by finishing with well over 400,000.
Back in just a little with a recap of the day and a report on all those big stacks. --MH
9:46pm: Stop the clockLevel 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400, Ante 400
The clock has now been paused for the last three hands of the night. --JS
9:36pm: Salter can't falterLevel 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400, Ante 400
Louis Salter just knocked out another player after Tobias Lundgren went all-in along with his 7♠7♦ versus Salter's A♦K♦, however the board ran out [Jj]9♣8♠K♣A♣ to present Salter two pair and the hand.
Salter is up around 360,000 now, challenging the leaders because the night winds to an in depth. --MH
9:23pm: Heimiller timeLevel 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400, Ante 400
Dan Heimiller was one of the most final players to sit on this event -- we only spotted him sitting down firstly of the night's penultimate level. But he's doing what he can to spin a comparatively shallow stack upwards.
Just now he watched a player raise to 5,000 from middle position and the small blind call, and he called to boot from the massive blind. The flop came 7♣9♠8♣ and it checked to the raiser who c-bet for 8,000, with both opponents calling. Then after the 5♠ turn card it checked to Heimiller who fired his 19,000 or so all-in, and the others folded.
Heimiller has greater than 50,000 now, twice the starting stack though still well below the common. --MH
Hi, Mr. Heimiller
9:20pm: Last levelLevel 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400, Ante 400
We've just entered the general level of Day 1C. The race to bag as many chips as possible starts now.
Remember - the person and stack size they're all chasing for the Day 2 lead is that of Benny Glaser, who ended Day 1A with 360,000. --JS
| 13 | 1200 | 2400 | 400 |
9:15pm: See what I mean?Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
A little while ago Joao Vieira was our chip leader with 245,000. Now, after winning an enormous pot, it's Siramarg Danielyan with 260,000.
This roughly thing happens right up until the tip of play, so following the leader gets harder and harder! I DID NOT catch the hand, but I arrived in time to peer the volume of chips the French lady needed to stack. SO MUCH. --JS
9:04pm: Vieira vaulting aheadLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
Over the last couple of hours they've been gradually moving tables out of the principle poker site as much as the secondary room, opening space for other side events because the festival gets stepping into earnest. At a kind of 25 tables in action in that other room is Joao Vieira, who continues to acquire chips at a rapid pace.
We just caught another hand during which Vieira raised from late position, saw both blinds call, then took down the pot with a flop continuation bet. He's fooling around 245,000 right now, a stack that appears to be the most important of these within the secondary room, and maybe bigger than anyone's within the entire Day 1C field on the moment.
Vieira finished Season 11 of the ecu Poker Tour runner-up to Dzmitry Urbanovich for Player of the Year, then finished ninth within the POY race for Season 12. From the appearance of items he's hitting the bottom running here initially of Season 13 as well.
Perhaps if Vieira wins a couple of more pots and extra in front, he'll allay those bloggers' nerves my colleague Jack was describing just below. --MH
8:58pm: Chip leader nervesLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
As we approach the tip of the night, us bloggers and photographers go on a quest to determine who the chip leaders are. That implies we will be able to take photos of them and discover who they're for our daily recaps and press releases. But right now, I NEED TO admit, I'm just a little scared.
THERE ARE STILL SUCH A LOT OF PLAYERS LEFT! 670 eventually count.
It's going to be an extended night. --JS
8:52pm: Meet the brand new big stackLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
"Raise to 47,200," said the dealer. That was all it took to make me stick around and spot what was going down.
Turns out we'd reached the top of a 2♥T♠4♠[6♠8♦ board, and one player (who escaped before identification) was all-in for around 8,000. Two players had built a decent-sized side pot, and people were Mohamed El Berrak and Jouni Huovila. The previous had checked to the latter, and Huovila installed a 17,500 bet. And here's where the raise came in.
Huovila had a large decision for a big chunk of his stack, while the all-in player was waiting to get out of there as though he knew his time was numbered. And it was; Huovila called and flashed pocket deuces for a flopped set, but El Berrak had A♠K♠ for the nut flush.
El Berrak has roughly 212,000 now and that will put him a number of the chip leaders at this time. --JS
8:42pm: Starting stacks becoming ending stacksLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
The all-ins are increasing, of course, at the side of increases to the blinds and antes. Players began with 25,000 -- 250 big blinds back in Level 1. But now that very same 25,000-ish stack is becoming an ending stack for many.
For example, today Jaco Verloop open-pushed his 25,000 or so from the cutoff with 9♦9♣, but unfortunately for him bumped into Denis Strebkov sitting within the small blind with K♣K♥. The board came 2♥6♥T♠3♥5♥, and Verloop is out.
Strebkov is as much as 138,000 now. --MH
| 12 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 300 |
8:11pm: Another break
They've reached the top of Level 11 and players are actually taking the last 20-minute break of the night. They'll return and play two more 45-minute levels, then Day 1C may be done. --MH
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.8pm: Two big pots, back to backLevel 11: Blinds 800/1,600, Ante 200
I found myself on the biggest action table within the room at present. Two big pots played out back to back, so let's get right down to it:
Luis Jaikel opened under the gun to 3,600 and it folded around to Narcis-Gabriel Nedelcu at the button. He made the call, as did Francisco Benitez within the big blind. The 3 saw an A♦3♠3♥ flop and Jaikel continued for 7,300 after Benitez checked to him. Both would call that bet, taking us to the 5♣ turn. After Benitez checked again, Jaikel bogged down and checked too. That allow Nedelcu in to take a shot with a 13,000 bet, leaving himself 22,500 behind. Benitez got out the way, but Jaikel check-raised it as much as 40,000. Nedelcu laid his hand down and onto the following one we went.
Now Hilal Merabet opened to 4,000 just for Alexandru Cristian Stoian to jam for 31,600. Nedelcu called off his last 22,500 too and when it got back to Merabet he also called.
Merabet - J♥T♥Stoian - 9♦9♣Nedelcu - T♣T♦
At one point everyone was ahead within the hand. Nedelcu resulted in begin with, but Merabet led after the Q♥J♣3♠ flop, pairing his Jack. But then Stoian took the lead after the 9♠ turn gave him a collection. But THEN the 8♦ river gave both Merabet and Nedelcu a straight! Stoian made a rapid exit and the others chopped it up. --JS
7:49pm: No chips and no chairLevel 10: Blinds 800/1,600, Ante 200
"Don't worry... it may possibly happen!"
So said Vegard Froshaug's tablemate by means of encouragement. It was an abbreviated version of the old "chip-and-a-chair" pep talk, delivered after Froshaug lost all but 1,400 of his stack with A♣Q♥ versus the K♥K♦ of Ruben Cortes Estaban.
Froshaug nodded in response, then after a Cristian Nogales Bravo open at the next hand committed those last chips. A 3RD player got involved and fixed around until Bravo bet him out at the river with the board showing 4♦4♣K♠2♠4♥.
Froshaug had an entire house with 3♥2♦, but Bravo's was better with K♥9♥, and another player has hit the rail. --MH
| 11 | 800 | 1,600 | 200 |
7:32pm: Boeree chipping up nicelyLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
Not way back Team Pro Live Boeree was approaching the chance zone (mainly because she only started the tournament with 25,000). Well, she now not has to fret as in her short tournament life up to now she's managed to chip as much as just over 45,000.
She just won a pot, too. She opened to 2,500 and got one caller. The flop came down 7♠9♥2♣ and Boeree's 3,000 c-bet took it down. --JS
7:23pm: Hoivold doesn't fold, hand doesn't holdLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
After a cutoff raise, Andreas Hoivold looked down at Q♦J♦ at the button and called, then winced a bit when he saw Xixiang Luo reraise for 22,100 from the small blind. It folded back to the unique raiser who got out of the way, and Hoivold considered those big, promising suited connectors.
"I are not looking for to fold," he grinned. And he didn't.
Luo had 8♣6♣, which meant Hoivold could win the pot if his better hand could hold. However the board ran out 5♦7♦6♥5♣4♥ so as to add as much as a straight for Luo, enabling him to double-up.
Hoivold has about 56,000 now while Luo bumps up over 45,000. --MH
Andreas Hoivold
7:20pm: Yet another big stackLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
You can add Joao Vieira to the highest of our big stack list. He will need to have just won a doozy because he's now sitting with 160,000 - enough for the lead at this time. --JS
Vieira ascending
7:10pm: McAllister takes a late seatLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
Phil McAllister is likely one of the many late comers that got into this event as an alternate, and the truth that he still has an around-25,000 stack suggests not much has happened for him yet.
McAllister helping to Phil out the field
You might remember Mr. McAllister for the royal flush hand he had on the PCA Main Event this year, where he eventually finished third for $356,020. Check it below:
He also had an ideal summer, winning his first WSOP bracelet within the $3,000 No Limit Hold'em Shootout event for $267,720.
In the only hand I've caught him in so far, the flop showed 3♠7♠7♦ and Moises Rodriguez checked to McAllister. He led out for 5,000 which Rodriguez matched, so the dealer burned and turned the 9♥. Now both checked. The river came the T♠ and Rodriguez's bet of 5,400 got McAllister to provide it up. --JS
6:51pm: Surveying the stacksLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
Among players who've made it through nine-plus levels today, people who have managed to spin their 25,000-chip starting stacks as much as four, five, or almost six times that quantity earn spots on the top of the leaderboard.
Of course, there are nearly 1,000 players still with a minimum of some chips. But we will share a best estimate of who's doing especially well with the latter levels of the evening left to go:
Patrick Serda - 148,000Sebastian Delorean - 142,000Sjors Harmens - 140,000Jan Dentler - 137,000Ivan Zhechev - 135,000Marian Dinu - 132,000Stefan Petkovic - 130,000Oliver Hede - 130,000Toni Bosch - 128,000Jose Antonio Bordas Neriz - 125,000Darryll Fish - 125,000Tomaczak Przemyslaw - 120,000Chris Moorman - 105,000
Patrick Serda
| 10 | 600 | 1,200 | 200 |
6:15pm: Break time
Having reached the top of Level 9, players are off now on a 20-minute break. --MH
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.6:13pm: Board goes Blay's wayLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
Jesse Blay opened from middle position for 2,000, a player behind him made it 5,500, then Sulaiman Sesay reraise-pushed a brief stack from the large blind. Blay reraised over that to push out Sesay, then turned over A♠K♥ while Sesay showed T♠T♥.
The K♠9♣2♦ flop immediately swung things Blay's way, and after the 6♦ turn and 2♣ river Sesay was knocked out. Blay sits with as regards to 70,000 now. --MH
6:08pm: Cats have nine lives; Kitty has two birthdaysLevel 9: Blinds 500/10,000, Ante 100
As the general table of the €10K single re-entry is on dinner break, Kitty Kuo (a type of finalists) and her boyfriend Russell Thomas had time to pop into the principle tournament room to mention hey to Team Pro Yaxi Zhu. Sat across from her at the same table is Faraz Jaka - also a chum of both Kuo and Thomas.
"Congratulations!" they both said, as Kuo is now guaranteed no less than a €75,900 payout. In addition they said happy birthday, as Kuo happens to be celebrating hers today...at least, we expect she is.
"Chinese people have two birthdays!" Kuo said, something which Zhu quickly backed up. So that's it today Kitty? The actual one or the 'other' one? --JS
6:03pm: Increase, then decreaseLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
For the primary today, we're seeing some empty tables more often than not poker site. In other words, after days of having bigger and bigger, the Day 1C field is finally beginning to get smaller, eventually to be reduced to a single player with all of those many chips on the end of Monday's final table.
The big board has settled on 1,755 players entered today, although we'll continue to attend for a final, official tally. That number would put the full total choice of players participating on this freezeout tournament around a 150 beyond the record set finally year's ESPT Barcelona Main when 3,292 played.
Of that group, 1,090 are still with chips as they go through Level 9 and toward the following break. --MH
5:51pm: Mette meets endLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
Following a flop of A♥3♣K♠, Armin Mette's last chips were within the middle and in danger behind his 7♥7♠, and he was behind in another sense in addition to Ivayo Panev had the large edge with A♠J♥. The turn was the 5♠ and river the 5♥, and Mette wished the table well before departing.
Panev remains to be at the short side, relatively speaking, with about 30,000. --MH
5:45pm: Boeree sneaks inLevel 9: Blinds 500/10,000, Ante 100
Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree has finally managed to sit down on this event, after looking ahead to her number to called as an alternative. With blinds now at 500/1,000 she's coming in with just 25 bigs, so expect to look her making some moves over the following level or two.
Liv made it! But with a brief stack hasn't much room to Boereethe
Here's a snappy update on one of the other female players we've covered to this point:
It's been smooth sailing for Sofia Lovgren so far today. On every occasion I've passed her table her stack has grown, and he or she now sits with 85,000 getting into Level 9.
Sofia so good for Lovgren
The same cannot be said for Boeree's fellow Team Pro Yaxi Zhu. She hasn't found any momentum and sits with just 17,000 - but one double up could change everything.
One player we won't appear to find is Shola Akindele Deadman. She's now not within the seat she started in, so unless she was moved to balance a table we will safely assume she's busted. --JS
| 9 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
5:31pm: Leou earns an "ooh"Level 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
Up within the secondary poker room, Murad Akhundov was all-in and waiting. The board showed A♥J♦2♦J♥4♣, his last chips have been committed, and he sat quietly in anticipation while Yuan Hui Leou contemplated what to do.
At last Leou tossed a chip forward to call, and Akhundov tabled his K♠Q♠, showing a gutshot that hadn't gotten there. Leou then showed his hand -- 9♠9♦ -- earning no less than one "ooh" from a tablemate. He's as much as 50,000 now. --MH
5:25pm: Sick and sickerLevel 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
In a poker site this big there are always going to be areas you have not spent much time in. I NOTICED a few tables that hadn't had much attention and boy, did I arrive at an even time.
In this hand, Hak-Mann Lee opened from under the gun to 2,000 and collected one caller. Everyone else folded until it was on Jakub Michalak within the big blind, and the Polish player raised it as much as 6,900. Lee then jammed for somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000, the caller folded, and Michalak insta-called flipping over pocket Aces. Lee showed his pocket Queens with a sigh.
But he went from a sigh to a sight for sore eyes because the Q♣4♣J♣ flop brought him a collection. It was all good within the hood, but Lee didn't come too comfortable - anything can happen, and often it does.
The turn was the T♥ which safe, but did bring a straight draw to Michalak. But who must hit a straight while you can just hit a two outer? The river was indeed the A♠ giving Michalak a larger set and Lee was on his way. Michalak has around 80,000 now. --JS
5:15pm: Taking turns to raiseLevel 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
Gábor Szabó opened to 2,300 and was immediately facing a three-bet from his neighbour Iulian Oprea to 5,100. It folded right back around to the unique raiser and Szabó made the decision. The flop came down J♥5♠2♥ and Szabó checked it, letting Oprea in for a c-bet of 4,600. But now Szabó decided to be aggressor and it was he who raised it as much as 10,500. Oprea was within the tank for an even couple of minutes but ultimately gave it up. --JS
5:05pm: An update at the alternatesLevel 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
Poker rewards patience. Just ask the alternates.
Late registration has closed, but they're still seating alternates at a reasonably rapid clip. Greater than 500 alternates has been seated so far, and there are plenty more to move (we're hearing something like 800 total for the flight).
Everyone desires to join this one -- a €1,100 buy-in event for which the prize pool may be easily over €3 million. --MH
What's your number?
4:52pm: River queen saves VegaLevel 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
Following a David Gassian open from the hijack seat, Carlos Garcia Vega reraised all-in for 6,800 from the cutoff, then it folded to Mathieu Philbert who called the shove from the massive blind. Gassian decided to name as well, but after the K♠9♦K♣ flop inspired Philbert to fireside a number one bet, Gassian let his hand go.
Philbert had J♥J♣ and was prior to Vega's A♣Q♥, and the 4♠ turn kept Philbert in front. However the Q♣ fell on fifth street to avoid wasting Vega, and he triples to around 20,000. Gassian still has about 32,000 and Philbert around 44,000. --MH
A queen appears to avoid wasting the light-shirted man within the middle
| 8 | 400 | 800 | 100 |
4:42pm: Greenwood's got the goodsLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
Picking up the action at the turn of an excessively wet J♠K♠Q♠5♣ board, Mathias Christensen checked to Luc Greenwood who put out a 4,000 bet. Christensen then jammed for 17,900 total and after ten seconds of thinking Greenwood made the call.
Christensen showed the K♣5♠ for a turned two pair like he thought it'd be good, but alas; that was trailing Greenwood's T♣9♠ for a flopped straight. He'd need another King or five to replenish and win, however the river was a brick and Christensen was sent packing. Greenwood now has 78,000. --JS
Christensen couldn't see Greenwood for the trees
4:31pm: Handle (your chips) with careLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
Preflop jockeying between Dariusz Paszkiewicz and Mills Leon had produced a pot of about 15,000 when the flop came 6♣T♠8♦. First to act, Paszkiewicz pushed his last 11,000 within the middle as an all-in bet, and Leon hesitated only a moment before acting.
Having arrived slightly later, the action so far we've surmised from what followed. We also didn't see what happened next exactly, nevertheless it sounded as if the dealer interpreted the slipped chip as a choice and Leon instantly said that he didn't mean to name. Meanwhile Paszkiewicz turned over his hand -- A♥T♥.
The floor needed to be called, and after some discussion it was resolute Leon had made clear he didn't intend to name well before seeing Paszkiewicz's hand. He subsequently folded, having been given a warning about fiddling with chips in any such fashion. Both Paszkiewicz and Leon were fine with the verdict and chatted amiably afterwards, chuckling a bit about what might need happened if Leon were to has been made to name within the spot.
Lesson learned. Leon has about 65,000 right now, and Paszkiewicz 26,000. --MH
4:15pm: To Schillhabel go the spoilsLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
It's an extraordinary occurrence where a hand plays down to a called river bet but you continue to do not get to look any of the hands; this was considered one of them.
The flop showed the A♦J♥T♦ and Stefan Schillhabel was heads-up within the pot. Both checked it to peer the 9♥ turn, and now Schillhabel's opponent led out for 2,000 - which was called. The river card came the 2♥ and he bet again - this time 5,700. It didn't take long for Schillhabel to call, and it took even less time for his opponent to muck his hand. That meant Schillhabel did not have to turn his cards either, and so he went straight to stacking chips. He's as much as 36,000 now. --JS
4:05pm: Play resumesLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
Players are back of their seats, tummies presumably full after their mid-afternoon meal, and play has resumed on this last Day 1 flight of the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event. Late registration is now closed, so we're hoping to have an concept soon just what number of players officially took part on this huge event. --MH
It's getting crowdy
| 7 | 300 | 600 | 100 |
2:55pm: Lunch time
Players have now gone on a 75-minute lunch break, so we'll see you back here after. --JS
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.2:40pm: Too many chips spoil the StuerLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Julian Stuer is probably not a household name, but to these at the high roller circuit the young German is a well-recognized face indeed. He's made a host of EPT side event final tables, together with his best result coming from his 14th place finish within the €25,000 High Roller on the EPT12 Grand Final, good for €83,760. He's within the action now today but just lost a pot to Camel Meriem, who opened to 1,100 in mid-position. Stuer defended his big blind and the 2 saw an 8♥9♠7♦ flop. It went check-check and the dealer burned and turned the 3♦, which saw Meriem put out a delayed c-bet of 1,500. That was called too, taking us to the 7♠ river card, and now the bet from Meriem was 3,500. That was too many chips for Stuer, who opted to present it up. --JS
2:30pm: Lemoine knocks out SanchezLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Sebastian Lemoine opened for 1,600 from middle position and got one caller at the button. Then Roger Sanchez reraise-pushed from the massive blind for around 8,000. Lemoine thought a few beats and called, and the third player stepped aside.
Lemoine had 9♠9♦ and Sanchez A♥Q♥. The board came ten-high -- 2♥T♣T♥4♠6♠ -- and Sanchez leaves midway through Level 6. Lemoine chips up over 45,000. --MH
2:20pm: Only one more thing...Level 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Lieutenant Columbo is arguably the most efficient TV detective. Rocco Palumbo - who currently sits 11th on Italy's all-time money list - is vying to become the most efficient Italian pro.
His latest venture to make this happen is going down here on Day 1C where he currently sits with a starting stack of 25K. --JS
2:12pm: All-in and waitingLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Daniel Ericson sat quietly. Patiently. He checked his messages and appeared entirely unconcerned with what was happening in front of him.
You wouldn't even realize he had anything to do with the hand being played out if not for the little red triangle sitting in front of him -- in lieu of any chips.
Ericson was all-in while two other players -- Daniel Ezquerro and Maksim Bura -- vied for a facet pot. The community cards had come 8♠9♥J♥, then 6♣, then 6♦.
Was that board good for Ericson, and he was assured of keeping his seat? Bad, and he knew he'd be leaving shortly? There has been no telling.
The results of Ezquerro and Bura's back-and-forthing was only Bura showing down a hand -- the K♦K♣. Putting his phone away and saying nothing, Ericson tabled his cards -- A♠A♣ -- and contentedly collected the primary pot. --MH
| 6 | 250 | 500 | 75 |
2:02pm: Maintaining the conversationLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
Over in a single far corner of the poker site near the currently-under-construction, the lighting isn't quite as bright, and the relative darkness is being reflected somewhat within the quietness of the players at those tables. Mathieu Foirest is the exception to that rule, offering occasional friendly comments in between hands to fill the distance in between hands.
Just now Foirest raised from middle position, then watched Shivan Abdine reraise from the small blind. Foirest then pushed out a decent-sized four-bet, and Abdine folded instantly.
"At least think just a little"! said Foirest with a smile. "Give me some hope!"
Foirest is up around 45,000, continuing to chip up as he keeps up the conversation. --MH
2pm: A handful of hands for JouhkimainenLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
Joni Jouhkimainen is an EPT regular with greater than $2.1 million in live earnings. His biggest score came here within the EPT9 Barcelona Main Event - a 3rd place finish good for €404,050.
He didn't last long here today though. When our photographer René Velli went to snatch a snap of him, he was already on his way out the door.
"How many hands did he play?" asked Velli.
"About three or four," replied one of the most players on the table.
That's pretty baller. --JS
1:50pm: Zhu timeLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
Team Pro Yaxi Zhu is now the within the mix. The Chinese pro from Shanghai has just over $350,000 in live earnings, together with her biggest score up to now coming from her win within the €2K High Roller at Eureka4 Prague for €119,100. --JS
It's like a Zhu in here
1:43pm: More familiar facesLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
More familiar faces to report. EPT6 Warsaw champion Christophe Benzimra is a part of the sector today, as is Marton Czuczor, Thor Hansen, Piotr Franczak, and Jakub Michalak.
Alexander Dovzhenko -- who took runner-up at EPT6 Kyiv -- is playing, too, as is Fernando Pons, of the 2016 November Niners. Pons may be ninth of nine to begin the WSOP Main Event final table, and so cannot be blamed if he occasionally thinks about how he will spin his short stack up once play resumes in a few months.
Pons - he's schemin'
Another former November Niner and familiar face is here besides -- Pierre Neuville, who finished seventh in last year's WSOP Main.
Pierre! What's Neuville with you?
1:28pm: Tables and tables and tablesLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
A quick visit to secondary poker site confirms our suspicions that each available inch of poker-playing space is being dedicated to this third and final flight of the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event. Of the 30 or so tables there, all but two are full of Day 1C players, with the one exceptions being the 2 tables at which the overall day of the €10K Single Re-entry High Roller is being contested.
Field further flowering
The big board shows greater than 1,700 having registered today, although again we remind that number includes the alternates (and there are various them). --MH
As far because the eye can Day 1C
1:22pm: Little bit of an unusual oneLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
An interesting hand just played out and that i caught the tip of it. The flop showed the Q♥T♥4♦ and the action was on Christian Eikenes. He should have done something resembling a check, because his only opponent Laszlo Molnar then checked too and the dealer put out the T♦ turn card. Problem was - Eikenes hadn't acted at all, and the ground needed to be called.
It was ruled that the turn can be abandoned and put back into the deck, and a brand new one could be handled no flop action. The brand new turn card was the Q♠ and Eikenes checked this time, as did Molnar. The river was the 3♠ and now Eikenes put out just a little 1,500 bet which was quickly called.
Eikenes had a monster all in conjunction with the Q♠T♣, and hit a whole house on both turn cards! --JS
| 5 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
1:15pm: Dubini's down tooLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Richard Dubini hasn't been in a position to get much going today. The Argentine is all the way down to 11,000 and just opened to 700 only to right away get three-bet to 1,925 by the player to his left. When it folded around he simply sighed and folded. --JS
Richard Dubini
1:10pm: David downLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Moshe Ben David's tournament has come to an early end after losing the last of his short stack to Daniel Ericson here in Level 4.
David's final hand was A♦5♦, which proved unable to sustain him against Ericson's K♦K♠ -- especially with another king at the board to offer Ericson a collection. As David departs, Ericson is stacking up about 45,000. --MH
1:02pm: Garcia embarks on another ESPT Barcelona runLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
The young Polish pro Jose Carlos Garcia is a part of the massive Day 1C throng. He catches our eye partially on account of his performance on this same event a year ago when he finished fourth of 3,292 -- and for a time near the tip looked as if he'd be the only lifting the ESPT Barcelona trophy.
An aggressive, talented player, Garcia had already final tabled the LAPT Bahamas Main Event in January 2015 (finishing fourth) in addition to the EPT Grand Final in May 2015 (also taking fourth) when he made his deep ESPT Barcelona Main Event run in August of last year.
A pivotal hand at that final table saw eventual winner Mario Lopez raise from the small blind and Garcia defend the BB with a decision holding 7♠4♣. Lopez then checked all three postflop streets because the board came 9♦5♥J♣5♦3♣ and Garcia barreled every time along with his seven-four, including creating a huge overbet at the river.
After a deep, five-minute tank Lopez came up with a gutsy call at the end, turning over Q♦9♠ for nines and fives to win a large pot and take over the chip lead. Garcia went out in fourth shortly thereafter, and if not for that one hand might well have made it a couple of spots further to win.
He's hovering across the starting stack at the present. --MH
Garcia gearing up for an additional ESPT run
12:59pm: Florentin barrels, collectsLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Enrico Florentin just played a fascinating hand with Brzeski -- interesting enough for him to share the main points with us afterwards.
As he tells it, Florentin opened from under the gun for 650 and it folded to Brzeski at the button who three-bet to 2,000. The blinds got out, Florentin called, and the flop came 2♣6♦8♦.
Florentin checked, and when Brzeski bet 2,600, Florentin check-raised to 6,300 and Brzeski called. The turn was the 7♠, and this time Florentin fired 5,500 into the center. Brzeski called once more.
The river was the 3♣, and Florentin pushed his last 12,000 into the center. Brzeski tanked for a few minutes before finally letting his hand go, and before collecting the massive pot Florentin tabled his hand -- J♥T♠!
Florentin is up around 45,000 now, while Brzeski slips to 15,000. --MH
12:56pm: Much more namesLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Max Silver, Joao Vieira, and Luc Greenwood are only three more well-known names who entered the development through the break. --JS
12:50pm: Katchalov can't catch some chipsLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Eugene Katchalov opened to 800 and collected a caller in Tatiana Nikitina. It folded to Mathias Siljander within the small blind and he came along too.
The three saw the 4♠K♦J♣ flop and Siljander checked, allowing Katchalov to fireside a c-bet of 1,200. That got Nikitina to fold, but Siljander had a plan and raised it as much as 3,525. Katchalov glanced back at his hand and didn't like what he saw enough to compare it. --JS
12:42pm: Welcome to the partyLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
We continue our tour of the tables -- and our reviews of the constantly updating player lists -- and are spotting many familiar faces and names as we do.
Chris Moorman is a part of today's field, as is 2013 PCA Main Event champion Dimitar Danchev. ANZPT Sydney winner Dinesh Alt is in action as well, as is Simeon Naydenov who has a WSOP bracelet made the EPT10 Vienna final table where he finished sixth. --MH
He's won a lot, but he wants more, man
12:35pm: Play resumesLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
The spacious ballroom has filled back up again with players -- as has the secondary poker site -- and Day 1C is back in action. The large board is showing 1,665 players thus far for Day 1C, although we must always note that total includes alternates as well, and so isn't exactly reflecting what number of players at the moment are on the tables just yet.
Packed!
Late registration remains open through Level 6, so after that we will see if the overall field size will exceed last year's 3,292. --MH
| 4 | 150 | 300 | 50 |
12:15pm: Take a break
Level 3 has ended this means that it is time for a 20-minute break. We'll be back at 12:35pm for Level 4. --JS
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.12:10pm: Lovgren loses a small oneLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
Sweden's Sofia Lovgren is fresh off a really perfect summer by which she had a deep run in a large tournament in Vegas, cashing for $75,109.
She just opened to 525 but faced a three-bet to 1,525 from Karl-Heinz Metz, which she would call. The 2 saw a K♣3♣8♦ flop, but Lovgren would check-fold to Metz's 2,800 continuation bet. --JS
11:55am: Schillhabel joins the sceneLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
High roller specialist Stefan Schillhabel has entered here on Day 1C, but there were a few bumps within the road thus far. The newest was a hand on a flop of A♥T♦K♥. Schillhabel checked to Laurent Azoulay who installed a raffle of 1,500, which got two players to fold but Schillhabel came along.
The turn was the Q♣, bringing four to a straight, and it checked to Azoulay again. The Frenchman installed another bet - this time 2,500, and it was called again. Finally the 4♠ river fell and after one last check Azoulay moved all-in for 13,000. Schillhabel released his hand quickly. --JS
11:47am: 1,600 and countingLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
We've got an out of this world 1,600...no wait, make that 1,609 players now spread around the two tournament rooms. If this blogger had a fitbit counting my steps, it might already be thrice that just from pacing across the room. --JS
11:43am: Bendik's backLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
We last saw Jan Bendik winning the overall EPT main event of Season 12 - the Grand Final - in Monaco for a €961,800 payday. He's back on the felt here today and searching to take down an Estrellas Poker Tour title. --JS
11:35am: Ante up!Level 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
We're already into Level 3 and that implies it's ante time. A running 25 chip will now be mandatory for each player. --JS
| 3 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
11:25am: Vamplew at the grindLevel 2: Blinds 75/150
Fokke Jacob Beukers opened to 500 from early position, only to seek out himself three-bet to 1,000 by Alen Bilic. Next as much as act was none rather then David Vamplew. A LOOK at his cards preceded a look at his opponent, and he reached for raising chips. A CHILLY four-bet to 2,600 was at the cards and that got both raisers - and the remaining - to fold. --JS
Vamplew knows a specific thing or two
11:15am: You may know this lotLevel 2: Blinds 75/150
Eugene Katchalov has taken his seat. The Ukraine's all-time money winner had a sexy quiet summer with only one small cash on the WSOP, so he'll be hoping to make a large splash here in Barcelona over the following ten days.
Elsewhere we now have Sofia Lovgren, Dara O'Kearney, and Spain's own Diego Gomez a number of the crowd. Two players who travelled somewhat further to get here include Australia's Jonathan 'xMONSTERxDONGx' Karamalikis and Argentina's Richard Dubini. If you are not acquainted with Dubini, he's a heavily tattooed gent who's slightly a legend at the Latin poker scene. He's also made some waves here in Barcelona, with a win last year in €2K side event for €142,376. --JS
11am: Wow.Level 2: Blinds 75/150
We've already got greater than 1,500 players here on Day 1C, and the coming players strolling to get their seat ticket doesn't appear to waning. --JS
| 2 | 75 | 150 | 0 |
10:40am: Another three notablesLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
Finland's Kimmo Kurko might be best known for his runner-up finish to Tom 'hitthehole' Middleton at EPT10 Barcelona three years ago. Or even it's for his straw hat, I AM NOT sure. He's definitely out within the Day 1C field today though - that i'm sure of.
Kimmo Kurko - sans hat
We've also had our first PokerStars Team Pro sighting - Chen-An Lin. The Taiwanese native has quite a few cashes at the Asia poker scene and we glance forward to seeing how he gets on here on European soil.
Team Pro Chen-An Lin
Another face we recognise is that of Shola Akindele Deadman, a skilled pro who finished second within the €2,000 IPT7 Malta High Roller for €96,160. She's married to British pro Simon Deadman, who we've yet to look on this event. Could we've got a husband and wife team both make Day 2? --JS
Shola Akidele Deadman
10:30am: The image says it allLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
Willie Elliot called me over to his table as I USED TO BE doing my first round of the day. It was this hand he desired to tell me about - a brutal beat to suffer within the first actual hand of the day!
Elliot held the A♦2♦ and Florin Ghimpu had the 6♦3♦. The 2 saw an 8♣2♦5♦ flop, which Elliot fired a 225 c-bet into. Ghimpu called and both checked the Q♦ turn, despite the flush now hitting Ghimpu. The 4♦ was the most-action card within the deck and it fell at the river, giving Elliot the nut flush but Ghimpu the stone-cold nuts with a straight flush.
Ghimpu made it 600. Elliot raised to 1,600. Ghimpu raised to 4,000. Elliot raised to 8,500. Ghimpu shoved. Elliot called.
And lost, obviously. But he is not out! He still has a handful of chips and a dream, while Ghimpu truly has had the dream start. --JS
10:15am: Three names in a sea of facesLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
On our first stroll across the tournament area, wherein greater than 1,300 players have already taken their seats, we picked out three faces in particular.
The first belonged to EPT7 London champ and Scotland's all-time leading money winner David Vamplew. The Scot had a perfect summer, picking up nine cashes on the World Series of Poker for greater than $100K.
The next sighting was that of Patrick Serda - the Canadian who qualified for the €10K Single Re-entry tournament in a live satellite and ended up bagging the Day 1 chip lead. He would eventually fall in that one, and has taken his shot on this event here on Day 1C.
EPT3 Dortmund winner Andreas Hoivold could also be out a few of the masses. Expect quite a lot of these updates as players are flooding in at all times. --JS
10:01am: Cards are within the air!Level 1: Blinds 50/100
Players are finding their seats and dealers has been told to shuffle up and deal. We'll be back shortly when we go take a look across the room to look who's out within the field. --JS
| 1 | 50 | 100 | 0 |
9:45am: Special occasion ahead
Morning everyone! We are hoping you had a fair sleep, because today goes to be masivo. It'll be enorme. It'll be...very busy indeed.
My Spanish vocabulary could be limited, however the amount of players set to play here on Day 1C of the Estrellas Barcelona Main Event on the fantastic Casino Barcelona certainly isn't. Throughout Day 1A and Day 1B we've already had 639 and 1,048 players respectively, and today may well be just be the most important yet. After all, last year a record total of 3,292 players entered this event - could we smash that record here today?
The structure is equal to it's been: a 25,000 starting stack, playing 13 45-minute levels. At this time it's end-of-Day1A chip leader Benny Glaser who will lead getting into Day 2 with 360,000, so that is the amount everyone here today can be hoping to overcome. There'll be a lunch break after Level 6, at which point registration will officially close for the tournament.
Play kicks off on the ever-so-early time of 10am, so sit back, keep clicking refresh, and luxuriate in all of the coverage of Day 1C.
Meanwhile, the €10K Single Re-entry tournament played all the way down to 14 players last night - take a look at the coverage here. --JS
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.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 the entire schedule information is at the EPT App, that is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the ESPT7 Barcelona Main Event: Jack Stanton and Martin Harris. Photography by René Velli and Carlos Monti. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter @PokerStarsBlog.
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