It began about 12 hours ago -- at 10 o'clock, in fact, as today's Day 1B of the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event featured an earlier-than-typical "shuffle up and deal."
But the early start didn't discourage an enormous turnout of 1,048 players for today's second of 3 Day 1 flights. From that field around 270 players made it through, with Spain's own José Pascual Munoz managing to bag probably the most of any them with 329,000.
José Pascual Munoz
Christos Vardalos of Greece also ended the night with a large stack, carrying out with 305,000.
Christos Vardalos
Chasing those two from the Day 1B field are Jiachen Gong (295,500), Jose Carillo (288,000), Nino Ullmann (286,500), Steven van Zadelhoff (264,000), Glib Kovtunov (256,500), Eric Le Goff (251,500), Lars Andersen (249,500), Christopher Frank (243,500), Jose Valls (233,500), and Henrique Rauen (214,000), all of whom enjoyed highly successful Day 1Bs.
Among the red spade sporters in action today, Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer made it through to Saturday's Day 2 as well, carrying out with 64,000.
No one managed to check the 360,000 bagged by Benny Glaser on Day 1A, although we've still got another Day 1 flight to move tomorrow to look who would be the start-of-Day-2 chip leader on Saturday. Click here for an entire list of Day 1B chip counts, and try the live updates from throughout Day 1B just below.
Last year's ESPT Barcelona Main Event field totaled a record 3,292, and with approximately 1,687 already a part of this year's installment of the development they're already greater than halfway to that total this time around.
Play begins early again tomorrow at 10am. Come again then and join us to peer just how big the Day 1C field seems to be, and whether anyone from that group could be challenging Glaser and Munoz for the headlines heading into the weekend.
Until then, buenas noches! --MH
Full Day 1B Live Updates:
9:59pm: Day 1B concludesLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
The cards has been put away and the bagging has begun because the last hands of Day 1B has been dealt. A late push appears to have catapulted José Pascual Munoz into the chip lead with greater than 320,000, but we'll make a final loop to peer if anyone else managed to surpass the Spaniard. Recap to return. --MH
9:45pm: Price fallsLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
Ollie Price, that is, who just lost the last of his chips to Carter Swidler because the tournament moved into the latter half its last level.
Price joins a gentle stream of players being eliminated because the night winds down, as not up to 290 remain. --MH
9:32pm: Steven van Zadelhoff joins the chip lead chaseLevel 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400, Ante 400
Steven van Zadelhoff is feeling about nearly as good as anybody here at first of the night's level. He's just completed getting a massage, and continues to work on adding to his consistently increasing chip stack.
Steven van Zadelhoff
The Dutchman is sitting behind about 235,000 at present, making him one of the crucial bigger stacks some of the 300 or so Day 1B players left. There are several hovering both above and below that mark, however -- we'll soon see who among them may be emerging a little while from now because the Day 1B leaders. --MH
9:27pm: All action at the home straightLevel 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400, Ante 400
Big pots are brewing as we approach the overall level of play. One I just caught began with a 5,000 open from Lyudmil Ivanov within the cut-off which was called by Mohamed Ammor within the small blind. Action was on Dmitry Yurasov within the big and he made it 18,500 to play, just for Ivanov to four-bet to 43,000. That removed Ammor but it surely did not have the similar impact on Yurasov who moved all-in for 160,000 total. Ivanov had 165,000 behind so it was for a tremendous part of his remaining chips, but he opted to fold. Yurasov is above the 200K mark now. --JS
| 13 | 1,200 | 2,400 | 400 |
9:13pm: Ta takes out GurgerbauerLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
As Day 1B winds right down to its final levels and the blinds and antes continue to rise, the all-ins are happening everywhere you look, with the Day 1B field getting whittled down at a rapid pace as a result.
The ubiquitous all-in triangle
Among the various examples happening lately was one today involving Sebastien Ta and Thomas Gurgerbauer. The latter was the only in peril with 6♦6♣, and Ta's 7♥7♣ had him in dire straits.
The J♣Q♥9♦ flop and T♠ turn provided "chopportunities" (because the EPT Live fellas say), however the 9♣ river meant the tip for Gugerbauer. Meanwhile Ta is as much as about 170,000. --MH
9:05pm: Dieguez in search of somewhat 2011 magicLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
Back in 2011, Spanish player Toni Dieguez had a Fedor Holz/Dan Colman-esque tournament run (albeit on the €1K level and never the gazillion dollar level).
In March 2011, he came second at Eureka1 Prague for €37,000. EVERY WEEK or so later, he took down the ESPT2 Malaga event for €81,500. Two months later in May, he won the Eureka1 Nova Gorica event for €40,010. Quite a run.
His results has been comparatively quiet since then, but he's within the field here on Day 1B trying to party like it's 2011. He currently sits with 65,000 and a dream. --JS
8:50pm: Biggest stacksLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
A short but fruitful stroll across the tournament room has just revealed the 2 biggest stacks at this time within the penultimate level of Day 1B.
Out in front at this time is Spain's Jose Valls, currently sitting with a stack of 250,000. Just behind him is Steven 'SvZff' van Zadelhoff, boasting 240,000. They've both got a little work to do if they'll catch end-of-Day1A chip leader Benny Glaser (355,000), but Glaser had concerning the same as they both do at this stage yesterday, so it is very possible. --JS
8:44pm: Wehner doubles through AndersenLevel 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000, Ante 300
Following an open-shove for a bit greater than 21,000 from middle position by Veit Wehner, Lars Andersen thought a few beats from the the button, then made the decision. The blinds folded, Wehner showed A♠K♥, and Andersen tabled T♠T♦.
The K♦Q♥5♥ gave Wehner a number one pair, however the J♣ turn provided a worrisome straight draw for Andersen (from Wehner's perspective). The river was the 3♣, though, and Wehner now has just a little shy of 45,000.
Andersen remains to be in great shape, however, with a stack of 180,000. --MH
| 12 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 300 |
8:12pm: Final morning time 1B
Players are off on a 20-minute break before playing the overall two levels of the day. --JS
8:10pm: Ripipi up and begin againLevel 11: Blinds 800/1,600, Ante 200
If you are a fan of the band Orange Juice, that headline could have just brightened up your day just a little. But I digress.
It's Mario Ripipi who we're celebrating on this post, as he's just doubled up through Alessio Di Cesare. The latter opened to 3,500 before Ripipi made it 9,400 to head from his immediate left. Action folded back around to Di Cesare who shoved, putting Ripipi all-in, and he quickly called off his 40,000 for his tournament life.
He had an excellent reason too - pocket Jacks. His J♦J♠ were up against 7♥7♣ and dodged a seven the entire way along the 3♥6♣A♥Q♥3♦ board. Ripipi now has upwards of 80,000 while Di Cesare was crippled right down to across the starting stack of 25,000. --JS
7:54pm: Three all-in, one all outLevel 11: Blinds 800/1,600, Ante 200
A three-way all-in hand earlier broke my 'I can't find any interesting hands' funk. Well, here is a new one.
Action folded to Sven Kersten pre-flop and he moved all-in for his last 13,100. It folded a few spots to Marc Dominguez and he decided to make the call, only to then see Asgeir Furuvald re-jam for 28,500 at the button. The small blind folded and the action was on Kamel Djemai within the big blind, who certainly took his time. He had a hand he liked, that was for sure, but in spite of everything it wasn't adequate for him to name. Finally, Dominguez made the decision and all six cards were flipped.
Kersten - A♣6♣Dominguez - A♠Q♣Furuvald - A♥Q♦
Kersten was in big trouble and had to hit a six or some clubs, meanwhile Furuvald was praying that the board didn't put out a host of spades or clubs that might Dominguez.
There was no worry of the flush coming, but by the turn of the 8♠T♦K♣7♦ board Kersten had picked up a gutshot and will win with a nine to make a straight. However, it came the 5♦. Kersten made his exit, while the opposite two chopped his loot. --JS
7:42pm: Krichely catches DidiLevel 11: Blinds 800/1,600, Ante 200
Galid Osman Didi Jr. was just all-in and in danger with K♥Q♦ versus Sharon Kricheley's 9♠9♦. The board rolled out J♠J♥T♦4♥5♦, and having did not improve Didi was eliminated.
Meanwhile Kricheley has done well for himself during the last few levels, and now sits with 175,000 to challenge for the chip lead. --MH
7:40pm: Vardalos at the advanceLevel 11: Blinds 800/1,600, Ante 200
Christos Vardalos of Greece has emerged as a presumptive chip leader post-dinner, having chipped up around 180,000 at the present. --MH
Christos Vardalos
7:35pm: Joentausta jumps up the chip countsLevel 11: Blinds 800/1,600, Ante 200
With greater than 40,000 within the middle, it was already an enormous pot after I arrived on the end of the 3♠6♥Q♦8♥4♠ board. Aku Joentausta had just moved all-in excessive of Hamit Gurbuz's 16,000 river bet, which effectively put Gurbuz all-in with 35,000 behind.
Gurbuz was within the tank for an excellent short time and infrequently removed his stare that was all in favour of Joentausta. The Finnish player didn't flinch though.
Gurbuz would eventually fold, and when that pot was added to his already-healthy stack, Joentausta found himself with 153,000 in chips. After dinner that will was good for a top ten stack, so he's doing pretty much presently. --JS
| 11 | 800 | 1,600 | 200 |
7:21pm: Gonzalez gets TomasekLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
Following a Luis Gonzalez raise, Petr Tomasek three-bet all-in for his last 15,800 and when the action got back around Gonzalez called.
Tomasek had 7♣5♣ and a pair of live cards versus Gonzalez's Q♥J♦, and the 3♣T♣9♠ flop provided further hope within the type of a flush draw. However the turn was the 8♦ and river the 3♥, and Tomasek is out. Gonzalez now has 108,000. --MH
7:15pm: Christner hands some to MertensLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
Picking up the action on a K♦A♥2♣6♣ board, it was heads-up between German high roller Christian Christner and Belgium's Nick Mertens. They both decided to peer a river for free, and it came the J♣, putting three clubs available in the market. Christner decided to steer for 10,200 into the 14,000 pot, just for Mertens to return excessive to 26,500. It was tough decision for Christner, and he started to quietly think out loud and work his throughout the hand. Eventually he decided to make the call, but would soon regret it as Mertens turned over the K♣T♣ for a runner runner flush.
Christner has 33,000 after that, while Mertens is as much as 93,000. --JS
7:08pm: Getting a fair PriceLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
One chap we have not mentioned yet today is the UK's Ollie Price. He joined just today 1B field after busting the €10K, and is fresh off an unbelievable weekend at the virtual felt which saw him win around $70,000 - including a runner-up finish within the PokerStars Sunday Grand PLO for $23,601.20.
He hasn't managed to get much going yet today, sitting with a 17,000 stack. However, he did just open and get a round of folds, nabbing him the blinds and antes, so he's at the up. --JS
¡Hola! Ollie
7:04pm: Grundtvig grabs, Soler sinksLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
A short-stacked Jaime Soler was all-in before the flop with 8♦5♦ and up against the A♣K♥ of Cristian Grundtvig.
Soler stood even before the flop of 7♥A♥3♠ came to offer Grundtvig a stranglehold at the hand, and by the point the Q♣ landed to go away him drawing dead he was already headed toward the exit. Meanwhile Grundtvig has about 75,000.
The big board currently shows 490 remain from the Day 1B 1,048-player starting field. --MH
6:45pm: Ullmann, Buzzo among big stacksLevel 10: Blinds 600/1,200, Ante 200
As Level 10 begins, we've made a tour of the 500-plus remaining Day 1B players and on account of our expedition have some big stacks to report.
Nino Ullmann looks to have a number one stack at present, although there are several players all hovering right across the 160,000-chip mark that earns them spots on the top of the counts. Here is a provisional leaderboard to ponder with four more 45-minute levels left to be played today.
Nino Ullmann - 165,000Christopher Buzzo - 160,000Aleksandr Kashevarov - 160,000Adrian Govea Quevedo - 160,000Aitor Araimendi - 155,000Sharon Krichely - 150,000Stephen Woodhead - 150,000Yago Simplicio Dos Santos - 150,000Abdullatif Attia - 145,000Lars Andersen - 140,000Alexander Lakhov - 135,000Wes Sime - 130,000
Christopher Buzzo challenging for lead
A reminder -- Benny Glaser ended Day 1A bagging the most important stack last night with 360,000 even. --MH
| 10 | 600 | 1,200 | 200 |
6:22pm: Break time
Players have now gone on another 20-minute break. After they return, they'll play four more 45-minute levels (with one last break after the following two) before it's bag and tag time. --JS
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.6:20pm: Fifth-street five favors FletcherLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
Just before the break, Arron Fletcher was all-in on a 4♥9♥6♦ flop and vulnerable to being knocked out by Thomas Gugerbauer.
Fletcher had A♥2♥ for a flush draw but Gugerbauer had 6♥6♠ for a flopped set. The 3♦ turn kept Gugerbauer in front, however the 5♠ river made a straight for Fletcher to maintain him within the game.
Fletcher goes to damage with a smile and 110,000, while Gugerbauer is rather less happy about things having been knocked back to 25,000. --MH
Thomas Gugerbauer
6:10pm: His favourite handLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
Abdelkader Benabdellaziz loves the hand T♠9♥. And while you love a hand that much, sometimes you've just got to compliment it.
Joni Palonen found that out when he four-bet jammed over Benabdellaziz's 6,200 three-bet for 17,700 total. The Frenchman felt he was committed, and tapped his hand to suggest how keen on it he's as he made the decision. Palonen had the A♦Q♦.
Well, his beloved hand let him down this time. The board ran out K♥4♥2♦3♥3♠ and Palonen doubled up. --JS
5:59pm: Carrel in, Tedeschi outLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
The technicolored Charlie Carrel and Paul Tedeschi were sitting next to each other for some time today -- albeit with a dealer in between.
Carrel... Dealer... Tedeschi
Tedeschi's most up-to-date EPT success was a 25th-place finish within the EPT12 Grand Final Main Event. Carrel, meanwhile, won three silver spades during Season 12, including one for winning the €10K High Roller at EPT12 Dublin. That followed his victory within the EPT11 Grand Final €25K High Roller for €1,114,000.
Now, however, Tedeschi is out, having lost the last of his chips here in Level 9. But Carrel remains, getting a massage and sitting behind a stack of about 38,000. --MH
5:55pm: Hindry hinders but still can't winLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
Joe Hindry was one of the crucial first faces we recognised within the early-morning crowd, mainly as a result of his third-place result on the most up-to-date UKIPT in London. However, his run today has now come to an end.
After Grigoriy Shevchenko opened to 2,300 and Vincent Gabel called, Joe Hindry moved all-in from his big blind for 8,600. Only Gabel called along with his A♠Q♣, which needed help against Hindry's K♠K♦. It got some very quickly at the 6♥8♣A♣ flop, and the Kings couldn't recover at the Q♠ turn or J♣ river. After his elimination, Hindry said he'll be back for the €2K High Roller. --JS
5:44pm: Dvoress says the massage can waitLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
Daniel Dvoress was within the big blind when a pal of his - probably the most Thee Best Hands masseuses - walked by. He stood and chatted for some time as Kristi Kirs made it 3,100 to play. Dvoress needed to put an end to his conversation as he peeled back something he liked and defended his blind.
The two saw a 7♦J♦8♥ flop and it went check-check, taking us to the 3♣ turn. Now Dvoress took control with a 2,700 bet, a wager that was an excessive amount of for Kirs.
Dvoress raked within the chips, and went back to his conversation. Easy game. --JS
5:39pm: Engel, Margets outLevel 9: Blinds 500/1,000, Ante 100
A little earlier we lost both Ari Engel and Leo Margets. As Level 9 gets underway, 610 players from the 1,048 Day 1B starters remain. --MH
| 9 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
5:31pm: Naidja knocks out twoLevel 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
Mustapha Naidja watched two short-stacked players go all-in in front of him -- one in all whom was Joep Raemaekers -- and after looking down at 5♣4♠ decided to gamble.
Reimakaekers had Q♠9♠ and the opposite at-risk player A♦7♦, and after the 9♦A♥3♣ flop it looked as if the latter can be earning a triple-up. But after the J♥ turn the 2♠ river fell, completing a wheel straight for Naidja and earning two knockouts.
Naidja has about 55,000 now. --MH
5:20pm: Strong (but somewhat weaker)Level 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
LAPT6 Chile champ Rodrigo Strong was building his stack steadily today, but he just gave away a couple of to Germany's Leo Schulz. Strong opened from early position to 1,800 and it folded to Schulz within the big blind who defended. The flop came the 5♠J♥7♣ and it checked to Strong who installed a 1,700 continuation bet. Schulz had something up his sleeve though - a check-raise to 4,500. After a minute of thinking (and quietly speaking to himself as he decides - something we now have used to with Strong) he laid it down. The Brazilian is playing 65,000 at the moment. --JS
Rodrigo Strong
5:10pm: Take with one hand, give with the otherLevel 8: Blinds 400/800, Ante 100
Tom Hall has found himself sitting on a friendly table. Friendly within the sense that they will show you what that they had like you're they're mate - but only after they've taken a few of your chips.
I hung around at his table for 3 hands, and within the first two it was the similar story. One player raised, another made a decent-sized three-bet, and the unique raiser folded. The victor then showed his hand to turn they weren't bluffing.
Then it was Hall's turn. He made it 1,800 from under the gun plus one, just for Kirill Solovev (on Hall's immediate left) to lift to 5,600. It folded back to Hall who really desired to play judging by how long it took him to fold. But fold he did, safe within the knowledge that his friendly tablemate would show him the products. Consequently it was Ace-Queen, enough to make Hall tap the table. --JS
Tom Hall
| 8 | 400 | 800 | 100 |
4:54pm: Sime continues climbLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
As Level 7 came to a close, Wes Sime picked up another pot to push his stack up as regards to 125,000.
In this one Sime called a preflop raise as did a 3rd player, then after a continuation bet on a queen-high flop he reraised and was called by one opponent. His turn bet was called as well, then after the pair checked down the river Sime showed ace-queen for prime pair, top kicker to win the pot. --MH
It's Sime time
4:50pm: Three-way all-inLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
While my colleague was typing up his hands, I USED TO BE struggling to search out any. Every table I walked by either gave the look to be 'c-bet and take it' or 'open and take it'. And then, as though the poker Gods knew, I DISCOVERED a three-way all-in.
Shame it wasn't bigger, but hey - I WILL NOT complain. It started with a 1,800 open from Philip Senisin which was then three-bet all-in by Jose Ferriz for 7,000. The player to Ferriz's left - Vitali Spiridonov then moved all-in himself for 19,000, and it folded back to Senisin who made the call.
Spiridonov - J♣J♠Ferriz - A♣Q♠Senisin - 7♣7♦
Senisin had both covered with a stack of approximately 40,000, however the T♦Q♥8♦ flop meant he was now behind in both spots. The K♠ and K♣ completed the board and Ferriz trebled up with pair of Queens, while Spiridonov lost a couple of but then doubled to 24,000. --JS
4:35pm: Fatalities become entitiesLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
More and more players who lost their lives within the €10K was reborn here on Day 1B. Charlie Carrel, Daniel Dvoress, and Christian Christner are the 3 latest to be reincarnated. --JS
4:29pm: New facesLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
Among the later registrants, we're seeing Keven Stammen, Kristen Bicknell, and Jason Wheeler.
Stammen comes with a WSOP bracelet and WPT title under his belt, seeking a primary EPT trophy. He has about 18,000 at present.
Bicknell just won her second WSOP bracelet this summer in a $1,500 NLHE bounty event. She also went relatively deep within the EPT Grand Final Main Event in May, finishing 60th. She has about 35,000.
And Wheeler also brings an outstanding tournament résumé, having won multiple Super Tuesdays on PokerStars while accumulating nearly $2.9 million in live tourney cashes.
Wheeler sends 'em back to the dealer
Wheeler has about 42,000 at the moment. --MH
4:19pm: Zaichenko reduces Cizauskas to zeroLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
Gediminas Cizauskas open-raised all-in together with his last 8,900 from middle position, and after it folded around to Andrey Zaichenko within the small blind he reshoved to force out the massive blind.
Cizauskas showed A♠J♣ and needed help against Zaichenko's 7♥7♠, however the board came nine-high -- 3♥9♦8♠6♥4♥ -- and Cizauskas is out. Zaichenko is up around 48,000 now. --MH
Chips for Zaichenko
4:15pm: Counting headsLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
With late registration now closed for Day 1B, the large board is showing 1,048 total entries for today, a large hop over the 639 who played Day 1A. And we think Day 1C to be even bigger.
From that starting field 850 remain at the moment. --MH
The Day 1B field
4:10pm: Play resumesLevel 7: Blinds 300/600, Ante 100
Players are back and refreshed -- and so are we -- and Day 1B has resumed. Back in a couple of to inform you precisely what number of ended up registering for this huge second Day 1 flight. --MH
| 7 | 300 | 600 | 100 |
2:55pm: Let's have some lunch
They've reached the top of Level 6, which means that it's time for a 75-minute lunch break. Back around 4:10pm when play resumes, and then they'll play seven more 45-minute levels. --MH
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.2:51pm: Panagiotis pushes upwardLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Three-way action created a tight pot for a T♥A♦J♦. It checked around to Miguel Caballero Costa who bet 6,500, then Matrakas Panagiotis check-raised all-in for 28,050. From the center Kestutis Gecevicius then called all-in for roughly 24,000, and after tanking for a while Costa let his hand go.
Gecevicius showed A♠J♠ for 2 pair, but needed to dodge outs as Panagiotis had K♦6♦ for a diamond draw plus a gutshot to Broadway. The 5♠ turn was safe for Gecevicius, however the river brought the Q♥ to fill a straight for Panagiotis, and Gecevicius wished the table luck before departing.
Panagiotis moves as much as around 75,000 on that one while Costa still has about 40,000. --MH
2:45pm: More high rollers joiningLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
As players are eliminated from the €10K around the casino, they appear to be hopping straight into this event. Jason Wheeler re-entered that tournament after busting his first bullet yesterday, but couldn't get anything going again. He's now playing in Day 1B.
Tom Hall also played the €10K yesterday, but didn't survive and chose to not re-enter. He did, however, decide to have a lie-in this morning, and his late entry means he sits with a starting stack. --JS
2:40pm: Margets gets stern with SternLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Zvi Stern and Leo Margets have found themselves at the same table. In a single hand between the two, we picked up the action on a 7♣T♣A♠T♦ board and Stern had led out for 1,625. Margets made the decision to look the J♦ complete board, and jammed all-in for her last 7,000 after Stern checked. He gave it up and she or he moved as much as around 15,000. --JS
Margets gets a few
2:32pm: Dos Santos cracks kingsLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
The dealer had completed the board, the river card making it 2♦5♥J♣J♠2♥, and fifth-street betting saw Olivier Tamagno all-in versus Yago Simplicio Dos Santos. Tamagno had K♠K♥, but alas his kings were cracked as Dos Santos tabled J♥3♣ for jacks full.
Tamagno is out, while Dos Santos is stacking up on the subject of 100,000. --MH
Dos Santos, slayer of kings
2:22pm: One's French, one's German (kind of)Level 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Bruno Fitoussi could be best known for his runner-up finish within the 2007 WSOP $50K H.O.R.S.E event (referred to now because the Poker Player's Championship) for greater than $1.2 million. Or even it's for his exceptional silver afro, we do not know. All we do know is the Frenchman on this event presently sitting with a near-starting stack.
Another player with near starting chips is Ludovic Geilich; a German name, registered on tracking sites as a German player, but really an overly Scottish man. Geilich has had some great results recently; this year he's had a WSOP final table and another Las Vegas tournament win for a combined $260,000. --JS
2:11pm: Finger fallsLevel 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
Martin Finger has lost the last of his short stack and has joined the early knockouts list here on Day 1B. --MH
2:05pm: Nearing 1,000Level 6: Blinds 250/500, Ante 75
The sixth level has begun, the last one by which late registration remains open. The large board is showing 996 players have signed up to this point for this second of 3 Day 1 flights, with 920 of them still with chips. Chances look good they'll crack one thousand for the day. --MH
| 6 | 250 | 500 | 75 |
2:04pm: Hoces takes from EngelLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
No idea how they got there, but by the turn the board showed 5♥5♣2♣4♠ and after Ari Engel fired a decent-sized bet Julio Manuel Parras Hoces called to push the pot up around 50,000. Both then checked the 6♠ river, and then Engel turned over A♣6♣ for a flush draw that did not get there and two pair, sixes and fives. Hoces showed a greater two pair, though, as he had K♦K♠, and he collected the pot.
Hoces moves up around 80,000 while Engel slips to only below 12,000. --MH
Engel still smiling
2:02pm: Not much dancing for DanzerLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
The last twice that George Danzer opened, he got no action in any respect; nobody appeared to wish to tangle with the Team Pro. So once I saw someone was actually willing to truly defend their big blind against his 1,100 open, I needed to stick around.
Turns out it wasn't that fab of a hand though. Oriel Vaquero - the player who called - checked at the 7♣A♦8♥ flop and Danzer continued for 800. That got a call, before both opted to test the 2♣ turn. After the 3♦ landed at the river Vaquero led out for 850, and Danzer let it go. --JS
2pm: Standing out from the crowdLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
The room couldn't be more packed, but we've managed to search out another couple of notables for you.
Keith Johnson is a widely known face we've just spotted for the primary time. The Brit has a number of cashes at the EPT circuit, including a last table finish at EPT12 Dublin within the €25K High Roller for €106,330. Johnson also took down the €2K High Roller AT IPT7 Malta in March 2015 for €144,500.
Another player I recognised that may not be familiar to you (unless you read the entire coverage of the entire tournament circuits around the world) is Rodrigo Strong. The Brazilian has had quite a year so far, first taking down the LAPT6 Chile in March for $120,565, then winning a handful of tournaments across Europe, before finishing third within the UKIPT6 Marbella Main Event in June for €110,653. Can he keep his run-good going here in Barcelona? --JS
1:54pm: Ullmann over MartinLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
With the board showing 5♥Q♥9♠J♣, Nino Ullmann fired of venture of 12,500 and a few change and after slightly thought Carlos Martin made the call, bringing the pot to around 40,000.
The dealer then completed the board by dealing the A♣, and Ullmann unhesitatingly announced he was all-in. Martin thought of a half-minute, then folded. Ullmann is up around 85,000 now -- some of the bigger stacks within the room -- while Martin slips to 20,000. --MH
1:41pm: The return of FingerLevel 5: Blinds 200/400, Ante 50
It folded around to a player within the cutoff who raised 2.5x the massive blind, and Luis Borrome Olavarrieta at the button leaned forward. As his opponent was sitting at the other side of the dealer, he asked her how much the raise was.
She held up one finger -- signaling the raise was to 1,000, while also incidentally indicating the player's surname.
Olavarrieta installed a three-bet, and because the blinds folded Martin Finger tossed his hand into the muck to boot to maintain his stack of about 20,000. Finger returns to Barcelona seeking more hardware after his big win within the €25K High Roller here three hundred and sixty five days ago, good for a €865,900 payday.
The German would also, of course, love to add another EPT Main title to the only he earned in 2011 for winning at EPT8 Prague, a cash worth €720,000. --MH
| 5 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
1:19pm: Kihara at the upLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
A 6♠3♥T♥ flop was presented to Team Online Pro Naoya Kihara and his opponent Jose Echevarne. The japanese player checked it, letting Echevarne in with a gamble of 900 right into a 1,900 pot. Kihara then check-raised it to 2,500.
"How much you play?" Echevarne asked, and Kihara moved him arm to turn around 20,000. That was all it took to get Echevarne to put it down. --JS
1:13pm: Saout not out, but it's closeLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
It hasn't been quite the beginning to a tournament that experienced pro and previous November Niner Antoine Saout hoped for. He currently sits with just 7,000, so when the blinds move up he'll officially enter the dangerzone of minus 20 big blinds. --JS
1:10pm: Gomez goes homeLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Tough break for Antonio Gomez. He got his roughly-30K stack within the middle with a suite of nines on a nine-Queen-Jack flop; only problem was his opponent had the nuts with the King-ten for a straight. The board bricked out and it was an early finish for the Spaniard. The beneficiary in that one was Erwann Pecheux - the Frenchman who now sits with just over 60,000. --JS
1:02pm: Fang takes seatLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Another red spade sporter to report -- the Italian pro Giada Fang of Team PokerStars Pro Online is here, seated within the far corner of secondary poker site behind a stack that's just a bit better than the 25,000 with which she started.
Fang has collected a lot of cashes in Italy so far and a pair of final tables at the Italian Poker Tour, but here seeks her first live profit Spain. --MH
Team Pro Online's Giada Fang
12:58pm: Naboka bounces MukhsikaroianLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
Andrey Naboka raised from middle position and got a few callers behind him, then watched as Khachatur Mukhsikaroian reraise-shoved his short stack all-in from the blinds. The action got back to Naboka who reraised to 17,500 total, and that was enough to chase the others.
Mukhsikaroian then tabled 2♦2♠ while Naboka had J♠8♠. The Q♠4♣T♠ flop and 7♥ turn were okay for Mukhsikaroian, however the river brought the 8♦ to present Naboka a greater pair, and Mukhsikaroian hit the rail.
Naboka bumps as much as 55,000 after that one. --MH
12:45pm: Loosli, Stern each showLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
A couple of November Niners have joined the sphere as greater than 900 players have got involved up to now here on Day 1B.
Sylvain Loosli, who finished fourth within the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event, is here, as is Zvi Stern, fifth-place finisher within the 2015 WSOP Main. --MH
12:41pm: Here's one Persson you do not need to debris withLevel 4: Blinds 150/300, Ante 50
An action-packed hand just broke out on Team Pro Luca Pagano's table, and it never even went further than the flop.
Sweden's Simon Persson kicked things off with an under-the-gun open to 700 before Andre Comemale raised it as much as 1,600 within the +1 position. To his left was Pagano who made the call, and when it folded back to Persson he called to boot. The 3 players saw an 8♥3♥8♣ flop and Persson checked to the three-bettor, allowing Comemale to continue for 2,200. Pagano had other plans though and raised it as much as 4,500.
The action was back on Persson and after some careful calculating he decided to transport all-in for 16,000 total. Comemale studied both their stacks (Pagano had 14,000 behind) before opting to fold, and the Italian EPT veteran gave his hand up too. --JS
Luca Pagano
| 4 | 150 | 300 | 50 |
12:18pm: Break time
Players have reached the primary 20-minute break of the day. --MH
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.12:08pm: Wes Sime, back and focusedLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
Wes Sime is here, an American player we met on the World Series this summer. The 72-year-old psychologist from Nebraska keeps busy with poker and studying various techniques for increasing focus, sharing quite a lot of his methods with the PokerStars Blog back after we met him in Las Vegas.
Just now Sime was concerned about a hand wherein Ile Smintanca-Januszewski opened for 500 from the cutoff, the button called, and Sime called besides from the massive blind. A 9♣2♦K♦ flop then prompted a large leading bet of 2,500 from Sime, with Smintanca-Januszewski responding by shoving all-in along with his last 6,200. The button folded, and Sime made the call.
Smintanca-Januszewski turned over A♦K♠, and Sime said "nice hand" as he showed his K♠5♠. The 7♥ turn changed nothing, however the 5♦ fell at the river to knock Smintanca-Januszewski out of the tournament and provides Sime the pot.
Sime stacked his chips, resuming his efforts to concentrate on how best so as to add further to his stack of nearly 55,000. --MH
12:05pm: Goulder's gone too!Level 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
It's not been the most productive day to this point for a few of those notable names we brought you firstly of play. Following Kevin MacPhee out the door is UK pro Alex Goulder, who has become a standard at the EPT circuit with various good cashes. He'll need to wait until later so as to add another one though. --JS
11:55am: MacPhee is goneLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
It's been a brief day for Kevin MacPhee who has already made his exit. I DID NOT catch the hand, but if I saw him standing up and saying goodbye to people I got there in time to listen to him tell a pal that his pocket Kings were cracked by Ace-Jack. --JS
MacPhee (previous to his exit)
11:45am: You have to the eyes of a hawk to identify the no-mohawkLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
Team Pro George Danzer is generally one of the crucial recognisable faces within the poker site; ok, perhaps it isn't his face that stands out, up to his towering mohawk hair-do.
Well, today is a bit of different as he's decided to wear his mop down. Still, he has his trusted PokerStars patches directly to catch your eye.
Danzer's new do
It was a perfect summer for Danzer, who picked up his fifth career WSOP bracelet with a $338,646 win in a $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better event, in addition to a third-place finish within the Seven Card Stud Championship for $103,230. --JS
11:36am: Chauriye calls, collectsLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
Picking up the action at the turn and the board showing K♥K♠T♦7♠, Ricardo Chauriye let with of venture of 750, then watched his opponent Roland Van Den Berg raise to 2,050. Chauriye hesitated a moment, then called to bring the pot up around 6,000.
The river brought the Q♥ and a check from Chauriye, and Van Den Berg didn't hesitate before firing a largish bet of 5,000. Chauriye thought of 10 seconds and put out his call, and Van Den Berg immediately mucked his hand.
Chauriye decided to turn his -- 9♠9♦ -- and picked up the pot. He's as much as 35,000, while Van Den Berg slips to 18,000. --MH
11:30am: Hello, antesLevel 3: Blinds 100/200, Ante 25
They continue onward into Level 3 with out a break, with the blinds going up and antes being introduced.
As the brand new level begins, the large board shows 854 players have already entered here on Day 1B. Late registration remains open through Level 6. --MH
| 3 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
11:35am: More names for the listLevel 2: Blinds 75/150
Leo Margets and Eddy Sabat are both within the mix today, as is poker YouTube star William Kassouf (famous for his bluff against Team Pro's Vanessa Selbst). Meanwhile, Edmund Yeung and Christopher Kruk have joined the pack after busting the €10K yesterday. --JS
11:25am: UKIPT to EstrellasLevel 2: Blinds 75/150
Vladas Tamasauskas took down UKIPT6 Dublin back in February for a €176,900 score, so he's certainly no stranger to navigating large €1K fields. The Lithuanian has begun his quest for an Estrellas title here today, but lots a small pot to kick things off. He opened to 350 and got one caller in Martin Olali within the big blind. A 3♥3♦9♣ flop hit the felt and Olali took some time before checking. Tamasauskas continued for 325 which was called, taking us to the 8♠ turn. Olali checked again, and Tamasauskas bogged down by checking behind. The 2♠ completed the board and now Olali took control, putting out 1,050 and getting a fold. --JS
11:13am: River raise helps Kravchenko collectLevel 2: Blinds 75/150
With the board showing 4♥3♥J♣5♥9♠ and just over 10,000 within the middle, Asgeir Furuvald led with a big gamble of 5,000, and the action moved to his lone opponent, Alex Kravchenko.
Kravchenko sat quietly under his hood for a half-minute, then pushed out a raise to 11,800. Furuvald didn't take long to let his hand go.
Furuvald is right down to about 13,000, while Kravchenko has chipped as much as 38,000 within the early going. --MH
10:52am: More arrivalsLevel 2: Blinds 75/150
The Ukraine's Antonina Anapolska is here. A WELL-RECOGNIZED face at the European Poker Tour, Anapolska made a deep run on this same event a year ago, finishing 34th out of a field of 3,292.
LAPT6 Peru winner Patricio Rojas of Chile is within the field in addition. So, too, is his fellow Chilean Ricardo Chauriye, who has final tabled three different LAPT Main Events but is looking for his first EPT cash. --MH
10:47am: Second-level stuffLevel 2: Blinds 75/150
With the beginning of the day's second level, there are actually 775 players registered. Late registration is open in the course of the end of Level 6. --MH
| 2 | 75 | 150 | 0 |
10:45am: Kihara takes a small hitLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
Park Yu Cheung opened to 300 under the gun plus one, just for Team Pro Online's Naoyo Kihara to three-bet to 800 within the cut-off. Action folded back to Cheung who came along, and the 2 saw a 4♥3♠2♠ flop. It checked to Kihara who continued for 900, but now it was Cheung who was raising, making it 2,500. That was an excessive amount of for Kihara and he let it go. --JS
Team Pro Online's Naoya Kihara
10:40am: Fear the beardLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
He might need trimmed it a little, however the Netherlands' Steven van Zadelhoff still has one mighty impressive beard rockin'. The person referred to as 'SvZff' has $4.4 million in online earnings on top of his $1.3 million in live play - an absolute beast, then. To ape NBA star James Harden's catchphrase - fear the beard. --JS
10:35am: Eliya-who?Level 1: Blinds 50/100
One player familiar to this writer that may not be to most is Moshe Eliyahu, who's a number of the masses playing today. Eliyahu finished second on the first actual Eureka Bucharest tournament back in May for a career-best score of €66,950, creating a name for himself with both his play and his 'heart-on-sleeve' attitude. He hasn't cashed a tournament since then (perhaps because he hasn't played one), so we glance forward to seeing how he gets on today.
He's off to a good start anyway, opening to 300, getting one caller, after which taking it down with a flop c-bet. --JS
10:32am: Breakfast of championsLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
We're still rubbing our eyes a little, being used to this early start. Beginning to see slightly more clearly, including making out some familiar faces.
Looking over who's here -- and who's coming -- EPT6 Berlin Main Event champion Kevin MacPhee is collaborating today, as is EPT7 Vienna Main Event winner Michael Eiler.
EPT7 Copenhagen runner-up Per Linde is playing as well, as are Govert Metaal, Antoine Saout, Dmitry Vitkind and Alex Kravchenko. Philippe Ktorza, Florence Allera, and Jerome Zerbib.
Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano -- who final tabled the first actual EPT Main Event here in Barcelona (finishing third) -- is within the field besides. --MH
Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano
10:21am: The morning crowdLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
The main ballroom is filling fast, and they've already begun seating players within the secondary poker site to deal with today's fast-growing field. There are about 10 tables' worth of players within the secondary room, with about 20 more available for newcomers. And it's looking like they'll need them. --MH
10:15am: Packed houseLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
We've already got 690 players registered and being seated here on Day 1B, eclipsing Day 1A's 639-strong field.
A quick go searching the room and there are a couple of familiar faces. Essentially the most notable is that of PokerStars Team Online's Naoyo 'nkeyno' Kihara, currently the one red spade in today's field. He'll be hoping to make Day 2 like his fellow Team Online pro Liliya Novikova did yesterday.
The UK's Alex Goulder and Joe Hindry are both of their seats. Goulder is fresh off a deep run within the WSOP Main Event this summer, where he finished 151st for $49,108 bringing his live earning above the $1 million mark. Hindry alternatively had his biggest career cash back in April at UKIPT6 London, ultimately busting in third for $52,742. --JS
10:00am: Shuffle up and dealLevel 1: Blinds 50/100
More than 650 players are already seated for the primary hands of the day. Stay tuned as we'll take a tour and allow you to know who's here. --MH
| 1 | 50 | 100 | 0 |
9:45am: An early start for Day 1B
Rise and shine, everyone! We're back again a few hours early today to continue coverage of the €1,100 buy-in Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event. Today's Day 1B is the second one of 3 Day 1 flights on this freezeout event, and we're expecting more excitement equivalent to we saw yesterday, in addition to more players participating today.
From the 639 who entered Day 1A just 145 made it through to Saturday's Day 2, with Benny Glaser the only bagging essentially the most chips at night's end with 360,000.
That turnout bested the Day 1A field on this same event a year ago, perhaps suggesting we'd see something just about or exceeding the record field of 3,292 who created a virtually €3.2 million prize pool last year.
Today's Day 1 flight will find players working their way through thirteen 45-minute levels with a lunch break coming on the end of Level 6. Starting stacks are 25,000.
Play kicks off in barely a couple of minutes at 10 a.m. Stick around as we'll be bringing you hand reports, chip counts, photos and more as we move one step toward discovering who would be the next ESPT Main Event champion! --MH
Ready for action
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 all of the schedule information is at the EPT App, that's 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.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: European Poker Tour]
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