Monday, September 26, 2016

EPT13 Barcelona: Ilkin Amirov leads 36 into €10K High Roller final dayNO Deposit bonus $43

591 entries. 591! That's where the last high roller of the eu Poker Tour Barcelona festival ended up after late registration concluded in the beginning of today's Day 2. The €10K buy-in event (with a single re-entry) has a €5,732,300 prize pool, and when the 36 returners get back for tomorrow's third and final day all could be eyeing the huge €849,200 up top for the winner.

Positioned most favorably to start out play on Sunday can be Ilkin Amirov of Azerbaijan who concluded a wild ride of an afternoon 2 because the chip leader, writing a good 1.7 million on his chip bag at night's end. 

Ilkin Amirov-EPT 13-Barcelona-6154.jpg

Ilkin Amirov

Amirov's rise came after several other players took turns enjoying the chip lead through the late afternoon and evening.

Benjamin Pollak first emerged from the pack as they played all the way down to 119 players and the cash. As they got close play slowed, and it wasn't until just a bit before the dinner break that Shyam Srinivasan got his chips in at the turn with top pair versus Amirov's set and shortly was out in 120th, one spot shy of the cash.

The floodgates opened thereafter, with Anthony Zinno zooming to the highest because the first player to at least one million chips, Luiz Duarte darting up right after him to be the second one to take action and to imagine the chip lead, then Pascal Hartmann manned up and took excessive of the counts after busting Adrian Mateos.

Ari Engel then surged sooner than them all, but fell back to the pack because the chips swung from side to side around the tables. Through it all, though, Amirov was steadily building, having won races at the bubble and afterwards to climb up throughout the ranks to the highest of the day's final list of counts.

Also bagging up big stacks at night's end were Engel (1,645,000), Julian Stuer (1,500,000), Connor Drinan (1,463,000), Joseph Cheong (1,412,000), and Joe Serock (1,318,000). Others making it through were Oleksii Koroshenin (1,096,000), Anthony Zinno (939,000), Natasha Barbour (910,000), Ivan Luca (656,000), Mike McDonald (509,000), Robin Ylitalo (486,000), and Davidi Kitai (297,000). 

Meanwhile the late night eliminations included Laurynas Levinskas, Igor Yaroshevskyy, Luc Greenwood, Charlie Carrel, Friend of Team PokerStars Pro Felipe Ramos, Sebastian Veghinas, and Erwann Pecheux. 

Click here for complete end-of-day-3 chip counts and check the payouts page for an entire list of where the cashers have finished. And look below for blow-by-blow action throughout Day 2.

Play resumes at 12:30pm Barcelona time tomorrow, and we'll be here from start-to-finish in what promises to be a lengthy, challenging battle from which a worthy champion will certainly emerge. See you back here mañana! --MH

2:05am: 36 advance to Day 2Level 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

During the last three hands both Sebastian Veghinas and Erwann Pecheux were eliminated meaning 36 players will return at 12:30 tomorrow and play to a winner. --NW

1:55am: Last three handsLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Just three more hands to head until Day 2 is over. --NW

1:41am: Erlandsson doublesLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Daniel Erlandsson just survived a small double-up after a preflop all-in T♣T♥ versus Rafael Da Silva Moraes's K♣J♥. A 10 at the flop meant Erlandsson had it sealed up by the turn, but he's still at the short side with about 300,000. Meanwhile Moraes is comfortably on around 820,000 because the last level winds down. --MH

1:35am: Joseph Cheong wins a large pot against Davidi KitaiLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

It could be the last level of the night but there are many big pots about with the newest involving Davidi Kitai and Joseph Cheong. At the river of a 2♠T♦J♠5♠8♣ board Cheong bet 194,000 and Kitai went into the tank. He stayed there for over two minutes before eventually deciding to name. Cheong turned over A♠4♠ for the nut flush and Kitai mucked. That hand sees Cheong climb to only over 1,000,000 and Kitai drop back to 400,000. --NW

1:25am: Sebastian Veghinas doubles through Ari EngelLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

This one went raise button (Ari Engel), shove small blind (Sebastian Veghinas) and get in touch with the all-in from Engel. The Romanian had 187,000 left and showed Q♠J♠ which had to hit against Engel's A♠T♦.

It did because the 9♠4♣J♥4♥5♦ board kept him within the tournament. 38 players remain. --NW

1:15am: Carrel sings his last songLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Down to what appeared to be around four big blinds, Charlie Carrel moved all-in from the cutoff and Connor Drinan stuck within the extra from the massive blind. It was a great spot for Carrel as he had Drinan dominated with T♦8♥ vs T♣3♣. That may be until a 6♣3♠J♣ flop fell. The K♣ turn gave Drinan a flush and the meaningless 9♥ completed the board. --NW

1:05am: Chip leadersLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

As the general level of the night gets underway there are 41 players left in and the players below lead the way:

Ilkin Amirov - 1,800,000Julian Stuer - 1,525,000Luiz Duarte - 1,400,000Ari Engel - 1,350,000Christopher Frank - 1,150,000Aaron Lim - 1,100,000

1:03am: Vousden over KamatakisLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Samuel Vousden open-shoved from the small blind and Iliodoros Kamatakis -- after some "would you like me to call?"-type chatter -- called all-in from the large blind.

Kamatakis had K♠3♠ and couldn't was too pleased to peer Vousden's A♥3♦, however the board ran out 4♠K♣5♥Q♣4♣ to favor Kamatakis and he's as much as 404,000. Vousden continues to be on 1 million. --MH

1:02am: Last level of the nightLevel 21 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

With 41 still in they've reached the last level of the night and are playing throughout with no break. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
20 10,000 20,000 3,000

12:55am: Misstep from HartmannLevel 20 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Pascal Hartmann was some of the big stacks for a lot of the latter a part of Day 2 but he just lost a bit of chips to Aaron Lim. The German opened to 35,000 from early position and Lim then three-bet to 105,000 from the button.

Hartmann took a glance on the Australian's stack after which moved all-in, Lim snap called and was all-in for 529,000 in total. Hartmann turned over 9♥9♣ and would want help to win this million chip pot as Lim held pocket kings. A run of the mill 8♦4♦A♥3♥3♠ board rolled off and Lim doubled to around 1,100,000 while Hartmann drops to 650,000. --NW

12:41pm: Kitai runs over RudoyLevel 20 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Mikhail Rudoy of Russia was all-in and in peril versus the Belgian Davidi Kitai, holding A♠6♣ versus Kitain's A♣8♦.

The flop came 9♥8♥K♥, and Rudoy was already out of his seat on the sight of the eight at the board. He lingered a moment because the 3♥ came at the turn, presenting chopportunities (as they are saying on EPT Live). However the river was the 4♦, and Rudoy is out.

Make it 645,000 for Kitai with 41 players left. --MH

12:35am: Salas doubles through CheongLevel 20 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

From early position Joseph Cheong opened to 35,000 and Damian Salas then three-bet to 108,000 from the button. Upon getting a glance on the remaining chips of Salas (he had about 325,000 behind), Cheong announced all-in and Salas duly called.

Cheong: 7♥7♠Salas: A♠K♣

The 2♣6♣K♠ flop gave Salas the lead and he held it at the 9♣ turn and Q♥ river. He was all-in for 439,000 so is as much as 920,000 and Cheong is right down to 495,000. --NW

Damian Salas-EPT 13-Barcelona-5963.jpg

Salas survives

12:26am: Flush over flushLevel 20 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Here's a "livin' right"-type hand for Luiz Duarte for you. And a difficult luck one for Marc MacDonnell.

Following a 7♠6♠2♠ flop, MacDonnell got all of his chips in against Duarte with K♠J♠ only to find Duarte held A♠9♠. That made the remainder community cards of no consequence, and MacDonnell was at the rail in 44th place.

Duarte moves up again, and now sits with 1.55 million. --MH

12:21pm: Kamatakis continues campaignLevel 20 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Iliodoros Kamatakis -- who final-tabled the EPT12 Dublin Main Event, finishing fifth -- remains to be in with lower than 45 players left with a brief stack of about 15 BBs.

We've roughly had a watch Kamatakis since early on on this event, not only as a result of his success in Dublin earlier this year. The Greek player grabbed our attention in the course of the first a part of the primary level, in fact, way to his having check-raised all-in at the turn in a hand versus Rhys Jones. 

It was startling enough to be the primary hand report of the tournament to look at the PokerStars blog. As noted, he's short, but one among just six tables' worth of players all striving still to play the last hand reported from this tournament, too. --MH

Iliodoros Kamatakis-EPT 13-Barcelona-5524.jpg

Iliodoros Kamatakis

12:15am: Kempe and Delgado departLevel 20 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

They're falling like dominoes with Rainer Kempe and Vicente Delgado both losing races to bust shortly after each other. First to move was Kempe his A♣T♦ was up against the K♥Q♠ of Gregory Goldberg. Despite a J♣T♣8♦ flop giving him an open ended straight draw he did not hit the 2♠ turn or J♠ river.

As for Delgado he got his stack in with A♣K♣ and was trying to outrace the pocket tens of Samuel Vousden. But a 7♦8♠6♦Q♣T♥ board favoured the Finn and he moves as much as 1,050,000. --NW

12:02am: Pecheux takes out UngLevel 20 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

After an all-in with a brief stack from Erwann Pecheux, Senh Ung called all-in with a slighly shorter one and turned over Q♠J♠ which was racing with the 4♣4♥ of Pecheux.

The T♦7♠4♦ gave Pecheux a collection and nearly ended the race right then and there, then the 7♣ turn did just that, giving Pecheux a whole house and leaving Ung drawing dead to complete in 48th.

Pecheux collects some needed chips, but still has about 375,000. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
20 8,000 16,000 2,000

11:55pm: More for Cheong as Davidovitz is goneLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

A blind on blind encounter ended with Doron Davidovitz at the rail. He shoved his short stack around the line holding T♦2♦ but 'the Brunson' didn't come to his rescue against Joseph Cheong's A♠K♦. Cheong's as much as 750,000 now. --NW

11:49pm: Zinno busts GreenwoodLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Following the elimination of Igor Yaroshevskyy in 52nd, it was Luc Greenwood all-in with a brief stack with Q♦2♦ against Anthony Zinno's K♠K♥.

The 4♦6♦T♠ invites speculation that the chips went in at the flop, but after the board brought no further diamonds it's regardless of for Greenwood who's at the rail in 51st. Zinno bounces back to about 940,000 on that one, still keeping him near the highest of the counts. --MH

11:45pm: Engel moves in frontLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Ari Engel has moved prior to the pack during a degree that has seen a large number of chip movement and several other bustouts.

Engel just took out Iegor Zarev in 53rd place, claiming his short stack and moving up around 1.48 million to transport into first position within the counts. --MH

Ari Engel-EPT 13-Barcelona-5569.jpg

Rarefied Ari

11:40pm: Ylitalo doubles through PollakLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

On the river of a T♦3♦4♦5♣7♣ board Benjamin Pollak bet 100,000 right into a pot of approximately 270,000 just for Ylitalo to shove for 237,000 total. There has been no insta-call from Pollak, indeed he took goodbye that the clock was called.

Before it reached zero he called and Ylitalo instantly showed A♦7♦ for the nuts, while Pollak had K♥T♥. After that hand Ylitalo is as much as 730,000 and Pollak drops to 700,000. --NW

11:37pm: Marchi marched out by MacDonnellLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Davide Marchi is done, his last chips going to Marc MacDonnell.

We caught the aftermath, with Marchi having committed 120,000 or so versus MacDonnell holding K♦4♦ versus the latter's 3♠3♣. The A♥2♥6♠A♣J♠ runout added as much as a Marchi's ouster and a win for MacDonnell, who's being silly 760,000 now. --MH

11:32pm: Big three-way all-in goes Ferreira's wayLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Following a cutoff open to 24,000 by Laurynas Levinskas, Elliot Smith reraised all-in for his last 87,000. Jean Ferreira called Smith's shove, then watched Levinskas reraise all-in himself excessive and Ferreira called again to commit his entire stack of greater than 480,000.

Ferreira: A♠K♦Smith: T♥T♦Levinskas: Q♦Q♣

Three big hands, and the 2♠3♠A♥ flop favored Ferreira's. The turn was the 8♠ and river the 8♣, and Ferreira bounds way as much as 1.1 million, Levinskas sinks to 265,000, and Smith is out. --MH

11:24pm: Hartmann busts Mateos, grabs chip leadLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

A lot of knockouts here originally of the brand new level, including one who saw Pascal Hartmann take out Adrian Mateos to vault into the chip lead.

With Hartmann being dealt K♦K♣ and Mateos J♦J♣, the pair traded preflop bets until Mateos was all-in for his last 400,000 or so. The board came 2♠4♥8♠A♣5♣ and Mateos was out.

Hartmann is stacking about 1.22 million, the presumed chip leader in this day and age. By the way, the chip counts were all just updated on the last break, so have a look to look who's got what. --MH

11:20pm: Platonov straightened out by LeonardLevel 19 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Aleksei Platonov is out in 60th after losing the last of his chips to Patrick Leonard. The Brit opened after which called when Platonov shoved for just over 100,000. The Russian had pocket twos to Leonard's A♠J♦ and the latter made a straight at the 8♠4♦T♥9♠Q♦ board. He's as much as 650,000 now. --NW

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
19 6,000 12,000 2,000

10:46pm: Break time

They've reached the top of Level 18 and players are off on a 20-minute break. --MH

10:45pm: Jones busts to McDonaldLevel 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Rhys Jones was all-in with the K♥T♦ against Mike McDonald's K♣Q♥. The board ran out 9♣7♣A♦J♦4♥ and Jones shipped his 128,000 the Canadian's way, bringing his stack as much as 650,000. --JS

10:44pm: And it's goodnight from NitscheLevel 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Dominik Nitsche has just been eliminated from this one. He was all-in pre-flop with ace-nine against Conor Drinan's king-queen, and the flop brought an ace. However, it also contained a ten, and when the turn came a jack Drinan had made broadway. --JS

10:38pm: The McDonald-Carrel stare down (featuring Veghinas)Level 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

This was a protracted old hand (and that i only picked up the action at the river!) but still person who ended with a bang. Mike McDonald was giving his famous stare right down to Charlie Carrel, who was staring straight back. The 2 were locked in with each other, almost oblivious to their tablemates who were having a bit giggle. Sebastian Veghinas was so amused he took out his phone and began filming the pair, before the ground came to visit to inform him off.

"Like this I WILL BE ABLE TO stay?" said the Romanian, holding his hands behind his head. "Ah thank you, thank you"

But back to the hand. The board showed the 8♦T♥A♣Q♥T♣ and McDonald had made with regards to a pot-sized bet of 120,000. Action was on Carrel and he was within the tank even longer than McDonald was to behave. Rhys Jones eventually called the clock as he was short stacked (apologising to Carrel after the hand), and after half a minute Carrel made the call.

McDonald showed the J♦T♦ for trips, and that was good as Carrel mucked. The Canadian is as much as 534,000, while the Brit drops to 513,000. --JS

10:30pm: Another million chip stack emergesLevel 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Luiz Duarte Ferreira Filho is as much as 1,150,000 after eliminating Emil Ekvardt. The Swede got his final 160,000 in holding K♥9♠ and was prior to the Brazilian's Q♦J♣. However the A♠5♠J♥2♣Q♣ board meant Ekvardt was knocked out. --NW

Luiz Duarte-EPT 13-Barcelona-6080a.jpg

Luiz Duarte-ing up the leaderboard

10:24pm: Double up for SmithLevel 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Elliot Smith was all-in for 76,000 with K♦T♠ and was delighted to peer he was sooner than the hand Aaron Lim called him with -- K♠6♠.

He couldn't has been pleased with the 7♥6♠A♣ flop though. Nor the J♥ turn, even though it did give him four more outs. His mood quickly changed when the Q♣ landed at the river to offer him a straight.

"Whoopeeee!" he said as he raked within the chips. Lim is on 655,000 after that one.--JS

10:15pm: Zinno cracks the million markLevel 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Anthony Zinno is the primary player to acquire a seven-figure stack and he did it by eliminating Federico Sztern Castanola. The latter moved all-in for 63,000 with A♣2♥ and Zinno had him crushed with pocket aces.

A 7♥T♦Q♠3♣7♦ board meant Castanola was drawing dead before the river and Zinno is as much as 1,060,000. --NW

Anthony Zinno-EPT 13-Barcelona-6111.jpg

Zinno zooms up

10:10pm: Cheeky side wagerLevel 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

It looks like either:

A) SOME OF THE players left within the field are spicing things up a bit of (as though playing for €849,200 wasn't spicy enough) by organizing an individual "last more" bet, OR:

B) Charlie Carrel and Patrick Leonard have just decided to cross-book one another. That implies whoever cashes for the most, the opposite player has to pay them that amount.

Leonard stood up and called over to Carrel: "Only final table counts. In the event you cash for seventy-eight [as in €78,550 for tenth and eleventh place] it counts as zero."

"That might change play a little"! Carrel said jokingly. --JS

10:02pm: Karlic reduce by BarbourLevel 18 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Gerald Karlic final-tabled this same event a year ago, taking seventh at EPT12 Barcelona. He's cashing again this year, albeit going out just a little sooner in 79th.

In his final hand all of the chips went in on a A♠J♥6♠, and when his 8♣8♠ was revealed it proved well behind Natasha Barbour's A♦5♥. The 3♣ turn and 6♦ sealed it, and the Austrian headed to the cashier's desk.

Barbour has 570,000 now. --MH

Natasha Barbour-EPT 13-Barcelona-5875.jpg

Barbour clips Karlic

10pm: Double bubbleLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

With 80 players left there began just a little an impasse and an excellent amount of stalling as there has been almost a €6,500 pay jump between 80th and 79th place. So when action passed to Eddy Maksoud within the small blind and he took a while over a decision, Rafael Da Silva Moraes decided to name the clock.

"I'm not stalling, I'VE a decision," said Maksoud who had a stack of about 155,000 left. After a couple of more seconds he moved all-in and Da Sliva Moraes snap called. Maksoud opened A♦3♠ and was way behind the pocket queens of his opponent. The Q♥5♦3♦4♠8♥ run out kept the Brazilian in front and reduced the sector to 79. --NW

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
18 5,000 10,000 1,000

9:50pm: Carrel gets the double through DiazLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

It is advisable to say Charlie Carrel played this hand to perfection. You could say he got fortunate that Gilbert Diaz is the kind of player who'd make the type of move he did at the river. Whatever you say, Carrel got the specified outcome: a whole double up.

Diaz opened to 18,000 and Carrel (to Diaz's left) three-bet to somewhere around 48,000. It folded back to Diaz and he made the decision pretty sharpish. The flop came down 8♣Q♦J♥ and again Diaz acted quickly, this time leading into the last aggressor with a 50,000 bet. Carrel made the call.

The turn was the 5♠ and that made Diaz check. Carrel slid out of venture of 75,000 and Diaz made a rapid call. Finally the J♦ landed on fifth street, pairing the board. In a blink of a watch Diaz had moved all-in, Carrel had snap-call, and Carrel was counting his stack able to receive an identical quantity from the Frenchman. Seems Diaz jammed with the T♣T♥ but that was way behind Carrel's Q♠J♣ for a whole house. He's as much as 573,000 now, while Diaz dips to 286,000. --JS

Charlie Carrel-EPT 13-Barcelona-5914.jpg

Carrel-ing along

9:48pm: Two eliminations, three all-ins, four queensLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Whilst I USED TO BE covering a long, drawn out, and ultimately unexciting hand between Reiner Kempe and Gregory Goldberg, a much more interesting one was happening at the table behind me. I circled to look Pierre Calamusa all-in with pocket nines, Luiz Duarte Ferreira Filho all-in with pocket queens, and Kristoffer Edberg all-in with pocket aces. Filho had them both covered, and it was flop time.

Q♠Q♦T♥.

Quads for Filho, and similar to that it was in all places. Calamusa and Edberg didn't really take note of the turn and river (and therefore neither did we) as they were both eliminated and sent to the cage to gather their cash. Filho, meanwhile, has shot as much as a huge stack of 952,000. --JS

9:46pm: Luca correctly calls LevinskasLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

The board showed Q♦2♣5♣6♠5♥, and with about 175,000 within the middle already, Ivan "Negriin" Luca checked over to Laurynas "LaurisL91" Levinskas who bet all-in. Levinskas had the 200,000-plus Luca had behind well covered, so for the Argentinian to name and be wrong will be the end of his tournament.

Luca did call... and he was right. He tabled K♥Q♥ for queens, while Levinskas had K♣8♣.

That's 570,000 now for Luca, while Levinskas slips to 260,000. --MH

Ivan Luca-EPT 13-Barcelona-6032.jpg

Ivan more chips

9:46pm: Pecheux gets more goldLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

The action folded to the small blind, where Erwann Pecheux shoved for 131,000. The verdict was on Gregory Goldberg and he tanked for a very long time. Such a lot in order that Noah Vaillancourt's exit hand (see below) started and finished while Goldberg was within the tank. Eventually he called though and showed Q♠J♣. He was behind to Pecheux's A♦5♥ and the Frenchman's hand-held up on a A♠9♦2♠2♣9♥ board. He doubles, while Goldberg drops to 560,000. --NW

9:40pm: Noah no moreLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Noah Vaillancourt is the newest within the money finisher as his K♠Q♠ didn't outrace the pocket eights of Jiri Horak. --NW

9:33pm: One happy KempeLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Rainer Kempe took another shot on an all-in with A♦2♦, and this time he was looked up by Dorian Rios who had the massive preflop edge with A♣Q♦.

But a 3♣T♥2♠ flop swung things Kempe's way, and the K♥ turn and K♦ river kept things right there. Kempe doubles to about 210,000 while Rios still sits with a snug 800,000. --MH

9:28pm: Two more downLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Following that knockout of Alex DiFelice in 89th, both Stefan Schillhabel (88th) and Sergey Sergeev (87th) were likewise sent to the rail. --MH

9:20pm: Chop it upLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

After an open from Damian Salas, there followed an all-in shove of 115,000 from Jannis Brauer. Back on Salas he had a think after which called the all-in.

Salas: 8♦8♣Brauer: T♠T♣

A fun 5♥3♣2♣6♣4♥ board ran out and with a straight ton board they chopped the pot. I'm pretty sure Salas loved it, but Brauer looked none too pleased. --NW

9:18pm: Ducks determine for MacDonnellLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Marc MacDonnell looked down at 2♦2♥ and decided he'd open-raise his last 113,000 from middle position with the hand. Alas for him he wasn't too pleased to get called by Joe Serock who'd picked up K♣K♥ at the button.

The dealer spread the flop... a 6♦ within the window, slid over to show a A♥, then slid again to turn... the 2♣!

Okay, then!

The 5♥ turn and J♦ river kept MacDonnell in front, and he's as much as 246,000 now. Serock still has an overly healthy 935,000. --MH

9:09pm: Updated chip countsLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Head over to our chip counts page for the most recent counts.

9:09pm: Vousden downs DiFeliceLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Alex DiFelice risked his last chips with 9♣8♣ versus Samuel Vousden's A♠K♦. But a runout of 2♣Q♣6♠J♥3♥ was no good to DiFelice and he's at the rail.

Vousden has 560,000. --MH

9:02pm: Short stacks battleLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Following an Ari Engel open, Rainer Kempe reraise-pushed from the blinds to earn a fold. Just after that Federico Castanola open-raised his short stack all-in from under the gun and got no takers.

All three of these players are sitting on relatively short stacks at present. Engel is the most productive off of the 3 with 192,000, Kempe has 135,000, and Castanola 120,000. --MH

8:55pm: Buddiga bouncedLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

There could be no second high roller title in Barcelona for Pratyush Buddiga as he was just eliminated from this tournament by Felipe Ramos. The Brazillian moved all-in from the small blind for approximately 75,000 and Buddiga, who was right down to about 50,000, called all-in.

Ramos: A♦K♠Buddiga: A♥5♣

The Q♥Q♠3♥Q♣K♣ board favoured Ramos and he climbs to around 130,000. --NW

8:50pm: Bou Habib, Brandi fly awayLevel 17 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

The "dropping like flies" phrase was dropped near the tournament area just now, a connection with the 17 quick post-bubble knockouts that came over the last 40 minutes or so previous to dinner.

But really, it need to be asked... when is the last time you saw flies dropping? They don't, do they? They fly around.

However you desire to describe it, the knockouts are continuing apace here after the dinner. Walid Bou Habib went out at the first hand back in 92nd, then Martin Finger felted Iacapo Brandi soon thereafter to position him out in 91st.

That's the early buzz here from the tournament area. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
17 4,000 8,000 1,000

7:28pm: Dinner

Players are actually on a 75-minute dinner break. --BW

7:20pm: Within the money finishersLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Finishing just the correct side of the bubble line were:

119th - Koray Aldemir118th - Shivan Abdine117th - Nuno Pereira Ascensao116th - Jerry Odeen115th - Patrick Mahoney114th - Alain Goldberg113th - Mohsin Charania112th - Felix Courdin111th - Max Silver110th - Diego Zeiter109th - Alex Komaromi

They all picked up €11,695. --NW

7:08pm: Khoroshenin and Kempe surviveLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Two doubles as much as let you know about. First Oleksii Khoroshenin got his final 124,000 in with A♦J♣ and located himself up against Patrick Leonards' pocket tens. He made a straight at the river of a 8♦3♠5♦4♣2♣ board to double up, while Leonard slips to 245,000.

Next to chance his arm was Rainer Kempe. He moved all-in for 66,000 with A♦J♣ and Piotr Franczak looked him up with pocket sixes. The 9♥A♣K♣ flop gave Kempe the lead and he held onto it courtesy of the 2♣ turn and 2♥ river. Franczak drops to 66,000 after that hand. --NW

7:13pm: Amirov isn't foldingLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Ilkin Amirov was active at the bubble, knocking out the penultimate player before they reached the money. He's continued to be so now that they are within the money, as shown in a up to date hand with Andrey Andreev.

Amirov opened the action from the button with a raise to 13,000, then Andreev reraised all-in for 72,500 from the small blind. It folded back to Amirov who thought out loud for approximately 15 seconds, then called the push, tabling Q♦6♦ while Andreev showed 7♦7♠.

The flop fit Amirov's hand neatly, coming 5♦Q♠3♦ to offer top pair and a flush draw. The turn was the 5♥ and river the J♥, and Andreev joined the parade of players heading railward.

7:08pm: Komaromi busts to McDonaldLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Alex Komaromi opened to 14,000, Mike McDonald moved all-in and Komaromi called off for 84,500 total. He opened A♣Q♠ and was seeking to spike against McDonald's Q♣Q♥ to outlive. The 8♣K♣2♣K♥2♥ board kept McDonald in front and he climbs to 210,000. --NW

7:01pm: Now let's play some pokerLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

On the primary couple of hands after the bubble bursting, there has been a predictable spate of all-ins throughout because the short stacks could finally calm down now that profit was guaranteed.

For Nuno Ascensao, Shivan Abdine, and Koray Aldemir, the shoves culminated in each player being knocked out -- the primary three to hit the cashier's desk.

Meanwhile for Keith Johnson, Niklas Astedt, and Robin Ylitalo, the shoves were all successful as each earned small double-ups to provide themselves some breathing room.

"Now let's play some poker," said Ylitalo upon winning his hand, articulating the thoughts of all of these with newly maneuverable stacks. --MH

6:55pm: Shyam Srinivasan bubblesLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

This wasn't your average bubble hand. On most the chips go in pre-flop, here we needed to wait until the turn for the nice stuff.

Joseph Cheong opened to 14,000 from under-the-gun+1 and collected three callers including Shyam Srinivasan (hijack) and Ilkin Amirov (small blind). At the 4♦2♦3♠ flop Cheong bet 24,000 and all three players stuck across the. J♣ turn is where the fireworks went off though. Action checked to Srinivasan, he jammed for 151,500 and Amirov damn near snap called. Everyone else folded (Cheong claimed to have let go of queens) and we then needed to wait until all other hands had completed before the showdown.

When that point arrived, Amirov was first to show, he'd flopped a suite with 2♦2♣ and Srinivasan was drawing thin with A♠J♠. The river was the 9♣ and the standard ripple of applause echoed across the room because the 119 remaining players are all within the money. --NW

Shyam Srinivasan-EPT 13-Barcelona-6020.jpg

Shyam Srinivasan

6:37pm: The Tao of KamatakisLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Iliodoros Kamatakis has a playable stack at the bubble, and he's fine with that. He doesn't even care that it isn't a large stack. In fact, he has a type of zen option to it: "ONCE I have a brief stack, I make small mistakes. After I have a large stack, I make big mistakes. After I have zero chips, I make zero mistakes."--BW

6:37pm: Margolin out; 120 remainLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

On the primary hand of hand-for-hand play, Ilkin Amirov open-raised for 13,500, and it folded to Timur Margolin who reraised all-in together with his last 25,000. It folded back to Amirov who thought a brief while, then called the push.

Amirov had K♣Q♠ while Margolin showed A♣Q♣, then the 6♦4♠3♣ flop and 2♣ turn were both excellent for Margolin. He was still ahead, had flush and straight draws, and Amirov had but three outs to overcome him.

Then came the river -- the K♥! That was probably the most three, and Margolin is out in 121st while Amirov is as much as 540,000.

It's the stone bubble, as they are saying. Stay tuned to determine which any such last 120 players would be the last out before the money. --MH

6:35pm: McEathron over MahoneyLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Ryan McEathron got his final 129,500 in with pocket jacks and had to hold against Patrick Mahoney's A♣K♠ to circumvent soft bubbling this tournament. He did just that because the board ran 6♦5♣4♣T♥2♣. Mahoney is all the way down to 80,000 after that hand. --NW

6:25pm: No magical comeback for MerlinLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Pierre Merlin is out in 122nd after losing a flip to Kyle Keranen. The Frenchman had pocket queens and Keranen was trying to send him out with A♦K♣. A K♠8♠6♦3♥8♥ board favoured the overcards. We're now two off the cash and going hand for hand. --NW

6:20pm: Timex tanksLevel 16 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

This was a hand that started in level 15 but led to level 16...

"I'd have taken HALF-HOUR if you'd let me," said Mike McDonald after he folded his hand. "I USED TO BE calling if we reached the money."

The situation was thus. The Canadian had opened to 11,000 and Luiz Duarte Ferreira Filho had shoved for 250,000. He covered McDonald, who had about 156,000 back.

"I feel like I'VE the most productive hand, I BELIEVE like I should call this," began McDonald. "Will you show if I fold?" he added. A FEW MINUTES passed before McDonald said. "I AM NOT hollywooding, if I fold I'll show."

Eventually Benjamin Pollak decided to name the clock and there has been no animosity from McDonald. "That's perfectly reasonable," he said and after his minute had ticked down he was good to his word and showed pocket nines. Filho did show, he had A♥K♦. --NW

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
16 3,000 6,000 1,000

6:20pm: Serock picks up big oneLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Picking up a three-way hand at the flop with about 40,000 within the middle and the board showing J♣T♠6♣. It checked around to Joe Serock in middle position who bet 27,000. Playing from the small blind, Shan Huang called, then Natasha Barbour check-raised to 62,000.

Serock thought a while, then called. Huang called, too, and there has been about 225,000 within the middle when the turn came the 2♥. Huang checked to Barbour who bet 100,000, and only Serock called as Huang had had enough.

The river was the 4♣ (a 3rd club), and this time Barbour checked. Serock pushed all-in for his last 235,000 so. Barbour had that covered, but after thinking for a fair while about it -- stealing looks at Serock along the way in which that suggested incredulity -- Barbour finally let her hand go.

Serock bumps all of the way up 640,000 on that one, Barbour keeps her stack of about 405,000, and Huang has right at 500,000. --MH

6:06pm: Survival mode for brief stacksLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

They're still four off the cash -- with 123 players left -- after a pair more players survived their all-ins. Play has bogged down considerably, by the way, with the bubble so close.

Anton Wigg was in for his last A♥5♦ versus Erwann Pecheux's A♦T♣, but a board came in this type of way as to create a split pot and Wigg survived.

Meanwhile Diego Zeiter had his short stack all-in behind K♥K♦ and managed to outlive with a small double. --MH

6:07pm: Paging Father TimeLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

With only four eliminations until we hit the cash bubble, the stalling has begun. At this rate, we predict to hit the money sometime around Halloween.--BW

5:55pm: Keranen turns his micro stack right into a short stackLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Kyle Keranen was left with only a few big blinds after losing a large three-way pot (see below) and he didn't hang out in getting his chips in. He pushed for 16,500 with J♠T♦ and Pierre Merlin made the decision from the massive blind with K♣4♣.

The T♠K♥5♥7♦2♠ board doubled Keranen to 39,000. --NW

5:52pm: Fresh and hot chips!Level 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Here are the newest selected counts we've prepare as we approach the bubble.

5:52pm: Keranen wins race, keeps placeLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Kyle Keranen just open-raised all-in for just over 40,000 and it folded around to Danut Chisu within the big blind who called.

Keranen had A♠J♣ and had to improve to bypass missing the cash versus Chisu's 6♦6♠. The A♣8♠8♦ flop did just that for Keranen, with the 5♦ turn and A♥ river sealing it for him.

He's up over 90,000 now while Chisu has 165,000. --MH

5:45pm: Vamplew loses race to bustLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

By the time I arrived on the table David Vamplew's cards were already face down and he was taking his leave. His stack was being pushed towards Julian Stuer and his cards were still visible. He had pocket jacks and told me that Vamplew had got his last 110,000 in with ace-queen. The pair had held up on a T♠K♥5♥7♦2♠ board.

Stuer is as much as 650,000 because of that hand. --NW

5:36pm: When did you prefer your hand, Mr. Cheong?Level 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

You know while you visit a celebration feeling pretty good and thinking, "Man, it could only worsen from here," but then it just gets better and higher? It is a rare occasion, but if it does, it is not something you soon forget.

Well, consider Mr. Joseph Cheong, who felt pretty good from the start. He opened to 11,000 with K♠K♥ and got not one but two callers, Thomas Muehloecker at the button and Kyle Keranen within the big blind. On a flop of T♦K♣5♣, Keranen checked, Cheong bet 21, and either one of his opponents called.

The turn was the A♥. This time both Keranen and Cheong checked and let Muehloecker bet 56,000. Kernanen called out of the blind, after which Cheong moved all in for 148,000. That's when the party got crazy. Both Muehloecker and Keranen called. It was pretty easy to peer why.

Cheong: K♠K♥Muehloecker: 5♦5♠Keranen: A♣4♣

The 2♥ fell like a brick at the river and Cheong stacked an immense pot worth greater than 675,000. Meanwhile, Muehloecker busted only a few hands. --BW

5:29pm: The bubble loomsLevel 15 - Blinds: 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Oof, what a post title. Appears like a tagline for a horror film. A really, really bad horror film. The bubble... looms! (Shudder.)

The fact is, the bubble is getting closer Ilkin Amirov just ended Thomas Miller's tournament run, bringing the whole collection of players all the way down to 129 -- that's just 10 knockouts clear of the money.

Ten players won't be making the money. Who can be next? Who will survive?

Stay tuned... more scares await (and we aren't just talking in regards to the post titles). --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
15 2,500 5,000 500

5:05pm: Break time

Players are actually on their second 20-minute break of the day.

5:04pm: Huge pot for CalamusaLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Pierre Calamusa and Quan Zhou just clashed in an enormous 550,000 chip pot. Pre-flop Calamusa opened to 10,000, Zhou, who was in position, three-bet to 20,500. Call from Calamusa. The flop fell Q♣A♦3♣, Calamusa checked to Zhou, who bet 32,000. Calamusa then check-raised to 60,500 - but was told it needed to be 64,000 minimum - so he made up the additional. Zhou then re-raised, Calamusa shoved and Zhou called off.

Calamusa: Q♠Q♦ - for a flopped setZhou: A♣4♣ - top pair and the nut flush draw

The J♦ turn and A♥ river kept Calamusa in front he was all-in at the flop for 252,000 and is now amongst the chip leaders with 555,000. --NW

Pierre Calamusa-EPT 13-Barcelona-5888.jpg

Pierre Calamusa

5:02pm: How the buy-ins shook out

After a whole audit of the 591 entries, here's how the money went in: 472 players + 119 re-entries.--BW

4:51pm: Stuer shoves, collectsLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Following a 7♠4♠A♠ flop, Julian Stuer (under the gun) checked, Kyle Keranen (UTG+1) bet 16,500, David Vamplew (hijack) called, then Stuer check-raised to 38,000. With some deliberation, Keranan called the raise, while Vamplew stepped aside.

Stuer then fired 72,000 at the 8♥ turn card, and again acting with circumspection, Keranen called once more.

The river brought the 9♥ and an all-in push from Stuer. That was enough to cross the road Keranen had set for himself within the hand, and he folded.

With the extent nearing its close, Stuer is up across the big stacks with 555,000, Keranen has 218,000, and Vamplew is at 95,000. --MH

4:44pm: Chip leadersLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

As we approach the tip of the extent the next players seem to have the most important stacks within the room:

Benjamin Pollak - 630,000Natasha Barbour - 570,000Jean Ferreira - 540,000Igor Yaroshevskyy - 515,000

Natasha Barbour-EPT 13-Barcelona-5846.jpg

Natasha Barbour

4:41pm: Huang eliminates RudnikLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

From under-the-gun+1 Michal Rudnik limped into the pot, this being a high roller he wasn't going to break out with that. Marc Macdonnell applied the limpers tax by making it 13,500 at the button and Shan Huang then smooth called from the small blind. Back on Rudnik he re-raised all-in for 101,500, Macdonnell folded but Huang called to place the Pole at risk.

Rudnik: 2♦2♣Huang: 7♠7♣

The 8♣6♣8♠A♣K♠ board kept Huang in front. --NW

4:37pm: Recent eliminationsLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Here are one of the most bigger names who're not more within the High Roller: Jonathan Karamalikis, Chris Moorman, Peter Eichhardt, Tobias Reinkenmeier, and Christoph Vogelsang. --BW

4:26pm: Sergey Sergeev surgingLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The 28th-place finish of the Lebanese player Chebli Chebli mostly Event yesterday had the media room considering other examples of reduplicated names.

You know, Humbert Humbert, Sirhan Sirhan, Marky Mark, William Carlos Williams, Boutros Boutros Ghali... and (so offered one wag), Grape Ape (the cartoon purple ape known to mention "Grape Ape, Grape Ape").

Depending on how strict you desire to be with the list, we would add another to it -- Russia's Sergey Sergeev. Whether we do or not, he's definitely at the list of players with big stacks on this €10K High Roller, as he's crossed the 500,000-mark after at present knocking out his fellow countryman Viacheslav Goryachev.

In the hand, Goryachev open-raised all-in for 22,000 from the cutoff, Pratyush Buddiga called from the small blind, and Sergeev called from the massive. The flop came 6♥J♣Q♥, prompting a check-fold from Buddiga when Sergeev bet, and the latter quickly showed his Q♠7♠ for prime pair. Goryachev had A♥T♠, and neither the Q♣ turn nor 4♠ river helped him avoid elimination.

Buddiga has about 135,000. Meanwhile Sergeev sits with 530,000 now, and that is the reason a large number of chips. We trust we do not have to mention it twice. --MH

4:20pm: Suck and re-suckLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The thing about races, is that you simply win some and also you lose some. But, it usually feels a bit of worse while you lose in the event you start behind, take the lead after which get overtaken again. It is a feeling that Sergey Sergeev just experienced in a hand against Zoltan Szabo.

The latter was all-in pre-flop for 48,500 with J♥J♠ and Sergeev had two overs within the shape of K♦Q♦. The 7♦8♠K♠ flop vaulted Sergeev into the lead however the J♣ turn gave it back to Szabo and left Sergeev drawing dead. He's still got an overly healthy stack of 365,000 though. --NW

4:04pm: Pollak KOs KozlovLevel 14 - Blinds: 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

As the brand new level begins, they're down another player as Martin Kozlov isn't any more.

We arrived just in time to witness the last pertinent details adding as much as Kozlov's departure. The board showed an ace and a ten, which meant Kozlov's J♥T♥ was good for second pair. But Benjamin Pollak's A♥K♣ gave him top pair and the pot, and Kozlov is out.

With 170 players left, Pollak is riding high with 450,000, now challenging Jean Ferreira for the chip lead. --MH

Benjamin Pollak-EPT 13-Barcelona-5882.jpg

Benjamin Pollak

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
14 2,000 4,000 500

4pm: Selected chip countsLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Below are the highest five chip stacks, you will see that selected chip counts of the 178 players who remain right here.

Name Country Chips
Jean Ferreira Canada 458,000
Benjamin Pollak France 430,000
Natasha Barbour Canada 400,000
Christopher Frank Germany 366,000
Vicente Delgado Spain 360,000

Jean Ferreira-EPT 13-Barcelona-5896.jpg

Jean Ferreira

3:50pm: Vousden vanquishes SchulzLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Finland's Samuel Vousden opened for 7,500 from middle position, then Robert Schulz of Germany reraised all-in for his last 50,000 or so from the following seat over. It folded back around to Vousden who took no time in any respect tossing a chip forward to indicate a call, then he showed his A♦A♠ right away.

A disappointed Schulz turned over his A♣K♦ with slightly less celerity, and after the T♦J♦8♥T♣2♦ runout Schulz shuffled off while Vousden vaults to 258,000. --MH

3:43pm: Shyam shove succeedsLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Shyam Srinivasan just captured a needed double-up on a hand during which he picked up A♣K♥ and put his chips in peril versus Michael Kane's A♥Q♥. The community cards came 6♠9♦K♠, then 2♦, then A♦, giving Srinivasan two pair to Kane's one and awarding Srinivasan the pot.

Srinivasan is stacking up about 80,000 now, while Kane sits with 45,000. --MH

3:41pm: Recent eliminationsLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

More big names are hitting the list of bust-outs. They include Yaxi Zhu, Dylan Linde, Dan Heimiller, Martin Jacobson, Sam Chartier, Raymond Wu, and Byron Kaverman.

Byron Kaverman-EPT 13-Barcelona-5816.jpg

Byron Kaverman

Yaxi Zhu-EPT 13-Barcelona-5807.jpg

Yaxi Zhu

3:31pm: Hitting the kickerLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Pedro Marques open-pushed his last 27,500 from the cutoff and it folded to Eddy Maksoud within the small blind who after confirming the volume called the raise. The large blind folded, Maksoud opened A♦9♦ and Marques showed A♥6♥.

The flop fell A♠T♦6♣, bringing both aces and pairing the kicker of Marques to place him in front. The turn was the J♠ and river the 8♥, and Marques survives, now with 61,000. Maksoud, meanwhile, slips to 125,000. --MH

3:20pm: Negreanu OutLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Not long after resisting committing significant percentage of his stack with those big suited connectors a short time ago, Daniel Negreanu did pick up another big suited hand behind which he was willing to risk his last 70,000 or so -- A♣Q♣ -- and located himself up against the Q♠Q♥ of Igor Yaroshevskyy.

The board ran out a boring seven-high -- 4♥7♦6♦2♥6♥ -- and Negreanu wished the table good luck before departing. Yaroshevskyy has about 225,000 now. --MH

Daniel Negreanu-EPT 13-Barcelona-5776.jpg

3:20pm: Kempe takes out WuLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

From late position Rainer Kempe opened to 7,000 and Raymond Wu then moved all-in for 23,000 total. When it folded back to Kempe he got a confirmation of the shove amount after which called.

Kempe: 5♦5♣Wu: A♥Q♣

A T♦2♦K♣8♥[9s board peppered Wu's holding but ultimately left him with just ace high and he was eliminated. --NW

3:11pm: BustoLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Recent bust-outs: Matthew Moss, Oscar Quijada Chiclana, Benny Spindler, Phillip Gruissem, Ghassan Bitar, Andre Akkari, Ami Barer, Adnan Chamaa, and Julian Rouxel. --BW

3:05pm: The allure of huge suited connectorsLevel 13 - Blinds: 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Following a Daniel Negreanu open, Romain Lewis jammed all-in excessive and it folded back around to the Team PokerStars Pro.

"These cards look so pretty," said Negreanu wistfully, giving them one last longing look before mucking them face up -- Q♣J♣.

With just over 200 players left, the typical stack is around 145,000, and at the moment both Negreanu (at about 85,000) and Lewis (at 60,000) need to chip up. --MH

3:05pm: Payouts

We'll have an entire payout table shortly, but within the meantime, we will report this event can be paying 119 places, staring with an €11,695 min-cash. First place will earn €849,200. --BW

2:55pm: Total entries

Based on what we're hearing, the overall collection of entries to this High Roller is now confirmed at 572 Correction: Official number is 591 entries. --BW

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
13 1,500 3,000 500

2:33pm: Break time

Players have gone on a 20-minute break. --JS

2:31pm: Leonard talks Chernokoz a technique or the otherLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

Patrick Leonard opened to 5,000 but was then three-bet to 13,500 by Andrei Chernokoz at the button. Leonard looked a little bit perturbed by the raise, but called anyway.

They saw a 6♦T♦5♦ flop and Leonard check-called a 15,000 continuation bet. The 2♥ turn fell and it went just about the same, only now Chernokoz's bet was 25,000.

Finally the T♥ completed the board and now it was Leonard doing the betting. He counted out a chance of 53,000 and slid it over the road. Chernokoz started thinking, and Leonard started talking.

"What's your online name?"

"You have aces? Black aces?"

"If you fold I'll show you a red ace."

Steven van Zadelhoff was so amused by all of it he started filming it on his phone. In any case Chernokoz folded leaving himself with 95,300. Leonard did indeed show a red ace - the A♥ = but whether he actually wanted a fold or not we'll never know. He's as much as around 300,000 now. --JS

2:28pm: Finger takes one from LucaLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

Ivan Luca made it 5,500 under the gun and it folded to Martin Finger at the button. He made the call, as did both the blinds, and it was four-way to the 2♣8♥3♠ flop. It checked around to Finger (Luca opted to not c-bet) and the German led for 9,000. Only Luca called.

The Q♠ turn landed and Luca checked again. Finger fired another bullet, this time worth 25,000, and that was enough to take it down. Finger now has 130,000, while Luca remains to be very healthy with 320,000. --JS

2:22pm: Veghinas keeping it friendly, not quietLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

After a scene that required security being called on Sebastian Veghinas and Charlie Carrel accusing the Romanian of lacking self-awareness, the Romanian is keeping it cool today. But that doesn't mean he's keeping it quiet.

"¿Qué pasa? Nice to fulfill you!" he called at a brand new arrival. Perhaps recalling yesterday's dust-up over his non-stop patter and long decisions, Veghinas seems happy with his new opponents' tolerance for his verbosity. "See? Friendly game! Friendly people. ♪ ♫ Ba da ba ba ba! I'm lovin' it! ♪♫"

That didn't mean his decisions came any faster. Once you have keen on a hand on a toddler flop, he embarked on a riff in regards to the diminutiveness of the cards. "Small board. Your board! I MUST check." So he did, and another baby came out putting two clubs on board. He checked again to look slightly bet come out.

"You bet small again with nothing," he said. The lesson continued for an additional 30 seconds before he finally said, "YOU WISH TO HAVE I provde the pot? I mean you can win!"

He conceded the pot, claiming ace-king after which confirming it by turning it face-up. Once dealt another hand, he said, "Finally, not an even hand. I WILL fold."

That didn't stop him from launching right into a lesson on marriage vis a vis geography and, best shall we tell, his belief that men all around the Asian continent have specific countries from which they like to seek out a wife. It became hard to follow, that is to say, nothing had really changed in any respect. --BW

2:15pm: More early bust-outsLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

Among the folks getting an opportunity to hit the beach before 3pm: Mikalai Vaskaboinkau, Artur Klein, Ben Heath, Ikar Soika, Chun Ho Law, Christian Jeppsson, Nick Yunis, Andres Munoz, Imed Ben Mahmoud, Jeffrey Hakim Andreas Christoforou, Andrey Zaichenko,Nikolay Komcharokov, Raoul Refos, Oliver Weis, Jan-Eric Schwippert, Paul Dando, Ludovic Geilich, Phil McAllister, and Yorane Kerignard. --BW

2:10pm: Perrault putting big stack to good useLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

When I arrived on the table the action was on Tobias Reinkemeier. He faced a river bet of 16,500 from overnight chip leader Marc-Olivier Perrault on a Q♠A♠4♥2♦4♠ board, and it was clearly a difficult decision. There has been 43,000 in pot already before the bet, so the percentages were there.

Was Perrault just using his big stack to push people around, I ASSUMED? Reinkemeier had 77,000 behind, lower than a fifth of Perrault's stack. Finally the German made the call, but nodded and mucked when he saw the Canadian's T♠9♠ for a rivered flush. Perrault has just lower than what he started the day with, but continues to be right up a few of the chip leaders. --JS

2:03pm: UnconventionalLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

Canada's Francis-Nicolas Bouchard is doing things a little bit differently. Everywhere in the room, you spot almost about the similar opening bets being made (this level, anywhere from 5k to 6k can be pretty standard). But if action folded to Bouchard within the cutoff, he made it 8,400 - three and a half times the large blind.

That got Chris Moorman's interest who called at the button, because it did with Cornelis Van Gent (small blind) and Walid Bour Habib (big blind) who both called.

They all saw an A♦9♦6♦ flop and it checked to Bouchard. He continued for 8,000 which removed Moorman and Van Gent, but Habib wasn't done. He raised it as much as 23,800, and got Bouchard to fold. --JS

1:58pm: Barbour's stack not trimLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

Jason Mercier may well be out, but his soon-to-be-better-half is prospering here on Day 2. Natasha Barbour (Mercier's fiancée) started the day with 136,400, but has already increased her stack to 335,000. --JS

1:55pm: Back to recreational playingLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

After popping out of "retirement" to play (and subsequently win) the €50,000 Super High Roller, Fedor Holz decided he could afford to take a shot within the €5,000 Main Event. He went bust. Then he thought he could be adequate to play the €10,000 Re-Entry High Roller. Alas, it seems like it's back to being a recreational player for poker retiree Fedor Holz. He's gone bust again.

He's joined at the rail most recently by Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano and David Peters. --BW

1:47pm: Busting a move reduxLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

And more from the land of the dearly departed: Nick Petrangelo, Jerry Wong, Faraz Jaka, Andrey Pateychuk, Mark Radoja, Zvi Stern, Dario Sammartino, Bryn Kenney, Alexander Lynskey, Michael Eiler, Jonathan Bensadoun, Roman Voronin, Ori Miller, Simon Mattsson, Christian Christner, Ramin Hajiyev, Colm Tuite, Pascal Lefrancois, and George Ana.--BW

1:40pm: Busting a moveLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

Those who've busted within the opening level of the day are:

Team PokerStars Pros George Danzer and Jason Mercier, Kitty Kuo, Aston Astapau, Cate Hall, Daniel Dvoress, Artem Metalidi, Leonardo Balague, Aymon Hata, Terence Jordan, Manig Loeser, Igor Pihela, Basem Hamed, Jans Arends, Alexander Kuzmin, Nariman Yaghmai, Marius Gierse, Imad Derwiche, Jesper Feddersen, Ru da Silva, David Llacer, Georgios Sotiropoulos, Alexandros Kolonias, Apostolos Bechrakis, Aram Sargsyan, Gleb Tremzin, Jorma Nuutinen, Uwe Ritter, Danyel Boyaciyan, and Ryan Mcgarry. --JS

1:34pm: Kings folded face-upLevel 12 - Blinds: 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

A big pot had built between Ryan McEathron and Andrey Zaichenko, nevertheless it swelled much more at the river. The board showed the Q♣Q♥4♥Q♠5♥, so quads, full houses, and flushes were all possible holdings. Zaichenko led out for 21,000, but was then raised to 65,000 by McEathron.

Zaichenko was tortured; did McEathron have the case queen? After several minutes within the tank the clock was called, and never long into the countdown Zaichenko slammed down his K♦K♣ for an aggressive fold. McEathron slid his hand towards the dealer but kept his fingers on them just long enough that it seemed like he might show...but alas, he did not.

Zaichenko is all the way down to 68,000, while McEathron climbs to 222,000. --JS

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
12 1,200 2,400 400

1:22pm: Cheong takes some from ThorelLevel 11 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Joseph Cheong opened to 4,600 and collected two callers - one among whom was Jean-Noel Thorel within the big blind. The dealer spread a 9♥4♥4♠ flop and Thorel checked, allowing Cheong in for 6,000 continuation bet. Only Thorel called to look the 5♠ turn.

I will have predicted what happened before it did - check check. Turn cards are so often the quiet after the storm; but sometimes they're within the eye of it too, with essentially the most chaos still to come.

The 2♣ hit the river and Thorel checked, only to look Cheong jam for 35,300. Chaos was avoided as Thorel let it go. --JS

1:12pm: Don't fall victim to The ShoutLevel 11 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (Ante: 300)

At this point within the day, when re-entries have closed and there's no more opportunity to play a large money event, the folks left on this tournament have a call: pick up some chips or become probably the most Shouted, the folks who become not more than a dealer's opportunity to lift her voice and shout, "Seat open!"

With 30,400 left in his stack, Fady Kamar was in peril of changing into only one of these people when he got all of it in pre-flop with 8♣8♠. He got looked up by Andrey Pateychuk and his A♥Q♠. The board ran clean and Kamar managed to bypass hearing his set number called around the room.--BW

1:05pm: AN ISSUE of economyLevel 11 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (Ante: 300)

Event Daniel Negreanu, a person who has seen almost everything, is amazed at how big EPT Barcelona is that they". are breaking records everywhere," he marveled. "It's crazy what number of people are on this tournament. Such a lot money. People have such a lot money!"

Daniel Negreanu-EPT 13-Barcelona-5706.jpg

Look! Over there! More money!

As Negreanu arrived from his broken table, he filled in his new opponents along with his brief investigation into Greece's current financial standing. He'd apparently asked a Greek opponent how the economy was doing in his country.

Negreanu recalled, "He said, 'It's doing good. The poor persons are poor, however the rich individuals are doing okay.' That does not sound good!"

For today, anyway, the one economy of outrage is one in every of poker chips and who can collect essentially the most by the tip of the day. --BW

1pm: The RaptorLevel 11 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Back within the day, David 'Raptor' Benefield basically wrote the book on single table sit-and-go strategy. His forum posts became one of the most go-to resources for up-and-comers learning the game.

Benefield survived Day 1 yesterday, and has just shown that he is still maintaining with the present MTT trends. In Daniel Negreanu's Q&A session earlier this festival, he was asked what trends are going down right now, and Kid Poker talked about that making your c-bets smaller than your opens is all of the rage.

It folded to Benefield at the button and he tossed in five orange 1k chips, and Andrey Shatilov called the 5,000 from the massive blind. The flop came the 8♦6♣K♠ and Shatilov checked, allowing Benefield to c-bet...for 4,000. That was enough to get a fold. --JS

12:50pm: When will it end? Seems pretty earlyLevel 11 - Blinds: 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Bad news for all y'all Jason Mercier fans: the Team Pro has busted.

Vlado Banicevic opened to 5,000 and Mercier peaked and a couple of red nines at the button. He moved all-in for around 26,000 (so he will need to have already taken a large hit this morning as he started with 47,100) and Banicevic called with the A♣T♥. The board ran out 8♣J♣A♦J♥3♦ and Mercier made his exit, but not without wishing his tablemates good luck. --JS

12:40pm: New and re-entriesBlinds: 1,000/2,000 (Ante: 300)

So far we have now counted 20 more people within the field than there have been last night when it finished. Listed here are the Day entries and re-entries.

Terence Jordon UK Re-Entered on Day 2
Piotr Franczak Poland Entered on Day 2
Zoltan Szabo Hungary Re-Entered on Day 2
Jonathan Bensadoun France Re-Entered on Day 2
Danyel Boyaciyan Netherlands Re-Entered on Day 2
Joni Jouhkimainen Finland Re-Entered on Day 2
Jannis Brauer Germany Entered on Day 2
Mohsin Charania USA Re-Entered on Day 2
Roman Korenev Russia Re-Entered on Day 2
Ilkin Amirov Azerbaijan Re-Entered on Day 2
Stefan Schillhabel Germany Re-Entered on Day 2
Imed Ben Mahmoud Tunisia Re-Entered on Day 2
Kilian Kramer Germany Re-Entered on Day 2
Andre Akkari Brazil Re-Entered on Day 2
Wei Zhao China Entered on Day 2
Paul Hoefer Germany Re-Entered on Day 2
Gleb Tremzin Russia Entered on Day 2
Georgios Zisimopoulos Greece Re-Entered on Day 2
Markus Durnegger Austria Entered on Day 2
Diego Zeiter Switzerland Entered on Day 2

12:31pm: Play underwayBlinds: 1,000/2,000 (Ante: 300)

In what is usually a very long day, the rest 287 players have started their campaign to make the general table. Settle in with us to look who could make it happen.--BW

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
11 1,000 2,000 300

12:30pm: Seat draw

Here's the EPT Barcelona €10K High Roller Day 2 seat draw. --BW

12pm: Hundreds and hundreds

Day 2 of the €10K High Roller event begins at 12:30pm and it would potentially go on very late. The sector of greater than 430 will swell again this morning as late registrants use the last moments to register. The entire number will only be known once play begins and this finally becomes a freezeout.

The original idea to play to 8 today has long been abandoned, but we wait news on a revised schedule. -- HS

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.

Ballroom-EPT 13-Barcelona-5251.jpg

PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT13 Barcelona Main Event: Martin Harris, Jack Stanton and Brad Willis. Photography by Neil Stoddart and Carlos Monti. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog



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