blonde poker forum

Morning all! We are in fact in our bedsit-hotel drinking duty-free right now, but come 1pm Monaco time (12 noon GMT) we will be back at the Monte Carlo Bay Sporting Club Giganto-Ballroom to follow our combined Days 1a and 1b survivors as they battle it out for what we believe is Europe's biggest ever prizepool - an eye-watering, nip-inducing €8.42 MILLION!!!  ;nipnip;

We three highly professional updaters will be ready, notepads in hand and a single magical Mechanical Eye (camera) between us to give you the lowdown and possibly the dirty on all the action. A full player list along with chipcounts and that all-important payout ;nipnip; will be with us in the morning for your edification - in the meantime, please feel free to put in your advance requests for persons to be updated on etc over on the interactive thread, otherwise we will be deciding who to update on by scrying, and breathing in the heady fumes from our potion - one part duty free brandy, one part €20 hamburger, three parts poker player, and all goooood...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15091&g2_serialNumber=1)

Name   Country   Chips
Cyril Bensoussan   France   128300
Stephen Kjaerstad   Norway   111200
Uffe Holm   Denmark   108875
Raul Corral   Spain   108825
Chris Min Lee   United States   96050
Andrea Benelli   Italy   94325
Johnny Lodden   Norway   88425
Mostafa Belkhayate   Morocco   88275
Driman Connor      87675
Shaun Deeb   USA   84375
Thomas Boekhoff   Germany   83350
Shane Reihill   Ireland   82150
Nils Christian Paulsen   Norway   80825
Beniamino Speroni   Italy   80525
Gilbert Abela   Liban   78875
Calle Scholdborg   Sweden   78700
Peter Wolfgang Roche   Ireland   78425
Pierliuigi Tiziani   Italy   77225
Claudio Stefano Rinaldi   Switzerland   74475
Denes Kalo   Hungary   74275
Noah Siegel   USA   73725
Tommi Horkko   Finland   73150
Michel Carvin   France   73050
Sasha Rosewood   USA   72125
Csaba Kuremszki   Hungary   71150
Woody Deck   Lithuania   70800
Terris Preston   Canada   70125
Anders Hoyer Berg   Norway   69425
Morten Lokken   Norway   68700
Maxime Villemure   Canada   68000
Michiel Willem Brummelhuis   Holland   67950
Juris Bonders   Austria   67800
Valeriy Ilikyan   Russia   67450
Kenny Hallaert   Belgium   67000
Clayton Maguire   USA   66800
Andreas Rathje   Germany   66525
Ed de Haas   Holland   65550
Jonas Molander   Sweden   65400
Vincent Secher   France   65050
Benjamin Sprengers   USA   65025
Casey Kastle   USA   64600
Luis David Sevilla   Spain   64025
Danny Ryan   USA   63125
James Campbell   USA   62425
Michael Martin   USA   61175
David Shade Kruger   USA   60200
Peter Heim   Austria   60025
Ariel Adda   UK   59800
Oyvind Riisem   Norway   59750
Felipe Taveres   Brazil   58150
Domenico Tinnirello   Italy   58100
Sebastian Zink   Germany   58050
Andrew Luetchford   UK   57225
Andreas Torbergsen   Norway   56600
Torsten Schulz   Germany   56450
Enrico Mognaga   Italy   56325
Christopher Klodnicki   USA   54800
Dan Glimne   Sweden   54725
Grigore Dan Adamescu   Romania   54025
William Martin   UK   53500
Giovanni Nervo   Italy   52625
Sorel Mizzi   Canada   52550
Alexander Uskov   Russia   52550
Rino Matthis   Switzerland   52400
Nordine Bouya   France   51400
Ghassan John Bitar   Lebanon   50700
Thomas Fougeron   France   50300
Arid Helland   Norway   50275
Gregory Byard   USA   49275
Jean-Pierre Gleize   France   49100
Jan Heitmann   Germany   48900
Dario Alioto   Italy   48525
Mel Judah   UK   47450
Alexia Portal   France   47250
Klas Gustav Axel Arvidsson   Sweden   47050
George Lind Iii   USA   46900
Eduards Kudrjavcevs   Latvia   46650
Stuart Michel Fox   UK   46600
Aliaksandr Dzianisau   Russia   46550
Jesse Rockowitz   USA   46500
Marcel Luske   Holland   46375
Stig Top Rasmussen   Denmark   46350
Johannes Ritburg   Unknown   46250
Benjamin Sulsky   USA   46150
Andre Santos   Portugal   46000
Brian Green   USA   46000
Travis Klein   USA   45975
Mattias Bergstrom      45625
Antti Pekka Merilainen   Finland   45550
Alex Repik   Russia   44875
Trond Erik Eidsvig   Norway   44525
Surinder Sunar   UK   44350
Christoffer Stahle   Sweden   44225
Thomas Bichon   Italy   44050
Tom Stig Ahlberg   Finland   43950
Luca Pagano   Italy   43750
Eric Liu   United States   43600
Derek Vandamme   USA   43400
Nicolas Levi   France   43250
Ronny Alex   Sweden   42550
Timothy Vance   USA   42450
Jose Espinar   Spain   42450
Patrick Bueno   French   42125
Patrick Sacrispeyre   French   42125
Armando Pagliari   Canada   42075
Andreas Fluri   Switzerland   41875
Mats Iremark   Sweden   41775
Joe Hachem   Australia   41550
Adrian Gavile   USA   41425
Patryk Hildebranski   Canada   41375
Eric Da Silva   France   41275
Anthony Chatelain   Sweden   41225
Peter Traply   Hungary   41000
Rahal Samir   France   40575
David Miara   France   39750
Christophe Benzimra   France   39725
Marc Goodwin   UK   39075
David Lacoste   France   38975
Kirill Rabtsov   Russia   38875
Andreas Sarling   Finland   38625
Marin Truvnev   Holland   38550
Josh Arieh   USA   38500
Henrik Gwinner   Denmark   38225
Andrew Teng   UK   38150
Nikolaus Panopoulus   Greece   37800
Simon Faure   France   37775
Jonathan Dwek   Canada   37600
Richard Fohrenbach   USA   37500
Stefan Gerim   Germany   37475
Benoit Gariepy   Canada   37225
Cornelis Albla   Holland   37150
Chad Brown   USA   37125
Claudio Pagano   Italy   37050
Stevie Levy   USA   36700
Leonardo Fernandez   Argentina   36600
Cecilia Borg   Sweden   36575
Paul Jean Testud   France   35800
Joshua Gould   UK   35550
Jason Mercier   USA   35375
Antonio Esfandiari   USA   35350
Fabrizio Baldassari   Italy   35275
Freddy Deeb   USA   35175
Neil Channing   UK   35100
Benjamin Locatelli   France   35100
Juan Manuel Pastor   Spain   34975
Christoph Niesert   Germany   34900
Ian Prevost   USA   34875
Riccardo Ricciardi   Italy   34675
Fadi Kamar   Liban   34550
Thomas Wahlroos   Finland   34500
Will Haydon   USA   34450
Franz Bracher   Switzerland   33950
Mark Keightley   UK   33775
Giovanni Bigoni   Italy   33775
Walid Bou Habib   Lebanon   33550
Anders Wijk   Sweden   33525
Yury Kerzhapkin   Russia   33425
Tomas Brolin   Sweden   33175
Pawel Chmiel   Poland   33175
Karl Gal   Germany   33075
Kim Wooka   Japan   32800
Pakinai Lisawad   Thailand   32725
Humberto Brenes   Costa Rica   32700
Sasa Biorac   Germany   32675
Jeremy Wray   UK   32525
Fabrice Touil   France   32525
Raymond Rahme   South Africa   32225
Michaele Lau   USA   32000
Jared Mahoney   USA   31975
Joakim Osth   Sweden   31675
Dominik Stopka   Germany   31675
Ryan Fisler   Canada   31600
Frantisek Striz   Czech Republic   31575
Gualter Santos   Brazil   31550
Ryan Daut   USA   31425
Steven Brown   USA   31350
Anna Wroblewski   USA   31325
Teodori Saverio   Italy   31150
Thomas Richter   Germany   31050
Glen Chorny   Canada   31050
Cristobal Hidalgo   Spain   31025
Carl Olson   USA   30775
Sean Bruder   Canada   30575
Jean Christian Marelius   Sweden   30500
Fowzi Baroukh   UK   30325
Richard Da Silva   France   30225
Vanessa Rousso   USA   30000
Dan Pedersen   Denmark   29950
Stefanie Bergener   Germany   29825
Pier Paulo Ruscalla   Italy   29450
Joseph Udine   USA   29450
Tonino Lucisano   Italy   29100
Ross Boatman   UK   29000
Juha Helppi   Finland   28725
Mameche Slimane   Unknown   28650
Csaba Toth   Hungary   28400
Randy Lew   USA   28325
Pierre Xavier Lenoir   French   28300
Josef Klinger   Austria   28150
Sandor Hollaar   Holland   28050
Davidi Kitai   Belgium   27900
Phillippe Rouas   USA   27650
Shawn Eno   USA   27525
Jan Olav Sjavik   Norway   27500
Antoni Romanello   UK   27325
Martin Rask   Denmark   27225
Stephen Devlin   UK   27100
Anthony Gil   Switzerland   26750
Bobby Firestone   USA   26725
Daniel Negreanu   Canada   26475
Simone Coppari   Italy   26375
Gino Alacqua   Italy   26275
David Paindestre   French   26200
Niels Rikhof   USA   26150
Thierry Van Der Berg   Holland   25975
Guido Meacci   Italy   25850
Peter Feldman   USA   25725
Amit Makhija   USA   25600
Borge Dypvik   Norway   25575
Gunther Steinbach   Germany   25425
Robin Keston   UK   25425
Eric Scalisi   France   25200
Gus Hansen   Denmark   25200
Torbjorn Jonson   Sweden   25150
Anders Vind   Denmark   25150
Aniol Alcaraz   Spain   25100
Ben Stark   USA   25075
Kari Somer   Finland   24825
Mark Bech   Denmark   24775
Sami Ovaskainen   Finland   24750
Michel Abecassis   France   24550
Jarle Aasen   Norway   24475
Gianni Mocchi   Italy   24450
Paul Maddern   UK   24400
Alfonso Amendola   Italy   24300
Massou Cohen   France   24125
Rami Boukai   USA   24050
Denis Patout   France   24000
Steven Van Zadelhoff   Holland   23875
Moen Jairam   Unknown   23875
Nicolas Jean Dervaux   France   23725
Omar Jadaa   Unknown   23650
Orjan Holt   Norway   22700
Thomas Henk   Unknown   22650
Alexander Argoe   USA   22575
Loic Sabatte   France   22450
Mesbah Guerfi   France   22325
William Edler   USA   22250
David Hickman   USA   22075
Matt Stout   USA   22000
Yau Wan Chan   USA   21950
Nadir Jorephani   UK   21850
Pablo Ubierna   Spain   21825
Tsang Elton   Hong Kong   21750
Paul Leckey   UK   21750
Peter Jetten   Canada   21700
Minal Patel   UK   21500
Paul Bracken   UK   21425
Richard Pettibone   Costa Rica   21350
Alec Torelli   USA   21325
Pierre Hall   Canada   21325
Anthony Gregg   USA   21275
Manuel Palanca   Spain   21200
Gerard Cohen   France   20450
Ali Jalali   Germany   20425
Gerasimos Deres   Sweden   20375
Edward Lawson   USA   20000
Constantin Pavel   Unknown   19975
Alexander Kravchenko   Russia   19875
Victoria Coren   UK   19850
Gianni Giaroni   Italy   19800
Osman Mustanoglu   UK   19650
Dumitru Cristinel   Romania   19375
Haward Speer   Germany   19125
Martin Kvaernstuen   Norway   18850
Tato Lancillotti   Italy   18850
Alex Kloos   Germany   18750
Raoul Refos   Holland   18725
Vladimir Kochelaevskly      18525
Robert Giordano   Unknown   18500
Jonathan Butters   UK   18450
Picazo Jose Luis   Spain   18375
Christer Bjorin   Sweden   18250
Noah Boeken   Holland   18250
Frank Platano   Unknown   18250
Christian Simunic   Germany   18100
Joseph Mouawad   Lebanon   18025
Isaac Andrew Baron   USA   18000
Samuel Chartier   Canada   17700
Matthew Kurtz   USA   17550
Adam Levy   USA   17500
Mario Kuhl   Germany   17400
Ricardo Sousa   Portugal   17175
Sandra Edlund   Sweden   17075
Pierre Baronville   Belgium   17025
James Byrne   UK   16800
Daniele Masini   Italy   16775
Adam Sword   UK   16775
Dominick Raynis   USA   16725
Michael Watson   Canada   16725
Thomas Dunwoodie   UK   16100
Tommy Pavlicek   Canada   16075
Leroy Soesman   Holland   16025
Halldor Mar Sverrisson   Iceland   15975
Carl Johan Ericson   Sweden   15850
Daniel Didech   USA   15825
Franck Fellous   France   15725
Joakim Angle   Sweden   15625
Dorrance-Bowman   USA   15500
Tom Underwood   Unknown   15500
Mark Vargas   USA   15450
Luis Merino   Spain   15425
Andy Greekfish   UK   15425
Ramez Haddad   Lebanon   15275
Tommy Dender   Denmark   15225
Vito Branciforte   Italy   15075
Alexander Morozov   Russia   15050
Severin Walser   Switzerland   14950
Guillaume De La Gorce   France   14875
Jani Vilmunen   Finland   14800
Max Tobias Persson   Sweden   14700
Celii Gianni   Switzerland   14450
Scott Sitron   USA   14450
Eliahu Ilan Elezra   United States   14400
Christian Togsverd   Denmark   14250
Patrik Antonius   Finland   14000
Mario Puccini   Germany   13950
Xuantien Nguyen   USA   13650
Luigi Rizzi   Italy   13600
Emile Petit   France   13525
Freddy Darakjian   France   13400
Luca Antinori   Italy   13175
Frank Stumpf   Germany   12900
Fraser Dunphy   UK   12825
Benjamin Kang   Germany   12600
Mike Mcdonald   Canada   12225
Farzad Bonyadi   USA   12125
Rumit Somaiya   UK   12000
Emil Malevsci   Bulgaria   12000
Richard Nadler   USA   11775
Bab De Haas   Holland   11500
Joshua Field   USA   11425
Jonathan Friedberg   USA   11350
Iliodoros Kamatakis   Greece   10900
Andrew Feldman   UK   10725
Antti Pystynen   Finland   10500
Owen Crowe   Canada   10475
Andreas Hagen   Norway   10275
Rahal Kalil   France   10200
Romain Feriolo   France   10150
Mike Bartholomew   Canada   10075
Nathan Doudney   USA   10000
Alexandr Kostritsyn   Russia   9850
Miguel Magan Tier   Spain   9800
Asbjorn Lunde   Norway   9775
Stephane Michel Sage   French   9650
Florian Langmann   Germany   9600
Philippe Saadani Ktorza   French   9175
Ken Justin   USA   8800
Konstantin Bucherl   Germany   8750
Roger Suter   Switzerland   8525
Mikhail Ustinov   Russia   8475
Laurent Torossian   France   8425
Christopher Convery   South Africa   8025
Mark Bollinger   Switzerland   7775
David Redlin   USA   7675
Josef Kollarits   Austria   7450
Gordon Vayo   USA   7325
Jared Hubbard   USA   7225
Johan Van Til   Holland   7125
Francois Tardieu   France   7075
Helene Wiklund      6950
Felice Piccaluga   Italy   6850
Anders Henriksson   Sweden   6700
Metaal Govert   Monaco   6175
Barry Greenstein   USA   5825
Martin Wendt   Denmark   5575
Christophe Perraud   France   5325
Ditspong Pinpramot   Germany   4750
Antoine Nahas   Unknown   4225
Roberto Massullo   Italy   3625
Victor Ramdin   USA   1950

PAYOUT

1    € 2,020,000
2    € 1,179,000
3    € 715,000
4    € 589,000
5    € 421,000
6    € 337,000
7    € 253,000
8    € 168,000
9+10    € 126,000
11+12    € 101,000
13+14    € 76,000
15+16    € 55,200
17-24    € 46,300
25-32    € 42,100
33-40    € 38,000
41-48    € 33,700
49-56    € 29,400
57-64    € 25,200
65-72    € 21,000
73-80    € 17,000

   
Total    € 8,420,000


Good luck today to, er, whoever wins! Remember we've been rooting for you from day one.  ;nipnip; ;nipnip; ;nipnip;

Oh yes, did I mention they're off?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14357&g2_serialNumber=1)

Apologies for the delay, but the action is thick and fast. In the space of just a few minutes I witnessed a number of all-ins, double-ups and exits. One of the first departures I spotted was that of Frenchman Antoine Nahas. Shortstacked at the start of the day with just 4,225, he made his stand with A-8, but came against the Pocket Kings of Alex Michaels. Miraculously, Antoine Flopped the Eight. Shame Alex Flopped a King.

Also feeling the full swipe of the Poker Reaper's scythe are Franz Bracher, Helene Wiklund and Jarred Hubbard.

I have not been blessed by the update gods the way Snoopy has, and I didn't see a single double-up or, indeed, an exit the whole time I was out there, but I did see an extraordinary table. I wandered over there largely because our friend Sandra Edlund was in evidence, her bleached locks glowing like a beacon, but when I got there I was momentarily confused, for it felt as though I had walked into some kind of non-serious-poker-movie-but-the-kind-of-movie-that-has-a-poker-scene-to-make-the-protagonist-look-cool movie. As well as the pneumatic Ms Edlund, there was Marcel Luske in his suit and sunglasses, Patrik Antonius looking obscenely buff and healthy, scruffy Neil Channing looking like he might have slept in his clothes, a grimacing Nicolas Dervaux looking, well, French, young Swiss Anthony Gil looking like the internet geek he probably is... In fact all the table needed for completeness was a little old lady, or perhaps a dog wearing a visor. Awesome, will be sure to get photos as soon as.

Yes, although the problem with our Table Of Legend is that nobody really seems to have any chips, so there's actually not been that much action. Obviously the TV cameras are still buzzing around it like flies around rotting meat though, or people dressed up as flies around, er, a table of famous poker players. Media not actually dressed as flies today, sadly.

(http://www.andypryke.com/twiki/pub/Andypublic/BlogJune2005/flies.jpg)

Beckoning me over with the excitement of a teenage Virgi (http://travis.bosscasinos.com/re.asp?name=POK&camp=REF5111_0&go=http%3a%2f%2fwww.virginpoker.com)n (http://travis.bosscasinos.com/re.asp?name=POK&camp=REF5111_0&go=http%3a%2f%2fwww.virginpoker.com) in Amsterdam, Manuel Palanca was elated to report news of an early double through. Defending his ante by calling a button raise with Q-T from the big blind, Manuel somehow managed to hit the nuts on a delightful A-K-J Flop, before proceeding to slowplay the hand into oblivion. Manuel checked the Flop, as did his opponent, and again on the raggy Turn before sneakily smooth calling a 3k bet. On the raggy River, Manuel opted to lead out with a bet of 3.5k, only for his opponent to push in over the top for the rest of the Brit's stack. Manuel called quicker than a randy rabbit during mating season and Mateyboy mucked. Manuel now up to around 43k and looking confident.

-------------

It's not only meat lovers like Dana who love their chops, but also PokerStars sponsored pros like Victor Ramdin. Down to the felt before the starting whistle was blown, I managed to catch Victor calling all-in against Honk Kong's Tsang Elton (gotta love that name, the pun opportunities are endless) on a 9c Tc Qh Ad Ac board. Victor hesitated before making the final call, so wasn't 100% that his Aspades 6s was good, but was ultimately relieved to see Tsang Elton (pictured below) flip over Ahrt 8h and was visibly thankful for a split pot. Victor's low, but still standing (ahem).

-------------

Recently joining Table Bracken and taking the place of Felice Piccaluga (he's either out or due to be sharing a seat when he returns from the loo) is William Martin, in fine fettle and seemingly having the time of his life. Not enjoying himself quite as much is new neighbour Felipe Taveres. Brazilian Felipe is down to 20k after doubling up Marin Truvnev, the latter triumphing with As-Js on a 2-8s-3s-6s-K board.

Looking immensely cool, and if I were making that scene in the movie where you have a poker game to make the protagonist look like a bit of a hard man and for some reason a full house is always the best hand you can have (you know what I mean, you've seen that movie too) I would definitely cast him in a speaking role, is German sponsored pro and ex-professional magician Jan Heitmann. I just saw him rake in a decent sized pot with a turned straight (should probably add he was holding 3-5 offsuit and I don't think he was one of the blinds), railed by friend and Day 1 bustee George Danzer. "Ship it to Germany!" pipes up George cheerfully. Not a single muscle in Jan's be-sunglassed face has moved through all of this.

------------

Three of the American players mentioned yesterday (ten if you include the other seven Josh Fields playing today) are still plugging away. One of those is Daniel Didech, currently on 40,500 and laughing heartily with tablemate Victor Ramdin. Meanwhile, a few tables along, Ben Sulsky has been spotted next to his twin, Ian Prevost. Ben has 47,000 and in seemingly good spirits. Finally, the deadly serious Josh Field (you could hear a mouse fart on that table) is quietly tootling along with 20,500.

-----------

Rupert's 'man', Andrew Teng, unwittingly emulating the expression of the face on his hoody, is on 41,500 after seeing "no big hands". He's sharing a table with England's Jonothon Butters who's slowly working his way up with 28,000.

As I counted those respective stacks, I was momentarily interrupted by Carl Johan Ericson, initial raiser Christophe Benzimra folding and showing an Ace in the process. Ericson, meanwhile, made that inexplicable motion when people check their winning hand before folding. Just why do people do that?

A bit of a sad sight, I'm afraid - Stephen Devlin seems to have been vaporized or otherwise removed from this plane of reality in which he was meant to come back for Day 2. Or possibly he's just late. On exactly 16k minus antes unless the blinds have gone through him. He'd better hurry up...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15151&g2_serialNumber=1)

Peering over at the stack of Marc Goodwin, my attentions are sidetracked by a 100k plus pot that is threatening to develop between Nordine Bouya and Terris Preston. After Nordine had called a pre-flop re-raise from Terris in the small blind, Nordine called a bet on the 8h 5h Ks Flop before pushing all-in over the top (there may have been one or two raises on this street) on the 7h Turn. Faced with a tough decision for a gigantic pot, Terris took a stab with Ac Kd, the call leaving him with a paltry in comparison 13.5k. Confusing the table as to whether he was ahead or behind, Nordine took a few moments to reveal his hand, wagging his finger in peculiar fashion before flipping over an unbeatable Ahrt 9h. "That's disgusting," observes an infuriated Marc Goodwin. "You should apologise to him for that." As Nordine shrugs his shoulders claiming "that's the game", a battered and bruised Terris just sits their motionless, his true expression concealed by the blackness of his shades.

Mr Mike McDonald has had some Timex-ly good luck. Ahem. Oh god, I'm very tired and I can't be bothered with puns any more, sorry. ANyway, he's found a load of extra chips from somewhere, and is currently on around 34k.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15131&g2_serialNumber=1)


Sorry, I saw so many exits/double-ups I completely forgot about Thomas Dunwoodie.  ;scarymoment;  I've found a bouncy ball belonging to the Geordie one though, and I've put Snoopy on the case...

(http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9711/27/t_t/beagle.boot.camp/beagle1.jpg)

Stephen King-a-likey Mr Jan Sjavik has doubled up - not sure when the chips went in, or indeed what happened, but he was holding Ad Ahrt and his lime-shirted opponent, I believe one Travis Klein, was holding Aspades Kh.

The Board - 3h 3s 5s 9d 2h

Jan Sjavik - up to over 50k
Travis Klein - down to 11.5k

Stage right just inside the dazzlingly mirrored entrance to the Salle des Etoiles, heads turned toward one table as one player knocked out another one with a particularly vocal, fist-pumpy reaction.  So loud and incomprehensible was the victor, that I immediately looked for Soren Jensen, but in fact it was this guy - Samir Rahal.  "YEEESSS!!" he continued, while the dealer waited politely until the busted one had hit the rail before announcing, "Seat Open!"

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15181&g2_serialNumber=1)

"What nationality do you think he is?" asked Benjo.
"French."
"Yes."

He now has 48,000.

Not sure about Danny To The D-Ry currently, but Mr Taveres is running well - he just knocked out one Nathan Doudney.

Bit sick actually - Nathan bet 10k on a Td 9d Qs flop and Felipe made it All In. Nathan called, and the cards were flipped thus:

Nathan Doudney - Qc 9c
Felipe Tavernes - Qh Ts

The dealer makes Nathan wait for AGES while he's counting the stacks to see if he gets any change, but he doesn't, and is officially OUT.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15158&g2_serialNumber=1)

Also running well is Luca Pagano, shoving a J-4-T flop with K-Q and getting himself called by Peter Roche's J-T.

Turn - 9 obviously
River - an irrelevant 2

Double up to 76.2k for Pagano, who does a little chicken dance to celebrate:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15153&g2_serialNumber=1)


Double down and a consolatory massage for Peter Roche - looks like around 25k he's left with:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15157&g2_serialNumber=1)

Continuing with the double-up theme, Mr Barry Greenstein has in some wise Got It In with pocket Kings against someone else's K-Q - all I know is that there was an Ace on the flop and a King on the turn... Actually I didn't really see the hand, I saw all the cards being swept away at the end and all the chips being swept Greenstein-wards. Most unusual, I don't believe I've ever seen him smile before. This is what that looks like:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15179&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Daniele Masini of Italia, very unsubtly, is OUT on a coinflip to action movie hero Derek Vandamme.

Mr Vandamme makes it a punchy 1.5k utg and Signor Masini shoves for around 6k. Vandamme takes it on the chin and calls.

Vandamme - 7s 7c
Masini - Aspades Qh

Board - Tc 2s Ks 8s 6c

Here's Foxy, just hasn't had the best start it looks like seeing as he can hide his chips with his hand like so...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15187&g2_serialNumber=1)

His neighbour (Franck Fellous?) has just popped in around 10k on a Jack-high flop, and is just about to get the rest of his stack in too with Ahrt Ad, vs. Aspades Jd.  So imagine the tension removed from his face and replace it with the calm of someone getting paid off with Aces.

Meanwhile Woody is doing very well - up to 105,000.  But he's sat next to Sasha Rosewood, who has just under 100k himself so big pots possible on this table.  As I took this picture, button Rosewood was preflop raising as is traditional in his country.  Small blind Mattias Bergstrom called.
Flop:  6s 9d 2h  Check-bet-call.
Turn:  6c  Bergstrom checks again, Rosewood checks again, call again.
River:  7d  Not this time though - both players check and the Swede's Jh 9c is pipped by Sasha's Ks 9h (suits made up as I can't read my own writing today).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15189&g2_serialNumber=1)

Incidentally, this pic taken after the hand includes Stevie Levy, and their lineup reminds me of those evolution pictures in reverse - From Hoody To Suit Through the Ages...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15191&g2_serialNumber=1)

Vicky Coren is OUT. Still smiling though.

---------

The Scandinavian contingent of the media room never get overly excited when Johnny Lodden takes a big stack into Day 2, as history suggests that it'll be severely depleted by the end of the day. However, every EPT it is expected that he'll be able to change gears (or, if I am being too harsh, endure better fortunes) and hold onto his early pace setting stack and go on to finally threaten a final table or two. After playing them for a good few seasons nows, I believe this could be the one where he shines, as Johnny has almost doubled his stack to the 150-160k mark and is looking like a formidable force.

----------
Trond Eidsvig is looking good with a near 100k stack, the majority of which was won when Miguel Magan Tier made a pre-flop move with K-Q off. Sadly for that player, his timing was off as Trond woke up with Aces and called quicker than a sheep at a woolly jumper convention. A Queen hit the Flop to make it exciting, but alas it was merely a teaser, Trond banging the table in excitement as the Turn and River dealt out blanks.

----------

Here's Gino Alacqua, asking how Freddy's son, Shaun, is getting on in the comp. But Gino should be more concerned with his own adventures, as just moments ago he found himself all-in with Ahrt Qh versus 2c 2s versus Ac 5c on a Td Kh 3h 4h Ts. I'm assuming Gino was short and the action was pre-flop, but either way it's a timely treble through for the Italian.

Actually that Lodden stack is now looking to be over 180k and I can say with about 50% confidence (carefully and mathematically, er, guessed by me) that he is our current chip leader. Most recently he has knocked out Last Gould Standing Josh. I caught the hand on the 2s Qd 2c flop - there had been a considerable amount of betting pre, evidently, and it seemed that Josh had bet 8k on the flop and Johnny had announced all in. Josh squirmed for a very long time before calling to see the most heartbreaking of hole cards.

Josh Gould - Kd Kc
Johnny Lodden - Ahrt Ac

Turn - 4c
River - Qh

Odds that Lodden will still not make the money, anyone?

Some random chip counts -

Danny Hup Hup To The D-Ry Rizzle I'm Talking Out Of My Izzle Ryan - 80k
KANG - around 40k
Sandra Edlund - just 12.5k
Nicolas Dervaux - with just 10k left he made up the blinds and checked the whole board down with Marcel Luske, eventually winning it with K-5 against Luske's Q-4. Most unusual play at this stage im(humble)o.
Jan Heitmann - 60k
Cecilia Borg - 30k
Evil Zink (with goatee) - 50k - being closely railed by Good Zink (no goatee)

REQUESTWATCH

Michael Martin -- 55,000  On a table with Tim Vance, who was talking to himself when I arrived

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15217&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chris Lee -- 40,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15213&g2_serialNumber=1)

Eric Liu (85,000) and Andrew Feldman (57,000)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15215&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ben Sulsky -- 51,000
Carl Olson -- 55,200
Ryan Daut -- AUT

Snoopy going for the ones whose tables have split already.

As always seems to be the case, Mission Chip Count was disrupted by the 15 minute break. However, I did manage to get the following:

Cyril Bensoussan -- 166,000
Woody Deck -- 108,500
Stephan Kjaestad -- 73,000
Danny Ryan -- 15,500
Mike McDonald -- 35,000
Stig Rasmussen -- 69,000
Benjamin Kang -- 29,000
Alfonso Amendola -- 32,500
Alexander Morozo -- 36,500
Ben Sulsky -- 50,500
Eli Elezra -- 27,000
Jan Heitmann -- 67,000
Juris Bonders -- 75,500
Nicolas Levi -- 127,500
Patrick Bueno -- 131,000
Dana Immanuel -- 201,000
Barry Greenstein -- 64,000
Hans Eskilsson -- 34,000
Andrew Teng -- 46,000
Jonas Molander -- 49,500
Jonothon Butters -- 51,500
Sacha Rosewood -- 83,500
Marcel Luske -- 59,500
Neil Channing -- 33,500
Sandra Edlund -- 16,000
Shaun Deeb -- 89,500
Joe Hachem -- 119,000
Ed de Haas -- 85,500
Chad Brown -- 33,500
Tsang Elton -- 20,000
Raymond Rhame -- 23,500
Adrian Gaville -- 76,000
Ted Lawson -- 26,000
Christoffer Stahle -- 27,000
Alex Michaels -- 90,500
Gino Alacqua -- 23,500
Freddy Deeb -- 85,500
Stevie Devlin -- 18,500
Paul Leckey -- 25,500
Andrew Feldman -- 59,500
Nadir Jorephani -- 32,500
Andreas Hagen -- 152,000

Paul Bracken was an exit we missed. His coin was buttered the wrong side when his Pocket Jacks were outgunned by Big Slick for a 50k pot. He's now resigned to supporting fellow Irishman Shane Reihill on the sidelines.

Danny Ryan has suffered a severe setback getting outdrawn pretty nastily, I hear - down to 13k

Other counts:

Samir Rahal -- 20,000
Andreas Hagen -- 157,000  (In all likelihood going to go very far in this one)
Trond Eidsvig -- 41,000
Benjamin Kang -- 44,500
Nicolas Levi -- 115,500
Vanessa Rousso -- 79,000
Tim Vance -- 43,200
Patrick Bueno -- 147,000
Alexia Portal -- 71,000
Andrew Teng -- 54,500
Paul Testud -- 25,000
Gus Hansen -- 42,000  (When I got to his table he was chopping a pot with a rag Ace saying, "I am a dog.  Worst player ever."  Bit harsh?)
Wooka Kim -- 27,500
Paul Leckey -- 29,000  ("Nothing exciting has happened to me today.")
Jonas Molander -- 51,400 (pictured)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15228&g2_serialNumber=1)

From the virtual pen of Ms Mad Harper, who has not yet entirely mastered capital letters:




they will be playing until the end of Level 13 today (Day 2). 


This email has been sent to you by Mad Harper

Chip Counts Of The World -

"French" Thomas Fougeron - 13.4k
"Canadian" Tommy Pavlicek - 22k
"British" William Martin - 40k

Last I looked, Mr Paul Testud was more or less down to the felt. He bet out 2.5k on the turn of a 5s 2c Ts 9h board (that's when I arrived at the table so not sure what happened before, sorry) only for Gus Hansen to make it 6.5k. Mr Testud dwelled long enough for the crowd that continually surrounds Hansen's table to roughly double, before calling, leaving himself only around 12k behind. River - 9d and Testud checks. Gus bets 8k and Paul quickly folds, making a noise that sounded like "Chhhh!" followed by the noise that plumbers make with their teeth before they say "Ooooh, it'll cost you." And cost him it has. He's smiling but it's really more of a grimace...

---------

Robin Keston raised at the wrong time, his 3.5k from the cut-off being re-popped to 8.5k by Mateyboy on the button before Glen Chorny makes it 24k to play in the big blind. For some reason, I smelt a rat, but both players quickly side-stepped out of the way. Keston was flying at one point, but is now back down to 50k, whilst Chony shoots up to 80k.

Bad news has arrived on update shores courtesy of Paul Bracken. Just before the break, we lost Shane Reilhill to a 200k pot, Shane limping under-the-gun with Fours before running into the 5-7 of the blind on a 3-4-6 Flop. All the money went in on the Flop after his opponent led out with the straight, and although the Queen of clubs on the Turn gave Shane a cheekly flush draw, neither a club nor a pair emerged and he was gone.

----------

Just before the dinner break, Barry Greenstein was spotted getting busy. He pushed all-in over the top of Sorel Mizzi's under-the-gun raise, but the newly acquired Betfair player conceded defeat after a brief moment of deliberation.

Greenstein = 30-35k
Mizzi = 30k

I'm afraid the clock/runners thingy may be a bit out for the rest of the day - we have been largely relying on TV screens in the pressroom for that sort of info, which suddenly exploded/less spectacularly blinked out and stopped working a while before the dinner break. The gigantic screens in the tournament area are still working, but they're a good walk away from our laptops so accuracy may be limited...

So what do those busted from the Pokerstars EPT Grand Final do with their day off?

[ ] Go down to the beautiful Cote d'Azur beach which is literally a street away
[ ] Eat some delicious local foods in delightful restaurants
[ ] Hang-glide off the spectacular cliffs
[/] Wait in a queue with other poker players attempting to squeeze into the first side event

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15252&g2_serialNumber=1)

No, I'm afraid we're only getting the once-daily Official Pokerstars.Com Official Start Of Day Chipcounts and aside from that we're on our own. Snoops is doing counts right now for everyone he recognises, which will hopefully include everyone you want to know about.

One bit of sad news for the French contingent, ie. you, jpean, is that Copenhagen Final Tablist Nicolas Dervaux has just busted out. He found himself seeing a flop with Son Of Freddy Shaun Deeb, who was moved to the Table Of Legend a while ago after the little old lady busted the dog-playing-poker in an unbelievable* straight-flush-over-quads hand. That flop was 2c 8d 7d and some kind of shenanigans/raising war (sorry, missed that bit) resulted in Dervaux being All In for 10 or 15k and Deeb Junior calling him.

Nicolas Dervaux - Kh 8h
Shaun Deeb - 8c 7s

Turn - 6s
River - 9h


* and also untrue

BUTTERSWATCH

(http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/HPM/SM1101~The-Butters-Show-Posters.jpg)


Serial GUKPT go-deeper Mr Jonothon Butters was last seen betting out 10k on a Jh 7d 2d flop, only for the improbably monikered Oyvind Riisem (identification courtesy of the nice lady from Betsson whose name I've forgotten, sorry :( ) to re-raise him a big ol' chunk, or enough to cover Butters. Butters sighed and folded.

Stuart Fox -- 32,000
Vanessa Rousso -- 25,000
Eric Liu -- 205,500
Stevie Devlin -- 37,500
Alex Michaels -- 86,500
Luca Pagano -- 153,000
Robin Keston -- 38,000
Glen Chorny -- 147,000
Thomas Wahlroos -- 51,000
Daniel Zink -- 49,500
Conor Driman -- 42,000
Jan Sjavik -- 63,500
Mel Judah -- 75,000
Johnny Lodden -- 220,000
Manuel Palanca -- 27,000
Alex Kravchenko -- 43,000
Gus Hansen -- 46,500
Paul Testud -- 35,000
Raymond Rahme -- 55,000
Cyril Bensoussan -- 160,000
Adrian Gaville -- 53,000
Freddy Deeb -- 120,000
Michael Watson -- 33,000
Christoffer Stahle -- 18,500
Eli Elezra -- 37,500
Ted Dawson -- 32,000
Ben Sulsky -- 57,500
Jan Heitmann -- 81,000
Thierry Van Den Berg -- 32,000
Trond Eidsvig -- 42,5000
Michael Martin -- 80,000
Paul Leckey -- 48,000
Nicolas Levi -- 107,000
Barry Greenstein -- 25,000
Sorel Mizzi -- 61,500
Hans Ritburg -- 42,500
Antonio Esfandiari -- 42,500
Jonothon Butters -- 29,000
Marcel Luske -- 100,000
Neil Channing -- 43,500
Shaun Deeb -- 77,000
Stephan Kjaerstad -- 80,000
Stig Rasmussen -- 44,000
Danny Ryan -- 36,000
Benjamin Kang -- 185,000
Andrew Teng -- 42,000
Jonas Molander-- 46,700
Michel Abecassis -- 22,500
Woody Deck -- 117,000
Alexia Portal -- 66,500
Thomas Fougeron -- 38,500
Nadir Jorephani -- 29,000
Andreas Hagen -- 230,000
Patrick Bueno -- 127,000
William Martin -- 48,500

Someone asked about Gus Hansen...

Well, he's mostly, recently, been in the tank. Here's my Dwell of the Day so far:

[let's set the scene.  There are 4 journalists watching this table] 
Gus is on the button.  He bets 4,700 after seeing a flop heads up.  It's Th 4d 7d.  He gets check-raised another 31,400 (all in).

[there are 14 journalists, and 3 random spectators watching]
Gus has just 35k behind himself, and counts it all out several times, cutting and recutting his stacks.  About 3 minutes pass.

[there are 17 journalists, 5 random spectators and 2 players from the side event watching]
Gus gurns, puts head into hands, runs hands through virtual hair.  Talks a little to himself.

[there are 17 journalists, 12 randome spectators, 2 players from the side event and a waiter watching]
As the TD comes over to either call time officially on the Great Dane or to shoo away the randoms, he passes.

That is about 11 minutes of my life I am not going to get back.

(http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/supertanker/supertanker3.JPG)

Woody Deck is still flying high - on over 130k now.  Just now I discovered that Table Deck has a continual supertanker (see above) - a starting-to-lose-temper Sasha Rosewood confessed mixed desires to "Call the clock, it's ridiculous," and "Not be an a**hole."  Lucky Mr. Deck has absolutely no scruples about calling the clock - Looking at a board of 8s 6h 2s which had paired the 2d on the turn, he'd just checkraised his much shorter stacked opponent 30k (from 8k).  And called the clock on him. 

"You can't just call the clock."
"Yes I can."
"I've been like one minute.  This is a big decision for me."
"This is ridiculous, every hand is taking forever."  Woody is a little animated, jumps up from his seat and tells me almost verbatim what Rosewood did.  The TD calls the clock, and eventually he passes.

Woody throws over the Ad Kd, muttering about how he'd folded Kings earlier, and now bluffs early position or some such poker let-off-steam chat.  The guy next to him deadpans, "Are you a professional poker player."
"I'm a professional a**hole."
"No, you're a pro.  I mean like bluffing and stuff."

No idea what happened from that point but it will be interesting to see if the players who aren't the dweller keep their cool.

PS Please pretend that I could be bothered to get a new pic of Woody instead of using this one from Day One.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14550&g2_serialNumber=1)

The action is thick and fast now, the latest victim of the thick and fastness being Jonas Molander. He moved in with a pair of sixes but ran into the Pocket Queens of Oyvind Riisen. Riisen made a set and that was that.

----------

Splendid news for Connor Driman fans, he's doubled up to precisely 32,400 in a battle of the blinds confrontation with the small blind. I didn't see where the money went in (the Flop, I expect), but Connor's A-K was in great shape against his opponent's K-9 on a 9-8-A, the subsequent bricks giving the American the pot. The very next hand, the action folded round to Connor who lapped up the big blind to take his tally up to, if my Maths is correct, 33,300.

----------

Although proudly donning his arm-revealing wifebeater shirt, it was only the green of the baize that Antonio Esfandiari was beating, the High Stakes Poker pro begging, "One time" to the poker Gods as he found himself in with a chance of winning what would usually be a split pot. Raising to 3,400 in late position, Juris Bonders made it 11,000 from the big blind only for Antonio to raise again to 24,000. Juris quickly pushed all-in, and, in equally swift time, was called by Antonio, albeit with a minor sigh of exasperation. On their backs, and both players may have been relieved, Antonio only a very slight favourite with Ac Kc versus Juris' Ahrt Ks. Of course, Juris had two flush draws rather than one, but in the face of that undeniable fact, it was Antonio who made the draw, the first four cards coming 2s Th 2c 7c. "One time!" shrieked Antonio. "One time!". As the River came an anti-climaxing Jd, Antonio added, "God, one time, just one time. Not two time, just one time." As a result, Antonio remains around that 100k mark, but disappointed to not have received that slice of good fortune that would have seen him become a major threat.

Hmm, now we've said all that, I actually can't find Thomas Wahlroos any more - his former table is now the side event, and I couldn't spot him after a couple of circuits, so for the moment presumed OUT.

Oh, and terribleness upon terribleness, Jen now informs me that Gus Hansen is also OUT. Details to follow.

One player who is shooting for the stars is Ben Sklusy. Finding Pocket Jacks under-the-gun Benjamin made a standard pre-flop raise only to find the button re-popping to 10k. With one cheek resting in his hand, Sklusky slid in 40k and began riffling his black 100 chips in the other, his face unmoving and his eyes peering down towards the felt before him. The button meanwhile, huffed and puffed a little before pushing all-in with A-K. There was still some shrapnel to be called, but Ben turned over his cards before announcing, thus triggering the odd comment about dead hands. Luckily, there were no 'anal shooters', as one player called it, on the table, and Ben was allowed to make the call sans resistance. "Race time," declared Captian Benjamin Obvious as the cards were revealed, but it was the American who had his coin landing the right side, the 6-9-3-3-5 rainbow board earning him both the pot and a stack of well over 100k.

-----------

Stevie Devlin has been enjoying a remarkable surge of late, although he did lose a pot on the very last hand before the break. Starting the hand with 76k, Stevie raised it up to 3,300 in early position and received two callers. It was a three-way checkathon on the 2s Ahrt Th Flop before Devlin came out betting 6,200, on the 5c Turn. One player called. A Jh on the River led to another bet from Stevie, 15,500 this time, which, yet again, was called down. Stevie showed first, his Qh Jc unlikely to be ahead, and I was right with my prediction, Mateyboy showing 5d 5h for the Turned set to take the pot.

Thierry van den Berg hits the rail after this hand:  It's a threeway flop (sorry, not sure of pre action, but I think TvdB may have raised in early position and received callers):  Td 6s Js  One of the blinds bets out a little bit, vdB Moves all in, and gets a very quick call.  He shows Ac Jc but he's been outflopped by Ts 6c.
"One time..." pleads the Dutchman, but the turn and river come 5c 8s.  There's a pause as it is determined that he's just covered, and he sighs, "Same thing, every time..." before shaking everyone at the table's hands and wandering off, trailed by cameras.

Thierry stands up as if turned to stone while his vanquisher calmly waits for the pot to be shipped to him.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15358&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15360&g2_serialNumber=1)

Johnny Lodden has a lot of chips. Ms Isabellefrance may not be pleased to hear that he is also on the immediate left of Manuel Palanca, who is down to just 16k or so.

Yes indeed Trond fans, our beloved Tarantin-a-like has dropped a lot of chips somewhere along the way. :'(  He's currently seated next to awesome magician :) and by the by German poker pro Jan Heitmann, off of whom he's managed to claw a few back.

One hand I saw involved Jan merely limping in on the small blind and Trond checking. Trond had around 20k at this point.

Flop - Jh Ks Qs - they both check
Turn - 4d - Jan bets 2k and Trond calls
River - 4h - Jan bets 3.5k. Trond really dwells up at this point, asks the dealer to splash the pot so he can count it. He appears to do some complicated mathematics in his head before he sighs, and calls.

And I have to say it surprises me mightily that he is holding the totally ahead-all-the-way 4s 8s. Jan is holding 6s 7s. Lucky Jan that the spade didn't come.

Johnny Lodden is now chip leader again, after winning a 60k AK vs 99 flip, knocking a player out in the process.  Jannicke says he's over 315,000!  Just another three days to keep it going, now...
_____________________________________

And here's a picture of the Devlin resurgence in action.  Spot the difference:

Hint - in one photo, he's checked and his opponent has bet around the pot - 14k.  In the other, he's check-raised all in and taken it down.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15362&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=15364&g2_serialNumber=1)

Bad news: Stevie Devlin is OUT.

Good news: His chips went to a fellow Brit.

"I bad-beated him," confessed Stuart Fox with a rye smile. "A-Q versus A-K, Queen on the River."

Requested Counts:

Matt Kurtz -- 160k
Benjamin Kang -- 155k
Jan Sjavik -- 30k
Nicolas Levi -- 90k
Thomas Fougeron -- 47k
Alexia Portal -- 70k
Johan van Til -- 190k
Cyril Bensoouson -- 115k
Manuel Palanca -- 26k (this represents a double up, and came with the cryptic:  "I got lucky.  I got unlucky.")

Andrew Teng -- 36,000
Antonio Esfandiari -- 70,000
Sorel Mizzi -- 123,000
Danny Ryan -- 31,000
Manuel Palanca -- 30,500
Oyvind Riisem -- 420,000
Woody Deck -- 157,000
Stephan Kjaerstad -- 99,000
Sacha Rosewood -- 44,500
Alex Kravchenko -- 42,500
Neil Channing -- 71,000
Marcel Luske -- 116,500
William Martin -- 53,000
Paul Leckey -- 25,500
Ben Sulsky -- 131,500
Ted Lawson -- 31,500
Eli Elezra -- 57,500
Ian Prevost -- 46,000
Jan Heitmann -- 50,000
Michael Martin -- 95,000
Johnny Lodden -- 360,000
Patrick Bueno -- 35,000
Jennifer Mason -- 421,000
Tomas Brolin -- 84,000
Nadir Jorephani -- 29,000
Alexia Portal -- 70,000
Andreas Hagen -- 220,000
Thomas Fougeron -- 52,500
Stuart Fox -- 94,000
Robin Keston -- 126,500
Mel Judah -- 46,000
Glen Chorny -- 129,500
Connor Driman -- 22,000
Adrian Gaville -- 22,500
Alex Michaels -- 62,000
Freddy Deeb -- 140,000

Departing at the very death is Manuel Palanca. I asked him what happened, but he wasn't in the mood discuss it. Also gone is Jonothon Butters.

I Have Seen Many Things...

One of them is that Danny Ryan is on just 25k or so.

--------

Another is that Marcel Luske made it 3.5k pre, and his immediate neighbour Alex Kravchenko made it All In. Luske took one last, wistful look at his hole cards and folded. For some reason Mr Kravchenko looks incredibly pleased with himself. He's on 40 or 45k now.

--------

By the way Mr Thomas Kremser has been busy on the mic, and to our infinite joy, this is the last level that will be played tonight. In fact they've just stopped the clock and announced Last Five Hands so we've been kicked out of the tournament area. There will be a redraw tomorrow.

Other Things I Saw Before We Got Kicked Out:

Our Shaving Injuries Of The Day winner doubled up with Aces against a Mateyboy's pocket Tens.


Also Jan Heitmann took down a tasty pot with some aggressive betting and totally still impassiveness - it is most impressive how still he can be (although from where I was standing I could see him blinking furiously and looking his Mateyboy opponent up and down behind his aviators). He's on around 70k.


--------


THERE WILL HERE BE A BRIEF PAUSE WHILE WE LEG IT TO BEAT THE QUEUE FOR TAXIS - REPORTING WILL CONTINUE FROM OUR BEDSIT. CHIP COUNTS ALSO TO FOLLOW

That was officially the quickest ever transfer from Media Room to Bedsit we have ever accomplished.  The queue for taxis if you leave it too long is horrific, and we are willing to sacrifice being sociable and ignoring players' bad beat stories for a bit of relaxation and booze that doesn't cost the earth.

Aaaanyway - before we were interrupted by the early finish -

I was going to say that Woody Deck has 170k and left with 40 mins still on the clock.  "Arrive late, leave early," he remarked before admitting that he "had a life" and therefore wasn't used to the poker players' nocturnal lifestyle.

I was also going to say that I am not 100% about that van Til count.

I was also going to say that we've been promised chip counts tonight eventually, so if we're still awake (no guarantees) we'll try to get tomorrow's thread going.

That is all.

;stickaforkinme;