blonde poker forum

Hello people, welcome back to the lavish Citywest Hotel as we eagerly await the start of Day 1b of the Irish Open.

Yesterday, the playing arena was replete with chatter, cries, fist-pumps, garish hoodies, outdraws, cold decks, chip tricks, mingling press...in short all the exciting paraphernalia accompanying an exciting poker tournament. Heck, yoda even made an appearance although he was a tad miffed when Skywalker's gutshot busted his set.

(http://www.totalgambler.com/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_2/total_gambler_1412_7.jpg)

Some of the big names of poker did make it through the day however. Roland de Wolfe, both generations of the Brunson family, Pascal Perrault and the controversial but uber-talented Sorel Mizzi amongst others all made the cut for Day 2.

Today a new tranche of players will be in attendance hoping to join those guys. The exact figure is unknown to us as yet, but it will be a suprise if the final count doesn't exceed yesterday's 316 combatants. It will be a busy day for myself, Ms Dana and Senor Floppy as we run around like notepad holding versions of Speedy Gonzales trying to keep up with the frenetic action. Arriba! Arriba!

(http://literature.sdsu.edu/nericcio/1andalespeedy.jpg)

Feel free to fire requests at us for updates and photos of your favourite players and we will work our little cotton socks off to bring you as much news as possible on these guys.

Play commences at 2:00 pm so join us for the start of what will surely be another enthralling day's poker. See you soon!

After the whirlwind of yesterday and consistent marginal situations, I'm consigned back to the safe, comforting, section of the rail once more with Dana and Rod, though I'm struggling to wake up. The reason for this being the wind that's squeezing through the bathroom vent is creating a noise that sounds like an eight-year-old having his first lesson on the tuba.

Nevermind, players are milling around now and it looks like we might, maybe, start on time.

Slight correction to my earlier claim that Pascal Perrault is still in. Having received the final chip counts above, it appears the amiable Frenchman was a late casualty. Sorry if I got your hopes up, French readers!

Morning all! I feel a bit terrible owing to our sampling of a little of the Irish culture last night, but I'm up and dressed, and I feel that that redeems me somewhat...

Anyway, I have a cup of coffee in the Press Corner, and the Citywest Conference Centre is a-buzz with poker players attempting to register/find sandwiches/beer for the more hardcore. There is very little chance of us starting on time, in fact Liam Flood has just now announced that we're looking at a 2.20pm start (for some reason claiming it's due to the bad weather/traffic situation ???).

Our "traditional Irish" piano duo are back in the bar playing Country Road which is not so great, but it does rather suggest we're getting the Cajun party band back tonight too, so I reckon it's a fair trade-off...



There were rumours that it wasn't going to make the guarantee, and at the time of finishing yesterday there were only 250 players registered for today, but there are by my reckoning a million people in the bar right now, so the final numbers will be, at a guess, somewhere between 250 and a million.

We'll let you know when we do...

Our Super-Hi-Tech Player List Format!!!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12381&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12383&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12385&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12387&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ooh oooh, Floppy caught an exit already!

The board was Qc 3d Th 2d 2c and the players one Sean Gregory and one Paul McCann.

Gregory - Ad Qd
McCann - Qh Qs

River - 2c, making McCann the full house, and busting both Gregory's lame-by-comparison-from-the-comfort-of-knowing-what-the-river-is flush draw, and indeed his tournament hopes. I can now confidently say that Paul McCann is our new chip leader, with roughly 20k.

Yes indeed. Also €300 Ladies Event at 5pm today, if anyone fancies it...

Elimination news!

Shaun McCoy is reputedly OUT at the hands of Michael Murphy...No further details at this stage

Early Rutter Alert!

I joined him in the middle of a hand.

The board read 2c Kd 9s 2h and Stu had slid a single 1k and a single 500 chip into the middle...

His opponent in the hand, Ryan Fronda, thought about it for a short while before making the call.

RIVER: 7h

Check, check.

Ryan flipped over 2-5 for turned trips to take the pot whilst a disconsolate looking Stu flicked his cards into the muck. He looked very disappointed. Run good one time Stu!

Here is Ryan, hungry as "de wolfe" for chips.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12404&g2_serialNumber=1)

and Stu "2-5???2-5!!!! OMGGG" Rutter hoping for improved fortunes and less blurry photographs of him...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12408&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just officially announced that with there only being 352 players today, so PaddyPower have actually had to add around €200k to the prizepool to make the €3 milllion guarantee.

Jim Reid just bet 3,000 on a river of a Ahrt Tc Kh 9s 3h board against John McGill, a bit of a dwell from the man in red, but he made the call, only to muck when Jim turns over Qh 9h for the nuts.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12486&g2_serialNumber=1)

LuckyLloyd. He's quit his job, but doesn't like the fact that we refer to him now as a 'professional poker player', so instead here's 'poker pro' Lloyd O'Farrell.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12480&g2_serialNumber=1)

Bit of a bruising clash between Paul Fitzpatrick, who I recall as a fiery characted having met him previously in Waterford, and James Fielding on table 18.

In a raised pot preflop, both players saw a Ah Kh Qs flop.

James moved allin and Paul thought for a few seconds before calling  and showing a somewhat juicy A-K for top 2 pair.

James however turned over Q-Q for the set!

Holy cooler Batman!

(http://www.archon-guild.com/files/sigh.jpg)

A King or Ace-less turn and river meant a double through for James Fielding and Paul controlled the rage that burned inside, muttering "I knew it, I knew it" to himself...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12488&g2_serialNumber=1)

Here is James, either whistling with success or mid-yawn. Take your pick.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12490&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Jonathan Paul has somehow dropped down to about 6.5k - not sure how, although Mickey Wernick seems to have rather more chips than usual.

Mr Tom Archbold, currently (or previously, before the server went down, grrrr) on just a little over his 10k starting stack


Mr Jason Tompkins, 8k. Much to my delight, as I approached his table, he was picking his nose; much to my dismay he noticed I had a camera and stopped doing that in favour of twiddling chips instead


Mr Patrick Lawlor - 7k, and not in his seat. I initially took a photo of the gent in seat 9 by accident, and it was only when he spoke to me in a Scandie accent of some sort that I realised it was the wrong person. So, Mr Jorryt Van Hoof, currently on around 17k

Lucky Lloyd is getting involved!

He sort of suggested earlier, he'd be fairly quiet in the early stages so when I saw him calling 1200 bet from Neil "badbeat" Channing on the turn of a Qc 8d 4s 4c, I sort of surmised he would have some sort of hand.

The river blanked and a check from Lloyd was checked quickly by Channing, who showed him A-K.

"NH sir but NO GOOD!" Brian Blessed Lucky Lloyd might have said, if he had said anything. Instead just showing down K-K was enough to give him the pot and send his stack roaring over 10k...

Lucky Lloyd...

(http://www.totalwar.com/microsites/en/alexander/images/blessed.jpg)

Neil Channing...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12498&g2_serialNumber=1)

Brian Blessed...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12500&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Ok, requestaments.

Big Trevor Reardon -- 10k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12527&g2_serialNumber=1)

Table Danny McHugh

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12531&g2_serialNumber=1)

Tim Blake, Jason Tompkins (6k), and Mike Ellis

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12533&g2_serialNumber=1)

Smurph - A deer caught in the camera's headlights...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12535&g2_serialNumber=1)

Jonathan Paul (13k), whilst Paul Zimbler spots Rod's moobs.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12529&g2_serialNumber=1)

Frank Caierro -- 8k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12537&g2_serialNumber=1)

The gent with the interesting facial hair and floral shirt/leather jacket combo, one Jan Helander, bets out on a 5d 9h Jc flop; David Smith raises. Helander dwells for a bit, and calls.

The turn is the 2h and Helander checks. Smith announces all in, and Helander promptly folds.

There are a few limpers preflop, and the flop comes down Qs Jh Tc.

It checks around to one Glen McCabe, who bets 725. Tony Phillips calls from the button, but Martin Vallo makes it 2675. McCabe quickly passes, and so too does cheeky chappy Phillips, who shows Qh Th, saying, "I take it this is no good."

By the way I'd like to make it clear that Mr Phillips is NOT wearing make up, as he appears to be in Junglecat's photo; this is merely an occasional side effect of the red-eye removal function. Repeat, Tony Phillips is NOT wearing any fetching blue eyeshadow.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12400&g2_serialNumber=1)

Andreas Hoivold just went out, he opened for 450 with Sevens and found a caller from Seat 5. Andreas then announced he was all-in in the dark for his remaining 2k or so, before the flop was dealt. The flop came out Q-T-x with two clubs and seat 5 called with Ac Jc and hit his club. And that was that.

Double bits of bad news for the Frenchies.

First Ludovic Lacay is steaming, he bet 5k on the 3h 5h Kh Ks board and was called, the river was the 6h and it went check/check. His opponent turned over a surprisingly non-river betted Ahrt 4d for the 17k, leaving the Frenchman is pure exasperation.

Next, Arnaud Mattern contemplates a 2.1k bet from Seat 9 on his table on a 9-7-5-T-J board, eventually he makes the call. His opponent shows the 9s and then a little dwell before turning over the 8s for a slightly unnecessary slowroll.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12541&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Jonathan Paul again, this time on 11k.


There are 146 runners. No chance of a player list, I'm afraid, but I can tell you that not among them is Ms Jennifer Mason, who happily accepted my €3 for 1% of her yesterday, and has now decided to take the money and run. I want my €3 back! And £100 for the emotional hurt.

Ludovic Lacay is talking very quickly and very loudly to some people in the press corner. All I can make out is "French French French donk French French check French French French call French call French French tapis!!! French French donk French donk."

Mr Nicky Power, who insists that blondepoker.com ceases to slander him by unfairly suggesting that he physically resembles a certain evil baby from a particular satirical animated television programme, has 10.3k. Watch out Snoops, he's clearly plotting your downfall...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12564&g2_serialNumber=1)


Sharing his table is Mr Julian Thew, himself on a similar 10-point-something-k. I think I may have a lead on the theft of Mr Stuart Rutter's scarf.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12567&g2_serialNumber=1)

I spied with my eagle eyes

(http://thumbs.photo.net/photo/2230387-sm.jpg)

the end of a hand while I was staking out Table Stewie/Thewy. The board was a complete 4s 9d 9h 8h 2s and Roberto Merida bet 350. Julian passed, but David Craig made it 1650. Merida passed...

Mr Stuart "Scarfless" Rutter is down to 7k and most upset about it. "Every time," he says, an edge of hysteria clearly audible in his voice, "Pocket Queens against Pocket Tens. There was 11k in that pot." I point out to him that he has indeed been bad-beaten, but that 7k is still perfectly manageable. "Yeah, but it should have been 17k." Poor old Mr Rutter.


Also doing not massively well is Rumit - he's down to 5k through "a series of small, badly played pots." You have to admire his honesty.

Jeff Kimber is OUT. Ace King into Aces.

Arnaud Mattern is OUT, He had top pair against middle-set (complete with another slowroll!) and then Ace King vs Nines.

Mark Teltscher is OUT, 8s 4s vs Ks Kh on a Js Ts 3s 5h 9s board, all-in on the flop...

London GUKPT finalist Mr Fran Egan, on 14k.

And surely among our chip leaders, Mr Mick McCloskey is on 33k or so, acquired largely through turning a nut flush against top two pair, and then flopping the Devil's Own Hand, a set of Sixes, and getting paid in full.

A few chip counts for you

First off we have Liam "The Gentleman" Flood, suited and booted as is usual. His stack size is 11,800 at present and he seems content if not overjoyed at the present state of play...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12577&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Next up grizzled, seasoned, lightly toasted and covered in sesame seeds campaigner Mickey Wernick (ok the latter part of the description may be pushing poetic licence a little far) is on 13,500 at the moment.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12581&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Finally a hand - ooh and an elimination too!

Brice Cournot and Apuhan Derya became entangled on a 2 spade 7s 5h 2s flop and both committed their chips.

Brice showed As Qs and Apuhan the nut-tastic 7c 7h.

The turn changed things somewhat however as the Js fell, cruelly turning the tide in Brice's favour, but more drama was to come as a further Jh paired the board, re-asserting Apuphan's dominance, causing him to yell "YEESSSSSSSS!" in relief, fist-pump the air as is contractually obliged for all players who hit the river in this comp and send Brice spiralling out of the competition.

Here he is looking intense after this blockbusting hand that propels his stack over 18k...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12579&g2_serialNumber=1)

Marty Smyth -- 14k
Paul Leckey -- 5k

He spoke to us briefly about 30 minutes, said he had 15k but everyone on his table thinks he's an absolute nitty rock which left him giggling.

Priyan De Mel just doubled up his microstack with Aces vs Kings for to around 5k.

Olivier   Padilla was looking pretty short and just shoved allin for 3k ish, to be looked up by Paul Roper's A-8.

His A-J was good however and as the board came K-Q-5-Q-6, it remained that way, meaning Padilla stays in the tournament.

"Double up!" he announced chirpily.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12594&g2_serialNumber=1)

Good work slipping the noose of Paul"The Hangman" Roper...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12596&g2_serialNumber=1)

Denise Fusciardi - just 1.6k, eek. I hung around her table for a good long while, but witnessed no shoving.


No action on that table from Denise, but an absolute bunch of it from everyone else. Olivier Padilla was back down to about 1000, and shoved from the button. The blinds both passed. Padilla showed Aces, and giggled hysterically.

Continuing on Table Denise, this young gent, who may or may not be James Daly, has doubled up with quad Aces against Christa Johanssen...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12612&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Tim Blake - 8k
Pete Linton is on 14k, and grinding.
Lucky Lloyd is also on 14k, and extremely angry about the Brian Blessed thing.

A gent who may or may not be Michael Dwyer bets 1.5k on an 8d Ks 6c 6s board, and Rumit calls.

River - 9h

And I believe that there is no further betting, for Mr Maybe Dwyer is turning over Kh 7h and Rumit is turning over Kc Ts. Says Rumit, "It plays." Mr Possibly Dwyer explodes with a noise that I cannot distinguish as either laughter or crying. I have no idea why. Rumit's on 14k now.

Dario Minieri is OUT. Just had the old Kings vs Aces shennanigans...

He has 11.5k, but was pointing out that Conor Tate to his right was playing very well, and as I mention this, Connor re-raises a 3.4k bet on a Jd 5h 9h board by throwing out a stack of blues that would effectively set his opponent in. Opponent folds.

Nicky 'Stewie' Power and Conor Tate.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12620&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sylvester Geoghan -- 7k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12622&g2_serialNumber=1)

Assorted counts...

Jerome Bradpiece 7k
Jim Reid 12k
Dave Masters 14k
LuckyLloyd 11k
Pete Linton 15k

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There's always plenty of excitement at tournaments but there are also moments when the pace slows to a crawl, not much happens for a while and time can start to drag. It can be hard to tell, but sometimes you notice a small change in the players expressions that can give this away.

Using my (http://thumbs.photo.net/photo/2230387-sm.jpg)

I beleive I spotted one such moment.

What do you thiink???

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12624&g2_serialNumber=1)

To be fair to Pete Linton in the picture above, he perked up considerably once he saw me and went on to win a nice pot the very next hand with a good call on the river. He definitely seems happy with the way things are going at the moment and even had time to ask how my day was going, which was nice!

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He would have been even more entertained, had he noticed Devilfish entertaining the masses with his array of musical talents.

I give you the guitar playing, lead singing musical prodigy that is the Devilfish...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12626&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12628&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12630&g2_serialNumber=1)

Bambos managed to double up in a fortuitous circumstance with Ahrt Kh vs Aspades Kc turning a flush.

Julian Thew and Nicky Power butt heads, when Nicky raises preflop and Julian re-raises to 2.5k, Nicky calls but then check/folds to Julian's 3k bet on an Ac Qc 5h board.

Amusing comedy fact:

Stuart Rutter lasted precisely 3 seconds on the mechanical bull. "I found something that I'm worse at than pool!"

About 13k, he has two very good Americans on his table, but luckily they're both to his right. At least that's what he said to me. In a very poker-professional-sort-of-manner.

Mike Ellis, who Dana reckons looks a little like Stephen King, has just knocked out Teddy Sheringham and another player with Ac Ks against the former footballer's Js Jd and the other short stack's Tc Ts. The vital Ace hitting the flop.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12632&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ray Bitar, nope, I've not heard of him either, but he's apparently the owner of Full Tilt Poker

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12634&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dave Masters, doing 'the one ear on one ear off' headphone routine.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12636&g2_serialNumber=1)

No caption necessary.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12638&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dave Masters just got lucky to knock out a fellow Irishman, re-raising with Ahrt Kh but finding himself up against Kd Kc. But a 6h 5d Ad 7h Qc board later and Dave was the one stacking his chips.

Leo Kam just played out a big pot.

I joined him with 18k in the middle of an 8 7 T flop. I'm not 100% but I think it went in preflop. Both players certainly had their hands on their backs - Leo showing K-K and Mateyboy, the previously well behind but got there in the end T-T.

The pot was swept toward Kam's nemesis and Leo was left shaking his head and nursing his crippled stack, although he still had 10k which with 30 BBs is still very playable...

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Pete Linton was in good spirits. He told me he had just been picking up little pots here and there, and the tall towers of 100s and 25s in his stack were testament to this...

"Oh wait, I did play one big pot!" he told me.

He had called a raise with A-Q and the flop had come A hi.

"I bet out 1500 and this guy (he points to someone on his table) raised it another 9k allin. Anyway I thought about it and I couldn't put him on A-K as American players play that like the nuts preflop, so I called in the end, only to be shown A-Q for him too! I was a bit scared I must admit!"

Gogogo Pete...

---

Random count:

Bambos 15k

Apologies for the delay, I have been Experiencing Technical Difficulties...


Mr Enda McGearty has doubled up against the other guy in this photo, 9s 9d v Ad Kc preflop.

Board - 2s 7c 7h 7d 5c

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12640&g2_serialNumber=1)

Jerome Bradpiece is on 6k, and giggling. Says Jim Reid, "He's playing really bad. Really bad." Jerome is still giggling.

Lucky Lloyd has 17k.

Leo Kam - 18k
Mickey Wernick - 11k
Tim Blake - 8k
Leon Campbell - 5k, I think, although he won't stop riffling with them, so it's hard to tell
Thomas Dunwoodie - 25.1k - "it's picked up since I moved tables"

Tim Blake has just had a nice little coup, getting all-in with A-Q vs K-Q on a Q-high board to double up to 17k. He was asking about John Kalmar, but the shaven-headed Skalie was in a pot of his own, raises a 2.3k bet to Ts 5c 9h to 6k, but when his opponent set him for his last 7.5k, Skalie was forced to fold for his remaining 7.5k or so, leaving him nursing a shorter stack.

'Cheeky Chappie' Tony Philips looks to be OUT.

This gentleman, Mr Jakob Lausted is OUT. I took this photo, because we like his Dave Smith-ian hat.

Junglecat actually went to the trouble of changing the spreadsheet whence I got his name in a pathetic attempt to convince me that Mr Lausted's real name was Hat Face. He must not have enough work to do. Sigh.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12663&g2_serialNumber=1)

Smurf Murphy has around 40k and is having to put up with an unbelievable Turkish guy doing his damnedest to piss her off.

Mr Offensive raises her big blind from the button. "I raise leetle beet, een case you go over top of me. I no like women on top of me. Man should go on top."

Smurf: "You like men on top of you?"

She is absolutely unfazed by Mr Offensive. She folded her blind though.

Er, he has 6k, and is opting for the hysterical giggling approach to being a relative shortstack, rather than the depressed-staring-at-the-table approach.

Leo Kam is OUT. A-Q vs A-J on an Ace high board with two hearts. Running hearts sent him to the rail.

Dave Felton's table has broken and unless you have a photo, it'll be difficult to find him. Ditto 'AlexRoss' if the below picture isn't him.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12676&g2_serialNumber=1)

Marty Smyth has 10.5k and says it's a grind.

I scoured the floors for her...to no avail so I must presume she is out. Sorry.

Ronan I have no idea what he looks like, although I'll try and enlist the help of a few fellow bloggers to find him.

---

Indeed. He held Ahrt Th on a Jh 5h 6h board versus the Jc Js top set of well Mr Mate-E-Boy.

At this point the Soren sound effects went into overdrive as Dana related.

"SOREN SOREN SOREN" fistpump, clench biceps "SOREN" etc / possible hip thrust movement thrown in.

The turn and river needed to blank out for Soren and balnk they did which made him even more joyous.

Groans were heard from the surrounding tables as Soren pranced around, barrelling his chest out, bawling at the top of his Viking lungs..... "KunsInTheBar, KunsIntheBar" he seemed to be saying, which was a bit harsh as I spoke to some of the people in the bar and they seemed like fine fellows.

Here is the unlucky loser Mateyboy

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12678&g2_serialNumber=1)

and the quiet, repressed Soren

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12680&g2_serialNumber=1)

Enda -- 5k "Struggling" he says, "I've got only one move."

*******We're just on a five minute break at the end of level 6*****

There was a stampede that could be heard in Cork at the commencement of the break as the players all bombed outside like a herd of antelope pursued by a particularly vicious pride of lions to grab a cigarette/ drink/ grab hold of someone to tell their bed beat stories.

Julian was a contrasting picture of calm as he idled over to speak to us in the blogger's corner.

"How's it going Julian?" we asked of the great man.

He gave us that classic Julian eyebrow lift that can signify a variety of things as he responded...

"welll, I just flopped my first set. Up to 30k now" he related languidly with a bit of a grin. "The first four levels weren't much fun, had to nick a few pots, but it's coming together now" (stealing pots Julian, tut tut tut, needs must I guess)

Good work Mr Thew! We'll all be thew-rious with you if you don't make Day 2 now, so don't let us down!

---

Jonathan Paul -- 10.5k

Micky Wernick and Jerome Bradpiece are OUT. (The latter slowplaying Aces and running into Jim Reid's trip Sixes).

Stuart Rutter -- 5.5k

Trevor Reardon -- MIA and presumed OUT.

John Magill went out a while ago I think, I saw him playing in the cash games.

Julian has just lost around half his chips to one Tony Collins.

Not sure what happened pre, but I got there just in time to see Collins shove the 6h 8h Js flop. Julian thought about it for a bit, and called.

Julian - 9s Ts
Collins - Ahrt Qh

"WOW," says Rumit. "Like, WOW."

Turn - 2h
River - Qd

Julian's down to around 15k.

We don't know what he looks like! Photo plz if possible.

Also, Lloyd spent all his money on outlandish outfits which is why he is busto and can't buy a razor.

(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/Joenoir/British%20Film%20Actors/blessed.jpg)

Also OUT, in circumstances unknown:

Martin Vallo and Raymond Bitar.


Still IN:

Fran Egan, on just under 40k.

George Geary -- 11k
Phil Starrs -- 30k

Knut Rysstad just won a....

;bp;

He was all-in with Kings vs Oliver Freitag's Queens and a short stack's K-T.

Nothing exciting on the board and Knut is our chipleader with roughly 66k.

Mr Daniel Zink, who I must confess I thought was a girl at first but on closer inspection (not that close though) turns out to be a man, is OUT, to Mr Conor Tate. Not sure when the chips went in, but all the cards looked like this at the end of the hand:

Daniel Zink - A-K
Conor Tate - K-K

Board - A-Q-7-K-5

In the absence of any interesting hands as I traversed the playing area, here are a few counts.

First off, we have PokerVerdict shirted Neil "Bad Beat" Channing, sitting happily on a stack of 25k or so.

He appears to be arranging his stack here in the covetous manner of a character from Tolkien's middle earth realm.

"Chips, my precious, chips"

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12688&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Rob Taylor is enjoying playing on home turf. Up to 18k here is along with table partner Surinder Sunar, who has been having less fortune, down to a mere 5 or 6k...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12690&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Finally, it is nice to see the main protagonist of classic Korean revenge film Oldboy has attended today. It's a few years since Oldboy was released to much acclaim but a little older its star is still clearly recognisable, even now...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12692&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://zalus.koga.hu/oldboy.jpg)

More from the same Knutty table as Dave Masters just gets a huge double through with Aces against Guillame Dacourt's Kings.

Dave Masters now on 50k...

Nicky Power - 11k
Pete Linton - 36k - "this table's been good to me"
Mr Offensive - down to virtually the felt with just 3 or 4k

Mr Haus Ritburg moves in with Kd 8d, as you do, and is called by Michael Ellis and his Ac Aspades.

There is some murmuring around the table of the sort which suggests that a lot of Aces have been cracked of late, and sure enough, the board defies probability and comes down Ts 4c 8h 9d 8s to double up Mr Ritburg.

A few of the chip lead counts for you.

Frenchie for you Jpean...

Eric Larcheveque - a chunky stack of 51k

On a chocolate bar scale, starting at a single revel and ending in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, Eric's stack probably rates at about

(http://dovegreyreader.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/yorkie.jpg)

Then there is  the well known player Conor Tate with a whopping old stack of  72k

Surely worth one of these...

(http://lh6.google.com/coolnicole17/RstezOVum-I/AAAAAAAACAw/UbzeX9jUzzs/IMG_2497.JPG.jpg?imgmax=512)

Stuart Rutter has doubled up with Ahrt Qd vs Td 9d on a Q-9-6-2-8 board. Up to the heady heights of 10k.

Ryan Fronda's Roland De Wolfe hoodie, is down to the fact, Roland actually sells them on his website. "Roland said he's sold 80,000..." said Ryan, "But he's given me his lucky one..."

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12694&g2_serialNumber=1)

Smurph bets 6k (or 5k, I couldn't quite see) on the river of an 9-A-8-5-Q board, eventually the guy in seat 2 makes the call, it's a good one as Smurph shows A-7, inferior to Seat 2's A-T.

"A-7 was all your were beating," pipes up someone on the table.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12696&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Miikka Suleva is OUT, his Qh Qd no match for the mighty Kd 9h of Oliver Freitag.

Board - 6c 3c Kh 5c Jd

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

Enda - 8.5k

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

Steve Jelinek - 20k

Neil Channing checks an 8c 2s 6d flop, and Derya Apuhan bets 3k. To which Channing moves all in. Then he puts his head down on the table and goes to sleep. Apuhan thinks about it for a long time. Then he folds.

Channing wakes up. "Good laydown," says he. The dealer takes away his cards. "Oh, I was going to show," protests Channing. They haven't quite been pulled into the muck; she pushes them back to him. "Oh, no, actually, it's ok," says Channing, and gives them back again. Raucous laughter all round.

Knut Rysstad has added even more to his stack, just knocking out two more players with Aces vs Ace King vs Sevens. 89k now

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12717&g2_serialNumber=1)

Thomas Dunwoodie is also going very well with 60k+

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12715&g2_serialNumber=1)

Here we have a gentleman I beleive is Oliver Freitag, doubling up courtesy of pocket 5's on an 8s 5c 2d flop.

Unsuprisingly, there was no escape for his coldecked opponent who held 8-5 for top 2 pair! Wow, sick deal!

Freitag, happy as a bug in a rug with a slug with whom he has a strong mutual heartfelt connection...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12711&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Here is the dealer who dealt that cooler and she is in danger of toppling Dena the black widow as the most dangerous dealer in poker, as she has been firing out AA v KK and various other setup situations all day.

James Honeybone commented she must be responsible for the transfer of around 250k in chips today. Watch out when this lady's about!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12713&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Jonathan Paul, only 6 or 7k I'm afraid

We can't get in the area now, they've closed it off for the last few minutes.

Phil Starrs just moved in on a T-J-A board, Smurph folded an Ace. Phill showed Tens.

Jarrad Hollingdrake is OUT with A-Q against Desmond Carswell's J-J. Another Jack somewhere on the board, combined with absolutely no Aces, Queens, Tens, Kings, etc to make him any kind of hand, and he's gone.

Tim Blake limps in mid-position, and the blinds limp and check respectively.

They check the Jh Td Js 2d Aspades board all the way down to the river, when Tim bets 1k and the blinds both fold. He shows Q-K. He's on around 14k.

Comedy Slowroll of the Day.

The guy sitting next to Tim Blake, in seat 3, is looking like he really wants to call a push from another player across the table. The dealer is counting a clock down and says, "30 seconds," looking at the player in Seat 3. Seat 3 looks at Tim Blake's hands, Tim has already folded his hand. Seat 3 suddenly realises the clock is on him and says, "Oh sorry, I thought you were still in the hand, I have Aces, I call." All-in-matey shows Queens as Seat 3 apologises profusely multiple times for not realising that Tim Blake had already folded. The Aces hold and the guy with Queens takes it pretty well for someone who has just been knocked out.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12732&g2_serialNumber=1)

It's been a fun filled busy day of poker for us all.

So many stories, so many tales of woe and glory.

What a day!

As Dana says we will have full counts most likely tomorrow but it looks like Norwegian Knut Rysstad is the current chip daddy with what is likely to be 100k or thereabouts...

We'll be back tomorrow as today's survivors meet up with day 1a's remaining players to do battle but for now, we're going to wrap things up, cheer Jen on in her omaha cash game, grab a quick sandwich and drink and mentally prepare ourselves for the epic battle ahead.

See you guys (no exceptions now!) at 2:00 pm for the resumption but for now  ;stickaforkinme; because I am done!