blonde poker forum

 Hello and ;welcome; to the imaginatively named Casino SanRemo, based in, yes you guessed it, San Remo for the opening of the (ahem) San Remo leg of the EPT tour.

San Remo (last time I promise!) is a simple and attractive village/ townlet, oozing rustic charm and it should prove a wonderful setting for the latest EPT encounter. Myself and Chris attended the opening Pokerstars party last night, where as usual, there was an array of entertainments including fire-eaters, firebreathers, fire-jugglers, sword balancers, trapeze artistry, plenty of scantily clad ladies, all keeping the assorted players and media entertained as they munched their way through the complimentary buffet and free bar. An interesting night was had by all for sure!

We don't currently have a full player list, but here are some names who will be appearing either today or tomorrow for Day 1b. We shared a few beverages last night with Dan "Stop talking about my hair!" Carter, whose hair actually wasn't TOO curly, in fact slightly straightened whilst retaining its inherent bushiness. He seems in fine fettle and will be looking to go one better than his near final table performance at the EPT Dortmund. Baden EPT winner, Goldenboy, William Hill-sponsored and all round good guy Julian Thew is here, with family in tow, fresh from a good performance in the Irish Open and looking keen to take down his 2nd EPT. Good luck to both. Other names milling around were Noah Boeken, Raymond Rahme, Patrick Antonius and plenty of other star players. More to come on them later.

We should be starting at roughly 15:00 loca time which will be 14:00 in the UK. Join us to see how things develop in the latest exciting leg of the EPT tour!

The poker room is absolutely huge, suffice to say that it's full to capacity at 350, yet we reckon they could have squeezed in another 15 tables or so. The only thing we are worried about is the internet exploding in the pressroom, San Remo is basically a dial-up sort-of-town and I'm wondering how many poker players have brought their own routers with them, a la Ramzi Jelassi in Warsaw last year...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13403&g2_serialNumber=1)

John O'Shea (the non Man Utd defender in the blue here), raises to 200, Marcus Golser re-raises to 400, and everyone else passes.

Th 5c Td

John checks, Marcus bets 1k, John calls.

Qc

Check check.

Jd

Marcus now bets 1,700. John thinks and then passes Kings face up. Marcus taps the table and shows Ahrt Ad.

"I'm not beating anything by the river," said the Irishman.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13406&g2_serialNumber=1)

Consistently in the running for 'Hat of the Day' Nicolas Levi, and consistently in the running for 'Hammer of the Day' Thor Hansen.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13408&g2_serialNumber=1)

With the hopes of the home nation, 12-year-old Dario Minineri.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13410&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sorrel Mizzi, Steve 'Sam the Eagle' Zolotow and Freda.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13412&g2_serialNumber=1)

Tony Cascarino seemingly turning into Jim Meehan.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13414&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Jim_Meehan_2005_cropped.jpg)

Action!

Katja Thatur was involved in a big pot with a mateyboy as I sidled past her table (I can sense when another Kat is in a tense situation)The flop read Qh 9c 7s, mateyboy had bet 3k and Katja had moved in. Called by matey who proudly turned over his A-Q with an air of confidence that seemed highly misplaced to me, and indeed this proved to be the case as Katja tabled the far more impressive 9-9 for a set and mateyboy's smug demeanor vanished rapidly into the ether.

Matey was pretty much drawing dead and a 7 and T on the turn and river completed the hand, virtually doubling up Katja. Here is Katja, with her trademark icy cool poker presence, raking in the pot.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13416&g2_serialNumber=1)

As a loud car-horn concerto goes off outside every few seconds annoying the crap out of me, the internet is managing to hold up luckily allowing me to post some more photos.

Former EPT Warsaw Champion Peter Jepsen.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13426&g2_serialNumber=1)

The petite Liz Lieu.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13428&g2_serialNumber=1)

Graham Clarkson in 'Evil Genius Planning' mode

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13430&g2_serialNumber=1)

Table Joe Grech, Mel Judah and Magnus Petersson.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13432&g2_serialNumber=1)

Steve Jelinek has just played out a BIG pot.

I missed the preflop action though there was clearly some chunky action as Steve was heads up with roughly 2k in the middle.

The flop came Ahrt Qh 7c.

Steve: CHECK
Matey: 3.2k
Steve: CALL!

(At this point I was fairly sure that all the chips were going to end up in the middle, given the pot size)

TURN: 2s
Steve: CHECK
Matey: Shove for 6k. Allin.
Steve: CALL!!

Matey had Steve just covered and showed down 7-7 to which Steve just mucked as he was presumably drawing dead. Wow. A-K i guess....

So an early exit for Steve must be disappointing but on the plus side at least it frees up time for him to explore the sights and enjoy the weather.

Here he is picking his coat up, abouot to drown his sorrows in a huge tidal wave of ice-cream and pizza.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13422&g2_serialNumber=1)

Michael Martin -- 7.5k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13436&g2_serialNumber=1)

Rolf Slotboom sans Tic Tacs.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13438&g2_serialNumber=1)

Julian Thew and Roland De Wolfe's table. The latter just doubled up to 8k after being all-in on the turn with Qd Td on a K-Q-7-2 two diamond board vs a set of twos, Roland rivering a flush. Thanks to Stu Rutter for that spot!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13440&g2_serialNumber=1)

Another of the home favourites. Criiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssstiiiiiiiannnnnooooooooo Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanco.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13442&g2_serialNumber=1)

Norkage for the ladies.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13444&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sideshow Bob reporter.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13434&g2_serialNumber=1)

Julian is sharing a table with Roland De Wolfe and I joined their table as they were heads up in a pot.

With a board showing 8-6-8-2 Roland had bet the turn and was sitting there, grinning in his infectious manner at Julian. Julian looked a little reluctant but ultimately threw his cards in the muck.

"Read my blog if you want to find out what I had!" Roland cheerfully told Julian as he raked in the chips.

RDW up to 13k.

---

I also spotted Joe Grech lurking at a nearby table. He was quietly pokering away, clearly not getting too involved yet as his starting stack hadn't deviated far from his initial 10k.

---

Nick Gibson has had a slow start and is on 7.5-8k at the moment.

Provisional Player List, courtesy of pokerstars.com:

Jarle  Aasen   9   5
Richard Abou   14   5
Benjamin Abou   21   2
Dario Alioto   30   6
Nathalie Amar   18   8
Fabrizio Ascari   8   1
Terje Augdal   9   6
Marcel Barten   29   1
Martyn Bebb   23   5
Jeppe Bech-Sørensen   14   9
Franck Bedrossian   27   10
Sandro Bellusci   23   6
Giorgio Bernasconi   32   8
Robert Binelli   34   2
Cristiano Blanco   14   7
Jimmy Blom   5   4
Cecilia  Borg   1   6
Asger Boye   21   5
Dan Carter   12   5
Tony Cascarino   22   10
Luca Castagnola   26   9
jegors cemisovs   15   1
grzegorza Cickoki   15   4
Federico Cipollini   30   10
Graham Clarkson   29   9
Andrea Cortona   8   3
Miquel De Boer   2   3
Guillaume De La Gorce   8   10
Roland De Wolfe   7   1
Woody Deck   22   3
Francesco Del Grosso   26   10
Stephen Denneny   13   8
Riccardo D'Errico   3   7
Daniel Donovan   22   9
Jeop Durkstra   18   7
Rasmus Edenfall   12   6
Cristian Falcioni   4   7
Romain Feriolo   22   5
Adriano Flacco   25   6
Robert Flink   5   6
Cesare Florio   32   3
Thomas Fougeron   10   5
Alessandro Gentili   11   4
Roberto Gioffre   24   2
Pete Giordano   5   5
Paolo Giovanetti   12   1
Andreas Gülünay   4   2
Filip Hanna   8   4
jonny hanna   29   7
Thor Hansen   8   8
Thor Hjertenes   9   10
Ørjan  Holt   8   6
Jesper Hougaard   9   9
severin hovde   23   4
Alex Jagodik   28   9
Evert Jan Dondergoor   13   3
Simon Johansson   23   8
Anders Jorgensen   26   5
Melvyn Judah   26   6
Henric Kask   25   9
Sami Kelopur   23   9
cort kibler-melby   15   3
Davidi Kitai   32   2
Antoon Kleijnen   10   10
Leszek Krawczynski   10   6
Riccardo Lacchinelli   12   8
Janne Lamsa   23   2
Andreas Larsson   11   6
Tero Laurila   10   3
Viola Matteo   30   1
Tino Lechich   16   3
Stephane Lemau   5   1
Nicolas Levi   8   5
Luis Miguel Magan Tier   25   7
Giovanni Mancuso   1   10
Reijo Manninen   6   3
Matej Marinovic   8   9
Jean-Marc  Masquelier   10   8
Prosper Masquelier   5   3
Roberto Masullo   4   10
Nichlas Mattsson   17   10
Francesco Mazzadi   17   4
Govert Metaal   20   7
Andrea Michelotto   22   7
Sorel Mizzi   19   1
Eric Mode   22   1
Enrico Mognaga   17   6
Sigbjorn Mortveit   17   6
Gerardo Muro   24   3
Lee Nayler   18   5
Damien Oborne   23   10
Francesco Olivieri   17   1
Christian Oman   1   4
Gunnar  Østebød   15   5
Jean Froncois Paoli   2   10
Massimiliano Patroncini   6   4
VELI-PEKKA PENTTINEN   29   10
Pascal Perrault   14   4
Magnus Peterson   26   8
Jean Pierre  Petroll   25   8
Marco Pistilli   11   7
Roberto Pompei   32   5
gianluca proietti toppi   17   2
Heribert Prott   25   2
Stefan Raffay   14   2
GIUSEPPE RAGO   29   3
Nicolas Ragot   32   1
Kalil Rahal   10   1
Antoine Rahal   28   5
Maurizio Musso   17   8
LUCA REYNAUD   29   6
Massimiliano Rosa   3   5
Antony Roux   21   4
Daan Ruiter   22   4
HAKAN SAHL   16   8
Riccardo Schillirò   27   9
Claudio Schioppa   27   6
Alexandre Schulmann   15   6
Oskar Silow   4   5
Rolf Slotboom   3   6
James Smith   18   1
LEROY Soesman   6   10
DANIELE Soldarelli   27   8
Sandro Soncini   23   3
Christoffer Sonesson   13   4
Mirko Stamm   32   4
Johan Storakers   11   10
Tommaso Tambaro   22   6
MASSIMILIANO TAMBURINI   29   8
Yuri Ten Bokkel   7   4
Julian Thew   7   9
Clyde Tjaauw Foe   18   9
Andreas Torbergsen   16   2
Salvatore Trevali   4   4
Giampietro Valentini   3   2
Steven Van Zadelhoff   20   2
Giancarlo Vassallo   29   4
Antonino Venneri   11   5
Anders Vind   14   1
Maurizio Vittoni   29   5
Timo Wagner   7   10
Jimmy Wålberg   6   2
Bart Wetsteijn   8   2
Sebastian Zink   1   9
Steve Zolotow   19   2
Alessandro Longobardi   31   6
Francesco Napoli   25   5
Francesco Nguyen   19   6
Wasek Lukasz   19   9
Claudio Fontana   31   2
Adamsen Nikolaj   19   10
Alblas Kees   10   7
Avlonitis Nikolaos   6   9
Bække Allan   19   7
Baron Isaac   6   8
Bassil Maximilian   13   2
Bentham Thomas   19   5
Bonde Christian   6   1
Brennan Rory   21   6
Brockmann Henrik   12   2
Brummelhuis Michiel   27   4
Byard Gregory   20   1
Caprioli Rodrigo   21   8
Catellani Andrea   21   7
Chaskelson Tony   19   3
Chidwick Stephen   7   7
Chmiel Pawel   15   7
Clausen Jeppe   15   8
Conti Emiliano   3   1
Daut Ryan   12   10
Doran Denis   18   6
Dypvik Børge   9   1
Elpayaa Joseph   21   10
Emonts Benjamin   27   3
Ericson Carl-Johan   27   2
Fitzgerald Alexander   12   3
Fitzpatrick Jeremiah   2   1
Foley Dillon   19   4
Gaines Lee   27   5
Gardelli Gerard   15   10
Gomez Javier   13   9
Gomila Romero Bartelome   6   6
Gould Peter   15   9
Heirman Jochen   26   7
Hogbom Michael   20   3
Hol Håkon   3   10
Holmseth Stian   18   2
Veldhuis Lex   13   1
Hostrup-Pedersen Carl   3   9
Hwang Yung   5   7
Jedlicka Stefan   13   7
Jelinek Steve   24   1
Johnston Walter   1   3
Kalfon Frank   4   1
Karlsson Erik   5   10
Kastle Casey   25   1
Kekäläinen Eero   1   7
Kovacs Andras   18   4
Lehtonen Samuel   1   1
Greg Anthony   1   2
Mårtenson Patric   10   9
Martin Paul   27   7
Mashadi-Ghasem Shahbal   9   8
McEvoy Tom   9   7
Mele Dustin   9   3
Mercier Jason   4   9
Minieri Dario   3   3
Mohr Ingo   9   2
Molnar Norbert   28   4
Moore Nicholas   28   3
Moresco Gianluca   14   6
Mortarino Luca   22   2
Mortenssen Ståle   11   8
Mustanoglu Osman   12   4
Naim Ibrahim   28   1
Neuteboom Mischa   28   2
Nikaj Anthon   21   3
Nyman Ville   18   10
Optekar Jesse   24   4
O'Shea John   24   8
Pagano Luca   23   7
Paszkiewicz Dariusz   20   9
Pavlicek Tommy   24   7
Pessin Stéphane   24   6
Piñana Jorge   3   4
Piquee Raphael   28   7
Rahme Raymond   28   6
Antonius Patrick   14   3
Resch Jürgen   20   10
Rizzi Luigi   20   4
Rochette Danny   13   10
Rogers Jason   1   8
Rönn Thomas   25   10
Roy Alaim   4   8
Rubinsztejn Alexandre   16   1
Schaefer Brandon   12   7
Sjödin Henrik   7   5
Spinella Anthony   7   6
Sprengers Benjamin   27   1
Steindl Johannes   1   5
Suchanek Jan   11   3
Tavernier David   2   2
Testud Paul   2   6
Thater Katja   6   7
Tomba Alberto   22   8
Kwiek Michael   19   8
van den Bijgaart Joep   2   5
van der Zwet Tim   2   7
Villemure Maxime   2   4
Vlek Menno   5   9
Warn Henrik   20   5
Wijlaars Jan   15   7
Wilburn Garret   25   3
Wilkerson Dylan   2   8
Yamron Bruce   2   9
Cornell Tyler   4   6
Petersen J.Knishmark   20   8
Sonnert Bengt   3   8
Martin Michael   4   3
Chris Lee   11   1
Stefano Pizzuti   30   9
Massimo Domenicali   21   9
Thomas Nielsen   32   9
Serge Loic   32   10
Damir Horozic   33   1
Fabrizio Cocco   17   7
Maurizio Baisi    33   2
Lambertus De Haas   33   3
Angel Ivanov   33   4
Nicholas Gibson   24   9
Christopher Andersson   33   5
Francesco Bergamin   34   3
Alberto spigolon   33   7
Luigi Pignattaro   28   8
Ouri Cohen   33   8
Gianni Geroni   26   1
Boyan Bonev   33   9
Oscar Bianco   12   9
Santiago Terrazas   34   4
Corrado Martinelli   34   5
Nikolaj Adamsen   19   10
Kees Alblas   10   7
Nikolaos Avlonitis   6   9
Allan Bække   19   7
Isaac Baron   6   8
Maximilian Bassil   13   2
Thomas Bentham   19   5
Christian Bonde   6   1
Rory Brennan   21   6
Henrik Brockmann   12   2
Michiel Brummelhuis   27   4
Gregory Byard   20   1
Rodrigo Caprioli   21   8
Andrea Catellani   21   7
Tony Chaskelson   19   3
Stephen Chidwick   7   7
Pawel Chmiel   15   7
Jeppe Clausen   15   8
Emiliano Conti   3   1
Ryan Daut   12   10
Denis Doran   18   6
Børge Dypvik   9   1
Joseph Elpayaa   21   10
Benjamin Emonts   27   3
Carl-Johan Ericson   27   2
Alexander Fitzgerald   12   3
Jeremiah Fitzpatrick   2   1
Dillon Foley   19   4
Lee Gaines   27   5
Gerard Gardelli   15   10
Javier Gomez   13   9
Bartelome Gomila Romero   6   6
Peter Gould   15   9
Jochen Heirman   26   7
Michael Hogbom   20   3
Håkon Hol   3   10
Stian Holmseth   18   2
Lex Veldhuis   13   1
Carl Hostrup-Pedersen   3   9
Yung Hwang   5   7
Stefan Jedlicka   13   7
Steve Jelinek   24   1
Walter Johnston   1   3
Frank Kalfon   4   1
Erik Karlsson   5   10
Casey Kastle   25   1
Eero Kekäläinen   1   7
Andras Kovacs   18   4
Samuel Lehtonen   1   1
Anthony Greg   1   2
Patric Mårtenson   10   9
Paul Martin   27   7
Shahbal Mashadi-Ghasem   9   8
Tom McEvoy   9   7
Dustin Mele   9   3
Jason Mercier   4   9
Dario Minieri   3   3
Ingo Mohr   9   2
Norbert Molnar   28   4
Nicholas Moore   28   3
Gianluca Moresco   14   6
Luca Mortarino   22   2
Ståle Mortenssen   11   8
Osman Mustanoglu   12   4
Ibrahim Naim   28   1
Mischa Neuteboom   28   2
Anthon Nikaj   21   3
Ville Nyman   18   10
Jesse Optekar   24   4
John O'Shea   24   8
Luca Pagano   23   7
Dariusz Paszkiewicz   20   9
Tommy Pavlicek   24   7
Stéphane Pessin   24   6
Jorge Piñana   3   4
Raphael Piquee   28   7
Raymond Rahme   28   6
Patrick Antonius   14   3
Jürgen Resch   20   10
Luigi Rizzi   20   4
Danny Rochette   13   10
Jason Rogers   1   8
Thomas Rönn   25   10
Alaim Roy   4   8
Alexandre Rubinsztejn   16   1
Brandon Schaefer   12   7
Henrik Sjödin   7   5
Anthony Spinella   7   6
Benjamin Sprengers   27   1
Johannes Steindl   1   5
Jan Suchanek   11   3
David Tavernier   2   2
Paul Testud   2   6
Katja Thater   6   7
Alberto Tomba   22   8
Michael Kwiek   19   8
Joep van den Bijgaart   2   5
Tim van der Zwet   2   7
Maxime Villemure   2   4
Menno Vlek   5   9
Henrik Warn   20   5
Jan Wijlaars   23   1
Garret Wilburn   25   3
Dylan Wilkerson   2   8
Bruce Yamron   2   9
Tyler Cornell   4   6
J.Knishmark Petersen   20   8
Bengt Sonnert   3   8

On a T-5-T-T board, Julian Thew checks to his opponent who bets 2,250 into a 3,100 pot. After a brief think of about a minute, one player decides to call the clock, a request which is refused by Big TK, Thewy makes the call with only about 4,500 behind. The river is the 9c, and again Julian calls and is faced by a 4k bet. Again he after a think, he makes the call. "Good call," are the word he must be relieved to here as his opponent shows Qh Jd, Julian turns over a pair of Nines and takes the pot.

(Spot Marc Convey's favourite player also in the picture) :D

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13446&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sir Woody of Deck smells a blocking river bet when his opponent bets 550 into a 2,550 pot on the river of a Ahrt Jh 4s 5h 7h, he makes it 8.5k and sits there smiling, enjoying watching his opponent agonise over the decision, or maybe Woody is just thinking about cake. Either way he gets the fold.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13448&g2_serialNumber=)

Ok, quiz question time.

What do you get if you cross a beautiful and glamorous EPT presenter ....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8929&g2_serialNumber=1)

with a small furry animal?

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1355/1371991736_26af8e5222.jpg)

(Llevan you are forbidden from answering that question)

Stumped?

I give you Kara Scott as you have NEVER seen her before!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13460&g2_serialNumber=1)

You want that piece of lettuce, let's see some paws!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13462&g2_serialNumber=1)

Grumpy bunny! No carrots for you!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13464&g2_serialNumber=1)

Roy Brindley is OUT. Jacks into Kings.

Rory Rees-Brennan has about 17k, but the chip leaders look to be Ryan Daut and Woody Deck, both with over 30k. Dan Carter is on the former's table and saying one player just keeps paying Daut off everytime. Dan meanwhile is a little downhaving lost half his stack in awkward spots, joining him on the good ship Nolucksofar bound for Glumsville are Sorrel Mizzi, Nicolas Levi, Michael Martin and Gunnar Osterbrod, the fourof them having had nothing go right so far.

Sorrel in fact is down to just 3k pushing all-in on a 4h Js 8h flop to isolate an all-in short stack with his Ahrt Aspades in good shape against the Ks Jh of his opponent until the Kd hit the turn, a fist pump from the Italian whilst Sorrel remained expressionless even after the 5h river.

Other players with stacks looking around or over 20k include Marcus Golser, Roland De Wolfe, Julian Thew and the 11-year-old hometown hero Dario Minineri.

The internet is verrrrrrrry sloooooooooooow.

Bizarre hand between two Italianoboys.

J-T-7-4 board, both get it all-in, around 4k each. The hands? Both have a pair of Fives.

Roland De Wolfe lost a 10k pot with Kings vs Ace King, he then just dropped more chips re-raising Stephen Chidwick after Julian Thew had flat-called Stephen's initial raise. Stephen pushed, Julian folded (A-K), Roland called the not too much more with A-Q only to find Chidwick also with A-K. A bricky board ending with a King sends the chips away from the wolf.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13470&g2_serialNumber=1)

Tero Laurila -- 5,325

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13466&g2_serialNumber=1)

Table Ryan Daut and Brandon Schaefer. (Also notice Dan Carter's re-emerging Eufro...)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13468&g2_serialNumber=1)

Julian Thew is OUT. A limp from Marc Convey's favourite player, Dag Palovic, Julian made it 800, and just Dag called.

9s 6s Td

Dag checks, Julian bets 1,700, Dan sets him in for another 5k. Julian eventually makes the call with Aces. Dag has pocket Sixes and shouts, "No Ace! No Ace!". He gets his wish after the bricky 2c and 3c turn and river.

As I circled the tables, I noticed young Swedish player Cecelia Borg at the tables, recently spotted at the Irish Open.

I was surprised to see her at this EPT as well, especially given her lack of form in Live comps (even less hendonmob database entries than me!) A little investigation later and I discover that she won the bet365 leaderboard, which meant she has been paid in to play in all the EPT and WPT events this year. Sweet deal !

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12796&g2_serialNumber=1)

Peter Jepsen is sitting next to me chatting to some Danish guys so I think he might be out.

Having just dashed for some quick dinner, we're now back. Half the players are on their dinner break as we speak while the other half are playing the 150/300 level now.

ok, I'm putting a perhaps unmerited amount of faith into the sheet of names we have been handed, detailing today's players to do this, but here are some recent eliminees.

Villmure Maxime - OUT!
Jimmy Walberg - OUT!
Reijo Manninen - OUT!
Thomas Fougeron - OUT!
Brandon Schaffer - OUT!
Sahl Hakan - OUT!
Gregory Byard - OUT!

---

Pascal Perrault is one of the French players playing today. He looks to have had a quiet opening to the tournament, still holding roughly 10k.

He is also the current fore-runner and strongly tipped favourite to win SHIRT OF THE DAY.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13472&g2_serialNumber=1)

Nick Gibson has put his foot to the gas after a slow start...

On a board of T-J-Q-7-2 I saw he had a mateyboy at his table allin, matey holding J-7 which was NO GOOD against Nick's K-9 straight. A nice boost to his stack, he looks to have around 15k at the moment...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13474&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Finally we have the photogenic Liz Lieu, who has jsut under 10,000 chips at the moment.

She is seated next to Joe Grech, who perked up and put his arm round her as I approached their table. Sadly I wasn't in possession of the camera at the time, so you'll have to make do with this shot of Liz from earlier...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13476&g2_serialNumber=1)

Steve Jelinek went out earlier. Rod is just off to find out about Tom McEvoy, I did see him earlier knock out a guy with Eights vs Ace King, the other guy hit two pair but Tom four-flushed in diamonds.

Meanwhile, Rolf Slotboom is always good for a soundbite.

"Chrish, we pay five thousand Eurosh, Five toushand. And justsh look at the chairsh they give ush. They are the crappiessht chairsh I've ever seens."

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13478&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sure, Michael is on 26k having hit the heady heights of 32k before. He raised with 4's and ended up getting all the chips on a 7-5-4 board vs 6-6, but hasn't won a pot since then.

Chris Lee -- 20k (I think)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13482&g2_serialNumber=1)

Roland and his dirty stack, and comedy t-shirt.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13486&g2_serialNumber=1)

Patric Martensson

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13484&g2_serialNumber=1)

Peter Roche

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13480&g2_serialNumber=1)

Woody "Can't Miss" Deck continues domination of his table and is well over 30k now.

"You hit everything!" one exasperated opponent told him after he made 2 pair with 8-4 on the river to beat his opponent's outkicking-him-till-the-river Q-4.

"hehehehe"replied Woody.


Here is the man who is being smacked repeatedly in the face by his surname.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13488&g2_serialNumber=1)

Katja Thater is out, as is Patric Antonius after making a big bluff but running into trips.

Dan Carter has doubled up with Threes against Jack Ten on a 2h 2s Ks Aspades 9h board.

Liz Lieu just won a big pot, there was an EP raise to 800, followed by another player who hadn't seen the raise but was forced to re-raise to 1,300. Lieu called, as did the OR.

Kd Kh 2h

Checked around.

8d

Liz Lieu bets 1,500. OR folds and the re-raiser makes it 3k. After some deliberation, Lieu calls the suspect min-raise.

Jd

Check check. Lieu shows pocket Queens, beating Jh 9h.

For all you Ingo Mohr fans out there.

Here's a shot of the great man, doing very well on 20k. Go Ingo!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13490&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chip counts of requested players. I took these with the players away from their seats and no identifying cards so the accuracy of the numbers is reliant on

a) the players not having moved from their original seats
b) the seating plan being correct.

This being the case, here they are!

Paul Testud - 9k
Michael Martin - 23k
Tom Mcevoy 7.3k

Excellent French prospect Nicolas Ragot, (who cashed in both the side events at the GJP deepstack festival), just made full use of the break at the end of the last level, thinking for a good 10 minutes before passing to the all-in of another player on the turn of a K-2-5-6 board. His opponent offered to show, and Nicolas, wisely or unwisely accepted, and was shown Ac Qc for pure air.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13492&g2_serialNumber=1)

Earlier on, Rod reported a couple of bust-outs but the cards had been wrongly taken, so Brandon Schaefer and Thomas Fourgeron (below) are definitely still in.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13496&g2_serialNumber=1)

Truly a face like a spanked bottom, Woody Deck feels the effect of losing 10k with A-J to A-A on a J-high board.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13498&g2_serialNumber=1)

Emo-punk band leader, Gunnar Osterbrod is in the running for climber of the day, turning his 6k into 30k in less than 30 minutes, the biggest pot was turning a flush against top pair and still having his opponent move in against him whilst drawing dead.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13500&g2_serialNumber=1)

Graham 'Evil Genius' Clarkson, here hatching Plan Omega Kappa 5. he has 27k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13502&g2_serialNumber=1)

Roland De Wolfe is now motoring on steadily, A-T vs K-T to eliminate another stack on a A-2-6-Q-A board. He has 26k now.

Gunnar Osterbrod having a topsy-turvy time, first he lost a 20k pot with Queens to Ace Jack, then shortly afterwards he calls the all-in of another player on a Qd Td 7h board.

Mateyboy: 8d 4d

Gunnar: A crushing Ad Jd

Turn:

8s

River:

5d

And just as he thought it was going to be one of those days, his stack is much healthier once more.

Michael Martin is first to make it over the 50k mark having raised with Aces and then been called, a second player re-raised and Michael smooth-called before he got it all against A-Q on a Q-high flop. I asked him if he had any other stories, he said, "No, I just kinda play straight-forward, it's fairly dull..."

Dan Carter is OUT, he repushed Fours into Aces, "Seemed like a good spot," came the disappointed tale after his 5.5k shove over the top of a 1k raise was snapped called.

Think he went out a couple of hours ago. Rory Rees-Brennan is still in though and now sitting next to Graham Clarkson.


It's probably the Hatpimp Nicolas Levi who can't even find a spot to move in on because there so much raising and re-raising in front of him.

Or alternatively you could support the yo-yoing Gunnar Osterbrod who just lost a 63k with Kings to Queens and is now down to just 11k.

Roy Brindley's out  :( I'll try and find John on my next trip.

Kekäläinen Eero - not 100% sure which name is his forename and which his surname - has just eliminated a player who I THINK is Giovanni Mancuso. I joined the table to see a 2d 9s 6d 9h 3d board, Eero holding a nut-flushy Ad Jd and Mancuso mucking his cards, shaking his head, gesticulating in dramatic italian fashion several times, although I didn't see him do that footballer thing where they get on their knees, clasp their hands together and pray that the ref will reverse his red card decision.

The dealer was probably a little relieved about this...

---

Italian mateyboy on Italian Mateyboy action!

Also out is the clean shaven Mazzadi Francesco, enticed to commit all his stack on the river of a T-8-7-T-Q board with A-Q but TPTK proved no good against the wily wiles of Fabrizio Cocco whose cheeky T-J offsuit trips was good for the pot.

"Mama mia!i no-a like-a that!" said Francesco before rushing off to eat some ragu sauce (or at least he did in the strange world I inhabit where all my pre-formed racial stereotypes are exact depictions of real life people)

(http://www.nightlifeposter.com/pastissuearchives/pastissue654/images/Mamma_Mia.jpg)

On a 7s 6h 3h Jd 9c board, Roland De Wolfe bets 9k. A huffing and puffing later, and his Italian opponent calls. "No-one ever folds to me anymore," laments De Wolfe as he mucks. He's shown Ad 6c, thus reinforcing his own point.

Notice next to him, Bandana of the Day!!!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13520&g2_serialNumber=1)

Another local hero for this comp. Luca Pagano going well once more.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13516&g2_serialNumber=1)

Johann Storakers is OUT. He was all-in on 6c 3d 4h board for around 6k-7k with 9c 9d and Chris 'Genius28' Lee with Qd Qc. Two black jacks later sealed the deal.

Mark Teltscher has doubled up with 6-6 vs A-T. Rumours that he himself also had the A-T are yet to be substantiated.

Mel Judah has joined the town of Bustoville.

Possibly the Italian Soren Jensen... he hits a little tamborine and shouts out aloud whenever he is all-in. A bit of an odd spectacle...

Also, that chip protector does kinda look like a man humping a red chili.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13518&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just spoke to Graham Clarkson.

He currently has 27k but he isn't 100% happy with things...

"I had 43k at one point but spunked a load of it away to this guy...[he indicates a behoodied gentleman who looks up and smiles]"

27k is still a fine stack though and he should be making it to day 2...

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Shorter but still in contention is ex-LNP and former European player of the year, Frenchman Pascal "TripleP" Perrault. He currently has 14.5k, which although not massive, is workable. Go go Mr Perrault!

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Snoopy I think you should root for THIS man, Raymond Rahme. Propelled into the limelight by finishing 3rd and winning $3,000,000 in the WSOP (imagine that as your first line on THM database!), he currently has roughly 10k which is short, although his stack looks pretty impressive at first glance since there are many towers, almost all of which are composed of the low denomination 25 and 100 chips.

Raymond Rahme (who I snapped and have somehow misplaced the picture) has increased his stack to 17k or so and swapped some of his mountains of almost worthless 25 chips for some FAR more valuable (and easy to count) blue 1k chips. Good job sir!

Here is Snoopy's new best friend, and may I suggest a small lookeylikey at this juncture..

(http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/it/uploaded_images/Raymond-Rahme-735872.jpg)

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42100000/jpg/_42100422_jimllfixit270.jpg)

Michael Martin has lost a huge 80k pot with Jacks vs King Queen vs a short stack's Threes, the King hit and all the chips went to the stack to his right.

On the plus side, Michael did win the 'Most Futile Attempt To Wear A Hat' contest.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13522&g2_serialNumber=1)

The hatpimping hat pimper, Nicolas Levi is OUT. A-K vs J-T which rivered a straight.

Robert 'T-Bag' Binelli and his comedy sunglasses/moustache.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13526&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chris Lee calls a raise to 3.2k on a 3s 2h 5h 9c board, blind on blind having bet 1.4k on the turn. On the river Aspades, he then bets out 2.2k on the river with about 4k behind. The big blind then sets him and Chris calls with a shrug showing J-4 for the straight whilst his opponent had bizarrely moved in with T-8...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13532&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ceceila Borg has been assimilated into the non-playing collective...

She had Kd Qd vs Peter Roche's 5s 5d and must have liked the 9s 3d 8d flop and then the 9c turn also, but at the same time, probably thinking, "Yes, it's all very well giving cards that help me, but can you actually give me cards that help me!" No help on the 7h river and she's gone.

Crissssssssssssstiannnnnnnnnnoooooooo Blaaaaaaaaancccccooooooooooooo is OUT. 6-6 vs A-K.

Graham Clarkson has just lost a chunk of chips, he called a short stack's push with Queens, he was up against Sevens, with one of the two remaining Sevens coming out on the flop. But remember, an Evil Genius always has a Plan B...

Paul Testud has eliminated Robert Knepper Binelli, no escape for Prison Break actor with Kd Qd vs Jh Td, all-in on a fateful Kc Qh 9h flop.

The end of the day is in sight for the players, with 20 minutes or so remaining of the 9th and final level of the day.

As is usual come the end of a day in a poker tournament, there is a "s**t or bust" mentality pervading and there is a lot of busting going on. I'm not sure whether the flipside of the coin is true, and I haven't been to the gents to get an update but there is definitely some stack aggregation in effect.

Roland De Wolfe has been beavering away as usual. He had the DIRTIEST stack probably ever seen in history as I approached and someone seemed to be complaining about it. Roland never stopped grinning even when he was being castigated though.

(http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/lookhowcutei128394619393125000.jpg)

Here is the messy De Wolfe, after cleaniung up his stack ( a bit....)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13534&g2_serialNumber=1)

Joe Grech has busted out late on.

He's been patient all day and found himself in a great spot getting all of his chips in preflop with K-K and getting 2 callers!

One guy had J-J, the other A-K , meaning no A, no J and Joe would be up to 30k at least. A lone ace on the flop put an end to that though.

Joe was in good humour despite the beat though and laughed and joked with me even as he was leaving. Well played sir!

Brandon Schaefer has built up to 40k and 10-year-old Dario Minineri.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13540&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mark Teltscher looks miserable here, but he just knocked out Anthony Roux before the end to complete a healthy stack. He also has such a quiff that can only be described in 'epic' or 'biblical' terms.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13542&g2_serialNumber=1)

Play has now finished for the day, with we think 99 players remaining.

Tomorrow we'll do it all again, with Todd Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Marco Traniello, Max Pescatori and the notorious Pen Thief Stuart Rutter all playing.

;stickaforkinme;