blonde poker forum

Hi everyone! Greetings from, er, London, but tomorrow afternoon at 3pm we'll be up in Walsall to bring you all the action from the Grosvenor Grand Prix. Here's a list of all the players so far registered as far as we can see (not all playing on Thursday! Their respective starting days are next to their names), so let us know if you'd like us to follow anyone in particular. I'm off to enjoy a tasty supper made by Chef Beagle and then we'll be heading Midlands-wards. See you tomorrow...


Tony Fellone       1b - Friday 26th
Gareth Westcott    1b - Friday 26th
Saison Lambe         1a - Thursday 25th
Ian Barnett    1a - Thursday 25th
David Diggler    1a - Thursday 25th
Ashfag Ahmed    1a - Thursday 25th
Rob Stevens    1a - Thursday 25th
H Tran             1a - Thursday 25th
L Birchall    1a - Thursday 25th
Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804) Holden (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804)      1a - Thursday 25th
Martino (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652) Libertini (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652)    1a - Thursday 25th
M Damavandy     1a - Thursday 25th
Antonio di Cesare    1a - Thursday 25th
Michael Jones       1a - Thursday 25th
Chris (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=65) Bruce (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=65)        1b - Friday 26th
Chris Williams        1b - Friday 26th
John Burberry        1b - Friday 26th
B Boulden        1b - Friday 26th
Ian (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=176) Woodley (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=176)        1b - Friday 26th
Lam (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=241) Trinh (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=241)        1b - Friday 26th
Bambos Xanthos        1a - Thursday 25th
C Kadji        1a - Thursday 25th
Yunus Umarji        1b - Friday 26th
Barry Grimme        1b - Friday 26th
Gehan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=554) Zaib (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=554)        1b - Friday 26th
Neil Rutter        1b - Friday 26th
Abed Eid        1b - Friday 26th
Matthew Haden        1a - Thursday 25th
George Wainburg    1a - Thursday 25th
E Macit        1b - Friday 26th
C Khajuria         1b - Friday 26th
M Arnold         1b - Friday 26th
L Windish         1b - Friday 26th
Josh Biedak         1b - Friday 26th
Lisa (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=250) Scotney (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=250)           1a - Thursday 25th
Javed Iqbal            1a - Thursday 25th
Matthew Sheils        1a - Thursday 25th
Jon Hewston         1b - Friday 26th
Anthony Kennedy     1b - Friday 26th
Richard Fleissner     1b - Friday 26th
Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=405) Lennon (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=405)     1b - Friday 26th
Waseem Ahmed          1a - Thursday 25th
Kevin O'Leary        1b - Friday 26th
Doig Rudling        1a - Thursday 25th
Ash Hussain        1a - Thursday 25th
Dylan Herbert       1b - Friday 26th
Henry Griffiths     1a - Thursday 25th
N Saunders          1a - Thursday 25th
Satnam Sandhu             1a - Thursday 25th
R Reece            1a - Thursday 25th
Marcus Bebb-Jones          1a - Thursday 25th
D Page                1a - Thursday 25th
Andy Johnson           1b - Friday 26th
V Madan           1b - Friday 26th
T Harman            1b - Friday 26th
Mohammed Hussain       1b - Friday 26th
Dave Welch        1b - Friday 26th
L Sun                   1b - Friday 26th
Daniel Rudd         1b - Friday 26th
Ghassan El Hoss       1a - Thursday 25th
Richard Gilby            1a - Thursday 25th
Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=334) Parker (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=334)            1b - Friday 26th
John King        1a - Thursday 25th
Robert Ellis        1b - Friday 26th
Chao Li        1b - Friday 26th
Syed Zaidi         1b - Friday 26th
Carl Williams       1a - Thursday 25th
Richard Bent           1b - Friday 26th
Carl Limbert         1b - Friday 26th
Paul Georgiou        1a - Thursday 25th
Ish Patel               1b - Friday 26th
Kassim Kurbanall    1a - Thursday 25th
Alex Kong          1a - Thursday 25th
Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=326) Jackson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=326)       1a - Thursday 25th
Osman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) Mustanoglu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688)    1a - Thursday 25th
Richard (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=800) Simmonds (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=800)     1a - Thursday 25th
John Boughey              1a - Thursday 25th
Rumit Somaiya         1a - Thursday 25th
Dharmesh Thakkar    1b - Friday 26th
Paul Taylor       1a - Thursday 25th
Dave (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=113) Penly (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=113)         1b - Friday 26th
Greg (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=162) Hill (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=162)              1a - Thursday 25th
Tom McCready     1b - Friday 26th
Piers Whyman       1a - Thursday 25th
Vu Nguyen             1b - Friday 26th
Simon Baskerville    1b - Friday 26th
David Mitchell              1b - Friday 26th
Andrew Harding       1a - Thursday 25th
Lawrence Gosney     1a - Thursday 25th
Robert Alden              1b - Friday 26th
Chris (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=72) Smith (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=72)               1a - Thursday 25th
Jasvir Perdesi               1a - Thursday 25th
Mo (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=294) Muse (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=294)              1a - Thursday 25th
Trevor Payne         1b - Friday 26th
Paul Rayner        1a - Thursday 25th
Matt (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274) Tyler (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274)        1a - Thursday 25th
Frode Gjesdal       1b - Friday 26th
T Dong               1b - Friday 26th
Paul Rodgers       1a - Thursday 25th
W Berry       1a - Thursday 25th
N Shellard       1b - Friday 26th
Ed Arees       1a - Thursday 25th
David (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=121) Owston (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=121)           1b - Friday 26th
Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=15) Davies (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=15)             1a - Thursday 25th
Dave Knight        1b - Friday 26th
Thomas (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1134) Dunwoodie (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1134)    1b - Friday 26th
Zafar Aslam        1a - Thursday 25th
Amjad Aslam        1a - Thursday 25th
Lee Horton       1a - Thursday 25th
Kim Callow        1a - Thursday 25th
Andy O'Flaherty    1a - Thursday 25th
M Robinson         1b - Friday 26th
B Pottiwal         1b - Friday 26th
P Baldock         1b - Friday 26th
Mark Keightley         1a - Thursday 25th
Jonathon Butters     1b - Friday 26th
Dave Clark (Jnr)     1b - Friday 26th
Willie (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=450) Tann (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=450)        1b - Friday 26th
Yilfer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783) Shevket (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=783)        1b - Friday 26th
Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=279) Greco (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=279)         1b - Friday 26th
Ariel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=37) Adda (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=37)        1a - Thursday 25th
Dave Clark (Snr)     1b - Friday 26th
Gordon McArthur     1b - Friday 26th
Chris (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=66) Gavriel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=66)         1a - Thursday 25th
Joseph (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=206) Koumi (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=206)        1a - Thursday 25th
Gurinder Purewal    1a - Thursday 25th
Peter Sibroski           1a - Thursday 25th
Jason Simpson         1a - Thursday 25th
Ian (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=174) Herbert (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=174)        1a - Thursday 25th
Jeff (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=195) Kimber (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=195)         1a - Thursday 25th
David Lissner        1b - Friday 26th
Nathan Foley         1b - Friday 26th
Johnny Pescod         1b - Friday 26th
Charles Denton         1b - Friday 26th
Nick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305) Gibson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305)         1b - Friday 26th
Karl (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=227) Mahrenholz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=227)     1a - Thursday 25th
Rob (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=382) Sherwood (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=382)        1a - Thursday 25th
Anthony Cartwright     1a - Thursday 25th
Micheal Lott         1b - Friday 26th
Andrew Booth         1b - Friday 26th
Kevin Zarandi         1b - Friday 26th
Alan McLean         1a - Thursday 25th
Amrat Patel        1a - Thursday 25th
Dan Bamford         1a - Thursday 25th
Mohammed Ghani         1b - Friday 26th
Mike Moore         1b - Friday 26th
Yucel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=782) Eminoglu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=782)     1b - Friday 26th
Richard Wilcox        1a - Thursday 25th
John Marles         1b - Friday 26th
Harpit Gurnham     1b - Friday 26th
Anna Hastley         1a - Thursday 25th
Olabode (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=316) Ayegun (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=316)         1a - Thursday 25th
Khayam Ezzat        1a - Thursday 25th
Terry Owens         1b – Friday 26th
Robert Nightingale    1a - Thursday 25th
Malcolm Atkins         1a - Thursday 25th
Garry Wilson Snr    1b – Friday 26th
Kryiacos Dionysiou     1b – Friday 26th
Kevan Simock        1b – Friday 26th
James Moult         1a - Thursday 25th
Graham Whytell         1b – Friday 26th
Andrew Bradshaw         1b – Friday 26th
Phil Smith              1a - Thursday 25th
Ben (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=44) Callinan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=44)        1b – Friday 26th
Lucy (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=251) Rokach (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=251)         1a - Thursday 25th
Roberto (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=376) Romanello (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=376)     1b – Friday 26th
Maurice Nicholson     1a - Thursday 25th
Mike Arnold         1a - Thursday 25th
Gregory Garrett     1b – Friday 26th
Andrea (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1004) Buzzigoli (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1004)     1b – Friday 26th
William Davies         1b – Friday 26th
Stuart Pearson         1b – Friday 26th
Simon (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=402) Zach (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=402)         1a - Thursday 25th
Ash Pervais         1b – Friday 26th
Mark Gogerty         1a - Thursday 25th
Meng Ong         1a - Thursday 25th
Gary (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=147) Chatterton (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=147)     1b – Friday 26th
Anthony Adderley        1b – Friday 26th
Chris (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=73) Sokrati (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=73)         1a - Thursday 25th
Reyaaz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=365) Mulla (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=365)         1a - Thursday 25th
Mick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=284) Fletcher (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=284)         1b - Friday 26th
Richard Barber     1a - Thursday 25th
Hamid Rowshanaei     1b – Friday 26th
Des (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=129) Jonas (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=129)              1a - Thursday 25th
Peter (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=343) Evans (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=343)               1a - Thursday 25th
Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=322) Dobson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=322)         1a - Thursday 25th
Martin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=269) Green (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=269)         1b – Friday 26th
Russell Jones         1a - Thursday 25th
Steve (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=414) Jelinek (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=414)        1b – Friday 26th
Alwyn (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=785) Powell (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=785)           1a - Thursday 25th
Mark Clare         1b – Friday 26th
Ian Baker          1a - Thursday 25th
Mark (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=265) Lowe (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=265)         1b – Friday 26th
David Smith         1a - Thursday 25th
Jeff (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=194) Burke (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=194)           1b – Friday 26th
Martyn (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=270) Cavanagh (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=270)    1a - Thursday 25th
Rick Trigg         1b – Friday 26th
Stephen Basri         1a - Thursday 25th
Richard Gray         1b – Friday 26th
Alan Rudge         1a - Thursday 25th
Glynn Rees         1b – Friday 26th
Stuart (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) Fox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419)         1a - Thursday 25th
Tim Hiskett         1b – Friday 26th
Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=16) Dean (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=16)         1b – Friday 26th
Mickey (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=283) Wernick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=283)         1b – Friday 26th
Paul Mccue         1a - Thursday 25th
Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=337) Vicary (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=337)        1b – Friday 26th
Royce (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=801) Law (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=801)         1a - Thursday 25th
Nick Risdale    1b – Friday 26th
Paul (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=328) King (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=328)         1a - Thursday 25th
Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=14) Armitage (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=14)         1b – Friday 26th
Matt Cartwright     1a - Thursday 25th

Stu 'the nutter' rutter qualified in the last online sat last night as well

'Good Luck' to Gordon MacArthur, Red Dog and all other blondes.

what time we starting fellas

3 bells

there can only be one winner ship it to alan armitage

 ;flushy; ;bumwiggle;

Good afternoon good people of blonde. Although our normally 30 minute journey doubled in time when the dear M6 morphed from 3 lanes into 2, Dana and my good self are now tightly tucked away in the Grosvenor Walsall pressroom awaiting the 'three bells' to chime for 3pm and the start of this year's Blue Square Poker Grosvenor Grand Prix.

As usual with these qualify-only events, there is a healthy mix of local amateurs and seasoned pros with the likes of Mickey (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=283) Wernick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=283) and Peter 'The Bandit' Evans (who almost falls into both categories), Karl (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=227) Mahrenholz (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=227), Willie (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=450) Tann (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=450), Nick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305) Gibson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=305), Lawrence (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=243) Gosney (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=243), Matt (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274) Tyler (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274), Bambos Xanthos and so on taking on the Midland contingent of MZ Hussain, Maurice Nicholson, Ash (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=38) Hussain (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=38), Des (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=129) Jonas (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=129), Matt Cartwright and co. Who will come out on top, we'll have to see, but the local boys certainly pack a punch and there are plenty of dangerous players among them.

One of the players who falls into both the 'pro' and 'local' categories is the forever grinning-like-a-Cheshire-cat (who wouldn't be if you'd won half a mil!) Stuart (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) Fox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419), gracing us with his presence here in the rather less Vegas-like location of Walsall. He was being accompanied by an equally confident Chris 'Soxy' Socrati - this duo sure to be a menace throughout this comp. I must admit, as jubilant as he was, I didn't take too kindly when he said, "Hey, snoops, couldn't you buy an iron with what you won last week." Grr!

As is often the case, Zak's lovely Mrs, who for the life of me I can't remember the name of, greeted me at the desk with a broad smile and a cheeky giggle. At one point she said, "How are you, dumpling?", when what actually I heard was "How are you, dumb thing?" For a moment there, I had to settle the guns and remind them of the 'no ladies' rule.

Anyhow, back to the poker, and we're 15 minutes from the off, at which point we hope to get this bad boy up and running. When that happens, we'll do our very best to bring you all the latest action.

So many to wish good luck to, but my two top men are playing so to them Good Luck,   Tom and Matt.xxxxx

Afternoon all, Dana here. Owing to a mysterious and unexplained problem with the wifi, Snoopy and I will be sharing a laptop for today. Play has just this second started, and we have a couple of photos from the bar... Incidentally Snoops has just turned up in the press room with a beer. Before the performance?

Just as I trundled back into the cardroom, the players were being prised away from the screen showing their table seatings (which, judging by the reactions of gawping observers is the most fascinating view in the world) in order to take their seats. As they made their way over to the cardroom like a herd of cattle, I managed to bump into a few familiar faces. One of those was Marcus Bebb-Jones, a local player on a very good run indeed. "I'm not a big fan of pot limit," he suggests, "it doesn't suit my game, but I was persuaded into trying to qualify."

Other notables included a hatted Dave Smith peering over the rail, a sooted and booted Zippy Aslam, also accompanied by the equally dapper Ash Hussain, Des Jonas, still propping up the bar moments before the start of the event, and Stuart Fox, claiming to be alcohol free today, although he appeared to be holding a bottle of Bud and struggling to spit out his words at the time.

As I write, play has surely commenced. So watch this space!

Hey guys, first post on here but I couldn't miss out on a chance to support/heckle my main man/beast, Henry 'Swiss Toni' Griffiths, who will no doubt already have warned Karl Mahrenholz to watch out for his "spectacular post-flop play".  Any chance of some specific updates?  Sure to give me a laugh :)

Well, we'll do our best to locate and keep a firm eye on ol Swiss Tony's progress, but speaking of Karl Mahrenholz, I noticed that he was on a very tricky table indeed, his neighbours coming in the form of Des Jonas, Joe Koumi, Zafar Aslam and 'Bambos' Charalambos Xanthos.

In fact, as I was observing the elements of this table, we experienced our first exit of the day, a young, and understandably disheartened Gurinder Purewal retelling his tales of wooden spoon woe to Mr Bling Bling.

Although I didn't quite catch the ins and outs on first hearing, a quick recap with Des informed me that our man held a full house, but lost out to a runner runner bigger full house. Miss Marple hat on, and my detective instincts (well, he had the biggest stack) told me that our prime suspect was Mark Gogerty in Seat 3, perhaps being slightly lambasted for his play by Andy O'Flaherty. "I would still play it the same," claimed Gogerty adamantly.

"The board came Q-8-4-K-K," exclaimed Paul Jackson to another table.

Eager to improve on his 12th place finish at the Broadway a few weeks ago, Rob Sherwood is heading in the direction after a welcome Big Slick added 4k to his stack. Surprisingly, for this early stage, he didn't even need to his anything to accrue those chips, a stubborn A-J (Ace high) calling Rob's bluffs down before finding out it was sadly out-kicked.

The very friendly paw of Welshman Ian Herbet greeted me as I entered the cardroom for the first time. At this point, I realised that he had cards in front of him and was actually involved in a hand. He had reason to be confident though, as by the time he reached the River of a Kh Qh 5s 7c 6c board, a check-check with A Powell meant that his Ks Js was enough to add a vital 2k to his initial stack.

Someone yet to get jiggy with it is Greg Hill, who still has his starting stack. For those who don't know Greg, he has been pretty vacant of late with regards to the poker scene, but was once a bit of a terror down these parts when he came 2nd in one of the big Walsall events behind El Blondie a few years back. An old guard from my Gala Notts days (if someone of his still tender age can be defined of 'old guard') it's good to see Greg back on the poker scene and showing us what he can do at the felt. We'll try to grab a snap of him as soon as possible.... hopefully when the wifi connection is up and running.

Meanwhile, table neighbour Ed Arees was good enough to rise from his seat and offer his congratulatory hand for my cash in London last week. That was much appreciated and just showed how nice a chap he actually is. "I was rooting for you," he kindly said. I take back all my sheep penetrating references I may have slipped into previous updates.

You won't be able to miss Swiss - big (ie. portly :P) lad, never shuts up.  Ever.  Slight Welsh accent?  :)

Ha, ha.  Never mind, I'm sure he'll be donked out before you can find him anyway :D

Already getting very jiggy, though, is Mr Matt Tyler, accusing tablemate Mick Jones of giving him a rubdown after Chunky Mick may or may not have laid down the best hand. "My range is huge," said Matt. Next hand, Matt becomes involved with Pires Whyman on a  Aspades Qs 6h 4s board, Pires betting all the way and Matt calling him all the way. Someone at the table says to Matt on the turn that he's gone very quiet. "I know," says Matt, "I'm trying to work out if it's a tell." He calls anyway, and then again on the Td river. "I've played this so badly," says Matt, and mucks when Pires shows Qd Jd. I guess he's about even.

Yes, he's been spotted and the description matches. You may predict much movement of the mouth, but as such, there has been little motion among his stack. However, we did manage to grab a quick photo of him and as soon as the Internet connection picks up, we'll get that piccy uploaded for you.

Two fierce competitors seated next door to one another are Simon Zach and 'Silent Assassin' Maurice Nicholson. As I passed, Maurice was deep reaching on what I believe was a 3-T-K-5-K board with K-3. Zach's K-8 was thus in bad shape.

hi gang!  My friend and I may be popping down for the £100 freezout tonight!

a) is it still on?

b) will it be better to turn up as alternates or have someone buy us in? im semi-deep in the stars $10rb so i may be a bit late in arriving.

cheers for help.

It may be early doors here at the Grosvenor Casino in Walsall, but several of our not so plucky soldiers are returning to the barracks already. One of those fallen men was a victim of Paul Dobson's table. When I joined the action, the flop read 4d 3d Jc and the bets in front of the players were as such:

Seat 1: Mo Muse -- around 10k all-in
Seat 2: Marcus Bebb-Jones -- 2,000
Seat 3: Majid Damavandy (would need to confirm the identity of this player) -- 8.1k

I can't say if Mo was check-raising all-in or had bet out on the flop, but either way, he was all-in and quickly called by Seat 3. As Luton player Mo revealed an unsurprising overpair (Kd Kh), Damavandy flipped an equally unrevealing set of Fours (4h 4c).

A harmless Turn and River and Muse was a gonna. As they say in Luton part, Mo Muse is good news... except for today.

Another sad face is that of Matt Catwright, last years runner upper tangling with the man that pipped him to the post, Zippy Aslam. As Matt bet out on a 7d 2h 9s Qd board, Zippy dropped the hammer on the er... Hammer with an all-in, one which I believe was too cheap for Matt to ignore. Anyhow, Matt did indeed call and was forced to show his semi-bluff of 8h 6c which, of course, was in need of some Poker God-esque assistance against the white jacketed Zippy and his formidable Kd Kh.

A non-straightening Js on the River left the Hammer with just shrapnel for chips and a face like a wet Sunday afternoon.

go on zippy, get in

updates on doig rudling, ed arees and all the taffies please......

Simon (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=402) Zach (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=402) is OUT - didn't quite catch what happened, but I saw a 4-K-K-9-3 board and a flashed pair of Nines and I'm guessing the Nines probably didn't belong to Simon. Anyway, he's gone.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2467&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just to prove he is present, here's an old, but still youthful looking face of 'Junior' Greg Hill.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2469&g2_serialNumber=1)

Local boy Satnam Sandu is down to just a few thousand in chips after making an ill-timed, although that is merely aided by the gift of hindsight, bluff against Paul Rayner.

The board read 2c 8s 9h 2h 2s, with Rayner check-calling a 3k River bet from Sandhu.

As Satnam mucked, he was forced to reveal his Kh Jh, but what he was truly miffed about was the 6d 6h that Rayner revealed upon victory.

If we could step inside the head of Sandu like an over zealous numbskull, then we'd surely have heard the oh so familiar line of "How could he call with that?"

But call he did, and as a result, Satnam is down to the felt leaving Rayner to reorganise his newly acquired dirty stack.

Well, I promised Henry Griffiths for our fan watching from home, so here he is, in all his Swiss Tonyness glory... although I fail to see the resemblence.

Does he sell cars?

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2471&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dave Smith, who seems to run like gold in anything Blue Square related, has now near doubled up off a rather dejected Ghassan El Hoss. With the board reading Kh 4s Ks 6c, Dave smooth called a 1.5k bet from the button before betting a rather more substantial figure on the 9h River. El Hoss made the call, but was dismayed to see his Kd 3d up against a sneakily played 6h 6d.

"You let me in on the flop, you see," claimed Dave as he stacked his pile of chips. "A bet and I would have been gone."

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2474&g2_serialNumber=1)

I can't see Doig's name on the sheet, are you sure he's not a Day 1B-er?

good luck to Dave Smith, and Gregg Hill....

CHIP COUNT ON ZAFA ASLAM
ZIPPY ASLAM
ASH HUSSAIN

"I'm pleased of the speed of exits, so far..." announces a rather satisfied Danafish rubbing her hands together in glee.

And here are those exits, Sandu and Cartwright soon seeing off the bits and pieces they were left with.

Satnam Sandu
I Barnett
Matt Cartwright
Paul King
Mo Muse
G Purnell

With 99 of 107 players remaining and blinds of 50/100, we'll be undertaking a quick chippy counts in due course, probably at the start of the next level. Unfortunately, unlike the press-friendly GUKPTs, we won't be getting full chip counts emailed to our inboxes, instead you'll have to rely on our ability of matching names with faces.

Popular Iraqi come Welshman Ed Arees has surpassed the 15k mark, his 600 bet on a Ts Jc 8s 9h 4h board called by Javed Iqbal, inexplicably known as The Chief in these neck of the woods. However, the Chief was a mere servant boy on this occasion, Ed's Qd Tc apparently enough to take the pot.

Burnley John is looking well these days

thats not very nice to that lady........................

Our very own blonde hero, SuperFlopsHomer, has turned up and lent me his internet card (although I would have preferred it if he'd worn a cape or something while he was doing it), so I am now Online and frantically downloading some photo software for the PC-side of my laptop. It is however running veeeeeeeery sloooooooooowly, which is probably just as well as most of the photos I've taken seem to have captured the players with expressions of total despair on their faces. Maybe it's the weather or somehting. Total Despair Montage to follow, with a bit of luck, plus a real treat for fans of Mr Spherical Tyler...

In the meantime, those not totally despairing include Lucy Rokach, who took down a big pot after moving all in to a 2k bet on a Jh 2d 2h 4d board, inducing a fold. Said her betty-foldy opponent, "I didn't want to keep calling until the end, I bet 2k to see where I stood." "I'd have liked it if you'd kept on calling til the end," she sighed, but she didn't do too badly out of the hand.

Also firmly in the not-full-of-despair camp is a youthful gentleman I believe to be Chris Smith (photo to follow as soon as, for confirmation purposes) - he has doubled up after moving all in on a 7h Ts Js board and finding a caller in Chris Gavriel. Gavriel's Qc Qd were no match for young Smith's Jc Jd, and he is a happy camper.

(http://www.indianrivercampground.com/images/Img6.gif)

Martyn (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=270) Cavanagh (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=270) and Laurence Gosney found themselves all in, in the last hand before the break, with everyone else already wandering off to the bar. I'm hoping the money went in after the flop, as Martyn was holding K-9 and Laurence A-9, the 7-T-8-J-4 board giving them both a straight and ensuring they're both coming back after the break. Assuming they made it to the bar at all before break time was over.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2494&g2_serialNumber=1)

depends on your taste

Paul Rayner, who clashed big time with Sandu earlier on, is back in the thick of the action once again, this time on the losing end of an encounter with Nottingham GBPT victor, Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804) Holden (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=804). On a board of 8s Qc 4s 6s 6c, Rayner bet out 3k with 9d 8d, but was looked up by Holden's Pocket Jacks.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2496&g2_serialNumber=1)

can you do me a update on : william berry, T dong,   thanks

L. Horton and A Kong  as well plz,  if you dont mind

Chip counts to come shortly, but in the meantime, here's Zippy Trovolta to keep you amused.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2492&g2_serialNumber=1)

"Hey, you're still in," I jibe 'One Hand' Rumit glancing at my watch.

"Yeah, it's incredible," he replies. "I've even got Lucy to my right!"

Both players have around the 13.5k mark, but if ever there was a call for a caption comp...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2498&g2_serialNumber=1)

Okey dokey, I'm going to have to post these in batches as action is exploding as I'm accruing, so here are some counts from the top 3 tables:

Rob Sherwood -- 7,525
Ian Herbert -- 12,700
A Powell -- 14,500
G Wainburg -- 12,550
Paul McCue -- 3,725
Des Jonas -- 10,975
Bambos Charalambos Xanthos -- 17,425
Karl Mahrenholz -- 8,900
Zafar Aslam -- 14,000
Herny Griffiths -- 19,900
Mike Jones -- 8,400
Stuart Fox -- 14,900
Ariel Adda -- 12,200
Matt Tyler -- 9,475

Mick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=286) Jones (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=286) actually doubled up to 8k prior to the publishing of that list, but although that story doesn't appear particulalry exciting on the face of it, the inclusion of A-K versus Aces with Mick holding the Big Slick does add a little more intrigue and surely a slight grimace in your face.

From the sound of it, it appears as though he managed to create a few outs, Mick having the luxury of both a straight and flush draw, although it was the former he eventually hit to bust those American Airlines.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2486&g2_serialNumber=1)

On the very same table, Doig Rudling, who was down on the list as 'Dave Rudling' is now OUT. He was all-in with Aspades Kd versus the Qs 9c of Peter Stibroski on a Td Jc 8d board, the lack of any Queen resulting in the Welshman's exit.

Ah, the Swissmeister :)

He did in fact used to be a car salesman, and a rather dodgy one at that.  He is, however, a most entertaining watch in full flow.  I take it he hasn't embarrassed himself yet?

Thanks, by the way - always good to know you listen to the punters!

I saw a hand an hour or so ago which I didn't report because when I looked up the lady in question, it said that her name was Adrian Lambe, which didn't sound right at all. No woman has ever been called Adrian except for the lady in Rocky, and that was just for comedy value. Anyway, I have since discovered that her name is even more improbably Saffron Lambe, which sounds like it should be on a menu, and I wish I had found this out earlier so I could exploit it for your amusement and delight before she was sadly knocked out, in relatively ugly circumstances. Sigh.

Having lost virtually all her chips about an ago to Marcus Bebb-Jones, pushing on an 8h 3d 6d flop with pocket Jacks against Bebb-Jones' pocket Kings (he hit a King on the river for good measure too), she threw her last few thousand chips in on a 5s 7d 7c 4c board and found one caller (actually I think she may have called all in). "You got full house?" she asks, turning over 6h 8h. He doesn't, turning over  Ahrt 7h, but the 4h river means he does indeed got full house, and meek as a, er, lamb, Saffron wanders off.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2502&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just been informed by a friend of mine that Henry Griffiths is possibly chip leader?  Surely not?  The world doesn't seem to make sense to me if he is :P

In fact checking your latest chip counts... he is :o

I'm off to take a couple of my brain pills...

Paul Rayner -- 17,500
Tony Cartwright -- 12,525
Maurice Nicholson -- 12,025
Chris Smith -- 19,150
Royce Law -- 23,225
K Kurbanali -- 2,100
Lisa Scotney -- 14,500
David Smith -- 12,175
Martino Libertini -- 9,456
Ash Hussain -- 20,000
Javed Iqbal -- 13,150
Greg Hill -- 6,200
Rob Stevens -- 9,025
Stephen Holden -- 18,325
H Tran -- 11,400
Osman Mustanoglu -- 10,350
Paul Jackson -- 5,025
Marcus Bebb-Jones -- 12,400
Peter Evans -- 4,725

is the £100 freezout on tonight please???

And those other requests...

Lee Horton -- 13,200
Alex Kong -- 13,525
William Berry -- 2,500

thanks snoops

Thank God, not quite chip leader.  I was almost going to have to concede that Henry wa a good player there :)

William Berry is now out after failing to double up his shortstack.

Other victims to fall foul of the last level include:

K Kurbanili
Paul Dobson
P Smith
Lucy Rokach
Reyaaz Mulla
S Lamb
Joe Koumi
I Baker
D Bamford
G El-Hoss

These chaps (and chapette) are all going swimmingly though, James Moult in particular with a possible cheap leading 26,250.

Anna Hastley -- 3,500
Rumit Somaiya -- 19,000
Ashfag Hussain -- 8,1000
Alan McLean -- 26,250
Richard Simmonds -- 18,975
James Moult -- 17,350
Jeff Kimber -- 18,750

Photos also to follow, if they ever upload on to the gallery. It's like the little internet information packages are being hand-delivered into space and back by lazy elves on snailback. Zzz.

Yup yup, last entries on the dot of 8.30 is the word on the cardroom floor.

any idea of prices please snoop  thanks

Great uppies peeps. I shall be partaking come the morrow  ;woohoo;

PS- How many runners are there please?

81 of the initial 106 remain. The current average is 13,100 and we are now on the 100/200 level.

Yeah, pint of lager's about £2 and a prawn sandwich is £1.50.

Unfortunately for Henry, he has dropped of the pace all of a sudden with what looks like just under 10k. Instead, the undeniable accolade of chip leader goes to Paul Rayner who has just eliminated Royce Law in a rather testicular crunching Queens versus Kings encounter. The T-5-3-J rainbow board looked rewarding for Law until...

BANG

(http://www.astra-broker.ru/images/queen20.jpg)

on the....
(http://hof.povray.org/images/River.jpg)

An elated (although just on the inside at the moment) Rob Sherwood is up to 15k after eliminating Mateyboy with Jacks versus A-K.

(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2512836/2/istockphoto_2512836_coin_flip.jpg)

To many, poker is a passion, something they live to do, and when they are presented with the opportunity to indulge in the hobby they enjoy so much, they jump at the chance and spend the whole tournament basking in the glory of playing a 1k event. In a nutshell, you just can't wipe the smile off their face as they savour every single moment at the felt.

Jaz Perdesi and Ashfag Ahmed surely personify this feeling...

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2514&g2_serialNumber=1)

I heard "all in" from Table Tyler and the scuffly sounds of poker players standing up for the better to see the 2-K-Q flop and/or make a swift and dejected exit so I ran over, but both standees, John Boughey and Robert Nightingale, were holding A-K with no flush possibilities. They split, but Nightingale is woefully short.

lol...jaz always looks like that..not seen him for a while..nice guy hope he does well

And here are those overdue photos. My laptop will be righteously punished during the dinner break.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2504&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2506&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2510&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes, the Total Despair seems to have given way to Total Boredom for some. Snoopy's promised to fix this by streaking in the next hour or two.

Winner of Moustache Of The Day Mr P. Geourgiou (I think. I wish all the players were fitted with microchips telling us their identities, and all updaters were issued with scanners. And maybe laser guns too. Just for fun). Let's hope he and Red Dog both make it Day 2 for the playoffs.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2522&g2_serialNumber=1)

He may have been battling for that chip lead early doors, but Gala Nottingham's James Moult, know to most as Bookie Jim or 'bookiebasher' on blonde, has dropped slightly and is down to 21,850. That gentle dip won't have been due to his last encounter, however, Hyena, as he is nicknamed on home turf, forcing Khayam Ezzat all-in with A-K versus A-K.

The only person to see a shining light come flop time was Ezzat, who held the King of clubs on a 4d 2c 9c board. The 6h confirmed a split pot.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2516&g2_serialNumber=1)

To the joy of the odd male onlooker, voluptuous Anna Hastley has just doubled up with Pocket Nines versus Sevens. It was an all-in on the flop jobby, the board reading 3h-6s-8d before a third nine arrived on the Turn followed by a non-straight-making Ace river.

"You're on your way up," observes the astute Rumit as Anna rearranges her now 8k stack.

May I present to you a few chippie counts of some of the requested names:

Greg Hill -- 3,250
Zahir Aslam -- 6,875
Henry Griffiths -- 6,875
Lee Horton -- 5,500
Ash Hussain -- 18,950
Alex Kong -- 6,500
Ed Arees -- 20,250

and here's earlier victim Doig Rudling.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2508&g2_serialNumber=1)

hows dave smith doing please..is jim still in the top chip leaders.
thank you

Word on the poker grapevine (well, Blue Square) is that last year's winner and reigning champion 'Zippy' Zahir (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=452) Aslam (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=452) is out. Details are vague at the moment, but according to my Jeremey Kyle doppelganging source, Zippy had a flush draw against A-K (King on Turn) and failed to improve.

The players are currently on a dinner break with play resuming in 25 minutes, but for the time being, is this amusing picture of a posing Dave Smith enough to keep you entertained?

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2520&g2_serialNumber=1)

Can you guys please tell me how richard barber from teeside is doing...many thanx

Unfortunately, his starting table has now broken so you'll have to provide us with a picture of some sort, or a terrific description, in order for us to locate him.

ahhhhhhhhh dont you just love smithy...love the way gregg is looking over in the background

Evening all,

Soxy and Foxy updateaments please?

Is Foxy sober, if so buy him a pint.

The players have been recalled back to their seats and are braced like a baby awaiting departure from the womb.

Do you really need me to answer that question?

We're back! I should mention that prawn sandwiches are not £1.50, they would be £2.70 if the kitchen weren't out of prawns, and Snoopy is very depressed about it. We asked the barman if he could shape some tuna to look like prawns, but he said no.

I'm off to get some photos and whatnot.

I'm not sure how accurate this is, but the board is currently reading:

1st = 90k
2nd = 50k
3rd = 30k
4th = 20k
5th = 15k
6th = 10k
7th = 8k
8th = 6k
9th = 4k
10th = 3k

£296,900

In what is perhaps a Where's Wally picture from earlier in the day (I'm by no means calling anyone a wally), this is a snap of the cardroom that's surely up there with some of Constable and Turner's landscapes. A truly beautiful view. Also, if you look closely, you should be able to see our friend the rail, which is now being inhabited by some of the players pictured.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2528&g2_serialNumber=1)

Some chip counts for you now, freshly counted just a minute ago.

Dave Smith -- 24k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2530&g2_serialNumber=1)


Amrat Patel (I don't think anyone requested his chip count, but he seemed very keen that I take his photo, so I thought I'd ask how many chips he had at the same time. The photo came out nice, I reckon.) -- 25k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2532&g2_serialNumber=1)


One Hand Rumit (pictured here with One Hand) -- 14k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2536&g2_serialNumber=1)


Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=19) McLean (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=19) -- 36k but apparently not very happy about it. By the way, does anyone know if he's the same Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=19) McLean (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=19) that founded that record label? I might try to make friends with him if he is. When he looks like he's in a better mood.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2538&g2_serialNumber=1)


Ash (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=38) Hussain (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=38) -- 20k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2540&g2_serialNumber=1)

And another contender for Moustache Of The Day, and also by the by a fabulous name that sounds like it should be on a cocktail menu, Mr Martino (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652) Libertini (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652), still hovering around or slightly below his starting stack.

Waiter, I'd like the Saffron Lambe, medium-rare, and a Martino (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652) Libertini (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652), shaken not stirred.

I think I need some coffee.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2534&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hi snoop's do you know what the structure of the event is?

Chris (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=72) Smith (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=72), a local boy with an uncanny Grundy-esque ability to make himself look 10 years younger than he actually is, has got off to a flier today and seems to be playing pots a plenty. And if ever there were proof that you should never muck your hand prior to the showing of cards, then it's in his last encounter with Lord Lawrence of Gosneyville. On a board of Ks 3c 4c 5s, Lawrence and Chris added 1.6k each to the pot before checking down the 7h River. Lawrence won with... drum roll please....

(http://forums.armageddononline.org/images/newsmilies/music027.gif)

Jc Th

Chris Smith again involved in a chunky pot, this time with his other neighbour Richard Simmonds. With the board reading 9c Th Ad Ac Qh, Chris bet 1.5k on the River with Ahrt 7h but was flat called by Richard's 9c 9d.

As a result, Chris drops to 15.1k.

Two questions sprung to my mind. (1) should Chris have checked that River and (2) should Richard have raised? Hmm, food for thought.  ;carlocitrone;

Here are several of the most recent of departures, two of which are pictured:


Kim Callow
A Adda
R Nightingale
Zafar Aslam
Jez Perdesi
A Powell
Paul Jackson
M Ong
G Wainberg
Alan Davies
Chris Gavriel
J Simpson

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2500&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2518&g2_serialNumber=1)

I'm sorry, but I don't have the full blind structure to hand.

Yes and yes.

Well if possible i wouldnt mind an answer to the "how are they doing bit" bit as another option can you rate their drunkenness on a scale of 1-10 please?

ta muchly

no worries

Agreed Id say yes and yes to that as well

Ian Herbert -- 8,600
Rob Sherwood -- 13,000
Lee Horton -- 19,850
Mick Jones -- 12,300
Stuart Fox -- 9,700
Matt Tyler -- 11,650
Olabode Ayegun -- 18,775
James Moult -- 36,000
Karl Mahrenholz -- 19,675
Henry Griffiths -- 8,700
Martyn Cavanagh -- 14,200
Charalambos Xanthos -- 30,450
Paul McCue -- 17,875
Des Jonas -- 13,950
Neil Saunders -- 4,225
Chris Sokrati -- 24,000
Amrat Patel -- 21,625
Jeff Kimber -- 12,875

A six-way pot with the flop reading 4h 5s 6s and everyone checks around to the button, this gent sitting to Amrat Patel's right (who I think be called Wainburg? Any offers?) who inquires as to the size of the pot and then bets it - 1800 of your English chips. To which Mr Patel promptly raises it another 5.2k. Mr Button dwells up for absolutely ages (I actually got four or five photos of him with various expressions of consternation on his face while he was mulling it over) and then folds 5-6 face up, and turns his attention towards gently nursing his slightly diminished stack like it's a sick kitten. Bless.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2546&g2_serialNumber=1)

1...

with 10 being sober.

Stuart (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) Fox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) survived a virtual all-in, but then again, so did Matt (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274) Tyler (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274), the two players chop chopping with Pocket Queens.

"He called all-in with Queens," joked the roundhead.

(http://www.thatproduct.com/split_pots/images/split_pot_21inch.jpg)

H Tran is OUT. He bundled it all-in with A-Q on an A-A-x-8 board but came a cropper against Mateyboy's 8-8. Gulp! No Queen on the River meant he was a gonna.

I'm sorry to say that we are down one moustache. Martino (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652) Libertini (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=652) bets 2.1k on a 6d 5h 4s flop, and the gent two seats to his right calls. The turn comes Qc and Martino throws what remains of his stack in the middle, and is called. Looks like he knows he was taking libertinis, because he resignedly mutters "okay..." as he more casts his 8s 6s from him than shows it. His opponent is delighted, as he is holding Ac 6c and actually didn't seem that happy about calling the all in. The 2h river neither shakes nor stirs anything at all, and Martino is gone.

Picutred below is the pleased if somewhat surprised winner of the hand, and Mr Libertini in happier times.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2548&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/photos/photo_3451.jpg)

"Snoops," beckons Ed Arees rising from his seat agitatedly. "I have to get something off my chest."

"I had a pair of Kings," he continued, relieved to have someone to share his pain with, "and got it all in against Seat 4 (Toni (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=440) Dicesare (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=440)) only for an Ace to hit the Turn. I would have been coasting then on over 30k."

"You're still there though, aren't you?" I vainly consoled.

"Yeah," replied the Welshman. "I guess so, down to 8k."

Unfortunately for one blonde viewer at least, Alex Kong won't be climbing the Grand Prix sky-scraper any more, his chips sailing over to uber-aggressor Alan McLean in rather bitter circumstances. All-in on a King high Flop, Kong could only watch in horror as Alan revealed Kings to his Aces, the Turn and River providing no miracle.

"It's a set up," claims a chagrined Kong. "That's the first time I've had them."

Andy O'Flaherty is also OUT. I gave a gentle tug on the Ash Hussain grapevine to be told of an accident with K-9, Andy's button raise (which virtually committed him) being re-raised by K-K, the hand all over by the turn.

Could have been worse though, could have had K-2.

Crikey O'Reilly, they're dropping like intoxicated dominoes here today, the latest to feel the force of a boot in the rear being silent assassin and local boy Marucie Nicholson (pictured below). He was forced into the docks when Lord Lawrence Gosney started bumping and grinding with what you could refer to as a genuine Lawrence hand.

A Flop of Qh 2h 8d and they both went bananas, Lawrence's reputation as a player in desperate need of a strait-jacket clearly preceding him as Maurice unhesitantly involved himself in a raising war with Qc Js.

With Maurice making the final hand-to-chips movement, Lawrence made an easy call with.... ahem.... 8s 2s, which naturally held up come the clinical 8h Turn and Aspades River.

To his credit, Maurice took defeat like a gentleman and exited with a welcome good luck message. Meanwhile, Lawrence was left to tower up his chips like the Manhattan at the start of Frasier and bask in the glory of his new found 50k-ish stack.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2512&g2_serialNumber=1)

Another one down as Matt (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274) Tyler (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=274) meets his match, if only in the vocal stakes, in a boozed up (is there any other kind?) Stuart (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) Fox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419). I didn't catch the action, but, funnily enough, Foxy did, although he retold it with a pint of lager in his hand...

"I had A-Q on a Q high Flop and he pushed all-in. He had K-6 of hearts, didn't have anything. No, hold on, he hit a 6."

Also OUT is Burnley Johnette Ms Lisa Scotney, all in with A-K on a Jack high flop, her opponent Paul Rayner holding what probably felt like a heartbreaking K-J (I believe there was a bunch of raising before the flop). She walked off without a word, I'm not sure she even stayed to see the turn and river. Not that they made any difference.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2554&g2_serialNumber=1)

Never fear, I will be unfurling the old cookie duster tomorrow.

Matthew Haden, who showed up today with a small band of emo be-haircutted supporters who since seem to have gone home, shoved for his very tiny 1675 stack and Des Jonas calls him because somebody has to. "Oh," says Des as Matthew flips his  Aspades Ahrt. "I haven't got anything," and turns over 3c 6c. The 3h 8d 2d 2c 6d board looks pretty threatening if you're not paying attention like me, so I wrote down that he was out and then had to cross that out again. He has in fact doubled up to almost 4k.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2550&g2_serialNumber=1)

:D

Hows the mighty Swiss doing then, has he turned over any chumps?

I'm just back from a meeting of the Exeter University Liberal Democrats Society, so naturally I could use some cheering up. :)

An accident that never happened -

Mick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=286) Jones (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=286) moves all in on a Th Jh 5s flop, and Olebode Ayegun mulls before folding. Mick says, "Do you have A-T? You were ahead if you do," and shows K-T. Olebode shows Q-T. It must feel nice to be right. Mulling photos below.

Incidentally, Rumit seems to have actually had an accident that really happened, in real life - he's somehow down to 6k or so.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2556&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2558&g2_serialNumber=1)

I'm not sure why Osman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) Mustanoglu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) is gesticulating a hand-to-ear motion that footballers sometimes do to the opposing fans when they score a goal, but either way, here is his current chip count and those of his table neighbours:

Osman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) Mustanoglu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) -- 10,225
Ash (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=38) Hussain (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=38) -- 27,000
Alan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=19) McLean (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=19) -- 27,775
Marcus Bebb-Jones -- 5,650
Rumit (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=389) Somaiya (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=389) -- 4,225

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2566&g2_serialNumber=1)

Here is a Final Six Tables Of The Day Diorama for your viewing pleasure. It's at least as good as the Grand Canyon Diorama at Disneyland. Same total lack of vertigo. Fewer taxidermied items. You know.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2552&g2_serialNumber=1)

Can anyone else detect an uncanny resemblance between Mick Jones and former Ireland international footballer Paul McGrath, suspiciously drinking tea in this picture?...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2558&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/2006/10/20/sfnphi20.jpg)

Khayam Ezzat has bitten the dust recently, his Kh Kd succumbing at the hands of Ad Jh which spiked a second bullet on an Ac 4d 9s 8s Th board.

Forget Driton Haxhiaj, is this the face of the new Mr Scrabble?

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2568&g2_serialNumber=1)

A bit harsh on Mick, I feel.  Nonetheless, I see your point...

Good Lord, this is the face of our new chip leader who is sitting behind 78k.  :o

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2560&g2_serialNumber=1)

I think I may have bokked him with my Paul McGrath comparison as the not-quite-as-alcohol-loving Mick Jones is now whizzing down the M6 at break neck speed after his Ad Kd failed to improve against Pocket Queens, although two diamonds on the Flops teased in that fashion only the Poker Gods seem to be accustomed to.

Where's the Henry-love?  I'm getting withdrawal ;) haha

Ok, now I'm worrying myself with my cheerleading...

any news on martyn cavannagh snoopy? wish him all the best from iwan along with the rest of the welsh clan and jaffacake tx alot m8

Yes, well, Alan Mclean is no longer chip leader anyway. He was down to less than 30k, and that was before he doubled up Rumit (although admittedly for not very much), reraising him all in after Rumit raised to 2.1k utg. Mclean turned over  Ahrt Ks and Rumit turned over the mighty 9h Th, which duly hit the Jh 5c 9d 5d 7h board. Guess I'm not asking Mr Mclean for that record deal tonight. I don't think he's cheered up any after that.

Rumit's double up put him at 6.5k, not including the big blind which he immediately posted and promptly folded.

Also gone is Greg Hill. According to former table companion Ed Arees, he raised for the majority of his stack pre-flop and found himself committed to calling a re-raise from an early position limper.

Whilst Greg knew he was in trouble with a vulnerable A-6, he perhaps couldn't have imagined he'd be up against Aces and looking to turn water into wine.

No wine appeared.

Ian 'The Sherbert' Herbert (okay, I confess, I made up that nickname) is also pushing up the daisies (in poker terms, not literally).

He got jiggy on a K-Q-x-J board (3 clubs), but was dismayed to see his Pocket Queens had been caught by A-T. A blank on the River and it was all over for the Welshman and former GUKPT finalist.

"I think the club on the Turn gave him a chance to get away," added Jeff Kimber.

Other departures include:

Neil Saunders
David Diggler
Peter Evans
M Keighley
Tony Cartwright
A Astley
Rob Stevens
Martino Libertini
John King

Des Jonas amazingly split a pot with continuing shortstack neighbour Matthew Haden, Jonas holding 5-7 and Haden holding 6-7 on an A-6-7-x-A board. "How do you do it, Des?" asks another tablemate.

Shortstack Richard Simmonds doubles up somehow with A-K against Mateyboy's Q-8, on a board that contains none of those cards.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2572&g2_serialNumber=1)

Double up for Marcus Bebb-Jones who has, for the first time in a while, silenced the alcohol induced Stuart Fox who, up to that point, seemed to be having a ball. The hand was a simple affair, a cut-off versus button confrontation with Marcus's A-Q dominating his younger foe's A-T.

A raggy board later and Foxy's looking slightly less jovial with just 4 or 5k.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2526&g2_serialNumber=1)

And then almost immediately double up for Stuart (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419) Fox (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=419).

All in on a 9c 3d Kh 4s Jc board, the gent to his left, who we are fairly certain is Alan Rudge, calls, but mucks his hand to Stu's Kc 9s. He's still drinking.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2570&g2_serialNumber=1)

According to the magic screen, we have 48 players remaining with the blind levels about to jump up to 400/800.

At 35, we will be stopping for the day (everyone, that is, not just us).

Any magic chipcounts?

and just for some forum banter, who knows what hand is the gay waiter?

Don't worry, the love of your life is still there, and more than hanging on now as he seems to have jumped up to the dizzy heights of 23k. Next door to him is Martyn Cavanagh, who Iwan requested. Martyn is currently on 6,500 and seemingly frustrated at having to fold big hands to fast action before him. One of those occasions was the last hand I witnessed, Henry raising to 2.1k from early position only to be re-raised to 7.1k by Amrat Patel, and then again by Matthew Haden who pushed all-in. Apparently Martyn had A-Q this hand, so understandably got out of the way, as did initial raiser Henry Griffiths, but Amrat wasn't going anywhere, the extra shrapnel to call quickly zipping into the pot.

On the backs, and Haden was in seemingly good shape with Ks Kd versus Ahrt Qd. The Tc 5s Jd created two sweaty palms, and the 9d even triggered the odd gasp, but when the Aspades hit the River, there was an eerie silence as Matthew was left to exit the table with an understanding, but clearly broken hearted expression on his face.

(http://www.hecklerspray.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/elton%20john%20fashion.jpg)

(http://www.supercoolgifts.co.uk/acatalog/Host_photo_tray.jpg)

Id have to have a guess that you indeedare gay, i didnt know u were a waiter? Do you play blackjack by any chance?

Bang. :)

I'm not gay, just impressed at how well Swiss is running.  sorry to disappoint :)

The magic board is now displaying 46 players left in, with blinds 400/800, average stack 23k.

However I heard some people muttering that there are in fact only 42 players left, which I must admit makes my heart leap with joy, although I think they're not massively happy about whatever implications the number of players left in might have upon how they play the last level or two of the evening. Anyway, if by some miracle we haven't lost the requisite number of runners by the end of the next level, we're all going home anyway.

The latest batch to hit the deck include:

Dave Smith
Stuart Fox
Des Jonas (pictured)
P Stribroski
R Wilcox
R Barber
M Gogerty
Rumit Somaiya
M Aden
Ed Arees
Martyn Cavanagh

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2476&g2_serialNumber=1)

Richard Simmonds -- 23,500
P Georgiou -- 19,200
Rob Sherwood -- 7,700
Jeff Kimber -- 25,000
Chris Smith -- 5,000
Chris Sokrati -- 35,700
Stephen Holden -- 20,000
Toni Dicesari -- 13,200
Lawrence Gosney -- 77,000
Javed Iqbal -- 31,000
Paul Rayner -- 30,700
Osman Mustanoglu -- 23,900
Ashfag Hussain -- 29,500
Alan McLean -- 10,400
James Moult -- 42,000
Olabode Ayegun -- 18,600
Karl Mahrenholz -- 30,800
Marcus Bebb-Jones -- 11,100

Alan McLean was knocked down to 10k after Osman Mustangolu bust his Aces with A-K, King on Flop, another on the River.

Ouch!

(http://aura1.zaadz.com/photos/9/87246/large/Ouch.jpg)

Ed "The Fonz" Arees is OUT, didn't quite catch the hand (all I saw was that his opponent was holding A-Q) but I managed to get a blurry "no photos!" photo.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2574&g2_serialNumber=1)

snoopy  m8   howmany runners were on side event please?  ty

Once again, Red Dog, this is what you're up against. We want a Day 2, er, face-off.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2576&g2_serialNumber=1)

Double-up for this guy, Ashfag Hussain, whose A-J somehow defeated the mighty 9h Th.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2578&g2_serialNumber=1)

With the eliminations of Russell Jones and D Page, a new contender to the end of day chip leader throne has emerged in the form of Javed Iqbal, who has comfortably the surpassed the 50k mark and now has his sights firmly set on current big daddy Lawrence Gosney.

(http://www.blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2580&g2_serialNumber=1)

And Javed 'Chief' Iqbal is indeed your new chip leader with just over 60,000 in chips. He actually gained that 'top of the tree' status from the former pace setter Lawrence Gosney, Patel check-calling Aces on a K-K-3-3 board before pumping it in on the Queen River. Lawrence mucked pretty swiftly, so I think it's safe to say that he didn't have Aces beat.

The players are now on the final break of the day. They weren't going to take one at first, but there was one player who was too quick to follow the orders of the voice in the sky and nipped off to the loo, subsequently failing to return when called back by the tannoy.

Anyhow, it wouldn't be fair to carry on without him, so Zak finally agreed to an official time out.

Lightweights.

Toni (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=440) Dicesare (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=440) is OUT. He lost a few chips calling with Ac Tc when one Rick Gilby moved all in for pocket change, but his pocket Sixes held up and Toni was down to 4k or so. Here is shortly before all of that.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2588&g2_serialNumber=1)

A few hands later he moved in for his remaining 2.9k, again holding A-T, and got a promising call from Lawrence (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=243) Gosney (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=243) holding Q-J, but a Queen came on the flop and now he is gone.

Meanwhile Rick Gilby (below) has made a bit of a comeback, going all in for 5k or so with Qs Qc and finding a caller with Ad 2d. The board came Ks 6d 5s Jc Tc and although one tablemate was muttering bitterly that he had folded pocket Sixes, Rick Gilby now has over 10k. Which is still pretty short, but considerably better than out.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2586&g2_serialNumber=1)

Updates on Foxy, Soxy and the Champ..JeffKimber!

I played the last satellite to get in last night so will see you there 2moro!

While we await the passing of the final two players (or the end of the current level), like a dog licking its lips upon hearing the crackling of tin-opener on tin, there has been a flurry of all-ins and almost-gone encounters.

The first of those came from Alan Vicary, who all-in with Pocket Eights managed to spike a third Eight on an A-J-8-9-2 board to overcome Amrat Patel's Queens. Then, just a few hands later, Alan was at it again, moving all-in for 17k after Mateyboy had made the initial raise to 3.5k, followed by Patel to 12k. Incredibly, Patel passed, showing Pocket Nines in the process, leaving the rest of the table rather dumbfounded.

On a neighbouring table, it was Chris (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=72) Smith (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=72) with ants in his pants, his all-in of 8k on the River of a Js 3s Aspades 6c 5d board too much for Jeff (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=195) Kimber (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=195) to resist when faced with a 30k pot. Unfortunately, there's only value if you're ahead, and Jeff wasn't as he mucked in the face of Smith's Ahrt Tc. As a result, Jeff drops to circa 20k.

Finally, Allan Rudge's shortstack continues to be er... short, after only managing a split pot when his A-8 ran into a fellow A-8.

It's a moustache disaster! Mr Georgiou found himself all in with Kh Jh against Rob Sherwood's 8h 8c. The 6s 4h 3d 8d Th board did absolutely nothing for our friend Mr Georgiou, and as soon as the third Eight came out, he had his jacket on and was wandering off. Hair today, gone tomorrow.

But wait! Rob was pretty short too, and Mr Georgiou is called back to collect his change - 1k exactly. That's one big blind. "Oh good," says Mr Georgiou, "still in". And he really sounds like he means it. What a nice chap. Sadly, though, I don't think he'll be joining Red Dog on Day 2.

Incidentally, I believe Alan Rudge has doubled up with the mighty 5d 7d - all in against A-Q on a Queen-high flop with two diamonds on it, another one on the turn.

It's Eye of the Tiger mode at the moment, as Osman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) Mustanoglu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) becomes the latest player to survive an all-in and send us bed-thirsty-bloggers into a spin. In truth, he deserved his double-up, all-in with Queens versus the A-Q of Ashfag Ahmed on a 2-4-3 Flop, a Ten Turn and 2 River providing no change.

"I don't mind taking a hit from stacks like that," confesses Hussain brushing off the defeat with panache.

Oh look, what do we have here, oh my, would you Adam and Eve it, it's ANOTHER DOUBLE-UP!!!

This time Midlander Rob Reece is the elated recipient, his A-K outcoinflipping Bambos' Pocket Sixes on a 7-4-7-A-2 board.

And just like Noah's Ark, everything's coming in pairs, the two double ups of previous posts being quickly followed by two welcome (if I am to be biased and favour my wish to hit the sack) exits.

The first of those was C Williams, who all-in with Ac 6s versus the Ahrt Kd of Henry Griffiths, was unable to find that vital slice of luck when he needed it.

Second to fall was inevitably P Georgiou, who Mr Raab informs us is a dead ringer for Ron Jeremy. Down to just two 500 chips (hey, chips and a chair!), Georgiou's hopes must have diminished quicker than a Gascoigne comeback when he found himself called in four places. By the river of a 5d 2h 6h Js 4s board, which, funnily enough, was checked down, the desperate shortstacker was up against 6c 7c, Kh 8d, Ad 9h and the leading Jc Tc, which stayed in front as the all-iner peeled out an ineffective Ts 8h.

35 remaining means it's home time for both bloggers and players alike.

And on that note, it's time to bid you farewell and make our way to the bar area in order to taste the fine alcoholic beverages that Walsall has to offer.

In the meantime, why not have a mull over the Day 1B line-up that was posted at the start of this thread and brace yourselves for yet another day of hot poker action at this year's Bluesquare.com Grosvenor Grand Prix.

We've been promised chip counts by tomorrow morning, so we'll try to post them as soon as we can. Until then, ta ta for now, and be sure to join us tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel. Pow, Whack, Zonk! (http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/batman.gif)

 ;stickaforkinme;

I will be proud to represent soup strainers and lip ticklers everywhere

Good job guys, Now, no cards, sex or booze, get to bed, busy day tomorrow!

Tx you two. As always great updates.

Awesome updates! Any chance of a list of people who made it through to Day two?

Would be great to get a chip update, to see if I am officially the low stack with my 9,400

Paul Rodgers   84200
J. Iqbal   72300
Ash Hussain   70800
Chris Smith   54000
Karl Mahrenholz   53900
Lee Birchall   52700
Lee Horton   45600
M. Damavandy   40700
Chris Sokrati   37900
Jamie Moult   35500
Paul McCue   32500
Paul Vicary   32400
M. Shiels   32000
Paul Rayner   32000
Jeff Kimber   32000
Ash Ahmed   28700
Bambos Xanthos   26700
P. Taylor   25300
A. Patel   24300
A. Harding   24100
Olabode Ayegun   23300
Lawrence Gosney   21700
S. Basri   20700
Henry Griffiths   19700
Rob Reece   19000
Osman Mustanoglu   18800
Richard Simmonds   17400
Piers Whyman   16100
Rob Sherwood   15700
M. Akinson   13200
Allan Rudge   10600
Mike Arnold   9600
R. Gilby   9400
Marcus Bebb-Jones   7900