blonde poker forum

Welcome back for Day 2 with just over 200 players remaining in the the competition with 72 places being paid, the top spot being worth a mighty €850,000 and that's almost 3,000 Palladium Ounces, which we can all agree, is a lot of Ounces...

Table/Seat Draw and Chip counts to follow.

Play restarts (hopefully) at 3pm (2pm UK).

To interactive with the updaters and ask for specific requests, please head over to the 'Interactive' Thread: http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32536.new#new

Chip counts courtesy of pokerstars.com. Thanks!

Ville Nyman   107,100
Eric Koskas   106,200
Henrik Brockmann   100,100
Antony Lellouche   97,200
Yung Hwang   96,000
Hakan Sahl   93,700
Jan  Heitmann   91,800
Matt Kay   87,600
Roberto Romanello   86,800
Jonas Klausen   81,000
Loic Perret   72,700
Anthony Spinella   71,600
Mads Wissing Andersen   71,500
Theo Jørgensen   71,200
Eero Kekäläinen   70,000
Roberto Masullo   66,200
Alessio Isaia   65,300
William Thorson   62,800
Isaac Baron   62,700
Paolo Arcudi   62,625
Dag Palovic   59,200
Antonio Esfandiari   58,900
Soren Eriksen   58,600
Sven Polanski   57,700
Steven Van Zadelhoff   54,600
Luca Pagano   54,500
Luca Mortarino   53,900
Paul Testud   53,700
Michele Cammarotta   53,600
Alessandro Pennisi   53,200
Marcus Bower   52,800
Andreas Larsson   52,000
Rob Hollink   51,100
Mark Teltscher   50,400
Peter Roache   49,600
Jochen Heirman   49,400
Luca Castagnola   49,000
Håkon Hol   48,900
Brandon Schaefer   48,400
Damir Horozic   47,600
Terje Augdal   46,500
Leo  Gizzarelli   45,900
Jan Suchanek   45,600
Marco Della Monica   45,400
Richard Holmes   45,400
Mike Sowers   45,200
Jeremiah Fitzpatrick   45,000
Ed Corrado   44,800
Chuc Hoang   44,500
Johannes Strassmann   44,300
Justin Truesdell   44,200
Raymond Rahme   43,700
Sampo Verkasalo   43,200
Alexis Mazurier   43,100
Alessandro De Michele   42,800
Mattias Nordhamn   42,300
Carl-Johan Ericson   42,200
Mark Petersen   41,700
Darrin Melwani   40,900
Norbert Hölting   40,400
Martin Wendt   40,200
Hans Eskilsson   40,100
Roland De Wolfe   39,800
Massimiliano Tamburini   39,800
Kenneth Tomming   39,400
Rasmus Nielsen   39,300
Paul Alterman   39,200
Josh Gould   39,100
Patric Mårtenson   38,500
Alessandro Arcidiacono   38,100
Bob West   38,000
Thomas Fougeron   37,900
Niels Rikhof   37,900
Markus Golser   37,800
Claudio Fontana   37,800
Battista Cantonati   37,600
Jimmy Blom   37,500
Billy Argyros   37,500
Ryan Daut   35,900
Miroslaw  Klys   35,900
Nicolò Calia   35,700
Besim Sumer   35,400
Francesco De Vivo   34,900
Cristian Ragala   34,700
John  Kabbaj   34,600
Evert Jan Dondergoor   34,100
Lee Nayler   34,000
Robert Flink   33,800
Steve Zolotow   33,800
Marcelo Fogliata   33,800
Martin Hruby   33,500
Marc Goodwin   33,100
Anders Vind   31,900
Nicolas Ragot   31,400
Enrico Mognaga   31,200
Stefan Raffay   31,000
Jason Su   30,600
Nicolas Dervaux   30,500
Thomas Bentham   29,700
Marcello Terracciano   29,400
Henrik Kask   29,100
Giorgio Marletta   28,700
Tim Van Der Zwet   28,300
Andreas Glannbro   28,300
Dario Minieri   28,200
Ezio Guagliata   27,900
Liz Lieu   27,800
Tyler Reiman   27,700
Marko Puskadija   27,700
Rolf Slotboom   27,600
Gregory Genovese   27,600
Simon Johansson   27,300
Daan Ruiter   26,800
Denis Doran   26,600
Andrea Cortona   26,400
Massimiliano Reggiani   25,900
Pal Hjertenes   25,700
Pasi Heinanen   25,500
Todd Brunson   25,200
Julian Parmann   25,200
Frederic  Ghintran   25,100
David Czaja   24,900
Stephane Albertini   24,800
Chris Lee   24,500
Jean Pierre Petroli   24,400
Jason Mercier   24,300
Kai-Are Hauge   24,100
Steffen Vahlkvist   24,100
Pascal Perrault   23,500
Mauro Sussan   23,000
Michael Hogbom   22,900
Paolo Realmuto   22,700
Marco Brech   22,500
Juha Helppi   22,400
Emiliano Conti   22,300
Jesper Hougaard   21,900
Michele Gobbin   21,100
Guillaume De La Gorce   20,100
Anthon Nikaj   20,000
Giampiero Cocciò   20,000
Sandro Soncini   19,900
Flavio Ferrari Zumbini   19,800
Jesse Optekar   19,600
Fausto Cheli   19,100
Roelof Sasburg   19,000
Daniele Vesco   19,000
Agazio Gerace   19,000
Leslie Kerrigan   18,700
Maurizio Marchese   18,700
Mark Flowers   18,600
Massimiliano  Pescatori   18,300
Marius Bobinas   18,075
Robert Price   17,900
Jukka Ylitalo   17,900
Dustin Mele   17,800
Henrik Warn   17,500
Wayne Emerson   17,450
Felipe Ramos   17,300
Joep Van Den Bijgaart   17,200
Konstantin Bücherl   17,200
Michael Watson   17,000
Dennis Baratta   16,800
Andreas Torbergsen   16,600
Giovanni Izzi   16,600
Angel Ivanov   16,500
Graham Clarkson   16,300
Luis Miguel Magan Tier   16,200
Jeop Durkstra   16,100
Stéphane Pessin   16,100
Anthony Gregg   15,600
Rosario Filippo Galtieri   15,600
Søren Jensen   15,600
Paolo Della Penna   15,100
Akos Nemeth   15,000
Robert Cohen   14,800
Tommaso Natale   14,600
Hakan Copur   14,000
Alexandre Rubinsztejn   13,500
Maxime Masquelier   13,400
Cesare Florio   13,100
Walter Johnston   13,000
Gary Bickle   13,000
Massimiliano Trifoglio   12,250
Andrea Di Marzio   12,100
Antoon Kleijnen   11,800
Thor Hansen   11,600
Stieven Razab-Sekh   11,600
Luigi Canclini   11,500
Asger Boye   10,600
Matin Talebi   10,500
Mikael Gibbemark   10,500
Davidi Kitai   10,400
Mats Rahm    10,400
Sandro Bellusci   10,100
Daniel Negreanu   10,000
Benjamin Abou   9,500
Simone Rossi   9,400
Marcos Gabriel   9,000
Cort Kibler-Melby   8,900
Heinz-Peter Bock   8,800
Lex Veldhuis   7,600
Paul Kiely   7,100
Bart Wetsteijn   7,000
Christian Bonde   6,800
Jordan Lande   6,200
Beppe Tarsia   6,200
Christoph Zweig   1,400

(http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/china/W/wedgwood_grand_gourmet_salut_canape_plate_P0000143187S0013T2.jpg) Jpean!

Yes the French players have put in a strong showing so far with Eric Koskas and Anthony Lellouche perched ominously in the top 4 at the moment. Leading the pack for the Brits is the irrepressible Welshman Roberto Romanello with a fine stack of 86k. With Radio Romanello at full blast, there would be great entertainment on the final table so I'd like to see him come through today in good shape. Go the welsh wizard! Mark Teltscher, Roland De Wolfe and Marc Goodwin are three of the most recognisable Brits left and all have decent stacks that could see them make the final table whilst Paul Alterman, Josh Gould, Graham Clarkson and several others complete the UK contingent still staking a claim to glory.


It should be a great day. We anticipate a fiery start as some of the shorties gamble to build a stack so gl to all and let's gogogogo!

Play is just about to commence...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13672&g2_serialNumber=1)

Name, chip count and now added table/seat draw!

Marco Della Monica    45,400    1   1
Stieven Razab-Sekh    11,600    1   2
Loic Perret    72,700    1   3
Marcello Terracciano    29,400    1   4
Hakan Copur    14,000    1   5
Beppe Tarsia    6,200    1   6
Christoph Zweig    1,400    1   7
Sandro Bellusci    10,100    1   8
Gary Bickle    13,000    1   9
Alex Milanov    48,400    1   10
Marc Goodwin    33,100    2   1
Michele Gobbin    21,100    2   2
Paul Alterman    39,200    2   3
Luigi Canclini    11,500    2   4
Mauro Sussan    23,000    2   5
Norbert Hölting    40,400    2   6
Isaac Baron    62,700    2   7
Ed Corrado    44,800    2   8
John  Kabbaj    34,600    2   9
Justin Truesdell    44,200    3   1
Marcos Gabriel    9,000    3   2
Simone Rossi    9,400    3   3
Jeop Durkstra    16,100    3   4
Jeremiah Fitzpatrick    45,000    3   5
Henrik Kask    29,100    3   6
Guillaume De La Gorce    20,100    3   7
Michele Cammarotta    53,600    3   8
Matt Kay    87,600    3   9
Marius Bobinas    18,075    4   1
Gregory Genovese    27,600    4   2
Søren Jensen    15,600    4   3
Alexandre Rubinsztejn    13,500    4   4
Antoon Kleijnen    11,800    4   5
Sampo Verkasalo    43,200    4   6
Steve Zolotow    33,800    4   7
Luca Mortarino    53,900    4   8
Carl-Johan Ericson    42,200    4   9
Mikael Gibbemark    10,500    5   1
Agazio Gerace    19,000    5   2
Martin Hruby    33,500    5   3
Nicolò Calia    35,700    5   4
Giorgio Marletta    28,700    5   5
Cesare Florio    13,100    5   6
Billy Argyros    37,500    5   7
Andreas Larsson    52,000    5   8
Sandro Soncini    19,900    5   9
Angel Ivanov    16,500    6   1
Maxime Masquelier    13,400    6   2
Alessandro Pennisi    53,200    6   3
Besim Sumer    35,400    6   4
Terje Augdal    46,500    6   5
Anthony Spinella    71,600    6   6
Battista Cantonati    37,600    6   7
Henrik Brockmann    100,100    6   8
Alessio Isaia    65,300    6   9
Soren Eriksen    58,600    7   1
Daniele Vesco    19,000    7   2
Felipe Ramos    17,300    7   3
Bart Wetsteijn    7,000    7   4
Tyler Reiman    27,700    7   5
Jochen Heirman    49,400    7   6
Luca Pagano    54,500    7   7
Markus Golser    37,800    7   8
Håkon Hol    48,900    7   9
Luis Miguel Magan Tier    16,200    8   1
Steffen Vahlkvist    24,100    8   2
Kai-Are Hauge    24,100    8   3
Asger Boye    10,600    8   4
Brandon Schaefer    48,400    8   5
Anthony Gregg    15,600    8   6
Roberto Masullo    66,200    8   7
Anthon Nikaj    20,000    8   8
Massimiliano Trifoglio    12,250    8   9
Damir Horozic    47,600    9   1
Kenneth Tomming    39,400    9   2
Thor Hansen    11,600    9   3
Paul Kiely    7,100    9   4
Jukka Ylitalo    17,900    9   5
Benjamin Abou    9,500    9   6
Mark Petersen    41,700    9   7
Daniel Negreanu    10,000    9   8
Jan  Heitmann    91,800    9   9
Todd Brunson    25,200    10   1
Lex Veldhuis    7,600    10   2
Martin Wendt    40,200    10   3
Enrico Mognaga    31,200    10   4
Alessandro Arcidiacono    38,100    10   5
Marcelo Fogliata    33,800    10   6
Roland De Wolfe    39,800    10   7
Simon Johansson    27,300    10   8
Nicolas Ragot    31,400    10   9
Christian Bonde    6,800    11   1
Eero Kekäläinen    70,000    11   2
Josh Gould    39,100    11   3
Mats Rahm     10,400    11   4
Niels Rikhof    37,900    11   5
Paolo Realmuto    22,700    11   6
Francesco De Vivo    34,900    11   7
Stephane Albertini    24,800    11   8
Ryan Daut    35,900    11   9
Massimiliano  Pescatori    18,300    12   1
Evert Jan Dondergoor    34,100    12   2
Jonas Klausen    81,000    12   3
Andrea Cortona    26,400    12   4
Jason Su    30,600    12   5
Darrin Melwani    40,900    12   6
Hakan Sahl    93,700    12   7
Thomas Bentham    29,700    12   8
Cort Kibler-Melby    8,900    12   9
Alexis Mazurier    43,100    13   1
Michael Hogbom    22,900    13   2
Jean Pierre Petroli    24,400    13   3
Johannes Strassmann    44,300    13   4
Dennis Baratta    16,800    13   5
Daan Ruiter    26,800    13   6
Hans Eskilsson    40,100    13   7
Antonio Esfandiari    58,900    13   8
Flavio Ferrari Zumbini    19,800    13   9
Massimiliano Tamburini    39,800    14   1
Jordan Lande    6,200    14   2
Nicolas Dervaux    30,500    14   3
Rob Hollink    51,100    14   4
Pasi Heinanen    25,500    14   5
Peter Roache    49,600    14   6
Andrea Di Marzio    12,100    14   7
Henrik Warn    17,500    14   8
Rosario Filippo Galtieri    15,600    14   9
Pascal Perrault    23,500    15   1
Mattias Nordhamn    42,300    15   2
Andreas Glannbro    28,300    15   3
Claudio Fontana    37,800    15   4
Liz Lieu    27,800    15   5
Chris Lee    24,500    15   6
Heinz-Peter Bock    8,800    15   7
Fausto Cheli    19,100    15   8
Paolo Arcudi    62,625    15   9
Jan Suchanek    45,600    16   1
Leo  Gizzarelli    45,900    16   2
Chuc Hoang    44,500    16   3
Robert Price    17,900    16   4
Mike Sowers    45,200    16   5
Pal Hjertenes    25,700    16   6
Anders Vind    31,900    16   7
Luca Castagnola    49,000    16   8
Walter Johnston    13,000    16   9
Eric Koskas    106,200    17   1
Jesper Hougaard    21,900    17   2
Mark Teltscher    50,400    17   3
Konstantin Bücherl    17,200    17   4
Cristian Ragala   34,700   17   5
Miroslaw  Klys    35,900    17   6
Jimmy Blom    37,500    17   7
Robert Flink    33,800    17   8
Roberto Romanello    86,800    17   9
Davidi Kitai    10,400    18   1
Giampiero Cocciò    20,000    18   2
Frederic  Ghintran    25,100    18   3
Richard Holmes    45,400    18   4
Paul Testud    53,700    18   5
Wayne Emerson    17,450    18   6
Akos Nemeth    15,000    18   7
David Czaja    24,900    18   8
Marko Puskadija    27,700    18   9
Tim Van Der Zwet    28,300    19   1
Mark Flowers    18,600    19   2
Graham Clarkson    16,300    19   3
Rasmus Nielsen    39,300    19   4
Rolf Slotboom    27,600    19   5
Ville Nyman    107,100    19   6
Marco Brech    22,500    19   7
Stéphane Pessin    16,100    19   8
Juha Helppi    22,400    19   9
Michael Watson    17,000    20   1
Robert Cohen    14,800    20   2
Jason Mercier    24,300    20   3
Mads Wissing Andersen    71,500    20   4
Sven Polanski    57,700    20   5
Theo Jørgensen    71,200    20   6
Raymond Rahme    43,700    20   7
Leslie Kerrigan    18,700    20   8
Giovanni Izzi    16,600    20   9
Matin Talebi    10,500    21   1
Maurizio Marchese    18,700    21   2
Patric Mårtenson    38,500    21   3
Ezio Guagliata    27,900    21   4
Julian Parmann    25,200    21   5
Thomas Fougeron    37,900    21   6
Alessandro De Michele    42,800    21   7
Bob West    38,000    21   8
Stefan Raffay    31,000    21   9
Marcus Bower    52,800    22   1
Denis Doran    26,600    22   2
Steven Van Zadelhoff    54,600    22   3
Dustin Mele    17,800    22   4
William Thorson    62,800    22   5
Yung Hwang    96,000    22   6
Massimiliano Reggiani    25,900    22   7
Lee Nayler    34,000    22   8
Dag Palovic    59,200    22   9
Antony Lellouche    97,200    23   1
Tommaso Natale    14,600    23   2
Joep Van Den Bijgaart    17,200    23   3
Paolo Della Penna    15,100    23   4
Jesse Optekar    19,600    23   5
Emiliano Conti    22,300    23   6
Dario Minieri    28,200    23   7
Andreas Torbergsen    16,600    23   8
Roelof Sasburg    19,000    23   9

As you may have noticed in the background, they're building the TV table for tomorrow for the live feed. Blonde will actually have access to this live feed so from tomorrow you will be able to read our updates and watch the live feed at the same time. Hows about that then?

Thomas Fourgeron is OUT with the Kc Kh into Aspades Ahrt of Alessandro De Michele.

Graham 'Evil Genius' Clarkson pushed K-Q over the top of an A-6 button raise, was called but managed to nose ahead on a A-J-T-A-x board.

Daniel Negreanu has doubled up with the stellar A-3 vs A-A coup pushing over the top of a late position raise and in no way at all sucking out on the 7-4-7-5-6 board.

Martin Wendt bets 4,800 on a 7h Kd 5d flop, Simon Johansson c/raises all-in for around 22k more. Wendt tanks but passes Qc Qs, Roland De Wolfe pipes up, "I snap call there!"

Some photos of the early action.

---

Roberto Romanello. Fairly quiet at the moment, just seen folding A-J on the turn face up.

"I've always got a hand - me" he might have said in his chirpy welsh accent later in the day but he's just quietly getting into things at the moment.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13674&g2_serialNumber=1)

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The tournament organisers have seated two of the hoody of the day contenders together to assist hte photographers. Very kind of them too!

Here we have Brad Pitt lookalike Tim Van Der Zwet and well supported American player, especially by the Gobbo clan, Mark Flowers. No early fluctuations in their starting stacks 28k and 19k respectively.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13676&g2_serialNumber=1)

Reportedly we are down one Frenchman.

Pascal Perrault and Liz Lieu saw an ace high flop and shipped their chips in faster than you could say "Sacre bleue, i sink i ave ze nuts!" but when the dust settled the A-J of triple P was languishing behind Lieu's A-Q and no outdraw means the amiable, pony-tailed French maestro departs the arena...

Bad luck Jpean...

Monorail......Monorail.......Monorail....Marc Goodwin has doubled up with 3d 3c vs Kc 9h on a Kd 2d Jd Qd Th.

Rolf Slotboom may have temporarily abandoned his fixation with his trademark tictacs but he has retained his penchant for arranging his stack into attractive sculptures. I'm a big fan of his twin towers rising from an ocean of chips with a Taj Mahal style tower topping it off.

Kid's got style!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13678&g2_serialNumber=1)

Justin Truesdell has knocked out Marcos Gabriel and Simone Rossi with Kc Tc vs Aspades 6s vs Ad Qc, turning a flush.

Canadian player, Matt Kay is riding high at the moment, up with the chip leaders, holding a whopping 90k. Everything's a-o-KAY with Matt!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13682&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Superdry Motor-oil t-shirt wearing Roland De Wolfe is hoping some slick moves can grease the wheels of his ascent through the field today.

He's a slippery customer for sure, and if he doesn't get fried, is definitely a contender for the title.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13684&g2_serialNumber=1)

Todd Brunson is looking a little short at the moment with a mere 18k. 15BBs won't last too long with the pressure applied by the antes i'd've thought...

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Roland De Wolfe also looks like he has suffered a set back or two in the early stages and can't have much more than 16k, unless he has hidden some chips away somewhere...

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Danish player Jonas Klausen is one of the chip leaders at present with 90-95k in his stack.

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John Kabbaj is OUT! Details of his exit are unavailable but he was spotted away from the tables availing himself of one of the ham and cheese sandwiches from the bar.

Kabbaj's des-patched kids.

He's lost more than that now. Check/raising Eric Koskas' 7.5k bet to 20.7k on a 9c 2d 2c 3h board, but then folding to a push. Koskas triumphantly showed what he thought was a bluff in Ad Qs, until Roberto showed Aspades Ts.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13686&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chris Lee is definitely OUT, because Anthony Lellouche is sitting in his place. (This photo taken to prove this and not because Liz Lieu was nearby obviously). Will check on the other two in a bit.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13694&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mark Flowers and Maverick from Top Gun. (If he was Scottish, had a ginger beard and was called Graham Clarkson)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13688&g2_serialNumber=1)

Nicolas Ragot is OUT. The tricky young Frenchman did have about 60k so I was interested how he managed to lose it all so quickly.

"I 4-bet all-in with Th 6h and was snapped called by Aces. Bad timing." He said with a Gallic shrug.

Todd "I will kill JC soon" Brunson - 20k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13698&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Anthony "ok so I can't put my cap on straight but look at my stack beeutches" Spinella -110k.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13700&g2_serialNumber=1)

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Another player with over 100k is this fella although i couldn't see his card so couldn't identify him...

Anyone recognise him?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13702&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13708&g2_serialNumber=1)

Chip count -- 0

(Johannes Strassman's set of Eights on an A-J-5-8-7 board was enough to take him out.)

Josh Gould has had more bad luck. An 80k pot with A-K vs A-Q. Queen on the river.

Marc Goodwin is OUT. T-T vs K-Q.

Brandon Schaefer -- 95k

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13710&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ryan Daut looks to be OUT, I'm afraid.

Chip leader with over 200k. Eric Koskas (totally crazy, if you want a bit of insight, sharkscope 'moumouth' on Stars) and just moved on to Jan Heitmann's (160k) table.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13712&g2_serialNumber=1)

He's just gone out, K-J against Kings.

On a 7h 5c Js 9h board, the action goes check check between Michele Gobbin and Isaac Baron, on the river Ad Michele moves all-in for 25k. Isaac tanks for ages, mulling up all the options, after a good think Theo Jorgensen calls the clock which counts down and still Baron is thinking, he has his countdown from 10 counted back to him but still he thinks. The floorman reaches 0 and mucks his cards, Isaac sits there, still obviously dissatisfied that he hasn't come to a decision on the hand, but now forced to move on to the next one.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13724&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes  a rum old day for Roberto, everything that could go wrong did.

Here he is just before his exit, holding a mere 13-14k, his slumped posture tells the tale of the day and I knew he would be getting it in soon as Homer reported and did so without success.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13720&g2_serialNumber=1)

Bad luck Roberto , see you soon.

Roland De Wolfe and Graham Clarkson are the only Brits left now we think, it's looking a little bleak here for Blighty...

Anthony Lellouche has moved tables a whopping 8 times in three levels, which hasn't helped his chances of building on his 100k stack.

Bad news for Roberto fans but better news for Mark Flowers fans.

He gives me a nod as I approach the table and is even kind enough to give me a count which was around 60k.

Good job! Flowers stack is blossoming nicely...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13718&g2_serialNumber=1)

Do you spend sleepless nights wondering what a man who owned a tamborine with an effigy of a woman humping a chili on it would look like?

Let me put you out of your misery.

THIS IS YOUR MAN!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13716&g2_serialNumber=1)

Incidentally this man picks up his tamborine and starts banging it every time he wins a pot. Clearly insane, he just made someone lay down jacks (which they showed) holding a pair of tens. Cue standing up and frantic banging of tamborine in a tuneless, highly irritating fashion. Eventually Thomas Kremser had to come over and after a little percussion he was asked to stop.

God knows what will happen if he meets up with Soren The Viking at any point but it's quite possible the world will explode in a moment of bizarre insanity!

WSOP final tablist and part time Jimmy Saville impersenator, Raymond Rahme, is holding his own at the moment with 35k or so...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13722&g2_serialNumber=1)

Roland De Wolfe is OUT.

He limps for 2k, William Thorson calls also as their old verbal sparring continues...

"Roland, you honestly think you're the best player in Europe?"

"I didn't say that, you said that, but thanks for bringing it up..."

The button raises to 9.5k, Roland and William both calls.

3d Th 7c

Roland and William, their eyes on the button like hawks, check. The button bets 19.5k. Roland moves in for not too much more and William passes. Button calls and shows Js Jd, Roland shows Qh Qd. A blank 5s turn but a dagger in the heart for the Brit with a Jh river.

"So sick, I knew it was coming..."

Peter Gould, "Oh well, at least we can get to the buffet before the rush!"

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13726&g2_serialNumber=1)

We're now on a 1hr dinner break.

Todd Brunson is on a heater. You might call it a Brunson Burner. Oh dear.

Anyway, he just doubled up off Anthony Spinella, Spinella holding a flushy Kc Tc on a Ad 6c 9c but Brunson's Ah Ks held to propel the American star over 50k.

---

Bart Wetsteijn was very short but just doubled off another shortstack, Tyler Reiman.

Bart held A-Q, Tyler J-J, the chips flew in preflop and an interesting flop of A-K-T brought no more surprises as some limp, tepid blanks fell on the turn and river and a huge exhalation of relief from Bart was heard.

Tyler now super short...

---

Tim Van Der Zwet, who looks like this guy...

(http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/brad-pitt-babel-los-angeles-premiere-red-carpet-0SfHq9.jpg)

 .....looks to have been knocked out as he was conducting an interview on the sidelines.

I don't know whether he PITT his chips in behind but it turned out BRADly for him anyway. Good game sir!

Evil Mr Clarkson is OUT and the last Brit too. He had Kings vs Raymond Rayme's Queens which spiked on the flop, leaving Graham in full Chris Kamara mode, saying, "Unbelievable!"

Chip counts way back from the end of level 11 and kind of out of date, but thanks to Mad and pokerstars anyway.

Player  End of Level 11 
 
Henrik Brockmann             165,000
Ezio Guagliata             150,000
William Thorson             136,000
Yung Hwang             130,000
Mike Sowers             126,000
Eric Koskas             125,000
Mads Wissing Andersen             124,000
Anthony Spinella             120,000
Alessandro De Michele             119,000
Hakan Sahl             118,900
Antony Lellouche             115,000
#N/A             111,300
Giampiero Cocciò             108,000
Ville Nyman             100,000
Jonas Klausen               93,900
Jesse Optekar               92,600
Brandon Schaefer               90,800
Jochen Heirman               90,000
Michele Cammarotta               86,300
Dag Palovic               85,400
Luca Mortarino               84,100
Eero Kekäläinen               80,000
Niels Rikhof               80,000
Dennis Baratta               80,000
Guillaume De La Gorce               77,600
Claudio Fontana               75,000
Leo  Gizzarelli               73,000
Johannes Strassmann               70,000
Antonio Esfandiari               70,000
Bob West               69,500
Peter Roache               69,500
Justin Truesdell               69,100
Steven Van Zadelhoff               68,800
Rosario Filippo Galtieri               68,300
Isaac Baron               65,000
Rob Hollink               64,900
Loic Perret               64,500
Marco Della Monica               64,000
Tim Van Der Zwet               64,000
#N/A               62,000
Gregory Genovese               61,600
Markus Golser               61,400
Jason Mercier               60,000
Jimmy Blom               60,000
Asger Boye               57,700
Andreas Larsson               57,000
Darrin Melwani               55,600
Tyler Reiman               55,500
Massimiliano Trifoglio               55,000
Roberto Masullo               54,100
Paul Alterman               53,400
Liz Lieu               53,000
Paolo Arcudi               52,000
Andrea Cortona               50,100
Stefan Raffay               50,000
Sandro Soncini               48,100
Sampo Verkasalo               47,500
Nicolò Calia               47,000
Richard Holmes               47,000
Dario Minieri               45,000
Pal Hjertenes               45,000
Luca Castagnola               45,000
Michele Gobbin               44,800
Ed Corrado               42,400
Henrik Kask               42,000
Raymond Rahme               42,000
Julian Parmann               41,900
Marius Bobinas               40,600
Juha Helppi               40,500
Cristian Ragala               40,000
Sandro Bellusci               39,600
Alex Milanov               39,500
Luigi Canclini               38,300
Terje Augdal               38,000
Mattias Nordhamn               38,000
Anders Vind               38,000
Felipe Ramos               37,500
Alessio Isaia               36,500
Robert Cohen               35,700
Josh Gould               35,000
Ryan Daut               33,000
Marc Goodwin               32,700
Giorgio Marletta               32,000
Andreas Glannbro               32,000
Mark Flowers               32,000
Maurizio Marchese               31,000
Nicolas Dervaux               31,000
Martin Hruby               30,500
Bart Wetsteijn               29,900
Norbert Hölting               29,000
Jan Suchanek               29,000
Marcello Terracciano               28,700
Theo Jørgensen               28,100
Simon Johansson               28,000
Christian Bonde               28,000
Chuc Hoang               27,500
Carl-Johan Ericson               25,900
Maxime Masquelier               25,000
Akos Nemeth               25,000
Hans Eskilsson               25,000
Rolf Slotboom               24,800
Henrik Warn               24,200
Billy Argyros               24,000
Andrea Di Marzio               23,200
Roberto Romanello               23,000
Evert Jan Dondergoor               22,900
Soren Eriksen               22,600
Frederic  Ghintran               22,300
Luca Pagano               22,100
Wayne Emerson               20,000
Leo  Gizzarelli               20,000
Alexis Mazurier               20,000
Daan Ruiter               20,000
Todd Brunson               19,600
Roland De Wolfe               18,000
Dustin Mele               16,900
Jeremiah Fitzpatrick               16,500
Martin Wendt               15,000
Miroslaw  Klys               15,000
Pasi Heinanen               14,100
Akos Nemeth               14,000
Denis Doran               13,100
Mikael Gibbemark               11,100
Damir Horozic                 9,000
Mauro Sussan                 8,000
Stephane Albertini                 8,000

Peter Roche has about 60k or so.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13732&g2_serialNumber=1)

Antony Lellouche, his NINTH table move today.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13734&g2_serialNumber=1)

A-K cracks A-A, can you guess who had what?

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13736&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dortmund final tablist, Alex "Hellsangel" Milanov ihas just played  a big pot.

He saw a flop with Marco della Monica of 6d 9d Td.

Check from Milanov, bet of 10k from  Marco, check raise allin from Milanov for another 15k, called by Monica pretty quickly.

Milanov showed Ad Aspades for a nice overpair and flush draw but Marco showed 9c 9s for an even nicer set!

Even so Milanov's aces with his nut flush draw were only marginally worse than a coin flip, but a filling up 6c on the turn left him sweating an Ace on the river which duly...

...didn't arrive.

We are down one crazy Bulgarian...

---

Johannes Strassmann who struggled with a smallish stack earlier has proved that mighty oaks from little acorns grow by nurturing his little acorn into a mighty 150k+ stack which will be amongst the chip leaders at this stage...

---

Mark Flowers was also going well with 80k+

Todd Brunson continues to be on a Brunson burner, as he has now increased his stack to 115k or so. Again Todd was one of those, like Strassmann who cradled a pretty small stack earlier but now has plenty of opportunity (and the chips required) to make a big impression.

Justin is pretty short just as we get to the bubble.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13738&g2_serialNumber=1)

Huge pot for Mads Wissing Andersen

He fires 15k on Ahrt 4s 8s flop and both Eric Koskas and William Thorson call, 45k on the 3c turn, only Thorson calls this time, and finally moved in for 120k into a 140k pot on the Kd river. Clock on Thorson, and (pictured) Andersen stands up awaiting his fate. Countdown and Thorson's hand is dead.

Andersen flips over 7c 6c and starts doing a dance-sort-of-rubdown, I'm not sure how much gyration is required for it to become an insult if I'm truthful though.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13740&g2_serialNumber=1)

Insta-bubble-bustage:

Eric Koskas calls a raise with 8-3... 8s 7h 2d 4s board and all the money went in, his unfortunate opponent holding Ks Js and failing to hit the river.

We're now into the money!

(Note : this is pre-bubble)

Some assorted chip counts:-

Markus Golser - 57k
Liz Lieu - 24k
Ezio Guagliata - 100k
Nicola Calia - 90k
Matt Kay - 26k

---

OMG!

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/modernlover62/ALBUM%202/openshot.jpg)

BIG cooler!

Marcos Gabriel, Henrik Kask, Guillaume De La Gorce all saw a flop of 7-T-8 and one by one they ALL got their chips into the middle!

Last to call was Marcos who had reservations about his hand after watching all the carnage in front of me, despite the fact he held the 2nd nuts with 6h 9h.

He was obviously fearing J-9, although his fears were unfounded as his two opponent's very strong hands were T-T and 8-8 for Henrik and Guillaume respectively.

The Brazilian needed to avoid the board pairing on the turn and river and the dealer obliged him with a 4d and 6d to win Marcos the HUGGGGE pot and send Guillaume crashing to the rail...

---

As we have just breached the payout threshold, here are the prizes awaiting out remaining players (thanks to pokerstars.com for the info)...

1              € 869,000

2              € 505,000

3              € 287,600

4              € 223,600

5              € 188,500

6              € 140,600

7              € 111,800

8              € 76,700

9-10       € 46,300

11-12     € 28,750

13-14     € 22,400

15-16     € 17,600

17-24     € 16,000

25-32     € 12,800

33-40     € 11,200

41-48     € 9,600

49-56     € 8,000

57-64     € 7,020

65-72     € 5,750

9-year-old Dario Minineri has doubled up, all-in with Jd Js on a 2c 8c 2d board vs 5c 4c, blanks on the 9d turn and Th river cause a huge eruptions of cheers from the locals on the other side of the rail.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13744&g2_serialNumber=1)

Antony Lellouche fires a barrel of 19k on a 7d Kd Tc Kh board against Raymond Rahme, but gets called, he tried 60k on the 9h river for most, if not all, of his stack. This time it works though and he wins the pot.

Eric Koskas has knocked out Mikael Gibbemark and Anders Vind in one go, his A-K connected best with the raggy but Ace-producing board against the A-J and Q-J of the other two players. Eric Koskas must have over 300k now.

Massimiliano Trifoglio - 125k
Norbert Holting - 36k
Niels Rikhof - 160k
Anthony Spinella - 50k
Raymond Rahme - 35k
Marcus Bower - 200k
Denis Doran 42k
Eric Koskas - 300k+
Mark Flowers - 96k

---

Mr Tambourine-man just stood up and started pounding on his woman-molesting-chili cum tambourine combo.

Bang bang bang bang bang. The hideous, eardrum-piercing cacophony of noise seemed slightly unwarranted given he had pushed allin for just 9k, or a mere 3 BBs...

Anyway, he got looked up in two spots and the other two players checked down a 6-9-Q-5-T board.

On the river the triumphant Mr tambourine shouted out "ASSOL ASSOL!" and at first I thought he had added crude insults to his repertoire of ridiculous noises but NO!, he flipped over A-A which was good and meant he had tripled through to almost 10 BBs. WOOOOOOOW!!!

Watching his performance with his head buried in his hands, a fellow journalist from Italy turned to me and said "I am sorry about him. He is from Napoli" as if this explained everything. One man immediately sprang to mind...

(http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/11/25/icon_cover2_nov26,0.jpg)

Found him, he was still in at the break but looked a little short.

(Awaits someone to do the, "And so is his stack" joke)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13746&g2_serialNumber=1)

Koskas continues to dominate, his stack 300k+ at the moment.

Anthony Lelouche just lost a mammoth pot of 160k to South African Jimmy Saville Raymond Rahme, his A-K racing unsuccesfully against Rahme's Q-Q.
Short now Lelouche shoved over the top of a Dario Mineri raise with K-2 and was releived when he was called to find himself ahead of Dario's J-9.

He survived this encounter and although I don't have his exact count, I would make an educated guess that 80 - 100k is his current stack...

---

*NOTE* The press have now been evacuated from the central tournament, meaning coverage may be a little more tricky than before, which considering negotiating the narrow spaces between the tables previously was already much like trying to shove an elephant through a hole in a sock, means we may have a few difficulties.

We will do the best we can though and the always helpful Thomas Kremser is trying to get things organised to make it easier for the press...Fingers crossed, elephants greased up, socks darned...here we go!

120k pot for Jan Heitmann as he holds Qh 8h on a 8c 9h Jh Ahrt 2s and gets fully paid off by his Scandie opponent.

Tyler Reiman is OUT. He moved in with Queens, was called by Ace Jack, which paired both it's hole cards to send him to the rail.

Dario Minineri has doubled up to 400k with A-Q vs 4-4.

Eric Koskas has busted out another player with Queens vs A-7 hitting quads. No news if he climbed on the table and began mock-swimming in the chips shouting, "Quaaaaaaaaaadddddddsssssssssss."

Liz Lieu is OUT, and as a result the tournament loses around 90% of it's hotness.

Peter has what seems to be circa 40k, although it is a little hard to read his stack from where we are.

Here he is nursing his precious chips...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13748&g2_serialNumber=1)

---

Italian player Giorgio Marletta has just been eliminated. Here he is grabbing his coat...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13750&g2_serialNumber=1)

Double EPT final tablist and triple EPT casher Johannes Strassman has cashed once more and is looking to make yet another final table.

He has 160k at the moment.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13752&g2_serialNumber=1)

---

Gobboboy's favourite, Mark Flowers who I think has 120k+

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13754&g2_serialNumber=1)

Pete Roche has doubled his stack thanks to a 6d 6h vs Hans Eskilisson's 4h 4s coup, the board coming a definitive 6s 7s 3d 7d 8d.

Rob Hollink is OUT. Ahrt 3h vs Antony Lellouche's 7h 7d.

Rolf Slotboom had got short, and so shoved in LP with Ahrt 8h.

Bad luck for him the supremely chipped up Jonas Klausen (who incidentally was the guy with the straight versus 2 sets earlier - not some random brazilian guy as I inaccurately suggested) found A-T dominating him. All eyes of the massive group of sardines, masquerading as the assembled media craned to watch...

"I need help" said Rolf as he flipped his cards and help was forhtcoming as the flop came 8d 3d 5h.

Jonas gritted his teeth and threw his headback in disgust but then fistpumped his pleasure as the Td hit the turn.

A blank river meant Jonas' tens were, well better than Rolf's 8s. Rolf shook hands with the table and departed to be interviewed by various attractive scandinavian TV presenters.

The world watches Jonas' triumph, including top left, a familiar figure.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13758&g2_serialNumber=1)

Rolf shakes and vacs and puts the freshness back. Well shakes and goes anyway...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13756&g2_serialNumber=1)

Things have slowed somewhat now...

Player consider each decision to be crucial and with the stacks shallowing in many cases this is true.

Frenchman Eric Koskas remains the chip leader at this point with a bountiful stack of 600k+...

Italian Dario "Can you buy me some fags mister" Mineri is in 2nd place with 400k or so. Every pot he wins is accompanied by a massive roar of appreciation as the effusive Italian crowd show their appreciation for the popular local man boy embryo.

Johannes Strassmann looks to have lost a few chips, down to 95k or so, and trying desperately to engage Todd Brunson in conversation without much success. He then raises two hands in a row, the first time he shows A-K, the 2nd he doesn't show. Probably A-K again you think?

Todd was sitting with around 120k...

Raymond Rayme is OUT. Looks like he ran into the Aces of Anthony Spinella.

Jan Heitmann bets 10k on the Ks 9c 8s board, Dag Palovic raises to 35k, Jan calls but then Dag pushes on the 5c turn and Jan is forced fold.

Dario has lost a few chips doubling up a short-stack's A-K with A-J.

40 players left, we are playing to 9 levels (end of level 18) or till 32 remain, whichever comes first...

They just split up a table following the latest knockout so there is a short hiatus while they re-arrange the tables and cordons. Thomas Kremser, for all his experience and respect in which he is held in the poker world was not afraid to knuckle down and move a few chairs himself, all without ruffling his neatly gelled hair and tailor-made suit. Impressive.

Johannes Strassmann looks to have bolstered his stack once more, back up to 160k or so whilst Eric Koskas has moved onto 700k now. Apparently there was a raise and Eric moved allin. The raiser showed 8-8 and folded whilst Eric flipped over 6-2!

"If you are folding that then I am allin whenever anyone raises!" he tells the table.

A few hands later, there is a raise from a player, Eric is good to his word and sets him in. The player calls with K-J figuring it is good, but this time Eric has A-9 which holds, knocking out yet one more!

Eric is utterly barmy. Not in a crazy madcap Soren Jensen sort of way, but in an erratic non-stop pot playing juggernaut sort of way. He's just doubled up a short-stacked Andreas Larsson with Qs 3s vs Aspades Qc. Andreas went to move in but only moved a couple of chips in meaning it counted as a call. The flop came 8s 4s Ahrt so predictably all the chips went in anyway. Board bricked out though.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13762&g2_serialNumber=1)

I'm half tempted just to sit at his table until the end of the day as there's bound to be a story pretty much every hand...

Found: Paul Alterman, the last of the Brits.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13760&g2_serialNumber=1)

Isaac is tucked away quite far from us, making it hard to follow his progress. This was the best shot of his face I could manage!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13766&g2_serialNumber=1)

He has 125k or so...

---

The well chipped up Jonas Clausen here...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13764&g2_serialNumber=1)

Todd Brunson and Johannes Strassman see a flop.

Aspades Kh 6h

Check, check.

4c

Check check.

5s

Todd checks, Strassman bets 18k and Todd calls, both show K-Q. Chop chop. Meanwhile behind me, Brandon Schaefer (who busted earlier and Lee Jones are waxing lyrically about how they'd have played the hand in Todd and Johannes shoes.

Mark, ("it's Randal, everyone calls him Randal," says Brandon), ok, Randal Flowers has doubled through Todd Brunson with Ace King vs a pair of Nines. A solitary King on the flop was enough for him, and leave the Toddmeister short.

He wasn't short for long though, a instant double up courtesy of Jan Heitmann who held Jacks which were dwarfed by Todd's Kings.

Ok, play has now finished for the day.

We've shared out doing the chip counts, here's the table I covered, the rest to follow shortly.

Todd Brunson -- 144,000

Mark Flowers -- 197,000

Johannes Strassman -- 255,000

Julian Parkmann -- 138,000

Paul Alterman -- 86,000

Jan Heitmann -- 264,000

As we finish for the night, we can point out that tomorrow blonde will be running the EPT live feed on the updates, so you will be able to watch the feature table and read our updates at the same time, hopefully this will enhance the updates for you. :)