blonde poker forum

Welcome to Monaco!  After being welcomed to Nice airport we felt welcome in the incredible cliff-spanning tunnel, and welcome in the winding roads full of angry French/Italian/Europeaningeneral motorists, and then welcome in our lovely sort of bedsit (but a Monte Carlo version, therefore nice).  The blonde team - myself, Dana and Snoopy - are looking forward to bringing you live updates on this, the finale of the EPT season from the Monte Carlo Bay Resort, a mere stroll down the beach from our residence.

Rumours abound as to the number of runners expected - they get as high as the four-figure mark, but with everyone and their high-stakes cousin heading over here in the next 24 hours to play this most prestigious of European events, we wouldn't be that surprised.

This is the interactive thread - please let us know anyone you'd like an especially beady eye out for, and we'll try to find them amongst the throng of players crowding the impressive Ballroom Tournament Area...  For the No-Chat Option:  At A Glance reporting here: http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32790.0 (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=32790.0)

Play is scheduled to start 12th April, 1pm (12pm UK time).  Bring on six days of big tournament - blonde is ready, pens poised, money saved for the ridiculously-priced bar, sleep being caught up on overnight while the flights from all over Europe and the US bring in the players. 

Yes indeed, hello from sunny (daytime only) Monte Carlo! We are currently enjoying a drop of duty free brandy and the very reasonably priced wireless in our pleasant bedsit-el, but we will most likely be down at the Monte Carlo Bay casino come kick-off time (or more likely 2 hours beforehand to attempt to find press passes, sigh).

We know virtually nothing about the field except that it is expected to be very large and have pockets stuffed with endless money, so I shall merely recite the names of players spotted on Easyjet from Luton this morning: Dave Colclough, Maz Nawab, John Kabbaj. Many more to come tomorrow! See you then...

Well, my oompa loompas have posted, so I guess I should follow suit, especially seeing as though I come armed with embarrassing photography in hand. My colleagues didn't want me to post this, mainly because they're still emotionally scarred from being dominated by the guns, but I'm gonna gamble nonetheless. A lot of people ask who's the boss in our flat, and I like to think a picture paints a thousand words. Well, just the one needed here... Pwned!  ;snoopy'sguns;

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14355&g2_serialNumber=1)

Dana is getting testis and complaining that her genitals are smaller than everyone else's in that pic, but I think her speedos are a bit more snug. I also observed that the guy in the back appeared to be lacking girthage, but Jen correctly added that he was simply further away. Women, never happy!

I have four arms as well.  :'(

A bit like Goro off the Mortal Kombat games. Not sure who would win, four armed Dana or Goro. You look more nimble, but one punch from him and he laps up half your power bar. You're definitely better looking, but I guess I'm biased.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Goro_Mortal_Kombat.PNG)

GL to Neil Channing hopefully his forms continues for this comp...the man is a legend!

6 days of updates!!

(http://www.blogwaybaby.com/uploaded_images/Happy%20Days%20Cast-707209.jpg)

Good Luck to All

Well with this trio of updaters present in Monte Carlo we at the NAS can look forward to a feast of norkage, I wonder if they will be sending 1 updater on a daily basis as an outside broadcaster to the nearby resort of St.Troppe(I can just see Kev's head nodding in anticipation).
Good luck to all Blondes and Brits playing in this, lets hope 1 of our lot can bring the curtain down on a great EPT season with a win.

Howdy ho, peeps. It was a bit of a rush job this morning because a certain Beagle forgot to move his clock on an hour, so pictures of the lovely Monte Carlo Bay & Resort will have to be a welcome treat for tomorrow. In the meantime, we are now set up and raring (well, after Dana has finished her ciggy) to go in what is a jam-packed media room. It just shows the popularity of this event when the playing area from two years ago is now packed to the rafters with media, with the 1,000 plus field next door in the more spacious, and sometimes roofless, poker room.

With Ric Flair retiring last week (this will only have any relevance to a niche audience), recent times have been an emotional affair for my good self, and with so much potential action braced for this week, the roller coaster of emotions is sure to continue it's unpredictable journey. Let's just hope a Brit goes far and, poker gods willing, make the final table as Ash Hussain and Steve Jelinek did the years prior.

Just let me know what brits are playing, this should be a good few days.

I'm not playing because I didn't try to satellite and it's too expensive!

The roof, very very sadly, is unlikely to come off today.  I am genuinely surprised that it appears the magic bubble in which I thought Monte Carlo existed, doesn't.  It's as grey as Solihull here (sorry, Snoops).  Better wait until tomorrow for the jealousy-inducing photos of the admittedly spectacular town itself.

Umm, indeed it wouldn't actually have made a difference what time we got here, as we don't actually seem to be on the list for press passes currently, despite applying through the proper channels and receiving confirmation etc. Hmm. Nevertheless, the fine people at Pokerstars seem confident that they can find us some passes within an hour or so and have advised us to barge our way past security to get into the cardroom in the meantime, so expect Guerrilla Tactics today on all fronts. Yay!

Word on the media grapevine is that all the PokerStars sponsored players are being grouped together for some bizarre promotional purpose. My guess is that they're going to send them through the cardroom like the parade at Euro Disney. I can just picture it now, Humberto Brenes, Tom McEvoy, Greg Raymer and co all doing their thang for the crowd and busting a groove. Hopefully William Chen won't whip his top off again.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1028/1411837356_0097992ecc.jpg)

I've just popped into the cardroom, and although the majority of players are seated, my guess is that it's going to be at least another 15 minutes before we kick off. Earlier on, Jen threatened to eat one of her fingers (which digit wasn't decided) if they started on time, and it looks like she's going to be spared her fingery feast this time around. What I can tell you is that it truly is hustle and bustle in there and the 1,000 players probably isn't an exaggeration. It would take me to the end of Level 1 to list the famous faces, but I did notice that most, if not all of the PokerStars sponsored players are here, as is superstar Erick Lindrgen, not to mention the likes of Thomas Wahlroos, Roland de Wolfe and William Hill's Julian Thew. Most eye-popping of all, well, to the middle-aged female railers anyhow, Boris Becker is stealing the limelight, his tall gingery frame luring in the flash of the camera like a magnet at a piercing convention and letting everyone know that he's here.

The bizarre-o parade-type thingy is accomplished, it rather disappointingly involved a bunch of Pokerstars pros sitting at a table on a big stage while "I Like The Way You Move" pumped out of the stereo and pictures of this year's EPT winners popped up on a big screen. Also a bit disappointingly for your sleepy updaters, but probably just marvelously for you lucky readers at home, Thomas Kremser then announced that they will be playing 7 levels today instead of the advertised 6.

And they're off!

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

With 2 Day 1's this could be a mammoth field, how many are they expecting?
Oh yeah wheres the norkage!!

We don't actually know yet, the clock is running but no number of runners is evident. I've taken down my earlier guess of 1,000,000 and put up a more realistic 500 until we know for sure.

Also, I can report that we did see one lady in a bikini through the window of the indoor swimming pool as we arrived, but we have been a bit busy with trying to get accredited, attempting to cover tournament etc so far. We'll do our best when circumstances allow though...

UPDATE - Mad Harper has announced that total number of runners registered so far for the two days is 745, with people still buying in for Day 2.

UPDATE - Daniel Negreanu has appeared in the press room saying something very loudly about eating brains??

UPDATE - Jen would like it to be known that's experiencing some Technical Difficulties but will hopefully be back online soon with poor blurry photos etc from the cardroom.

 :hello: :)up 8)

Severe can't connect problems here - this is Jen - currently unable to get online at all, employing emergency switch-it-on-and-off measures.  With less than a third of the first blind level gone, it shouldn't really matter, although I have a cool picture of the mirrored ceiling of the entrance to the Salle des Etoiles which is coming soon...

Spotted on the rail: Marc Goodwin, Chris Smith, looking too detached to be playing today.  Also Ben Grundy, Roland de Wolfe, Ross Boatman, Greg Raymer, Barry Greenstein, Vanessa Rousso, Katja Thater, Mike McDonald...

Boris Becker is apparently in the players' lounge playing people heads up online, so will be bringing you a screenshot portrait photo soon.  Team Pokerstars are out in force - I wonder what the betting is that one of them will win.  Anyone seen Neil Channing?

Plenty of big names have come to watch me update today, one of whom is equestrian expert Freddy Deeb.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14361&g2_serialNumber=1)

Do me a favour snoops.........................

ask him if he's ever gone south

A tangoed Greg 'Peter Griffin' Raymer seated nextdoor to recent Betfair acquisition Sorel Mizzi.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14363&g2_serialNumber=1)

You mean, like, down to the London area?

very strange start to the updates today guys- how are the hangovers today?


gl to all the brits and blondes. My early picks:

goodwin (had a strange dream he finalled but god knows where that came from)
thewy and channing (form guys)
isa (course specialist)
oh and roland (hasnt won a million for a few months so is probably due)

The now world famous Craig 'The Apple' Hopkins, posing for the camera like the true pro he is.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14365&g2_serialNumber=1)

But we'd miss the opening day if we started them tomorrow.  :dontask:

Some people call Josh Arieh 'The Aggressor'.

Don't think they've ever played Julian...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14369&g2_serialNumber=1)

Patrik 'Doooooh Matt Damon' Antonius.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14367&g2_serialNumber=1)

Some interesting table shares noted thus far:

Woody Deck and John Kabbaj
Annette Obrestad and Barny Boatman
Roberto Romanello in a nice hat (sorry, only one camera between us but photos will come) and Dave Colclough
Roland De Wolfe and Ben Grundy
Tommy Pavlicek and Nicolas Levi

The third Mario Brother and charismatic shark fetishist, Huuuuuuuuuuuumberto Brenes.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14371&g2_serialNumber=1)

Isn't that UP...............oops dont start TJ off again lol

Here's the best shot I could get of the Opening Ceremony, which did just involve the pros sitting there while the stage kind of extended at 5mph like the world's most boring ride.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14385&g2_serialNumber=1)

The room is absolutely heaving - spectators throng the ropes, players throng the tables (but not in an uncomfortable elbow-each-other type of way) and press throng any space that's left.  It looks like while they may not break the 1k runners mark, this is, as Thomas Kremser announced at the start of play, "The biggest tournament EVER in Europe."  "Ever."

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14387&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14389&g2_serialNumber=1)

Wait, hold on, we have action! Bumbling through the tables with my camera in hand, I pounce upon a hand between Rocky Ross Boatman and the alluring Anna Wroblewski. Betting 575 on a 6d 9d Ad Ks board, Ross is quickly called by Anna who then calls a further 1.6k on the 8s River. Ross proudly reveals Qd Td for the flopped flush whilst Anna is keen to show her 5d 4d to the table to let them know how unfortunate she was. She did well to get away so cheaply though.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14373&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14375&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr De Wolfe is down a few chips to our good friend Mr Mateyboy -

He bets out 500 on a 5h Tc Qh flop; Mateyboy calls.

He checks the 6s turn and then calls the 500 bet from Mr Boy.

Again he checks the 9d river and then dwells up for ages when Mr Boy again makes it 500. There is some good-humoured banging of chips on the table from Mr De Wolfe, and a little cheerful squirming before he calls - he mucks to Mr Boy's Ad Qs though.

WSOP runner upper Tuan Lam, confirming with his neighbour that the photographer is indeed the renowned (ahem) Snoopy from blonde poker.

"Wow, he looks much more dashing in the flesh," he says with admiration.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14377&g2_serialNumber=1)

Gleaming from ear to ear and clearly enjoying the attention his rare presence in Europe is bringing... Erick Lindgren. Not sure who sponsored him into this event though.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14379&g2_serialNumber=1)

 :hello:

Good Luck to all the Brits.

Will this be Boris's first tournament? It'll be interesting how many levels he can last.

Up a good few chips is Ms Annette Obrestad, winning a 7k-or-so pot with a turned micro-flush against a very disgruntled Mateyboy in a T6 shirt who clearly thought she was At It...

Lurking in the shadows behind mysterious curtain in the corner of the room is Mateyboy, last seen betting 200 onto a Ks-2c-7c to take down an early pot.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14381&g2_serialNumber=1)

First tournament? I think it might the first time he's picked up a pack of cards!

With a near 1,000 field, this tournament is always hard work, but it's all worth it when you see people walk into these deceptive mirrors that lead into the press-room. After three years and numerous bruises, I've learned my lesson, but Peter Roche wasn't so lucky, last seen walking head on into the right hand side mirror before swivelling around disorientated. They can mix it with the best at the highest cash tables, but they can't get through a corridor. you'd think their twin coming towards them would be a giveaway.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14383&g2_serialNumber=1)

Indeed he has been put behind a screen right at the back, possibly to protect railers from the force of his Death Stare. He seems to have evened himself back out to 15k, prolongedly STARING (http://thumbs.photo.net/photo/2230387-sm.jpg) down the Mateyboy opponent who dared to bet out 2700 on a 4d 3h Ac 3d 6h board, before passing.

lol, that's so true, I lost count the number of reporters that went the wrong way and bumped into the mirror last year.

Here's James Honeybone - playing tomorrow, but lurking today.  He gets a mention anyway because if you look closely, he's had his hair dyed blonde!  One of the following two stories about this is true:

1) He enjoyed blondepoker's coverage of him so much that he got his hair done in solidarity (the back of his shirt also reads: Blondes Have More Fun).

2) He went to the hairdresser in France and said he wanted 'bleu' ('blue,' just in case that wasn't clear) hair, and the lady nodded and set about with the bleach, having actually understood him to say 'blond.'  While this was the more rational choice, the extrovert New Zealander had actually wanted blue hair, knowing that the paparazzi, simple creatures that we are, can't resist taking photos of people with comedy hair.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14359&g2_serialNumber=1)

Georgia Tech?

Make sure not to forget Trond Eidsvig today will you please?   Would also appreciate it if you could keep an eye on Stephan Kjærstad, and Annette Obrestad for me.

Thanks

No, Full Tilt.

He has just rung me.  He is flying out tonight, and playing day 1b.

No sniff of a player list as of yet, so here are a few familiar faces that my beady eyes caught sight of:

Priyan de Mel
Markus Golser
Richard Fohrenbach
Soren Kongsgaard
Anreas Hoivold
Michel Abecassis
John Conroy
Josh Gould
Peter Gould
Mark Teltscher
Stephen Chidwick
Johannes Strassmann
Bill Edler
Isabelle Mercier
Barry Greenstein
Roland de Wolfe
Freddy Deeb
Erick Lindgren
Phil Ivey
Humberto Brenes
Guillaume de la Gorce
Luca Pagano
Asa Smith
David Levi
Sebastian Zink
Daniel Zink
Christoffer Stahle
Jeff Lisandro
Andreas Hagen
Dave Colclough
Woody Deck
Ted Lawson
George Danzer
Jan Heitmann
Katja Thater
Eli Marciano
Marcel Luske
Rob Hollink
Benjamin Kang
Martin Wendt
Rolf Slotboom
Roberto Romanello
John Shipley
Mel Judah
Stephen Pearce
Noah Boeken
Tomas Brolin
Pascal Perrault
Gino Alacqua
Peter Reubens
Annete Obrestad
Tony G
Johnny Lodden
Jan Sjavik
Barny Boatman
Trond Eidsvig
Ross Boatman
Eli Elezra
Anna Wroblewski

I have been through the cardroom with a fine tooth comb and can confirm that there is norkage on sight, but unfortunately the camera is currently in the hands of less nork-dedicated updaters.

More cameras needed!!

German Panzer George Danzer is down to 13k after 'losing with Queens twice'. Meanwhile, father and son combo Peter and Josh Gould managed to find themselves on the same table, along with former EPT winner Mark Teltscher. Peter actually found Aces the very first round (those bullets arriving for the first time this year on the whole Tour, apparently), only to be re-raised by Josh. Peter called, then bet out on an 8-3-2 Flop, only to be raised again by Josh. This time Peter lay it down, only to add "Well, it's his birthday". After the hand, Josh grabbed my pad and wrote down a set of threes, although I was sworn to secrecy. What's more, the two have now been joined by one Mr Phil Ivey, who they are now sandwiching, metaphorically speaking of course.

Your mission, should you accept it is to...........................












get that bloody camera off the women and do your best for the NAS.

Now..................

 ;slavedriver;

C'MON DE MEL!!!!!  5c 5h

Thomas Wahlroos just doubled through his next door neighbour in this fashion:

I saw him putting in some 1k blue chips, which still in level one is something fairly rare... so sauntered over for the scoop (well, to join the 15 journalists already staring at the excitable Finn).  Wahlroos had check-raised by 2k (what looked like an original 600) and his opponent was considering the flop, like so:
Qh Th 4c  Call.
Turn:  QUICK - name the non-blankest card you can imagine...is it the Qc?  That's the turn.

Now Thomas bets out 3k (more than half both their remaining stacks).  His opponent moves in, he says, "Sick, but..." before calling with Td Th, finding neighbour matey on the underhouse with 4s 4h.  That's how you expect players to bust early in the Pokerstars.com EPT Grand Final.
___________________________________________

(http://www.lovefilm.com/lovefilm/images/products/5/14055-large.jpg)

Meanwhile, on Table Nicolas Levi, said Frenchman has somewhat upset his neighbour:

I heard some very loud shouting in what I think was an Australian accent: "PAIR THE BOARD! PAIR THE BOARD!"  This tends to signify an all-in situation.
Levi was standing up in front of an Aspades 3h 2s board and staring at his opponent's Ahrt Ac.  I moved round the table and found his cards to be the 4h 5s - only the flopped nuts.  The turn and river came the 8c 9c (not pairing the board, as requested), and Nicolas is now in great shape seeing as the blinds are only about to go up to 50/100.

His shell-shocked opponent was heard to say, "Top set.  Top set against 4-5." 

Here's the cheeky Frenchman:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14408&g2_serialNumber=2)

Provisional Player List Courtesy Of The Lovely And Beautiful Ms Mad Harper:

Name    Country    PokerStars Status
Andre Akkari    Brazil    Team PokerStars Pro
Ronny Alex    Sweden    Cash
Anton Allemann    Switzerland    Sponsored
Kevin Arba    US    DBI
Alexander Argoe    US    DBI
Josh Arieh    US    Cash
Mike Bartholomew    Canada    Cash
Mark Bech    Denmark    DBI
Valentin Berreuzo    Spain    Cash
Givanni Bigoni    Italy    Cash
Sasa Biorac    Germany    Sponsored
Noah Boeken    Netherlands    Team PokerStars Pro
Thomas Boekhoff    Germany    DBI
Thierry Bolleret    France    Cash
Lars Bønding    Denmark    Cash
Jan Boubli    France    Cash
Nordine Bouya    France    Cash
Maximilian Bracht    Germany    Cash
Humberto Brenes    Costa Rica    Team PokerStars Pro
Konstantin Bücherl    Germany    Cash
Mag Buk    Germany    Cash
Rich Caplan    Canada    Cash (DS)
Jakob Carlsson    Sweden    Cash
Stephen Chadwick    UK    Cash
Tommy Chen    US    Cash
Pawel Chmiel    Poland    Cash
Paul Christian    US    DBI
Raul Corral    Spain    Cash
Owen Crowe    Canada    Cash
Krzysztof Czerwinski    Poland    Cash
Andrey Daniluk    Russia    Cash
George Danzer    Germany    Sponsored
Ryan Daut    US    DBI
Priyan de Mel    UK    Cash
Shaun Deeb    US    Sponsored
Riccardo D'Errico    Italy    Cash
Dustin Dorrance-Bowman    US    DBI
Connor Drinan    US    DBI
Denys Drobyna    Germany    Cash
Jonathan Dwek    Canada    Cash
Darren Elias    US    Cash
Marciano Elie    France    Cash
Carl-Johan Ericson    Sweden    Cash
Soren Eriksen    New Zealand    Cash
George Farkas    Canada    Cash
Andrea Fasano    Italy    Cash
Peter Feldman    US    Cash
Joel Fernandes de Oliveira    Brazil    Cash
Steve Fink    Luxembourg    DBI
Ryan Fisler    Canada    Cash
Mark Flowers    US    DBI
Andreas Fluri    Switzerland    Cash
Richard Fohrenbach    US    DBI
Hunter Frey    US    Cash
Adam Gagliardi    Canada    Cash
Lee Gaines    US    Cash
Stefan Geim    Germany    Cash
Kiril Gerasimova    Russia    DBI
Paul Gormley    UK    Cash
Peter Gould    UK    Cash
Joshua Gould    UK    Cash
Barry Greenstein    US    Team PokerStars Pro
Anthony Gregg    US    DBI
Rod Grierson    Canada    DBI
Christian Grundtvig    Denmark    Cash
Antanas Guoga    Lithuania    DBI
Kenny Hallaert    Belgium    Cash
Christian Harder    US    Freeroll
Will Haydon    US    Cash
Jan Heitmann    Germany    Sponsored
Johnny Hirondelle    France    Cash
Gregory Hobson    US    Cash
Michael Hogbom    Sweden    Cash
Craig Hopkins    UK    Cash
Jared Hubbard    US    DBI
Dider Hunn    Switzerland    Cash
Marco Johnson    US    Cash
Nadir Jorephani    UK    Cash
Ken Justin    US    Cash
Masaaki Kagawa    Japan    Sponsored
Benjamin Kang    Germany    Sponsored
Matt Kay    Canada    Cash
Eero Kekäläinen    Finland    Cash
Bryn Kenney    US    DBI
Stephan Kjerstad    Norway    DBI
Jonas Klausen    Denmark    Cash
Travis Klein    US    Cash
Josef Klinger    Austria    DBI
Josef Kollarits    Austria    Cash
Søren Kongsgaard    Denmark    Cash
Eric Koskas    France    Cash
Paul Kristoffersson    Sweden    Cash
Matthew Kurtz    US    Cash
Tuan Lam    Canada    Sponsored
Adam Levy    US    Cash
Benjamin Locatelli    France    Cash
Morten Løkken    Norway    Cash
Andrew Luetchford    UK    Cash
Asbjørn Lunde    Norway    Cash
Jens Lundgren    Sweden    Cash
Marcel Luske    Netherlands    Sponsored
Paul Maddern    UK    Cash
Ville Mattila    Finland    Cash
Taylor McFarland    US    DBI
Isabelle Mercier    Canada    Team PokerStars Pro
Jason Mercier    US    DBI
Luis Merino    Spain    FPP
Dag Mikkelsen    Norway    Cash
Sorel Mizzi    Canada    Cash
Peyman Mohammadzadeh    Germany    Cash
Alexander Morozov    Russia    DBI
Osman Mustanoglu    UK    Cash
Richard Nadler    US    Cash
Anh Nguyen    Canada    DBI
David Norrman    Sweden    DBI
Carl Olson    US    Cash
Luca Pagano    Italy    Team PokerStars Pro
Jean-Paul Pasqualini    France    Cash
Nils Paulsen    Norway    Cash
Tommy Pavlicek    Canada    DBI
Christophe Perraud    France    Cash (DS)
David Peters    US    Cash
Reuben Peters    US    DBI
Jacob Petersen    US    DBI
David Pham    US    Sponsored
Ditspong Pinpramot    Germany    Cash
Vladimir Polishchuk    Russia    Sponsored
Hendrikus Postel    Netherlands    Cash
Terris Preston    Canada    Cash
Ian Prevost    US    DBI
Mario Puccini    Germany    Cash
Raymond Rahme    South Africa    Team PokerStars Pro
Gregory Raymer    US    Team PokerStars Pro
Dominick Raynis    US    Cash
Tyler Reiman    US    DBI
Tobias Reinkemeier    Germany    Cash
Thomas Richter    Germany    DBI
Sasha Rosewood    US    Cash
Andrew Rowlands    Canada    Freeroll
Burak Sancaktaroglu    Turkey    Cash
Gualter Santos    Brazil    Sponsored
Eric Scalisi    France    Cash
Brandon Schaefer    US    DBI
Justin Schwartz    US    DBI
John Shipley    UK    Cash
Marcin Sikora    Poland    Cash
Mario Silvestri    US    DBI
Jean-Marc Simon    Luxembourg    Cash
Scott Sitron    US    Freeroll
Asa Smith    UK    Cash
Kari Somer    Finland    Cash
Gijsbertus Spijkers    Netherlands    Cash
Christoffer Ståhle    Sweden    Cash (DS)
Johannes Steindl    Austria    Sponsored
Geoff Stephens    US    Cash
Steve Stolzmann    US    Cash
Dominik Stopka    Germany    Cash
Matt Stout    US    DBI
Ben Straate    Argentina    DBI
Johannes Strassmann    Germany    Sponsored
Halldor Sverrisson    Iceland    DBI
Adam Sword    UK    Cash (DS)
Saverio Teodori    Italy    Cash
Katja Thater    Germany    Team PokerStars Pro
Julian Thew    UK    Sponsored
Luis Tier    Netherlands    DBI
Richard Toth    Hungary    Cash
Peter Traply    Hungary    Cash
Abraham van der Ende    Netherlands    Cash
Johan van Til    Netherlands    Cash
Derek VanDamme    US    DBI
Gordon Vayo    US    DBI
Lex Veldhuis    Netherlands    DBI
Maxime Villemure    Canada    DBI
Erik Walter    Sweden    Cash
Jeremy Wray    UK    Cash
Anna Wroblewski    US    Cash
Yuriy Zdanovskiy    Ukraine    Cash
Daniel Zink    Germany    Cash
Sebastian Zink    Germany    Cash
Martin Wendt    Denmark    
Gabriele Speranza    Switzerland    
Tommi Hörkkö    Finland    
Knut Rysstad    Norway    
Csaba Toth    Hungary    
Edward Lawson    US    
Tony Cascarino    UK    
Mihai Manole    Romania    
Matthew Osborne    UK    
Antonio Esfandiari    US    
Robert Flink    Sweden    
Sami Ovaskainen     Finland    
Nicolas Levi     France    
Antony Roux     France    
Guillaume de la Gorce     France    
Michel Abecassis     France    
Fowzi Baroukh       
Frei Dilling-Kjaer    Denmark    
Richard Sinclair    UK    
Andreas Hoivold    Norway    
Andreas Hagen    Norway    
Tomas Brolin     Sweden    
Tero Kunnas    Finland    
Karl Gal    Germany    
Michael Guttman    Australia    
Sélim Lalaoui    France    
Tony G    Australia    
Anthony Chatelain    Sweden    
Anders Henriksson    Sweden    
Mats Rahm    Sweden    
Andreas Torbergsen    Norway    
Marek Kolk    Estonia    
Rolf Slotboom    Netherlands    
Ed de Haas    Netherlands    
Thierry Van Der Berg    Netherlands    
Woody Deck    Lithuania    
Billy Argyros    Australia    
Jason “The Hood” Gray    Australia    
Julian Powell    Australia    
Tino Lechich    Australia    
Melvyn Judah    Australia    
Jeff Lisandro    Australia    
Henrik Gwinner    Denmark    
Torben Hübertz    Denmark    
Eduards Kudrjavcevs    Latvia    
Evgene Serebryakov    Russian Federation    
Thomas Berg    Norway    
Sergey Indenok    Russian Federation    
Hecham el Sayed    Denmark    
Richard Holmes    Australia    
TBD 25       
Adrian Koy    Germany    
Thomas Wahlroos    Finland    
Carl BOREHAM    UK    
C Niesert    Germany    
Cristiano Blanco    Italy    
 Fernando Festas    Portugal    
 Daan Slutter    Netherlands    
Otto Richard    France    
Voitto Rintala    Finland

At some point between the Official Parading Of Pokerstars Pros and now, somebody opened the curtains. It looks like this:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14391&g2_serialNumber=1)


On closer inspection, the view looks a bit like this - as you can see, sort of grey but still beachy and verging on the Extremely Pleasant:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14415&g2_serialNumber=1)

My 2 picks
Sorel Mizzi & Freedy Deeb

look forward to a great update guys and girls.... just wish I was there!

Dmmikkel updates please and also Allinstevie (Stephen Devlin) not sure if he is playing today or tomorrow though... ship my 10% plzzzzz

The view inside: also extremely pleasant.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14422&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14414&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14411&g2_serialNumber=1)

The players are currently on a 15 minute break. Just to prove that we're not lying and livin it large, here's photographic evidence of the masses of players leaving the playing area.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14458&g2_serialNumber=1)

Good Morning updaters !

Welcome in France  ;D

so... if it is possible, could you have some news about Luske and Golser (in addition with the known Frenchies  ;D)

Speaking of that, could you make a photo of Michel Abecassis ? I have never seen the one who is the french speaker on Eurosport's EPT shows...

Yes yes, shall do. Will acquire photos of Trond - many photos of Trond :) - as soon as I work out where he's sitting... I know which one Annette is obviously - don't suppose you have a photo of Mr Kjaerstad to help us out in the vast room full of 500 people most of whom we don't know? Thanks!

More assorted norkage photos courtesy of the NAS-dedicated section of the update team:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14450&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14452&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14454&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14456&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/photos/photo_6270.jpg)

Unfortunately my pics were restricted to dealers and the like due to everyone exiting the playing area, but this young feline on the left is a visual pleasure. I'll have to hunt her down later on for another photo opp.

Morning, Mr jpean. Please enjoy this photo of Mr Marcel Luske apparently surprised that he is suddenly in possession of an ipod:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14402&g2_serialNumber=1)


Also notable Frenchman and my SHIRT OF THE DAY, Mr Pascal Perrault:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14399&g2_serialNumber=1)

NAS appreciates such early efforts and looks forward to more updates. Any chance you could track down the ladies in the black dresses and get a front elevation as well?

HAIRDO OF THE DAY

Not blond but bleu - Mr Adrian Koy:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14405&g2_serialNumber=1)

Greg Raymer is in fine mood, new conch-type card protector, which I hazard a guess might be some sort of fossil, at the ready.  Early action saw him calling a raise from early position, then passing on a King-high flop to a chunky bet saying, "You've out-flopped my Aces."  His coordination was sadly lagging behind his table chat, however, and he accidentally flipped the Qc Ts as it mucked.  Not missing a beat, Raymer says, "Got to have my eyesight checked," which sounds funny coming from a man with super-starey hologram sunglasses on.

POLISH SPACEMAN BONO LOOKALIKEY PERSON OF THE DAY:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14428&g2_serialNumber=1)

Snoopy tips his imaginary hat (he has many imaginary things, does our Snoops) to German Superstar George Danzer:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14395&g2_serialNumber=1)

Could I have a pic of Isabelle Mercier.
Thank you

As I wander back into the cardroom like an eager beaver looking for a tree to chomp on, I catch sight of a railer infested table, swamped with TV cameras spying on the action. Using my notepad as a sickle to slice through the crowd, I spot serial (well, two) EPT final tabler Mark Teltscher all-in against a Dutchman, who I believe to be called Bart Wetstein, on a Qs 8d Kc Flop. Bart confidently reveals Pocket Eights (much to the delight of the Dutch crowd), only for Mark to meekly flip over Pocket Aces. A non-Ace-spiking 5h and Th later and Bart was raking in the pot for a timely double up, consequently leaving Mark with just four or five thousand in chips and face that looked like a firmly spanked bottom.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14462&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14460&g2_serialNumber=1)

BOOT OF THE DAY:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14425&g2_serialNumber=1)

Word is that Noah Boeken managed to double up even earlier and I didn't even think he was playing as he was mainly chatting to Table Dutch Superstars (containing both Rob Hollink and Marcel Luske).  But it looks like his relaxed demeanour was caused by the nice cushion of chips he got right at the beginning.

Yes, I think I might dump Dana and go back to my imaginary girlfriend.  ;hattip;

I don't think a front elevation will be too hard.

SOOOO happy to be sponsored by Stars. Please note surprising relative tastefulness of his outfit today.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14434&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hello Madame Mercier. We have our best men on the job. Well, Jen.  :)

HOODIE OF THE DAY

Not as garish as some, but made of an intriguing maple leaf pattern that simultaneously soothes the soul and hurts the eyes.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14449&g2_serialNumber=1)

had did'nt seen she was there... Good luck to the wonderful French Canadian who had lived in Paris

So my picks for today  :
Marcel Luske
Markus Golser
Isabelle "no mercy" Mercier
and Michel Abecassis

OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF

Mr Julian Thew, not as glum as he appears to be:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14446&g2_serialNumber=1)


Especially for Junglecat, Ms Maria Maceiras:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14440&g2_serialNumber=1)


Erstwhile Sort-Of Brit Mr Andreas Hoivold:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14437&g2_serialNumber=1)


Awesome Dresser and Irish Open Went-Deep-er Mr Knut Rysstad:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14431&g2_serialNumber=1)


Suspicious Sidelong-Glancer Mr Tony G:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14419&g2_serialNumber=1)


Cheesy Grinner and Cravat Of The Day Wearer Mr George Danzer:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14393&g2_serialNumber=1)

Permanently cheerful Jan Heitmann is playing today - in a good mood after his close-but-no-cigar performance in San Remo, looking confident at this one.  He said, "We have a saying [not sure whether he meant Germans, football fans or was using the Royal We] 'Hit the post, then hit the crossbar, then hit the goal.'  So - Dortmund, San Remo, Monte Carlo?..."

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14464&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hi guys! good2CU updating again. I guess quite predictable but I got some scandipicture-requests as usual. Can you please post some pics of Terje Augdal, Kristian Ulriksen, Erik Riise (and as back ups Bengt Sonnert, Johnny Lodden etc). At least if that's possible in that mass of players.

Thanks guys!!

Well, okay, but Johnny won't be happy when he we tell him that he was only a back-up.

A message for the 22 guests reading the updates - why don't you take just a moment to sign up to blonde? You'll be able to cheer on your favourite players, demand norkage, make unreasonable requests of we updaters etc. Plus this awfulness will happen if you don't, and it will be all your fault:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5649&g2_serialNumber=1)

Roberto Romanello was shot down just moments before the break and has found his stack thirded to just 5k as a result. Betting out 3k with a set of Aces on an all diamond Flop, Roberto called a re-raise from Mateyboy before folding to an all-in on a frustrating diamond Turn. Mateyboy showed A-Q, the Queen of diamonds giving him the nut flush, while Roberto could only weep into the felt, the fact that he's still in the tournament perhaps his only saving grace.

As Roberto Romanello dons what appears to be a full Michael Jackson mask, including white snooker gloves, Dave Colclough giggles under his breath like a naughty schoolkid, his stack still hovering harmlessly around the 15k mark.

Forget these 'Of the Day' subcategories.  There is only one winner for Costume Of the Day.  That winner is....

...Roberto Romanello.  I was given a tip off that he'd pulled out some white gloves, and said, "Let's have some fun."  THIS is what he meant by fun.  Photo left uncropped as it looks like the lady playing next to him thinks he smells too. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14466&g2_serialNumber=1)

Who's Bad?

I didn't catch the immediate pre-flop action (although we can quite easily jump to reasonably accurate conclusions), but Greg Raymer's raise to 3,025 was facing a re-raise from a young Scandieboy on the button. With the cameras hovering over the tables like vultures, Greg conceded the hand with a Fossilman glare that silently bellowed 'next time, sunshine, next time'. "If you had Aces," he later added, "you should have gone all-in in, I could have called you then."

He lost out that time, but Greg is neverhtless running strong with 19k. Next door neighbour, Sorel, meanwhile, has 13,600.

Italian stallion Jeff Lisandro is going steady eddie with 16,250.

Here is pictured turning up with crew.

(http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/photos/photo_6332.jpg)

The Apple Craig Hopkins has 16,125, although we're yet to hear any shouts from his usually adamant rail of blonde supporters. A couple of tables down, Julian is keeping in touch with 12k whilst Josh Arieh has his head just above water with 15,500. At the very back of the room, Ben Grundy has been unearthed; he's on 11k. Next door to him is Roland de Wolfe with 15.5k, the WPT and EPT winner fairly, but perhaps hypocritically given his permed locks, greeting me with a joking jibe at my hair-do.

Hi All,

Looking forward to this ......can you please get  a pic of John Conroy, and if they are playing Dan Smith, Dave Colclough and Manuel Palanca....

Here raking in a pot as Ex-Seat-One hits the rail is William Hill's Julian Thew (This to be said in the same tone as film titles such as 'Bram Stoker's Dracula')...

Another player (not the one he busted) was congratulating him:  "Good Call," and Julian filled in the details.  "I always seem to have to make a nice call early in a tournament to get the ball rolling," he said, as if it would be much easier just to flop some nuts and get paid. 

It turns out he'd held 9s 9c in the small blind, and had seen a Qs Qd 2s flop with BustedMatey.  He'd checked, Matey bet 550, Julian raised to 1,550 and then faced a c.5k all-in move.  He'd eventually called, and Matey had shown down 8c 8h. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14468&g2_serialNumber=1)

loving the coverage guys, keep up the good work

any chance of any stephen 'allinstevie' devlin updates? i wanna keep track of my 3%, cheers

Chipcounts! The bigger the stack, the more approximate the count, that's just how I roll.

Marcel Luske - 13k
Woody Deck - 20k
Greg Raymer - 20k
Maria Maceiras - 20k
George Danzer - 10k
Adrian "Bleu" Koy - 17k
Barny Boatman - 5k, eek - see below in just one moment for what happened there
Johnny Lodden - 36k
Annette Obrestad - 15k
Jan Sjavik - 13.5k
Dave Colclough - 15k
Cecilia Borg - 9.5k
Roberto "Shamooooown!" Romanello - 5k
Ben Grundy - 9k
Roland De Wolfe - 4.3k (also to follow below)
Trond Eidsvig :) :) :) - 13.5k
Gino Alacqua - 20k
Barry Greenstein - 10.3k
Nicolas Levi - 22k
Tommy Pavlicek - 13.5k
Noah Boeken - 26k (doubled up with AA v AK, according to Julian Thew - I think on the first hand...)
Humberto Brenes - 14.5k
Pascal "The Shirt" Perrault - 13k
Julian Thew - 16k
Josh Gould - also according to Julian Doubled Up Early, so I guess 30k or so
Phil Ivey - 14k

Picture 2 namecheck and chipcount too please.

Jen will be on to it, soon as her million-euro cheeseburger is ordered...

Yes, poor old Barny - he was apparently up to 23k when he got himself involved in a 30k pot. He raised utg with Kc Qc and got two callers, as you do.

Flop - Jc 5c 2c - and Barny bet out small. One gentleman folded, but the gent on the button raised; Barny called.

Turn - 6d and Barny checks. Mr Button bets, and Barny calls.

River - something raggy that was approximately the 5s, and Barny checks. Mr Button moves almost all in, leaving himself about 3k behind - apparently not a massive bet compared to the size of the pot - so Barny put him for his last few k. Mr Button turned over Ac 9c. Ouch.

Hi buddies, could you gime some information about how María Maceiras is running?

Snoopy thanks for the update on "the Apple" any further updates during the day would be appreciated mate.

You boys have a great life enjoy the week

Iggy

(http://)  

If I got this right, there should be a pic of stephan kjærstad in this post.  This one is taken earlier today, but he have moved til another table since then.

Umm, will get some more info next time I head out...

didn't get it right...  how the hell do I upload a pic here then?

Err, not entirely sure you got it right, we can't see anything. :(

Go to additional options, then put it in the attach box...

Good Luck to James for tomorrow.

Yes, I located her earlier, so I'll be keeping a firm eye on her progress for the rest of the day.  ;)

If it's from your computer, click add the attachment by clicking 'addition options' at the bottom of your post. If it's a web address off the net, click the 'insert image' icon three from the left (just above the cards icons) and paste the url in between.

Mr Roland De Wolfe, having a massage and thunking his remaining 4k or so repeatedly on the table, was most confusing: "Do you want a hand?"

"Er..." say I, thinking I'm doing a pretty good job on my own. "Do you want a hand?" repeats he, and I realise that he is not offering to take some photos and chipcounts for me, but is offering to tell me how he came to have so few chips.

In a most ugly OUCH-type scenario, he was holding pocket Eights on an 8-T-x flop, and Mr Mateyboy was holding pocket Tens. Two Jacks on the Turn and River meant that he improved, but so did the other guy. "I lost the minimum," says Roland. Painful, but he's taking it well, like this guy:

(http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2007-07/monk-kick-balls.jpg)

Dave Colclough has been spotted, as has John Conroy, the latter pictured below with his 18k stack. Haven't see Manuel or Dan though, I'm afraid.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14496&g2_serialNumber=1)

And here she is in all her pouting glory. I promise that the wondering hand isn't mine.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14498&g2_serialNumber=1)

Also spotted flying the flag for Britian and, oh, go on then Tony, Ireland, are the following motley crew:

Priyan de Mel -- 3,500 ("Lost it in a few hands")

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14474&g2_serialNumber=1)

Asa Smith -- 8,150

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14490&g2_serialNumber=1)

Tony 'In the Air' Cascarino

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14500&g2_serialNumber=1)

Swivel the camera around 90 degrees and you are treated with some previously hidden norkage, much like a Kinder Suprise or a hidden compartment in a briefcase.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14472&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just to keep the eye candy flowing, check out these pics of Mateygirl and Mateydealer. Loverly jubberly.

I decided to approach the dealer and woo her with all the charm I have stocked up in my arsenal. And it worked! I found out that her name is Jasmina.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14478&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14482&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ok, I give up...  All my Kjærstadpics are to large to upload here...  there is one at http://www.norskpokermagasin.com/turneringer/live_oppdateringer/ept_monte_carlo_2008/ept_monte_carlo_2008_-_dag_1a
about half way down the page....  those guys there haven't even noticed that there is some poker going on yet...

Is this him?

http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2088 (http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2088)

My apologies to anyone awaiting requests. We are without a player list today which, with 400 players, can make it a needle/haystack job.

Sorry, bit late turning up :hello: Any updates on Craig are always appreciated. Also any chip counts for the 'Norwegian James Bond' Knut

YES!  Suddenly!  TY

Hi there. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to spot Bengt Sonnert or Kristian Ulriksen, are you sure they're not playing tomorrow. As for Terje, I have a photograph of him from Warsaw, so I'll keep looking. We have unearthed Johnny Lodden and Trond Eidsvig though, both of whom are pictured below (although blurrily). Lodden is now very close to the 40k and possible chip leader, whilst Trond is doing less well with 12.1k.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14480&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14484&g2_serialNumber=1)

Thank you Snoopy and the rest of the team for your great work !!!

Some news about the Frenchies ? especially Nicolas Levy or Michel Abecassis ?

You're welcome, cheque in the post, and Maria picture on its way too.

Can you wish the 'HatPimp' Nicolas Levi gl from me, and also Soren Kongsgaard (if he's playing today).

A familiar face off the UK circuit, Osman Mustanoglu has taken a sudden hit courtesy of his American (I guess) neighbour and is now down to a less prosperous 14.5k as a result. With the board reading 8d-2s-Jd-5s-3s, Osman was facing a River bet of 7.5k which, if he were to call and lose, would more than bisect his stack in half. With the clock running down and the rest of the table fidgeting in their seats like three legged ferrets, Osman calmly but surely dwelled up his options.whilst his opponent rifled through his chips. After a few minutes in the think tank, Osman accepted defeat and threw in his cards, the bottom of which appeared to be the Ten of diamonds.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14470&g2_serialNumber=1)

could you please wish a massive good luck to julian please....bring it back to notts!!!

and also to dave colclough to..hes due a good result

top job guys

more male norkage please

Roberto Romanello has gone off the wall after doubling up. Racing over to me like a speed demon, Roberto claimed to have risen up to the dizzy nosebleed inducing heights of 10.5k. "I flat called a pre-flop raise with Kings," he screamed still excited by what sounded like a thriller of a hand. "The Flop came Queen high and all the money went in." Roberto had, technically, top pair, but he wasn't alone, Mateyboy's K-Q looking pretty bad in the face of the Welshman's overpair. No change on the Turn or River and it's a heart-breaker for Mateyboy, whilst Roberto is now dangerous and feeling invincible.

Updates on that Masseuse please?  Is she all present and correct?  And er..yes, go cardplayers I suppose or something.

John 'rockstar' Conroy..

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14504&g2_serialNumber=1)

 and Dan 'are you talking to me?' Smith next to Humbeeerttooooo Brenes:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14502&g2_serialNumber=1)

Here's a masseuse, as found on nearly the whole tour, Suki, relaxing Isabelle Mercier, plus a third lady in the picture (almost unheard of in a poker context, it must be said) - the dealer.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14506&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hello! Thanks for the great updates as usual! Any news on how Nicolas Levi is gettin on? I'm hiding in the Fairmont down the road - easier to keep an eye on him from here!! Are spectators allowed near the tables again or is that a no no all day?

Go frenchies  ;yippee;

You can sort of lurk at the periphery, but a stern-looking man in a black suit (or Steve Frazer) will kick you out if you don't have a press badge.  And sometimes if you do.

Maria Maceiras is currently on 20k, although I have to confess to estimating due to the marks on her chips all being neatly lined up. As I left, she was involved in a small pot, but folded to a 2k River bet on an 8d-4d-Qh-5d-3h board.

Cool - thanks Jen - thought I'd double check. Might try catch him at dinner then. Will hopefully bump into you at some point too!

I am going to take a 50/50 shot and guess that this is Sebastian Zink.  His twin poker-playing brother, also present today, looks the same but with a goatee and is called Daniel (or Sebastian, if I've got them wrong).  Pretty indizinkguishable.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14508&g2_serialNumber=1)

Also note, in the background, a Mr. Hostrup of Danish Poker Federation fame (back left) and the daring orange/fisherman's hat combo of Greg Raymer.

Thanks  for Isabelle's pic.
Keep an eye on her and keep us posted.
And have a nice day.

Chip counts for some of the recent requests:

Nicolas 'Hatpimp' Levi -- 24,225
Michel 'The Abacus' Abecassis -- 10.400
Soren 'Tintin' Kongsgaard -- 10,325
Dave 'El Blondie' Colclough -- 13,375
Stephan 'At last, I've found him!' Kjerstad -- 38,500
Craig 'The Apple' Hopkins -- 13,225
Maria 'I think she loves me' Maceiras -- 20,000

Apologies if I have left anyone out, just give us another nudge.

I'm going to throw in a freebie in the form of Woody Deck (22,100) Also, I spotted someone who may be Stevie Devlin (capless though), I'll have to grab a photo of him to confirm.

T6 norkage blond shot from earlier please namecheck and chip count so the NAS can adopt her as our pick to win and we cshall definetely rail her from afar.

A massage and a double up are a rare combination in my book, perhaps because players seem less inclined to 'mix it up' when they are having their sweaty frames rubbed, but permed wolf Roland has just proved it can be done, his double up coming courtesy of a drawing Mateyboy in Seat Deux.

After a raise and two calls pre-flop (my guess would be Roland from the button), the dealer popped out a 6s-9c-Js Flop only for Roland to bet out 2k after the other two had checked. The player in the blind folded, but the second limper made a deep reach and swiftly put Roland all-in. Moving in equally brisk fashion, Roland quickly made the call and turned over As-Jc. Mateyboy had Ks-Ts.

Two non-spade fives on the Turn and River resulted in a calm and gentle tapping fist on the felt from Roland and a nod of approval, yet ultimately disappointment, from Mateyboy. "Insta call for my tournament life," gloated an obviously relieved, but extremely proud Roland. "I was down to 2k at the break."

As a neighbouring player commends Roland's comeback, Mr De Wolfe gleams ear to ear as he stacks up what appears to be circa 20k in chips.

Like Spock and Evil Spock:

(http://thenetworkgarden.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/20/spock.jpg)

(http://www.ravenna.com/~forbes/images/spock.jpg)

She is one Emma-Sophia Stroman or Stroeman (it has an umlaut over the 'o' but I don't know how to do those :( ) and she is currently on 9.5k. Even people on other tables are staring.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14520&g2_serialNumber=1)

Ms Maceiras:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14514&g2_serialNumber=1)

Look at this guy's eyes :

(http://www.jpeannet.com/IMG_3346.jpg)

Also spotted - Mr Patrik Andersson, who if you recall made final table in Copenhagen:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14538&g2_serialNumber=1)


Mr Rolf Slotboom, wearing a thoroughly inappropriate hat for the very mild climate, and using some sort of inexplicable device as a card protector/chip decoration:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14523&g2_serialNumber=1)


Mr Sasha Rosewood, looking happy as Larry:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14532&g2_serialNumber=1)


Curiously when I googled "Larry" for illustrative purposes, it spat out a picture of Nik Persaud. Most odd.

(http://stuckon-stupid.com/images/MSM/larrykingalive/larry-king-live.jpg)

Mmmmmmmm Emma-Sophia has a certain ring to it.................


Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Emma-Sophia nice to see if she can make it to the TV table in a couple of days time.

In the meantime I'm railing for her from afar.

Clear attempt to sabotage my attempt to win donkey journalist punner of the year.

Not happy!

(http://www.roflcat.com/images/cats/AngryCat.jpg)

Best wishes to Nicholas and his hat, Maria Maceiras and Roberto Romanello.

Great updates guys, very amusing to read.

She seem other person when doesn´t cover her face like the most of the time in the tourneys. Next time is better than she use a burka..

THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DIVERTING ME FROM MY PURPOSE

1) This shiny wall of mirrors. Glittery.  :o

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14510&g2_serialNumber=1)


2) This man's hallucinatory hoodie:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14517&g2_serialNumber=1)


3) Cowboy Hat Of The Day:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14526&g2_serialNumber=1)


4) Marcel Luske's beautiful girlfriend looks at him wistfully as he tells me with his expression how he feels about her:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14529&g2_serialNumber=1)


5) Isabelle Mercier's 5-inch heels. My ankles are going all twisted and hurty just looking at those. Good thing she's sitting down all day:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14541&g2_serialNumber=1)

NAS approved norkage and the first one to officially have us all rooting for her

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14542&g2_serialNumber=1)

Feast your eyes on these bad boys:

Benjamin Kang -- 10,700
Eli Elezra -- 6,450
Kai Paulsen -- 15,700
Barry Greenstein -- 8,850
Luca Pagano -- 24,000
Thomas Fougeron -- 24,775
Johannes Strassmann -- 13,525
Bill Edler -- 18,725
Isabelle Mercier -- 9,050
Jan Boubli -- 8,400
Stephen Chidwick -- 9,250
Peter Gould -- 16,350
Josh Gould -- 26,000
Thierry Van Den Berg -- 12,900
Bart Wetstein -- 27,200
John Conroy -- 10,125
Michel Abecassis -- 8,500
Andreas Hoivold -- 11,350
Freddy Deeb -- 21,075
Rob Hollink -- 11,675
Adrian Koy -- 18,975
John Kabbaj -- 8,100
Woody Deck -- 58,300
Nicolas Levi -- 24,775
Jeff Lisandro -- 15,075
Maria Maceiras -- 19,525
Greg Raymer -- 31,725
Sorel Mizzi -- 2,625
Ross Boatman -- 28,225
Soren Kongsgaard -- 9,150
Christoffer Stahle -- 34,250
Nikolaus Jedlicka -- 4,575
Carl Hostrup -- 15,525
Asa Smith --2,350
Craig Hopkins -- 16,500
George Danzer -- 7,300
Peter Roche -- 30,000
David Levi -- 17,500
Stevie Devlin -- 23,225

Recent chip counts, as tables are broken slowly from the outer balcony area - the part with the view - the better for players to concentrate on the cards...

Patrik Antonius -- 15,800
Jan Heitmann -- 36,000
Martin Wendt -- 6,400
Rolf Slotboom -- 12,500
John Shipley -- 14,575
Andreas Hagen -- 11,875
Freddy Deeb -- 18,750
Andreas Hoivold -- 13,000
John Conroy -- 10,800
Stuart Fox -- 22,200
John Kabbaj -- 11,000
Woody Deck -- 29,000
Ben Grundy -- OUT
Ross Boatman -- 31,000
Soren Kongsgaard -- 8,800
Jeff Lisandro -- 18,500
Sorel Mizzi -- 2,450
Sasha Rosewood -- 13,500
Trond Eidsvig -- 10,400
Roland de Wolfe -- 14,300 (sat next to...)
Thomas Wahlroos -- 43,500
Katja Thater -- 26,500
Roberto Romanello -- 4,000
Gino Alacqua -- 32,600
Nicolas Levi -- 25,825

Our regular viewers may recall him from the Bahamas, his late elimination with a Flopped straight against two pair causing more than a wince from the onlooking crowd, but Asa Smith hasn't faired as well this time around. Down to just a few thousand, Asa found himself in that, and dare I use the old cliche, classic coinflip situation with A-K against Mr Zink's (sorry, you just can't tell Sebastian and Daniel apart) Pocket Queens. A 6-6-8-J-4 board later (Asa's expression appeared resigned to defeat before the final cards hit the felt) and the young Brit was sent packing.

Special Scandiewatch:

Here are three of your Norwegian favourites (four if you count fellow updater Jannicke):

Annette (15) Obrestad:  11,600

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14544&g2_serialNumber=1)

Jan (go my pick Jan Sjavik!  [blondepoker in no way represented by the views of its updaters]) Sjavik:  12,375

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14548&g2_serialNumber=1)

Johnny (chip leader) Lodden:  68,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14546&g2_serialNumber=1)

Is it possible to have a photo of (at least) one of these french guys please ?

 * elie marciano
 * otto richard
 * fançois tardieu
 * cyrille chabot

A distinct "Argh!" exclamation deriving from Table Kabbaj lures me over with the excitement of a teenager in the Playboy Mansion, Woody Deck dealing out the pain with Q-T on a J-K-7-8-A board for the Riverered straight. The bulldog/wasp expression on Mateyboy's face signifies that it was a nasty one, but either way, another big pot goes sailing over to the Deckster, the Lithuanian now threatening the overall chip lead with 58k.

gooooooo  Woody.  (prob spew them away within the hour imo)

Mark Teltscher is a victim of the Table Gould. He found himself all-in with 7-8 versus John Gould's 9-8 on a Q-8-2-6 board. Blank River sealed the deal.

Incidentally, if I hadn't cropped that photo of Annette, you could have seen her rhs neighbour, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Justin Timberlake in that spoof video thing... you know what I'm talking about..

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14552&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://catchupblog.typepad.com/catch_up_blog/images/2007/07/23/dckbx.jpg)

I hate to interrupt this live update with personal issues, but I just purchased a tuna sandwich for €10. I can only compare the painful feeling inside to a burst appendix.  :'(

As I now, Monaco (and so Monte Carlo) is one of the most expensive city all over Europe.

Freddy Deeb is going north and is up to 21k after calling a river bet from Andreas Hoivold on a 5d Kd 8h 6s 4d board. Deeb showed 7d 6d, whilst Andreas could only muster 9d 7h. "Lucky Flop, lucky River, observed a dejected EPT winner.

Julian Thew is down to just 3,250 after a particularly strange hand cost him most - but not, as it might have, all - of his stack...

Seeing a flop with 3d 4d which had come 2-4-K, one diamond, he called a bet there, picked up a second diamond on the turn and a third on the river.  With the small backdoor flush, he raised his opponent's 2k bet to 5,300 - it was just called with Matey's Kd 8d for the second nuts.  "I was lucky, really," he mused, imagining facing a river re-raise instead...

The guy with the ringbeard next to Annette was also at the same table (TV) table at the WSOPE. His name is Steven van Zadelhoff and he is one of the more succesful online tourney players. Results of 2007:

-   WSOPE main event       11th      $ 83.832
-   WPT Barcelona               7th      $ 94.273

-   Sunday million                 1st      $ 193.000
-   Sunday Million                 7th      $   38.000
-   FTOPS $ 2500               2nd      $ 294.000

Last week he won the Everest 'live the dream' contest where he won a 100K sponsordeal for 2008. He's basically freerolling here.

Oh and thanks for the updates guys. I couldn't find anywhere when Terje Augdal, Kris Ulriksen and Riise where playing so they might very well play tomorrow.

Creeping back to his hotel room is poker superstar Phil Ivey, the multiple bracelet winner falling at the hands of neighbouring Dutchman Bart Wetstein. Bart raised it up pre-flop and received four or five callers, one of whom was Phil Ivey in the blind. Phil Ivey led out on a 3d Js 5c Flop, before smooth calling a re-raise from Bart. Ivey then pushed on the Kd Turn with J-3 only to find himself snap-called and in all sorts of trouble against Bart's Pocket Fives. Aye carumba!  :o

No Jack arrived and Phil was gone, but I confirm that Bart was a gent in victory and refrained from exclaiming "Eat my shorts!" as the pro departed.

€20 hamburger just now consumed, and I'm not even full. :'( :'(

Jen had a €5 Coke. :'( :'( :'(

Patrik Antonius, pictured first to get it out of the way, just proved how even the poker gods must secretly fancy him, thusly:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14571&g2_serialNumber=1)

I saw him call a 2,100 bet in position on a board reading 9d 6h 7d Ac.
The river fell the 5c.  Check to Antonius, who now bet out 3,500, called by the gentleman pictured below.

Patrick Antonius -- Ahrt 8c
SighMatey -- 5s 8d  Chop it up.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14573&g2_serialNumber=1)

Final, definitive Today's Player List, courtesy of the good people at Pokerstars!

Vadim Abdulin
Michel Abecassis
Gilbert Abela
Basem Abu Davas
Andre Akkari
Gino Alacqua
Stephane Albertini
Ronny Alex
Anton Allemann
Patrik Andersson
Andrew Andreou
Ionel Anton
Patrik Antonius
Kevin Arba
Alexander Argoe
Billy Argyros
Josh Arieh
Fabrizio Baldassari
Pierre Baronville
Fowzi Baroukh
Mike Bartholomew
Mark Bech
Mostafa Belkhayate
Thomas Berg
Stefanie Bergener
Valentin Berruezo
Thomas Bichon
Givanni Bigoni
Balazs Biri
Per Christer Olov Bjorin
Cristiano Blanco
Barrny Boatman
Ross Boatman
Noah Pierre Boeken
Thomas Boekhoff
Thierry Bolleret
Juris Bonders
Lars Bonding
Carl Boreham
Cecilia Borg
Jan Joseph Boubli
Nordine Bouya
Maximilian Bracht
Humberto Brenes
Tomas Brolin
Konstantin Bucherl
Mag Buk
Stefano Busino
Nicolo Calia
Rich Caplan
Jakob Carlsson
Tony Cascarino
Stephen Chadwick
Samuel Chartier
Anthony Chatelain
Tommy Chen
Pawel Chmiel
Paul Christian
Morade Ciric
David Kevin Colclough
Sebastien Compte
Driman Connor
John Conroy
Simone Coppari
Owen Crowe
Chabot Cyrille
Krzysztof Czerwinski
Riccardo D Errico
Andrey Daniluk
George Danzer
Ryan Daut
Russel Davidson
Matthew Robert Davidow
Guillaume De La Gorce
Priyhan De Mel
Gerardus Petrus Antonius De Werd
Roland De Wolfe
Woody Deck
Kassem Deeb
Shaun Deeb
Didier Dekens
Romain Despres
Xavier Detournel
Stephen Devlin
Frei Dilling Kjaer
 Dorrance Bowman, Dustin
Nathan Doudney
Denys Drobyna
Joep Durkstra
Jonathan Dwek
Aliaksandr Dzianisau
Tilmann Ebeling
William Edler
Sandra Edlund
Trond Erik Eidsvig
Hani El Assaad
Hecham El Sayed
Eliahu Ilan Elezra
Darren Elias
Marciano Elie
Carl Johan Ericson
Soren Eriksen
George Farkas
Andrea Fassano
Peter Feldman
  Joel Fernandes De Oliveira
Fernando Festas
Jonathan Fhal
Steve Fink
Ryan Fisler
Robert Flink
Mark Flowers
Andreas Fluri
Richard Fohrenbach
Thomas Pierre Fougeron
Stuart Michel Fox
Hunter Frey
Adam Gagliardi
Lee Gaines
Karl Gal
Stefan Geim
Kirill Gerasimov
Mocchi Gianni
Andreas Glannbro
Jean Pierre Gleize
Dan Glimme
Markus Golser
Margarita Gonzalez
Paul Gormley
Iliya Gorodetskiy
Tony G
Joshua Gould
Peter Gould
Jason Gray
Barry Greenstein
Anthony Gregg
Rod Grierson
Christian Grundtvig
Ben Grundy
Andreas Gulunay
Anatoly Gurtovoy
Michael Guttman
Andreas Hagen
Roger Hairabedian
Kenny Hallaert
Mark Halvorsen
Georges Hanna
Tommy Hansen
Christian Harder
Alfonso Hassan
Will Haughey
Jan Heitmann
Anders Henriksson
Johnny Hirondelle
Gregory Hobson
Michael Hogbom
Andreas Hoivold
Robertus Hendrikus Hollink
Richard Holmes
Craig Hopkins
Tommi Horkko
Carl Hostrup
Jared Hubbard
Torben Hubertz
Dider Hunn
Valeriy Ilikyan
Sergey Indenok
Alessio Isaia
Phil Ivey
Rezk Jacques
Nikolaus Jedlicka
Leif Emil Simon Johansson
Marco Johnson
Nadir Jorephani
Mel Judah
Ken Justin
John Kabbaj
Masaaki Kagawa
Rahal Kalil
Fadi Kamar
Iliodoros Kamatakis
Benjamin Kang
Per Henrik Kask
Eugene Katchalov
Matt Kay
Eero Kekalainen
Bryn Kenney
Robin Keston
Artur Kirilenko
Stephen Kjerstad
Jonas Klausen
Travis Klein
Josef Klinger
Vladimir Kochelaevskly
Marek Kolk
Josef Franz Kollarits
Soren Kongsgaard
Eric Koskas
Adrian Koy
Andreas Krause
Paul Kristoffersson
Eduards Kudrjavcevs
Matthew Kurtz
Michael Kwiek
Selim Lalaoui
Tuan Lam
Edward Lawson
Tino Lechich
Chris Min Lee
Pierre Xavier Lenoir
David Levi
Nicolas Levi
Adam Levy
Erick Lindgren
Jeffrey Lisandro
Eric Liu
Shixia Liu
Benjamin Locatelli
Johnny Lodden
Morten Lokken
Asbjorn Lunde
Jens Lundgren
Marcel Luske
Maria Maceiras
Ghaoudi Machou
Paul Maddern
Clayton Maguire
Khayem Malek
Andrea Manganelli
Mihai Manole
Vincent Marlard
Pablo Martinez
Daniele Masini
Ville Mattila
Taylor McFarland
Farid Mekhfi
Isabelle Mercier
Jason Mercier
Luis Merino
Julien Meurisse
Edouard Mignot Bonnefous
Dag Martin Mikkelsen
Alexandar Milanov
Andrey Mitropolskiy
Sorel Mizzi
Peyman Mohammadzadeh
Enrico Moniaga
Thierry Morel
Alexander Morozov
Filfili Mounir
Osman Mustanoglu
Richard Nadler
Helly Nahmad
Rumen Nanev
Omais Abdel Nasser
Anh Nguyen
Christoph Niesert
David Norrman
Annette Obrestad
Carl Olson
Gregory Orlov
Igor Osipov
Joakim Osth
Luca Pagano
Nikolaus Panopoulus
Jean Paul Pasqualini
Nils Christian Paulsen
Tommy Pavlicek
Stephen John Pearce
Joerg Peisert
Franz Pejcl
Christophe Perraud
Pascal Perrault
Max Tobias Persson
David Peters
Reuben Peters
Jacob Petersen
Tiziani Pierluigi
Ditspong Pinpramot
Vladimir Polishchuk
Hendrikus Postel
Julian Powell
Terris Preston
Ian Prevost
Mario Puccini
Kirill Rabtsov
Mats Rahm
Raymond Rahme
Azor Ran
Martin Rask
Gregory Paul Raymer
Dominick Raynis
Shane Reihill
Tyler Reiman
Tobias Reinkemeier
Michael Reis
Otto Richard
Thomas Richter
Claudio Stefano Rinaldi
Voitto Rintala
Peter Wolfgang Roche
Roberto Romanello
Sasha Rosewood
Anthony Roux
Andrew Rowlands
Andrea Ruscalls
Paulo Ruscalls
Knut Rysstad
Patrick Sacrispeyre
Stephane Michel Sage
Rahal Samir
Burak Sancaktaroglu
Andre Santos
Gualter Santos
Andreas Sarling
Eric Scalisi
Brandon Koga Schaefer
Justin Mathew Schwartz
Alexander Selishchev
Alem Shah
John Shipley
Roland Shuster
Noah Siegel
Marcin Sikora
Mario Silvestri Iii
Jean Marc Simon
Richard Sinclair
Scott Sitron
Jan Olav Sjavik
Rolf Slotboom
Daan Slutter
Asa Smith
Daniel Smith
Danny Smith
Kari Somer
Ricardo Sousa
Gabriele Speranza
Beniamino Speroni
Gijsbertus Spijkers
Christoffer Stahle
Johannes Steindl
Geoff Stephens
Steve Stolzmann
Dominik Stopka
Ben Straate
Johannes Strassmann
Emma Sophia Stroeman
Jan Arthur Svendsen
Halldor Mar Sverrisson
Adam Sword
Francois Tardieu
Mark Teltscher
Saverio Teodori
Arkady Teplitsky
Katja Thater
Julian Peter Thew
Luis Tier
Domenico Tinnirello
Christian Togsverd
Kevin Richard Tone
Andreas Torbergsen
Alec Torelli
Csaba Toth
Richard Toth
Peter Traply
Alexander Uskov
Mikhail Ustinov
Roland Uzan
Thierry Van Der Berg
Abraham Van Der Ende
Johan Van Til
Steven Van Zadelhoff
Derek Vandamme
Gordon Vayo
Lex Veldhuis
Maxime Villemure
Thomas Wahlroos
Severin Walser
Erik Walter
Martin Wendt
Bart Wetsteijn
Scot Wilson
Anna Wisniewska
 Andrzej Wisniewski
Jeremy Wray
Anna Wroblewski
Georges Yazbeck
Fawaz Youssef
Andrey Zaichenko
Yuriy Zdanovskiy
Daniel Zink
Sebastian Zink

Two late contenders for Shirt of the Day I am challenging Dana's Pascall Perrault with:

1.  Flowery McCurtains:  Don't know this gent but would like to shake his hand.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14575&g2_serialNumber=1)

2.  Stephen Pearce:  This season, we will be mostly wearing satin paisley relief.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14577&g2_serialNumber=1)

Bounding up to me is one Jan Heitmann. He leaps in the air and lands in the traditional gymnast's "ta-da!" position. "Have you just doubled up?" say I. "No, no, I'm just playing very well today. Very well. But yes, actually I did double up." He's on 42k now.

Not Previously Mentioned To My Knowledge - Mr Christian Grundtvig on 9k or so.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14556&g2_serialNumber=1)

Luca Pagano picked up a pot around 15k a little while ago - the Italian Pokerstars pro bet 3,200 on the river with the board reading Qs 2s 4h Ad 4s.  He looked a little surprised and pretty pleased when his opponent called with Kd Ks - his Aspades Qd taking the pot.  Pictured here in statue-mode, post bet, pre call.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14579&g2_serialNumber=1)

How did said burger compare with the DTD deluxe variety ?

Pipping the earlier picture of Sidelong Glance of the Day, without a doubt:

Nicolas Levi and John Kabbaj

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14581&g2_serialNumber=1)

Full Seat List from the start of the Day:

Name   Table   Seat
Michael Reis   1   1
Ian Prevost   1   2
Ditspong Pinpramot   1   3
Jacob Petersen   1   4
Asbjorn Lunde   1   5
Barry Greenstein   1   6
Justin Mathew Schwartz   1   7
Thomas Pierre Fougeron   1   8
Isabelle Mercier   2   1
Christoph Niesert   2   2
Karl Gal   2   3
Richard Nadler   2   4
Johannes Strassmann   2   5
Marcin Sikora   2   6
Adam Sword   2   7
Xavier Detournel   2   8
Stephen Chadwick   3   1
Jonathan Dwek   3   2
Jean Paul Pasqualini   3   3
Ryan Fisler   3   4
Ville Mattila   3   5
Fowzi Baroukh   3   6
Marco Johnson   3   7
Helly Nahmad   3   9
Eric Scalisi   4   1
Thierry Van Der Berg   4   2
Paul Gormley   4   3
Andreas Torbergsen   4   4
Tobias Reinkemeier   4   5
Lars Bonding   4   6
Peter Traply   4   7
Andreas Krause   4   8
Eugene Katchalov   4   9
Csaba Toth   5   1
Andreas Gulunay   5   2
Andreas Hoivold   5   3
Andreas Hagen   5   4
Gabriele Speranza   5   5
Joerg Peisert   5   6
Patrik Andersson   5   7
Kassem Deeb   5   8
Scot Wilson   6   1
Jakob Carlsson   6   2
Gordon Vayo   6   3
Woody Deck   6   4
Anders Henriksson   6   5
Otto Richard   6   6
Gregory Hobson   6   7
John Kabbaj   6   8
Edward Lawson   7   1
Derek Vandamme   7   2
Sasha Rosewood   7   3
Eric Koskas   7   4
Jeffrey Lisandro   7   5
Vladimir Polishchuk   7   6
Konstantin Bucherl   7   7
Luis Tier   7   8
Peter Feldman   8   1
Stuart Michel Fox   8   2
Michel Abecassis   8   3
Christophe Perraud   8   4
Steve Fink   8   5
Andrew Rowlands   8   6
Michael Guttman   8   7
John Conroy   8   8
Joshua Gould   9   1
Denys Drobyna   9   2
Gijsbertus Spijkers   9   3
Peter Gould   9   4
Richard Sinclair   9   5
Anton Allemann   9   6
Tommi Horkko   9   7
Mark Teltscher   9   8
Matthew Kurtz   10   1
Julian Powell   10   2
Osman Mustanoglu   10   3
Scott Sitron   10   4
Josef Franz Kollarits   10   5
Fadi Kamar   10   6
Humberto Brenes   10   7
Daniel Smith   10   8
Thomas Boekhoff   11   1
Pawel Chmiel   11   2
Markus Golser   11   3
Bryn Kenney   11   4
Nadir Jorephani   11   5
Priyhan De Mel   11   6
Tony Cascarino   11   7
Soren Eriksen   12   1
Simone Coppari   12   2
Selim Lalaoui   12   3
Fawaz Youssef   12   4
Josh Arieh   12   5
Julian Peter Thew   12   6
David Norrman   12   7
Pascal Perrault   12   8
Lee Gaines   13   1
Lex Veldhuis   13   2
Andrey Daniluk   13   3
Mark Flowers   13   4
Martin Wendt   13   5
Rolf Slotboom   13   6
Alexander Morozov   13   7
Paulo Ruscalls   13   8
Noah Siegel   13   9
Domenico Tinnirello   14   1
Luis Merino   14   2
Omais Abdel Nasser   14   3
Artur Kirilenko   14   4
Alexander Argoe   14   5
Mats Rahm   14   6
Ben Straate   14   7
Andrew Andreou   14   8
Robertus Hendrikus Hollink   15   1
Anthony Roux   15   2
Thomas Richter   15   3
Mihai Manole   15   4
Robert Flink   15   5
Mike Bartholomew   15   6
Marcel Luske   15   7
Stefan Geim   15   8
Daniel Zink   16   1
Clayton Maguire   16   2
Jean Marc Simon   16   3
Adam Levy   16   4
Krzysztof Czerwinski   16   5
Fabrizio Baldassari   16   6
Craig Hopkins   16   7
Shaun Deeb   16   8
Kenny Hallaert   17   1
Benjamin Locatelli   17   2
Paul Maddern   17   3
Owen Crowe   17   4
Anh Nguyen   17   5
Steve Stolzmann   17   6
Didier Dekens   17   7
Jan Arthur Svendsen   17   8
Maria Maceiras   18   1
Dominik Stopka   18   2
Andrea Fassano   18   3
Gregory Paul Raymer   18   4
Sorel Mizzi   18   5
David Peters   18   6
Roger Hairabedian   18   7
Maxime Villemure   18   8
Soren Kongsgaard   19   1
Francois Tardieu   19   2
Givanni Bigoni   19   3
Johan Van Til   19   4
Hecham El Sayed   19   5
Ghaoudi Machou   19   6
Jason Gray   19   7
Andreas Glannbro   19   8
Kevin Arba   20   1
Kari Somer   20   2
Johnny Hirondelle   20   3
Christoffer Stahle   20   4
Jared Hubbard   20   6
Anthony Gregg   20   7
Georges Yazbeck   20   8
Asa Smith   21   1
Dominick Raynis   21   2
Tommy Chen   21   3
Sebastian Zink   21   4
Erik Walter   21   5
Jens Lundgren   21   6
Hunter Frey   21   7
Franz Pejcl   21   8
Morten Lokken   22   1
Abraham Van Der Ende   22   2
Frei Dilling Kjaer   22   3
George Danzer   22   4
Peter Wolfgang Roche   22   5
Richard Fohrenbach   22   6
Anthony Chatelain   22   7
Andrea Ruscalls   22   8
Shane Reihill   23   1
Carl Johan Ericson   23   2
Jason Mercier   23   3
Benjamin Kang   23   4
Valentin Berruezo   23   5
Adrian Koy   23   6
David Levi   23   7
Alexander Selishchev   23   8
Geoff Stephens   24   1
Paul Christian   24   2
Andreas Fluri   24   3
Jan Heitmann   24   4
Iliya Gorodetskiy   24   5
George Farkas   24   6
  Joel Fernandes De Oliveira   24   7
Patrik Antonius   24   8
Nordine Bouya   25   1
John Shipley   25   2
Raymond Rahme   25   3
Arkady Teplitsky   25   4
Carl Olson   25   5
Burak Sancaktaroglu   25   6
Reuben Peters   25   7
Michael Kwiek   25   8
Johannes Steindl   26   1
Mel Judah   26   2
Noah Pierre Boeken   26   3
Tomas Brolin   26   5
Knut Rysstad   26   6
Tino Lechich   26   7
Stephen John Pearce   26   8
Saverio Teodori   27   1
Terris Preston   27   2
Stefanie Bergener   27   3
Peyman Mohammadzadeh   27   4
Russel Davidson   27   5
Ken Justin   27   6
Eero Kekalainen   27   7
Christian Grundtvig   28   1
Marciano Elie   28   2
Ryan Daut   28   3
Mario Silvestri Iii   28   4
Juris Bonders   28   5
Marek Kolk   28   6
Tiziani Pierluigi   28   7
Josef Klinger   29   1
Edouard Mignot Bonnefous   29   2
Jeremy Wray   29   3
Paul Kristoffersson   29   4
Tuan Lam   29   5
Maximilian Bracht   29   6
Hendrikus Postel   29   7
Katja Thater   29   8
Rod Grierson   30   1
Mario Puccini   30   2
Christian Harder   30   3
Andre Akkari   30   4
Nils Christian Paulsen   30   5
Halldor Mar Sverrisson   30   6
Luca Pagano   30   7
Anna Wisniewska   30   8
Eduards Kudrjavcevs   31   1
Adam Gagliardi   31   2
Michael Hogbom   31   3
Anna Wroblewski   31   4
Nikolaus Jedlicka   31   5
Yuriy Zdanovskiy   31   6
Ross Boatman   31   7
Driman Connor   31   8
Guillaume De La Gorce   32   1
Thierry Bolleret   32   2
Torben Hubertz   32   3
Thomas Wahlroos   32   4
Riccardo D Errico   32   5
Ronny Alex   32   6
Mark Bech   32   7
Pierre Xavier Lenoir   32   8
Alem Shah   33   1
Rich Caplan   33   2
Jan Joseph Boubli   33   3
Travis Klein   33   4
Danny Smith   33   5
Rahal Kalil   33   6
Jonas Klausen   33   7
Kirill Gerasimov   33   8
Mag Buk   34   1
Tommy Pavlicek   34   2
Billy Argyros   34   4
Nicolas Levi   34   5
 Dorrance Bowman, Dustin   34   6
Mark Halvorsen   34   7
Valeriy Ilikyan   34   8
Voitto Rintala   35   1
Darren Elias   35   2
Richard Toth   35   3
Fernando Festas   35   4
Carl Boreham   35   5
Dag Martin Mikkelsen   35   6
Dider Hunn   35   7
Mostafa Belkhayate   35   8
Filfili Mounir   36   1
Sergey Indenok   36   2
Rezk Jacques   36   3
Romain Despres   36   4
Ricardo Sousa   36   5
Chabot Cyrille   36   6
Roland Shuster   36   7
Johnny Lodden   36   8
Joakim Osth   37   1
Thomas Berg   37   2
Steven Van Zadelhoff   37   3
Annette Obrestad   37   4
Vincent Marlard   37   5
Barrny Boatman   37   6
Daan Slutter   37   7
Jan Olav Sjavik   37   8
Cecilia Borg   38   1
Roberto Romanello   38   2
Cristiano Blanco   38   3
Dan Glimme   38   4
Andre Santos   38   5
David Kevin Colclough   38   6
Will Haughey   38   7
Richard Holmes   38   8
Pablo Martinez   39   1
Mocchi Gianni   39   2
Anatoly Gurtovoy   39   3
Thierry Morel   39   4
Rahal Samir   39   5
Roland De Wolfe   39   6
Ben Grundy   39   7
Jonathan Fhal   39   8
Tommy Hansen   40   1
Tilmann Ebeling   40   2
Tyler Reiman   40   3
Sebastien Compte   40   4
Trond Erik Eidsvig   40   5
Severin Walser   40   6
Robin Keston   40   7
Bart Wetsteijn   40   8
Gregory Orlov   41   1
Patrick Sacrispeyre   41   2
Aliaksandr Dzianisau   41   3
Gualter Santos   41   4
Stephane Michel Sage   41   5
Taylor McFarland   41   6
Andrea Manganelli   41   7
Mikhail Ustinov   41   8
Joep Durkstra   42   1
Jean Pierre Gleize   42   2
Leif Emil Simon Johansson   42   3
Kevin Richard Tone   42   4
Sandra Edlund   42   6
Vadim Abdulin   42   7
Samuel Chartier   42   8
Kirill Rabtsov   43   1
Daniele Masini   43   2
Andrey Mitropolskiy   43   3
Chris Min Lee   43   4
Eric Liu   43   6
Alexander Uskov   43   7
Iliodoros Kamatakis   43   8
Pierre Baronville   44   1
Andrey Zaichenko   44   2
Emma Sophia Stroeman   44   4
Julien Meurisse   44   5
Matthew Robert Davidow   44   6
Stephane Albertini   44   7
Nikolaus Panopoulus   44   8
Tony G   45   1
Christian Togsverd   45   2
Claudio Stefano Rinaldi   45   3
Alessio Isaia   45   4
Andreas Sarling   45   5
Per Christer Olov Bjorin   45   6
Gino Alacqua   45   7
Gerardus Petrus Antonius De Werd   45   8
Nathan Doudney   46   1
Basem Abu Davas   46   2
Balazs Biri   46   3
Margarita Gonzalez   46   4
Thomas Bichon   46   5
Morade Ciric   46   6
 Andrzej Wisniewski   46   7
Max Tobias Persson   46   8
Ionel Anton   47   1
Eliahu Ilan Elezra   47   2
Stephen Kjerstad   47   3
Rumen Nanev   47   4
Azor Ran   47   5
Roland Uzan   47   6
Beniamino Speroni   47   8
Alexandar Milanov   48   1
Igor Osipov   48   2
Shixia Liu   48   3
Farid Mekhfi   48   4
Enrico Moniaga   48   5
Khayem Malek   48   6
Stephen Devlin   48   7
Gilbert Abela   48   8
Erick Lindgren   49   1
Stefano Busino   49   2
Brandon Koga Schaefer   49   3
Vladimir Kochelaevskly   49   4
Matt Kay   49   5
Georges Hanna   49   6
Hani El Assaad   49   7
Carl Hostrup   49   8
Nicolo Calia   50   1
Alec Torelli   50   2
Martin Rask   50   3
Alfonso Hassan   50   4
William Edler   50   5
Masaaki Kagawa   50   6
Per Henrik Kask   50   7
Phil Ivey   50   8

Is it possible to have news about Michel Abecassis (Tbl 8 ) and about "Moumouth" (Eric Koskas - Tbl 7) ?

any updates on "the apple" hopkins?cheers!

To be honest, it was not a bad burger. I would say it was roughly on a par with the DT (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde)D (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde) burger (the regular, not the deluxe - it seems like a fairer comparison) - both perhaps a 6.5 out of 10, where 1=the hamburgers my old school canteen served, and 10=the Best Hamburger In The World, which I consumed at the Clover Grill in New Orleans, Louisiana, in Autumn 2002.

However, when price is taken into account - around £8 for the DT (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde)D (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde) burger, €20=£16.05 (!!!) for my lunch today, $4.95 (£2.51) for the Clover Grillburger, a wide gap in the quality/price ratio becomes evident, making the Monte Carloburger almost exactly half as good as the DT (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde)D (http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/index.php?affiliate=blonde) burger.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14060&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Richard Fohrenbach has knocked out another Young American (tall, thin, curly hair - anyone??) on that Classic Coinflip (TM), A-K v Q-Q.

Board - a very sickening 5s 3d 2d 4d Tc

Mr Young American takes it like a gentleman, although as he wanders off with some friends, I do hear him muttering "Bullshit..."

Chip counts as mid-level the dinner breakers swap off.  Half the room is filling up, and the other half is still playing, so there's some overlap for Sitting Two to get ready.  I think.  No one should ever let me organise anything.

Anyway...

Priyan de Mel -- 3,800 ("Grinding.  My goal is to survive each round.")  Pictured below.
Mel Judah -- 20,550
Noah Boeken -- 19,700
Stephen Pearce -- 29,000
John Shipley -- 11,950
Benjamin Kang -- 13,000
Anna Wroblewski -- 16,000
Jan Sjavik -- 13,700
Annette Obrestad -- 9,700
Steven van Zadelhoff -- 17,425
Roland de Wolfe -- 11,000
Thomas Wahlroos -- 45,000
Trond Eidsvig -- 17,600
Daniel (probably) Zink -- 22,500
George Danzer -- 22,000
Peter Roche -- 27,000   (Says of neighbour Danzer:  "He's a fish.  A raising machine.  But he's a lucky fish."

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14609&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Trond Eidsvig - 19k. :)

When I popped in, Otto and Cyrille were munching on their dinner break, whilst Francois Tardieu is unknown to me. I did, however, find Eli Marciano and I have thrown in a bonus Frenchie in the form of Guillaume de la Gorce, Gorce the Force having recently doubled up to 14k with Jacks v A-Q.

Here's the Force pre-double up and Eli (seated next to Christian Grundtvig) checking out the norkage strutting by.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14599&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14607&g2_serialNumber=1)

could i get an update on 'carl boreham' please....started in seat 5 table 35.

thanks

that was Matt Kay, aka "Choppy" > best friend to Timex aka Mike McDonald.

Not only is Stephen Pearce sporting a shirt that could dazzle a small child out of a coma, but he's auctioning off his cards after taking down a pot. Christian Harder quickly swiped out his wallet and offered $5 which was insta snapped up by Stephen who subsequently showed Pocket Sixes for a Flopped Set.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14591&g2_serialNumber=1)

After taking a major hit early doors, temporary Michael Jackson impersonator (see Jen's photo from earlier) Roberto Romanello is now er... history after running Pocket Tens into Pocket Queens. "I can't keep folding," he declared in defeat.

There is a flop - it is 5c Qc Ad and a gentleman in a T6 shirt checks. Hair Of The Dayster Adrian Koy bets, and now T6 Man raises; Mr Koy calls.

Turn - 9c - and they both check

River - 3s - and T6 Man bets Almost All In, or 4k, leaving himself just 2k behind. Mr Koy is most irked - he stares at the board with some consternation, and appears to be mouthing sums to himself. T6 Man is staring fixedly at a point on the far wall. Koy calls.

...And T6 Man just mucks without waiting to see what Mr Koy has, which is, as it turns out, Kh Qd.

Yes! Yes it was. Thank you very much, Mrs Gobbomom.  ;hattip;

thanks Dana for the photos of the Frenchies  ;popcorn;

Hi Dana's minions !... is there a side event schedue anywhere, s'il vous plait?

(BSQ Poker Poster)

I used to like the ones that you could get in London in the '70's at "The Great American Disaster" which was the first restaurant, afaik to do "proper" burgers, char grilled with a slice of raw onion on top, US style. Up to then burgers were what was available in the old "Wimpey Bars", horrible greasy soulless things which had given burgers in this country (the UK) a thoroughly bad name.

Excellent piece of in-depth hamburger analysis btw, I'm glad that at least you enjoyed it.

PS Anyone for a hamburger analysis child-board ?

With an Ad 8s 8d 2s lying patiently on the felt, a cucumber cool Patrik Antonius sizes up his opponent as his 1.1k bet is check-raised to 4.5k. With an icy, focused stare that suggests that not even a streaking Beagle could divert his attention, Patrik makes the call. The River comes a 4c, and as the initial aggressor meekly checks, Patrick confidently bets out 8k to take down the pot and send a defiant "don't mess with me, bucko" message.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14585&g2_serialNumber=1)

Just to prove that we did indeed find the frequently requested Stephan Kjerstad, here is the young Norwegian in all his glory, currently down a little with 32k but still comfortably above average.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14583&g2_serialNumber=1)

you're quite welcome.

now, I have a request, please: at some point could you get a chip count on Justin Schwartz, a young American playing with Eli Elezra?  By the time I find a pic. I'll bet you've found him (that's a compliment to Team Blonde detective skills)

Just to show that we haven't brushed the demands of the NAS under the carpet, here's a norky young minx I found lurking around the STT tables.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14603&g2_serialNumber=1)

hi team,

had a text from roberto 2 hr ago saying he had about 3k, is he still in? if so, how many chips has he got!

jack army

I'm afraid I must pull you up on that comment. If anything, Dana and Jen are my minions, as shown by this picture of me and my oompa loompas at the last Christmas party.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14352&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14611&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14615&g2_serialNumber=1)

I was used to see more beautifull ladies in your posts Snoops... I'm disapointed on you...

After taking a major hit early doors, temporary Michael Jackson impersonator (see Jen's photo from earlier) Roberto Romanello is now er... history after running Pocket Tens into Pocket Queens. "I can't keep folding," he declared in defeat.

Are we looking at the Monte Carlo burger here? The first year I went the burger cost €20... on it's own!!! Fries were €8 extra. Also, most of the burgers were undercooked and brought many people down with iffy stomachs.
BTW can you say hello and good luck to Peter Roche for me.
Cheers

Someone was asking about side events:

Monday 14th 8pm - NLHE €500 (+50) 1 rebuy, 2 day event, final 15th April 2pm.

Tuesday 15th 5pm - NLHE €1,000 (+70) Freezeout, 2 day event, final 16th 2pm.

Wednesday 16th 2pm - NLHE €2,000 (+100) Freezeout, 2 day event, final 17th 2pm.

Thursday 17th 2pm - NLHE €500 (+50) Freezeout.

Plus there are sit'n'gos for the keen or the busted.  Just heard the announcer saying "Blew €200?  Table 29."  But he was actually saying 'blue' - the stt lists are colour-coded.  Sounded apt, though.

To save your fingers from pressing the 'back' button too much - Roberto is sadly now OUT.

Table 35 is currently on a dinner break, so we'll have to check later.

Ms Isabelle Mercier - down to just 3.5k, eek.

 ;gobsmacked;

somebody knows what happend ???

Pics and chip count for Emma-Sophia cant remember her surname please.

Blind-on-blind all-in action - sort of...

I suspect what happened was that Maria Maceiras limped in from the small blind and the gentleman to her left, possibly but not definitely one Mr Dominik Stopka, raised to 2.5k or so (missed that bit of the hand, but there was 5k or so in the pot when I arrived) only for Maria to go all in for another 8k or so. Mr Maybe Stopka had the clock called on him before folding Aspades Ks up. Maria doesn't show, but looks immensely relieved...

I'm afraid she's on dinner break, but here's one I made earlier:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14570&g2_serialNumber=1)

TY for the speedy response..........................

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Emmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-Sophiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Just remember the NAS are railing her.

We're not sure I'm afraid, but we're hoping this picture of Isabelle in 'Madonna in the supermarket' type pose will help soften the blow.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14644&g2_serialNumber=1)

Bizarro Hand Half Watched By Me Through Huge Crowd Of Railers And Half Details Filled In By Marc Convey Who Saw The Whole Thing From The Front Of Said Crowd -

On a board that reads 7h 4h 9h 4c, Luca Pagano bets 3k. The Mateygent on the button made it 10k and Luca promptly went all in, for not much more than an additional 4k or so. At this point, Mateygent dwelled up for AGES. There was some huffing, there was more dwelling... And then Mateygent folded! Unbelievable!

And then Luca shows... Not the flush... Not a full house, or indeed any kind of super-amazing hand... He shows the Ac!!! Double unbelievable! It's true though.

A few chip counts as level 4 (is it only level 4?  Man...) heads to its conclusion:

Isabelle Mercier -- 10,000
The Apple Hopkins -- 16,500
Marcel Luske -- 18,400
Woody Deck -- 68,000 ("You know this guy?" asks tablemate Nicolas Levi, "How does he do it?  Can't miss."  He replied, "But I'm 0 for 1 with coinflips with Scandinavians.")
Nicolas Levi -- 33,000
Andreas Hagen -- 15,900
Freddy Deeb -- 34,000
Stuart Fox (pictured) -- 15,000.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14616&g2_serialNumber=1)

Update on Richard "Daddymac" Sinclair if possible please. TIA.

Hi, you said you may be able to look out for people playing at Monte Carlo.  Is there any chance you could find my friend Nadir Jorephani and let me know how he is getting on? thanks for your time, he started on table 11.  Thank you.

Bums have been going in and out of seats more frequently than a game of musical chairs, but at last sighting, we believe this to be Justin Schwartz, and if it is, he's hovering around the 20k mark. Justin recently saw a three-way 8h-6d-9h Flop with immediate neighbours Thomas Fougeron and Luca Pagano. Thomas bet 1.2k, Luca called and Justin ducked out of the way. With both players checking the Qc Turn, Thomas then led out again, this time 1.6k on the 3d river. Luca folded allowing Thomas to snap up the pot.

Also on the table is a chatty as ever Eli Elezra (18.5k) and a zombified as ever Barry Greenstein (6k).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14646&g2_serialNumber=1)

We'll do our best. Don't suppose you know if he's still in his original seat?

By the way, the reason that our clock keeps jumping about is that they've been playing Level 4 over and over in odd 45-minute chunks to accommodate the split dinner break for the players (no dinner break for your updaters, weep, although to be honest we probably can't afford any more food today :'( ) - we don't really understand the system they're using for the clock over this level, so we've sort of screwed it up a bit... Nevertheless we reckon it'll be ok from here on in.

I dont know if hes still there no, sorry. I reckon he will be, he's as tight as a vice.

STRIPEWATCH

- for when there's not much happening in the actual poker that I can see

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14559&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14593&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14595&g2_serialNumber=1)

Like a team of undeterred archaeologists, digging deep until we find that crucial gem, we have finally found Otto Richard after much scurrying through the cardroom. He was tricky to unearth in the end, mainly due to his hoody concealing his identity, but just for jpean, here is his fellow Frenchie (I hope  ;pokergods;) Otto, currently struggling with 4,900.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14632&g2_serialNumber=1)

are julian and dave colclough still in???

Craig 'The Apple' Hopkins is alive and well, and with his head just below average at 20k.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14620&g2_serialNumber=1)

Also remaining, but perhaps not fairing quite as well as some of the aforementioned players, is last year's finalist Soren Kongsgaard (9,100), pictured here feeling the groove of the latest Westlife track to hit his ipod.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14492&g2_serialNumber=1)

take that Dana :
(http://blogimg0.ifrance.com/00/03/53/217948.jpg)

We believe Julian is down and out (he's showing his mother around, according to Jen). As for Dave Colclough, his section was enjoying the dinner break at the time of our last venture into the battlefied, so we'll double check his existence. Hopefully he's still riding high with a big stack and saying...

(http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/photos/photo_6331.jpg)

in fact, I did'nt know him, but one of my friends tell me that he was one of the great your french players...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14650&g2_serialNumber=1)

Umm, is that even food? Thanks! I think...  :-X

The delightfully attractive Maria Maceiras is still plugging away with 16,500.

In the seat opposite, meanwhile, Greg Raymer is pleasuring everyone with his endless anecdotes. "A story for every occasion", claims PokerStars blogger Otis.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14630&g2_serialNumber=1)

Here is his captivated audience after anecdote number 27.

(http://images01.sw.wigflip.com/x/Z/rpbBpHzEaa.jpg)

rotflmfao   very good

Rob Hollink, pride of the Dutch, is down to under 5k after a series of hands refused to go his way.  The downhill slide was given its first major push when he called a shorter stack's all-in with his Ts Th, but found it racing Aspades Kc.  As you can see, the overcard popped out, which is never a bad beat but can still cause a reaction.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14651&g2_serialNumber=1)

My lack of fashion sense leads to my exclusion on most blonde 'hoody of the day' panels, but nonetheless I am charging in feet first with my own nomination for the day... excellent use of fuchsia, might I add.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14622&g2_serialNumber=1)

A big kafuffle around one of the central tables had me racing over like Linford Christie being launched out of a cannon. Whilst it wasn't quite the spectacularly mammoth pot I was hoping for, it was exciting nonetheless, Italian player Domenico Tinnirello all-in with the Bullets against a local player's Pocket Cowboys. Normally the oohs and aahs would be due to a third King hitting the board, but on this occasion they were the result of Quads and a 5-6-A-A-6 board. This put a hugely popular (several railers were cheering his triumph) Domenico up to 30k, whilst a now eliminated Frenchieboy could only stand there in disgust with his arms folded like a defiant teenager.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14626&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14634&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14624&g2_serialNumber=1)

Do you know the name of this poor frenchie ?

Tell him the hand is dead as the deck is wonky should cheer him up ;)

Sandy

Monsieur Mateygarcon???

I caught the demise of John Conroy while trying to count his stack (result of this literally seconds-worth of work now null and void, sigh)...

He raised to 625 from the cutoff (on Foxy's bb, I might add) only for the small blind to re-raise to 1,900.  Conroy's whole stack (c. 5k) went over the line - instacall.
Conroy:  Ts Th
Eliminator of Conroy:  Ad Qd

Flop:  Aspades 3c 4s
Turn:  8d  (John was already saying "Good game," and standing up)
River:  6h

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14640&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://www.odllr.be/system/smilies/1%20(26).gif)

I'm afraid not, and I didn't fancy asking, I think he would have punched me.  ;nemesis;

Surely that would be the same speed as anyone being launched out of a cannon?  Shall we experiment?  I vote you go first.

Is Emma back from dinner yet.....................if so can you ask her what she ate and was it nice..............a couple more pics and a chip count wouldn't go amiss either.

stuff the pics and chip count I want you to get me her phone number so NAS can follow her progress more thouroughly

Is everyone back form dinner now? Could someone please please let me know how my friend Nadir Jorephani is getting on? Thanks you very much.

Is this the chap? He's currently on 25,725, which is 4k above average.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14653&g2_serialNumber=1)

I'm afraid his seat is now empty.

I'm afraid I scoured the room for Dave but couldn't find him. I even asked Smithers on the rail, but still no joy.

Roland de Wolfe has also bitten the dust.

Remember to keep Ultimate Dana well plied with coffee guys...you know the consequences otherwise...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14655&g2_serialNumber=1)

---

Cecelia Borg updates please. (small scandinavian seated next to Michael Jackson masked man, not psychotic cyborg hell bent on racial assimilation)

Chip counts!

Isabelle Mercier - somehow seems to have tripled up to 9k
Barry Greenstein - 8k
Thomas Fougeron - 30k
Gino Alacqua - 31k
Anton Allemann - 26k
Johnny Lodden - around about 70k
Huuuuuumberto - 22k
Christian Grundtvig - 8k
Stephen Pearce - 9k now, after dropping a few chips calling a stripy Mateyboy's preflop raise to 1100 but then folding on the 8-2-6, two-hearts flop - one benefit of this, for me at least, is that Mr Pearce tidies up his previously dirty stack to work out whether he is going to call or not
Noah Boeken - 21k and complaining because the curtains have been closed again; he is told that opening them once again is more complicated than pressing a button, as they have a dedicated curtain overseer who must be present to ensure that the opening of the curtains goes smoothly



JANWATCH

Jan Heitmann - down to 22k
Jan Sjavik - 10k


Patrik Antonius - 39k
Rolf Slotboom - 16k
Ross Boatman - 25k
Woody Deck - 70k - "I'm getting raped. Scandies like to win coinflips." But you have so many chips, Woody! "I'm still steaming about an inconsequential hand an hour ago."
Maria Maceiras - 27k
Greg Raymer - around 30k, mainly in small denominations, sigh
Sorel Mizzi - 9.5k
Trond's empty seat - 32k - actually, as I wrote that he came back, flipped his chair around, and commenced backwards-chair-sitting, because he's cool 8)
Adrian Koy - 21k
George Danzer - 13k
Barny Boatman and Annette Obrestad - OUT and playing a pricey-looking sit n go
Patrik Andersson - as I'm counting his chips, he moves all in to a huge bet from the gent to his right on a 5s 6h Jc 6c board - the other guy insta-calls, and his Ahrt 6d is crushing Patrik's Jd Kd. The 3d on the river and he's OUT.

Continue this nonsense, and you and I are going to come to blows, my feline friend.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14657&g2_serialNumber=1)

The Goulds are still plugging away, both still on the same table. Peter has 7,300, Josh 17,450. "Have you not got rid of him yet," I ask Pete. "I've been trying for nineteen years," he replies.

Hows Roy Brindley getting on?

Is he event there this week?

I'm so over him btw, just erm, wondering

George Danzer is OUT the door.  His final hand – the Aspades Ad.  According to neighbour Peter Roche, the beginning of the hand was a little odd, with George running back to the table just in the nick of time to be allowed to play his hand.  Nearly-a-ruling number One.

Then, against a caller we reckon is Morten Lokken (ty Gary) he saw a flop of Tc 5c 7d in position.  I saw it from the point where Lokken had bet out 1,525, and George threw in a confusing 2,500.  The dealer made this stand as a minimum-only raise (Nearly-a-ruling number Two).  George was re-raised all in sharpish and instacalled only to find Lokken holding the powerful 7h 7s for the flopped set.  The turn and the river housed him up with 8h 8d and a very disgruntled George immediately left the area.  A couple more seconds away from the table pre-hand and he’d have missed his AA and still be in it.  Life is so wonderfully cruel sometimes.

That's bad, in fact that's superbad...

Newly unearthed Brit, Jeremy Wray, has just lost a 35k pot to Shawn Deeb, who looks nothing like his dad, Freddy. Pushing all-in for 10,225 on a an Ac Kd Ad 8s 2h board, Shawn's body froze into a generic poker pose as Wray sized up his options. Believing that his opponent had an Ace or nothing, Wray made the call with Queens, but was dismayed to see his opponent turn over A-6. "I put one of you guys on an Ace," said Wray pointing to a couple of players who had ducked out early doors.

Here's Shawn looking devilishly pleased with himself.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14679&g2_serialNumber=1)

The tournament seems to have respawned all its eliminated players, but that's because of all the sit'n'gos now taking up every table as it becomes available.  A couple more of my favourite announcements for those:  "You got green?  Table 36."
"$20,000 sit'n'go, table 32."
Never fear - I will keep the thread updated on all the ambiguous/eyepopping announcements made in the same world-weary tone of voice. 

Mr Jan Sjavik makes it 800 from the cutoff, and Mr Patrik "Man Norkage" Antonius calls from the small blind. They both proceed to check the 8h 2h Jh flop.

The turn is another heart, in fact the Kh - Patrik checks again, bu Jan makes it 1200 and Patrik folds. I take a photo of Mr Antonius. Says a giggling Mr Sjavik, "Hey, I won the hand and you're taking a picture of him! :( " (sad face imagined by me rather than vocalized by Mr Sjavik. So please enjoy two photos of Mr Jan Sjavik, and one of Mr Antonius:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14688&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14685&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14564&g2_serialNumber=1)

After much Frenchie searching, I have discovered Cyrille Chabot, donning trademark visors as expected. On this occasion, Cyrille, currently on 19,800, found himself sandwiched between small blinder Sacha Rosewood and under-the-gunner Jeff Lisandro. With Cyrille sacrificing 1.2k to the pot and leaving the other two to lock horns, Sacha made the final call with Tens in what was a quick-fire pre-flop raising war only to find himself gunned down by Jeff's Pocket Cowboys. However it was Sacha who won the shoot-out, a Ten on the Flop of a 9-Q-T-Q-4 board resulting in the bracelet winner's untimely exit. "Aaaaah, good luck," said Jeff as he departed.

Further eye candy for the ladies in the shape of Mr Johnny Lodden, with waiter doing something completely unnecessary in the background :( :

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14691&g2_serialNumber=1)


Also Mr Trond Eidsvig in all his backwards-sitting glory:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14673&g2_serialNumber=1)


...And for the gentlemen, another of the T6 ladies, Ms Sandra Edlund, currently on 9.3k:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14682&g2_serialNumber=1)

HOODIES: THE FINAL FRONTIER

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14694&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14664&g2_serialNumber=1)


Special mention to this number - appears to be squiggles:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14667&g2_serialNumber=1)


...but is actually VW Beetles! Awesome.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14670&g2_serialNumber=1)

Currently lacking the alcohol beverage that normally escalates him into the chip lead, Stuart Fox has defied the odds nonetheless by doubling up to circa 35k without the aid of a single lager. The Flopped set over set certainly helped move things along though, Stuart's Three Kings of Orient Are finding Richard Toth ruing his misfortune with a set of Ducks on an all heart 2h-Ah-Kh Flop.

I think its time i opened a T6 account and start trying for some of these live events.......

NAS should have been at DTD this afternoon - the DTD girls were wandering around distracting players/ dealers/ security/ railers.

The players are currently on a 15 minute break, so while we await their return, please enjoy this frightening picture of Jen gurning.

(http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/photos/photo_1398.jpg)

I trust you have photographic evidence to back up your claims.

You and me both Adz..........trust you are in good health and wealth m8

I'm sure during the break Snoops will be acquiring a chip count and piccy of Emma..................oh and if you haven't already done so her phone number for Ariston.

Evening Gang,

Just back from the casino to try and get an early night before I play tomorrow.

Seems a lot of brits have fallen already :( Lots of beers being consumed in the bar.

If you happen to see any chance of an update on Dave C and Andy Greekfish?

Thanks

Manuel.

Mr Sorel Mizzi:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14676&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14697&g2_serialNumber=1)

Mr Dave Colclough is OUT, I'm afraid. Not sure about Mr Greekfish, we'll have a look...

Elsewhere just before the break I saw an odd hand involving a utg+1 raise from Sasha Rosewood, called by his immediate neighbour, utg+2 Cyrille Chabot.  The flop came down Ac 5h 6c.  A very slow, considered check from both parties. 
Turn: 7d  At this point I was distracted by Sorel Mizzi making Greg Raymer lay something down...so look that way while I ignore the betting on this one.
River: Ks  Rosewood checks, and Cyrille throws out 3,000 as nonchalantly as humanly possible.  The three blue 1k chips sort of roll around for a minute while his young opponent tries to peer up under his visor.  No joy.  He suddenly calls.

Cyrille Chabot taps the table, showing 7c 8s
Sasha Rosewood:  7h 8h

No one knows who to raise their eyebrows at as they chop the pot.

What happen with María?

some informations about Marcel Luske, Markus Golser, Greg Raymer, Nicolas Levi, Humberto Brenes or Pascal Perrault ?
_________________

chip count for Woody please if he still in

She just doubled up through Greg Raymer with the AA - against her just J-T which looked completely disconnected from any of the board cards.  As seems to be happening with alarming frequency as they expand the size of these Day Ones, I only got there when a hoard of journalists were already hovering vulture-like around the table, so I only saw Mr. Socks'n'sandals congratulating her on her double up.
_____________________________

Other counts mid Level 6:

Jan Sjavik -- 18,350
Patrik Antonius -- 63,000
Jan Heitmann -- 31,300
Benjamin Kang -- 9,300
Trond Eidsvig -- 30,000
Peter Roche -- 55,000
Joseph Serock -- 10,450
Ross Boatman -- 40,000
Martin Wendt -- 30,000

About 15 to 20 players now have over 50k. 11 of them are below:

Stephan Kjerstad -- 92,500

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14713&g2_serialNumber=1)

Domenico Tinnirello -- 71,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14705&g2_serialNumber=1)

Morten Lokken -- 70,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14703&g2_serialNumber=1)

Woody Deck -- 69,500

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14721&g2_serialNumber=1)

Juris Bonders -- 65,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14715&g2_serialNumber=1)

Patrik Antonius -- 62,500

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14707&g2_serialNumber=1)

Andreas Fluri -- 57,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14709&g2_serialNumber=1)

Nicolas Levi -- 56,500

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14717&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sebastian Zink -- 56,000

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14701&g2_serialNumber=1)

Johnny Lodden -- 51,500

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14711&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes indeed, the Deckmeister is among my Assorted Leaders on around 75k.

Also on my Leader List is Patrik Antonius on almost 80k, and Mr Johnny Lodden, on over 70k. Mr Lodden was actually on 50k when I counted his stack, but then he got himself involved in a Big Hand:

(http://globalnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/iphone-in-megahuge-hands.jpg)

I caught it on the turn, the board reading 7s Jc Ts 9c. Mr Lodden bet a chunky around-pot-sized 6k, and the gent to his left called. Another gentleman dwelled up for an AGE before passing.

River - 5d and Mr Lodden bets 10k. Mateyboy calls, and mucks when Mr Lodden shows 8c 8h for the straight, propelling him on to my personal leaderboard. Apparently Mucking Mateyboy had Kings.

Here's One I Took Earlier of Markus Golser, and Marcel as well, the former probably still in, the latter definitely so.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14723&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14727&g2_serialNumber=1)

Meanwhile Peter Gould has dropped down to just 5 or 6k somehow.

I'm not sure... I'm not a professional updater but... I think that you have made an error with the photos... I'm prety sure that on the second one, it is not Marcel Luske  ;D

Thank you very much again. What a work !! That´s real coverage. See you next wednesday, I go to Montecarlo for EPTLive cover for Spain.

Hi guys,

can you posts any pics of the 20K and 40K SNG's? Last year they had really sick lineups (Johnny Lodden, Patrick Martenson, Joe Hachem, Erik123, William Thorsson, etc).

This is what the view from the cardroom looks like at night. Glowing trees!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14695&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes, I think that Jen feels that Markus Golser is so good she snapped him twice. Or possibly her brain's going, and with it her updating accuracy. She's changed it now - scroll UP to see Mr Luske.

Maria lost a massive hand with Queens versus Kings versus Eights, the Kings holding up to take the pot. My source claimed she was out soon after.

Yes I've seen... Thanks Jen for the photos... :D

Dana, it's you near Marcel, isn'it ? I'm not sure... ;carlocitrone;

Marcel Luske -- 41k
Greg Raymer -- 27.5k
Nicolas Levi -- 61.5k
Humberto Brenes -- 27k

No sign of Markus Golser or Pascal Perrault.

Thierry Van Den Berg has knocked out the Matey to his left with 9-T on a J-K-Q flop, Mr Matey holding the heartbreaking K-Q. A Nine on the turn and something raggy that might have been a Six on the river and Thierry is now on around 31k.

Good news = He's still in.

Bad news = He's only has 16k.

One out of two isn't bad.

Nope, it's not me. This is what I look like:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14655&g2_serialNumber=1)

The Apple has gone unfortunately :'(

Yes, yes, I caught him on the way out, which was good for updating on Mr Apple, but bad of course because it meant he was out, a throat cutting gesture as I approached never a good sign.

He seemed a bit dejected in truth, possibly believing that he could have been a bit more patient. "I called a raise of 800 with A-K, only for a guy behind me to re-raise to 4k. I pushed and he called with Kings. I'd been playing solid poker up until that point, so maybe I could have waited."

He then went on to say that two people claimed to have folded Aces, meaning that he only had one out. Don't you just hate it when people tell you that you're in deeper crap than you already are?

As the penultimate level draws to a close, there are few weary faces out there, many of which are probably not embracing this extra level. As such, I predict we may witness a few unforced errors or, as is often the case, a lot of folding as people attempt to grind their way into Day 2. One of those players who surely has the experience to perhaps take advantage of such a scenario is Hendon Mobber Ross Boatman. He's currently bobbing his head above water with 30k (average 28,269), so probably didn't mind my ribbing that the trophy wife seated in between him and the temporarily empty seat next door was his.

Leading the railing duties for the former London's Burning star is fellow Mobber and former EPT victor Ram Vaswani. Crazy Horse is currently dividing his time between watching Ross's table and keeping a keen eye on the ongoing father and son battle between Peter and Josh Gould. Although he started well, Josh is now struggling with 18,075, whilst Peter, with just 4,800, is looking for a spot to push.

Hopefully, we can keep these two players in, if only for the potential 'son eliminates father (or vice-versa)' story, as, at the moment, there is perhaps not enough entertainment coming from the tables to keep us hungry media folk satisfied. It's at times like these that Phil Hellmuth becomes a welcome addition, his table talk providing us bloggers with enough material to last the rest of year. Let's hope he graces us with his presence tomorrow, as he always makes good viewing.

And on that bokking note, we lose Peter Gould. I didn't quite catch the hand, only that he lost out to Pocket Queens.

Mr Andreas Torbergsen bets a whopping 13k on the river of a Jd 5h 5c 9s 5s board, to almost cover the Mateygent to his left who has already put about a third of his chips into the pot. Mateygent dwells and dwells; the clock is called, and he is down to "Four..." on the countdown when he passes.

--------

Meanwhile Jan Heitmann has dropped down to 18k and is not looking very happy. Johnny Lodden, however, now has over 80k and is becoming most cocky. He raises in late position and it folds around to the big blind, who gives him a strange smile. Mr Lodden makes a casual yet authoritative motion with his hand that says, "Give me your chips. They are mine." Or something. The big blind duly folds.

Peter Roche gets his big blind raised from under the gun by young American Joseph Serock, making it 800, 500 more to him.  Everyone else gets out of the way, although recent tablemate Trond Eidsvig gives it a bit of speech before doing so.  Roche calls, and with about 55k to Serock's 11k he can well afford to. 
Flop: 3h 2d Ts.  Checkinthedark-call quickly from Roche as Serock bets 1,525.
Turn:  3s  Check-check
River: 8c  Check to Serock who now has 8,150 left in front of him in the form of one white 5k chip, three 1k chips and some green 25s.  Everything apart from the 5k chip goes in.  Peter Roche sort of giggles and talks half to himself, half to his opponent, before eventually giving it up.

Roche: Not Giggling Here.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14729&g2_serialNumber=1)

Isabelle Mercier has somehow dropped back down to 3.5k. She's sharing a table with Ms Cecilia Borg, on 44k, and Leo Sayer. Not really! I just like his hair. We don't know who he is, but we fear that he may not be long for this tournament on just 3.2k...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14661&g2_serialNumber=1)

Any news on the T6 ladies please.

One player who I didn't expect to be making any errors during these latter stages is the ice cool Finn Patrik Antonius. A few media hawks were lurking around the table scribbling away frantically on their notepads, so I skipped over poised to log the action, but only in time to experience the aftermath. With a 7d-5c-Jc-Kd-8c on the felt, one may wonder how Patrik managed to lose a 50k plus pot with just a pair of Pocket Deuces, but that's what seemed to have happened, his jubilant opponent's set of Kings winning by a country mile and leading to Patrik having to count out 28,125 in chips. For someone normally so cool, suave and sophisticated (me, me and yep, me again), Patrik appeared a little flustered, but I guess he would be if he'd lost such a bizarrely big pot with bottom pair.

Just got home from work (in the states) and already there's 20 pages of reporting.  Great job.  Was wondering if I could get some info on Americans Ryan Daut and Chris Lee.  My very favorite American, Michael Martin, isn't playing until Day 1B so I'll be back again asking for some info on him tomorrow.

And Dana, I'm noticing that everytime you type Trond's name, you put smiley faces next to it which now leads me to believe that you might have been rooting for him to win that Master Classics in Amsterdam in November.  Is this true???   lol

TR23

STATUEWATCH – these are the players who despite being sat in the somewhat darker area of the tournament room don’t need to be hassled by flash photography to get their countenances fairly non-blurry.  I personally have an aversion to taking flash pictures while players still have to make decisions in a hand as it’s probably not the best aid to concentration.

In the traditional manner, first the runner-up:  Gino Alacqua.  This Italian was definitely animated on the final table of the EPT Prague, but it looks like the buzz of the Grand Final has yet to get him to move more than the minimum amount to play the game (namely, pick up chips, move them over line, restack or shrug off dependent on outcome of hand).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14733&g2_serialNumber=1)

The winner has to be this man – Barry Greenstein.  As unreadable as hieroglyphics pre-Rosetta Stone, makes as many sudden movements as a anaesthetised sloth.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14731&g2_serialNumber=1)

Nope, I'm entirely impartial. Heads up was good for me because I got to look at Trond for the same amount of time whether he came first or second...

Ooooh I'm going to do it again - :)

[
Nope, I'm entirely impartial. Heads up was good for me because I got to look at Trond for the same amount of time whether he came first or second...

Ooooh I'm going to do it again - :)
[/quote]

Well then Dana, since you're so impartial, I'm going to expect those same smiley faces after Michael's name tomorrow!!!

Enjoy the rest of the night.

TR23

Looky looky, with one hour to spare I come bearing (or is it baring) those all important chippy chip counts:

Shawn Deeb -- 82,725
Patrik Antonius -- 19,250
Robin Keston -- 25,475
Kai Paulsen -- 11,500
Eli Elezra -- 9,550
Barry Greenstein -- 8,050
Raymond Rahme -- 32,725
Thomas Fougeron -- 43,475
Luca Pagano -- 42,600
Thomas Wahlroos -- 33,275
Martin Wendt -- 15,525
Ross Boatman -- 29,175
Anna Wroblewski -- 29,175
Johnny Lodden -- 89,200
Josh Arieh -- 35,600
Stephan Kjerstad -- 94,500
Humberto Brenes -- 3,825
Osman Mustanoglu -- 25,025
Thomas Gruntvig -- 24,800
Cecilia Borg -- 34,475
Bill Edler -- 19,200
Isabelle Mercier -- 6,000
Chris Lee -- 87,000
Gina Alacqua -- 23,300
Juris Bonders -- 73,485
Noah Boeken -- 29,900
Josh Gould -- 9,325
Steven Van Zadelhoff -- 25,700
Sorel Mizzi -- 48,000
Benjamin Kang -- 11,875
Peter Roche -- 77,500
Trond Eidsvig -- 31,375
Jan Heitmann -- 19,800
Sebastian Zink -- 49,250
Daniel Zink -- 13,225
Christoffer Stahle -- 36,575
Jan Sjavik -- 28,425
Thierry Van Den Berg -- 36,500
Tomas Brolin -- 25,275
Ricardo Sousa -- 13,275
Michel Abecassis -- 27,450
Alex Michaels -- 53,925
Stuart Fox -- 42,800
Freddy Deeb -- 29,100
Guillaume de la Gorce -- 14,950
Andreas Hagen -- 13,900
Nicolas Levi -- 42,950
Sasha Rosewood -- 69,600
Chris Bjorin -- 10,100
Stevie Devlin -- 25,750
Marcel Luske -- 43,000

I dont know if he`s playing today or tomorrow, but look Tero Laurila up? and tell him local is drunk as hell and he should try it too

The gent on the right of the photo is down to the felt after running into the Aces of the gent on the left. He was giggling as I left the table...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14738&g2_serialNumber=1)

He wasn't on the player list we received today, so I can only assume that he'll be gracing us with his presence tomorrow, as will Michael Martin.  :) :) :)

Thanks for finding my friend Nadir Jorephani earlier and taking a snap of him (he did look very tired).  I dont suppose on one of your trips around the room you could keep an eye out for him again please. Just wondering if hes gonna survive day one. Thanks loads.

The Last Five Hands of the Night have been announced - and the press gently herded from the press area.  Sorry - any further updating will be stories saved up (mainly by me due to the horror of my internet connection today) and the final chip counts if and when we receive them today....

ok ty, I`ll come back harasssing u tomorrow

He wasn't on the player list we received today, so I can only assume that he'll be gracing us with his presence tomorrow, as will Michael Martin.  :) :) :)
[/quote]

Snoopy - ---- Those smiley faces have just advanced you to favorite Blonde reporter status. lol

Thanks for the chip count on Chris Lee (aka genius28) of 87,000.  All I can say is...........look out!!!!!!!!

TR23

So do I  ;slavedriver;

 ;popcorn; ;D ;popcorn; ;D ;popcorn;

Dana isn't happy that I've been elevated into that position, but I'm willing to sacrifice her happiness for that prestigious status.

 :) ;yippee; ;danafish; Michael Martin rules! ;danafish; ;yippee; :)

In that last chip count guys Shawn Deeb was listed twice I'm assuming one is Freddie can we have clarafication please?

Mr Bart Wetstein is OUT, with the maximum of swearing, followed by the maximum of standing at the table looking shellshocked while Mateyboy rakes in his chips.

The flop was A-J-5 and I didn't see the betting but Mr Wetstein was all in for a lot (18k on top of a chunky pot of some sort) and the gentleman in the brown stripey affair was a-dwelling. "Do you have a set?" asked he. "Aces?" He continues to dwell... and then calls! He has Ad Jd. Mr Wetstein bangs the table and the swearing commences - he is holding Ahrt Kd. No King on the turn or river, and the standing around looking lost and shocked begins...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14748&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14751&g2_serialNumber=1)

Yes, good spot, it was a test, honest, and you passed with flying colours. Deeb senior will be the smallest stack.

Unbelievable. Someone's sleeping on the floor tonight...

Some last-minute NAS appeasement...

Ms Sandra Erlund, 19k:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14745&g2_serialNumber=1)


Ms Emma-Sophia Stroman - nowhere to be found, I'm afraid, so presumed OUT.


Also Random Lady:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14742&g2_serialNumber=1)


And One For The Ladies - the Boys In Blue, or Le Securite:

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=14737&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sheesh. So who's gonna take my spot on the sofa?  :(

Dunno. Maybe Trond? :) :) :)

Okay, it looks like we have done all that we can here for tonight, so we're off back to our bedsit. Hopefully chip counts will appear overnight, and don't forget to check out our tournament report over at William Hill - it'll be up in the next couple of hours.

So from me, Jen, and the beagle on the floor (is well and truly in the doghouse),

 ;stickaforkinme;

ok, see ya tomorrow !

thanks for the updates  ;)

sleep well updaters... tomorrow you'll have to do at least as well than today  ;applause;

just for the record>  shaun is NOT related to Freddy.

Pfft!

 :)up Great updates as usual.

                many thx.

(http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/ligans/ecards/sanrio/pnthanx.gif)

soft play??

Shame about Emma-Sophia but at least we at NAS have another horse to support................. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SANDRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA